Pets as Presents? Bah, Humbug!

Every January, South Florida's animal shelters and rescue organizations take in hundreds of unwanted puppies and kittens. Sadly, these young souls who looked so cute under the Christmas tree are often deemed too much for their new families to handle. Pets should never be given as gifts, especially to children who may be too young to understand the nature of a long-term responsibility such as pet ownership.

Pet stores do a brisk business during the holiday shopping season, and many of the puppies sold at such establishments are products of puppy mills. Puppy mill dogs are mass produced for profit, and are often plagued with medical and behavioral problems. If someone on your gift list genuinely wants a pet, and is mature and responsible enough to handle caring for one, consider adopting from one of our many shelters and rescue organizations. Contrary to popular belief, these pets are not necessarily "projects", and nearly 30% of them are purebreds. There are also numerous breed-specific rescues for families who may wish to adopt a purpose-bred dog.

Community Cats

Community Cats

Many South Floridians share their lives with so-called community cats. Such cats are not members of any one particular household, but roam outdoors, sticking to familiar neighborhoods and feeding stations. They vary in temperament from truly feral cats who live like wild animals, to friendly strays who were likely abandoned by their owners. While many of us do not mind providing food and water for these special souls, there are a few essentials to keep in mind.

Cats can begin reproducing as early as five months of age. They often become pregnant with their next litter while still nursing a current litter! It is therefore crucial to make sure all community cats are spayed or neutered. Miami-Dade Animal Services performs these procedures free of charge, so schedule the surgery before your visitor becomes a village!http://www.miamidade.gov/animals/trap-neuter-return.asp  If you share your home with indoor cats, place the community cat’s food and water bowls as far away from the house as possible. Your indoor kitty may perceive the newcomer as a threat, and resort to undesirable behaviors such as urinating outside the litter box to mark his or her territory. While community cats are happy to create their own outdoor restrooms, many will use a litter box. Not all of our neighbors appreciate community cats, especially if their yards are routinely fouled by our feline friends. This simple addition can go a long way towards keeping the peace, and ensuring community cats have as little negative impact as possible.

Photo courtesy of Pixabay Free Images

Meet Lola, Our December Pet Of The Month!

World, meet Lola, our December Pet of the Month! Lola is an 11-year-old miniature dachshund with a larger-than-life personality. When she's not busy being adorable or wrapping herself around every little finger in the family, Lola comes up with creative games to keep herself amused. Her favorite is to use her scent hound skills to track down all the plug-in air fresheners in the house. Once she locates them, she pulls them from the wall and hides them in her bed!

Congratulations, Lola, and share with all your friends. In addition to being a character, you're also our Pet of the Month!

Meet Toby, our November Pet of the Month!

Toby Vásquez (a.k.a Tobias José) is a sweet little black and white Pekingese dog born in Kansas on September 16, 2008. Mario and Stephanie took him home when he was only 3 months old. Toby moved to Florida in 2012. He loves playing with soft stuffed toys, taking long naps, and rolling around on the rug every time he finishes his meal. We believe Toby might have a “napoleon complex” because he thinks he is a big dog and, therefore is not afraid to bark at every big dog he comes across. This “complex” has gotten him in trouble in the past, so we hope he will learn to stay humble from now on.

But how can you be humble when you're this darn cute?! Congrats, Toby and share with your friends - you're our Pet of the Month!

Meet Morgan, Our October Pet Of The Month!

Meet Morgan, Our October Pet Of The Month!

When Morgan found himself abandoned and injured in the streets, this smart little guy knew exactly where to go.  His feline guardian angel led him to a good Samaritan - who just happened to know someone whose heart was searching for a special kitty.  After two surgeries and lots of TLC, Morgan now has a loving home, two four-legged BFFs, a Mom and Dad who love him to bits, and a following on social media - talk about happily ever after!

Congratulations, Morgan and share with your friends - not only did you hit the forever home jackpot, you're our Pet of the Month!

Meet Sammy, Our June Pet of the Month!

Sammy is a seven-year-old sweetie who loves her friends at the vet clinic!  She sets the example for scaredy-cats and pouty pups by showing off "pawshakes" and giving kisses in the lobby.  While she may love everybody, it's clear she loves her pet parents the most.  Naturally, it's mutual. Congratulations, Sammy and share with all your friends - you're our Pet of the Month!

It's National Train Your Dog Month!

January is National Train Your Dog Month.  What better time to address some of the behaviors that drove you crazy last year?  This month, many Americans will make New Year’s resolutions to improve their lives by improving themselves. It’s not much of a stretch to incorporate our pets into our new routines.

Many common canine nuisance behaviors are rooted in boredom. Dogs are social animals, and living with humans often requires them to spend many hours alone while their owners are at work.  Boredom can easily escalate to anxiety, and anxious dogs often resort to barking, chewing, biting, and destroying property.  Since most of us gain weight over the holidays anyway, now is a good time to get back in shape by taking our dogs on a brisk, daily walk.  For dogs that are alone for long periods of time, food puzzles and frozen Kong toys can help your dog’s mind stay focused and sharp.  Dogs who do nothing but sleep during the day can be overly excited when we get home.   While this is understandable, it also tends to drive dog owners crazy.  Interactive toys help them to stay awake and alert, so they are calmer by the time their owners return.  And as schedules return to the pre-holiday norm, consider hiring a trainer or enrolling in some group classes.  At Casa Kupkee, we will be setting up a canine agility course!  Stay tuned...

Meet Val, our January Pet of the Month!

January is National Train Your Dog Month, and to celebrate, we're honoring Val as our Pet of the Month.  Val is a Papillion with a lot of energy, a willingness to please, and a quick wit.  These traits make him the perfect candidate to compete in obedience.  Here he is, sporting a ribbon with his mom at his first competition!  Keep up the great work, Val - and tell all your friends you're our Pet Of The Month!

We Love our Veterinary Nurses!

It’s Veterinary Technician Appreciation Week!

This week, we take the time to officially express the gratitude and appreciation we feel towards our veterinary technicians. At Sabal Chase Animal Clinic, we call these caring professionals nurses. After all, they fix pets, not computers! When a bleeding emergency rushes through the door, our nurses are the first to render aid. When your pet recovers from anesthesia, he does so in the arms of one of our awesome nurses. They are the first ones to arrive at the office and the last ones to leave.  They make it possible for our doctors to do what they do. Did we mention they do all of the above while getting pooped, peed and puked on?! And so this week, we say what’s in our hearts every day of every week - thank you! You are loved, you are valued, you are needed, you are appreciated. We couldn’t do it without you.

Meet Deagan, Our October Pet Of The Month!

Meet Deagan, Our October Pet Of The Month!

October is Pet Obesity Awareness Month! To celebrate, we’ve named Deagan our Pet of the Month. Deagan is the Sabal Chase equivalent of The Biggest Loser, having lost a whopping 17 pounds in 11 months! His mom credits reasonable portions of quality food, and more emphasis on exercise as key factors in his success. While it has been difficult at times to resist those big brown eyes, his increased energy levels and quality of life remind everyone in the household that the bigger picture is more important. Additionally, Deagan’s family has found healthy alternatives to pre-packaged pet treats. Treats are massive sources of hidden calories and fat. In his book “Chow Hounds”, veterinarian Dr. Ernie Ward explains how a single Snausages SnawSomes Peanut Butter and Apple treat is the caloric equivalent of four large slices of Domino’s Pizza with extra cheese for a human! 

Yikes!!!

Congratulations Deagan, and brag to all your friends - you’re our Pet of the Month!

Deagan before

Deagan after!