Tag Archive for: Pets

Living: Helpful Steps to Take Pet Proof Your Furniture

Pets are members of your family that provide you with constant companionship and unconditional love. Many pets are affectionate and playful to the point of improving your sense of wellness while reducing stress and loneliness in your life. They can even be your opportunity to get physical activity and form social bonds with other pet owners. For all the benefits of having pets in your home, many responsibilities come with them. They include vet care, feeding and bathing them, getting them exercise, and protecting your furniture.

How Does Pet-Proofing Furniture Help a Home?

Protecting your furniture from pets makes it possible to keep your home clean and clear of damage while also letting your pets enjoy freedom of movement. Routine maintenance, durable materials, and preventive choices extend the lifespan of your various pieces of furniture, so you save money instead of spending it on replacements and repairs. Pet-proofing your furniture also makes your home safer for the pets in your family. They’re less likely to have accidents, and your home has better harmony between your furry family members and your furnishings.

Pet-Proof Your Furniture With These Steps

The idea of pet-proofing your furniture might seem like a monumental task you don’t want on your to-do list, but you can break it down into individual steps that help you manage the process. Whether you do it all in one weekend or take it slow, keeping your pets and home comfortable and safe is worth it.

1. Analyze Your Home

When experts pet-proof their homes, they start by identifying problem areas. Look throughout your home for pieces of furniture that pets either interact with the most or are likely to in the future. Check everything for signs of soiling, chewing, and scratching. Understand that each pet has its tendencies, which you must prepare for. Dogs might enjoy jumping on furniture and chewing pillows and cushions, but cats are more likely to climb and scratch. Your pet-proofing efforts need to reflect the species of pets in your home and their particular inclinations.

2. Pick Pet-Friendly Materials

The process of having pet-proof furniture in your home involves protecting what you already have while making intelligent choices with new pieces that you buy in the future. Current furniture that doesn’t feature pet-resistant materials might need throws or slipcovers to avoid scratches, stains, and fur. You can easily remove these and wash them to keep your furnishings clean. When buying new furniture, look for tightly woven fabrics, microfiber, and leather. Such materials don’t attract fur as much, and you can keep them clean with less work.

3. Schedule Pet Training

One of the best ways to pet-proof a sofa is to train your pet to respect it. Assign pets designated spaces, including scratching posts and pet beds, and reward them when they use them. Consistent training should yield effective results. Simultaneously, you can discourage destructive behaviors by deterring them. Plentiful chew toys lying around should divert pets from gnawing on things you’d rather they didn’t. Likewise, double-sided tape on furnishings can prevent or minimize jumping.

4. Give Vulnerable Areas Extra Protection

You can make nearly any piece of furniture pet-friendly by applying sticky pads or scratch guards to the corners and legs that are likely to attract the attention of your pets. There are even pet-friendly sprays you can use to deter scratching.

Peaceful Coexistence Is Possible

You probably think your coexistence with your pets is anything but peaceful when storms scare them or they get the zoomies, but you can create a happy balance between them and your home. Train your pets to respect your furniture, and provide them with designated scratching posts and pet beds that are theirs alone. Choose furniture with tightly woven fabrics or leather for durable materials, and add more protection with blankets and slipcovers. Reduce shedding and scratches with regular grooming and nail trimming. The proper preventive measures and mindful care can create a space where your pets and furniture live harmoniously while you enjoy your home’s style and comfort.

By: Katherine Robinson, a writer for National Outdoor Furniture

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DeVore Sees Growing Demand For Dog Walking, Pet Care Services

Camas resident Heather DeVore loves to work hard, but she’d rather work outside — rain or shine — than sit at a cubicle or desk all day long. So, after a career commuting to Portland, DeVore has traded in the laptop for a dog leash, and she’s not looking back.

“Once the company I worked for closed down, I realized I should be taking care of pets all the time,” DeVore said. “So, I took an online first aid CPR course for cats and dogs. It’s been great! I now have several clients.”

Why pets? 

“I love animals, especially dogs,” she said. “I rescued an older German Shepherd from the Humane Society. My son suggested we should adopt older dogs to give them a good ending. We had him four years, and he was just 10 when he passed away. He was a big dog! His name was Max. We called him Maximus Prime. His last days were great. We went to the park, he had steak and ice cream from Top Burger, played with all his best friends. He was so happy. I feel like he knew the end was there.”

Her service, which is called Heather’s Hounds Dog Walking & Pet Care, is about giving care to pets during the day while they’re cooped up in crates or kennels. DeVore said she feel so much better working outside.

“People have to work, and they don’t like leaving their dogs alone without exercise during the day, so that’s where I come in,” said DeVore. “We’re just having the best time. With most clients, I go over to their homes, let them out, and play with them in the backyard everyday. Some clients I take their dogs out on walks. It’s good for them.”

She also enjoys the different personalities. At one client’s house, Cash, a German Shepherd pup doesn’t want his sister, Adrienne, to have any attention. 

DeVore
Heather walking dogs as it begins to rain. She walks them rain or shine.

“Adrienne just stares at you. We’re working on being calm when he goes into the crate, and calm when I put him in. Each dog has their own personality. I have one dog at home, Miss Myla, who is a German Shepherd. I’ve also had another pup stay at my house for the weekend.” 

DeVore usually starts her morning with her own dog, and then at 11 she tends to clients. There seems to be a growing demand. 

She’s also an avid wood worker. 

“I build shelves, shiplaps, tub trays, and lots of cool things. I just looked stuff up and decided to start making things.”

More on that next time.

Contact Information

Facebook: Heather’s Hounds Dog Walking and Pet Care

360-635-1122

[email protected]

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Humane Society for SW Washington Announces 4 Major Initiatives

Portland, OR — At their annual Fall Luncheon at the Red Lion Jantzen Beach Hotel, the Humane Society for Southwest Washington (HSSW) heard from several key speakers and announced four major initiatives.

The event Emcee was HSSW Board Chair, Kim Capeloto, and the program featured Fritz Graham, of Senator Ron Wyden’s office; Jeff Brant, of Legacy Vet (and co-founder of Banfield Pet Hospital); HSSW President Stacey Graham; and Vancouver City Councilor, Alishia Topper. The fundraiser event featured an elegant lunch, a raffle, and a splendidly decorated theme  — A Walk in the Park.

Brant said the region is doing well at placing pets in homes, and that HSSW is Top 20 in the nation with pet placement.

Graham said that HSSW is receiving 1,200 calls per month, of which 60 percent were focused on local residents inquiring on how to best keep their animals in their homes. Graham also made news by announcing four new HSSW initiatives.

Those initiatives are:

  • Partnering with neighboring humane societies for essential services
  • Creating a new Call Center
  • Creating a Behavior Resource Center
  • Opening a veterinary clinic for low-income seniors and families

Graham said working with neighboring humane societies will assist greatly with “veterinary care, community outreach, development, strategic planning, finance management, and volunteer training so that we all meet the same standard of care so that more animals in SW Washington will go home to families, and stay with families.”

The Call Center will help HSSW manage their high volume of calls more efficiently. The Behavior Resource Center will be a resource to help behaviorally challenged cats and dogs.

“The Behavior Resource Center for both dogs and cats will be for people who have behavioral problems with their dogs and cats,” said Graham. “They can come for training, they can come for coaching. We’ll have classes and have experts on staff that will work with shelter animals and with owned pets and animals.”

The veterinary clinic is to help pets that live with low-income seniors and families.

Topper shared a story about visiting a home of a senior whose cat had a major tumor. They found the resources to treat the cat and return her to her home. The new veterinary clinic will help those families.

The end of the program featured a fun raffle, and guests were encouraged to make donations to HSSW so the organization can focus on one goal: Keep people + dogs + cats together as families.

To learn more, visit www.southwesthumane.org

Event Photo Gallery

 

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Humane Society Pet of the Week: Amber

Each week, Lacamas Magazine will feature a Pet of the Week, from the Southwest Washington Humane Society.

Hi, I’m Amber! I’ve just arrived on a rescue transport. I’m a beautiful girl that has a sweet, friendly personality. I’m looking for a best friend that loves to pet and snuggle and play. I’m a very happy dog with beautiful brown eyes! I like short runs and long walks. If you want to meet me, let the front desk know and they’ll be happy to set it up. It’s always best for a new dog to meet the children and other pets they will share their future home with. Amber thanks you for considering adoption!

Amber

Amber is 6 years old.

Code Number: 83933
Date Available: Now
Type: Dog
Breed: Labrador Retriever
Sex: Female
Age: 6 years, 0 months
Weight: 80.4 lbs

The adoption fee for dogs in Angelica’s age range (6 months to 6 years) is $100-$200. The costs of adoptions vary, depending on the dog’s age, and other issues.

All adoptions include: Spay or neuter surgery, microchip ID and national registration, select vaccinations, free veterinary exam with a local participating veterinarian, animal training information, and 30 days of free pet insurance.

Denise Barr, the Director of Marketing at the Southwest Humane Society, says the Pacific Northwest is a good area for pet adoptions.

“We have a very high adoption rate here,” she said. “4,400 pets were adopted last year.”
To learn more, visit www.southwesthumane.org

Amber

Amber is available for adoption.

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Humane Society Pet of the Week: Angelica

Each week, Lacamas Magazine will feature a Pet of the Week, from the Southwest Washington Humane Society.

Hello friends! My name is Angelica and I am a sweet and gentle soul looking for a family to love. I would do best in a more quiet environment without kids under the age of ten. I would like to meet any dogs or kids with whom I may be living. Adopt me today!

 

Pet of the Week

Angelica

Pet Details

Code Number: 83726
Date Available: 3/15/2016
Breed: Long Hair Chihuahua
Sex: Female
Age: 2 years, 0 months
Weight: 9.05625 lbs

The adoption fee for dogs in Angelica’s age range (6 months to 6 years) is $100-$200. The costs of adoptions vary, depending on the dog’s age, and other issues.

All adoptions include: Spay or neuter surgery, microchip ID and national registration, select vaccinations, free veterinary exam with a local participating veterinarian, animal training information, and 30 days of free pet insurance.

Denise Barr, the Director of Marketing at the Southwest Humane Society, says the Pacific Northwest is a good area for pet adoptions.

“We have a very high adoption rate here,” she said. “4,400 pets were adopted last year.”

She also said there’s a good process for people who need to separate from their pets, and that people should feel their pet will find a good home.

“Sometimes people move and can’t take their pets with them,” she said. “Or maybe there’s a problem in the home that it’s best for the animal to find a new home. We do a good job here at placing pets.”

To adopt an animal, you must be at least 18 years of age. Some animals may have specific adoption requirements so be sure to check with an Adoption Counselor for details.

To learn more about pet adoptions, visit www.southwesthumane.org

They are located at 1100 NE 192nd Avenue, Vancouver, WA 98684. 360-213-2615.

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Humane Society Pet of the Week: ARIES

Each week, Lacamas Magazine will feature a Pet of the Week, from the Southwest Washington Humane Society.

Presenting Aries
My name is Aries and I am super friendly and love to play. I can also be quite the snuggler. I love my people so much that I do not like to share, so I should be the only pet in the household. I would like to meet any kids with whom I may be living. Please ask an adoption counselor how you can meet me today.

Humane Society Pet

This is Aries, our Humane Society Pet of the Week.

Pet Information

Code Number: 67102
Date Available: 2/25/2016
Breed: Labrador Retriever
Sex: Female
Age: 3 years, 4 months
Weight: 42.5 lbs

The adoption fee for dogs in Aries’ age range (6 months to 6 years) is $100-$200. The costs of adoptions vary, depending on the dog’s age, and other issues.

All Adoptions include: Spay or neuter surgery, microchip ID and national registration, select vaccinations, free veterinary exam with a local participating veterinarian, animal training information, and 30 days of free pet insurance.

“The Pacific Northwest, and in particular, Clark County, has a very high success rate of placing dogs and cats into good homes,” said Denise Barr, Vice President of Marking for the Humane Society of Southwest Washington. “In fact, California sends us a lot of animals that would otherwise be euthanized. We do a better job of spaying and neutering our animals here. So, if you see the word ‘transfer’ in the animal’s description that means the animal comes from California.”

Barr said last year their agency assisted with 4,400 adoptions.

To see more details about Aries, or other pets for adoption, please visit: www.southwesthumane.org

They are located at 1100 NE 192nd Avenue, Vancouver, WA 98684. 360-213-2615.

 

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