Mr n Mrs Pet

You must have seen your friends, neighbours or relatives with their dogs and always wondered what difference does it make in their life. Then you finally get one and you realize that you paid only for a pet, but got a friend, a watch guard and a faithful being that is going to be with you for the whole of its life. Owning a dog is a very responsible and fragile task, but it comes packed with unconditional love and companionship. There are a lot of things that change for the better, once you allow a dog in your life. This is how we live the life with a dog.

Your House Becomes a Home

If you live with your family, you get a new member and everyone is trying to become this member’s favourite. If you live alone, there is finally someone to make that building feel like home. That puppy’s eyes become the cutest thing you have ever seen. Most of the times, you just sit there and look at him adorably as he learns to slowly adjust to the new environment.

Dogs are the example of loyalty. There are a number of heartwarming real-life stories of dogs and their owners which have touched most of us. Here are a few for you

Dog Stays by His Master’s Grave For Six Years

Miguel Guzman, a man from Argentina passed away in a hospital, far from his home and the cemetery he was buried at. His dog named Captain did a few rounds of the cemetery and the found the grave of his master on his own.

It came into notice when Captain went missing and was later found lying near his master’s grave. He visits his master’s grave every day at 6 PM like clockwork.

Adopted Dog Saves Infant Child

This adopted dog proved his worth. One night Duke woke up his owners by shaking uncontrollably on their bed, trying to get their attention. Their nine-week-old infant Hazel wasn’t breathing in the other room, and without his intervention, they never would have noticed. The girl’s life was saved by awareness of the dog.

Dog Mourns at Casket of Navy SEAL

The pictures of a grieving Labrador went viral in America in August 2011.

At the funeral of Navy SEAL Jon Tumilson, attendees could see his faithful companion Hawkeye lying by the casket. In front of 1,500 mourners at the beginning of the service, Hawkeye ambled up to the front of the room and laid down next to his master — showing his loyalty until the end.

Lost Dog Saves a Life

Stacey Savige found a lost terrier roaming on the streets and asked her neighbour Yolanda Sevogia to keep an eye on it. Yolanda has two sons, elder of them, Christian, 21, who had Down’s syndrome. 4 days later she was still keeping taking care of the dog and when she got home, she saw the dog barking loudly to which Yolanda ran and found her son suffering a violent seizure.

Christian got immediate treatment and recovered soon, all thanks to the dog.

The dog who nudged his master off the track, and in the process got hit by the train.

The first drops of rain must have reached your soul by now and most of you must have watched the drizzle with your favourite person or pet beside you. In this season, humans get so involved in themselves that they often forget about the animals they share this planet with. Pet care in monsoon is of utmost priority; any negligence can make them ill and suffer. The monsoon comes with unpredictability in weather patterns and unique dangers. Some of the major issues that must be addressed comprise of-

Healthy Pet Care in Monsoon

In this season our precious friends become more vulnerable to rabies, aggravated flea infections, fungal infections, gastroenteritis, feline flu etc. prevent these by regular vaccination and immunity shots. Do not leave their fur dirty and do not allow them to play outside for a long time. Bathe them in lukewarm water and use the same for cleaning their paws so as to avoid fungal infections.

There are no vaccines available for the birds; the best that can be done is to keep them indoors as much as possible and that too in a dry place. Cats especially are prone to the breathing problem, due to the moisture content in the environment. Ensure warm and dry surroundings for a easy pet care in monsoon.

Food

Light, healthy and nutritious meals are better in monsoon. Increase the fibre content in the food so the meal is easy to digest without much physical activity. Give warm food to senior pets. Do not over-feed your pet at all. The size of the pet’s meal depends upon the size of your pet and not its weight. Change the water in their pails in two to three hours to prevent water-borne diseases. Stagnant water becomes a trouble for pet care in monsoon. Keep supplying fresh germ-free water. Apart from it, the storage of food should be in a hygienic area where no dampness can penetrate. Dry or cane food is not good for pet dogs and cats as it may lead to digestive disorders and gastroenteritis problems. Try to give them freshly cooked veggies as much as possible.

Exercise

Thunder Phobia

We love our celebrities and they love us back; but lets be honest they love their pets more than anything. And they have all the reasons to do so! Let us explore this bonding further so we can know why they love their pets so much.

Salman Khan

His love for the dogs he owns is hidden from nobody. He has even said that the dogs teach him patience and forbearance. Salman has owned many dogs. His previous two were called Myson (named after his first pet) and Myjaan (both French Mastiff- Dogue de Bordeaux). He also owns dogs which he has named Mowgli (Labrador Retriever), Saint (St. Bernard), Mylove (Neapolitan Mastiff), & Veer (French Mastiff, now passed away). Salman has expressed the affection he has for the dogs numerous times, once he even cancelled his shoot and flew home when one of his dogs was ill. He nostalgically remembers them as well.

Amitabh Bachchan

Dog meat consumption isn’t a new thing in China. It dates back to as long as 4000 years. They believe that dog meat helps in fighting the scorching heat and is good for health. But celebrating something like this? Yulin festival is definitely not a healthy practice.

About Yulin Festival

The Lychee and Dog Meat Festival, more commonly known as Yulin Dog Meat Festival is an annual event that takes place in Yulin, Guangxi, China. As the name says, the festival-goers consume meat and lychee. It is a 7-10 days long festival held during midsummer in which around 10k dogs are lynched and consumed. Yulin festival was held for the first time in 2009 or 2010. It was launched by the traders of China. Before the festival, the public was indifferent to the dog meat industry. After it, the industry was on a boom. Even after facing criticism ever since its beginning, there is still no stopping to it. The event manages to make it to the headlines while the activists and socialists keep trying to get it banned.

Internal Responses

Public

The general public welcomed it in the initial years in the name of a tradition but slowly they are realizing that how inhuman it is. The animal welfare societies of China were the first to oppose this event. In 2014, a retired school professor ensured the rescue of around 360 dozens of dogs and cats from the festival. In 2016, Humane Society International about rescued 1000 dogs. Millions of Chinese supported a proposal to ban the dog meat trade. Many Chinese celebrities have also expressed their contempt for the festival. Also, the number of pet owners in the country who think of dogs as companions and not food is on increase.

Government

The government and its ministers never talk of any support being given to the festival. It is always referred to as a small event organized by the local people of Yulin. However, they also do not accept dogs being humans’ companions. Many times the government receives threats to stop this ‘embarrassment to China’ but still the festival is being held without any disruptions. The communist government of the country tries to not have a stand and somehow keeps supporting the traders.

Media

The state media again prevents to acknowledge any protest against the festival saying that it is just some local custom involving ‘a small percentage’ of Yulin’s population. Some of the editorials say that these protests are insignificant and are influenced by Western ways of treating dogs.

A festival which is being opposed by a significant number of its residents continues to be celebrated every year. The older people of China say the festival is nothing but a celebration of tradition, while the younger generation is more aware and animal-friendly. They raise their voices against the festival very openly on the social media platforms. In 2015, there was news of dogs being banned from this festival, which gave a sigh of relief to the activists, but things again seem to be at the status quo.


The number of dogs that are slaughtered has reduced. It has come down from 10,000 to 1000 in 2018. But everyone is still unable to say whether this practice in the name of tradition will ever stop or not. Many media houses raise voice against Yulin festival and protesters have become a huge community together on social media.

Let us be a part of it too and be more ethical in treating animals all around the world. Let us make the world a better place. Dog meat consumption isn’t a new thing in China. It dates back to as long as 4000 years. They believe that dog meat helps in fighting the scorching heat and is good for health. But celebrating something like this? Yulin festival is definitely not a healthy practice.

Pets show when they want a particular thing or why they are acting in a particular way by signs. Sometimes we neglect those signs, which could be harmful to your dog in the long run. To build a bond of love we need to understand what our pets want to say. They don’t speak and express, they have their own ways to make you understand what your pet feels. Here are a few.

"I am sick” or "I am in pain”

Our pets can’t tell when they are sick or in pain. Some animals, especially cats can sometimes hide their discomfort or pain. But many animals give hints when they are sad or sick.

Refusing to eat, drinking an excessive amount of water and urinating more frequently, getting up slowly, or limping. It’s important as a pet’s guardian to be aware of any type of physical or behavioural changes it displays and to make an appointment with your veterinarian if the problem persists.

“I’m afraid”

This can be confusing at times because dogs and cats become aggressive when they are scared. It’s important to know the difference. Pets should be handled nicely and made to feel better. Showing them the affection makes them feel comfortable in such situations. Understand what the pet feels, cuddle them and play with them. This brings them to normal.

“I’m mad at you”

Dogs behave quite similar to what humans do. So if your dog is mad at you, he will ignore you. You can tell him to do something and he will simply keep staring at you. He may even do something that he shouldn’t, and that is just to annoy you.

“I love you”

When your pet stares at you with a calm and relaxed gaze, that is when he is trying to show how much he adores you. Also when a dog comes to you and wants to hug you everytime you get home, you must know he loves you. They even get jealous when you give more attention to another dog or human. Cats often start purring and rolling on the floor when they want to show their love and want your attention.

Related: Relationship With The Dog- Ensure That It Keeps Getting Better

“Need to go to the toilet”

Puppies can’t show that they need to pee, so it’s convenient to make them pee after they wake up and few minutes after eating or drinking. Try to take them out for a walk in regular intervals of time. Pet's feelings towards you change if you better understand him.

“I need to exercise”

If your dog is running around the house, chewing the furniture, it can be the reason it wants to be more active. This can be truer for breeds which are known for herding and hunting. If it destroys things, you need to take it out for a little break. Play games like hide and seek with him or the common game of throwing the ball for the dog to bring it again.

Have you always been annoyed by a few habits of your pets? You need to make sure why they are doing these things and how can it be improved or what is the reason behind their behaviour. At times the pet habits reflect your own nature. You need to strictly schedule your day so that you get enough time for your pet.

You can do the following things to ensure that these pet habits are there in your pet as well.

Take Them Out For A Walk Every Day

You must take a walk with your dog every day and make sure that he enjoys it. Being a social animal, it is his need and if it isn’t fulfilled it can make him a little aggressive or dull. It is also necessary for your dog to have healthy habits or else it can turn into a lazy pet that just lies around all day. Dogs tend to fall sick if not treated well.

Cleaning

Make It Fun

Train Them Properly

Affection At Proper Time

I have often seen people getting confused between which dog is best-suited for them. Here are top five most popular pet dog breeds which you can buy.

Labrador Retrievers

They have a life span of 10-14 years. It is a healthy breed with relatively fewer health problems. Basically any health problems caused to them can be hereditary. Labradors are friendlier and calmer than all other breeds, can help one get through a rough patch of time.

Pugs

Siberian Husky

German Shepherd

Golden Retrievers