Pitter Pattering Paws for your Pooch!

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Why Taking your Dog Out for Exercise is Important
Ever heard the expression “if your dog isn't tired at night then they didn't get enough exercise that day”? It is crucial to a pooch’s health that they get the right amount of exercise. Similar to humans, exercise allows canines to stay healthy both physically and mentally. It’s important to get their heart rates going and their muscles moving. Enough exercise will ensure the chances of your companion living a long, happy, and healthy life.

No matter the size of your furry friend, all dogs need exercise. If your dog does not get the physical activity it needs, it can become overweight and develop other health issues. Almost 50 per cent of dogs are not their ideal weight. When your dog is overweight, they can lose some of their stamina, have difficulty dealing with the heat in warm weather and will have a hard time working off the excess pounds. So, let’s not give them the opportunity to find themselves in this position.

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Even if you do take your dog out for a walk around the block every day, you may need to consider their breed. For example, many breeds are built for sport and other physical activities like hunting. Retrievers enjoy hunting and chasing their prey. Hounds, such as Greyhounds, love to run and should have time throughout the week to do so. All dogs have a great sense of smell. In particular, Bloodhounds have especially powerful snouts that can track scents from far away places. If your dog is limited to the space in your backyard, they are unable to track down those crazy smells. For generations these breeds have been built to run and explore. Think about their cousins, the wolf and the coyote! These wild animals roam, free to travel long distances and chase anything they please. Chances are there is something in your dog’s DNA that pushes them to have that same desire. Dogs are born to be active and they deserve the opportunity to stretch their legs.

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Behavioural issues can take place when a dog is not provided with enough exercise or enough time outdoors. If your pooch does not get enough attention and activity, they may start to feel neglected and can act out. This means your house and belongings are at risk of being damaged when you are not looking. It also means they have the potential to lash out at you or others aggressively in order to express their frustration. Your dog could potentially become a threat to other canines at dog parks. Sometimes these incidences can lead to the dog being put down when it’s not even their fault.

It’s easy to get caught up in your own life. A busy day at the office can really tire you out! But consider the fact that you took on the responsibility of an animal when you became a dog owner. It is your duty to make sure they are active, even if that means pushing your body to the limits to take your dog out for a walk after a long day. And hey, some exercise will do your body good as well!

Here are some locations in the Ottawa, ON., area that you and your dog can check out for some well-needed (and deserved) exercise:

1. Bruce Pit - This off-leash dog park is a large forest full of places your dog can explore and sniff. The park is a 3.2 kilometer loop trail that is usually busy on the weekend. Frequent visitors recommend to go early in the day to avoid traffic.

2. Conroy Pit - This park is fenced in with lots of grass, sand, and wooded areas where you can let your canine friend off-leash. The beautiful tree-lined trail makes this park a great spot to go for a run with your dog in the fall when the leaves are full of colour!

3. Sugarbush Trail - Sugarbush is a 1.8 kilometer winter friendly trail and is accessible all year round. In the winter you can find people snowshoeing throughout the trail.

4. Lauriault Trail - Another year-round 3.9 kilometer trail that encourages hiking and other outdoor activities. You can also get a great view of the King Estate in the background. The trail is located near Old Chelsea, QC.

5. McNabb Park - Located in downtown Ottawa, this park has weekly off-leash hours and a dog pool! Its easy access location makes it available for everyone.

Remember, exercise will increase your dog’s mental health: an active pooch is a happy pooch!

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Holly Williams

Holly Williams is a small town girl jumping into the big city life. She recently graduated the Honours Program at Trent University with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Cultural Studies and English Literature. Reading and writing have always been activities she has been passionate about, along with photography and exploring. She likes to think if a book doesn't light a spark in your soul then it wasn't a 10/10. Her happy place is sitting on the porch on a crisp fall day, spending time with people she loves, with a hot cup of tea in her hands.

What the Shell?!

Help decrease the high levels of pollution in our oceans!

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Salty blue water that was once clean is now filled with garbage, garbage, and more garbage. Did you know that according to SEE Turtles, out of the seven sea turtle species, six are endangered or threatened due to pollution and other man-made dangers? Many daily activities people partake in place wildlife at risk, such as fishing, poaching, and littering.

The lack of recycling taking place across the globe is a huge threat to all seven species of turtles: the leatherback, green turtle, hawksbill, loggerhead, olive ridley, kemp’s ridley, and the flatback. They are creatures that roam our oceans and they need to be respected and protected! Thousands of aquatic flora and fauna die every year as a result of pollution and garbage building up in the oceans.

Sea turtles’ basic needs for survival are at risk. Their homes are being damaged and their food contaminated. They nest on beaches covered in garbage that is tossed there or washes up on shore. Chemical spills are polluting the water that they swim in, damaging not only their home, but also the exterior and interior of their bodies. Oil debris causes pieces of tar to degrade and harden. These toxins are mistaken for food and are eaten by the turtles, causing illness.

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YES, these poor animals are getting sick as a result of our negligence! Fibropapillomas is a disease believed to be caused by pollution. It creates cauliflower-like tumours on organs and around the eyes and mouth. Sounds gross, right? Well it's more than disgusting! The disease is often fatal, causing the turtles speed to slow down and increasing their chances of being at risk to predators. SEE Turtles states that over 50% of green turtles in Florida’s Indian River suffer from this awful disease.  

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If you don't think there are consequences to throwing your plastic bottles in the garbage instead of recycling the product, you could not be more wrong. Although the majority of plastic waste is dumped in landfills or burned, many of the trash that is transported from one location to another increases the chances of some garbage escaping into natural environments. For example, the trash sitting on a boat transporting waste is caught in high winds, leaving bits of garbage to be blown through the air and fall into the ocean.

Fourteen billion pounds of garbage are dumped into the ocean every year, filling the water with chemicals and other physical waste. There are many islands made up of garbage that float around in the ocean, weighing tons and stretching as far as the eye can see! Crazily enough, less than five per cent of plastic created is actually recycled when people are done with it… that’s pathetic! We need change. These animals are not the only sea creatures that have to suffer through our mistakes within their home. We must take responsibility.

Here are some small acts you can do to help save not only the several kinds of sea turtles from pollution, but all other aquatic life that roam the oceans:

1. Remember to recycle plastics and e-waste to avoid plastic and chemical pollution.

2. Don't pour paint and other chemicals down the drain!

3. Simple ways to use less plastic can be anything from steering clear of plastic straws, cups, and bags. When you can, bring reusable bags when shopping and cups when buying coffee.

4. Help raise awareness in your community! Organize trash pick-ups in the area to reduce the risk of litter ending up in natural water-based environments.

5. Donate to wildlife foundations that focus on increasing the purity of bodies of water, such as the National Wildlife Federation, Wateraid, or Sea Turtle Conservation Bonaire.

6. Check out SEE Turtles online. This non-profit organization protects sea turtles and provides educational programs and volunteer tours. They also have a Billion Baby Turtles program that saves $5.00 for every dollar donated, so go donate and help the baby turtles!

I know that you are one person, but you are one of many! Together we can bring change.

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Holly Williams

Holly Williams is a small town girl jumping into the big city life. She recently graduated the Honours Program at Trent University with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Cultural Studies and English Literature. Reading and writing have always been activities she has been passionate about, along with photography and exploring. She likes to think if a book doesn't light a spark in your soul then it wasn't a 10/10. Her happy place is sitting on the porch on a crisp fall day, spending time with people she loves, with a hot cup of tea in her hands.

Take Shelter!

In with the old, out with the new!

Cute little paws. Tiny noses. Big puppy eyes. I know what you're thinking: you want one too, right? When most people decide it's time for them to adopt an animal, their first idea is a puppy or kitten. Yes, I’ll admit: they are so gosh darn cute! But let's be real here, they're only going to stay that small for a number of weeks! I know it seems like adopting an animal from a young age is the more rewarding choice. You get to know them from the start, watch their personalities develop and their bodies grow.

But have you considered the alternative?

According to the ASPCA (American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals), 6.5 million companion animals are placed in shelters every year. Only 710,000 of that several million are returned to their original owners. In 2015, the OSPCA (Ontario Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals) found new homes and families for 4,793 cats, 1,676 dogs, and 539 small animals. But what about those furry and scaly friends who were not picked up for adoption? What happens to them?

Every year, billions of animals are placed in shelters worldwide as strays due to unfit owners or just plain neglect. As a result, many shelters and animal care organizations are forced to euthanize the animals that are not adopted. The ASPCA states that 20% of dogs and about 30% of cats meet this fate. We have the ability to change these statistics by adopting these homeless animals.

Many people will say that they want a baby animal because they will live longer than any old dog or cat sitting in a pound. Be that as it may, giving an animal a loving home and caring for them for the rest of their life will feel far more rewarding than selecting the cutest puppy or kitten and watching it grow old. You can develop just as strong relationships with older dogs and cats as you can with younger ones. You could even say older dogs from broken or abusive homes would value your love more than one that does not know the definition of abuse.

Another factor that leads people not to adopt is the fear of health issues. In reality, many of the shelters these animals are placed in nurse them into proper health before allowing them to be adopted. Many shelter animals have just as much of a chance of developing illnesses and ringing up veterinary bills as young puppies or kittens. Face the facts: owning companion animals is expensive! So please, don’t let money be the reason you steer clear of adopting from a shelter.

It's easy to think that the animals sitting in humane societies and shelters will just be adopted by someone else, but when we actually look at the facts, not nearly enough are being taken home. If you feel guilty when you watch the scene in the beloved Disney film, Lady and the Tramp (1955), where the dogs are literally crying in the pound like they are in jail, then you should consider adopting. We cannot deny that change needs to occur. It’s been over 60 years and the same types of tactics still exist.

So instead of adopting a baby animal, consider adopting one from a broken home, or one that never really got the chance at having a home in the first place. Be the person they are waiting for at the door every day. I promise that love will be unconditional.

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Holly Williams

Holly Williams is a small town girl jumping into the big city life. She recently graduated the Honours Program at Trent University with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Cultural Studies and English Literature. Reading and writing have always been activities she has been passionate about, along with photography and exploring. She likes to think if a book doesn't light a spark in your soul then it wasn't a 10/10. Her happy place is sitting on the porch on a crisp fall day, spending time with people she loves, with a hot cup of tea in her hands.