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By MIKE SELVON

 Being a pet owner is a wonderful opportunity to find unrequited love. There is just something about owning a pet that can bring out the best, or worst, in people. An animal is a huge responsibility and it is up to the pet owner to ensure that their animal is receiving quality medical care, food, water and attention. When these situations are not being met then animal cruelty is the result.

It is a sad state of affairs when animals are not receiving the help and care that they so desperately need. There are many animals that need love and attention that are simply not receiving it.

It is our job as the owners to see to it that animals are not abused and left neglected or roaming around on the streets as stray animals. This article will cover the basics of animal cruelty and hopefully by the end you will be doing your part to stop this travesty.

What are some of the laws that govern animal cruelty?

There are many laws that govern people who own animals as pets or livestock. The law ensures that people must take responsibility for owning an animal. The animal should receive proper nutrition, water, and medical care when necessary.

Should these laws be broken then the proper animal protection agencies of that area can step in and levy fines, arrest and take the animals away from the owners. There have been cases where offenders have spent prison time and faced stiff penalties and national censure such as in the cases involving dog fighting.

Is having too many animals considered animal cruelty?

There is such a thing as having too many animals. It can come in the form of hoarders or breeders. It all depends on whether or not the animals are being cared for properly. Hoarders do not realize that they are harming their pets.

They mistakenly believe that they are the only ones capable of caring for their animals. Having too many animals in many cities is against the law because having too many may limit the ability to care for the animals in the proper way.

Breeders will often house several animals so that they can make money on the puppies. The animals are kept in cages that often damage the soles of their feet in such a way as it makes it impossible for them to walk properly.

They are often not cared for nor provided with the proper medical attention. The goal of some breeders, not every breeder, is just to make money. There are some breeders who actually love and care for their animals properly.

How do animal cruelty laws affect breeders?

In the case of bad breeders the proper animal protection agencies will come in and seize all of the animals. They fine the breeder for having a) too many animals to be able to care for properly and b) not taking proper care of the animals.

Some cities limit the amount of pets that any one owner can possess in a household. This applies to breeders as well. The breeder can be fined and face possible prison sentences if they break these laws.

In the case of bad breeders, what happens to the animals?

In the case of bad breeders who are improperly caring for their animals the animal welfare unit will seize all of the animals. The animals are then placed in foster homes, put up for adoption or will be euthanized if they are in too bad of shape. It is a sad condition that any animal should have to be put down just because someone did not care for the animal properly.

Mike Selvon has a passion for animal care, and his portal answers your common questions about animal cruelty. Visit his portal for your free gift and leave a comment at his humane society blog.

Is Your Yorkshire Terrier Obsessed?
By Nicholas Hunt

 Yorkshire Terriers are cute little terriers that can be just a little “quirky”. Trying to determine if the Yorkie is just “being a Yorkie” or is obsessed can be relatively simple, and well… fun! That crazy, quirky behavior could also be due to serious medical problems. Here are some tips to help you understand Yorkie behavior.

Known Yorkie behaviors include digging or scratching at the ground or floor. This is a common Yorkie behavior. Although if may look obsessive, a Yorkie is a member of the terrier family and was bred to hunt rats. When a Yorkie is digging at the floor, he is simply following his instincts and looking for a rat… or whatever else he thinks is down there.

Licking everything in sight, from his own paws to the furniture to you is enough to drive a sane Yorkie dog owner crazy. This Yorkie behavior can stem from something as simple as dry itchy skin or bad teeth. Yorkies are known to have dental problems, even when they are young. Good dental care is very important for Yorkies.

Becoming overly excited to the point of hyperventilating, even shaking is a common Yorkie behavior. The Yorkie is known to be the most people oriented breed and doesn’t like being alone. This behavior could be just from being over excited or from a serious condition called “collapsing trachea”. Collapsing trachea happens if the airway (trachea) flattens out; this can block the airway and cause hyperventilation. The lack of oxygen from collapsing trachea can cause shaking and hyperventilation. Your Yorkie should be checked by a vet if these symptoms continue or last longer than a few minutes. Calm the dog before the muscle spasms of the airway become worse.

Barking and yapping constantly is attributed to Yorkies, but this is only bad behavior and not specific to the Yorkie. Some Yorkie owners reward this bad behavior unknowingly by picking up the dog when it barks. The dog thinks being picked up is a reward, much like a dog treat. Simply train your Yorkie with one word, either “No!’ or “Quiet!” and the yapping stops.

Obsessive Yorkie behaviors are based in fear. Attacking the vacuum cleaner or broom is a common obsession. Since a Yorkie is usually seven pounds or less, the Yorkie is keenly aware of large objects in his territory. We humans don’t help this behavior- because chances are we will chase the Yorkie with the broom or vacuum, because it really is funny. Unfortunately, we are just reinforcing bad behavior.

Circling the area where food is served to him is an obsessive behavior. This is especially true if your Yorkie was the runt of the litter, as he’s probably had to fight for his fair share of food. You can help your Yorkie get over this fear by giving him his dog treats at his food bowl. He will soon learn to associate the food bowl with a reward instead of a fight.

Doing anything repeatedly for unknown reasons can be common in the Yorkie. For example, a Yorkie may refuse to walk in a certain area suddenly, after walking there for months. The Yorkie may suddenly start hiding when its time for food. Try to figure out what could be bothering him so you can remove the object of his obsession. If you cannot figure it out, try to ignore the obsessive behavior and it will probably change to a new obsession in a short time.

Summary:

* Carry dog treats in your pocket to reward good behavior

* Remember a Yorkie is high spirited and quirky - expect and enjoy his quirkiness

* If your Yorkie has trouble breathing or swallowing, take him to a vet immediately; it could be life threatening for him

* If your Yorkie appears confused or weak, take him to a vet immediately; these are signs of lack of oxygen to the brain

Nicholas writes on how to get cheap pet insurance quotes, and on arranging insurance for old pets.

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