Wednesday, November 16, 2011

Myths!

      There are a lot of myths out there about pets... old sayings and anecdotes that have been said so many times that a lot of people accept them as fact! This is especially true for one of the most common of furry friends; felines, who have an abundance of lore and mythology surrounding them.
     The saddest part of common misinformation is that some people may make the decision whether or not to keep a pet based off of untrue 'common' knowledge... like the myths about a cat being dangerous for an expectant mother to own. There is no danger as long as litter box clean up is avoided and things are kept sanitary due to the slight possibility of toxoplasmosis. All it takes in most situations is a little bit of effort and knowledge and you can keep your pet with you through thick and thin!
     Speaking of myths about cats... there's the 'unlucky' black cat. These guys have a poor reputation just because of their dark fur and people are still superstitious over age-old myths; sadly, black cats have the lowest adoption rate and highest euthanasia rate to this day. Other than the superstitious fiction surrounding them, adopting out black cats is difficult because they are not easy to photograph and people coming into the shelter have a harder time seeing them in the dark cages and therefore don't 'connect' with them as well as a brighter cat that they can see. Keeping in mind that black cats are just as fun, personable, and loving as any other cat (and they're easier to find if they run out into the snow!) take the time to check out the special 'Black Friday' adoption promotion at the Seattle Humane Society... they are waving adoption fees for black cats and kittens; especially kind of them considering that we just got out of October which is the worst month for black felines looking for a home!

http://www.seattlehumane.org/explore/events/adoptpromos

Thursday, November 10, 2011

Did you know...

that dogs and cats are either right or left handed just like people? 

Knowing what paw your pet prefers is not only interesting and helps you to further understand your pet, it can also make some things easier! For example, if you're trying to teach your dog to shake hands you're more likely to receive positive results if you train them to offer their favored paw.
So, try being aware of what foot your pet starts out walking with, what paw they use to scratch at or push something, and maybe you'll learn something new about your furry friend!
Also, here's an interesting article on the subject with an expirement you can conduct involving your pet's food bowls that could help you determine if you have a lefty or righty critter...
Right or Left?