Most people are familiar with the guide dogs that assist blind people. Increasingly people with many different sorts of disabilities, some of them not so obvious have begun to use assistance or “service” dogs, and even other animals to help them in their everyday lives. Since the ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) first passed in the 1990s, there has been little clear, legal definition of the term “service animal” and how they should be allowed to operate in society. This all changed in July 2010, when the Attorney General, Eric Holder, released new guidelines governing service dogs. According to the […]
According to the American’s With Disabilities Act (ADA), “Service animals are animals that are individually trained to perform tasks for people with disabilities such as guiding people who are blind, alerting people who are deaf, pulling wheelchairs, alerting and protecting a person who is having a seizure, or performing other special tasks. Service animals are working animals, not pets.” This article will breakdown the various organizations that provide service animals as well as provide you with links to online resources where you can find out more information about obtaining an assistance animal or ways to volunteer. Canine Assistants http://www.canineassistants.org/ provides trained dogs […]
In recent years, there has been a huge increase in the number of horses ending up at shelters and horse rescues. Due to the downturn in the economy, shelters and rescues are being flooded with requests from horse owners who can no longer afford to keep their horses. In recent years, there has been a huge increase in the number of horses ending up at shelters and horse rescues. Due to the downturn in the economy, shelters and rescues are being flooded with requests from horse owners who can no longer afford to keep their horses. Many horse owners who […]
It seems as if animal lovers are always looking for new ways to show their love and devotion for animals. Some people choose to donate to their favorite animal charity, shelter or rescue. However, in uncertain economic times it is difficult for many to continue charitable giving. One great way many people are now considering to give back to the animals they love is, volunteering at a shelter or rescue. If you have been thinking about doing volunteer work, why not consider volunteering at your local animal shelter or pet rescue group. These groups depend almost entirely on the work […]
You are expecting a new addition to your family…the human kind. Congratulations! This is always a very exciting time and a lot of time and effort goes into preparing yourselves for the baby’s arrival. Keep in mind that you also need to prepare the family pet for the new addition. Following are some steps to take to make the introduction go smoothly. Before your baby arrives, make sure your pet is healthy. Take them in for a complete exam. They should be up to date on vaccines and checked for parasites. If they are not already spayed or neutered, you […]
When we bring home a furry friend for the first time, we are entranced by the new little life in our home. The comical antics and pitiful cries are met with our “coos” and smiles as we happily scoop them up. As our pets grow, we cherish the experiences we have together—first walks on leash, going to the dog park, chasing toys or the laser pointer, cuddling. When we bring home a furry friend for the first time, we are entranced by the new little life in our home. The comical antics and pitiful cries are met with our “coos” […]
Scientists define the human-animal bond as, a mutually beneficial and dynamic relationship between people and animals that is influenced by behaviors essential to the well being of both. This definition encompasses all human-animal relationships including livestock and wildlife. This definition seems too broad for the scope of this article so, it will address only domestic house pets, particularly dogs. It’s possible that people and domestic animals have been living together for as much as 20,000 years. Scientific evidence now leads us to believe we first domesticated the dog back when all dogs were wolves and they competed directly with people […]
It is remarkable how well our pets, especially dogs, seem to know us. They show us love, affection and help us reduce our stress even when we don’t know that we’re feeling it. When we speak, they seem to pay attention and understand what we are saying. How can that be when clearly dogs and cats don’t understand or speak English? What is it about us, and them that we can apparently communicate so clearly? Perhaps it’s the fact that we’ve lived with domestic pets for so long (as much as 20,000 years with dogs and 3,000 years with cats). […]
Many people suffer from pet allergies. Dogs, cats and birds are the most common sources of allergies, but any type of pet can cause an allergic reaction. More people are allergic to cats than any other type of pet. People may own their pet for a while before they develop an allergic reaction to them. This does not necessarily mean that you must give up your pet. Following is some basic information on pet allergies and how to cope with them. It is a popular misconception that pet hair causes pet allergies. This is not the case. Most pet allergies […]
Pet overpopulation is a serious issue; as such, many people consider adopting a pet from a shelter. The sheer number of pets available and in need of adoption, especially in urban areas, can be daunting. Many of us feel intimidated to visit a shelter or rescue, fearful of having to decide between so many needy animals. With a little education, careful planning and a common sense approach, adopting a pet can be an exciting, fun and rewarding experience for the person and the pet. Before you adopt a pet Before you think about visiting a rescue, shelter or adoption center […]
