Welcoming a dog into your home is a big decision, especially if you have a family. Caring for a pet involves a lot of commitment, and that’s especially true for dogs. They generally need more space and attention than cats, and most will need to go outside to relieve themselves a couple times per day. If you’ve decided to adopt a dog, prepare your home and vehicle before picking up the pooch. Use this checklist to ensure that your pet has a safe and smooth transition to its new home.

• Crate or cage – While it’s not a good idea to cage your animal for extended periods of time, having a place where it’s safe and secure while you’re cleaning the house or bringing in loads of groceries can be helpful. Make the crate a safe and comfortable place with bedding, and keep the door open whenever possible so your new pet can come and go as it pleases.
• Bed – If your dog won’t be sleeping in its crate, make sure it has a place to lie down. Designating a comfortable sleeping area will make it easier to keep your pet off the furniture and out of your bed.
• Grooming supplies – While you may prefer to have most grooming done professionally, it’s still a good idea to have dog shampoo, a brush and nail clippers on-hand just in case.
• Lint rollers – If you get a breed of dog that is prone to shedding, a lint roller can help keep your clothes fur-free.
• Vet – Before adopting a dog, it’s a good idea to find a vet in the area, especially if you need advice choosing a breed or finding a place to get your pup.
• Food – Ask your vet what kind and how much food your dog should get daily, and stick to his or her recommendation. Many dogs will eat well past the point of being full, so you have to help enforce portion control. It’s also a good idea to find out what kind of food your dog has been eating, and if you transition to a new one, do so slowly to avoid an upset stomach.
• Dishes – Get food and water dishes for your pup, plus a couple spares to keep in the car for when you travel or go to the park.
• Toys – Get a couple toys before you bring your dog home, then buy more based on what your pup likes. Having toys to play with will reduce the chance that your dog will start playing with your shoes or the furniture. A few good chew toys are essential when adopting a dog.
• Vaccines – Ask the shelter or breeder whether your dog has been vaccinated, and be sure to get documentation. If your pet needs additional shots, arrange a vaccination schedule with your vet.
• Spay and neuter – Unless you have a show dog, or plan to stud or breed your new pet, you should consider spaying or neutering. According the Animal Protective League, companion animal overpopulation is a problem, and reducing the risk of unexpected puppies is the responsible thing to do.
• I.D. tags and microchip – After picking up your new companion, make sure it gets an I.D. tag, or even better, a microchip implant.

When taking your new pet home for the first time, keep in mind that animals can cause a distraction in the car, especially if they’re in a new environment. Make sure you’re covered by affordable auto insurance, and if you’re looking for a provider, compare auto insurance ratings between companies before choosing a policy.

Dale Cooper has been blogging about financial services, insurance and education for more than three years. He holds a B.A. in English and lives in Cleveland. In his spare time, Dale enjoys cooking and traveling.

Sponsored content was created and provided by Nationwide Insurance.

When you make the decision to adopt a pet, hopefully you don’t make it lightly and do the very best you can to give your new companion a forever home.  Adopting a dog and then turning around in a few years and dumping him off at the pound because you no longer want to spend the time it takes to take care of him is just plain cruel and only contributes to the problems of pet overpopulation and overcrowding in shelters.

When you make the decision to adopt an animal, you are committing to taking care of them for the rest of their life.

Unfortunately, life is unpredictable and you very well may find yourself in a situation where you absolutely cannot continue caring for your pet. If you happen to find yourself in such a situation, simply giving up your dog to the pound is not a decision you should take lightly.

Rethink Re-homing

Many people give up their dogs because they feel that they don’t have the energy to deal with behavioral problems. Unless age or other physical or mental ailments are preventing you from taking care of them, you have some options. There are a lot of things you can do to change the unwanted behavior. Consult with a reputable trainer or consider going through obedience training with your dog. Training is just as much about training the owner as it is about training the dog so take some time to work together to achieve the results you are after.

Consider what is truly in the best interest of your dog. If you are considering rehoming your dog because you are in a situation that forces you to move into a small apartment, ask yourself if living in an apartment with you is worse than going to the shelter and risking not ever being adopted back out. The answer is likely to be no. You can always take your pup on long walks outside so he gets the exercise he needs.

Find a New Forever-Home

If circumstances absolutely won’t let you continue caring for your dog, try to adopt him out to your own contacts first. It’s likely that some of your family and friends have a connection with your dog already and you will know that he is going to a good home.  Petfinder.com is another avenue you can take to find him a new home while you are talking to friends and family.

Don’t just give him up to the first person who wants to take him. Make sure he is going to a good home first. Screen potential adopters and don’t be afraid to ask them questions. You may even want to ask for references and visit their home to make sure you are giving your dog up to a good home. Most potential adopters will understand and if they don’t, there is probably something going on that wouldn’t make them the best match for your dog.

You may not find your dog the perfect forever-home right away but don’t get discouraged and give up! Finding a new home for your pet will take a considerable amount of time and effort but finding the best home for your dog is worth it.

Shelter as a Last Resort

You should only take your pet to a shelter as a last resort. Remember that the number of animals that need homes far outweighs the number of people looking to adopt so when you take your pet to a shelter you run the risk of him never being adopted out.

Most shelters are running at full capacity and often have to euthanize other animals to make room for the incoming ones. Before you choose a shelter do your homework. Does the shelter use euthanasia as a form of animal control or do they classify themselves as a “no-kill” shelter? How do they classify adoptable pets versus non-adoptable pets? Even if your pet seems perfectly adoptable to you, a shelter might deem them as non-adoptable because of something as simple as a cold or tooth decay. These are all things you should consider before signing over ownership of your pet.

If you do take your dog to the pet shelter, don’t lie about why you’re there. Saying that you are giving him up because he isn’t good with kids or cats when that isn’t true will only make the adoption process more difficult.  The more information the shelter has, the more likely they will be able to adopt out your dog.

Author Bio:

Ron Rutherford is a writer with a passion for nature and a soft spot for Thai food.  He currently freelances for havahartwireless.com, which specializes in dog doors. In his spare time he enjoys taking his dogs Sam and Bosco to the local dog park. His dogs often tire of fetch before he does.

If you have ever lost a pet for a prolonged period of time, you will know the unbridled joy that comes with being reunited. You will also know that in the majority of cases the main catalyst for returning the pet to its owner are the altruistic actions of the good people who have ensured your animal makes its way back to you safely.

So it follows that if you find a stray animal that is lost, disorientated and hungry, you would, I hope, try to look after it as best you can and return it to its owner.

But often it’s not as simple as just scooping the animal up and taking it back home. As a domestic animal that has been abandoned or lost, it is likely to experiencing significant stress and fear and this may lead it to misunderstand your virtuous actions as a threat. You may actually further endanger the animal (and yourself) by rushing in to help!

If you do come across a stray animal you need to think calmly and rationally to try and ensure that you pursue the best course of action for the animal itself.  So here is a summary of what exactly you should do to help the stray…

Safety First

As alluded to above, your first thought should be about the safety of the situation, both for yourself and for the animal in question. Take note of the environment; if there is a lot of traffic in the area your attempts to catch the animal may end in a dangerous accident.

Recognize the Signs

Secondly, consider the appearance and behavior of the animal itself. If it’s very skinny then coaxing it out with food is an obvious tactic, although feeding it more than a tablespoon of food prior to having it examined by a vet is a bad idea. If the poor critter is very jumpy then you need to be extremely patient, whereas you should stay away and call the relevant authorities if the animal is being particularly aggressive.

Home or Shelter

The next step is to try and restrain the animal and to lead it back to your house or your car. Make sure to talk in a reassuring voice to the animal as you approach so that it does not get the impression you are trying to sneak up on it. If you cannot restrain the animal, you need to call your local authorities.

Here you are faced with two possibilities: to take the animal to the nearest shelter or to take it home and contact the shelter from there to see if anyone has reported the animal missing.

* It is not a good idea to drive anywhere with an unrestrained dog or cat in your car as they may become aggressive and panicked when you start the engine, and may be hard to extract after the journey is over, so make sure that you have spent time with the animal and made sure of its temperament before attempting to move it.

If You Take the Animal Home:

If you do decide to take the pet home and search out the owners yourself, the first thing you should do is read up on the laws in your local area. You may, by law, be obliged to inform the relevant authorities or even hand the animal over. 

I can’t stress how important it is that if the animal is starved and malnourished, you get it to the vet as quickly as possible.

If you can keep the animal in your house while trying to do your best private investigator impression, here are the steps you should take:

1. Check the animal for any signs of identification such as a collar or take the animal to the vet to have it scanned for a microchip.

2. Take a good look around your local area to see if there are any missing pet flyers up.

3. Make your own posters that explain where you found the animal and where you are keeping it (although don’t give out your address) and your contact information including a phone number and an email. Place your flyers within the vicinity of where the animal was found.

4. Regularly contact your local shelter to see if the animal has been reported missing.

Keep a record of all the steps you have taken so that you can prove that you have taken all reasonable steps in trying to locate the owners. This is important in the event that you decide to keep the animal yourself. If you do decide to take the stray in, stop for a moment to consider whether you are really up to the huge commitment that having a pet entails.

If you manage to reunite the animal with its owner then all the better, but even if you end up taking it in or getting it to a shelter, you have still given it a better chance of living a happy, contented live in the embrace of a loving family.

Louise Blake is a first time mother and writer for pet sites such as Petmeds, who provide pet products and medication to pet owners.

Dick Van Patten’s Natural Balance really knows how to push the marker…. First they got their spokes-dog, Tillman, the super-famous skateboarding Bulldog, to become an honorary member of the canine armed forces (Honorary Private 1^stClass Marine), then they, in partnership with Petco and Maddie’s Fund, worked for over seven years to get a national monument made honoring canine members of the armed forces.

The Natural Balance Rose Parade Float

But for all intensive purposes, what I’ll be talking about now is the fabulous float they had a hand in creating for the 2013 Tournament of the Roses Parade in Pasadena, California and their efforts toward the latter.

I was lucky enough to get to go to the parade with the company and see the float, and had the chance to interview several members of the armed forces, both human and canine! It was spectacular. This is one amazing company doing some amazing things…

After talking with Gunnery Sergeant Christopher Willingham and Lucca, a German Shepherd, from the Marines, and then with Sergeant First Class Charles Shuck and his search dog Gabe, a Yellow Labrador Retriever, from the Army, I was dually impressed.

Lucca lost a leg saving Willingham’s life from an IED, and Gabe had over 25 explosives finds in Iraq in 2007, the record for

Lucca

any dog in the military that year. Both Willingham and Shuck seem as dedicated and in love with their dogs as any non-military human who just flat-out is in love with their dog. In fact, Willingham NEARLY got choked up talking about how many times Lucca saved his life and the amazing (either 6 or 8) years of service she gave before retiring. Now Lucca just loves to go belly up and get scratches I quickly learned, and she also loves to play with her Kong. Gabe’s favorite past time nowadays is waiting patiently for Shuck to tell him to eat a treat! Shuck will put a treat on the ground and Gabe will just stare at it until Shuck tells him its okay!

Aside from celebrating these national heroes – the men and the dogs – Natural Balance is taking part in a bigger mission. A mission to get a Military Working Dog National Monument built in Texas.

Gabe

The float in the parade was a floral replica of the bronze and granite United States Military Working Dog Teams National Monument, to be dedicated in late 2013 at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas. It was prominently displayed beneath lush orchid-laced cherry trees. Flowing floral flags of America’s armed-service branches; U.S. Army, U.S. Marine Corps, U.S. Navy, U.S. Air Force and U.S. Coast Guard are proudly displayed as a background to the monument.

Featured on the monument are (left to right) the Doberman Pinscher, German Shepherd, Labrador Retriever and Belgian Malinois.

This is the first time in the history of the US military that an animal, a dog, has been elevated to National Monument status by U.S. Congressional Law.

Planned Monument

John Burnam, a former Vietnam War dog handler, founded the National Monument and orchestrated its design. (He is pictured at left.)

Natural Balance Pet Foods, Inc., Petco, and Maddie’s Fund are the Official Corporate Sponsors funding the National Monument project. The National Monument is solely funded by sponsor and citizens donations (zero tax dollars).

This is one spectacular company on one hell of a mission. I am honored that I got to be a part of their celebration in Pasadena this year. GO NATURAL BALANCE! Follow them online at @NaturalBalance on Twitter and here on Facebook.

** You can also follow Gabe, who was the American Humane Association Hero Dog of the Year in 2012, on Facebook here.

Planned Etching on Monument

The $53 billion Americans are spending on pets and pet businesses will skyrocket in 2013. But experts warn the boom is empowering ruthless puppy mills. Take steps to protect yourself and the animals.

$350 million spent on pet costumes in October? We did, according to the National Retail Federation.

Despite the lingering economic crisis casting a shadow over the holidays, pet spending is exploding. From $37.3 billion in 2001 to nearly $53 billion in 2012, a 42 percent increase in 11 years according to a 2012 APPA study. But experts warn the trend is causing unprepared pet buyers to get in over their heads, which is creating opportunities for shady operations.

You’re not seeing double. Wugadogs are the toy versions of a real-life Boston Terrier named Angus. They’re part of a nationwide ‘Petrepreneuer’ trend in pet commerce.

And despite the gloomy outlook for jobs and overall finances, pet spending is rocketing into 2013 and showing no signs of slowing down.

So why the shopping spree? “People are more interested in pets than ever before,” says San Diego veterinarian Dr. Jessica Vogelsang. Her statement reflects the long-held belief that pets improve human health. How? A neat little chemical called oxytocin, says Kit Yarrow, who chairs the psychology department of Golden Gate University in San Francisco.

Oxytocin is a naturally-occurring hormone in our bodies that makes us feel good and evaporates stress. We get a charge whenever we think about, play with, or snuggle up to our pets, says Yarrow. And in these unstable times, a feeling like that is more than welcome to stay awhile.

Pet businesses skyrocket in 2012

The trend is titilating consumers partly because of new pet-focused businesses and services. Buffalo, NY-based ex-graphic artist turned toy designer, Darrin Wilson, 44, agrees. “I think we will see more of a focus on pets in 2013,” he says. “Especially if the economy remains tepid. Pets give us a safe place to hide.”

Wilson created a successful plush toy modeled after his own rambunctious Boston terrier. Interest in his toys, Wugadogs, began in July when he and his wife gave over 300 of the fuzzy critters to the Women and Children’s Hospital of Buffalo. He has now grown the line to include five more Wugadog designs in 2013.

In Danvers, MA, Rev. Thea Keith-Lucas takes pet devotion into the pews. The Perfect Paws Pet Ministry, which marked its second anniversary in April 2012, usually sets aside dog cupcakes and chewies for pooches who accompany their owners for Sunday service. In the Parish hall, you’ll see folding chairs. “It’s easier to clean,” explains the minister.

‘Petrepreneurialism’ is not just limited to creative pet owners and clergy; the trend has taken over big name companies. Paul Mitchell, Harley Davidson and Old Navy are now offering lines of pet products ranging from dog shampoo, pet attire, and name-brand toys to gourmet treats and food.

With all this attention on pets, and the surge of pet-focused spending, the lure of a cute kitten or puppy to a first-time buyer can be too tempting to resist, especially if there are children involved. And that’s where all the cuteness can get ugly.

Puppy mills thrive on uninformed buyers

Many first-timers don’t know that the kennel or pet store they’re buying from is being honest. “Federal care standards are so minimal and enforcement so irregular that licensed kennels still include many so-called puppy mills, which breed and house animals in inhumane conditions,” says Cori Menkin, senior director of the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals puppy mills campaign. “Most pet store puppies come from puppy mills,” she says.

According to one well-known animal rights organization, the premium cost consumers pay for pets out of a pet store pales in comparison to the cruelty and abuse the animals suffer in the bowels of a puppy mill.

Puppy mills, according to PETA, can consist of anything from small cages made of wood and wire mesh to tractor-trailer cabs to simple tethers attached to trees. In the April 13, 2009 issue of Newsweek magazine, a Pennsylvania breeder confessed that he kept his dogs in cages because it was “the only way to keep a lot of dogs—to keep them penned up.”

In 2010, Chris Sweeney of DVM Newsmagazine reported in a feature entitled, “Inside the Black Market: Puppy Smuggling,” confirmed that dealers looking to avoid releveant U.S. laws concerning puppy mills can do so relatively easily by simply picking up and moving elsewhere to continue to do business.

While investigating what he called this “multi-million dollar industry,” Capt. Aaron Reyes of the Southeast Area Animal Control Authority was horrified when he found “puppies stuffed in speaker boxes, screwed into the car door panels and wrapped in blankets with their little legs taped to their bodies and stuffed under seats.”

According to The Humane Society of the United States, there may be as many as 10,000 puppy mills operating across the United States.

To avoid empowering these malicious operations, one of the most important steps to take is diligence. Instead of a pet store, consumers may want to look at either a reputable local breeder or an adoption group, says Melanie Kahn, senior director of the Humane Society’s puppy mills campaign. If we can stop the flow of money to these individuals we can help end these practices.

On the other end of the spectrum, you have pet buyers who discover their newly-purchased pet isn’t for them. “Live animals aren’t often returnable, and so they may end up at shelters when the family discovers, say, that their new puppy is too energetic or that baby Easter bunny grows into a rabbit,” says Kahn.

Adopt a dog from a reputable adoption group to avoid puppy mill dogs. Also by carefully researching the breeders that supply pet stores.

Patti Strand, national director of the National Animal Interest Alliance, offers these tips:

1. Ask the pet store for detailed information on the breeder and their location.
2. Check those records against its inspections at the USDA’s website.

With homework you can protect yourself and deny puppy mill operators the cash they need.

But despite the dark side of this skyrocketing interest in pets, there is a light side: many abandoned animals will go to good homes thanks to committed pet owners. “Animals have always been a big part of our lives as humans,” says Wilson. “They have often been the only medicine that can truly cleanse our souls. It’s only right we adore them as much as they adore us.”

(Thanks to wugadogs.com for this story.)