| Ten Things All Pet Owners Should Know | | | | 6. Bacteria do not make good pets. |
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| | | | A clean environment keeps everyone happy and |
| | | | healthy. Pets are dirty,and need lots of |
| Following these ten tips will guarantee you a | | | | cleaning. On a weekly basis, brush your dog's |
| happy, healthyrelationship with any kind of | | | | teeth,wash out the gerbil's water bottle, and |
| pet. | | | | scoop out the cat's litterbox! If you don't, |
| | | | you're in for bacterial and parasitic |
| 1. Your pet needs to go to the vet. Start | | | | infections,painful tooth decay, and the |
| saving now. | | | | smell...! |
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| Every pet needs to be examined by a vet | | | | 7. Tight security saves lives. |
| occasionally. Illnesses thatare caught early | | | | |
| are often treatable, and regular vet exams | | | | Keep your pet confined safely. Escape-proof |
| are yourbest weapon. Even the healthiest pet | | | | all cages and fences,walk your dog on a |
| may have an accident, callingfor immediate | | | | leash, and keep your cat indoors. The |
| emergency care. Older pets may be in pain | | | | outsideworld is full of speeding cars, |
| from age-related deterioration. Face it, | | | | unfamiliar animals, pesticides, andeven pet |
| you're going to have to take your petto the | | | | thieves. Just in case, make certain all dogs |
| vet sooner or later. Be prepared to pay for | | | | and cats havesturdy collars with tags, or |
| it! | | | | have been tattooed or micro-chipped. |
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| 2. You're the human, you set the rules. | | | | 8. There are too many homeless animals |
| | | | already. |
| Don't let your pet boss you around. Decide on | | | | |
| the rules, and enforcethem consistently. | | | | Lost pets without tags usually end up being |
| Don't let your pet get his way if it goes | | | | put to sleep at theshelter when they lose |
| againstthe rules -- he'll just try that much | | | | their way home. Even worse off are the |
| harder the next time. Animalsmay not seem to | | | | petswho never had homes to begin with. There |
| have long memories, but they sure remember | | | | aren't enough good homes forall the animals |
| how theygot their own way the last time! | | | | out there, so have your pets spayed or |
| | | | neutered, anddo not allow them to breed! In |
| 3. Animals love a boring routine. | | | | America alone, four million cats anddogs are |
| | | | put down every year. That's far too many! If |
| Pets want to know what to expect -- it makes | | | | you wantanother pet, consider adoption |
| them feel secure. Yourswill be happiest if | | | | instead. |
| they are fed at the same time every day, | | | | |
| sleep inthe same spot at night, and can count | | | | 9. When in doubt, look to nature. |
| on you to always come home at acertain time. | | | | |
| They'll get by if the routine occasionally | | | | When confronted with a pet problem, find out |
| changes, butkeeping their day predictable | | | | how your pet would havelived in the wild. |
| keeps them predictable, and happy. | | | | Need to know how warm your frog's tank should |
| | | | be? |
| 4. Good food and lots of exercise equals a | | | | |
| long life. | | | | Research his natural habitat and try to copy |
| | | | it. Want to keep yourdogs from fighting? Read |
| We all know we should eat healthy foods in | | | | up on pack behavior in the wild. Our |
| moderation and get plentyof exercise. The | | | | petsevolved to live in the wild, and by |
| same goes for our pets. Healthy living | | | | understanding their naturalenvironment, |
| preventsillness, and you won't have to see | | | | needs, and social behavior, we can help them |
| the vet as often! If a small petis confined | | | | live withus more comfortably. |
| to a cage, give it lots of space and things | | | | |
| to climb onor explore, to encourage exercise. | | | | 10. It all depends on you. |
| Reserve treats like dog biscuitsor table | | | | |
| scraps for very special occasions. | | | | Ultimately, when you accepted this animal as |
| | | | a pet, you agreed totake care of him. This |
| 5. Everything ends up in their mouths. | | | | means feeding, habitat, health, safety... |
| | | | youare responsible for it all. It takes a lot |
| To you it's an electrical cord, but to your | | | | of time and money to carefor a pet properly. |
| dog, it's a chew toy. | | | | However, it is certainly worth it! There are |
| | | | over |
| Keep in mind that your pets will chew on | | | | |
| anything, and keep dangerousitems out of | | | | 100 million households worldwide with at |
| reach! Encourage them to chew on toys instead | | | | least one pet, and theycan't all be wrong! |
| byproviding lots of them, especially new ones | | | | Take care of your pets, so you can have a |
| once the old ones havelost their appeal. | | | | long,enjoyable life together. |
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