Pets Smile Plus

Many people want pets. And there are a lot of pets out there looking for good homes. But people tend to overlook those that may need it the most. They kind of already label many rescued animals as ?damaged goods?. People worry that they can?t become as good as pets as others, that they won?t be as social, or as playful, or as lovable. This article hopes to prove them wrong and to give a voice to the animals that need one.

People worry that these dogs don?t have the social skills needed to be a pet. They are concerned that because of past abuses the dogs will become anti-human and can turn quickly on their masters or strangers. Most importantly is the concern that these dogs could harm children.

There is no certainty that any dog will or will not harm someone. Just because they have had bad experiences doesn?t mean they are going to be cruel pets. It is like that with humans too. We are not destined to become good or bad people because of our pasts. It?s who we are because of many things that allow us to follow on certain paths. Dogs are like that. They either will have a personality that is more capable of love, or one that is more defensive and unsociable.

The level of abuse and inhumane treatment can give some insight to a dog. It doesn?t necessarily determine their capabilities of being a pet though. Obviously the more abuse the dog has received, the more unsociable it will be to begin with. Whether or not this wall can be broken will be determined by the new owner?s dedication and the dog?s own personality. Even the most ill-treated dog can become the best friend a person will need in a pet.

My dog is a rescued dog. She was abused as a puppy and got her when she was only a few weeks old. She was probably younger than the age minimal to be given away as a pet, but there weren?t many options for her. She still has a scar on her head to remind us of how she was treated almost seven years ago. Even still, she has turned out to be the most lovable dog I have known.

It is different with her and for some dogs because they are puppies at the time. They won?t quite remember the experience and are still changing so that they can get more adjusted to humans. They won?t hold back as much. My dog is very playful and loves people. She will make friends with any stranger as long as they give her the attention needed to become friends. She?s always there to lift someone?s spirit up when they are sad or to make them smile when they are bored.

For older dogs that are rescued, it?s not always that same happy story. They don?t have the energy that puppies do and have a harder time warming up to strangers. They aren?t lost causes though. They still can be very affectionate and friendly. It just may take a bit longer. But it takes time anyways no matter what kind of dog or past they had. Bonds aren?t created in seconds. Time and effort create the bonds over weeks of getting to know each other. An older rescued dog isn?t a lost cause. It?s a good cause to give the dog a home it deserves and not let it live out the rest of its life alone and unloved.

Rescued dogs are often times looked down upon because people view they don?t have the right upbringing or genetics to be the perfect vet. It?s this same snobbish and high-class attitude that creates many problems in the world. It doesn?t work that way. These dogs are creatures that not only deserve to be love but are capability of giving that love back tenfold. Like any person or creature that is welcomed into a loving family after an abusive past, they are much more grateful for that have and how they are treated.

There are so many pets out there that go unloved and treated for. Still people try to breed purebreds, perfect pets, specifically raised pets, etc. We are only furthering the overpopulation of pet animals. More people should give rescued animals a chance they deserve and realize just how wonderful of a friend any animal can be.

Jake Rose is an artist and an author from Massachusetts.

This article has been submitted in affiliation with http://www.PetLovers.Com which is a site for Pet Forums.

Chances are that when you look around your home, you see one or more four-legged creatures gazing patiently back at you: dogs and cats. Recent pet industry statistics show that over 63% of American homes keep pets, and that over 40% of pet-owners think of their pets as highly-valued members of the family. People of all ages, colors, religions, and political persuasions share a profound and fulfilling love for pets. This devotion lightens the dark reality of a nation and world where animal cruelty is rampant.

In America, homeless dog and cat euthanasias number between four to six million dogs and cats every year, according to estimates made by the Humane Society of the United States. (Actual numbers are not collected.) Rescue organizations in major cities such as St. Louis report as many as 50,000 homeless dogs and cats roam within their boundaries, many sick and starving. Uncontrolled breeding is the root cause of these shocking truths. Knowledge of the vast problem can feel overwhelming to an animal-lover.

What can one person do? You can make a difference in your corner of the world?never doubt it. Remember that all changes in the world originally started with one person. Take these 5 simple guidelines to heart.

1. Be a faithful and loving parent to your own fur family. You have more influence than you know. Your high standards for pet care will influence your friends and family to be better pet ?parents,? too. Spay or neuter your pets, train your young pets well, and care tenderly for your elderly pets. It’s not always easy or inexpensive, but it’s always the right thing to do.

2. Train yourself to be a better Good Samaritan for pets by being more alert to pet suffering. Remember, you might be the only lifeline for that injured or neglected pet. Watch, listen, and call. Carry a completed free wallet card from www.sunbearsquad.org at all times, so important phone numbers are handy (make extras for friends and family members). A caller can be anonymous and the call only takes a few minutes. When in doubt, let a professional decide?call.

3. Share a small portion of your pocketbook with your nearest humane society or rescue. Consider giving small gifts regularly, such as $5 every month. You’ll feel the love every time you lick the envelope. This therapy helps to relieve some worries about homeless pets in your area.

4. Avoid all fur-trimmed products, no matter how small. Fur farmers in some parts of the world skin animals alive to maintain fur quality, and many of these pathetic animals are actually dogs and cats; their fur is later intentionally mislabeled as other fur to bypass American fur import restrictions. Don?t put dollars in their pockets.

5. Purchase personal care products that are not tested on animals. Read labels. Make it your policy. It might cost a bit more, but you won’t be putting your money in the hands of research laboratories that use dogs, cats and other animals to test products. Many dogs and cats in laboratories are suspected of being stolen from homes and sold to research facilities. If a pet of yours has disappeared under mysterious circumstances, you?ll understand why this industry practice must be stopped.

Help relieve animal suffering consistently as you travel through your busy days, and the essence of loving kindness will shine in your heart. The u in humane also means uplift.

Anna Nirva is the founder of Sunbear Squad, Inc., a non-profit organization devoted to encouraging and supporting Good Samaritan behaviors to help companion animals in need. Visit www.sunbearsquad.org for tools, knowledge, and inspiration targeted to individuals and groups.

There is a lot of talk going on about what to do with the issue of feral cat population.

Some measures have been proposed which will allow residents to kill what they perceive to be feral cats on their property. This suggestion has caused a bit of a stir, and amongst cat lovers, it is quite understandable. Cats are natural wanderers and a treasured feline may make a mischievous dash out of its home only to find itself hunted quarry in a neighboring property.

There are more humane solutions being practiced right now which entail trapping feral cats, neutering and then releasing them back to their environment (TNR). Critics of this method maintain that the problem of cat predation on local small animal populations still exists after neutering, and that a continuous supply of stray cats are finding their fertile way into these feral communities every day. Thus, any positive gains realized by the TNR program are being constantly negated by the actions, or inactions, of irresponsible pet owners.

There doesn’t appear to be any immediate, cut and dry solution to feral cats except to keep employing the TNR program and educating the public about how to be accountable for their cats. Local laws can be enacted to impose fines on owners whose cats are caught wandering on a frequent basis. Social pressure can be fostered in the form of campaigns that suggest it is absolutely not cool and downright irresponsible to have unneutered or unspayed cats wandering around. This, of course, would not be applied to owners of show and working cats where planned breeding is necessary for their specific breed.

It comes down to the fact that over 64% of U.S. households have pets, and the majority of these pets are considered as family members. Cats are the rebellious, independent members of the family unit. They shouldn’t be left to their own devices nor should they be discarded like disposable lighters. Similar to any wayward teenager of a family, special measures and tolerances have to be adopted in order to get the loved ones through a difficult time in their lives and bring them back into the fold of family unity. Cats are a bit different in that they are wayward children for life, however, they can be conditioned to accept a house-bound lifestyle. Having them spayed or neutered (we’re talking about cats now - not teenagers) will help temper their wanderlust a little, and there are some great outdoor playpens and containment equipment designed just for the benefit of felines. Some cats can be trained to walk on a leash for nightly jaunts, however, that may not be particularly healthy for you or the cat if there are too many unleashed dogs in the neighborhood.

Do what you can to help alleviate the problem of cats turning feral. The animal welfare organizations and volunteers are doing what they can to deal with the current populations by using TNR, rescuing and adopting of cats. But the flow of new, fertile, domestic cats into the feral communities must be stopped at the family, neighborhood and regional level. This is accomplished through public awareness campaigns, teaching school children about responsible pet ownership, social pressure and individual involvement. It’s a long uphill road, yet it can be accomplished, one or two kitties at a time.

Cris Mandelin-Wood owns several websites covering domestic animals as well as Web information services and products. Animal welfare issues are of special interest. To sign up for the monthly Critterbytes Ezine, go to http://shelters.theanimalnet.com and select the state you live in. Once there you will find a listing of local animal welfare organizations and a sign up box for the ezine.