So what happens to pets that are old, ill and no longer wanted?

Good question.

In working with an Animal Shelter next to my clinic, ( The Second Chance Animal Shelter),
I regularly see dogs and cats come in that are no longer "wanted".

In some circumstances, people move, or one of the "unwanted" pets owners die.

In other cases, its not tragic or understandable..

Some people see their aging sick pet as a "burden" and choose to get rid of them.

Many of these pets are unfortunately difficult to adopt.

Would you adopt a aging, sick older pet?

Because of this I am working with another person to start a " Pet Sanctuary"

We are hoping to have it going in the spring..

Thinking of this I just viewed a video in which a couple has started a Dog Hospice out of
their house.

You can see the video by going here:
( There is a short commercial before the pet video starts)

http://video.msn.com/v/us/v.htm?g=BD86CE82-A0B5-4F05-BF52-0899CB583F35&t=c150&f=06/64&p=hotvideo_m_edpicks&fg=>1=9033

Please visit our Pets website before you leave

Thought you might like to read this lovely Doggie story from the BBC

They have a fearsome reputation, but one Rottweiler is proving that the breed has a softer side by helping to rear two lambs.
Molly has been using her maternal instincts after lambs Lucky and Charm were born with complications on a farm.
Her owner Maria Foster, 38, from Forden, near Welshpool in Powys, said Molly slept with the pair at night, and even protected them from other animals.
Lucky and Charm are recovering and will be placed in a field in about 10 days.
Ms Foster said the pair needed help to improve their circulation soon after they were born.
They were placed in an Aga oven for warmth and after being lifted out Molly took over and started licking them as a ewe would have done.

Molly protects the lambs and sleeps with them
"The first 12 to 24 hours for a lamb are absolutely crucial and if Molly hadn't been doing what she was doing, I would have had to have been there rubbing the lambs through most of the night to keep their circulation going," said Ms Foster.
"She could have ignored them but she didn't and it is quite comical to see."
Now 11-month-old Molly is like a mother to the two lambs, who stick closely to their unlikely guardian.
Ms Foster added: "The cat came into the kitchen the other day and walked over to the bucket where the lambs were sleeping, but Molly pushed her away as if to say: 'They are mine.'
"She will let the sheepdog have a look, but only for so long before she pushes him away as well."
Ms Foster said they cannot be returned to their mother because they would be rejected by her after so long apart.
A spokesman for the Kennel Club, which organises Crufts, said: "Rottweilers were originally bred as guard dogs in Germany, but in the right hands they should not pose a problem.
"They are not born aggressive, they learn it from us.
"Nonetheless, it's certainly the first time I've ever heard of a Rottweiler caring for lambs."

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have had a few questions about lead in pet vitamin supplements.
Here are the facts:
ConsumerLab.com, a consumer advocate, recently published an article on Multivitamin andMultimineral Supplements. Pet-Tabs®, a common pet vitamin, were reported to contain1.4 micrograms of lead per tablet.
What was the level of contamination and what does this mean?
Pet-Tabs® were found to contain 1.4micrograms of lead per tablet. This is a very smalldose of lead - many municipal water supplies have higher lead concentrations. Human bonehas approximately 15 micrograms of lead per gram of bone. In the same study, a humanvitamin supplement (The Vitamin Shoppe Multivitamins Especially for Women) was found tocontain 15.3 micrograms of lead per daily dose. This amount of lead (15.3 micrograms) ismore than 10 times the amount permitted without a warning in California, the only statethat regulates lead in supplements. On average, most American adults are exposed to about3 micrograms of lead daily through food, wine and other sources, and while 15.3micrograms of lead per day may not be immediately toxic, the mineral is stored in thebody and could build up to dangerous levels with time.
Thus, it appears that the Pet-Tabs dose is near California’s reportable limit, but is lessthan the amount of lead consumed daily by humans through other sources.
Of additional consideration, not addressed in the report, is the form of the lead salt.Some (e.g. lead sulfate) are insoluble and therefore inert. Others, such as acetate andoxide forms, are soluble and of more concern. Thus, the exposure risk is not completelyunderstood at this time.
How much lead is too much?
Federal standards initially limited the amount of lead in water to 50 parts per billion(ppb). In light of new health and exposure data, EPA has set an action level of 15 ppb.If tests show that the level of lead in your household water is in the area of 15 ppb orhigher, it is advisable - especially if there are young children in the home - to reducethe lead level in your tap water as much as possible. (EPA estimates that more than 40million U.S. residents use water that can contain lead in excess of 15 ppb.) Note: Oneppb is equal to 1.0 microgram per liter (µg/1) or 0.001 milligram per liter (mg/1).More information is available at the EPA website.
The FDA considers that ANY lead exposure poses some risk. Based on CDC’s levels, FDA’s“tolerable” daily diet lead intakes are 6 mcg for children under age 6, 25 mcg forpregnant women, and 75 mcg for other adults. However, some risk exists with any levelof lead exposure. Tolerable doses for dogs have not been established.
How has the manufacturer responded?
Below is the company response to the ConsumerLabs.com findings:
“Virbac, a company dedicated exclusively to animal health, is committed to developing,manufacturing, and distributing safe and effective products for pets. Virbac is aware ofthe recent report asserting that one lot of Pet-Tabs® contained 1.4 micrograms of leadper tablet. This information has not been verified by Virbac or Pfizer Animal Health,the company that manufactures Pet-Tabs.
Virbac is actively investigating the circumstances surrounding this report. As a part ofthis investigation, Virbac has received the following initial response from Pfizer.
Pet Tabs®, like all Pfizer Animal Health products, are manufactured to the rigorousspecifications of the industry’s governing bodies, including the United StatesPharmacopoeia (USP) and in accordance with Good Manufacturing Practices.
A single test on one lot by ConsumerLabs.com revealed a minute amount of lead in our PetTabs product (1.4 micrograms per tablet). According to the USP, which determines thestandards for medicines, raw materials and nutritional supplements, the level detectedwas 20 times below acceptable and safe levels.
In addition, the level reported is more than 2,800 times below the chronic toxicity leveldetermined safe for dogs, as published in Clinical Veterinary Toxicology(Konnie B. Plumlee, 2004, Mosby).
Pfizer Animal Health is confident that Pet Tabs are safe and effective for all dogs andare in full compliance with all established regulatory criteria.
In the interest of maintaining the highest quality products and customer satisfaction,Virbac maintains a department dedicated to monitoring inquiries and reports related toits products. A review of the data shows there have been no reports to Virbac regardinglead poisoning from the use of Pet-Tabs in dogs.
Therefore, it is unlikely that Pet-Tabs have produced any adverse effects due to lead.Virbac believes that your veterinarian is best able and equipped to assess your pet’shealth.

Please visit our Pets website before you go

We have had a lot of phone questions and emails abouttheir pet's recent diagnosis of glaucoma and what can be done for it, so here is our take on this terrifying situation.When this eye condition is first diagnosed, it is usuallyduring a pet's physical exam that may have been necessarydue to another condition. This eye condition is quite difficult to observe in most pets because they know their home territory very well and manage to getaround whether their eyesight is failing them or not.They sure know how to adapt. That is why it is almostalways too late to do something about this condition.However, we have had a number of cases where this condition has stabilized and in some cases that we havesited on our website, have even reversed itself. How canthis be possible?Our experience has shown this problem to have a root cause to it like all other health problems. From ourvast experience, we have found that poor nutrition isthe root cause of this problem. Poor nutrition eitherdue to the body's lack of ability to absorb its nutritionor due to plain old lousy nutrition even though a personmay be paying top dollar for the food they are feedingtheir precious pets.This food is processed food, not fresh, and thus does notcontain the essential enzymes, vitamins, minerals, aminoacids and trace minerals that are the building and repairingredients for every cell in the body. If these ingredientsare missing or are synthetic (the body does not recognizeartificial vitamins and minerals), then the body cannot repairwhat cells it needs to repair on a daily basis. Glaucomajust may be the tip of the iceberg and notification that otherserious ailments will soon follow.What do we recommend? First, fresh, wholesome, clean nutrition that is free from all chemicals is what is best for your pet and frankly for you too. Again, there is absolutely no substitute for good nutrition for every animal or man. Fresh food should contain most of the enzymes and amino acids the body requires on a daily basis.Second, because the soils are void of much in the way of macro minerals, trace minerals and vitamins due to the chemicalfarming in the USA, it is essential to supplement your petwith natural vitamins, minerals and trace minerals that arestill missing in most of the fresh food that is grown in this country. Most of the soils are still not up to par to what the body requires although lots of organic farmers are on the right path.Third, we feel it is essential to supplement your pet withprobiotics two to three days a week because these help withthe absorption of the nutrition that you are providing. Additionally, probiotics help to build the all important immune system. Clearly preventing these health problems from even startingis the secret to good health. However, it has been shownthat once a little animal is given the correct diet ingredientsof fresh food and natural supplements, many health situationscan be reversed and ultimately corrected, even glaucoma.

Dont forget to visit our Pets website before you go

Boredom and variety

Boredom and variety are always inter connected in case of dog misbehaving. Yes. This is true. Many a times, boredom can be managed with variety of materials that will distract the animals to a greater extent. Hence, the dog may not do the abnormal or unwanted activity arising out of the boredom experienced by it.

Boredom experienced dogs may have different types of behavioral patterns. For example, some dogs will be seen barking continuously and some may be engaged always in some digging activities.

There are many ways to get your dog out of its boredom activities. Many toys are available which simulated duck, dog, rodent etc.

These may be kept inside the crate and in particular, puppies love these items. A buster cube with multiple treats may be placed in the dog’s shelter and the animal soon understands on how to roll the buster cube to get the treats it prefers. A Buster Cube is an ingenious toy use for simulating and activating your dog during play and feed time. Instead of placing the food monotonously in one place, change the place of feeding suddenly.

Such actions will be helpful for removing the boredom like activity in your dog. Activities pertaining to boredom need to be redefined well by the dog owners. This will help them to a greater extent to drive away the unwanted behavior patterns in their pet dogs.

For example, some dogs may often have destructive biting characters and will be seen biting chair, cloth, mats, and everything that can see. After ruling out the teething problem if it is a puppy, provide it with some large sized balls, mineral mixture based bone materials, etc. Such variety of materials help to reduce the boredom related activities.


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A Look At Cat Breeds

Over the last thousands of years, cats have pretty much handled their breeding themselves. In the beginning, they were used for one purpose - hunting and killing rodents. As the years progressed, we began to breed cats more to our liking. Now days, there are several different breeds of cats - which you can tell if you look closely.

These days there are over 70 distinct cat breeds, which are recognized through cat registries. There are several registries that will recognize around 40 breeds or so, as they exclude the more domestic breeds such as tigers. There are also many variations as well, including wild cats that have longer hair.

There are some cat breeds who have roots going back quite a bit in history. Some Japanese breeds, such as the Japanese Bobtail, can be traced back more than 1,000 years in history. These cats were very common and well known throughout Medieval Japan. Now days though, they are all but a myth throughout Japan and the entire world.

The more common cat breeds that are found in North America include the alley cat, long haired cat, and Persian cat. Siamese cats are also common, although they are well known to be destructive and to have a foul temper. Persian cats are very popular, proving to be loving companions. Persian cats can be very expense, depending on where you get it and what type of Persian cat it is.

Alley cats are the most common in North America. There are actually several different breeds, although most of us just refer to them as alley cats. They make good pets, although there are literally thousands of them in existence. Cats are known to breed more than any other pet, and they will continue to breed until they are stopped. Alley cats are among the most bred, as there are hundreds of thousands of cats that are homeless - and have nothing to do but breed.

The look of the cat is the easiest way to tell what breed he or she may be. Some people choose to go by color, although color isn’t as easy to identify. Different breeds of cats have different looks, such as the Siamese and Persian cats. Siamese cats are almost always black, and easy to identify by their color and their eyes. Persian cats on the other hand, are easily identified by their body type and their hair.

Over the years, there has been quite a few breeds come along. Cats were one of the first pets, and easily one of the most popular. Millions of people around the world own cats, with many people preferring a cat over any other pet - including dogs. No matter breed of cat you get - you’re sure to get a pet who make for a great companion for years and years to come.

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Adopting An Older Golden Retriever

Those of you who want a Golden Retriever but aren’t ready to go through the trials and tribulations of a puppy, should look into adopting an older Golden. Older Golden Retrievers are mature, and prove to be great in homes where they need to spend a quality amount of time by themselves. They are a very adjustable breed, being good tempered. No matter how old the Golden may be, he will quickly become a valued member of your family in little to no time at all.

Many times, breeders will have older dogs for sale. There are several reasons for this, which include show dogs that have lost their potential, studs that have been used for breeding, female Golden’s that have been bred a few times then retired, or other types of special conditions where a breeder is helping a friend get rid of his Golden Retriever. There are other reasons as well, although whatever they may be - the adult Golden Retriever will be available for anyone who wants him.

Most older Golden Retrievers are already housebroken, and known a lot of behavior patterns and how to adapt to a new and loving family. Although it will be a little hard on your new dog at first, if you give him plenty of love, attention, and patience, he’ll be just fine. You need to keep reassuring your new Golden on a regular basis, and let him know that you are his new owner and that you love you and you are glad he’s a member of your family.

If you have been thinking of adopting an older Golden Retriever, you should make sure that you learn everything you can about him. You should also determine his temperament, and whether or not it’s compatible with your family. You should also learn important things as well, such as his diet, likes, dislikes, daily routine, and his habits. Before you decide to take him, you should always make sure that the members of your family meet him as well, so you can talk it over and decide whether or not everyone wants the dog to be a member of your family.

With an older dog, you need to take care of him for the first days, and let him know where everything in your home is. You’ll need to show him where he sleeps, where he should use the bathroom, and where his food is. Take your time and be patient with him, as will normally take him a few days to learn how things in your home work.

You should always give your new Golden Retriever at least a month or so to get used to his new environment, before you start his new obedience training. Even though your new dog may have some prior obedience training, you should still enroll him in a new class. This way, he can brush up on training and you can work with him to help him understand. Once you have finished training, he’ll understand your commands better and you and him will get along just fine.

All Golden Retrievers, regardless of their age, love attention. Older Golden’s on the other hand, may have medical problems that you aren’t aware of. You shouldn’t let this stop you from getting one though, simply because the rewards that you’ll find are far greater than any cons that may come to mind. Although many people don’t give a lot of thought to getting an older Golden Retriever - they are perfect for families who don’t want to put up the time and troubles of raising a puppy.

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