Pets Rock Blog

Are you thinking of buying a pet as a gift for a loved-one this Christmas?

That is a STUPID idea!

I’m sure you mean well. Giving someone a pet as a present is perhaps a sweet sentiment, but it’s not really fair to the gift pet.

If you give someone a pet you absolutely have to be 100% sure:

• They want a pet
• They are allowed to get a pet where they live
• A member of their family/housemate isn’t allergic to that pet
• They want that specific species
• They want that specific breed
• They can afford to care for the pet
• They have actually TOLD you they want to get that pet.

… And even then I wouldn’t recommend it.

Many unwanted (or perhaps just unaffordable) gift pets end up abandoned and/or in shelters. During the festive season there is also an increase of people just abandoning their pets when they go on holiday or simply leave them at home, alone and unattended. Animal Rescue shelters reach crisis time during the December holidays, due to the shear number of inmates. Many of them run out of food and space.

This festive season, if you’re thinking about getting a pet, rather adopt than buy. Go to your local shelter and find a friend who will love you forever for giving them a new home.

Don’t however adopt a pet as a gift for someone else. You don’t want the poor animal to be recycled and simply end up back at the shelter.

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Halloween is coming up this weekend. While it is not very big in South Africa some of us will be dressing up and some will use it as an excuse to dress the dog or cat in cutesy outfits (some don’t need an excuse really)

It  may be cute, but it’s probably humiliating the dog and definitely humiliating the cat . I know I’d be humiliated if my mom dressed me in funny outfits. However if you do drss up your pet please keep in mind the following advice.

• Don’t choose an outfit that will restrict your pet’s breathing or movement
• Don’t choose an outfit with small parts that can be easier bitten/torn off by your pet and eaten.
• Don’t choose an outfit that is too hot.
• Don’t choose an outfit containing any toxic materials

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Now I lay me down to sleep,
The king-size bed is soft and deep…
I sleep right in the center groove
My human can hardly move!

I’ve trapped her legs, she’s tucked in tight
And here is where I pass the night
No one disturbs me or dares intrude
Till morning comes and “I want food!”

I sneak up slowly to begin
My nibbles on my human’s chin.
She wakes up quickly, I have sharp teeth -
And my claws I will unsheath

For the morning’s here and it’s time to play
I always seem to get my way.
So thank you Lord for giving me
This human person that I see.

The one who hugs me and holds me tight
And sacrifices her bed at night.

~Author Unknown

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How to give pills to cats:

1. Gently pick kitty up and cradle it in the crook of your left arm as if  holding a baby. Position right forefinger and thumb on either side of cat’s mouth and gently apply pressure to cheeks while holding pill in right hand. As cat opens mouth, pop pill into mouth. Allow cat to close mouth and swallow.
2. Retrieve pill from floor and cat from behind sofa. Cradle cat in left arm and repeat process.
3. Retrieve cat from bedroom, and throw soggy pill away.
4. Take new pill from foil wrap, cradle kitty in left arm holding rear paws tightly with left hand. Force jaws open and push pill to back of mouth with right forefinger. Hold mouth shut for a count of 10.
5. Retrieve pill from goldfish bowl and cat from top of wardrobe. Call spouse from garden.
6. Kneel on floor with cat wedged firmly between knees, holding front and rear paws. Ignore low growls emitted by cat. Get spouse to hold cats head firmly with one hand while forcing wooden ruler into mouth. Drop pill down ruler and rub cat’s throat vigorously.
7. Retrieve cat from curtain rail, get another pill from foil wrap. Make note to buy new ruler and repair curtains. Carefully sweep shattered figurines from hearth and set to one side for gluing back together  later.
8. Wrap cat in large towel and get spouse to lie on cat with its head just visible from below spouse’s armpit. Put pill in end of drinking straw, force cat’s mouth open with pencil and blow down drinking straw.
9. Check lable to make sure pill not harmful to humans, dring glass of water to take taste away. Apply band-aid to spouse’s forearm and remove blood from carpet with cold water and soap.
10. Retrieve cat from neighbour’s garden shed. Get another pill. Place cat in cupboard and close door onto neck to leave head showing. Force mouth open with dessert spoon. Flick pill down throat with elastic band.
11. Fetch screwdriver from garage and put door back on hinges. Apply cold compress to cheek and check records for date of last tetanus shot. Throw T-shirt away and fetch new one from bedroom.
12. Call fire-department to get cat down from tree across the road. Apologize to neighbour who crashed into fence while swerving to avoid cat. Take last pill from foil wrap.
13. Tie cat’s front paws to rear paws with garden twine and bind tightly to leg of dining table. Find heavy duty pruning gloves from shed. Force cat’s mouth open with small spanner. Push pill into mouth followed by large piece of fillet steak. Hold head vertically and 1 cup of water down throat to wash pill down.
14. Get spouse to drive you to emergency room.  Sit quietly while doctor stitches fingers and forearm and removes pill remnants from right eye. Stop by furniture shop on way home to order new table.

How to give pills to dogs:

1.Wrap pill in food. Give food to dog.

Dislaimer:
I have seen this joke (or a variation thereof)  on several websites, so the source is unknown. However, I found it funny and wanted to share it with you all.

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