I , personally , am not in the habit of making new year’s resolutions. However I am never against making the lives of our pets better in any year. Here are some New Year’s resolutions for our four-legged friends that may resonate with you.
* Have your pet spayed or neutered if they haven’t already. Not only will you help reduce the pet overpopulation crisis, but there are many health benefits to these surgeries. This includes reducing certain types of cancer.
* Get regular health check-ups and keep up-to-date on vaccinations. Doing this can help to thwart off diseases and keep other problems in check.
* Give your pet regular excercise. Take him/her for walks. This is especially good for your dog’s overall well-being and it’s also good for you!
* Make sure your dog is licensed and it’s also recommended to have a microchip inserted under the skin. The microchip can be scanned by veterinarians , shelters and rescues and can be the difference of you getting your beloved pet returned to you. And don’t forget about your cat. Cats don’t require licenses in PA but you need to have some form of ID on them in the event they get out of your home. Please keep your cat inside!!
* Don’t overfeed your pets. Just like humans, overweight pets can lead to many health problems.
* Pay attention to your pet! Just because you have a pet in your home does not mean you can ignore it. Pets need love and affection and for you to play with them! If you don’t, why do you have a pet?
* Pets need a good- balanced diet. Eating lots of table scraps can lead to skin, hair, muscle tone and obesity problems.
* Keep all toxic chemicals out of reach of your pet.
* Adopt your next pet from a shelter or rescue. There are millions of animals waiting to find homes and sadly millions lose their lives each year in shelters. Trust me, they make the greatest pets!!
* If you can’t adopt, you can always donate money, items or your time.
If you can think of any other resolutions, feel free to post them!
Happy New Year to you and your pets and to all of the homeless animals!