Reasons to #AdoptDontShop

Approximately 7.9 million companion animals enter shelters every year; and unfortunately, 2.7 million of those animals are euthanized. It is better to adopt your next dog or cat rather than buy it at a pet store or from breeders. Besides gaining an awesome pet, there are a plethora of reasons to #AdoptDontShop.

1. You’ll be saving a life.  Not enough people consider adoption. Too many innocent animal lives are lost each year because too many pets come into shelters, with too few people coming in to take them home. So many lives can be saved if more people adopted their pets rather than bought them.  By adopting your next dog or cat, you are taking an animal out of the potentially dangerous shelter life and bringing them into your house to be a part of your family.
2. You’ll be saving money. Store-bought pets can cost hundreds of dollars; breeders can charge even more than that for their pets. On top of that, you’ll have to pay out-of-pocket for vaccine and spay/neuter costs. Adopting a shelter pet is significantly cheaper! Plus, your pet’s vaccines and spaying or neutering (sometimes even microchipping) are usually included in the adoption fees.
3. You’ll be helping more than one animal. Each year, shelters take in millions of animals who were homeless, abused, or lost. When you adopt and take home a shelter pet, you are opening up a spot for another animal to enter the shelter and hopefully find their new family. As if that isn’t great enough, your adoption fees go directly towards helping the shelter care for more animals.
4. You’ll be fighting puppy mills. We hate to break it to you, but if you bought your dog from a pet store, online seller, or flea market, you almost definitely got it from a puppy mill. These mills operate like factories, constantly churning out new puppies to sell for profit. The mothers of these puppies are often kept in small cages and denied human interaction and proper veterinary care so they can be bred as often as possible. Puppy mills stay open by using deceptive tactics on unsuspecting customers. Adopting can help put them out of business and stop their inhumane practices.

We go could on and on about the reasons to #AdoptDontStop, but it really comes down to this: adopting gives a pet a new chance at life. Remember, no pet ever asked to be in a shelter - they were simply dealt a bad hand. Use this site to locate a shelter to visit near you. Choose to adopt, and help give animals their forever homes.

While your adoption fees will likely cover your pet’s first vaccinations, you should have a trusted vet who can maintain your furry friend’s health for years to come. Berkeley Heights Animal Hospital has been keeping dogs and cats healthy in Summit, NJ since 1976. Call us at 908-464-0023 to schedule an appointment for your newly adopted pet!

Tips for Traveling with Pets

If you’re planning on taking your pet on a road trip with you to visit family or sightsee, you should want to make them as comfortable as possible. However, traveling with your pet requires some preparation, especially in winter. We’re here to give you some tips for making the journey safe and easy for both of you.

Make the Car Comfy

Bring your pet’s bed so they have a comfortable place to lay in the car. If their bed doesn’t fit, bring a blanket they use at home instead. It’s also a good idea to have a couple of their toys so they have something to entertain themselves with. If you’re going on a short trip, invest in a doggy seatbelt to ensure your pooch is protected.

Have Winter Clothing

You’re not the only one who gets cold in the wintertime. Keep your dog warm by bringing booties, pet sweaters, and insulated jackets, especially if you're going somewhere extra cold. The trick here is to make sure that the jacket you purchase for your pet doesn’t restrict their movement. Only have them wear their clothing outdoors so they don’t overheat in the car.

Pack All the Necessities

When taking your pet on the road, make sure to have all their IDs and vaccination forms in case something happens. If your pet takes any medications, take those with you as well. Have an extra leash, plenty of food and water, and cleaning supplies for any messes that may occur on your trip.

Know Pet-Friendly Hotels

Even if your destination has you staying with family or friends, know what pet-friendly hotels are along your route. BringFido.com is a great resource for finding pet-friendly hotels. The site also shows hotel and pet fees, as well as the requirements for staying with a pet.

When traveling with pets, it’s best to prepare to the nines so your furry friend enjoys the trip and stays safe and healthy. At Berkeley Heights Animal Hospital, we are dedicated to keeping your pets healthy so they can join you on every adventure you take.

To make an appointment for your dog or cat in Summit, New Providence, or Murray Hill, call Berkeley Heights Animal Hospital at 908-464-0023.

Things Only Dog-Owners Understand

Dogs have a certain way of redefining how you react to things and how you tolerate weirdness. To celebrate our furry friends, here are certain situations and scenarios that you only understand if you’re a dog-owner.

1. Personal space is no longer something that exists. Whether it’s your Mastiff thinking he’s a lap dog or your Golden Retriever becoming your literal shadow, you’ve accepted that your dog has completely disregarded the words “personal bubble.”
2. The mess is never your dog’s fault, so don’t you dare think it is. Your pooch can drag the garbage can across your entire living room, and that is okay. They did it because they see cleaning up the garbage as a form of exercise for you. They did it out of love.
3. Photo shoots are a must. Your dog is beautiful, and everyone who sees your camera roll must know it. It doesn’t matter that there are five pictures of your Pitbull looking at a leaf. She did it differently every time, and you had to have photos of each pose.
4. You know more facts about your dog than you do about your friends. You have no idea how your mom likes her meat cooked, but you know your dog’s zodiac sign and his favorite tennis ball brand.
5. The sound of a tipped-over water bowl is one of legitimate fear. You know the sound, and you know exactly what you’re going to walk into - a wet kitchen floor and your dog sitting there, completely unphased.
6. Holidays with fireworks are now your least favorite ones. How dare they set off explosions that terrify your fur baby! You will, undoubtedly, be inside telling Fido that it’ll be over soon.
7. Being invited to a doggie birthday party is totally normal. The only downside is realizing that you haven’t thrown your own dog one. Then you’re struck with the horrible guilt of feeling like a bad parent. (There’s always next year.)
8. Your dog is often the reason you can’t have nice things. It’s as if their inner-monologue goes something like: “Look at that expensive leather couch Mom & Dad just got. I bet it tastes great.”
9. Boarding your dog basically feels like you’re abandoning them. It doesn’t matter how nice that doggie daycare is. It’s not home, and you feel heartbroken having to leave your pooch there for a week.
10. No matter how annoying or crazy they get, you love your dog no matter what. They are your baby and best friend, and nothing will ever change that.

Berkeley Heights Animal Hospital is committed to keeping your dog healthy so you both can enjoy life together. Call us today at 908-464-0023 to schedule an appointment with our caring staff.

Tricks to Teach Your Dog

New year, new me, right? The same goes for your dog! Old or new, it's always a fun idea to teach your dog some new tricks. Start off 2017 by practicing these tricks with your pooch.

High Five

This trick is easy to teach your dog and amuses everyone in the family. Start by having your dog sit and place a treat in from of him, slightly out of reach. Keep saying “high five” while lightly tapping one of his paws. He will eventually raise his paw to touch the treat, and this is when you catch the paw with your free hand. Keep this up until your dog performs the action on command. Then start tickling his paw so he raises it higher and higher. Repeat this until you both achieve the perfect high five!

Speak

Start by finding something that gets your dog excited - perhaps a toy or treat. If those don’t work, try ringing the doorbell. Wave the object around excitedly and get him excited in turn. Once your dog starts to bark, say “speak” right away and give him a treat or the toy as a reward. Repeat this until he barks with just the verbal request. Pro Tip: Try to limit the command to one bark. You don’t want your dog to think “speak” means a bark-fever.

Army Crawl

This a fun trick that also improves your dog’s physical fitness. Begin by having your dog lay down and a holding a treat in front of his nose. Make sure to hold the treat firmly so he can smell and lick it, but not grab it. Slowly start dragging the treat across the floor and praise your dog once he crawls a few feet; if he stands up to take the treat, take it back and start over. Over time, try to get you dog to crawl farther distances by having him crawl several feet toward you.

Once your dog masters these few tricks, try to teach him more difficult ones. Learning new tricks can have a positive effect on both your dog’s mental and physical health. At Berkeley Heights Animal Hospital, we are dedicated to helping keep your pet’s health in tip-top shape.

Berkeley Heights Animal Hospital is committed to helping you and your pet start off 2017 in the best possible way. If you need an Animal Hospital in Summit or New Providence, NJ, we are your trusted veterinarians. To make an appointment, call us today at 908-464-0023.