New Year’s resolutions for pet owners
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Randall Morris of Heritage South Credit Union of Sylacauga, right, presenting a generous $500 donation check to Dennis Hill. Photo submitted
Pet of the Week: Melvin
Happy New Year to everyone! I hope that you all enjoyed the holiday season with your family and loved ones. Welcoming in a new year often means a time of setting resolutions for some, with aspirations of sticking to those resolutions all year, or at least as long as possible.
With that mindset, the Humane Society of Elmore County shared 10 New Year’s resolutions for pet owners. They are as follows:
- Keep identification on your pet! A collar, current rabies tag and a personalized identification with a good phone number will get your lost pet back to you. Get your pet microchipped by your veterinarian as it is the perfect backup to tags. Have photos of your pet just in case.
- Keep your pet safely contained at home. Fences not only make “good neighbors,” but keep your pets safe from cars, guns, getting lost, and so much more. Keep cats indoors if at all possible.
- Take your pet to the vet at least once per year to keep vaccinations current, get your heartworm prevention renewed and have your pet get a general check-up.
- Spay and neuter your pet. There are just so many health benefits for both female and male pets besides how much this will help reduce the overpopulation that results in far too many homeless pets.
- Feed your dog the best quality food you can and don’t overdo the treats. Tubby pets can develop many health problems and shorten their lives. Treats do not equal love.
- Take care of your pet’s coat, teeth and nails. Dirty or matted coats cannot effectively protect your pet from the elements, may hide health problems and are uncomfortable for your pet. Long nails can be painful and can eventually cripple your pet. Bad breath may be because of tooth decay or gum disease and should be checked out by your veterinarian.
- Keep your yard and litter box clean. Cats have less litter box problems when the box is cleaned regularly to remove waste, and picking up feces in the yard frequently can help reduce smell, flies and parasites.
- Pet proof your home and property. Keep poisons of all kinds out of pet reach, watch out for poisonous plants indoors and outside, keep electrical cords out of reach, don’t leave out strings or ribbons for a cat to swallow, and make sure there is no antifreeze leaking from older vehicles.
- Learn about your pet and its breed traits so you can better understand what motivates your pet. Do homework on a breed or pet BEFORE bringing a new one home.
- Spend time interacting with your pet. Our pets are social animals that thrive on human attention. Teach your pet manners so it is pleasant for others to be around. Our pets love us unconditionally; love them back with all your heart and take care of them the best you can!
I am happy to report that the Coosa County Animal Shelter is getting ever so close to opening. I heard that the kennels are nearly complete, with all the blocks for those being laid already. Hopefully more on that next week.
In the meantime, while we wait for our local shelter to officially open for business, this week we’re highlighting the Humane Society of Elmore County’s Pet of the Week, Melvin.
The shelter said it wanted to start off 2023 with finding a home for its longest resident. Melvin has been with the Wetumpka shelter since May 2022. He is a 3-year-old lab mix, a handsome red fella weighing about 60 pounds.
Melvin came to the shelter as a stray that no one came to reclaim. The shelter says that he is simply a wonderful big lab mix, loves to go for walks, listens very well, is gentle, loves to get and give kisses, and is active but not hyper. He is good with other dogs and cats.
If you are interested in meeting Melvin or any of the shelter’s other pets, the first step is to complete the Adoption Application online at www.elmorehumane.org. Once that is approved, the shelter will coordinate with the potential adopter to set up an appointment to meet and adopt.
For more information, contact the Humane Society of Elmore County in Wetumpka at 334-567-3377 or visit their website.