Tag Archives: Dogs

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Three Surprising Ways to Save Money on Pet Care

Image result for copyright free dog photos

(NewsUSA) – Owning a pet comes with a lot of benefits — but caring for a pet can also have an unwelcome impact on your budget. According to the ASPCA, owning a dog or cat can cost up to $1,000 in the first year, and many people end up spending much more. The good news is, you can cut your pet care expenses without compromising your pet’s health and wellbeing. Here are a few tips to save money on pet care:

1. Don’t skip the vet.

If you’re trying to save money, it can be tempting to cut back on veterinary visits. But, according to Julie Ciarmella of the American Veterinary Medicine Association, “an investment in preventive healthcare can reduce your long-term pet healthcare costs.” Why? Because regular check-ups can prevent expensive complications down the road.

2. Get by with a little help from your friends.

Dog-walking, pet-sitting and kennel services can be one of the most expensive aspects of owning a pet. You can save money by taking the “you scratch my dog’s back, I’ll scratch your cat’s chin” approach and tapping into a network of other pet owners in your area. Neighborhood dog parks are great places to meet like-minded pet lovers; or you could try good old fashioned advertising.

3. Choose high-quality pet products that give you more value for your money.

Reaching for the cheapest product can feel like a thrifty move, but you may be surprised by the impact “cheap” products can have on your budget. For example, cheaper clay cat litter needs to be changed more often — 

In the end, remember that what your pet needs most is love. Keep things simple and invest in high-value products where it matters, and you’ll be on your way to a pet-care budget that works for you.

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    World’s Funniest Dog Video

    httpv://youtu.be/Hb92wQpPG-s

    This video has been viewed almost 30,000,00 times.  After losing my dog Angel last month, it’s nice that dogs bring laughter into  our  hearts in more than many ways.

    I hope you enjoy the video.
    For all your real estate needs
    Email or call today:

    John J. O’Dell Realtor® GRI
    Civil Engineer
    General Contractor
    (530) 263-1091
    Email jodell@nevadacounty.com

    DRE#00669941

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    World’s Smallest Dog And World’s Tallest Dog

    httpv://youtu.be/whPa2h7YE9k

    Here we have the world’s smallest dog (might be the shortest too) and the world’s tallest  dog.  Of course this was all created by humans breeding dogs over the ages.

    httpv://youtu.be/y0SDq8F_jKc

    A Great Dane from the US state of Arizona has been officially recognised by Guinness World Records as the tallest dog ever on record.Giant George, owned by David Nasser, stands 43in (1.09m) tall paw to shoulder, and weighs 245lb (111kg). Guinness officials say there were conflicting reports about Giant George’s height, so they sent a judge to his home in Tucson to verify it.

    Giant George – who has his own website – consumes 110lb of food each month.

    Four-year-old Giant George made it into the record books by beating his nearest rival, Titan, a Great Dane from California, by three-quarters of an inch.

    He was named by Guinness World Records as both the world’s Tallest Living Dog and Tallest Dog Ever.

    Mr Nasser says George sleeps on his own queen-sized bed inside the house.

    On a recent plane trip for a media appearance in Chicago, George was given a row of three seats to himself.

    And his presence on the plane certainly caused a commotion, says Mr Nasser, with many passengers coming up to take photographs.

    “There were so many people coming to the front of the plane, the pilot ended up illuminating the ‘fasten seat-belt’ sign to get everyone to sit down,” he added.

     

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    animals

    Allergic to Your Pets? Here’s Help!

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    by Lisa J. Lehr

    It’s spring!

    While most people are busy doing little happy dances about the longer days and warmer, sunnier weather, allergy sufferers often have a different reaction: dread.

    For people with year-round allergies to pets, however, spring just adds insult to injury. Tragically, allergies are among the most common reasons people give up their pets, and the misguided fear that a child may develop allergies prevents some people from having pets in the first place.

    The good news is that this is all totally unnecessary. Some education about pets, people, and allergies will save a lot of pets from the animal shelter, and a lot of kids from the deprivation of growing up without pets.

    Recently, numerous studies have found that kids who grow up in a home with dogs and cats actually have a significantly lower risk of developing common indoor and outdoor allergies. This means not only to cats and dogs, but also to dust mites, grass, ragweed, and Alternaria, a fungus found in the air.

    Many studies have found lower rates of allergies and asthma among children who grew up on a farm and were around lots of animals, as well as among people who have continually owned a pet as compared to new pet owners or to people who had pets earlier in life but not currently.

    In the February 2006 issue of Reader’s Digest, “Scratch Those Allergies” (page 208), with advice from allergist Clifford Bassett, MD gives the following suggestions:

    • –Ban pets from the bedroom, and get a HEPA air purifier.
    • –No pet is completely hypoallergenic, but those that shed more trigger more symptoms.
    • –Vacuum and dust often to eliminate sneeze-inducing dander and fur.
    • –Bathe and brush your pet often, especially if he sheds. If your symptoms are severe, have someone else do it for you.
    • I’d like to add a few points:
    • –Don’t be too quick to assume you or your child is allergic to a pet when it could easily be something else—a pillow or teddy bear, the sofa, the carpet, or anything capable of harboring allergens. Cats, especially, get blamed for a lot of allergic reactions they didn’t cause.
    • –Brush and/or vacuum your sofa, wash your bedspread and throw pillows, and shake out porous, crud-collecting items outdoors. Look in pet stores or online for products (including sticky rollers, strips, and sheets) that remove fur from furniture surfaces.
    • — Brush your pets daily and use an allergy-reducing spray such as Allerpet.
    • –Wash your hands after handling your pets, as well as their toys, bedding, dishes, etc. Be especially careful not to touch your nose or eyes before you wash your hands.
    • –Keep your pets’ skin healthy by feeding them a good quality food and a fatty acid supplement.
    • –Put electrostatic filters in your heating and air conditioning system. Every time you run it, the filters attract fur (along with other allergens). They’re more costly than the disposable ones, but they last indefinitely. (You just have to clean them.)
    • –If at all possible, get rid of your wall-to-wall carpet. With smooth flooring (vinyl, hardwood, tile, laminate) and a few area rugs, you’ll be amazed at how much cleaner your home feels and smells. Not only do you have less allergen-attracting surface area, it is much easier to thoroughly clean smooth floors and area rugs than installed carpet.
    • –Don’t assume that longhaired pets are more allergenic than shorthaired ones. Shorthaired pets can shed just as much, especially those with thick coats. They may actually shed more, because a long-haired pet’s fur tends to hang up in the surrounding fur rather than fall to the floor. (That’s why these pets need to be brushed.)
    • –While no pet is completely hypoallergenic, there’s a range, depending on the proteins in the particular pet’s fur. Regardless of fur length, all pets have dander, saliva, and urine, all of which are sources of allergy. If you’re adopting a new pet, “try out” several to check for a reaction.
    • –If you allow your cats outdoors (you shouldn’t, but that’s another article), they’re probably bringing in pollen and other allergens, so you may think you’re allergic to your cat when it’s really just the stuff they bring in. This applies to dogs as well, but cats are more likely to deposit their outdoor stuff all over your furniture.
    • –Do everything you can to accommodate pets in your home. By doing so, you’ll help protect the next generation from allergies—not just to dogs and cats, but to most common allergens.

    These suggestions won’t eliminate your spring allergies, but they should help. And they should definitely keep you from being so miserable that you’re tempted to get rid of your pets.

    Lisa J. Lehr is a writer and copywriter as well as animal lover living in Grass Valley. She can help you promote your business with a full range of online and offline marketing pieces. A member of Empire Toastmasters, she’s available to speak to your business or professional group.

    Visit her website www.justrightcopy.com for more information, opt in for a message series, and receive a free Marketing Guide.–
    Lisa J. Lehr
    I write words that make you money–just ask me how.
    www.justrightcopy.com
    Visit my website and sign up for my fr~ee marketing tips.
    New! No~cost Marketing Guide now available at my website.

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    How to Protect Your Pets From Predators

    httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tFW4w-61hic
    This is a video of a coyote “playing” with a family dog. Notice that the coyote keeps running into the bushes. Coyotes travel in packs and will play with a dog, luring the dog into the bushes where the rest of the pack is. Once in the bushes, the coyotes will kill and devour the dog.

    by Lisa J. Lehr

    Most of us living in Nevada County moved here because we like the rural environment. Rural environments include wildlife, and that, for the most part, is a plus; however, most of us also share our lives with beloved pets, and clashes between wildlife and pets often end in heartache for the pet owner.

    Coyotes are a particularly ubiquitous wild critter here in Nevada County, and pets falling prey to coyotes is a far too common occurrence. The consolation—if there is any—is that, compared to a car accident, dog attack, or abduction by a person with evil intentions, death by coyote is quick and, as far as we know, relatively suffering-free. Coyotes kill to eat, and they do it efficiently.

    Still, it is heartbreaking to lose a cherished pet, and it is our responsibility to take care of them.

    Coyotes are difficult to eradicate. They are becoming alarmingly unafraid of humans, with daytime sightings becoming more frequent. Trapping and relocating coyotes is not as good an idea as it may sound, as any young coyotes orphaned by this process will seek easy prey—e.g., our pets.

    They can be frightened, so if you see one, try shaking a noisemaker (like a can full of hardware) or throwing things at it. Fire a Super Soaker (high-powered toy water gun) filled with water or vinegar.

    More often, though, we don’t see them lurking around our property, as they are naturally nocturnal. The key to keeping coyotes away from your home (and your pets, your children, and you) is to eliminate all that attracts coyotes—mainly food. Coyotes are generalists, meaning they’ll eat just about anything.

    With that in mind:

    • Keep your cats and small dogs indoors at night; your medium and large dogs, too. Coyotes hunting in packs can take down a fairly big animal.
    • Rabbits, chickens, etc. that are kept outdoors need protection: strong fencing with a top, and/or a small enclosure inside it that they can hide in.
    • Don’t let your pets’ food become coyote bait. Cats are best fed indoors, and dogs should be fed only what they will eat all at once, with no leftovers.
    • Be careful with your bird feeders. Place them close to your house, and clean up spills. Do not feed squirrels, deer, or other wildlife. Any naturalist will tell you that birds are the only wild critters we should feed.
    • Put garden compost in enclosed bins, and gather your ripe fruits and vegetables immediately.
    • If your cats wear bells on their collars, take them off. The same bells that supposedly alert birds to your cats’ presence also betray their whereabouts to coyotes. (Once you’ve cleaned up the birdseed, you’ll have fewer birds within your cats’ reach, anyway.) One final consideration: cats who wear bells learn to be stealthier hunters, which leaves us with no reason that cats should ever wear bells.
    • Besides food, coyotes are attracted to potential partners. An unneutered male dog will be attracted to a female coyote; a male coyote will be attracted to an unspayed female dog; both scenarios spell trouble. Spay and neuter your pets.
    • Mothballs and ammonia around your property may repel coyotes, as will a motion-sensitive light.
    • Consider a fence. The type of fencing will need to be one that deters climbing and is in accordance with the CC&Rs of your neighborhood; at least six feet tall and extending six inches below ground. Some clever person has invented a “roll fence”; it has a rolling piece at the top, which keeps your cats from climbing out, or any uninvited guests from climbing in. As they try to grasp the top bar, it rolls. Wild critters stay out, tame ones in, and you and your pets live happily ever after.

    Coyotes will always be among us, but we don’t have to live in fear for our pets’ lives. Our best bet is to make them feel so unwelcome in civilization that they’ll pack up their families and move back to the wilderness.

    Lisa J. Lehr is a writer and copywriter as well as animal lover living in Grass Valley. She can help you promote your business with a full range of online and offline marketing pieces. A member of Empire Toastmasters, she’s available to speak to your business or professional group. Visit her website www.justrightcopy.com for more information, opt in for a message series, and receive a free Marketing Guide.

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    Are You a Dog or Cat Person?

    By Lisa J. Lehr

    Perhaps you’ve just bought your first home, and for the first time ever you have an opportunity to adopt a pet. Or perhaps you’ve had a dog or a cat and are wondering if the other kind of pet would work for you. So which is better: dog or cat?

    Consider the following questions.

    How much space do you have?

    Big dogs need space. Except for very senior dogs, they need a yard to run around in, or to be walked regularly. An under-exercised dog is likely to have behavioral problems, and you’re likely to be looking for a new home for him soon. Cats do just fine indoors (in fact they are much safer there), although several cats in a small apartment may feel crowded.

    How close are your neighbors?

    This question has to do with how much your pets are going to bother your neighbors. Barking dogs quickly make their owners unpopular. True, so do cats who dig and hunt in other people’s yards, but you can (and should) keep your cats indoors except under supervision. A barking dog can be heard over a significant distance.

    How much maintenance do you want to do?

    Dogs need to be walked, groomed, and usually fed on a schedule. Cats normally don’t. You may enjoy these jobs or be happy to pay someone else to do them. Just make sure you have a plan.

    Which kind of “bathroom duty” do you prefer?

    If your dog “goes” in your yard, you need to shovel it up before someone steps in it. If he “goes” while you’re out for a walk, you’ll need to bag it and bring it home to your garbage can. If your cat uses a litterbox, you’ll have to change it. (Some cats can be taught to use the toilet, but letting your cats roam freely outdoors just to avoid litter box detail is not responsible pet ownership.) So which one of these jobs is the least distasteful to you?

    Do you want to be tied to a feeding schedule?

    Cats are much more amenable to having a food bowl left out twenty-four-seven. Dogs are likely to either eat it all at once, or, if you leave for the day (or more), hoard it (not eat it at all), not knowing when you’re going to return to put out more food. Some dogs, however, are good at self-feeding, so if you’e adopting an adult dog, you may be able to select one who is.

    Are you prepared to teach your dog to respect your property?

    Yes, cats do claw the furniture and bite things. But the amount of damage a cat is likely to do is not in the same league with what dogs often do. We hear stories of dogs who shred the couch, dig a hole in the carpet, break a window to get out, chew up an entire wardrobe of shoes, etc. Cats are rarely guilty of these things.

    Finally, lots of pets are in need of homes with puppy and kitten season. In addition, due to the poor economy, many people are abandoning their pets which often end up in shelters.

    Lisa J. Lehr is a writer and copywriter as well as animal lover living in Grass Valley. She can help you promote your business with a full range of online and offline marketing pieces. A member of Empire Toastmasters, she’s available to speak to your business or professional group. Visit her website www.justrightcopy.com for more information, opt in for a message series, and receive a free Marketing Guide.

    animals

    Coyotes in Paradise – Watch Your Pets In Nevada County!

    by Lisa J. Lehr

    Most of us living in Nevada County moved here because we like the rural environment. Rural environments include wildlife, and that, for the most part, is a plus; however, most of us also share our lives with beloved pets, and clashes between wildlife and pets often end in heartache for the pet owner.

    Coyotes are a particularly ubiquitous wild critter here in Nevada County, and pets falling prey to coyotes is a far too common occurrence. The consolation—if there is any—is that, compared to a car accident, dog attack, or abduction by a person with evil intentions, death by coyote is quick and, as far as we know, relatively suffering-free. Coyotes kill to eat, and they do it efficiently.

    Still, it is heartbreaking to lose a cherished pet, and it is our responsibility to take care of them.

    Coyotes are difficult to eradicate. They are becoming alarmingly unafraid of humans, with daytime sightings becoming more frequent. Trapping and relocating coyotes is not as good an idea as it may sound, as any young coyotes orphaned by this process will seek easy prey—e.g., our pets.

    They can be frightened, so if you see one, try shaking a noisemaker (like a can full of hardware) or throwing things at it. Fire a Super Soaker (high-powered toy water gun) filled with water or vinegar.

    More often, though, we don’t see them lurking around our property, as they are naturally nocturnal. The key to keeping coyotes away from your home (and your pets, your children, and you) is to eliminate all that attracts coyotes—mainly food. Coyotes are generalists, meaning they’ll eat just about anything.

    With that in mind:

    ·         Keep your cats and small dogs indoors at night; your medium and large dogs, too. Coyotes hunting in packs can take down a fairly big animal.

    ·         Rabbits, chickens, etc. that are kept outdoors need protection: strong fencing with a top, and/or a small enclosure inside it that they can hide in.

    ·         Don’t let your pets’ food become coyote bait. Cats are best fed indoors, and dogs should be fed only what they will eat all at once, with no leftovers.

    ·         Be careful with your birdfeeders. Place them close to your house, and clean up spills. Do not feed squirrels, deer, or other wildlife. Any naturalist will tell you that birds are the only wild critters we should feed.

    ·         Put garden compost in enclosed bins, and gather your ripe fruits and vegetables immediately. Continue reading Coyotes in Paradise – Watch Your Pets In Nevada County! →