Author: Katya

A few weeks ago, a dedicated Southern California rescuer, Claudia Hoffman, got a troubling phone call. Two stray dogs were seen out on a barren field in Carson, CA. Left all on their on, one was a large female Mastiff and the other a little black Terrier-Chihuahua mix. Apparently they had been there for a while according to the neighbors who were kindly providing them with food and water. These dogs, likely dumped and discarded, were very shy; they would not get close to people and would run away when approached. Claudia knew a strategy would be needed in order to trap this pair and bring them to safety. Her goal was to take them off of the streets and into a warm home where they would enjoy the good life they deserved as part of a family.

Claudia put a plea out to all the Southern California rescuers she knew and asked for support from the local community. With so many animal advocates and rescue groups in the Los Angeles area, one might think that pet overpopulation is not an issue there. But it is. It’s indeed a big problem in this part of the country, although many passionate people are involved in trying to help put an end to the overwhelming number of homeless pets in LA County. Since everyone has different tactics, opinions, and beliefs, sadly working together does not always happen among the animal loving community. Being an emotional topic and with a wide array of personalities who are involved, sometimes even in this arena it’s unfortunately difficult for people to come together and collaborate in order to be most effective.

Despite this trend, Claudia knew she could not help these animals alone. She needed people to assist in the mission and stand alongside the fence near the field so that she could ensure that both the Mastiff and the Terrier mix wouldn’t escape. To her great pleasure, her call was not only heard but answered. Over forty people from all walks of animal rescue life showed up at eight on a Sunday morning to help capture these dogs. With such a large turnout of helpers, Claudia was able to coordinate teams, carpool volunteers to the location, and delegate tasks efficiently. Though at first the pups tried to get away, the fence was blocked by so many people. When the female Mastiff grew tired of attempting to run, she finally let herself be leashed, and her little boyfriend soon followed.

We all love fairy tales. Especially when the stories come true. Meet Seth, a typical Cinderella story as he went from being a sweet shelter pup to a valuable wildlife detection dog. Because of his incredible focus, attention and perseverance, especially when it came to tennis balls, Seth was chosen by his handler to do conservation work. Recently this area of environmental studies has increased the number of canine helpers being used to help conduct research, especially when it comes to field work. When Allison Bidlack, Ph.D. ‘07, learned that others had made the switch from human to canine assistants, she knew it was time to find her own wildlife detection friend to help her search for animal deposits. And that’s when her and Seth found one another and he became her adopted companion.

One of the advantages to having a furry assistant is that – whereas humans rely on what they see – dogs use their keen sniffing abilities to detect and distinguish various droppings. In the name of research, animals can be incredibly effective due to their specific skill sets, as well as each dog’s particular strengths and weaknesses. We just love that Bidlack and many of her colleagues are adopting pooches to help them do their own professional work, providing these pets not only with a second chance but also with an important job. Click here to read more about how Allison found Seth, and how others are rescuing dogs to serve important roles.

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We are so happy to share this lovely letter which we received from Moira McLaughlin, from Dog Art Today.  We hope you enjoy reading it, and that you’re proud to be among this community of pet lovers – together we are celebrating all animals as being works of art!  “Thank you, Adopt-a-Pet.com, for all that you do! I am a big advocate for pet adoption. Adopting my new dog, Tyler, helped me heal after the heartbreak of losing my 17-year-old Dachshund, Darby.  I know that charities like yours are responsible for saving the lives of thousands of dogs like Tyler!

I have a theory that dogs are responsible for the creation of art in many cultures.  Just as dogs fended off predators and allowed humans to cultivate crops, store body fat, grow larger brains, and think new thoughts beyond survival, so too, dogs give artists the space to create, the ability to handle solitude, and the motivation to step outside, go for a walk, and look to nature for inspiration.  My video “Dogs in Art,” is a three-minute montage that celebrates this idea.

What strikes me, too, is that the feeling of joy and connection I had working on this video was similar to the feeling I had searching for a pet to adopt: clicking on each new face, discovering more about them, smiling at their smiles or empathizing with their tender looks of hope and concern.   When I think about this parallel experience, I have a new theory; that dogs don’t just help create works of art, but that dogs are works of art.

I hope that Adopt-a-Pet.com can help you find not only your muse, but your masterpiece.”

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Getting ready for a new member of the family? Congratulations! Having a baby is an exciting time that also brings about a lot of change, and not just for you and the other people in your home, but also for your four-legged companions. You can get your feline friend prepared for the arrival of a baby by taking a few simple steps that are designed to make the transition easier.

Cats, like dogs, are used to their pack and will need your help adjusting to the inclusion of a new member. If you do a little work before the baby’s arrival, you will likely make it a smoother process for all, especially for yourself! It will probably be harder for you to support your cat through this change once the baby has arrived, particularly since you’ll be getting less sleep! If these efforts are addressed beforehand, your kitty can be taken care of, ready and happy to welcome home the bundle of joy. Click here for tips on how to prepare your cat for this life change.

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Woof University is our series of pet-related training tips, and this week we’re focusing on what to do if you have a dog who uses his mouth too much! Commonly referred to as “mouthing“, this is not to be confused with biting or aggression. Mouthing commonly occurs during play, times of excitement, or sometimes during a stressful situation. Puppies tend to mouth even more as they learn proper bite inhibition. But left without proper training, mouthing can become a problem or cause someone to become uncomfortable or even afraid of your dog. Click here to watch a video on training tips for dealing with mouthiness, and learn about how you can help curb this behavior!

By using positive reinforcement, you can teach your dog to give you what you want and strengthen your human-animal bond. Please remember to seek the help of a certified, professional, positive-reinforcement based dog trainer in your area for further assistance with mouthiness or other issues.

You, too, can post your pet-related questions on Adopt-a-Pet.com’s Facebook or Twitter page with the hashtag # AskKatya and once a week, we’ll be picking a question to answer with video! Whether it’s a dog training question, how to stop an undesirable behavior, or maybe there is something that your pet is doing you’re just curious to know what it means – feel free to ask us. Did you like this article? Click an icon below to share it on Facebook, Twitter, and more!

PEOPLEPets.com and Adopt-a-Pet.com continue working together to raise awareness and promote pet adoption! Each month we feature an adoptable sweetheart on PEOPLEPets.com to help him or her find a happy home. Today we want you to meet Shasta, September’s star! She is a beautiful Weimaraner who was sadly given up by her owners. But the Great Lakes Weimaraner Rescue stepped up to help Shasta, providing her with a loving foster home as she waits for her forever family. She is enjoying playing with her foster brother, and even though she is eight years old she still acts like a puppy! Shasta is friendly and social, adores children, and is fondly referred to as a “velcro dog” because she just wants to be near her people.

We sure appreciate the amazing work that Great Lakes Weimaraner Rescue does! They are an all volunteer, nonprofit rescue group with a mission to help save Weimaraners in the Great Lakes region including Michigan, Ohio, Illinois, Wisconsin, and Indiana. They take in Weimaraners of all ages and stages of life, and they go above and beyond to provide them all with the safety, care, and love the deserve.  You can read more about Shasta and how to adopt her by clicking here!

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Recently someone wrote in an #AskKatya question and asked the following about her new rescue dog: “My adopted dog keeps getting into the cat litterbox! I live in an apartment so my box locations are limited. Are there any other tricks I can try?”  Well, unfortunately it’s not that unusual for a pooch to want to get into a kitty box! Here are a few helpful suggestions you can try.

1. Baby gate. Often a baby or pet gate in the doorway of the room that has the litterbox is the quickest and least expensive solution. If you have a bigger dog, you can purchase a tall pet gate with a built-in kitty door in the bottom. If you have a smaller dog who will not jump a shorter gate and your cat doesn’t mind jumping over it, try a shorter gate. Some baby gates are made out vertical metal bars that a cat can easily fit through, but a dog can not. It can take trying a few heights and styles to find one that works best and is safe for both your pets.

IMPORTANT: Options 2 through 6 below are all trying a new location for your cat’s litter box. MAKE SURE you are adding a 2nd litter box, and your cat is happy using the 2nd box, before you remove the 1st. Show your cat the new box, and praise him anytime you catch him using it. Once he is using the new box for at least one week, you can then remove the original litter box that the dog was accessing. If your cat doesn’t use the new litter box, you can try leaving it there another week longer, or you may need to try another option. It is not a good idea to make sudden litter box changes, and do not try to force your cat to use the 2nd box by removing the 1st. That could cause them to stop using the litter box and finding a spot – like your rug or laundry basket – that they prefer! It can also cause stress which can lead to health problems.

2. Higher up. Another option is while leaving the original litter box where it is, try putting a second litter box up high somewhere in your home that your dog can not reach, like a table or shelf. The higher platform needs to be VERY sturdy and allow for enough room so that your cat can get up onto it, move around, and step into the litter box. 

You might know that chinchillas are rabbit-like animals with small bodies and soft fur. What you might not know, however, is that chinchillas are sadly abandoned by their owners, too, and many are homeless just like cats and dogs are. With the increase in foreclosures, all animals were effected. This means that there are many adorable chinchillas up for adoption through rescue groups or local shelters. You can even search right here for a chinchilla to adopt near you!

Unfortunately, it’s the same excuses when it comes to surrendering any animal, and these little friends are no exception. Often people don’t know what they’re getting into when they get a chinchilla in the first place. Through awareness and education, hopefully people can learn more about these special pets and be better prepared to commit to their lifetime before bringing one home. We just want to remind people that there are plenty of chinchillas out there to adopt when they’re ready! For more information and facts about chinchillas, click here.

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Got fosters? If you open your heart and home to pets in need, then you know that one of the biggest factors to consider is how well a foster pet will get along with other pets you may already have in your house. It is always best to do slow, gradual, and supervised introductions between animals who are strangers to one another. Over time relationships (and hopefully bonds) will develop between them, allowing you to let everyone interact freely.  Watch our latest video where Turbo the foster kitten gets introduced to other kitties in his foster home’s safely enclosed catio for the very first time! It’s a great example of how a proper cat introduction can happen by following the Six Cat Introduction Steps we describe here.

It’s exciting to be a part of a foster pet’s progress, to witness them thriving and blooming with a little love! Many rescue groups count on fosters in order to save animals. If you are already a foster parent, we thank you from the bottom of our hearts! If you’re interested in becoming a foster family, just click here and fill out a volunteer profile. We will help match you up with a shelter or rescue group near you where you can start to get involved. There are so many homeless kittens out there just like Turbo looking for a loving foster or forever home! Can you help?

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Just picture it: you’re walking down the street, smiling at all the people and dogs passing by. Suddenly, you see a cat. Not a stray cat. Not a roaming kitty. But a feline wearing a harness, on a leash, proud owner behind him. Leash training your cat to walk outside on a leash and harness has become more and more popular in recent years.

We do NOT recommend leash training your cat to walk on a leash outside. Ever.

What changed our opinion: While some pet owners and cats accomplish training their cat to walk on leash and tell happy adventure stories, sadly we heard story after story of cats who lost their lives because of being outside on a harness and leash. Some panicked and escaped the harness. Others had owners who didn’t realize walking their cat on leash out the door (like a dog) would teach their cat to dash out the door when not leashed too. Some cats were attacked while on leash by a dog walking by. The end result was tragically the same: Cats killed or horrifically injured by a car or dog, or lost forever. Because of the high risk vs. reward, we do not recommend training your cat to walk on leash. There are safer equally as enriching safe alternatives, see below, so WHY TAKE THE RISK.

Safe alternatives to walking a cat on leash outside:

1. Catios don’t have to be large or expensive to give your cat all the stimulation that being “outside” to watch the birds and bugs go by. See how we built a catio here and watch our video tour.

2. Cat playpen or cage: Giving your cat a safe place to enjoy the outside can be as simple as a cat playpen like these, or even just a big wire dog crate that you train your cat to go in to safely inside your home, and carry or wheel him in to your yard, balcony, or patio.

3. Window perches: These are a great way to give your cat a bird’s eye view of the world outside!

4. Cat trees or your furniture in front of windows: Giving your cat a comfy spot to sit and watch “cat TV” go by outside can be all that it takes to safely enrich your indoor cat’s life.