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Click on the question to see the answer

Where do you get the pets that you show on your web site?

All of the pets listed on the ‘Adoptables’ pages come from ‘certain death’ situations: Euthanasia lists from various shelters, contacts from local veterinary clinics with healthy pets that are to be destroyed for one reason or another, and sick or injured, or badly behaved animals that no one wants to put any money into. Many of These creatures end up with C.A.R.E.S. who then are rehabilitated, made well and given the love that they need to get started in the quest for their forever home. That’s where you come in…You can make a difference…Be the one who cares.

We are having a baby. Will our dog get along with the new baby?

Answer coming soon.

My dog pulls my arm out when we walk. Can you help me?

Yes, we absolutely can! We would rather help you work through your pups issues than to have you get frustrated and give up on him. If you would make contact with us, we can arrange a time to do an evaluation and work with you and your family pet. Walking nicely on leash and becoming a ‘Star’ citizen for you and your family really is what your pup wants to do. They live for your praise and your love. Let’s talk about your situation and get started!

Will you take my pet? I am moving to an apartment and can't keep him.

No, but we will give you all the information and support we can, so surrenduring your pet is not the only option. If you are moving by choice, you can find pet friendly apartments in your area. (Related links coming soon.) If your new apartment was chosen for other reasons, and it is not pet friendly then, speak with the manager to see if exceptions are possible. You may have to provide a larger cleaning deposit or something similar. Your pet is a part of your family. Please lets keep the family together.

How old does my dog have to be in order to get 'fixed'?

Dogs in the US are generally spayed 5-8 months of age. Dogs should definately be spayed before they have their first heat. Many humane shelters have started to spay/neuter all animals before they are adopted. This means they are spaying/neutering animals at a younger age, even 6-14 weeks of age. Private practice vets have started early spaying/neutering as well.

What is the best breed of dog for an active family to have?

Retreivers and Collies are very energetic breeds and are good family pets, but there are others as well. See this link for more details. All dogs are individuals, so when the time comes to select your new pet, don't make a hasty decision, try to get to know the personality and the energy level and be sure these are compatible with you and your family. If you are getting a puppy, be aware of the adult size of the breed and that it fits with your living arangements. You should make your selection carefully, with the whole family involved. If any part of the family is against a new pet, the pet will suffer and/or cause family issues. If you make a poor choice for a pet, that creature will suffer or be killed because of your decision. Choose your new family member carefully for life!

I don't want dog hair all over my house. What breed doesn't shed?

ALL DOGS SHED…to a certain degree. If dog hair is an issue, please re-evaluate the commitment to a new family member. Dogs that shed more than others are usually the ones that are the major cause of PET ALLERGIES. So many dogs are given up daily to the local shelters, due to family allergies. Please do not adopt a pet unless you are willing to love it for all of it's natural life. Many people can take allergy medications that enable them to live side by side with a family pet. Zirtec is one of those medications, now available over the counter.

The curly coated dogs like Poodles, Shih Tzus, Cocker Spaniels and Lhasa Apsos are very famous for their low shed coats. They are also dogs that require regular grooming by a professional groomer every 4 to 6 weeks. These dogs do still shed…just in lower amounts, than say, a German Shepherd. Regular brushing and bathing does cut down on the amount of hair that you will find around your home. You can still take your Labrador to the groomer, even though he has a short coat. Groomers have tools that help loosen and remove the excess coat, in their shop, not in your home!!

This is a very good question and it proves that you are thinking ahead. Other thoughts should be; size, gender, activity level, and required care. Let us give you some ideas about temperament, activity levels, special needs and such. Please feel free to contact us.

No matter what breed you choose, you should always invest in a good vacuum. Two legged children bring in a lot of dirt and dust too.

What foods are dangerous to feed a dog?

There are many foods and other, not necessarily edible things out there that are dangerous for your pet. These are things that most dogs ‘get into’ by accident. One of the biggest and somewhat unknown ingestible dangers to pets is Xylitol. This is an artificial sweetener. You find it in sugarless gum and candies. Ingestion of this chemical can cause extremely dangerous liver toxicity and will require an emergency trip to the veterinarian. Other dangerous things are Tylenol, Cocoa Mulch for your yard, rat or rodent bait, and of course anti freeze. ALL of these things and many more are life threatening to your family pet. If you think that your pet has eaten something dangerous, please act quickly and call your veterinarian, emergency animal clinic or the National Animal Poison Control Center at 1-888-426-4435. Don’t wait for your pet to show signs of illness.

Anything labeled for dogs, or puppies is very safe! With all of todays heightened sensitivity on health, human and our pets, you can not go wrong with any of the better brand dog foods on the market. With that said, why would you want to feed them anything else? If you are referring to table scraps, again I ask, why would you feed them anything other than food labeled for their special dietary needs? Dogs are accustomed to foods prepared for their metabolic, developmental and nutritional needs. Dogs are not like people, when it comes to food. There are puppy formulas, active adult, senior, weight management, and even diets geared towards medical conditions like kidney or liver problems.

The general rule of thumb is…dog food only for your pet. Fresh vegetables like Carrots, broccoli and cauliflower, once rinsed, are excellent and make great treats. They are several pet food recipes out there, if you wish to prepare your own pet food, but of course, it is always best to consult with your veterinarian before attempting this. Sometimes it is better to not to try to reinvent the wheel.

My dog digs big holes in the yard. What can I do to make him stop?

Answer coming soon.

My dog barks all the time. What can I do to make her stop?

All dogs bark, unless of course, it is the famed Basenji. It is a natural form of communicating with other like beings. And their human families too!

Most would know the Alert “Danger” bark as an abrupt, deep, usually rapid bark. This is to warn, frighten off something that might be within the pet's safe zone, or at least fast approaching it. The body language is usually a stiff stance with hackles raised, and tail erect. This bark tells their humans that there is something to be concerned about. Most pets have pretty good judgment and this situation should be checked out by their humans.

The “Play with me” bark is one that we hear and would know well if you have been around puppies and young adults. This bark is usually accompanied by body language that truly identifies it as so. A ‘play bow’ with the front legs down and the tail end up is the most common sign, as is the light footed bounce and dodging action. The tail is always up and wagging. This bark can be directed towards other dogs or humans if the pet is in a playful mood.

The most annoying bark to humans is the “I am bored” bark. Bark, bark, bark, then nothing for a short, (sometimes very short) interval. Then again, bark, bark, bark. This pet is trying to tell someone, any one, that it has nothing better to do than bark. You can remedy this bark by increasing the level of activities that you share with your pet. Play ball, take a long, brisk walk, even call your buddy to you and sit and brush them. You can find other things to help fill this pets time by giving them different toys to play with on a rotational basis, so that the toys always seem new to them. This pet requires a life style change, their's and your's.

Dogs, who bark because they are bored, may also have destructive tendencies. Digging in the yard, chewing on furniture and things that are not theirs are some of the signs that your pet needs more Mental and PHYSICAL stimulus than it is receiving. This bark has put many family pets behind the bars of county animal shelters because the families can not cope with the barking and don't realize how to correct it.

Please feel free to contact us if you feel that you have a problem that you can not solve. We would be happy to offer you some help to keep you from giving up on ‘Man's best friend’!

C.A.R.E.S.