Being a Responsible Pet Owner: Part I

What does it mean to be a responsible pet owner? This is a question that has as many answers as there are pet owners. Luckily, there are some areas of consistency that hold true for most pet owners. In this first installment, we are going to focus on the pet’s position in the family.

When we decide to get a pet and welcome him/her to our family, that is exactly what we are doing…adding a member to the family. Our four legged family members deserve and should be treated with the same respect as every other member of the family. More importantly, he/she should be treated the way you would want to be treated…in every facet of their life.

I, like so many of my friends, consider my dog as my "kid". I am not saying that everyone has to do this, but it does help create that healthy and nurturing home environment. Just like with kids, we need to try and make sure that our home is “kid” proofed. This may include things like kid locks on cabinets, locks on the fridge, child gates, trash picked up and out of reach, etc. I have actually had to do all of these with my basset hound. Our “kids” look to us for protection from outside dangers and themselves.

Another area that people often overlook in the environment is the psychological needs of dogs.  Dogs have a great need to see the outside world. One of the easiest and best things we can do for our “kids” is make sure they have access to at least one window somewhere to enjoy the outside world. This is one reason why dogs get so excited to go on walks. It is a connection to the outside world.

Let’s just take a minute to look at the psychological benefits of “the walk”. We talked about the connection to the outside world, but how about the bonding that occurs with you, the owner. Too often, sad to say, this may be the only one-on-one time he/she gets with the owner. Also, walking your dog is a critical part of maintaining their health through exercise. Just like with people, dogs need their exercise.

We as pet owners need to be aware of the attention that different animals and breeds need on a daily basis. Too often we neglect our pets accidently by not understanding their needs. Do your research when deciding to get a pet and find one that is compatible to your lifestyle based on the traits of the breed. Every breed has different characteristics and needs to be happy. This will make for a much happier living situation for both of you.

Remember, just like people, dogs need a certain amount of undivided attention from us. This does not include having them by our side while we sit at the computer or in front of the TV.  I am talking about time spent where he/she is the only thing in the world that matters. It could be time spent playing or even cuddling. Believe it or not, he/she will be able to tell if you are giving them your full attention or not. Remember, every breed is slightly different, do your research to learn what the recommendations are for your “kid”.

Part of being a responsible “parent” is making sure that your “kid’s” diet is healthy. There are so many types of pet foods on the market. Do your research and find an appropriate food for him/her. As much as we may be tempted and want to feed them table scraps, these scraps could end up killing them. There are a number of foods that can be dangerous to our four legged “kids”. Please see my blog from May 23 to get a list of these foods.

The last topic I want to touch on is one that I personally believe can fit in the category of animal cruelty. I know it is not going to be a popular viewpoint by some people, but here it goes. Our “kids” do not deserve to spend a large portion of their life chained up in the yard or living in a crate or cage. Would you want to be chained in the yard every day for long periods of time or be put in a cage every time you came inside? Then, why do we think it is acceptable for them? This goes back to what I was talking about before with finding a breed that is appropriate for your lifestyle.

Our pets are some of the most amazing animals on earth. They have the ability to demonstrate a type of unconditional love, loyalty and companionship that is so rare to find in the world. We need to do everything we can to foster, nurture and encourage this behavior by giving back what they bring to our life. These four-legged family members should be the real role-models to how we live our lives.

A Different Look at Volunteering

Volunteer? That was something people who did not have to work full time did. It was not for the average American struggling to make ends meet. There was always an excuse, although not always a valid one. Whether it was time or fear of commitment to an organization, I always found a reason not to volunteer. This was ironic for someone that would regularly donate and support pet rescues. For me, it was always “I wish I had the time to volunteer and help.” I had even adopted my last to dogs from rescues.

For 10 years this pattern continued for me. I would donate to rescues and say someday I would love to be able to work with a rescue group. Then, less than 2 months ago, someday became today. I woke up one morning and decided I was not going to wish about helping and doing something. I was going to be proactive and seek out how I could help.

It just so happened that I was doing some shopping that afternoon and noticed a rescue group doing an adoption event in the parking lot , so I stopped by to talk to them. I stood out there talking to them and visiting some of the sweetest dogs. Little did I know these people where just like me. They had “real” jobs and a passion for animals. But, we all had that common bond of wanting to help animals. The difference was that they were actually doing something. I have to admit, they did inspire me to take action.

I have no clue what they were thinking when I showed up and said I wanted to volunteer to help.  I was so nervous talking to them, but they made me feel so welcome and explained how easy it is to volunteer.   I was completely surprised by the simplicity of the application process. I went home and filled out the application to take back to them the next day.

I had finally taken that first step and was hoping I could follow through and be someone they could count on for help. Well, by the next day, the volunteer application process was over. I was now an official volunteer with a rescue group and three days later, I was doing my first transport of an animal.

The feeling of that first day volunteering to help animals is something I struggle to explain to people. I was so excited and nervous going into it. The transport was really my first time doing something with the group and I did not want anything to go wrong.  When it was all said and done, I was just thinking how easy it was. The recue group had the process down to a science. It only took about 1.5 hours, out of the 168 hours in a week, to help an animal. I could not help but wonder why I waited all these years to do this? It was so easy and no time at all.

Well, as it turned out, I was able to do it again the next week. Being able to help like this had me feeling like one of the luckiest people around. This little act of transporting an animal was one of the highlights of my week. It felt so good to be able to help and give back; especially something as easy as picking up an animal and driving it somewhere. It gave me such a sense of pride and fulfillment.

It is hard to imagine that just about 2 weeks later I am sitting in a meeting for a new rescue group that was starting. It was at this meeting that I truly started to understand the depth of these groups and how much help they need for various departments. The most surprising realization was that they had opportunities for anyone who wanted to help. If you had 2 hours a month, they would find a way for you to help. Many of these volunteer possibilities were jobs that could be done from home on your own schedule, so there was something to fit everyone’s schedule. In addition, it was so comforting how no one was ever looked down upon based on experience with rescues or available time to give.

I now find myself working with 2 different rescue groups with some of the most amazing people I know. I cannot speak for all rescue groups’ personnel, but the people I work with are some of the most dedicated, caring, passionate and professional people I know. They all give so much of themselves for the better of the group. Whether it is the person that spends an hour a month helping to those of us spending hours each day; everyone works together.

If you truly are thinking about and wanting to help, take that first step and ask what you can do. I would be willing to bet there is something that fits your schedule. I am even more certain that like so many of us that are volunteering, it will change your life forever. It is one of the most rewarding things you will ever do.

I hope you too will experience the joy of helping our four legged friends experience a life that otherwise would not be possible.