Rutherford Weekly

Thursday, October 13-October 19, 2011 www.rutherfordweekly.com 828-248-1408 Rutherford Weekly - Page 17 To Advertise On All About P ts, Please Contact Mike Marlow at 828-248-1408 Factors to consider when choosing a dog The decision to purchase or adopt a dog is one that requires careful consideration of a host of factors, including how much space the dog will need and whether or not the lifestyle of those who live in the home is a good fi t for a furry, four-legged friend. Once the decision has been made and it's time fi nd a dog, the kind of dog to bring into your home is the next decision that must be made. Many people have a natural preference for cer- tain types of dogs, be it a small and lovable Dachsund or a friendly, happy-go-lucky Golden Retriever. Though personal preference is sig- nifi cant, there are additional factors to consider before bringing a dog into your home. Temperament Much like people, dogs vary greatly with regards to temperament. Some dogs are very active, while others are much more subdued. Some need signifi cant play time outdoors on a daily ba- sis, while others just need a few minutes outdoors to relieve themselves before heading back inside. A dog's temperament is important to consider for those bring- ing a puppy into their home, as temperament might dictate if a dog is responsive to training or strong-willed and resistant. Maintenance Many dogs shed signifi cant amounts of hair, but how often they shed might help owners determine if a specifi c breed of dog will be a good fi t. For owners who don't mind maintenance, a dog that sheds year-round likely won't be a problem. But those who don't want to be cleaning up dog hair on a regu- lar basis should fi nd a dog that sheds only at certain times of the year. In general, long- coated dogs require lots of grooming, while dogs with shorter coats typically don't need as much grooming. Size Prospective dog owners with lots of space in their homes can accommodate a dog of any size, while apartment dwellers or those with smaller homes often fi nd smaller dogs to be a better fi t. But even those with ample space should know that larger dogs require more food and exercise, including walks or Tri-City Animal Clinic time spent running around in the yard. Small- er dogs don't need much space, and tend to eat less and stay healthy even with minimal exercise. Age Few people can resist a puppy, but there are advantages and disadvantages to adopt- ing both puppies and older dogs. Puppies are adorable, and allow their owners to be involved in their development from the very beginning. But puppies can be stubborn and very diffi cult to train, often test- ing their owners' patience. In ad- dition, those with especially busy or hectic house- holds might not have the time to properly train a puppy, which can lead to disastrous consequences down the road. Older dogs are often trained already, and since many shel- ter dogs have al- ready grown to their full size, owners won't be surprised down the road when their dogs are bigger than they expected. But older dogs adopted from a shelter might have some ini- tial trust issues they need to overcome. Older dogs might also fi nd it more diffi cult to adapt to a new home and a new owner. Health Some breeds are known for having spe- cifi c health issues, issues that can become costly to address as a dog ages. Hip and eye conditions are among the most common hereditary diseases or conditions, but these can be screened for before the pet adoption is completed. Purebred dogs might be more likely to suffer from certain hereditary condi- tions, though mixed breeds are not immune to such diseases or conditions. Before adopt- ing an animal, be it a puppy or an older dog, educate yourself about a chosen breed and any potential health problems it might have. Courtesy of Metro Editorial Fish as pets are common in homes around the world. Fish can live in fresh water, saltwater or a combination of both, and depending on the type of fi sh, can be a relatively easy pet to maintain. Here are some fascinating facts about fi sh, large and small. • Fish can taste without opening their mouths. • The clown fi sh has the ability to change its gender and sexual organs depend- ing on what is needed to breed. • Fish range in size from microscopic creatures to gigantic organisms. • The whale shark is the world's largest fi sh. It feeds on microscopic plankton and prob- ably wouldn't make a good home aquarium pet coming in at 65 feet long. • Fish do not have 3D vision and predomi- nantly use other senses. PETS - LIVE- STOCK LIVESTOCK PETS - SHELTIE PUPPIES. AKC w/ champion bloodlines Sire & Dam on site. Not a puppy mill or profit breeder. 3 males, 1 female 6 wks. $600 to $900. 704-810-9867. BOXER PUPPIES, AKC REG, 7 wks old. Shots & worming UTD. $200 ea. 704-466-3135. POINTER PUPPIES Mrawsum & Elhew lines. White & liver, 9 wks old. All shots & wormed, $175 each. 704-472-7499. FOR SALE CHIHUAHUA PUP- PIES 6 wks old. Not registered, but full blooded, $100 each. 704- 739-5573. WEST HIGHLAND TERRIER Puppies for sale. Males only, $250 each. 704-813-7411. YORKIES, MALE, 8 months old $250, female 3 months old $350, male 8 wks old $400. Shots UTD, home raised. 704-484-2580. HOGS FOR SALE, females, $250 each. Shetland Pony, $50. 828- 429-3511. MINI DACHSHUND/TERRIER mix puppies, wormed & ready, $60. (2) 1 year old Dachshund/ Terrier mix, kennel trained, $50. 828-447-1225. TOY & TINY TOY POODLES for sale. Vet approved & groomed. Call 828-248-2008. General Medicine & Surgery Orthopedic Consultations & Surgery 828-286-2326 TriCityAnimalClinic.com 475 Withrow Road • PO Box 729 Forest City Jill C. Bradshaw, DVM Glenn C. Bradshaw, DVM Tri-City Animal Care Premium Boarding & Grooming 828-245-9100 or 828-286-2326 440 Withrow Road • PO Box 729 Forest City Community Pet Center 5th DOGS! Annual Festival October 29 10:00-3:00 Crowe Park • Forest City Dogs Bring Your Pack, Owner and Family! Lots of Fun Things To Do! For more information, please call 828-287-7738 tise On All About Pets, Please Contact Mike Marlow at 828-248-1408.. Fun fish facts • Some fi sh swim backward, sideways and upside down. The Upside Down Catfi sh spends most of its time belly-up. • It is estimated that there may still be more than 15,000 fi sh species that have not yet been identifi ed. • Tropical fi sh are one of the most popular pets in the United States. • Most aquarium fi sh are harvested from the wild in Africa, Asia and South America. • Improper housing and nutrition is the common form of mortality among pet fi sh. • Some tropical fi sh are known as mouth brooders, where the young grow and develop while inside of their mother's mouth. African cichlids are a breed known to do this. • Feed fi sh well, but don't overfeed. Some breeds resort to canibalism if there isn't a good food supply. Courtesy of Metro Editorial ©Community First Media ©Community First Media

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