As previously covered in our November newsletter, there are a lot of dangers you need to be aware of during the holidays. Just like Thanksgiving, we will give you some pointers for keeping your animals safe during these upcoming holidays.

For those who celebrate Christmas, and are planning on putting up a tree, there are some precautions you will need to take to make sure it is animal safe.

If you are putting up a real tree, make sure your animals do not drink out of the holiday water dishes. Much of the water can contain poisonous fertilizers, or the water can become stagnant and harbor harmful bacteria. Check tree water labels and fake snow for chemicals and make sure to only select those that are non-toxic. There is a myth that adding asprin to the tree water will help tree look more lush and lively, but this can be toxic to animals if injested.

Real or fake, all trees hold decorations, that to us look elegant, but to your animal may look like an excellent chew toy. These can be fatal; ornaments have small parts, sharp peices, glass, or even bits of dried food that can be chewed off and then swallowed causing puncture or blockage to the instestinal track. Some companion animals, especially cats, can be tempted to eat tinsel which,if injested, can block the intestinal track as well. Pine needles on real trees or even fake plastic trees can be extremely sharp and may can cause the same effect if eaten.

Other edible concerns for your animals:

-Snow sprays or styrophome snow imitations which can contain toxic organisms and may expand when wet which can also block instestinal track.

-Christmas lights may contain bubbling fluids which are poisonous to animals. Conversly if you are using the electric kind can cause electricution if chewed.

-String used for gift wrapping or tieing up holiday hams and turkey's can lead to intestinal blockage and require surgical removal.

-Keep garbage cans tightly secured, for trash may contain poisonous foods, sharp objects, or plastics and cloths that can block or tear the intestinal track.

-Do not feed your companion animals fatty human food, cooked bones, candy, alchohol or chocolate

-Snow globes can contain anti-freeze which is poisonous to animals

Think Before Giving

Adding an animal companion to the family is an important decision. It means making a permanent commitment to care for and spend time with the animal and to provide for his or her lifelong care; which could be anywhere from 10-20+ years depending on size and quality of life and care. Before adopting, consider the time and money involved in proper animal care.  Do research on your breed or mix of breeds and consider potential genetic problems, exercise needs and grooming requirements.  Will your loved one have the time and patience to exercise and housetrain the animal? Is he or she prepared to pay for food, accessories (such as toys, grooming supplies, leashes and harnesses, and bedding), and veterinary care (including, but certainly not limited to, vaccinations, spaying or neutering, flea treatment, deworming, and emergency care)?

If a family decides to adopt an animal, every member of the family should go to the local animal shelter together to choose the animal, having already discussed the obligations and long-term commitments involved. Please, never buy from breeders or pet stores, and always practice your ABCs-animal birth control. For every animal purchased from a breeder or a pet shop, a potential home is taken away from a homeless dog or a cat at a local animal shelter.

Children May Not Be Ready

Small children may unintentionally harm animals, even breaking their fragile bones or causing other fatal injuries, when they think they are playing. Puppies, kittens, bunnies, chicks, baby ducks, and other young animals are especially vulnerable.

We have heard too many stories about families in which the child has lost interest in an animal, and the adult is forced to make the difficult decision on the best way to "solve" the problem. Often this means turning the animal over to a crowded shelter or pound or worse--passing the animal on to a series of homes, causing trauma, psychological scarring, and behavioral problems.

Too Few Happy Endings

Animal shelters are filled beyond capacity with many of these fomer  "pets" who, for one reason or another, didn't fit into someone's lifestyle. No matter how much they would like to, many people who receive animals as gifts find that they are unable to make the lifelong commitment to care for their new companion.

Sadly, many people end up turning animals they received as gifts over to an overburdened humane society or animal-control agency that is likely filled to capacity. In worst-case scenarios, some people even abandon animals on the road or in the back yard when they move away.

What You Can Do

• Don't ever give an animal as a gift. If you have discussed the idea with the prospective recipients and know that they have the time, willingness, ability, and resources to properly care for an animal and make that serious commitment, consider offering them a gift certificate from the local animal shelter.
• If you attend a fair, flea market, or other event at which animals are being given away, educate those who are responsible. If people are offering free kittens or puppies, for example, explain the risks of giving animals to unknown passersby-some people sell dogs and cats to laboratories or dealers, and others abuse, neglect, or abandon them.

 

 Hi! My name is Amelia Moore and I am the newest addition to the Muddy Paws training staff.  We want to help you and your companion animals end the year on a a good note and start 2012 off on the right foot, or paw, with the introduction of our new board and train/daycare and train program.  If your dog has never been trained or you just want to reinforce certain behaviours our program gives you the freedom to tailor the lessons to your needs. Below is a outline of course offerings, requirements and pricing.

REQUIREMENTS:

1.  Dogs are required to board for at least two nights per lesson or attend two consecutive full daycare days in a row. 

2.  You must be able to set aside 30 minutes to 1&1/2 hours (depending upon how many lessons were chosen) for an orientation which will include learned cue's, learning concepts, handling skills, proper clicker usage, when and how to use and interrupter and release, and why proper nutrition is important not only to your dogs overall health but to his/her learning success as well. 

3.   Owner must provide treats and/or agree, if the treats are not motivating enough, to treats I provide at owners expense. I promise nothing crazy but please do provide allergy information to avoid any problems. Clickers will be provided along with a folder containing handouts outlining what was learned and steps to reinforce the behavours at home.

PRICING:

$60 per day of daycare for the first lesson and $45 for each additional lesson  (i.e. two consecutive days of daycare for one lesson, four days for two lessons and so on.  Days can be split up however, for instance Monday/Tuesday for lesson one and Thursday/Friday for lesson two, just as long as each lesson takes place on two consecutive days).

$75 per night of boarding for the first lesson and $60 for each additional lesson (i.e two consecutive nights for one lesson, four for two lessons and so on).

$20 for a one hour orientaion sesson for new dog owners  or people who just want to communicate better with their compainion animals.

LESSONS:

1.  Watch, Sit, Shake

2. Come When Called, Leave It

3. Take It/Drop It, Down, Sit for Greeting

4. Loose Leash Walking, Stay

5. Wait, Mat Training, Spin

 Please feel free to call with any questions or concerns.  I look forward to working with you and your furry family members.