As we noted last time, rats can make good pets. If you’re thinking of getting a couple (just one is not a good idea), there are a few things you should know.

Try for adoption first. You’ll be giving the rat a good home, doing the former owner a favor, and making sure you get an animal that’s been cared for and accustomed to humans. Look for a rodent rescue group, like littlemischiefrescue.org. (“Mischief” is the word for a group of rats. The less colorful alternative is “pack”.) Yes, there are rescue groups for just about any kind of animal that’s kept as a pet.

If you can’t find one to adopt, buy from a breeder — NOT a pet store. “The sad truth,” say rat owners George and Debbie of Seattle, “is that most rats seen in pet stores are there to be sold as snake food, not pets.” They are at high risk for disease, developmental problems, and bad behavior.

You’ll need the biggest cage you can afford. George and Debbie recommend Martin’s “because they have multi-level designs, are easy to clean, and have ideal bar spacing to prevent foot injuries.” An aquarium may be tempting, but they’re not built to let air circulate, and toxic fumes can build up quickly.

Likewise, bedding and litter should be dust-free products, preferably made of recycled paper. Pine and cedar can give rats respiratory problems.

Food for rats should be 80% lab blocks, which you can get at pet stores. The other 20% can be treats and people food — as long as it’s healthy. There are a few exceptions: Chocolate, raw potatoes, and nuts are toxic to rats. Peanut butter can cause choking.

Then there’s the fun stuff, like a good quality running wheel of adequate size. George and Debbie recommend Wodent Wheels. Other toys can be bird ladders, cardboard tubes, or anything the rats seem to enjoy.

Remember, what they’ll enjoy most is playing with you.

My family owns a hefty 14 year old cat who weighs about the same value in pounds. She used to be a bundle of energy and never would sit down on your lap for more than 30 seconds, but over the years she has mellowed out. However, whenever a new animal becomes introduced to the house, my cat will hiss, slap, scratch, and more. We all know as well as she does that she is the boss and always will be. We would not dare introduce a new creature into “her” house because we do not think that would go over very well, but the thought has crossed our mind in the past.

So, how should you introduce a new cat into the family? It is always best to get two cats who are litter mates and who preferably are females, but if this is not possible, here are some thoughts.

The first step would be to create an isolated space for the new cat where it can stay and get comfortable for one or two weeks.  It is important that the two cats do not have contact with each other. Make sure there is a litter box in his/her room, a bed, a blanket, toys and a bowl for water and a bowl for food.

Once that has happened, allow the other cat to roam, but make sure that the two cats are kept separate. They can meet each other, but make sure that there is supervised interaction. It’s only a matter of time before the two cats start “talking” to each other. After that stage, allow face-to-face interaction. Judge how the two are interacting. Is one more aggressive than the other? Is one scared? Play the fishing pole game with them so that both cats get to play together and learn to become accustomed to each other. However, do not spark competition between the two of them. One source of competition is typically the litter box; a good rule of thumb is to have a litter box for each one of the cats.

Good luck!

Exotic pets being abandoned in the wild – how often does that happen? Who would do a thing like that?

When you realize that most fish sold in pet stores are considered “exotics” – it just means they’re not native to the country – you can see it’s really not an unusual event.

At least 185 exotic fish species have been found in U.S. waters, says the U.S. Geological Survey, and over half of those species got there through “release or escape of aquarium fishes”. Lots of people, apparently, have been slipping their unwanted pet fish into the nearest river or lake.

Most of them probably would never dream of dumping a cat or dog in the wilderness. It seems less cruel, somehow, with fish – but that’s an illusion. Releasing a pet fish is always harmful to it or some other creature.

First, 90% of exotic fish don’t survive after being released, as scientist Paul L. Shafland told the U.S.G.S. They’re stressed and an easy target for predators.

The ones that survive may compete with native fish for food, or even prey on the native fish. They may spread exotic diseases or parasites. They also can contribute to overcrowding, especially if they start breeding (75 exotic species have).

If you need to re-home your fish, search online for “fish rescue”. If there’s no fish rescue society in your area, try these U.S.G.S. suggestions:

· Pet stores
· The local zoo or aquarium
· Schools, nursing homes – even prisons might want the fish.

If your fish is sick, a vet can euthanize it if necessary. You can do this yourself simply by putting it in a container of water in the freezer. The U.S.G.S. says, “Because cold temperature is a natural anesthetic to tropical fishes, this is considered a very humane method of euthanasia.” Still, let’s hope you don’t have to do this!

There’s always a better way than abandonment.

So, you’ve considered the benefits of owning a pet and have decided a dog would be a nice addition to your home.  You would like to adopt a dog from a humane society or animal shelter but aren’t quite sure what to expect.  You can learn a little bit about the adoption process in this quick video.

Click here to view the embedded video.

What is the deal with pedigreed pets? I don’t get it. Why are people willing to pay $800 for a dog? You can get one for free from the pound. And I can pretty much guarantee that the pound dog is going to be more loving and less high maintenance than the purebred.

Everyone I know who has some type of hoity-toity, fancy purebred pet has to go through a laborious care regimen that just doesn’t exist with the real American mutt.  My friend has to spray his English bulldog’s jowls with a special solution to keep him from getting an infection.  You can bathe a real dog by throwing a stick into the pond.

I’m sure there are good reasons that people like purebreds.  I just don’t know what any of them are.  I do know that there are literally millions of good animals put to death each year because there is no one willing to take them in.  I do know that a dog is a dog and a cat is a cat, and  unless you’re entering them into the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show, it doesn’t much matter what breed you have.

Sure, there a big dogs and small dogs.  If you want a big dog, one of those shaky little things like Paris Hilton keeps in her purse just won’t do.  If you live in a tiny apartment, a Great Dane probably isn’t the right pet for you.  But there are dozens of choices at any given pound at any given time.  You can find the pet you’re looking for without dropping hundreds of dollars.  And you can save a life while you’re at it.  Sounds like a winning choice to me.

If you love animals, owning a pet can bring you great joy. But did you know that owning a pet has health benefits, too? Time and time again, studies have shown that pet owners suffer less high blood pressure, less stress, and often are more likely to exercise. For all the responsibility and costs, such as vet expenses and pet medications, a pet may entail, you probably will save money on doctor visits. Read on for more benefits of pet ownership.

Most people bond well with dogs and cats, and that benefit alone provides a wonderful companionship. Maybe this is why so many nursing homes and hospitals like visitors to bring their pets so the patients can bond with the animals. If you’re feeling lonely and need a good friend, cats and dogs not only offer unconditional love but comfort, too.

Owning a dog will benefit you in two crucial ways: walking your dog twice a day counts as exercise and is a great way to meet new people. When I used to dog sit for a family friend a few years ago, total strangers would come up to me and start conversations, albeit dog talk, but still it counts. And if you are shy by nature, owning a dog will make socialization easier for those afraid to initiate conversation with others.

Pet owners are not the only ones to experience good health, your pet will, too. Giving your pet a loving home will extend the life of your pet, especially for a cat, since people tend to abandon cats rather than put them up for adoption. Whether you rescue a pet from the shelter or take in a stray, you are saving the animal’s life. Animals also need to bond with other animals and people, which is something that pet owners can offer. Owning a pet is a win-win situation for both humans and animals.

If you have considered having a hedgehog as a pet, this video is a great resource.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Maybe you’re not financially prepared to adopt a pet. But if that’s the only thing holding you back – if you have a love of animals, a sense of responsibility, enough room in your home, and enough time and energy — maybe you’re ready to foster a pet.

As Kim Croom, Director of the Pet Foster Network, said in an interview with RedPlum: “[Fostering] doesn’t cost the foster home anything at all. Most people just don’t know that.”

Fostering is giving a pet a temporary home as an alternative to an animal shelter. This can last anywhere from a few days to the rest of the animal’s life. Many humane societies and animal rescue organizations run foster programs, and they’re often looking for volunteer families. The organization (or, in some cases, the original owner) keeps ownership of the animal and pays major expenses like vet bills and prescriptions. Some will buy the food and litter, or provide it from in-kind donations they get. Our fostering organization even sent a volunteer to our house to feed the cat while we were away.

Meanwhile, you as a foster “parent” get all the happiness of having a pet. Of course, you have responsibilities, too, on top of its daily care. You’re usually the one who has to get the animal to the vet. You also may have to show it to potential new owners, transport it to adoption events, take phone calls, and do paperwork. And it can be hard saying goodbye. But if you decide you want, and can afford, to adopt your foster pet, you’re usually given preference. The organization may even waive your adoption fee.

Fostering pets means giving your time and love, not your money.

It can cost a lot of money to care for a pet. They are sometimes smelly, often messy, and usually noisy. They demand our attention at the most inopportune times. So, why in the world would anyone want a pet?

Pets, all types of pets, make good companions. In a world that is increasingly isolated and impersonal, a pet can bring joy into your home when there is no one else around. The less contact a person has with the world outside his door, the more he needs a pet.

The benefits that a pet brings to an elderly person have been the subject of numerous studies (which you can bet were all funded by your hard earned tax dollars, but that’s another story). As people get older they begin to withdraw more and more from society, as hopping into the car and running into town for some groceries becomes harder and harder. Old friends pass away; kids and grandkids move away.

Introducing a pet into the home of an elderly person brings almost immediate returns. Companionship is a two-way street. The pet owner gets a warm body to spend time with, but he also gets the responsibility that comes with it. The good news is that both sides of that street are to the benefit of a senior citizen.

The pet owner finds renewed purpose in caring for her new dependent. Suddenly, there is a reason to get dressed and go into town: Fluffy needs a new chew toy or she doesn’t seem to like this brand of cat food. Pets are positively good for the aging brain. Give Grandma a cat, and she will spend hours analyzing the pet’s behavior. Instead of rehashing the same old story from life on the farm in 1948, she will tell you new tales of Kitty’s incredible intelligence and personality.

My own research (unofficial and not at all funded by government money) shows a direct correlation between pet ownership and happiness in the lives of septuagenarians. Beyond the companionship, the sense of purpose and usefulness – of being needed – is a great boon for those entering the twilight of their lives.

When re-homing a pet, sometimes the best you can do is to find a temporary boarding home – long- or short-term, formal (commercial kennel-free boarding) or informal (a friend or acquaintance “fosters” the pet).

Sometimes these temporary arrangements become permanent. A family who’d never been able to have a cat or dog because of allergies to animal hair tried fostering a “hairless” Cornish Rex cat from the humane society. (We were his previous foster family.) After a week, they adopted him, and a society worker told me, “They’d have kept him even if he needed open heart surgery.”

But we can’t count on that happening every time. Right now, a dog we inherited (literally) has moved in with another dog and its owner, and we’ve realized there are some things we’ll need to clarify. If you’re putting a pet into an informal boarding situation, you should make sure you and the foster family agree on some key questions:

• Is it long-term boarding, or boarding leading to adoption? How do both of you feel about that?

• Who pays the vet bills? And which vet – who has the pet’s health records? This can be especially important with older pets.

• Who pays for food and other necessities?

• What if the pet’s care gets to be too much for the foster family? If they move? If it has behavior problems, or doesn’t get along with the family’s pets?

• Will you want to visit? How often?

• Who’s going to make any hard decisions that come up? Animal lovers can have really different views on euthanasia and other end-of-life issues. You may feel you have seniority in decision-making, but the foster family may feel better qualified because of their daily contact with the pet.