Getting your pet from a breeding mill is no longer just a matter of dogs. Nowadays, you are "guaranteed" to be able to purchase cheaply and quickly also cats, various species of rodents or even hedgehogs. What is more, breeding mill owners are increasingly inventive and rely on people's lack of knowledge and carelessness. What to watch out for if you suspect that your pet is from that sort of environment?
Whether it is a puppy, a cat or a rat, their stay in a breeding mill at the start of their life (their most important stage of learning the basics of socialisation) is exactly the same. In the vast majority of cases, animals raised in this way must survive in catastrophic conditions - the premises are unsuitable and often crammed with a large number of animals having to share cages that are way too small.
Breeding mill owners buy the cheapest feeds, which are usually of poor quality, and do not provide any further care to these young animals that could be malnourished. Conditions in terms of hygiene are insufficient because with such a large number of animals the owners have not got enough time to keep all the cages and pens clean. Such traumatising experience, unfortunately, affects the pets in their future life.
Health and behaviour problems
Problems can come as early as two weeks after bringing your new family member home. They can vary from animal to animal. In general, be aware that the original owners did not invest much into the breeding. Breeding mills are a business focusing on a quick profit.
Animals are often not wormed, vaccinated and can suffer from various genetic defects. It is a good idea to take your pet for a check-up to a vet, who can detect some of these problems immediately. You should, however, bear in mind that other veterinary expenses will follow. Your four-legged friend should, for example, have his bones and joints examined as they can be deformed or dislocated due to a poor diet and a lack of movement.
Dogs, but generally all animals in breeding mills, also suffer mentally because there is little interaction with the outside world or other animals and humans. No one really cares for them there or gives them what they need. They feel unloved. That is why they are more scared of their surroundings, they are more aggressive and generally quite dangerous for their new family as they are afraid that their previous experience will repeat.
Be patient
The key is to be patient with such a pet. It is very likely that they are not going to listen to you straight away and it might take time for them to start trusting you and treat you as their friend. Some behavioural problems may still show even after several years of the animal being in your care. However, even though you feel sorry for them, rather than spoiling them start building your relationship from scratch. Otherwise they might gradually become too much for you to handle.
The trend of pets has been a matter of the past 150 years. But what will the next 150 years look like? With the evolution of our society and its values, circuses and zoos are on the radar, and the number of people who do not eat meat, and even vegans,...
July is the time to prepare for autumn kittens. It's good to remind ourselves what cat pregnancy entails, when and how to prevent it and why.
Do you have a pregnant cat at home? Is this stage slowly coming to an end and you are starting to panic about the birth? Let me take you through it from the beginning to the end. Let's take a look at when it is necessary to intervene, when the help...
Outside temperatures suggest that the boater season is just behind the corner. Many people take their family and children on a water adventure. Some boaters even take their four-legged friends along. What can you do to make sure your trip goes...
In the summer, most of us move to the garden, whether at our home or cottage. Of course, we also want to let our rodent friends loose, and simply bringing the cage out won't do it. How can we make a comfortable, safe outdoor enclosure?
Does your cat wander outside? Are you tired of constant meowing and scratching on doors, or constantly opened windows? Then it's time to get your cat a door.
The nutrient requirements of each dog varies depending on its age, physical condition, lifestyle and size. There are many aspects, and you need to take them all into account when choosing your food.
Cats can take a cold a lot harder than we do. For them it's a relatively serious and very contagious viral disease. A cat cold is a combination of diseases, whose symptoms include a cold.
What elements play an important role in cat nutrition, why do they need them and in what proportion should they get them? This is the alchemy behind the preparation of quality cat food.
Although traveling is fun, it can also be stressful. We have to make sure we don't forget anything and that everything goes according to plan. But what if you decide to travel with your little friend, a guinea pig? Let's take a look at what you...
It is a well-known fact about cats that they like lying in the sunlight. However, that doesn’t mean they are never hot and the risk of overheating is not real for them.
The fact that there are different cans and dry food for dogs and cats is not a marketing stunt. Both beasts have their specific nutrition needs which vary in certain aspects and if you give them the wrong food, they will start suffering quite soon.
