Pleasing 4 Pets

When you lose a much cherished pet there are certain challenges that you as an owner must face. Some animal companions do not die out of the blue and can unfortunately suffer crippling and debilitating illnesses in the same way that humans can and unfortunately in these circumstances the owner is faced with the agonising decision of when their pet should be put to sleep. So in addition to their grief at losing a pet, some owners often experience feeling of guilt and culpability for the death of their much loved animal.

Pet memorials are often an effective and heartening way of remembering and honouring the existence of a treasured animal companion that has sadly passed away. A memorial to your precious pet will serve as a permanent testimony to the special bond or mutual friendship that united you as pet and owner.

Some owners choose to bury their animals in a pet cemetery and others decide to have their animals cremated and choose a significant or special place to scatter their ashes.

Many grieving pet owners opt for an intimate ceremony to commemorate the life of a pet and to celebrate the unconditional love and companionship that they offered throughout their lives. This form of tribute can often be of comfort to children who have suffered the loss of a pet, and can be a useful tool in enabling them to understand death and loss.

There are no firm guidelines relating to what you have to do when you lose a pet, but what is important is to allow yourself time to mourn as well as time to recall the happy moments and special memories that you shared.

The UK’s standing as one of the greatest nations of animal lovers in the world received considerable damage recently after a report was released confirmed a massive increase in the number of owners abusing their animals.

The RSPCA revealed that since the launch of the Animal Welfare Act, which was made law in April 2007, the number of persons found guilty of cruelty to animals rose by almost 25% during 2007.

Somewhere in the region of 500,000 pets were found to be in need of help, many of them having been abused, abandoned or neglected in some way.

The Chief Officer of the RSPCA Inspectorate, Tim Wass went on record to say :

“ These animals are helpless victims of our affluent, throwaway society - they’re bought on a whim and discarded when the novelty wears off.”

The disturbing figures also exposed a 34% escalation in the number of those convicted for cruelty towards dogs and a 15% increase in convictions for cruelty towards cats. Cruelty investigations overall totalled just under 500,000, an increase of around 12% on the previous year.

Throughout the course of 2007 a total of 54 people received prison sentences on the grounds of animal cruelty and 861 individuals were prohibited from keeping animals on similar grounds.

Current unstable economic conditions are putting pressure on most family budgets at the moment. The recent and dramatic upturns in petrol, grocery and energy prices have done little to alleviate this pressure.

With families everywhere more aware of their budgets than ever before, many are looking to cut costs in all areas of their outgoings. But is it possible to cut down on pet care costs too?

There are a number of ways that you can make an effort to control your expenditure in this area.

• Try grooming your pet at home. Aim to begin by brushing both your animal companions’ hair and teeth where possible, on a regular basis. If you are careful you can even attempt to trim down their nails. Remember that the more often you do this, the more used to this type of handling they’ll become. This could help cut down on grooming bills and even dental costs. In the long term these actions can be considered as a form of preventative maintenance for your pet.

• Consider purchasing your pet provisions in bulk quantities if you can. Many supermarkets and pet shops offer good deals on quality brands in multi-packs and bulk buys.

• Shop around for a veterinary practice which offers good value for money. Fees vary widely between different veterinary practices. There are a great number of experienced and skilled vets in the UK who will provide expert services for reasonable cost. Be open and honest with your vet when discussing treatment for your pet and determine for yourself which vet is most suited to you and individual economic circumstances.

• Make the most of three-year immunisations where possible. Many animal vaccines are now offered in discounted three year doses. Your vet should be able to advise you which vaccinations are available in these extended doses.

Guinea Pigs are small creatures descending from the rodent family. The domestic guinea pig is a native of South America where traditionally the inhabitants used the guinea pig as a source of fodder and where it is still regarded as a delicacy today!

In their natural habitat guinea pigs subsist in groups so keeping more than one at a time or housing two or more together could improve the contentment of your guinea pig. However the male of the species are prone to aggressive behaviour towards one another, and will sometimes attack each other if kept collectively. In the wild they settle in groups commonly made up of just one sexually mature male and an assortment of females.

Guinea pigs thrive on a well balanced and stable diet, which ideally should consist of vegetables and cereals. Ready mixed guinea pig food is available at most good pet shops, although an array of fresh vegetables should be added whenever possible. Guinea pigs also enjoy to grazing, and an intake of grass or hay will supply basic roughage in their diet. As an owner, you should ensure that your guinea pig always has access to fresh water, and plenty of foods rich in vitamin C which they are unable to produce naturally. Your guinea pig will also need something to gnaw on to ensure that his teeth do not grow excessively long.

Fully matured Guinea Pigs generally reach lengths of between 25cm and 35 cm. The male or boar is usually larger than the females or sows, and ordinarily they live for between 4 and 7 years. They make sociable pets and welcome companionship. They are typically very active throughout the course of the day and are genial and good natured as a rule and seldom bite, making them a popular pet for children.