Animal Shelter

Perfect Cat Air Cleaner-5 Features That Will Make It Effective

Living with a cat is a lot of fun. What is not fun is the cat hair, dander, and odor. An air cleaner can help minimize all of these, but only if it has the following 5 features.

Filter for Dander—These dead skin cells (known as dander are microscopic in size and cannot be seen without magnification. If you family, or friends are allergic, their bodies will react in about 60 seconds flat..

HEPA or high efficiency particle arresting filters are the best at removing particles like these. By definition this type of filter has to be able to remove particles that are .3 microns or larger in size.

The good thing about this technology is that it will remove any particle of this size whether it is cat-related or just a normal household particle. Some typical particles that it will remove include dust, dust mites, mold and mildew spores, bacteria and viruses that often attach to the bigger particles

Carbon Filtration—-Any cleaner that is to be effective at eliminating odors must be carbon-based. This type of filter is the industry leader when it comes to removing gaseous pollutants. A substantial amount (about 15 pounds) is necessary to insure a long filter life and to remove both cat-related as well as normal types of gases and odors that result from daily living.

Additive for Urine—Accidents happen, and when they do it’s nice to have a purifier that has your back. Urine odor can be incredibly tough to get rid of, particularly if it’s difficult or impossible to get to the scene of the crime.

Since ammonia is the part of it that is the most offensive, it only makes sense that the additive should be able to facilitate the carbon’s ability to get it out of the air. Even though you may not be having problems now, it’s a good idea to have this feature as an ace up your sleeve.

24 Hour Operation—Your feline friend produces dander and sheds some hair 24 hours a day. In order to limit the amount that goes into your air, you need your cleaner to remove these pollutants as fast as they go into the air. This continual removal will keep the air from becoming thick with particles and possibly causing heath problems, for your family, friends, and you.

Low Maintenance—Cats can be demanding, and they won’t be pleased if you spend all your time managing the purifier.. A low maintenance filter will meet with your cat’s approval and yours too..

Avoid those units that require frequent filter changes (every 3 to 6 months), washing, spraying, or charging the filter. Every time you perform maintenance is time that the air is not being cleaned. Buying replacement filters will increase your cost to operate the cleaner..

Instead choose a unit that has a filter that can last for years (3 to 5), and carries a warranty if it does not last for that amount of time.

A cleaner with this 5 features is sure to be effective, and make for a purr-fect cleaner for you, your family, and your cat.…

Animal Shelter

Save Your Furniture Without Declawing Your Cat

Some people with indoor cats safeguard their furnishings by mutilating their beloved pets. It’s a fact, declawing is mutilation. Unlike a fingernail, a cat’s claws are attached right to the bone. When the claws are removed, the last bone and joint in every toe are also removed. Once you amputate your cat’s toes, you ruin its balance and agility. You alter the way your cat walks.

No one wants their furnishings wrecked by their cat, but there is another approach to cope with the dilemma. Think for a minute – why do cats scratch home furniture and climb draperies in the first place? It is because cats retain some of the instinctual behaviors they employed when they were wild animals. Cats that reside out doors climb rocks and trees and scratch the bark. That is natural behavior for cats. Cats don’t claw furnishings because they are nasty, they do it simply because they are cats.

The very best technique to prevent Fluffy or Bosco from ruining your Chippendale is to offer an alternative , a cat tree with an integrated scratching post. A very good cat tree will be sturdy and tall enough to simulate the experience of climbing a genuine tree. It would have integrated hiding places and certainly ought to have a built in scratching area. Sisal rope wound around the “trunk” of your structure works really nicely even though other materials also work well.

It is ideal to get your kitty accustomed to utilizing a cat tree and scratching post while it’s young. It’s easier to do than to attempt to get an older cat to adjust its habits. In any case, offering a normal option for scratching and climbing will make both you and him happier. Don’t mutilate your little buddy for for your own convenience.…

Animal Shelter

Animals: More Human Than Humans

What can we say about pets? They are warm, loving, always there wanting our affection; simply put to love and be loved. For many animals small animals especially, it is a simple life they are able to lead in homes where they are welcomed and treated as one of the family. In a perfect world this would be the scenario that all pets would have going for each and every one of them. Unfortunately this is not a perfect world and the reality is there are many pets that are beaten, abused, and treated downright inhumanely by owners who choose to take their issues out on an innocent animal who can not fight back. For these unfortunate lost pets they are truly more human than the humans whose care they live under.
We see this kind of behaviour wherever we turn it’s sad to say; walking down the street the echoing sounds of a person screaming at their pet that quickly turns to violence and the painful cries of the innocent animal haunt our thoughts as we are forced to let it be. There are the advertisements from the SPCA or organizations similar in nature that show beaten, bruised, and scarred lost pets who have been rescued from the cruel habitat they were raised in; their eyes being in such broken pain that are begging for a home that will be humane for them, a home where they can be loved. It breaks our hearts seeing this kind of pain in these innocent animals knowing that the cause is because of a human, a human who by all regards is fully capable of exerting dominance over his/her pet with no regard for the deep pain he/she is actually causing. What’s worse is many of these cruel owners disregard that they are even doing anything wrong when in actuality beating down a pet morally and what should be legally, is as wrong as domestic violence towards a spouse or a child.
Now many people will argue that animals may not be as innocent as they appear to be arguing for example, a dog’s bite can be as dangerous as a human’s fist. While there is truth that a dog bite can be painful and possibly infectious, most dogs if treated right, will only lash out and bite in a defensive mechanism such as if they can’t see or sense someone sneaking up on their backside. Studies have shown that animals who are treated respectfully and with the care that would be shown to a child in return are very calm, very welcoming in return and as such are not violent by nature. To say then that a dog’s ability to bite out at a person justifies violently attacking the dog in return is ludicrous; by nature pets are to be loving and gentle provided they are not treated intolerably. It may be a cliche but the old rule ‘treat others how you would like to be treated’ is more valid than in just social scenarios with fellow people.
Animals have rights that are as valid as humans and to those that choose to disregard them, there should be punishable laws set against them. Children that are rescued from abusive families can lead to punishable imprisonment for their abuser(s); thus for pets, there should be no difference. Abuse is abuse whether to an innocent child or an innocent pet; domestic abuse is a punishable crime and should be enforced by those championing animal rights. Adjustments to the laws need to be made to help save more animals from being caught between a rock and a hard place in being homeless strays or victims of abuse. We as humans have humanity inside us for a reason and must use that inherent goodness to stand up for those who can not stand up for themselves.
Now sometimes people can go too far in their protests; a recent example is the PETA member from the States who came to Canada and slammed a pie in the face of one of our Members of Parliament. Granted for those of us who hate all politicians for THEIR inherent greed, sense of entitlement, and corrupt nature the sight of one of them being slammed with a pie so hard it could nearly break her nose is hilarious; but that very act of violence simple as it may be, hypocritically goes against what the member of PETA was trying to stand up against. Being a champion of animal rights and fighting against cruelty to animals does not give you the right to leave your country, come to another country, and assault a member of that country’s government to make your point. Peaceful protests, rallies; these can make the point and can gather the attention needed to spread the message. …

Animal Shelter

Confused About Your Canine? Read This For Clarity

Raising a dog is a big undertaking and long term commitment. The responsibilities that come along with owning a pet are numerous, however so are the rewards. This article aims to provide you with a few useful tips to help you with the different aspects of owning and caring for a dog.

Always be prepared to pick up after your dog with a scoop and bag. Although most people think that this is simply a polite thing to do so that others don’t step in it, your dog’s excrement is actually hazardous!

It contains a bacterium that can contaminate local supplies when it washes through to ground water.

Talk to your vet about what foods are best for your dog. Sometimes, your puppy may not be developed enough to consume certain brands, as this can lead to an upset stomach or sicknesses. Be careful about which foods you feed your dog.

Don’t buy cheap dog food. It is best to invest in quality dog food. Sure, it’s more expensive. But, isn’t your pet worth it?

If your dog does something that you do not like, try to avoid just saying no. To your dog, no doesn’t really explain what you want your pup to do. Instead of saying no if your dog is jumping, try to get your dog to sit or lay down. By doing this, you provide your dog with an instruction of what to do.

Schedule a visit to the vet when you get a new pet. Once the dog arrive home, place a call to the vet and schedule that appointment. Your vet will provide a full check up and establish vaccination dates. In addition, consult your vet about spaying or neutering your dog. The shelters are already overcrowded, so you do not want to make that problem worse.

Do not allow your dog to remain outdoors all day long. Dogs need to interact with people and other dogs. Your dog may be lonely outside if he is the only dog in your household. In addition, if severe weather strikes, your dog needs to come inside in order to ensure its protection.

If your veterinarian prescribes medication or special care for your pet, make sure you follow their instructions to the letter. While a cone around the head is not a pleasant experience for your pet, it may be a necessary requirement for a short time. When a vet makes a recommendation, it is for the safety and health of your dog; if you ignore them, that can lead to trouble.

Positive reinforcement is the best way to train your dog. You should congratulate your dog when it displays a good behavior, for instance by giving it a treat or petting it. Talk to your dog in a soft voice and make sure you praise it every time the good behavior is displayed.

Groom your dog frequently. Keep them clean and reduce the amount of hair they shed by brushing them frequently. When the weather warms up, start checking them for ticks and fleas daily. Dogs generally require a few baths a year. Before you give your dog a bath, make sure to cut or comb out mats and tangles. Rinse their coat thoroughly to avoid dirt sticking to any soap residue.

If your dog gets anxious and lonely when you leave, put some music on before you head out. The sounds of the music will provide a sense of security and company for your dog. It could be just what he needs to get over his anxiety while he waits for you to come home.

Humane Society

Put your dog through obedience training. A well-trained dog is a joy to live with for both you and them. Teaching them simple commands like “Come,” “Heel,” “Sit,” and “Stay” can help curb or prevent troublesome behaviors in no time. You can either teach them yourself, or you can find out about obedience courses by contacting the SPCA or the local humane society for class recommendations.

There are few greater joys in life than the love you can share with your loyal companion. It won’t always be a walk in the park but the rewards are more than worth it. Enjoy your pup and continue to learn more to help keep your lives happy and healthy.…