What are the top 10 reasons for dog relinquishment?

According to the National Council on Pet Population Study and Policy, the top 10 reasons for dog relinquishment to shelters in the United States are:

• Moving
• Landlord issues
• Cost of pet maintenance
• No time for pet
• Inadequate facilities
• Too many pets in home
• Pet illness
• Personal problems
• Biting
• No homes for littermates
  

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How many animals enter shelters each year?

According to the Humane Society of the United States pet overpopulation estimates:

Number of cats and dogs entering shelters each year:
8-10 million (HSUS estimate)

Number of cats and dogs euthanized by shelters each year:
4-5 million (HSUS estimate)

Number of animal shelters in the United States:
Between 4 and 6 thousand (HSUS estimate)

Percentage of purebred dogs in shelters:
25 percent (HSUS estimate)

Average number of litters a fertile dog can produce in one year: 2

Average number of animals in an average canine litter: 6-10 (In six years, one female dog and her offspring can theoretically produce 67,000 dogs.)

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When do most shelters receive the most summer activity?

Shelters are their busiest during the summer, especially during the week of July 4th when most of America is celebrating their country's independence.

The 4th of July may be a fun time for us, but many dogs have a different point of view. What is fun, exciting, and beautiful to us is terrifying to most of our canine friends with their sensitive hearing. This week, hundreds of dogs in your own community alone will become a statistic as they run away to escape the noise that this holiday brings. Some will be picked up and brought to shelters, where they may be reunited with their human families. Others, not so fortunate, will get hit by cars as they run across roads in their terror.

Following are some tips (provided by Stray Dog Rescue of St. Louis) to help keep your dog safe during this week of celebration:

• Reassure your dog with a gentle massage and a soft voice.
• Let your dog hide out in whatever special "den" they feel safe.
• Use a crate to soothe him. Keep the door open and cover the top with a blanket to help muffle the noise.
• Play some calming sounds, such as ocean sounds or soft music.
• Consider hiring a pet sitter to stay with your dog.
• Stay calm yourself, and don't make a big deal out of the noise yourself.
• Don't leave a frightened dog outside. Even a dog that isn't bothered by loud noises should not be left outside on the 4th; she could get hit by a stray bottle rocket or burned by a child holding a sparkler. Be safe and bring her inside.
• Try an animal behaviorist to help slowly condition your dog to loud noises.
• Ask your vet to prescribe medication to calm him. You might also try an herbal remedy such as Rescue Remedy.

Please keep your dog safe during the 4th of July festivities! Here are some other holiday safety tips from the American Dog Trainer's Network.

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Obesity is a serious problem in dogs?

According to an article written by Craig W. Woods, DVM, MS, obesity affects approximately 25 percent of the U.S. canine population. This staggering figure is compounded by obesity related conditions such as diabetes mellitus, orthopedic problems, cardiovascular disease, and other metabolic and physical problems. When these obesity related conditions arise, often a vicious cycle ensues requiring medical and surgical intervention. Unfortunately, intervention often comes too late in the course of the condition or lacks sufficient efficacy to arrest or deter further organ system or tissue embarrassment. Ultimately, a large portion of the obese population never returns to the quality of life enjoyed prior to the onset of the condition(s).

Is your dog overweight? Here are some general assessment points to help you determine if your dogs body condition and weight:

• Can the ribs be felt with gentle palpation of the sides?
• Is there a "waist" - an indentation in the area between where the ribs end and the hips begin (when looking down at the back)?
• Can the hip bones be palpated with gentle pressure?
• Does your pet have trouble or is your pet slow to rise or move about?
• Is your pet reluctant to exercise?
• Does your pet seem to tire easily with activity?

Please visit this page created by the Senior Canine Rescue Society for more information on the dangers of obesity in dogs and links about how you can learn more and what you can do about it.

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