credit: Madd Dogg Photography

By: Shasanna Browne

How much would you pay to save the life of your best friend?

That is a question that many pet owners eventually face. The advancement of modern technology has allowed us to make significant gains in the field of animal healthcare, resulting in an improved ability to identify and address the medical problems afflicting our furry companions. Unfortunately, these gains are associated with rising equipment, medication, and facility costs for veterinary clinics and the pet owners who frequent them. Anyone who has taken their pet to a veterinarian for even a small incident knows that the bills add up quickly.

So many of us have animals that have been integrated into the family, becoming focal points of their owners’ lives. These pet owners are often willing to dedicate significant financial resources to treating their ailing pets. When faced with the possibility of expensive veterinary bills, owners may be forced to choose between their own economic security and the lives of their companions.

Acquiring pet insurance can help animal owners provide necessary medical care to their furry family members without being crippled by veterinary costs. This article will cover some of the important things to consider when assessing the pros and cons of pet insurance in order to help you make a fully formed decision. Of course, I would encourage you to undertake formal research on your own to find the best fit for your family.

1) How old is my pet?
The importance of this question is multifactorial. The age of your pet can influence the cost of pet insurance premiums; as a general rule, the older a pet is, the more an insurance company foresees having to pay out in order to maintain the animal’s health. Registering your pet for health insurance later in his or her life can also mean that there will be a number of pre-existing conditions that may not be covered by your insurance plan. For these reasons, it’s important to purchase pet insurance as soon as possible and ensure that you are fully aware of any pre-insurance health conditions that you may have to pay for out-of-pocket later.

2) What breed is my pet?
As is the case with car insurance, the pet insurance company you are considering has identified specific breeds that they deem to be “high risk”. This may be based upon general statistics regarding certain breeds’ behaviors, or upon the likelihood that specific breeds will fall victim to expensive diagnoses more often than others (i.e., hip displaysia). You may discover that certain conditions which are likely to arise in your pet’s life will not be covered by your plan, and/or that you will be penalized by higher premiums. Some insurance companies may deny insurance altogether for high-risk breeds.

3) What is covered under the plan?
Make sure that you carefully examine the coverage details and plan commitments for each pet insurance company you are looking at. Many plans only offer coverage up to a certain dollar amount per accident or illness, or have a cap on the amount you can claim within your pet’s lifetime. It’s essential to gauge whether you are willing to sacrifice having access to sufficient coverage when you need it for a cheaper premium. Ensure that you are aware of the percentage that your prospective plan will cover for each claim, as well; even if it covers 80%, that 20% that you have to pay on your own is very significant on a $10,000.00 vet bill. Pay close attention to the dental coverage details, as well; there are typically many stipulations associated with pet dental insurance.

4) What is the premium structure based on?
As mentioned earlier, your pet’s age and breed can impact the amount you pay for pet insurance. You may pay more in premiums because the cost of veterinary care is higher where you live. Some pet insurance companies may also increase your premiums when you make a claim, so make sure you carefully examine what impacts your insurer’s premium increases. It is common for pet insurance companies to raise your premium periodically (i.e., annually) based on veterinary expense inflation. You will also want to research the deductible assigned to each plan and consider whether you will have trouble paying that deductible if and when you take your pet to the veterinarian.

5) You may never actually use your pet insurance.
Pet insurance plans don’t generally cover “routine” or preventative veterinary costs such as annual examinations and vaccinations. When a condition arises, the preliminary examination to determine the diagnosis and appropriate course of treatment often will not fall under the scope of your insurance coverage. It’s entirely possible that your animal could go the entire course of his or her life without any large-scale accidents or illnesses. You will need to weigh whether having peace of mind for the duration of your pet’s life overshadows the possibility that you may invest thousands of dollars into a service that you never need to use. If this thought is deterring you from purchasing pet insurance, consider obtaining a pet insurance quote anyway and squirreling that money away in a “pet fund”.

I have pet insurance for my two little dogs, and I am very happy with my provider. When one of my pets required $10,000.00 in treatment for a pancreatitis attack two years ago, 90% of my bill was covered and I was able to provide him with the best care possible. He survived, and has been perfectly healthy ever since! On the other hand, I have hardly used the pet insurance for my other dog. Despite this, it’s a relief to know that access to medical care won’t be an issue should something arise in the future.

Zoe’s Animal Rescue has partnered with Petsecure and we do offer six weeks of free coverage when you adopt one of our animals. After the six weeks has elapsed, you can decide whether you would like to take on the premiums and continue with Petsecure’s insurance plan.

If you’re uncertain where to begin, most pet insurance companies offer free quotes online or via telephone. You can also find websites which provide at-a-glance cross-comparisons of different insurance plans. You can gain invaluable insight from the pet owners in your life; they will be able to provide you with personal accounts of terrifying vet bills, and share pet insurance customer service stories to factor into your decision.

Responsible pet ownership goes beyond meeting your animal’s basic needs for food, water and shelter. Pet insurance can equip you with the funds and resources to provide your pet with the medical care they need, when they need it.

We see it all the time, a dog or cat gets lost and the owners are beside themselves. What can they do to get their pet back? Or maybe you found a very sweet dog who is very friendly making you think they have an owner out there.  Well there are many things you can do!

What do you do if your pet is lost?

• A good place to start is by making a lost poster with a recent photo and contact info and posting them every where you can. Talk to people and get the word out.
• Contact local shelters to see if your animal was surrendered within 60 miles. Animals can travel far or get picked up by kind citizens to be brought to the pound. File a missing report asap.
• Post on lost and found sites such as kijiji, facebook pages for lost and found pets, pet lynx, buy and sell sites. Basically just get the word out asap. We have a list of lost pet resources.
• Take out a lost ad in the newspaper.
• If offering a reward be cautious for when people call. Unfortunately far too many people are happy to take advantage of your situation to make money. Ask for them to give a really good description of your animal. If at any time they say “wire me or send me the money right now or you will never see your pet alive” it’s a scam. People will say whatever they can to take your money but they don’t have your pet.
• Some pet insurance will cover advertising for a lost pet, contact your pet insurance to see if this is the case for you.
• If you lost your dog while on a walk (he got scared or chased something and got away) leave clothing near the location. Dogs have a great sense of smell and will be comforted by your scent. They will be drawn to it so keep checking back to see if they are there. If it rains replace the clothes with some new ones.
• If it’s a situation where the animal is very scared you may want to rent a humane trap to see if you could possibly trap them.

What do you do if you find a lost pet?

• Quickly asses the animal. Are they injured in any way? How is their health? Do they seem to be in good shape? Though health can be very misleading, a well taken care of animal can quickly deteriorate in just a month. But if they are very friendly and love the company of people. It is safe to say they might be owned and someone is really missing them.
• The best thing you could do is bring them to the local pound in the area you found the animal in. Most animals don’t stray too far from home. There could be a frantic owner calling to see if their pet is in their care. If you are not feeling comfortable with surrendering them some shelters do allow you to foster that animal while filling out a found post. But if you really can’t take them to the shelter try these tips.
• If there are no collars or visible tattoos bring them to the vet to get checked for a microchip.
• Post on kijiji, lost and found websites/facebook pages, and pet lynx.
• You can even make a flyer of the animal to be posted everywhere you can.
• Be diligent, people might try to say that this animal is theirs when it’s not. Ask them to give key details about the animal. (markings, name, commands). Basically anything to prove that this animal is really theirs and ask open ended questions. For example, don’t ask if their dog has a kink in its tail if it really does, most people will say yes. Instead ask if they can describe the dogs tail, or if it has something unique about it.

Keep your pets safe by keeping them indoors. Don’t let them roam. A good way to prevent the urge to roaming is by getting them fixed. They will have less of an urge to roam the neighborhood.

But we know some animals are great escape artists or get freaked out by storms. Have a breakaway collar on them with up to date tags. Also the safest way to ensure you will get your pet back is by having them microchipped. There are even tag trackers that you can get to pinpoint their exact location.

If at any point your pet becomes lost try to stay calm and do everything you can to bring them back home. If you find a lost animal, never assume that they are strays but are instead loved by someone who is missing them dearly. Do all you can to ensure that if they have a loving home out there desperately searching for them, that you help them reunite.

We see it all the time. People wanting a 6 week old puppy or kitten, or stores selling them at this age. Many think the younger the better, this way they can truly bond with them and have them grow up the way they want them to. But did you know by adopting such a young puppy or kitten you could actually be setting them up to have behavioral issues as they get older?  We know a cute tiny puppy or kitten is hard to resist but in the end you might be very grateful for waiting.

Puppies are very cute and everyone is drawn to that one cute tiny puppy. But a puppy should not be going to its new forever home until at least 8 weeks of age, 12 weeks is preferable. Here are some reasons why:

• Puppies learn from their litter mates and mom socialization skills. Yes it is up to you to socialize your puppy frequently but a puppy first learns from its litter mates very crucial skills. Things like a dogs body language, and knowing when enough is enough. They could have dog issues later in life.
• They also build up a stronger immunity system. Puppies do continue to nurse until 7 or 8 weeks of age when mom finally says enough. She will help them build a strong immunity. As well this is when they get their first shots and dewormed.
• During the initial period of weaning, the puppies learn how to deal with their anxiety. This process isn’t easy on them but they will be able to overcome it and as such have a stronger immunity to severe anxiety.
• At this point you can start to judge more their personality. Usually 12 weeks its already forming strongly. So your shy, quiet pup who liked to cuddle as a 6 week old could now be an overactive hyper 12 week old puppy which you didn’t want.
• From 4 weeks to 12 weeks old is a crucial period in a young puppies life. This is the time they truly learn everything and this is the time mom starts teaching them everything.
• By taking them from their littermates so early they has less of a coping method and can quickly become very anxious and have a lot of anxiety.

Kittens are so adorable at this stage. So tiny and cute, they can fit in the palm of your hand. But keeping them with mommy and their litter mates until they are at least 8 weeks old can mean that you will get a cat later on who is more confident and less scared.

• Kittens learn from mom how to use the litter box, they also learn from their littermates. They start using it like a pro as they get older. Taking them to early could cause litter box accidents.
• Kittens do continue to nurse until 8 weeks old. It builds their immunity to diseases and infections. It is also the time they get their first sets of shots and dewormed.
• Litter mates love to play, and its during this time they learn how to play properly and gently. They also learn body language as well.
• Like puppies, it’s a time of weaning for kittens so they learn to handle with stress effectively.
• Let’s face it at 6 weeks old kitten are tiny, very tiny. As such you will have to be extra cautious in handling. Bones can be easily broken by hugging to tightly. If you have young kids waiting until a kitten is older would be a great idea as young kids don’t understand not to hug too tightly and accidently hurt them.
• Kittens taken too early don’t have the best ability to adjust to new situations. They become fearful and hide frequently even as adults.

Vets all agree it’s important for puppies and kittens to stay with mom until at least 8 weeks old. In most states in the US it is illegal to adopt or sell any animals under 8 weeks of age. And in Canada they might be following suit. Good breeders would never ever sell a puppy under 8 weeks of age nor any good rescues. Sadly some feel if they are eating solids then they are ready to go which is not the case. They may be ready physically but mentally they are far too young to cope with the trauma of a whole new life without momma and litter mates. Before you decide to adopt such a young kitten or puppy think if it’s the right thing to do for that puppy or kitten. Waiting a few more weeks to give them the best chance in life will be truly be worth it in the end.

And, if you really can’t live without the cuteness a young animal brings, think about fostering a litter.

By Dana Bjornerud, CBCC-KA, DBTMC
Motivation K9

I was asked by the lovely ladies of Zoe’s to put together a blog post about the positive training methods I use and promote. I jumped at the opportunity, mostly because I believe this is something rescues should care strongly about. Rescue isn’t just about getting the animal to appear good enough for adoption, but to actually effectively change behaviour issues while keeping the animal feeling as safe as possible.

I guess I should start with the easy stuff, then go to the science behind it.

So. When I work with a dog, whether it be my own, a client’s, or a rescue, I want it to be as fun as possible. If I’m having fun, I’m communicating it to the dog so the dog then relaxes, and with that relaxation comes more effective training. Not to mention, training is an ongoing thing. This is something a dog owner should spend significant time on – why spend that time waiting for your dog to screw up so you can yell? Why not help him get it right so you can cheer?

I find many trainers that are “balanced” or use aversive training as a first line of defense seem, well, grumpy when they’re training. I get to laugh, smile, cheer, play with and praise my dog. And that leads to an amazing training session and an amazing bond. So on the surface, that is one reason why I choose the training methods I do.

On the next level, there’s some psychology at play. The whole idea of you get what you give. If I am super positive and happy and reward what I want from my dogs, it feeds into an overall happier and positive me. It helps the human get into a pattern of constructive thoughts. Comparatively, if your training requires you to correct a bad behaviour, you are waiting for your dog to make a mistake. How do you fight a negative thought pattern when you are literally watching and waiting for bad things? Why set your dog up for failure that you have to punish, when you can set him up for success, which you can celebrate with him? How does that negative thought pattern effect how you view your dog?

Now for the scientific reasoning for positive training. The last 30-40 years of scientific research has shown us that the foundations of the alpha, dominance, punishment training are flawed, and the methodology that sprouted from them is risky. Training a dog with aversives and essentially aggression, is likely to create aggression. Whereas keeping the dog feeling safe and using science based learning theory allows us to change how the dog thinks, with very little risk of creating aggression.

Not to mention, my dogs are companions and friends. I have them in my home to have fun, snuggle, and do things with like hike and play games. I do not have dogs so I can have a robotic slave that bends to my every whim. When we strive to have the “perfect” dog that never does anything wrong, we take away the fact that they are living, breathing, thinking beings. This is not to say anything a dog does when left to its own devices is acceptable – but that does come back to the human not training the dog what is more acceptable in that situation.

I have found that most behaviour issues in dogs are born from one very basic thing – humans do not fully understand dogs. We don’t understand their language yet expect them to speak ours. We don’t understand the very basic principles of what it means to be a dog, so we expect them to behave like tiny humans. And we don’t give them the time and dedication they need to be successful, yet we expect perfection.

If humans could properly interpret what their dogs are saying, learn (and apply!) what science has shown us about them, and spend the time they need to be properly trained, we’d have happier owners, happier dogs, and I’d be out of a job!

So in essence the training I use boils down to a simple phrase – Least Invasive, Minimally Aversive. I train dogs without constantly needing to invade their space, and I do it with the least amount of aversion to solve the problem. You do not need to hurt or intimidate a dog to train it. It is better for the bond between you and your dog, it is less likely to cause behaviour issues later on, and it’s overall less stressful for you and your four-legged friend. I use science-based methods to change behaviour effectively. Set the dog up for success, and reward the right choice like crazy!

Many great rescues fall into the trap of quick results that aversive training can bring. Zoe’s has added a dedication to humane training to the enormous list of amazing things they do. Partnerships with local positive trainers such as myself is a fantastic step. Together we can educate and help many more animals than alone. I hope more rescues can follow the example Zoe’s is setting with their stance on not just rescuing, but long term success with responsible dog ownership!