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Blessing of the Animals Barto Bally Boyertown Bechtelsville Gilbertsville PA

October 18th, 2011

St Francis of Assisi wrote, “All praise to you, Oh Lord, for all these brother and sister creatures.”

Many churches now offer a blessing of the animals, often held to celebrate the feast of St. Francis on October 2. At larger churches, the line may look like that of the animals entering Noah’s Ark!

The Blessing is often the following:

“Blessed are you, Lord God, maker of all living creatures. You called forth fish in the sea, birds in the air, and animals on the land. You inspired St. Francis to call all of them his brothers and sisters. We ask you to bless this pet. By the power of your love, enable it to live according to your plan. May we always praise you for all your beauty in creation. Blessed are all your creatures. Amen.”

As part of the ceremony, church leaders will often speak of the unconditional love offered by pets and the reciprocal bond that forms between people and animals.

Pets-ercise Summer Fun! Barto, Bally, Boyertown, Bechtelsville, Gilbertsville PA

July 23rd, 2011

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Neiko

MacDuff

Gus and Nik

Lilly Belle

Lilly and Bud

Alaska

Scooter

: Tela and Sascha

Nikki and Zoey

Sascha

Augie

: Penny and Louie

: Deuce and Dewey

Zoey

: Gus, MacDuff, and Jake

Marble

: Jake and Gus

Are You Ready for a Cat? Boyertown, Gilbertsville, Barto, Bally, Bechtelsville, PA

April 19th, 2011

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8 to 12 million homeless cats and dogs arrive in shelters each year. 25 percent of them purebreds.

Questions to Ask Before Adopting a CAT.

Will Your Home and Life Accommodate a Cat? First, you, your kids and all the adults in your household should agree that you want a cat. Look down the road for the life of the animal, which could be 10, 15, even 20 years.

Charlie and Beanie

Do you have the patience and commitment to understand your cat’s needs and ways of communication? Some cats seem aloof, but they bond with you for security and company.

How old are your children? If they’re under 6, pet shelter experts recommend that you wait a few years. Kittens have extra-sharp teeth and claws, and strike back when teased. Some breeds are high-strung.

Is anyone in the house allergic? Different species and breeds elicit different reactions. Spend time with a similar pet at a friend’s house before choosing yours.

Is an adult willing to shoulder ultimate responsibility for the animal’s care? Pets can teach a child about loyalty and responsibility, but you can’t expect a child to do all the work of feeding and changing the kitty litter.

How much time does your family spend at home? Animals like regular schedules. Do you know who’ll take care of your pet when you go on a trip?

Does your lease or condo board allow pets?

Can you tolerate some damage to furniture and floors until your new pet becomes accustomed to your home? Will you take accidents, even flea infestations, in stride?

Do you have the financial means to support a pet? Shelter adoption fees are usually minimal, compared to prices paid to a breeder or pet store. But the costs of medical care, food, grooming, toys, kitty litter and other supplies add up.

The Cost

Both purebred kittens and shelter kittens need some initial care. Whether you do it privately or it is done by the shelter before adoption, your cat will need spaying and neutering, vaccinating and licensing. These charges will add up to at least $100. You must also be able to pay the costs of weekly food and litter bills and yearly vaccination boosters, in addition to occasional unplanned trips to the veterinarian for illness or injury.

Food, alone, can cost as much as $1 a day adding up to $365 dollars a year. Litter, depending on the type and quality will run anywhere from $2 to $10 a week. In preparation for the new kitten you will also need to purchase other materials for your cat’s comfort such as food and water bowls, a litter pan, comb, brush, shampoo, toys and bedding.

What Kind of Pet Do You Prefer?

In addition to being a vehicle for rescuing animals, shelter adoptions offer potential pet owners the opportunity to choose from a variety of types and ages. Adult animals have already developed personalities.

If you think you prefer a certain breed, read up on it before making the commitment. Ask the shelter about local rescue groups dedicated to that breed. Mixed breeds generally have a better, varied gene pool and a sturdier constitution, but there’s never a guarantee. Shelter personnel may be able to conjecture which breed is dominant in a mix by color, coat or face.

Purebred or mixed, the average adult cat ranges from 6 to 16 pounds. Although cats have a different way of communicating their temperaments than dogs, reading up on breeds will give you common tendencies: Ragdolls are placid and playful; Siamese, gentle to children and seniors alike; Turkish Angoras, quick-witted and quick-tempered; Maine coons, easy-going.

Time to Visit the Shelter

Iggy

Before you bring the kids, make sure the shelter meets high standards in staff and cleanliness. Also, consider how your child may react if she ends up leaving the shelter without “rescuing” at least one little creature. The sight of animals in need will be tough to bear. That’s why you prepare yourself with the facts.

Are personnel knowledgeable? Observe the professionalism and sensitivity of shelter staff. Do they consult with animal behavior professionals and veterinarians?

Are you willing to answer questions? You may be asked for proof of identity and residence; the name of your landlord or condo board to verify that pets are allowed; the number of children and pets in the household; a history of pets you’ve owned; the name of your veterinarian; if you have screens on apartment windows to prevent cats from chasing birds out the window. Your work and travel schedule help determine if you could manage a kitten that needs socialization.

Will you agree to have your pet spayed or neutered? Most shelters won’t allow you to adopt unless you do, and the low cost is factored into the adoption fee.

Shelters try to provide a background on every animal that comes in. In the case of a stray, a trainer or behaviorist interacts with the cat to evaluate his personality. Is he used to people in general? To children? How does he react to other cats and dogs? If a shelter advisor recommends against placing an animal with children or an inexperienced owner, don’t argue.

Notice how the shelter assesses the health of its animals. Are there veterinary records on the pet? Did he receive his shots? Some shelters provide a list of veterinarians who provide introductory discount services to their patrons.

Everyone in the household should meet the animal before he goes home. Ask the shelter workers to show you a limited number of animals, to prevent the kids from instantly “bonding” with an inappropriate animal. “Test drive” a few. Hold and play with a few cats before making a final decision.

If you made it to the end of this article, CONGRATULATIONS! You have the fortitude and stamina that you will need if you adopt a cat. GOOD LUCK!

Halo

For more information about adoption and pets in general, contact Tara at www.TarasPetsitting.com or call 610-845-WOOF.

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Pet Owners Beware Human Medications!

February 07th, 2011

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Both over-the-counter and prescription HUMAN medicines can be life threatening for pets.

ANTI-INFLAMMATORY medicines like IBUPROFEN are the most common cause of poisoning in small pets and can cause serious problems in small doses.

ANTIDEPRESSANTS can cause vomiting and lethargy; certain types can lead to serotonin syndrome, a condition marked by agitation, elevated body temperature, heart rate and blood pressure, disorientation, vocalization, tremors and seizures.

TYLENOL is very dangerous for cats, damaging red blood cells and interfering with their ability to transport oxygen. In dogs, it can cause liver damage and, at higher doses, red blood cell damage.

PSEUDOEPHEDRINE, a popular ingredient in many cold and sinus products, acts like a stimulant if accidentally ingested by cats and dogs, causing elevated heart rates, blood pressure and body temperature as well as seizures.