The month of February has many designations beyond its affiliation with Valentine’s Day. It’s Black History Month, the month we get the Snow Moon and the month during which the US celebrates Groundhog Day and President’s Day. At Hearts at Home Pet Sitting, we love February because it’s a month of love, red roses, and fuzzy slippers. We also like to celebrate it as Responsible Pet Owners Month because we think working with a professional pet sitter makes our clients the most responsible pet owners we know!
History of Responsible Pet Owners Month
As with many other date or month-related holidays, it’s not clear how Responsible Pet Owners Month came to be. It appears it may be an offshoot of similarly themed months that were organized by other pet-focused organizations. While we don’t know exactly what organization came up with Responsible Pet Owners Month, we love the idea of celebrating those that are going above and beyond to ensure their pet’s safety, health, and comfort.
How To Be A Responsible Pet Owner
In honor of the wonderful celebration that is designating a month to honor responsible humans, we compiled the following list of things we think responsible pet owners do regularly for the benefit of their pets. These are listed in no particular order; we think they are all rad!
Engages a professional in-home pet sitter from the moment you bring home your pet. You never know when you need extra help
Prevents unwanted breeding with spay/neuter
Takes their pet for regular veterinarian visits and check-ups
Maintains their pet’s dental health
Exercises their pet’s mind and body both indoors and, when it can be done safely, outdoors
Feeds their pet the highest quality food they can afford
Vaccinates, deworms, and treats pets for pests as needed
Prevents injury, illness, and stress as much as possible
Keeps pets leashed in public places
Avoids areas that are designated as unsafe for pets like creeks, cliffs, etc
Follows the law when it comes to leashes and access - not all places are pet-friendly
Maintains pet’s fur, nails, ears, etc clean and well groomed
Limits the amount of table food and unhealthy treats their pets eat
Prevents bites and potentially dangerous incidents by managing their pet’s interactions with strangers, other pets, and children
Observes their pets for sudden changes in behavior and signs of illness or injury
Learns their pets’ triggers and avoids them or works with a behavior consultant to address them
Uses positive reinforcement-based techniques and avoids aversive/punishment-based approaches - we are fear-free certified and like to encourage collaboration between pet and human
Respects their pet as an individual and does what they can to consistently meet their needs
Helps their pets age gracefully and respects their aging process
Lets their pets go when their quality of life is significantly diminished
While the above is not an exhaustive list, it should help put things in perspective. A responsible pet owner knows that preventing accidents, illness, and injuries both in their pet and in the community is key to proper pet parenting. Our pets only know so much, it’s our job to guide them, protect them, and keep them and those around them safe.
At Hearts at Home, we work tirelessly to ensure that the pets in our care have their needs met, are at ease with our company, and are thriving whether their families are at work or traveling. To learn more about our dog walking and pet sitting services in Yorktown, Virginia and environs, please contact us at Hello@HeartsAtHomePetSitting.com or 757-745-9868. We look forward to helping you be the best pet owner you can be!
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