older and wiser: considering the senior pet

Blog Paws has designated August as senior pet month and has provided this informative graphic to illustrate the importance of senior pet care and some interesting statistics about our aging animals.

Whenever you are considering adopting a pet, it is just as important to consider their life span and care they will possibly need as they age. Knowing your pet's life expectancy and common health issues for the type or breed is key in determining if the pet is a good fit for your family. It is important to remember that your pet won't be that cute little baby for long!

There are many senior pets available for adoption, and they can make excellent additions to your family! Although you miss out on the baby book photos, there are definite advantages to a senior pet. The shelter or foster family can often provide you valuable information about temperament and behavior, so you'll know if the pet gets along well with other animals or with children. Senior pets are usually not as active as younger animals, so exercise requirements and energy levels may be a great match for some families. And, best of all, your adopted senior may already be potty trained or know some fun tricks. Older and wiser is a great thing.

There are organizations nationwide that specialize in the care and adoption of senior pets, so consider that option if you're looking to grow your family!

for keeps: Blog the Change for Animals

There are so many animals out there in need of homes, and so many who are destroyed as a result. So it goes without saying that unless you need a particular breed of animal pet for a specific reason, adoption is the best option. Regardless of the means by which a pet joins a family, the most important factor is that the family knows what they are getting into. A pet is a member of a family, not an armchair that can be replaced if the leg is busted or the upholstery is worn. Pets are in it for the long haul. If they are sick, they must be cared for–not discarded. If a family moves, it needs to seek out a pet-friendly option in a new home, not dump the animal at a shelter. And if your pet urinates around the house, it's time for behavior training, not the streets. We all have our issues, right?

Before getting a pet, think about the following:

1. What will this pet add to the family?

2. What care is involved with this pet?

3. Will this pet be good around children (if applicable)? And will the children be able to help care for the pet?

4. How long is the pet expected to live, and are there any health concerns surrounding this type of pet?

5. How much time is our family willing to put into training?

6. What are the potential issues with the specific pet we are considering adding to our family?

7. Who will care for the pet?

8. Can we afford to care for this pet?

9. Does our family's activity level and presence in the home fit with the needs of the pet?

10. Is our family ready to make a commitment to care for the pet for the duration of it's life?

It's wonderful that there are no-kill options for families who are in over their heads, but if research is done before a pet enters the family, there is a better chance that that pet will be a perfect, livelong fit, as it should be. Bringing a pet into the family is a commitment for the life of the pet, period. Pets are for keeps.

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Take Your Dog To Work Day 2013

I'm lucky in that even before I opened Well Minded and became a full-time professional pet sitter, I was able to bring my dog to work. As I worked away as an account manager at JDA, Inc., my faithful companion, Kermit laid by my side, or, more often, plopped down for a belly rub in front of anyone who came within 100 yards of my desk. My bosses in the office downstairs would bring their dog, Lucy, so we had a downstairs office dog and an upstairs office dog, and sometimes we'd join the two together for a romp. I'm a bit biased, but I think everyone benefited from having the dogs there. They gave us good laughs during tense times, and were always good for a snuggle. Or ready to accept a belly rub. logo-smTomorrow, Friday, June 21, 2013, is the 15th Annual Take Your Dog to Work Day, created by Pet Sitters International. PSI says:

First celebrated in 1999, Pet Sitters International's Take Your Dog To Work Day (TYDTWDay®) was created to celebrate the great companions dogs make and to encourage their adoption from humane societies, animal shelters, and breed rescue clubs. This annual event asks pet lovers to celebrate the human-canine bond and promote pet adoption by encouraging their employers to support TYDTWDay. Employers are encouraged to open their workplace to employees' four-legged friends on this one special day.

In case you are more musically-inclined, check out the TYDTWDay song!

Will you be taking your dog to work tomorrow?