Welfare For Animals

08/12/2023

that the housing crisis, victims of domestic violence and their pets connected?

According to the Domestic Violence Awareness Project, “Up to 70% of domestic violence victims have pets. Of those with pets, 48-71% have reported that their pets have been abused or killed.”

Currently, with the and lack of affordable housing, victims of domestic violence and their pets have nowhere to go. They have no choice but to stay with their abusers- leaving them and their pets at risk.

⭐️ This is why we created a free resource- “Safety Plan for People and Pets Fleeing Domestic Violence”. It’s an outline for shelters that accept people and their pets leaving domestic violence and as a guide to those considering leaving.

🔗 You can find this resource and more information about the housing crisis, people and their pets leaving domestic violence in our latest blog.

One of the hidden aspects of the housing crisis is a lack of safe shelters for victims of domestic abuse.   “Women’s shelters were originally designed for short-term stays, and when there is no affordable housing it’s a domino effect, creating a bottleneck in emergency shelters as there

07/12/2023

When will the next workshop start?

We will start asking for Speaker Submissions on January 15, 2024! The month later- February 15, 2024- will be when our next Trainers for Rescues workshop will begin.

We can't wait!

06/12/2023

✅

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02/12/2023

Quick fixes are all around, but

behavior modification, when approached with a foundation in evidence-based practices, often unfolds slowly but strategically.

The gradual pace is not inefficiency, but instead a meticulous process that minimizes errors.

By proceeding deliberately, I can better understand the intricacies of your dog's individual's behaviors, tailoring interventions with precision.

This gradual approach incorporates empirical evidence, ensuring that each modification is grounded in proven techniques.

Rushing through behavior modification might yield immediate changes, but the risk of overlooking crucial nuances or misinterpreting signals is higher.

Fallout is real - even if you don't see the repercussions.

The methodical progression enables me to address the root causes of behaviors, promoting long-term success.

It allows for continuous assessment and adjustment, aligning with the evolving needs of your individual dog (and you).

Moving slowly does achieve quicker, more sustainable outcomes.

Slow and steady "wins".

There is more about this in my blog "The Neuroscience of Behavior Change: Why It Takes Time"

💌 You can find it here: https://www.rplusdogs.com/post/the-neuroscience-of-behavior-change

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And if you've been searching for individualized, expert coaching for your dog - DM 'HEAL' to learn how to work with me.

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30/11/2023

DidYouKnow that the housing crisis has left many victims of domestic violence and their pets trapped- as they have nowhere else to go?

With the housing crisis, people in abusive situations often have little to no choice but to endure the violence because of:

🐈 financial constraints like inflation
🐕 skyrocketing rental rates
🐈 lack of affordable homes
🐕 lack of affordable homes
🐈 restrictions on certain sized pets especially large and medium-sized dogs
🐕 lack of pet-friendly housing and/or women’s shelters

Additionally, as many as 65% of domestic violence victims are unable to leave their abusive partners as they are worried about what will happen to their pets. Abusive partners often harm or threaten to harm pets to exert control over their partner.

In efforts to raise awareness and address the housing crisis, we wrote a FREE resource to help people with pets who thinking of or fleeing from domestic violence. Or to help as a guideline for non-profits who help people with pets fleeing from domestic violence.

This resource was adapted from a WSAVA - World Small Animal Veterinary Association workshop that we recently participated in to learn more about this issue.

🔗Check the link below to get the resource!

https://lnkd.in/gGint5A8

25/11/2023

Who is more scared of the vet; you, your dog, or your cat?

The stress, fear, and anxiety experienced by pet guardians before, during, and after vet visits is a large factor to decreased veterinary care. Many people get anxious just thinking about taking their pet to their vet- I know I do!

The negative effect of stress on pets and their guardians going to the vet may include:

🐈 how often the guardian takes their pet to the vet
🐕 short-term and long-term negative effects on your pet’s health and behaviour such as if they have undiagnosed dental disease, arthritis, or other unknown medical conditions
🐈‍⬛ the veterinarian’s ability to exam and diagnose your pet
🐕 reduces the safety for the veterinary staff, such as an increased risk of bites, scratches, or other injuries

Helping reduce your fear of vet visits as well as your pet’s will improve welfare and wellbeing for everyone involved - including the veterinary staff.

What do you do to reduce your fear of going to the vet? Let us know below ⬇️

23/11/2023

Today is !

It is a day to recognise that housing is a human right and the critical role of collaborative and innovative solutions to the housing crisis.

One of the many factors facing pet guardians affected by the housing crisis is the substantial lack of pet-friendly housing.

Pet-friendly housing is critical for human and animal welfare.

🐈‍⬛ The human-animal bond improves our physical and mental well-being
🐕 Pets are our family
🐈 Research has shown that people who are facing difficult times may choose to stay in unsafe housing such as their cars/vans, tents, or be unhoused rather than give up their pets- if they cannot find pet-friendly housing

Pet-friendly housing is economically beneficial to both renters and landlords. As the rental space becomes attractive to a wide range of renters who often stay longer because of their pets.

Also, by creating pet-friendly housing, homes can be found for rescue dogs, cats, and other animals living at shelters.

Does your area have pet-friendly housing?

21/11/2023

My stuff: www.purrin.ink 🐈‍⬛🖤

21/11/2023

Today is .

Teaching children consent consent helps them feel that they have autonomy and agency over their bodies and choices. It also helps children feel empowered to say NO and set boundaries when they are uncomfortable in a world that doesn’t always set them up for success. Such as not always having to give everyone hugs or be touched.

Along with teaching kids consent over their bodies, an important part of our lessons as a KAD Kids Around Dogs certified professional is to teach kids and adults the consent test for dogs and cats.

As not every dog or cat wants to be touched! The consent test helps the dog or cat feel empowered to say no and to feel like their boundaries were listened to and respected.

Often times a dog or cat wants to sit next to you, without being touched. By not forcing the interaction or using the consent test to see what your dog or cat wants, you’re setting your pet up for success and helping them feel safe.

17/11/2023

If you have a dog who is fearful or reactive dog, here’s a simple tip for your walk!

🐕 Watch where other dogs are being walked, wait for them to be out of sight of your dog so your dog won’t react
🐕 Walk your dog along the other dog’s walking route
🐕 Make sure the leash is loose and long and let them track the other dog’s scent

Your dog can track the other dog’s scent without being in a fearful or stressful interaction. By using their powerful sense of smell, your dog can sniff out the other dog’s health, physical condition, where they’ve walked, their scent markings, gender, and even their emotional state!

This simple tip is incredibly enriching for your dog and also helps them feel safe while learning about other dogs!

12/11/2023

those who have served and are still serving and the animals that worked alongside them in conflicts around the world 🗺️.

Let us pause and reflect too on those animals and people who’ve been caught or are in conflicts, and the emotional and physical wounds that are inflicted.

11/11/2023

What would you teach to a dog living in a home with kids and cats? 🐕 🐈 👧🏻

Today ARF Alberta - Animal Rescue Foundation rescue dog Yeti who’s adopted in a very loving home, learned the foundations of calm and consenting interactions with kids and cats. His amazing new people actively asked question so they can integrate management and enrichment into their routines to help Yeti when life gets busy.

As a KAD Kids Around Dogs certified professional, I understand how being a parent with kids and a dog can be like a juggling act! But that’s where training comes in- to show you the simple steps that can be taken to help your dog and you- which is exactly what Yeti’s people did during our training session today!

Let us know what cues or behaviours your teach a dog that lives with kids and cats below ⬇️!

09/11/2023

Cherish every cuddle with your pet.

Today is - a day to celebrate the incredible bond between people and their animals.

Our pets are next to us and support us through good times and bad, so, put the phone down and cherish the time you can cuddle and experience joy with your pet.

How do you and your pets enjoy a cuddle? Together on the couch? While you work? Or on the bed? Let us know!

04/11/2023

Our first workshop donated a TOTAL of $65 to Dogstar Foundation!

25% of the overall workshop ticket sales and one of the presenters individual course sales were all donated to Dogstar Foundation’s life saving work for the dogs and cats across Sri Lanka.

Next week, we will do a call for speakers for our second Trainers for Rescues Workshop!

03/11/2023

02/11/2023

Money is finite and my buffer is waning. I have one big bill left in me and then I’ll have to stop

01/11/2023

5 ways to help your dog and cat decompress after 🐱🐶

Halloween can be incredibly fun for you and your family, but the scary sights, sounds, and smells of the holiday can be a frightful experience for your pet!

After a night of door knocking and bell-ringing people arriving at your door in terrifying costumes, people yelling "Trick or Treat", you dressing in costumes, possibly other animals being dressed up, and your pet's routines being shaken up- they need a day to rest and decompress.
Your pet is likely very tired and trigger stacked from the festivities.

So here are 5 ways to help your pet and you decompress!
How will you help your pet decompress tomorrow?

29/10/2023

that in Canada, women have more pets than men, and most perceive their pets as family members?

"Faced with the housing crisis, skyrocketing inflation food prices, and pet care costs, many people, especially women and vulnerable communities, are barely able to make ends meet."

For many pet owners, a large amount of their paycheque goes towards paying rent or housing costs such as utilities. Leaving very little money or resources to feed themselves let alone provide their beloved pets with preventative veterinary care or food.

Learn more about how the housing crisis is affecting women, marginalized communities, and pets in our latest blog.

Following up our previous blog introducing the housing crisis across Alberta and Canada, this blog will focus on the links between women, marginalized communities, pets, and the housing crisis.   According to the Canadian Veterinary Medical Association (CVMA) , there are 8.5 mill

27/10/2023

Today, we discussed Glimmers Not Triggers ✨ with Barket Place on Facebook Live.

Go to her page to listen!

Why is this important to talk about? As pet guardians and professionals, we often talk about triggers for your pets, and how to avoid, manage, and help them overcome these triggers to reduce their stress and fear. As well as solutions to help you when your dog or cat does go into the fight or flight response (when the sympathetic nervous system is activated) when they encounter a trigger.

But how to help you and your dog emotionally and mentally cope? And how to help yourself?

Glimmers are a great way to do that! They are healthy coping mechanisms to activate the parasympathetic nervous system, to create calmness, moments of joy, and help you and your pets feel safe ❤️.

Whether it is writing a journal to document your wins, going for a walks in nature, or using scent work to calm your pet- these glimmers will help you and your pet to see the positives in what is often a very heavy world 🗺️.

Check out the 10 ways you can use glimmers in your daily life. Let us know in the comments below what glimmers you’ve had today! Whether that’s a good coffee ☕️ or doing yoga 🧘🏻‍♀️ with your pets.

27/10/2023

Do your cats and dogs really want to be dressed up for Halloween? 🎃 🐈🐕

Not all pets do! Costumes may be highly restrictive and uncomfortable, causing your pet immense fear, discomfort, stress and in some cases, learned helplessness (physical and emotional shutdown- like pancaking/not moving from fear).

So how to involve your pet in the holiday spirit?
🎃 place a loose fitting bandana or festive collar on them
🎃 watch their body language
🎃 ensure that they’re not restricted!

Does your pet have a festival collar, bow tie, or bandana? We’d love to see it!

25/10/2023

In the spirit of the season, here’s some great costume ideas.

Has your pet ever been the influence for your costume? Let us know in the comments.

Note- if your dog is a digger or your cat wakes you up during the night we can help! DM us for a 1-time consult.

22/10/2023

Here’s dog 🐕 math and cat 🐈 math!

The viral and trend makes fun of different people’s hypocritical behaviour.

Here’s our take on the trend 2 points on and 2 points on . As the animals we share our lives with have the funniest little quirks.

What is your dog’s math or your cat’s math? Let us know below

21/10/2023

Every 3rd week in October is ! 🐈 🐕

We are so grateful for veterinary technicians, who are the backbone and critical for the function at every clinic, shelter, and organization.

Thank you so very much for all that you do!! 🧡

However, taking a pet to the vet can be immensely stressful for you and your pet.

What part of taking your pet to the vet is the most fearful or stressful for your pet? Let us know in the comments.

15/10/2023

Why does your cat sleep in the position of a bagel 🥯 or a donut 🍩 ?

Like Spark in the photo, cats sleep in bagel or doughnut positions when they’re usually relaxed. Also by curling up in a tight ball, your feline companions are protecting their vital organs while sleeping - as they are both prey and predator.

Do you have any photos of your cat as a bagel? Share below in the comments!

Let us know your “Why Does My Cat….” questions and we will answer them!

11/10/2023

Today is and .

The World Health Organization theme for this year is that “Mental health is a universal right”. But housing should also be a universal right too.

Pets have been scientifically proven to improve our mental and physical health. But what happens when you have to choose between home or your pet due to a lack of affordable housing and soaring inflation? This is the reality facing thousands of Albertan today and why a large majority of animal shelters across Alberta and Canada are overcapacity or in a state of crisis.

In our latest blog, we are discussing the first in our series on “The Housing Crisis and Pets in Alberta”.

We would love to hear from you as to your struggles to find affordable housing as a pet guardian or a non-profit.

  The Housing Crisis and Pets in Alberta- Part 1

10/10/2023

Come and join us and Barket Place Oct 27 12:30PM MTN where we are talking about “Glimmers not Triggers”.

How to focus on the positives not just the negatives to increase calmness and improve your relationship with your dog.

'Walking into Winter' is back with another amazing lineup of speakers (and more to come 🤞) in our Connect with Your Dog group.

Starting on Thursday the 26th October, we’re bringing you some fantastic talks - all geared around having the happiest and healthiest Winter alongside your dog.

From ways to reduce SAD (seasonal affective disorder) - yes it impacts your dog too! - to spotting more glimmers in your life, and feeding yourself for the best health this Winter… this year’s event is going to be fascinating.

A huge thank you to our fantastic lineup of speakers - (L-R) Caroline (our Founder), Andrew Hale (facebook.com/groups/dogcc), Toni Shelbourne - Animal Behaviourist and Author, Debby Lucken KAD Kids Around Dogs®, Ruby Leslie Welfare For Animals, Catherine Faraday Catherine Faraday Nutrition, Emmanuel Harel Treat, Tori Mistick Wear Wag Repeat, Susi Colclough, and Linda Blair.

Join in all the conversations by heading over to our {free} Facebook Group: Connect with Your Dog ❤️

09/10/2023

Happy Canadian thanksgiving 🍁

We are so thankful for all the moments, big and small, that we’ve shared with you, your dogs, and cats this year.

Thank you! And happy thanksgiving 🧡

08/10/2023

Woofie wuvs ... everything! What do *you* love about fall? 🍁

07/10/2023

Count your successes, not your failures.

It is often easier to see all of your dog’s triggers then it is to see what can positively motivate them. You need to focus on and address the sights, sounds, people, other animals, or actions that can trigger your dog into a survival state where they may bark, lunge, growl, airsnap, or even bite.

But what about what motivates your dog? What sights, sounds, people, other animals, or actions helps regulate their system? Does your dog like walking in puddles? Does sniffing trees calm them? Does watching traffic help them?

Join us and Caroline at Barket Place for a Facebook Live on October 27 at 7:30PM for her “Winter Walking” series. Where we will discuss “Glimmers Not Triggers”, which are environmental cues that can bring your dog or cat to calmness.

05/10/2023

Good job, Louie 🐱

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03/10/2023

Communication with your dog is a 2-way conversation.

It is about listening and then giving feedback.
It is about bearing in mind their emotions and feelings.
It is about each other’s body language cues.
It is about an engaging dialogue not a leader monologue.

02/10/2023

treasure

30/09/2023

What 3 words would you use to describe your dog? 🤔

Let us know in the comments below ⬇️

28/09/2023

📣 Coming soon….

An ebook on “How to Reduce Stress in an Animal Shelter Using the 5 Senses”.
👂 👀 👃🏼 🤚 👅

Building on our previous posts on this topic, this ebook will give you practical, easy, and some cheap ways that you can do to reduce stress in shelters! Helping to improve the welfare and wellbeing of the animals in your care.

More to come on launch date! 🚀

26/09/2023

Happiness is a cat sitting on your lap, sleeping, resting, or purring.

September is to raise awareness on cat health, welfare, and happiness.

When is your cat happy? Let us know in the comments below ⬇️

25/09/2023

21/09/2023

19/09/2023

Whether you are bringing a dog home for the first time or seeking to improve your relationship with your dog- focus on communication, a sense of security, and love. 🐕 💕

17/09/2023

Why does my cat sleep with their paws covering their nose or face? 🐈

That’s a great question and there are many reasons for it!
Primarily it is because your cat is both prey and predator. Even though many cats are domesticated or indoor cat, they still retain many of the characteristics exhibited by their wild ancestors. By covering their faces or noses while sleeping, your cat is keeping safe from potential predators, while also blocking out potential light or insulating from the cold. ❄️

was inspired by our dear friend Dr. Charlie Edmonds of The London Vet Behaviour Clinic❤️

14/09/2023