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Health & Fitness

Abby Kennels Celebrates Responsible Pet Owner Month

Abby Kennels of Chelmsford (abbykennels.com) discusses what it takes to be a responsible pet owner.

The sound of the key in the lock brings a yelp of excitement from the other side of the door.  Peanut races around and around, happily announcing her owner’s return.  Cinnamon lays his big head on the lap of a crying child, instinctively knowing that comfort is needed.  Dogs provide unconditional love, support and comfort.  They are devoted companions and loyal friends.   In return, we must be their responsible caretakers.

February is Responsible Pet Owners Month.  In addition to the very obvious responsibilities of providing shelter, food and water to our pets, there are other factors involved in being a responsible pet owner.  Abby Kennels of Chelmsford offers five responsible pet owner tips:

 

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1.  Spay or Neuter Your Dog

We are professional breeders who breed sparingly and always with purpose.  Our dogs pass stringent health and temperament tests before entering our breeding program.  If you are seriously thinking of breeding your dog, spend a morning at your local animal shelter.  The work rescue organizations do is admirable, exhausting and never-ending.  Talk to the staff.  Visit the pets.  Read the statistics.  Spay or neuter your dog!

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2.  Train Your Dog

A well-trained dog is a happy dog.  Training teaches a dog its place in the family hierarchy and provides stability for any dog.  Our recent blog on training provoked a lot of positive discussion.  If you haven’t already read it, go back and read it.  Then start training your dog.

 

3.  Clean Up After Your Dog

This suggestion is so obvious; we shouldn’t even put it down.  Of course you clean up after your dog!  Everyone cleans up after their dogs!  Yet the amount of dog poop on sidewalks and parks and lawns and even parking lots is astonishing.  Aside from an unsightly nuisance, dog feces carry diseases.   It only takes a moment to clean up after your dog.

 

4.  Obey Community Pet Laws

Every community has its own pet ordinances.  Find out what your town laws are and obey them.  Make sure your dog is licensed in your town.  Stop your dog from frolicking in the town water supply.  If your town requires your dog to be leashed, then walk your dog on a leash.  Whatever the rules are, follow them.  And if you’re visiting a different town, use common sense.

 

5. Make It Easy For Your Best Friend To Be Found

Hopefully you’ll never be in the position of having to search for your dog.  But if your dog wanders or is taken, make it easy for your four–legged friend to be found.  Microchip your dog.  Or tattoo him/her.   Make sure your dog is wearing a collar with your contact information available.  Have current pictures of your dog available so “LOST” posters can be made and distributed quickly. 

 

Responsibility doesn’t end when February is over.  Send us some of your thoughts on being a responsible pet owner and we’ll publish them in a future blog.

 

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