Dog Healthcare

No animal should have to live in a dangerous, abusive, or unhealthy situation; sadly, a shocking number do every day of their lives. Whether the abuse and neglect is deliberate and prolonged, or unintentional due to ignorance or financial difficulties, the fact is, it is ILLEGAL, not to mention unconscionable.

Abuse can leave life-long scars on a dog, both physically and emotionally. Some abused dogs are never able to emotionally recover from their abuse, becoming too aggressive or mistrustful of humans to be rehabilitated and adopted out. Thankfully, many abused dogs are able to make a significant recovery with enough love, attention, socialization, and reassurance. Many of the Michael Vick pit bulls, for example, have gone on to be adopted and become Canine Good Citizens® and even therapy dogs!

The Humane Society of the United States and ASPCA suggest the following ways to tell if an animal might be being abused or neglected:
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It takes a special kind of person to allow themselves to love something deeply while knowing that they will have to let it go. That’s exactly what a dog foster parent does each time they release one of their foster dogs to its new forever home. Their sadness, however, is tempered by the knowledge that the dog has a wonderful life ahead of it, with all the joys and treats and affection a dog should have, and the knowledge that without them, it wouldn’t be possible.
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So far this month, we’ve brought you several posts on dogs that are frequently overlooked when it is time to add a canine member to your family. These dogs represent only a portion of the dogs desperately in need of forever homes across the country; that’s right, we’re talking about shelter dogs!
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Oftentimes, when people decide that they’re ready to add a dog to their lives, their first impulse is to start looking for a puppy or young dog. While we won’t argue that puppies are adorable, with their fluffy little bodies and too-big paws, they are also a TON of work, and not everyone has the time, patience, dedication, and discipline to raise one. Fact is, puppies just aren’t for everyone. If the time and effort required to raise a puppy is more than you’re ready to take on at the moment, try considering an older or senior dog.
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