For cat people, the day means promoting everyone’s efforts to improve the lives of stray and homeless cats and other animals, and to take some time to appreciate the cats in our lives. If you don’t have a cat, adopting one and listening to its soothing purr might help alleviate the stress of managing the unmanageable.
If you’ve never seen a herding dog at work, check out this Youtube video of two Border Collies working together to bring in the sheep. Those dogs can run!
//youtu.be/8HwwdSKrqEk
If you really want to share the holiday spirit and make your furry friends something special, we have a couple of ideas.
This is really easy to make, and most dogs love it. Mix equal parts plain nonfat yogurt and canned pumpkin puree. (Make sure it’s not pie filling – the cans look quiet similar.) Serve as a liquid, or freeze for handy, cool treats.
Place the carrots and turkey in a food processor and blend until smooth. Add quinoa/oatmeal and the kelp powder and blend some more. Roll into meatballs (it’s easier if you wet your hands with cold water) and bake in 400 F on a non-stick cookie sheet. They need around 15 minutes in the oven.
This is a great season for family get-togethers, and everyone enjoys the Thanksgiving dinner table. Make sure the holiday flows smoothly and safely for the pets too with our handy tips.
Dogs and cats can nibble on some boneless and well cooked turkey. They shouldn’t have raw turkey, undercooked turkey, skin, or bones. It is also okay to share some unsalted and unbuttered vegetables.
Dogs and cats cannot eat onions, garlic, leeks, or scallions. They also shouldn’t have grapes or raisins.
A taste of mashed potatoes is fine. Just consider that mashed potatoes can contain other ingredients than just potatoes. If your pet is lactose intolerant, cheese, butter, and milk in mashed potatoes can cause problems.
A taste of macaroni and cheese is also fine, if your pet can handle dairy.
Cranberry sauce is fine for pets, but there can be a lot of sugar in it, so limit the amount.
Some other things to watch out for are xylitol, sage (common in stuffing), and raw bread dough. The bread dough seems harmless, but it will continue to expand when eaten, and this can be very dangerous
It is Veterans’ Day, and many in the USA take a moment out of everyday life to think about and thank military veterans. This year, six military dogs will be honored on a float in the Veterans’ Day parade.
Many dogs work in the military. They perform dangerous tasks, and are often not even transported back home after duty overseas – their handlers return home, but the dogs are left abroad.
The dogs and their handlers have often worked side by side for years, and many veteran advocates lobby for all four-legged defenders to be returned to the USA. The American Humane Association helps retired military dogs to be reunited with their human veterans.
The AHA writes, “With an estimated 2,500 military working dogs and contract working dogs working side by side with soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan, the need has never been greater to bring each dog home. The dogs have noses that are 100,000 times more sensitive than humans’, giving them an unparalleled ability to sniff out and detect weapons caches and Improvised Explosive Devices. It is estimated that each military working dog saves the lives of between 150-200 service members.”
Today is cat day – a day dedicated to the celebration, worship, and adoration of cats. If you have a cat, today is a great day to spend some extra time with your feline friends. If you don’t have a cat, there are many waiting for adoption in shelters and rescues around the country, and cat day might be a good excuse to welcome a kitty home.
The Cat Fancier’s Association has made a list of most popular cat breeds. The number one spot has been held by the Persian cat for over 30 years! Here is the top five:
1. Persian
This breed is named after its home country – Persia. (Today’s Iran.) They are known for being friendly and calm, and make great indoor cats.
2. Exotic Shorthair
These cats almost look like teddy bears. They are easy-going, affectionate, and generally get along well with other pets.
3. Maine Coon
This is one of the oldest breeds from the USA and it is known for its fantastic hunting abilities. It was bred as a working cat able to withstand harsh wether. Main Coons are generally friendly, love children, and love water.
4. Ragdoll
The Ragdoll was developed to be a companion, and these cats love being near their humans. They are large, sturdy, and have bright blue eyes.
5. British Shorthair
The British Shorthair are calm and affectionate. They generally go along well with other pets, but they dislike being carried.
Today is Dog Day, a perfect occasion to celebrate the bond between human and canine. Dogs bring love and many benefit into the lives of humans, and this is a great day to show the dogs in your life some extra love. Also, please consider pitching in to help the numerous homeless dogs around the country and around the world.
Helping shelter animals doesn’t have to be expensive. Many rescues and shelters ask for blankets, towels, dog and cat food, treats, and toys. Many also encourage the public to come over and donate a few minutes to play with a lonely dog.
Large numbers of shelter pets are scared and starved for human attention, and even if you can’t take the pet home, helping with some socialization can make a world of difference.
Another great way to help shelter animals is sharing their posts on social media. It’s completely free, and clicking the “share” button only takes a couple of seconds. Wouldn’t it be great if you shared an animal, one of your friends saw it, and this simple process could save a life?
In many cultures black cats are seen as good luck. Here in the US they’re sadly more associated with bad luck, and they have a hard time finding homes. Cats with black coat are nearly five times as likely to be put to sleep in a shelter than cats with another color.
Black cat appreciation day is intended to change the myths that keeps them from being adopted. Many people don’t understand cats. Some fear them, or even hate them, and keep spreading misinformation about them.
Not everyone has to like cats, but distancing oneself from a species because of myths and erroneous information is a loss both for the person and the cats.
Here are some fun facts about black cats:
If you have a black cat, or adopt one, take some photos and share on social media. Together we can debunk the myth about black cats being bad luck!
Today is a good day to take some extra time to play with your cat – August 8th is International Cat Day, celebrating our feline friends. The day was first celebrated in 2002, and has become a yearly festivity.
Around the world, an estimated 500 million cats frolic in homes and gardens, regardless of country and climate. In the USA, there’s almost 100 million owned cats. Around 46 percent of US kitty-households have one cat, 31 percent share their home with two cats, and 24 percent have three or more cats.
Having a cat in the household has been proven to relieve stress, depression, and anxiety. Cats are particularly good for the heart – over a ten year period a cat owner is 30 percent less likely to die of a heart attack or stroke than a person without a cat. They may even lower the risk of cancer.
If you don’t already have a cat but you’ve been thinking of getting one, celebrate International Cat Day with going down to your local shelter and giving one a new home.
Happy 4th of July! This is a wonderful holiday, and here are some tips to keep your family together. Everyone should be happy and safe, right!
With 4th of July comes celebrations, fireworks, and firecrackers. While all this can be great fun for humans, pets are generally less impressed. They don’t associate the flashes, noise, and smell of fireworks with something happy; most pets are very afraid of fireworks and many panic and run.
Every year on July 5th, animal shelters drown in pets that panicked and fled. They can’t find their way home, many are injured, and some die.
During holidays such as 4th of July, keep your pets inside, and keep an eye on them every time someone opens a door to the outside.
They might bolt through a crack in the door. Even if your dog is used to hanging out in the yard on their own, keep them indoors. They can hurt themselves, break restraints, and jump fences in an attempt to find safety from the scary bangs.
Naturally, don’t leave your pet in the car, and don’t bring them the fireworks displays.
Make sure your pet has proper ID. They should carry a tag with their name and your phone number, and they should be microchipped.
Many dogs suffer a fear of fireworks, and with the upcoming holiday it’s extra important to know about this, protect the dogs, and prepare them the best we can. Even a confident dog can be terrified by the loud and unpredictable noises and bright lights.
Pets should be kept indoors during 4th of July and other firework-holidays. There are some things we can do to help them manage the fireworks. The fear might never disappear completely, but we can make it easier.
Find a video of fireworks and play it on lowest possible volume a few times during the day. While you play it, give your dogs treats, cuddle, and play. You want doggie to connect the sound with positive things.
During the course of a few days, increase the volume slowly. Keep doing fun stuff every time you play it.
If your dog shows fear at any time when you play the video, turn the volume back down and keep the positive reinforcement with play and treats.
It might take time, but eventually your dog should be able to hear the sound at a fairly loud volume without being afraid.
Desensitizing takes time, and it doesn’t always make the fear go away. Keep your pets inside. Try to drown out the sound the best you can, and allow him or her to hide. Pulling them out or trying to coax them can reinforce the fear. Also, don’t coddle the dogs when they show fear; acting naturally shows there’s no danger.
Some dogs have severe firework phobia, and in these cases you should discuss the problem with your veterinarian. There are anti-anxiety medications that can help your pet get through the holiday.
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