CareerBuilder Survey Looks at Pet Owners and Career Paths

Are you a cat person or a dog person and what does that mean for your career path? A new survey from CareerBuilder looked at pet ownership in relation to chosen profession, compensation and job satisfaction.

Key findings include:

• Workers with dogs were more likely to report holding senior management positions (CEO, CFO, Senior Vice President, etc.)
• Workers with snakes/reptiles were the most likely to report earning six figures.
•  Workers with birds were the most likely to report being satisfied with their jobs.

In terms of career paths, owners of certain pets were more likely to report being drawn to certain professions:

• Dog owners were more likely to be professors, nurses, information technology professionals, military professionals and entertainers.
• Cat owners were more likely to be physicians, real estate agents, science/medical lab technicians, machine operators and personal caretakers.

 

Want to know what a snake or bird owner might be when they grow up?

Get the full story in the Globe and Mail.

Posted by Terri Perrin, Online Communications Editor

2010 Summit Speaker Synopsis Part X

The International Summit for Urban Animal Strategies Presents:

Homing Practices Amongst Canadian Canine Breeders

Presenter: Lee Steeves, Canadian Kennel Club

In this thought-provoking and fact-filled presentation Lee Steeves will provide an in-depth look at the demographics of Canadian Kennel Club dog breeders. She will examine some of the basic characteristics of dog breeders and what makes them unique. Further discussion about the CKC's Code of Ethics and Breeder Code of Practice will shed light onto this important but often misunderstood segment of the companion animal industry.


Steeves will also delve into some of the 'Why's and How's' of the CKC's Breeder Focus: what steps are being taken to ensure breed improvement; breeder and public education; and some of the challenges faced into today's environment.


Looking to the future of the CKC and dog breeders, Steeves will discuss topics such as market share, media focus, validation of breeding stock and the supply/demand chain.

2010 Summit Speaker Synopsis Part VI

The International Summit for Urban Animal Strategies Presents:

Animal Services in an Urban Municipality

Presenter: John Wilson, City of Edmonton

Recent events in the City of Edmonton have created an opportunity for City Council and the Administration to undertake a critical review of it's Animal Care and Control service delivery model. High euthanasia rates; the construction of a state-of-the-art care and control facility; and a new campus style animal services delivery model partnering with the Edmonton Humane Society all require changes to the way we think about companion pets in our community. They have also clarified the need to pursue an ambitious outcome; that no adoptable animal is euthanized in the City of Edmonton.

In order to develop a comprehensive series of recommendations to improve animal care and control services to achieve this outcome the City conducted research into the companion pet situation in Edmonton.

Summit Speaker Synopsis Part V

International Summit for Urban Animal Strategies 
Presents: 2010 Canadian Breeder Survey

Presenter: Joe Mauro, Canadian Kennel Club

In March of 2010 the Canadian Kennel Club (CKC)  conducted an in-house survey of its breeder community. 2009 ended with a significant drop in dog registrations and CKC wanted to find out why.

The survey centred on breeders with registered dogs in 2008 who saw a drop in the number of dogs registered with CKC in 2009. It examined breeder attitudes and perceptions to the factors affecting their breeding programs.

2010 Summit Speaker Synopsis Part 1

The International Summit For Urban Animal Strategies Presents:

2010 National Survey on Retail Puppy Sales

There have been numerous media reports about the sale of puppies in stores. Questions about sources and care practices are frequently brought up. Subjective facts and figures have resulted in wide spread misinformation.

To help develop a clearer picture of how the retail model functions PIJAC Canada conducted the 2010 National Survey on Retail Puppy Sales as a way for stores to share their methods of operation. PIJAC Canada's Susan Dankert's presentation of the survey results will offer an insightful look into the sale and care of puppies in pet shops around Canada.  This talk will offer data on topics such as, average number of cages, sales, sourcing, care and warranties.

Announcing the 2010 National Urban Animal Survey

PetLynx Corporation established the National Urban Animal Survey (NUAS) in 2007 to fill the void we perceived for an evidence-based approach to decision making in the companion animal industry.  In 2010, we are once again moving to change the paradigm for information and intelligence in this industry.

PetLynx is pleased to announce that Socialstruct Advisory Group has been contracted to assist us to develop the next generation of Market Services and Intelligence tools for this industry.  Using the largest pool of subscribers and working with our industry partners we will prepare a National Urban Animal Report each November.

The Dog is Fine ... But Beware of the Driver!

At PetLynx, our goal is to help get (and keep) pets HomeSafe ... and we were surprised to learn that a recent study revealed that 2/3 of dog owners admit to engaging in distracting activities with their dogs while driving!

Dogs are wonderful companions and can be fun to bring along for a car ride. However, this can mean added distractions for the driver. A recent survey conducted by the American Auto Association (AAA) asked dog owners how often they drive with their dog and about their habits behind the wheel.

The survey found that drivers not only love to bring Fido along, but they also often engage in risky behaviors when man's best friend is along for the ride.

PetLynx Announces New HomeSafe Initiative

At the April 2010 Canadian Regional Summits for Urban Animal Strategies an exciting new initiative to make pet insurance protection available to the pet families of the 14 million+ dogs and cats in Canada was announced.

Under this new initiative, called HomeSafe™, Western Financial Insurance Company (WFIC) and PetLynx Corporation will develop health insurance benefits for the new on-line HomeSafe™ portal.

Bones of the Business: Tips for Working Smarter

A recent survey conducted in the United States by PetSmart Charities provided a wealth of useful information relating to why people do -- and do not -- spay or neuter their pets.

The biggest barriers were identified as lack of understanding as to why it is important and the right age to have the dog/cat sterilized. Interestingly, researchers found that adults age 34 and under needed the most education.

Bones of the Business: Tips for Working Smarter

A recent survey conducted in the United States by PetSmart Charities provided a wealth of useful information relating to why people do -- and do not -- adopt pets.

When it comes to pet adoptions, "Think positive!"

Prospective adopters are put off by negative messages about euthanasia. Instead of focusing on how many pets are euthanized because they don't have homes, focus on how adoption saves lives.

Understand what adopters want and tell them where to find it.

As animal welfare advocates, we love and value mixed breed dogs and cats. Recognize, however, that not everyone shares this passion for the "un-pedigreed." Many people want a specific breed of dog or cat.

• Help these potential adopters find the purebred (or close to it) in your facility
• Direct them to a breed rescue agency in your community
• Don't be disheartened that they don't want a mixed breed dog or cat. Thank them for visiting your facility and considering adoption.

"We hope animal welfare professionals will use these findings to create effective and motivating messages about pet adoptions programs," said Susana Della Maddalena, executive Director of PetSmart Charities Inc. "Having access to this information provides all of us with excellent insight into what people think and, most importantly, the type of information we can share that not only gets [the public's] attention but also inspires them to act."

Want to know more?

• Get the full details on PetSmart's research.
• View the latest issue of PetSmart Charities Quarterly newsletter.


•  Learn more with PetSmart's free webinars.

Used with permission from PetSmart Charities, Inc.

Posted by Terri Perrin, Online Communications Editor

Regional Summit Provides Platform to Share Statistics

The Regional Summits for Urban Animal Strategies, held in Vancouver, Edmonton, Toronto and Halifax the week of 19 April 2010 provided Larry Evans, President and CEO of PetLynx Corporation, with an opportunity to share highlights of the 2009 Urban Animal Survey.

The survey --  Urban Cats - Our Biggest Opportunity -- was conducted in the fall of 2009. This in-depth research proved to be extremely insightful for manufacturers of pet food and animal health products, veterinary associations, shelters, animal control agencies and retailers of pet care products. This research provides a comprehensive measurement of pet owner attitudes and the behavior exhibited towards their animal companions.

Although presenting statistical data can be a challenge, Evans did not disappoint! Delegates commented that the presentation was "Entertaining, interesting and enjoyable."

Another delegate remarked: "Given the huge amount of information in the survey, it was valuable to hear the conclusions that followed."

A total of 82% of delegates felt the presentation conveyed the information "in a matter I could relate to" and 74% felt the "information was relevant to me."

WHY CONDUCT AN NORTH AMERICAN URBAN ANIMAL SURVEY? 

At the first Summit for Urban Animal Strategies in 2006, delegates clearly indicated that they required clarity of thought on how to manage urban animals. A lack of reliable statistics and information on constituent’s views hampers municipal leaders and legislators in their efforts to develop urban animal strategies and thus create and sustain a healthy community for pets and people

Want to learn more about how you can connect with other thought leaders in the companion animal industry? Check out the International Summit for Urban Animal Strategies to be held at Lake Louise, Alberta, 13 - 16 October 2010.

Posted by Terri Perrin, Online Communications Editor

Pet Obsessed: The cost of Cute

Whether you’re a dog or a cat person, there’s no question that our four-legged friends provide us with the kind of companionship you just can’t put a price on. That didn’t stop the folks at USA-based www.mint.com from doing just that however. 

The company's latest info-graphic takes a look at the true cost of sharing your home with companion animals, along with the requisite cute photos. How much do Americans spend on pet food, supplies, and pet food? And how have the big pet supply retailers done during the economic downturn?

This info-graphic is based on the aggregate data from over one million Mint.com users, a representative sampling of US consumers, along with data from wiki.answers.com.

The blog posts to this information are interesting, too. Tell us what you think of mint.com's statistics.

Posted by Terri Perrin, Online Communications Editor

PetLynx Announces New HomeSafe Pet Insurance Initiative

23 February 2010

SecuriCan General Insurance Company, Canada's oldest and largest provider of pet health insurance, and PetLynx Corporation, Canada's innovative, cutting-edge provider of information services for the pet industry, are pleased to announce a new initiative for companion animals in Canada.  Under this new collaboration SecuriCan and PetLynx will develop health insurance benefits for the new HomeSafe™ portal and offer pet insurance to all dogs and cats in Canada.

The Urban Animal Surveys conducted for PetLynx Corporation by Ipsos Reid in 2008 and dmrkynetec in 2009 clearly show that health and wellness is a top priority for pet families.  These studies also show higher instances of surrender and euthanasia in communities where health care benefits aren't readily available for companion animals. To reduce or eliminate this situation the parties will work with municipalities, humane societies, veterinarians, breeders, retailers and other service providers in each community to ensure that every pet in the HomeSafe™ program is provided with medical benefits at the moment it reaches its first pet family home.

The HomeSafe™ program will provide a range of products and prices from three of the leading pet insurance brands in Canada.  Pet families will choose the type of medical insurance that best meets their budget and their needs from among these offerings.  Since this coverage will also be registered in the pet's record on the HomeSafe™ national system, those pets requiring emergency intervention will have the shortest path to medical attention in Canada.

There are over 14 million dogs and cats in Canada that require health insurance benefits.  Using the HomeSafe™ program will give pet retailers, pet breeders, humane societies, veterinarians and other providers the ability to ensure the pets they place or service have medical benefits right from the beginning of each new relationship.  In addition, pet families will manage their insurance coverage online using the HomeSafe™ portal where they manage their care profiles, breed information, recovery services, pet pictures and licensing.

'We believe this is the most comprehensive approach to improving health & wellness for companion animals in Canada', said Randy Valpy, President and CEO of SecuriCan General Insurance Company.  We have already paid out more than $103,000,000 in claims which means Canadians can trust us.  Now with PetLynx and the HomeSafe™ program we will take health and wellness to a new level'.

'Health care is one of the highest priorities Canadians have', said Larry R. Evans, President & CEO of PetLynx Corporation.  'Our colleagues across Canada helped us become the largest automated recovery system in just three years.  Together with SecuriCan we will deliver a new level of health and wellness for pets and help Canadian communities become the best place for companion animals in the world.'

SecuriCan will launch this new collaboration in Canada on 19 April 2010, at the PetLynx Regional Summits for Urban Animal Strategies.
 

For more information please contact:

Mika SansonSecuriCan General Insurance Company

204.942.2999 ext 7297
msanson@securican.ca
www.SecuriCan.ca

Cindy Kreutzer
PetLynx Corporation

403.219.1088

cindy.kreutzer@petlynxmail.com

www.petlynx.net

Posted by Terri Perrin, Online Communications Editor

Pet Products Get High Tech Treatment

A report on CNN states that with enthusiasm for pets growing unabated, and technology digging ever deeper into our lives, the two seemingly unrelated worlds increasingly touch.

While spending on pet-care products has gone up 34 percent globally over the past five years, according to research firm Euromonitor International, there is little if any serious research on tech-related pet spending.

Where technology excels is in addressing the two big worries of pet ownership: fear and guilt. Most owners dread the day their pet gets lost. Enter GPS pet tracking, offered by companies like Zoombak, Garmin, and Positioning Animals Worldwide.

But for many pet owners, fear of the pet becoming lost is outweighed by guilt about not giving pets enough company and attention… and technology is coming to the rescue!

Products like the “Talk to Me Treat Ball,” the “Bowlingual Voice Communicator” and an iPhone application called “Pet Acoustics” are leading the charge.

Get the whole story on high tech gadgets for the pet industry from CNN.

Coping with Cold Viruses in Shelter Cats

New research reveals that simple changes in shelter housing may inhibit the spread of feline upper respiratory infection (URI)--and save the lives of cats. This infection, which is similar to the common cold in humans, is cited among the top reasons for euthanasia of cats in shelters. Research funded by Morris Animal Foundation's Happy Healthy Cat Campaign suggests that stressful conditions dramatically increase the likelihood of infection. Fortunately, housing modifications reduce stress and decrease the spread of infection--making the difference between life and death for a shelter cat. With Morris Animal Foundation funding, Dr. Kate Hurley, the director of the Koret Shelter Medicine Program at the University of California-Davis, is assessing disease incidence, cage layout and sanitation methods to determine how shelter housing affects stress and stress-related illnesses. Her research shows that prevalence of feline URI varies wildly across the country--with anywhere from 5 percent to 60 percent of shelter cats getting sick. Environmental risk factors explain some of the variation, and so far, shelters with the lowest URI rates seem to be those with high-quality housing for cats. "Our hope is that we will find something that not only helps cats stay healthy but also helps them get out of shelters alive," Hurley says. Learn more about the research and the symptoms of URI. Source: PR Newswire

Secrets Inside a Dog's Mind

Do you ever wonder... What is my dog thinking? According to a recent article in TIME magazine, many animals have some level of social intelligence, allowing them to coexist and cooperate with other members of their species. But dogs have evolved an extraordinarily rich social intelligence as they've adapted to life with us. Perhaps understanding how (and what) our dogs think could help us be better pet guardians and, for those of us involved in animal welfare, to provide better care for abused, abandoned and stray dogs. Read the full story of the Secrets Inside a Dog's Mind.

A 'Cure' for Pet Euthanisia?

Can a $75 million program, funded by a billionaire doctor’s foundation, offer the solution to pet over population? In the September issue of Science Magazine, David Grimm reports that humane organizations throughout the United States can’t surgically sterilize homeless cats and dogs fast enough to control their numbers. Developing countries with dangerous feral dog populations – such as China and India – fare even worse. As a result, nearly four million dogs and cats are euthanized in United States’ animal shelters each year – and millions more are put to death in less humane ways around the globe. “The amount that municipalities in the U.S. spend to catch, house, and kill our pet cats and dogs is staggering,” Found Animals Foundation Founder, Gary Michelson, M.D., shared with Science. “Surely we should be able to come up with a more cost-effective and humane approach.” The solution could be a program announced last October by Dr. Michelson’s nonprofit foundation, Found Animals, the $75 million Michelson Prize & Grants in Reproductive Biology. The aim of the Program is to encourage researchers to develop a low cost, non-surgical sterilant, for cats and dogs. The Program offers $50 million in funding to approved researchers and a $25 million prize to the winning solution. “There are a lot of very bright people out there who haven’t applied their research direction to dogs and cats, in part because there’s been no money,” added Found Animals Director of Scientific Research, Shirley Johnston, Ph.D., D.V.M, a veterinarian and expert in animal reproduction. Want the full story? Click here.

Dog Owners Speak Up!

New Stats Prove Dogs are Our "Best Friends" ST. LOUIS, Aug. 09 /PRNewswire/ -- Dogs have always been man's best friend. But, according to a new national survey of dog owners, our four-legged companions are playing an increasingly important role in many Americans' lives. According to the survey, conducted on behalf of Beneful(R) brand dog food dog owners said:

• spending time with their dog lifts their spirits (95%);
• their dog helps them enjoy life's simple pleasures (92%);
• they could not live without their dog on a daily basis (48%) - more than their morning cup of coffee (35%), television (35%), car (26%), cell phone/BlackBerry (23%) or even best friend (15%);
• their dog is an ideal travel companion (more than 60%), more so than their siblings, parents, co-workers and in-laws.

Many dog owners surveyed noted that it is the everyday activities in life that they enjoy doing with their dogs include:

• going for a walk or a run (59%);
• driving (44%);
• running errands (27%) and,
• taking their dog on vacation (22%).

What it is about dogs that makes life better:

• they are always happy to see me (80%);
• their unconditional love (75%);
• their reliability and always being there for me (60%);
• dogs make their life more fulfilling (91%);
• Over nine in ten dog owners say that they take comfort in coming home to their dog during these uncertain times.

Survey conducted June 1-3, 2009 in the Untied States by IPSOS. For further information: Jenn DeBarge Goonan, +1-617-939-8383, jgoonan@coneinc.com or Julie Kahn, +1-314-982-1036, julie.kahn@purina.nestle.com.

Evaluating K-9 IQ

How smart is the average dog? Smarter than you might think!

Using adapted tests designed for human children, psychologists have learned that average dogs can count, reason and recognize words and gestures on par with a human two -year-old.

"They may not be Einsteins, but are sure closer to humans than we thought," said Dr. Stanley Coren, a professor emeritus at the University of British Columbia and leading researcher on dog behavior.

The average dog can:

* Understand about 165 words, including signs, signals and gestures.

* Count to about five.

Included in the number of "words" dogs are believed to know are hand gestures, like pointing, and nonverbal sounds, like the whistles used to direct sheep dogs and retrievers.

Counting ability is tested in drills such as one in which treats are dropped, one at a time, behind a screen. When the researcher either sneaks away one of the treats or stealthily adds an extra before raising the screen, the dog will wait longer -- appearing to puzzle over the bad math -- before eating the treats.

That's the same way toddlers respond when faced with a similar switch, said Coren.

Dr. Aubrey Fine, a psychologist and faculty member at California State Polytechnic University, said research like Coren's could help dog owners better relate to their animals.

"Too often, many people look at dogs as four-legged people," said Fine, who specializes in the use of dogs in treating patients with developmental disorders and other mental-health conditions. "We need to recognize what dogs cue in to. Once you understand better how to interact, it causes a better coexistence with your pet companion."

Coren said the findings on dog intelligence showed they have more sense than some scientists may have thought, but that some in the general public may be surprised for different reasons that span a wide range of thought.