National Service Dog Month!

Who knew that the month of September also happens to be National Service Dog Month? This month, originally named, "National Guide Dog Month," was originated in 2008 by an actor and animal advocate, Dick Van Patten. The aim of this day is to recognize those dogs that dedicate, and sometimes risk, their lives in order to help the people in their care. 

In 2013, National Guide Dog Month expanded its awareness to those dogs who who risk their live on a daily basis in the military. These dogs have become an integral part, both on and off of the battlefield. On the battlefield, they are used to detect explosives, find contraband, and guard and protect the military posts. Off of the battlefield, they have been used to help wounded warriors with various physical and psychological conditions, which include mobility issues, traumatic brain injuries, and PTSD.

While service dogs are an important aspect in our military and the lives of our veterans, they also provide a great deal of help to us regular civilians. When we think of "guide dog," or "service dog," we tend to think about how they help the deaf and the blind. However, these trained dogs can provide assistance to a wide range of disabilities in order to help their human live a more independent life.

For example, these dogs are trained to help those with Autism by guiding them in overstimulating environments and providing physical pressure to interrupt self-harming behaviors. For those with Diabetes I, a service dog alerts their human when their blood sugar drops. A service dog also aids those with mobility conditions by retrieving out of reach objects, opening and closing doors, and even turning light switches on and off! 

There are also service dogs that can be trained to help with a medical emergency. Their main job is to alert their human of an impending medical emergency, such as a seizure or a heart attack. They are also trained on helping their human handle their symptoms, such as retrieving their medications, proving mobility assistance, and even retrieving a phone so that the human call for assistance.
  
When you think of a service dog, the main dogs that come into mind are German Shepherds, Golden Retrievers, or Labradors. However, the size and breed of the dog are not of the utmost importance. There are many different roles that a service dog can take, and these roles can be filled by any size and breed if they have the appropriate temperament and aptitude to fill the position. 

In conclusion, it really is amazing what these dogs can be trained to do. There are a lot of silly holidays dedicated to our pets that we acknowledge just for fun. However, I do believe that with this month, it is worth taking notice of our guide/service dogs, and that these dogs deserve our acknowledgment. 

Happy Cat Month! Special Things to Make Your Cat Happy

According to the CATalyst Council, September 1st marks Happy Cat Month! However, their tips for a happy cat include vet trips to make sure that they are healthy. Yes, a healthy cat is a happy cat, so I will not disregard that idea... but how about we focus on special things we can do for our cats this month to make Happy Cat Month extra special? 

New toys, please!

Look inside your cat's toy box. How are Fluffy's toys looking? Are they looking a little worse for wear? Is your cat's feather wand missing more than a few feathers? Your cat really enjoyed his toys, but s/he may like a new, fresh stock! If you don't want to invest in a whole new batch, maybe just replace their favorite toy. :)

How about a new scratching post?

Scratching posts don't just supply cats with entertainment. Cats need them in order to file down their claws and stretch! How is your cat's post looking? Is the roping starting to fray or rip? Does it look unusable? Maybe your cat would enjoy a replacement? A replacement post is not in the budget? You can also replace the roping or carpet (depending on the post), and it will be good as new!

P.S. Your furniture will thank you! ;)

Cat DVDs

Do you have a kitty who loves to watch TV? Well, did you know that there are interactive DVDs for cats? I didn't either, but you can get them on Amazon, and they are "guaranteed to keep your cat glued to the TV." However, these aren't typical DVDs we humans watch. They are actually interactive DVDs to keep your cats entertained while you are away! These can be especially good for indoor cats, because they bring the outdoors inside, and may make their environment more interactive!

Open more windows!

What I've noticed with my cat, is that she loves to look out the window. I thought she just liked the sunlight and the extra warmth (maybe not so much in the August in Arizona, though!), but they actually love to observe other people and wildlife. Interestingly enough, windows are also beneficial to indoor cats, as it makes their indoor environment more stimulating. This prevents boredom, and a bored cat certainly isn't a happy cat!

Schedule regular play time!

What better way to bond with your cat than interactive play time? Sure, cats are perfectly capable of playing with their mouse toys on their own, and sometimes they prefer to be hunters and play on their own. However, they enjoy human interaction as well! And not only does play time bring out their natural hunter instincts, but it provides much needed exercise as well (which is also especially important for indoor cats). 

Of course, these tips should be used on a regular basis, and not just for this month! But for the many of you wondering how you can keep your cat happy and prevent boredom, these should get the ball rolling in honor of Happy Cat Month!

From Rescue to Forever Home: Why Is My Cat Always Hiding?

Congratulations! You've decided that it is the right time to adopt a cat and provide it with a forever home. It is an exciting time, even if you may not know what to expect. I remember when I first adopted Kitty... At the rescue, she was very affectionate and she seemed to welcome my touch. When I brought her home, however, she did her initial exploring and quickly retreated to the space under my bed! She hid there for several days, only to come out when she was hungry/thirsty, or had to use the litter box (which, I took as a good sign that she was doing these things). 

But when she wouldn't come out, I felt as though I did something wrong. I couldn't understand why she seemed to like me at the rescue, only to do a complete 180 on me at home. I wasn't sure what changed in those 30 minutes. Did she not like my driving from the rescue to her new home? Did she not like our pit-stop to Petsmart on the way home? To be fair, it was a trip to buy her food! Granted, I could have bought the food before bringing her home, but I waited until I got her, so that I can ensure that I got her the food she likes and is used to eating. My intentions were good, I promise! 


Clearly, I was overthinking the entire issue. To better understand why Kitty was in hiding mode, I opened my laptop and did a quick Google search. I searched for reasons on why she was hiding, as well as body language cues (to ensure that although stressed about the new environment, she was an overall happy cat). Truth be told, this is normal behavior for new cats, and it's really nothing personal against you.

Cats in hiding mode aren't trying to hurt your feelings, or send "I hate you" signals. Cats are very sensitive to change and new surroundings, and they will retreat to a "safe place" until they become more acclimated to the new smells, sights, and noises. 

All cats need a little time to adjust. How much time they need depends on the individual cat. Some cats are comfortable within a few days, and others need a couple of weeks. The best thing to do is leave it be, make sure that s/he is eating and using his litter box, and let him/her come out from hiding when s/he is ready. 

The hardest part is not forcing yourself on your new cat. Patience is a virtue with cats, and if you're like me and lack said patience, it can be quite frustrating when they don't want to approach you for cuddles and attention right away. My biggest mistake with Kitty was that as soon as she retreated to by bed, I was there trying to coax her to come out. I wish I would have known beforehand was that I just needed to sit there quietly, so that she can observe me from her safety zone. 

When I eventually gave up, I let her be under my bed, left the room, and let her come out when she was ready. Her food and water bowl was in the kitchen/living room area, and when she came out to eat, and I acknowledged her without going over and bombarding her with attention (not that she would let me do so without going back to hiding, anyway!). I simply made eye contact with her and went about my business (usually just watching TV or working on my laptop). I wanted her to know that I was harmless, and could be trusted. At this point, I figured out that trying to force her out from under my bed would only cause her more anxiety. 


It took Kitty about a week to be acclimated into her new surroundings, and now, she is always in the same room, or chilling on my lap or on the couch with me. Right now, the only time she hides under my bed is when I have guests over, but I imagine that she will stop this behavior as she gets used to them being over.