Universal Press Syndicate
Look, we get the shelter volunteer thing: The work can be depressing, and it's truly not for everyone. People who want to "take them all home" are not really candidates for this sort of volunteering, nor are people who cannot enjoy the small victories of a perfect pet placement or a sick pet saved when other pets aren't as lucky.
But just because you aren't cut out for shelter volunteering doesn't mean you can't help animals in your community. And in these current economic situations, your help has never been more needed.
The fact is that every little bit helps. After all, if every one of us animal lovers did one small thing a couple of times a year, the total effort would be grand indeed.
Here are a few suggestions for helping animals:
-- Help others take better care of their pets. If you have a friend, neighbor or relative who is having difficulty caring for a pet because of advanced age or illness, offer to help out. Pets are extremely important to those who are cut off from social activities. Helping people keep their pets is a kindness to both pet and pet owner.
What can you do? Pick up food or litter, or offer to take the pet to the veterinarian when needed. Many times, people who rely on others for assistance are reluctant to ask for more help on account of a pet. So ask if you can help. After all, if you're already going to the pet-supply store or veterinarian, is it really that much trouble to pick up some extra supplies or stay for an additional appointment?
-- Make a call for animals. Animal cruelty should not be tolerated, not only for the animals, but also because of the proven link between animal cruelty and crimes against people. Too often, though, animal cruelty is shrugged off by the judicial system as a lesser crime.
Don't accept a "boys will be boys" attitude when it comes to animal cruelty. Call, e-mail and write to prosecutors and judges in animal cruelty cases. Demand that children get the help they need to break the cycle of cruelty and that adult offenders are punished to the fullest extent of the law. Public opinion counts in these cases!
When animal-related legislation is introduced, study it and then let your elected representatives know your stand. Not all animal-related legislation is good, so do your homework.
-- Pay to spay. Don't place an animal in a new home unless you've made sure the pet won't reproduce. You may think you're doing a good deed in a finding home for a pet you cannot keep, or for a litter of kittens born in your garage to a semi-wild mother cat. But if you don't pay to spay, you really aren't helping.
Instead of placing a pet for free, spay or neuter the animal and then charge an adoption fee to cover the cost of the procedure. You'll save the adopter time and will ensure that the pet you place won't add to the overpopulation problem.
-- Help a shelter or rescue group. Volunteers are always needed to help with the animals in the shelter or to foster pets who need a home environment. But if you don't want to contribute on a regular basis, then see if you can help on a short-term project. Can you check people in at a spay-neuter clinic? Work a pet-behavior hot line now and then? Follow up on adoptions?
Many groups have fundraisers throughout the year. They need volunteers to help with ticket sales, setup, concessions and cleanup.
You can also help by finding out what your local shelter or rescue groups need in the way of services or supplies and then calling to ask for donations. Shelters are in constant need not only of pet food, litter, old newspapers and towels, but also office and janitorial supplies and building materials. Get a wish list from your shelter and get to work!
Those are just a few ideas. If you have others, let us know and we'll share them on our Web site, at PetConnection.com.
(Mikkel Becker Shannon contributed to this article.)
Q&A
Don't assume dry skin is from home's dry air
Q: Our house is on the dry side, even though we run a humidifier. My cat's skin has been extremely dry. Is there something I can do to eliminate this massive white dander he is scratching out? -- P.T., via e-mail
A: I wouldn't be so certain the low humidity in your house is causing the problem. After all, cats are descended from desert-dwelling creatures, and low humidity alone shouldn't cause a massive amount of flakiness.
See your veterinarian to determine what's causing your pet's skin to be so flaky.
By the way, other pets do have a problem with the dry air of the modern home, most notably birds. Many species of pet parrots originally came from hot, humid environments. For these, dry air presents a problem and may contribute to feather-picking. That's why parrots need to be offered frequent opportunities to get damp, such as by being misted or being allowed to bathe. -- Dr. Marty Becker
No head halters
Q: I've heard that head halters can cause serious injuries if used wrongly. A too-abrupt tug could jerk a dog's head, causing neck or spinal injuries, couldn't it? The pet store recommended one of these, and I bought it, but my dog hates it. Are they really safe? -- A.K., via e-mail
A: Anything's possible, which is why I don't recommend using a head halter with one of those long, reel-type leashes. The force of a running dog hitting the end of a 30-foot line does have the potential to cause injury.
In truth, just about every piece of canine equipment has the potential for problems if used incorrectly. Slip-chain collars can choke a dog or injure his neck. Breakaway collars, designed to release a dog who's caught on something, can result in a dog being off-leash when it's least safe, such as next to a busy street if not clipped on properly. And head halters can jerk a dog's head around.
A lot of dogs hate head halters, at least at first. Training a dog to walk calmly on a loose leash with a buckled or snap collar can be accomplished -- get help in a training class or a couple of private sessions with a trainer. In the meantime, instead of using a head halter, use one of the newer front-clip harnesses, which work great to control pulling.
If you don't know what's right for your dog or how to use it, find a trainer who can help you choose the appropriate equipment and show you how it works. Every piece of training equipment is right for some dogs, but no single item is right for all. And no piece of training equipment is safe or effective unless it's fitted and used properly. -- Gina Spadafori
(Do you have a pet question? Send it to petconnection@gmail.com.)
ABOUT PET CONNECTION
Pet Connection is produced by a team of pet-care experts headed by "Good Morning America" veterinarian Dr. Marty Becker and award-winning journalist Gina Spadafori. The two are also the authors of several best-selling pet-care books.
On PetConnection.com there's more information on pets and their care, reviews of products, books and "dog cars." Contact Pet Connection in care of this newspaper by sending e-mail to petconnection@gmail.com or by visiting PetConnection.com.
PET BUZZ
Rats can locate killer land mines
-- Land mines can be sniffed out -- or should we say, ratted out. Some 60 million land mines are scattered in 69 countries. Dogs are often deployed to sniff them out, but HeroRATS has found out that rats are easier to train and are light, so they don't detonate the mines they find. According to National Geographic, HeroRATS uses the African giant pouched rat, with its very sensitive nose. Rats are trained with rewards to scratch the ground when they smell explosives.
-- A new genetic test for heart disease is a breakthrough for boxers -- and people, too. The gene responsible for causing arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy disease in boxers has been discovered at Washington State University College of Veterinary Medicine, and a genetic test for the mutation is now available. The test costs about $70 and is done with a simple cheek swab. This achievement not only helps breeders of these dogs avoid this disease when planning their litters, but also provides an extraordinary advancement to the study of human heart diseases resulting from electrical conduction defects and the resulting heart muscle changes that occur.
-- It seems even tough-as-nails police dogs can flee the scene if thunder is involved. A Chicago police dog named Bear is a scaredy-cat when it comes to thunder: The German shepherd scaled a fence and disappeared after a roaring thunderstorm frightened him. After a few days of looking, Officer Ann Jaros was delighted when a safe but dirty Bear recognized her squad car and jumped right in. -- Dr. Marty Becker and Mikkel Becker Shannon
PET Rx
Take care of yourself after loss of a pet
Choosing to end a pet's life is the hardest decision we make when it comes to our pets. Your veterinarian can offer you advice, and friends and family can offer you support, but no one can make the decision for you. When you live with an elderly or terminally ill pet, you look in your pet's eyes every morning and wonder if you're doing what's best.
Everyone makes the decision a little differently. Some pet lovers do not wait until their pet's discomfort becomes chronic, untreatable pain, and they choose euthanasia much sooner than others would. Some owners use an animal's appetite as the guide -- when an old or ill animal cannot be tempted into eating, they reason, he has lost most interest in life. And some owners wait until there's no doubt the time is at hand -- and later wonder if they delayed a bit too long. There's no absolute rule, and every method for deciding is right for some pets and some owners at some times.
The bottom line remains: What is in the best interest of the animal? Choosing to end a pet's suffering is a final act of love and nothing less. Knowing that decisions are guided by that love is what carries pet lovers through the sad and lonely time of losing a cherished animal companion.
Taking care of yourself is important when dealing with pet loss. Some people -- the "it's just a pet" crowd -- won't understand the loss and may shrug off grief over a pet's death as foolish. The company of other animal lovers is very important. Seek them out to share your feelings, and don't be shy about getting professional help to get you through a difficult time.
Many veterinary schools and colleges offer pet-loss counseling by phone -- and the services are free. -- Dr. Marty Becker
BY THE NUMBERS
Popular Birds
Cockatiels and budgerigars (commonly but incorrectly known as "parakeets") are the most popular pet birds. Here are the top birds among people keeping one avian pet:
Cockatiel 34 percent
Budgie 29 percent
Conure 7 percent
Lovebird 5 percent
Amazon 5 percent
Macaw 4 percent
Other small parrot 4 percent
Canary 3 percent
Cockatoo 2 percent
Other large parrot 2 percent
African grey 2 percent
Other 3 percent
Source: American Pet Products Association
ON GOOD BEHAVIOR
Kitten-proof home before new arrival
Proper preparation of your home before you get a kitten can get your pet off to a great start.
Start with a litter box that is not too big for a kitten to get into. Make sure window screens are secure and that household cleaning products, houseplants, strings and other potentially dangerous objects are out of your kitten's reach.
Select the tallest scratching post you can find, preferably with a climbing and resting area on top, so your cat can stretch, groom his claws and perch himself off the ground. Keep all these items and your kitten in one room for a couple of weeks to lower kitten stress, control safety and prevent behaviors you don't want in an adult cat.
(Susan and Dr. Rolan Tripp are the authors of "On Good Behavior." For more information, visit their Web site at AnimalBehavior.net.)
Pet Connection is produced by a team of team of pet-care experts headed by "Good Morning America" veterinarian Dr. Marty Becker and award-winning journalist Gina Spadafori. The two are also the authors of several best-selling pet-care books. Contact Pet Connection in care of this newspaper, by sending e-mail to petconnection@gmail.com or by visiting PetConnection.com.