Other families are just now figuring out the challenges of responsible pet ownership, and that’s okay. These parents are discovering that they need help learning pet care while teaching and motivating their kids to be responsible and safe.

Every January, there are also many families that make the difficult decision to give away the family pet. Rescue shelters and adoption agencies are overrun every January and February with unwanted pets that were given as holiday gifts with every good intention less than just eight weeks ago. “A puppy is cute at eight weeks old, then at twelve weeks or sixteen weeks, families realize that it’s now a dog,” says Dr. Mary Isaacs of California-based Encino Veterinary Clinic.

“Many families don’t really research the responsibility of feeding or caring, or the cost,” says Dr. Isaacs, who has seen families spend as much as $1,000 to buy a purebred dog, and then realize that they cannot afford another $100 to get a veterinarian exam and set up the pet’s new home. She says, “Some pets end up as garden furniture, which is very sad.” If a family truly cannot care for a pet, it is best to acknowledge that this is not the right time, and then surrender the pet to a local adoption agency. Never should a pet be abandoned to the streets or to the wilderness.

“It’s great when a family with kids gets a new pet. Parents know that a pet can help teach kids so much,” says Dr. Isaacs. “But,” she adds, “if the parents don’t follow through with caring for the new pet, then they unfortunately teach their kids a bad lesson.” Dr. Isaacs empathizes with challenges parents face in managing a busy family, and wants the whole family to be realistic about the responsibilities for pet care. “All families need help, especially busy families.”

There are excellent resources to help families and pets become safe and successful together. Here are a few suggestions:
• Visit local humane education programs. Call first to see if they have humane educators and programs for kids and families.
• Invite local humane educators to your local school or community organization. The American Professional Humane Educators has many excellent members across America.
• Obtain free and low-cost award-winning educational materials from companies like Animal Wow.
• If you have a new puppy, enroll in a puppy training class, or work with a reputable dog trainer who is a member in good standing with the Association of Pet Dog Trainers.
• Spay and neuter your new dog or cat with your veterinarian or at a low-cost clinic. There are many reputable low-cost clinics, and some even have subsidized free programs.

For the good of all your family members, including those family members with fur, fins, wings, or scales, we truly wish you a new year that is filled with deep joy, satisfaction, safety, love, and discovery that come from responsible service to your pet.

What better way to teach children the value of giving from the heart, rather the wallet, than to start a tradition with your family pet or local rescue organization, by giving ONLY from the heart. No budget, no shopping, simply the gift of giving time and effort in a creative way. Yes, your family pet can help you teach the value of giving from the heart to your children at any age.

Toddlers can invite your family pet to hear a bedtime story. This can work even with small animals in cages or fish in a fishbowl. Whether or not the pet can appreciate the story, the point is for your child to share.

Very young children can draw or scribble a picture, showing what they love about their pet. Put up the picture at pet level so your child knows that the pet can enjoy his efforts. If your child likes to sing, suggest she sing quietly to the pet and share a talent like the boy in the Christmas carol, “The Little Drummer Boy.”

Most kids ages four and older can safely enjoy giving your family’s dog a “Belly Rub of the Month” membership, complete with a homemade membership certificate. This gift teaches children that gift-giving can be a year-round joy.

Teach your child to make simple toys. Most dogs love to shred a dissection toy (a treat wrapped in layers of paper, see the Animal Wow website for more ideas). For cats, tie a small paper at the end of a string and drag it around the house. For hamsters and rats, cut fruits and vegetables into festive shapes. Supervise your children while they make these gifts, and supervise the pets when they receive them.

If your family has a tradition of giving blessings, have your children bless the animals. Every religion has beautiful blessings that praise the Divine for bringing animals into our lives, and that praise animals for all that they add to our lives. Be creative and make the blessing fit with your family.

Older children who have a sense of how animals fit into the larger world can also give to community organizations. Help your children find a local animal charity, collect donated supplies, write a letter to support animal friendly legislation, or donate a portion of any holiday money they receive to a particular project they believe in. 

Whatever your holiday traditions, try skipping the mall for a day to spend a family evening creating happiness that can’t be bought. Homemade happiness comes from the heart and is a rich discovery. Happy holidays.

“But, ” you say, “our family dog’s birthday is in April.” That’s OK, there is plenty to celebrate. Have a dog party to welcome home your new best friend, obedience school graduation, or a neighborhood dog show. Invent a special day that celebrates your dog’s cute ears, waggy tail, happy wiggles, or howl that can wake the neighbors – they’re all worth making a special day.

To start, sit down with your kids and make a list of what is wonderful about your dog. Help your children be very specific about what they love. If they have a hard time, start talking about the very specific things you love about your kids. They’ll catch on. From this long list you choose one attribute to celebrate.

Now, decide how much to spend on your dog’s party.  It isn’t necessary to go shopping, and a zero budget is just fine, but make sure it is a choice. 

Next, choose what kind of party it will be. Is your dog rambunctious and up for an energetic party? Is your dog more reserved and apt to enjoy a quiet afternoon with the family? Whatever you decide is best for your dog, have your children make cards, make up songs, and wrap gifts for your dog.  It’s good to have children use their creative muscles on this because, after all, your dog will be happy with the attention whether or not you give Grammy award winning performances.

“Gifts?” you say, “but you said no shopping!” Right. Wrap a dog treat in wads of yesterday’s newspaper, let him tear it apart and eat the treat, and he’ll be as happy as someone else might be if you showed up with the Hope Diamond. After edible and squeaky things, dogs simply like your time and attention.

Next, help your children make a loose schedule for the party: how long it will be, when you will play games, when you will give gifts, etc. Encourage your children to stick to the plan even if their focus starts to get wobbly. Sticking to a reasonable schedule is a life skill that will serve them well as they grow.

All that’s left is to have fun!…

…and clean up. Surprise your kids with one more game. Make clean-up a game by rewarding for the biggest pile of paper, the cleanest dishes, and the best attitude. Everyone gets a reward for being good at something. 

Dog parties are easy and fun, and with a little effort they are full of teaching moments. For more ideas on family dog parties, and to get your FREE Animal Wow Dog Party Fun Book, contact Animal Wow!

And if you need more reasons to have a dog party, studies show that for most people, having a pet offers health benefits such as reduced stress, lower cholesterol, more exercise, and less depression. But you already knew that. Throw a party to celebrate your Dr. Dog!

The solution can seem obvious at first: teach your child to manage the family dog’s behavior with the same commands and boundaries used by adults. But that rarely works. From the dog’s perspective, children do not have the authority. Even when children think they have authority, to the dog, children are lower in the pack order and don’t need to be followed. This lack of authority can frustrate children, who will yell or even hit a dog.

While children often lack authority to train a dog, they often make up for it in enthusiasm, so let them try. With adult help, dog training is an excellent way for children to practice authority and also learn valuable relationship skills. Humane dog training can teach children to ask nicely and clearly about what they want, to be fair about what they ask for, and to express appreciation when they get what they want.

Children need practice being fair, kind, appreciative, and compassionate when choosing how to act in a frustrating situation. Training your dog with your child will give you many opportunities to coach your child in all of these skills. You and your dog can reward your child over and over again, making learning a positive experience.

Start by having your child ask your dog to do something your dog already knows. Be ready to repeat your child’s cue in case your dog is confused. Your child should say your dog’s name, ask nicely for the behavior, give your dog a chance to respond, and then reward your dog with a treat, a scratch under the chin, and a lot of verbal praise. “Please” and “thank you” are great bookends to any behavior.

Assume that it will take awhile for your child to develop the skill and timing to say dog cues effectively, and for your dog to accept the child’s authority. If your dog doesn’t respond to your child right away, talk with your child about how sometimes when a relationship changes or is new, that it takes time for everyone to get on track. This may also be a teachable moment about life: to explain that as your child matures, many of his relationships will change. Patience with that process of change is an important life skill.

Your young child may not be able to keep your dog from running out the door or stealing food, but with your guidance, your child will be able to teach your dog to respond to simple requests like “sit” and “shake.” The most important result? Your child will learn how to ask nicely, be patient, and be appreciative.

Imagine your child saying, “Fluffy, kisses please.” Fluffy gives a kiss. “Good Fluffy! Thank you! You are the best Fluffy in the world!” Now read it again and substitute “Mom” for “Fluffy.” Ah, that would be nice.

Dog training can build your child’s positive values, good habits, and life skills. Yes, when kids discover pets, they discover themselves. To get your free coloring sheet of basic dog cues for kids, click here.

Of course, people and pets don’t live that long, but some organizations do. This year, the American Humane Association is celebrating the 130th anniversary of its founding in 1877.  The association is observing this historic milestone with activities, special publications, official proclamations from public officials, and the unveiling of its newly redesigned logo.

American Humane, which endorses Animal Wow’s award-winning humane education programs, began with the unique mission to help protect both animals and children from abuse, neglect, cruelty and exploitation. That is still its mission and purpose today, as well as promoting understanding of The Link between animal abuse and human violence. Through many services and programs, American Humane is a national leader as well as the “voice” of those who cannot speak for themselves – our animals and our children.

You can thank American Humane for the “Be Kind to Animals Week®” national observance (which started in 1915), and for the “No Animals Were Harmed®” credit on movies and TV programs (which American Humane began in 1940).

American Humane’s extraordinary Rescue Rig is an 82-foot specialized emergency response tractor/trailer that travels the country throughout the year. When not in use at emergency sites like Hurricane Katrina, the Rescue Rig makes appearances free of charge to promote local rescue efforts with visibility and media attention.

Say “Happy Birthday” to American Humane by sending your best wishes to info@americanhumane.org. Learn much more about American Humane’s incredible and historic legacy at www.americanhumane.org.

For young children, ask what they think will happen with the vet. Ask if there is anything they would like explained, anything that is scary, or anything they would like to say to the doctor.  Help your children write down these thoughts and then help them talk with your vet during the visit. Before you go, have your children choose a favorite toy of your pet’s to bring along.

Most veterinarians will not allow anyone other than staff to handle a pet during an exam.  If your child is anxious about what is being done and wants to comfort your pet, tell her how much you love that she cares and ask her to take care of the special toy she has chosen. She can return it to your pet when the procedure is finished.

Allow your child to ask questions or voice concerns throughout the visit.  If it starts to seem like too much, you and your child can step out of the exam room, or ask that any shots be given, or blood be drawn in the back room.

For older children, you can ask them to do an Internet search on what will take place at the vet. Both routine visits and specialty visits are widely covered on many websites, including The Association of Veterinary Medicine (www.avma.org). This is excellent practice for teaching children to be proactive and get informed about their own health and care.

When it is time to say good-bye to a pet, involve your young children in the emotional preparation, but leave out the veterinary visit. Plan a last day helping your children recognize what their pet likes and how they can make their own memories good ones. Whether you have a home-visit from a vet or take your pet to your vet’s office, if your older children are interested, be very careful to involve them only to the degree you are sure they accept what they will see. A pet that is gone does not look like he is just sleeping, so most children will do better with final memories of a living pet.

Once your pet is gone, acknowledge the absence and let children draw pictures or write stories expressing their grief. Craft activities like memory books or treasure boxes with mementos can also help to save the good feelings and get past the loss. There are a few free pet memorial websites that can help your family express and share feelings and good memories.

There is much for a child to learn from the vet visit, because when children discover pets, they discover themselves.

What do you, a bag of peas, and a frozen water bottle have in common? Together you can be your pet’s best bet for beating summer heat! When summer gets busy and the fun starts, it’s easy to forget how quickly animals are hurt by heat or direct sunlight even when it is not particularly hot.  

COOL WATER & THE MOAT FLOAT. Pets need plenty of cool water, but keeping water cool all day long can be a challenge. Simply place a frozen water bottle in your pet’s water bowl or bucket. If a bobbing bottle keeps your pet away from her water bowl, use a heavier juice jug and place it in the middle of a bigger bowl; the water “moat” around the jug will stay cool. To keep water replenished, poke holes in the bottle or jug so the frozen water inside melts into the bowl. 

CARS, PARKED & MOVING. Obviously, do not leave your pet (or child) in a hot car. Even when it’s 70 degrees, the inside of a car can heat up quickly. And while your car is on the go, even though your dog loves to stick his head out the windows, it’s dangerous: cars kick up rocks all the time, and other cars and trucks could have something sticking out or flapping that could hit your dog. It’s nearly impossible to react quickly enough. When driving, keep your windows up enough so your dog (or kid) can’t lean out. There are also some excellent seatbelt harnesses for dogs.  

WATCH FOR HEAT EXHAUSTION. If your pet shows early signs of heat exhaustion, including heavy panting and abnormal resting, use a bag of frozen peas wrapped in a towel to cool neck and feet. Water mixed with rubbing alcohol applied to stomachs and feet can help to cool pets as well. 

Dr. Richard Smollin of the Winnetka, California, Animal Clinic says that people are well informed and generally take care of their animals in the heat. Dr. Smollin warns, “But if an animal suffers from heatstroke, get it to the vet immediately. If an animal’s temperature remains high you risk organ failure and brain damage.” Signs of heatstroke include heavy panting, disorientation, difficulty with motor skills, and unconsciousness. Beware: heatstroke continues to damage organs even after you cool down your pet and he behaves normally, so be sure to seek medical help right away. 

PET FIRST AID. There are a number of excellent books on pet first aid for dogs and cats, including the American Red Cross Pet First Aid and CPR. Tab the sections you will most likely use, and keep it handy over the summer months of heat and added activity.   

RODENTS LIKE IT COOL. Rodents are sensitive to heat. Their enclosures must be kept below 75 degrees. Put bags of frozen peas under sections of your rodent’s enclosure to give it a cool surface to stretch out on. Also, place a frozen bottle of water in its cage (be sure the bottle won’t leak), so your little pet can collect its bedding next to the cool bottle.  

Don’t forget your fish! Water in direct sunlight can get too hot, so move your finned friends away from any window that will give direct sunlight at any point of the day. Do not add frozen items to your aquarium water; the extreme temperature difference can be harmful to your fish. 

These simple ideas to keep pets cool will give the entire family peace of mind. And if it gets really hot, you and your dog can do a little bonding around a bag of frozen peas.

Here’s a quick summary. For more summer pet safety tips, click here.

1. HOT CAR. Your car’s inside gets hot quickly, even when it’s 70 degrees. Don’t leave your pet in a hot car. Please.

2. COOL WATER. Place a frozen water bottle in your pet’s water bowl. To make a “moat float,” click here. 

3. HEAT EXHAUSTION. Early signs include heavy panting and abnormal resting. Wrap a bag of frozen peas in a towel to cool neck and feet.  

4. CAR WINDOWS. Although your dog loves sticking his head out of the window, he could get hit. 

5. PET FIRST AID. Keep a pet first aid book and kit handy during summer heat and extra activity. 

6. COOL RODENTS. Rodents’ enclosures must be kept below 75 degrees. Put bags of frozen peas under sections of her home. 

7. REMEMBER YOUR FISH. Move your fish bowl away from any window that gives any direct sunlight. Don’t add frozen items to aquarium water. 

For more summer pet safety tips, click here.

Download this free game that includes six important pet safety tips.

Play in the Land of Animal Wow’s theater and diner, take a ride on the Peekaboo Choo Choo, and fly the bathtub. Win a Best Friends Certificate of Wow.

When we think of the animals in our lives, we usually first think of the obvious: choosing the right family pet, giving it a good life, and how we may give up a few everyday freedoms. When we bond with our family pets, we discover something deeper: that our pets help us discover ourselves, our ability to love, to care, to be patient, to empathize, to be responsible, to make a difference for a vulnerable creature who depends on our help. 

Sometimes we can learn an even deeper truth: that our pets can be our heroes. Our animals can rescue us, teach us, help us prove our worthiness to ourselves, make us better people. Every loved animal is someone’s therapy animal. Every unloved animal is someone’s opportunity to find his or her inner hero. Read the debut “Family Animal Heroes” Series pieces where the heroes are horses, dogs, and a hamster named Blain.  

We have the power of life and death over our animals. They are our vulnerable partners who help us see our own character. Are we the people we want to be when we are with our animals even though they cannot sue us, leave us, or press criminal charges? Are we proud of who we are when we express our anger at our animals, or are faced with their needs at the end of a long day? Our animals can bring out our best and our worst.   

A bumper sticker reads, “Dear God, please help me be the person my dog thinks I am.” It is human nature to live in the gap between who we are and who we want to be. Our animals are the mirror in which we see how large a gap remains. To love the animals in our lives is to close that gap.   

Charles Darwin believed, “The love of all creatures is the most noble attribute of man.” For thousands of years, animals have been our partners and our property. Now, they can be our heroes, too.    

Let us celebrate our animal partners as heroes, and humbly admit that sometimes we are the vulnerable ones. With six degrees of separation connecting us all, we may all owe a debt of gratitude to the tiny therapy hamster, Blain. 

Tell us about the animal hero in your family or classroom at speak@animalwow.com.