Here is an interesting piece from Science Daily

ScienceDaily (2008-01-20) — When people lack a sense of connection with other people, they are more likely to see their pets, gadgets or gods as human-like, according to new research. In one experiment, the team found a correlation between how lonely people felt and their tendency to describe a gadget in terms of humanlike mental states.

Letter to the Pets

To be  posted VERY LOW on the refrigerator door - nose height.

Dear Dogs  and Cats,

The dishes with the paw print are yours and contain your food. The other dishes are mine and contain my food. Please note, placing a paw print in the middle of my plate and food does not stake a claim for it becoming your food and dish, nor do I find that aesthetically pleasing in the slightest.

The stairway was not designed by NASCAR and is not a racetrack. Beating me to the bottom is not the object. Tripping me doesn't help because I fall faster than you can run.

I cannot buy anything bigger than a king-sized bed. I am very sorry about this. Do not think I will continue sleeping on the couch to ensure your comfort. Dogs and cats can actually curl up into a ball when they sleep. It is not necessary to sleep perpendicular to each other stretched out to the fullest extent possible. I also know that sticking tails straight out and having tongues hanging out the other end to maximize space is nothing but sarcasm.

For the last time, there is not a secret exit from the bathroom. If by some miracle I beat you there and manage to get the door shut, it is not necessary to claw, whine, meow, try to turn the knob or get your paw under the edge and try to pull the door open. I must exit through the same door I entered. Also, I have been using the bathroom for years — canine or feline attendance is not required.

The proper order is kiss me, then go smell the other dog or cat's butt. I cannot stress this enough!

To pacify you, my dear pets, I have posted the following message on our front door:

To All Non-Pet Owners Who Visit & Like to Complain About Our Pets:

1.  They live here. You  don't.
2.  If you don't want their hair on your clothes, stay off the furniture.
(That's why they call it "fur"niture.)
3.  I like my pets a lot better than I like most people.
4.  To you, it's an animal. To me, he/she is an adopted son/daughter who
is short, hairy, walks on all fours and doesn't speak clearly.

Remember: In many ways, dogs and cats are better than kids because they:
1.  Eat less
2.  Don't ask for money all the time
3   Are easier to train
4.  Normally come when called
5.  Never ask to drive the car
6.  Don't hang out with drug-using friends
7.  Don't smoke or drink
8.  Don't have to buy the latest fashions
9.  Don't want to wear your clothes
10. Don't need a "gazillion" dollars for college.

And finally,

11. If they get pregnant, you can sell their children!

I got the opportunity in Atlanta recently to meet a most extraordinary veterinarian, Dr Andrew Jones. Dr Jones is a practicing veterinarian in a small town in British Columbia, Canada and a great supporter of his local Animal Shelter. He is also an accomplished author and publisher of E-Books, and multimedia materials.I encourage you to click on the picture below to get a copy of his FREE E-book You will also see him on the right side of this page. I hope you take up his FREE offer and use this valuable resource to assist you in caring for your new pets.

It is well worth your while and may do your pet and your wallet a favour.

Adopted Pets as Your New Pet

Animal overpopulation is a huge issue. Pet shelters are overflowing while the stray population grows as well. Adopting an  adult dog or cat is increasingly becoming popular. While an adopted pet can have many benefits, there are also unique problems that come with the task. Before you adopt and old pet as your new pet, there are some pieces of information you should know.

Introduce Adopted Pet to Old Pets

Many families looking to adopt a new pet already own other pets. When these older dogs and cats are introduced to other adult pets, problems can arise. When puppies and kittens are introduced, however, dominance is clearly outlined. Since this is not able to occur with adopted pets, slowly introduce them to your animal family. Make sure you supervise the meetings for the first few weeks at least. This will help both the new and old pets adjust to each other.

Be Patient

Adopted pets can come with a multitude of issues. They may have been abused or neglected. For this reason, be patient with your new dog or cat. If he cowers when you try to pet him, try a slower approach. This is usually a trait of formerly abused dogs.

New pets may also take longer to learn obedience. If you've ever heard the saying, "You can't teach an old dog new tricks," you'll understand. Learning where she should go when she needs to go outside is something a dog must learn over time.

Old Shirt for Sleeping

One way to help your new adopted pet get used to you is to give him an old shirt of yours. Make sure to wear the shirt for at least 8 hours before handing it over. This can be a sleeping bed for your new pet. Your scent will quickly become the one he knows the best.

Walk Around the Neighborhood

Adopted pets need to become familiar with their surroundings. It helps them find their way home in case they get lost. These animals tend to be moved around a lot. To get your dog or cat used to her surroundings, take frequent walks. Let her stop and smell whenever she wishes.

Implement Consistency

When you adopt a new pet, you may be adopting bad habits as well. Some animals are allowed to chew on furniture and eliminate in the house. When you introduce a new pet into your life, make sure to be consistent with your rules right from the beginning to minimize old tendencies. Consistency is the only way your new dog will learn.

There is nothing more loving than adopting a dog or cat from a pet shelter. There are, however, certain things you must be educated about before you make that purchase. While you can skip the puppy stage, you cannot skip other undesirable pet steps. Loving patience is the best thing you can provide for your adopted pet. Over time, your adopted pet will become an important and essential part of your family.

When you have a dog or cat you will need to make sure that, you are training them so that they are not going to the bathroom in the wrong places. You need to make sure that they are housebroken so that you can be sure that your pet is not ruining your home and so that you can live freely. You need to make sure that you are looking at all your options and choosing the best one that suits you.DogsFirst of you need to learn how to detect the warning signs and how to intercept before they go to the bathroom in your home. You need to learn their patterns and their behaviors. This will better help you learn how to get them used to going outside so that they are able to go outdoors to use the bathroom.Stay outside as often as possible during the nice weather so that your puppy or dog can develop a preference for going outdoors. You should help him or her learn how to like the outdoors and all the hard surfaces. Play with them and get them used to the idea of being outdoors. This will help them want to be outside and let you know when they have to relieve themselves.Make sure that you are putting the dog or puppy in a crate at night if you are trying to housebreak them. Dogs do not like to soil any place where they have to sleep. You can find comfortable crate so that your animal is safe and comfortable at night when you cannot watch them all the time.You may even want to try to carry them outside if they are restless. This may help them get used to going outdoors once they see how much better they feel once they have gone.You may also want to have a little box around the house for at night and when the animal is left alone. This will be a good place for the animal to go when they are not able to make it outdoors in time.Cats If you are trying to train your cat or kitten to use the litter box, you may find it to be a lot easier than training a dog. Usually a cat will have the instincts to use the litter box for their needs. They will usually have no problem realizing what this box filled with tiny little pebbles is for. However, some cats are not interested in making it simple or they will all of a sudden stop using the littler pan that you have provided for them.You need to make sure that you are cleaning the litter box daily. Your cat will start to use other places in your home if you are not keeping up with it. If you have recently started using some other brand of litter, you may want to try changing back to what you originally had. Some cats are very meticulous and will not like the change that you are trying to make for them.Put the little box and your cat or kitten in a small room like a bathroom. Make sure that they will have plenty of food and water. You need to check on your cat at least every hour. If the cat has done their business in their litter box, you should reward them with some playtime or they are favorite treat. You should then put them back in the room and repeat this a few time until your cat seems to have gotten the hang of it all.If your cat is still not using the litter box as they should you may want to take them to a vet. Make sure there is nothing medically wrong with them such as kidney problems, parasites or any type of infection.You should not punish your cat if they soil in your home. This will only make them want to use another location that you cannot see when they have to do their business. You want to make sure that you are following through with these tips and you should be able to train your cat or kitten in no time at all.

Children and New Pets

Children love pets. Dogs, cats, hamsters, ferrets, and anything with fur tend to drive kids crazy. When that pet, however, comes with responsibility, many children begin to waiver. Dogs and cats are all fun and games until you have to clean up urine or feces. Whether your children promise to take care of the new pet or not, there are some good ways to help children keep and uphold their promises.

Discuss Pet Chores

Sometimes children simply don't understand how much work is involved with pet ownership. Sit them down and discuss the various responsibilities. These responsibilities include: feeding, potty training, bathing, playing, walking, and obedience training. This will help get your child mentally prepared for the responsibility.

Create a Pet Contract

Before you go to the pet store, animal shelter, or breeder, create a pet contract with your child. This should visibly convey all pet responsibilities and the child's knowledge of these responsibilities. Make sure to collect signatures.

Choosing a Pet

Children who get to choose their pets tend to take more ownership than the children who are not involved in the selection process. When you take your child to the pet shop or animal shelter, he or she is allowed to create a bond with a particular animal. This bond comes with a desire to care for the animal.

Assign Pet Duties

Make your expectations perfectly clear. Simply telling your child that he/she will need to care for the pet is not enough. Give specific duties for specific days of the week. Even assigning times to the duties helps a great deal. For example, tell your child to empty the litter box before bed each night every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.

Praise and Reward

Good deeds should not go unnoticed. When your child has completed all his/her duties without being told, give praise. If this continues for a month or more, reward the effort with a treat. Go to a movie or out to ice cream.

Share Duties

Children are more likely to continue caring for their pets if the duties assigned are split. If you have more than one child, make sure to rotate pet care responsibilities between children. If a child only has to feed the dog 2 or 3 times a week, completion of that chore will be more likely. Parents can even take on some responsibility as well. It sets a good example for children when parents get involved with pet care.

When children think of pets, they think of the cuddling and the play. They do not think about taking the dog outside in the middle of the night, or cleaning up after an accident. Unfortunately, these elements go hand in hand with pet ownership. Convey to your children that responsibility comes along with all of the benefits. In order to experience the joys of a pet, you have to experience the duties as well. Setting clear expectations for your children and setting achievable goals is the best way to solidify child pet care duties.

Anytime you are bringing something new into your home, you are going to have an adjustment period.  You have to be ready for this big change especially when you are bringing a new pet into your home that already has existing pets.  This is going to be something that may take some time to get used to but you have to make it work. You need to make your new pet comfortable as well as the other pets that are in the home too.
There are some things that you will have to do once you get your new pet home. You may want to make sure they have their own little space to be comfortable in. this may mean that if your other pets have comfortable beds or specific areas where they sleep at night you need to make sure that your new animal has it too. This will give them a sense of belonging and feeling as if they have arrived home.
You should also make sure that you are keeping an eye on the new pet as they interact with the existing pets. You should be aware of any problems that you may think of. Do not let the pets go unattended and use your best judgment when it comes to what you need to watch out for and any problems that may be happening around the home.
Be stern with the new pet but also make sure that you are keeping love in your tone. You need the animal to feel that they are wanted and if you are too harsh, you are only going to scare them from starting to accept you.  There are many different ways that you can scold your pet without making them constantly afraid of you and all that you do.   More on New Pets in the Home-War or Peace

With a pet, you are you going to have to learn how to take care of them in many ways. You are going to need to have lots of time and patience as well.You need to think about how you are going to teach your pet how to be good and how to do the things that you want it to. It is going to take time for you to teach your new friend new things and how to help them learn right from wrong as well.There are crates that are made for pets. These crates are going to be made from plastic and heavy wire mesh. Some are also made from aluminum. They will be great for your new little friends. This is a place that you can trust your pet to spend their time in.This crate must be well ventilated and sturdy that is not going to be dangerous in any way. In order for this to be your pets new home you will need to make sure that it is large enough for the animal and that is going to be comfortable for them as well. More on Crating of new pets- their safe place

There are many people who are extremely passionate about spaying and neutering dogs and cats. Most of these individuals want to put an end to pet overpopulation. Others, however, simply feel spaying and neutering is best for the health of dogs and cats. If you are on the fence about spaying and neutering, there is plenty of information available to help you make your decision.What does a Spaying or Neutering Procedure Entail?Although it is extremely common to spay or neuter pets, it is serious surgery. Male dogs and cats are castrated. This means there testicles are removed. Female cats undergo a procedure that removes their uterus, Fallopian tubes, and ovaries.When Should a Dog or Cat be Spayed or Neutered?Of course, a dog or cat of any age can be spayed or neutered. The recommended age, however, is right around 6 months. This is before the male hormones have kicked into full gear. It is also usually before the female dog or cat goes through her first heat cycle. Avoiding the cycle all together is ideal.Are Their Risks to the Procedure?As with any surgery, there are risks associated with spaying and neutering. Since the procedures are performed all the time, however, risks are minimal. The most common risk is infection. Usually this is indicated by extreme redness and swelling at the incision site. If pet owners notice this, they should contact a veterinarian immediately.What are the Male Benefits of Neutering?There are many benefits of neutering a male dog or cat. Owner sanity is one. Removing the dog or cat's testicles eliminates the aggressive tendencies in males. Male dogs and cats also spray urine to mark their territories. This can leave homes smelling awful for months. Neutering eliminates this problem. The males no longer have the urge to spray.The other main benefit of male neutering deals with health. Dogs and cats who have not been neutered have a strong possibility of developing prostate problems or testicular cancer. Removing the testicles eliminates the testicular worry, and minimizes prostate issues.What are the Female Benefits of Spaying?The benefits of spaying a female dog or cat are also twofold. The lives of pet owners are much easier with a spayed animal. Unspayed females can have heat cycles that last up to 21 days. This can get messy with blood stains all over the house. She can also get moody and restless until she gets pregnant.Health is another reason to spay your female dog or cat. Once they are spayed, they are much less likely to develop breast cancer or tumors. An infection called pyometritis is also much less common in spayed dogs and cats. This infection can be life-threatening.Is the Procedure Expensive?Since spaying and neutering are surgical procedures, there is money involved. The cost is, however, quite affordable. Also, the money you will save in the long run is great. A pet with cancer, for example, costs much more than a simple neutering or spaying procedure. If you have adopted your pet from an Animal Welfare organisation they will often supply this service at low cost or in some cases give you a voucher for a reduced cost at a local veterinarian. Sometimes your adoption fee includes the cost of this and when the procedure is completed you can return to the shelter or rescue group for a refund.There is one obvious reason why people would not want to spay or neuter their dogs and cats: offspring. If you don't care about puppies and kittens, however, sterilization is a smart choice. Neutering and spaying improves dog and cat health and pet owner sanity.To stop overpopulation of cats and dogs though it is a very good public spirited action you should take

All pets take a lot of dedication and work. Whether you own a dog, cat, hamster, ferret, or horse, responsibility is inevitable. The level of responsibility, however, can vary from animal to animal. Snakes take less care than dogs, for example. Some animals simply need food, while others need love and affection as well. Either way, responsibility is key. Perhaps the first level of pet responsibility comes when it is time to select a veterinarian. There are several factors one must consider when choosing the right veterinarian for their pet.
Veterinarian Specialty
Not all veterinarians specialize in every type of animal. There are some veterinarians, for example, who specialize in large farm animals. Cats and dogs would be better taken somewhere else. Other doctors specialize in small animals like birds, hamsters, and ferrets.
Veterinarian Pet Owner
Research potential veterinarians to see if they own pets themselves. Most animal doctors choose their profession because they love pets. It is best to choose a veterinarian that has an animal selection similar to your own. Although it is not necessary, it is nice to choose a horse owning vet for your horse's care.
Other Office Services
If you will need more than just medical services for your animal, make sure potential veterinarians offer those services. Some clinics, for example, will board dogs and cats while you are on vacation. Other clinics will groom pets. Be sure to inquire about any special service you might need.
Pet Owner Recommendations
When you have narrowed your veterinarian selection down to a few, ask other pet owners for opinions. A good experience can travel a long way, but a bad experience will travel even farther. Fellow pet owners will be more than happy to give you veterinarian advice. A good place to start is by asking neighbors and people you see at the dog park.
Emergency Situations
Make sure you ask each clinic what the protocol is during a medical emergency. Dogs and cats are more like family than mere animal friends. Does the clinic have long hours? Is there a  veterinarian on-call? Is he or she only available during business hours? These are all questions you should be asking potential veterinarians to prepare for emergency situations.
Trial Visit
Before you make your final veterinarian decision, make sure you visit the clinic. Offices should be clean and pet friendly. Although animals go in and out of veterinary clinics all day long, they should never smell of feces or urine. The waiting area should be free of any small objects that could harm your pet. Also, make sure you take not of other clients. Do they control their animals? Are they friendly or rude?
Your pet's health is extremely important. The veterinarian you choose to oversee his/her health is one of the most important aspects of pet ownership. Treat veterinarian shopping as though you were shopping for your own doctor or child's pediatrician. There is no better gift you could give an animal than a wonderful veterinarian.