Rutherford Weekly

Page 16 - Rutherford Weekly 828-248-1408 www.rutherfordweekly.com Thursday, September 9-September 15, 2010 POSSUM HOLLOW CANINE SERVICES Dog Training & Wellness Programs • Herding Clinic September 25th At The Fart The Farm • Obedience Training • Herding Training • Livestock Guardian Training • Flint River Ranch Dog Food • NuVet Labs Nutritional Products September 10th-12th & 17th-19th Herding Demonstrations @ The Mountain State Fair www.possumhollowfarms.com 828-429-6388 371 CC Lovelace Road, Rutherfordton ri-City Animal Clinic Tri-City Animal Clinic Genera Medicine & Surgery General Medicine & Surgerl Or hopedic Consultations & Surger Jill C. Bradshaw, DVM Glenn C. Bradshaw, DVM 828-286-2326 TriCiriCityAnimalClinic.comtyAnimalClinic.com 475 Withrow Road • PO Box 729 Forest City 475 Withrow Road • PO Box 729 Forest City Tri-Ciri-Cityty Animal Care Animal Care Premium Boarding & Grooming Premium Boarding & Grooming 828-245-9100 or 828-286-2326 828-245-9100 or 828-286-2326 440 Withrow Road • PO Box 729 Forest City 440 Withrow Road • PO Box 729 Forest City Glenn C. Bradshaw, DVM 828-286-2326 Ortthopedic Consultations & Surgery Jill C. Bradshaw, DVM Is the Family Ready for a Pet? Whether your household is partial to dogs, cats, fi sh or reptiles, deciding if the family is ready to welcome a pet into the mix is a big undertaking and one that requires a lot of forethought. Too often getting a family pet is more of an impulse deci- sion than one carefully considered. A child sees the inquisi- tive eyes of a puppy staring back at him or her from inside a cage or pet store window and pleas go out to rescue the little bundle of fur. Other times pets come into the family by way of gifts. There have been many times well-meaning individuals gift a cat or bunny and think they’ve stumbled on the perfect present. But if the family isn’t ready for the pet, the animal could end up being neglected or given away. It is estimated that about 14 million dogs alone are eu- thanized in shelters across the United States. Pets who spend a long time in shelters can develop psychological problems, including anxiety, fear and people/other animal aggression. While many dogs and cats are adopted, a great number aren’t. They’re either forced to live their years out in cages or eventually be put to sleep. The way to prevent overpopulation in shelters is to carefully consider getting a pet and then being a responsible pet owner. Here are some ways to tell if your family is ready to take on the added responsibility of a pet. • Are your children self-suffi cient, meaning they can dress and feed themselves when necessary? Are they able to han- dle tasks, such as cleaning off the table or taking out the garbage? • Are your children amenable to things you ask from them, such as chores or going to bed promptly? • Have you ever “borrowed” a pet to see what the day-to-day interaction involves? If not, do so. Foster a pet similar to the one you’re thinking of getting. Spend two weeks caring for the animal. If your children can handle this duration of time, they may be ready for more. • Do you have the room for a pet? Some animals require more living space than others (a Great Dane versus a gerbil). Consider if your home is adequate for the pet you’re consid- ering. • Are pets allowed where you live? If you rent or live in a com- munity with homeowner regulations, fi nd out if you are able to have a pet fi rst. Sometimes pets are restricted based on breed or variety, such as cats being allowed, but no dogs. • Have you set the ground rules regarding who will be caring for the animal? If the children are expected to care for the pet and then you as parents are forced to take over, it could lead to animos- ity. • Have you considered the life span of animals you desire. Many dogs and cats can live anywhere from 10 to 20 years. Some birds live for 50+ years. Think about whether you’re ready for that time commitment and who will care for the pet after the children have left the nest. • Let’s face it, pets can be messy. Feathers, fur, food, poop --they’re all part and parcel of owning a pet. Are you ready for the extra clean-up required? • Many people overlook fi nancial obligations with pets. Is your family fi nancially stable enough to handle another expense? Vet care and food for pets can total several hundred dollars each year. Courtesy of Metro Editorial ElFleedeeed • AnEllenboro Pet & Livestock Supplyb •or Anio Pmeal Ht &ea Livth • Vestockcci Suespply Tack • Dog Collars • Shav Natural, nutritiously yummy treats for dogs! Dick Van Patten’s Natural Balance® HEALTHY BONES® Treats are oven-baked with love Mention this ad at Forest City Pets and get a free 8oz. bag with any dog food purchase. 50# Dog Food 13. 50# Dog Food $ 13.99 99 ck • Dog Collars • Shavings • Hay We Make Dog T gs Make Dog Tags Kills fleas and ticks fast...and lasts. Single Dose Or Package 13% Bartlett Horse Pellet $ 7. 7.75 75 189 Depot Street, Ellenboro 828-453-8003 Mon.-Fri. 9am-6pm; Sat. 9am-2pm Located at 141 Thomas Street • Downtown Forest City (a block North of Main and West of Cherry Mountain) Open 10am-6pm Monday-Saturday Caring for ALL your family members 828-248-2336 ® Caring for ALL your family members 828-248-2336 A full-service pet shop offering many national brands 13% Bartlett Horse Pellet Health • Vaccines gs • Hay

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