WHAT ARE THE DOG HOLIDAYS IN MAY

These are all great safety measures, but what happens when your dog gets frightened and slips that collar or climbs over the fence to explore what is on the other side?

These scenarios are a great reason to celebrate National Chip Your Pet Month and add that extra layer of security to finding your pet safe and sound.

Microchipping your pet is as easy as taking your dog in for their vaccinations and is only the size of a piece of rice. The vet places the microchip in the loose skin between the shoulder blades in a non-invasive procedure to give you that extra peace of mind. Make sure to watch the video to see how it is done.

After the procedure, all that is left to do is register your dog with one of the national databases so that your pet’s information is readily available in case your pet is found.

If you have already had the procedure completed is your information accurate in the national database of your choice? It is always a good time to check your information for accuracy.

Here are a few of the national databases that you can register with:

https://www.akcreunite.org/

https://www.homeagain.com/membership-services.html

https://www.petchipregistry-us.info/pet_chip_registry

Do your part in sharing information about National Chip Your Pet Month by sharing on social media.

Why Celebrate – As a pet parent, cancer can be a devastating diagnosis, and one we are never ready to hear from our vets.

According to Pet Cancer Awareness Website, (PCA) Working together Blue Buffalo and PetCo have raised over 15 Million in revenue over their joint partnership in providing both research and helping families fight the battle of cancer in those loving and loyal pets.

They state that 6 million dogs and approximately the same amount of cats are diagnosed with this disease yearly, that is reason enough to help them in their campaign to help fight the battle for cancer in our furry friends.

If you are not able to help through donations, you can always help by helping to spread the word through social media or even word of mouth so that everyone knows that May is Pet Cancer Awareness Month.

If you ever receive that bad news from the vet that your fur baby has cancer you may want to check into how this campaign can help you, read more about it at the Petco Foundation  website.

Hazards – Cancer is a life-threatening disease for our fur friends and very costly to battle for treatments to become cancer-free. Without a cure, this deadly disease will continue to rear its ugly head and take our loving pals from us.

What Is It – In Defence of Animals (IDC) declared the month of  May as Responsible Animal Guardian Month. The IDC wants to bring awareness of the strong bond that can be achieved between an animal and their guardian and how responsible guardians should strive to not only give the respect these remarkable creatures deserve but also by meeting the needs both physically and mentally of the animals we share our lives with.

Living our day to day lives with these remarkable creatures is very fulfilling and has many rewards. When your down they cheer you up, when you are sick they are right by your side, and they are always there when you just need a friend.

As many of us understand and know that being a responsible guardian not only consists of responsibility for the life and well-being of the animal we take into our home but the care and treatment of our wonderful furry friends throughout the years. 

Let’s take a look and see what those responsibilities might entail:

• When adopting an animal, know that it is for the life of the animal they are not disposable.
• Provide positive training to help them follow directions and keep them from danger.
• Provide proper nutrition and exercise to maintain health and stamina.
• Maintain yearly wellness checks and keeping a good communication line open with your vet.
• Spend time every day to show your commitment and love to your furry family member.

Being truly committed pet parents improves communication with your pet and also the bond that is built between an animal and a human. Make sure to share with your friends and help everyone to realize what responsible pet guardianship is all about and what they should do to improve their relationship with their animal friends.

This event thanks much more than just our seeing-eye dogs and military dogs. They also pay tribute and provide services to working dogs such as police dogs and therapy dogs that provide so many different services and dogs that need the ability to have good sight to do their jobs well.

I think another way to celebrate is thinking about our dog’s health as getting regular eye exams can detect early issues that might occur and may save your dogs eyesight. Checking with your vet and seeing what they recommend may just be the perfect way to celebrate this dog holiday for your dog.

What better way to celebrate our dogs having a month-long celebration to brag about our dogs,  meet other pet parents, and share the love for our dogs with the world.

Let’s get started and find out how we can start celebrating National Pet Month and have some fun with our furry friends.

Get on board with social media by posting lots of pictures of your furry pals and the fun they are having over the next couple of months.

Pack your pal up and go to that fun day organized by local charities, if you have any local, if not organize something to get pet parents together and socialize for a day. This can be a lot of fun for you and your furry friend.

This is a great time to get involved and thank our pet professionals for all they do and how they help us become better pet parents for our dogs. 

Here is what we can learn while celebrating our pets each day:

• Sunday – Choose well: Commit for life
• Monday – Socialize now: New doesn’t have to be scary
• Tuesday – Nutrition and exercise matter
• Wednesday – Love your pet? See your vet!
• Thursday – Travel with care
• Friday – Emergencies happen: Be prepared
• Saturday – Plan for their care: Give them a lifetime of love

To find out more about the themes each day visit AVMA.

Take the time this week to really show your pet how important they are in your family dynamics by taking them for a walk, providing nutritional meals, and making sure you are prepared for your furry friend in the case of an emergency. 

As always share on social media and share those cool pics of your pets during this week to show how important they are in your life. 

I believe every child should have that chance to bond and learn how to love and care for animals properly. This is not always the case and some parents do not understand that this teaches humanity and compassion for our loving animals.

This is a great reason to help share awareness and provide education to children to help them understand how to treat animals in the hope to have a lasting impact on the lives of children growing up today.

Other ways you can celebrate this holiday is by adopting a shelter pet, committing to kindness 365 days a year, and showing your support on social media. 

I don’t want to go into the conditions too deeply as it turns my stomach, but these dogs are living in unhealthy conditions most the time in small kennels, having litter after litter without any medical care all for the profit of the owner.

Fortunately, and I applaud the people and organizations like HSUS out there striving to change laws and get puppy mills shut down to help give these precious babies a better life. There are ways you and I can help too, let’s find out more of what we can do during Puppy Mill Action Week.  

Do Not buy puppies from pet stores – Help break the pet stores that sell puppies, do not buy from stores, that sell puppies and support stores that help with adoption for shelter dog projects.

Don’t buy puppies online – Puppy mills run ads online and also creep into Craigslist and many other online outlets. Get to know the breeder if you choose to buy a new puppy directly from the breeder, know the conditions in which the puppies and mothers are kept.

Be an advocate – Get the word out about puppy mills, many people still do not understand that the cute puppy in the window most likely came from a puppy mill. This can be very daunting to these new pet parents when they find they have purchased a sick puppy and now have to invest in all the medical needs this new fur baby will entail.

Change the laws – Write your legislature and become of voice for ending puppy mills in your state.

Share information – This helps to get the word out and helps educate others of the shocking truth about puppy mills and how these poor dogs live throughout their lives, sometimes never seeing the light of day or ever walking on grass.

With the endorsement of the American Kennel Club, (AKC) many states are jumping on board to recognize this day to give tribute to our 400 dog breeds that exist today and to give a voice to those breeds that may be at risk of vanishing forever.

Many of our purebred dogs have helped out humans for many years and possess many different desirable traits that are invaluable to our lives and communities. Some of these consist of tracking, hunting, herding, protection, and guiding.

According to the NPDD, many dogs would not find themselves in shelters or needing new homes if the prospective dog parent would spend the time to research and educate themselves in the bred they are pursuing. Another consideration is obtaining your new family member from a reputable breeder as they will be able to help you understand exactly the traits and history of the specific breed.

One thing that might also be a great tribute to our purebred dogs is posting one thing about the breed of your dog so others will know what they can expect from your specific breed.

These dogs long for loving families just like any others and deserve to have a great life like any other dog, which makes this a great day to celebrate.

Another great way to celebrate is to let your mutt know that they are special and very much loved and part of the family. You might want to strike up your own celebration just for your fur baby.

If you are considering adoption specially-abled pets need homes and lots of love and a family to call their own. Invite them to your family and reap the benefits of the unconditional love they will give to you throughout their lives.

Do you what you will do with your animals in case of a disaster/crisis/emergency? It is best to be prepared now before you need it than when it is too late. Remember to, Be Smart. Be Prepared. Get your disaster/crisis/emergency kit together. I have put together a pdf printable download with the information you need to get prepared, just click the button below and it will be sent to your inbox right away. 

Post on Social Media to share your love of Chihuahuas or even join their photo contest that ChiChi and Me holds each year. If you want to enter here is the link. No matter how you celebrate enjoy the time with your furry friend.