Dispelling the Myths That Shelter Animals Are Bad

There are so many dogs and cats across the country languishing in shelters. They are in desperate need of homes. Unfortunately, many of them have been deemed unadoptable for a variety of reasons.

Shelters take in about 5 and 7 million homeless animals, according to the article, “Shining a Light on Shelter Myths” at ASPCA.org. And “as ridiculous as anti-shelter arguments are, they reveal destructive myths about shelter animals that need to be called out every time they arise.”

According to the article, some of the myths include:

• Dogs end up in shelters due to being seized in criminal cases or they were deemed too aggressive to safely own. Just because at least half of dogs and cats come to shelters as strays, it doesn’t mean they are aggressive. An animal’s current behavior and health is what’s important.
• Shelter animals are not clean but puppy store animals are. Puppy stores receive their animals from puppy mills where dogs hardly ever leave filthy, wired cages where disease spreads.
• Older cats and dogs do not bond. This is very untrue. “Age is not a determining factor in an animal’s affection toward humans or its ability to bond with them,” the ASPCA article said.

According to the article, “Why Adopt a Shelter Dog? 10 Myths About Shelter Pets Debunked” at Be.chewy.com, “Yes, animal adoption is a big deal—you’re welcoming a new furry family member to their forever home—so you want to make sure you make the right decisions. But that doesn’t mean you should skip the shelter.”

The Be.chewy.com article discusses the following myths:

• Rescue dogs cannot be trained. Any dog who comes into your home will need some type of training. Plus, you can train an adult dog.
• Many shelter dogs are shy or scared. Every dog has an individual personality. Oftentimes a shelter dog you adopt will need time to decompress.
• Rescue dogs are not potty trained. This depends on the individual dog. Either ask a shelter staff member for a potty-trained dog or be willing to help train your newly adopted canine.

Often, people do not believe purebred dogs are available at the shelter. While shelters have a lot of mutts, “about a quarter of the rescue dogs are purebred,” according to the article, “5 Ridiculous Myths About Rescue Dogs” at Petguide.com. For those who want a specific breed, there are breed-specific rescue groups out there. Just do some research.

While some people think rescue dogs are simply unhealthy and sick; that is just another myth. “Dogs that are taken in by shelters are given a complete health exam by a veterinarian before being put up for adoption,” the Petguide.com article said.

Just remember, when you adopt a dog from a shelter or a local rescue, just provide the basics: love, leadership, patience and guidance, the Petguide.com article said. Your newly adopted dog will be happy you did, and so will you. Before you know it, your new family member will be eating out of your hand.

How to Prevent Hairballs in Your Cat
How to Celebrate National Pet Parent Day
Best Ways to Exercise Your Dog Mentally and Physically

How to Prevent Hairballs in Your Cat
We love our cats. They are fun, cute, cuddly, sometimes sneaky, sometimes like to knock things off the table, and then there are the hairballs. If you have a cat who gets hairballs, what can you do?

When you first encounter a hairball it can be quite undesirable and nasty to look at. Your cat basically will vomit up the hair, according to the article, “How To Treat Cat Hairballs” at PetMD.com.

The hairballs occur because of your cat grooming himself and then swallowing hair. While some “hair will pass thorough their digestive tract and into their feces with no complications,” the article said, sometimes in cats the hair gets into the stomach and becomes a hairball. “After hair has accumulated in the stomach and a hairball is formed, it will then be vomited as a long, tubular hair mass that may be covered in slimy mucus.”

There are things you can to do prevent and treat hairballs. The PetMD article offers the following tips:

• Laxatone, an oral gel that binds hair in the stomach so the hair passes easier
• Over-the-counter hairball diets available in certain cat food formulas
• Prescription diets that you can discuss with your veterinarian

You can try to prevent hairballs in your cat as well. According to the article, “7 Tips to Prevent Hairballs” at PetSafe. Some things you can do include:

• Brushing your cat and do it more during shedding seasons. “Removing the loose and dead hair from your cat’s coat before your cat can ingest it is probably the best way to prevent hairball from forming in the first place,” the PetSafe article said.
• An active cat who engages in regular exercise and play can keep the digestive system working.
• Try pumpkin, a great fiber-rich treat.
• Ensure your cat has lots of water.

How to Celebrate National Pet Parent Day
There’s a day for just about everything. And while we have Mother’s Day and Father’s Day, did you know there is a National Pet Parent Day? It’s a great way to celebrate being a parent to your pet.

Celebrated on the last Sunday of April, this year the day falls on April 24. Thankfully, back in 2007, this very special day started “to acknowledge the many Americans who consider their pets to be beloved members of the family,” according to the article, “Ways to Celebrate National Pet Parents Day” at PetPlace.com.

Pet parents take care of their pets on a daily basis by feeding them, walking them, cleaning the litter box, taking them to the veterinarian, playing with them, and even taking them on vacation.

How can you celebrate this very special day? Here are some suggestions, according to the article:

• Go to the park with your dog. Your dog will have a great long walk and you both can take in the sights and smells.
• Cuddle up with your pet in your lap. Provide extra kisses and belly rubs.
• Get out and go for a drive. You can even choose a destination.
• Prepare a special meal that you can share.
• Organize a pet food drive and bring together your community to help pet parents in need.

You can even make it memorable. According to the article, “Top tips to make this National Pet Parents Day one to remember” at Animal Wellness Magazine, consider these suggestions:

• Adopt a shelter pet and become a wonder pet parent all over again.
• Buy your pet a new toy and bask in the happiness it brings.
• Volunteer at your local animal shelter

Whatever you decide to do to celebrate National Pet Parents Day, remember it’s your day so celebrate it in your style.

Best Ways to Exercise Your Dog Mentally and Physically
Since April is Canine Fitness Month, it’s a great time to exercise your dog both mentally and physically.

As with people, dogs can become sedentary, become obese, and lack mental stimulation. According to the article, “Canine Fitness Month: Exercises Anyone Can Do” at Vet Organics, dogs need to be active at least 30 minutes a day and so do humans. “Now is the time to build exercise, playtime, and games into our daily habits to keep all of us, canine companions included, mentally healthy and physically fit,” the article said.

The article offers some ways to get out there with your canines:

• Walk at any pace that is comfortable for you and your dog. If you’re just starting, begin with a shorter walk.
• Fetch anyone? It’s a great game. You can try a Frisbee, ball, or stick.
• Take the stairs, but be mindful of senior dogs.
• Try obstacle courses, which you can do at home.

According to the article, “Enriching Your Dog’s Life” at Fetch by WebMD, while we all have lives that are busy, our dogs are often home alone a big part of every day. “If you give your dog ‘jobs’ to do when she’s by herself, she’ll be less likely to come up with her own ways to occupy her time, like unstuffing your couch, raiding the trash or chewing on your favorite pair of shoes,” the Fetch by WebMD article said.

Provide a food puzzle toy for your dog. These sturdy containers have food or treats inside but dogs have to work to get the food out. They “require time, patience and problem solving,” the Fetch article said.

There are so many activities you can do to help stimulate your dog mentally and physically. It will help you both in the long run.

What You Should Know Before Adopting a Pet Pig
How to Prepare for Your New Puppy or Kitten and Reasons to Adopt
Thanks for Supporting Second Home Pet Resort During the Pandemic

What You Should Know Before Adopting a Pet Pig
Some people love pets. Some want to bring home a dog, or a cat, or a hamster, or bunny. There are those who want to bring home a pig. Is adopting a pig the right thing for you and your family?

“Some people adopt a pet pig without fully educating themselves about the behavior and care requirements of these intelligent animals,” according to the article, “Potbellied Pigs as Pets” at BestFriends.org. “As a consequence, potbellied pigs are surrendered to shelters and sanctuaries all over the country, not only for being a ‘teacup’ or ‘mini’ pig who grew too large, but for medical, circumstantial and behavioral issues.”

Pet potbellied pigs are very smart and love companionship. Pigs love their bellies rubbed and taking walks. They also need humans who know how to care for them who can provide love as well as mental stimulation, according to the article.

If you are considering adopting a potbellied pig, the article suggests the following:

• Ensure where you live is zoned for a potbellied pig. If it is, find out if there are any restrictions.
• Educate yourself about potbellied pigs and their behavior and caring for them.
• Learn about pigs by volunteering at a pig sanctuary.

Other important things to consider include what to feed your pig and where they should sleep, according to the article, “Is a Pig Right for You?” at PigPlacementNetwork.org.

It is not a really good idea to keep pigs in an apartment. “Pigs need ample outdoor space, which cannot be provided in an apartment or condo,” the PigPlacementNetwork article said.

Learn about “piggy proofing” your home. Pigs can get into things such as cleaning products, medicine, makeup, and gum!

Educate yourself and find out as much as you can before deciding whether to adopt a pig into your family.

How to Prepare for Your New Puppy or Kitten and Reasons to Adopt
It’s a wonderful time to consider adopting a puppy or kitten because there are many waiting at shelters and rescues to find a home.

You will help save a life and get a great animal, according to the article, “Top reasons to adopt a pet” at The Humane Society of the United State (HSUS).

Roughly 1 million adoptable dogs and cats are euthanized each year in the U.S. “Most shelter pets wound up there because of a human problem like a move or a divorce, not because the animals did anything wrong,” the HSUS article said. “Many are already house-trained and used to living with families.”

After you have decided to adopt, prepare your home for the new arrival. Start with a vet visit to ensure your pet is in good health.

According to the article, “Top 5 Ways to Prep Your Home for a Puppy or Kitten” at ASPCA.org, there are some important things to consider when bringing home your new family member. They include:

1. Get low to the ground to see things from a pet’s point of view. This will help you pet-proof your home. Things may be on the ground that your new pet can choke on. Keep dangerous items out of reach!
2. Make sure plants are not toxic to pets. Click here for information.
3. Trim or bind electrical cords and cords from blinds.
4. Close cabinet doors and use child-proof locks.
5. Bring home everything they need. That includes litter box, litter, food and water bowl, ID tags, scratching post, and toys for kittens. Provide leash and collar, ID tags, food and water bowl, possibly a crate, and toys for puppies.

The more prepared you are, the safer your new puppy or kitten will be, and you’ll be off to a great start.

Thanks for Supporting Second Home Pet Resort During the Pandemic
The COVID-19 pandemic that started almost two years ago has taken a toll on people all over the world as well as countless businesses. Many small mom-and-pop businesses truly suffered with many not being able to keep their doors open.

At Second Home Pet Resort, we worked hard to keep our doors open and were thankfully successful.

On March 29, we celebrate National Mom and Pop Business Owners Day. The day is not necessarily for just moms and pops. “Generationally owned small businesses brighten our neighborhoods and connect our communities, so we celebrate them on National Mom and Pop Business Owners Day,” according to the article, “National Mom and Pop Business Owners Day” at National Day Archives.

Oftentimes, it’s the mom-and-pop businesses that have a local connection, striving to provide great customer service to those in a community. “They also give us the colors and flavors that make our community unique,” the article said.

Did you know that:
• Small businesses positively influence your local community?
• Mom and pops “might make fewer sales, but locally owned retailers earn triple what their chain competitors make for every dollar of sales,” the article said.
• Since 2001, small businesses were responsible for 65 percent of net new jobs.
• “Local businesses retain 77 million U.S. employees,” the article said.

Second Home Pet Resort thanks all of our clients for their dedicated support through these past two years during COVID. It has not been easy for anyone. We are ever so grateful to each of you for helping us during this difficult time.

We hope for things to get better for everyone. Please stay healthy and safe, and we hope to see you and your pets soon.