PAWS Academy: Pets Need People

Written by Madi Cook, PAWS Education Intern

PAWS Academy is Back!

The second installment of PAWS Academy has arrived! This week we cover how pets depend on humans to survive and tools you can use to be a responsible pet owner.

Pets Have Basic Needs

All pets, just like humans and other living creatures, have basic needs. Food, water, shelter, oxygen, space, safety, family, and respect are the eight basic needs of animals.

Food and Water

In order to keep a pet healthy and happy a source of food and water must be maintained. For all pets, water should always be accessible and refreshed daily to stay clean. It is important to change the water and clean the water bowl because if the water has been sitting too long it can become a home for bacteria. Food type and the number of times your pet should be fed depends on the type of animal you are caring for. We recommend contacting your local veterinarian if you have any questions or concerns about how to feed your pet.

Shelter

Shelter is the next basic need of all animals. Our home can often be the shelter we share with our pets. Items like beds, blankets, crates, cat trees, or dog houses for outdoor spaces can all be part of your pets’ shelter which ensures they are warm, dry, safe and comfortable in the world. Remember, it is our duty to make sure our pet has a place to call home.

Oxygen

A basic need we don’t have to worry about is oxygen, because the Earth produces enough for all living creatures on our planet. Make sure to give back and thank the Earth for helping take care of your pets.

Space

The next basic need for all animals is space. Space is different for every pet, so it is very important to pay attention to where your pet likes to relax, play, and sleep to create the space for them to do those things. Pets also need space in order to get adequate exercise. Pets have different exercise needs, but a good rule of thumb is ensuring they are moving their bodies and using their brain every day. If you live in a small space, you can get creative to meet your pet’s needs. Taking your dog out on long walks and adventures to new neighborhoods can expand his space, or having vertical climbing structures for your cat can increase her indoor space. Or, you can train your cat to walk on a leash and harness, thus giving her safe outdoor space!

Safety

As responsible pet owners we need to make sure our pets are safe. The safety measures you need to take depend on your pet, but all pet cats and dogs should have a collar with a license from your local city or county, as well as an ID tag that has their name and your phone number just in case they get lost away from home. In addition to that, they should have a leash for when you are outside your home to keep them safe. On walks, poop bags should be used to clean up after your pet to ensure their safety and the safety of others. If your pet dog has access to a yard, the yard should be a secure place for them to roam. A strong fence can keep them safe and if a fence is not an option they should be on a leash. If your pet dog needs help learning acceptable behavior for home or outdoor time, a Certified Professional Dog Trainer can help with this. Pet cats require clean litter to keep them safe too. Litter scooper, fresh litter and a litter box are materials a cat’s owner should have.  For pet cats, outdoor time can be made safe by using a catio.

For more information on catios go to https://paws.org/resources/outdoor-enclosures/.

Family

When you adopt your pet, they are joining your family. Like all your other family members your pets depend on you to be taken care of and treated as the valuable life they are. You can show your love to your pet by giving them toys and playing with them. Additionally, just like humans go to the doctor, your pet needs to have vet care. Annual visits, vaccinations, dental work, flea/tick treatment, and any other medications should be provided to keep your pet healthy and happy. Pets also need proper grooming. To keep your pet’s coats healthy and clean you should brush them. If you have a dog with a coat that grows out, taking your pet to the groomer to get it cut regularly is vital to your pet’s comfort. If a pet’s coat is not taken care of natural oils can build up and cause skin conditions and hair mats can form which can cause your pet pain.

Help All Pets

Pets depend on us. By providing their basic needs, we are showing them the respect they deserve. How to properly take care of animals is vital to animal welfare but can also teach skills and compassion that can be beneficial to many aspects of life. Learning how pets depend on humans gives us the knowledge we need to be responsible pet owners at home. This information can also be used to know what animals need outside of your home.

If you think a pet is suffering from animal cruelty, please tell a trusted adult who can report to your local animal control agency or call 911 if you are currently witnessing cruelty.

 

This Week’s Challenge

This week, we challenge you to complete a task of animal care to help your or your community’s pets. Some ideas include:

• Help feed your pet
• Replace your pet’s water dish with a clean one
• Take your pet for a walk
• Create a cozy shelter for your pet
• Surprise your pet with a new toy
• Brush your pet
• Give your pet dog a bath
• Offer to walk a trusted neighbor’s pet

 

Share With Us!

Share how you have cared for animals by commenting a picture or video on this week’s episode at paws.org/PAWSAcademy!

If you missed last week’s introductory episode click here to check it out and learn about PAWS Academy and what PAWS does for animals. Tune in next Wednesday at 12 p.m. PT for the third PAWS Academy video and blog post on pet safety and continue to learn how you can make a difference in animals’ lives!

Learn more at paws.org/PAWSAcademy. If you have any questions or suggestions you can reach us at [email protected].

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