5 Reasons To Adopt A Pet

Why adopting is better than purchasing a pet.

Thinking about getting a new pet? Before you go to your local pet store or contact a breeder, please consider adopting a pet.

The following are 5 reasons to adopt your pet:

1. Healthy Pet – Animal shelters across the United States are filled with happy and health animals begging for a forever home. Shelters provide exams and vaccinations when the pets arrive and also spay and neuter pets before they go out to be adopted. Most animals are given to shelters because of people reasons like divorce, moving, or financial constraints, not because of anything they’ve done wrong.
2. Save A Life – Did you know about 2.7 million dogs and cats are euthanized every year in the US because too many people give up their pets and too few go to a shelter to adopt? Unfortunately there is limited space at shelters and they must make the difficult decision to euthanize an animal who hasn’t been able to get adopted.
3. Save Money – Adopting an animal in itself is much less expensive than buying from a breeder or pet store. The fees you pay at a shelter barely cover the cost of spay or neuter and vaccinations.
4. Feel Better – Knowing you provided an animal a forever home that would otherwise not have one is a fulfilling feeling. Plus, animals give you unconditional love along with their psychological, emotional and physical benefits. Caring for a companion animal provides a sense of purpose and lessens feeling of loneliness and isolation for any age.
5. Stop Supporting Pet Overpopulation – Puppy mills have poor conditions with improper medical care for both puppies and adults. By adopting you are helping to give a pet a second chance at having a loving and forever home.

Please consider adopting if you are looking for a new fuzzy family member.

Tips For Bringing Home A Cute Cuddly Kitten

Clear The Air loves cats and we know that sometimes it can take a new kitten time to get used to their new surroundings.

Check out our tips for bringing home a new kitten:

• Give your kitten some time – Kittens are sometimes adopted at six weeks of age, but 10 to 12 weeks is better. Those extra weeks spent with his mother and siblings help a kitten learn acceptable behavior, from getting along with siblings to getting used to human contact. If a kitten has been gently handled and has gotten used to humans, he will be friendlier and better adjusted. In choosing a kitten, look for one that is inquisitive, doesn’t shy away from your touch, and is ready to play.
• Provide a comfortable home for your kitten – Away from his litter mates or mother, the kitten needs to feel secure as well as warm. Whether you provide a cardboard box lined with a blanket or a fancier bed from a pet supply store, keep your kitten’s bed in a quiet place, away from household traffic.
• Introduce your kitten to the family slowly – Although everyone will want to hold the kitten, limit handling for the first few days while your new pet adjusts. Set up his bed, litter box and food in a quiet room where he can be secured until he gets to know his new home. Introduce one family member at a time, allowing the kitten to come to you and learn your touch. Give your resident cat extra attention to ease his or her anxiety. Once the kitten feels comfortable, allow the two to meet briefly. Stay in the room while they sniff and explore each other.
• Kitten-proof your home before bringing him home – Kittens can get tangled or choked by anything swinging or hanging. Therefore, keep your new pet safe by securely anchoring drape or blind cords out of reach. To prevent chewing on electric and phone cords, bundle them with a cord manager and fasten away from kittens’ reach. In the laundry area, keep washer and dryer doors closed: A kitten may climb into a warm dryer for a nap. Remember, if something would be harmful for a toddler, it’s the same for your kitten.

Don’t Be Embarrassed By “Doggy Odor”

If you have dogs, you have probably come across that “doggy odor” here and there.

Clear The Air prides ourselves on being able to completely eliminate doggy odor from any source, big or small, seen or unseen.

If you have doggy odor in your carpet: Simply sprinkle Earth Care Clear The Air granules on the carpet and hang Earth Care Odor Remover Bags to eliminate doggy odors from the carpet. Wait for 24 hours to vacuum up the granules from the carpet.

If you have doggy odor in your dog beds: Take the dog beds outside where there is plenty of air circulation and sprinkle our Earth Care Clear The Air granules all over the beds. Allow 24 hours for the granules to stay on the dog beds. You can then shake off the granules and your odor will be eliminated. If the odor is extremely strong, you may want to wash the bed first, let it dry then apply the granules to the bed.

If you have doggy odor in your car: If your car smells like your dog’s bed, it’s time to use our product! Simply hang or place two of our Earth Care Odor Remover Bags in your car. Our product works best when there is air flow in your vehicle. We recommend rolling down the windows when your car is parked and not in use. If the odor is extremely strong, sprinkle some of our Earth Care Clear The Air granules on the floor boards of your vehicle. Leave the granules for 24 hours then you may vacuum them up.

This unique form of Earth Care Products Mineral does not have to come into contact with the odor producer; it will pull the odors from the entire area.

Have questions about eliminating a pesky odor? Please comment on our blog or contact our customer service agent, Pat.

How Do I Know My Cat Loves Me?

Cats are funny animals in that they don’t show too much emotion when it comes to showing that they love you.

Clear The Air loves cats and we have a couple of our own. We’d like to share some cool ways that cats show they love you:

• Half Mast Eyes – If you are lying in bed or on the couch with your cat and his eyes are half shut while he looks at you, he is telling you he is comfortable with you. For cats, this is a huge compliment they are giving you.
• Rolling Around With Tummy Up – A cat laying with its belly up is showing that he thinks you are safe and won’t hurt him. He is saying he trusts you and can let his guard down.
• Kneading or “Biscuit Making” – When a cat kneads on you – moving his paws up and down on you – he is saying he loves you. Kittens do this same action to stimulate their mother’s milk production. This is a sign of contentment; your cat is reliving his happy moments as a kitten.
• Head-butt – A head-butt, also known as a head bump, is your cat letting you know how highly he thinks of you, almost like a secret handshake. Not every cat does this and this behavior is somewhat rare. If you put your hand by his head and he shoves his head into your hand, he is giving you an affectionate head-butt.
• Talking – Cats do not meow with other cats so when your cat is talking away in his meow language, he is talking to you! Usually letting you know he is hungry, wants a treat or wants to go outside. Usually if you talk back to them they’ll carry on quite a long conversation with you. 🙂

Tessa The Blind Dog

Such a great story from Adopt A Pet about a dog names Tessa who couldn’t find a home. We hope this touches your heart the way it did ours:

While it’s no surprise that we believe every pet deserves to be safe and cared for, sometimes we’re touched by a story that is especially inspiring and serves to reminds the world of exactly how amazing animal rescue is.  Tessa’s story does just that. You remember Tessa. She was a blind and without the ability to walk. But with a little tender love and the support of this wonderful community of animal lovers, Tessa is starting a new chapter in her life.  And this chapter is one that is destined to be filled with happiness, as Tessa has officially been adopted into an awesome family that is just as thrilled to be a part of her life as she is to be saved.

Here’s a note we received from Annie Hart, Executive Director of Bill Foundation who spearheaded the effort to save this angel:

On January 10^th of this year, I posted on Facebook and asked for our village’s help rescuing a blind dog named Tessa from the shelter. Little did I know that this rescue would not only change the life of a dog, but an entire community.

The moment I rescued Tessa I knew there was more going on with her than just being blind. She was a shell of a dog; confused, painfully scared and she wouldn’t stand up or take even one step. We discovered that Tessa had hydrocephalus (fluid in her brain) and vertical nystagmus, which caused her to feel dizzy. Her prognosis was quite poor and her doctors didn’t think she would ever walk again, let alone regain her vision.

With the support of our village, we took a leap of faith, began medical treatment and physical therapy, hoping to help Tessa find a way to live.

Every progressive “step” Tessa took, our village cheered her on. They prayed for her to health and the celebrated each milestone.  When her video came out, they helped us by sharing it far and wide for more than three months hoping that one share would lead to that perfect family.

On May 3^rd, Tessa and I attended a “Specially Abled Pets Day” event held by our friends at Two Hands Four Paws. There we met a couple, who had seen Tessa’s video through a newsletter someone had sent them. There was an instant connection between Tessa and the woman, and not just because they had matching hair.

As they left, I turned to my friends and said, “Gosh, I really hope they fill out an application”. My friend agreed, they were amazing and might be exactly what we had been waiting for.

They did fill out the application and it was perfect for Tessa. A retired couple with 2 dogs and a cat of their own, plenty of time to dedicate to caring for Tessa, along with past experience caring for a special needs dog. So, Tessa and I began “dating” this new family and for the past few weeks we have slowly been integrating her into their home. Baby steps so that the transition is easier on Tessa.

Well, Today is the big day! Tessa will officially begin her new life with her adoptive family!

Thank you to everyone who has shared Tessa’s story and all those who donate to Bill Foundation. It is because of you that our rescues are possible. And a very special thank you to Adopt-a-Pet.com for their partnership in finding homes for abandoned animals and for helping us share Tessa’s story with the world.

While it took a village to find Tessa a home, it took a very special blind dog to bring this village together.

We are so happy for Tessa and her new family!  Thank you to everyone who helped Tessa by watching her video, sharing her story, or donating to an animal welfare organization that helps animals like Tessa be given the chance they deserve. And of course, thank you to Annie Hart for turning Tessa’s life around and for sharing a story that will inspire others!

This story is from Adopt A Pet – You can read the entire article here: http://blog.adoptapet.com/tessa-the-blind-dog-who-couldn%E2%80%99t-walk-finds-happily-ever-after/

13 Crazy Cat Facts

Clear The Air loves cats! Check out these crazy cat facts for all you cat lovers out there:

1. One litter of kittens can be produced by more than one father.
2. A cat’s heart beats up to 140 times per minute, or about twice as fast as a human’s.
3. Many people think that cats are colorblind, but it’s a myth. Now we know that cats can see blues, reds and greens. Also, many cats don’t have eyelashes.
4. Cats will spend about a third of the day grooming. The process is helped along by the backwards-facing spikes on their tongues. Now you know why it feels like being rubbed with sandpaper when they lick you. They will also spend about 16 hours a day sleeping.
5. Puss, a cat from England, lived to be 36 in human years: the oldest cat on record.
6. Ancient Egyptians shaved their eyebrows in mourning when their cats died. And if someone killed a cat, he or she could get the death penalty.
7. Cats weigh an average of 12 pounds. The heaviest cat on record weighed nearly 47 pounds. The lightest was one pound, eight ounces.
8. When kittens are born, their eyes are blue – but they often change color as the babies grow. The will also start dreaming when they’re about one week old.
9. Cats can be trained to use the toilet as their litter box. Some can even be taught to flush when they’re done.
10. Researchers have tried mouse-flavored cat food. The cats who were introduced to it refused to eat it.
11. You might think it’s disgusting when your cat brings you dead prey (like a bird or mouse), but you should thank her anyway. She thinks that she’s bringing you a present.
12. Cats rarely meow at other cats. Often a cat meows to his human when you come home or even to greet you when you see each other in the house or yard.
13. And our favorite – our cats don’t think of themselves as small humans. Rather, they think of us as large cats.

Avoid Doggy Destruction – 5 Ways To Keep Your Dog Happy While You’re Away

We all have to work and sometimes our dogs have to get left at home while we are away.

Check out these great ways to keep your dog entertained while you are away and he is home alone from Clear the Air:

1. Lots of walks – It is a great idea to take your dog for a walk before you go off to work. Not only will he be able to go potty to reduce the chance of an accident but you two will get to spend some quality time together. You might want to throw the ball and include some playtime in your walk to tire him out so he can relax while you are at work.
2. Toys – Introducing a new toy while you he is home alone can add some excitement to your dog’s life. A chew toy that your dog has to work out while you’re gone is the best. Try hiding toys for a few days and reintroducing it to him as well. Toys such as a Kong or food cube will encourage your dog to stay active while trying to work at getting the treat out of the toy. Even the laziest of dogs may not be able to resist a toy that gives them yummy treats when they play with it.
3. Water – Making sure your dog has enough water while you are gone is extremely important. A dog fountain provides a constant supply of clean fresh water and many dogs love the diversion that a fountain can create.
4. Sound – When you are out, leave on a CD or tune the radio to a clear station and let it play while you are out. This will not only feel like he isn’t alone but the noise will keep him company as well.
5. Comfortable Bed – Create a comfortable place for your dog to relax. He will most likely want to snooze while you are away and making his spot inviting and comfortable will help keep him a good boy while he’s along.

The Cat’s Meow: What Is My Cat Telling Me?

Cats are great at communicating and use their entire body to tell you how they feel or what they want. Some may not be too inclined to vocalize their opinions through a meow, while others may be a chatty Cathy.

Every kitty is born with their own baseline noisiness – some breeds are chattier than others such as the Siamese. A large amount of meows in cats is likely due to human behavior. If a cat meows because he wants to be fed, he will keep meowing until he gets food. If food is never given when he meows, he would be less vocal.

It is possible to talk to your cat more to encourage him to talk back. Reinforce him meowing by giving him something he wants, such as to open a door or giving him a treat. If your cat talks too much, teach him to do something that doesn’t involve meowing, such as walk in a circle, to get a treat. If you give your kitty attention each time he meows, he will know a meow is the key to getting noticed.

Keep in mind, excessive meowing can sometimes indicate pain, anxiety or another medical issue. If you are in doubt, consult your veterinarian.

The following are some reasons why your cat meows:

• Illness. The first step is a thorough checkup by your veterinarian. Numerous diseases can cause a cat to feel hunger, thirst, or pain, all of which can lead to excessive meowing.
• Attention seeking. Despite what some people think, cats don’t like being alone a lot. Cats often meow to initiate play, petting, or to get you to talk to them.
• Wants food. Some cats meow every time someone walks in the kitchen, hoping to get a bite. And many cats become very vocal when it gets close to their feeding times. If this is your problem, don’t feed your cat when she cries.
• Greeting you. Many cats meow when their people come home, or even when they just meet them in the house.
• She’s lonely. If your pet spends too many hours a day alone, think about getting a pet sitter to drop in during the day, or find other ways to enrich your pet’s life.
• A stressed cat. Cats that are experiencing stress often become more vocal. A new pet or baby, a move or changes to the home, an illness or the loss of a loved one can turn your cat into a talker.
• Aging cats. Cats, just like people, can suffer from a form of mental confusion, or cognitive dysfunction, as they age. They become disoriented and often cry plaintively for no apparent reason, especially at night.
• Cats that want to breed. If your cat isn’t spayed or neutered, then you’re going to hear a lot more noise. Females yowl when in heat, and males yowl when they smell a female in season. Get your pet spayed or neutered.

A Healthy Bird Is A Happy Bird!

How to keep your pet bird happy and healthy.

The crew at Clear The Air loves all animals and we know birds are a popular pet amongst Americans. We would like to share some helpful tips to keeping your bird happy and healthy.

Remember to use Clear The Air’s Pet Odor Eliminator to sprinkle at the bottom of your bird‘s cage to eliminate any odors. Our products are 100% non toxic and completely safe around animals and children even if consumed.

1. Your Bird’s Home: Make sure to keep your bird indoors inside a cage or small aviary and that your bird is able to find a cool area when the heat rises in the warmer months of the year. If you are moving your bird, make sure to make the adjustment of temperature a gradual one. Birds do not like sudden changes in temperature. Keep your bird in an area with circulating air.
2. Your Bird’s Feed: Purchase high quality bird seed or pellets. Birds also like lettuce and fruit for variety. Make sure not to feed your bird apple seeds and onions. You want to also make sure you have a container for fresh water and another for bath water.
3. Your Bird’s Temperature: Birds can regulate their body temperature through water evaporation like panting, throat vibrations as well as through their feed and the surface of their skin. If you place your bird’s cage in front of a window, make sure the sun’s rays are not overheating your bird.
4. Your Bird’s Health: If your bird has stopped grooming itself, loses his appetite and does not sit on top of his perch, he may be ill. Make sure you take your bird to the veterinarian immediately. Birds, just like dogs and cats, need regular veterinary care.
5. Your Bird’s Friends: It is important to spend time with your bird and let him get to know your voice and face. Birds usually like having another bird for company. In most cases a male and female bird in the same cage will work.
6. Your Bird’s Wings: Your bird’s wings need to be clipped so it will not fly away. If you have your bird’s wings clipped you can take him outside with you. Use caution as your bird will probably try to fly because he is in open air.
7. Your Bird’s Exercise: Exercise your bird by holding them on a stick and moving it carefully up and down so your bird opens his wings for balance. You can also place a treat a short distance from your bird so he has to walk to get it. Also make sure you have fun toys in his cage that will intrigue him and keep him entertained mentally and physically.

The Marines Working Hard To Save Tortoises

Check out this great article from the Wall Street Journal about our marines saving the desert tortoises.

Such a great article about our Marines saving the Desert Tortoises! This article is from The Wall Street Journal.

The Few, the Proud, the Tortoises: Marines Protect Endangered Species

TWENTYNINE PALMS, Calif.—U.S. Marines are taught to overcome obstacles with a minimum of help. But when some Marines prepared to charge a hill in a training exercise here a few months ago, they were forced to halt and radio the one man who could help them advance: Brian Henen, turtle expert.

The troops were “running up the hill and firing at targets,” Mr. Henen said. “Some of the tortoises like the hill also. The Marines don’t want to hurt the tortoise, so they call us and we go in and move it.”

Mr. Henen, who has a doctorate in biology, is part of a little-known army of biologists and other scientists who manage the Mojave desert tortoise and about 420 other threatened and endangered species on about 28 million acres of federally managed military land.

“There’s a lot of people who don’t recognize the amount of conservation the Marine Corps does,” said Martin Husung, a natural-resource specialist on the base. “A lot of people think we’re just running over things.”

Instead, Mr. Henen often hustles out to remote parts of the Mojave Desert to make sure the threatened desert tortoise, which can weigh 10 pounds and live to be more than 50 years old, isn’t frightened by charging troops.

“When they get scared, they pee themselves,” Mr. Henen said, referring to the tortoises. Since tortoises can go two years between drinks of water, an unplanned micturition can cause dehydration and even death. So Mr. Henen sometimes demonstrates to troops how he soaks the reptiles in a pool until they drink enough water to plod on with their lives.

The tortoise isn’t the only animal benefiting from the limited hunting, high security and trained biologists on many bases. On the Navy’s San Clemente Island, biologists protect vulnerable loggerhead shrikes from hungry rats by installing metal “rat flashings” at the base of trees the birds nest in. In Texas, the Army creates protective nesting environments for endangered golden-cheeked warblers to fend off incursions by brown-headed cowbirds. And at Arnold Air Force Base in Tennessee, the once-endangered Helianthus eggertii, or Eggert’s sunflower, is doing so well it has been taken off the endangered list.

Congress ordered the Defense Department to protect the flora and fauna on its lands under the 1960 Sikes Act. Today, the military works with agencies like the Fish and Wildlife Service, a bureau of the Interior Department, to search for and protect animals, plants and archaeological sites on its bases.

At Fort Benning, an Army base near Columbus, Ga., gunfire and explosions regularly set off fires in the pine trees, said John Brent, the base environmental manager. Oddly enough, this is a boon for the red-cockaded woodpecker, a bird on the endangered species list that has made a comeback there.

The finicky woodpecker typically lives in longleaf pines at least 60 years old. The tree thrives on forest fires. “It needs fire to germinate and grow,” Mr. Brent said.

Outside the base, civilian agencies have long tried to prevent forest fires, and that ultimately hurts the pine population. Elsewhere, forest lands are disappearing amid rapid development.

All of this has the birds flocking to the base, Mr. Brent said. To help welcome the new tenants, Mr. Brent and others have been building bird “condominiums,” Mr. Brent said. For this they cut a hole about the size of a loaf of bread in an existing tree and slide in a cedar box to accommodate a nest. They can only do this once per tree because these picky birds prefer “condos, not townhouses,” Mr. Brent said.

“It’s a well-kept secret” that biologists are drawn to work on military bases, Mr. Brent said. “There’s a chance to do terrific work.”

Last year, the Department of Defense spent nearly $70 million on threatened and endangered species management and conservation, including $16.5 million on the red-cockaded woodpecker and just under $6 million on the desert tortoise.

The outlays let biologists survey habitats, tag and track animals, build hatcheries and provide ecological training to thousands of troops.

At Fort Irwin, an Army base near Barstow, Calif., Clarence Everly bumped along a dirt trail in a Dodge Ram pickup. The former Airborne Ranger is now the natural and cultural resources manager on base.

“Having been in the Army, it gives you some street cred” dealing with soldiers and the chain of command, he said. “You’re not just the environmentalist guy trying to prevent them from doing training.”

He drove out to meet a team of biologists from the U.S. Geological Survey on a 10-acre restricted area where lonely Joshua trees shook in 50 mile per hour winds.

This “is a great resource,” said Christina Aiello, a USGS scientist and Ph.D. student from Penn State University, trying to yell over the gusts of wind. “Blocking off areas, restricting access, it’s safe and secure and there’s no public access.”

She is part of a team doing research on how tortoises interact socially. She said their research is “like Facebook” as they track friend circles in the tortoise group.

Back at Twentynine Palms, Ken Nagy, a professor emeritus in biology from UCLA studying the reproductive habits of the reptiles, held a baby tortoise in one hand, its shell still soft.

They are like “walking ravioli” to predators, he said. A fenced-off section of the base covered by netting helps overcome the high mortality rate for young tortoises in the wild. Mr. Nagy’s program helps protect juveniles from birds and allows for research in a natural habitat.

Other parts of the military’s domain aren’t exactly natural but still offer the animals military-style protection.

On Fort Irwin, Mr. Everly peered through the window of his pickup at some targets in the distance—home to a surprisingly large tortoise population. “In essence, the live-fire ranges are protection for the tortoises,” he said, looking at a patch of ground where bullets often rain down but rarely hit the burrowing reptile. “Nobody goes out there.”

Check out the entire article here: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424127887323798104578452941180687984.html?mod=wsj_valettop_email