November 21, 2009

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Pet Tales

(page 21 of 21)

Graduate to Ferret Parenting

Ready for something a little more exotic than a dog or cat? You can find squirmy, scaly, squeaky and feathery friends at 417-land pet shops.

By KATIE POLLOCK

Bubba is quick to greet you when you walk past him in the Pet Warehouse location next to Panera on East Sunshine. He seems pretty friendly, but he doesn’t make the best conversation. “Hello” was as far as I got with him.

Bubba is a bright green severe macaw who is estimated to be about 6 or 8 years old. And he’s a loud little guy, screeching one minute and then squawking out a perky “hello” the next. Andie Hill at Pet Warehouse says they don’t sell many big birds like Bubba. The price tag and life span are deterrents; a severe macaw can live more than 30 years with proper care.

More popular at that shop are the furry things: sugar gliders for $149, chinchillas and ferrets for up to $129. And they sell quickly. Hill says there was a month last summer when it was too hot to transport the ferrets from New York to Missouri, so they had none in the store. Customers were not happy. The popularity of the ferret has a lot to do with its spunkiness. “It’s like kitten meets toddler,” Hill says, referring to their high-energy personalities and soft-n-fuzzy exteriors. Ferrets require a lot of toys and a lot of playtime.

Snakes and lizard-y things are good starter pets for people looking for something a bit less furry. Kirk Todd, manager at Petsmart, says bearded dragons ($59.99) are reptiles that are fairly easy to care for but still require a certain amount of knowledge to keep healthy. For example, they need special lighting the mimics the sun since they absorb much-needed vitamins from sunlight in their natural habitats. A mali uromastyx is easier to care for than the bearded dragon because it’s mostly a vegetarian, Todd says. They don’t rely on live crickets for feed, although they will eat some of them. (Plus, the mali uromastyx is pretty tough-looking for a vegetarian.)

Todd says Petsmart doesn’t carry iguanas for the much the same reason they don’t carry large birds. There isn’t enough of a demand for them locally to be able to sell them quickly. And quick turnover is something Todd is interested in. He says they pay attention to local trends, so the animals aren’t living at Petsmart for very long. Small fuzzies like hamsters sell out each week. Plus, he says, it’s not healthy for a large bird to sit in the store for months waiting to be bought. Large birds bond strongly to the people around them and need to become part of your family when they are very young. When customers are looking for large birds, he refers them to Christine’s Pet Shop.

Cindy Collier at Christine’s Pet Shop says she raises from eggs the African gray parrots, sun conures, cockatoos and gorgeously colorful eclectus parrots that she sells and often has a six-month or more waiting list of interested customers. So don’t go into her store on a whim hoping to walk right out with a pet bird. Not only will you probably have to wait, but Collier will be quick to tell you all the not-so-pretty details about caring for a bird. She recommends that customers research different breeds and handle the birds (at other pet shops) before asking to be on her waiting list because she wants them to know what they are getting into. Birds can be loud. They can tear things up. They often aren’t happy to live with children (at least not most of the birds she raises). They can be high-maintenance. As with any pet, if you’re going to give a bird a home, you should be sure you want it. She says she often has to rescue birds from people who have buyer’s remorse.

So are you ready for a bird? Or maybe the toddler-meets-kitten (cuteness overload?) personality of a ferret is more your speed.

P'Etiquette

Manners: They aren’t just for people anymore.

BY Kim Swain

Just as most of us are remiss to spend time with friends and family who have unruly offspring, the same holds true for “parents” of misbehaving pets. With almost as many books in your local bookstore on pet ownership and training as on human behavior modification, you’d think that all pets would be charming and their owners responsible for the faux-paws that their pets can’t control. However, this is not always the case. We talked with three providers of pet services to 417-land pets to find out their take on P’etiquette do’s and don’t’s.

Q. Is it better for pets to be trained rather than to just let them be themselves?

A: Animals develop their own rules and boundaries if none are given. Training creates a pet that is happy, knows who is in control, knows how to please and is enjoyable to be around. –Lisa Smith, Trainer, On The “Spot’ Dog Training

A: If you don’t train them, they will train you. –Marga Tegtmeyer, Groomer, All About Cats & Dogs

A: Being out of control is bad for their health. –Rebecca Ketchem, DVM, Ozark Veterinary Clinic

Q: What are some social graces that should be taught to pets?

A: Not jumping on people is the most important and hardest to teach because dogs get excited. They need to learn to sit and stay. Pets need to be socialized to other people and other places. They should be put on leashes, taken out, and become familiar with different sounds, smells and sights. –M.T.

A: Pets should be socialized around people. They need to be leash-trained and know leash manners (no yanking). Pets should be comfortable around people and other animals at home and in public. Owners need to have control of their pets and teach them not to jump or bite. –R.K.

A: Pets should learn to sit to greet visitors, walk on a loose leash and stay. These and other skills required for AKA Canine Good Manners (sitting politely for petting, allowing grooming and examination, walking politely through a crowd, ability to sit down and come, and reacting politely around other dogs) are great goals. –L.S.

Q: Where is it okay to take pets in public? Where should you not take pets?

A: In Europe, pets go everywhere. I’ve heard of pets spotted in some shops in town. Check ahead of time and keep them on a leash or in a carrier. Only service animals should be in hospitals, restaurants, grocery stores or places with a sanitary environment. –M.T.

A: Pets are allowed in public in accordance with leash laws, but check for community activities. Bring your pets if they are allowed and have good manners. For health reasons, only service animals should be in food venues. –R.K.

A: Springfield is getting an off-leash park where social dogs can play. Otherwise, they should be on leashes and well behaved in pet friendly stores or at approved outdoor sporting events. –L.S.

417 Tip: Arf Fest takes place each year at dog-friendly ArtsFest, held the first weekend of May on historic Walnut Street in Springfield.

Q: What about owners who don’t pick up after their pets in public?

A: It’s rude. It’s like not flushing. You don’t refuse to change a baby’s diaper just because it’s gross. Not everything about having pets is fun. –M.T.

A: It’s irresponsible. It can be destructive and create potential health problems, too. –R.K.

A: It’s a shame. It’s bad for people who aren’t crazy about pets in the first place. It’s the owner’s responsibility, no matter where their pet goes. More places will be pet-friendly if owners do their part. —L.S.

Q: Should you travel with your pet to homes without pets?

A: Crate trained pets are best to bring to homes where other people might not love them as much. –M.T.

A: Make sure that you ask permission first. Make sure the pet is healthy and vaccinated. Otherwise, the visit could be stressful for both the pet and the host. –R.K.

A: On the safe side, I would say it’s not okay. If the host doesn’t have pets, he or she is probably not a pet person. –L.S.

417 Tip: Worried about your pet doing his or her business in a friend’s home? Tegtmeyer says that Belly Bands prevent leaks and keeps male dogs from hiking their legs. Toddler training diapers with a hole for the tail can be used for females.

Q: What is your personal pet peeve?

A: Ungroomed or unkempt pets. Even if your pet doesn’t like to be brushed or groomed, you still need to do it. It doesn’t hurt them. They will still like you, and within a couple of weeks, they will get used to it. –M.T.

A: Unsocialized pets. A dog can be a great home pet; but if he isn’t used to being around other people or other animals, he can become afraid and unmanageable. –R.K.

A: Dogs condemned to live alone in a backyard or tied to a line because of bad manners. What dogs want most is human attention, interaction and affection. –L.S.

Editors' note: Margaret Tegtmeyer is a trained groomer with more than seven years of experience. You can contact her at All About Cats & Dogs in the Brentwood Center at 417-883-PETS. Rebecca Ketchem, DVM, is a veterinarian at Ozark Veterinary Clinic at 1802 State Hwy. 14 East in Ozark. She can be reached at 417-581-2414. Lisa Smith, owner of On The ‘Spot’ Dog Training, has been training dogs for more than 13 years. You can contact her at 417-581-2787 or SpotDogTraining.com

Humane Help

Learn how to donate time, money and talent to help the Humane Society.

By Liz Goerges

Because there are so many ways to help, anyone can get involved with the Southwest Missouri Humane Society and lend a hand to our community’s homeless four-legged friends. If you have a skill, they have a need you can fill. Weekend tour guides are needed to lead potential new parents through the facility, office workers can help with adoption papers, and creative minds can design fliers and boards for events. Of course, the volunteer opportunities don’t stop there. For more information on how you can get involved, contact the community events manager, Shiela Woods at 417-447-9879 or go online and complete a volunteer form at swh.org/volunteers.php. If you live in the Branson area, you can volunteer at the Branson–Tri Lakes Area Humane Society. Visit humanesociety-branson.org or call 417-272-8113 to find out how to help. You will have to go through a smidge of orientation before you get started, but then you’ll be on your way to helping our furry friends that can’t help them selves. Any amount of time you can donate will definitely be woof it.

SNAP To It

A local organization can help pay for pet spaying and neutering for those without the means to pay for it themselves. And you can help.

BY Liz Goerges

People in our community who can’t afford to heed Bob Barker’s advice to control the pet population can turn to Spay Neuter Assistance Program (SNAP)for help getting their pets spayed or neutered. (To find out if you qualify, leave a detailed message at 417-823-SNAP.) Because SNAP consists of an all-volunteer staff, help is needed for everything from processing eligibility qualifications and transporting pets to working events. If you are crafty, they need volunteers to make and sell pet bandanas at Petsmart as a fundraiser. If you want to become a part of the staff, visit SNAP’s website at snap123.org, complete the volunteer application and release form, and mail it to their P.O. Box address.