Thursday, April 22, 2010

DID YOUR PET COME WITH EMOTIONAL BAGGAGE?

OK, be honest how many of you sometimes loath your pet. I mean really get to the end of your rope?
Dogs chewing through table legs. Cats diving for the family dinner. Biting cockatiels. At a time when many people are scrimping on themselves to indulge their animals, the love is lost for owners of infuriating pets.

Still, many cannot bring themselves to dump their wayward animals in shelters. Instead, they pay sky-high vet bills for intervention that does not work. They endure in-your-face barking rants in the middle of the night or are startled awake by the routine hacking of hairballs.

Some wish out loud their pets would just run away.

When Cherie Miller's 16-year-old cat, Kitty, goes out, he wants in. When he is in, he wants out. He whines relentlessly and refuses to eat unless a human stirs the kibble around in his self-feeder. The family calls it "whooshing."

"When it scratches on the bedroom door at 3:21 a.m. to have its food whooshed, it's enticing to imagine creative ways to ditch this cat. I'm a pet lover, but come on," said Miller, who lives in suburban Atlanta, Georgia, and was inspired to start a blog about pesky pets called pet-peeves.org.

So how does a human make peace with a problem pet? Venting helps, said an expert, though the griping may be more emotionally complicated for the humans involved.

"We all know couples who look like they like to fight. They let fights happen because, it seems, they're getting something out of it. Some people have that relationship with their pets," said psychologist Stephanie LaFarge, who specializes in the human-animal bond as senior director of counseling services at the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.

"Some people like to think they love their animals so much they are willing to be victimized by them," she said. "It's proof of how much they love that animal and proof of what a good animal person they are and what a good person they are. It's part of their identity."

There is no national clearinghouse for where and how people acquire their pets, but about 63 percent of all U.S. households have at least one, according to the American Veterinary Medical Association. Ten to 20 percent of cats and dogs come from shelters and rescue organizations, sometimes arriving in well-meaning homes with heavy emotional baggage.

So how do we start to address some of these wild neurotic pet issues? First and most important when bringing a pet into your household, learn more about the pets background or previous home. Rescue organizations usually do their best to obtain history from the previous owner and being responsible, they will give you a 30 day window to adjust to the pet and its habits. There is a rescue for just about every breed of animal but first try and learn as much about the breed or culture of a pet before you buy or adopt one. If you find yourself in a position where you have to deal with a dog, for instance, that has behavioral issues or neurotic tendency's, there are some great trainers in the Austin area. Depending on your budget and love for the dog. One of my favorite organizations that deal in rescue and training is The Austin Dog Alliance. They work very hard to find good homes for good dogs and they will work with you to address any bad habits and offer training to develop good manners. If you want the trainer to come to you I would suggest Steve Haynes, Fidelio Dog Works. Steve is an awesome trainer and though a little on the upside of ones budget, he offers first class training and you will not be dissatisfied with his results. Remember, no matter which form of training you go with, the home work is up to you. The trainer is not a nanny. You have to become the pack leader.

You can never predict an animal's behavior in a home 100 percent. To some extent, every adopter is expected to roll with the punches a little bit, to know that animals, like children, come with their personae and sometimes come with the sniffles and sometimes they might develop personality traits that we wouldn't have put on top of our list.

It never ceases to amaze me. I see it in most every home and client I work with. The human bond with a pet is one of life's greatest pleasures. Do your best to pick a pet that fits your lifestyle. If you run into an issue get help from a professional. If you need further advice pick up the phone and call me or email me. gerry@austincitypaws.com (512) 699-0000. I will be glad to point you in the right direction.

Your comments and responses are always welcome.

Have a great week.