Linus & Lucy's Playground

WelcomeAbout Linus & Lucy Food & Nutrition Choices Dog Treat Recipes
Doggie Health & Safety Tips Small Breed Information Adopting a New Pet Fun With Furkids
Helping Our Animal Friends Linus & Lucy's Photo Album Pet Sitting
Our Favorite Links Send Us Email

Adopting A New Pet

Adopting a Pet
Adopting a companion animal is a journey that should be travelled VERY carefully. There are millions of unwanted and abandoned animals left behind in shelters because people weren't aware of what caring for an animal involves or because they don't assess the situation beforehand. Here are some important things to know before taking a journey that can be magical, wonderful and memorable if embarked upon with the right tools.

Do Your Research
Before adopting an animal of any kind, find out about the requirements of the animal you are interested in bringing into your family. What type of temperment do they have? Activity level and exercise needs? What are their breed characteristics? Health concerns? There are many quizzes and sites with information on personality types and how to find the right companion animal based on what type of living situation and lifestyle you lead.

Have Patience
Patience is a virtue and is necessary for life with animals. Animals need lots of attention, care, training and companionship. While they can survive on the bare minimum of many things, neglecting a pet's needs for companionship, exercise, health, nutrition and overall well-being will diminish their quality of life, create behavioral issues and can diminish the duration of their life. If you are thinking about adopting an animal, make sure it's for the right reasons. Animals are companions NOT collectibles.

Adopt a Shelter Animal
Have a heart and adopt those animals that have been left behind. Many animals suffer from the shortcomings and consequences of people's neglect, carelessness and sometimes cruelty. Some are left behind when their guardian passes on. There are so many animals waiting in shelters across the world to be rescued and find their forever home where they will be loved. To find your forever companion animal visit www.petfinder.org the largest database of shelters and shelter animals across the US.

Stop Animal Overpopulation and Homeless Animals
Spay or Neuter Your Companion Animal. The important and responsible choice to alter your companion animal is one of the best choices you can make towards helping stop the overpopulation of animals in shelters thereby decreasing the number of animals euthanized in shelters every year. For the top 10 reasons to Spay or Neuter your dog/cat, see the page on Doggie Health & Safety Tips.

Backyard Dogs
One day, I was visiting with family when I heard a dog barking incessantly. My mom said the poor dog barked day and night daily. These neighbors had a beautiful German Shepherd Dog who was left outdoors for most of the day. Not a year prior to this, they had a beautiful Chocolate Lab who was left in the yard as well for a few years and jumped up whenever someone walked by. Mysteriously she disappeared and a few months later this new dog was here. I sent them the following literature and information on dogs and what they needed to know about keeping backyard dogs.

Dogs are social pack animals. In the wild, wolves and animals belonging to the canine species live in groups and form ranks and bonds with one another for survival and companionship. Dogs need companionship in the domestic world too. They need to form a social order and interact with humans and other animals too. Leaving dogs out in the yard for long periods of time leaves dogs lonely, they become stressed and may circle or bark or jump, dig or chew. Dogs should not be left alone for long periods of time and should not be left unsupervised where anyone walking by can steal or harm your dog. They should have shade or shelter and water at all times if they are left outside for short periods. For more details click below:
Backyard Dogs
Teathering
For instructions on how to build a proper shelter for your dog click here:
Doghouse Instructions

Dogs have amazing potential. My dogs are amaze me with how intelligent they are. It saddens me to see people who do not allow their dogs to reach their potential. Far too many people neglect their dogs, fail to pay attention to their whereabouts and have dogs often get loose and run throughout the neighborhood. Dogs who seem to be loved so little, that their guardians neglect to put a collar with ID tags on them. People who collect "pets" rather than adopting homeless creatures to become family and to guard and care for them. This is why the importance of labeling an animal a "companion" not a "pet" and labeling their human a "guardian", not an "owner", is so important. Animals are not property, they are living, thinking feeling creatures, who, if brought into our homes, should be cared for as family, not as objects. Treat them as you would a family member by keeping them healthy, happy, loved and safe. Show them, and the world, that you love them.

Are you an "Owner" or a "Guardian"
I like to think of myself as my dogs' guardian, even parent. I tend to associate "ownership" with objects not living creatures. To me, they aren't property that I can claim money for if damaged, or sell or trade. I care for them the same way I care for myself or any other human being. I buy the very best of everything for them, do extensive research and inform myself about their health and well being, I have health insurance for them, medical bills, medication, and a health care provider. My life and theirs are shared, I don't consider them peons who deserve any less than a child or as lesser beings, just different beings with different but equally important needs. That's just my view on it. Of course, everyone has different opinions about things, but this is how I see it, and how I prefer to refer to my dogs.

Using the term "Guardian" as opposed to "Owner" is also a step in the right direction where humane education is concerned. The way we think of animals greatly impacts upon our treatment of them and being a guardian implies responsibility, protection, caring and most importantly that these things are meant towards a living being. It's just a word, yes and the most important thing is how we treat our animals and how we care for them, maybe it's all just detail, but it's a small step that helps shape our mindset and the mindset and views of others.

In considering the legal change of the terminology, some individuals fear animals suddenly gaining the same rights as humans by changing our status from ownership to guardianship, but human rights simply don't apply to animals. The right to vote, and other human rights are simply irrelevant. There are, however, other concerns that some have about a legal changing of our role in our animals' lives that could affect our ability to care for them. To use this terminology on a personal level I think is important, but on a legal level, I have yet to decide. Calling myself my dogs guardian or parent is one thing, but if changing the law to legally be called guardians changes my ability to care for them, I don't think I could approve. The most important thing to me, is being able to provide them with the best care they deserve. Political correctness is fine. Legal ramifications that make our lives harder as guardians to be good guardians isn't.
Read the following articles to see what you think:

Owners or guardians? Cities change identity of pet owners, hoping to promote welfare
The Guardian Campaign
What A Difference A Word Makes! Animal Guardians
About Ownership vs. Guardianship