Consider size when adopting pets
By Christine Cowett Robinson
Special to The Star-Herald
‘Mews and Yips’ from the Central Aroostook Humane Society
Dogs come in many shapes and sizes. My smallest is 10 pounds and my largest is about 85 pounds. I have always said I am not much of a “little dog” person, but this little dog that I have is a tough one and has grown on me.
It is so important when choosing a puppy to know or estimate what size it will be as an adult. So many people get puppies but they grow into large dogs, too large for the apartment or yard, and they end up at the Humane Society. Do your homework first.
Another thing to consider when getting a dog is their coat. My dogs are all smooth/short coat dogs; that is what I prefer, but there are lots of people who want dogs with long coats, like beautiful golden retrievers or poodles. Both require a certain amount of grooming.
What about temperament? Terriers are known for being smart and tenacious, while St. Bernards have the reputation of being gentle giants. It is so important, even if your dog is a mixed breed, to investigate what the dogs were bred to do before choosing a dog.
Here is a little kitty trivia from “cathouse trivia”:
• There are about 100 breeds of cats;
• The average outdoor-only cat has a life span of about three years. Indoor-only cats can live 16 years and longer;
• Whiskers are very sensitive, even to small changes in air currents. A cat has four rows on each side of its face. The upper two rows can move independently of the bottom two rows;
• Dogs have 42 teeth, cats about 30;
• Cats purr at about 26 cycles per second, the same frequency as an idling diesel engine;
• Cats roll on their backs to show affection. They expose their bellies like this only when they feel totally secure;
• Neutering dramatically reduces a cat’s territorial demand because the sex hormone (testosterone) is one of the factors that drives the cat to create and defend territory;
• Cats with long, lean bodies are more likely to be outgoing personalities than their stockier cousins. They are also more protective of their home and more vocal and demonstrative;
• When a cat rubs against your legs, it is showing affection and also putting its personal scent on you;
• Non-pedigree cats have a higher incidence of tabby markings than pedigree cats. Non-pedigree cats are also more often more robust than highly bred cats; and
• In 1987 cats overtook dogs as the number one pet in America.
If you are looking for a friend for life, please consider stopping by the Central Aroostook Humane Society first. We are open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Tuesday-Saturday, or give us a call at 764-3441.
Please have your pets spayed or neutered!
