June 2009

The Prescott Humane Society held a fundraiser a poodle dress fundraiser. There was fun, games, t-shirts, promotional pens or promotional pen for anyone who was willing to donate. This is the fourth year of the fundraiser. The members of the society use the fundraiser to raise awareness about animal cruelty, responsible pet ownership, and to raise funds for shelters.

Most people love animals, especially cats and dogs. We call them our best friends, spending billions and billions on food and other supplies for them as a nation every year. But every year in the United States millions of cats and dogs become strays or wind up in shelters. Pet Overpopulation is everywhere. There are only about 5000 pet shelters in the whole of the U.S. While it is great news that shelters are able to take in 7 million cats and dogs every year, only half of these will find good homes from the shelter. The rest are euthanizedbecause pet shelters cant accommodate them.

to prevent further overpopulation, we must take drastic measures to protect them from what they cannot protect themselves against: themselves. It is up to us to institute sterilization programs so that we can control the population. Cats and Dogs reproduce quickly. Dogs can give birth twice a year and have 6-10 puppies, while cats can have as many as 3 litters a year of 4-6 kittens. Population can increase exponentially. Sterilization has already worked well in many ares.

There are many complex parts that need to be taken into consideration when implementing such a plan. It involves many people working well together. Legislation is one solution.

Action must be taken. There are too many animals crowding the shelters. Some animal shelters have become warehouses for animals. This widespread cruelty to animals encourages and permits cruelty everywhere. Strays can disrupt neighborhoods, scaring or biting people, getting into trash cans, and scaring away wildlife. We can prevent dog bites by sterilizing. Overpopulation results in dangerous dogs. Instead of trying to deal with the consequences of overpopulation, we should deal with the real issue. Spay or neuter your pets.

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Pet owners occasionally find it hard in todays market to select a brand of food that works for your pet. The types of food are numerous and the labels are not only confusing, but they can be misleading. If you understand the pet food labels you can buy the food that is best for your dog or cat .

Pet food labels have an information panel and a main display panel. The main display panel contains the brand name and product manufacturer. The Association of American Feed Control Officials governs a products name and what ingredients it contains.

Knowing what the labels mean is important in providing the best food for your pet. If the product name includes things such as ‘beef platter’, ‘beef entree’, ‘beef dinner’, etc. it only has to contain 10% beef. However, if it is worded as ‘beef’, it must contain 70% beef. Along the same lines, if it is worded ‘with beef’, it need only contain 3% beef and believe it or not the words beef flavor means the product must only contain less than 1% of beef!

Do not just rely on the name of a pet food because that can mislead you. Always check the food container for a clearance statement from the AAFCO stating the food has passed their standards.

The second part of the label is the information panel, which has to contain an ingredient statement and an analysis of guarantee. This analysis contains percentages of crude fat, protein, fiber and moisture in the food. While the percentages are listed, this still does not tell you the quality of the crude fats, proteins, etc. The ingredients should also be listed in descending order by weight.

Pets are very sensitive to changes made to their food. Before making a change, pay attention to their coat, eye clarity and how they are acting. If all is well, you may be better off sticking with what you are currently using. Any pet nutritional information or concerns can be answered by a qualified veterinarian based on your specific pets needs.

Also when considering a new pet food take the time to consider what you will put the food in. elevated dog bowls are a smart choice, especially for taller dogs. There are several dog bowls and cat bowls to choose from, it is up to you to pick the proper feeder for your pet but keep in mind to stay away from plastic containers. They tend to keep the germs around to make for a hazardous eating situation for your pet. Many pet owners opt for having two sets of pet feeding bowls to make sure that one set is always clean. It is so tempting to just keep reusing the same bowl without washing but do not fall into this trap, your pet’s health may depend on it. Look into pet supplies online for a wide selection and free shipping.

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