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New Year’s Resolutions. We’re full of them. But how many of us have resolutions for our cats? One of our latest favorite websites called GreenLittleCat.com, is a blog dedicated exclusively to sharing ideas on greener living for cats and cat lovers. Encouraging their readers to take a 30-Day Green Cat Challenge, this website is there to help you and your cat go green in a month! Just one day at a time, tackling one aspect each day, you can transform your kitty into an eco-friendly pet. There’s a task assigned to each day and even a daily green inspiration to keep you going. Every single one of us can make a huge difference when it comes to the environment! So whether you accomplish all 30 Challenges or just one, you and your feline friend will be greener. Now that’s a resolution you can keep!

We love hearing happy stories from people who found their perfect pet through Adopt-a-Pet.com, like this one from Jan D. in Florida! “Dear Adopt-a-Pet.com, Through you I found my perfect forever friend.  You sent me a notice about a Blue Tick Coon Hound that was at the Hillsborough Shelter in Tampa, FL.  I went that very afternoon and fell in love with her.  I brought her home yesterday and so far she has been perfect.  She slept in our bedroom last night in her crate and didn’t make a peep all night.  She doesn’t leave my side and she is beautiful. I got her for my October birthday to me from me.  I named her Libra, which is my birth sign.  I will be 75 in October and my husband and I hope to spend the rest of our lives making her happy. We are now a pack of 3. Thanks for your help and thank you for the good that you are doing. – Jan D.

 

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.

This article update is in memory our former foster kitten Floyd, who’s photo appeared in our original article touting the benefits of leash training your cat, and is included here. His adopter did eventually leash train him “successfully” so he was very comfortable outside on a leash. He was on what supposed to be a very secure cat harness on a leash in his fenced backyard with his adopter, as they had done almost daily for over a year. A car backfired, he somehow escaped his harness, leapt over the 6 foot wooden fence, and was gone. RIP kitten, we are so sorry we failed to keep you safe.

We love that PeoplePets.com helps pets get adopted by featuring them on their uber-popular website every week! One lucky dog who made the headlines is Storm, a 2-year-old Jack Russell terrier mix with boundless energy. The young pooch was rescued by The Little Shelter in Huntington, N.Y., almost a year ago from a municipal shelter. In his time there, he’s blossomed into quite the ham. “We have a swimsuit contest here every year, and last year, Storm actually won the male dog category,” says communications and events manager Jodi Record. “He was a scuba diver. He had a snorkel, flippers, the whole kit and caboodle. He loves to dress up, he’s a fun dog.” A “spitfire” who loves being the center of attention, Storm is very active and needs an owner who can keep up with him and work with him on his possessiveness over his toys. Find out more about Storm at PeoplePets.com by clicking here.

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Cat Anatomy graphic created by Matt Beswick for Pet365. Click here to view the full post.

Our friends over at BarkBusters reminded us of some chilling facts about the dangers that cold winter weather can pose for our pets! They rightfully point out that: “Frostbite, hypothermia and even death are real dangers to your dog as the snow piles up and the mercury drops” below 32 degrees Fahrenheit. Most dogs’ coats are more like our hair – if you need to wear a hat to stay warm, your dog coat may need some help too! Double-coated dogs like Huskies and Chows are exceptions, but even thick coated dogs vary in how much cold they can withstand. It depends not only on the temperature, wettness, wind, how long they are in the cold, but how much “fuel” (food) they’ve had to keep warm while they play with you in the snow! Other factors also affect how long your dog can stay out with you safely – including how much muscle, fat and fur your dog has protecting them, and how much energy they have to burn (literally) to keep themselves warm. Just like people, many young dogs enjoy playing, walking or running in the cold with us for hours. So how do you know how much cold is safe – and comfortable – for your dog?

photo credit: http://www.sxc.hu/photo/820746

Always play it safe, and each year when winter comes, reassess your dog’s tolerance, which will go down as they get older. Keep a close eye on your dog while they are outside with you to watch for these signs…

Barkbusters says: When your dog is exposed to temperatures below 32 degrees for too long, frostbite can set in. Frostbite occurs when the dog’s ears, paws or tail get cold enough that ice crystals form in the tissue and causes damage. If you think your dog has frostbite, bring him into a warm area and soak the affected areas with warm water for about 20 minutes. In the meantime, contact your local veterinarian immediately.

Barkbusters says:  Hypothermia, which occurs when the dog’s body temperature goes below normal as a result of prolonged exposure to cold temperatures, is another very real danger during the cold winter months. Symptoms of hypothermia typically include shivering, lethargy, a low heart rate, slow breathing and unresponsiveness. If you notice any of these symptoms, immediately bring your dog inside your warm house or room-temperature car and contact your veterinarian.

Barkbusters says: A dog’s internal system works extra hard in the cold to maintain appropriate body temperatures. As such,your dog needs extra fuel to burn and generate heat. Also, remember to provide plenty of fresh drinking water and keep it from freezing. It is just as easy to get dehydrated in the winter as it is in the summer if proper amounts of water are not consumed.

Barkbusters says: Try to keep snow from building up along fences so it does not provide artificial steps that will allow your dog to get out of the safety of your yard. If he does get out, remember that ice-melting chemicals commonly used on public streets can irritate and burn your dog’s paws. Be sure to rinse off his feet after being exposed to such chemicals.

Winter months can be just as hazardous to your dog’s health as the summer months. But by taking the right precautions and using good old common sense, you can help protect your dog from the dangers that can accompany the harsh winter climate.

About Bark Busters:
Bark Busters, the world’s largest, most trusted dog training company, started in Australia in 1989 and came to the United States in 2000. Since inception, more than 500,000 dogs have been trained worldwide using its dog-friendly, natural methods. With 225+ franchised offices in 40 states and more than 400 offices in 10 countries, Bark Busters is continuing its mission to build a global network of dog behavioral therapists to enhance responsible dog ownership and reduce the possibility of maltreatment, abandonment and euthanasia of companion dogs. Bark Busters is the only international dog training company that offers guaranteed lifetime support. SPCA International selected Bark Busters dog behavioral training services as the “Best of the Best” in its category. No other training company or dog trainer received such a distinction. To fetch a trainer in your area, call 1-877-500-BARK (2275) or visit www.BarkBusters.com, where dog owners can complete a Dog Behavioral Quiz to rate their dogs’ behavior.

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The awesome dog-lovers over at the Wet Nose Guide feature homeless dogs for adoption to help them find their future families! They recently posted adorable Frasier, a St. Bernard available for adoption in the Sudbury, MA area. He’s an adult-aged pup and is house trained, purebred, up to date with shots and great with other dogs and children! He found his way to the New England Saint Bernard Rescue center because his owners couldn’t keep him. His friends know he’d do well in a house with small children that he could cuddle with, but he would fair better in a cat-less household. He just loves to chase tiny critters too much! Find out more about him visit his Adopt-a-Pet.com page.

Do you know of an amazing pet for adoption that could use some extra special exposure, like Fraiser? You can copy their Adopt-a-Pet.com page link onto our Facebook page here and our friends can help! Please click “like” at the top of our page while you’re there to show you care about pet adoption too.

There is an owner for every pet and a pet for every owner. Even the ones with special needs. Caring for special needs pets isn’t a burden – it’s actually an especially rewarding, fulfilling journey! Just ask Mick and Bethany Szydlowski who rescued a blind kitten you may have heard of named Oskar. Oskar is sort of famous… with over two million viewers watching his precious video on YouTube we can safely say Oskar has star charisma! See it for yourself here.

When the Szydlowskis met Oskar he melted in their arms. Born the disabled runt of the litter, he was off to be surrendered at the shelter before the family stepped in. They know they could not let that happen. When they brought Oskar home, they already had an adopted cat named Klaus who they adopted from The Cat House in Lincoln, NE. And even though they adopted Klaus as an adult they referred to him as “our baby” which is just another reason that this kind couple makes us smile from ear to ear! They’re the type of people who really get it when it comes to pet adoption, and they understand the incredible love a furry family member brings. Anyway, as fate would have it kitty Oskar came into their lives, and even though Klaus had not hit it off with other cats they’d tried to introduce him to in the past, with Oskar it was a different story.

Here is where Oskar’s special needs were probably an advantage to the family. Oskar was born without formed eyeballs. This deformity is probably responsible for his innocent, sweet demeanor, which Mick describes as, “he was born into this world absolutely trusting of everybody and just happy to be here.” The Szydlowskis planned to take all the steps necessary when introducing Klaus to Oskar to make sure it was done properly and positively. They had decided they would even divide their home into two sections for them to live separately if it required. But luckily within five days, Klaus not only accepted Oskar, he also began taking care of his new brother! Very likely Klaus could sense Oskar’s special needs and felt a paternal instinct or compassion rather than competition from his new best friend. Many people report that their pets accept special needs pets more readily and easily.

Though thankfully the transition was a smooth one, the Szydlowskis continued to learn about how to live with a special needs pet. Because they worried about Oskar hurting himself by running into walls or not being able to use a litter box, the couple diligently researched in order to know as much as possible about having a blind kitten. They found that Oskar’s other senses took over, as nature would have it, even when it came to learning how to play with toys. He just figured it all out like any kitten would!

More than anything the Szydlowskis hope that Oskar’s story will inspire other people to open their homes to adoptable pets with special needs. Often people shy away from these animals thinking something is wrong with them. But nothing could be further from the truth. Special needs pets can live full, happy lives like any other animal, and they’re just extra, well… special! The Szydlowskis don’t see Oskar’s blindness as a handicap or burden – they see it as an opportunity to spend even more time with the feline they love. Now that’s inspiring!

So are you hooked on Oskar yet? Become his friend on Facebook so you can stay up to date on all his adventures! He is so popular even Ellen DeGeneres featured a video of him on her show! And hey, while you’re on Facebook make sure you’re Adopt-a-Pet.com’s friend, too! Last but not least know that there are so many special needs pets out there just as lovely and loving as Oskar. We’ve made it so easy for you to search for them that we’ve included a “special needs” box to check when you run your next search for a pet to adopt! These sweethearts are looking for their family, their safe home to belong to, and the people who will see them for what they truly are. Consider making another special needs pet as lucky as Oskar is… who knows, yours may even have the next famous YouTube video!

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Puppy Development graphic created by Matt Beswick for Pet365 – a UK supplier of dog collars, coats and beds. Click here to view the full post.

Animal rescue can be hard work, but it is always always always fulfilling. The backbone of rescue is fostering. Being a foster parent to a homeless pet is a great way to give back, to get involved, and to change your life for the better! By fostering you too can be a part of healing rescue dogs. Sadly every year shelters are inundated with kittens and puppies, many accidental litters due to lack of spay and neuter. This is just another reason to spay and neuter your pets: consider all the homeless babies that come into the shelter system and do your part to encourage their adoption, instead of creating more animals! Thankfully some very generous people out there volunteer to become foster parents for puppies and kitties. By fostering a family of wee ones you can do a huge act of kindness – you can literally save a whole family’s life. Many rescues cannot save puppies and kitties unless they have a foster home to help. Though it requires work and time, raising little furballs with love and ensuring their safety is the most rewarding experience. Check out this article about a foster mom extraordinaire who had one point fostered five puppies! You can also sign up to volunteer on Adopt-a-Pet.com’s volunteer registry, and select “Fostering” as one of your interests.

Check out our previous articles on fostering too:

• Get Your Furry Fix by Fostering
• What type of pet should I foster?
• Top 5 Benefits of Fostering a Pet!

photo credit: nixxphotography / FreeDigitalPhotos.net