When it comes to hunting, people tend to fall decisively on one side of the line or the other; they either do it and they love it, or they don’t care for it at all. Regardless of what each of us thinks about it, we must keep some key things in mind for our pets’ well-being.

Hunting season happens in just about every part of the United States, and in more rural areas, it likely goes on regularly outside of those clearly defined dates. While we may not individually condone it, we must prepare for it because the consequences of carelessness could be fatal to our pets.

“I experience this conundrum every year,” Dr. Brian Collins, head of the Community Service Practice at Cornell University’s Hospital for Animals, told the Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine. “I worry about safety in the woods during hunting season. For people whose animals go into the woods or live close to hunting areas, there are several things that can help minimize the risks the season brings.”

Know the Dates

For those of us who don’t hunt, there are several different dates to know revolving around hunting. These dates are determined on a state level. To find out what dates the various hunting levels are allowed, visit your state’s official website. As an example, in Massachusetts, the 2017 dates are:

• Archery season: October 16–November 25
• Shotgun Season: November 27–December 9
• Primitive firearms season: December 11–December 30

Hunters in Massachusetts are also prohibited from hunting on Sundays, restricted to daylight hours only and must be licensed. However, regulations and dates vary by state.

Leashes On

This is not the time of year to allow your pet to run off-leash. Even the most well-trained dog in the world has a bad day or moment that causes them to disregard a return command.

Adding to that, wild animals are just as intriguing to your pets as they are to the hunters, meaning if there is a deer, water fowl or other animal in the area, both pet and hunter will be drawn to it.

For dogs who were bred to hunt, the lure of these wild animals may be irresistible. As a dog walker, I can’t count the number of times I’ve seen dogs being walked off-leash who refused to return to their walker when commanded. Don’t risk it.

Location

Stay out of secluded, wooded areas if at all possible. Stick to walking on safe roads or down at the beach if there is one nearby. Even wooded areas that are close to neighborhoods may not be entirely safe. Hunters have rules they are supposed to follow, but that doesn’t mean all of them will.

Ponds and marshes will also be attractive to hunters for the water source and the game that is drawn to those areas.

Reflective Gear

You can purchase reflective gear for yourself and your pets almost anywhere, including online. This gear is a must; it tells hunters from a long distance away that you and your pet are not game.

Recently, in Truro, Massachusetts, a weimaraner named Henry was shot by a hunter. The dog’s human had been out walking in the woods with no reflective gear and his 2 weimaraners off-leash. These particular dogs are typically light brown in color. They crossed paths with a hunter, and 1 dog was accidentally shot.

Thankfully, Henry survived. The hunter was at fault for not making sure of his target, but from a distance, these dogs — particularly with their coloring — can easily be mistaken for deer. Also, the dogs’ human took no precautions to ensure his pets were safe.

A simple vest and a leash on his dog might have avoided the whole situation.

Horse Safety

While dogs are often at risk for being accidentally shot, horses can be at risk as well. The USDA offers the following tips:

• Avoid active hunting areas when trail riding.
• Wear blaze orange/bright clothing.
• Braid colorful ribbons into your horse’s mane and tail.
• Keep horses stabled during hunting hours or hours with dim lighting, like sunrise/sunset.
• Post clear “No Hunting” signs around your property.
• Paint pasture posts bright orange.
• Put brightly colored bridles and blankets on your horses.

Often, people with horses live on rural property that borders wooded areas, so take extra precautions to keep your horses safe while outdoors.

Bright-orange vests are a great way to keep your dogs visible in the woods:

Cat Safety

Even cats can be at risk this time of year. If you have cats who prefer (and will accept nothing less) than being outdoor cats, you may want to try to entice them inside as much as possible.

You can also give them a belled and/or brightly colored collar. They may not thank you for scaring off the bird they were trying to catch, but it could be the difference between staying safe or being shot.

Mistakes Can Happen

By and large, most hunters obey the laws and are careful about how and what they hunt. But even the most careful hunters can make mistakes.

Additionally, there will always be people who don’t follow the rules. And those types of people are the ones who may accidentally shoot your pet and then leave because they’re afraid to get caught. We need to prepare for that as best we can.

If you suspect hunters are in an area that they shouldn’t be in, are drinking excessively while hunting or otherwise in violation of regulations, you can and should report them to your local authorities.

In many states, this will be the Department of Natural Resources, but if you aren’t sure, you can always contact your local police department. They will know who to contact and how to handle the situation.

* * *

Get Your FREE Pet Food Recall Alerts! Sign up below to get notified by email as soon as we hear about pet food recalls. (It’s free.)

---

Popular From Petful

Source link

The post PSA: Keep Your Pets Safe During Hunting Season – Petful appeared first on Pet Friendly Sites.

Source link

The post QUIZ: Where Would Your Horse Want to Go for Dinner? – Petful appeared first on Pet Friendly Sites.

Who doesn’t love the sight of a majestic horse on the water?  The painted ponies are gorgeous.  The water background, in this case, Tampa Bay, is a wonderful expression of living art.

If you are in Tampa Bay, look up cponies.com.  They will give you an opportunity to experience this.  I happened to pass by while having a bike ride.  I had to stop to share.

Here they are in the water:

Thanks and have a great day.

Grier

www.petfriendlysites.com

The post Summer Fun-Horseriding on the beach appeared first on Pet Friendly Sites.

Today’s article features horse and dog playing together videos in this “horse powered” video playlist that is also on the petfriendlysites.com youtube channel.

In the playlist provided below you will see some cute inter-species fun times-aka: “horsing around”- along with some other videos of beautiful horses. I hope these videos of these wonderful animals puts a smile on your face. It has been suggested by friends and fans of petfriendlysites.com that more animals need to be added to the mix of pet friendly resources. I, like most of you here, love animals and the bonds they share with each other.  This playlist featuring a horse and dog playing together videos will complement that sentiment. So, thanks to the petfriendlysites.com members and friends now we have the result of their suggestions.

This video of the horse and a dog playing together and it’s accompanying playlists of beautiful horses will be the video of the week featured on the homepage of www.petfriendlysites.com I will be making some more changes to the site that will enhance the experience as we continue to grow and expand our offerings.

Thank you for being a part of it! All the best and Enjoy, Grier

Domestication of the horse

A number of hypotheses exist on many of the key issues regarding the domestication of the horse. Although horses appeared in Paleolithic cave art as early as 30,000 BCE, these were truly wild horses and were probably hunted for meat. How and when horses became domesticated is disputed. The clearest evidence of early use of the horse as a means of transport is from chariot burials dated c. 2000 BCE. However, an increasing amount of evidence supports the hypothesis that horses were domesticated in the Eurasian Steppes approximately 4000–3500 BCE.^[1][2][3] Recent discoveries in the context of the Botai culture suggest that Botai settlements in the Akmola Province of Kazakhstan are the location of the earliest domestication of the horse.^[4]

The date of the domestication of the horse depends to some degree upon the definition of “domestication”. Some zoologists define “domestication” as human control over breeding, which can be detected in ancient skeletal samples by changes in the size and variability of ancient horse populations. Other researchers look at broader evidence, including skeletal and dental evidence of working activity; weapons, art, and spiritual artifacts; and lifestyle patterns of human cultures. There is also evidence that horses were kept as meat animals prior to being trained as working animals.  To Continue Reading about the Domestication of the Horse Click Here

For the Dog Lover in You

Horse and Dog Playing Videos Article written by Grier Holliday for www.petfriendlysites.com All Rights Reserved 2014. Use with Full Attribution to Author and Link to website

The post Horse and Dog Playing Videos appeared first on Pet Friendly Sites.

So you’re thinking about getting a horse. You would like pursue your passion and join the millions of horse lovers across the world. However, like any decision, this one comes with pros and cons. You must be confident that you can choose the right animal for you. As with any animal, you also must accept the expected and unexpected costs of ownership, and also the responsibility you have for the horse’s well-being. Finally, if you get through this article and perhaps second guess your decision to own a horse, maybe you might like to consider an alternative to ownership.

It is hard sometimes to convince ourselves that horses, these beautiful creatures, are not chosen purely based on looks. And although a particular breed or colour may currently be popular, you must always make sure that your ultimate decision is based on a few key factors: the horse’s temperament and personality, and the discipline you plan on using the horse for.

Horses in general tend to be a bit spooky, but there is a large range in the temperament of horses, from flighty to docile and from pushy to easy. You need to be comfortable with handling and reacting to the temperament of your horse. All horses also come with their very own personality. For example, you need to recognize that many retired racehorses have either a broken spirit or hatred towards people. Once again, different temperaments and personalities can be worked with, as long as you know what you are willing to deal with in your horse.

If you’ve been thinking about buying a horse, you probably already have been taking lessons and are familiar with the basic horse disciplines. Make sure you do not forget what discipline you would like to go into, because if you purchase a horse that is not suited for the demands of that discipline, you will have an unhappy horse and/or a poor-performing horse. You would, for example, need a different horse for endurance racing than for driving a carriage. Other disciplines include western games (timed obstacle course), dressage (specific movements in a pattern), and the backyard recreational horse.

Admittedly, one of the biggest responsibilities that come with owning a horse is the cost. This factor alone sometimes prohibits ownership. If you do not have the facilities to house the horse, the cost of boarding is comparable to renting an apartment. It ranges from about $300 to over $2000, depending on the amenities included, and will cover the basic maintenance of your horse. In addition, you have transportation costs to and from the barn, in addition to the need for a trailer to transport your horse in. Just like in cats and dogs, there is a yearly check needed by your veterinarian, which involves a physical exam (especially checking teeth) and vaccinations. You will need a farrier to come out about once every two months to properly maintain your horse’s feet (very important!).

There are also the unexpected costs. Due to their anatomy, and common carelessness with their legs, they are prone to leg fractures and punctures. They are also prone to laminitis, which is a type of swelling in the hoof that can cause a horse to become lame, and even be euthanized in severe cases. Laminitis can be caused by just about any stress, such as feed or environment changes, obesity, and colic. Colic, a very common condition in horses, has many different causes (including stress) and can be a life-threatening condition.

On top of the monetary responsibilities for your horse, you do have responsibilities for the well-being of the animal. Just as your dog needs attention every day, your horse will need attention on a regular basis, too. The amount of attention and training that your horse needs varies greatly between horses. You should keep in mind that in order to train and build a relationship with your horse, you should ride it at least 3-4 times a week. This is a large time commitment. A horse is not a shirt that you can just dispose of and find a new one. This is why choosing the horse that’s right for you is so important. If you need to get rid of your horse for any reason, you may be looking at losing some money that you invested. Even worse, you are no longer in control of that animal’s fate; it could end up in a discipline that doesn’t suit it, it could be neglected, or it could be sent to the meat market. You have a responsibility the moment you take any animal under your care.

Good news! There are alternatives to owning your own horse! If the horse was meant for a child, it is always recommended to first send them to horse camp. There they will be performing all the chores involved with taking care of a horse, and will get a better idea about how much enthusiasm they really have for horses. Part-boarding is when someone who owns the horse does not have enough time or funds to board and train it. So for a cost, you can ride the horse a certain number of days per week. This is a great option for someone who realizes they do not want to take on the heavy responsibilities of owning a horse. Leasing a horse is just like leasing a car; you have the horse for a specified amount of time. Leasing is often used for a show season, however keep in mind that on top of the lease fee, you must still pay for maintenance and boarding of the horse.

In a world where most people think of dogs and cats as pets, there is a large group of people who regard horses as valued companions. The benefits of owning a horse tend to be on a larger scale than other pets- horses are companions, therapy, recreation, and sport. The responsibilities of ownership also tend to be on the larger scale as well. As long as the owner is willing to choose the horse that’s right for them, and is aware of the obstacles they may face along the way, horse ownership can be a very rewarding.

Text Content By Ashley O’driscoll – Pets.ca writer Link to Article: http://www.pets.ca/exotic/articles/horse-ownership/

Photos included by Grier Holliday

www.petfriendlysites.com

The post Horse Ownership appeared first on Pet Friendly Sites.

Horse Care Guidelines

Article courtesy of Humane Society US

Are you interested in experiencing the joys of horse ownership? While sharing your life with a horse can be a rewarding experience, it also means accepting the responsibility of caring for your equine companion for life.

Here are some general guidelines for caring for your horse:

Horse care is expensive

Even routine horse care is a significant and ongoing expense. In fact, the cost of purchasing a horse is often much less than the cost of maintaining one for a year. Make sure you are realistic about your ability to afford quality care before you adopt an equine companion.

Horses eat a lot

Horses need a regular supply of food. In most cases, they need to have hay or pasture throughout the day, with additional grain feedings twice a day. An average-size horse will eat about 20 lbs. of food a day and drink at least eight gallons of water. Because their stomachs are relatively small and their digestive systems surprisingly delicate, horses need to nibble or graze throughout the day, rather than have one or two meals a day.

Horses need regular hoof care

Plan to hire a farrier (blacksmith) every six to eight weeks for routine hoof trimming or shoeing.

Horses need regular veterinary care

At least once a year, your horse will need to be vaccinated against tetanus and other diseases. The veterinarian will also provide routine dental care. Keep in mind that medical emergencies, which are always an unfortunate possibility, can cost several thousand dollars to treat.

Horses require frequent deworming

Since horses are constantly exposed to intestinal worms from the ground they graze on, they must be dewormed every six to eight weeks. Carrying a heavy burden of worms can cause serious illness or death in equines, so regular and timely treatment is crucial to your horse’s health.

Horses require quality shelter

Horses need constant access to a dry, safe, comfortable shelter to protect them from rain, wind, and snow. In warm and sunny weather, the shelter you supply will provide your companion with much needed shade. At a minimum, you should have a well-constructed, three-sided shed into which your horse can retreat at all times. You will need to remove manure from the stall or shelter every day.

Horses need exercise

To supplement the exercise your horse will get when you ride him, he should have a paddock or pasture in which to relax and stroll. No horse should spend all day confined in a stall, except on a veterinarian’s recommendation. The pasture should be bordered by safe, sturdy fencing that will keep the horse safe and secure. Barbed wire is not an acceptable fencing material—it has been the cause of many serious injuries.

Your horse depends on your love, care and commitment. You’ll show your love through grooming, petting, riding, and the occasional treat. You must also show your commitment by providing for her needs 365 days a year, in good weather and bad. With good care, your horse can live 35 years or more, so plan to enjoy a long and mutually rewarding relationship with your horse.

Courtesy of
HSUS
www.hsus.org

Have a splendid day!

Grier Holliday

www.petfriendlysites.com

The post Horse Care Guidelines appeared first on Pet Friendly Sites.