Some pros and cons to the use of pet doors

PETS Some pros and cons to the use of pet doors P ets quickly take up residence in their owners’ homes and hearts. Many pet parents treat their pets as fullfledged members of the family, with the same privileges and attention they devote to other family members.

A 2016 Harris Poll found 95% of Americans consider their pets to be part of the family, and there is not much they won’t do for their companion animals.

One area where pet owners may focus their attention is giving their pets more freedom to explore the outdoors. This can be achieved with the installation of a pet door.

With busy schedules taking many pet parents away from home, pets may spend many hours home alone. An outdoor retreat could be just what the veterinarian ordered for pets who need more fresh air.

Before pet owners install doors for their four-legged friends, it may behoove them to consider the advantages and disadvantages to doing so. Pros

Pet doors can be very convenient for pet owners and pets. Unencumbered bathroom breaks is one of the prime reasons to get a pet door. Not having to wake up early in the morning or rush home from work to let out a pup can give pet owners more freedom.

Cat owners may choose to have their cats soil outdoors, removing the hassle and odor of indoor litter boxes. A pet door provides a way for pets to regulate when they need to go and not be at the mercy of their human companions. This is handy when training a puppy who cannot hold his bladder for more than a few hours. Avoiding indoor accidents can be a great reason to install a pet door.

Pets need exercise and stimulation to alleviate boredom and avoid destructive behaviors. Access to the outdoors promotes physical activity and mental stimulation.

Cats may chase bugs or small animals. Dogs may run around the yard and play with a ball or stick. Easy access to outdoor play can take some of the burden off of busy pet owners. Cons

As convenient as pet doors can be, they may disconnect pet owners from their pets. People may feel they don’t need to spend the time in the yard or walking the animal, and that can adversely affect the bonds between pet owner and pet.

Another potential disadvantage concerns alpha-driven pets. Giving pets control over their comings and goings may reinforce ego and potentially cause the animal to be less responsive to his owner’s commands. Safety is another concern. Although there are smart doors that can only open when triggered by a chip on the pet’s collar, one never knows what pets may bring indoors. Cats may present dead rodents and dogs may dirty the house with muddy paws.

Weather is another concern. In colder climates, pet doors may be another source of drafts, contributing to inefficient heating and cooling situations.

Dogs or cats who are prone to roaming could get into trouble if left to their own devices outside. (MC) \ Pet doors can provide convenience and extra freedom to pets and owners.

Large breed dogs take longer to mature physically into their adult size, which is a boon to anyone who loves the puppy years.

As they grow, dogs may experience clumsy movements and struggle to adjust to their bodies as quickly as they would like, says the pet food company Canidae. It’s comparable to the awkward teenage years that humans go through. Large breeds may not understand how big they are. As a result, they may try to sit on your lap or fit on a dog bed they have outgrown.

Large breed adolescent dogs also may step on your feet and/or fail to understand their own strength as they jump up to offer kisses.

Over time, large pups will reach physical and emotional maturity and have a better sense of self. (MC) \

Spring break college tours are around the corner

By Michele E. Buttelman Signal Staff Writer S pring break is fast approaching (April 6-10) for the William S. Hart Union High School District. For high school juniors, seniors and their parents, it is an important (and exciting) time to check out potential college landing spots. Here’s a few tips to make your college tour trips as productive, and stress-free, as possible. Plan early

The window is rapidly closing on budget airline and hotel reservations for your college spring break campus tours. Hotels fill up fast near college campuses at this time of year. Budget your time wisely, make sure you take the time to see everything on campus you feel you need to make a well-informed decision. Take a virtual tour

Many colleges offer online “virtual” campus tours. Check out the schools you’re interested in. Weed out the campuses that don’t leave a good first impression online. It will save you time and money. Do your research

Is your student’s preferred college known as a “party” school? Does it have a reputation as a diploma mill? Does the school have a highly ranked department in the area of your student’s major course of study?

What are the safety statistics of the campus? Is there enough available housing? What is the weather like?

Many a Santa Clarita Valley student has relocated to the snowy Midwest or humid South only to discover that they can’t tolerate, or are unprepared for the weather. Talk to current students

While campus tour guides may be able to answer many of your academic questions, it is also true they are paid to show their school in a positive light. Talk to a random cross-section of students on campus to get a clearer picture of a school’s culture.

Make sure to ask enough ques

Before leaving on your trip, see if you can arrange to attend a class. Nothing will give you a better idea of what it is like to be a student at a specific university or college than attending an actual class.

tions. Do you feel safe on campus at night? What activities are available for students? How do you feel about the surrounding community? Are the professors accessible and approachable? Do you feel you are getting an education worth the money you are spending? Are dorms and dining halls clean and safe? Visit dorms, dining halls, student centers

You can’t really get a feel for the college until you’ve visited dorms, dining halls and the student union. Find a variety of off-campus locations where students gather, and check out the atmosphere.

Don’t forget to check out student parking costs and accessibility. These experiences will give you a sense of what it would be like to be a student at that institution. Explore housing costs

Dorms or apartments? Are there options to rent a room in a private house? Many housing options are limited by the community surrounding the college. Is it located a large metropolitan city, or a small college-town, or somewhere in between? Before finalizing a college visit, do online research to discover how easy, or difficult, it is to obtain affordable housing for the college of your choice. It may be the perfect college for you, but the realities of the current housing crises in many communities can severely impact your choice, much more than in years past.

Know your options, more than one student has been left in an expensive lurch when their high school “buddy” changes plans, or leaves school after only a month.

Some schools require freshmen to live on campus. Find out the restrictions of the college you’re looking at. Take notes

If you are visiting several schools make sure you take detailed notes of your impressions and observations. You think you’ll remember every moment of your trip, but visiting multiple locations can result in “trip fatigue” where everything ends up “running together.”

If you take photos, remember to be polite and don’t take photos in private, or inappropriate areas. Above all, if you take extensive notes, you will give yourself a better chance of more accurately remembering the impressions, good and bad, you had along the way. Take a class

Before leaving on your trip, see if you can arrange to attend a class. Nothing will give you a better idea of what it is like to be a student at a specific university or college than attending an actual class. Explore the city

Don’t limit yourself just to the campus. See the town. Find a grocery store, a pharmacy, medical facilities, historic, cultural and entertainment locations. Read up on the town’s history. What transportation options are located convenient to the campus? Learn about special festivals and fairs specific to your student’s new potential “home.” Setting up for success

This will be a special time in your young adult’s life, it is important your student feels comfortable and excited about this new adventure.

Attending college or university is not just about getting a good education, it is about learning life skills and becoming part of a network of associates that contribute to a pathway of success.\