Cutest Pets of Porter County Magazine February 2020

A Magazine For Pet Owners & People Supporting Local Animal Shelters and Rescues

Porter County • February 2020

4 Ways Pets Improve Overall Well-Being How to Train Your Cat: 5 Tips From a Professional Tiger Trainer Cutest Pet Contest Winners!

Welcome Message Today, I am proud to present the first edition of Cutest Pets of Porter County Magazine! Now that first one is finished, I’ll try to publish one every month.

Jeff Smith

For those who are not familiar, the magazine is a companion project for the facebook group we started last year; Cutest Pets of Porter County. The Facebook group is for folks to show off their furry family members and participate in fun and friendly photo contests.

The group postings and contests have been a nice escape from a lot of the stuff happening on social media. In future additions of Cutest Pets of Porter County Magazine I hope to present stories that highlight the benefits of pet ownership and advocate pet adoption. I also want to put the spotlight on local organizations, volunteers and supporters. I will do my best to find helpful information, entertaining stories and, of course, we’ll feature many of the cute pet pictures that have been provided by group members.

I hope you enjoy the magazine and be sure to join the fun by visiting our Facebook group. www.facebook.com/ CutestPetsPC Thank you!

Jeff / Cutest Pets of Porter County Magazine

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February 2020 | Cutest Pets of Porter County

Inside: Welcome Message........................................... 2 4 Ways Pets Improve Overall Well-Being....................... 4-5 Cutest Dog Contest Winners....................... 6-9 Contestants.................................................. 10-12 On The Cover Oliver

Cover photo by Becky Graykowski Find Us On Facebook www.facebook.com/CutestPetsPC

Cutest Pets of Porter County Magazine is a monthly publication.

It is supported by advertising from local pet related businesses and services.

Directory............................................................. 13 How to Train Your Cat: 5 Tips From a Professional Tiger Trainer................... 14-15 Cutest Cat Contest Winners.................... 16-19 Contestants..................................................20-21 Cutest Critter Contest Winners............. 22-24

Publisher / Advertising Jeffery Smith CutePetsPC@gmail.com

A published advertisement does not constitute an endorsement of products or services. Cutest Pets of Porter County Magazine reserves the right to refuse advertising at any time for any reason. In particular we do not accept advertising relating to the sale of animals; this is an affirmation of our commitment to pet adoption.

All content in Cutest Pets of Porter County Magazine is intended for informative and entertainment purposes. For issues relating to animal health and wellbeing, please consult your veterinarian.

Information provided in this issue was obtained from sources deemed reliable, and should be considered accurate at the time of publication.

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4Ways

Pets Improve Overall Well-Being

Photo courtesy of Adobe Stock

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February 2020 | Cutest Pets of Porter County

Self-care is an important piece of maintaining a happy and healthy life, and adopting a pet can be a beneficial way to improve overall wellbeing in a number of ways.

From reducing loneliness to keeping people more active, the perks of pet ownership can be felt both physically and emotionally, and are nearly impossible to quantify. Plus, adopting a pet can be a feel-good experience, because you’re not only getting a new best friend, you’re helping an animal in need find a loving forever home.

Consider some of these ways adopting a pet can improve overall well-being. For more information on the benefits of pet adoption, visit Pedigree.com.

1. Pets Increase Physical Activity

Adopting a pet offers owners a chance to improve daily exercise habits. From taking walks and playing in the yard to having a new partner for hikes and visits to the park, dog owners have numerous opportunities to be active with their four-legged friends. Cats also need playtime each day, providing cat owners with a designated time to get active while bonding with their pets.

2. Pets Reduce Feelings of Isolation

Pets have the ability to make people feel less alone.

Whether coming home from a long day or taking a stroll around the neighborhood, having a wagging tail around can make everything better. The moodboosting effect of pets is the driving idea behind a campaign from the Mobil Delvac™ and PEDIGREE® brands called Mutts4Trucks, which aims to make a positive impact on the mental and physical well-being of professional truck drivers while helping pets in need.

According to research from DePaul University, nearly one-third of professional truck drivers said being alone and away from their families is a significant issue affecting their mental health. To help reduce those feelings of loneliness, the campaign is pairing drivers with shelter dogs in need of homes.

3. Pets Encourage Relationship Building

Pets require walks, trips to the vet and grooming, which can get their parents out and into new settings and environments. When out and about, pets can provide a comforting presence for their owners and serve as conversation starters, helping to put their owners at ease and encourage socialization. Pets also provide opportunities to meet, mingle and make friends with neighbors while at the park, on walks or running errands.

4. Pets Help with Stress Reduction

Almost anyone who’s ever sat on the couch with a furry friend knows pets can bring a calming presence.

Having a dog in the house can also help people feel safer and more secure in their surroundings. From comforting snuggles to a friendly tail wag, pets have an uncanny ability to help ease their owners’ minds and reduce stress.

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Cutest Dog Contest Winners

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Cutest Dog Contest Winners

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Cutest Dog Contestants

Scooby

Roxy

Abby

Ollie

Jaako Ta

Bella

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2020 Boss

Charlie

Delilah

Gabreiel

Dixie

Wyatt William

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Cutest Dog Contestants

Tuesday

Riley

Dexi

Ollie

Roscoe

Abby

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Directory Animal Rescue and Advocates

Pet Supplics and Services

Begin Again Rescue Co. 2700 Valparaiso Street Valparaiso, IN 46383

Your Company Name Here Address City, State Zip

Phone: (219) 263-0348 Email: beginagainrescueco@gmail.com Web: www.teambarc.com

Phone: Email: Web:

Independent Cat Society 4061 County Line Road Westville, IN 46391

Your Company Name Here Address City, State Zip

Phone: (219) 785-4936 Email: shelter@catsociety.org Web: www.catsociety.org

Phone: Email: Web:

Lakeshore PAWS 4611 Evans Avenue Valparaiso, IN 46383 Phone: (219) 476-7297 Email: info@www.lakeshorepaws.org Web: www.lakeshorepaws.org Porter County Animal Shelter 3355 Bertholet Blvd Valparaiso, IN 46383 Phone: (219) 465-3550 Email: tbianchi@porterco.org Web: portercountyanimalshelter.org

Submit Your Listing

Add your business to this directory so people can find you. We are looking for businesses such as: • • • • • • •

Animal Rescues & Advocates Pet Sitters Animal Trainers Animal Hospitals Veterinarians Animal Friendly Lodging Animal Friendly Restaurants

Contact: Jeff Smith for information Animal non-profits get a free directory listing

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How to Train Your Cat:

5 Tips From a Professional Tiger Trainer If the thought of training your pet cat seems like a difficult feat, consider the daunting task of training one of nature’s biggest cats. After welcoming two 4-year-old Sumatran tigers, Frances and Huntley, the keepers at Nashville Zoo are doing just that. The training program, which is sponsored by TEMPTATIONS™ Cat Treats, is on display for the public to learn about how these colossal cats are trained.

The trainers offer these tips and tricks from their experiences working with their tigers that you can use to train your cat at home. For more information on cat behavior, visit TemptationsTreats.com.

Photo by Barbie Ziesmer Freel

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5 Tips Start Smart

While your training might be inspired by the behaviors you’d like your cat to adopt or change, beginning your training by rewarding your pet’s existing good habits is often an easy way to reinforce behavior. For example, if your cat sits patiently for food, pair this with a treat and verbal reassurance to praise the behavior and encourage it in the future.

Celebrate the Small Victories

Training your cat can be difficult, but it’s a great opportunity for bonding and relationship building.

Have patience and reinforce your pet’s hard work by acknowledging his or her effort along the way and provide encouragement to keep him or her learning and advancing in training.

Identify Motivators

When beginning the training process, identify your cat’s likes and dislikes. Some cats are motivated by toys while most are motivated by food. When starting the training process, try out a few different treat flavors to identify what gets your cat’s attention. Treats such as TEMPTATIONS™ Cat Treats come in a wide variety of flavors, making it easy to find one that will make your cat come running. For cats with health or weight restrictions, utilize toys or tactile reinforcement like petting for motivation.

Be Consistent

To prevent confusion, remain consistent when rewarding behaviors and only give praise when your cat completes a trick or task. If you reward your cat for following a command halfway or missing a step, you’re not rewarding the behavior you’d like to see in the future.

Photos courtesy of Adobe Stock

Focus on Practicality

Cats are smart creatures and full of potential when it comes to training. Pinpointing practical habits that can serve you and your cat’s lifestyle in the future is a smart and achievable goal to tackle while your cat is young and his or her habits are malleable. For example, if you plan to travel, make crate training a priority. If your cat shows resistance with nail trimming and being held, focus your training on desensitization, which will allow you to more easily groom him or her or assess injuries later on.

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Cutest Cat Contest Winners

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Cutest Cat Contest Winners

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Cutest Cat Contestants

Dinky

Isabella

Robert Meowny Jr

Poppy

Fenix

Snickers

20 February 2020 | Cutest Pets of Porter County

2020 Toby

Cora

Sweet Pea

Luna

Kiwi

Bella

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Cutest Critter Contest Winners

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Cutest Critter Contest Winners

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Have a Story or Event to Share?

Shelter/Rescue News, Stories & Events are published free!

Send To Jeff Smith Email: CutePetsPC@gmail.com

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For Advertising Info, Contact Jeff Smith Email: CutePetsPC@gmail.com