Amanda's Holiday Gift Guide!

The holidays are quickly approaching (along with those holiday birthdays that require extra gift ideas), so I did some online shopping to help you with some animal-friendly gift ideas that also help the animals! These are some of my favorite gift ideas, split into who you’re looking to buy for.

Amanda’s Animal Holiday Gift Guide

For Babies/Kids

For Her

For Him

For Anyone

For Pets

Online Stores

Toys Aren't Just for Playing!

I’ll admit it: I’m guilty of spoiling my cats. They have a basket full of toys that I rotate out every so often, and it’s sometimes hard to walk through my home without nearly stepping on a cat toy. But on the other hand, I’ve been to people’s homes where their pets have no toys at all. Though everyone doesn’t have to spoil their pets (which there’s nothing wrong with!...), providing them with toys will actually make them happier and healthier!

Playtime reduces stress and anxiety. Our furry friends are susceptible to stresses just like we are, they’re just a little bit different: seeing animals outside that they can’t chase away from their territory, being home alone, having house guests, adding a new pet to the family, taking a trip to the vet, and more. These stresses can cause anxiety, which can exasperate chronic health programs as well. Stress isn’t good for pets, just like it isn’t good for us!

Pets need exercise, too. How many overweight dogs and cats have you seen (or have)? Providing games and playing with your pets will give them exercise while having fun, and it will help them keep off those extra unwanted pounds.

Dogs and cats get bored, which again can lead to anxiety. Just like we get bored when we do the same thing every single day. Playtime will stimulate their hunting or working instincts and will give them something different to do.

It’s important to rotate your pets’ toys, because pets get tired of playing with the same toys all the time and may lose interest. I can personally vouch for this point—my cats perk up when I rotate out their toys. I just keep the rest in a convenient basket, which I see them rummaging through every now and then.

Playing with your pets gives you some much-needed bonding time. We love when our pets sit by our side, but interacting with them through games will deepen your bond and make you both happier!

Some behavior issues can actually be solved by adding or increasing playtime. If pets are playing too hard, acting more aggressive toward other pets, or keeping you up during the night, they may be telling you that they’re not getting enough playtime during the day.

Pacelle Speaks at UGA for Book Tour

"Cruelty cannot be confined; kindness cannot be confined either. They radiate out. That's why it is incredibly important to always try and take the route of kindness." -Wayne Pacelle

I had the pleasure this past week to see Wayne Pacelle, President and CEO of the Humane Society of the United States, speak at the University of Georgia during his book tour. His speech touched on topics he probes in his new book, The Bond: OurKinship with Animals, Our Call to Defend Them.

Pacelle began by talking about the situation in Ohio where 48 exotic species, including lions, tigers, bears and wolves, were let out into the community by their owner who then took his own life. The animals had to be tracked down and killed by law enforcement. This is just one horrific example of why HSUS is working hard to push legislators to take the protection of all animals more seriously. This man, who had a criminal record, should never have been allowed to have these animals as “pets” in the first place (nor should anyone else). However, with the illegal pet trade and Ohio’s lack of laws prohibiting it, he was able to keep a personal collection of dangerous animals in his home. This man not only put himself in danger (and gave these poor animals no life for wild animals), but he put his entire community in danger.

People think that animal welfare is a confined to a small bubble of “cat people” or “dog people,” but in reality, it’s a cause that radiates into so many facets of everyone’s lives around the world. It flows over into our daily meals, violent crimes, environmental protection, public health, and our own health. Think about these points that demonstrate just a few of the connections to other aspects of our lives:

A-Little-Less-Guilt-Free Shopping!: Help Animals While You Shop

I can't believe it myself, but the holidays are approaching quickly! Halloween is almost here, Thanksgiving isn't far behind, and then it's a mad rush to get your Hanukkah and Christmas shopping done! Whether you're an early shopper or just want to get yourself an early present, there are some great options for a-little-less-guilty purchases that will benefit our furry little friends!

Starting from the more expensive and working my way down...

If you're looking to splurge on a new purse or wallet, Samantha Thavasa is donating 25% of purchases to the American Humane Association's Second Change Fund from October 13 through October 20, 2011. This AHA fund helps animal welfare organizations pay for veterinary services of animals rescued from abusive and negligent situations.

Some of my favorite/animal-related purses for purchase:

 

Local Neighborhood Meeting about Animal Welfare

I’ve been on a bit of a hiatus from my blog, so this article is a coming a little later than I originally planned (my apologies). However, the information is still timely and interesting.

I attended the Athens-Clarke County Federation of Neighborhoods meeting earlier this month, where members of the community learn about a different topic relevant to the area each month. The August meeting focused on animal welfare in our community. Though it was location-specific, I believe much of the information can be related to other areas as well. I’ve touched on the main topics discussed among the panel of animal organization staff and the attending community members below.

ACC Animal Control Euthanasia Rates

The director of the ACC Animal Control discussed the progress of the shelter over the past 15 years as well as some of the issues they currently see most often. I was surprised by the level of lowered euthanasia rates since 1996, with it lowering from 60 percent to now 9 percent. The ultimate goal of animal control and all animal welfare groups is to eliminate euthanasia rates altogether while lowering pet overpopulation in the area. However, the community must first be better informed to fully achieve these goals.

Responding to Neglect

The ACC Animal Control officers respond to all types of animal welfare issues, but the large majority of calls are due to animal neglect (approximately 90 percent). The responding officers usually try to work with pet owners to educate them about how to better care for their animals and teach them how to improve their quality of life. Most times, the owners genuinely don’t know enough about pet ownership and don’t realize that their actions are causing their pets to be neglected. Sometimes they respond multiple times to the same homes, but the officers seemed to feel confident that working with owners generally results in better care of their animals and thus a more informed community.

Lack of Pet Identification

One of the other major issues with animals coming into the ACC Animal Control is a lack of pet identification. It is surprising how many pets go without collars, tag, or microchips. And quite often, animals will have collars but no ID tag attached. Though some owners say that money is a factor in the lack of identification, the ACC Animal Control actually provides free tags to pet owners. Also, local animal organizations provide opportunities for owners to get discounted microchips, such as the Athens Area Humane Society’s monthly Pet Care Clinics on the first Saturday of each month. Pet owners also should remember to update their tag information if the address or phone numbers change and to keep microchip information updated and registered (most require a small yearly fee of $10 to $20).

Dogs and Bars Don't Mix

Living in a college town with plenty of bars in the downtown area, I’ve noticed lately that a lot of people are bringing their dogs to the bars with them. While I support pet owners making an effort to socialize their dogs, the bar really might not be the best place to do it. During happy hour when people stop into restaurant-bars, it’s one thing to bring your dog with you for a bit. But when you’re going out for the night, just leave your dog at home!

Some reasons why you should leave your dog at home when you want to go out:

1.      Your attention isn’t fully on the animal, and frankly, people can be stupid… and mixing alcohol in just makes it worse.

2.      There might be broken glass, alcohol, cigarette butts, and/or other dangerous things on the ground that your dog could step on or eat to get hurt.

3.      Your dog probably doesn’t want a bunch of drunk people in its face or petting it too roughly. It’s more of a scary experience than fun socializing.

4.      People can step on or trip over your dog, whether it be by accident or not.

5.      Bars are loud. Your dog’s ears are much more sensitive than ours, so the noise might be painful to their ears.

6.      There may not be many people in the bar when you get there, but you never know when it’s going to get crowded and the environment changes from quiet and calm to noisy and rambunctious.

7.      If you’re alone, you might not be able to watch your dog at all times, like when you take a bathroom break. Asking others to hold your dog might turn into a lost dog situation.

There are many more ways to socialize your dog during the day, so it’s just simply not necessary to bring it to a bar. I’m sure it'd rather be at home in its quite, cozy bed.

The Not-So-Fuzzy Topic of Spaying & Neutering

Most people know that spaying and neutering their pets is an important issue, but up to 35% of pet owners still don’t get their pets fixed for various reasons. It’s not a fun topic to talk about for most people—they’d much rather talk about the heartwarming, fuzzy stories about animals for obvious reasons. But we can’t ignore the high number of animals awaiting homes, or not making it, in shelters.

Recently I’ve had a few people tell me that they want to have their pets fixed and updated on vaccinations, but they just don’t have the hundreds of dollars to spend on it at the vet.  Absolutely understandable. Luckily, price isn’t as much of a concern these days with the rise of low-cost spay/neuter clinics across the country. You can now get your pet fixed and up-to-date on vaccinations for as little as $100 (or less), depending on the clinic and type of animal. Contact your local animal shelter to find out where the nearest low-cost clinic is to you, or visit the HSUS, Spay USA, Spot Society, or if you’re in Athens, GA, visit the Athens Area Humane Society.

Below are some enlightening statistics about spaying/neutering, as well as some reminders why getting your pet fixed in a timely manner is so important.

Did You Know….

Cats and dogs can be spayed as early as 2 months old and/or at 2 pounds. Young pets recover quickly from these surgeries, so vets no longer go by the one-year rule.

Cats and dogs can become pregnant as early as 4 months old.

The HSUS estimates that 3 to 4 million dogs and cats are euthanized each year in the United States—that’s around half of the animals entering shelters. To put this in more perspective on a local level, in metro Atlanta, approximately 166 animals are euthanized every day according to Spay Georgia.

Two cats and their offspring can produce 420,000 cats within 7 years, and two dogs and their offspring can produce 50,000 dogs in 7 years. Wow.

You can get your pet spayed while in heat or while pregnant, although it usually has an added cost.

But Why?....

If the pet reproduction stats didn’t faze you, here are a few more reasons to go through with your pet’s spay/neuter.

Article: Mind Readers

A coworker recently shared this newspaper clipping with me at a meeting:

"A British researcher has confirmed what pet owners have long suspected--that animals can actually sense when their masters are coming home. Rupert Sheldrake, former director of cell biochemistry at Cambridge University, reported that 46 percent of the dogs he studied began preparing for their owners' return up to an hour before they got home, even if they worked odd shifts.

The animals usually became agitated and went to the window to watch for their owners' return. Some cats and other pets showed similar psychic bonds with their masters, said Sheldrake, who collected 1,500 case studies from around the world. One myna bird would begin shouting, 'Robbie's coming home,' when its owner was returning from a trip."
This article is from September 6, 1996 (newspaper and author unknown). 

Many of us can relate to our pets greeting us when we get home as if they knew we were on our way, whether it be from the sounds of our cars or a psychic feeling as this article suggests. One of my cats greets me at the door most days (unless she's soaking up some serious sun or in a deep catnap), but she doesn't go to the door when neighbors come in the house. Maybe it's the way I walk up to the door or the specific sound of my keys jingling--I'll never know! But it's definitely always a nice feeling to be greeted by a furry friend after a long day.

Think Twice Before Bringing Pets to Outdoor Festivals This Summer

It’s summertime in Athens, which means lots of fun outdoor festivals. Pet owners tend to take these opportunities as a cue to get their dogs out of the house, but you may want to think twice about bringing Rover with you. AthFest suggests not bringing your dog because of grass scarcity and the problem of waste disposal. But there’s a more pressing reason you should be concerned about—your pet’s health.

We can quickly become hot at events, but imagine wearing a fur coat and not being able to sweat! Animals can succumb to heat stroke in a matter of minutes if their body temperatures rise above 106 degrees, and humidity exasperates the problem. Have you walked outside lately? Temperatures have been well into the 90’s, which can be dangerous for dogs and present the potential for heat stroke.

“Signs of heat stroke are intense, rapid panting, wide eyes, salivating, staggering and weakness,” says United Animal Nations (now RedRover). If your pet has these symptoms, treat it immediately.  

Other things to keep in mind: your pets’ paw pads can burn on the asphalt (try walking around barefoot and see how it feels), some dogs become nervous or get stepped on in crowds, and uncompassionate people may be mean to animals left unattended.

If you find it necessary to bring your pet, take a bowl and plenty of water, keep your pet out of direct sunlight when possible, and find cool indoor spots to cool off periodically. For more information, visit MyDogIsCool.com.


*I wrote this letter to the editor for the Athens-Banner Herald last week before AthFest, but alas it did not get published. I still think it's a very important message, and it's relevant to all outdoor activities in this summer's incredible heat and humidity. So I hope that you will take this message to heart and will share it with your pet-owning friends and family.

Article: When Lucky Died

Bob and his dog Lucky on a drive.

This is a great article about a journalist, Bob Sullivan, and his quest to deal with his dog's passing. He touches on the difficulty of losing a pet family member, how he dealt with his pain, and how social media played a role in his grieving process (sharing photos, stories, and reading friends' messages). Losing a pet is never easy, and his sweet story hits close to home to those of us who have experienced pet loss over the years. I highly recommend taking a few minutes to read this story.


When Lucky Died: A grief observed, on social media
by Bob Sullivan

News Story: Skunks Rehabilitated & Released

For those of you who know me, you know that I have a special spot in my heart for skunks! I just came across this short story about nine baby skunks who were rehabilitated and released for a second chance at life in the wild. Check it out:

HSUS: Moment of Release for Nine Skunks

Cruelty-Free Products to Think About

My newest endeavor to help animals on a larger scale involves the daily or weekly products I use--cleaning supplies, toiletries, beauty products, and other products with ingredients that are still tested on animals. Although I admit I haven't quite gotten to the point where all of my products have a "never tested on animals" label, I am slowly moving to purchasing them as I need new items. The main reason why I haven't jumped on this particular bandwagon until now is, frankly, money. So many eco-friendly, animal-friendly products tend to be on the more expensive side, which is great if you're not on a tight budget. But with the combination of a worsened economy and the populations' heightened ethical awareness on purchases has come more affordable, cruelty-free options. As I move toward cabinets filled with only cruelty-free products, I encourage you to join me.

Leaping Bunny Logo.

So why is this so important, you might ask?
Millions of animals in laboratories suffer and die from testing of ingredients and products each year--products that have already been proven safe for humans or could be tested in more humane ways. And as companies become more conscious of the public's desire to purchase cruelty-free products, they have developed slogans and logos that can be deliberately deceiving and misleading to consumers. The main reason why they're misleading is because they say things such as "not tested on animals," referring to the final product but not the ingredients used to make the product at other facilities. Other companies will contract out the testing, fabricating a loop-hole for claiming that they didn't test it on animals. So it quickly becomes confusing and frustrating for those of us who really care about these labels and the truth behind them. Fortunately for us, Leaping Bunny has developed standards and a corresponding logo to help take the frustration out of shopping animal-friendly.

Leaping Bunny "works with companies to help make shopping for animal-friendly products easier and more trustworthy." Their website has an updated list of national and international companies who have proven their compliance with cruelty-free standards, which include not testing the ingredients, formulations, or finished products on animals. They even have a printable Pocket Shopping Guide and a iPhone/Android phone application for you to refer to while shopping, and the Leaping Bunny logo is printed on the majority of their approved cruelty-free products (in case you forget your pocket guide or don't have the app!). They also have an updated list of companies on their website, as they are always trying to move companies to join their cause. Check out their site for other ways you can take action on the cruelty-free product front!

Here are a few of the companies I've already switched over to (or plan to switch to in future purchases) for my household and beauty products:

• Method Products:  They have everything from hand soap to shower cleaner to laundry detergent to baby products, and they are my favorite new top choice in my animal-friendly quest. As an added bonus, their products are non-toxic (not "dirty" ingredients) and recyclable. Available at Target, Lowe's, Kroger, and MethodHome.com for very affordable prices.
• Burt's Bees: They have natural personal care products that are good for the environment, including sunscreen, lip balm, shampoo, and even men's products. A little on the pricier side, but still affordable (most of these products last a long time, too). Available in a multitude of stores and at BurtsBees.com.
• Eco-Me: This company has household supplies, even drain cleaner, and they also have pet-care products. Shouldn't we use cruelty-free products on our pets, too?! Available at Target, Amazon, Petco, RiteAid, and Eco-Me, among others, for affordable prices.

One last link: I encourage you to read a recent article that will get you thinking about universities' roles in animal-testing--just click the article link below.
HSUS, All Animals Magazine, May/June 2011. Behind Closed Doors: The Human Toll of Animal Research, by Ruthanne Johnson.

Will you join me in my journey towards an animal-friendly products home?

I Found a Stray… Now What?

It’s happened to too many of us—we come across a stray animal clearly in need of a new home, scoop it up, and take it home to decide the next step. But then what? Below are some ideas that you can share with friends and family who will inevitably face the same scenario. Unfortunately, there’s no quick fix for these situations, but there are definitely some things you can do with a little effort to find your stray a new forever home!

Is it really a stray?

The first step is to decide whether the animal you’ve found is truly a stray or if it’s just been lost by its owner. Check to see if it’s wearing a collar and if the collar has tags with contact information. If it’s not wearing a collar, it may be microchipped. A quick visit to a veterinarian office or animal shelter will connect you with someone who can scan the animal for a microchip, and provide you with information to contact the owner if it does indeed have a chip.

It’s a good idea to post “found pet” flyers in your area and to post a found listing on petfinder.com, craigslist.com, and/or online newspaper classifieds. You can also call local animal shelters and report a missing pet, which they will put on file in case the owner contacts them and to check for a match in their missing pet files. Put yourself in the position of your pet getting loose and not being able to find it or know whether it’s safe or not—you would want to check around and hope that someone made some effort to help reunite you. This is not always the case, especially when an overly-neglected animal is found, but it’s just good practice to try. 

*A note about posting found flyers: Sadly not all people have the best of intentions and use found posters to go pet-shopping. I suggest only putting general details about the animal. If someone calls about the posting, ask them to provide you with distinguishing markers or behavioral characteristics to be sure it’s really their lost pet. I would also ask for a photo to compare.

Stormy: The stray who meowed at our door in 2010.

Provide medical treatment and grooming

Ok, so you’re convinced the animal is a stray. How is its medical condition? If it’s in your financial power, I suggest taking it to the vet for a checkup and vaccinations. If the animal isn’t spayed or neutered, go ahead and get that done as well. You want to find the animal a new home in the best condition possible, and having it checked is going to help you find it a home much faster. And spaying/neutering it will ensure that the number of stray animals in your area will decrease.

It’s also smart to take it to the vet if you have other animals. It may have parasites or other treatable but contagious medical condition that could be spread to your pets.

*There are many low-cost spay/neuter programs that also offer low-cost vaccines. Contact your local animal rescues to find out where the nearest low-cost spay/neuter center is located. Some vets and groomers will also give a rescue discount for cases such as these.

Grooming the animal will make it clean while it’s in your care and will make it much more appealing to potential adopters. Give it a bath, clean its ears, clip its nails, and give it a good brushing. You may need help with this from a groomer, depending on the animal’s temperament and your own grooming experience.

Steps to finding a forever home

If you can’t keep the animal as your own pet for whatever reason, you’ve got to get out there and find it a new home. This is the hard part, but it can be done—just be patient!

Steve Schuman Art: Pet Portraits

While walking through shops in Savannah's City Market this past weekend, I came across an artist in one of the shops who I fell in love with. His wonderfully quirky wife (wearing huge rhinestone cat earrings) told me and my boyfriend all about her husband's work. Steve Schuman uses only oil paints to create incredibly colorful pet portraits, among other subjects and media. All of his artwork available in the A.T. Hun Art Gallery are of his own pets or pets of family, extending into the hundreds! The mascot of Schuman's section of the gallery is Rocky, whose large portrait hangs above the other artwork.


Schuman's lithograph prints are available in the A.T. Hun Gallery or online for $60, and the paintings run from a couple hundred dollars into the thousands. I believe custom pet portraits are also available upon request.

Please visit Steve Schuman's website to see more of his fabulous pet portraits and other artwork--you will not be disappointed!

New Book: Dog Sense

I recently received an email with a link to this NPR article about John Bradshaw's new book, Dog Sense: How the New Science of Dog Behavior Can Make You a Better Friend to Your Pet. The article is pretty interesting--it includes the link to Bradshaw's interview as well as interview highlights and an excerpt from Dog Sense. You may want to pick up the book if it looks like a good read for you or someone you know!   
(Disclaimer: I have not read the book.)

NPR: The New Science of Understanding Dog Behavior

Happy Mother's Day!

Happy Mother's Day! What a beautiful day to celebrate our wonderful moms!

Here are a just few fun ways to celebrate moms who have pet "children" today:

• In addition to a paper card (or to substitute a paper card and save a tree), many animal-related organizations offer cute holiday e-cards, such as the World Wildlife Fund. 
• Give a card to your pet parents from the pets, signed with their names and paw prints.
• Make a paw print ceramic tile for the garden or to hang on the wall. You can usually find these kits at any crafts store. (Be sure to clean the pets' paws immediately after so they don't ingest any of the materials.)
• Create a certificate for the "Best Pet Mom of the Year" along with coupons from you for 5 pet-sitting days (very useful for vacation-time planning!).
• A cat or dog (or other animal species) necklace, bracelet, or keychain is a great gift for the pet mom, such as ones available in the HSUS online store.
• Make a donation to your pet mom's favorite animal-related organization in her name.
• And of course, flowers always brighten the day!

News Story: "Dog Submerges Herself in Bathtub to Survive Fire"

A link to a story about a pretty amazing dog who was home along during a fire, but she was able to save herself while firefighters worked to put out the flames:

"Dog Submerges Herself in Bathtub to Survive Fire"
(Greenville County, S.C.)

Felines and Toxic Plants: Blog Link

RIP Rascal

A fellow classmate of mine recently lost one of her cats suddenly. After making a trip to the veterinarian who performed a necropsy, she found out the cause of death was a large amount of a toxic plant in his intestines. Below is a link to her blog post which describes her story about Rascal and her journey to find out why he died in order to protect her other cat and others' pets in her complex. It's never easy to lose a pet, especially when it's so unexpected and sudden. My heart goes out to Chelsey during this difficult time.

CATharsis: Felines and Toxic Plants

Is Your Pet Prepared?

It’s springtime now and we’re seeing more natural disasters in the news, like the storms, tornadoes, and flooding in the South today. We take time to prepare ourselves for emergency situations, like stocking up on food, water, and flashlights, but is your pet prepared too?

A “disaster” doesn’t necessarily mean just a huge event—you should be prepared for events that you may not normally think about when you hear this word, such as power outages, ice storms, tornadoes, fires, and other natural or man-made emergency situations.

Remember to never leave your pets behind in an emergency situation, even if you think it’ll only be for a short time. Things can change quickly in a disaster and you want your pets with you at all times in case something unexpected happens.

Your pet disaster kit should include:

1.      At least one week’s supply of food and water for each pet, including separate bowls for food and water. Rotate the food and water every few months to ensure their freshness. If your pet eats canned food, be sure to include a can-opener if you don’t use pop-top cans.

2.      A collar, identification tag, and leash for each pet. Also, make sure each of your pets is micro-chipped--it’s an extra precaution to prove that your pet belongs to you if you become separated or if your pet’s collar or tag comes off. (It’s a good idea to have you pets micro-chipped and wear collars with tags on a regular basis in case they get lost.)

3.       A carrier or crate for each pet. Try to get your pets comfortable with their carriers and crates so that getting them out of the house quickly, if necessary, doesn’t become a problem in a hectic situation. Include a blanket or bedding in each crate for comfort and warmth, as well.

4.      Medications and treatments (if applicable), a pet first aid kit, and medical records/documentation in a waterproof container. Keep copies of updated medical records, including rabies certificates, to prove that your animal is up-to-date and to prove that it’s taking any medications that may need to be refilled. If you need to stay in a pet-friendly temporary shelter, you will need likely to prove that your pets are up-to-date on vaccinations. This documentation can also be proof of ownership.

5.      Photos of your pets and photos of you with your pets. If you get separated from your pets, you should be able to prove not only that it’s the same animal in your photo but that you are indeed the owner. Also, be sure the photo of each pet shows the entire animal and any unique features that will help identify an animal, especially those that can easily be confused (like a black cat or yellow lab). Including more than one photo with your records is a good idea, and be sure to update photos if your pet is very young.

Keep Your Dog Cool

As I was leaving a store today, I noticed a SUV in the back of the parking lot with its windows cracked and two large dogs sitting on the front seats inside. The weather here today is in the mid to high 70’s and sunny, so after just a few minutes of being in the store, my car was already pretty toasty. Seeing the dog was a reminder of the United Animal Nation’s My Dog Is Cool campaign. They have a great website with information about the seriousness of leaving your dog in the car when it’s hot outside.

Here’s a clip from My Dog Is Cool:

“A little heat outside a car can quickly make it very hot inside. On a summer's day of only 85 degrees Fahrenheit, for example, even keeping the windows slightly open won't stop the inside temperature from climbing to 102 degrees in 10 minutes, and to 120 degrees in 20 minutes. A dog whose body temperature rises to 107-108 degrees will within a very short time suffer irreparable brain damage—or even death.”

The site has flyers and brochures, and I like to print a few of the flyers to keep in my car during the spring and summer months. Why? I put them on the windshields of cars with dogs in them on hot days. It may sound a bit “out there” to do this, but I’m not trying to be mean--owners may genuinely not realize the seriousness of leaving their companions is the car for what seems to only be a few minutes.

“If you see a dog in distress in a hot car, call the local animal control agency, police, or 911 right away. If possible, you can also try to find the dog's owner.
Signs an animal is in distress include:

• Excessive panting
• Excessive drooling
• Increased heart rate
• Trouble breathing
• Disorientation
• Collapse or loss of consciousness
• Seizure
• Respiratory arrest” 

* MyDogIsCool.com

Remember to think twice before loading up your car and your pet for a trip around town—be sure your dog’s safety is a priority, even if he’ll be bummed about staying home for the day. And if it’s a good day to get your dog out, don’t forget to bring along plenty of water (and a bowl) to keep him/her hydrated!

What's Your Breed?

Yesterday Animal Planet played several shows from its Cats 101 and Dogs 101 series. Its companion website actually has quite a lot of resources about dog and cat breeds, including guides to help you better choose which breeds might fit into your household best and how to prepare for their arrival. For those of you who haven’t seen the show, various cat and dog breeds are rated according to broad characteristics (with the disclosure that individual animals may or may not necessarily conform to them exactly): playfulness, need for attention, affection toward owner, vocality, docility, intelligence, independence, healthiness and hardiness, need for grooming, compatibility with kids, and compatibility with other pets.

Though the show is fun to watch, it’s not the main reason for this post. I want to talk a little bit about not only choosing which breed is right for you, but about where you go to get your new pet once you decide on a breed or mixture of breeds.

Here are a few statistics to get you thinking:

There are approximately 3,500-5,000 animal shelters and rescues in the United States.

There are currently 5-6 million cats and dogs entering shelters every year, and an estimated 3-4 million of them are euthanized every year.

25-30% of dogs entering shelters are purebred.

*Statistics taken from The Humane Society of the United States’ website.

Those numbers are always startling to me, no matter how many times I read or type them. It makes me wonder why people still buy from breeders, especially for family pets, when there are millions of adoptable animals euthanized every year. One of my family members recently purchased a puppy from a breeder, even after other family members urged her to consider adoption instead. She has adopted other dogs in the past, but she was determined to get a specific breed.  Let’s look at some of the ways you can break this cycle and have the best of both worlds—adding a dog breed to your family that is right for you and finding that new addition at a shelter or rescue.

Since 1 in 4 animals admitted to shelters is purebred, your chances of finding your chosen breed aren’t as bleak as you might expect. You can call or visit shelters in your local area, state, or region to see if they currently have adoptable dogs of your preferred breed.

Welcome!

Welcome to my new blog, Amanda Talks Animals! I have been thinking about this blog for a long time now and have finally decided to get it started. I am admittedly going to break a blogger "rule" at first by not posting on a regular basis, but I will gradually write more and more as I come closer to graduating this summer.

Please be open to commenting on posts to start conversations and ask questions--this is key to my blog's mission of not only educating you about animal-related issues, but to get you thinking and talking about them with others. If you have any ideas for posts, send me an e-mail and I will do my best to accommodate those requests. Also, I will incorporate references, acknowledgments, and resources to blog posts when relevant.

 Some of the topics I plan to cover in the coming months include:

• Current Events
• Animal Care Issues
• Pet Disaster Plans
• Volunteer Ideas
• Book Reviews
• Pets for Adoption
• Personal Experiences

I'm looking forward to adding new posts and hearing what you have to say about them!