Cat Trees and Pet Supplies

If you have a new puppy that’s not trained to stay in the yard yet, but you want to give him some outdoor play time off of a leash, an exercise kennel pen is a great idea.  They also work for turtles, rabbits, and other small pets.

Exercise Kennels are are usually made of wire, and come in different sizes.  You should choose a pen that is at least 4 inches taller than your pets head, to make sure they can’t get out.  Depending on how big you want to make their play area, you can buy more than one and link them together.  You can also make the pen into different shapes to fit your yard or to make the play area a little bit more interesting for your pet.  Keep in mind that exercise kennel pens do not have covers over the top.  If you are worried about predator animals getting to your pet, or plan on putting a pet that can climb up the wire sides in the pen, do not leave your pet unattended.  And of course, if it’s hot out, make sure your pets have plenty of water and part of the kennel pen is under a tree or some short of shade.

Many dogs suffer from separation anxiety.  They become very attached to you, and do not know what to do when you are gone.  If your dog seems to “act up” more when you are gone, he may be suffering from separation anxiety.

If you know you are going to be leaving for several hours, take your dog for a nice long walk.  He will get to spend quality time with you, and will most likely be tired and want to rest.  Or maybe play catch with a ball for 10 minutes or so.  This will also tire him out, and he’ll have fun with you while doing it. 

If this doesn’t work, and you still come home to a mess, you may have to try putting him in a pet cage or crate.  For some dogs, this is the only way they will relax while you are gone.  Get a cage/crate that is big enough for your dog to stand up and turn around in.  Put a blanket or towel on the bottom for him to lay on.  Give your dog time to get used to the cage or crate, before you leave him alone in it.  Once your dog is used to it, he will most like feel at home and actually relax.

I’ve posted about this before, but felt it needed to be re-visited since travel season is upon us.  If your planning a vacation this summer, it may be easier to bring your pet with.  Hotels are starting to realize that when it comes to pets, people treat them like children- and who wouldn’t take their children with on a family vacation?!  So, I did a little research, and it looks like most hotels have the same charges and rules. 

• It’s roughly $10 or $15 a night for dogs, and usually not more than 2 dogs per room. 
• When taking them outside you must have them leashed, and clean up after them. 
• No Cats- this was listed on a few of them, some didn’t specify.
• Do not leave pet unattended in room.  If unavoidable circumstances require a pet to remain in a room while the owner is offsite, the pet must be secured in a pet crate or travel carrier on your service day to avoid injury or damage.

All in all, that’s not bad!  Not having a dog sitter is no longer a reason to call off a vacation, and the cost a hotel charges may be cheaper than paying a kennel.  Also, If you’re worried that you’ll have too much to do, and would have to leave your pet alone in the room more than you’d like, some hotels even have their own version of “doggie daycare”.  You can relax knowing that while you’re out, your dog is enjoying himself in a safe, fun environment.  After all, vacations should be relaxing – for you AND your pet!  

Let us know if you find a pet friendly hotel that is worth mentioning.

If you already own a soft sided pet crate, you probably already know how versatile they are.  If you don’t own one, here are several reasons to consider picking one up.

• Trips to the Vet- If you’ve ever taken your cat to the vet, wrapped in a towel, you’ll appreciate the ease of transporting your cat in a crate.  No more trying to pull your cat out from under the seat, dealing with scratches all over your arms, shredded towels, and trying to keep your cat calm in a waiting room full of dogs.  A crate alone makes transporting your cat easier, but the soft sides keep your cat a little more comfortable.
• Sanctuary- If you have children, your cats and/or dogs may need a place to hide for a little while!  Kids will be kids, and they are intrigued by animals.  Your pets can only handle so much tail pulling, chasing, and “piggy back” rides.  A soft sided pet crate doubles as a home for your pet.  They can comfortably relax, in their own sanctuary, untill they are rested enough to play again.
• Recovery After Surgery- If you’ve ever had an injured pet, or your pet has ever needed surgery, you know how hard it is to get them to stay still to heal.  You can’t guarantee that they will rest, even if you lock them in a room, alone.  With a soft sided pet crate, they will have a comfortable “recovery zone”, and they can be in the room with you. 
• Crate Training- Potty training a puppy can be rough duty.  If you have other dogs, your puppy may follow them, and training will be a breeze.  If you don’t, a crate will definitely help.  Dogs usually will not go to the bathroom when they are secluded in a small area, such as a crate, because they do not want to have to lay in it.  The Soft sides add comfort to their “training area”.
• Travel- Portable, and easy to carry, these crates make travelling with pets less of a hassle.  They are also approved by most airlines.

On top of all these reasons, the soft sided pet crates are sylish, lightweight, and washable.  They also fold up to less than 4″ thick for easy storage.

I know I’ve been lax with my blogging, but until today I had no idea how long it’s been!  I apologize for the long span.  The summer has been packed with graduations, birthday parties, pool parties, family get-togethers, and a short little vacation.  I’m sure your summers have been jam packed too.  I hope you and your pets are enjoying every minute of the summer air!

We recently just got back from Wisconsin Dells.  (If you’re not familiar with the area, it’s waterslide central!)  Anyway, I found it very interesting that so many hotels advertise that they are pet friendly now.  Hotels are starting to realize that when it comes to pets, people treat them like children- and who wouldn’t take their children with on a family vacation?!  So, I did a little research, and it looks like most hotels have the same charges and rules. 

• It’s roughly $10 or $15 a night for dogs, and usually not more than 2 dogs per room. 
• When taking them outside you must have them leashed, and clean up after them. 
• No Cats- this was listed on a few of them, some didn’t specify.
• Do not leave pet unattended in room.  If unavoidable circumstances require a pet to remain in a room while the owner is offsite, the pet must be secured in a pet crate or travel carrier on your service day to avoid injury or damage.

All in all, that’s not bad!  Not having a dog sitter is no longer a reason to call off a vacation!  Take them with you!  And if you’re worried that you’ll have too much to do, and would have to leave your pet alone in the room more than you’d like, some hotels even have their own version of “doggie daycare”.  Feel free to comment if you have stayed at a pet friendly hotel with your pet, and let us know what you thought.  Our current dog doesn’t like car rides very much (I know, strange) so we probably wouldn’t bring him with on any vacations, but I’m glad that the option is there if we decide to!  Happy travels!

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.

Fourth of July can be a very stressful holiday for your pets.  All of the noise and bright lights can not only scare them, but cause them to be confused and possibly violent.  Whether going out, or having a party at your own house this fourth of July, keep these things in mind for your pet:

• Resist the urge to take your pet with to see the fireworks.  It’s fun to show your pet off, and good exercise to walk them around, but fireworks may only spook them.  They may end up trying to run off, dragging you with them and knocking over innocent bystanders.
• If having a get-together at your house, keep them inside.  Even if you aren’t setting off your own fireworks, they will hear them off in the distance.  They may get confused and run off.  Even inside the house they may get aggravated and show violent behavior.  Make sure anything of value is put up, or get a pet crate to keep them at bay.  If you put a comfortable blanket inside the crate, it will be more comfortable for them.  Leave a radio or TV for some distraction from the noise outside.
• Do not leave your dog chained up outside.  If they get confused, or startled, they may frantically try to run off.  This could result in strangulation.
• Do not leave your pet in the car while enjoying the festivities.  Not only will your pet be nervous and scared with all of the commotion, but it could be too hot for them to handle.

Your pets rely on you to take care of them and keep them safe.  Follow these few pointers, and you will do just that.  Have a Safe and Happy Fourth of July!

In the event of an emergency,  are you prepared?  Do you have an evacuation plan in place for you, your family, and your pets?  Don’t assume that your pet’s natural instincts will save them.  Be prepared for anything.

In the event that you have to leave your home, take your pets with you. If it isn’t safe for you to be there, it isn’t safe for them either. No drinkable water for you means no drinkable water for them, too. 

You should have a disaster kit in your home as well as a smaller version in the trunk of your car. The kit should include a week’s supply of food and water in airtight containers to ensure freshness.  You should replace this food and water every six months, and re-assess what’s in it once a year. If you pack canned food you’ll want to make sure you have a hand-held can opener too. And don’t forget a plastic dish that can double as a food and water dish. An extra collar and leash are also important things to have in your kit.

You should also have a portable pet carrier or pet crate for each of your pets handy. The official Red Cross policy is that there are no animals allowed in emergency shelters, but they have been known to make exceptions if the animal is securely confined.  Make sure your pet has an ID tag with your information on it, just in case they get separated from you.  Also keep a copy of their recent vaccinations on hand.  If you have to temporarily board them, some facilities may require proof of vaccinations before they will take your pet in. 

No matter where you live, you never know when, or what, disaster may strike.  Be prepared and you, your family, and your pets will stay safe.

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.)

Travelling around to dog shows can be a lot of work, for you and your dog.  There’s a lot of preparation, and the days can be very long.

Make these trips a little easier on yourself, and more comfortable for your dog.  Try a soft pet crate.  Soft pet crates are lightweight, easy to carry, and assemble in minutes.   They are also well ventilated, secure, and comfortable for your dog.  Usually they have storage pockets, and removeable covers that are easy to wash.  And don’t worry- they are actually pretty stylish these days!