Adopt a Shelter Dog and Save a Life

Many dog owners turn their pet dogs over to local shelters for a variety of reasons. Sometimes when people re-locate they are not allowed to keep pets in their new homes or apartments, while others discover that family members have become allergic to the dog and they are forced to find a new home for their beloved pet. There are some dog owners out there that just do not feel they have the time and/or the resources to keep the dog any longer and feel forced to give it to the nearest shelter for re-adoption. Whatever the reasons, the fact is that there are tens of thousands of dogs sitting in shelters today all across the United States who are waiting to be adopted.
If you have been thinking of getting a dog, instead of looking through your local newspaper for puppies for sale, consider giving a shelter dog a home instead. Sadly, most shelters are extremely over-crowded which means that the if the dogs are not adopted within a couple of weeks, the shelters will be forced to euthanize the dogs. I took a tour through a large dog shelter in Michigan a few years back and the tour included a peek inside the 'freezer room'. This room was nothing more than a walk-in freezer which contained dead dogs and cats, wrapped in plastic, stacked as high as the ceiling, awaiting burial somewhere in a mass grave. Although that scene stuck in my head for many years, I totally understand why shelters are forced to put thousands of dogs asleep each year-they simply do not have the room to keep the dogs nor the resources available to build bigger shelters. Dog shelters are faced with rather strict budget restraints and they often get their funding from volunteer donations. Most of the folks that work at the shelters are donating their time and are caring for these abandoned pets out of the goodness of their hearts. Shelters all over the U.S. are overflowing with adult dogs that only need a second chance in life. The dog shelters do their best in assessing the dogs they take in to see if they are used to being around other dogs and pets, if they are good with children and whether or not they are housebroken and trained to walk on a leash. You may be surprised to find out that a great many of these dogs would indeed make outstanding pets and that they were abandoned by their original owners for reasons well beyond the dog's control.
Adopting a dog can save you an incredible amount of money compared to buying a purebred from a breeder. Often shelters will charge you for only for the cost of vaccinations and the basic care they have provided. You can often walk away from a shelter with a wonderful and deserving dog for less than $100 and sometimes for less, depending on the circumstances. You may be pleasantly surprised too that the shelter has micro-chipped your dog to ensure that he or she will be returned to you if it happens to wander away from your home or yard.
So, instead of looking online at young puppies for sale, please do consider getting in your car and driving to your nearest dog shelter. The dog shelter that I visited told me that whenever new people come in to view the dogs that are up for adoption that the shelter staff does not allow the visitors to look at the puppies until they have viewed all of the adult dogs up for adoption. This is done for obvious reasons as people find puppies irresistible and won't even consider looking at a full grown dog when there are puppies up for adoption at the shelters.

Adopt a Shelter Dog and Save a Life

Shelters in California Have Overflow of Chihuahuas

The state of California has more Chihuahuas then it knows what to do with and workers at shelters are blaming Hollywood. There are so many Chihuahuas at the shelters in Oakland that the shelters are being forced to send the dogs to shelters in neighboring states. The tiny breed makes up at least thirty percent of the total dog population at shelters across the state. Experts say we can blame the likes of Paris Hilton and Miley Cyrus as well as other celebrities for the problem as people have rushed to buy Chihuahuas to tote around and to use as a status symbol of sorts.

Thankfully, at least for now, the problem seems to be specific to the state of California as Chihuahuas are the most popular breed in Los Angeles and thus has become the breed that is abandoned the most. Some shelters report receiving an average of ten Chihuahuas every single day. The reason given by the owners who bring the tiny dogs to the shelters range from statements saying that the dog has become “too old”, or that the dog is “too yappy”. Many of the owners also state that their dog has nipped or bitten someone in the household.

California has also seen a rise in the number of backyard breeders who are trying to cash in on the popularity of the Chihuahua. Unfortunately, many people have no problem in kicking a Chihuahua, and due to the small size of the dog, many Chihuahuas are mishandled by children and adults alike.

Now, back to Paris Hilton. In September of this year a news story came across the wires saying that two of Hilton's Chihuahuas were killed by coyotes. Neighbors as well as paparazzi had reported that they have often found some of her dogs roaming the streets after they had gotten out of her compound--due to not being watched. It was reported that Hilton did not even find the bodies of her two dogs until the day after she discovered them missing. We can only hope that she does not buy more dogs to replace those two. The Hollywood heiress was the first person to use her Chihuahua Tinkerbell as a fashion accessory, toting the poor thing around with her from nightclub to nightclub in a handbag.

Thankfully, most of the shelters who are getting the overflow of Chihuahuas from California report that they are having success placing then often abused and neglected dogs into new and loving homes. In my opinion, it's time for people in California to wake up and quit looking at Chihuahuas as 'fashion accessories'!!!

Shelters in California Have Overflow of Chihuahuas

Greyhound Dog Racing-The Dirty Truth

The national greyhound protection group called GREY2K USA ran a successful ballot campaign against greyhound racing in the state of Massachusetts in 2008 and this year they took the battle to the state of Florida where they are out to close down the thirteen dog tracks in that state.
Christine Dorchak, president of the group, says that dog racing is cruel and inhumane and that the dogs live miserable lives in confinement. The state of Florida does not require race tracks and kennels to maintain published records of injuries or deaths.
GREY2K USA shot video footage showing two greyhounds who died as a result of injuries they received while racing. One of the dogs was a two year old greyhound who suffered two broken legs while racing at the Palm Beach Kennel Club.
Dogs live in small cages that are barely big enough for them to stand up or turn around in and most greyhound race tracks house one thousand dogs in warehouse-like structures. The general public is unaware of the fact that thousands of greyhounds are seriously injured every year while racing. These injuries include broken bones, heart attacks, broken necks and paralysis due to spinal cord injuries. Greyhounds are forced to race in the most extreme weather conditions, both on the hottest summer days and in sub-zero temperatures during the winter months.
When greyhounds are no long pulling in a profit, they are killed. It is estimated that at least 5,000 greyhounds are unnecessarily killed every year across the United States. In Wisconsin in 2002, a greyhound trainer was videotaped injecting several greyhounds with an anabolic steroid and in Florida, over 100 dogs tested positive for cocaine between the years 2001 and 2003. The state of Florida did nothing to find out how the dogs had ingested the cocaine. To add insult to injury, greyhound racing dogs are fed low quality and cheap meat-often diseased and dead livestock.
The greyhounds need to be protected and greyhound racing needs to be shut down. Until dog racing is outlawed, these dogs will continue to be sentenced to inhumane treatment and living their lives in small cages. It is time people stood up and told their state legislators that greyhound racing should be illegal--in every single one of the sixteen states that allow greyhound racing today.

Greyhound Dog Racing-The Dirty Truth

Walking Your Dog Should Be Pleasant

Walking your dog on a leash should be a pleasant experience for both your dog and for you. It is important that you take your dog out for regular walks if you don't have a fenced in yard. Dogs need exercise and it is in their nature to explore the environment. I have a neighbor who owns three dogs, two Chinese Crested dogs and a Standard Poodle. The owner has no control whatsoever over his three dogs and allows them to jump and bark at people and other dogs that they pass on the street.
The poodle is absolutely hysterical on the leash. He jumps and barks constantly and when the owner tries to stop this behavior, the dog stands on his hind legs, and his owner allows the dog to do this. It is very obvious that the owner is embarassed by the dog's behavior and that he has no control over any of this three dogs when they are out walking.
As a dog owner, you must always remember that your dog looks to you to give the directions. Dogs are pack animals and need to have a leader, and the leader is you, the owner.
When you are out on a walk with your dog and another dog is approaching, if your dog starts pulling, barking, jumping or exhibiting any other undesireable behavor, immediately shorten the leash and turn the dog away from the approaching dog. Do not allow your dog to win this small 'battle'. Simply turn the dog away from what it is that he is overly interested in, and then move along.
Walking your dog should be fun, relaxing, and a pleasant experience. If you feel that you need help in training your dog how to behave while walking on a leash, you can take a short course that will teach you and your dog how to enjoy a walk. Most cities offer dog training courses and it would be well worth the time and the small amount of money the course costs.
Best Dog Supplies Online

Walking Your Dog Should Be Pleasant

The Importance of Having Your Dog Wear an ID Tag

If you own a dog, there is little doubt that your dog is a part of your family. He goes places with the family, is always by your side and depends on you to take care of his needs. You could not even imagine how terrible you would feel if you were to lose him.
No matter how careful you are, there is always a possiblity that your dog could slip away from you. It could happen in a variety of ways and under differing circumstances, but you must know that is is in fact a possibility. To give you peace of mind, you should always have an ID tag on your dog's collar that shows his name, and your phone number. If you wish, you can also get your dog implanted with a tiny identification microchip. This microchip is injected under the surface of your dog's skin by your veterinarian and contains your information, such as name, address and phone number. If your dog should become lost, and is found by someone, local police forces have a reader that they use to scan your dog's body to see if he has an identification microchip. Then the information comes up on the computer and the police can contact you to tell you that your dog has been found. The actual microchip is very tiny and it causes absolutely no pain to your dog to have it injected.
So whether you choose a dog tag that your dog wears on his collar or an microchip, it is up to you. The important thing is to be sure that your do have your dog identifiable so that you and he will never be separated.
Best Prices On Dog Supplies Online!

The Importance of Having Your Dog Wear an ID Tag

Meet the World's Biggest Dog!

We met this big Irish Wolfhound male dog when we were out walking this week. He was huge and a 'gentle giant'. The woman in the picture is his owner and she is of average height. The top of his back came up to the top of my hip! Maggie was with us and she ignored him as she is mostly only interested in people. The 'entire Maggie' is the size of his head! I looked up the Irish Wolfhound and found that this breed is 'probably' the biggest dog in the world. They were used for hunting wolves, wild boar, bear and deer. One thing I can say for sure is that he is the biggest dog in Sundsvall, Sweden!
I look forward to meeting him again on future walks. He only lives a couple of blocks away.

Best Prices On Top Quality Dog Supplies!

Meet the World's Biggest Dog!

Long-Haired Dogs Need A Spring Beauty Treatment

It's springtime and if you own a dog that has thick fur or long hair, it would be a good idea to make an appointment at the local groomer to have a spring makeover. Dogs, if they live in places with changing seasons, need their long hair for protection from the cold weather. If the summers are hot it is a good idea to have your dog's fur trimmed or thinned out a bit so that he is more comfortable in the hot and humid weather.
Dog groomers become very busy in the spring and early summer months, with their customers bringing their dogs in for a yearly trim. The groomer usually will begin with brushing and combing through the thick fur and using special grooming tools that are designed to remove tangles and matted fur. Many long haired dogs get quite matted behind their legs, at the base of the and on the undersides of their body. Once the initial combing and brushing is done, it's time for a bath with a good quality dog shampoo. After the shampooing, it's back to the grooming table again to be dried with the dog hair dryer and start clipped and shaving away old, dead fur or hair. The groomer will also clip the long hair that has grown between the dog's pads, as this hair can twist and pull, causing your four-legged friend discomfort and pain.
Your dog will feel much better with this thorough grooming and will most definitely be much more comfortable in the hot summer months and especially if you dog is outdoors a lot in the summertime. So, do your dog a big favor and schedule a grooming appointment to get your dog prepared for the warm weather.
I am sure you have seen dogs with tons of heavy, matted fur panting as they walk alongside their oblivious owners in the summer months. These dogs are miserable, hot and very, very uncomfortable, that i borders on animal cruely. Dogs depend on us humans to care for them, and getting your dog groomed regularly is a part of the very basics of carring for a dog.
Top-Quality, Low Priced Pet Supplies!

Long-Haired Dogs Need A Spring Beauty Treatment