Christmas is a time of love, family, and last but not least, generosity and good deeds. However, not everyone can be in the warmth of a home on Christmas, and this is also true for our four-legged companions. How can we help them during this time and perhaps also give ourselves something to do?
If you're tired of sitting on the couch in front of the TV all day and snacking on cookies, it's time to start a new tradition. If you’re not interested in feeding ducks or taking a walk through the city or the forest, you may be thrilled to visit a shelter.
Many shelters open their doors on Christmas and welcome every visitor. In some places you can leave the dogs gifts under the tree, in other places this day is for meeting, a tour of the place or walking the dogs. There may also be an accompanying program in the form of lectures or demonstrations of training.
If you support a shelter all year round, their Christmas event has certainly not slipped your attention. If you don't but you want to do a good deed on Christmas, or you're just bored at home, try to look for organizations near you and find out when you can come, what you can bring the dogs or what they need most. I personally like visiting private shelters that have to raise funding to look after the dogs themselves. Every extra gram of kibble is more than needed here.
If you do go to a shelter and decide to bring the dogs some food, it's better to buy a small amount of high-quality food. Low-quality market food is unsatisfactory for abandoned dogs, as these dogs often come from bad conditions that also affected their digestion. Poor quality food would just cause digestive problems, and sometimes it is absolutely indigestible or even health threatening, apart from the fact that they don't get the nutrients they need from it.
In some places they only use one type of food that the dogs are accustomed, so they won't be able to use different kinds. I even know a shelter where they feed the dogs a BARF diet. Here they will appreciate a mixture of herbs, fruit and vegetables.
In addition to kibble and canned food, old blankets and large pieces of fabric such as bed sheets and linen, cleaning supplies including rubber gloves and solid garbage bags, disinfectants, collars, leashes and bowls are always useful in a shelter. However, it's always best to find out what they need beforehand.
If you can't find a shelter in your area, or if you don't have the time to visit one personally, a financial donation will also help. In some places you can even buy a gift certificate stating exactly what or for which specific dog the money will be used. You can then give someone a good deed for Christmas.
.jpg/30x20/FIT)
.jpg/600x400/FIT)
Summer months bring hot weather and also holidays. What sort of nutrition do animals require during this period? Is it necessary to change their diet on hot days? And what is most important during hot temperatures? We have discussed this topic with...
.jpg/30x20/FIT)
.jpg/600x400/FIT)
Despite being self-reliant animals to a certain extent, cats are provided with the best possible care by their owners who make sure that those balls of fluff are content in any circumstances. What is required by cats that live with us in a flat? And...
Everyone should have their own place where they can relax in peace. This also applies to animals. Rats, for example, who are very sociable and in nature live in large groups, usually have their own place where they can recharge by the side of their...
They help with searches in avalanches, debris and large wooded areas in inaccessible terrain. They save valuable minutes that can make the difference in whether an injured person survives. One canine rescuer makes up for up to 20 people, especially at...
The tradition of rescuer dogs has been a staple in the Czech Republic for almost a century, and our country ranks among the top European leaders in this discipline. Canine rescuers help in the mountains not only in winter, but throughout the whole...
Today, there are a number of products and gadgets for riding with a dog, which will ensure that we can take the dog with us safely on longer journeys. However, you should pay attention to driving safety even if you only drive a few kilometers. Even...
Dog agility is a discipline that means a lot of exercise for both the dogs and the handlers, but also a lot of fun. In addition, it strengthens the relationship between the owner and the animal, and also allows the dog to learn new skills. Another...
Rabbits are great pets for all who live in flats, but cannot afford a cat, or just want to have a cheerful companion who won’t let you down and can handle being alone at the same time. Still, there are certain factors you should think about before...
In most cases, cats love being in nature and active, so it comes as no surprise that felines living in houses and flats may occasionally want to go out and explore the world. If you have such a cat at home, you may find useful the following tips on...
Czech cynologists from the Search and Rescue Czech Republic team have managed to train eight dogs who can tell if you have COVID-19. Detecting the disease is a worldwide problem, which is also recognized by VAFO, who supported the project financially...
As the title suggests, this breed comes from the State of Maine in the United States. It is one of the oldest breeds living in nature, the largest domesticated breed, gaining popularity in Europe in recent years. There are several reasons for this....
We have already introduced dogfrisbee, the activity in which a dog catches a frisbee, several times. We focused mainly on various disciplines in which dog owners can compete together with their canine companions at any level. Another such discipline...
