With a new year – and a new decade – fast approaching, it’s not too early to think about resolutions for 2010. For dog lovers, there are things we can do within our own homes and to help dogs in all. parts, not just in the next few years. year, but throughout our life. Adopting just one or two of these suggestions can help you have a more peaceful home and can help with the problem of overcrowding and neglect of pets in your community.

Within our own families:

  • Take Fido for a walk every day; Not only will exercise help you stay in shape, but canine physical activity will help keep dogs calm and behave better, and walking will help their fitness too!
  • Provide good quality food and clean water to help maintain Fido’s overall health and well-being.
  • Keep Fido up-to-date on heartworm and flea vaccinations and preventatives to keep him healthy and safe, and seek veterinary attention if any health concerns arise.
  • Always make sure your dog has current identification, including the collar, tags, and a microchip. So many dogs end up in shelters because they leave the yards and no one can locate their owners, and identification is so easy to remedy.
  • Spay and neuter your pets – In the case of intact male dogs in particular, the instinct to wander in search of a lady is very strong, and a large number of stray dogs are unneutered children. Spaying and neutering also helps with the problem of pet overpopulation across the country and provides health benefits for your own pets.
  • Do not keep your dog confined for long periods or leave him alone outside. Dogs are pack animals and do best when they are part of the family and can spend time with their people and other pets.
  • Don’t give up on your dog if he has behavior problems; make the decision to work with him, with the help of trained professionals if necessary, to resolve behavior problems.
  • Before getting a dog, ask yourself if you are ready for a commitment that can last ten to twenty years. Anyone who has ever seen the heartbreak and bewilderment of dogs delivered to shelters after being part of a loving home will always wonder “how could anyone do that?”
  • Never bring home a dog “for the kids”; even children with the best of intentions will lose interest in daily pet care tasks or become involved in other activities as they get older. The decision to bring a dog home should be something that the whole family, especially the parents, make.
  • Spend time with your dogs every day. They will do better mentally and emotionally, and you will find happiness in the unconditional love they give you in return.

Within your community:

  • Help end the puppy mills. Never buy a pet from a pet store, garden breeder, or online as most of these dogs are born and raised in appalling conditions (and their parents suffer even more as they are forced to breed over and over again time, spending their entire lives in cramped and dirty cages, with food, water, limited veterinary care, and no human companionship). These pets tend to suffer from a number of health problems, as well as being subjected to incredible cruelty and neglect.
  • When you decide to bring home a new pet, adopt from a shelter or rescue group. About 25% of shelter pets are purebred, and many offer “pet match” programs to help you find the right dog for you. Breed rescue groups also offer wonderful pets for adoption. When you adopt a rescue dog, they somehow know that you have offered them the opportunity for a better life, and in return, they offer them incredible love and loyalty. Help Save a Life – With three to four million adoptable pets euthanized in shelters each year, saving just one can make a big difference when adopting a shelter dog.
  • Support your local shelters. Give Your Time – Most shelters accept volunteers to help clean, walk, socialize, foster, or help with the adoption of pets. Donate food, toys or money: With the economic downturn, many nonprofits have also suffered financially and all help. Organize donation drives or fundraising projects in your communities.
  • Pick up a stray dog ​​and take it to a local shelter. Bring a spare leash and treats into your care to help save a life from tragically ending up on a busy highway.
  • Report any suspected abuse or dog fighting to local authorities. In many areas, chaining dogs outside is illegal, as is neglect to the point of starvation. Ending dogfighting has become a national effort. The more we all talk, the more attention these issues will get.

If each of us helps a little bit, in the grand scheme of things, it will go a long way toward making a big difference! From my pack to yours, we wish you all a “Happy New Year.”