Taylor’s Tears

Here you will find articles, resources, and helpful information for you and your new family member.

This section is not professional advice unless noted otherwise.

The Dangers of Transporting Loose Dogs in Vehicles 

A dog riding loose in the back of a pickup is a fairly common sight but this practice can be dangerous for the dog as well as motorists. A swerve, bump, or sudden stop can jolt the dog out resulting in his injury or death or cause an accident by a driver trying to avoid hitting the fallen dog.

Transporting dogs loose in a truck bed or tied to the truck bed is dangerous. Common sense dictates that a bump, swerve or sudden stop can jolt the dog out onto the pavement, into traffic or hanging by the tether. The safest way to transport a dog is inside the vehicle in a secure carrier or with a harness and seatbelt restraint. These methods prevent driver distraction and, in the event of an accident, minimize injury and prevent the dog bolting into traffic. If the dog must ride in the truck bed, a secure carrier or, at the very least, a harness and short cross tie will protect him from being thrown out. These common sense precautions take only a few moments and can prevent pet injuries and death, costly veterinarian bills, and traffic accidents. Be smart and secure your dog!

*This story is too close to home as Affordable Animal Care Clinic just had to amputate a dogs leg after it was thrown from the back of a pickup truck.  We all wish “Cassie” a quick and healthy recovery.

                          BRINGING YOUR NEW FAMILY MEMBER HOME

• What to Expect from your new family member comes home.

Don’t let this section worry you, the items listed below, are simply for our new fur-ever families not worry incase any of the following happen, and some suggestions on how to avoid certain circumstances.

• Expect the dog possibly to refuse food or eat very little for a few days, even up to a week to two weeks.
• Expect diarrhea and shyness.
• Don’t expect its true personality to shine for at least three weeks.
• Don’t bring your new family member too many new places, people or things at first.

For the first two weeks, work on just you and him/her; One on one. This helps establish that you are “the savior” so to speak, you are the one that he/she can TRUST. This is the building time; Just you and him. If the dog is shy or nervous offer food by hand piece by piece at first. This builds, like a momma dog; calm trust and of course yummy food. Use the kibble or even yummy treats. Let the dog know you are the one baby!

Think of your dog as a new puppy that has to again relearn all about life.

Once this time has passed (it doesn’t have to be two weeks, but when you see the dog begin to calm and trust. Maybe one week for confident dogs, even longer for very shy or nervous dogs). Then start to introduce other people in your household. One at a time with food, treats and T.L.C. Everyone must build this new family members trust and too the dog will understand where it fits in the “pack”. “Easy does it” is the way; This helps a lot to adjust and build trust. Don’t bring your dog to parks, friend’s homes, family homes, pet stores, etc… As tempting as it all is to show off your new baby. Slow down and take it easy. Work slowly on the leash, in the beginning time, as said, just you and him/her in the back yard, No one else. Then as you get along in time. move to the driveway.. then the front yard.. as you see the dog become more and more relaxed that is the time to move to a new scenerio..

New dogs are exciting and fun.. dont forget as you work to enjoy each moment and think of her or him as your new baby, that you are now responsible for teaching the big world too!

WARNING!

A Florida woman is warning people that “Real Ham Bones” may be hazardous to your pet. Here’s her story and her warning:

The label says it is made with ‘100% Food Grade Ingredients’ and it isn’t made from China. I thought that meant that this would make a good treat for my dogs. Boy was I wrong.

Trace, my dog, enjoyed chewing on this bone. It did not splinter or anything, in fact there is quite a large piece of it still left. Then in the evening she started vomiting. She spent the next day at a veterinarian’ s office where she was diagnosed with a blockage of the colon. That night she endured a 4 hour surgery at Brandon Veterinary Specialists where the vet picked out small round pellets of the bone, up to the size of about a b-b. The next morning she was moved to Florida Veterinary Specialist critical care unit. Again in the evening she had another 2 hour surgery, because the blockage had caused poison in her body. She passed away at 4:30 the next afternoon.

In the memory of Trace, please pass this email on to all of the dog lovers that you know. This type of bone is sold in all of the stores under several different manufacturers names. I would assume they all may do the same thing. Even if they don’t splinter, they can cause a blockage.

TELL PETLAND TO STOP SUPPORTING PUPPY MILLS

America’s largest chain of puppy-selling pet stores, Petland Inc., is also the nation’s largest retail supporter of puppy mills. An eight-month investigation by The Humane Society reveals that many Petland stores across the country are marketing puppy mill puppies to unsuspecting consumers.

Find out more, watch the video and sign the petition.

For more information:  http://www.puppymilldogsvoice.org/

WHY SHOULD I ADOPT A PET??  DID YOU KNOW…..

In an effort to help people make good choices when they adopt a dog or cat, many humane societies, SPCAs and pet rescues provide adoption counseling to help match you up with a pet for adoption.

If you have your heart set on a specific breed, before you check out a dog breeder or pet store, why not adopt a pet from a breed rescue organization? Breed rescues are groups that specialize in a particular breed of dog or cat.

Don’t be fooled into thinking that animal shelters and pet rescues are filled with dog or cats that were discarded because they’re “bad”. Shelter pets for adoption are wonderful companions who became the victims of family tragedy, unlucky circumstances or irresponsible owners.

Did you know that many backyard dog breeders and pet stores who supply the majority of purebreds simply are selling inbred pets without care for preventing genetic problems? Mixed breed pets have less inbreeding, generally less inherited genetic disease, and therefore overall lower vet bills and happier pets! And the best place to find a mixed breed dog or cat is at an SPCA, a humane society,animal shelter or pet rescue organization.

IN FORT MYERS, DOZENS OF ANIMALS LIVING IN HOME,SOME DEAD

A rescue clinic was struggling to save them, and even find all of them because the home is so trashed employees can’t reach many of the animals.

The animals were discovered Friday, and a day later, people couldn’t enter the house without wearing a mask. That’s how bad the smell was.

37 cats, two dogs, and almost one dozen dead cats were found in a home with an 87-year-old woman.

Read more on this story… Link “In the News” Section under “another feature on wink”