Responsible Pet Ownership Guidelines, Christmas present ideas for pets

Dates:

Clinic CLOSED: From Noon on Friday, December 22 through noon on Tuesday, December 26.  We will be able to take some appointments on December 26-27, then will be closed again Thursday, December 28-Tuesday, Jan 2 (noon).

Canine Massage:  THIS Friday, December 8.  Call by Thursday, December 7, 4 p.m. if you’d like to take one of the available appointments.  The January date is January 19.

Responsible Pet Ownership: In this time of holiday gift purchasing, many people consider getting or giving a new pet.  From the AVMA, here are some guidelines for responsible pet ownership we feel bear consideration.

1. Commit to the relationship for the life of the pet. Many shelters see a huge influx of older pets around Christmas to make room for a new pet.  Don’t be that guy.
2. Recognize pet ownership requires an investment of time and money. Training and health care are important to a successful relationship with your new pet.
3. Don’t over-commit to pets. Only keep the number of pets you can provide proper food, shelter, time, and health care for.  For some people, that may be a dozen or more.  For others, one is too many.
4. Make sure your pet is properly identified with a microchip, address tag and collar, tattoo, etc and has been duly registered with a national registry which is kept up to date if your address changes.
5. Follow local ordinances including licensing and leash laws. Don’t let your pet roam onto the property of others, and clean up after them.
6. Control your pet’s reproduction to address animal control and over-population problems, through either planned breeding or spay and neuter.
7. Establish and maintain a veterinarian-client-patient relationship
8. Provide preventive and therapeutic health care for the life of the pet according to your veterinarian’s recommendations
9. Socialize, train, and exercise your pet for good relationships and mental health
10. Prevent your pet from having a negative impact on other people, animals, and the environment by cleaning their waste, noise control, and not allowing the pet to stray or become feral.
11. Prepare in advance for emergencies and disaster including assembling a pet evacuation kit and having a pet carrier or kennel appropriate for their size.
12. Make alternative arrangements if caring for the pet is no longer possible
13. Recognize declines in the pet’s quality of life and make decisions in consultation with a vet regarding appropriate end-of-life care (palliative, hospice, euthanasia)

Christmas Shopping?  

Just wanted to remind you that we have some great ideas for stocking stuffers for you AND your pets!  We have some small Zum items with Christmas Scents (soap and room spray) for you. We also have some Indigo Wild Yum line for pets including odor removal candles, doggie shampoo, and doggie body spray.  For your pet we have a wide selection.  This includes our Inaba meat puree cat treats and fillets; Greenies, PureBites and KC Canine dog treats; and even muffin mix in apple-cinnamon or carob brownie for your dogs.  For travel, we have our pheromone sprays for cats or dogs, plus our Nutricalm supplements. Drop by and see what we have!