Bringing Baby Home... to Pets!

There’s been a bit of a baby boom in my life over the last year or so, and most of my friends and family who've had babies (or are now pregnant) also have at least one pet. In preparing for their new arrivals, each of them seemed to have concerns about how their pets would react to a new baby, but there didn’t seem to be many resources immediately available to them for making the pet-baby transition a smooth and safe one. I’ve found Pet Meets Baby: A Guide for Families Bringing Children Home to Pets by the American Humane Association and summed up some of the tips below.

1.     Preparation is key—your pets need time to adjust just like you will, so include them in your baby preparation time while you’re still pregnant. Think about how much time you spend with them now compared to how much time you will once your baby is here, and try to start adjusting accordingly. Increase your quality of time with pets if you must decrease the amount of time with them. On the same note, if you think you won’t be able to give your pets the appropriate amount of exercise or time once the baby comes, consider asking friends, family or a pet-sitter to help out until you can resume your normal pet exercise routine. The thought of making this big change sounds like a difficult one, but it’ll be best for both you and your pets once your baby arrives! 

2.     If you pet has any behavioral issues that you foresee as a problem when the new baby arrives, address is now! Your dog doesn’t listen when you say “no”—sign up for pet training classes. Your cat hates loud noises—introduce a cd with baby noises, starting it low and gradually getting louder as time passes. You get the idea.

3.     Some of us allow pets on couches and beds, but you may want to rethink this habit, especially for larger pets. You don’t want your dog jumping up on the couch where your baby may be laying, as it’s an accident waiting to happen (even though your pet probably means no harm). So break the habit well beforehand to make these areas safer for your baby when the time comes.

A New Year, A New Blog: Thoughts from "Why the Wild Things Are"

It’s a new year, and in setting my new goals I plan to write at least two blogs per month, if not more when time allows. I even have a list of topics to write about, but holidays make life so busy sometimes! I was fortunate to have received a few books related to animals for Christmas that I had asked for, and I began reading one recently. A testament to my eagerness to always learn and to being one of those people who enjoys school, I have been putting my typical penciled stars next to sentences that make me think or that strike an “aha!” moment for me. I’d like to share one today and will pick a few more from the books as I go along to share with you.

The book is called Why the Wild Things Are: Animals in the Lives of Children by Gail Melson (2001). Just the introduction is fascinating, chronicling the author’s curiosity to begin researching the roles of animals in children’s lives as a researcher—and this is coming at a time when few people realized the significance of this research and with little to start from. She discusses the many facets of animals as we grow up, but she also brings in the history of animal domestication and pets’ roles throughout history.

One of my stars is by a paragraph that I can easily connect with (and I’m sure many others can, too) and is one of the reasons why I think I have leaned toward the field of animal welfare. “In open-ended, in-depth interviews, many pet-owning children spoke with deep feeling about what their pets mean in their lives… The ties that children forge with their pets are often among the most significant bonds of childhood, as deeply affecting as those with parents, siblings, and friends“ (p. 16-17). She mentions how pets are playmates, keepers of secrets, reassuring in times of stress, and after-school company, among others. I have always felt that my pets played an important role in my growing up and my desire to incorporate them into my career.

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).