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By: hcucciaPost on:

Is it Bad to Let Your Pets Sleep in Your Bed?

Pets Sleep in Bed

The great debate…do you let your pets sleep in your bed?

According to the 2021–2022 American Pet Products Association National Pet Owners Survey, 43 percent of pet dogs in the United States and 49 percent of pet cats sleep on their owner’s bed. 

Is it healthy, for you or your pet, to share a bed? There are a few reasons why it may not be, including allergies and asthma. If a pet owner experiences breathing problems, it’s probably a good idea to keep Fluffy off the bed. But most sources agree that, barring those major problems, there are no health risks to sleeping with your pets. In fact, there may be some major benefits of doing so.

Emotional Benefits

Owning a pet comes with many emotional benefits. It’s a commonly known fact that pets reduce stress, anxiety, and loneliness, especially among seniors or people who suffer from depression and other mental illnesses. Allowing your dog or cat to snuggle in bed, or even simply knowing that they are nearby, can be one way that they help reduce anxiety.

Additionally, dogs often provide a sense of safety for many owners. Alert dogs that will bark in the event that something happens make owners feel safer when they drift off to sleep.

Pet Health

Let’s face it, our pets love to be spoiled. Sleeping on a cushy bed feels good for them just as it does us, and who doesn’t want to spoil their pets? But the benefits for pets goes deeper than a simple bit of spoiling. Dogs, and to a certain extent, cats, are pack animals. Their brains are hardwired to seek the company and comfort of their pack, and that means you. Many pets feel separation anxiety when separated from their owners for too long. Knowing that you are nearby can reduce your pet’s stress, and allow them to get a good night’s sleep as well.

Potential Problems

There are a few obstacles that pet owners often face when co-sleeping with their pets. While these aren’t necessarily deal breakers, they are things to consider before you get your pet into an unbreakable habit.

While pets are warm and cozy, which may help you sleep, they can also be demanding bed mates. Dogs can snore, kick, steal covers, and take up more than their fair share of a bed. Cats have been known to “steal” air by sleeping near a child’s mouth, and to wake owner’s up in less than pleasant ways.

If your pet is used to coming to bed with just you, your spouse or partner needs to be on same page. Your pet may not understand why the door is closed on them while you and your partner enjoy some alone time. Some owners give their pets a treat, or train their pets to be equally happy sleeping with children on nights when they want to be alone.

If you want to train an animal to stay out of bed after they’ve learned that it’s okay, you’ll probably be facing many nights of distraction. Kennel training is one way to help an animal learn to love a new safe space; try putting the kennel in your room at first, until they learn to sleep on their own. Then move the kennel into a new space gradually.

Rest assured that no matter what you prefer, you won’t be harming either yourself or your pets if you do choose to cuddle up after a long day. 

What are your sleeping habits with your pets?

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By: hcucciaPost on:

Secondhand Smoke is Bad for Your Pet

 

Most people know that secondhand smoke is bad for children or other adults nearby. In fact, the Center for Disease Control estimates that since 1964, nearly 2.5 million nonsmokers have died from health problems aggravated or caused by secondhand smoke. Those are staggering statistics that are hard for many smokers to face when they consider the health of their family or friends. But did you know that secondhand smoke is bad for your beloved pet as well?

What Counts as Secondhand Smoke

Before you can understand how secondhand smoke harms your pets, it’s important to understand what counts as secondhand smoke. Any smoke that comes from a tobacco product, such as cigarettes, pipes, or cigars counts. This include smoke that has been exhaled by a smoker.

Every cigarette creates more than 7,000 chemicals when it is burned, and about 70 of those are known to cause cancer. Many more are toxins that can affect health in other ways. Ammonia, arsenic, carbon monoxide, lead, methanol, and even formaldehyde are all toxins that are released when a cigarette burns.

Smoke in the environment can stay on fur and skin long after the smell has left the air. Animal fur is very absorbent, meaning that secondhand smoke can linger around their breathing space for days after being exposed.

Secondhand Smoke and Cats

Secondhand smoke is particularly dangerous for cats for one major reason: the way they groom. As cats clean themselves, they’ll lick and ingest any secondhand smoke lingering on their fur, which can lead to mouth cancer and lymph nodes. Remember that our pets are much smaller than we are; it takes a significantly lower amount of the toxins in cigarettes to affect them the way a lifetime of smoking would us.

One study showed that cats owned by one-pack-per-day smokers are more than three times as likely to develop lymphoma than a cat living in a nonsmoking home. And another found that any cat who is exposed to even a single cigarette every day is four times as likely to develop one of the most common types of oral cancers in cats.

Secondhand Smoke and Dogs

Dogs can also develop cancers of various sorts when exposed to secondhand smoke, as well as respiratory diseases like asthma and bronchitis. Studies have shown that dogs with long muzzles have a 250% higher chance of developing cancer in their nasal passages when they live with smokers than with nonsmokers. And dogs with short muzzles, like bulldogs, are more likely to develop lung cancer. Short-muzzled dogs are already at a higher risk for asthma and breathing problems; living with smokers makes it nearly impossible for these dogs to avoid developing issues.

How to Fix it

While some pet owners may think that simply smoking outside, or only in the car, is an easy way to solve this issue, that is not entirely true. Smoke travels on clothing, in hair, and in through windows and doors. When your pets cuddle or brush against you, their fur will pick up at least five to seven times as much environmental smoke residue as pets owned by nonsmokers. Vaping also isn’t an easy solution. The chemicals in many vape solutions is made up of chemicals with similar properties to ingredients in antifreeze, which can be deadly to pets when licked or ingested.

In fact, the only real way to save your pet’s life from the deadly side effects of secondhand smoke is to not expose them to it in the first place. The best option for both of you is to quit smoking altogether; don’t allow friends or family to smoke in your home; and avoid areas where smoking is allowed.

By: hcucciaPost on:

Basic Dog Obedience Tips

One of the best ways to teach your dog basic obedience is to take him or her to a training class. Most dog clubs offer them, and they’re a great way to train your dog while socializing him or her as well. You’ll probably even make some new friends.

Now, we have to point out that not everyone has the ability to commit to regular dog classes, and if that’s the case, you can always train your dog at home on your own time.  You can teach your dog basic obedience tips and commands at home in order to be sure that he or she behaves properly when out in public.

The Importance of a Mannerly Dog

You know the importance of good manners. They’re every bit as important for dogs as they are for people. You know how it is with people who don’t have good manners – they are not wanted in social situations, and they may find themselves left out of gatherings due to bad manners.

It’s the same with dogs. An unmannerly dog, one who pulls, barks, jumps, grabs hands or otherwise misbehaves is not going to be welcome among civilized company. Additionally, if your dog is poorly trained, he or she could, simply stated, get you evicted.

Easy Training

It’s not hard to teach your dog basic obedience. Sit, stay, down and come are very basic commands that are easily taught and reinforced, and once they are taught, you will have a well-behave dog who will be welcome in virtually any social situation.

Catch Him Doing Something Right

With dog training, timing is everything. As soon as your dog does what you want, reward him or her, either with words of praise or a treat. For “sit,” simply push your dog’s backside down to the floor, and once that butt is solidly on the floor, deliver praise and perhaps a treat. Your dog will immediately know that he or she has done the right thing, and will want to do it over and over.

Down

Down works the same way. Push down on the hindquarters, and then on the shoulders. When the dog gets it right, the dog gets a reward.

Stay

Tell your dog to sit. He or she already knows that. Now, hold out a treat, but don’t give it. If the dog moves toward the treat, offer a firm “No.” Then reiterate, “Stay.” The dog is going to want the treat desperately, but don’t give it until the “Stay” command has been firmly reinforced.

Basic Training Tips

Always be firm in training, but be kind. Don’t expect too much of your dog. He or she wants to please you, but has the attention span of about a two-year-old child. Don’t forget that.

Also, remember to take your training sessions out to various locations in your house. If you do it in just one place, your dog may think, “I have to do this in the kitchen… but nowhere else.”

If you work daily with your training sessions, eventually your dog will do what you want, everywhere, all the time. Therefore, start with basic obedience training and then move on to more complex training. Your dog will get the idea quickly, and you will end up with a good canine citizen who can move on to more complex training.

The Final Word

The key to good dog training is consistency and caring. Remember that you dog wants to please you, and structure your training program accordingly. With kindness and consistency, you can create a good canine citizen who will fit seamlessly into your neighborhood.

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By: hcucciaPost on:

Pet Friendly Vacation Spots

So, you want to go on vacation with your pet? That’s great – we don’t really much like people don’t want to leave your dog at home. However, you know that not all vacation spots are pet-friendly, so, where are you and your dog going to go on vacation?

Sonoma Valley, California

You will begin on the west coast of California, with its lovely vineyards. There are over 50 wineries in Sonoma, and they are almost all dog friendly. You can sample the harvests while wandering about with your dog. At the end of the day, you can visit any of a number of restaurants where dogs are welcome. They can sit next to your table, or even choose from their own menu.

Fort Collins, Colorado

The big attraction in Fort Collins is the huge number of breweries. You can sample local craft beers, and relax on patios where our dog will be welcome. At most breweries, you can even bring your furry friend inside the tasting rooms. Remember, though, it’s a very bad idea to allow a dog to consume alcohol.

Austin, Texas

There’s no such thing as a Texan who doesn’t love dogs. That means that in Austin, you and your best buddy can go wherever you like. You do have to behave yourselves, though. If your dog promises that you will behave, you can enjoy all the sights and sounds of this glorious city.

Chatanooga, Tennessee

Can you afford to board the Chattanooga ChooChoo? Sorry, we just couldn’t resist. Seriously, Chattanooga offers so much for you and your dog, including the Chickamauga Creek Pocket Wilderness trail. It’s a full 10 miles, but don’t worry about getting too warm – you can always take a dip in the creek, you and your dog together.

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By: hcucciaPost on:

What To Do If You See Animal Abuse

No one ever wants to see an animal being abused, but sadly, it happens. So what are you going to do if you see a case of animal abuse?

First of all, you have to report it. That’s not even negotiable. After all, if you saw a person being assaulted, you would report it, wouldn’t you? Why should it be any different if the victim is an animal?

It’s the Law

The law says that animals cannot and must not be abused. Every single state has laws prohibiting animal abuse, and the law is meant to be enforced.

You know, it wasn’t all that long ago that people didn’t report child abuse. Why? Because it was thought to be a family matter. We didn’t see it as the crime it was. Now we do. We would never think of not reporting child abuse, so why would we turn a blind eye to animal cruelty?

Do What Is Right

Report animal cruelty. That is the first step toward stopping animal abuse. One of the most common types of cruelty is neglect, and we have all seen it – the dog that is left in a cold doghouse in the winter months, or is left to go without water in the hot weather. Ask yourself, how would you feel if you were left out in the cold, or if you had no water to drink in the summer heat?

Now, remember that the law is only as good as the way it is enforced. Your neighbor’s dog cannot pick up the phone, call 911, and say, “I am being abused.” That’s why it is up to you. It is your job to speak for those who cannot speak for themselves.

Be Alert to the Signs

The first thing you need to do in order to prevent, correct and punish animal abuse is to be alert to the signs. Does an animal appear to have inadequate shelter? Is the animal deprived of food or water? Does the animal appear to be in bad condition, with mangy hair or untreated wounds? Is the animal constantly chained outside?

Worse, does the animal appear to have been abandoned? You might be surprised to know that thousands of animals die every year, simply because people consider them to be disposable, “for now” pets who can just be left behind when people move away.

Worse still is direct violence. You know what we mean – you see someone beating an animal. Please don’t turn away – do something.

What to Do

If you see an animal being treated violently, consider it an emergency and call the police immediately. If it’s a case of neglect, you can also call the police or the local animal shelter. Please never do anything though. And while you are waiting for the authorities to arrive, take notes. Document what you see.

Take It a Step Further

Having called the authorities, and documented the incident, don’t stop there. If you truly care about the animal, be willing to go to court and testify to what you have seen. This is no different from any other crime – eye witnesses can be the key to a conviction.

The Final Word

Of course you would never abuse an animal. But if you see animal abuse happening, and you do nothing, you are every bit as guilty as the abuser. So do something to stop it – call the police. Testify. And maybe even adopt an animal who has been abused, and give him or her a second chance at a good life. It’s the right thing to do.

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By: hcucciaPost on:

Celebs That Live Cruelty-Free

Nothing gives validity more to a social cause than having celebrities offering their names in support of its agenda.  The “cruelty-free movement” has become an international social movement that has gathered a lot of stars and superstars among followers.

Paul McCartney

Internationally, Sir Paul McCartney is perhaps the most famous voice protesting the use of animals in testing cosmetics.  Adding to his name on the roster we have Peter Dinklage of Game of Thrones notoriety, Mayim Bialik – The Big Bang Theory, Ricky Gervais – The UK’s not-so-secret weapon against hypocrisy, and we can’t go wrong with Bob Barker from The Price is Right.  The list continues to grow and with it, an awareness of a voice that needs to be heard by manufactures and an empowered consumer base.  Check out some more supporters at Humane Society.

Woman Holding Beagle
The most know organizations working towards ending animal testing on products is Peta and Cruelty Free International.  The task of cruelty-free organizations is to educate consumers.  Why do they use animals to test make up products?  The reason given is that before a human either ingests or topically applies a product the manufacturer has to make sure it’s safe.  So the next question is: Can they test products without sacrificing animals? And the answer is “yes!”  One thing they can do in creating new products is to use ingredients that have already been approved.  Another alternative is invitro cell cultures that are constructed in test tubes or petri dishes outside the body.  These tests use biological material or cells that are extracted without catastrophic consequences to the animal.   That way no additional souls need be sacrificed.

bunnies_grassIf you buy products that are sold in China, they are testing on animals.  For a list of companies that are cruelty-free, you can visit Leaping Bunny.  They also have an App which comes in very handy when you’re shopping.  Get it for Apple here or Android here.

We applaud the fact that the list of celebrities who have added themselves in solidarity with the rest of us is growing, and our voice is becoming stronger.  They have given the painful and cruel testing of products on animals an international platform.  The intent behind their activism is that even though animal testing has been banned in countries such as the United States, these practices continue to exist in China and other countries.  And only by “taking to the streets” can we raise consciousness throughout the world about this practice being wrong.  It must stop! And the best way to have this end is by educating consumers.

By: hcucciaPost on:

Little happiness

Far far away, behind the word mountains, far from the countries Vokalia and Consonantia, there live the blind texts. Separated they live in Bookmarksgrove right at the coast of the Semantics, a large language ocean. A small river named Duden flows by their place and supplies it with the necessary regelialia. It is a paradisematic country, in which roasted parts of sentences fly into your mouth. Even the all-powerful Pointing has no control about the blind texts it is an almost unorthographic life One day however a small line of blind text by the name of Lorem Ipsum decided to leave for the far World of Grammar.

A small river named Duden flows by their place and supplies it with the necessary regelialia. It is a paradisematic country.

LITTLE BLIND TEXT

 

The Big Oxmox advised her not to do so, because there were thousands of bad Commas, wild Question Marks and devious Semikoli, but the Little Blind Text didn’t listen. She packed her seven versalia, put her initial into the belt and made herself on the way.

By: hcucciaPost on:

Enjoying the small things

Far far away, behind the word mountains, far from the countries Vokalia and Consonantia, there live the blind texts. Separated they live in Bookmarksgrove right at the coast of the Semantics, a large language ocean. A small river named Duden flows by their place and supplies it with the necessary regelialia. It is a paradisematic country, in which roasted parts of sentences fly into your mouth. Even the all-powerful Pointing has no control about the blind texts it is an almost unorthographic life One day however a small line of blind text by the name of Lorem Ipsum decided to leave for the far World of Grammar.

A small river named Duden flows by their place and supplies it with the necessary regelialia. It is a paradisematic country.

LITTLE BLIND TEXT

 

The Big Oxmox advised her not to do so, because there were thousands of bad Commas, wild Question Marks and devious Semikoli, but the Little Blind Text didn’t listen. She packed her seven versalia, put her initial into the belt and made herself on the way.

By: hcucciaPost on:

Photograph

Far far away, behind the word mountains, far from the countries Vokalia and Consonantia, there live the blind texts. Separated they live in Bookmarksgrove right at the coast of the Semantics, a large language ocean. A small river named Duden flows by their place and supplies it with the necessary regelialia. It is a paradisematic country, in which roasted parts of sentences fly into your mouth. Even the all-powerful Pointing has no control about the blind texts it is an almost unorthographic life One day however a small line of blind text by the name of Lorem Ipsum decided to leave for the far World of Grammar.

A small river named Duden flows by their place and supplies it with the necessary regelialia. It is a paradisematic country.

LITTLE BLIND TEXT

 

The Big Oxmox advised her not to do so, because there were thousands of bad Commas, wild Question Marks and devious Semikoli, but the Little Blind Text didn’t listen. She packed her seven versalia, put her initial into the belt and made herself on the way.

By: hcucciaPost on:

Healthy meal plans

Far far away, behind the word mountains, far from the countries Vokalia and Consonantia, there live the blind texts. Separated they live in Bookmarksgrove right at the coast of the Semantics, a large language ocean. A small river named Duden flows by their place and supplies it with the necessary regelialia. It is a paradisematic country, in which roasted parts of sentences fly into your mouth. Even the all-powerful Pointing has no control about the blind texts it is an almost unorthographic life One day however a small line of blind text by the name of Lorem Ipsum decided to leave for the far World of Grammar.

A small river named Duden flows by their place and supplies it with the necessary regelialia. It is a paradisematic country.

LITTLE BLIND TEXT

 

The Big Oxmox advised her not to do so, because there were thousands of bad Commas, wild Question Marks and devious Semikoli, but the Little Blind Text didn’t listen. She packed her seven versalia, put her initial into the belt and made herself on the way.

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