Thirsty Pets

The Stainless Steel Pet Fountain solves more than just one problem if you have pets in your home.  First, the filter keeps the water fresh and clean without having to wash and refill the bowl many times throughout the day.  Second, a great way to attract your pet to drink more and finally, it's good looking.  Find it at Amazon for about $43.

Interesting Pet Owners Statistics

I came across some very interesting statistics about pet owners in Parade Magazine's America by the numbers:  Pet Owners Edition.

• 62 percent of Americans have a pet.  Of those, 69 percent have a dog, 51 percent have a cat, 11 percent a fish, and 7 percent a bird.  (8 percent have an unusual animal.)
• More than 90 percent of Americans consider their pet a member of the family.
• 25 percent of American say they have tasted their pet's food.
• $50.84 Billion is the estimated amount that owners will spend on their pets this year.
• 66 percent of Americans would not vote for a presidential candidate who didn't like pets.

DIY - Pet ID Tags

Leave it to Martha to come up with a creative, do it yourself, way to make your own Pet ID Tags.

Martha Stewart's DIY Pet ID Tag Instructions

By the way, I'm a huge fan of dogs wearing ID Tags 24/7.  See my blog post for details.

HOT Dogs - Avoiding Heat Exhaustion

During this extremely hot summer, I've witnessed serveral dogs with heat exhaustion, which could have easily been easily avoided.  Just like humans, our pets need protection from extreme temperatures.

One of the problems you might not realize is that dogs don't sweat to help them cool off, they pant which is is an extremely inefficient way to cool off.  Plus, dogs cool from the bottom up, meaning paws and belly.

The best way to avoid your pet getting heat exhaustion is to limit the amount of time they are outside and walk them during the coolest hours of the day only, early morning and late night.  Plus, make sure they have plenty of cool water and a nice cool spot to lounge in all day.  If you don't have air conditioning, you might want to investigate a cooling pad that they can lay on.  I've seen some varieties that use water and some that just need to be put in the refrigerator to regenerate.

One more thing, please, please, please never leave your dogs in your car.  Even if you crack the window, in less than five minutes your car turns into an oven and literally can cook your dog to death.  Cars heat up 30 degrees more than the outside temperature.  If your dog will have to stay in the car, it is a better idea to leave him at home if the temperature is above 50 degrees.

Boarding Alternative

In-Your-Home Pet Sitting is a wonderful alternative to boarding your pet in a kennel.  And it is growing in popularity.

Kennels can add stress, anxiety and expose your pet to illness and injury. Not to mention your feelings of guilt and worry for having to leave your pet in a strange place, locked in a cage with strange people and animals.  And just as daycare, it's not for all pets especially puppies or older dogs.  Even the most luxurious kennels or pet hotels pose some risks.

I believe your pet is much more comfortable and happy in their own home. With In-Your-Home Pet Sitting your pet stays in your home, gets visits throughout the day and in some cases can include an overnight stay.

Your pet is safe and taken care of when you are away. Other house sitting type services are also generally included such as mail and newspaper pick up, rotation of lights and in-house plant watering.

In-Your-Home Pet Sitting is a great option to consider for you and your pet.  And if you have multiple pets, it usually is the most economical way to go.

Daycare vs. Dog Walking

Dog daycare is great, but not all the time and it’s not for all dogs.

Dog daycare can reinforce undesirable behavior in your dog and may cause anxiety from the ever changing environment of other dogs. Many common dog illnesses and injuries can also be contracted in the daycare environment, making it unsafe for puppies and some older dogs. So you need to make sure you evaluate your dog and determine if a daycare setting is right for them.

Dog walking provides personal and specialized attention for you and your dog while allowing your dog to remain safely in their own home.  The entire walking visit can be customized to meet you and your dog's needs.  If they need to be fed or require medications, your dog walker generally can accomodate you.  It's pretty easy to find a dog walker these days.  There are usually several in an area so just do a bit of asking around and you will likely find someone you can trust and your dog will love.