More fascinating facts and figures about our animal friends:
• 2: An adult gerbil can leap a distance of over 2 feet.
• 5.5: One cat species native to Africa is smaller than the average housecat, with a top weight of 5.5 pounds. It is the Black-footed cat (Felis nigripes).
• 14: Dogs are mentioned 14 times in the Bible.
• 22: Pet chinchillas have a long average lifespan, living up to 22 years in captivity.
• 25: There are 25 different varieties of domesticated rabbits, offering a range of sizes, ear shapes, color patterns and types of fur.
• 30: Ernest Hemingway once had 30 pet cats. Many of these were polydactyl – possessing extra toes.
• 53: According to recent surveys, 53% of pet owners vacation with their pets.
• 62: Surveys state 62% of dog owners sign letter or cards from themselves and their dogs.
• 95: The percentage of cat owners who admit they talk to their cats.
• 150: Sugar gliders can glide over 150 feet on the right wind currents.
• 200: Many birds can learn to say as many as 200 words and phrases.
• 500: Cats have 500 skeletal muscles, comparing to 650 in humans.
• 701: There are 701 pure dog breeds currently recognized by the American Kennel Society. And counting.
• 4,000: In the last 4,000 years, no new animals have been domesticated.
• 5,000: The greyhound breed was developed in Egypt about 5,000 years ago. In England, it was bred by aristocrats to hunt such small game as early as the 9th century AC.
• 10,000 Mice and humans have lived together for over 10,000 years.
• 128,000: The average cat consumes nearly 28 times its own weight in food and the same amount again in liquids. That’s about 128,000 calories a year.
• 430,500: In the wild, rabbits live in warrens, which are burrows with many entrances. A warren may commonly extend over a 100 acre area – over 430,500 square feet!.
• 1,000,000: According to hospital figures, dogs bite an average of 1 million Americans a year.
• 1.5 billion: Every year, $1.5 billion is spent on pet food. This is four times the amount spent on baby food.
If you’re a pet lover and are ready to be your own boss, start your own online pet supply business with Top Dawg Pet Supplies risk free today!

When you need to travel and leave your pet behind, you may want to consider hiring a pet sitter. Here are some questions you may want to ask before making a decision.
• How long have you been a pet sitter?
• Do you have pets of your own?
• What kinds of animals do you have experience with?
• Do you have any professional training, such as veterinary or animal training?
• Can you provide references?
• How often can you come to my home?
• Can you stay overnight?
• Do you have a backup in case of emergency?
• What other obligations do you have? A full time job? Anything that could interfere with your ability to care for my pets?
• Are you available by cell phone or pager at all times?
• Can you come and meet my pets in advance?
• Do you have a regular veterinarian?
• Do you have a vehicle?
• Are you insured or bonded?
• For dogs:
o How often do you walk them?
o How long is a walk?
o Will you play with the dog? Throw the ball?
o Do you take other dogs on the walks?
o Do you use poop bags?
• For cats:
o Do you make time to play with them or pet them?
o Do you clean the litter box? How often?
• For caged or contained animals:
o Do you change/clean their domiciles?
o Any special rituals that you recommend?
• Will you brush or groom my pet? Will you clip toenails?
• Can you administer medications?
o Pills and tinctures
o Subcutaneous fluids
o Intravenous medications
• Will you scan my home for problems and possible hazards to my pets?
• Rates:
o What are your standard rates?
o Do you have a sliding scale or volume discount?
o Are any of the tasks we’ve discussed going to incur additional charges?

If you’re an animal lover and are ready to be your own boss, you could start an online pet supply business with Top Dawg Pet Supplies risk free today!

Although many human foods are not good for dogs, most of these items would have to be eaten in large quantities to have a serious adverse effect. On one end of the spectrum, your dog may experience some flatulence, which can be truly miserable to be around, even if it’s not actually dangerous for your pet. The next level of symptoms might be short term diarrhea or muscle spasms. Foods that are very toxic to dogs and could have serious consequences if ingested in any volume include (listed alphabetically):

avocados
animal fat
broccoli
caffeine
chocolate (unless it’s specifically made for dogs)
coffee grounds or beans
dough containing live yeast
fried or fatty foods
fruit stones or seeds (too many to list!)
garlic
grapes
green parts of tomato plants
hops
macadamia nuts
nutmeg
onions of all kinds
potato peelings
raisins
rhubarb leaves
salt
tea
tomatoes
yeast

If you ever fear your pet has ingested something toxic, call your vet immediately or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435. This is a good number to post somewhere near your pet supplies where you know you can find it in an emergency.
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