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Disruption
of routine can baffle, panic pets
October 25,
2007
My pit bull Lola and my neighbor love to visit with one another. My
neighbor and I share a yard, and when her back door is open, Lola sees
it as a red-carpet invitation to bound through her door. She plays with
her English bulldog and takes advantage of dog treats and chew toys
found along the way. Lola was obviously absent from class the day they
taught basic rules of social etiquette.
When I took a recent day trip, it seemed an ideal opportunity for Lola
to spend an extended amount of time with her favorite neighbor. My time
away was equivalent to a full day at the office, and I failed to
remember something important in our companion animals' lives -- habit
and routine.
At the seventh hour, when Lola was taking a bathroom break outside, she
decided it was time to get back home. In minutes, she'd shoved aside a
portion of the fence's framework and made a quick break out of the yard
in search of her human companions. Thankfully, she was only two doors
down from home when my neighbor realized what had happened. I learned
the lesson that despite the enjoyment she gets from short visits, the
extended visit was a new experience that led to confusion and ultimately
panic.
Dogs and cats are creatures of habit and routine. Anything that suddenly
disrupts their routine can create discomfort. Some pets react to it in
extreme ways, but generally they expect to be fed at the same time and
in the same place. They expect to be surrounded by the same familiar
surroundings and settings.
That's why it's recommended to keep your pets away from the disruptive
activity associated with moving. Confining your pet to a safe room
surrounded by familiar things and toys can help avoid mad dashes out of
an open door. Holidays are another time to be keenly aware. As Halloween
approaches, more activity in the household can make it a frightening
time for our pets.
For example, if you are having an indoor party, make sure that you put
your dog or cat in a room where it won't be disturbed. Unless your pet
is ultra-friendly and doesn't mind loud noises, music and lots of
people, you should keep it separate for the night, and check on it once
in a while to let it know everything is OK.
Our pets are members of our families. We should provide them with a
sense of well-being.
- Gloria
Dauphin
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