How to Care for a Stray Animal

Every day, people find stray animals and decide to take the animal in as an addition to their family. Although animals make wonderful companions, it’s important that great care is given to the animal, especially if it’s a stray. Most stray animals have fleas, ticks, ear mites, worms and are malnourished. It is important to rectify these aliments in your new pet

Put the pet in a secluded room away from the noises of kids and away from any other pets you might have in your home. At first, your new pet is going to be timid and shy. It is important to first let your new pet know that you are not going to cause it any harm before introducing him/her to the rest of your world. Also, if you have other pets this is extremely important because you don’t know if your new pet has any major health problems and he or she could pass on to your other pets.

Give him/her food and water. Filtered water is best. Also, use puppy or kitten food until you find out your new pet's age at the vet's office. Puppy and kitten food have more proteins and nutrients that will help your pet's immune system build itself back up. There is no telling how long your new pet has been in the wild; the pet's immune system could be weak, as a result.

Visit the veterinarian. A professional needs to check your new pet out for fleas, ear mites and worms. Plan on spending money for medicines to rid your new pet of any problems and to get shots such as a rabies booster. Depending on the state of your new pet, the vet may also want to do blood work to out rule and major medical problems. At the vet's office you will also find out approximately how old your new pet is and whether it is a male or female animal. The vet will also go over with you when it’s appropriate to have your new pet spayed or neutered.

Introduce your new pet to the rest of your family. At first your new pet will explore and smell everything to get the "lay of the land." Be sure to give your new pet lots of love and attention. If your new pet is a dog, be sure to take it out often so that the pet gets used to going to bathroom outside. If your new pet is a cat, be sure to show the pet where the litter box is to avoid any accidents on the floor

Keep regular check-ups at the vet's office for all of your pet

6 Easy Steps To Finding Your Lost Dog

Discovering that your family pet has gone missing is a horrible feeling. These tips will aid you in starting the search for your pet. The quicker you get started, the quicker your tearful reunion can take place.

Step 1: Once you’re certain your pet is not in your home, check the surrounding area of your property thoroughly. Your pet might have wandered into a storage structure or a garage or even into a trashcan or workbench drawer.

Step 2: Do not waste any time hoping that your animal will return home. The best chance you have to recover your pet is to get to work finding him. Begin by alerting the neighbors that your animal has gone missing. They might have seen him darting down the street in one direction or another. Make sure your neighbors have a good description of your animal and that they know how to get in touch with you if they have any information.

Step 3: Get on the phone! Call all of the local humane societies and animal shelters as well as animal control. You will need to file a lost report with each agency you contact. It wouldn’t hurt to begin phoning shelters that seem out of the way, you’d be surprised how far an animal can travel on foot! While the agencies will get a thorough description of your animal you should also be willing to drive to the agency yourself. (If your search turns from hours to days, you will need to visit the shelters every 3 days.)

Step 4: Begin making fliers about your lost pet that you will post everywhere. The flier should be very descriptive and ideally should include a photo of your pet. You will want to describe where and when the pet went missing, the age, size and sex of pet, and the breed and name of your pet. Include any special markings or color variations that make your pet easy to spot. Make sure the flier contains several phone numbers as a way to contact you with information on your pet. If you intend to offer a reward, include that information as well. Post these fliers all over your neighborhood, in nearby shopping centers and on the bulletin boards of any businesses that will allow it.

Step 5: Turn to the world wide web. There are several websites that will post your missing pet information at no charge. Also, call your local newspaper to set up an ad to run in the classified section of the newspaper.

Step 6: Believe it or not, several cities actually have Certified Missing Animal Response technicians; pet detectives if you will. These technicians will apply investigative techniques to aid you in finding your pet. Make sure you know the cost of these services if you choose to go this route.

Once your pet is home safe and sound, take a moment to reflect on how to avoid this situation in the future. It might even be a good idea to invest in a microchip that will help you and your dog easily reunite if this traumatic event occurs again. This article was provided by Brian Spilner at pet-super-store.com a website featuring dog doors and orthopedic dog beds.

Adopting a Stray Dog - Challenges and Rewards

Every day people see stray dogs on the streets, wandering neighborhoods, and going from door to door begging for food. Fortunately, there are good hearted people who choose to adopt them, bring them into their families, and give them a chance at a good life.
If you're considering adopting a stray dog, you should know that there are both challenges and rewards. Since you'll be bringing the dog into your home and family, it's important to weigh both sides of it before you make a final decision.
Challenges
One of the major challenges in adopting a homeless dog is not knowing its background. The dog could have been exposed to almost anything, and you have no way of knowing before you adopt it. This can mean the dog has severe health problems, and you won't know until you take the dog to the vet for an exam. Make sure you take the dog to the vet's office right away, and continue regular check ups to keep it healthy.
Another big challenge is his or her behavior. After living on the streets, many dogs revert back to wilder behavior, doing whatever they can to survive. This means they may be wary of humans, defensive, and not know "proper" behavior in a family setting. When you adopt a stray dog, you have to work to be extra gentle with it as you teach it how to socialize with humans (and other animals).
Discipline goes along with behavioral problems a stray dog may have. Depending on how long the dog was on its own, it may have no discipline and not know what proper behavior is. While you're gentle, you must also be firm with the dog, and keep up the training, even if it's difficult. If the dog is an adult, it may be even harder to train, but patience, gentleness, and love will help.
Rewards
Despite the challenges that come with adopting a stray dog, there are great rewards, as well. One of the most important is the opportunity to give a dog a chance at a good life. And, for many dogs, that second chance literally means the difference between life and death. Saving the life of a stray dog is a pretty big reward!
Another reward to adopting a stray dog is the love and companionship of the pet. One of the big reasons people adopt dogs is for companionship and love. No matter what a dog's background, if you continue to love it and are gentle with it, the dog will eventually show you love and affection, as well.

By adopting a stray dog, you also help reduce the number of strays.Thousands and thousands of puppies are born to stray dogs every year. By adopting a stray dog (and having it spayed or neutered), you reduce the number of dogs that will eventually end up strays themselves.
Adopting a stray dog can be a very rewarding experience, but it does come with its challenges. If you're considering adopting a stray dog, be sure you fully understand all that comes with it. Adopting any dog can be challenging enough, but adopting a stray can come with added complications. However, the rewards are worth it, and the love you'll get from your rescued dog will help you forget all the challenges along the way!

How to Make Friends With a Stray Dog

If you see a stray dog on the side of the road or one happens to be wandering around your neighborhood, you might want to become friends with it. This task might be a necessity if you are trying to lure it out of danger or you may just want to add a new animal to your home. Whatever your reasons, becoming friends with a stray dog is possible, if you follow a few techniques.
Move slowly around the dog. If the dog is in a stressful situation, such as in the middle of the road, or has been on its own for awhile, it is likely that the dog is weary of humans. Any sudden movements on your part may provoke aggression in the dog. In addition, it could also cause the dog to quickly run away---possibly in the line of traffic. Avoiding too much interaction early on might help the dog begin to trust you.

Offer the dog food. Dogs typically respond well to food and may begin to trust and like you if you give it something that tastes good, such as lunch meat or hot dogs. If the dog will not come near you, start by placing the food a bit away from you. If the dog is a stray in your neighborhood, place food in a bowl a few yards away, then gradually bring it closer to you each day. If the dog is in an emergency situation, throw a piece of food toward it, then throw it closer and closer to you until you can get the dog to come near you and help it to safe

Use another dog as your ally. Sometimes dogs feel most comfortable when they are with their own species. If your current dog is not dog-aggressive, consider going for walks with it around the stray dog. You must use extreme caution if using this technique, as you don't want to put your current dog in danger, just in case the stray is aggressive toward other dogs. Start from a distance and work your way closer to the dog. If the dog starts to growl or show its teeth, walk away slowly. If the dog starts to wag its tail or seem excited, slowly come closer and closer. Eventually, the dog may come to greet you and will interact with you and your dog

Stray Dog Behavior

Homeless or stray dogs either have been separated from or abandoned by their owners, or are feral animals that have had limited or no contact with humans. Depending on their personality, past history with humans and other circumstances, stray dog behavior may vary. Dogs that have been mistreated are more likely to be fearful, while dogs that have had positive experiences with humans are more likely to be friendly and approachable.

Lost Dogs

1. Dogs that run away from or become separated from their owners often try to return to their families. Depending on the size, breed and temperament of the dog, they may be unprepared for life on the streets and more likely to die of starvation than a more "street smart" dog due to the lack of available food, water and shelter.

Abandoned Dogs

2. Like lost dogs, dogs that have been abandoned away from home often try to return to their families. This can be difficult for the dog if it has been left far from its home. Abandoned dogs are often accustomed to human owners who abuse and neglect them, and may be more fearful and distrustful of humans in general as a result.
   Dogs that are abandoned at home (for instance if left in the backyard when the family moves) will often try to stay near their homes for as long as possible before lack of food and water necessitates their leaving.

Feral Dogs

3. A feral dog, born in the wild, is more likely to be aloof and frightened of humans. Feral dogs often exhibit pack behavior and will travel in groups, scavenging in trashcans and other places where food is available.

Approaching Stray Dogs

4. No matter how friendly a stray dog appears, approach it with caution. Stray dogs can carry ticks, fleas and other parasites in addition to rabies, and often attack out of fear. If the dog is friendly and you are able to approach it, check for a collar. Even if it runs from you, report the stray to your local Animal Control department, describing the appearance of the dog and where you saw it. If you take the dog to an animal shelter and its owner cannot be located, you may be able to adopt it.

Considerations

5. Just because a dog is running loose doesn't mean that it is automatically a stray. Some dog owners allow their dogs to run loose with little regard for their safety, and some dogs have a tendency to escape from their yards when their owners are gone. Do not assume that any dog you find does not have owners searching for it.