PetLvr.com - [The Blog]

This post was submitted to heighten awareness about animal shelter adoption. Adopt a pet today!

So you want to adopt a pet but don’t know where to begin or how to go about buying one. If fears are holding you back from adopting a pet, you need to face those fears and come to the realization that adopting a pet may be one of the best decisions you make in your life.

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This post was submitted to heighten awareness about animal shelter adoption. Adopt a pet today!

Whether you are young or old, single or married, pets can bring joy and compassion to your life. So if you are starting out on your own or managing a family, a cat can be a trusty companion that can bring a smile to your face when times are rough. Below are ten more reasons why adopting a cat can change your life for the better.

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Slimy, slithering, wriggly creatures can make interesting pets, and there are so many different ones to choose from. Veiled chameleons are lime green and fit on your finger when they are babies. Geckos, Dragons, Monitor and Jeweled Lacerta are some common lizards. Or you can choose various colored snakes that wouldn’t mind wrapping their bodies around you.

The Tucson Reptile and Amphibian Show and Sale will take place Saturday, Sept. 27 from 9 am to 6 pm and Sunday, Sept. 28 from 10 am to 4 pm at the Tucson Expo Center in Arizona. At this event, you can simply view or go a step further and purchase these reptiles and amphibians.

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In agility shows, dogs jump over hoops, run up and down ladders and zigzag through obstacles. The dogs appear to be having fun, and they enjoy being rewarded for their effort in the end. Not only do dogs have to be well behaved and trained for agility shows, but they also have to have confidence. According to Times of the Internet, agility shows can help your dog have more confidence to be active and social.

If your dog is shy around other dogs and people, agility training can improve your dog’s behavior. In order to be a part of an agility show, the dog has to be around other people and animals. To get started, purchase treats and a couple pieces of agility training equipment like a tunnel and a high pause table. Try to teach your dog to sit on the table and go through the tunnel by enticing the dog with a treat or toy. Your dog might be uncomfortable or unsure of what to do so be patient and consistent. The purpose of the training is to increase your dog’s confidence, not make your pet feel more insecure.

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Almost as addicting as sugar, the adorable squirrel-like sugar gliders are hard to resist. Times Online says that sugar gliders are the latest animal craze in Britain, and why wouldn’t you want a small, flying marsupial from Australia in your home? But before you soar, you should have a crash course in pet ownership because this is one unusual pet to own.

These darling exotic animals have the energy level of a chinchilla, so prepare yourself especially if you have had mellow animals in the past. So that they expend their energy, it’s best to have a 24 x 24 cage with accessories like toys, a nest box or hammock, branches, ropes, ladders, exercise wheel, etc. These animals also have sharp nails and teeth, which they use in their natural habitat to hide and fend off larger predators. However, their nails can be trimmed and as long as they don’t feel threatened they will most likely not scratch or bite.

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You grab your pet and run out of your house as fast as you can, but when you get outside you realize your pet isn’t breathing. No one is around and you don’t have a cell phone to call for help, so what do you do?

This week a New Bedford firefighter, Al Machado, rescued a cat from a burning building by performing mouth to snout resuscitation. In another house fire in Gillette, Wyoming that occurred last week, over 50 pets were not so lucky. By the time firefighters arrived at the scene, the animals inside the home died due to smoke inhalation. Emergencies happen but your pet might have a better chance of survival if you know some basic first aid tips. Performing CPR and rescue breaths on an animal is different than when you perform it on a person, but if you remember your ABCs you will have no problem learning.

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With all of the dog t-shirts, sweatshirts, bandanas and other accessories, it’s tempting to want to dress your dog as well as pet loving celebrities such as Paris Hilton, Mariah Carey and Christina Aguilera. The bling and charms turn your pet into the prince and princess that they were born to be, and everyone can see how much you care about your pooch. This week pets will be strutting new styles for Pet Fashion Week, which will be held August 23 and 24 at the Metropolitan Pavilion and Altman Building located in New York City, New York.

Ruff Ruff and Meow will be exhibiting their new designs at the event. Even if you can’t make it to the runway to preview the latest trends in doggie wear, you can purchase some stylish tees and tanks online for your dog. Ruff Ruff and Meow’s designs for 2008 include new funny sayings such as “Only Child” and “My Dad is Single.”

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Sitting patiently by your side, your dog nuzzles your thigh and scooches closer to the kitchen table. His sniffing gets frantic as if he is trying to create a vacuum to suck up your evening dinner. You say “no” in a firm voice, but he can’t resist the smells coming from your dish so a bark escapes from his mouth, which ends in a whine. He looks up at you with those pleading eyes-how can you resist? Just a crumb of bread and taste of hamburger won’t hurt, right? But over time that crumb and taste turns into an entire portion or maybe even a double portion. Before you know it, your dog or cat is too heavy and tired to move and its face is hidden in the rolls bulging from its neck.

Maybe you think you have more self-control than that, but approximately 500,000 pets have become obese, and there has been a 10% increase since the previous year. Although you and your pet receive immediate satisfaction from extra treats, the long-term affects can be lethal to your pet’s well being. Obese pets often suffer from respiratory problems such as asthma as well as other ailments like arthritis, heart disease, diabetes, liver problems, etc.

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The Worldwide Fido Awards will be showing on Nick at Nite this October, and your dog has the potential to be recognized as a national star. Get out your video camera so you can show the world how talented and adorable your pride and joy can be.

There are six categories (Cutest Dog, Best Trick, Best Voice, Owner Look-a-Like, Most Outrageous and Best Dressed) in which you can enter your dog. Once you upload the most impressive video of your pet, people will have the chance to vote for your dog. Six Finalists will win a trip for two plus the pet to Los Angeles, California and will appear in the 2008 Worldwide Fido Award special. Also a $20,000 grand prize will be awarded.

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A sense of home can be felt in the soft, cotton of a blanket and even in the cozy embrace of a teddy bear. So even though you might have to move to a new home, there can still be a sense of the old, familiar home. Incorporating items like this into your move can help alleviate some of the stress that your pet will experience during the transition. Unfortunately, you cannot verbally explain to your pet what is going on, but you can try to explain it to them by using memorable scents and providing them with food, water, shelter and, of course, love.

When it comes to cats, it can be challenging to make an outdoor cat an indoor cat. The difficult part is keeping them indoors, because they will sneak and try to find a way to return to the outdoors. However, you can try to teach your cat to walk on a harness until it becomes familiar with the new neighborhood. If it’s too dangerous to let your cat roam free in your new neighborhood, consider allowing your cat to venture out onto the balcony or enjoy the view and fresh air from the window. Keep food and water or treats on the balcony to encourage the cat to stay put. Netting or a fence can prevent the cat from jumping off of the balcony. Leaping from high places can result in severe injury and even death, which is why it’s also important to double-check the strength of the screens in your windows and doors.

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