Although Responsible Pet Ownership Month is drawing to an end, being a responsible pet owner is an on going necessity.

What does it mean to be a responsible pet owner? It’s more than simply keeping a pet. They should be treated as members of our families who, like a little child, rely on us to care for them.

So how do we do that? We feed them healthy, nutritional food. We provide them a safe, comfortable home. We help keep them active by taking them on walks. We protect them from diseases by regularly taking them to the vet.

And there’s so much more. Here are some steps for responsible pet ownership:

1. Make sure to have your pet spayed or neutered, if you haven’t already. Spaying and neutering not only helps control the animal population, but it can also protect pets from various diseases.

2. Train your dog. The number one reason for dogs ending up in shelters is behavioral issues. By training your pet, you’re reducing the chance of them getting lost or ending up in a shelter.

3. Clean up after your dog. Whenever you take your dog for a walk, make sure to bring some bags to pick up after them. Not only is it irresponsible and unhealthy to not clean up dog waste, it’s against the law. Bags on Board makes compact dispensers that attach to any leash and contain a roll of biodegradable pick up bags, which will make picking up after your pet a whole lot easier and convenient.

4. Groom your dog on a regular basis. Some breeds need it more than others, but all of them need it at some point. An important element to grooming is cleaning your dog’s ears. According to the Veterinary Pet Insurance Co., ear infections were the leading cause of vet visits in 2009. The Ear Relief Wash by Vet’s Best naturally cleans dogs’ ears and eases redness and soreness due to waxy buildup.

5. Make sure your pet has up-to-date identification tags on his collar. Check them every once in a while, as pets (dogs especially) do have a tendency to lose their tags. It’s also important to make sure the information on the tag is up-to-date.

Most importantly, being a responsible pet owner means being perceptive to your pet’s needs and taking the necessary steps to ensure their happiness and well being. Are you a responsible pet owner? If you’re reading this blog, I’ll bet you are!

This year hundreds of dogs got dressed up in their finest Mardi Gras attire and partied it up alongside their owners! Check out these pictures of some of the best party pooches of Mardi Gras 2010!

Although Mardi Gras 2010 has officially come to an end, there’s still one more pet parade to look forward to! The annual post-Mardi Gras Mystic Krewe of Mardi Paws parade is this Sunday, Feb. 21. Visit http://www.nola.com/mardigras/index.ssf/2010/02/post-mardi_gras_mystic_krewe_o.html for more information.

So another Super Bowl has come and gone. All in all, this year definitely lived up to the hype that is synonymous with what has become an unofficial American holiday. But before all of it—the multi-million dollar commercials, the wild parties, The Who, the 75,000 people in attendance—bomb-sniffing dogs of The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco Firearms and Explosives (ATF) were hard at work.

Like the players on the field, these extremely talented K-9 teams had been training all year for this one Sunday. Their job, which they performed flawlessly, was to ensure the safety of the teams and the fans by preventing and/or discovering explosives in and around Sun Life Stadium. But it wasn’t anything new for these dogs. Some of them are veterans of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars, while the others are seasoned veterans of the Miami-Dade Police Department and Broward Sheriff’s Office.

So how good are they? The answer’s simple: VERY good. According to Miami ATF Chief Hugo Barrera, the dogs can smell 19,000 different bomb components. Before the game the dogs demonstrated their extraordinary talent in front of the press when four of them easily found a small amount of residue hidden in a closed car trunk. But perhaps most amazing was when Daryl, a Yellow Lab, predicted this year’s winner by “sniffing out the underdog.” Of course, he picked the Saints.

Daryl walks right by the Colts helmet and sits in front of the Saints helmet

If you’d like to see more pictures of Daryl and his teammates, click here.

As pet owners, we are responsible for keeping our furry family members fed, clean and fit. Unfortunately, unhealthy habits can even creep into households with the best intentions. Pets are known for their affinity for food and sleep, making it all the more important for pets and their owners to stay healthy and active. According to the 2009/2010 American Pet Products Association National Pet Owners Survey, 13% of dogs and 21% of are considered obese of overweight.

As 2010 gets underway, pet owners can make it their goal to include pets while creating and maintaining an active, healthy lifestyle. Here are a couple tips that will help you out.

Take your dog for daily walks. Walks provide your dog with positive attention from you and a chance to be with you doing something he loves. The mental stimulation your dog gets by investigating every smell, sight and sound along the way is as important as the physical workout. A walk is a great opportunity to practice obedience skills with your dog and reinforces that bond between you. When you encounter another dog or person it gives your dog the opportunity to practice appropriate social skills. Regardless of where you walk, don’t forget to clean up after your pet. Check out Bags on Board, which are compact, refillable dispensers that attach to any type of leash and contain a roll of pick-up bags. Also, if you will be out for an extended time you should also carry a small travel bowl and some water.

Think all-natural! Natural supplements and food are more likely to provide your cat or dog with better nutrition because they have less chemicals and preservatives and higher quality nutrients and vitamins. Not only do all natural products benefit your pets, but they also help the environment and are safer for you and your family.  For more information on natural pet care, visit www.vetsbest.com