Cat Trees and Pet Supplies

According to the ASPCA pet statistics, approximately 5 million to 7 million companion animals enter animal shelters nationwide every year.  Caring for animals is an expensive business. It also requires a great deal of time, space, and involvement, and these things are not always available for every animal.

Many Animal Shelters are usually privately funded and can do with all the help they can get from the local community. If there is an Animal Shelter in your area, you can consider making a donation or, if they allow it, volunteering your time.  Check with the shelter to see what items they are in need of most. 

For the most part, most shelters need:

• Financial Support- as stated above, it’s a very expensive business
• Litter and litter boxes
• Break-away cat collars and dog collars
• Food-Many of the animals dropped off or found are malnourished and in need of a good meal. 
• Flea treatments
• Toys and Treats- the best way to socialize rescue animals is through play.
• Cleaning supplies (Bleach, towels, trash bags, newspapers,plastic bags, laundry detergent,etc)
• Pet houses, pet beds, and pet cages and crates- If an animal needs to be confined due to an illness then a pet cage or crate is necessary. Pet carriers are also high in demand.
• stand alone scratching posts
• and of course, people willing to adopt

Anything you can do is a big help.  New shelters are going up every day, but they’re filling up immediately and need all the help they can get.

Everyone knows that usually the best sales are the weekend after Thanksgiving.  With pet sales up, this now includes pet supplies.  Not only in stores, but online as well.  This is great news for anyone buying gifts for their own pets, or a pet lover in their life.

Since more and more people are adding pets to their Christmas lists, many pet stores are having “Black Friday” sales, and ”Thanksgiving Weekend” sales.  Pet Owner’s can save anywhere from 10%-50% off the items on their list.  Free shipping is sometimes an added perk.  With all these deals out there, pet owner’s can finally get their pets the gifts they’ve been wanting.  Search online for anything from pet collars and cat trees, to pet apparel and personalized pet placemats.  You’re sure to find a deal somewhere!

If you’re planning on including your pet in Halloween activities, there are a lot of great ideas out there for you.  There’s a wide variety of fun Halloween Pet Supplies that will make your pet the hit of any party or trick-or-treating adventure!

You can dress them up in a pet halloween costume to walk with you while you trick-or-treat, or to take them with to a pet friendly halloween party!  Even if they are just helping you answer the door for trick-or-treaters, a costume is sure to make your pet the talk of the town!

Not into the whole costume thing, or don’t think your pet will actually wear one?  Get your pet a halloween shirt or hoodie, or just a collar with a halloween charm on it.  There are also halloween toys to keep your pet occupied, or give as a treat to other pets that may venture out to your house on Halloween.

Whatever you choose to do, have fun this Halloween with your pet!

Not sure what size collar to get for your dog?  Here’s some quick easy tips, to get an acurate measurement.

• A measurement made in the middle of the neck, with the tape neither taut nor slack, will result in a true neck measurement
• If the dog cannot breathe and is turning red like a cherry tomato, chances are you are measuring too high on the neck, and too snugly.  This can throw off the measurement in the “too small” direction
• Do not think you are doing your dog any favors by allowing for two fingers “breathing room”, or measuring just above the shoulder blades.  This is simply a recipe for slipping the collar in a time of crisis.
• When ordering a collar, choose the size that includes your dog’s neck size.  For example, if your dog has a 17″ neck, order a size 16″-18″.  Most dog collars have extra holes to accomodate an “odd” size.

One of the biggest fears of pet owners is that they will lose their pets at some point. While people do harbor that fear at their homes, it is much more likely that pets are going to get lost when they’re out on walks or at the park. This is because dogs often react in slightly unexpected ways in unfamiliar environments. This means they are all the more likely to run off and bolt if they are somewhere they don’t recognize.

That’s why all pet owners should have a number of dog harnesses when they visit the dog park. These harnesses offer even more security than a collar, which some dogs can slip out of. Make sure that the harness fits correctly, and you can visit new and exciting places with your dog without having to worry that he’ll escape or get loose.

 Now that the nice weather is here, your dogs probably spend more time outside.  If you have a fenced in yard, make sure there aren’t any “escape holes” or broken doors on your fence.  Even large dogs, when determined, will find a way  in or out!

Make sure that each of your dogs still wear dog collars with updated tags.  If they do find a way out, the collar will reassure anyone that finds them that they do have a home, and the updated tags will point them in the right direction.

When my husband and I were planning our wedding, we wanted to include our dogs in the ceremony.  We had it all planned out.  We’d somehow tie pillows to their backs or a pretty bag with the rings to their collars.  They would be walked down the aisle by our nephews.  It would have been so cool, but the Church wouldn’t allow our dogs to be inside.

If you are planning your wedding, and are lucky enough to include your pets, there are a lot of neat things you can do.  Your male dog can where a tux, and female’s can where a dress, complete with shoes.  You can use a dog house for your cards.  There are dog themed invitations, favors, charms, you name it!  But if you’re just looking for a simple, yet elegant way to involve your dog(s), try a jeweled collar.  This will “dress up” your dog, without going overboard.  They come in many sizes, with different colored jewels, so you can probably match the theme of your wedding. 

Whatever you choose, consider yourselves lucky to be able to include your four-legged friends in one of the biggest days of your life!

With today’s economy, even pets who had a home need your help.  Families dealing with foreclosure, sometimes cannot find friends or family to care for their pets while they re-locate.  In these instances, their beloved pets end up in shelters. 

You can help.  Shelters need donations.  Some examples of items needed are bath towels, fleece blankets, tennis balls, cat toys, dog collars and leashes, easy-walk harnesses, cat collars (quick-release), large dog crates and kennel cabs, cat litter, and scratching posts. Check with your local shelter to see what they need.  And visit www.theanimalrescuesite.com  for a more detailed list of items needed, more ideas on how to help/donate, and sign the pledge to help pet victims of foreclosure.  (The bottom of the home page has a banner to click on to get to this information.)

Don’t pass up the chance to get outside on warm days and have some fun with your pets.  Here are some fun, easy, and cheap ideas for you and your pets to enjoy during the nice weather.

• Play ball or frisbee with your dog in the backyard, or the park.  Most dogs love a game of chase!
• Set up an agility course in your yard and train your dog how to use it.  This not only gives them exercise, but will mentally stimulate them.
• Dogs and cats both love to chase the lights in laser toys.  This is something that could even been done in the house if it’s a rainy day.
• Go for a nice long walk around the block, or at the park.  This can be relaxing and beneficial to both you and your dog!  Make sure your dog has a collar with I.D. tags just in case. 
• Put a cat climbing tree in your back yard, or on the back porch.  They’re usually for in the house, but your cat will love the fresh air!

Your pets love spending time with you.  Planning fun activities for them will bring you even closer.  And you’ll both stay fit and active!

We live in a neighborhood where almost every house has at least 1 (if not 2 or more) dogs.  Occasionally a dog will wander into our yard, smelling all the scents our cat and dog have left for them.  If we don’t see their owner, we usually check their collar (if wearing one) for an I.D. tag.  If they have one, we run the dog(s) home to their owner right away.  When the dog doesn’t have one, we usually try to keep the dog from running away, and wait for someone to come by looking for them- which could be a while.

To make things easier for yourself, and your neighbors, make sure to put an I.D. tag and dog collar on your dog.  Even if you have a fenced in yard, you never know when they might sneak out and make a run for it.  An I.D. tag will get your dog home to you quicker, and hopefully un-harmed.