cat - News - The Coastal Star2024-03-29T06:45:26Zhttps://thecoastalstar.com/profiles/blogs/feed/tag/catEditor’s Note: A mom and a cat for life’s incredible journeyhttps://thecoastalstar.com/profiles/blogs/editor-s-note-a-mom-and-a-cat-for-life-s-incredible-journey2018-05-02T16:50:18.000Z2018-05-02T16:50:18.000ZThe Coastal Starhttps://thecoastalstar.com/members/TheCoastalStar<div><p>Mom loved animals. The first time I ever saw her cry was when the kitten she’d saved with every-three-hour eyedropper feedings was hit by a car as he strutted home from a week of tomcatting around the neighborhood. <br />I was a teenager.<br /> <a href="{{#staticFileLink}}7960790880,original{{/staticFileLink}}"><img width="300" src="{{#staticFileLink}}7960790880,original{{/staticFileLink}}" class="align-left" alt="7960790880?profile=original" /></a>One of the last times was when I stopped in Briny Breezes to pick her up for a doctor’s appointment and found her watching <em>The Incredible Journey</em>. The classic 1963 film follows three displaced pets finding their way home through the Canadian wilderness. <br /> I was in my 50s, and by then Mom’s advancing dementia had her determined to return “home.” <br /> The place locked into her memory wasn’t in Florida, so the kids all agreed to honor her wishes and help her move into assisted living near my sister back in Illinois. <br /> We packed up her heavy, handmade china cabinet, her other sparse belongings, and a ceramic cat I had given her that lingered by her porch as a garden statue. <br /> My sister’s rental van carted these items north as my husband and I helped Mom pack a small suitcase and get her large yellow cat, George, into a carrier. <br /> Worried that the vast, busy Atlanta airport would confuse her, I flew the first leg of the trip with my mom — and then stood helplessly at the gate as she struggled to lug the cat carrier down the jetway. But my heart was lifted when a flight attendant engaged my tiny 80-year-old mom in conversation and carried George onto the plane for her.</p>
<p>She made it safely “home” and even in her decline was able to keep her buddy George as she moved from the ALF into a memory care facility. While she was able, she would carry George around <br /><em>Mom’s cat has found its</em> <em>way back home.</em> to visit the other residents.</p>
<p><br /> I, too, love cats, and in this setting it was easy to see the comfort that animals bring, especially to those who are lonely. <br /> Mom has been gone for several years now, and George, too, has died. My sister is retiring and moving to Florida.<br /> When she texted to ask if I wanted her to bring me Mom’s ceramic garden cat, I had forgotten about that old statue. But there was no hesitation in my decision.<br /> The heavy, oddly shaped cat-replica with a broken paw now holds court near the goldfish pond in my yard. He looks comfortable there — like he’s returned home. <br /> I have a feeling that Mom approves.</p>
<p><em>— Mary Kate Leming, Editor</em></p></div>Paws Up for Pets: Everyday items can save your pet when first-aid kit isn’t handyhttps://thecoastalstar.com/profiles/blogs/paws-up-for-pets-everyday-items-can-save-your-pet-when-first-aid-2018-04-04T14:32:27.000Z2018-04-04T14:32:27.000ZThe Coastal Starhttps://thecoastalstar.com/members/TheCoastalStar<div><p style="text-align:center;"><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}7960781856,original{{/staticFileLink}}"><img src="{{#staticFileLink}}7960781856,original{{/staticFileLink}}" class="align-center" width="600" alt="7960781856?profile=original" /></a><em>Water and your own clothing can provide emergency first aid. <strong>Arden Moore/The Coastal Star</strong></em></p>
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<p><strong>By Arden Moore</strong></p>
<p>I keep a well-stocked pet first-aid kit in my home and a travel size in my vehicle. In case of a pet emergency, I want to be prepared.<br /> The reality is that not all cut paws, bee stings, sprained limbs or other pet injuries conveniently occur when a first-aid kit is handy or a veterinary clinic is nearby. <br /> As a certified master instructor in pet first aid and the founder of Pet First Aid 4U, I recognize that pet emergencies can and do happen anytime, anywhere. In some cases, minutes count in saving the life of a dog or cat.<br /> So, in honor of Pet First Aid Awareness Month — and in homage to <em>MacGyver</em>, one of my favorite television shows of the late 1980s (now in a 2.0 version on CBS) — I created a litany of “Mutt-gyver” tips and tricks. I’ve tapped into Angus MacGyver’s ability to think outside the box and applied it to aid pets in trouble.<br /> No pet first-aid kit handy? No problem. Let me run down a list of everyday items you can use to render aid to a pet and if necessary, stabilize and transport that pet to your veterinary clinic:<br /> <strong>Cool down an overheated dog.</strong> Dogs do not sweat like we do. They perspire through their paws. If possible, time your walks with your dog in the morning or evening to avoid the hottest hours under the South Florida sun. On a walk, bring a bottle of water. You can cool down your dog by getting him to shade and dipping his paws in cool water. If you are wearing a baseball cap, pour the water in there and dip the paws. Otherwise, take a spare plastic poop bag to use as a makeshift bowl for drinking and dipping.<br /> <strong>Treat bee stings and minor burns.</strong> Curious cats and prey-minded dogs can’t resist the fast movements of flying bees. But they pay the price for engaging with bees on pollinating missions with stings, often to their face or paws. Reduce the chance of your dog’s getting stung by keeping him from reaching ground cover on leashed walks. If your dog or cat gets stung and you can see the stinger, simply scrape out the stinger using your driver’s license or a credit card. Do not try to remove the stinger by using your fingernails or tweezers, as you risk rupturing the venom sac. <br /> You can dab a little moistened baking soda on the sting site to alleviate pain. If you have an aloe plant nearby, you can apply gel from the plant. Aloe also works on minor burns. However, never use the white sap (latex) from the aloe plant on a dog or cat because that sap is toxic to pets. <br /> If the sting site swells and your pet has trouble breathing, contact your veterinarian immediately. Your veterinarian may recommend you give your pet an over-the-counter antihistamine. I recommend you keep this product handy in gel form and tape a safety pin to the packaging so you can squirt in the medicine easily and quickly. And read the label: Only give antihistamine products containing diphenhydramine and never give products that are cherry-flavored or contain the pain reliever acetaminophen. <br /> <strong>Ease jellyfish stings.</strong> If your beach-loving dog gets stung by a jellyfish, coax him to the sand. Rinse the sting site with salt water and use a seashell to safely scrape the tentacles off your dog so you do not get stung.<br /> <strong>Sock it to cut or bloody paws.</strong> If your dog cuts a paw on a long hike or on cut glass in your home, here are some Mutt-gyver tricks to consider. You can squirt bottled water to clean the paw. Then elevate the paw above the dog’s heart and apply pressure with a folded bandanna to stop the bleeding. You can take one of your socks to cover the injured paw and snug it in place using a spare plastic poop bag or hair tie if you are wearing one.<br /> <strong>Muzzle pet to keep you safe.</strong> Even the sweetest dog or cuddliest cat can bite or claw you if he’s in pain. Keep yourself safe. You can make a temporary muzzle by using the drawstrings from a hooded sweatshirt, your shoelaces or a spare 6-foot nylon leash. You can calm a cat by wrapping him in a thick bath towel or popping an empty plastic laundry basket over him. Then slide a slick piece of cardboard underneath and flip it upright to have a makeshift cat carrier. <br /> <strong>Splint a sprained or broken limb.</strong> Depending on the length of your pet’s leg, you can use Popsicle sticks, emery boards or paint stirrers as splints. You can place a water bottle against the injured leg. To hold the splint in place, you can use a rolled-up magazine or folded newspaper and tie with shoelaces. The goal is to stabilize and prevent your pet from putting any more weight on the injured leg. <br /> In the veterinarian-approved Pet First Aid 4U classes I teach with the help of pet safety dog Kona and pet safety cat Casey, I always welcome Mutt-gyver tips and tricks from my students. One shared how she used her bra to lasso her loose dog. That’s quick thinking! What are your favorite tips to keep dogs and cats safe? Email me at arden@ardenmoore.com. <br /> My parting message: Our pets give us unconditional love and loyalty 24/7. One of the best ways we can show our love for them is by taking a pet first-aid class. Knowing what to do and what not to do in a pet emergency when minutes count is a great way to truly become your pet’s best health ally. <br /> <br /><em>Arden Moore, founder of FourLeggedLife.com, is an animal behavior consultant, editor, author, professional speaker and master certified pet first-aid instructor. She hosts the Oh Behave! show on PetLifeRadio.com. Learn more at <a href="http://www.ardenmoore.com">www.ardenmoore.com</a>.</em></p></div>Paws Up for Pets: Yoga enthusiasts find inspiration, humor in flexible felineshttps://thecoastalstar.com/profiles/blogs/paws-up-for-pets-yoga-enthusiasts-find-inspiration-humor-in-flexi2018-02-28T15:28:36.000Z2018-02-28T15:28:36.000ZThe Coastal Starhttps://thecoastalstar.com/members/TheCoastalStar<div><p style="text-align:center;"><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}7960769271,original{{/staticFileLink}}"><img src="{{#staticFileLink}}7960769271,original{{/staticFileLink}}" class="align-center" width="600" alt="7960769271?profile=original" /></a><em>A kitty watches a two-legged friend during Cora Ciaffone’s kitten yoga class. The cats are available for adoption. <strong>Photo provided</strong></em></p>
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<p><strong>By Arden Moore</strong></p>
<p>Now here’s a first: performing a downward-facing dog pose in a yoga class with a kitten. Ah, namaste and please stay, kitty.<br /> Yoga has been practiced for more than 5,000 years. For centuries, the focus has been providing healthy stretches and poses for people. Typically, students quietly shuttle into an enclosed room, unroll their yoga mats, remove their shoes and do their best for the next hour or so to focus on mindful breathing, purposeful stretches and being in the present moment.<br /> In recent years, yoga has expanded to include dogs and even goats in some classes across the country. Now, the hottest trend is to pair up with flexible felines that produce acrobatic moves and comical antics. These classes unleash a surprising twist: All of these adorable kittens are up for adoption.<br /> “This is by far the funniest class I’ve ever taught and each time, the antics of the kittens bring smiles to everyone,” says Cora Ciaffone, a certified yoga teacher and certified dog trainer who has teamed up with the Peggy Adams Animal Rescue League to conduct kitten yoga classes at its satellite location inside CityPlace in West Palm Beach. She also conducts yoga classes that welcome people and their well-mannered dogs throughout the county. <br /> During the kitten classes, a curious feline has crawled into a T-shirt of a student concentrating on a bridge pose. And Ciaffone often spots a person who will briefly stop a pose to pick up and cuddle a kitten who wanders onto his mat or a student stop to toss a toy mouse across the room for a kitten to pursue. Some ever-curious and eager-to-explore kittens have been known to crawl up the backs and perch on the shoulders of students during poses. <br /> Conventional yoga it is not, but the benefits are many. <br /> For the kittens, it is the chance to be adopted. Take the case of Shadow, a shy, beautiful kitten who won over student Jeannine Salus.<br /> “She’s so docile and she kind of hid in the back, which is where I would go in class,” says Salus. “This cat is very close to my soul.”<br /> Rich Anderson, executive director and CEO of the Peggy Adams league, is grateful that CityPlace developer Related Cos. reached out to his animal shelter with the idea of staging kitten yoga places within the complex. The satellite center showcases shelter dogs and cats, leading to 47 being adopted.<br /> “Since day one, it has been a huge success,” says Anderson. “Once everyone is set up with their mats, we release the kittens. We are very driven to bring awareness to homeless pets. With goat yoga becoming popular, we decided why not kitten yoga?”<br /> Dogs and cats are natural yogis. They are limber and live in the moment. They move and stretch with purpose and grace. They can teach us a lot in terms of fending off stress and easing muscular aches, says Ciaffone.<br /> “Our dogs and cats are definitely our health advocates,” she says. “There is no doubt in my mind that they heal. They show us how to be present, give unconditional love and compassion.”<br /> Ciaffone credits her two cats, Luna Stardust and Jackson Galaxy, a pair of shelter rescues, with helping her heal from a divorce and heart surgery.<br /> “I am so convinced that they have helped heal me emotionally, physically and spiritually,” she says. “I now feel so happy and so healthy.”<br /> Whether you plan to take a yoga class with a kitten or dog or simply spend one-on-one time with your pet inside your home, Ciaffone encourages you to study and mimic the movements they make.<br /> “Instead of jumping out of bed when the alarm rings, be like a dog or a cat and take a few moments to do a full body stretch,” suggests Ciaffone. “Lie on your back and gently rotate your head one way and your body the other way. Then sit up and live in the moment. Take a deep breath in and let it out slowly.”<br /> In her dog/people yoga classes, Ciaffone uses lavender oil, which acts as a natural calmer for the two- and four-legged students. She conducts dog yoga classes inside and outside, weather permitting.<br /> So when it comes to being natural yoga instructors, which species is better, cats or dogs?<br /> “I would have to say dogs simply because when I put their people in the last pose of class — a pose of stillness called savasana — their dogs often lie down next to them and be calm or even fall asleep,” says Ciaffone. “The kittens will roam around and even walk on people. After all, they are young, active kittens.” <br /> Ah, namaste and good stay, kitty and doggy.</p>
<p><br /> <em>Arden Moore is a pet health and safety coach, animal behavior consultant, editor, author, professional speaker and master certified pet first aid instructor. Each week she hosts the popular “Oh Behave!” show on PetLifeRadio.com. Learn more at <a href="http://www.ardenmoore.com">www.ardenmoore.com</a>.</em></p>
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<p><span style="font-size:14pt;"><strong>Learn more</strong></span> <br />If you would like to try kitten yoga, the Peggy Adams Animal Rescue League will offer classes on March 17 and March 31 at its pop-up shop at CityPlace, 700 S. Rosemary Ave., No. 141, West Palm Beach. For more information and to sign up, visit <a href="http://www.peggyadams.org">www.peggyadams.org</a> or email KittenYoga@peggyadams.org. <br />To learn more about yoga and dog training classes offered by Cora Ciaffone, visit <a href="http://www.bodymindsoul.net">www.bodymindsoul.net</a> and <a href="http://www.dogslove2train.com">www.dogslove2train.com</a>.</p></div>Paws Up for Pets: Call of the wild gets busy signal from our modern petshttps://thecoastalstar.com/profiles/blogs/paws-up-for-pets-call-of-the-wild-gets-busy-signal-from-our-moder2015-03-04T15:59:11.000Z2015-03-04T15:59:11.000ZChris Felkerhttps://thecoastalstar.com/members/ChrisFelker<div><p style="text-align:center;"><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}7960561264,original{{/staticFileLink}}"><img src="{{#staticFileLink}}7960561264,original{{/staticFileLink}}" width="202" class="align-left" alt="7960561264?profile=original" /></a></p>
<p style="text-align:center;"><span style="font-family:georgia, palatino;" class="font-size-4"><b>Win an Arden book!</b></span></p>
<p style="text-align:center;"> <em>Got pet? In celebration of the release of my newest pet books, I am giving away a personalized, autographed copy of Fit Cat and Fit Dog to a couple of <a href="{{#staticFileLink}}7960561286,original{{/staticFileLink}}"><img src="{{#staticFileLink}}7960561286,original{{/staticFileLink}}" width="202" class="align-right" alt="7960561286?profile=original" /></a>readers of The Coastal Star.</em></p>
<p style="text-align:center;"><em> How? Easy. Simply email me (Arden@fourleggedlife.com) and tell me, in 100 words or fewer, how your dog or your cat has made your life better. And, if you like, attach a photo. Deadline to submit is March 18.</em></p>
<p style="text-align:center;"><em> We will pick a cat and a dog winner and share the results in the April issue – no fooling! </em></p>
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<p><strong>By Arden Moore</strong></p>
<p> Far too much focus has been placed on the ancestry of our dogs and cats when it comes to deciphering why our pets do what they do. In truth, our modern-day pets share far more similar wants and needs to us two-leggers than they do to wolves and lions who prowled the planet centuries ago when there was no electricity, no highways and certainly no pet-welcoming hotels.</p>
<p> Chances are high that the canines and felines under your roof are fully vested 21st-century pets enjoying plenty of perks. Admit it: Our pets influence us in what we buy, where we live and how we decorate our homes. </p>
<p> The cats in your grandparents’ day likely lived outdoors and slept in barns or trees and existed on a diet of mice. Today’s felines are apt to live exclusively indoors with access to lots of comfy napping spots, fortifying commercial food and regularly scooped litter boxes. </p>
<p> The dogs a few generations ago roamed the neighborhoods, rarely saw veterinarians for wellness care and most likely ate table scraps. Dogs in 2015 tend to sport personalized collars, engage in organized sports like agility or dock diving and head to a designated spot on your bed at night. I’m betting you even tolerate your dog’s snoring more than your partner’s!</p>
<p> As for me, I happily share my home with four rescues, a pair of dogs named Chipper and Cleo, and a tabby duo answering (sometimes) to the names Murphy and Casey. They inspired me to focus my newest pet books (No. 25 and 26, if you’re counting) on catering to today’s pets.</p>
<p> The books, published by Firefly, were just released and are aptly titled, <i>Fit Cat: Tips & Tricks to Give Your Pet a Longer, Healthier, Happier Life</i>, and <i>Fit Dog</i> (bearing the same subtitle). Think of these books as your customized guide to all things C.A.T. and D.O.G. </p>
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<p><b>A few feline insights</b></p>
<p><i> Invest in litter box hideaways.</i> Achieve a win-win for you and your cat by furnishing discreet litter boxes tucked inside decorative end tables or other pieces of furniture. Just remember to scoop daily.</p>
<p><i> Throw on the towel.</i> Keep yourself safe — and your cat calm — by wrapping him in a thick bath towel when he is injured or sick and needs to be transported to the veterinary clinic. Do not attempt to scruff him by the neck to pick him up to place him in a pet carrier because the action is likely to escalate his anger and he can swat or bite you.</p>
<p><i> Save money by recycling everyday items as cat toys.</i> Here’s a fun freebie most felines love: Toss a plastic bottle cap into an empty bathtub and watch your cat go after it like a feline hockey star.</p>
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<p><b>Some dog tips and tricks</b></p>
<p><i> Do be down in the mouth.</i> Check your dog’s gums weekly. Most dogs sport pink gums, a sure sign of health. However, the gums in ailing dogs can turn white, blue or bright red.</p>
<p><i> Speak your dog’s “language.”</i> The best way to engage in a meaningful two-way “conversation” with your dog is to speak less and stop, look and listen to what your dog is trying to tell you. If your dog is tilting his head, he may be indicating that he is fully focused on you. But if he tilts excessively or for long durations, he may be suffering from an ear infection.</p>
<p><i> Jazz up obedience training sessions.</i> Dogs, just like us, are eager to learn from teachers who make it fun. </p>
<p> So, expand from the basics like “sit” and “stay” and teach your dog some cool tricks like turning off the wall light, bringing you the tissue box or even tidying up his toys. I provide step-by-step instructions on how to do these tricks in this book and plenty more.</p>
<p> As author of these two books, I am honored to be your guide for you and your 21st-century pet. Our pets have us at <i>meow</i> and <i>bark</i>. They delight us. They fascinate us. They love us. And their physical, mental and emotional value is simply priceless. </p>
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<p><i>Arden Moore, founder of FourLeggedLife.com, is an animal behavior consultant, editor, author, professional speaker and master certified pet first aid instructor. Each week, she hosts the popular Oh Behave! show on PetLifeRadio.com. Learn more by visitingFour LeggedLife.com.</i></p></div>Paws Up For Pets: Keep pets from wandering, but back it up with IDhttps://thecoastalstar.com/profiles/blogs/paws-up-for-pets-keep-pets-from-wandering-but-back-it-up-with-id2013-01-30T16:00:00.000Z2013-01-30T16:00:00.000ZDeborah Hartz-Seeleyhttps://thecoastalstar.com/members/DeborahHartzSeeley<div><p></p>
<p style="text-align:center;"><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}7960419660,original{{/staticFileLink}}"><img src="{{#staticFileLink}}7960419660,original{{/staticFileLink}}" class="align-center" width="203" alt="7960419660?profile=original" /></a><em>Holly was lost in Daytona and made it home</em><br /> <em>to owner Jake Richter of West Palm Beach</em> <br /> <em>two months later. <b>Photo provided</b></em></p>
<p style="text-align:center;"><em><b>Watch video reports of Holly's journey: <a href="http://thecoastalstar.ning.com/video/cat-lost-on-vacation-travels-nearly-200-miles-back-home">ABC News</a> | 25 <a href="http://thecoastalstar.ning.com/video/cat-travels-190-miles-home">WPBF</a> News | <a href="http://thecoastalstar.ning.com/video/why-can-t-people-be-more-like-cats">Ellen</a></b></em></p>
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<p><strong>By Arden Moore</strong></p>
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<p>Most of us consciously remember to take our driver’s license when we head out the door. We input emergency contacts on our cell phones. And the navigational systems in our cars or smartphones ensure we never lose our way.</p>
<p>If only we could translate these actions onto our pets. Sure, we fit them with microchips, ID tags that dangle from their collars and may have our phone numbers embroidered on their collars next to their names.</p>
<p>As much as we try to keep them safe and protect them from harm, life happens. It just takes one door to be left ajar and — poof — they can dash out and disappear. Such is the case of Holly, a 4-year-old tortoiseshell cat who has been garnering news headlines from West Palm Beach to the West Coast.</p>
<p>This feline is fussy when it comes to unleashing affection. Her favorite people are her owners, Jake and Bonnie Richter of West Palm Beach. For most everyone else, her first response is to flee or hiss. </p>
<p>On Nov. 4, her life changed unexpectedly. The Richters traveled 190 miles north on I-95 in their motor home to attend a Good Sams event at the Daytona International Speedway with Holly onboard. All was well until that day when Holly bolted out the motor home door. Despite searching for her, calling her name, posting fliers and reaching out to pet rescue groups, the Richters couldn’t find Holly and with great sadness, returned home.</p>
<p>Two months later, Barb Mazzola of Palm Beach Gardens noticed what appeared to be furry rat in her backyard. Upon closer inspection, she realized it was a cat — a skinny, hungry one.</p>
<p>“She was so weak from hunger that she tried to meow, but couldn’t,” recalls Mazzola, an executive assistant to the Provost at Palm Beach Atlantic University. “I’m highly allergic to cats, so it was ironic that this kitty would choose my yard. But my daughter, Tay, ran inside and got tuna. This poor cat was so hungry.”</p>
<p>Over the next five days, the Mazzolas did their best to coax this cat onto their patio and to gain her trust. On day five, Mazzola left her sliding door open and in walked this cat who greeted her.</p>
<p>Despite her allergies, Mazzola adored this cat and decided to keep her and name her Cosette in tribute to the character in <i>Les Miserables</i>. She booked a veterinary appointment and that’s when it was discovered that this cat had a microchip containing not one, but four ways to contact the Richters.</p>
<p>“I sat down and cried because I was happy to reunite her, but sad because I had fallen in love with her after only a week,” says Mazzola.</p>
<p>Now here comes the hard-to-explain part. Mazzola lives about one mile from the Richters. </p>
<p>How did Holly get back home from Daytona? Did she walk the entire 190 miles in two months? How did she survive despite losing half her body weight? How did she know where home was?</p>
<p>“When Barb delivered Holly to me, she just cuddled with me,” says Richter, age 70, a retired crew chief for Northwest Airlines. “I jokingly said she must have a built-in GPS system, and she certainly went through most of her nine lives, but she is finally home again. I have my kitty back.”</p>
<p>I’m delighted to share Holly’s tale because it has a happy ending. </p>
<p>To increase the chances of being reunited with your beloved pet, I offer these tips:</p>
<p><b>Provide triple identification</b>. As soon as you adopt, bring in your pet for a veterinarian to insert a microchip (about the size of a grain of rice) that contains ways to contact you and the veterinarian. And, register that info with the microchip company. In addition, get an ID tag that contains in easy-to-read font your pet’s name and your cell phone number. Do the same with his collar. </p>
<p><b>Train your dog to heed the “come here” command</b>. Practice at home and enclosed areas and dole out Grade A-level treats when he complies so that he knows that heeding your call garners a tasty payout. Never call your dog and then verbally scold him for a misdeed. It will only build mistrust. </p>
<p><b>Make your home more escape-proof</b>. Regularly inspect your window screens to ensure they are not loose and cause a sun-basking cat to fall out the window. Usher your pets into an enclosed room with pet amenities when repair personnel are in your home. Post signs in bright colors on the door to alert them that pets are inside. </p>
<p><b>Go high-tech</b>. Check into a new generation of tracking devices that can be fitted on to your pet’s collar that allows you to pinpoint their whereabouts from your smart phone or computer. </p>
<p>Years ago, my cat, Samantha, a gray tabby, disappeared for 57 days. She came back skinny, scared and collar-less. Like the Richters, I was fortunate to be reunited with my cat. Each day we have with our pets should be treasured. Do me a favor: Hug your pets for me and take steps to keep track of them.</p>
<p><i>Arden Moore, founder of FourLeggedLife.com, is an animal behavior consultant, editor, author, professional speaker and certified pet first aid master instructor. She happily shares her home with two dogs, two cats and one overworked vacuum cleaner. Tune in to her Oh Behave! show on PetLifeRadio.com and learn more by visiting <a href="http://www.fourleggedlife.com">www.fourleggedlife.com</a>.</i></p>
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