Detroit-area pet theft on the rise this holiday season

According to the Discovery Channel, approximately two million pets are stolen each year, and only about ten percent of them ever return home.

In the metro-Detroit area, stolen dogs have become almost epidemic. For example, on Tuesday December 8 a six-month-old puppy was stolen in a well lit drug store parking lot when a thief smashed a car window. Detroit resident Valarie Weems ran into the store to make a single purchase and when she returned to her locked car, the Yorkie mix was gone. The day before, a two-month-old female Shih Tzu/Maltese puppy was stolen from the Novi Petland in broad daylight!

What you can do to protect your pet:

• Keep your pet indoors, especially when you are not at home. Don’t leave pet alone in your yard.
• Remember that indoor cats live longer, safer lives.
• Properly identify your pet with a collar and tag, and microchip.
• Enroll your pet’s microchip, photo, and contact info with a national recovery service.
• Maintain up-to-date licenses on your pets.
• Keep recent photos and written descriptions of your companion animals on hand at all times.
• Spay and neuter your pets. Fixed animals are less likely to stray from home.
• Be aware of strangers in the neighborhood. Report anything unusual such as suspicious neighborhood activities or missing pets to the police and animal control.
• Keep your pet on a leash whenever you go outside.
• Do not tie your pet outside a store to wait for you.
• Never leave an animal unattended in a car.

If you have any information on either of these stolen pets, or to protect yourself today, please call 866-699-FIND (3463).

Contributed by Jessica Staton.

Rescued dog goes on to stardom

I’ve been trying to catch up on my pet-related Google alerts today, hoping to find some gems to share since I don’t have any fantastic stories from the office this week. Mission accomplished!

The Selangor SPCA (Malaysia) has recently produced a commercial starring two rescued dogs. Both dogs were found as strays, taken in, and trained by the new owners who gave them a second chance at a happy life. Duke, the star of the commercial is actually the highest-ranked, non-breed specific obedience champion — not bad for a dog that was thought to be near-death when he was first found! The goal of the commercial is to promote spaying and neutering pets and really clever; it definitely had me laughing.

Are pets people, too?

Results of an AP/Petside poll were released and indicate that half of American pet owners consider their pets to be just as much a part of the family as more human members of the household. I know that I am definitely amongst that 50% — Rogue (a tortoiseshell cat) and Deacon (a pitbull mix) are certainly family to me. While technically smaller than him, being about a year and a half older makes Rogue the big sister. In addition to a canine aunt and uncle (my mom’s dogs), they have a full spectrum of human relatives as well: grandma, aunts, uncles, cousins. Before moving in with my fiance, I was also one of the 29% of dog owners who loved to have their pooch cuddled up in bed with them at night; now Deacon has his own bed, right next to my side of the bed. And of course they get birthday and Christmas presents! I also have a betta fish named Hedwig, and while he’s not quite as active a member of the household, I still tell him “good night” when I turn the light above his tank off at night.

Of course I already know just how crazy I am about my pets, so I thought I’d show the results to my co-workers here at PetKey and see what they had to say about the poll.

A happy Fourth for you and your pets!

The vast majority of pet owners already know that our pets don’t tend to take the same enjoyment that we do in the festivities surrounding holidays like the Fourth of July, fireworks in particular. Reactions to the loud noises and inexplicable bursts of light can range from your cat hiding under the bed in a state of inconsolable terror to the dog barking incessantly until she’s exhausted. In fact, the Fourth is when we see some of the highest numbers of missing pets each year. So what can you do to help prepare your pets for the Fourth and keep them safe?

Behaviorist Donna Fournier says that ideally, if you have some time to prepare, you can begin desensitization training as she describes in the article, Helping your dog overcome a fear of storms. In a pinch, you may also wish to ask your veterinarian if a sedative is appropriate to help manage your pet’s anxiety. No matter what your pet’s reaction, your response is going to be very important as well. If you are overly indulgent or coddling toward your pet, you may help to reinforce the fearful behaviors you are seeing. On the other hand, if you become upset or take a negative approach to potentially bothersome behaviors like pacing or barking, you may just be giving your pet further reason to feel threatened. Try to set an example and show your pets that there is nothing to fear through your calm and confident attitude.

Pets and children

The following article was written by Donna Fournier for PetKeyBlog.

As an 8 year old child, I can remember begging my parents for the cute little bunny in the local pet shop. I promised that I would take care of the bunny, feed him, clean the cage, and play with him every day. And I meant that with all my heart. However, the reality was I was off playing Hide-and-Seek with friends, riding my bike in the neighborhood, reading a book, or simply watching TV on a rainy day. My mind drifted away from bunny-care to homework, chores, friends, and other such things. Before long my bunny, Cinnamon, was my mom’s. He responded to her, came to her when she was outside near his hutch, took food from only her, and was fearful of everyone else in the family. I was crushed; Cinnamon was supposed to be “mine” and he hated me. At 8, I just wasn’t responsible enough to care day in and day out for another life form. This was such a valuable lesson; one that has stayed with me throughout my 20 years in working with animals. What I learned then is that even the most responsible, well-meaning, “mature”, caring child isn’t able to be consistent and responsible enough to be the main caregiver. Children have much to explore, learn, and seek while growing up, and it’s not uncommon for even the most mature child to slip on consistency.

What made me think of Cinnamon and my failed attempt at responsible animal care in childhood was the news story out of England of a 4 year old child “bathing” his week old puppy in the toilet and flushing him down. This sparked the old debate; at what point do you bring a pet into your home when you have children?