Fear Free Happy Homes
Reading Time: 3 minutes When looking to adopt a puppy or dog, compatibility between you and this new four-legged member of your family should be paramount. Not looks or age. So, that explains why when I temperament tested Chipper and discovered we were a match, I overlooked the fact that I just adopted a super shedder. Yep. Make that […]
Reading Time: 3 minutes Television shows and movies portray every dog and owner relationship as a wonderful, empathic, instantaneous one. A dog in the shelter takes one look at a person searching for a dog, they lock eyes, look deeply into each other’s soul, and immediately have a lifelong bond. Wouldn’t that be wonderful? Just like relationships with people, […]
Reading Time: 3 minutes Creating a Fear Free environment for your cat at the veterinary clinic, groomer’s salon, or even at home begins with finding the right motivator (or two or three). Where one cat might cooperate with many indignities if she can have some chicken baby food, another will ignore the noise of a groomer’s salon if she […]
Reading Time: 3 minutes Thanksgiving is supposed to be a happy time of year: all about friends, family and food. But for some, Thanksgiving can be a trying holiday. The stereotypical image of the jovial family gathered around a handsomely dressed holiday bird isn’t reality for many. Grief One of the toughest emotions to deal with at Thanksgiving is […]
Reading Time: 2 minutes Animal shelters can be scary places for a dog. Noisy, and filled with strange sights and smells, shelters can be intimidating for even the bravest canine soul. Timid dogs and those who haven’t been well socialized can become downright terrified when placed in a shelter environment. Candy was one such dog. A 6-year-old Australian Shepherd […]
Reading Time: 3 minutes Who doesn’t love a kitten? Kittens are cute, cuddly and funny. Most people who are thinking of adopting a cat usually have a kitten in mind, but we at Fear Free have a proposition for you to consider: An adult cat can be a better bet. When you bring home an adult cat, the acronym […]
Reading Time: 3 minutes When a doorbell rings on a television show or commercial in my sister Karen’s house, her three dogs unleash a chorus of barks and dash to the front door. When a dog pops into view on my high-definition television screen, Kona, my terrier mix, will sometimes trot up for a friendly look-see, give a sniff, […]
Reading Time: 3 minutes You love your golden oldie canine more than anything, but your relationship has changed. He’s not as active as he used to be, and your days of jogging or hiking with him are in the past. Maybe a puppy would revitalize him and give you a new exercise partner. Before you move ahead with that […]
Reading Time: 3 minutes My dynamic feline duo express their personalities in everything they do, including litter box practices. Ivan hums while he fervently excavates the depths of the box. Natasha “aims high,” plus she engages in bouts of what I call “litter boxing”— she scratches the sides of the litter box, wall, mat, floor and occasionally the mirrored […]
Reading Time: 2 minutes Dogs use their mouths the same way we use our hands. That means nearly everything goes into a puppy’s mouth as he explores the world. Chewing is more than exploring, though. Teething pups chew to relieve discomfort as their permanent teeth come in. Some dogs never outgrow the gnawing habit, though, and that can get […]