Special to the Star-Herald
This is it folks, the Paws for the Cause is this weekend, June 7. Registration is at 9 a.m. and the walk begins at 9:30 a.m., rain or shine. During this time, there will be a microchipping clinic and a rabies clinic. It will be so much fun. We have tons of wonderful items to sell in our yard sale, and food for all. So even if you come just for lunch and to take a look at the dogs, please stop by.
The yard sale will be going on all day long, as we have tons of stuff to sell. If your dog is in need of a bath and toenail clipping, we are doing that, too. Bring the whole family for a barkin’ good time at the Central Aroostook Humane Society, 26 Cross St. in Presque Isle.
It is wonderful when we get to spend quality time with our pets. Just a quiet moment or going for a walk. It is all about building a relationship with our animals. Without a solid relationship, you cannot expect to even begin any type of training program with your pet. It is important to be a good leader. Your pet (except for maybe your cat) is looking for a leader who is firm, but fair … someone to set the rules and to keep them safe. A good leader does not intimidate or hit. If you don’t teach your pet, they just don’t know what you are expecting of them.
Your voice and your posture say more to an animal than your words. Let me give you a frightening example. I was working with a dog or about to, when I approached this young dog, I knew he was scared, he growled and gave me all the “warning” signs. I continued my slow approach and the dog sprung to his feet, charged me, growling and teeth showing. Well, you can only imagine what my first thought was, but then my training took over. I started to show “calming signals,” signs that dogs give each other to calm a situation down (looking away, lip licking). To my relief, they worked and the dog felt comfortable enough to walk away and let me leave. I left, shaking, and most likely as white as a ghost.
I was lucky. Another pet owner called me saying that her dog snapped at a visitor. They had company over, the dog hid under the table, obviously uncomfortable with the visitor, but the visitor continued to pressure into the dog’s space. The dog warned and warned but the person didn’t listen, he was nipped. Sometimes it is important to read the signs, usually animals will speak to us before an accident happens, they don’t normally want to challenge us, but when threatened, most will react.
What about cats, do they speak to us? Sure they do. If you watch a cat’s tail, you will notice when they are getting over stimulated or irritated, their tail will swish or even slap, the ears may or may not go back and next thing you know, you are either bitten or scratched. Also you will notice when a cat gets over stimulated or annoyed, their whiskers change position from relaxed, back or out to the sides, to forward. It is important as animal owners/guardians that we recognize the signs, watch your pet play with other animals. See how they speak to each other. Observation is a powerful tool that we should use in order to read our pet and avoid misunderstandings.
One more item I would like to bring to your attention is that many times, animals will act differently in their cage at the shelter than when they are outside of the cage.
A cage is not a natural environment, but due to the number of animals we house, it is necessary to decrease the spread of illnesses and the risk of fights or reproduction. Do not always judge an animal by its behavior in the cage.
Hope to see you this weekend at the Paws for the Cause walk. It is only three hours of your day! If you can’t join us for the walk, consider sponsoring a walker. For more information, please call the Central Aroostook Humane Society at 764-3441.
Please have your pets spayed or neutered.
Photo courtesy of Christine Robinson
Nick and Kelsey Dominique, of Blaine, stopped by the Central Aroostook Humane Society recently and visited with the many cats available for adoption. While there, Kelsey, age 8, donated $10 of her own money. Nick, age 10, bought cat toys and gave them all to the cats in cages while visiting with the animals.
