Tips & Tidbits

Kitchen Food & Safety Pets have very sensitive noses and can pick up scents before a human can, so don’t be surprised when you have four paws under you while cooking. Though your pet may just be waiting for a snack to fall from a plate or bowl, it is dangerous for pets to be in the kitchen with sharp utensils and hot surfaces around. Pets can unfortunately receive burns from hot dishes and drippings accidentally spilled on the floor. Use a baby gate or seclude your pet from cooking areas while you are cooking dinner./font> Note: Keep the name and number of the closest emergency vet clinic (for after-hours pet care), as well as those of your regular vet, close by the telephone.	Just Say No To Scraps Most holiday human food is very rich and never a good idea to feed to your pets, but there are times when Fluffy or Fido seem to get a table scrap or two in their paws. Turkey and ham bones are bad for pets because of their sharp edges and the splinters that they produce, which can cause serious digestive damage. Try giving your pet an irresistible toy instead to keep their mind distracted from turkey dinner. Not only are bones bad for pets, but drippings as well. Turkey and ham drippings can cause digestive upset in animals, leading to symptoms such as vomiting and diarrhea. Also, an ice cube is a fun way to keep your pet distracted; they will see it is from the refrigerator and will think they are getting something special without the side effects of human food./p>	Banish Bad Behavior In addition to digestive problems, you should resist feeding pets turkey tidbits to manage behavioral issues, as well. Though it is tempting, treats can cause unsatisfactory behavior for more dinners to come, as dinnertime begging can be a hard habit to break in pets. Begging for food may be cute with you and your family, but when guests are in the house, it becomes bothersome and embarrassing. Before dinner, try to tell your guests not to feed your pet under the table, and keep an eye on little ones that can’t help but give in to sad pet eyes. You may want to seclude your pet into their own separate room around dinnertime. To promote good behavior, leave your pet with snacks and toys and even some music playing in the background. Before the holidays, try scheduling your pet for obedience classes to help ensure good behavior for your guests on Thanksgiving. Also, keep in mind that increased activity and traffic in the house may upset your pet’s demeanor and disrupt your pets’ routine. Continue to keep your pets on the same feeding and exercise schedule during the holidays to help promote a relaxed atmosphere./font> http://www.petalive.com
SO YOU'VE DECIDED TO ADOPT ANOTHER DOG Can't decide which breed will be best for your lifestyle? Choosing the right dog to add to your pack should be a carefully thought out process. There are many factors to consider--time you have to devote to the new pup, space in the home, compatibility with the other pets and, oh yeah, how about the children. Whew! There is a lot to consider. Don't jump into this new adventure without doing your homework! Here are a few websites that might be helpful (some even include questionnaires): www.glowdog.com/bestdog/, www.wonderpuppy.net/rescue.htm, www.petfinder.com, www.peteducation.com. Congratulations on your decision to add a new life to your home. Please visit our local humane society (Heritage Humane)--the best place to start your search!
PET LOSS RESOURCES It is extremely difficult dealing with the loss of a pet. They are our friends and members of our families. Below are listed a variety of useful, thought-provoking and quite interesting links that offer help, information and comfort to anyone going through the loss of a pet. Animal Love and Loss Network http://www.ALLN.ORG An organization of pet loss counselors and professionals; offers links to support groups, plus a chat room. Animals in Our Hearts http://Animalsinourhearts.com Offers links, articles, an audio-book, tips on helping a friend or loved one cope with loss, and a variety of other animal-related resources. Association for Pet Loss and Bereavement http://www.aplb.org An association of pet loss counselors and professionals. The site offers links, articles, a bookstore, and directories of counselors and pet loss support groups. Argus Institute for Families and Veterinary Medicine http://www.argusinstitute.colostate.edu/ Sponsored by Colorado State University, this site provides a number of excellent articles on pet loss, plus additional resources for more help. (Formerly "Changes: The Support for People and Pets Program".) AVMA Guidelines for Pet Loss Support Services http://www.avma.org/issues/policy/pet_loss.asp This page will be useful to anyone interested in setting up a pet loss support group. Coping with the Death of Your Pet http://www.hsus.org/pets/pet_care/coping_with_the_death_of_your_pet/ Pet loss material from the Humane Society of the United States. Coping with the Loss of a Pet http://www.homevet.com/bonding/loss.html An article covering grieving, the five stages of mourning, how to explain pet loss to a child, and reasons for euthanasia. Cornell University Pet Loss Support Hotline http://www.vet.cornell.edu/public/petloss In addition to information about the hotline itself, this site lists other hotlines and offers several useful articles on loss, grieving, euthanasia and more. "Dr. Cookie's" Pet Loss Page http://www.dr-cookie.com Hosted by Dr. Stefanie Schwartz, veterinarian and behaviorist; click on the "Pet Loss" link on the left. Equine Protection Network - Cemeteries and Crematories for Horses http://www.equineprotectionnetwork.com/saveamericashorses/cremations.htm A state-by-state guide to facilities that handle burials or cremations for horses. Grief Healing http://griefhealing.com An excellent resource from pet loss counselor Marty Tousley. It offers an extensive collection of articles and columns on grief, plus other resources. Having to Say Goodbye http://www.landofpuregold.com/loss.htm A page of pet loss tips and resources from a golden retriever site. A key resource is a state-by-state guide to pet loss resources and support groups; click on the map to find resources in your state. In addition to links, poetry and basic tips, this page offers an extensive list of books for adults and children. Healing and Inspirational Poetry http://www.petloss.com/poems/poems.htm Links to dozens of poems on pet loss and related topics. In Memory of Pets http://www.in-memory-of-pets.com/ An extensive collection of links, book references, and other resources for pet loss. Interfaith Animal Clergy http://www.animalclergy.com/ A resource for clergy, chaplains, and others helping people deal with the bereavement of pet loss. Lightning Strike Pet-Loss Support Page http://www.lightning-strike.com/frame_pet-loss.htm One of the oldest pet-loss sites on the web, with an eclectic selection of resources and links. Now offers pet loss support blogs. Paws of the Heart http://www.pawsoftheheart.com Designed primarily for the Virginia area and offers a wide range of poems, articles and other tips for grieving. Perpetual Pet and Pet Animal Preservation http://www.perpetualpet.net and http://www.pet-animalpreservation.com Information on freeze-drying pets (if that is your thing). The Pet Loss Grief Support Website & Candle Ceremony http://www.petloss.com/ Offers information on "The Rainbow Bridge" in several different languages, plus a Monday evening worldwide candle ceremony for pets. Also offers a chat room, translations of the ceremony, poetry (see above), articles, books, links to online support groups, links to telephone support, an article on grief writing, and links to other resources. Pet Loss Phone Support http://www.petloss.com/phones.htm Links to university and veterinary hospital hotlines, and also to a variety of counselors and organizations that offer telephone support to pet owners. Pet Loss Support Page http://www.pet-loss.net Wide variety of links to everything regarding pet loss by author Moira Anderson Allen, M.Ed. Pet Loss: Understanding Grief in Children http://www.sniksnak.com/cathealth/grief-children.html The Pet Professor http://www.thepetprofessor.com Though not specifically a pet loss page, this site is loaded with useful information and pictures. Super Dog's Pet Loss: A Reference to References http://www.superdog.com/Coping-.html Links to books, online resources, counselors, cemeteries, urns and markers, poems, tributes and more. Tigger's Memorial Page http://mysite.verizon.net/deborahlb/PetLoss.htm Lots of links to comforting poems and messages. Time to Let Go http://www.messybeast.com/euth.htm Good article on euthanasia, and on how to determine when the time is right. Veterinary Chaplaincy Services http://veterinarychaplaincy.homestead.com/ Designed to help veterinarians and other professionals deal with "compassion fatigue" relating to pet loss.
BILL OF RIGHTS FOR ANIMALS ------------------------------------------------------ Revised from the original in Key guide to Information Sources in Animal Rights, Charles Magel, Jefferson, NC: McFarland and Company, Inc., Publishers, 1989, pp. 233-4. [ARRS Administrator's Note: This is a revised version of the original that provides stronger and more absolute protections. For example, the original had clauses stating that animals have the right to life and that they should be killed painlessly!] ------------------------------------------------------ Animal Rights All animals are born with an equal claim on life and the same rights to existence. All animals are entitled to respect. Humanity as an animal species shall not arrogate to itself the right to exterminate or exploit other species. It is humanity's duty to use its knowledge for the welfare of animals. All animals have the right to the attention, care, and protection of humanity. No animals shall be ill-treated or be subject to cruel acts. All wild animals have the right to liberty in their natural environment, whether land, air, or water, and should be allowed to procreate. Deprivation of freedom, even for educational purposes, is an infringement of this right. Animals of species living traditionally in a human environment have the right to live and grow at the rhythm and under the conditions of life and freedom peculiar to their species. Any interference by humanity with this rhythm or these conditions for purposes of gain is an infringement of this right. All companion animals have the right to complete their natural life span. Abandonment of an animal is a cruel and degrading act. Animal experimentation involving physical or psychological suffering is incompatible with the rights of animals, whether it be for scientific, medical, commercial, or any other form of research. Replacement methods must be used and developed. No animal shall be exploited for the amusement of humanity. Exhibitions and spectacles involving animals are incompatible with their dignity. Any act involving the wanton killing of the animals is biocide, that is, a crime against life. Any act involving the mass killing of wild animals is genocide, that is, a crime against the species. Pollution or destruction of the natural environment leads to genocide.