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Animal Behavior College

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Home » Lifestyle » Health » Be a Responsible Pet Owner

Be a Responsible Pet Owner

Make the world a better place for pets and people.

Responsible Pet Owner
Photo credit: Jevtic/iStock

February is Responsible Pet Owner Month, which makes it a great time to assess yourself as a pet owner. Are you as responsible as you should be?

Being a responsible pet owner is important for many reasons. Not only does the well-being of your cat or dog depend on it, but society also stands to gain. Imagine if everyone who owned a pet was responsible. The world would be a better place, for both people and pets.

Here are the pillars of responsible pet ownership. See how you measure up.

 

Spay or Neuter

Spay or Neuter PetProbably the most responsible thing you can do as a pet owner is to spay or neuter your dog or cat. Shelters across the country are filled with animals desperate for homes. Sadly, there are more pets than people who want them. By having your pet altered, you won’t be contributing to the homeless pet problem. Your pet will also be healthier and happier if she or he is spayed or neutered, since altering can help ward off certain types of cancer.

 

Veterinary Exams

Veterinary Exams
Photo credit: IvonneW/iStock

An important part of being a responsible pet owner is taking your cat or dog to a veterinarian when he’s sick. It’s also important to have him see the vet for annual check-ups, too. Regular checkups will help your vet detect problems early, when they are easier to treat. Your pet’s ears and teeth will be examined, and his lungs and heart checked. The vet will also weigh him and talk to you about nutrition and any issues you may be having with your pet. Senior dogs and cats can also benefit from regular blood tests to make sure kidneys, liver and other organs are in good working order.

 

Training

Responsible dog owners train their dogs either on their own, with a private trainer or in obedience classes. Well-trained dogs come when they are called, calmly greet new people, get along with other dogs and go to the bathroom outside and not in the house. They are welcome in people’s homes, are good with children and never bite. They are a joy to live with and are good canine citizens.

Cats can also use a little help when it comes to being good citizens. Cat trainers can help curb unwanted behaviors such as jumping up on counters, refusing the litter box, and spraying furniture.

 

Cat With Collar
Photo credit: TSnowImages/iStock

Identification

Because dogs and cats can’t talk, they are dependent on their owners to fit them with identification that will help them get home should they become lost. Keeping a collar and I.D. tag on your pet at all times—even when he’s in the house—is important. Even the most careful owners sometimes lose a pet through an open door or gate. Your pet’s I.D. tag should have your name, address and phone number. It’s also a good idea to have your pet fitted with a microchip. If he becomes lost and ends up in an animal shelter, the microchip will enable it to contact you.

 

Containment

Gone are the days of letting your cat or dog roam freely through the neighborhood. Speeding cars, predators and litigious neighbors are all good reasons to keep your pet confined to your house or yard. Your pet will be safer and live a longer life—and you’ll get along better with your neighbors—if you protect him from the hazards of the great outdoors.


About the Author: Audrey Pavia is an award-winning freelance writer and author of “The Labrador Retriever Handbook.” She is a former staff editor of Dog Fancy, Dog World and The AKC Gazette magazines. To learn more about her work, visit www.audreypavia.com and hollywoodhoofbeats.net/

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STATE LICENSURE AND APPROVAL
Animal Behavior College is a private vocational school approved by the Bureau for Private Postsecondary Education (www.bppe.ca.gov) under the California Private Postsecondary Education Act of 2009 and Title 5. California Code of Regulations Division 7.5. Private Postsecondary Education. The Bureau for Private Postsecondary Education approval means that this institution and its operation comply with the standards established under the law for occupational instruction by private postsecondary educational institutions. Institutional approval is subject to continual review and the institution must reapply for approval every five years.
DISCLAIMER
Please be advised that Animal Behavior College ("ABC") is the exclusive entity authorized to provide certifications and/or degrees from Animal Behavior College. Moreover, such certifications and/or degrees are only conferred by ABC following a student's completion of an ABC-administered program. No other entity or individual has authority to confer certifications and/or degrees on ABC's behalf. Any other entity or individual who attempts to do so is acting without express or implied authority from ABC.
GI BILL® TRADEMARK ATTRIBUTION
GI Bill® is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). More information about education benefits offered by VA is available at the official U.S. government Web site at https://www.benefits.va.gov/gibill.
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