Why do people keep pets? What is that pushes them to spend their extra time, attention, expense on some random animal? Why people are ready to make a pet a part of the family? Some of the obvious reasons can be to shed boredom, to make their children happy, to establish a status in society owning a pedigree or may be just to get a companion. They don’t speak human yet we try to bind them into an owner-pet bond, which not only provides a love-affection binding but a lot more. Though they are categorized as animals and claimed to not understand human emotions, they still and time and again have proved to be our best friends.

So how keeping a pet helps us live better? Let us have a look.

7. Human needs and Benifits

Pets were basically used to fulfill needs of humans, for domestication. The poultry and dairy pets are kept for wool, flesh, milk and eggs. The horses and donkeys carry our loads. Some are even for leisure and sports. A dog for protection and cats and other small pets are for companionship and leisure. The basic need was to fulfill our own day to day needs that we began petting animals. With time it has developed from a benificial relationship to a good companionship.

6. Routine your Life

Once a pet comes into your life, you get to shed off the procrastination you carry out every day. No matter how lazy you are, you need to get up to feed your pet, clean it up, play with it, may be take it out for walk but overall you will enjoy all of it. With the well on time feeds and walks, regular cleaning and grooming, you will surely end up retuning the clock of your life while doing it for your pet.

5. Increase your social circle

Yes that’s true! When you take your pet out for a walk you will always meet up other owners and tend to interact with them. You meet people in training centers, clubs, pet stores, pet shows and public parks. Believe me, you end up going out and making new buddies when you are out there with your pet, the conversation starting by talking about each others pets and their behavior. You may progress from having a cup of coffee together to being really good friends!

4. Family Bonding

Children love playing around with pets. They can be one of the reasons for your kid’s joyous day to day activities. Kids can learn to develop affectionate and caring nature from the very beginning, by regular petting and pampering their pets. Even the elderly, who sometimes feel lonely and don’t mingle up with other members of family, get to have a companion and to enjoy lives by spending time with pets. A pet generates affection, laughter fun and exuberance among the people it lives around and hence gets the family together.

3. Relieving Anxiety

Touching, petting, pampering, cuddling your pet can reduce stress levels considerably low. Remarkable behavior changes have been observed in prisoners who have been exposed to being with pets. A sense of comfort and satisfaction is observed in spending time with pet. Your pet always tends to divert your mind and attention to pull it towards it. It is scientifically proved that pet owners are less likely to suffer depression than those who don’t have one. There have been many good outcomes of keeping a pet considering health, behavior, fitness stress etc. Also it is very satisfying to take care of another living creature. According to a research, presented in American Heart Association, the stress and blood pressure levels in stockbrokers, who had been on medication, had come down significantly come down, after they took to petting an animal along with medication. The affectionate bond and support can help in reducing stress that is a major contributor to cardiovascular problems.

2. Exercise

Well, not all pets can help you stay fit but most of them can. Take for example of your pet dog or cat. Regular morning and evening walks is good for your pet and healthy for you too. If you are not a regular gym person then make a habit to go for regular walks with your pet or chase your kitty around playfully. That will not only keep you healthy physically but mentally too you will stay off stress and diverted and devoted towards your pet.

1. Companionship

That is one of the most considered reasons for keeping a pet. A new member in family is always welcomed like a guest and so is a pet. Why because you always look forward to develop that bond with your pet. Sometimes even the closest people betray you and you seem alone and lost. But when you have a pet along it gives a sense of comfort and company to be with. A good pet will always try to interact with you or least keep you busy and try building a bond with you if taken well care of.

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Relocating and have got a pet? Pet owners always freak out a little when it comes to taking their pets to a new place. Before you choose your dream home, make sure it is as good for your pet as it is for you. Your pet shouldn’t feel alien or uncomfortable in a foreign place. Make sure the dog in the neighborhood isn’t too aggressive or always kept loose, there might be chances of your pet getting into an unwanted fight unnecessarily.

1. Space

Ensure there is ample space for your pet as it was in the house before. If not possible at least make sure the pet is let out to roam around if you feel the space is too congested for it. Your kitty doesn’t love much change. Try to make it feel as homely as possible by keeping certain empty shelves for it to climb over and find a space for herself in some corner of the house.

2. Packing

When you are busy putting things in carton and taping them, or when the trucks arrive to take your luggage your pets might not like too much change and may freak out. For that on the day you are moving keep your pet in a quiet room and keep the doors closed until all the commotion is over. You can also send your pet to your friend’s place where it is accustomed to go, so that it doesn’t feel scared by the sound of trucks.

3. Moment

When you move your animals, in crate or a cage, you should be sure they are comfortable enough for a long journey and it doesn’t freak out or get impatient. For this you need to make sure your pet habitual to the crates and cages long before you move. You can first try to keep their food inside an open crate and repeat it periodically. Gradually you can shut the door and have them eat their meals with door shut. Try keeping your pet inside crate for some time or take it for a short drive. You can even keep their favorite toys or piece of cloth, so that they don’t feel alien.

4. Home

It may be exciting for your pet to explore the new house and roam around. For it to get accustomed to the new place start by making them comfortable in one room where they are going to spend their maximum time or where you would like them to stay. Place their favorite toys, food, water and other treats at that place so that they get adjust to the room and make it their home base. Gradually introduce them to other rooms as well, keeping the other rooms shut. Five days is usually enough for your pet to get accustomed to a new place.

5. Additional Tips

Like humans animals can get airsick too. Give your pet light meal the previous evening of travel, at most 12 hours before flight. Avoid giving anything liquid to your pet 4 hours before departure. Also keep in mind that your pet is done with peeing before it begins with the travel. If you are going on a long road trip, take some breaks in the journey for your pet to stretch and relieve itself. A big no to tranquilizers or sedatives during travel as this can hurt them during travel. You can put shredded paper or wood shaving inside the crate for comfortable bedding.

WHILE TRAVELLING BY:

1. Car

Your car can turn into an oven for your pet if leave your pet alone in the vehicle on a hot day. It can even distress and in extreme cases lead to death. Ensure that you don’t leave your pet in the car alone, whilst you are out somewhere. Make sure your pet is not super excited and disturbs you while driving. When you or anyone else exits from car, make sure they don’t follow you and escape from the vehicle. Cats, birds, rabbits and other such pets can be kept in crates or cages that have proper ventilation with enough space to sit up, stretch or curl around in their usual positions. The crate should be securely placed to avoid any accidents while applying sudden brakes and cause injury to your pet. Before taking them for the long journey, take them for small car trips so that they are accustomed to it. Make sure they don’t suffer from travel sickness, otherwise consult your vet. Make sure your pet has ample water to drink. Don’t feed them too much during the journey. A meal 2 hours before the journey should be fine enough. Take regular breaks in between so that your pet can go to toilet and stretch around a little.

2. Train

Travelling by train can be a little stressful looking at the sound and continuous movement. Try to make the journey as short as possible as your pet may not be accustomed to the sounds and the sights. It may be freaking or too exciting for him leading to unexpected reactions. You can contact the railway prior to journey to know the rules and policies of travelling with the pet. Again the crate or cage should be secure and robust and big enough for your pet to stay comfortably in. Travel when it is cooler, and when you expect less people around, may be early morning or late night. Again make sure your pet has plennty of water.

3. Ferry

In most cases you may not be allowed to accompany with your dog in the passenger area. Contact the travel people prior to arrangements for travel to know about their pet travel policies.  You would have to keep your pet in crates or cages, or leave them in the car if you feel it is cool and safe. Before doing that make sure your pet can’t escape and land itself into danger. Proper ventilation in and around the crate is a must along with ample water. Your pet might get sickness or may freak out in an alien environment, so take a look over a few times if your pet is comfortable. Keep it busy with his favorite toy and food and let him feel everything is normal. Let the ferry officials know you have a pet along with you so that necessary measures for its safety and comfort and advice some to you too.

4. PLANE

Your pets can’t travel with you in the cabin of the plane; they will be kept in the hold. Hold is usually temperature controlled and ventilated but while the plane is on ground t can become warm. Also if there is any delay in the flight the situation may worsen. Sometimes they do not allow the hold to be opened even during high temperatures. Considering all this you should decide upon selecting the mode of transportation for your pet. Choose the direct flight for your destination, don’t go for break journeys. Travel in early morning or late night to avoid warm conditions. Make sure the water is provided to your in non spill container or even gel water can be provided. Try to get your pet accustomed to flight containers if possible. Contact the air-transport people prior to journey so that they can take necessary measures for comfort and safety of your pet.

Above all make sure that you have got all legal rights and requirements to take your pet along if you are travelling to a different country altogether.

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Since dogs had been domesticated centuries ago, they have been the loyal companions of human beings. They have always been used to guard and protect human homes and their love is unconditional. But since ancient times, they have been used for a more deadly purpose too- they have been used as hunting dogs. A hunting dog refers to a canine that hunts with or for humans. Since ancient times, dogs have helped humans hunt for food and/or game. For this reason, humans have developed many types of hunting dogs for different purposes. Following are the different categories of pet dogs that are used as hunting dogs:

1. Hounds: Hounds are the suitable hunting dogs. They chase the prey and kill it. They are sub divided into 3 categories:

a)     Sight Hounds: Also known as gazehounds, they chiefly hunt by sight and speed. These dogs pursue their prey by keeping it in sight and catch up with it using their great speed and agility. Sight hounds can capture deers and hares too! They have a very flexible back, long legs, deep chest, large heart, efficient lungs and have a lean, wiry body to keep their weight at a minimum. Examples of sight hounds are Afghan Hound, Russian Wolfhound, Polish Greyhound), Greyhound, Irish Wolfhound, Italian Greyhound, Hungarian Greyhound, Rajapalayam(India), Scottish Deerhound, Silken Windhound etc.

b)      Scent Hounds: As the name suggests, they principally hunt by scent and have the most sensitive noses amongst canines. Most of these breeds have long, drooping ears and deep, booming voices. They are not as fast as the sight hounds but they have more stamina as they may have to follow their prey for a long time. The best scent hounds can follow a scent trail even across running water and even when it is several days old. They hunt in packs. Examples of scent hounds are American foxhound, Basset Hound, Beagle, Bloodhound, Coonhound, Dachshund etc.

c)       Lurch hound: A Lurcher is a sight hound crossed with a working dog breed. Lurchers can chase and kill their prey like all hounds. Most lurchers today are used for pest control (rabbits, hares, and foxes), although they can catch game like wild boar and deer too. They do not have any specific breeds.

2. Gun Dogs: They usually catch or direct their handlers to the target that is usually a bird like bobwhite, quail, pheasant and grouse. They have 5 sub categories:

a)     Pointers: The namepointer comes from the dog’s instinct to point towards the game by aiming its muzzle in its direction. This reveals to the hunter the location of his prey and allows him to move into gun range. Examples of pointers are German Longhaired Pointer, German Shorthaired Pointer, German Wirehaired Pointer, Old Danish Pointer, Old Spanish Pointer, Portuguese Pointer, Pudel pointer, Slovak Rough-haired Pointer etc.
b)     Retrievers: The name says it clearly – retrievers retrieve fallen game. Many times they are not able to see the where the game fell and use their handlers commands to locate the game. Their mouths are soft so that they don’t damage the game. Chesapeake Bay Retriever, Curly-Coated Retriever, Flat-Coated Retriever, Golden Retriever, Labrador Retriever etc. are some of the Retriever breeds.

c)     Setters: A setter finds its prey silently by scent or sight and freezes in a crouching position which is what gives them the name ‘setter’. They wait in that position for the birds to get caught or killed by their handler. English Setter, Gordon Setter, Irish Setter, Irish Red and White Setter are all setters.

d)     Flushers: These types of gun dogs locate the game and flush it out of its hiding place for their handler to shoot and kill it. E.g. all types of spaniels.

e)     Water Dogs: Water dogs may do all the functions of all the above types of gun dogs but in a different terrain. They locate, flush and retrieve game from water! Many types of Spaniels and Retrievers fall under this category.

3. Feists: Feists are small dogs that hunt small game. They love to chase squirrels! They may hunt in packs, and “bark up” on trees to alert the hunter. Some Feists are Baldwin Feist, Buckley Feist, Denmark Feist, Galla Creek Feist, Kemmer Feist, Lost Creek Feist, Sport bred Feist etc.

4. Terriers: Terriers are used to hunt mammals. Terriers locate the hideout of the target animal and then bolt, capture, or kill the animal. A working terrier may go underground to kill or drive out game. Larger members of this class can even hunt razorbacks. E.g. Jack Russell Terrier, Patterdale Terrier, Cairn Terrier, Scottish Terrier,  West Highland White Terrier etc.

5. Curs: Curs hunt similarly to terriers, though usually larger game. Curs are used to hunt boars, raccoon, cougars, and other large mammals. E.g. Black Mouth Cur, Mountain Cur, Stephens Cur, Treeing Cur etc.

6. Dachshund: Dachshund was bred to scent, chase, and flush out badgers, foxes and other burrow-dwelling animals. They are also excellent scent dogs and they are often used to track down wounded animals. They are the only ones that can hunt both above and below ground. But they are a little stubborn and hard to train. E.g. piebald dachshund, long-haired standard dachshund, short-haired dachshund, wire-haired dachshund etc

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Do animals have spirits? Do they also become ghosts after they die as many people believe about humans? Perhaps yes. There are many instances, where humans have experienced or felt their pets, better to say apparition of them, long after they have gone to their heavenly abode. It is believed that owners with strong bond with their pets, who suffered great loss after their sudden death, are often approached by ghosts of their pets to remind them that they are alright wherever they are and not to worry about them. It can be a made up story and hypothetical theory, no one knows. Also there are many contradictory questions to it like can only animal pets return as ghosts or if even insects like mosquitoes can come back as phantom animals from the afterlife. Below is a countdown of stories that make you twitch in your seats and leave you baffled. Have a look.

5. Ghost of Ozzy

This is story about a pet ferret, which had to be put down by the owner because of serious illness. Ozzy used to live in the owners grandmother’s house with another pet cat and both were best buddies. After the ferret’s demise, her grandmother started experiencing certain unexpected activities. She claims that every night she felt something climbing under her covers, near her feet. She even tried keeping the night lights on, stripping the bed covers, suspecting it can be mice, but nothing turned up. Also she noticed the cat’s behavior change as if it was playing with Ozzy, as it used to when the ferret was alive. Though her grandmother’s can’t see anything but she is convinced that their pet is still around them and comes to sleep right next to her feet every night.

4. Bandit came Back

This story might not be easy to believe so does every other ghost story unless it is scary. This begins when the owner’s pet died unexpected death while being treated for some illness which it suffered from past three months. The owner was quite attached to the dog and was devastated on hearing the news of his pet dog. Sad and not able to get over this tragedy, one night he went to bed and woke up out of his body. He sat up and looked around to find his dog’s twin sister sleeping at his feet. The room turned dark and he saw his dog, Bandit against his leg, looking at him. Though he didn’t feel scared but certainly he was taken aback. Bandit looked healthy, fresh and wagged its tail continuously. It jumped down and ran off in distance looking back at his owner and wagging his tail. He then woke up suddenly but the out-of-body experience was so realistic that he made a dash to his brother’s room and told him about it. The dog carried a message to his owner as to not worry for it and that he is happy now.

3. Ghost Friend

In one of the cases the owner’s daughter suffered from rheumatoid arthritis since she was 12. Due to this she was in discomfort most of the time. But the strange part was that from the past couple of years she had been telling her mother that a ghost visited her and sat on her bed when she really felt sad. She claimed that it always sat right next to her feet and the mattress would depress right there when it would sit. Suddenly a realization dawned upon her mother who was dead sure now that it was their cat Andy, whom they had lost couple of years back. How? Well, Andy, when alive used to follow the same routine when her daughter would have been sad before.

2. Diabolic Cat

Not satisfied with the above stories? How about a ghost cat lurking around in Washington D.C? Demon D.C is the name given to the cat that haunts the government buildings in Washington D.C. The story behind it begins when cats were brought in the basement tunnel of the building to get rid of the rat menace. As the legend goes, there is a black cat ghost that is seen before and after the presidential elections in Washington D.C. It was spotted by the White House guards, the night before John F. Kennedy’s and Abraham Lincoln’s assassination. The cat is said enlarge to the size of a tiger and even pounce on its victim and disappear in mid air. In an incident in 1890, one of the guards had fired at it while the other got a heart after seeing it, though it vanished.

1. Out of Ouija

Calley had a pet cat called Princy, which was seven human years when it had died few years back. This story is about two curious friends who played with Ouija Board one night. Dangerous as it is, they tried with the game and started asking question to the spirits like, ‘What is your name?’ and ‘How old were you when you died?’ The thing that frightened them was when the board replied that its name was Princy and it is seven years old. After finishing off the game, strange things started happening day by day. Calley heard moans of cat, the same she had heard when Princy was dying. Often she would here purring sounds in the basement which would often scare her. All this continued for some time but eventually dropped to nothing. Calley thinks it was Princy’s way of saying goodbye to her owner.

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My usual pastime is surfing the net for cute dog or cat pictures. I came upon one such picture wherein a puppy wearing a jacket that said,” Service dog in training”, was sitting on the grass. This term perked my curiosity. I asked Google, what is a service dog? A link to a movie named ‘Quill: The life of a Guide Dog’ popped up. I clicked on it and could not stop watching what the movie had to show for 1 hour and 40 minutes! This movie is about a dog named Quill which is sent by his mother’s owner to trainers who give him basic training. Then the trainers send him to a dog trainer, who specifically deals in training guide dogs for the visually impaired. After his training is complete, Quill is selected to assist a blind man and they both train together to walk, work etc. in harmony. Quill serves him till he passes away and serves as a demonstration dog till he becomes too old to work. In the last year of his life he is sent to his first trainers home, where he dies after living with them for a year. This movie beautifully captures how a chosen puppy is trained to be a guide dog for the blind. It also shows how he helps his handler to overcome his physical disability and makes him faster and safer to walk to work on his own. This movie touched my heart and I started researching on ‘Service dogs’. To my amazement, I was introduced to a whole new world of how dogs are a gift of god to humans!

All through history dogs have served man, in peace and war, guarding his home and livestock from intruders, carrying and pulling heavy loads and being a loyal companion. In times of war, dogs have served as messengers, sentries, scouts and lifesavers. In the modern-day fight against crime, dogs assist in sniffing out drugs and explosives and tracking down wanted criminals. In recent times dogs have been busy giving a new lease of life to people who are physically challenged. A service dog is a type of assistance dog that is specifically trained to help people who havedisabilitiesincludingvisual difficulties, hearing impairments, mental illness, seizures, diabetes, autism, and more. The most commonly used service dog breeds are Labrador Retrievers, German Shepherds, and Golden, but any breed can be used. I discovered that for each handicap, physical or mental, a different type of service dog is used. The different types of service dogs are (according to Wikipedia):

• Autism service dog: An autism service dog is a service dog trained to assist a person with autism to help them gain independence and the ability to perform activities of daily living similar to anyone else. For the most part, these dogs are trained to perform tasks similar to those of service dogs for other sensory processing disorders.

• Guide dog: Guide dogs or ‘Seeing Eye dogs’ are assistance dogs trained to lead blind and visually impairedpeople around obstacles.
• Hearing dog: A hearing dog is a type of assistance dog specifically selected and trained to assist people who are deaf or hard of hearing by alerting their handler to important sounds, such as doorbells, smoke alarms, ringing telephones, or alarm clocks. They may also work outside the home, alerting to such sounds such as sirens, forklifts and a person calling the handler’s name.
• Medical response dog: A medical response dog is a service dog trained to assist an individual who has a medical disability.
• Psychiatric service dog: A psychiatric service dog is a specific type of service dog trained to assist their handler with a psychiatric disability, such as post-traumatic stress disorder or schizophrenia.
• Seizure response dog: Seizure response dogs are a special type of service dog, specifically trained to help someone who has epilepsy or a seizure disorder. They can summon help, move potentially harmful objects away from the person’s body, block the person from walking into danger during a seizure, attempt to rouse the person, provide physical and emotional support and carry information regarding the person’s medical condition and oxygen.
• Mobility assistance dog: A mobility assistance dog is a service dog trained to assist a physically disabled person who has mobility issues, which may include being wheelchair-dependent. They provide balance and stability, pull wheelchairs, carry and pick up things for persons with mobility impairments, open and close doors, and operate light switches.

Like our pets, service dogs of any kind know all the basic commands of ‘sit’, ‘come’, ‘go’, ‘fetch’ etc. But on top of that, they can perform many activities that our pets cannot since they have not been trained that way. For example, when the harness of a service dog is on, it knows it has to be serious and is at work! It is advised not to pet a service dog unless having asked the owner permission. Distracting a service dog is considered disruptive. It cannot bark, relieve itself, eat or do anything apart from helping its handler when its harness is on. Some of the things service dogs can do are pick up dropped objects, fetch a telephone, drop articles in a waste paper basket, open and close doors, speak on command to alert of an intruder, bark for help, get help in an emergency, load and unload the washing machine, switch on and off light switches, fetching items from a cupboard, shelf, refrigerator or a drawer, be a support, carry items from one person to another,reduce the anxiety of a person with post-traumatic stress disorder by putting its head on the patient etc.

After a service dog retires, the handler is the first choice to keep it. But if the handler cannot manage to keep it, the dog’s first trainer is the next one in queue to keep it. If by chance, they refuse to keep it, it goes through an adoption pool and goes into a home after a careful screening process. Since they are very well trained, the demand to adopt a retired service dog is so high that the waiting list may go on for years! I wish I could adopt one too!

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Countless years, we have all watched certain T.V. shows and movies which have shown a police officer with his most trusted friend and companion, which is a canine. I am sure most dog lovers have watched the movie ‘Turner and Hooch’ starring Tom Hanks as Detective Turner and Beasley the Dog as Hooch. The synopsis of this movie is that Turner’s friend was murdered by a thug and his dog, Hooch was the sole witness to that incident. So turner brings him home in order to solve the case with his help and the dog shows its scent and face recognition capabilities to catch the criminal. Likewise, the K9 : P. I. series stars James Belushi and his partner Jerry Lee, the dog, who assists him in sniffing up drugs. Although Tin-Tin is not in the police, his dog Snowy assists him in all his adventures. Even Dogmatix, Obelix’s pet in the comic series Asterix protects his master and his friends now and again from miscreants. All such movies, comics and cartoons show us, although in a comical way, that our very beloved pet dogs are a very important part of protecting us. Dogs have become an integral part of the criminal justice system over the past centuries. Starting from chasing and catching a criminal to locating drugs and bombs, dogs play a big part in our everyday security. In India, the Chhatisgarh police has recently planned to train street dogs along with pedigree dogs to assist them on Naxal based operations. Talks about training street dogs in all cities for security purposes are going on.

No one is sure exactly when humans domesticated dogs, but one thing is for certain, dogs and humans have been working side by side for years. Even before the B.C. era came into being, dogs were kept as pets and protectors. They fought wars side by side humans and were trained to be guards in service to Egyptians, Greeks, and Persians. They were even used during both the World Wars. Whether the dog is trained in guide work, search and rescue, bomb detection, or narcotics detection, modern training methods have made the application and institution of these four-legged crime fighters more reliable throughout their time of service. A Police Officer encounters both dangerous and potentially fatal situations on a regular basis and apart from having firearms, they are equipped with less lethal tools. Police service dogs fall under that category. Suspects are more likely to surrender in the presence of a dog due to the psychological effects of the dog being present. Military personnel and law enforcement officers alike utilize canines as companions and partners in the field due to their strength and attributes of loyalty and courage, which complement that of his handler. These dogs stay with their handlers like pets. They are properly cared for and trained before they are taken into the field.

K9s begin training at a very young age, in most cases at about six weeks old. The training starts with learning a task as simple as retrieving a tennis ball and as the ball comes toward him he is told “Get your dope,” associating that phrase with play time. As the dog moves up in age and maturity, the tennis ball or towel is then scented with the smell of drugs or explosives but the same phrase is used to reinforce the “play drive.” As the dog continues in his training the “toy” is hidden out of sight and the dog is brought in to “find his dope” at this time he will begin sniffing for his toy. After a successful alert the dog is praised by his handler and rewarded with play time. Bite work is very important to agencies so the K9 can assist in apprehending a fleeing suspect and so that he may also protect the handler. The dog is trained very young to bite only the things he is told to.

I think it is an incredible experience to have not only a partner on the job, but also a companion in the home because a K-9 officer does not only have the responsibility of controlling their dog in the field, but also when they go back home after work. The dog becomes a part of their family now and forever. K-9 partners frequently work nights and weekends, and they have to be ready to respond to emergency situations with little or no notice. Even when the dog eventually retires, which is usually after eight to ten years of duty, it still remains a part of the family of its handler.

Common dog breeds like German Shepherds, Doberman Pinschers, Beagle, Labradors, Golden Retrievers, Pitbulls etc., that we keep as pets in our homes, make good police dogs because they are big in size, strong, good runners, have a thick coats that can protect them from harsh weather conditions and they have a lot of heart—these dogs wants to be of help. Though tired or even hurt, they will keep going. Speaking at a personal level, I have a Doberman who is a darling. But even if I am out for a midnight stroll with her, no one dares to come near me or pass a comment at me. She may not have been trained as a service dog, but she is born with the intent to protect her owner.

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A pet is your animal companion and eventually becomes your family as you develop bonds with it. At one point this human-animal bond becomes so strong that it can turn your pet into your protector. There are hypothetical super-humans who risk their lives for your safety. Now let us have a look at super-pets who have pushed the limits of human-animal relationship and emerged as heroes with their extraordinary and unbelievable deeds to protect their owners and family.

Below are few instances where animals have proved themselves to be understanding, protective, heroic and above all a best friend.

1. Protector Pedigree

This incident took place on a fine October day in 2007. Charlotte Svillicic, a 17 month old baby was playing in yard in her Australian home when suddenly their pet Doberman, Khan starting making growling noises. The reason behind his snarl was totally unexpected, as it turned out to be one of the most poisonous snakes of the world, king brown snake, under the house. The dog tried to nudge the baby away but when it realized no avail in doing so, it lifted the baby with the diaper and tossed her few feet behind him. This startled the snake and in the sudden act it struck back at Khan and bit him on the paw. The snake dashed away and the toddler was saved, but the dog was ended up in hospital. Though Khan was given antivenin and he soon recovered but this act of courage got him appraisal and made him ‘hero of the day’.

2.  Parrot Alarm

Megan Howard, who was babysitting 2 year old Hannah Kuusk, heard her pet Quaker parrot screaming at the top of its voice and flapping its wings. Megan was in bathroom at that time and later said that she had never heard such shrill cries of her pet before. When she came out of the bathroom, she saw the toddler had chocked herself and her face had turned blue by then. Immediately Megan performed Heimlich maneuver over Hannah, a series of steps to save people from chocking. Although she saved the little girl but admitted that her pet had been the real life saver. The bird was later presented with the local Animal Lifesaver Award by Red Cross.

3. Lulu to the Rescue

While on a vacation in Pennsylvania woods, Jo Ann Altsman suffered from a heart attack. Lulu, her potbellied pet pig realized that something went wrong with her owner and somehow managed to get out of their mobile home, towards the road. When a car would approach, the petit piggy would lie down in the middle of road to stop the passerby. The times car didn’t stop, Lulu would go back to her owner to check upon her and then run back to the road. This intelligent act of the pig made a motorcycle stop and follow the pig into the woods. There he found the lady and immediately called 911. Such an immediate and surprising act saved by Lulu, saved the owners life.

4. A Meow saveS 3

Keesling family would have died in their sleep, had their cat not woken them up, by nudging and meowing loudly and continuously. A gas-powered water pump started leaking odorless carbon monoxide in the home. Nobody realized it except the cat, who tried her best to wake up her owners. Cathy’s husband and son were already unconscious, when Cathy got woken up by shrilling meows of her cat. Slightly feeling dizzy she called 911 and got help before it was too late.

5. Magic Mare

Animal therapy has long been known for its health benefits. Animals are known to reduce blood pressure and even prevent heart attack.  In a similar incident where horse therapy proved to be a boon to a patient who hadn’t spoken to anyone for three long years in her assisted-living facility. Magic, a beautiful mare with blue eyes used to visit patients, who needed comfort. That included her trips to hospitals, care facilities and group homes. When that patient saw Magic for the first time, she uttered out her first few words after a long time and that were,” Isn’t she beautiful?” Those words made every one come to tears and the lady improved considerably up on her health. This one interaction got Magic AARP’s Most Heroic Pet 2010 award.

6. Taking a bullet

In this heroic act by Lefty, this brave dog dared to cross all bounds when she leaped in front of one of the robbers, who pointed the gun at one of the family members. This incident happened during one night when the family home was broken in by four robbers. The dog took the bullet all by her and ended up getting injured on her leg and her shoulder. She was immediately taken to the nearby veterinary hospital but unfortunately had to lose one of her limbs. The cost of surgery was too much so in order to raise money for her treatment, they shared her story on Facebook. Not only were they able to get enough funds but the family pet became a heroic pup overnight.

7. Fire Fighter

Buddy, a brave German shepherd, received a silver-plated bowl from Alaska State Troopers for his heroic act when he saved his owners home from fire. When Ben Heinrich’s workshop caught fire in 2010, he shouted to his pet for help. Buddy made a dash to the road nearby and led a state trooper to the fire site. With the in-time help and Buddy’s bravery, Ben’s house was saved from flares.

These are just a few stories of bravery and selfless acts of pets towards their owners. These super animals have saved lives in time, with their intelligent and heroic acts. They are not just your friends, they are caring and concerned for you as any family.

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Since childhood, my younger brother has always wanted a pet. But his demand is not of an average pet like a dog, cat, horse, bird, turtle, fish or any other everyday creature of nature that we think of keeping in our house. He wants to pet a tiger and /or a lion and /or an elephant! Ridiculous, is it not? Since he does not have the means to fulfill his needs (currently), he keeps dreaming of becoming rich and keeping a real ‘Sheru’ at home. Rich people who can afford exotic animals and have a fixation for the same, often fulfill their desires. But is it a wise thing to do? What if your beloved pet turns on you one day thinking that you are its prey? Let me give you an insight into this kind of a lifestyle. These are two cases of what happened when you pet a wild animal.

Folly: Sandra L. Piovesan (50) had nine dogs. Except that they were not regular dogs- they were hybrids between dogs and wolves. Ms. Piovesan also had two Rottweilers that were neither kept nor bred with wolf-dogs. Aside from her animals she’d lived alone in the same house for about two decades and had separated from her husband and her daughter had grown up.Sandra thought that she had a spiritual connection with wolves but since she could not keep real wolves in her house, she decided to get half breeds as pets. She had raised all of them since childhood. She once told a neighbor they “give me unqualified love.”  Ms. Piovesan treated her wolves like children, and said as much when neighbors asked about them. The fenced area in her backyard was about the width of a three-lane road, running the length of her house. The area was divided into sections: one for the wolf-dogs, one for her pair of Rottweilers, another for wolf puppies, with whom she’d play and romp. Ms. Piovesan provided the wolf-dogs with toys — a replica igloo, balls, a plastic playhouse.

Wolves have the tendency to claim leadership of their area once they mature– they want to become the Alpha. The owners of other breeds do not have to think about returning home from work and be scared to confront their Lab, Rottie or Poodle and fight for the Alpha status. Ms. Piovesan was last seen alive on a Sunday evening at around 8pm. Her body was found on Monday morning in a caged rectangular enclosure in her backyard, home for nine hybrids. The autopsy reported that she had suffered multiple soft tissue injuries and had been mauled to death by her very pets. These 9 hybrids were later euthanized while her 2 Rottweillers were sent to foster homes.

Slightly more than 300 people were killed by 403 dogs in the period from 1979-96, a report says. Fifteen wolf dog hybrids were involved in fatal attacks. Number one at 118 deaths was “pit bull types”, purebred and cross-bred; second was Rottweilers with 67 killings, third was mixed breed and fourth was German shepherds. Wolf dog hybrids came in ninth.There are not too many certified incidences of wolfdogs causing human fatalities. On August 1999, 4 year old Cody Tyler Fairfield was killed by his family’s German shepard/wolf mix when the animal crushed his throat and trachea. Another incident involved 8 wolf dogs killing a 73 year old woman whose son owned the animals.

Not a mistake yet: They are one of the most dangerous animals in the world. Yet, one family does not show any fear when it comes to their 7 pet tigers! Despite having no experience with tigers, Ary Borges rescued two tigers from a circus eight years ago, and has since multiplied the endangered species in his home in Brazil. Now he has a total of 7 tigers. His wife, 3 daughters and granddaughter also love the tigers and play with them. The daughters swim with the tigers and the granddaughter rides them around the backyard. The girls feed meat directly into the mouths of the fully-grown cats as they join their human friends in the kitchen for dinner- and they even lounge around the house in the evenings. The girls even walk the tigers on leads. “Every day since they were born we have taken care of them and fed them so their instincts become dormant”, they say. The eldest daughter’s husband is afraid of these big cats and wishes his wife and daughter were not so close to the tigers as they can be lethal. He fears that something will go wrong even after all the safety precautions are being taken, due to his innate fear of tigers, like most people. Ary was forced to abandon a breeding program after being told by officials that he needed a permit. But he now hopes to build a park so his beloved pets can roam free and he can educate others of the plight of endangered tigers. The Borges family is happy and safe so far.

Big cats (lions, tigers, mountain lions, jaguars, leopards etc) probably provide the most exciting news stories when they attack or fatally maul their caretaker, and the news media never misses a beat reporting on it. So if you can recall the last time you heard of a big cat attack, you will probably realize that they aren’t very common either, occurring on average about twice a year. The victim is almost always the owner or caretaker. Many fear that big cats will be a significant public safety threat should they escape into the wild, however it should be noted that no big cat escapes off the property of the animal’s enclosure have resulted in a fatality thus far.

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We the humans know how bad it feels to face neglection. It hurts when one throws a straight no at your face. The miseries seem endless, troubles unending and we feel as if nobody is standing beside us as a support. We are shattered, lonely and sad. All the bright, wordly colours of life look bleak and dull.
Animal emotion is a complicated arena, but it seems the scales are slowly tipping toward the opinion that animals do have emotions, although some skeptics remain. The debate surrounding the scope of emotions animals possess derives from two main complications: the potential for anthropomorphism (humans projecting their own traits onto animals) and the inherent difficulties of studying emotions in nonhuman species.
Such emotions must have evolved out of a social necessity. Animals, once involved with others learn such social necessities. Hence a slight mistreatment from your side can upset your beloved friend. The relationships with pet animals are very mutual, we find a source of happiness, playing with them gives us a scope for physical exercising and the attention we give to them is returned manifold times through constant company they give us. Not only we talk to our pets without even thinking if they understand our language or are interested in them; animals when not in direct contact with us make up for a pleasant watching through their playing, jumping around and other surprising activities. Animals at home are a complete element of surprise because everyday we get to discover a new aspect of our pet. When you let down this very source of joy, you break its trust. Dogs empathize and sympathize with humans and in turn expect just a little encouragement from us, their masters. If we fail to provide so they become depressed since thy too need plenty of attention, care, love and time. If they are left alone and hardly taken outside for strolls, he is likely to feel and remain aloof. We, as the proud, responsible owners, also have some commitment towards them which we ought to fulfill other it will feel useless and unncessary to you. If someday you return home tired from work and your pet dog suddenly starts jumping on you, demanding to be taken outside for a long walk, we usually put it away. He does understands well that you will not take him out and will, instead move away with a bowed down head and a dejected heart.

Usually animals, especially dogs show attention seeking behaviour from their very puppyhood age. They communicate to us by showing actions or even barking, pawing at your hands, whinning etc which is perfectly normal. We try to stop their behaviour by yelling at them because we get annoyed. This discourages them. Like any other living creature, animals are also a basket full of emotions. When we, the all powerful humans stop them from channelizing their energy in the correct direction, they get depressed which at times may lead to an aggressive behaviour. This can later on become uncontrollable. Simply buying an animal and keeping it at home is not enough. Just bathing and feeding it daily and giving this the name of love and care is not enough. We become selfish and mean with the bonds we share with them. Do we take them for granted? Surprising to hear that we ourselves do not know this answer because we are so overloaded and preoccupied with our own worlds. Since we are their closest companion, we need to understand their psychology better. They have different needs, their own way or method of approaching things and their own workings of the brain. It may want to spend quality time with you to be happy and satisfied. It doesn’t like being left alone. When they do not get it, normally, they will react resultantly. Then, we cannot merely judge it as BAD or GOOD behaviour.

We vow to love whatever pet animal we bring home and when that vow is broken, the animal’s heart is broken. Animals love humans. Why can’t we love them back? Pet owning is a wonderful experience but if we are busy and as a result neglect them, we can never call ourselves ‘the responsible owners’. Maintaining a social bond with your pet companion is a lifelong process. So do not think that simply buying a pet dog and having a walk or two with it completes your task of showing generosity towards it. Training them, caring about them is also a good way to hook up with your pets. If you treat your dig like a showpiece meant only for decorating your household and not to treat it humanly, you simply don’t deserve to have them. Your pet will love nothing more than being commited to you for a lifetime. It will never doubt your love, your intentions nor be jealous or possessive. It will never get bored of you. It will not mind if you shout at him for minutes. Such a generous creature your pet proves to be. Such noble manners is he gifted with. The love from animals cannot be found elsewhere. It is said that animals constitute a small part of our lives but for them we are their whole lives. It will never demand materialistic things and fussing that you otherwise have to provide in case of others. All it needs is you to play with him often and give him some love. So, when, though you do not have to put in any effort to woo it, please do not neglect it by sheer means. Make your beloved animal feel loved.

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The little puppy has now come home. The little life will be your companion and responsibility. The puppy is like a small infant who has to be molded and brought up in the right way. The only difference here is that the puppy doesn’t understand the human language and thus with a lot of patience and care needs to be taught the right from wrong.

The puppy needs to be firstly given a couple of puppy shots by a vet. The vet will also provide syrups to add to calcium to its food intake. This needs to be given at least till the puppy is a year old. In case of big canines, strong bones are a must to balance out its body weight. So these medicines in the form of syrup need to be either mixed with milk or the puppy food. Also it is extremely important for the puppy to get its timely nutrition adequately. This will help the puppy to develop into a strong and healthy dog in the future.

The first few weeks just let the puppy ease up and get accustomed to the house and the family members. This is a subtle way of saying that the puppy will pee and poop in places it wishes to do so. This can be a little tiring and makes you even want to second guess as to why you had to take up an additional role when you’re already finding it difficult to deal with your life crisis. But trust me, it’s worth it!

It’s a gradual procedure to potty train your puppy. Use the cloth that you wipe the pee with and keep it in the toilet or terrace where the puppy could pee in the house. Once it gets the smell from the cloth the dog will make sure that it has its pee spot intact. Similarly with the pooping part but however it takes longer for them to get accustomed to pooping in one place. Every time you see them going round and round in a particular stop it is a sign they are about to poop. Instead of scrubbing the floor and picking up the poop, you can put a newspaper when it crouches to poop. It’s not advisable to take puppies to gardens at least till they are six months old as they may contract diseases quickly due to their low immunity system. Try taking them for walks below your building at times that suit your schedule. And make sure you put a mouth guard for your puppy. The puppies are usually tempted to eat rubbish and you don’t want them falling ill. Make sure you stick to the similar time everyday and eventually it becomes a habit.

The feeding habits also may vary in the initial few weeks. The puppy may feel lonely a couple of days and may just stick to drinking water. But don’t fret or eat your heart out in the bargain at such incidences. Its quiet normal to do so! Eventually the food intake begins. The vet usually suggests the food to be given to the puppy. The puppy foods are suggested because they are wholesome and give the puppy an all round development. Also foods like boiled eggs, curd rice and milk can also be a part of the routine diet

Training them is another work you have to do in the first few months. Especially because they are teething and have a tendency to rip apart your beautiful furniture and expensive stilettos. The trick of training them is by using firm but affirmative orders and also a little treat never hurts anybody! They usually understand signs better than words, so make sure you use the same word for the action you expect your puppy to do. Its not difficult but you do need to invest some great amount of time and make sure you repeat the drill of using words every day.

When your puppy is chewing on something, use your words and be firm. Say a ‘No’ firm so that the puppy understands from your tone that whatever they are doing isn’t acceptable. If they don’t understand initially stop them from doing it by saying a firm ‘No’. Making them learn tricks like sit, stand, shake hands or paw needs a little bit of treat. Although bribing is a bad thing but it works like a charm and puppies do get motivated. It is important that you acknowledge every little accomplishment and effort put in by the puppy by rubbing his neck or forehead and calling them a good puppy!

The puppies have a lot of irritation when they undergo teething so make sure you have adequate chewable toys for it to nibble upon. Chew sticks are also pretty good although they may take a whole week to chew on it. A more natural substitute would be the tender coconut shell. They enjoy chewing on something so huge and juicy. It also keeps them active and keeps their focus off the home appliances and furniture.

The puppy takes a few weeks to get accustomed to their new surroundings. However, they are fast learners and the willingness to train them would help them learn ever faster. Everybody has a different home environment with a puppy with a different nature. At the end its all a matter of learning through trial and error. I don’t believe in professional trainers because they use some pretty strenuous methods to teach the puppies. Also they are expensive and the puppies become used to the trainers giving commands. So when you try to do the exact same thing as the trainer, you will be surprised to find a little less enthusiasm in doing the tricks.

The more time you spend with your puppy, more is the growth of the bond that you both will share. Its really surprising the things you will also learn in the process of nurturing this little bundle of joy who has nothing but unconditional love to offer. And the world could definitely use some love!

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