Worth Every Penny

Of course we're not spoiled

Mom says it’s a god thing that DixieLee and I are cute ‘cuz we are very expensive to keep.  I never thought about how much it costs to have a pet. 

I knew that pure breds and designer dogs cost lots to get but peoples have to give money to shelters if they want to get a good dog like me.

 DixieLee was a stray that ended up at a friend’s house so we didn’t have to pay to get her but we had to pay to have her spayed, micro chipped and get all her shots.

This month we had our annual vet checks and had to get our town licenses.  I was sick and had to go to the vet again. Tests, medicines, special food, all cost too.

Food, now there’s something we need lots of and don’t forget the cookies. We order huge bags of food and a super big box of cookies that get delivered right to our house.  Mom says that’s because we are spoiled.

Toys are important too. We need lots of toys. And other stuff like collars, leashes, halters, bowls, crates, a fenced-in yard.  Those all cost money.  I didn’t realize I had so much stuff!

I bet you have lots of stuff ‘cuz you’re spoiled too.

We can’t go out to work like Mom does but we work very hard all the same.  It’s our job to make sure Dad knows when the mail person comes or when a big truck drives by our house.  We keep the squirrels from getting close to the house and we watch over the birds while they are eating out of the feeder.

Those are all really important jobs but we have other jobs.  Our most important job is make sure our Mom and Dad have lots of kisses and cuddles.

Mom says we are expensive to keep but that we are worth every penny.

Time to go back to work.  Another important job is napping on the sofa so that no one can steal it.  DixieLee has done her shift, now it's my turn.

Love,

Zeva

P.S.  For the bestest pet gift baskets in the universe, check out pawpalsboutique.com

Turn Sad to Glad

You may not know this but Paw Pals Boutique (my company) has a FaceBook page and I spend lots of time online.  Mom thinks I spend too much time there but I need to keep up with what is happening to all my dog and cat friends. (Like us at Paw Pals Boutique)

Social Media is a great way to get humans to help lost pets find their ways home and for shelters to let peoples learn about the animals that are looking for forever homes.

I read a story about one of Mom’s friends from where we used to live, who drove his car a long way to adopt a senior dog whose human died.  It was sad enough for this dog to not have his human anymore but no body wanted him so he had to go to a shelter and we all know that senior dogs have a harder time getting adopted.

He found a great forever home because the shelter told his story on FaceBook.

DixieLee and I were both adopted because Mom saw our faces on Social Media but this post isn’t about Social Media.  It’s about shelters and pets looking for good, loving homes and what you can do to help.

When Mom sees a dog on FaceBook that needs a good home, she wants to adopt her but we live in a small house that is really full with two humans and two dogs

.

Maybe there are reasons you can’t ADOPT but maybe you could FOSTER. 

Shelters are so crowed, FOSTERING gives an animal a nice place to live while waiting to get adopted.

If you can’t FOSTER, maybe you could SPONSOR.  Sponsoring means giving money to go toward the care of a specific pet until they can be adopted.  Sometimes animals need surgery or expensive medical care and sponsoring can really, really help.

If you can’t SPONSOR, maybe you could VOLUNTEER.  Volunteering means you give your time to a shelter.  It could be helping care for the animals, like walking dogs or cleaning cages or it could mean giving your time stuffing envelopes for a fundraising campaign.

If you can’t VOLUNTEER, maybe you could DONATE. Donating means giving money to a shelter.  It doesn’t have to be lots, every penny helps.  And Mom says that donations are tax deductible, which I guess is a good thing.

If you can’t DONATE, you maybe could EDUCATE.  Educating is what I am doing now.  If you don’t write a blog, maybe you could share this post or you could find good animal pages on FaceBook and other Social Media sites and share their posts.

There are so many animals that need humans to help them find good, safe, loving homes and now you know so many ways that you can help.

Thanks from all the animals looking for forever homes.

Love,

Zeva

P.S  Blatant self-promotion.  For the bestest pet gift baskets in the universe go to pawpalsboutique.com

It's A Jungle In Here

Always curious DixieLee

You would think that once dogs (and cats) got domesticated and started living in houses that we would be safe from danger. Not so.

There are many dangers to pets in every house.  When DixieLee came to live with us, she was always getting into things.  She was good at getting into the trash which is very dangerous for dogs.  Besides lots of food that are bad for dogs, there are things in the trash like cellophane wrappers, paper towels and aluminum foil that can make a dog super sick or even died.

DixieLee is super smart so it took Mom lots of tries to find a trash can she couldn’t get into.  She also figured out how to open the cabinet door and get into the dog food bag!  Putting childproof locks on the cabinet worked.  She also put locks on the cabinet under the sinks in the kitchen and bathroom where we keep cleaning stuff.

We learned to keep the lid down on the toilet too.  We don’t use that blue stuff but we do clean it with bleach and it’s better to be safe all the time.   If you live in house with a kitten, it’s a good idea to keep the lid down so they don’t fall in and drown.

DixieLee wasn’t a super chewer but she does like Dad’s socks.  All kinds of every day things like wires and electric cords, children’s toys, batteries, coins rubber band are dangerous so it's best to keep them out of reach.  And if your house has valuables like some jewelry, keep that stuff locked away in a drawer.  It would be awful if something got so chewed got ruined!

When we go outside we stay in our pen so we can’t get to dangerous chemicals that Dad keeps in the garage like gasoline, antifreeze, pesticides and car cleaning stuff but he still keeps them high on a shelf.  We also make sure that any lawn stuff and plants are pet safe.

We live where it snows A LOT so we make sure to use a salt that is pet safe.

Be careful when you bar-b-que or use your fire pits too!

Decks and balconies are fun places but a dog can get hurt they slip through or get caught between the railings.

 

Pets, ‘specially young ones, are curious and can get into real trouble so it is up to your humans to make sure they live in a safe home.

Take care and be safe,

Zeva

P.S.  Blatant self-promotion.  For the bestest pet gift baskets in the universe, go to pawpalsboutique.com

Saving Lives

October is National Adopt a Shelter Dog Month.  DixieLee and I and Fox, Dana, Cassie and Nico, the dogs who lived with Mom and Dad before we did, were all adopted.

We have lots of friends who were born at houses where the humans are “respectable breeders” and that’s okay with us.  Sadly, we all can’t be “mutts” (sorry, mixed breeds), so having good and responsible humans who loves a particular breed sell puppies is okay.

We want to encourage peoples who want to share their lives with A DOG, no matter of parentage, to please look to the shelters instead of “Pet Stores” who get heir puppies from Puppy Mills.

I don’t even like to think about Puppy Mills, never mind talk about them. They make me cry. 

“SOME” of the puppies get to go to good homes but some don’t’ and I can’t talk about the Mama dogs.  My heart breaks.

So, let’s get back to Adopt a Shelter Dog Month.  How do dogs end up in shelters? Lots or reasons and they are all sad. 

Some are strays, they got lost, ran away or their owners left them on the street to fend for themselves. 

Some are rescued from horrible homes where they were mistreated.

Some had loving families but something happened to the family, like they had to move and couldn’t take their pets or they didn’t have a job anymore so they had no money.

Some are untrained and their owners don’t want to put up with “bad behavior”.

Super sadly, some had their humans die and no one is left to take care of them.

And the super super saddest is that the pet got old and their owners don’t want them anymore.

Please help us spread the word that October is National Shelter Dog Month.

If you can’t adopt, foster, if you can’t foster, sponsor, if you can’t foster, volunteer, if you can’t volunteer, donate, and if you can’t donate, educate.

And don’t forget, cats and other pets end up in shelters too.

Love,

Zeva

P.S. For the bestest pet gift baskets in the universe, go to pawpalsboutique.com

Don't Forget Us

It has been a week since Hurricane Florence made so many people have to run away from their homes.  We are so sad seeing that some peoples left their pets behind.  Thankfully there are other peoples who went in and saved them.

We have talked before about having a Pet Emergency Evacuation Plan.  It’s not super easy but with planning it’s not so hard to take dogs and cats and birds in your car and drive to safety.  We talk about making sure you have enough food and water and other things your pet will need but what do you do about horses or other farm animals?

Not everyone who has a horse or cows have trailers and not many horses will fit in the back seat of a car.  And where would you put all the hay and stuff?

 That doesn’t mean you should just leave them behind.  There are many things you can do to make sure they are safe too.

What to do depends on what the emergency is.  There are “emergencies” that don’t mean you have to leave your house but are still dangerous.  At these times you need to know if your animals are safer in a barn or out in a field.  But, if it is not safe for you to stay, it isn’t safe for your animals either.

The Humane Society website has lots and lots of information about what to do in the different kinds of emergencies.  If you have a large animal or know someone who does, please share the information with them.  No one wants to see their animals hurt but may not know what to do.   Knowing what to do ahead of time can avoid needless suffering.

We hope you never have an emergency evacuation but please take a minute to make sure you know how to protect your pets if you do.

Stay safe,

Zeva

P.S. Blatant self-promotion.  For the bestest pet gift baskets in the universe check out pawpalsboutique.com

Hi, My Name Is.........

Most of my blogs are about dogs because, well, I’m a dog so I can talk from experience but because at Paw Pals Boutique we make gift baskets for all pet, this blog is about other types of pets.

There was a stray cat that liked our neighborhood so she would come by our house every day. She finally adopted a family that lives on our street. We don’t get to see her much any more because she likes her new family and has turned into a house cat.

DixieLee and I were talking about her the other day. We called her Midnight because she is a beautiful all black cat. We are wondering what her new family named her. The next time Mom sees someone from her family, we’ll find out but in the meantime we searched out the most popular cat names for 2018 to see if she gets one of them.

According to Healthy Paws, here are the top ten:

Stella, Oscar, Gracie, Finn, Daisy, Jack, Chloe, Simba, Mia and Loki.

Nala, Oliver, Luna, Milo, Bella, Leo, Lucy, Charlie, Lily and Max were also really popular.

We have lots of friends who have horses as their favorite companions so we looked to see what are the more popular names for horses.

Saddle Box finds Bella, Alex, Lilly, Alexia, Fancy, Sugar, Lady, Tucker, Dakota and Cash are really popular.

People also like the names Jasper, Misty, Smoke, Cheyenne and Breeze.

We like to know the names of our friends so let us know what your name is and what kind of pet you are.

Love,

Zeva

P.S. For the bestest pet gift baskets in the universe check out pawpalsboutique.com

It's Not For Everyone

I have read that there are peoples who put leashes on their cats and take them for walks but until we went out for our Sunday walk, I had never seen one with my own eyes.

Now I have nothing against cats. We had some cats for neighbors and I would have tried to be friends but they were kind of stuck up. They mostly sat in the windows in the house across the street and stared at me and DixieLee.

We had a stray cat that hung around our house for a few days. I learned that she adopted the family that lives at the end of the street. Mom liked having a cat around because she said that cats scare away chipmunks and squirrels.

If that is so, I don’t think she was doing a very good job.

The other day Dad saw her eating some of the catnip plants in our garden. Mom said it was okay because although she planted the catnip to keep the mosquitoes away, she is happy the cat is enjoying it too.

Anyway, back to seeing the cat walking on a leash. First of all, I’m used to seeing cats run fast. This cat was walking really, really, really slow. Mom saw her first so she detoured us into the park so DixieLee wouldn’t see the cat. DixieLee thinks chasing cats would be lots of fun.

We had to wait a long, long time for the cat to walk a little way down the street and then turn around to go back home.

The lady and the cat were sitting outside when we went by their house and DixieLee and I were very good. The cat however, got stressed out. I think she wanted to climb a tree where she would be safe but she couldn’t because she was on a leash.

From what I have read, it seems that walking on a leash stresses cats out. Cats are pretty independent and don’t like to have anyone tell them where to go or what to do and like the cat we met on Sunday, if they feel in danger, they want to run away.

Peoples that would like their cats to be able to go outside because outside is nice, should think about getting a Catico. If you want more information about Caticos, here’s a link to a blog I wrote a while back about Caticos.

I would be very interested to hear from any cats or dogs who live with cats and see what you think.

All this talk about taking walks is making me want to go out myself. It’s such a beautiful day. Let’s see if using the stare works today.

Love,

Zeva

P.S. Blatant self-promotion. For the bestest pet gift baskets in the universe, go to pawpalsboutique.com

I Love My Job

It is so much fun talking with peoples who love their pets so much that they want to get them a special gift. Then we have more fun when we actually put together all the bestest toys and treats that make up the bestest pet gift baskets in the universe.

All of our friends love pets and lots and lots of them work in jobs that involve pets. We have friends who are dog trainers and pet sitters. Other friends who have day care places for pets and even a friend who can communicate with pets and tell their peoples what the pets think or feel.

There are lots and lots of businesses that work with pets. For people who like to bake, a bakery that makes cookies and cakes for pets is a good business.

For people who like to sew, a business as a pet clothing designer would be fun. They could make coats and dresses. They could have more fun making all kinds of Halloween costumes for pets.

DixieLee and I don’t like to dress up but we LOVE wearing different bandanas. We’ve worn handmade collars and leashes that are super pretty.

People who know how to sew also can make toys. One of our favorite toys to put in our gift baskets is a bone made from denim that a lady friend makes.

So many peoples are busy these days that they don’t have time as much time as they would like with their dogs so they hire other peoples to take them for walks. Other peoples who are busy, busy hire peoples to clean up the poop in their yards. Not as glamorous as pet gift basket designer but we understand the money can be pretty good if you live in certain areas.

Peoples who have artistic talents paint pet portraits or are pet photographers. Mom says she admires people who can get a dog to sit cute when they are having their picture taken.

The last time she tried to get a photo of me when I was doing something cute, I jumped off of the couch and all she got was a white blur. I couldn’t help it, that awful commercial with the smoke detector going off came on the TV. Don’t ad peoples know that sound is bad for dogs’ ears?

Most of the jobs we know about are for dogs and cats but one other unusual pet business we know about is tank designer. Big fish tanks are nice in an office lobby and there are peoples whose job it is to make sure the fishes stay healthy and the tank is clean and pretty all the time.

I bet there are lots more businesses where peoples get to work with pets all day. If you work in one, let me know.

Now I have to get ready to order some more dog treats. Didn’t I tell you I have the bestest job!?

Love,

Zeva

P.S. Blatant self-promotion. For the bestest pet gift baskets in the universe go to pawpalsboutique.com

I Am Dog, Hear Me Bark

I’ve been reading about how dogs communicate. Human use their voices to talk to each other and to us dogs and we get pretty good at understanding what they say. Dogs understand about 100 words.

Although we dogs use our voices too, we mostly use body language. We use out tails, ears, eyes and faces more.

How we hold our tails or ears mean important things. Like, if a dog’s ears are raised he could be relaxed or listening.

And not all tail wags mean the same thing. If we wag more to the right, it might mean something positive while if we wag more to the left, it could mean negative feelings.

That’s complicated even for me.

Let me tell you how I communicate with my Mom and Dad.

If I am sitting in front of the cookie jar or lick my lips, it means I want a cookie. I taught DixieLee how to lick her lips when she wants a cookie too. 

It is very effective when I stare and Mom says “What?” and we both lick our lips. There is little room for misunderstanding at that point.

If I am staring at you when you are eating, it means I want you to share your food.

If I am sitting in front of the cabinet where we keep the dog food or look at the clock, it means it’s dinner time.

If I am sitting in front of the door, it means I want to go out.

If I am looking at the leash hanging on the hook, it means that I want to go for a walk.

It I throw the ball at you, it means I want to play.

See how easy that is.

I have to admit it can get slightly more complicated when I bark. 

My barks mostly mean “DANGER, DANGER, DANGER” but Mom or Dad have different ideas about our how dangerous things are.

They don’t think the mail person stealing our mail, or a squirrel eating bird seed is as dangerous as I do.

DixieLee barks way more than I do. 

She barks when she wants to go outside. She also barks when she want to go for a walk or wants to play.

You can tell the barks are different because she is usually standing by the door when she barks to go outside or she has a toy picked out from the toy chest when she wants to play.

I bet you have ways that you communicate with your humans that are easy to understand to. Let us know what they are. They may be easier than how we are communicating and we all want communication to be easily understood.

Right now I am smiling (see photo) because I am done with my work for today and can nap.

Love

Zeva

Blatant self-promotion.  For the bested pet gift baskets in the universe go to pawpalsboutique.com 

A Real Bargain

Some peoples think that they should be able to go to a shelter and get a good dog for free. After all, shelters are full and there are so many homeless animal, they think that the shelters would want to give pets away.

Different shelters in different parts of the country charge different money. Sometimes special needs or senior dogs cost less because they have a harder time getting adopted. Puppies usually cost most because everyone thinks puppies are better to have. I don’t think that is always true. For example, senior dogs are a good match for senior peoples.

There are lots of reasons shelters need to charge money to adopt a pet.

1. The shelter is a home and everyone knows that it costs money to live in a home. The shelters have to pay bills like regular peoples.

2. Even though lots of shelters have volunteers who feed and walk the dogs, some body has to be the boss. Bosses and other employees who take care of the day to day operations need to be paid. These are the people who make sure the animals are taken care of properly and that they get adopted to good homes.

3. Pets need to eat and food costs money. Some pets need special food which costs more.

4. And don’t forget toys! Pets need toys and beds and dishes and leashes and collars and stuff, just like dogs who live in houses.

5. One of the most important thing for an owner to do is to keep their pets healthy and shelters have to do that too. All of the pets need to have shots and be checked to make sure they don’t have heartworm or ticks or mites or any other buggies. They should also be tested for stuff like lyme disease and other diseases.

If a pet has heartworm, or lyme or something bad, then they need to have medicine until they are better. All of that costs money,

6. Some pets enter the shelter in really bad shape. They have been mistreated so bad that they need medical treatment to get better. They may need things like x-rays or antibiotics or other medical things to help them heal.

7. Most shelters make sure that pets are spayed or neutered. More puppies or kittens would only mean more need for shelters. Although many shelters have vets who give reduced rates, surgery and medicines are still expensive.

8. And most shelters microchip all pets before they get adopted. They know how easy it is for a pet to get lost and end up in another shelter.

So, when you pay to get a pet from a shelter, you are giving that shelter money so that it can take in another animal and give it good care until someone comes along to adopt them.

For all the love and affection that shelter pets give, I think you are getting a real bargain.

Love,

Zeva

P.S. Blatant self-promotion.  For the bestest pet gift baskets in the universe, check out pawpalsboutique.com today.

You Are What You Eat

If you follow our Paw Pals Boutique Facebook page you know that we re-post articles about recalls and other important information about pet food.

I was really upset when I read the one about dog food companies that use dyes to make kibble look better to humans and smell better to dogs. They think that kibble is boring looking to humans so they add colors to make it prettier.

I like pretty colors. We use pretty colored ribbons to make our gift baskets look extra special but I don’t think dying kibbles green and orange to make them seem like peas and carrots is a good thing to do. Science people say that Red 40, Yellow 5 and Blue 2 are dyes that cause cancer. That is BAD.

And where is the meat? Dogs like meat and meat is actually good for dogs. Lots of dog food today is “plant based” or made with “meat by products”. Plant based means stuff like corn and meat by products could dead zoo animals, hooves or other not so good stuff. That’s cheating!

Mom is a label reader. She reads labels on packages. She does it to make sure that the food she buys for our house, for the peoples and for the dogs, has lots of good, nutritious things in them, AND, just as important, does not have any bad things, like dyes in them.

Peoples who sell pet food want to sell more so they try to make their food look better than other kinds you can buy. They use words like “gourmet’ and “natural” which are just words and don’t mean that the food is so special.

One word you can look for is AAFCO. That is actually a bunch of words which are Association of American Feed Control Officials. They have “official” in their name but they are not government peoples. They look at how the food is made and say if it meets basic nutritional requirements. Check your food to see if it says AAFCO.

Keeping our food fresh is also important. We buy a big bag of food that DixieLee and I share and a small bag of food just for me. Mom says I gain weight when I eat too much regular food so I have half of my food be a “weight control” kind. We eat up a bag pretty quick but if you don’t, you should make sure the bag is sealed up tight so your food doesn’t get stale.

All this talk about food is making me hungry. I know Dad is going to tell me I have a big minute until supper but you never know….

Bone appetite,

Zeva

P.S.  Blatant self-promotion. For the bestest pet gift baskets in the universe, check out pawpalsboutique.com

Easter Bunnies

Our friend Fluffy asked me to help spread the word about Easter Bunnies. Bunnies are cute and cuddly looking and peoples like to buy them for childrens at Easter time but Fluffy wanted you to know that bunnies aren’t always good pets for childrens.

People think that bunnies are easy to take care of but they are not. Bunnies need as much care as a dog or cat. Like dogs and cats, bunnies need to be fed and their houses need to be kept clean. Bunnies need to go to the Vet too. Although some bunnies go for walks with their humans, most don’t.

Lots of time childrens s get tired of their bunny after a few weeks but bunnies can live for like 10 years so too many end up in shelters or let free outside. Domestic bunnies aren’t good at living in the wild and get eaten by other animals and if they are not adopted from the shelter, they get died there too. How sad!

Fluffy says that bunnies make really good pets and he loves his human family but here are lots of things peoples should know about bunnies before they bring one home.

Like dogs and cats, it takes money to raise a bunny. Like we said, they need food and shelter. Some bunnies live in their human’s houses and some have their own houses, called hutches.

Bunnies that have the run of the house need to be watched closely because, like puppies they tend to like to chew on things when bored. Things like your computer cables or your woodwork. I haven’t really looked to see what toys bunnies like but Fluffy says he likes the cardboard thing that comes with paper towels. Hmmmm so does DixieLee.

Bunnies can be trained to use a litter box like a cat but Fluffy says it’s not easy.

Bunnies are social animals so they need love and attention. They really don’t like to be petted or hugged and they are delicate so they need to be handled very gently.

Like dogs and cats, bunnies should be spayed or neutered. It’s good for their health.

If you would like a bunny for a pet, check with various shelters or rabbit rescue organizations. They will surely have too many abandoned bunnies soon after Easter.

Help Fluffy spread the word about Easter Bunnies and suggest that one made out of chocolate or a plush one might be a better gift for most childrens.

Happy Easter!

Zeva

P.S.  Blatant self-promotion, for the bestest pet gift baskets in the universe, check out pawpalsboutique.com

Becoming a first-time pet owner?

Hello everyone.  It's that time of year again when Mom and I are getting tax stuff ready to get to the lady who knows what to do with all the numbers so we asked our friend Cindy if she would like to say a few words about the things you need to know when getting a pet.  Here is what she has to say.

Tips help you to choose a furry friend

Any pet owner will tell you that bringing an animal into your life is like gaining a family member. Whether you’re single or have a entire houseful, the benefits of owning a pet are endless — but which kind?

Choose The Right Pet For Your Lifestyle

When it comes to choosing between a cat or a dog, you may be partial to one more than the other — but the final decision should be in the best interest of both the animal and you. Important questions to ask yourself are:

• What’s the size of your home? This helps determine the quality of life for the animal — and you. This includes whether or not you have outdoor space the animal could use.

• Do you have permission from the property owner if you rent? Some apartments and condos only allow cats.

• Do you have the financial resources to take care of your pet’s daily needs, regular medical checkups and medical emergencies? Many animals wind up back in the shelter because owners realize they can’t afford them. Look into resources that provide financial assistance.

• What’s your activity level? If you’re relatively sedentary, keep in mind that dogs and puppies need ongoing activity including going for walks outdoors to relieve themselves and releasing energy. Staying fit with your pet is a great motivator and bonding experience.

• What would your plans be if you travel? Do you have a reliable resource to care for the pet if you decide not to bring it along?

• How much time do you realistically have to spend with your pet? There’s no point in getting one if you’re never around. Daily interaction is a must — especially before and after leaving the house. Despite their solitary reputation, cats and kittens thrive on social interaction, too.

• Dog or puppy, cat or kitten? Puppies and kittens require more 24-hour care than adult dogs and kittens. Not just because they need more stimulation, but also because they tend to be more mischievous and need to be watched. This question ties in with living space — a big dog in studio apartment without a yard doesn’t really make sense.

• Does anyone in your household have allergies? If yes, that doesn’t mean a pet is necessarily a no-go. Talk to your doctor about possible allergy medications. Short-haired animals are a better option as there’s less dander and hair flying around. Bathing your pet, keeping a clutter-free home, and covering the litter box can also help.

• Do you have kids? Certain breeds of dogs tend to be more aggressive and/or have a size and energy level not conducive to a home with small children. Breeds such as the bulldog, newfoundland, golden retriever, bull terrier and boxer are among the best dogs for children. The same rules apply for families seeking a cat — breeds like bengal, burmese, Maine coon, ragamuffin, and Siamese are among the most kid-friendly.

• Are you going through rehab? Owning a recovery animal has been proven to be beneficial in helping those going through rehab by helping to establish a regular routine, giving you a sense of purpose, and cheering you up when you’re feeling low. You’ll learn how to be social again while staying active in the process.

Preparing your home

It’s important to adequately prepare your home for your new furry friend — especially rescue pets from a shelter as they’re more apt to be nervous and/or fearful. Make sure your pet has a soft and comfortable bed, perpetual access to clean water, established feeding sessions, and toys to self-amuse when you’re not around. Some pets have a tendency to chew and/or scratch personal belongings so be sure to put those items away and set up scratching posts/boards (for cats) where necessary.

Bringing an animal into your home is a serious decision. It’s important to consider the questions so that you don’t wind up taking the pet back to the shelter down the road. Like us, animals are loving and intuitive creatures that have the ability to become sad, confused and scared due to neglect and too many lifestyle changes.

Photo Credit: Pixabay

P.S.  I hope you enjoyed hearing from our friend Cindy and remember, for the bestest pet gift baskets in the universe, go to pawpalsboutique.com 

Your tax preparing friend,
\
Zeva

Travels With Kitty

We’ve talked about traveling with dogs but not about traveling with cats. Most of the dogs we know like to go for rides so traveling, by car anyway, is fun for them. Cats, maybe not so much. We wanted to get a cat’s perspective on how to successfully travel with a cat so we called our friend and guest blogger, Foe.

Here are a few tips she passed along:

1. Cats are easily stressed so a visit to your Vet for something to help calm her might be a good idea. There are some excellent natural remedies available. A general check up to be sure your pet is healthy enough will also put your mind at ease.

2. Since cats don’t take car rides as much as dogs, take her for short rides so she can get used to being in the car. If you find she gets car sick, ask your Vet to recommend something,

3. Although some people let their cat roam around the inside of the car, Foe says she prefers a cat carrier. A cat carrier will keep your cat safe. You wouldn’t want her to dart out of the car when you open the door or jump out of the window, would you? You also don’t need your cat climbing all over you when you are trying to drive.

If your cat hasn’t been a carrier before, start getting her used to it before you start your trip. Put her bed or one of your old tee shirts in the carrier. Having something familiar with a comforting scent will help her relax.

4. Make sure your cat is wearing identification. A micro chip is also a good idea. If your cat should get away, having up to date information will help anyone who finds her locate you quickly.

5. Pack everything she will need. Food and water, litter and a litter box, and any medication she is taking.

6. Spending some time playing with her before you leave will help her relax. Plan on stopping every few hours to let her out of the carrier so she can stretch her legs and take a potty break.

7. The most important thing to remember is NEVER leave your cat alone in the car. It doesn’t take long for a car to get too hot or too cold. Don’t put your cat's life at risk even for a “few minutes”!

We are so glad to hear that more and more humans are taking their cats along with them when they go on trips. After all, time spent with a cat is never wasted.

Happy trails,

Zeva

P.S. Blatant self-promotion. For the bestest Cat gift basket in the universe are found at pawpalsboutique.com

Home Sweet Home

Our friend Lise just ‘dopted a baby. His name is Lucas and he is a  Morkie (Yorkie and Maltese mix). Lise needed to ‘dopt a new baby cuz Missy, her 15 year old baby, crossed over Rainbow Bridge.

We haven’t seen Lucas yet but Dad went to the airport with Lise to pick him up. Yup, he flew all the way here by himself. I would have been extra scared but Dad said Lucas didn’t think it was a big deal. He was sad to leave his Mom but was excited about having a new Mom and a forever home of his own.

He came in a crate that had a place for his water and food. Dad said it is a nice crate and will be a good place to go when he wants some alone time. When you have a sister like DixieLee, you know how important “alone time” is. Lucas has two sister cats and two brother birds so I’m sure he will like having his own special place.

Not all dogs have crates but I think they are important. It’s nice to have a quiet place to nap when Mom and Dad are not at home:

I made a list of some other things every dog (and cat) needs when they go to a new forever home.

1. Food and water bowls. Of course they need to have extra good food that goes in the bowls and fresh water all the time. And don’t forget they need treats. Lots of treats.

2. Bed. We are allowed on the bed and furniture but we also have our own beds. Well, they aren’t real beds but extra soft blankets in our crates to snuggle in.

3. Collars and leashes. Pets should wear their collars all the time because that is where their tags go. One of the first things a dog should learn is how to walk nice on a leash. If they walk nice, their humans will like taking walks with them.

4. Identification. Town tags and rabies tags attached to a collar are super important if a pet gets lost. Pets should also have a micro chip. Micro chips are teenie tiny so you don’t even know you have one but if you get lost, they are very helpful in getting home faster.

5. Grooming supplies. I don’t totally agree about grooming supplies cuz I hate baths but I do like having special towels to get wiped off from the rain and snow.

6. Toys. I saved the most important thing for last. Actually it was a toss up between toys and treats but good toys are super important. They are so important that I had Dad take a cuddly Zanie toy to Lucas when they went to the airport. Lise says he carries it around all the time. She said it is almost as big as him but he will grow into it.

If a human has all of these things ready when they bring home a new pet, they will have almost every thing they will need. They will only have to remember to add lots of hugs and kisses every day and then they will really have every thing.

Just so you know, we have gift baskets designed especially to welcome new pets to their forever home.  They are To The Rescue for dogs and Kit Kat Kit for cats.  You can see them on our website. 

Your friend,

Zeva

P.S. Blatant self-promotion.  To see all of other pet gift baskets, go to pawpalsboutique.com I think you'll like what you see.