Adoption...Is It Really Better Than Buying?

Working with a rescue organization can be very taxing and very rewarding at the same time.  It takes a lot of time, energy, money (personal and organization) and emotions.  It is definitely not for everyone.  However, when you see an animal that has been thrown away by its former owners get a new home where you know they will be spoiled forever it is the best feeling in the world.  So my question to everyone is...do you think adopting a pet is better than buying from a breeder?

Well today is going to be a personal opinion type of day so here goes.  I personally do not think one is better than the other.  My friend Thor (whom you have already read about) is from a breeder and has arthritis, allergies, has had two elbow surgeries, and now we found out he has Wobbler's Disease (a cervical or neck spine issue where the vertebrae compress on the spinal cord and cause pain and eventually paralysis-the only cure is surgery).  His sister Megan (from a different breeder and litter) who is 19 weeks old hasn't shown any signs of any issues whatsoever.  Both from breeders. 

Rescued animals can have issues just like pure bred animals and I personally just believe it is genetics and what the animal has been through that creates who they are medically.  I've seen cats who were living outside, eating who only knows what, come into the rescue group and come to find out they have allergies to the commercial cat food. 

"Pitt Bulls" were originally used for nannies

This is actually what "Pitt Bulls" were bred for

Does either animal make a better pet?  Absolutely not.  It completely depends on the temperament of the animal.  I believe rescue animals appreciate the love, attention and a good home much more than those from breeders but that does not make them better pets.

What do you look for if you are adopting from a rescue organization?  Most importantly what medical care the fee covers.  I say this because if the fee doesn't cover at least 1 or 2 (depending on the age) distemper (FVRCP for cats) , a deworming, a FIV and Feline Leukemia or HW (heartworm) test depending on whether it's a dog or cat, flea treatment, heartworm prevent for dogs, rabies, spay/neuter and a microchip then you should really look elsewhere.  No matter whether you are looking for a dog or cat there are certain things that are a minimum for rescue groups to take care of medically and in my opinion that is really the very basic and should be done.

Another thing you should look at is whether or not the group has a facility where the cats/dogs are held or if they are in foster homes.  Dogs should really be in a foster home so the socialization is better.  Cats can be in either but, in my opinion, a foster home is so much better because it gives the animal the chance to learn how to behave in a home with a family and get used to certain things like family life, kids, dogs, other types of pets, etc.

However, breeders have their animals in a home environment more than likely (if they don't I would personally look elsewhere) so that is not an issue for these animals.  There should also be a minimum amount of medical care done on these animals as well and especially for large breed dogs and cats such as maine coons a cardiac check should be part of that process.  The breeder should be ready and willing to give you the information on this as well.  If they are not then be very skeptical and strongly consider going elsewhere.

Some people use pure bred animals as a status symbol and enjoy telling people they have a pure bred animal.  That is not what a pet is supposed to be so if that is what you want the pet for then I'd rather you not get one at all. 

So what should you do?  Consider adopting first if at all possible.  Thousands of animals are euthanized over North Carolina weekly and millions all over the United States because there are too many in the shelters.  They have to make room for the new ones being dropped off so they have to euthanize the ones that don't get adopted the week before.  Some of the shelters do not use very humane ways of euthanizing animals and will use a gas chamber where they pile in a bunch of animals and gas them to death.   Does that remind you of the Germans during Hitler's reign?  It's cold, harsh and not fun to think about but it's the truth.

If you have to have a pure bred animal then do your research first to make sure you understand the breed.  For instance, if you want a rottweiler then you should know they are stubborn, hard headed, solid muscle and should start training at a very early age so you don't have an unruly rottie on your hands.  Unruly rottweilers are dangerous and will probably end up in a shelter and euthanized.  Socialization is important for all dogs and other animals but especially breeds people tend to be afraid of and not understand like Rottweilers and Pitt Bulls (althought that name is a culmination of several different breeds in and of itself).  Also, regardless of the breed you choose the dogs should be temperament tested.

I hope I have given you something to think about whether you adopt or buy and as always please let us know if you have any questions, comments, concerns.  Also, if you want a topic discussed please send it to us and we will definitely get it on the blog. Don't forget to follow us on Facebook and Twitter and tell your family and friends about us!

FIV vs Feline Leukemia...Myths and Facts

Today I want to touch on another controversial topic...FIV and Feline Leukemia (FeLV) because there are a lot of websites out there giving misinformation and scaring people and getting the two mixed up.  Here is the basic difference; FIV is extremely difficult to transmit and FeLV is much easier to transmit.  FIV can only be transmitted through a very deep intramuscular bite as seen in unneutered feral males and can be transmitted from mom to baby.  FeLV can be transmitted by sharing water and food bowls and through shared grooming.  Unfortunately, some cats are double positive which means they test positive for both FIV and FeLV.  It doesn't mean they should be euthanized immediately either.

Now for the more indepth information and the clinical stuff.  First, neither of these viruses can be transmitted to humans or other non-cat species.  Second, if your vet calls FIV "feline AIDS" you should find another vet because he/she has antiquated thinking and is not up to date on the latest research.  FeLV is a retrovirus which means it's a family of viruses that can cause a variety of health issues and diseases and sometimes death.  FIV belongs to a different retrovirus family called Lentivirus which means they are slow-progressing and long-life.  However, with FIV the cats immune system can fight off the virus and the cat can eventually test negative as the cat ages and develops.  In my work in rescue I have personally seen two kittens do this as they grew to adults.  Their names are Bang and Tango (from the 80's big hair band Bang Tango) and they were recently adopted through http://www.calvinspaws.org/. This is just one group who has FIV cats.

This picture came up when I searched for FIV cats...cute huh

According to Winn Feline Health, there are 4 possibilities once a cat is exposed to to FeLV and each one depends on the cat's immune system and how it handles the virus.  Once exposure occurs the potential is for the virus to be completely fought off and the cat is resistant for an undetermined amount of time, it is not fought off and the cat secretes the virus through saliva, the cat does not produce an immunity to the virus immediately and it lies dormant in the bone marrow for an undetermined amount of time and these cats will either overcome the virus or the fact that they did not develop an immunity will allow the virus opportunity, and finally some cats will develop "latent or sequestered infection" which means they will not ever develop the infection and will not become contagious (winnfelinehealth.org).


http://www.v63.net/catsanctuary/vet_question.html

http://www.winnfelinehealth.org/health/felv-fiv.html

FIV, in my opinion and the opinion of several vets in my area, is not a big deal although you should keep these animals as healthy as possible.  That being said, you should always keep your pet as healthy as possible no matter what.  Giving your cat the amino acid L-Lysine can help stop the replication of any viruses that may be going on (http://www.l-lysinebenefits.net/lysine-for-cats/).  This link mentions the herpes virus which is completely different than that in humans and another topic for another day.  L-Lysine can be taken by humans as well so if you have some at home you can sprinkle approximately 1/5 tsp on your cat's food and it will help.  It can be found at any health store or online.

FIV positive cats can also be put with negative cats without worry since it is so difficult to transmit.  These cats are often the sweetest cats and will often live long healthy lives without any extra care needed.  I personally have them integrated with my personal cats without incident.

http://www.vet.cornell.edu/fhc/brochures/felv.html

http://www.vet.cornell.edu/fhc/askDr/CW_FeLV.cfm

Please do your research and ask lots of questions before euthanizing a cat with EITHER positive test.  Since the initial test was more than likely a simple SNAP test, which only tests for antibodies and not the actual virus, do the more indepth testing (IFA and Western Blot) before making any decisions.  There is tons of research out there about both of these viruses and some things that can be done and you may find that nothing needs to be done.

I am more than willing to discuss this topic so please send me any question you have and if I don't know the answer I will find out.  I do have contacts at the local Veterinary School here and can ask them questions as well.

As always I welcome your comments, questions, and concerns about this topic or any others.  If you have a topic you'd like discussed please send it on and we will definitely put it out there for you and everyone else.  Be sure to follow us on Facebook and Twitter and tell your friends and family about us.

Fostering...How Do You Get Started and Who To Foster For?

Are you thinking about a new pet but not sure about the commitment?  What about fostering?  There are a lot of organizations in the area who are full to the brim with cats and dogs who need foster homes.  There are animals taken to the shelters every day that need either a foster home or adoptive home.

So what is involved in fostering?  Do you have to adopt the animal?  Well the involvement depends on the group and you.  Some groups pay for food and litter as well as vet care (for cats) and some do not.  Some groups will pay for training for dogs and some will not.  It just depends on funding and whether the group has a trainer involved or not.  As far as adopting the animal goes, you should never be required to adopt an animal as as foster parent.  If that is part of the requirement you should not foster for that particular group.

Fostering can be very emotionally demanding and very emotionally draining because the animals you are fostering often have emotional issues from being surrendered.  They are confused, scared and do not know what is going on.  They have to learn they are safe and may have been abused so they have to overcome the mental issues from that as well.  Some animals never overcome the demons from abuse depending on the level of abuse.  The type of abuse may have to be taken into consideration as well.  For instance, if a cat was used as bait for a dog fighting ring he/she may be afraid of dogs and may not be but that will be very easy to tell. 

This is a scared cat that will probably fight back

Medications may also be involved in fostering as well so it may be necessary for you to administer them for a cold or other infection if they have had an injury or ear issues, etc.  Like humans, though, it's important to follow the vet's directions and give the medications as directed.

Fostering is also extremely rewarding, though.  When a family finds your foster is the right one for their family and takes them home and they have already fallen in love with their new pet, you have a sense of pride and sadness at the same time.  Pride comes from knowing where they came from when you first got them and where they are now and the sadness comes from watching them 'leave the nest' so to speak.  I always ask for pictures and send follow up emails checking in to make sure things are going well.  It's very important to do that so the people do not feel they are alone and just got dumped with a new animal and they do not have any support if something goes wrong.

Here is more information about fostering:

http://fosterdogs.com/getting-involved.html

http://matadornetwork.com/change/beginnersguide-to-fosteirng-animals/

www.calvinspaws.org

http://www.wakegov.com/pets/foster/Pages/default.aspx

For those in the Raleigh, NC, USA area I've included two good groups to contact about fostering.  Anyone interested in those groups can either contact them directly or send me a note and I will help you get involved.  There are many ways to volunteer your time besides fostering as well, but that is the biggest need.

Please considering fostering a homeless animal or volunteering with your local rescue organization or shelter.  As always, we welcome your comments, questions, and/or concerns regarding any of our posts and if you would like to see a topic discussed please let us know.

Don't forget to follow us on Twitter and Facebook and tell your family and friends about us!

What Do You Do If Your Pet Is Missing?

Accidents happen and sometimes your pet gets away from your home and gets lost.  So what do you do?  Who do you tell?  Well the first thing you can do is print out a picture of him/her on a flyer and post it all over your neighborhood and tell all of your neighbors.  Then what?  Here's some ideas and links:

http://www.missingpet.net/cgi-bin/statepage.pl?NC

http://www.spcawake.org/site/PageServer?pagename=Lost_FoundLOSTpet

http://www.lostmydoggie.com/index.cfm?source=10

Wherever you live, there are shelters that can post flyers and information about your pet and they may even have online information so you can post your pet there as well in case someone finds him/her and looks up lost and found information.

This is also where microchipping your pet is extremely important.  People can take your pet to a local shelter, rescue organization or vet to be scanned and your information will come up as the pet's owner and you can be contacted.  I've personally seen this happen and had some happy endings for some people.

There are quite a few companies out there that deal with microchips and your vet can answer any questions you may have as well as implant the chip itself.  It is not a surgical procedure and takes less than a minute to do.  The chip itself is about the size of a grain of rice and is inserted just under the skin.  It is worth the time you spend to have this done if your pet is ever missing because if someone finds him/her and you haven't had this done and they end up in the shelter they may not make it out because they might be put to sleep.

This is a microchip (on the left)

If you are interested in some companies that will register your chip send me a note or ask your vet.  If you got your pet from a breeder then he/she should have already given you some information about microchipping.

If you find a stray animal please do not assume it's mean or feral because it may be someone's lost pet.  If it's friendly and comes up to you call your vet and see if he/she will come out and scan the pet or if you can take the animal to your vet for scanning to make sure someone isn't missing their family member.

Again, if you would like more information on microchipping companies please contact me or your local vet.

We always welcome comments, questions, concerns and other notes.  If you have a topic you would like to see discussed please send us an email and do not forget to follow us on Facebook and Twitter!  Tell your friends and family about us as well.

Introducing A Pet To Children...The Safe Way

Having a baby is a very exciting and busy time for a couple.  If it's the first child and you have a pet then the stress can be heightened even more because what if the pet doesn't like the baby?  What if the baby is allergic to the pet?  Lots of questions with seemingly nowhere to find the answers.  Well here's some answers to some all to frequently asked questions.

First, you don't have to give up your cat because you are having a baby.  It won't smother your baby.  That is an old wives tale that is not true.  Your cat can get a long with your baby just fine with some ground rules just like anything else.  As your child grows then he/she will need to learn how to interact with the cat as well.  This goes for dogs too because kids do not automatically know how to treat animals.  They have to be taught and they will learn by watching their parents as well.

http://www.healthypet.com/PetCare/DogCareArticle.aspx?title=Introducing_Your_Pet_to_a_Baby

http://familypaws.com/

http://www.humanesociety.org/animals/resources/tips/pets_babies.html

Another cool fact is you may not even know you are pregnant but your pet will.  You may wonder why they are all of a sudden more clingy or more protective or having elimination issues or want more attention than normal.  If it's possible you may be pregnant then you might want to test because dogs and cats have an extraordinary sense for this type of thing and can sense hormonal changes.

Ok.  So the test is positive.  Congratulations!  Now what?  Just enjoy being pregnant and involve your pet.  Once you decide on a name then you can say the name a lot so your pet hears it and gets used to it because you'll be saying it all the time anyway.  Let your pet sniff the baby's clothing.  Make this a positive experience for them as well.  Making the nursery off limits is fine but the pet must know his/her limits in a positive, non-disciplinary manner so as not to let the pet feel the baby is bad.  Baby gates to the nursery as a barrier are a good way to keep the pet out while still allowing him/her to view what's going on and feel a part of the family.

 All of this being said, not all animals will love your children as much as you do so if your cat or dog is attacking you and you are pregnant it's important to look into whether or not he/she doesn't like children or if it is a medical condition.  Do not assume you must give up your furry family member because you have a non-furry family member being added to the picture.  We can learn a great deal from our pets.

I hope this has helped some of you and maybe sparked some thought in others.  I've included some links to some of the experts that can give some more feedback and support as well.

As always, if you have questions, comments or concerns please let us know and be sure to follow us on Facebook and Twitter!  Also, click the follow button on this page as well.

Watching a New Family Get Their New Family Member

As you all know, I volunteer with an animal rescue organization (www.calvinspaws.org) and part of the job, so to speak, is getting to send an animal home with his/her new family.  I got to do that today.  This family has 3 daughters (two of them young) and the 7 month old kitten that they picked is simply perfect for them.  I could not have picked a better one for them.  Houdini is not phased by anything and loves to play better than life itself.  The girls just giggled loudly every time he grabbed at the toys.  They let the girls hold him in the very busy pet store and played some more with them in the back of the store where all the other cats are for the group.  The family just really fell in love with little Houdini.  Even the dad who said "I'm not really a cat person".  It was wonderful!

The mom said she'd need to think about it but I could hear the daughters begging and begging for Houdini.  Even the dad was convinced.  The mom didn't have a chance.  She came over to me and said "It looks like Houdini is the one".  The little girls just squealed with delight and everyone was grinning from ear to ear...even the parents.  It was obvious the love they already had for him. 

The dad picked out the toys, the mom got the litter and litterbox, we did the paperwork and off they went.  The girls informed me they would definitely play with him a lot.  I did ask for pictures because we, as a group, LOVE to see pictures of the happily ever afters.  I was assured there would be tons of pictures.

I love happy endings.

This is little Houdini.

Spending time with family

I spent time with my family today.  They have an infant and a 5 year old German Shephard Dog.  While we were pretty sure how Admiral, the dog, would do with the baby, one never knows. The parents talked about the baby, said his name often, let Admiral smell his clothes, etc.  Admiral is now more protective of Greyson than anything else. He loves him and is extremely careful and patient with him. 

Just because there's an additionto the family doesn't mean the family pet has to leave.  We will post more information about ways to integrate the two.

As always, please give us your feedback, comments about the topic and suggestions on future topics.

To Declaw or Not To Declaw...Is It Really Necessary?

Today I want to talk about one of the most controversial topics out there for cats...declawing.  No matter what your opinion is, it's likely you feel strongly about it and think everyone else is ridiculous.  Well let's get the facts out in the open first.  What is declawing?  Is it removing just the nail or is it really more than that?

First, the surgery is NOT just removing the nail but amputating the first 'knuckle' of each digit.  It is the equivalent of amputating the first knuckle of each of your fingers.  That is a fact.  A tendonectomy is severing the tendon of each digit so the cat cannot retract its claws.  This does not mean you do not need to trim their nails.  It is even more important you do that if this surgery is done because they cannot scratch on their posts in order to file them down.  They will continue to grow.  These are two very common surgeries.

Now for some more facts..16 countries have deemed this practice inhumane and have made it illegal.  Those countries are:   England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Norway, Sweden, Netherlands, Denmark, Finland, Brazil, Australia, New Zealand, and Poland.  There really is no way to keep your cat from scratching regardless because it is a natural behavior for them and they will continue to try even after the surgery.  They do this to mark territory, stretch their "fingers" and a variety of other things.  It is not because they do not like your furniture or you.

http://www.moggies.co.uk/stories/declaw.html

http://pictures-of-cats.org/Why-is-Declawing-Illegal-in-the-UK.html

There are alternatives to declawing such as Soft Paws (which your vet can apply), scratching post training, double sided tape on the areas you want them to keep away from (they do not like the feeling of tape on their paws), and antiperspirant spray on your furniture and other areas you don't want them scratching on (smells good and keeps them away). 

Here are some pros and cons regarding declawing:

http://www.vetinfo.com/cat-declawing-procedure-explained.html

http://www.catsinternational.org/articles/scratching_and_declawing/Truth_about_Declawing.html

The picture may be a little graphic for some but that is the aftermath of a declaw surgery.  As you can probably tell I am against declawing; however, I have adopted 2 already declawed cats.  Their personalities are quite different.  One of them has trouble jumping up on things compared to my clawed cats.  The other one has behavioral issues and will chase down my other cats and attack them.  I admit they are both very sweet and I have never had a problem with them biting.  They are obviously indoor only cats, though, and if you just have to declaw then please keep them indoors.  I will never advocate or agree with having an indoor/outdoor declawed cat.

Also, please discuss with your vet and others prior to making this decision because it is lifelong and there can be physical problems later on such as arthritis, pain while walking, potential behavioral changes (especially with young children), etc.

Here are some estimated costs as well:  http://catdeclawing.org/declawing-cats-cost/
Here are some alternatives:  http://www.thecatsite.com/a/declawing-and-alternatives

I've seen both sides of this and have done it to a former cat of mine in the distant past and will never do it again.

As always, I welcome any comments, questions or concerns.  Please click the follow link to follow us on Twitter and Facebook. 

Dogs and Arthritis...How Do Parents Help?

As you may have seen on our Twitter page yesterday, a friend's Newfoundland named Thor has bad arthritis and it seems to be getting worse.  I stayed with him last night while my friends went to training class with their Newfoundland puppy, Megan.   This advancement of Thor's pain got me thinking about what we as pet parents can do to help our fur kids if this ever happens to them and while there are tons of websites with ads for medications claiming to naturally help arthritis I personally had a hard time finding good information about this topic.  I did, however, find these three links that I liked:

http://pets.webmd.com/dogs/guide/arthritis-in-dogs-symptoms-and-causes

http://pets.webmd.com/dogs/medications-supplements-dogs-arthritis

http://www.glucosamine-arthritis.org/arthritis-pets/glucosamine-large-dogs.html

Thor has had so many health problems which is unfortunate and very unlike the breed.  He has had a couple of shoulder surgeries, he has allergies to several things not the least of which is fleas and, of course, arthritis.  Big breed dogs often have issues with joints  which is why a lot of owners will give supplements to their big dogs to help with this later in life.  I personally give my Great Dane supplements to hopefully keep his joints as healthy as possible for as long as possible.

Thor at 4 years old

Arthritis is very painful, as the ones of you who know someone who has it or may have it yourself know, and as the disease progresses it becomes harder and harder to treat.  Pain medications can only do so much which is why it is very important to keep your dog as healthy as possible by feeding him/her the best food you can and visiting your vet so any early signs/symptoms can be detected.

There are several other conditions that can lead to arthritis in larger dogs such as hip dysplasia, cruciate ligament rupture and Osteochondrosis.  These conditions are very easy for a good vet to detect so if you notice any changes in your dog's gait, or if he/she cries out in pain during various everyday activities such as walking then call your vet immediately.

We all love our animals and keeping them healthy is extremely important.  Feed a good food, know what's normal for your animal and please see your vet every year.

As always, we welcome your comments, questions and topics you want to see posted.  Follow us on Twitter and tell your friends and family about us.

Finding New Litters and Babies

 Animal rescue people know when kitten season is coming but a lot of "normal" people do not and will often contact rescue organization, their vet or even shelters when they find litters and even infants.  Most of the time these organizations are full to the brim with animals they already have so fostering these babies is hopefully an option for the finder.

The care needed for these little ones can be intimidating, however, but no need to worry.  If you find a mom with babies all you need to do is put her in a small space like a large dog crate, bathroom or spare room with a box for the babies and she will do all the work for you!  Occasionally there is a little one left behind, though, and this is even more intimidating than finding the family.  While caring for the little one is hard work it is not complicated at all.  Here are two links for kittens and puppies to help you figure things out.

http://www.kittenbaby.com/

http://www.peteducation.com/article.cfm?c=2+2108&aid=863

Animal rescue organizations can also be a great source of information as can your vet.  Do not hesitate to ask but here are some things I like to keep on hand for kitten season:

Kitten Meal Replacement (KMR):  found at any petstore in powder and liquid form.
Baby kitten soft food:  doesn't matter what brand as long as it is a pate form
Baby kitten hard food:  for when they develop teeth and start eating.  I like Royal Canin baby cat but  whatever kitten food available is fine.
Bottle for KMR when they are still bottle feeding and not eating food yet.
A scale for making sure the little ones are gaining weight.

Socialization is key as well so having more than one animal with these babies is wonderful for their development (mental, social and physical).  Adopting kittens in pairs is always preferable because if the parents ever want another cat then the exposure and socialization is already there for them to be accepting of another housemate.

I hope this has helped and as always please let me know if you have any comments, questions or a topic you would like to see discussed here.

Should I Give Heartworm and Flea/Tick Prevention To My Pet?

I encourage everyone to give Heartworm and Flea/Tick prevention to their dogs.  While cats have a much harder time contracting heartworms they do need monthly flea prevention.  Your animals are indoor animals?  That's great!  You are not 100% indoor so these little bugs can hitch a ride on you and then come in to get on your pet.

Whether or dog is stricktly indoor except for potty breaks or not is irrelavent to the need for heartworm prevention.  The prevention is so much easier than the treatment if they are infected.  All it takes is one mosquito and we all know how sneaky those little creatures are.  They can get into your home whether you want them to or not.  They can also get in whether or not you treat your home for insects.  Again, we humans can bring them inside since we are not 100% indoors.

http://pets.webmd.com/dogs/guide/heartworm-prevention-medicine-dogs

http://heartwormtreatment-fordogs.com/immiticide-treatment-and-side-effects/

The treatment for heart worms is very hard on a dog's body.  The vet injects a medication called Immiticide into your dog to kill the worms that are living in his/her heart.  This drug is basically arsenic.  It is not a high enough dose to kill your dog but does kill the worms.  Then your dog has to stay quiet (no playing) for a few weeks and then there's another dose of this arsenic drug.  Then more quiet time.  Depending on the severity of the disease will dictate treatment but it is definitely hard on the body regardless.

There are a wide variety of prevention options out on the market today and if you want to know what I use on my dogs and cats I will be happy to tell you if you send me a note.  I have included links so you will be able to do more research on this topic if you would like.  There is a lot of information and it can be confusing.  Please talk to your vet about purchasing prevention.  It is definitely better to be safe than sorry when it comes to your pet's health.

As always, I'm interested in any comments or questions any of you may have regarding this post.

Pet Sitting Thor and Megan the Newfoundlands

This is Megan at 17 weeks old.

I was pet sitting for friends this weekend and they have two Newfoundlands.   One is Thor who is 4 years old and the other is Megan who is 17 weeks old.  Thor is a big teddy bear who loves people and all animals.  He has had a few surgeries and has a hard time walking now.  Megan, on the other hand, is 100% puppy.  She loves to play with people and Thor and he shows her how to play nice while on the floor so they don't hurt each other.

Thor at 4 years old.

These dogs are wonderful and are truly gentle giants.  My friends also have cats.  These dogs have managed to be trained by the cats on what kitty manners are and they definitely abide by this rule of the house.  The cats that are their personal cats are all black except for one tabby and one torbie.  They all have their own personalities just like humans.  Every time a new cat comes in there is dissension among the ranks until everyone gets used to the new kid.  That is very normal for cats, though.  Slow introductions are best when introducing a new cat to help everyone get used to everything slowly.

My friends are volunteers in rescue with me.  They help with cats that need special attention for anything from abuse to just needing to fatten up.  It is truly amazing the affect a lot of love and some food can do for a life that has been basically thrown away because its former owners didn't want he/she anymore.

I love pet sitting for my friends and love their furry family members.  They are like my own family and when one of them is sick they always text and call me to give me updates no matter what is wrong.