Pets Can Stand on Sea Legs Too

MAYFIELD VILLAGE, Ohio, Sep 16, 2010 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- It's smooth sailing for your boating four-legged friends. Starting Sept. 15, Progressive's free Pet Injury coverage protects boaters' dogs and cats. How it works: If your dog or cat is hurt in a boat accident, we'll pay your vet bills up to $1,000. Key coverage points: -- Free if you have our Comprehensive and Collision coverage; and -- Covers your pets--dogs and cats only--if they're on your boat and injured in an incident like a crash, theft, fire, or flooding.

"Our new Pet Injury coverage for boaters gives them peace of mind their pets are protected if they get injured in an accident on the water," said Rick Stern, Progressive's boat product manager.

Here are a few tips to make sure you and your pet have a safe voyage: -- Help them get their sea legs. Gradually introduce your pets to your boat and the water. Give them a chance to explore their surroundings while your boat is docked. Turn on the engine so they get accustomed to its sound, smell, and feel. Take short cruises and gradually build up to longer trips.

-- Get them ID tags. Outfit your pets with up-to-date ID tags with your cell phone number, marina address, and slip number. If there's room, consider including that you'll offer a reward for their safe return.

-- Ramp it up. Give your pets a helping hand with a ramp that helps them get on board and off, both from the dock and from the water. -- Combat the sun. Protect your pets from the heat by providing shade and plenty of water, and wash the deck down with cool water to protect their paws.

Progressive, the first insurance group to offer Pet Injury coverage, provides it free to auto, RV, and now boat customers with Comprehensive and Collision coverage.

About Progressive

The Progressive Group of Insurance Companies makes it easy to understand, buy, and use auto insurance. Progressive offers choices so consumers can reach us whenever, wherever, and however it's most convenient for them--online at progressive.com, by phone at 1-800-PROGRESSIVE, or in-person with a local agent.

Progressive offers insurance for personal and commercial autos and trucks, motorcycles, boats, recreational vehicles, and homes. It's the fourth largest auto insurer in the country, the largest seller of motorcycle insurance, and a leader in commercial auto insurance.

Founded in 1937, Progressive continues its long history of offering shopping tools and services that save customers time and money, like Name Your Price, the Snapshot Discount, and a concierge level of claims service.

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Queensland asked to ban dog, cat sales

The Queensland government has been asked to ban pet shops from selling cats and dogs. petition tabled in state parliament today and signed by 2597 people outlined what it called the "cruel practice" of selling cats and dogs in pet shops.It says unwanted pets were often put down after spur-of-the-moment purchases and Queensland should follow the lead of other countries that had banned pet shops from selling cats and dogs.

"Animals are often purchased by ill-informed people who later discard their pet when they realise that pet ownership is not as easy or cheap as they thought," the petition says. "Your petitioners request the House to ban all pet shops from selling cats and dogs."In 2008, the government introduced a code of conduct designed to lower the numbers of unloved pets.

The code encouraged pet shops to ensure animals went only to suitable homes. Under it, prospective owners were to be talked through the responsibilities of pet ownership and whether a pet matched that person's lifestyle. It was also aimed at ensuring all cats and dogs were microchipped and desexed before they reached breeding age.

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A Pet Theory of Civilization

Anthropology | In The Boston Globe, Drake Bennett reports on the work of Pat Shipman, a Penn State anthropologist. She theorizes that Homo sapiens survived by knowing well the beasts they depended upon for food, and that this was key to the rise of civilization, including pet domestication.

Animals make us human. She means this not in a metaphorical way — that animals teach us about loyalty or nurturing or the fragility of life or anything like that — but that the unique ability to observe and control the behavior of other animals is what allowed one particular set of Pleistocene era primates to evolve into modern man.

The hunting of animals and the processing of their corpses drove the creation of tools, and the need to record and relate information about animals was so important that it gave rise to the creation of language and art. Our bond with nonhuman animals has shaped us at the level of our genes, giving us the ability to drink milk into adulthood and even, Shipman argues, promoting the set of finely honed relational antennae that allowed us to create the complex societies most of us live in today. Our love of pets is an artifact of that evolutionary interdependence.

Some of the professor’s colleagues see her ideas as a promising new framework for looking at human evolution, Mr. Bennett writes, “one that highlights the extent to which the human story has been a collection of interspecies collaborations.” They are set forth in the journal Current Anthropology and a book due out next year.

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Your Pet’s Back-to-School Blues

Back-to-school season is a time of transition for the whole family, as parents and children begin to adjust to a new routine. But as the ASPCA reports, it’s also a difficult time for pets, who have grown accustomed to some extra attention during summer vacations and excursions to parks and beaches.

“It’s not an uncommon problem — after all, cats and dogs are particularly vulnerable to any change in their schedules, and they thrive on stimulation,” the group notes. “With nothing to do, pets are forced to find ways to entertain themselves, which may include excessive barking or meowing, gnawing on shoes, raiding the garbage, eating houseplants and scratching furniture.”If your pet is suddenly having house-training “accidents,” barking or howling more often, pacing or digging or trying to break out of the yard, it may be a sign that the animal is having a hard time adjusting to the new family schedule.

The best strategy is to avoid an abrupt change in schedule, and in the weeks before school gradually introduce your pet to short periods of separation. But if it’s too late for that, the ASPCA recommends giving your dog or cat a treat every time you leave the house to help them develop positive feelings about being alone. For dogs, they suggest stuffing a rubber toy called the Kong with food to provide stimulation.

Scolding or punishing your dog or cat for bad behavior could make it worse, so be patient. If the problems continue, educate yourself about pet separation anxiety and talk to your veterinarian about your options.

Read the full article on the ASPCA Web site, “Conquering Your Pet’s Back-to-School Blues.” Is your pet showing signs of sadness when the kids leave for school? Tell us about it.

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Know Your Exotic Pet Behavior

Many people are drawn by the desire to own exotic pets. Some say it is to answer the need to be different and unique. Some have this obsession for anything exotic. Others are simply called into the wild.

No matter what the reasons may be, anybody who wants to own an exotic pet will definitely do everything to do so. Basic Requirements in Owning an Exotic Pet There are many things to consider in owning a pet. However, there are basic considerations before bringing home the exotic animal.

The household must have the physical structures needed to support the movement and 'lifestyle' of the pet. For example, there must be enough room for the big pet.

Financial considerations should also be factored in. Most exotic pets require unusual diet. The food alone can sometimes be burdensome.

There are also specific exotic pets that may be restricted or regulated by the local and federal laws like monkeys and tigers. Make sure no law is violated by bringing home the exotic creature.

Consent of everyone in the household must be acquired first. This is to avoid any problems or fights in the family and to maintain harmonious existence. Support or help in the household may also come in handy in caring for the pet.

Finally, one must also know how to properly deal with the behavior of the pet. In this regard, the following tips may be considered:

1. Research First Before bringing home the exotic pet, be sure that the type will suit the needs and demands in the household. There could also be peculiar behaviors that may irritate the household.

Will it fit in the house? Should it stay indoor or outdoor? What are its toilet habits? Does it ever get noisy? Does it need a mate or can it live alone?

2. Consult the Veterinarian Exotic pets behave differently than household pets. They may have needs that are beyond what the house can provide and only a veterinarian can answer.

However, not all veterinarians will accommodate a wild pet. Find a willing one that you can turn to when things get a bit complicated.

3. Get a Professional Trainer There are behaviors in exotic pets that can be trained. Get a professional trainer that can teach this to them to make life with the pet easier and if possible, more fun.

4. Know the Limitations Owners must know the limitations in the behavior of exotic pets. There are those that can be played with but be alert always of the limitations.

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The Necessity of Pet Steps

The health of your pet is extremely important to you, right? You worry about their teeth, their diet, and make sure that they get adequate exercise. If you are like many people, you consider them a natural extension of your family. If this fits your feelings toward your pet, then there are three big reasons to consider bed pet steps a necessity, not a luxury.

It is often assumed that pet steps are only for elderly or ill pets that are no longer capable of pouncing up onto the bed on their own. While it is entirely true that older pets will need steps to protect their joints and muscles, this is true of younger pets as well. The strain of constantly jumping up and down can put pressure on your pet's body with time.

It is quite common for injuries to pets as well as owners to happen when a pet has to jump up and down from a high bed. To avoid broken bones or collisions with your pet, you will need steps so they can crawl up in a more safer manner.

Have you ever been jarred awake by the pounce of your pet on or off your bed? This is especially an issue if you have a larger dog who is probably not as graceful as you would like. By placing a pet step near your bed, you minimize any excess movement from your pet.

You could compare the jostle of a pet on your bed to the same situation involving another human. If your partner tosses and turns throughout the night, you are more apt to take precaution by purchasing a mattress that minimizes motion transfer. In the case of your pet, you can easily minimize his excess movement by keeping pet stairs nearby.

You can understand the amount of stress your pet's joints go through to absorb the shock from jumping. Pet steps are a healthier, safer alternative to jumping on a bed. When searching for pet steps, you can choose from a variety of designs and styles, such as wooden pet steps and carpeted pet steps.

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Cat Care And Your Home

Cat care can make a big difference on the look and atmosphere of your home. When you provide great cat care, you are ensuring that your home will look and smell clean and welcoming to visitors, and will be a place that you enjoy relaxing in. If you neglect cat care, your home can start to feel more like a prison than like an oasis. A cat is meant to make your household a more pleasant place to be, because the love and affection that a cat provides, not to mention the entertainment and refreshing energy, sweeten any environment. However, if you aren't providing adequate cat care, the joys of cat ownership can become buried underneath layers of odor and grime. Luckily, in just a few minutes every day, you can offer your pet the best possible cat care. Great cat care doesn't require expense or a lot of time or effort, and it can have tangibly positive results when it comes to your home's environment.

The overall impact of better cat care on your household atmosphere can be quite powerful because different aspects of cat care have many different effects on how your home feels. One important part of cat care has to do with hygiene and taking care of any messes that your cat creates. This side of cat care will keep your home smelling fresh and looking its best. Another part of cat care has to do with the love and affection that you give your cat. Showing your pet that they are safe in your presence and that they are loved is an important aspect of cat care that can have many different benefits.

Peace and quiet are two important parts of a relaxing atmosphere, and they are the core of a pleasant home environment. A cat's plaintive mewling can add an air of anxiety or tension to your home's atmosphere. Luckily, cat care can help you minimize this aspect of pet ownership. When you spend a lot of time making your cat feel safe and appreciated, it is less likely to whine or screech. Indirectly, cat care can actually help your furnishings and decorative items stay looking newer for longer. When you provide your cat with ideal cat care, it is less likely to indulge in destructive behaviors like scratching your furniture, climbing the drapes, and other activities that can take a toll on your home's appearance.

Cat care is often a matter of routine, and can sometimes feel like a burden. When cat care feels like work, it is tempting to avoid it, or to procrastinate for day after day. Nobody looks forward to dealing with cat care issues like a messy litter box or scruffy fur that is just asking for a bath. However, changing your attitude towards cat care can make these tasks much more enjoyable. Every time you take a step towards a healthier, happier, or cleaner cat you are taking a step towards making your home a better place to be.

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