Posts Tagged military family pets
Military Families Can Take Steps to Prevent Lost or Stolen Pets
Posted by in Family Matters on March 23, 2012
Guest blogger Navy Lt. Theresa Donnelly, of U.S. Pacific Command, is the owner of Hawaii Military Pets, which provides pet resources for military families. She’s offered to share her pet-related knowledge in a series of blogs for Family Matters.
By Navy Lt. Theresa Donnelly
March 23, 2012
Navy Lt. Theresa Donnelly spends time with her 12-year-old boxer, Fiona. Donnelly reminds people to obtain a valid, county-issued license and a microchip so pet and owner can be reunited if lost. Courtesy photo
A missing pet can be a devastating experience for family members and can result in a dangerous situation for the animal. However, military families can take steps to keep their beloved pets safe and secure.
If your pet lives indoors or is supervised outdoors, it’s less likely the pet will become lost or stolen. Many animals crave human companionship and do quite well lounging on a comfortable couch or bed during the day.
However, if you can’t take your pet out for exercise, make sure they play in a safe, secure and enclosed area with necessary shelter, water and food. You also should avoid the use of chains or ropes for long periods of time. U.S. Humane Society studies indicate that animals become territorial and aggressive when tied up on chains for a prolonged time. Animals are more likely to bite another human or could unintentionally hang themselves if tethered too close to a fence.
If a pet becomes lost, a microchip can help reunite pet and owner. This is a tiny computer chip, about the size of a grain of rice, inserted into the skin of the animal with an identification number programmed into it. A national registry tracks the number, and any organization with a scanner can identify the number and contact the company owning the device. The company then will contact the pet owner or another emergency contact. Since registration tags are easily removable, the microchip provides an additional layer of protection.
Microchips can be implanted during a routine veterinary office visit — no surgery or anesthesia required — in animals as young as eight weeks, according to the American Veterinary Medical Association.
Because of this critical method of pet identification, animals have been found more than 1,000 miles from their home or after years of separation.
Family Matters Blog: Are You Ready for a Pet?
Posted by in Family Matters on February 9, 2012
Guest blogger Navy Lt. Theresa Donnelly, of U.S. Pacific Command, is the owner of Hawaii Military Pets, which provides pet resources for military families. She’s offered to share her pet-related knowledge in a series of blogs for Family Matters.
By Theresa Donnelly
Feb. 9, 2012
Coast Guard Station Merrimack River's dog, Abby, "stands the watch" with a station crewmember, Jan. 26, 2012. Coast Guard mascots have served just as their human counterparts have, with courage, honor and are "Always Ready" to go to those in need of assistance. U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Connie Terrell.
Pet overpopulation is a sad reality in the United States. Up to 7 million animals enter U.S. shelters every year, according to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.
Of this number, about 60 percent of dogs and 70 percent of cats are euthanized, and less than 2 percent of cats and 15 to 20 percent of dogs are returned to their owners, according to the National Council on Pet Population Study and Policy.
Military families on the move should think carefully before taking in an animal to avoid contributing to this problem.
First, you should take into account your lifestyle and potential commitment to a pet. Are you an active family, with weekend hikes and daily runs, or do you prefer lazy weekends on the couch? Are you home enough to ensure your furry friend will get the exercise, training and attention they need?
Travel Stress-free With Pets
Posted by in Family Matters on January 3, 2012
(Guest blogger Navy Lt. Theresa Donnelly, of U.S. Pacific Command, is the owner of Hawaii Military Pets, a one-stop resource on Hawaii military pet information. She’s offered to share her pet-related knowledge in a series of blogs for Family Matters.)
By Theresa Donnelly
Jan. 3, 2011
Navy Lt. j.g Kirsten Davis greets her dog, Tressel, in Norfolk, Va., after returning home from a two-month deployment aboard the amphibious dock landing ship USS Gunston Hall in March 2011. U.S. Navy photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Kayla Jo Guthrie
Military moves can be tough on military families, especially if a spouse is deployed. It’s hard enough to get the humans in the family ready for a big move, let alone a family pet.
“Growing up as an Army ‘brat,’ I moved every three years from state to state and to Europe and back twice,” Kari Mendoza, owner of Island Pet Movers in Hawaii, told me. “We always had pets and our parents taught us that pets are part of the family.
“I served four years in the Navy,” she added, “and I can tell you it was hard to find an apartment off-base that would allow me to take my cat, but giving him up was never an option.”
Fortunately, many resources are available to ensure your pet stays with your military family and isn’t surrendered to a shelter, or given away.
A first step is to go online and research the pet policies at your next duty station. A quick call to your sponsor, family-service center or veterinarian at the next installation can help you better understand pet policies in housing, animal laws in that state or country, pet-friendly hotels and any transport requirements. For example, many states and countries are considered “rabies-free,” so you may have to start the process of preparing to ship your family pet several months in advance.
Now that you have fully researched information such as applicable breed bans and base pet policies, consider calling local airlines to see if there are flight restrictions for your pet, including months when your pet is restricted from flight. For example, some dogs have respiratory issues due to the structure of their face, making breathing at sea-level difficult.
Because of these restrictions, many airlines impose a “pet embargo” on certain dog breeds between May 15 and Sept. 15, which means you will have to ship your pet outside of this time frame. A visit to the airline’s pet transport Web page should give you information such as cabin temperature, weight requirements, approved airline crates, and what stickers and labels should be on the carrier.