Storm Emergency Prep for Pets

This year's hurricane season is expected to be more active then in recent years. Here is an article on how to better prepare your pet in case of an emergency.


Emergency Prep for pets

Dog Costs vs. Cat Costs

According to the APPA National Pet Owners Survey, 2009 - 2010, dog veterinary expenditures nearly doubled those of cat for last year.

Dogs are bigger - their food costs more, they generally require more grooming, owners give them more vitamins, they are boarded more often and therefore require more vaccines (e.g. kennel cough vaccine) and surgery costs more.

Here is the APPA table comparing cost of care:


Service
Dogs top line
Cats 2nd line

Surgical Veterinary Visits
$532
$278

Food
$229
$203

Kennel/Boarding
$273
$255

Routine Vet Visit
$225
$203

Groomer/Groomer Aids
$66
$22

Vitamins
$61
$28

Food Treats
$64
$37

Toys
$4
$19

Where to Put The Fish Tank

When considering buying a new fish tank, consider the space you have available and where the aqauriam will be located. Remember, a tank gets heavy. Water itself is a lot of weight. Add in rocks, decorations, filters, and the fish, and you're talking about something you're not going to move very easily.

Be sure when positioning the tank that it is a place where it is visible. Why spend money on an aquarium if you are barely ever going to see the thing? It is also good to consider your tank maintanence when choosing a tank and location. Will it be easy to access the filter when you want to clean it and change the filter cartridge? Is it in a location where you can do water changes with ease? The harder it is to do regular cleaning, the less motivated you'll be to maintain the aquarium.

Also keep in mind that you're dealing with water...and spills, splashes, and accidents will happen. Don't keep the tank near any expensive furniture or electronics.

Just some tips to help if you're acquiring a new tank.

Inner Peace?

If you can start the day without caffeine,

If you can always be cheerful, ignoring aches and pains,

If you can resist complaining and boring people with your troubles,

If you can eat the same food every day and be grateful for it,

If you can understand when your loved ones are too busy to give you any time,


If you can take criticism and blame without resentment ,

If you can conquer tension without medical help,

If you can relax without a glass of wine,

if you can sleep without the aid of drugs,

...Then You Are ��Probably

...The family dog!!

Benefits of a Dog Park

More and more communities are adding dog parks. Here are some of the benefits for both owner and pet.

-Gives persons with limited mobility, or the elderly, the
opportunity to allow their dogs to get exercise
Provides a safe, fenced-in area to let your dog run, socialize and play, unleashed – legally
-An exercised dog makes a better next door neighbor
-Enclosed area prevents off-leash dogs from running loose and
infringing on the rights of others, such as children or those
fearful of dogs
-Socialized dogs are more adjusted to people and other dogs
and are unlikely to be aggressive and dangerous
-Promotes enforcement of dog control laws such as licensing
and regular rabies shots, making for safer, healthier
neighborhoods
-Provides an opportunity for dog owners to socialize, meet new friends with similar interest: dogs
-Allows members of a community representing all walks of
life to come meet, to learn and to talk. This bond between
neighbors strengthens communities

15 Amazing Facts About Therapy Dogs

Check out this post about therapy dogs!

Hills Pet Comes through

In some previous posts, I had talked about the Cromwell, CT dog park effort. We are raising funds to establish a new dog park in town.

In the process of fundraising, I had contacted several manufacturer's about product donations to help our efforts. I would like to thank Hills Pet Products for their product donations and will definately give preference to their products in the future. HillsPet.com

Summer is ending and that means one thing: Back to School. For most people right now, images of school supplies, homework and a new fall wardrobe are dancing in parent’s heads. But there’s one thing people often forget about: the family pet.

It’s not abnormal for dogs and cats to get depressed when kids leave the house to head back to school – or go off to college.


Paul Mann, the Founder of Fetch! Pet Care gives the following tips to take right now to help avoid the Back-to-School funk for pets.

Lots of exercise is a key. If you can exercise pets in the morning before you head to work, they’ll be so tired that there will be less time to think about the empty house they’re sitting in.

Don't make a big deal about your leaving. If you smother the dog or cat in kisses, they’ll be able to tell that something’s up and will get anxious while you’re away.

Consider hiring a professional pet sitter for a mid-day dog walk or cat visit to break up the day. Even a half-hour walk or visit will give your pet the one-on-one personal attention they deserve, not to mention tire them out.

Give your pet an old T-Shirt while you’re gone so that he can cuddle up with it and have a familiar smell.

Get into a routine where you let the kids walk the dog after they get home from school – and before they start on homework. That way, the dog will look forward to the kids getting home from school.


If one of the kids usually feeds and plays with the cats, try switching up the routine so that the cat gets used to other people in the house. Also consider having the cat sleep with a different family member so they’re less attached to the kids.

supermarket sued over dog ban

Should service dogs be allowed in supermarkets? What if the dog is being blamed for causing damage to the store? This debate is going on in Connecticut

New Haven Register Article