Adoption

Are You Ready to Adopt a Dog?
By Gianina Scalise

Deciding to adopt a dog should not be an easy decision. Your entire life will change, even if you don't think it will. Dogs are needy, with their biggest need being you. When considering adding a canine companion to your life, you should evaluate your lifestyle and decide if you're ready for the extra commitment. Here are a few questions to ask yourself before you take the next step.

1.  Why do you want a dog? While this may seem like an easy question, consider it for a while. Are your children asking for a puppy? Are you single and want some companionship? Do your friends all own dogs? Owning a dog can be an incredibly fun and rewarding experience, but it also requires a lot of time, patience, and responsibility.

2. Are you able to afford another family member? Take a peek at your finances because owning a dog is not cheap. Food alone can cost anywhere from $75 to $300 a year depending on the size of the dog. Some dogs require professional grooming; others will chew through toys in a matter of hours, requiring many trips a month to the pet store. You'll need a leash, a collar, a crate, food bowls, and some treats to get you started, as well. On average, veterinary care can cost upwards of $120 for a regular visit, with emergencies costing much more. So, total, you could be spending anywhere from $800 to $1,500 a year. Can you afford it?

3. Are pets allowed? If you rent an apartment or own a condo, be sure you're able to have a dog and that you understand any pet policies or restrictions that apply to your lease or condo association rules. Do you have to pay a deposit or monthly fee? Are certain breeds allowed? Are there weight limits in place? If you adopt without checking this first, you may be putting yourself and your new pet in a difficult situation.

4. Do you have the time for a dog? Dogs are social by nature and they require attention, training, and socialization. You would only be doing a dog harm by leaving him or her alone for a 10 hour work day. Keep in mind that your social life may suffer, as well. You'll have a feeding schedule to abide by as well as a walking schedule so your dog isn't holding it too long. They'll need exercise as much as they'll need some time to just sit back and cuddle. Dogs take up a lot of your time, and you need to be ready to give it to them, though sometimes it may be given grudgingly.

5. Do you have children, other pets, or circumstances that may affect bringing home a new dog? Don't rush into adopting a certain dog because you like their look or energy. For example, if you have young children, a very small dog may not be the best fit even if you've always wanted a Yorkie. If you have a cat, a dog with a high prey drive is only going to make your home life more stressful as well as put your cat in danger.

6. Do you care if your rug gets peed on? Will you lose your mind if you come home from work and your coffee table is chewed? What about your shoes? These are situations to consider. Your dog may enjoy the taste of leather, and if so, you need to be ready to work with them. Being returned to a shelter is hard for a dog, and the act of returning a dog is hard on the owner, so be sure you're ready to dig into your patience reserve.

7. Have you done your research? If you can't answer that with certainty, then go back to the drawing board and begin Googling dog and pet care.

If you're looking to add a puppy to your household, assume the work and time commitment will be doubled. Generally, puppies require more training and a lot more supervision. You should only consider a puppy under the age of 8 months if they won't be alone for more than a few hours at a time and if you're ready for the responsibility.

In a nutshell, these are the top questions you should be considering if you're thinking about adopting. If you're unsure about any of these points, don't rush into it! There will always be dogs needing homes, but you need to make sure you can provide the best home.

Cat Corner

What You Need to Know About Your Cat's Diet

By Gianina Scalise

Dry food is cheaper. There is no question about that. It's easier, as well. A scoop once or twice a day into a food bowl and you're all set. However, because of the market for dry food, the truth about your cat's dietary needs gets swept under the rug. And while dogs can thrive on a kibble-based diet, it is difficult for cats to do the same without suffering related health risks.

Unlike humans or dogs, cats need much more protein in their diet to survive. An easier way to bring that concept to life is to think about what a cat would eat in the wild. That's right: a nice, juicy mouse. It's not the most appetizing thought, but there's a reason the game of cat and mouse has pervaded society's perception of their sassy feline companion. Cats are carnivores, and while some wheat or dairy won't hurt them, in the wild, they would not be chewing on grains or plants for their protein. It's hard to put protein into a dry form, and many kibble products have an unnecessary amount of grain and plant protein that is not necessary.

Another issue that arises with dry kibble is carbohydrates. While carbs are a source of energy, cats can survive without them. A mouse is made up of mostly protein and water with a small mount of fat and an equally small amount of carbohydrates. As Dr. Lisa Pierson states on her website CatInfo.org, "You would never see a wild cat chasing down a herd of biscuits running across the plains of Africa or dehydrating her mouse and topping it off with corn meal gluten souffle." It's just not in their nature.

The other negative about a feline diet too high in carbohydrates is that carbs can wreck havoc on a cat's insulin and sugar levels and can cause rapid weight gain if the amount of kibble provided is not monitored. Keeping that in mind, it's not surprising that one of the leading feline diseases is diabetes.

The other downside of kibble is moisture. Cats are descendents of desert animals. This means that they do not drink their water in the wild, but must hydrate as they eat their meals. Mice are, give or take, about 70% percent water. There is no possible way for kibble to imitate a substantial water source, so many house cats are living their lives dehydrated. Dehydration can lead to skin and coat problems, as well as one of the leading causes of feline death: kidney disease. Without enough moisture, blood flow is limited, and without enough blood flow to flush out the kidneys, toxins build up. 

Lack of moisture is also the cause of urinary tract issues in cats because they are not consuming enough water to flush out their bladder. Urinary tract infections and blockages are incredibly painful, but can be easily prevented with the proper diet. 

So, what can you do? The solution is easy. Feed your cats a canned food diet. Canned food is generally higher in protein, lower in carbs, and much higher in moisture. By making such a small change in your cat's life, you can significantly alter their disposition to painful and sometimes fatal diseases. 

For an extensive look into what a proper feline diet can do for your cat, please visit CatInfo.org.

Paws Abroad

 Chicago-based Organization Helps Dogs Abroad

 By Gianina Scalise
Original article can be found here.

In August of 2010, Chicagoans Imelda and Marisela Corona took a trip to Costa Rica. However, they did not travel for pleasure—they traveled with a very specific task in mind: to help the homeless dogs that were struggling to survive on the streets.

“The amount of street dogs is overwhelming,” Imelda commented when asked about the trip, and explained that the local shelter, San Rafael de Heredia, is doing as much as they can with what little they have. The shelter's main goal is to spay and neuter as many dogs possible to limit the growing population.

In Costa Rica, Imelda and Marisela spent a week traveling the country and offering food to any dog they came across. Imelda recalls many of the dogs running along the beaches and it was one of the few things that offered some relief: “I met so many beach dogs that seemed so free and happy, and that made it better, knowing they had no limits and a whole country to explore."

A pair of strays, who they nicknamed Lady and Tramp, followed them loyally and even slept on the porch of their hostel. It was Lady who inspired them to create the non-profit organization Paws Abroad, which benefits the stray, homeless dogs of poorer countries.

This week, Imelda and Marisela will continue to help dogs abroad in Puerto Rico. From today, April 11th, until the 19th, they will donate their time, food, toys, and medication to Save a Sato Foundation as well as place flea collars on and feed the homeless dogs they meet.

Paws Abroad also donates clothing and toys to orphanages. “Its amazing to see the kids’ faces,” Imelda commented. “Its like Christmas for them.” Though their main goal is aiding the dogs, Paws Abroad wishes to help every needy person and animal they can. Their motto is, “"If giving a dog a bowl of food will allow them to live an extra week, we’ll give them a bag.”

If you would like to learn more about Paws Abroad and how to help, please visit their website here.

The Dog Days of Summer

Why Your Pet Should be on Heartworm Preventative 

By Gianina Scalise

Original article can be found here. 

Though many dog owners provide their canine companion with a heartworm preventative every month, many have no idea why it is necessary. Unfortunately, even more owners do not give their dog monthly heartworm preventative because the risks of skipping that small, chewable pill are unknown.

The Midwest was previously less likely to see an abundance of dogs infected with heartworm disease, but many southern dogs are being transported to Chicago and other northerly cities. This was especially true after Hurricane Katrina struck New Orleans and the surrounding areas, and many of the homeless, injured animals were transported north in an attempt to save them. Unfortunately, many of these dogs were heartworm positive, and the disease began to spread while people remained unaware.

To better understand the need for heartworm preventative, it is important to understand the disease. Heartworm disease is mosquito-borne, meaning a single, seemingly harmless bite can infect your dog. The transmitted worms live in the skin and then the chest muscles as they go through various stages of growth. Then, they move into the bloodstream and make their way to the heart and lungs. The worms can cause unequivocal damage to the arteries of the lungs and the right side of the heart if left untreated.

A dog infected with heartworm disease can be asymptomatic until the disease progresses, and treatment for heartworm disease is equally as painful as the later stages of infection. It involves a series of arsenic-based injections, and the dog must be kept incredibly sedentary for upwards of two or three months to assure no complications arise.

And keep in mind, depending on the dog’s size, heartworm treatment can be very expensive. Though heartworm preventative and annual heartworm tests may be more costly, in the long run, it is very worth it, both for you and your canine companion.

Chicago is seeing its first truly warm day, with the temperature rising to almost eighty-five degrees. Unfortunately, these beautiful summer-esque days are the beginning of heartworm season. Do well by your pets—get heartworm preventative and assure they receive their yearly heartworm test.