Holiday Treats For Dogs

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The holidays are a great time of year for humans and their canine companions.  Great food is a huge part of the holidays, but much of it is off limits for Fido. Here are some holiday treats for dogs for that special pup in your life!

Doggy Eggnog 

Eggnog is a wonderful holiday treat, this year share some with your dog!

Here is the recipe:

Ingredients:

  • 1 container of plain, greek yogurt
  • 1/2 jar of baby food (in a dog friendly flavor)
  • 1/4 cup of water or milk
  • 1 egg
  • Dog treats as toppings

Directions

  1. Place all ingredients in a blend and blend until frothy
  2. Add your toppings
  3. Give your dog a small serving

 

Mint Dog Bones

Not only are these festive treats tasty, but they will also improve your dog’s breath.

Ingredients

  • 2 tablespoons of chopped mint leaves
  • 3/4 a cup of milk or water
  • 1 egg
  • 1 tablespoon of honey
  • 3 tablespoons of vegetable oil
  • 2 tablespoons of wheat germ
  • 1 tablespoon of Brewer’s yeast
  • 1 1/2 cups of flour

Directions

  1. Preheat oven to 300 degrees and grease a baking sheet
  2. Whisk mint, milk or water, egg, honey and oil in a large bowl
  3. Mix in wheat germ and Brewer’s yeast
  4. Slowly mix in flour to form a thick dough
  5. Roll out the dough on a floured surface to about 1/4 inch thick
  6. Use your favorite cookie cutters to cut the cookies
  7. Place cookies on the baking sheet and bake until golden brown
  8. Let the cookies cool and feed to your dog

 

Sweet Potato Hanukkah Cookies 

Potatoes are a traditional Hanukkah food, here is a healthy way to include your dog in the tradition.

Ingredients

  • 2 medium sweet potatoes
  • 1 egg
  • 1/2 cup of oats
  • 3 cups of flour
  • 1 tablespoon of xylitol free peanut butter

Directions

  1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees and grease a baking sheet
  2. Peel and dice the sweet potatoes and place in a pot of boiling water
  3. Boil sweet potatoes until soft then puree in a blender
  4. Whisk the egg and peanut butter into the sweet potato puree
  5. In a separate bowl mix the oats and flour
  6. Add the sweet potato mixture to the flour- oat mixture
  7. Stir the mixture until combined
  8. Roll out the dough of a floured surface to about 1/4 inch thick
  9.  Use cookie cutter or a glass to cut the cookies into shapes
  10. Bake the cookies until golden brown
  11. Let the cookies cool and feed them to your dog

 

Chicken Jerky

These yummy treats make special and healthy gifts for your dog.

Ingredients

  • 1 1/2 pounds of skinless, boneless chicken breasts

Directions

  1. Preheat the oven to 200 degrees
  2. Wash the chicken breasts with water and slice into 1/4 inch strips
  3. Place the chicken strips in an single, even layer on a baking sheet, leave a small amount of space between each strip
  4. Bake until the chicken strips are dehydrated, about 2 hours

Check that the strips are done by cutting one open. There should be no uncooked parts and there should not be any moisture inside. Store the jerky in sealed containers for about a week or longer in the refrigerator.

 

Gingerbread Christmas Dog Treats

Gingerbread is yummy treat for your dog this holiday season. These treats are very easy to make and fairly healthy for your dog.

Ingredients

  • 3 cups of whole wheat flour
  • 1 1/2 tablespoons of ground ginger
  • 3/4 teaspoon of ground cinnamon
  • 1/2 teaspoon of ground cloves
  • 1/2 cup of molasses
  • 1/2 cup of water
  • 1/4 cup of canola oil

Directions

  1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees and grease a baking sheet
  2. In a small bowl mix the flour, ginger, cinnamon and cloves together
  3. In a separate bowl mix the molasses, water and oil
  4. Mix the molasses mix into the flour mix and combine until it forms a dough
  5. On a floured surface roll out the dough to a 1/4 inch thick
  6. Cut the cookies into holiday shapes and place on baking sheet
  7. Bake for about 20 minutes or until golden brown
  8. Let the cookies cool and feed to your dog

 

 

These holiday treats for dogs will no doubt help make your furbaby’s holiday a little sweeter. As always feed all treats in moderation.

Did your dog enjoy your homemade dog treats? Let us know on our Facebook page!

 

 

 

 

How Do I Make My Cat Comfortable with Guests Over for Thanksgiving?

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Every cat has a different purr-sonality. Some cats love new people, others take a bit longer to warm up to new people. Thanksgiving dinner can be a stressful time for both kinds of cats. Most cats do not like crowds of people or the loud noises associated with Thanksgiving. So how can you make your cat comfortable over Thanksgiving?

1. Provide a safe space

Almost all cats will choose flight over fight, especially when confronted with new people. Do not try and force your cat to hang out in the living room. Open all the doors to your cat’s favorite hiding spots and provide your cat with many different options for hiding areas, such as under beds, in closets, or in a cat tree. Make sure to keep your cat’s space quiet and off-limits to guests. This will help keep your cat happy and prevent any conflict between your cat and your guests. Make sure to move your cat’s food, water, and litter box into a safe space so that your cat does not need to leave the room if he or she does not want to.

2. Give your cat look-out zones

Create a “stairway” up to a high shelf or provide a cat tree. This allows your cat to survey the room without being in the middle of it. Your cat will be able to evaluate the situation and decide if he or she feels comfortable. This will let him or her choose when to join the party. Try placing a towel on a shelf or in a cat tree so your kitty has somewhere comfortable to lay.

3. Tell your guests how to interact with your cat

Not everyone knows how to interact with cats. As your guests enter the house, tell them that your cat may be a little shy. Recommend that they do not approach your cat, or try to pet him or her. Cornering a scared kitty can result in your guests getting scratched. Always have your guests wait for the cat to approach them, then they can pet your kitty. Try having guests give your kitty a favorite treat when he or she comes to say hi. Keep a special eye on kids, as they may not know how to pet cats.

4. Provide calming scents 

Catnip can be very effective at calming cats. Catnip mimics the smell of the pheromone cats have in their face and paws. This scent can help make your cat feel more comfortable during Thanksgiving dinner. There are many sprays and diffusers on the market that have cat calming scents. Try spraying these on your cat’s bed and around the house to help calm him or her down.

 

The key to having a happy cat this Thanksgiving is by allowing your cat to choose where he or she wants to be. Never force your cat to interact with a guest or hang out in high traffic areas. Giving your cat lots of areas to hang out in can help reduce the stress of Thanksgiving dinner. Want to really have a happy cat? Check out our last blog post on Thanksgiving treats for your cat.

Why I Love Being Your Sidehill Sitter

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Being a pet sitter is the best job in the world! I have worked many other jobs in the pet care industry, but working for Sidehill as a pet sitter is my favorite job I have ever had. Here are three reasons I love being your pet sitter and love being a Sidehill sitter.

1. At Sidehill we strive to give the best care to your pet. 

We know that leaving your pets at home can be scary! As a pet parent I feel the same way, but I trust Sidehill 100% to keep my animals happy and safe.I know that all of our sitters do everything we can to keep your animals content. We love to give extra belly rubs, extra play time and sometimes extra treats. Additionally, all of our sitters go thought lots of training, including pet first aid and CPR, to keep your pet safe.

2. We get to form relationships with the pets we take care of.

 Many of our clients at Sidehill book regularly, so we get to develop relationships with pets. One of my favorite experiences as a pet sitter was developing a relationship with a shy dog. I have watched this dog and his brother and sister multiple times. Each time he barked at me and did not want anything to do with me. This went on for a few visits, then slowly he started warming up to me. Finally he wanted to hang out with me, I know soon I will be able to pet him. This experience was very fulfilling and why I know forming relationships with pets is so important.

 

3. We get to make clients feel safe.

Another cool part of my job is forming relationships with my clients. Our clients are really cool people and really care about their pets. Leaving your pet in the care of a stranger is so hard. For this reason, we do client meetings. During a client meeting your sitter gets to learn about your home and pets. The other benefit to client meetings is that you get to put a face to your pet sitter. Knowing who your pet sitter is really helps make our clients feel safer about leaving their pets at home. Additionally, we always offer to text or email our clients each day. This allows the client to check up on their pet and helps them feel safer.

 

Being a pet sitter is a really amazing job. I get to work with awesome pets and learn new things every day. We love getting to work with you and your pets and can’t wait to meet you (or see your pets again)!

 

Clicker Training Tips

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There are many different positive reinforcement training methods available to both cat and dog owners. One of my favorite methods is clicker training, it is a good way to quickly train your pet with less treats than traditional training.

Clicker training is used by thousands of animal trainers to teach all types of animals. It can be used to teach dogs obedience, leash manners, agility and many other things. It can also be used to teach tricks and other positive behaviors to cats.

What is clicker training?

Clicker training is using a sound (generally a clicker) to positively reinforce your pet for a behavior he or she is doing. In clicker training, a click is used every time a good behavior happens and treats are given later (which means fewer treats).

 

Why should I clicker train my pet? 

Clicker training has a couple of cool benefits. Clicker training allows you to reward positive behavior more quickly than giving your pet a treat. Depending on your reaction time, you could be clicking 10-15 seconds after your pet does the positive behavior. Giving a treat to your pet generally takes a longer time, which may cause your pet to forget the positive behavior he or she did. This helps your pet learn what the behavior you want to see, and learn it more quickly.

Because you click for each behavior rather than give your pet a treat, you feed less treats per training session. This is really helpful if you are working with an overweight pet or do not want your pet to gain weight.

 

How do I get started clicker training? 

Clicker training is all about associating a sound with a reward, so start by picking a sound. Pick a sound that is easy to make and distinct (will not be heard outside of training). For example, it is not recommended you use a clap because your pet will hear clapping outside of the training session and may get confused. This is the reason many people use the clicker. It is a very distinct sound, and it may be quicker to make than any sound you can make on your own. Clickers are easy to find at pet stores and generally cost around $2.

 

Next get started with your first sessions of training. These sessions will be very treat heavy, so pick a treat that your dog likes. Because clicker training is all about associating a sound with a reward (like a treat) you will be clicking and giving your dog a treat per click. Start by getting your dog’s attention, and simply clicking the clicker. After each click, quickly give your dog a treat. Do this for a few 5-10 minute sessions. After a few sessions, start mixing in simple behaviors with clicking. For example, have your dog sit, then click and treat. Do this for a few sessions and slowly wean down to only treating for every 10 clicks. Be sure to give your pet some treats after each session to tell him that he did a good job.

Next move on to the first behavior you want to teach, do so slowly. Because your dog is new to training, still give treats pretty frequently during the sessions. If you are teaching a complicated behavior, like how to walk nicely on a leash, use multiple steps to teach this. For simple behaviors you can use one step. An example I am going to use is teaching a pet how to come. Have someone hold your pet at the other end of the room and use your come signal. Only when your pet comes to you, give a click and give a treat. Repeat this behavior, give a click and treat the second and third times. The next time your pet comes, give only a click. Repeat this for the remainder of your session, mixing in a few treats with clicks. At the end of the session give your pet treats to tell him he did a good job. At each training session, reduce the amount of treats given during the session to only treating at the end. Do this until your pet masters the behavior.

 

Clicker training is a great way to teach pets positive behaviors. Be sure to use treats your pet likes and keep training sessions short for success!

 

How to Get Your Cat to Play

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Playing with fido or fluffy is one of the best parts of being a pet parent. There are a million different ways to play. Here are some that we have found most helpful for playing with your cat.

Many people find playing with your cat to a bit more difficult than playing with their dogs. Some cats love to play, others need to be coaxed into it. Play is so important to your cat’s health and your relationship with your cat. It is recommended that you play with you adult cat for at least 15 minutes a day.

 

Find a toy your cat likes. There are a million cat toys on the market, so there is one that your cat will like (or you can make on, see our article on cat enrichment). As a pet sitter, a toy I find is commonly liked is the feather/ball on a stick toy. These are available all over or can be made at home by tieing a toy or feather onto a piece of string. Many cats also like toys with catnip in them. These can easily be found at the pet store or can be made at home.

Learn how your cat likes to play. Cats have different play styles. Some like to stalk, some like to bat, others like to chase. Start with a stick toy and wave it in front of him. Start slowly then move the toy around of the floor. Your cat will likely try to bat at it and possibly catch in in his mouth.Ideally your cat will get up and chase the toy. This is the chase play style. If your cat sees the toy and slowly moves toward it before pouncing, this is the stalk play style. Try balls and stick or string toys with chase players. For stalk players use a laser pointer or long string with a toy tied on the end that you move slowly around the room.

 

Why is play important? 

Play has physical and mental benefits for you and your cats. In the United States, it is estimated that 58% of cats are overweight or obese. Playing is a great way to trick your cat into exercising. Using chase toys are a great way to get your cat up and moving. Start with short, slow play sessions then build up to longer and higher intensity play sessions. Play also helps mentally stimulate your cat. Many behavioral problems in cats are associated with your kitty being bored or under- stimulated. Playing helps activate your kitty’s brain. Try a catnip filled toy, thrown or hidden around the house to help activate your cat’s mind.

 

Play is very important for your cat, and one of my favorite parts of being your pet sitter!

 

5 Tips For Dealing With Pet Messes

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All of our sitters at Wet Noses Pet Sitting have lots of experience working with animals in various settings. Over the years we have picked up some tips for a variety of pet care topics such as feeding, medicating, walking and playing. This article will focus on litter boxes, and dealing with pet messes.

Litter Boxes 

Pick a litter you and your cat like. If your cat does not like the type of litter being used, he will not use it. Try many different litters, of varying types (clumping, clay, pellets, ect.) and with different or no scents. Also use a litter you like to use. If you hate the smell of your current litter or hate lugging in a heavy jug of litter (they actually make special light weight litter), you will be not be a very happy pet owner. Choose one that you, as the owner, don’t mind dealing with.

Add more litter than you think you need. One of the things that I find most helpful as a pet sitter is when there is lots of litter in a litter box. When there is a good volume of litter in the litter box it is easier to scoop and is less likely to stick to the bottom of the litter box. This is a good tip unless you have a cat who tends to kick out his litter.

Scrub out your litter box and scooper every few months. Kitty litter boxes, like anything else, can become very dirty and allow lots of bacteria to grow. I would recommend cleaning the litter box  out any time it looks particularly gross, but at a minimum every 3 months. You can do this by emptying the box completely, wiping it out (or spraying it with a hose), then wiping it down with a 1:10 bleach solution or a specific for animals cleaner. After you clean it with cleaner, wipe it out again with a wet paper towel, then let it dry. The scoop can be wiped off with a paper towel and sprayed with bleach spray or another cleaner.

Pet Messes

Always bring extra poop bags on a walk. Without fail, the time I bring one bag on a dog walk, the dog poops twice. Always bring twice the amount of bags you think you need. Be sure to pick up all poop and dispose of it properly.

Always keep carpet cleaner on hand. Keeping carpet cleaner on hand, even when your pet does not frequently have accidents, is very helpful. Make sure to clean up any stain with a rag or paper towel before applying the cleaner. Follow all directions on the cleaner bottle. As a side note, please show your pet sitter your carpet cleaner. Pets may have accidents when you are away.

Use baking soda to reduce pet odors. Ever come home and notice that your house smells very catty (or doggy)? Sprinkle baking soda on your carpet then vacuum it up. This should reduce the smell and make your carpet even cleaner.

While owning a pet can have some dirty parts, with these tips it should become a bit more pleasant. Look out for our next articles on other pet related topics.

 

5 Tips on Feeding and Medicating Pets

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All of our sitters at Sidehill have lots of experience working with animals in various settings. Over the years we have picked up some tips for a variety of pet care topics such as feeding, medicating, walking and playing. This article will focus on feeding and medicating pets.

Feeding

Your Sidehill sitter will always follow the feeding directions you give us, but here are some tips we have picked up over the years.

Wash out food and water bowls at least once a week.

After about a week a slimly layer of germs will build up in your pets water bowl, not only is this gross but it could make your pet sick. If you feed wet food, food bowls can end up with a lot of dried food stuck in them. All this dried food gives bacteria a good place to hide. Washing out food bowls removes these bacteria.

If you feed wet food, add water.

This tip has two positives, the first in cleaning and the other in pet health care. Adding about a tablespoon of water to wet food makes it much easier to clean. The food does not dry our as much so you can simply rinse the bowl rather than having to scrub dried food off. The other positive is that it tricks your pet into drinking some extra water.

Add water to an older pet’s dry food.

Dental disease is very common in pets, particularly older pets. This can cause their teeth to be sore and make it hard to eat dry kibble. By adding about a tablespoon of water and letting it sit you will soften the food and make it easier to eat. Many people find that this makes a huge difference in that amount of dry food their dog will eat.

Medicating

Your Sidehill Sitter is a pro at medicating dogs and cats, here are some tips on how we do it.

Hide the pill.

The easiest way to medicate a dog or cat is to hide the pill. There are a million different ways to hide the pill and what you choose depends of what food your dog or cat likes to eat. Choose a food that your pet loves and will gobble up without a second thought. Many people sneak pills into their dogs food and mix it up with wet food, this works really well for dogs who love their food. What I have found to be the most effective method for dogs is hiding the pill in a teaspoon of peanut butter. Most dogs LOVE peanut butter and its sticky texture will keep the pill from falling it. Be sure the peanut butter you use is dog safe (see our article on Xylitol in a previous blog). Cats can be a littler trickier to trick into eating a pill. Many pet owners have found success using pill pockets or placing the pill in a soft treat. Another good option is mixing the pill in a tiny bit of canned tuna.

Tickle your pet.

This one sounds really odd but it is a good option for pilling dogs and cats. This method involves putting the pill in your pet’s mouth then making your pet swallow it. For dogs and cats who do not run away when you try to pill them, walk over and open your pet’s mouth. Put the pill of the as far back on your pet’s tongue as possible. Close your pet’s mouth and hold it closed. Now for the tickling part; while holding your pet’s head tilted up, stroke his or her throat with your finger. This will cause your pet to swallow, and swallow the pill. Be sure to watch your pet for a minute after to make sure he or she did swallow the pill and did not spit it out. For pets who are prone to running away as soon as they see a pill bottle do the same steps, but start by straddling your pet between your legs.

Hopefully these tips will help make pet care easier for you and leave more time for having fun with your pet. Tips on other pet care topics will be in future blogs.

Do you have any helpful advice for feeding, medicating pets or other pet care tips? Write them on our Facebook page or email them to us! We would love to hear your tips.

 

 

 

 

 

Your Cat Loves You

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Cat behavior is widely known to be quite complex and difficult to understand. One minute, your cat seems happy and content, enjoying some lap time and a nice petting, and the next minute she runs off like her tail is on fire. While many of cat behaviors may leave you scratching your head thinking, “What the heck was that all about?” There are just as many that are clear in their meaning – your cat loves you!

 

If your kitty licks you, she’s showing you her love. Mother cats groom their kittens from the moment they come into the world, so being licked was one of your kitty’s very first feelings of love and caring. Her attempts at grooming you are indeed an honor!

 

Does your kitty rub up against you or head butt you? That’s her way of saying “I love you!” Rubbing up against another creature is how cats show affection; it’s your kitty’s way of putting her scent on you and claiming you as her own. It’s important to your relationship and the bond you share with your cat to allow her to rub against you. Don’t mind the fur on your clothes -after all, no outfit is complete without a little fur!

 

Don’t be offended by your kitty’s nipping; it’s just a little love bite! Cats nip each other affectionately, and their skin is tougher than their human’s, so she doesn’t understand that her love bite isn’t always pleasant to you. If the nips are proving to be too painful for you, and your kitty’s love bite timing may be predictable, try to move your face, finger or other body part out of her way when she goes in for a bite.

 

Male marking isn’t an act of aggression or defiance. Instead, it’s your male cat’s way of claiming his territory. Since much of your kitty’s signs of love include claiming your as his own, don’t be surprised if your male backs up toward you with a quivering tail. It may seem like he’s about to mark you with his urine, but he won’t actually produce any spray. Ever have your male urinate on your bed or other commonly used furniture? Don’t get mad, this is merely another show of his love.

 

Eyes are the windows to the soul. This well-known saying holds true for cats, too. If your kitty stares at you, then blinks, then opens her eyes wide, followed by a slow second blink, this is her eye’s way of telling you she loves you and trusts you. In fact, this eye language is the equivalent of getting a kiss. Try mimicking this behavior to your cat -she’ll likely soon respond in kind!

 

Dead animals are a display of your kitty’s love. When your favorite feline drops a dead mouse, lizard or other small animal at your feet, she’s not showing off her hunting skills. This is her way of saying she feels safe and secure in her home and, yes, she loves you.
While some of the ways your cat shows her love for you may appear anything but loving, in her own way she is showing you just how much she cares. Understanding her quirky displays of affection and returning the same unconditional love is all she asks for.

How to Protect Your Pets from Wild Animals

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This summer, a Fort Collins man was arrested by police after killing a bear that had wandered into his back yard. The bear was threatening the life of the man’s beloved dog, so he took matters into his own hands, shooting the bear once with a rifle. Under Colorado law, residents are protected if they shoot and kill a bear to protect themselves, their home, car or livestock; but not if a bear is attacking a dog. Charges were recently dropped against the man, but the incident opened the question: what can you do to protect your pet from wild animals? With winter right around the corner, encounters with wild animals will become more common, so what should you do if you and your pet are on the receiving line of a threat?

Whether it be a bear, coyote, snake, skunk or another critter, it’s not uncommon for wild animals to sting, bite, poke and spray anyone or anything that they encounter. According to Veterinary Pet Insurance (VPI), the most common wild animals to attack pets are – in order most common to least common – snake, coyote, raccoon, squirrel, scorpion, javelina (a medium-sized hoofed mammal that somewhat resembles a pig), porcupine, ground hog, skunk and rat. No matter the animal, here are a few things you can do as a protective pet parent to help prevent an attack, and be prepared in the event one does occur:

 

  • Call your County’s Cooperative Extension Service Agent or Colorado Parks and Wildlife for information about potential wildlife hazards for your area. Knowing areas that are frequented by wild animals and where frequent encounters occur, makes it much easier to avoid those areas.

 

  • Speak with your veterinarian about any additional vaccinations your pet should have in addition to Rabies and other species-specific vaccinations, based on where you live and your lifestyle. For example, it may be suggested your dog be vaccinated for Leptospirosis, a bacteria spread through water, soil and the urine of infected animals.

 

  • Of the 25 species of snakes in Colorado, only the Western or prairie rattlesnake and the Desert Massasauga are venomous species. If either of these species pose a problem in your immediate area, speak with your vet about emergency protocol – is there an antivenin available? Does your vet recommend a rattlesnake vaccine or some type of avoidance training? What should you and your pet do if one of these venomous snakes crosses your path?

 

  • Always keep your pet on a leash when exploring new areas. If you pet is growling, seems cautious or if you notice the hairs over his shoulder blades standing at attention, take heed. Your pet can sense other animals much sooner than you can. An attack only takes seconds, and if you are far away from veterinary services, every second counts.

 

  • Always keep a well-stocked pet first aid kit readily available. You can purchase a pre-stocked kit, or confer with your vet as to what items he recommends so you can create your own. Instructions on how to use each item in the kit in the event of an emergency is just as important as a well stocked kit.

 

  • Be sure to keep your pet’s ID tag and/or microchip information current, as a scare from a wild animal may cause him to high tail it out of there, and you want to ensure a happy reunion.

 

  • One of the safest things for your dog at home is a secure, fenced-in yard. Check the perimeter often for signs of an animal trying to dig its way in, and fill any holes immediately. Many animals can simply scale the fence to find their way into your yard, so keep food items and treats indoors, as they will attract potential unwanted visitors. If you do find an unwelcome animal in your yard, keep your pets inside and call Animal Control immediately.

 

As with most things in life, preparation is key when protecting your pet. Know what threats are lurking outdoors, work with your veterinarian to have a plan in place in the event of an attack, and do your best to avoid a potentially dangerous encounter with a wild animal.

Why Some People Don’t Own Pets

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I don’t know about you, but I couldn’t imagine an existence without pets. I’ve shared my life with a pet for as long as I can remember, loving them, losing them, and welcoming new ones over the years. So for me, and probably many of you, it’s hard to understand why some people choose to not have pets. I mean, don’t they know what they’re missing?

 

The American Humane Association (AHA) and PetSmart Charities conducted a study to learn more about pet companions -specifically why some people don’t have pets -in an effort to develop more effective strategies for helping homeless pets get adopted and find their forever homes. The AHA believes the first step in minimizing the number of homeless dogs and cats is to understand why some people don’t have pets. Here’s what the study found:

 

Data was collected from 1,500 people without pets who either had a dog or cat once in their lives, or never at all. Some reasons for not having a pet were predictable, including: “Pets cost too much money,” or “I don’t have the time,” or “I’m allergic.” But researchers were shocked to learn nearly 20 percent of the study participants who did have a dog or cat at one time (and only one time) never welcomed another pet to their home because they were still suffering from the loss of their previous pet. This finding made it clear to the AHA that they need to better appreciate the human-animal bond and celebrate a person’s prior pet, which will hopefully allow then to take the next step of caring for another pet.

 

Cats vs. Dogs

 

Some of the non-pet participants admitted they simply don’t like companion animals, and over one-third expressed their dislike of cats. 45 percent who had a dog at one time said they would consider having another pet, while only 34 percent who had a cat said the same. Of the participants who never had a pet before, 25 percent would consider a canine companion, but only 10 percent would bring home a feline friend. These results helped identify a need for feline-friendly education and training for both pet parents and veterinary staff at the AHA to increase the level of care kitties receive.

 

Additional Findings

 

  • The longer a pet parent waits after the loss of a pet, the less likely he or she is to welcome a new dog or cat to the home.
  • 10 percent of previous dog parents and 12 percent of previous cat parents said they gave away or sold their pet for reasons such as housing restrictions, behavioral issues, allergies, lack of time, death in the family, or divorce.
  • Less than 23 percent of previous pet parents adopted their pet from a shelter or rescue agency.
  • Nearly 65 percent of study participants said they would adopt their next pet.
  • Of the participants over the age of 65, over 90 percent of them said they had no intention of having a canine or kitty companion.

 

 

What the AHA and PetSmart Charities Learned

 

  • A plan of action is needed to help address negative attitudes toward cats, and cat adoption strategies would have improved results if targeted toward younger prospective pet parents.
  • They need to better understand barriers to pet adoption, such as the grief over a lost pet, and work to reduce existing obstacles such as housing restrictions and financial constraints.

 

Hopefully, with this information in hand, both the AHA and PetSmart Charities will develop a strategy to attract new adoptees, reduce the shelter populations, and match potential pet parents with their forever friends. However, as all pet parents know, pets are a big responsibility.You should never push a pet on someone who is not ready. The best thing you can do for your non-pet owning friends is educate them on the upsides and downsides of being a pet parent and try and ease their concerns about pet ownership.