Benny is a special guy who deserves a great home in the northern New Jersey or New York City area. This pup was found on the streets and kept by the person who took him in. But he’s been living outside his whole life and has never known the comfort of a soft dog bed or snuggling close to a loving owner. My Pet Health Guide & Adopt-a-Pet.com are hoping Benny can find a loving home soon. He appreciates the company of other pets, chewing on rawhide bones, and learning what life on the “inside” is like. He’s a very playful pooch for his age and will be a great companion. He’s been great around other foster dogs, but prefers to sit alone chewing on a bone when they’re all outside together. Benny’s shy when he first meets you and takes some time to warm up. But once he does, you’ll fall in love.
You can make a real difference in this dog’s life, so please consider Benny if you’re looking for a new family member. Benny is neutered, up-to-date with all shots, and has been micro-chipped. If you’re interested in Benny, you can read more about him in his Adopt-a-Pet.com listing here: http://www.adoptapet.com/pet4183056.html and for information on how to adopt him, please send an e-mail to the All Star Pet Rescue in Linden, New Jersey at AllStarPets@comcast.net.
Declawing is a surgery to permanently remove a cat or kitten’s claws. Many pet owners are unaware that in order for the nails not to grow back, the operation is actually 10 to 18 amputations, removing the end bone in each of the cat’s or kittens toes! If that made you think “ouch!” you already have an idea of how painful that is for a kitten or cat.
So you’ve adopted a dog but aren’t sure how to begin the relationship or how to train him. 
Pia writes… Remember those old Doublemint Gum commercials — the ones with twins doing all sorts of activities to a song that went something like…”Double surfing…double singing… double kissing… etc.”? Well just yesterday I did a true double take, and it led to a very interesting connection! So there I am in the waiting room at my vet’s office and in come some Frannie and Sharkey look-a-likes! I jokingly said, “That’s not Franny and Sharkey is it?” To which the proud mama laughed and said. “No not Frannie and Sharkey but Fala and Winnie.”
This insightful article gives a vet’s point of view on how to reduce stress for cats that are being kept in a vet hospital boarding situation. However, the advice and experience Dr. Tripp shares can be helpful for many similar situations, such as cats in a shelter, rescue kennel, foster home with regular new cats coming through – and even to new cat adopters!
Ideally, cat nail clipping is something you start at very young age, always trying to make it as pleasant an experience as possible – often just doing a nail or two at a time. This gets them used to the sensation, and then as they grow up, they continue not to mind having their nails trimmed. If you’ve adopted an adult cat, and/or if you have never clipped your cat’s claws, you may want to practice holding your cats paws, and extending their nails, before you try using cat clippers. Have your cat lie on your lap as if you were going to clip their claws but instead gently touch their paws. Repeat that over several days. Then try lightly pressing on the bottom of their paw, pushing out the claws while hold the cats paw in your hand. Use one finger on one side of your cat’s toe, and the other on the bottom (on the toe pad), gently squeeze on the toe (or toes) until the claws extend. See photo.
When you can accomplish paw holding and nails extension with a relaxed cat, use a pair of sharp nail trimmers and cut off only the tip of the nail. Take care not to damage the vein or quick, which is very painful if cut. See photo for where the quick is located. It is pink and visible on clear or light colored nails. On dark nails, you have to estimate where it will be based on the curve of the cat’s nail. Better to take off too little, than too much!
This post is brought to Adopt-a-Pet.com by Rolan Tripp. Dr. Tripp received his doctorate from UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine and also holds a bachelor’s degree in music and a minor in philosophy. A regular guest on the Animal Planet Network, Dr. Tripp appears on both “Petsburgh, USA” and “Good Dog U.” “Shame on me!” That’s what I thought as I stood in the lobby of my own veterinary hospital 15 years ago. I was watching one of my valued clients dragging her dog into the hospital. The dog was a delightful Border Collie who obviously did not want to be there. There were two questions that came to mind: 1) Does this animal act like this at other locations? Answer, no. 2) Has she been to another veterinary hospital that I can blame for her fear? Again, no. Dogs simply don’t lie or make up stories. This dog had been treated in such a way that she didn’t want to ever come into my hospital again. Not only was I embarrassed, but I wondered if veterinary phobia might also influence loving owners who would not want to come to a place that frightens their pets.