Animals Are Forever

Throughout the course of my life, I've encountered my own share of dogs. From early childhood days, I recall having several dogs that stayed temporarily with us until my dad's next military assignment. Though my parents took good care of our animals, military life was unsuitable for animal adoptions as in most cases, animals were not permitted to go back overseas with us; thus we were inevitably forced to find homes for our pets.

In 1983, my parents adopted our first 'forever' dog. She was a beautiful, graceful German Shepherd mix. Because my oldest sister had small children, my mom kept 'Apollo' outside in the backyard. Living in the South, my family was virtually unaware of the risk of heartworms . In Europe, heartworms didn't exist, and unfortunately, the SPCA where Apollo had been adopted did not pass out information on these dreadful predators. While our Apollo was continually outside, she was even more susceptible to the deadly mosquito infestation. After a short two years with us, we learned that our beloved Apollo had heartworms and died in less than 24 hours of our perceived understanding.

At the time, I was merely 14 years old and deeply distraught and heartbroken over the loss of our priceless family dog. It was at that time that I had consciously made an oath to never have an outdoor dog and to always seek preventative medicine so that something like this would never happen with my own, future animals.

In retrospect, I never imagined I would ever surrogate eight (8) dogs in my home - but Max, Zeus, Cujo, Hailey, Sharley, Tiny, Thor & Ozzie have become a cherished part of my family pack. Having all been neutered & spayed, annual checkups, immunizations, plenty of fresh water & food, heartworm preventative, and proper grooming - my dogs would never dream of 'escaping' their lap of luxury. Aside from having all the love in the world, my dogs lazily lounge on the sofas, get to run and play on nearly an acre of fenced yard, and even watch Television - which is usually set on the Animal Planet

One can never get me to stop talking about my dogs. They are comical, sincere, understanding, loving and in addition to being the most grateful living things, give so much love and health benefits in return.

Many persons do not realize the profound effects that animals have on us, but most importantly, do not understand the effects that we have on them. Though puppies and kittens are adorable, soft, cudly and cute - all animals mature and take on their mature form - sometimes as big as a 140 lb rottweiler. This is when things can 'become sticky' for folks. Suddenly, the cute black & tan pup is a massive bulk of clumsiness. He bumps into your living room endtable and breaks the cherished lamp; the velvety kitten is now a fully-grown cat and he's decided to 'redo' your tapestry with his claws; and 'Happy' the dog isn't making you 'so happy' anymore because he is too hyper and keeps escaping your paradise home. So what is one to do?

First and foremost - and I cannot stress this enough - Spay or Neuter your animals. The sure-fire way to not only calm animals, spaying or neutering is also a positive way to reinforce and strenghten bonds between animal and human counterpart; and additionally has incredible health benefits, as these cost-effective procedures help to lengthen lifespans as well.

Okay, so now you've spayed or neutered your pet - but she still wants to squeeze her way out of the fence to roam. That's understandable. She's been escaping the yard the whole time, and spaying isn't going to stop a learned behavior. So now what? My first suggestion would be to take your pet outside on a lead. (This should already have been one of the first training methods taught upon adopting a cat or dog) Teaching basic commands will help her to understand that she has boundaries and has to adhere to them.

If the lead technique still doesn't keep her at bay, a kennel can be purchased ranging from $40 - $400 (depending on size of kennel). A house kennel is appropriate for indoor animals who are exhibiting disallowed behavior such as chewing, biting, scratching, urinating, etc. These kennels cost usually less than $100 - again, depending on size of animal. An outdoor kennel, is excellent for training animals to stay inside your fenced yard.

(Note: Never, under any circumstances, allow your animal to run freely.)

Start by placing animals in your indoor or outdoor kennel if you have to go somewhere or if you will not be directly supervising them. Never use the kennel as a means of punishment. Most animals may be a bit leary of the kennel at first, but give them some time, and you'll discover that they love their kennel so much that it becomes a safe haven - and animals may even want to make it their permanent sleeping place.

Animal behavior can sometimes become frustrating as we've seemingly tried just about everything, and no matter what we do, they still sometimes do the things we don't want them to. But that's what separates animals from human beings: the fact that they are indeed animals. Our expectations can sometimes be set too high and we come to think of Rover or Mittens as a 'little person.' It's when we do this, that they will ultimately 'fail' our logic every single time. One cannot allow himself to set behavior standards so high that we no longer accept our animal counterparts for what they are. When behavior becomes an issue, and the lead and kennel have not produced adequate results, the next step is seeing an animal trainer or animal behavior consultant who may be better able to assist you.

Finally, but not leastly, animals are forever. Love your animals. When you open your home and hearts to animals, you have instantly become their lifetime mentor and surrogate parent. They look up to you for your time, patience, compassion, understanding, food, shelter, healthcare and everything else in between. Without you, they are helpless. The worst thing someone can do is abandon or willfully neglect his devoted dog or cat.

Below are some alarming statistics and vital information (1) from the Humane Society of the United States:

• One female dog and her offspring can give birth to 67,000 puppies. In seven years, one cat and her young can produce 420,000 kittens.
• Every year, between six and eight million dogs and cats enter U.S. shelters; some three to four million of these animals are euthanized because there are not enough homes for them.
• Living creatures have become throwaway items to be cuddled when cute and abandoned when inconvenient. Such disregard for animal life pervades and erodes our culture.
• Abandoned and stray companion animals who survive in the streets and alleys of cities and suburbs pose a health threat to humans and other animals. Each year communities are forced to spend millions of taxpayer dollars trying to cope with the consequences of this surplus of pets. These public costs include services such as investigating animal cruelty, humanely capturing stray animals, and sheltering lost and homeless animals.
• Free-roaming cats--owned cats allowed to go outside as well as stray and feral cats--often are hit by cars or fall victim to disease, starvation, poisons, attacks by other animals, or mistreatment by humans.
• Leaving a dog outside for long periods, especially if he or she is chained or otherwise tethered, can be physically, emotionally, and behaviorally detrimental. Dogs need companionship, care, exercise, and attention. Leaving a dog outside for an extended period without supervision not only deprives the animal of these things, but can also lead to behavior problems (including aggression).

For further information about pet adoptions and the Humane Society of the United States, visit: What to Consider before Adopting a Pet at www.hsus.org/pets/pet_adoption_information/what_to_consider_before_adopting_a_pet.html

In their short but special time they share with us, it is important to remember that animals belong in forever homes. Are you up to the challenge? Some thoughts to ponder.

References:

1. The Humane Society of the United States

© 2005 Animals are Forever By C. Bailey-Lloyd aka. Lady Camelot

About the Author: C. Bailey-Lloyd/LadyCamelot is the Public Relations Director & Writer for Holistic Junction -- Your source of information for Holistic Practitioners; Acupressure Schools, Massage Therapy Schools, and Reflexology Schools; Alternative Healthcare; Insightful Literature and so much more!

NOTICE: Article may be republished free of charge as long as Author Resource Box (above) is included, and ALL Hyperlinks REMAIN in tact and active.

---

Good Dog Health and Happiness For Charlie

Our Charlie's dog health was a very important issue to... Read More

Horse Manure Management--What are Your Options?

You need a strategy for using or disposing of your... Read More

Westie Merchandise that Benefits your Dog

There are many places to find Westie merchandise, but before... Read More

Saving Ginger From Being Put To Sleep ? Part 1

A family, including three dogs and a cat live happily... Read More

Understanding Your Pets Chewing Issues

If you are beginning to feel like an endangered species... Read More

What You Should Know About Your Dog And Frustration

Because your dog lives with humans, he's going to have... Read More

The Fun of Do It Yourself Snake and other Reptile Cages

Are you nuts? You think banging your finger with a... Read More

My Needs are Simple and Few!

My dear owner,Thank you once again for giving me shelter.... Read More

Westie Rescue Centres

The aim of a Westie rescue centre such as the... Read More

Goldfish Tips - Finding Out The Gender of Your Goldfish

Boy or Girl?How can you tell whether your Goldfish is... Read More

Train Your Buddy To ?Walk? & ?Dance? - Warning: Not All Dogs Can Do It!

Standing and walking on the hind legs are tricks that... Read More

What is It About Horses and Young Girls?

In a world of computer games, the Internet and shopping... Read More

The Different Breeds Of Dogs

The American Kennel Club recognizes 150 different dog breeds. There... Read More

The Humble Hamster: A Great First Pet for Your Child

Thinking of getting a pet for your little ones? How... Read More

Teaching Your Dog to Heel

Teaching your dog to heel is one of the most... Read More

Cat Arthritis

Cat arthritis is not a very common ailment among healthy... Read More

Training Your Dog?Is It Worth The Effort Or Is It Just A Waste Of Time?

Many people feel that taking the time to train their... Read More

The Story Of My Amazing Dog Shandy

This is the story of my dog called Shandy. He... Read More

How to Make Your Cats Life, and YOUR Life, Happier - Training Your Cat

Imagine that you are scolding your cat for scratching at... Read More

Seeing Past Cuteness When Selecting the Best Dog Breed For You: Part 1 of 3

Are there so many great dog breeds out there that... Read More

How to Choose a Pet

Did you know that pets outnumber people in the United... Read More

Six Dog Training Tips to Modify Negative Behavior

Almost every dog owner will have to use some sort... Read More

Westies Puppies - How to Prepare for Your Westie Puppy

Just like when you bring home a new baby, you... Read More

Protect Your Pets From The Pound

Pets are people, too. At least, that's the way they... Read More

Cold Weather Pet Care

As we find ourselves in the middle of winter, it's... Read More

Buster the Beloved Pussycat

"Dogs have owners; cats have staff," and I have worked... Read More

How To Stop Your Horse From Rearing And What To Do If He Does It Unexpectedly

There is a dangerous problem that horse owners should be... Read More

Tips that May Help Your Arthritic Dog

Arthritis refers to inflammation or swelling in a joint. The... Read More

Agility Training For Dogs

Without agility, the most muscular person in the world couldn't... Read More

Your Guide to Cat Breeds

For the first 8,000 years of their relationship with humans,... Read More

Chicken Compared To Chicken Meal

When selecting the best dry food for your dog, why... Read More

Dog Aggression: How to Recognize & Respond

Many dog owners are bewildered when they hear their dog... Read More

Seeing Past Cuteness When Selecting the Best Dog Breed For You: Part 2 of 3

Are there so many great dog breeds out there that... Read More