Red's Dog

10/06/2022

Couldn't have said it better!
More often than not it's literally ONLY the owners fault if the dog is "naughty"....

Training is key!

12/11/2021

Cute you say?
Is it cute that you (financially) support life long cruelty with it?
Think again. Please.

11/08/2020

VERY interesting write up about humans and their relationship to animals.
Why indeed do people buy animals (for high prices on top of that) who will suffer terribly and die prematurely due to the same characteristics that made them expensive?
Why are we more and more evolving to superficial-ness over character, purpose and right fit?
Why do we expect something of an animal that goes COMPLETELY against their being, just because it suits us more? (my dog barked... No sh*t Sherlock!)

It's a long read, however we'll worthwhile if you consider yourself an animal lover. And especially if you don't.

Although it reflects many of my thoughts to date, it still encouraged thinking and revising some of my opinions. Thank you

The long read: Something has gone badly wrong with the way we keep pets. Our casual cruelties are a symptom of our unhealthy relationship with other species

10/05/2020

Be kind to animals week

Suggestion #7 😍

Prepare for the worst case to keep your pooch save!

This can take many forms.

1) Have a savings account for your pet.
Vet bills are dear. If your pet should get sick, fingers crossed it wont, you don't want to have the additional financial pressure.

2) Have your pet insured
Again as above, this will help the piece of mind to be covered in the case of emergency.

3) Be registered with a good vet nearby
If things go south, the last thing you want to do is figuring out who to call and worry if they are good. You likely should have signed up as soon as you got the pet for their shots and check ups anyways

4) Have an emergency plan
Life happens, and not always the way we want to. Ensure there is a backup plan in case of a tragedy. Some shelters offer to take the pets of deceased in, if they registered with them in advance. Some pets, such as turtles and parrots live LONG lifes.. make sure to have a will set up and there is a person who will give them a good home when you are gone.

(I'm not gonna mention to check with your landlord or having an allergy test done BEFORE you get a pet ;) this should be common sense!)

Trust me, being prepared, is the battle half won. And then you can concentrate and enjoy your times together even more!

This concludes this week's series. There are plenty more options how to be kind to animals. If interested, we can post more...

Here are some of the local Irish shelters we wanted to give a shout out!
Dogs Trust Ireland
Dogs Aid
D.S.P.C.A

09/05/2020

Be kind to animals week

Suggestion # 6 😍

Support a local shelter!

There are many ways to support your local shelter, to know what they might need at any given time - why not call them?

Here are a few ways:

1) Donate money
This can be from a few bops to a lot of bops. Have you ever thought about how much it costs to run a shelter? From the facilities themselves (rent, electricity, water, gas, insurance) to staff (salaries etc) to the animals (vet bills!!!!, food, bedding, toys etc).... this adds up to a LOT of money. They will be grateful for any donation, no matter how small!

You could also run a fundraiser (hint hint..is it your birthday soon?), a bake sale (everyone in the office loves cake, no?) or sell some unwanted items from home in aid of the shelter!

2) Donate your time
Many shelters heavily rely on volunteers so that the paid staff can focus on things you need to be trained for. In a dog shelter the activities you could possibly help with are cleaning, preparing feeds, washing bedding and toys, spend social time with the animals and possibly even walk them (shelter and animal character depending!). This would allow the shelter staff to train animals so that they become adoptable.

Even a couple hours can help. Did you know that the shelter animals often spend 23 hrs 45 mins/day in their kennel alone....

3) Donate your unwanted items
This always depends on what they need at the time, but often items that are in high demand and toys, bedding (your sheets, pillow cases, duvets and duvet covers, pillows), towels, crates etc.

You would not believe through how many of these a good shelter goes through on a regular basis. All items need to be exchanged daily and washes for sanitary reasons!

You get space at home, they get what they need. Win win anyone?

4) Spread the word!
Let literally everyone you know about the above. And encourage them to do the same!

The shelter and their inhabitants will thank you all

08/05/2020

Be kind to animals week

Suggestion #5 😍

EDUCATE

This is for yourself, but also everyone around you.

Thinking of getting an animal ...
READ up on this, ASK questions to people who have animals and ensure to ask about the not so rosy side of things. Don't want kids but a puppy - guess what, they are as needy as a newborn too.

Have children?
Show them how to safely and kindly interact with an animal and how to respect the animals boundaries and safe places. They can't say "no, leave me alone". You will need to teach them how to stay safe. They "speak" in different ways - and if you didn't feel it necessary to educate yourself on how, you probably shouldn't have a pet. The bite that might come is YOUR fault, not theirs.

Assume that most people never bothered to educate themselves. How hard can it be to have a dog, cat, hamster etc....?
Nobody says it needs to be hard, however it can likely be more humane, force free and full of positive reinforcement so both of you can enjoy your relationship to the max!

Go forth and spread the knowledge and the love!

07/05/2020

Be kind to animals week

Suggestion #4 😍

Do NOT, i repeat, do NOT buy animals from local adverts page, shops or other dodgy, unknown sources.

For dogs, these often are the output of puppy mills.

Yes, you might save a few bops now in the purchasing price.

However:

1) These puppies often come with physical issues = high vet bills to come! (not to speak of the pain and troubles the doggo will endure for the rest of the life!)

2) These puppies often come with behavioural issues. They never had the nurturing time with mum and often removed before 8 weeks of age.. = a unknown character/behaviour that can range from a barky, anxious to an aggressive character. This might not only endanger people in your household, but can lead possibly even as far as needing a behaviourist (not cheap), having charges put against you if they bit someone etc.

Instead,
=> go to your local shelter. There are LOADS of animals looking for a good home. The shelter should be able to advise you on a good fit (listen to them, they know their animals characters!).

=> Find a reputable and humane breeder (if you really need a pure breed!). Make sure you see the little one with both parents, ensure that they are not taken away from their mums before 8 weeks of age!

Be part of the solution and do NOT support this inhumane, greedy individuals.

06/05/2020

Be kind to animals week

Suggestion #3 😍

Register and chip your furry friends!

In the long run, it ensures that they will find their way back to you should they get lost!
Some countries have that as a mandatory pet ownership requirement, but even if not, you would want them to come home as quickly as possible, no?

05/05/2020

Be kind to animals week

Suggestion #2 😍

Neuter/spay your animals.

It might sound cruel - however there are benefits:

1) There won't be unwanted pups/kittens etc.... that means shelters won't be overrun.

2) There are some behavioural and physical benefits to neuter/spay (at the right age - speak to your vet!).

3) Unless you are a breeder - and we are referring to professional and humane breeders, your animal does not need the reproductive organs

4) You will in turn help animal shelters reduce the numbers of unwanted pets, so that the funds they raise with a lot of work, can help those animals in need.

Be part of the solution, not the problem!

04/05/2020

*Be kind to animals* week

Suggestion #1 😍

Speak up for animals - they can't.

If you see animals being mistreated (physical torture, malnurition, neglect etc) - report it to your local authority!

Educate yourself and others about how positive reinforcement works, what it takes to have an animal to manage expectations, and if you see someone struggle with an issue you have encountered in the past, share that knowledge.

Note of caution - unless you are a trained vet, behaviourist or trainer sometimes the best suggestion is to refer a person to a specialist! Same as it applies for us humans ;)