Pennsylvania’s Animal Cruelty Laws

That Fish Place – That Pet Place is committed to the proper, safe ownership of all animals and we wanted to help our blog readers get a better understanding of what animal cruelty laws are, so we can prevent these abusive acts.

There are many acts that are legally considered cruel that you might not have previously considered. We wanted to highlight a few of these little known abuses and will post the full list of cruelty laws below.

(b) Regulating certain actions concerning fowl or rabbits.–A person commits a summary offense if he sells, offers for sale, barters, or gives away baby chickens, ducklings, or other fowl, under one month of age, or rabbits under two months of age, as pets, toys, premiums or novelties or if he colors, dyes, stains or otherwise changes the natural color of baby chickens, ducklings or other fowl, or rabbits or if he brings or transports the same into this Commonwealth. This section shall not be construed to prohibit the sale or display of such baby chickens, ducklings, or other fowl, or such rabbits, in proper facilities by persons engaged in the business of selling them for purposes of commercial breeding and raising.

Coloring chickens or rabbits might seem like a fun harmless activity, especially during the holidays, but they are considered illegal and should be avoided.

(d) Selling or using disabled horse.–A person commits a summary offense if he offers for sale or sells any horse, which by reason of debility, disease or lameness, or for other cause, could not be worked or used without violating the laws against cruelty to animals, or leads, rides, drives or transports any such horse for any purpose, except that of conveying the horse to the nearest available appropriate facility for its humane keeping or destruction or for medical or surgical treatment.

(f) Hours of labor of animals.–A person commits a summary offense if he leads, drives, rides or works or causes or permits any other person to lead, drive, ride or work any horse, mare, mule, ox, or any other animal, whether belonging to himself or in his possession or control, for more than 15 hours in any 24 hour period, or more than 90 hours in any one week.

Perhaps an overlooked section of the law is the use of animals for labor. Anyone who overworks and animal or uses an animal that is injured can face heavy fines.

(1) A person commits a misdemeanor of the third degree if he is the owner or co-owner of a dog that kills, maims or disfigures a guide dog of an individual who is blind, a hearing dog of an individual who is deaf or audibly impaired or a service dog of an individual who is physically limited without provocation by the guide, hearing or service dog or the individual.

If a person, or their dog, causes harm or death to a guide dog, they can face heavy fines, up to and including health care costs for the guide dog or even replacement and training costs for a new guide dog.

Here in Pennsylvania, the SPCA strives to eliminate abuse towards animals. Their team investigates complaints that includes physical abuse, hoarding, animal fighting, neglect, neglect and failure to provide food, water, shelter and vet care.spca-300x82

They find educating the public can be effective at reducing complaints related to animal abuse. For public knowledge and the benefit of animals everywhere, they have posted Pennsylvania’s Animal Cruelty Laws.

But there are more serious cases that require intervention and their Humane Society Police Officers, led by Director of Human Law Enforcement George Bengal, are willing and able to enforce search warrants when deemed necessary.

If you observe abuse towards an animal, you can report it to the Pennsylvania SPCA by calling 866-601-SPCA and they will handle it quickly and effectively.

14 Foods You Can Share with Your Dog

As pet owners, we are often warned about what foods not to share with our pups but sometimes it is hard to resist those puppy dog eyes. Here are 14 foods you can share with your dog!

Keep in mind that all dogs are different and just like people some dogs could be allergic to certain foods. Always try new foods in small amounts and watch for any side effects.

  1. Oatmeal
  2. Peanut butterLicking dog
  3. Chicken
  4. Yogurt
  5. Carrots
  6. Broccoli
  7. Green beans
  8. Pumpkin
  9. Eggs
  10. Salmon
  11. Cottage Cheese
  12. Apple slices
  13. Cheese
  14. Sweet Potatoes

You can make your own dog treats with these ingredients and more. Check out our DIY Dog Treats board on Pinterest for recipes!

Enjoy these treats with your dogs this summer and remember to always treat in moderation.

How to Greet a Dog

You know that feeling you get every time you see a new dog? That somewhat uncontrollable urge to run over scoop that pup up and snuggle it for hours. As tempting as it may be, think about it from the dog’s point of view, scary right? If a dog sees you as a threat they may feel like they have no choice other than to bite. Here are some tips on how to greet dogs in a non-threatening manner.

  • Always ask the dog’s owner
  • Do not make direct eye contact
  • Approach the dog slowly
  • Get down on his level
  • Wait for him to approach you
  • Pet gently
  • Pay attention to his body languagegreeting-a-dog

Proper Interaction Between Kids and Dogs

Petbehavior.org‘s Topic of the Month for May is Training Your Child To Be Pet “Wise.”  Their message is that you should start teaching your children how to interact with your pets as soon as they can become mobile.  Our youngsters have no idea that their tugs, pulls, pinches and smacks are painful and can hurt our dogs.

If this is left unchecked, our dogs can suffer from high levels of stress and may even react by biting.  They advocate proper correction from the start is the best way to curtail these actions and even recommend separating your pet from your kids until proper behavior can be demonstrated.

 

doggieAdding a Dog to the Home

A few years ago we bought our first house.  Since we already had kids, we thought getting a dog was a great way to round out our new home.  We already had two cats…but cats are cats and they never exactly warmed up to any of our kids.  But the kids sure did try and had scratches to prove it.

We naturally thought a dog would be different.  And he has been.  Since we picked out our dog, he has been a fun part of the household and he gets along with everyone.  Well, except the cats.

But getting back to PetBehavior’s topic, I think we were able to quickly get through to each of our kids that hitting the dog was bad.  Our two boys only batted at him a few times before our correcting got through to them.  And I can’t even really recall our youngest girl ever taking liberty with him.

The one problem that we run into on occasion is that our two boys have trouble understanding the difference between playing with each other and playing with the dog.

One of their favorite play activities with the dog is to take one of his chew toys and play keep away.  It’s one thing if it’s just them playing keep away with each other, but our dog isn’t as appreciative when it’s one of his toys.  They tuck the toys under their arms or close to their bellies and the only thing our dog can do to play is try to wrestle it from them.  This obviously leads to bites and scratches and every now and then it’s a little too hard and they end up crying.

So we try to impress upon them that that is not how dog’s play and he doesn’t quite understand that he is hurting them.  It’s working slowly, but I think we’ll get there soon.

The one interaction that we always found cute was one of our youngsters running over and giving our dog a big hug.  We thought it was something they would enjoy — and something the dog would appreciate.  Turns out we might have been wrong the whole time.

 

No Hugging?

An interesting theory gaining steam on the internet argues that you should prevent your kids from hugging your dog.  Sounds crazy, right?

Maybe not.

The basis of the theory is that dogs are cursorial animals, meaning that they naturally predisposed to run from danger when needed.  And whenever we hug our dogs we are depriving or preventing them from that ability.  In some cases it can stress your dog to the point that they might bite.

Dr. Stanley Coren writes on PsychologyToday.com, that he found several sources that suggested reducing the chances your child suffers from a dog bite start with preventing them from hugging dogs.  They also found that the proximity of your child’s face to the dogs mouth during a hug greatly increased the chances of being bitten.

Hug scoring 2 Humane Society of Greater RochesterIntrigued, Dr. Coren decided to test the theory.  He collected a random sample of 250 pictures posted to the internet that show a child hugging a dog.  He then looked at the dogs for signs of stress.  He lists signs of stress that can include baring teeth, lowered ears slicked back against the head, submissive eye closure or partial eye closure, avoiding eye contact and lip licking.

Coren found in the pictures he reviewed, 81.6% of dogs showed at least one sign of discomfort, stress or anxiety.  He found that only 7.6 % showed comfort in being hugged and the remaining 10.8% were neutral or ambiguous.  That’s pretty striking.

One thing that Cohen found troubling about his study was that he feels the pictures people post to the internet are the ones they feel show the dogs and their children at their happiest.  If such a high percentage of these photos show dogs under stress, he fears that the owners are not recognizing these signs and, if left unchecked, it could lead to stress and bites.

After reading both articles, I think the thing we can take away is to do a better job of observing our dogs and watching for these signs of stress.  As we try to teach our kids to better interact with our dog, hopefully we can catch any of these signs and prevent something bad from happening.

Spring Fever – Fun Ways to Include Your Pet in Your Wedding Planning

Spring has sprung, and love is in the air.  Most of us have that special pet in our lives, but some of us are lucky enough to have a special someone else in our lives.  Perhaps you both got your pet together, and now you are ready to take that next step with regards to your future.  Don’t let your pet miss out on being a part of your forever and ever.

 

The Proposal

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Proposal image referenced from Huffingtonpost.com, and can be found here.

There are honestly so many ideas that you could come up with to include your pet with your proposal.   Get creative and jot some ideas down, and see what works best for you.  A few suggestions would be to get a name tag engraved with “Will You Marry Me” or, teach your pet to balance a ring on their head. The fact of the matter is, you know your pet best.  Have fun with it, and them!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Engagement Photos, Save the Dates, and Invitations

Resourced from theknot.com

Engagement photo referenced from theknot.com, and can be found here.

 

I love the idea of pets being in engagement photo’s, just remember that pets can be unpredictable.  In the event that you hire a photographer, be sure to give them a heads up so that they are also prepared.  It probably wouldn’t hurt to bring some extra treats with you the day of the photoshoot.  Invitations are another great way to include your pet.  Sites such as Shutterfly make creating your own invitations and save the dates a breeze!

 

 

 

Ceremony

Resourced from Brides.com

Wedding image referenced from Huffingtonpost.com, and can be found here.

There is nothing like man’s best friend being the best man, flower girl, ring bearer, or maid of honor! Your pet can have any role at your wedding.  Be sure to check with the venue that they are pet friendly.  If you plan on including your pet, do your homework and check out sites such as BringFido.com for a list of pet friendly attractions.  Receptions can become pretty hectic, and maybe even scary for some pets.  Do not assume that your drunk uncle is keeping an eye out on your pet, hire a pet sitter!

 

 

 

 

   

 

 

 

The Reception

Resourced from Topweddingsites.com

Image referenced from Topweddingsites.com, and can be found here.

The ceremony is over, and now your pet sitter is keeping an eye on your furbaby. Time to get the party started!  Do not feel bad if your pet can’t be a physical part of the festivities. Have your guests find their seat at a table marked with your pets picture!  There are a lot of cute ways you can include your pet in your decor, such as name place cards, centerpieces, cake toppers, table favors, and so much more!  We understand that some pets may have crossed over the rainbow bridge, but they are forever in your hearts.  Include your beloved pet with a beautiful pet memorial, guest book, or let your guests know that money from the dollar dance will be donated to your favorite rescue in memory of your pet.   It’s your day, make it special.

 

 

 

 

 

Have you included your pet in your wedding?  Please share how in the comments below!  We would love to see pictures too.  Please feel free to post your pictures to our Facebook page!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Luck of the Canine – 5 Top Irish Dog Breeds

Top of the morning to you all.  There be seas of green on the horizon, and what better way to embrace them than to celebrate with some of our favorite Irish breed dogs.  These dogs are beautiful, and all lucky enough to be Irish.

Irish Red Setter

Irish_setter_headThese beautiful dogs are known for their long, silky auburn colored hair.  Irish Setters are known to have an amazing temperment, so they would be perfect in a household with children.  Being an avid hunter, setters need to remain active.  Don’t leave them unattended outside either, because they will find ways to entertain themselves.  They crave human interaction, so if you’re looking for a dog to go on adventures with look no further.

 

 

 

Irish Red and White Setter

Irish_Red_And_White_Setter_2005The Irish Red and White Setter doesn’t fall far from the red setter, though it is believed that the red and white was the original setter breed from the 17th century.  Sadly, Irish Red and White Setters almost became extinct due to cross breeding.  Luckily enough the breed was saved by the efforts of Reverend Noble Huston.

 

 

Irish Wolfhound 

Irish_Wolfhound_SamThe Irish Wolfhound (or as I like to call it, the Jim Henson dog) is one of the oldest living dog breeds.  Originally referred to as Cú Faoil, wolfhounds were bred as hunting dogs and often given as gifts to nobles and other important people.  Don’t let the size of the wolfhound scare you.  These dogs really are gentle giants.  Though they aren’t considered to be guard dogs, I think the size alone can be rather persuasive.

 

 

Irish Terrier

Irish-terrierIrish Terrier’s are one of the oldest breed of terriers, and is the fourth most popular breed of terrier in Ireland and England. Irish Terrier’s are extremely active, so they are better suited with a family that loves going for walks, hiking, and other outdoor activities. Irish Terrier’s are great with children, and train extremely well.

 

 

 

Irish Water Spaniel

1024px-Irlandzki_spaniel_wodny_676Thought to be a descendant of Dobhar-chú, the Irish water Spaniel sure has come a long way.  Irish Water Spaniels are perfect dogs for people who may have allergies, due to its dense curly hair, because they shed very little.   Irish Water Spaniels make great family dogs, and can be quite comedic when performing ordinary tasks.

 

 

We love dog breeds of all shapes, sizes, and regions!  Thank you for reading, and we hope that you have a safe and Happy St. Patrick’s Day!

Puppy Bowl XII: Everything You Need to Know About Sunday’s Big Game

Screen Shot 2016-01-07 at 12_04_04 PMThis weekend, the eyes of the sporting world will be on one event. Ratings records are sure to be broken when Animal Planet broadcasts its marquee pet event, Puppy Bowl XII.

On Sunday at 3 PM ET/CT, canines from the best shelters and rescue organizations in the country will bring their talents to the gridiron for the most anticipated match-up of the day.  For the 12th version of the big game, 49 puppies from across the United States have been selected to compete for #TeamRuff and #TeamFluff with the hopes of bringing home the coveted MVP (Most Valuable Puppy) Award!

 

Ready!

The Puppy Bowl is a zany exhibition of tackles, tumbles, fumbles and fun.  Dogs will get the chance to toss and tug their favorite toys up and down the field, trying to cross the goal line for a touchdown!  Children and pet lovers of all ages will enjoy watching their favorite breeds stiff-paw their way into our hearts.

Animal Planet showcases the dogs to help promote the importance of animal adoptions in local communities.  This year, dogs have been selected from the Nevada SPCA, Arizona Humane Society, Mr. Bones & Company (New York), Green Dogs Unleashed (Virginia), Little Dog Rescue (Florida), Paws Chicago, Citizens for Animal Protection (Texas) and Williamson County Animal Center (Tennessee), among others.

The tail (hah!) gate festivities will get underway at 2:30 PM ET with the Puppy Bowl Pre-Game Show.  Sports analysts and pundits will go over last minute details and strategy for what you can expect to see in the big game.

 

Set!

Once the game starts, the real fun begins.  While watching, keep an eye out for “Ruferree” Dan Schachner and his special assistant Stanley the Skunk.  They will police any puppy penalties and throw flags for any illegal “drops.”  The game is also interactive — you can create your own Puppy Bowl Fantasy Team!

The Puppy Bowl isn’t just about dogs!  The Kitty Half-Time Show attraction allows our friendly felines to get in on the fun!  The San Francisco themed show will feature pretty kitties romping over famous city replicas that include the Golden Gate Bridge, Fisherman’s Wharf and “Al-Cat-Raz” island!

The fun also extends to the sidelines.  Chicken Cheerleaders will root on their squads and Meep the Bird will provide aerial analysis from his perch high above the field.  Special Correspondent Jill Rappaport will introduce Pup Close and Personal segments to highlight the individual stories of the animals.

 

Hut!

While everyone is sure to enjoy watching their favorite pets have a ball, let’s not forget — there is still a competition!  Members of #TeamRuff and # TeamFluff will try their best to punt, pass and kick their way to the MVP Award.  Last year’s winner was a lab mix named Henry.  Who will take it home this year?  There are a lot of great dogs in this year’s big game.  Any one of them could take home the top prize.

Official That Pet Blog Prediction:  After careful consideration, we are going with rookie standout Carolina — a 17 week old American Staffordshire Terrier — to emulate her namesake Panthers and take home the Most Valuable Puppy Award!  She has been through a lot, but we know she has the drive and determination to come out on top!

Puppy Bowl XII will air on Sunday February 7, from 3-5 PM ET/PT on Animal Planet.  Get your family, friends, snacks and pets ready!  If any of the animals from this year’s event catch your eye, or if you want to know more about pet adoptions, check out Animal Planet’s website!

6 Products to Help Keep your Pets Warm

As the temperatures drop, as we are all bundling up and dig out our heavy coats don’t forget about your pet. If you’re cold they are too. Here are 6 Products to help keep your pets warm this winter.

  1. A dog coat
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    This one may seem a little obvious but sometimes it is assumed that dogs have their own built-in coat. Depending on your dog’s breed and hair length they could need something more to keep them comfortable while taking those winter walks.
  2. Dog Sweaters
    If you pup needs a little extra warmth for indoors too we have a large selection of sweaters and pajamas that are fashionable and practical.
  3. Dog Boots
    Don’t forget your pups paws. Dog boots not only keep their paws warm but also help protect them from the ice and salt.
  4. A Heated Pet Bed
    Heated pet beds are available for dogs and cats of all sizes.Does your pet have a bed they love already? Turn virtually any bed into a heated bed with one of these bed warmers.
  5. Heated Cat House
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    A heated cat house is a welcome comfort for outdoor cats in the colder months.
  6. If your birds cage is getting a little too cold try a bird warmer or heated perch.

If you’re feeling the chill just cuddle up with your furry friends!

We hope you and your pets have a warm and cozy winter. If you have any questions or suggestions leave us a comment!

5 Pet Themed Movies to Help You Beat the Winter Blues

Now that the holidays are in the rear view mirror, many of us are begrudgingly entering the cold doldrums of winter.  The idea of being stuck indoors for the next several months may leave us suffering from the “winter time blues.”  But there are ways you can have fun, spend some quality time with your family and beat those winter blues.  Here at That Pet Blog, we have selected a few pet themed movies that should hold you over til the thaw!

 

Air BudMV5BMTg0NzYzNDE4M15BMl5BanBnXkFtZTcwNTg4NzQzMQ@@._V1_SY317_CR0,0,214,317_AL_

“Does he dribble? No but he might drool a little!”

 

With the NBA season kicking into high gear, a basketball movie is perfect for the winter.  But this isn’t your normal basketball movie!

It features a young boy named Josh and his pet dog — a Golden Retriever named Buddy — who just happens to be great at shooting hoops!

If your kids love this movie there is good news — it spawned a franchise — where Buddy has fun playing many other sports!

 

 

BabeMV5BMTIwNzY2OTIzN15BMl5BanBnXkFtZTcwNjcxODAzMQ@@._V1_SY317_CR7,0,214,317_AL_

A pig that thinks it’s a dog!

 

Babe is a fun film featuring a barnyard full of talking animals! The main character is a young pig named Babe, who draws the favor of the farmer, saving him from the butcher’s block.

While learning how to grow up on a farm and interact with all the animals, Babe takes on the unlikely roll of a sheep dog and even enters a local herding competition!

This movie was so well received that it was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Picture in 1995!

 

 

Dr. DoolittleMV5BMTQzMjc4NjIxOV5BMl5BanBnXkFtZTcwMDU0NzIyMQ@@._V1_SY317_CR5,0,214,317_AL_

For thousands of years, animals have been trying to tell us something!

 

Haven’t you ever wanted to know exactly what your pet was thinking?  In this movie, Eddie Murphy stars at the eponymous Dr. Dootlittle and he realizes the ability to do just that!

Kids and pet lovers of all ages will enjoy the fun — and hijinks — that come with hearing your favorite animals speak.

This film features a star-studded cast that includes Ellen Degeneres, Jenna Elfman, Albert Brooks and Chris Rock lending their voices to various wacky animals!

 

 

101 Dalmatians

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Puppies everywhere!

 

Walt Disney’s animated classic is a fantastic family film that you can watch one, twice or 101 times!

The cartoon movie follows the adventures the Radcliffe family experiences when their litter of dalmatian puppies starts to grow exponentially!  But with such a bounty of beautiful babes, it’s not long before infamous Disney villan Cruella de Ville enters the picture and tries to pry the puppies away!

If you like this classic version of the dalmatian tale, check out the 1996 live action version starring Glenn Close, it’s also great.

 

 

 

Homeward BoundMV5BMjAyNTE4NDU2Nl5BMl5BanBnXkFtZTcwNTgyNjQyMQ@@._V1_SY317_CR4,0,214,317_AL_

The Incredible Journey

 

In this 1993 Disney remake of the 1963 original, three pets — an American Bulldog named Chance, a Golden Retriever named Shadow and a Himalayan cat named Sassy try to find their way to their owners.

Follow the three as they journey across amazing landscapes and the beautiful wilderness to see if they make it home safe and sound!  (Okay it’s a Disney movie, so they might just make it, but humor us!)

Talking pet movies always feature famous stars playing the voices and this film has ’em too:  Michael J. Fox, Don Ameche and Sally Field play Chance, Shadow and Sassy respectively.

 

 

Those are our choices!  Did any of these make your list?  Do you have others in mind we should check out?  Let us know in the comments section below!  Enjoy and stay warm!

 

 

Feathered Sanctuary Bird Rescue – The Birdman Cometh


alan
If you have been to That Fish Place – That Pet Place within the last year, you may have noticed all of the different rescues that we have had come into showcase their organization. When we think of rescues, we typically think of cats and dogs, but we often forget about the other animals that are in need of loving homes as well. Like clockwork, our favorite bird man Alan Sipe has brought his own birds in on Saturday’s from 10am-2pm to help represent the Feathered Sanctuary out of Kirkwood. His own expertise, and the hands on experience that some folks have been lucky enough to experience help to establish what it takes to adopt a rescued bird. January is Adopt a Rescued Bird Month, and what better way to celebrate than to interview the birdman himself.

 

What does Feathered Sanctuary cover for adopting or fostering?
A certificate is given to adopters good for a free wellness check with Dr. Hall at VCA Bridgeport.  Typically a cage comes with the bird. If one is not available, the adoption fee would be a lesser dollar amount.  Range is from $5.00 to $600.00 and anywhere in between.  Since we have a facility, we do not typically foster birds. On rare occasions we do foster special needs birds and food is provided by the rescue.

Is there a foster period? If there is difficulty getting a newly adopted bird settled into a new home we will work with that person.

How can I meet some of the adoptable birds? Stop in at our facility located at 1674 Kirkwood Pike in Kirkwood, PAQ, located just south of Quarryville.

Do you offer educational resources and/or classes? From time to time we do offer Birdie 101 11156416_919226121434121_4985431829583447590_nintroduction classes. Also, the knowledgeable staff at the rescue will answer questions.

What is a bird’s average life span? Canaries about 10-15 years, Cockatiels 15-30 years, Amazons 50-70 years and Macaws 50-80 years.

Can birds be left alone if I work or go to school? Yes….they do not require 24/7 attention. A few hours of interaction daily is plenty.

What does a bird cost on average a year? Food and toys could run anywhere between $150 a year for a small bird to $500 a year for a large Macaw!

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What are some of the things that the rescue does daily? Volunteers clean cages & grates, vacuum floors, feed & water birds as well as get birds out to socialize.

How would I go about volunteering for Feathered Sanctuary?  Stop by the rescue and fill out an application form for volunteering. Must be 16 or older to volunteer alone, but if younger you may volunteer accompanied by a responsible adult!

Are there any other ways that someone can help the Feathered Sanctuary?  Monetary donations are always accepted, supplies such as large garbage bags, vacuum bags, paper towels, printer paper, printer ink and much more.

Where do these rescue birds come from? Birds may outlive their owners, life changes: divorce, newborn, residency move, career change, as well as neglect and/or abuse.

What is one of your happiest memories from volunteering at the rescue? An Umbrella Cockatoo named Angel came in to our rescue with a kicked in cage door and the owners saying the bird was aggressive and noisy. I discovered through interaction with the bird that it was docile and lovable. The poor scared baby was just misunderstood!

 

Thank you Alan for taking the time to answer all of our questions. If you would like to know more, feel free to reach out, and don’t forget to visit Alan at our store!

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