Animalix - Magazine

Most people don’t want to support animal cruelty; that's a given. In the United States, people have particularly strong feelings about cruelty towards companion animals who many consider to be integral parts of their family. Yet, despite the desire to protect our animals, many people still unwittingly support puppy mills. What is a puppy mill? A puppy mill is a dog-breeding facility with the primary goal of making money. To maximize profits, some breeders make dogs suffer in deplorable conditions. The puppies bred at these facilities are then either shipped to pet stores around the country, or sold directly through newspaper and online ads to the public. Once the puppies leave the mills, they are cleaned up and put up for sale at pet stores for anywhere from hundreds to thousands of dollars. The breeding dogs aren’t nearly as lucky. They are kept at the puppy mill to have litter after litter, often living in small cages and lacking clean water, regular veterinary care and...

Neck and trachea injuries might occur if a dog is constantly yanking, pulling or fighting the leash. Unlike a leash attached to the collar at the neck, a leash attached to a traditional body harness connects to a hook on the dog’s back between their shoulders. The body harness takes the direct stress off their neck. There are also harnesses which attach on the chest or head. Tangling A dog that is fighting the leash, or excited, jumping and twisting it can tangle not only themselves in the leash, but their human as well. A strong dog might quickly wrap the leash around your legs, feet, fingers, arms or wrist and pinch or injure you. When a dog gets excited, he doesn’t know his own strength or understand that he might be hurting you. A really strong dog might even pull you over when he has you tangled in the leash. It is more difficult for the dog to tangle either of you up if the leash is attached to a harness on his back. Training Although dogs can be trained to follow the r...

What to Consider When Looking for a Dog Owning a dog is not as simple as some people think. There are many things that owners need to consider before adopting or purchasing a dog. Once a dog becomes a part of the family, there is a huge commitment that cannot be ignored. In some ways, they need even more attention than a child, because they don’t gain independence at the level that humans do when they grow older and mature. Most people think of the basic needs and stop there without taking further consideration of how a dog might impact their lives. Here are a few important things to consider when looking for a dog. Determine the right breed   Not all dogs are created equal. It is very important for potential dog owners to assess their specific, unique situations and determine the best breed to bring into their homes. Some dogs need ample space to move around without destroying things in the home. Others may need more exercise and access to the outdoors. There are...