Essential information for dog or cat ownership

[HeDied4Me]

I think we should create a thread which explains about the necessity of spaying/neutering, where (and where not) to get a dog or a cat, and all sorts of other important information. Then we could ask one of the mods to make it a "stickied" thread so that anyone who enters the forum will see it.

There's just so much important information about pets, and I think it would be very helpful to have a sticky with all the essential topics. Does anyone else think this would be a good idea? We'd need to come up with a list of important topics, such as:

- The importance of spaying/neutering

- Why not to buy a pet-store or backyard breeder puppy

- Options for adopting a rescue or shelter animal

- Dog breed information and cautions about breeds that aren't suitable for inexperienced homes

- Links to good sites with information about pets

- How to tell if a breeder is reputable or not

 

[Littlemouse]

Great Idea!Gotta love it!

 

[Sabina41]

How to tell if a breeder is reputable or not

As much as I love shelters and shelter dogs (if you couldn't tell from most of my posts in the last week or so) I think that how to tell if a shelter or rescue is reputable or not is a good sticky too. Whether you are adopting an animal and need to know whether it has been suitably temperament tested or received adequate veterinary care, etc. or you are considering surrendering an animal, it's a good thing to know. So many people pass over their local "pound" because of the stigma that Lady and the Tramp and other cultural myths have implanted in our brains and seek out no-kill organizations that are only no kill because they are overloaded and never remove an animal from their program no matter how sick or vicious, which isn't fair (or safe) to the animal. I'm all for saving lives but our shelter once had to step in and remove 300+ cats from a no-kill rescue that had gotten out of control. This was someone that people had trusted to place their animal, but they didn't do any research and what they did instead was condemn their pet to a life of misery. So, yea...no two rescues or shelters are alike and while I do speak for the homeless animal, research and care needs to be done into who is reputable in this area and who is not as well.

-Ashley

 

[HeDied4Me]

As much as I love shelters and shelter dogs (if you couldn't tell from most of my posts in the last week or so) I think that how to tell if a shelter or rescue is reputable or not is a good sticky too. Whether you are adopting an animal and need to know whether it has been suitably temperament tested or received adequate veterinary care, etc. or you are considering surrendering an animal, it's a good thing to know. So many people pass over their local "pound" because of the stigma that Lady and the Tramp and other cultural myths have implanted in our brains and seek out no-kill organizations that are only no kill because they are overloaded and never remove an animal from their program no matter how sick or vicious, which isn't fair (or safe) to the animal. I'm all for saving lives but our shelter once had to step in and remove 300+ cats from a no-kill rescue that had gotten out of control. This was someone that people had trusted to place their animal, but they didn't do any research and what they did instead was condemn their pet to a life of misery. So, yea...no two rescues or shelters are alike and while I do speak for the homeless animal, research and care needs to be done into who is reputable in this area and who is not as well.

-Ashley

Yes, definitely important! And not just finding a reputable shelter, but a suitable pet to adopt as well. And as I'm sure you agree, there are many great adoptable animals, but some of them aren't suitable for inexperienced owners because they may have been abused and need experienced people who can teach them to regain their confidence.

Anyone who would like to help write up some guidelines on these subjects, please do.

 

[Sabina41]

I'd love to take a shot at it, but I'll have to give it more thought that I can spare just now with finals in 4 days....anyone else? What should people know in going to a shelter? What should shelters provide/require? What expectations should they have for finding a suitable pet?

-ashley

 

[HeDied4Me]

Well, I don't know a lot about shelters, but I'd think some of the guidelines would be the same as for good breeders, right? Ensuring that all pets are neutered or spayed when they're adopted out, asking plenty of questions about the adopter's home situation, etc. Also, the animals should be given individual attention, and kennels should be clean and well-kept.

 

[MesaBoogieGrl]

Well, I don't know if this is the place to do it, but I want to give a glowing review to the pet foster agency where we just adopted our family's new addition. I live in Kentucky and there is an adoption agency nearby called LIFE for Pets. The pets stay in foster homes until they are adopted. But not just any Joe Shmoe can adopt. Every interested party has to fill out an application on the pet they would like to adopt. The foster parent chooses the household that is best for the animal. The foster parent holds the family's check for one week (trial period) until they know that the placement will work out. If the family ever needs to surrender the animal (as if they're moving away), the family agrees via contract to give the animal back to LIFE.

We just adopted a 3 year old spaniel mutt named Molly from this organization, and it has really worked out well. I like the way the agency is run and it seems to really look out for the best interest of both pet and owner. I totally didn't mind jumping through their hoops. The adoption fee was reasonable and Molly is completely up to date on her immunizations and was spayed before she came to us.

I like the adoption agency model placing pets in homes even better than the shelter model.

 

[awashinlove]

Well, I don't know if this is the place to do it, but I want to give a glowing review to the pet foster agency where we just adopted our family's new addition. I live in Kentucky and there is an adoption agency nearby called LIFE for Pets. The pets stay in foster homes until they are adopted. But not just any Joe Shmoe can adopt. Every interested party has to fill out an application on the pet they would like to adopt. The foster parent chooses the household that is best for the animal. The foster parent holds the family's check for one week (trial period) until they know that the placement will work out. If the family ever needs to surrender the animal (as if they're moving away), the family agrees via contract to give the animal back to LIFE.

We just adopted a 3 year old spaniel mutt named Molly from this organization, and it has really worked out well. I like the way the agency is run and it seems to really look out for the best interest of both pet and owner. I totally didn't mind jumping through their hoops. The adoption fee was reasonable and Molly is completely up to date on her immunizations and was spayed before she came to us.

I like the adoption agency model placing pets in homes even better than the shelter model.

That's excellent.

HeDied4Me, that's a great idea you have. What do you think of just a list of reputable resources on the web for each topic so people don't possibly pass over information as just posters' opinion?

 

[FlatpickingJD]

That's excellent.

HeDied4Me, that's a great idea you have. What do you think of just a list of reputable resources on the web for each topic so people don't possibly pass over information as just posters' opinion?

I think both your ideas are brilliant! Maybe along w/the list of reputable web resources a brief description of what the seeker can expect to find on each site (especially if not obvious from the website name).

 

[HeDied4Me]

HeDied4Me, that's a great idea you have. What do you think of just a list of reputable resources on the web for each topic so people don't possibly pass over information as just posters' opinion?

Sure, good idea. If anyone knows of any good pet ownership articles or websites, please post the links in this thread. Thanks.

 

[Wisdomworship]

http://www.dog-play.com/behavior.html

This is a link to even more dog links on training and behavior

If you are looking for a family pet, I would suggest a shelter, if you are looking into showing, a, AKC breeder is the way to go

I adopted a pappillon and a pomeranian from the local shelter, even though they had a horrible first life (they lived with 12 other dogs, not fixed, and were nver let outside) They are the best pets I could ask for.