Is Pet Adoption being shunned for Pet Rental?
Posted on September 16, 2008
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A commission of animal control and welfare based in San Francisco, USA, have this week been in important discussions over whether they should ban a pet rental business in the local area. The business in question is called Flexpetz and they have plans to open a branch where people can “rent a pet.”
The controversial company have sparked outrage with many people not just in America but around the world. Their idea is to allow people to own pets temporarily, basically for people who don’t have time to look after a pet full time but would like animal friendship when they are free. The animals for rent are looked after by a shelter and are also available for pet adoption.
Flexpetz have also been banned from opening in Boston, Massachusetts, as well as in London, UK. The UK government have recently made a law that prevents a person from renting a pet.
Experts claim that passing an animal from different owners will have a negative effect on its well being, creating stress especially for dogs who need a consistent owner to make them feel safe. It is also seen as an excuse for temporary owners to behave irresponsibly with general pet adoption/ownership. Once again this sort of thing is seen as a fashion but I believe that a lot of people should be reminded of the classic saying that “A dog is for life, not just for Christmas.”
Poor Economy Doesn’t Hinder Pet Spend
Posted on August 20, 2008
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A recent insurance poll has found some surprising results. According to one of the largest supermarkets in the UK, the amount that people pay for pet insurance is nearly double the amount that people spend on private medical insurance!
British pets are the second most insured worldwide with only Sweden paying more. The results of the survey showed that in 2007 – 23% of pets were insured whilst only 12.2% of the British general public were using private medical insurance.
Allan Burns, the manager of Tesco Pet Insurance didn’t find these results particularly surprising “I’m not surprised by this finding. We have known for a long time that us Brits are pet mad.
“Tesco Pet Insurance continually finds ways to make pet cover more affordable for our customers, helping them through tougher times. This is why we are the second largest pet insurer in the UK.”
Supermarket giant Sainsbury’s also offer a pet insurance scheme believes that the likes of Paris Hilton and Britney Spears are “glamourising” smaller and more expensive types of pet. Unfortunately it appears that the stats back this claim, demand for “handbag dogs” has risen 41.3% in the last year.
Neal Devine, the manager of Sainsbury’s Pet Insurance believes that insuring these popular breeds can leave a big hole in your pocket. “Generally speaking, the cost of looking after a pedigree animal is more expensive than for a cross breed, be it purchased or found through a pet adoption scheme. Indeed, the most frequent claim for a small pedigree dog is for cardiac disease, which can run into thousands of pounds.”
Animal charity’s credit crunch worries
Posted on August 14, 2008
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The modern day economic and financial markets have been blamed for an increase in homeless animal’s claims pet charity Powys Animal Welfare Trust. This increase has been backed by a media push to increase the general public about pet adoption and the positive points of owning a pet.
The Trust announced that the number of abandoned animals that they have taken into care since 2006 has doubled from 200 to 400 and are struggling to cope with such vast amounts of unwanted pets. Due to their non rejection policy the trust accept pets from all over England and Wales
Aldwyth Bates, owner of Newtown sanctuary and a trustee of Powys Animal Welfare Trust believes that the problem isn’t just local but nationwide. “In the past year we’ve taken in animals from as far afield as Dorset, Lancashire, Cheshire, Shropshire and Worcestershire.”
“We also took in 30 cats from a couple in south Wales after their house was repossessed. We have also taken animals from four small holdings in Ceredigion, Denbighshire, Snowdonia and Cheshire after they were repossessed.”
“There’s no question the rise in the number of animals we are dealing with is down to the credit crunch. The situation is in crisis. Roughly speaking, we’re taking in about three animals a day, and we now have 400 cats and 20 dogs.”
Surveys have also shown that 78% (of 1000 people that took the survey) thought that pet owners did not think of the animal’s long term future when getting a pet from a shop or a pet adoption scheme.
Pet Adoption News – 20 kilo cat looking for a home!
Posted on August 4, 2008
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20 kilo cat looking for a home!
It’s difficult to see how you could lose a 44 pound cat but just last week a cat weighing a whopping 20 kilos, was found walking around the streets of New Jersey without a nametag or collar.
Workers at a local New Jersey Shelter have nickname the cat “Princess Chunk” and are hoping that she will be able to find a loving family who will be able to deal with her “large” personality and help her shed those pounds!
Deborah White of the Camden County Animal Shelter is currently looking after “Princess Chunk” but is confused at how she got away from her owner. “She’s built like a quarterback, I mean, how do you lose a 44-pound (20-kilo) cat?!”
The Guinness book of records states that the heaviest ever cat weighed in at 21 kilograms which is a massive 46 pounds, 15 ounces! This cat lived in Australia, dying in the 1980’s. The record books have since removed the heaviest cat category as they feared that owners may feed their cats up in an attempt to break the record.
Princess Chunk’s owner only has a few more days to collect her otherwise she will be eligible for pet adoption. Until that time comes Mrs. White plans to put Princess Chunk on a low fat diet with plenty of exercise. “I’m about to put a leash on her and walk her,” she said. “She could pass for a dog!”
Pet Adoption Information - How to help a pet with heatstroke
Posted on July 24, 2008
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Warm temperatures this summer could lead to your dog suffering heatstroke, dehydration or even death if left in your car for too long without decent ventilation. The RSPCA receive over 6,000 calls a year from the general public, worried and concerned about a dog left alone in a car.
Whether we buy a pet or get one through a pet adoption scheme, under the animal welfare act we have a legal duty to look after out pets correctly and make sure that they live happy lives. Penalties for animal cruelty purposely or accidentally can lead to a fine of £20,000 or a prison sentence!
The facts about leaving your pet in a vehicle, caravan or conservatory for a large amount of time:
- Even at a low temperature outside, the temperature inside a car can double with an hour.
- Cloudy weather can change quickly.
- Overweight or heavily muscled dogs are more prone to heatstroke although if you leave any dog long enough they will suffer.
- Air conditioned vehicles reach the same temperature as outside as soon as 5 minutes after turning it off.
Signs that your dog may have heatstroke are the following:
- Quick paced pulse
- Panting and salivating more than normal
- Lack of co-ordination, vomiting, seizures and/or diarrhoea
- In extreme cases coma or death.
How to treat a pet with heatstroke:
- Move you’re pet to a colder place so that they can get back to a normal temperature and call your local vet for more advice.
- Cool your dog down with water. (not too cold as it might make your dog shiver)
- Give your dog small quantities of cool water
- Continue to do the above until their breathing settles and then take them to your local vetinary hospital or pet adoption shelter.
Pet adoption crisis in the north - Adopt a cat today!
Posted on July 23, 2008
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Pet adoption centres are filling up quickly in the north of England, leaving hundreds of unwanted cats and kittens looking for a new home. Over the last 3 months, RSPCA inspectors, animal officers and the general public have been bringing in these abandoned cats and kittens hoping to find a home for them. This unusual increase has meant that most animal centres are near bursting point and will soon be a health and safety risk.
Staff working at these specialist centres believe that the increase in unwanted cats and kittens is down to a lot of stray cats giving birth during the spring months and that the summer months are traditionally a time when pet adoption is at its lowest. As well as this a lot of owners don’t neuter their cats obviously leading to unwanted kittens. Everyone involved is hoping to find new homes for these cats and kittens as many have been at the centres for many weeks.
Peter Bolton, an animal welfare regional manager is urging people who are interested in adopting a cat to step forward and contact a local centre as soon as possible. Mr Bolton said “We have never known anything like it. Our centres have never been so crowded with cats and kittens and it’s heartbreaking to see so many animals without a permanent home. We have had some cats waiting months for the perfect owner to walk through the door.”
“We have cats to suit every personality and household and hope there may be people out there willing to give these cats a second chance of happiness.
“I would advise anyone thinking about taking on a pet to come and visit one of our many branch animal centres across the north. There are so many animals needing help and you would be making a really positive difference to their lives.”
If you are interested in adopting a cat or kitten in your local area please contact the RSPCA on their specific Pet adoption line: 0300 123 8484.
The Basics of Pet Adoption
Posted on July 19, 2008
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Pet Adoption Help News
If you are looking for someone to look after and love then pet adoption might be something that would interest you. Maybe your children are begging for a pet and you just can’t say no anymore, adopting a pet is an option you could think about. Before you do so however you should think things through and plan out what you are going to get and how you are going to look after it. Obviously this is a big step and commitment and you don’t want to jump in without knowing what you are getting yourself into.
For some people owning a pet takes as much time, care and attention as looking after their own children. Having to pander to its every want and need, the pet will have to be house trained just like a child! Choosing the correct animal for you is vital in a pet adoption scheme as most will need alot of training especially dogs.
Well known for their independence, cats are a lot easier to look after or train and generally will only want you when they are hungry or need a hug. The downside is that you can’t train a cat to behave but if you make sure you watch the behaviour of a cat before the pet adoption process then hopefully you’ll make the right decision when bringing it home.
Birds are a popular choice for pet adoption but obviously they can be pretty loud at times, some singing first thing in the morning. Cages will have to be changed quite often and make sure to check on water and food amounts. Also be careful about letting the bird fly around the house, this sounds obvious but a lot of people do it and forget to remember where the cat is!
Pet adoption can give people great joy, knowing that they have saved an animal from bad owners or none at all. Luckily there are plenty of places that you can go if you want to adopt a pet. Visit local animal shelters, check papers, occasionally even pet stores. If you are unsure of how you would be suited looking after an animal then perhaps pet sit for a friend for a period of time long enough for you to make a decent assessment. Once you understand what it is you will have to do to look after a pet then you are ready to make your own pet adoption plans.
Good luck!
