Our lovely Ark supporter and beautiful Ark Bikini Car Wash model, Myla is now selling these awesome easy to use toothbrushes for pets, dogs and cats.
It is the festive season and all around South Africa and the world, people are getting into full swing of the holiday period. Lighter moods and happier faces as people do the last push until the Christmas break. Around this time is when we are deciding and thinking of presents for our loved ones. For those of you thinking of buying or adopting a puppy for yourself, a friend or relative….please read below and be 100% sure that is it the right decision for all involved. Your decisions now will determine in January whether or not the shelters become over populated with unwanted “Christmas puppies.”
First thing to consider – what is your reason for wanting to get a new puppy? Is it something you have been considering with the family for a while or is it because your son’s friend got a puppy last week and now he is demanding one? If you feel your reasons to adopt a puppy are valid, then you should continue reading… 🙂
Adding a new member to the family also requires the following:
1. Time: Puppies take and need a lot of time. From potty training to learning to walk on the lead, getting soclialised at the park, adjusting to the family life etc. Puppies grow up into dogs, who then can live for the next 15 years. Be sure you are aware of this fact, as getting a puppy is not a short term commitment.
2. Money: Puppies cost money. If you buy from a breeder chances are you will need to pay for the puppy, then pay for all 3 inoculations, the de-worming, rabies and of course sterilisation. If you adopt from a shelter there is a of fee around R800 which includes the above but you will require food every month.
3. Love: Puppies enjoy nothing more than to be loved. Have you considered what type of dog would suit your life and family for eg: are you an active, outdoor family that would enjoy a Jack Russell or Labrador or are you a calmer, indoor family who would enjoy a Poodle or Maltese type of lapdog? Any dog you get should be suitable to not only your lifestyle, but also to your surroundings. This is very important as the right dog for your lifestyle will be amazing, but the wrong dog will usually end up in a shelter after 6 months.
4. Responsibility: Who is going to be responsible for the new puppy? Who will ensure it is sterilised at 6 months, have all its vaccinations up to date, potty trains, spends time loving and playing with him/her, who will look after him/her when you are away etc. These are things that need to be discussed before bringing in a new addition to the family.
Other points to think about:
Why a Puppy? If your lifestyle really isn’t suitable for a puppy, why not consider adopting or fostering an older dog. There are many older dogs who have been trained, socialised, most of the time had all the vac’s and sterilisation and are looking for love. Something to consider for those who want a dog but not a puppy.
What about the holidays? Many people think because they go away on holiday once or twice a year they are not able to have a dog. This is not true. If you have animals and are going away to a not pet-friendly place there are many options you can utilize to look after your pet. You can book them into boarding kennels, or contact a pet sitter to visit the house twice a day, feed and walk your pets. Another option is to ask a family member to take care of them.
Anyone who has owned or owns a dog will agree with Anatole France “Until one has loved an animal, a part of one’s soul remains unawakened.” ♥
Having a dog will forever change the dynamics of a family. They become part of the family, the kids will talk about them for years after they have passed, they will teach your children to care for creatures who can’t speak for themselves, the will creep into the coldest of hearts and always have a special place there. They are amazing animals and when treated with love, kindness and respect, they truly are mans best friend.
SMS ‘Donate FOOD’ to 48949 & help us feed our rescued puppies!
What Is Yellow Dog?
The Yellow Dog Project was created to bring awareness to dogs who need space while training, recovering from surgery, or being rehabilitated.
If you are out and see a dog with a yellow ribbon or something yellow attached to the lead it means ‘this dog needs space.’ So please try to keep your pet a safe distance away from the yellow ribbon dog. 🙂
For more information visit the Yellow Dog Project website.
SMS ‘Donate FOOD’ to 48949 & help feed a rescued puppy ♥
R10 per sms. All SA networks.
Miley & Mika… those two names were rather famous on Ark Animal Centre’s Facebook and Twitter accounts — Miley’s water broke on the evening of 21 May 2012 sending Ark’s followers into a buzz of excitement as they sat waiting in anticipation of the birth of Miley’s puppies.
Miley when her water broke
Puppy number one was born soon after her water broke. She was later named Mika by her loyal Facebook supporters, who had been waiting like excited parents for the news of her birth.
Mika seconds after birth
A while after Mika was born, an empty sac came out along with this very strange black, green, slimy, smelly thing. We later discovered it was an unborn puppy that had died in her womb.
The empty sac and puppy fetus that came out after Mika.
After the shock of the strange black stuff Miley started contractions again. We were excited, Facebook was excited and we were all waiting. And waiting. And waiting. We waited so long Miley even had a quick nap.
Miley and Mika napping
Little Mika had her first taste of milk! She clearly loved it as she never stopped drinking after that and became a little pig! 🙂
Mika having her first taste of milk
Still in labour Miley and Mika were bonding nicely, but we were getting very worried. We gave her 20 more minutes & then rushed her off to the vet.
We could definitely tell that there was another baby inside but it seemed that her labour had stopped. Once we got to Fourways Vet at about 11pm, Dr. Pranish examined Miley. He was fantastic with her. He gave her 2 shots of oxytocin which should have helped the contractions. We did an x-ray which showed us that the baby was lying sideways and needed to move down. Miley’s uterus was, by now, very tired and therefore was not contracting. Below is a picture of the x-ray:
The baby that was stuck inside Miley
Tracy stayed with and comforted Miley through the entire night. Eventually after the injections had no reaction. We took Miley to Northrand Animal Clinic in Kyalami, where Dr.’s Mike and Eilmien York did a cesarean on her. While Miley was in theatre, little Mika was safe with Tracy waiting for her mom to return.
Mika waiting while Miley was in surgery
Eventually after what felt like ages for us at the office and our Facebook supporters, we received news that Miley was fine! But, there was some bad news…the puppy that was inside her womb had died. The labour had stopped because the puppy had got stuck. We think – due to Miley’s petite frame, and she was probably mated with by a larger male dog causing the babies to grow too large to be delivered.
Miley recovering at home with Mika
After many hours and thousands of prayers, thoughts and good energies sent to Miley, she returned to Tracy’s home as a foster to recover from her operation. The vets had sterilised her at the same time, so she won’t have to go through this trauma again.
She is a very strong little girl and we are so proud of her for pulling through this ordeal. She is an amazing mom to Mika; doting on her every second.
Thank you so much to all our incredible supporters who followed our posts and supported this very special girl! ♥ Without you, we wouldn’t be able to do what we do! THANK YOU!!!! ♥ xXx
Keep watching our Facebook and Twitter pages as well as our blog for updates on Miley and Mika.
Miley and Mika, mother and daughter bonding
—- And most importantly —-
PLEASE STERILISE YOUR PETS and STOP UNWANTED ANIMALS and UNNECESSARY SUFFERING!
Due to the huge popularity of our HISTORY’S FAMOUS DOG’s we have decided to add a dedicated page to our blog for all you history fans 🙂
It will be a permanent fixture which will be updated with the new famous dogs from Facebook. ♥
Here is the link: https://arkanimalcentre.wordpress.com/historys-famous-dogs/
We hope you enjoy it!!
THE ADVANTAGES OF NEUTERING MALE DOGS & CATS
DOGS:
– Has no effect on the dog’s alertness or natural protective instincts.
– Minimises sexual and territorial aggression.
– Reduces hyperactivity and the dog becomes more relaxed in its home environment.
– Lowers the dog’s general activity level (advantageous with certain breeds such as Boxers).
– The dog becomes more affectionate with the owners, children and other pets.
– Minimises or eliminates bad habits such as jumping over fences, chasing of cars, urinating in the house, etc.
– Minimises the likelihood of having prostate problems.
CATS:
– Neutered cats become more affectionate and less inclined to wander off their territories.
– Neutering reduces and even eliminates spraying altogether.
– Reduces and even eliminates “cat choruses” which are usually caused by unneutered males challenging each other for females “in season” or for territory (i.e. minimises sexual and territorial aggression).
DOGS AND CATS:
– Stops straying when females “in season” are in the neighbourhood and also reduces the possibility of the male getting into fights or being run over by a motor vehicle – which can prove to be costly in terms of veterinary fees.
– Prevents mating with females “in season” in the neighbourhood.
– Minimises or eliminates the possibility of the male contracting sexually trans¬mitted diseases.
– Reduces the possibility of the male developing tumours in the anus.
– Results can be expected to show within six weeks to three months of the operation.
A MALE CAN FERTILISE MORE FEMALES IN A YEAR THAN A FEMALE CAN HAVE LITTERS IN HER LIFETIME.
One female dog and her offspring, in 6 years, can be responsible for the birth of 67,000 dogs!!
One female cat and her offspring, in 7 years, can be responsible for the birth of 420,000 cats!!
Every sterilized cat or dog stops many unwanted babies and makes a huge difference.
If you own any Malamutes, Akitas, Chow Chows, Huskies, Australian Shepherds, German Shepherds, Pomeranians, Newfoundlands, Saint Bernards, Border Collies, Rough Collies or Golden Retrievers. You should read on…
What does it mean for a dog to have a “double coat”? Dogs with double coats have regular guard hairs – the coarser hairs on top that repel water – but they also have a soft undercoat that insulates your pet from extreme temperatures. These dogs shed some hair throughout the year, but they shed heavily twice a year as the seasons change. This is sometimes referred to as dropping their coats. You can minimize the fluff floating around your garden just by regularly grooming your dog.
Various tools are needed for keeping a double-coated dog looking its best. You will need a normal pin brush, a comb, an undercoat rake and a slicker brush.
These breeds should be brushed at least 3 times a week – daily if possible – to keep the undercoat from matting and to minimize shedding. When a dog with a double coat isn’t brushed regularly or isn’t dried properly after baths, the undercoat can become matted. It forms a tightly packed weave under the guard hairs and this is very painful for a dog! The matted coat will also no longer insulate the dog and will trap moisture, which can lead to hot spots and other skin infections. In extreme cases, badly matted coats cannot be detangled and will have to be shaved. It’s the dead undercoat hair that causes dogs to get very hot as it traps the heat.
Unless the dog is terribly matted, do not shave your dog. Double-coated breeds need their undercoat to insulate them from the heat as well as from the cold. If you shave your dog, he will no longer be insulated and will also be much more susceptible to sunburn. Another pitfall is that once you shave a double-coated dog, you will have to keep shaving him as the undercoat will either grow back even thicker than before or it will grow faster than the guard hairs, leaving your dog with a patch-work coat.
By donating R350 per month or a fee of R2000 for 6 months to Ark Animal Centre for a specific pup, you will help ensure that all the caring that we love to provide is available. You get to choose your own pup to sponsor and by doing so, receive the following:
♥ Unlimited visits to come and love your new cared for pup
♥ A love letter, with a photo, from your sponsored pup every month telling you all that’s happened during that time.
♥ If the pup doesn’t already have a name, you get to choose one
♥ You have first choice to adopt the pup
If somebody comes along and falls in love with your sponsored pup, you will be notified and are given the choice whether you are able to adopt him/her. If you cannot adopt them, we will happily re-home them and give you the option to either cancel the sponsorship, or choose a new, cuddly, loveable pup to sponsor instead.
Your name and the pup’s name will be posted on Facebook, letting everyone know that you’re an ARK Angel!
Your name will also go underneath a photo of the pup on our board at the office
Email: Ark Animal Centre – candice@arkanimalcentre.co.za or Nicola – Paws-n-all@hotmail.com
Call: Nicola: 0833090400 / Tracy: 082 334 7596
Download the Ark Animal Centre Sponsor a Pup Form here.
How to choose the best dog breed for you? Well, there are many important factors to remember when looking at getting a new puppy or dog, whether it’s your first canine pet or an addition to the family. Getting a new dog is an experience that will bring you both joy and companionship and it’s important that you try to make the right choice for you and your family.
Firstly, you need to research the breeds that are out there. There are many places you can look where they give you all the information you’ll need to know what sort of dog you’ll be getting. Remember though, that each dog is an individual and while the research tells you that the breed is very placid and doesn’t like a lot of exercise, you could find yourself with an exception to the rule. The guidelines on the breeds are just that, guide lines. When researching you need to think about the lifestyle you currently have and how your new pet will fit into this lifestyle. There are so many breeds to choose from that there will mostly always be a breed or two to suit you. Making a hasty decision, or getting a pup for the wrong reasons can land up costing you dearly in finances as well as emotional wellbeing.
With regards to your lifestyle and your environment, ask yourself the following questions:
1) How much space is there for your pup/dog to run around in at home? This is important because if you live in an apartment, getting a Labrador will not be the best option for you, even if you can walk it every day, as a medium or large breed will find it difficult to keep itself busy during the day when you are not home. Some breeds don’t require lots of space if you are able to exercise them every day, but you should always but the wellbeing of your new pet first. Will your Great Dane be happy in a townhouse garden? Use the research and be honest about the space available. Maltese, Schnauzers, Yorkies are great dogs for smaller gardens, whereas Staffies, Jack Russells, Pointers, Bouviers and Great Danes require larger properties.
2) How much time can you spend with your new dog? It is very important to remember that a young 8 week old puppy will require more time from you than an older dog. Even though a puppy sleeps most of the day, they need to be taught house training and have companionship for a fair amount of the time. Getting an older dog means that normally you have to go to a shelter to adopt them, but it also means that a lot of the time they already have their own personalities and are able to look after themselves when you are not there.
3) What is your activity level like? The reason you ask this question is because if you are a very active person, running, cycling, etc, get a dog that has a higher level of energy. Trying to take a Bulldog on a 10Km run is both dangerous for the dog as well as cruel. Look for a breed that enjoys running, a working breed perhaps, like a Pointer. If you prefer to laze around at home and relax, then a dog that is more calm and placid is the better choice. Getting a Border Collie when you want to watch TV every day could possibly lead to boredom and behaviour problems. Breeds like Maltese, Schnauzer, Yorkies and Bouviers do not require as much exercise as the other breeds.
4) What are your current and near future family plans? If you have young children, it’s always a better option to get a dog that has a higher pain threshold than other breeds. Maltese and Spaniels tend to snap at children when they have their ears pulled as it really hurts them. Staffies and Schnauzers, for example, handle the pain much better than their more fragile counterparts. A large family means a lot of activity. Try and stay away from your more timid breeds (although timidity can be found in any dog depending on their breeding, temperament and surroundings) and look for a more solid breed.
5) What does your cash flow look like? Many breeds require specific foods and special grooming. While a Schnauzer doesn’t shed its hair, it requires regular grooming and if you cannot afford or aren’t prepared to spend the extra money, go for an easy to groom dog with a short coat, like a pointer, Staffie, Mini Pinscher that has a short coat which will only require brushing and the odd bath. Keep in mind though that most short-haired breeds shed their fur all year round.
6) Do you have other pets at home? Adopting a gun dog, like a pointer, that is bred to retrieve birds will see you having many sleepless nights if you have an aviary or pet birds at home. Hunting dogs like terriers tend not to do very well with cats as when the cats run away from them, their first instinct in to chase them. Keep in mind that your other pets already have a home and that they were there first. The new puppy or dog needs to fit in with the existing family.
7) Set ground rules before getting your pup. If you want your new companion to be an outside dog, make sure that you start from the beginning with the rules. (Keep in mind that leaving an 8 week old puppy outside all night is not the best idea). Have a space allocated to them so that they do not get used to sleeping in your room or on the bed. If you want them to stay off the furniture, then do not allow them onto the couch when they are pups. It’s very unfair and confusing for them when they have been taught and allowed to do specific things and then all of a sudden they get punished for doing them. Be consistent and more importantly, be patient. They learn fairly quickly, no matter their age and it’s important to keep in mind that they learn the good behaviours as well as the bad ones.
8) Are your prepared to take your pup/dog to training? Socialisation is essential for a new puppy. Starting as early as possible in their lives is hugely beneficial as it not only teaches them how to interact with other dogs, but teaches them what is acceptable in our lives as well as what is unacceptable. Training older takes sometimes takes a little bit longer than training an 8 week old puppy, but every dog is able to learn. Not taking your dog training can be detrimental to the overall wellbeing of your dog.
Researching your perfect breed or mix breed:
Once you have decided on the right size of dog for your family, you can now start to research the breeds/mix breeds that are out there. Look at the following information when researching a breed:
1) The size of the dog – Does the size of the dog fit your environment and the space available?
2) The exercise requirements of the breed – make sure that you get the right trype of dog for your lifestyle.
3) Grooming Requirements – You need to be aware of how much the dog sheds its coat, how often they suggest grooming the breed and what type of grooming is required. All these need to fit into your budget and time schedule.
4) Temperament of the breed as a whole – Remember that there are always exceptions to the rule. But have a look at what the general breed personality and temperament is like, this will tell you whether the dog will fit into your family.
5) Learning ability of the breed – Some dogs tend to learn faster than others and if you are looking for an easily trainable dog, choose a breed that is known for its trainability.
6) Health issues – some breeds tend to have more known health problems than others. Bulldogs for example suffer from back problems, joint problems, overheating, breathing problems, etc. German Shepherds have a common problem with hip dysplasia, as do many of the other larger breeds. It’s also important that in general, the larger the breed, the fewer years it lives. Small breeds can live for up to 18 – 20 years, so again it’s important that you are willing to have this companion in your life for so long. Great Danes tend to live to between 8 and 10 years and while there are always the dogs that live longer than the average, make sure you know what you are getting yourself into.
There will always be a breed/mix breed out there for anyone who is willing to care and love their pets but remember, patience, consistency and training are a must..
Mix together:
2 cups of plain flour with
2 cups of whole wheat flour and
1 cup of rolled oats.
Add one cup of rice milk powder
Add two tablespoons of beef or chicken stock powder
Add one teaspoon of yeast
When you add the water add it cup by cup until you get a kneadable dough. Knead it well and then roll out on a floured surface until about 1 cm thick.
Cut out your shapes depending on the size of your dog’s mouth. Choose round cutters rather than ones that have sharp edges as when baked hard these edges can hurt your pooches mouth.
Bake them at 180 deg Celsius for about 20 minutes then turn down the oven to it’s lowest until they are dry.
When cooled store in an airtight container. Let your pet enjoy!
Ark Animal Centre 