Frequently Asked Questions

Most common reasons people give up their pets, and how you can keep yours:

Allergies

Ø People can build up resistance to their own pets, so symptoms may lesson on their own over time.

Ø Have as many washable surfaces as you can in your home.

Ø Keep pets out of your sleeping area. You spend one third of your time in bed, so much of your exposure to dander will be while you are sleeping.

Ø Wash bedding and other fabrics around the house frequently in hot water with bleach.

Ø Install a high quality air cleaner in your home (HEPA type is best). Cover heating vents and registers with filters. Some excellent filters are available from medical supply companies.

Ø Keep your yard cleared of leaves and rotting vegetation to reduce mold spores.

Ø Use a humidifier in the winter and an air conditioner in the summer months.

Ø Vacuum your entire house every other day, especially where pets sleep and play. Wash pet bedding each week in hot water and bleach.

Ø Try using the dust-free unscented clay cat litter and a covered litter box.

Ø Consider getting allergy shots.

Ø Bathe your pets.

Ø Try ALLERPET, available from veterinarians and pet supply stores. (There is a separate formula for cats and dogs.) The product is rubbed onto the coat to minimize dander.

Ø Add a high quality vitamin supplement to your pets food. Make sure the product contains EFA(essential fatty acids).

Ø Have someone else groom the pet on a regular basis. Brushing with a pin or bristle brush will remove dead hair and dander, but avoid using a slicker brush, which can scrape the skin and loosen dander, making the problem worse.

Ø Wipe down your pet daily with a damp cloth. You will be wiping away some of the allergens.

Ø Always feed a high quality food. The better quality the food, the less shedding and dander production.

For more information please contact the following organizations:

American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology

611 East Wells St., Milwaukee, WI 53202

phone:414-272-6071

www.AAAAI.org

Asthma and Allergy Foundation

1302 18^th St. NW, Washington, DC 20036

phone:202-466-7643

Moving

Ø Well in advance of a planned move you should be trying to find housing that will accept you as well as your pet. Waiting until the last moment might cause your pet to become homeless.

Ø Look in the phone book under apartment finding. Some apartment finder companies provide the service of finding rental properties that allow pets. In Cobb County you can try People with Pets at 770-517-4404.

Ø If you are going into a temporary situation with a friend or relative, make sure you keep your pet confined to a cage or kennel. Often this consideration of their property will allow you to keep your pets in their home.

Digging, Climbing, Barking

Ø All dogs need exercise. Even if you have a fenced yard, your dog should be walked and played with every day. A tired dog is much less likely to be spending his time in destructive or bothering pursuits.

Ø Many digging dogs can be stopped by simply scooping some fresh poop into their excavations. You can also create an area just for them to dig by making a sandbox for them. If you start digging in it they are likely to join you.

Ø Dogs that climb fences can be stopped by simply purchasing an inexpensive underground fencing system from your local home improvement store or pet store. These underground fencing systems can be used to keep the dog from even getting near the fence in order to climb it (or go under it).

Ø A barking dog is a nuisance to everyone around you. By making sure he is tired you can usually cut down on this nuisance barking. A dog that is a house pet will also be much less likely to be showing this behavior. A dog alone outside often barks just for the attention and companionship. If these are not the problems, there are a number of bark deterring collars on the market. Many of which are very effective in controlling this unwanted behavior. You can purchase these collars at pet stores, catalogues and on the internet.

What’s the difference between a Humane Society and Animal Control

Ø Animal Control is the county run facility that houses all the unwanted pets and the stray animals for each county. They also employ road officers who investigate cruelty complaints and pick up stray and deceased animals.

Ø Most humane society organizations are run by volunteers and possibly a few employees. These organizations typically do not have a shelter and keep pets in foster homes. There are a few Humane Societys in Georgia with shelters, they include Dekalb, Cobb, and Atlanta.

Ø Statistics show that a very high percentage of animals turned in to animal control facilities across the United States are purebred. Many of these animals are a year old or younger. Please check with your local animal control facility.