If you have noticed, we have had a lot of beloved pets go missing just in these past few weeks. As much as it breaks our hearts, most never make it back home. And most have no form of ID. We here at GVH offer permanent ID for your pet be it hairy, fuzzy, hooved, scaled or winged.
With Christmas just a few days away, what better gift for your pet than permanent ID that will last a lifetime? We offer HomeAgain pet microchips, the best in pet identification! We want everyone home with their families for the Holidays, including the furry ones!
There is no greater joy for us to receive a ‘stray’ than to scan them and find a microchip and return them to their family.
1 in 3 pets goes missing during its lifetime, and without proper ID, 90% never return home. A microchip for dogs & cats (or any critter really) gives the best protection with permanent ID that can never be removed or become impossible to read.
Every month, HomeAgain reunites 10,000 pets with the people that love them.
Call us today and find out more about how you can protect your pet!! 996-4127
With aisle after aisle of colorful squeakers, balls, ropes, and stuffies, it’s hard to figure out exactly which toys will make your dog go gaga.
But researchers at the University of Bristol’s Veterinary School seem to have figured out the formula for the perfect dog toy.
The study, which is published in the distinguished animal behavior journal Animal Cognition, reveals the science behind why some toys become Fido’s favorites while others collect dust in the toy box.
The answer may lie in the habits of the domestic dog’s closest ancestor — the wolf.
“Because we think that dogs perceive toys in the same way that wolves perceive prey, they prefer toys that either taste like food or can be torn apart,” study co-author and University of Bristol Veterinary School researcher John Bradshaw told Discovery News, “however the latter can cause health problems if the dog accidentally swallows some of the pieces.”
Researchers presented dogs with a different toy for 30-second intervals until the dog stopped interacting with that toy, indicating that the dog’s interest had waned. The team used a wide variety of toys in different colors, odors, and materials, and made sure that each successive toy was a unique one that presented a contrast from the toy that came before.
The research team used Labrador Retrievers in their study, not only because of their status as one of the world’s most popular dog breeds, but because of their playful reputation. “We had to be sure that the dogs we studied would play with the toys for a few minutes at least,” Bradshaw explained, “otherwise we couldn’t have measured what would get them playing again once they’d lost interest in the original toy.”
While there was no single characteristic that made one toy preferable over another, the study revealed that as a dog gets used to the stimulus qualities of the toy — its smells, texture, and sounds — the dog is likely to grow bored with that toy.
Most of the new toys presented by researchers seemed to incite intense but temporary interest in the Labs, the researchers say, perhaps because it is instinct for canines to investigate unfamiliar items.
Co-author Anne Pullen of the University of Bristol research team explains that the perfect toys should be “soft, easily manipulable toys that can be chewed easily and/or make a noise.”
“Dogs quickly lose interest in toys with hard, unyielding surfaces, and those that don’t make a noise when manipulated,” Pullen added.
Because dogs can quickly become habituated when it comes to toys, the best thing an owner can do to spark interest in their pooch is to get involved and play, too.
“For an animal as social as a dog, toys only become really excited when they are part of a game with a person,” Bradshaw explained. “Few toys will sustain a dog’s interest for long if the owner is not around to offer encouragement.”
The researchers all agreed that dogs make such wonderful companions because they never lose the desire to play, even as adults. Many other animals only engage in play when they are young and grow out of the behavior as they age — but not the domestic dog.
Some excellent tips to keep your pets safe and happy on the ‘scariest’ day of the year…
That parade of kids, adults—and yes, even pets—in funny outfits is almost due to arrive at your door , bringing all the sweet and scary joys of Halloween! But pet parents, as you carve the jack-o-lanterns and fill those bowls of candy, please be aware that your furry friends may stumble upon dangers you may not have considered.
Many of our favorite Halloween traditions could pose a potential threat to our companion animals. As pet parents start to make plans for trick-or-treating or costumes, they should be aware of Halloween-related products and activities that can be potentially dangerous to pets.
The following are just a few precautions you should take:
No Chocolate: Even if your pet has a sweet tooth, ingesting chocolate—especially baker’s and dark chocolate—can be dangerous for dogs and cats, possibly causing vomiting, diarrhea, hyperactivity and even seizures.
No Sweets for the Sweet: Candies containing the artificial sweetener xylitol can be poisonous to dogs. Even small amounts can cause a sudden drop in blood sugar, which leads to depression, lack of coordination and seizures.
Dangerous Décor: Keep wires and cords from electric lights and other decorations out of reach. If chewed, your pet could experience damage to his mouth from shards of glass or plastic, or receive a possibly life-threatening electrical shock.
Keep Pets Safely Indoors and Confined: All that knocking and noise, kids and costumes, could scare your pets or make them very anxious. As well, many people are frightened by dogs they aren’t familiar with. There’s also the danger they may bolt out the door with the constant opening and closing. Don’t take a chance by having your pet outside either. Unattended outdoor pets can become a target for some of the more dangerous “monsters” that may use the holiday as an excuse.
Best for everyone is to place your pets in another room with their favorite toys, bed or pillow and blanket until the festivities are over for the comfort and safety of everyone.
Don’t Play with Fire: Keep your pets away from jack-o-lanterns with lit candles inside—knocking the pumpkin over can easily cause a fire. And curious kittens can get burned or singed by candle flames.
Costume Caution: Although dressing up our furry family members may be fun and amusing for us, it may not be as much fun and amusement for them. Please don’t put your pet in a costume unless you know that they don’t mind it. And be careful of the costume you choose, some costumes can cause skin irritations, obstruct a pet’s vision or impede his breathing.
It’s a lot of fun to put pets in costumes, and there’s usually no harm in doing so. But Halloween, like most holidays, comes with some cautions you need to know to keep your pets and others safe. Pets can easily be scared during this spooky holiday and sometimes we may need to take extra precautions to keep them happy and protected. Check out this cool video via Vetstreet.com
Earthquakes, hurricanes, fires, floods, and tornadoes can cause massive damage quickly. It is essential to have a disaster plan in place — for you and your animals.
Are you ready? Here are several things you can do.
Make a plan. Prepare for all situations, including the possibility that you may be away from home when disaster strikes. Get to know your neighbors, and be ready to help others out. Ask your neighbors if they will try to take care of your pets in an emergency and offer to take care of theirs. Learn about your local emergency and disaster services, including area emergency response plans. Speak with your vet and local shelters to find out if there are designated animal hospitals or shelters to go to during disasters and learn what help they can provide you and your pet.
Always keep ID on your pets. Most animals survive a disaster, but too many never see their families again. That’s because many pets don’t wear collars and identification tags, so it’s hard to determine which pet belongs to which family. A collar and tag are your first defense against a lost pet. Better still is permanent identification that can’t slip off, such as an embedded microchip. Make sure one of the numbers on your pet’s ID and chip records is your cell phone, and include the number of a friend or relative living out of your area if possible. That way, if you can’t get to your home phone, you can still be reached and reunited with your pet.
Put your pet’s records in one easy-to-grab spot. Make a simple file with current records of your pet’s vaccinations and other health information, as well as his license and microchip information and details on his pet insurance provider. Include some good pictures of your pet with simple, uncluttered backgrounds, so if you need to make lost pet posters, you can. Put these materials with the rest of your important papers in a place safe from fire or flood. You may also want to scan copies of these records and leave them with a friend or load them online, so that if you have Internet access, you can get what you need.
Have carriers and restraints at hand. You’re not going to get advance warning of some disasters, such as earthquakes. But if you know a storm is coming or there is a risk of a wildfire turning your way, make sure you get your pet inside a crate if possible. Sturdy crates and carriers belong on the list of must-haves, along with restraints, including comfortable box muzzles for dogs and soft face-shield muzzles and restraint bags for cats. Though you may trust your pet to remain calm, it’s better to be prepared: An injured or scared pet may lash out in self-defense.
Include your pet’s needs in your emergency kit. Always keep ample supplies of your pet’s food, medications, and litter, and enough water to cover your pet as well as your human family members. (And rotate supplies regularly.) A first-aid kit should cover your pet’s needs as well as your own — and should include a compact first-aid guide geared to pets. If your pet eats canned food, don’t forget to throw in a can opener and spoon. Disposable dishes and litter boxes can be useful as well.
One of the best investments you can make when it comes to preparation is to learn basic first aid for pets and people alike. For classes in your area, ask your veterinarian for information or check with your local Red Cross.
What is Halloween without our pets? Aside from babies, they’re the only living things we can dress up as whatever we like, as long as it’s safe. Plus, all of their costumes are mini, making them adorable. Just look at what we mean below — have you ever seen a Darth Vader costume that cute?
Around the web we’ve seen some pretty hilarious and clever costumes for critters, and now two things are apparent: Pugs make almost any Halloween costume cuter (although those hamsters are a close second) and we need to see more.
Funniest pet costumes from 2011! Which is your favorite? Always make sure if you are dressing your pet up for Halloween that the costume fits comfortably and that your pet is OK with it. Also never leave your pet unattended while they are donning their festive costume! So tell us? Are you going to dress up your pet along with yourself? Feel free to post pictures of your little furry goblins and ghouls!
Click here to view more hilarious and adorable pets in their costumes!
The popularity of television shows such as “Ghost Hunters” and even Animal Planet’s “The Haunted” has introduced us to pets that seemingly see things we cannot, but many don’t mention pets as the ghosts themselves. Petside’s hunted down a list of the spookiest haunted places where animals have passed away, but their spirits remain.
Haunted Houses: Pet Ghosts Around the Country
Kitty ghosts? Believe it! Here’s a look at the top spots pet ghosts haunt today. Click here to check out these friendly and furry haunted places!
Today is National Feral Cat Day. The reason behind this day is to educate the public on feral cats and overpopulation of these animals. Whats the best education and solution? Spay and neuter your pets. Take a moment and read on whats being done to help reduce the feral cat population.
Today marks National Feral Cat Day, an initiative raising awareness about the plight facing feral cats and how they can be helped. Read on to find out more about these felines in need!
There are 90 million owned cats in the U.S., and probably as many are unowned. Feral cats don’t ask to be here, becoming a public nuisance, living in danger from other cats and animals. Ferals are hit by cars, or cause accidents when drivers swerve to avoid them, they contract infectious diseases from other cats.
“Cats get into things that they shouldn’t get into, from munching on flowers that can kill them to lapping up antifreeze when they’re desperate for something to drink,” points out Steve Dale, Certified Cat Behavior Consultant and well-known media personality.
The number of songbirds impacted by cats may be exaggerated in some reports but the danger to outdoor cats remains constant. Feral cats that form colonies, or individual strays that go from place to place, are often flea-ridden and have worms relegating them to a very poor quality of life.
Not vaccinated for rabies, feral cats impact public health. If rabies becomes more prevalent, there are people who might suggest the feral cats be shot which can put people in danger because no one knows who will pick up a gun or how good their aim is.
Sadly, these cats have no one to love them, which is something few people consider. Ironically, as Dale notes, “They survive by avoiding people and often live their lives being afraid of people.” Sometimes people feed them and they will come close enough to be fed. According to Dale, the older feral cat (and they seldom live beyond the age of 8) cannot be brought indoors except by an exceedingly understanding, patient and caring person who knows how to tame one, which isn’t an easy process.
Feral cats become costly when the public complains and animal control or the police are sent out. Ferals cause behavior problems in some indoor cats because they come onto the indoor cat’s territory. And ferals like to defecate and spray on homeowners’ property creating another nuisance.
What is the Best Way to Deal with Feral Cats?
Trap, Neuter, Return (TNR) is the best solution for dealing with feral cats. Humane traps are set, and the cats are taken to a low-cost spay/neuter clinic where they’re given a cursory exam, a rabies vaccination and are altered. They’re then replaced in their colony, living out their lives without reproducing, ultimately resolving the overpopulation problem.
“In 1990 I found a colony of feral cats in Washington D.C. and I soon discovered that there were no services available from the city or private shelters to help me,” recalls Becky Robinson, president and co-founder of Alley Cat Allies. “I recruited friends and we organized to help the cats. Within a few months, hundreds of other feral cat caregivers were being referred to me for help with their colonies of cats.”
Alley Cat Allies was formed in 1991 because people needed help for the cats they were already caring for outdoors. Until that time, there was no formal organization to provide information on how to humanely care for the population of outdoor cats. “Alley Cat Allies made information about Trap Neuter Return (TNR) easily available and accessible for people who wanted to learn how to improve the lives of outdoor cats,” Robinson relates.
As Dale points out, the perfect solution is that people who are not breeders will spay and neuter their pets and keep them indoors, and owners of cats with behavior problems should seek professional help instead of turning their cat out.
People who want to improve the lives of outdoor cats can visit http://www.alleycat.org for programs in their area and extensive information on everything from TNR, to cat and kitten care, to how they can effect change in the animal control system to better protect outdoor cats and help resolve the feral cat situation.
