All too frequently we read of sickening cases of cruelty to pets in local and national newspapers. Why is it, we ask, that some ‘human’ creatures inflict suffering upon other creatures that are usually smaller and defenseless? Why do they take pets into their homes only to treat them with less than respect and with a great deal of contempt?

Often the reason these animal abusers obtain a pet is the same reason that they end up treating the animal cruelly. And that reason is control. They may not consciously think “I need something to control so I will get myself a pet”, but the fact remains that rarely do these people keep a pet just for companionship and something to love, but to have a living thing under their control.

People that deliberately hurt animals do so because it gives them a feeling of power. Perhaps these ‘people’ feel undervalued within their family, or within society. Perhaps they have an inflated sense of how much they should be valued. Hence, these sick beings take out their frustrations on helpless pets.

Often sadistic acts of animal abuse are one step away from abusing humans.

In a shocking amount of cases, those that commit terrible acts of violence to people, serial killers, child abusers, spouse beaters and rapists, have a history of animal abuse. As a youth Albert DeSalvo (the Boston strangler) trapped cats and dogs in crates and abused them. Peter Kurten (the Dusseldorf vampire) started torturing dogs as a boy and carried the vile practice into adulthood. Brenda Spencer fired rifle shots at school children, wounding nine and killing two. Neighbors of the murderess reported that she often abused cats and dogs, sometimes by setting their tails on fire.

A study in 1997 discovered that 40% of animal abusers had committed acts of violence against people. In another study, a history of abusing animals was found in 46% of those found guilty of sexual homicide.

The sensational high profile examples, such as serial killers, are but the tip of the iceberg, in many, many cases of spouse battering, child abuse, etc. pet cruelty is also a factor in the home. It’s a sad fact that all too often we read reports in the news papers of someone found guilty of cruelty to their pet which is a sick terrible thing in itself, but often that is only half the story.

In an extensive survey of abused wives who kept pets, over half reveled that their abusing partners had harmed, and in some cases killed, their pets. The fear that the abuser would greatly harm the pet for revenge if she left, kept many of those wives from leaving.

Back in 1837 when Charles Dickens wrote Oliver Twist he created the character Bill Sykes, who was a violent bully that badly abused his dog Bullseye. True to form, the bullying thug was also violent with people, particularly his lady friend Nancy.

Before the end of the novel Sykes attempts to take the life of the child Oliver, and succeeds in killing Nancy. Dickens knew that those that are cruel to pets are dangerous sick people.

If you know of anyone who harms their pet, or is cruel to an animal in any way, do not hesitate in reporting them to the authorities. In doing so, you may not only be saving the life of an animal but ultimately, a human being.

There comes a time in most home families when the children get a bit older and their dog or teddy is no longer the best thing in the world to play with, every new friend or existing friend your children make seems to have a cute little dog, and its only a matter of time before your children are going to start pestering you for one. So what should you look for is your serious about getting a family dog?

For starters your dog will need to be able to take everything your children can throw at it, children often donâ??t have any idea of how to handle a new pet dog so donâ??t expect them to play gently all the time, unknowing children have a tendency to be a little rough wile playing with dogs so a dog breed that can take some rough playing is essential.

Different dogs have different personalities just like humans do so be aware of this when purchasing a new dog, just because a dog breed is normally playful, energetic, and nice , this does not mean the one you get will be the same. Being prepared to put in work and time with your dog is also essential with a family dog because dogâ??s often take the things your children tell it to do as acceptable when this may not be the case, so dog behavior training will be needed at some point.

After considering the previous paragraphs Iâ??m sure you will be pretty certain on whether you still want a dog for your home or not, if you do then here are some suggestions on different breeds that you may want to consider.

Golden Retriever. The golden retriever is a good popular choice for families because of their active and loyal personality and a good all round dog.

Boxer. Although the boxer may look big and intimidating to some, the boxer is a very good family dog in that they love being around people, they take care of the family members, and are always willing to play.

Labrador Retreiver. An extremely popular pet in many households across the world, the Labrador is a very friendly loving dog that loves to play and be very active for your kids to play with.

Beagle. The beagle is a very sturdy dog that can take plenty of roughness and playing, and loves to be active and meet new people. A very excited and curious dog that is great for family life.

Boston Terrier. The terrier is a gentle, well mannered dog and enjoys a challenge. Boston terriers are very easy to train and make for great family dogs and friends.

Irish Setter. A very affectionate dog, the Irish setter is a very good choice for families due to its liking for children and constant happy playful attitude.

Of all the diseases yeast infection is one of the worst diseases that can happen to your dog or anyone for that matter. The constant scratching and the smell can make the life miserable for anyone. Although there are cures available prevention is always better than cure. As a pet owner there are many things that you can do to prevent yeast infection in dogs, although these are focused at preventing yeast infection some of these tips are valid for almost any dog disease.

Diet is one of the most important things that you can manage to prevent yeast infection in dogs. In fact that is what most natural cures advise you to do as well, provide a healthy diet that destroys the bacteria that causes infection. As long as you provide food that feed the bacteria that causes the disease it’s very hard to permanently get rid of yeast infection.

Exercise is another important area that helps in preventing most diseases in dogs.

There is no substitute for regular exercises and taking the dog out for a walk will do you some good as well , most of all its fun and if you are not doing it you are missing out on a lot.

When it comes to yeast infection is dogs the most worst effected areas are the paws and the ears. These places provide the perfect environment for the bacteria to grow and these it is hard to spot it until it gets a bit worse as well. This is especially severe on dogs with long floppy ears. Regularly cleaning these areas and keeping them dry is another good method to prevent yeast infection in dogs.

When it comes to yeast infection is dogs the most worst effected areas are the paws and the ears. These places provide the perfect environment for the bacteria to grow and these it is hard to spot it until it gets a bit worse as well. This is especially severe on dogs with long floppy ears. Regularly cleaning these areas and keeping them dry is another good method to prevent yeast infection in dogs.

If you are a brand new pet owner you may not be sure how to adequately take care of your new pet. Taking good care of your pet has a lot of different aspects attached to it, and there can be a lot to learn at first. Everything from your pet’s diet, grooming habits, and even health care plans can be included in learning how to properly care for your pet. In this article we’ll take a look at several basic pet care tips you can use to help make sure your pet gets the best care you can possibly give them.

One of the first and most important basic pet care tips is looking after your pet’s diet. There are literally hundreds of different name brands, flavors, and kinds of food available for your pet to eat. It’s important that you check into each of the companies and check to make sure they haven’t recently had any kind of recall. Next, you’ll want to try and find the healthiest type of food your dog can eat. This can be difficult with so many choices, so be prepared to read a lot of labels.

Another aspect of keeping a close eye on your pet’s diet is making sure you watch for obesity in your animals. It is not healthy at all for your pet to be overweight and it can even shorten your pet’s life drastically. Weight gain is typical in pets as they get older so especially watch for obesity if your pet is starting to get up in age. Make sure to keep pet treats to a bare minimum and to not over do it, as this is a big factor in dog’s who become overweight. Most people already know not to give a dog or cat chocolate, but it’s good to be reminded. Chocolate can actually poison your animal and kill it.

Another of the basic pet care tips you need to know involves grooming. Grooming your family pet should be done on a regular basis and in some cases it should be done on a daily basis. Get a specially designed pet comb to help get rid of your pet’s loose hair and to help distribute the oil in your pet’s fur coat. This will make their coat shiny and it will look beautiful. Get a high quality pet shampoo to wash your pet in and also make sure to put to use any flea treatments that may help get rid of your dog’s flea problem.

If you don’t plan on using your pet to breed other litters of animals then you need to have that pet spayed or neutered. Not only does this prevent you having a ton of puppies to try and give away, it is also very healthy for your pet. In most cases it helps reduce the chances of prostate cancer in male animals and breast cancer in female animals. Many people who let their cat or dog have a lot of puppies or kittens end up creating a big stray pet problem, in which these animals end up with no loving homes and in shelters.

Exercising is another basic pet care tips must. Exercise helps to keep your dog from being overweight and unhealthy. It is also a great way for you to bond with your pet. Exercising also allows your dog to socialize with other dogs and will in general improve your dog’s over all attitude and behavior.

Your pet deserves your best care and attention for all the love and joy he or she brings to your life. Make sure you do your best to make sure your dog’s health needs and grooming needs are a top priority for you so that your dog will live a long and healthy life.