Pet napping Cases Rise as Economy Falls

With the current economic challenges, desperate criminals are turning to other methods to make money. They are stealing high valued pets and selling them on the pet “black market”. The American Kennel Club reports that pet thefts are up, but notes that there is no way to tell exact numbers because these thefts are classified as property theft.

The most common breeds that are targeted include expensive looking purebreds, toy group breeds and puppies. Pet nappers realize the street value of these dogs and become more willing to take pets when they can fetch $1500 per dog.

Pet thieves use many different methods to steal expensive pets, so it is important to protect your pet from these would be hooligans. Some will pose as potential buyers of puppies in order to survey your home, only to break in later to steal them. Let only serious buyers or people you trust into your home to view puppies for sale. Other thieves will simply take a dog that is tied up outside a store, while the owner is running errands.

Here are some tips to follow to help protect your pet:
• Have your pet tattooed or microchiped
• Never leave your pet unattended in your yard or tied up in front of a store or business
• Be wary of strangers entering your home view to puppies before purchase
• Take note of unusual vehicles or people loitering in your neighborhood

Gearing up for Cooler Months

In most parts of the country, the temperatures are starting to drop and it won’t be that long until the snow starts to fly. Winter weather conditions pose interesting and dangerous situations for pets. If you keep the following things in mind during the winter, you can be sure your pets safe, warm and comfortable.

Never leave pets outdoors when the temperature drops. If they must be outside for any period of time, make sure they are supervised. Short haired, young and old pets should be paid more attention to as they may have a more difficult time dealing with the cold. If necessary, use a doggie sweater or coat for walks or extended periods of time outdoors.

Pets that spend more time outdoors will need more food than normal because staying warm in cold months requires extra energy. More food will provide the energy they need to stay warm. Be sure to use plastic food and water dishes instead of metal. The metal can get very cold and your pets tongue could stick to the water dish.

Warm engines in parked cars can attract small animals including cats. To avoid problems, bang on the hood of your car before starting it the next time you go out. This should scare any animals taking a nap in the engine compartment. If you are routinely finding animals under the hood, move your car to a garage or talk to neighbors about stray animals.

Be careful of chemicals being used in and around your home to get rid of ice. These chemicals can be especially dangerous to all pets. The chemicals in salt and other deicers can irritate the pads of the foot. If the irritation persists, your pet may lick their paws to clean them and spread the poison to their mouth. To prevent this, wipe your pets paws with a damp cloth when they come in from outside. Another prominent chemical in the winter is antifreeze. This chemical has a sweet taste that could attract small animals and even children. Be sure to clean up any spills and keep bottles out of reach and off the floor.

Rabies Awareness and Prevention

World Rabies Day reminds us each year how serious rabies can be. This year World Rabies Day will be help on September 28. The purpose is to raise awareness of the rabies disease. More than 55,000 people with most of them being children, die of rabies each year. Asia and Africa have the highest mortality rates, while North America reports less than 10 human cases per year. Rabies is most common in wild animals with raccoons, foxes, skunks and bats being the most frequent carriers.

While rabies in domestic animals is all but extinct, it is still required to have your animals vaccinated against this viral disease. Unvaccinated animals can still be infected if bitten by an affected carrier. If you suspect a rabid animal has taken residence on your property, you should never try to handle the situation yourself. Contact authorities immediately to take care of the diseased animal. Don’t let your dogs or other pets run loose if there is a threat of a wild rabid animal

It is imperative for pet owners vaccinate their animals to fight the rabies disease each year. For more information about rabies and World Rabies Day, please visit www.worldrabiesday.org

Breed Rescue Clubs

Breed rescue clubs can be a great way for someone to rescue a pet, but also get the characteristics in a dog that they desire. Many purebreds find their way to shelters because they are not compatible with their owner’s lifestyle. Breed rescue clubs will send members to find and retrieve specific breeds from these shelters. After that, they work hard to adopt these purebreds to the right owner. The application process is extensive and lengthy. Often a team member is sent to the home of the applicant to ensure that the home will be fit for the dog, and the personality of the prospective owner will match.

Breed rescue club adoption rates are more successful than traditional shelters because of their extensive application and interview process. These clubs are devoted to finding a permanent home for the breeds. Rescue clubs are non-profit and rely on donations and adoption fees to keep their efforts going. Many rescue clubs focus on more than just dogs as well. There are clubs for cats, birds, horses and other exotic pets.

Investigating breed rescue clubs can be a great way for an adopter to rescue a pet and get the characteristics they desire. Breed rescue clubs can be found by searching in www.petfinder.com or by typing you desired breed and location and the term “rescue” into Google or your preferred search engine.

Preparing Pets for Natural Disasters

In most of the US people have to contend with some form of natural disaster. Whether it is hurricanes, tornados, earthquakes or wildfires people with pets need to be prepared to take action quickly. In the worst case scenario, these disasters can leave you without shelter, power or fresh water for days.

The most important aspect of preparing your pet for a natural disaster is making sure they are properly identified. You want to be sure they can be returned to you if they get frightened and run off. You can identify your pet by using an ID tag, microchip or tattoo. Microchips are becoming so common that this is truly the best form of identification for your pet. ID tags can come off the collar, or your pet may slip out of his collar, and if this is the only form of identification, he will be lost. Microchips are affordable and can be inserted under your dog’s skin by your veterinarian.

If you are in a place where you might have to be evacuated and you can’t take your pet with you, make arrangements with a kennel, shelter, or with friends or family to take your pet. It is also good to have a natural disaster pet kit handy. Pack it with essential items you can grab quickly if you have to evacuate including an extra leash, canned or dry food, bottled water and toys. You may also want to have a portable kennel or cage available. Some shelters will allow pets, but only if they are contained.

Knowing your pet’s favorite hiding spot can help in the evacuation process as well. If a pet senses danger they may hole up in a secure spot making it difficult to find them when you need to get out quickly. Take note of when your dog is frightened and see how he/she reacts and where they hide. Knowing this information can save precious moments when you have to get out of the house or into a secure area of your own home.

Teaching a Dog to Swim

Seeing as we named a swimming stroke after them, you would imagine that dogs would take to the water very naturally. Not necessarily so! While some dogs like Labs, Poodles and Portuguese Water Dogs are very athletic swimmers, Pugs, Bulldogs and Dachshunds need a little coaching. With the heat of the summer reaching its peak, many people are heading to lakes, rivers and pools and taking their dogs with them. Now is the perfect time to get your dog in the water and with the tips below, you will have them swimming like naturals in no time!

Photo Credit: http://www.themorningstarr.co.uk/2008/04/28/canine-wet-suit/

- Take your dog to a quiet place with little distraction. This will help to keep their attention on you and not what is going on around them. This will also help them to stay calm and less confused.

- Use positive encouragement when getting them into the water. Keep your voice upbeat and happy. Great encouragement tools can be treats or a favorite toy.

- NEVER throw your dog in the water. This can traumatize him and make the learning process even more difficult. Gradually expose your dog to the water. If he doesn’t want to go in at that time, don’t force him. Continue to use positive reinforcement with treats and toys.

- Keep safety in mind – You may want to purchase a doggie life vest, even if your dog can swim well. It will also aid in the training dogs new to swimming. As you are teaching your dog to swim, support the body until he starts paddling and gradually let him go.

- Lastly, keep an eye on your dog as he becomes more proficient. Always go in the water with your dog so you can help him out if he needs you.

Not all dogs are meant to be swimmers, so keep that in mind while teaching them. If you happen to have a dog that doesn’t swim, but you still like to be near the water, I would highly recommend purchasing a life vest to fit your dog.

How Hot is too Hot??

A Canadian teen concerned about leaving pets in a hot car is trying to figure this out. 13 year old Brain Larson of Canada is developing a car alarm that can alert pet owners to high heat danger for their pets in cars. The temperature on the interior of a car can reach sweltering heights in just minutes. Pets can be much more sensitive to this rapid heat increase. Larson first thought of the idea two years ago when his aunt and uncle lost two dogs to heat stroke. Windows and vents to the RV were open, but the heat was too great for the two animals.

Larson will be conducting research all summer to develop the car alarm system. The alarm will have two parts. The first will be an electric temperature gauge installed in the interior of the car. The second will be a device that will be carried by the owner on their key ring. When heats approach a dangerous level, the box will send a signal to the key fob, alerting the owner that the temperature is raising. With the help of local businesses, Larson will be recording temperatures and then developing a prototype product. If all goes according to plan, the prototype should be completed two months after the research is complete.

Larson hopes to reduce the number of pets suffering from heat stroke because they are left in hot cars. Until this product is available, here are some other tips to remember pet summer time safety.

• Never leave your pet unattended in a vehicle, even with the windows down, unless the outdoor temperature is below 70 degrees Fahrenheit
• Bring extra water
• If your dog is panting excessively or with great force, get him out of the heat and give room temperature water. – Giving ice could complicate the problem by constricting blood vessels.
• See a vet immediately if you suspect heat stroke – it is a life threatening emergency

Benefits of Microchipping

Microchipping can be one of the most important things you can do when you adopt or purchase a pet. Just ask 11-year-old Natalie Villacis. Recently her Beagle Rocco was found in Hinesville, GA, nearly 850 miles away from where he was lost 5 years ago. Rocco was returned to his New York City home after a shelter contacted the family and said that they had Rocco. Because of the microchip implanted in Rocco, the shelter was able to obtain valuable information and return him to his family.

This is only one of many stories about pets being returned to their owners due to microchip implants. Pet microchipping is an inexpensive way to make sure your pet does not get lost. Most shelters will microchip your pet before you even take them home. The only thing left to do is activate the service once you get home.

A pet microchip has a specific number that is assigned to it and saved in a database. Vet offices and animal shelters are then supplied with scanners that can read this information and access the owner’s information.

Pet microchip subscriptions are very affordable and this can be money well spent when you consider the range an animal can have once he or she is lost. For more information about pet microchipping, contact your local vet office or animal shelter.