Why do people believe that Pit Bulls are dangerous?

• In today’s society the media dominates how we get our information. As many of you know, the media thrives off of “fear”. There is never anything positive on the news. It’s always, stories about murder, rape, burglary, drugs, disease and any other negative thing you can think of. So when a story comes out about a dog attack the immediately jump on that story, eager to share the horrors with the world, while conveniently leaving out any positive stories.

• The media has also been known to twist stories to make them sound like something terrible happened when that’s not really the story.

• Another sad truth is that the media rarely takes the time to discover whether the dog involved in an attack was actually a Pit Bull.

• The reality is that there is no other breed of dog that has such an intimidating look which naturally appeals to gang members, drug dealers and anyone who wants to look “bad ass”. Often times these dogs are kept to protect their drugs and weapons therefore are TRAINED to be aggressive. Pit Bulls are people pleasers and if you tell him to be aggressive, that is what he will do to please his master. It’s not the dog, it’s the trainer.

The Truth?

The American Temperament Test Society (http://www.atts.org) perform their temperament tests regularly on popular breeds. The most recent aggregation of all test results was in 2008.

Description of the test:
The test simulates a casual walk through a park or neighborhood where everyday life situations are encountered. During this walk, the dog experiences visual, auditory and tactile stimuli. Neutral, friendly and threatening situations are encountered, calling into play the dog’s ability to distinguish between non-threatening situations and those calling for watchful and protective reactions.

The dog fails the test if it shows:
• Unprovoked aggression
• Panic without recovery
• Strong avoidance

American Pit Bull Terriers passed the test at a rate of 85.3%. This is higher than Collies, Golden Retrievers, and other “family friendly” dogs who scored an average of 77%.

What is happening because of ignorance?

Denver has a Breed Restrictive Legislation which states that no Pit Bulls are allowed in the city of Denver, period. If a Pit Bull is found in Denver (whether they be walking down the street with their owner, in their home with their family or at the park enjoying being a dog) they will be seized immediately and euthanized.

Warning: The following images are extremely graphic.

Video: PITBULLS DENVERS'S DOG MASSACRE

This is what is happening all because of people’s ignorance to a breed that is well suited to be around children and a part of the family. Here is a question: what is the difference between this and the Holocaust? There is a mass slaughtering of these beautiful animals strictly because they have the unfortunate name of “Pit Bull”. While you look at these pictures, imagine if someone came into your home, took your beloved pet from you and killed them just because they believed you shouldn’t have them. Your faithful companion who greats you at the door with their tail wagging, joins you on your morning jog, snuggles up with you at night and is happy to do whatever it is you feel like doing. That is what these dogs were: faithful companions. Not vicious attack dogs. They were someone’s pet. For that matter, they were some little girl or little boy’s best friend and because of ignorance, their best friend was murdered.

Every time you say “Pit Bulls are dangerous”, “Pit Bulls are aggressive”, “Pit Bulls can’t be a family dog”, you are contributing to the reason that thousands of innocent, happy creatures have lost their lives because they cannot defend themselves. They have no voice.

How can you help?

First off, stop saying ignorant things! Do not judge a dog by its breed but rather, the dog itself. Stop doing more damage to the breeds reputation and start helping it! Share this blog with friends and family. Make a donation to a local Pit Bull rescue. Adopt a Pit Bull!

• Resist the urge to feed table scraps. Don’t feed your pet rich, fatty or spicy people foods, one regular sized slice of cheese for a dog that ways 20lbs or less is the equivalent of one cheeseburger to us. Chocolate, onions, raisins and alcohol are all extremely dangerous for your pets and can be fatal. If you would like to treat Fido and Fluffy to a little something special, add a tablespoon of white meat or broth from the holiday dinner to your pet’s food.

• Be conscious of toxic plants. Many common holiday plants are extremely toxic to pets. These plants include mistletoe, holly, poinsettia and lilies. If you would like to still decorate with these plants, be sure to keep them out of the reach of curious pets, especially puppies and kittens who are most likely to nibble on anything they find!

• Keep the water covered. If you have a live Christmas tree, be sure to keep the water stand covered. Cats and dogs both can get gastrointestinal upset from drinking the water your tree stands in.

• Watch the ornaments. If your cat enjoys batting around the Christmas ornaments be sure to keep unbreakable ornaments at the bottom of the tree.

• Skip the tinsel. Though tinsel makes your Christmas tree glisten, if you have pets in your home, skip putting it up. If tinsel is ingested it can cause intestinal problems that will require a trip to your veterinarian.

• Wrapping hazards. If you like to display your presents under the tree, be aware of bows, ribbons and bells that pets can ingest. Ribbon is especially tempting to your feline companions!

• Be aware of fire hazards. If you’d like to dress up your table with a few candles, be sure to keep them high enough that your happy dog’s tail cannot knock them over. Also, be sure to keep an eye on the kitty so she doesn’t jump on top the table and knock it over.

• Light dangers. Keep strings of lights high and out of your pets reach. Your pet can easily get tangled in them or decide they look like the perfect chew toy.

• Escape artists. With the flow of guests that will be coming in and out of your home during the holidays, be sure to keep and extra careful eye on your pets as the presents the perfect opportunity for them to slip out of the door.

• Keeping Bashful happy. If your pet is shy around strangers, don’t force them to interact with them. Set up a room in the farthest area of your home away from all the activities. Provide them with a comfy bed, some toys to play with and turn on the TV to drown out some of the noise. Though we all would love to spend the holiday with our pets, you don’t want make them even shier by overwhelming them with a bunch of people.

Toys

Contrary to what some people may believe, cats love toys! They love stalking, pouncing, chasing and “killing” toys of all types. Having plenty of toys for your indoor cat prevents boredom, promotes exercise which keeps her healthy, allows her to use her hunting skills and opens the door for bonding between you and your feline friend.

So what type of toys should you have for your cat? There are so many options; have fun and see what your cat likes the best! Here are some recommendations:

• “Fishing Poles” with feathers or mice at the end of them. These toys are great for interacting with your pet. 
• Mice. You can get stuffed mice, furry mice, cat-nip filled mice, remote control mice…the list goes on! Every cat should have plenty of these laying around to bat at, pounce on and hunt. 
• Balls with bells in them seem to be a feline favorite. You can also get balls that just have stuffing in them as well. 
• Panic Mouse 360 (or something like it). This great invention is a mechanical device that moves a stuffed mouse around in unpredictable motions. You can control the speed of it and watch your cat bat away! Here’s a video of one in action: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dPwspCtvzF8&list=FLM8XcG3gUnztVKIuqPi3YMg&index=3&feature=plpp_video 
• Toilet paper or paper towel rolls make an inexpensive toy to keep your pet busy

These are just a few of the options you have to keep your cat entertained. There hundreds of sites out there dedicated to pet toys of all types. From the toys you can find in big pet stores to unique, handmade toys, the possibilities are truly endless. Do a search online and have some fun! Your cat will thank you.

Cat Tree

Every cat needs a cat tree. Cats love to scratch, stretch, climb and snooze. A cat tree allows them to do all four in one place (and not on your favorite chair or sofa). Scratching is a natural part of feline behavior. It allows them to sharpen their claws and shed the dead shells of old nails. Digging their claws deep into something also allows them to get a really deep stretch that they simply can’t get any other way. There are many different varieties of cat trees out there. Choose one that works for both you and your cat. I know cat trees aren’t the most attractive piece of furniture you’ll have in your home but with some searching you can find one that matches your décor, fits nicely in the spot you’d like and still provides your pet with all of the benefits. You can find cat trees at any pet store, online or even at garage sales and flea markets.

Edible Plants

Cats love to chew plants, which is one of the many benefits of being outside. They can forage through as many plants as they would like. However, when you bring your cat inside, they forage on your indoor plants. The solution? Provide your kitty with his own indoor cat garden! Below is a list of plants that you can include in your cats garden:

• Grass
• Catmint
• Catnip
• Valerian
• Lemongrass
• Thyme
• Sage
• Parsley
• Chickweed

A View

If your cat has to stay inside (which he should!) it doesn’t mean he can’t still enjoy the sites of the world passing by. Put a cat tree, some drawers or an end table near or under a window in your home that your cat would enjoy looking out of. Not only will he enjoy watching the birds, squirrels and people walking by, but he will also enjoy basking in the sun. You could also put a bird feeder outside of his favorite window to make the view even more interesting.

Some Fresh Air

If you’re fortunate enough to own a screened in porch, let your cat enjoy it! Allow her some time to enjoy the fresh air while still in the safety of your home. You could even install a kitty door so your cat can go in and out of this room as she pleases. If you don’t have a screened in porch, opening a window (preferably the window that you’ve set up for her viewing pleasure) and letting her enjoy the fresh air and all of the smells that come with it is a great compromise.  You can also buy a leash and harness specially made for cats and take her for a stroll through the yard. Never take your cat out with just her collar as she can easily slip out of it. Also, don’t tether your cat and leave her outside alone. She could easily be attached by a dog or some other animal with no way of escaping.

 Always Remember…

Though all of these suggestions make one happy cat, don’t forget the most important thing you can offer your pet…you! Your cat loves you and enjoys the playtime and affection that you give. Be sure to set aside time every day to play with your cat and enjoy his company, that is why you have a cat isn’t it?

Dog Toys

#1- Traditional Kong

The number one dog toy that every dog owner must have is a traditional Kong. These stuff-able, throw-able toys have so many benefits:

1-They’re virtually indestructible, as a matter of fact I have never seen, nor heard of, a dog being able to destroy a traditional Kong toy. However, if you believe your dog may have the potential to destroy one, they have super tuff ones which come in black.

2-They’re great for keeping your dog busy. I cannot tell you how much Kong toys helped me when I was raising my Golden Retriever. When he went through his stage of barking in the morning, I would put some peanut butter in his Puppy Kong and it would act as his binky! If you’re dog has separation anxiety, gets bored while you’re not home or you want him to relax while you watch the most recent episode of Modern Family, than stuff this toy with peanut butter, special cheese flavored Kong filling or treats and keep him occupied for hours!

3-Kong’s exercise your pup’s mind. Kong toys encourage your dog to problem solve and figure out “just how am I going to get that yummy treat out of there”. So not only does this toy keep them busy, but it can actually tire them out after a while.

4-The erratic way Kong’s bounce make playing fetch a blast! Rather than the traditional tennis ball that rolls or bounces straight, Kong’s odd shape allows it to bounce erratically while your dog chases it, which adds to the mental and physical stimulation of your dog.

#2- Kong Wobbler

Yet again the Kong Company steals the spotlight in my book with its recent toy: Kong Wobbler. Rather than stuffing this toy with peanut butter or cheese filling, this one is designed to dispense dog food or small treats out of a very small opening in the side. Your dog has to knock around the toy (which is balanced by sand at the bottom so it constantly bounces right back up) to be able to get her favorite treats to come out. Here are the benefits:

1-This toy is great for dogs that tend to engulf their food. Rather than setting a big bowl of kibble down and watching your dog gorge himself, try the Kong Wobbler. You can fill up the toy with his normal dinner portion and it will dispense it in small amounts which will slow your dog down while he’s eating. Allowing your dog to eat slower prevents choking and bloat.

2-Wobbler also encourages mental stimulation. Just like the traditional Kong, Kong Wobbler stimulates your dog’s mind. He has to push, roll, and nudge this toy to be able to get any goodies to come out; doing this encourages his problem solving abilities.

3- Though this toy isn’t designed to play fetch with, you can still slide it around on the floor with your pups and watch them happily bound after it trying to figure out how to pick it up!

Cats

Though cats don’t enjoy toys AS much as dogs, they still love to play! Here are my top picks for cat toys.

#1- Panic Mouse 360

The Panic Mouse is an electronic toy that simulates movements like a real mouse. It moves erratically so your kitty never knows where it’s going to go next. The benefits for your cat?

1-Because the Panic Mouse moves so erratically your cat really has to pay attention if she wants to “catch her pray” which stimulates her mind and reflexes. This toy really brings out the hunter in your cat.

2-Jumping around and trying to catch an out of control rodent would tire anybody out, that’s why this toy is such a great tool for exercising your cat (which can be a very challenging thing to do!)

#2- The all-mighty Laser Pointer

It’s no secret that cat’s love laser pointers, we’ve all seen a hundred videos of cats doing some pretty silly things in the name of catching the “Red Dot”. They even have laser pointers that are shaped like mice now! Why do I love it (aside from the laughs and that adorable wide eyed look the cat gets)?

1-The best reason for having a laser pointer around for your cat is exercise. When you run the “Red Dot” across the floor, 9 times out of 10 your cat chases wildly after it right? What better way to get your cat moving? However, for your cat’s safety I don’t recommend pointing the laser high up on the wall and encouraging them to jump, this can cause a serious injury if your cat lands the wrong way.

2-The Laser Pointer is another great tool for helping your cat find his inner tiger. Stalking his “Red Dot” prey will encourage mental stimulation, though I do recommend allowing your cat to “catch” the laser dot every once and awhile.

So there you have it, my top 2 toy picks for both cats and dogs. I would love to hear what your favorite pet toys are, feel free to share here or post a comment at www.facebook.com/MenlysPetCare. I look forward to hearing from you!