A Special Kind of Love

If you are a parent, your child has probably, at one point or another, begged you for a pet of his or her own. A bunch of reasons to say ‘No’ may have started to run through your head: They aren’t old enough to handle the responsibility, What if this is just a phase, You’ll be the one who ends up taking care of this new pet, or You simply aren’t ready to add another pet to the family.

Silence your inner thoughts for a moment, and listen to these reasons why getting a pet for your child may be one of the best things you can do for them.

Puppy Love

Owning and caring for a pet offers many benefits to children, here are just some of the  advantages:

• Studies show that children who have an attachment to a pet tend to be better emotionally adjusted, and have higher self-esteem than children who grow up without pets.
• By caring for and nurturing another living thing that depends on them for survival children learn empathy and compassion.
• Positive reinforcement from parents about a job well done caring for their pet builds self-confidence, and helps children feel more competent and take pride in being responsible.
• Pets offer a source of non-judgmental companionship and unconditional love and support.
• Though none of us want to think about losing a pet, when the time comes to say good-bye to a beloved pet, helping your child to understand and cope with feelings of sadness and loss when a pet dies can influence how he or she copes with death through the rest of their life.

These are just a few of the larger life lessons that come from owning a pet during childhood.

Though your family may not be ready to adopt a larger pet (like a dog, cat, or horse), you shouldn’t disregard the idea altogether. Small animals, like fish, hamsters, guinea pigs, rabbits, lizards, birds, etc. all make great pets for children.

Did you have a pet as a child? What was it? Do you agree there are benefits associated with growing up loving an animal? Let us know in the comments! 

Information provided in part by Healthy Pets with Dr. Karen Becker.

Riding Shotgun

In the theme of this love-crazed holiday, we have to ask: How much do you LOVE your pet??!

Our bet is, a lot! In which case, it’s time we sat down for a chat about their safety. No, this isn’t going to be a talk about the “birds and the bees.” (Phew!) Today we’re discussing the importance of making sure your pet is safe when they come along with you in the car.

Maybe some of you sat through a presentation in grade school about what happens in a car crash. For those of you who didn’t, the police officer explained how, on impact, everything in the car (pens, books, CD’s, etc.) flies to the front of the car at top speed. If your pup is riding shotgun, unrestrained… well, we don’t want to think about what could happen.

Last year AAA and Kurgo did a survey regarding pet travel. Here’s what they found: Of people who bring their pets in the car, 52% pet their dog while driving. 23% have used their arm to protect their pet when applying their brakes. 18% let their pet sit in their lap!

As adorable as it is to see a dog loving life, with his head out the window, wind blowing back his ears… it’s simply not worth the risk. These habits distract you (the driver) and increase the risk of an accident.

The beautiful Huskies in Suzuki's commercial were all strapped in and ready to go!

We noticed while watching the Super Bowl commercials this year all dogs that were riding along in cars were secured with doggy seatbelts. This is such a great step! And hopefully it will help more people realize just how important it is to buckle up their pets.

How about you guys? Do you have a safety system set up for your pet in the car? Sound off in the comments! 

Help Rescue Pets

Were you one of the 111.3 million Americans to watch the match up between the Giants and the Patriots on Sunday? We definitely wouldn’t be the ones to hold it against you if you decided to tune into the Puppy Bowl on Animal Plant instead.

Though these games don’t have much in common aside from their name… both ended up promoting something we can all be happy about: rescue pets need your help!

The Puppy Bowl featured 58 totally cuddle-worthy shelter puppies from around the country frolicking around a mini-field and having some rough and tumble fun. This annual event, sponsored by Petfinder.com and Animal Planet, has obvious entertainment value, but the huge bonus is that by participating in the event ALL of the pups end up getting adopted! Not to mention, the Puppy Bowl got plenty of attention from national media, all helping to spread the message about pet adoption! Cool, huh?

 Watch a segment of the Puppy Bowl here.

During the second half of the actual Bowl, Budweiser aired a commercial with the lovable, rescue dog, Weego. Weego was featured fetching beers for his new owners… and the idea of using the new pup to do party-goers beer bidding rubbed some people the wrong way. The inappropriateness was certainly a thought in our minds when we saw the spot.

Of course, commercials during the big game are infamous for their (sometimes attempted) use of comedy, and we hope no one is actually having their pet fetch Buds for them. Instead we would like to focus on the positive: that Budweiser used the BIG GAME, the biggest advertising stage of the year, as a platform to promote the “Help Rescue Dogs” message. We think that’s pretty great.

Did you tune into the Puppy Bowl? What do you think of the commercial? Let us know in the comments!

Hey, Instagramers!

Would you believe it?! Since Pets Add Life came to Facebook our fans have shared more than 3,900 photos with us!

We have loved looking through your photos. You guys have some amazing, adorable pets! Because a big part of the PAL campaign has turned out to revolve around photo sharing, it seems only natural then that we take this PAL party to the most popular photo sharing app of the day.

PAL fans – we’re coming to Instagram!

One of our office dogs, Rio!

We’ll be sharing our own photos that we feel represent responsible pet ownership, as well as ones that celebrate pets in general. But you can share your Instagrams with us too! Next time you post your pet’s picture to Instagram either tag us with @petsaddlife or tag your picture with the hashtag #petsaddlife. With the hashtag anyone can search the tag and look through all the photos uploaded from other PAL fans. We certainly will be!

Non-iPhone users, don’t fret! We will be sharing all our pictures to Facebook and Twitter too! If you have an iPhone, but haven’t gotten the Instagram app yet, you can here. (Psst, it’s free!)

Have any questions of how to go about sharing your pictures with us on Instagram? You know we’re always here to help!

We look forward to seeing all your pet pictures! So go ahead, and get sharing!

Helping Your Pet Lose Lbs.

You may think there is no harm in your pet being a little overweight. More to cuddle, right?! The truth is, even a few extra pounds on your pets frame can have adverse effects on their overall health.

Overweight cats and dogs face a high risk of developing diabetes. It is also more likely for overweight animals to develop arthritis, which leads to decreased mobility, and therefore, more weight gain.

The amazing thing is – these expensive and life-threatening complications are preventable! If you know your pet is too heavy, take action now! (Check this chart to see if your pet is in a healthy weight range.)

Take these steps to help your pet live a longer, healthier life by your side.

First, visit your veterinarian. They can give you all the right information to get your pet on the right track to a healthy weight.

Exercise! Have you been skipping more than a few daily walks? Start incorporating walks back into you and your dog’s routine. For heavy cats, amp up play time f0r 20 minutes with a flashlight or an intriguing feather toy.

Amp Up Playtime!

Choose better food. Look for quality meat ingredients on the ingredient list. Also be sure there is no added sugar, artificial preservatives or flavors. Your pet simply doesn’t need them. Be sure to discuss food with your vet when you go in.

Stop the snacking. Those little treats can end up adding many more calories to your pet’s daily intake than you realize. Make sure when you do give a treat it’s a healthy one. Also, don’t give in to begging! Those eyes are hard to resist, but it’s for their own good.

Has your pet struggled with weight gain? What are some tricks you used to help them stay healthy? 

Information provided in part by: WikiHow, Caesar’s Way and CNN. 

Owner Responsibilities – Are You Ready for a Pet?

Part of the Pets Add Life mission is to spread far and wide the benefits of pet ownership and encourage people to bring pets into their lives. However, owning a pet is also a huge responsibility. The last thing we want is for people to take in a pet before they are ready!

Heather T.'s adorable golden retriever pup, Annie. Thanks for sharing!

Buying Adopting a pet requires more consideration than, say, purchasing a new T.V. Consider buying a pet less of a purchase, and more as adding a new member to the family. In that light, there is an expected level of responsibility attached to the decision. The two most important things to consider are finances and your time commitment, with space following as a close third.

Finances. This chart gives an excellent break down of the costs associated with owning a variety of pets. Could your bank account handle an emergency visit to the veterinarian? Do you know the price of pet food? Be realistic about what you can afford, for the animals sake.

Time. Pets love attention! They also require regular exercise and depend on you for survival. Make sure you have enough time to devote to your new family member, before you commit.

Space. The type of animal you choose and the breed, play a big role here. Bringing a cat into an apartment? Just fine. A St. Bernard? Not so much. Certain dog breeds love to run free and would probably be a terror cooped up in a small space. Not to mention, owning a pet adds another hurdle in the renting process, and this is one of the main reasons owners drop their pets off at a shelter. Be honest with yourself, and think about how your living situation would accommodate an animal.

Any pet owner would agree – owning a pet offers companionship and unconditional love. Who doesn’t want that? But it’s also important to consider the animal, and what you can give them. Remember, just because the time isn’t right, doesn’t mean it never will be!

Better Than A Personal Trainer

Are you serious about getting in shape? You may want to think about adding a dog to your life.

(Okay, that shouldn’t be the only reason… But keep reading.)

A new bit of research shows that dog owners who walk their pet are 34 percent more likely to meet federal guidelines for physical activity. These results are mostly relevant to those who handle the dog walking (and if you’re not doing it – who is?). But the Michigan State University study found, dog owners are not just doing a quick walk around the block so the pup can do his business. Dog owners were more active and more healthy overall.

Walking the Dog. Photo Courtesy of PAWS of Jackson Hole

Combine that with the information that walking  your dog is proven to soothe you and reduce stress – and you are receiving a double whammy of goodness. All thanks to your little fur ball.

Are you the dog walker of the family? Do you think it helps you get more exercise?

Information provided in part by ABC News.