| > | | | | adoption than there are owners to adopt them. |
| With all the companionship and love that our dogs | | | | 4. Provide Medical Care — Aside from the |
| give so freely, it's hard to imagine that some | | | | annual physical examination and vaccinations, |
| owners just don't take responsibility for their | | | | protect your dog from heartworm, ticks and |
| dogs. But it's true. Millions of dogshealthy | | | | fleas. Talk with your vet about the many options |
| dogsare euthanized every year. Whether | | | | available today. Contact your vet at the first sign |
| through owner neglect or owner ignorance, millions | | | | that something is wrong with your dog. |
| of healthy dogs will endure the same fate this | | | | 5. Provide Adequate Food and Water — |
| year. So what's a responsible dog owner to do? | | | | Provide food suited to your dog's age, size and |
| The best thing you can do, as a dog owner, is to | | | | condition. |
| ensure that your dog doesn't become a statistic, | | | | 6. Walk Your Dog — Your dog will let you |
| and you do that through responsible pet | | | | know when it needs to be walked. |
| ownership. | | | | 7. Provide Exercise and Recreation — |
| Welcoming a new dog into your house means | | | | Provide ample space, dog toys and opportunity |
| taking on additional long-term responsibility. Many | | | | for your pet to exercise. If you haven't thrown a |
| new dog owners find something cute or romantic | | | | Frisbee in twenty years, you'll be surprised at how |
| about bringing that puppy in the window home | | | | much fun it is to try to outsmart your |
| until they realize that there's a modicum of work | | | | dogunlikely! |
| involved in caring for that cute, adorable little face, | | | | 8. Protect Your Dog from Abuse — Animal |
| and a price to pay for those wet, slobbering | | | | cruelty is serious business, and in some states, it's |
| kisses. You wouldn't expect to return a baby. Its' | | | | a felony. Even the FBI acknowledged that animal |
| no less wrong to return a dog when the novelty | | | | cruelty is a known marker (future indicator) of |
| wears off, and it ought to be criminal to leave a | | | | violence against humans. If anyone in your house |
| dog somewhere on its own. In many ways, dogs | | | | intentionally mistreats your dog, seek help |
| are as vulnerable as newborn infants are, but | | | | immediately. You could thwart the next school |
| dogs are dependent upon their owners for their | | | | shooting. |
| entire lives. | | | | 9. Discourage Aggressive Behavior — You'll |
| Listed below you'll find basic steps to responsible | | | | know the difference between hearty play and |
| dog ownership, and many of them are just | | | | aggressive behavior. Contact your vet at the first |
| common-sense rules of the road. | | | | sign of aggressive behavior to discuss your |
| 1. Selecting Your Dog — Turn to a local | | | | options. |
| animal shelter or rescue operation to select a | | | | 10. Coping with Serious Illness and Geriatric Dogs |
| puppy or dog. Remember that older dogs need | | | | —Geriatric dogs are prone to many of the |
| loving owners too. Refuse to purchase a puppy or | | | | same illnesses that plague geriatric humans. You'll |
| dog that started life in a puppy mill. | | | | want to do everything in your power to keep |
| 2. Test Your Dog — Contact a veterinarian | | | | your dog comfortable at the end, but at some |
| and ask him to run the usual series of tests on | | | | point, it may become necessary to end the |
| your new companion. | | | | suffering. If you've been a responsible dog owner |
| 3. Spay or Neuter Your Dog — Responsible | | | | throughout the dog's life, you'll want to end that |
| pet owners always spay and neuter their dogs | | | | life just as responsibly as you cared for it. |
| and cats. There are far more dogs waiting for | | | | |