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Don't Be an Animal: Prevent Cruelty
to Your Pet
(WMS) - Many people do not set out to intentionally harm their pets, but
unknowingly do so through actions they'd never imagine were cruel. For example, did you
know that one of the easiest ways to injure your pet is through over-feeding? An obese cat
or dog cannot live its life to the fullest and may face several other health concerns as a
result of being overweight. Overfeeding is just one example of how to harm an animal
unintentionally, but there are other more obvious causes. To understand animal cruelty,
it's best to first understand the emotional and developmental needs of your pet so that
you can better care for him or her. Here's a look at the two most common pets, cats and
dogs, courtesy of "Natural Dog Care" and "Natural Cat Care" (DK), by
Dr. Bruce Fogle. DOGGY DELIGHT The dog is a pack animal, just as sociable as you are, and
is self-domesticated. The dog remembers its early lessons best and, like you, retains a
lifelong interest in and enjoyment of playful activities. With the right care from their
owners, dogs can live into old age, reaching their maximum genetic life potential. One of
the easiest ways to be cruel to your dog is to deny him or her the opportunity to have
fun. Imagine if you had to live your life with no time for recreation! Of course, your
busy lifestyle may not allow for all-day pampering of your pooch, but try to set aside
some time for play each day. Not only will this allow him or her to work off stored
energy, it will help prevent boredom and its close cousin mischief while you are away from
home. A dog with too much built up frustration can be downright destructive -- chewing
furniture, whining or barking, or relieving in the house. This may cause you to get angry
and take your frustrations out on the dog, creating a vicious cycle. Another "faux
paw" many people make concerning dogs is choosing and breeding them for purely
aesthetic reasons. For thousands of years, dogs were bred to perform in ways that were
useful to the human community -- as guard dogs, hunting companions and the like. In the
last millennium, humans intervened in the dog's development even more extensively,
breeding dogs to promote certain features that may not be altogether natural for the
breed, like extremely short legs, long ears and fine coats. These dogs may be appealing to
the eye but many often develop health problems. CAT'S MEOW Cats often seem mysterious to
us because they are, in many ways, so different from other "domesticated"
animals. Cats often rely upon humans much less than their canine counterparts, leading
some cat owners believe that kitty can be left alone more often. While cats do amuse
themselves quite easily and think solely of themselves and their own comforts most of the
time, they do need daily human interaction. The last thing you should do is leave the care
of young kittens solely to their mother, or else these cats will develop a fear of you --
a trait passed down from their ancestry. As the kitten develops it should look to you as a
mother-substitute providing protection, shelter and food. One common form of cat cruelty
is having the claws removed to prevent unwanted scratching. If you live where it is not
safe to let a cat outdoors but you still want the joyful companionship that comes from
living with a cat, you have an obligation to supply your feline with its own scratching
post and teach it to scratch that but not other objects. Leaving visible territory markers
is an ingrained, natural behavior that should be channeled, but can't be prevented. One of
the easiest ways to care for your cat is to have it spayed or neutered. This prevents
unnecessary pregnancies that can be taxing on the cat and eliminates the possibilities of
strays. Because of the over-abundance of shelter cats, one of the most humane actions you
can take is to select your feline friend from one of these local shelters. TF024338
CAPTION LET'S PLAY -- a happy pup is one who has plenty of time to interact with its
owner. A good belly rub doesn't hurt either. |
