Many of us look a the new year in terms of being healthier and happier. We are also hoping that 2012 is the year we all do a little more for animals. Our busy lives and crazy schedules often leave little time for pet care, but here are some simple tips to help you, your pet and animals in general.
- Talk a 30 minute walk with your dog a few times a week. This is a win-win for both you and your dog.
- Provide your pet with yearly health checks and routinely check your pet at home to help identify possible health issues at an early stage. Check your pet’s teeth for tartar, run your hands down your pet for abnormal bumps or lumps, check ears and keep nails trimmed.
- Feed your pet good quality pet food. A healthy diet is key to a healthy pet.
- Make 2012 the year of ID TAGS for your pet. A simple ID tag can help reunite your lost pet so collar and tag your pet. Micro chipping is a permanent way to ID your pet.
Be an animal advocate this year:
- Report animal abuse or neglect to law enforcement and be the voice for animals.
- If you see a lost animal, rescue it! Most lost animals are rescued by private citizens doing a good deed. Don’t assume the animal will “find its way home”, most do not, so be that hero for a lost pet. Provide a temporary safe haven in your garage, shed or home and then contact your local animal shelter for further assistance.
- Never buy an animal from a pet store. Never buy products from a pet store that sells animals. In retail environments, animals are treated like merchandise and not like living beings. Conditions are often unhealthy, neglectful and often these puppies are products of puppy mills. Make 2012 the year of adopting animals and not buying them.
- Encourage family, friends and everyone you know to have their pets spayed and neutered. Help stop the cycle of unwanted litters and help end euthanasia of unwanted animals.