There are multiple types of parks available to walk and entertain dogs. There are parks where you can walk dogs on leashes, there are parks designated for off-leash dog walking and there are parks built specifically for dogs to play and exercise. Houston has numerous off-leash dog parks with ammenities including lakes, exercise equipment, agitility tools, trails, and picnic areas.

Other great sites for information on Houston Dog Parks are the Houston Pet Talk and the Houton Dog Park Association.

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If you ever notice your pet behaving differently or suspect there might be a problem, you can contact an emergency veterinary clinic. They will be able to tell you if you should bring in your pet or if you can wait until our normal business hours. Even if you feel silly, you will be able to sleep easy knowing that everything will be alright.

If your pet is seizing, is unconscious, is having trouble breathing, choking, or not breathing, is vommiting blood, has possible broken bones, is bleeding, has eaten poison, is not urinating or having bowel movements, your pet is limping or showing signs of extreme pain, is shaking or is delivering puppies, contact the emergency clinic immediately.

Be prepared for an emergency by posting the emergency clinic number and address by the phone, ask Dr. Dayton what you should do in the event of an emergency and most importantly, stay calm.

It is always hard to navigate the internet. Is what you are reading the truth or just somebody blogging incorrect information?

With that in mind, we have put together some resources that can assist you through your pet parent years.

Shelters vary in their role in animal care. They are catagorized into three primary types: Municipal, Private, and Rescue Groups & Sanctuaries.

Municipal Shelters-

These are shelters that provide animal control services funded mostly by local taxes, dog licensing fees, and other specialized programs.

• Our city shelter is Houston's Bureau of Animal Regulation and Care. They are a law enforcement agency as it relates to animal issues within the city limits of Houston. They were set up to prevent rabies infection in animals and people. They do offer adoptions, redemptions, vaccinations, & pet licensing. Visit them at www.houstontx.gov and search the city govenment site for BARC.
• Our county shelter is a division of Harris County Pulic Health & Environmental Services, Veterinary Public Health (AKA Countypets). Their primary goal is to create a safe & healthy county for animals and people by enforcing animal regualtion that reduce the spread of zoonotic diseases. They do offer adoptions. Visit them at www.countypets.com

Municipal Shelters are open admission. They must admit every animal relinquished to them regardless of the number of animals in their care, the animals state of health, or the animals adoptability chances.

Private Shelters-

These are generally not for profit privately held corporations that have a 501(c)(3) tax status.

They do not have animal control contracts from their municipalities. They derive their funding from donations, adoption fees, and certain charitable events.

They tend to focus on humane treatment of animal education and enforcement, animal behavior issues, neutering services and community projects.

• Citizens for Animal Protection www.cap4pets.org
• Noahs Ark www.noahs-ark-sanctuary.org
• Houston SPCA www.houstonspca.org
• Friends 4 Life www.nokill1.org

Rescue Groups & Sanctuaries-

These groups often focus on specific breeds or species. They utilize a fostering system. The animal is taken into the rescue through the municipal shelters and private owners and placed with a foster parent. The animal is rehabilitated and made adoptiable by the foster parent to a new loving home based on the Rescue Groups criteria.

Parker Road Animal Hospital has a very long relationship with the Minature Schnauzer Rescue of Houston. We provide some of their medical care to "critical" patients at a discount to the rescue. The hospital also dontates to the rescue when ever their is a referral to the hospital from one of their "new" pet parents. Our Pet Resort also donates to the rescue group whenever a pet owner chooses our cottages for their pets vacation or day boarding stay. Visit them at www.msrh.org

There are all kinds of pet stores including those that sell animals, those that sell supplies, and those that sell unique and fun things for your pet. You can find things locally and online. Below are just a few of the stores we frequent.

The American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) offers these tips to help you prepare for a car trip with your pet and make it go a little smoother.

If your pet is not accustomed to the car, take it for a few short rides before the trip. This can help keep your pet from becoming nervous or agitated, and may lessen the effects of motion sickness. If, after a number of practice trips, your pet continues to cry excessively or becomes sick, consult your veterinarian.

Buckling up is an important safety precaution for your pet. Many states now require that pets be restrained while in a moving vehicle, and restraints have several advantages. They help protect pets in case of a collision, and they keep pets from running loose and distracting the driver. They also keep pets from escaping the car through an open window or door.

Cats and smaller dogs are often most comfortable in pet carriers, which can be purchased in various sizes at most pet stores. Carriers give many animals a sense of security and familiar surroundings, and can be secured to the car seat with a seat belt or a specially designed carrier restraint. There are also pet restraints available that can be used without carriers, including harnesses, seat belt attachments, pet car seats, vehicle barriers, and truck/pickup restraint systems. No matter what kind of restraint you use, be sure that it does not permit your pet's head to extend outside the car window.

While packing for your trip, remember to throw in a few of your pet's favorite toys, food and water bowls, a leash, and food. You should also carry a first aid kit for your pet, and know basic pet first aid. Also, if your pet is on a special therapeutic diet, bring along an extra supply in case you can't find the food in a strange area.

Stick to your regular feeding routine while traveling, and give your pet its main meal at the end of the day or when you've reached your destination. Give your pet small portions of both food and water and plan to stop every two hours for exercise.

Remember that your veterinarian is a good source of information about what your pet will need when traveling. Consider having your pet examined before you leave as well, to check for any developing problems. Also, be sure to travel with a copy of your pet's medical records, especially if the animal has a difficult medical history.

Some pets travel better while tranquilized. Tranquilizers can lessen agitation and motion sickness in pets traveling by car.

Learn more about the area you will be visiting. Your veterinarian can tell you if there are any diseases like heartworm or Lyme disease and vaccinations or medications your pet may require. A health examination following your trip should be considered to determine if any internal parasites (roundworms, hookworms, heartworms) or external parasites (ticks, fleas) were picked up in contaminated exercise or wooded areas. Also, be aware of any unique laws. Some places have restrictions on exotic animals (ferrets are not allowed in some cities), and there are restrictive breed laws in others, such as no pit bulls allowed. Your pet could be affected by these laws, so call ahead to the city or travel information bureau for more information.

To avoid losing your pet during a trip, make sure your pet is wearing an i.d. tag. To be doubly protected, consider having your pet tattooed or having a microchip implanted.

It is important to carry health and rabies vaccine certificates, particularly if you will be crossing the border into Canada, the US, or Mexico. All three countries allow dogs and cats to enter if they meet stringent entry requirements. Depending on the country, exotic pets may be allowed to enter, though they may need further documentation. Call the Agriculture Department or embassy of the country or state to which you are traveling for information on the vaccinations, documentation, fees, or quarantine that may be required to bring your pet into the country.

Use the following links below to help you prepare for your next trip.