Here are some more ideas for properly caring for your companion.

Protect Your Friend from the Research Labratory

A sure way to know that your comapnion will nt end up as a subject in a research facility is to outlaw the use of cats and dogs as labratory subjects. In the mean time here are so things you can do:

• Labratories that use companion animals and class B animals dealers should allow access to their facilites in order to look for stolen or lost animals.

• Find out if the animal rights and humane orgizinations in your area monitor animal dealers, dog auctions, or research labratories. Encourage them to do so and volunteer your services towards this effort.
• Call "free to good homes" ads and warn advertisers about unsceupulous bunchers who obtain animals this way.Urge the current care taker to scrutinize interested prties and charge a nominal fee to discourage animal dealers. Encourage them to accompany the animal to her new prospective home. This way you can verify that the caretakers are legitimate.
• Tattoo and register your companion animals
• Always supervise you animal friend. Don't let them run loose.

• Keep an eye out for suspucious cans or trucks cruising your neighborhood. Take down the license number and a descrpition. Repot their presence to the ploice.

Keep your friend healthy and happy

• Think of your companion animal's need for exercis, companionship, and stimulation. Don't leave her alone for long periods of time. Set aside some time each day for interracting with your friend.
• Buy only sagfe cruelty-free toys and products for your companion animal. Don't buy rawhide, which is a slaughterhouse by-product and often contains formaldhyde. Chemical flea sprays and collares are poisonous. Use herbal sprays or collars if necessary.
• Avoid off the shelf grocery store pet food. Buy a health stor pet food or make your own.
• Declawing is equivalent to amputation. Instead of declawing cat keep his nails trimmed and provide a good scrathcing post.
• Learn about your friends needs. Read up on his species.

More do's and Don'ts for Companion Animals

• Do adopt animals from shelters or rescue groups, not from retail stores.
• Do support a ban on breeding in your area.
• Do always have your companion wear a collar and ID tag.
• Do support federal/state legislation for spaying/neuturing. Support the ban on pound seizure, puppy mills, the sale of exotic animals, steel leg hold traps, and inhumane treatment f companion animals.
• Do report any abuse you witnessor suspect to your local humane society or animal control.
• Do provide for your companion animals in your will.
• Don't let companion animals breed.
• Don't adopt an animal in your home unless you are willing to make a lifelong commitment.
• Don't give your nonhuman frined to a stranger without thoroughly checking out their background and their house.
• Don't expect your vet to be informed about or sympathetic to animal rights. Contact Association of Veterinarians for Animal Rights.