BellenPaws.com supports a number of initiatives for animals and pets. We’ve selected a few here that are close to our heart and ambitiously possible. We hope to bring awareness to these issues and inform others. Please help spread the word on these important issues through social media and conversation with friends and family.
Senior Pets
As you already know, Senior Pets is something we strongly advocate for. Just like people, pets grow older and begin their “Senior” years. As pets do get older, they will have issues their younger versions did not have to deal with. An awareness of what’s going with your pet, with the same compassion shown for a family member (that would be having similar issues growing older) is all that’s needed for your senior pet by you. Treat your pet like you would a family member. That’s it. Simple… because they ARE your family.
Pets may need daily monitoring, care or medication as they get older. Issues will arise like hyper or hypo thyroid or maybe your pet has joint issues and may need some pain relief. Maybe they have feline diabetes or your pet may need assistive devices and special accommodations because they have developed mobility issues (just like people may).
Too many issues to list frankly and too many people bringing their pet to a shelter or a rescue passing off the care to someone else to deal with the problems your pet has. Worse, to the vet to put down your pet because the veterinarian said “they’re old and they’ll only get worse”. Yes, we’ve heard this! …and can honestly say.. “NO, it didn’t”.. and “you were wrong”. As your pet’s keeper, your pet relies on you to help them maintain a quality of life through their senior years just like you would do for your family. Yes… we advocate for this.
Pet Owner Education
The education of the pet owner is not talked about all that often but it is something that needs to be addressed, stressed, accented, and PUSHED in our society. We would consider ourselves educated pet owners, yet we research every issue that comes along for our pets and we learn something new every single time. To put it simply, There is always more to learn about your pet.
In our own experience, we’ve come across too many pet owners that don’t keep themselves educated on their own animal’s care, diet, or just common pet issues in general. Just as one example… what your pet can and cannot eat is a big question not many people seem to know. Can your pet have grapes? Can your animal have chocolate? Will eating onions harm your pet? Even onion residue just from pizza crust? What are those hidden poisons in those table scraps you’re giving Rover and Sylvester?
If you don’t know the answer to these questions about your own pet. You should. You should also know that cats and dogs often are different in this regard. What’s good for one is not necessarily good or bad for the other. Educate yourself. YouTube, Wikipedia, pet blogs and BOOKS. Remember books?
Spay and Neutering
Spay and Neutering of pets is another area we advocate for. Over-population in the pet world is a genuine issue. If it wasn’t, we wouldn’t be killing animals to make room for more. If you have a pet, please take the responsibility of having them spayed or neutered.You can start with your veterinarian for the procedure but veterinary costs can get expensive and there are some options to your home vet.
Google Search for Spay and Neutering near me (use this query for Google Maps too!)
Bans on Retail Pet Sales
We’ve always personally believed in not buying pets and support bans on ALL retail pet sales. Some may use the terms “puppy mills” and “kitty mills” but that almost carries a derogatory connotation to it that MAY infer abuse or harm to animals. We’re certainly talking about those mills but in fact we’re really talking about all commercial breeders of pets. A term that doesn’t necessarily imply abuse or cruelty. These commercial breeders are breeding animals for pets and as such have no place in our society.
Bans on Declawing of Cats
The decision to add a feline to the family sometimes accompanies a decision as to whether to have the cat’s claws removed. Usually, this is a practice of removing the cat’s front claws only and not the back ones but can sometimes be both. The procedure must be done by a qualified veterinarian.
The Humane society has a nice write up on Declawing Cats for those deciding or just looking for information. The statement at their website, “If performed on a human being, declawing would be like cutting off each finger at the last knuckle”, sticks out. I’ve heard defenders of the procedure say that it’s done with a laser now… blah blah blah. I’ll be honest.. I’m not even listening after a certain point. I wouldn’t want it done to me so there’s no convincing me that it’s some way less of an issue to a cat.
That includes a tendonectomy, a surgery that stops the cat from extending their claws to scratch. Cat’s deserve to keep their claws in my opinion. If you’re trying to save your furniture, there are several options. Belle ‘n Paws both show some side effects of having been declawed.
Pet Adoption
This is a real easy one if you know our position on retail pet sales. If retail stores sourced their animals from rescues or shelters, our position here could be different. More often than not, retail stores are sourcing their animals from commercial breeders. These retail stores could easily partner with rescue shelters or foster organizations to source their animals but choose to enable a market that’s puts animals up for sale as fast as they can.
There are so many reasons to adopt a pet with unconditional love topping the list… oh.. and saving a life.
Google Search for “pet adoption near me” (use this query for Google Maps too!)
Adopt a pet, don’t shop for one is not just a catch phrase. Do you normally shop for your family? How about your friends?
Paws, Zippy, Rascal, and Belle in the tube.