70,000
puppies and kittens are born each day while only 10,000 humans
are born each day. Spay and neuter your pet to prevent pet overpopulation.
The prerequisite for a close
relationship between a human and a dog is that you regard your
dog not as a four-legged burglar alarm, a toy for the children
nor a status symbol but as a true partner and companion.
Impulse
buying of pets is largely responsible for the high number of
dogs and cats at shelters.
In 1900, the average life-span for all breeds
was only seven years. Today it is 11 or 12, thanks to improved
veterinary care and more nutritional feeding.
Never
use physical punishment when training your dog for obedience.
Always focus on the positive when training using lots of praise.Only
when your dog trusts you will it do what you want.
Teach
your children to leave a dog alone when it is sleeping or eating.
Never
hit your dog when correcting him or her. Instead gently but firmly
correct your dog and always be consistant.
A
puppy's attachment to people starts to form very early - between
the third and seventh week of life. Puppies not receiving sufficient
human contact at this time rarely make good pets.
Dogs
should never ride in the back of a pickup truck. Besides the
obvious danger of being thrown out, dogs pads on their feet can
burn and debris can get stuck in their eyes and ears.
More
than three-quarters of pet owners surveyed by the American Animal
Hospital Association feel guilty about leaving their pet home
alone and nearly half stay at home more often because of their
pet.
When
it's 80 degrees outside, a car can heat up to over 120 degrees
in just minutes. Never leave your dog alone in a car during warm
weather.
Overheard
- "No matter how little money and how few possessions you
own, having a dog makes you rich." - biographer Louis Sabin