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Kids are always on the move... on bicycles, skates, skateboards, exploring new places and coming into contact with different sights, sounds, people and yes... animals.

To prevent upsetting, or even tragic situations resulting from active children encountering strange dogs, teach these rules about how to behave around dogs.

• Dogs don't like to be teased. Stay away from dogs that are chained or are in fenced yards. Do not shout, run around or stick hands at dogs through fences or open car windows. Never approach a strange dog.

• Dogs are possessive about their yard or territory and certain other things. Do not grab things like food, balls or other pet toys from a dog.

• Never stick your hand into a dog fight. Find an adult to help.

• Know what an angry dog looks like. Warning signs are: Barking, growling, snarling with teeth showing, ears laid flat, legs stiff, tail up and hair standing up on the dog's back. If a dog looks this way, slowly walk away sideways. Shout "No!" and act like you are the boss. Never stare a dog in the eyes and never turn around and run away. If a dog attacks, curl up in a ball on the ground and protect your face.

• If bitten, tell an adult right away. Remember what the dog looked like, if it had a collar and in what direction it went. Wash the wound with soap and water, see a doctor and report the bite to the local health department.

Teaching children consideration and respect for animals results in a child that is both safe and humane.

A beautiful but possible deadly enemy!  Lovely to look at, but harmful if swallowed:

It can happen to the best of us. You see a cute, tiger-striped kitten with white paws and green eyes, just begging for your attention. Or maybe it's a gorgeous, tail-wagging Labrador mix who couldn't be more friendly.

You take one look, and the next thing you know you're walking down the pet food aisle at the local supermarket.

If you're like most of us, falling in love with a pet is easy. And no wonder! Sharing your home with a four-legged friend can be one of life's greatest joys. Dogs, cats, and other pets give us unconditional loyalty and acceptance, provide constant companionship, and even help relieve stress after a hard day's work.

Adopting a pet, though, is a big decision. Dogs and cats are living beings who require lots of time, money, and commitment-over 15 years' worth in many cases. Pet ownership can be rewarding, but only if you think through your decision before you adopt a companion.

The fact that you're thinking about adopting a pet from an animal group means you're a responsible and caring person. But before you make that final decision to bring a furry friend into your life, take a moment to think about these questions:

1. Why do you want a pet? It's amazing how many people fail to ask themselves this simple question before they get a pet. Adopting a pet just because it's "the thing to do" or because the kids have been pining for a puppy usually ends up being a big mistake. Don't forget pets may be with you 10, 15, even 20 years.
2. Do you have time for a pet? Dogs, cats, and other animal companions cannot be ignored just because you are tired or busy. They require food, water, exercise, care, and companionship every day of every year. Many animals in the shelter are there because their owners didn't realize how much time it took to properly care for them.
3. Can you afford a pet? The monetary costs of pet ownership can be quite high. Licenses, training classes, spaying and neutering, veterinary care, grooming, toys, kitty litter, and other expenses add up quickly.
4. Are you prepared to deal with the special problems that only a pet can cause? Flea infestations, scratched-up furniture, accidents from animals who aren't yet housebroken, and unexpected medical emergencies are unfortunate but common aspects of pet ownership.
5. Can you have a pet where you live? Many rental communities don't allow pets and most of the rest have other restrictions. Make sure you know what they are before you bring a companion animal home.
6. Is it a good time for you to adopt a pet? If you have kids under six years old, for instance, you might consider waiting a few years before you adopt a companion. Problem-free pet ownership requires children who are mature enough to be responsible. If you're a student, in the military, or travel frequently as part of your work, waiting until you settle down is a wise choice.
7. Are your living arrangements suitable for the animal you have in mind? Adopting a large or energetic dog to share your small apartment, for example, is not a good idea--he likely won't have enough space to move around in, and giving him enough exercise will require quite a bit of activity on your part. Choose an animal who will be comfortable in your surroundings.
8. Do you know who will care for your pet while you are away on vacation or business? You'll need either reliable friends and neighbors, or money to pay for a boarding kennel or pet-sitting service.
9. Will you be a responsible pet owner? Having your pet spayed or neutered, obeying community leash and licensing laws, and keeping identification tags on your pets are all part of being a responsible pet owner. Of course, giving your pet love, companionship, exercise, a healthy diet, and regular veterinary care are other essentials.
10. Finally, are you prepared to keep and care for the pet for his or her entire lifetime? When you adopt a pet, you are making a commitment to care for the animal for his or her lifetime.

Sure, it's a long list of questions. But a quick stroll through one of our participating clinics will help you understand why answering them before you adopt a pet is so important.

Many of our homeless animals are puppies and kittens, victims of irresponsible people who allowed their pets to breed. But there are at least as many dogs and cats at  shelters who are more than a year old--animals who were first obtained by people who didn't think through the responsibilities of pet ownership before they got a pet.

Please don't make the same mistake. Think before you adopt. Sharing your life with a companion animal can bring incredible rewards, but only if you are willing to make the necessary commitments of time, money, responsibility, and love--for the life of the pet.

Never run up to a strange dog. Never run away from one either. Always stay calm and quiet around new animals. If a dog looks frightened or angry, don't touch him or bother him.

There are three things to do when meeting a dog for the first time:

Above statistics supplied by AVMA Center for Information Management, The Humane Society of the U.S.-Pet Overpopulation Fact Sheet, SPAY/USA -"Did You Know..." Fact Sheet, The Humane Society of the U.S.-Prevent A Litter Brochure, AHA Animal Shelter Reporting Study

One of the healthiest things you can do for your pet is to have it spayed or neutered unless you intend to breed dogs or cats for commercial purposes. Neither spaying or neutering adversely effects the natural development of an animal's personality and breed characteristics. Your pet WILL NOT become fat unless it is overfed. Dogs or cats spayed or neutered at an early age are more apt to be healthy and cause fewer problems for their owner and other pet owners around them. Ask your veterinarian about the appropriate time to have your dog or cat spayed or neutered.

If you receive a puppy or kitten as a gift, your first responsibility is to see your veterinarian for the necessary vaccinations required by the city laws and ordinances and to talk with him about the spaying or neutering of your pet. Veterinarians are performing the spay/neuter procedure on animals as young as eight weeks with the results being a quicker and easier to perform surgery and fewer medical problems for your pet than those animals being conventionally altered. Spaying and neutering is NOT painful. General anesthetic is used during the spay and neuter procedure with animals usually returning to normal within a 24 to 72 hour period. Any discomfort should be minimal to your pet.

What Are the Results of Spaying and Neutering your Pet?....

Positive changes will result when you spay/neuter your pet. Male cats should stop their territorial spraying. Male dogs and cats should fight less and are less likely to become lost due to straying from home in search of a mate. Females will not go into heat and need to be confined indoors to prevent pregnancy. The risk of mammary and testicular cancer is decreased in your pets. Your pet will remain protective and loyal.

Animal Aid is dedicated to the prevention of the exploitation of animals and is attempting to slow down the gross over population of pets through spaying and neutering. Each animal taken in to one of Animal Aid's veterinarians is  given inoculations and any medical treatment which may be required. They are fed, and well cared for, dipped regularly, groomed and exercised. When animals are placed in new homes they are spayed or neutered and fully evaluated by a veterinarian.

Some of the Do's and Don'ts -

There are many myths about the advantages of male versus female dogs and cats. Here are some of the things you should know:

1. DO NOT choose a female pet to show your children the miracle of birth when the pet has a litter. Most owners are not present at the right time to witness the births. A greater likelihood is the difficulty most owners have finding loving home for puppies or kittens produced by a birth.

2. It is NOT TRUE that allowing a female dog or cat to have a litter is good for her health or well-being. Medical studies have proven that female dogs sterilized (spayed) before their first heat are less likely to develop mammary cancer later in life and will be spared possible uterine infections as well.

3. Neutered male dogs and cats have fewer behavioral problems than do intact males. They are less likely to roam, to urinate in the house and to develop specific kinds of cancer.

...it will be immunized, wormed, bathed, dipped, and tested for heartworm. It will be spayed or neutered and fully evaluated by one of our veterinarians. Your first responsibility will be to obtain a license and identification (collar) for it. These services are charged to Animal Aid.  To help cover some of the expenses incurred by Animal Aid, we ask for an adoption fees of $100.00 for dogs and $85.00 for cats.

REMEMBER....

EVERY PUPPY OR KITTEN YOU ALLOW TO BE BORN TAKES A HOME AWAY FROM AN ANIMAL ALREADY ALIVE!!!!  Those people who provide homes for your pet's litter(s) could instead give a home to a rescue animal.

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