It takes a cold-hearted person not to love a wee little puppy.  But playing with an energetic and snuggly pup under the Christmas tree is a lot different than the long-term commitment of pet ownership.

Three tips for responsible pet ownership:

1. Buying or adopting a dog or cat is a serious responsibility.  Long after the Christmas tree is put away and the novelty of a puppy wears off, she’ll still be living in your house, eating food, needing veterinary care, and demanding a steady supply of exercise, discipline and affection.  If you’re going to give a pet as a gift, don’t let it be a surprise. Talk about it with the recipient and make sure that her lifestyle and living situation will allow for the best possible care.  Not just in the weeks after taking the dog in, but in the years to come.

2. Not all packs are created equal.  We’ve observed first hand how some pet owners do not have the leadership qualities to be an effective pack leader.  In one extreme case, the dogs rule the house, defecating where they like and answering to no one.  Before bringing a pet into your family, do lots of research about dog or cat psychology and get an understanding of how to be a good pack leader. This can be a time consuming process: make sure you’re up for it before you buy.

3. A very sad example from Metro Dog’s current foster, Ms. Penny: neglect is the most insidious form of abuse.  If you’ve owned a pet for years and your lifestyle has changed, or you’ve decided you just don’t want her anymore - for whatever reason - you have a responsibility to make sure your pet finds a good, healthy new home.  You may not drop her at a city shelter or abandon her on the street.  If you must part ways, it’s your job to find a warm, loving family to take her in.

If you’re reading this blog, you love pets; it’s only natural to want to get them out of a shelter and into homes.  While it might work in some cases, in general we can’t recommend giving a pet as a gift.  There are many, many dogs and cats in the world in need of good homes, but dropping a pet on an unsuspecting friend or relative is not the best way to help them.  Instead, consider a donation in the gift recipient’s name to an organization like Best Friends Animal Sancutary.  And then encourage the giftee to volunteer at a shelter with you in the new year.

Of course, if someone you know already has a dog, we can help you find lots of ways to spoil her…

At Metro Dog we don’t just sell luxurious dog products. We love dogs. Love of dogs came first, and the site came as an extension of that, as a way to spoil our furry family. Last week that love of dogs led us to Ms. Penelope.

Ms. Penny has had a rough life. We think she’s 9 or 10, but her total lack of veterinary care makes it impossible to know. She lived with a family for most of her life, but not as a part of it. She was a victim of the most insidious type of abuse: neglect. When she got older and the family tired of her, they dumped her at a kill shelter. She was soon red listed, meaning she would be killed within days. Thankfully, the good folks at Dogs Without Borders rescued her from death. But life in a cage at a veterinary office, while better than death, is no life for a sweet girl like this. So we took her into our pack to give her all the love, attention and care she needs to recover from her illness and injuries (some nasty “kennel cough” and a corneal ulcer).

As you know, finding forever homes for older dogs is a big challenge. Ms. Penny is spending the holidays with us to adjust to her new, better life. But in 2009 she will need to find her permanent pack. If you’re based in Southern California and have a heart for a beautiful, loving, low-key dog like Ms. Penny, please get in touch.

It’s amazing what a love can do for a dog; we’ve seen a difference in her demeanor in less than a week. There was little hope in her eyes when we first met, but now she’s responsive and loves to snuggle on the couch with us. We’ll keep following her story on the blog as she continues to recover.

It’s the holiday season, and for many of us holidays mean travel. There’s absolutely no reason we shouldn’t bring our furry family with us whereever we go. Since many of you will be traveling with your pups throughout December, we’ve invited our friend Janine at Luxury Paw to guest blog with some expert advice on pet travel. For more great tips and resources, see her site at http://www.luxurypaw.com.

It’s time to Strap on Your Doggles and Hit the Road!

I’ve done a fair amount of traveling alone all over the world and I can tell you it is a decidedly different experience when you travel with a dog! Usually, it’s a lot more fun and dogs are universally
such conversation starters that you meet so many more people as you stroll through new and exciting places.

I’ve discovered that really, the trick to traveling with your dog, like most anything else, is planning and anticipating every possible scenario…which can be mind numbing! Well, you don’t have to do
that, Beau and I have experienced most of them and we’re happy to give you the ‘Cliff Notes’ you’ll need for a smooth, fun, safe trip whether it be heading home for the holidays or the vacation of your dreams!

Top 5 MUST haves for a Smooth Trip:

1. Clean up baggies; so many more of them than you think you could possibly ever use! When you are packing for your trip, put a little bio-degradable baggie into the pocket of every pair of pants, every
jacket, sweater, vest, and yes, even bathrobe that you pack. Tie a dispenser to your purse, put one in the glove compartment of the car. There isn’t much worse than not having a baggie when you need one and
you can be assured that the one time you don’t have one…some one will be watching!

2. Your pets favorite toy and treat. It’s helpful to provide as much structure and recognizable routine as possible when you are on the road and their favorite toys will comfort them in the unusual surroundings.

3. Food. It’s so much fun now that many hotels offer pet-room service menus! “Smothered Comfort”, (a pot roast-ish dish for pets) and frozen dog yogurt for dessert all sound very appealing. Be careful though, these foods can be tremendously rich and cause upset for your pup. Always bring plenty of your dogs normal kibble or food and try to utilize the creative efforts of the kitchen as a supplemental treat. I pre-bag Beaus kibble in zip lock baggies and that way it’s easy to grab however many I need for the number of nights at each hotel.

4. Bottled water; two or three small bottles are easy to stash in the car or in my purse and they come in handy every time! For instance, when on a hot day you’re waiting for AAA to arrive for roadside assistance, or when you head out for a ‘quick walk’ and end up on the other end of town because it’s such a gorgeous day and there are so many new and interesting things to see. You’ll be happy, he’ll be happy if you always have a little bottled water on hand.

5. A safety harness for the car. Especially when you are driving in an unfamiliar area and you aren’t exactly sure where you’re going or which direction is the right one a harness/seat belt for the dog is a
must! Imagine how much more horrible and scary an accident would be if you were suddenly in the car with a 65 pound projectile, or when the rescue worker came to assist you, the dog wouldn’t let him near
you or worse jumped out of the car and got hit or caused another accident. Restrain the dog while you’re driving, it’s just the smart thing to do.

Those are our tried and true suggestions to help make your trip safe and enjoyable. The Doggles are not a ‘Must Have’ but if your pup likes to put his head out the window like Beau does, it really does
protect their eyes from street debris and dust, (that’s what I tell
myself, but the truth is they’re just so darn cute!).

…

Many thanks to Janine and Luxury Paw for those holiday travel tips!

Speaking of pet travel, whether you’re looking for something to tote her around town or jet-set to Veil, Metro Dog has airline-approved pet carriers for every style and taste.