Dogs and Cats
Vicki Moore did not believe in the general principle of keeping animals as pets, but realised that animals would be and if they were they should be kept in the best way possible.
Lots of animals lead a miserable life due to the way they are kept. If you are going to keep a pet it is your duty to do your best for it. The following are some guidelines to help you achieve this.
General Advice
This is general advice on how to protect your pet from safety or health hazards. For advice on individual species please consult your veterinary or expert books.
Comment
There is nothing more rewarding than the special relationship one can have with a dog or cat. But, there are a number of things to think about before deciding whether to take that step towards getting one.
Getting a cat or dog
As with all pets we recommend that you check with your local shelter first, whether there are Dogs or cats that need a new home. You will be saving a life and get a very rewarding friend.
You should avoid pet shops and fairs. These can create an impulse purchase plus they cannot keep pets in the way that they should be kept.
Many of the highly bred pedigrees have inbred problems. For example; German shepherds suffer from hip displacer, bulldogs and other pug-nosed breeds have breeding problems etc. In fact some of the mongrels or crossbred dogs have the best health records.
Long-term commitment
Think hard and long before you take on a pet dog or cat.
Remember when you take on a dog or cat you are taking on a family member and as such you are responsible for them for the rest of their lives.
Spaying your pet
It is sensible to make sure that you do not bring any more dogs and cats into the world. Don’t forget that your dog or cat can have up to eight or more babies at a time and do this twice a year. Remember to find a good home for only one puppy or kitten is very difficult. There are many old wives tales about the subject of spaying, such as the fact that you should let them have one litter to let their bodies develop. This is not true! The sooner you have your pet spayed the better.
You should ask the advice of your vet about when to do this.
Remember that this is an expense that you must take into account.
Time consuming
Dogs require regular exercise, come rain or shine they need to be taken out.
Allergies
When getting a dog or cat remember that some children and adults can suffer from allergies. This is not very common but something that you should bear in mind. Don’t forget that your pet is also a member of the family and not a disposable toy.
Conditions
Cats need space and in this day and age it is not always possible to let a cat out because of the danger of traffic. You virtually sentence a cat to death if you do let them roam free.
Dogs should not be kept on a chain. They very quickly become aggressive and it is not right keep them in this manner.
When dogs are left alone for long periods it is quite normal for them to bark, it is the situation that is wrong.
Costs
There are many costs involved in keeping a pet.
Vet fees
The veterinary fees can be quite high and this is something you should consider. Both dogs and cats need to be vaccinated against a number of illnesses. It is possible to take out insurance against unexpected vet fees.
Feeding
Remember it is not possible or at least very difficult to feed your dog or cat on food you prepare yourself. You must be prepared for the cost of proprietary animal food. Do not try to turn your cat into a vegetarian. It is not possible, as a cat’s digestive tract does not allow for the ingestion of sufficient nutrients from a vegetarian diet.
Do remember that overfeeding can be a big problem too.
Do not give your dog chocolate; it is poisonous!
Bones either cooked or raw are a danger to the teeth, trachea and colon. This holds true for those from pet shops, some of which are made up from ground up chicken, turkey, rabbit and other animal bones. Some are prone to splinter.
Do not feed your cat with tuna unless there is an assurance that no dolphins have been killed in the catching of them. Pigs’ ears are prone to cause infection.
Health care
Your dog or cat should be kept free from fleas as these can cause not only infection and irritation but can infect your pet with tapeworms. They should also be wormed. They need to be taken to the vets for inoculations against various illnesses. (You should consult your veterinarian about this.
Children and pets
Children need to be taught about how to behave with dogs and cats, in fact with all pets. There can be a misunderstanding on both the part of the child and/or the pet that can cause trouble for either one or the other.
Accessories – toys – bedding
Dogs
Metal chain “check” collars and electric shock collars are unsafe because of the physical damage they can to your dog.
Electric shock collars
These are banned in Wales and by a number of organisations. As long ago as 2000, the Association of Chief Police Officers urged police forces not to use electric shock collars after they heard evidence from animal welfare groups. The Armed Forces dog unit has also prohibited electric shock collars. It is hoped that very shortly they will be banned throughout the UK.
Electric shock collars deliver electric shocks to dogs with the idea that it will help in their training or curing behaviour problems. Their potential for accidental misuse is high and they could easily cause considerable and unnecessary pain and distress to the animal.
A dog experiencing an unpleasant shock to the neck 'out of the blue' will associate the sensation with whatever the dog happens to be focusing on at the time. Used incorrectly, this could be an area, object, another dog, the owner or even a child.
Unwanted side effects could easily occur when the dog being shocked becomes afraid of being in that area, or it could become afraid of, and as a result, potentially aggressive towards owners, children, other dogs or strangers.
It can take many repetitions of administrations of the shock before the punishment is finally associated with the unwanted behaviour, and several more before the dog learns how to avoid the shock by performing the 'correct' action. Not only is this inhumane, but also can set up a series of fears that can cause associated behaviour problems in future.
In addition, it is possible that the device may be triggered by external influences, or malfunction, which may result in delivery of repeated shocks, particularly in those devices which are designed to be triggered by barking and are put onto dogs left alone for long periods.
Sophisticated methods of punishing dogs are not necessary in order to train them to behave appropriately. Humane methods, which rely on a sound understanding of the dog’s mind, are more effective for training or bringing about a lasting cure for behaviour problems. Results may take slightly longer to achieve, but the process benefits from being less stressful for the dog, free from the risk of side effects, and improves rather than spoils the relationship between dog and owner. In the long run, they will result in a happy, confident dog and satisfied owner.
Toys
Balls and other toys must not be able to be swallowed. They should not be poisonous or injure the mouth. The best balls are solid rubber. Soft toys, including children’s soft toys, should have the eyes removed before your dog is allowed to play with them as these can be swallowed.
Cats
Collars, flea or otherwise, can cause a cat to be strangled if gets caught up by it. They can also get their foot through the collar, which can also be very dangerous. A bell on a collar does not warn birds etc. of the cat’s presence as a cat stalks or lies in wait when hunting.
Scratching posts
Must not be able to fall over and should be high enough for the cat to reach up fully.
Toilet trays
Doors on toilet trays are not a good idea as it can deter the cat from entering. High sided plastic storage boxes make good toilet trays. The litter should not be dusty, deodorised or have sharp edges.
Netting
If netting is used to cover a window or some other opening, the mesh should be no more 3cms square. Wire netting is best.
Make sure that your windows are safe for the cat.
Toys
Any hanging toys should be played with under supervision as they can wrap around the leg etc. and cut off the blood supply.
Toys should not be made of plastic that can break, have wire and metal parts, wool and aluminium thread. They should also not be small enough to swallow.
The best balls are anything solid; in fact squash balls are ideal