By Talandor Elias

Movement and exercise are critical to the health and well-being of any pet, regardless of species or age. Just like humans, when pets don’t get enough exercise, they can experience weight gain, anxiety, boredom, depression, and health issues related to sedentary living.

Dogs, with their love of outdoor activities and abundance of energy are most in need of a consistent exercise plan. Many people simply take their pup(s) for a stroll, and that checks all the boxes, but if a walk isn’t possible, there are plenty of other activities to keep your dog fit and healthy.  You can try tug of war (keep it short, to preserve your pup’s teeth and your arm), indoor/outdoor fetch, puzzles and games, hide and seek, or obedience drills. Any of these will give your dog the chance to get moving and stimulate mental interest, which will help prevent undesirable activities like shredding the sofa or barking at anything that moves.

Cats need mental stimulation, too, to help prevent behavioral and emotional issues. Although they spend much of their day sleeping, exercise can help them stay healthy physically and mentally. Cat toys and feather sticks abound at most pet stores, or you can make your own! Cats are most active at dawn and dusk, so these are ideal times to initiate playtime. If your cat isn’t interested in playing, for whatever reason, don’t push, because they’ll likely be more interested at a later time. If your cat is up for a romp, it’s best to keep playtime to 10-15 minutes to prevent boredom or overstimulation, and don’t use your hands as toys because your cat (and their claws) will almost always be faster than you are.

Some cats enjoy going outdoors for walks, so if your cat is one of these rare felines, be sure to use a harness and leash designed for walking a cat and make sure your cat is microchipped and up to date on all vaccinations and flea and tick preventative.

If you have an exotic pet, figuring out how to exercise them might be a little more challenging. But many of these friends still need regular exercise to remain fit and fabulous. Ferrets and chinchillas enjoy running, climbing, and playing, so with a little imagination, you can set up obstacle courses and agility runs. If your companion is of the feathered sort, flight training and treat foraging can be good options to help them stretch their wings and their minds. Small animals should have a run wheel or a multi-leveled habitat with stairs to scamper up and down.  

Rabbits can (and should) be let out of their habitat daily to run around, explore, forage for treats, and have some social interaction time with their humans. Other exotics, such as reptiles, might enjoy an obstacle course or a game of lizard laser tag. You can even exercise betta fish by letting them follow your finger along the side of the tank or installing a betta hoop that they can swim through and maybe get a treat on the other side.

Your pet’s health is just as important as your own, and they’re depending on you, so be sure you’re including proper exercise as part of their daily care.

By: Sonya Stone

Many people think that caring for a betta fish is simple. Drop him or her into a fishbowl, and you’re pretty much done. But to ensure that your friend has a long and happy life, proper care needs to extend far beyond the fish bowl.

Betta fish, also known as Siamese fighting fish, are favorites among freshwater aquarists because of their beautiful colors, graceful movement, and strong personalities. Anyone who has ever had a betta knows that this is a small fish with a big attitude! Male bettas are very territorial, and for this reason it’s important that they be housed either alone or with a female betta. If you plan on keeping a male and female betta together, do some research first. Female bettas can be housed together (this is called a sorority), and you’ll need to have at least five fish, so they don’t start harassing each other.

It’s a common misconception that bettas are content in novelty tanks, nano tanks, or fishbowls. It might look cute and Zen to have a fish in a tiny bowl, but the cramped living space actually causes your fish a lot of stress. Bettas enjoy having territory to patrol and enough space to swim around and explore. Some bettas kept in a small habitat will become anxious or jump out of the bowl in an attempt to find more room. This doesn’t end well for anyone, so please keep your betta happy in a five- or ten-gallon tank.

Bettas love greenery in their tank because it emulates their natural habitat and provides them with places to hide, nap, and hang out. You can aquascape your tank with either live aquatic plants or silk plants. Avoid anything with sharp edges, such as plastic plants or certain décor. Bettas have delicate fins, and it’s easy for them to be torn. You can also put live plants, such as pothos, along the top of the tank and allow the roots to trail in the water to help oxygenate and filter the water. Try to keep the leaves out of the water and make sure the surface of the tank isn’t completely covered with greenery, because bettas are labyrinth breathers and take oxygen directly from the air.

If it’s too cold (or hot) for you, it’s probably too cold or hot for your betta. Bettas prefer a stable temperature in the 78-degree range, so buy a good tank heater for winter, and if the summer heat is giving your betta the blues, float a small bag of ice at the top of the tank or place a small fan so it blows over the top of the water. Check the tank temperature frequently to make sure it’s not dropping too rapidly.

Bettas are typically eager to eat, and it’s fun to watch them snapping up their meals. Because they are carnivores, be sure to offer a quality, high-protein food, such as Fluval Bug Bites. Most pet store betta food is made from plants, which are difficult for a betta to digest. You can supplement their diet with freeze-dried or frozen bloodworms, frozen brine shrimp, mosquito larvae, or daphnia. Bettas are wired to keep eating as long as there’s food around, so be sure to avoid the common mistake of overfeeding. Give your fish 2-3 pellets once or twice a day, and treats, such as bloodworms, once or twice a week.

Caring for a betta isn’t hard, but it does require dedication and attention. With an understanding of proper care, you can ensure that your betta has a long and happy life.

By: Sharon Boyles

For 23 years, Greyhound Adoption of Greater Cincinnati (GAGC) has been finding greyt homes for retired racing greyhounds.  Founded in 2002 by three families, President Brenda Pennix has adopted 11 greyhounds during that time, and currently has three greyhounds and a whippet. “When we started, if we placed one dog a month, we’d be happy,” Brenda says “We find homes for about 100 retired racers a year now, and in one year 130 greyhounds found their forever homes.”

GAGC’s primary goal is to provide service and support to their present and future Cincinnati/Dayton area adopters. The organization cultivates a strong focus on being small and doing things right, and although they aren’t able to offer homes to an unlimited number of greyhounds, the intention is to make a difference in the lives of the ones they place. Besides finding loving homes for retired racers, GAGC also works to educate the public about greyhounds and share the love through visits to local schools and nursing homes.

Why are greyhounds retired from racing? Just like racehorses, a greyhound’s career has a lifespan, which is typically 2-5 years. The mandatory retirement age is five. Sometimes, if a young racer doesn’t run fast enough or performs poorly in the maiden races, they aren’t selected to race at the tracks, and they become eligible for adoption.

 When a dog retires, GAGC is notified and picks the dog up from the track. The trainers give GAGC the medical records and NGA certificates, along with a little bit of history about each dog. “I personally go to the track and enjoy seeing them race and seeing them in their kennel environment,” Brenda says. “They are treated well and loved by their handlers. We then give them to our foster families who evaluate and learn their personalities. When someone submits an application, we do several interviews to help determine which one of our dogs would fit best with that family.”

GAGC has a strict adoption policy and will only adopt out to families who live in a house and those households with children over age 10. Potential adopters must fill out an application, after which there is a phone interview. Brenda suggests that anyone interested in adopting a greyhound should first do their research, because she has a lot of questions for anyone wishing to adopt! The potential family will then do a meet and greet to see if there is a match. If there is, then a home meet and greet with the dog is scheduled so Brenda and Kathy can evaluate the house and yard and talk some more about what it’s like to have a greyhound in the family. If everything works out, the adoption is done on the spot. The adoption process can take 2-3 weeks. There’s a lot that goes into finding the right fit!

“We’re a nonprofit organization, and no one is paid,” Brenda says. “But my payday is when I find a good home for a dog.”

 Greyhounds take retirement very seriously ” They’re 45 mile-an-hour couch potatoes,” Brenda laughs. “They can beat a horse off the line because they are sprinters, but they choose not to.”  She points out that the dogs are treated very well at the track.  There are only two remaining dog tracks in the USA.  “Our organization would be very sad if all tracks closed and there would no longer be racers available who make GREYT pets,” Brenda says.

Anyone considering adopting a greyhound should know that they are special-needs dogs, but they also have a lot of interesting qualities.  “They are unique and different from any other breed,” Brenda explains “Everything about a greyhound is different, their bodies are built for speed, they tend to have enlarged hearts because they are athletes, they have only one layer of hair, and their backbone is similar to a cat’s, giving them a flexible spine for speed.” Even though they all have different personalities, they all need routine and stability.  As a pet, greyhounds are laid back, clean and relatively easy to care for. They have only one layer of hair, which is a plus because there is no doggy odor, but it’s also important to keep them warm in the winter, and coats are necessary for long walks.  Brenda jokes that having one greyhound in the family might just lead to another. “Greyhounds are like potato chips,” she says “You can’t have just one!”

All GAGC dogs are tested to make sure they are truly cat safe and won’t chase Fluffy, and they are also checked by a vet for heartworm or other issues. All dogs are also spayed/neutered, vaccinated, wormed, and groomed, and each dog receives a dental exam and cleaning.

“Finding homes for these greyt dogs takes a TEAM effort,” Brenda says. “And all of our members support our mission to find the best home possible for every retired racer we get!”

GAGC is planning two Meet and Greet Picnics this year, and everyone is welcome! Both are at Keehner Park in West Chester, and the dates are May 17 and September 27. For more information about these events or about GAGC, visit https://www.cincigreyhounds.org/

By Talandor Elias

A skinny senior dog with a dry coat and rotten teeth roaming the streets of Hartwell was all the inspiration Barb Lichtenstein needed to become a volunteer with Pets In Need of Greater Cincinnati (PIN) thirteen years ago. “Our veterinarian discovered he had Cushing’s Disease. He had likely been abandoned on the streets by someone who either couldn’t or didn’t want to spend money on his health care,” Barb says. She was horrified to learn that this happens frequently. “I realized how fortunate I was to be able to afford full veterinary care and decided to get involved with a nonprofit veterinary clinic to help people of limited means take care of their pets.”

At the time, the only nonprofit vet clinics around were limited to basic wellness care or spay/neuter. None could treat diseases. When Pets In Need opened their doors in 2012 as a full-service nonprofit veterinary clinic, it was not only unique in the Tristate region but also one of the very first such clinics in the US!

Barb is now the Chairman of the Board, but her work with the clinic began as a volunteer, signing people in, bringing out water and treats, and talking with people about their pets. “Our clients love and depend on their pets for companionship, and they are trying to do their best for their pets in difficult circumstances. They are so grateful to Pets In Need,” she says.

Pets In Need offers a wide range of services for cats and dogs, including basic exams and vaccinations, treatment of infections and allergies, and management of chronic diseases such as diabetes. Many diagnostic tests and blood work are done at the clinic. Partner Vet, Lewis Animal Hospital, performs X-rays at a discounted rate. (PIN pays part of the cost and the client pays the low fee.) PIN’s in-house pharmacy dispenses prescription and non-prescription medications.

The clinic offers same-day surgery and dentals in its new two-room suite. Surgeries range from spay/neuter to mass removals, enucleations, and even amputations. Dentals can be anything from simple exams and cleaning to removal of teeth.

With kindness and respect for pets and their people, the veterinarians and veterinarian assistants provide long-term palliative care to relieve pain and distress. When it’s clear that it’s time for a pet to cross the Rainbow Bridge, euthanasia is carried out with the utmost compassion and care, ensuring a peaceful experience for both the pet and their people. Financial assistance is available for individual cremation services, with the ashes returned to the family, along with a keepsake of their pet’s paw print.

The clinic is conveniently located in Lockland, with access via Interstates 71, 75 and Ronald Reagan Highway. “We draw patients from the entire Tri-state region,” Barb explains. “There are no geographic limits. The only qualification is that the people we serve are living at or under 200% of the federal poverty level or they qualify as a special population living at a limited or fixed income.” Client copays are kept as low as possible, and payment plans can be worked out. PIN’s goal is to make care affordable.

The organization is led by Executive Director, Pam McKie, who succeeds Founder Ann R. Hill. Pam is an animal lover, as are all the people affiliated with PIN. She is currently devoted to her rescue cat, Buckeye, whose vision Pam restored. She is a trained social worker who understands the challenges clients face and can refer them to service agencies. Pam is also an excellent, well-respected business leader.

Staff includes a lead veterinarian plus three supporting veterinarians. One or two of them perform the clinic’s surgeries and dental procedures. A practice manager, a Registered Veterinary Technician, plus three veterinary assistants work alongside the veterinarians to provide extraordinary care to these vulnerable pets and their owners. As Pam says, “the entire staff is committed to being kind, compassionate, and respectful, not only to the dogs and cats served, but also their people.”

More than 3,000 pet owners are supported each year, and that number is growing. On average, Pets In Need receives 20+ phone calls a day from potential new clients, resulting in 20+ appointments scheduled for new clients weekly. “It’s a thrill and a huge relief to be able to help people,” Pam says. “We plan to expand our services and our hours of operation, if we can raise the money.”

PIN is grateful for the tremendous support from national grantors, PetSmart Charities, which will help PIN advance to the next level, and from Petco Love for veterinary supplies. PIN also greatly appreciates the generous support from local grantors like Kenneth A. Scott Foundation, Elsa Heisel Sule Foundation, Greater Cincinnati Foundation, and Joanie Bernard Foundation. Pets In Need draws most of its support from private individuals and volunteers, as well as trusts and legacy gifts. “They keep the wheels turning every day and keep client fees affordable. We’ve got a great base right now, but we want to expand,” Pam explains.

Pets In Need has a few dreams in the making. “We want to be more accessible, and we’re looking at transportation and other resources that will enable those who are elderly, veterans, without shelter, or living with a disability get to out clinic,” Pam shares. “There are whole segments of the population who could use our services that we’d like to serve.”

Would you like to support Pets In Need? While financial contributions are our top priority, the clinic is always looking for donated items, such as towels, blankets, bedding, toys, current medicines, and prescription food. If you’d like to donate or volunteer, visit https://pincincinnati.org/.

If you’d like to visit the clinic, please email [email protected], and put Attn. P. McKie in the subject line. The address is 520 W. Wyoming Avenue, Cincinnati 45215, and the phone number is (513) 761-7387.

By Doug Hopper

In the spring of 2023, our lives—and our backyard—were forever changed by the arrival of our adorable dachshund, Cashew. What was meant to be a peaceful day in the yard quickly turned into an adventure of chaos when she slipped through the gaps in our fence and took off on a sprint down the street.

What happened next was nothing short of comical: Cashew dashed through the neighborhood, weaving through streets and woods, leaving us scrambling to catch her. While we eventually managed to corral her (after an exhausting chase), the reality hit us hard: how were we going to keep her safe in the future?

That’s when the idea for the Picket Protector was born.

Rather than spending thousands of dollars on a whole new fence, we decided to take matters into our own hands. Doug, with his engineering expertise, was determined to find a simple and cost-effective solution. Our first attempt was… well, less than glamorous. Picture a mix of zip ties, shoestrings, duct tape, and a pipe that looked like it was built for a circus act—but it worked! It stopped Cashew from escaping, and it got us thinking: there had to be a better way.

So, after weeks of refining and perfecting, we designed the Picket Protector—a sleek, horizontal barrier that fits seamlessly onto a dog harness or vest to prevent dogs from slipping through the fence pickets. No more expensive puppy fences with all of those extra vertical pickets, no more complicated setups. Just a straightforward, portable and reliable solution that ensures your pup stays safe and secure in your yard.

Why the Picket Protector?

• Simple & Effective: The design stops even the most determined escape artist, neutralizing all fence opening escape routes.
• Affordable: Save thousands of dollars on expensive fence upgrades. The Picket Protector is an affordable and fashionable way to fix your pup instead of your fence.
• Easy to Install: The Picket Protector is designed for quick installation and removal.
• Durable & Reliable: Crafted with high-quality materials, it’s built to last—keeping your dog secure for years to come.

But we didn’t stop there. As our business grew, so did our commitment to providing practical, year-round solutions for pet owners. We expanded our product line to include cold-weather vests—perfect for pairing with the Picket Protector to ensure your pet stays safe and comfortable, no matter the season.

Backed by our diverse experience—Karen’s marketing expertise and Doug’s 25 years as a civil engineer—we’re proud to offer products we truly believe in. The Picket Protector is not just a product; it’s a testament to what happens when passion, innovation, and a bit of humor come together.

At Picket Protector, we believe every dog deserves to enjoy the freedom of their own backyard—running, playing, and exploring without the worry of escape. That’s why we created the Picket Protector: a simple, effective solution to keep your dog safe and secure while they have fun in the yard. And your reward?  Peace of mind.

Protect your pup. Discover the Picket Protector today.

Doug Hopper is the Owner/Inventor of Picket Protector. If you’re interested in finding out more about Picket Protector, contact Doug at (854) 458-2987 or email [email protected]. You can also check out their website at www.thepicketprotector.com.