Author:YapTalk   Date:November 10th, 2016

Note: This post is part 2 of a 4 part series on human allergies and pets. 

We do love our little Yappers but for people with allergies, living with them can be hard.

We do love our little Yappers but let’s face it-when you suffer from allergies, like I do, they can be a major trigger and make my life a total misery for some. YapTalk wants pet parents to enjoy a great relationship with their little dog and allergies should not stand in the way of that. In part 1 of this series of posts, I wrote about how recently, my allergies got so out of control, that I had to seek the medical attention of an allergist to.

What are allergists and what do they do?

An allergist is a medical doctor who specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of allergies, asthma and bronchitis. Many people with untreated allergic symptoms aren’t aware of how much better they can feel once their symptoms are properly diagnosed and managed by an allergist.

What to expect during your first visit

The first visit will probably be the allergist “interviewing” you about your symptoms and past allergy history. They will give you a quick physical assesment that will include weight, blood pressure and a look in your nasal passages and throat. Once they gather that information they will sit down with you and discuss a course of treatment. Expect your doctor to be very thorough with the questions. It might be a good idea to think about your present and past allergy symptoms and be prepared to discuss them in detail with the doctor.

Other tips:

• Ask questions! Doctors want you to understand your condition and learn how to manage it. Make a list of questions before you see the doctor.
• Be sure to report anything to your doctor that doesn’t seem quite right. Be sure to include any new or different allergy symptoms you may be having.
• Take all your medicines to the appointment or make a list of all of the medications you are currently taking-including over the counter meds and how many milligrams of each. OTC medications include vitamins, minerals and herbal preparations.

In part 3 of this series on human allergies and pets. We’ll discuss the various treatment options that may be available to you through your allergist.

  Author:YapTalk   Date:November 8th, 2016

Hillary and Donald – How do they stack up on pet legislation?

Tonight’s election will set us in the direction of making decisions on some very important issues in this country. This election is arguably one of the most important elections in this US history. We’ve heard the candidates speak on a range of subjects and their stances on these issues such as: healthcare legislation, abortion, terrorism, the economy and even future Supreme Court nominations, etc… However, one issue that has not been very transparent or to our knowledge even discussed, is that of animal legislation. Recently, I wrote about the recent passing of legislation that would allow pet owners to establish living trusts for their pets. Currently, it is now easier  in all 50 states to consider include your little Yapper in your family’s estate planning. However there are other nationwide animal related legislation that we are curious to know where the current Presidential Candidates-Donald Trump and Hilary Clinton stands.

Here is a brief summary of their track records:

Her: 

According to an article from BarkPost earlier this year, when Secretary Hilary Clinton was a US Senator, she had an excellent rating with the Humane Society Legislative Fund (HLF), even getting 100+ one year. Her average for her 4 years in the Senate is a 92.  She voted for a positive outcome for animals almost every time. Since she left the Senate, she has had little opportunity to influence animal legislation.  Her campaign website does address issue of protecting animals and wildlife.

Him:

According to the same BarkPost article, Donald Trump who has never held public office, has no record of any stances for animals or against animals. Both of his sons are trophy hunters; however, he is on the record as saying he doesn’t understand their activities and doesn’t support hunting.  On the other hand, he tweeted some disparaging comments on the Ringling Brothers Circus decision to retire their elephants early: “Ringling Brothers is phasing out their elephants. I, for one, will never go again. They probably used the animal rights stuff to reduce costs.” As of this posting, we were not able to locate any information about his stance on animal issues on his campaign website.

In the hours leading up to the election, if you have not already voted, we urge to you to do more research on the candidates and their records of supporting animal rights or legislation. If you have already voted, then we hope that this post gives you some brief insight into animal rights issues from the candidates’ perspectives.

T.K. — YapTalk

Source: 

How The Presidential Candidates Stack Up When It Comes To Animal Issues

  Author:YapTalk   Date:November 8th, 2016

If you own a small dog(s) or any dog(s); chances are, they spend plenty of time on your furniture and probably sleep in the bed with you. Contrary to popular belief, there is technically no such thing as a hypoallergenic dog. You see, even if you are not allergic to your dog’s hair, most dogs spend a good amount of time outside which means that they can carry allergens from the outside into your home through their fur. If you are an allergy sufferer like I am, this can cause daily misery!

Sleeping with your dog can be hazardous to your health—especially, for allergy sufferers!

Allergies can be triggered by outdoor causes including pollen from grasses and trees. However, many allergens can also be located inside of your home. Indoor triggers include dust or mold, or irritants like perfume and smoke and of course-pet dander.

My allergy symptoms usually present themselves in the form of irritated eyes including:

• Itching
• Burning
• Tearing

You may also have nasal allergy symptoms, such as sneezing and a stuffy nose. There are many relief options available for allergy sufferers. A few weeks, ago I finally broke down and decided to seek the medical advice of an allergist. Your allergist might recommend treatments that range from OTC antihistamine medications such as Claritin or Benadryl, to prescribed meds like Chlorpheniramine and a form of Immunotherapy or as they are commonly known-allergy shots (to be covered in more detail in a later post). Non medicinal forms of treatment can also help such as regular vacuuming, dusting and investing in an air purifier for your home.

Allergy symptoms can be alleviated by seeking the attention of an allergist. Worked for me!

This post is part 1 of a 4 part series on human allergies and pets. The next 3 posts will cover treatment options and tips on reducing allergy triggers in more detail. 

  Author:YapTalk   Date:November 7th, 2016

A Dog Walks into a Brewery…

You know your social life needs a boost when you take your dog to a bar to meet people!  Just kidding, Bella and I attended the Dallas Community Beer Co. Taproom on Friday night at the Hops for Hounds charity event whose proceeds helped to benefit Dallas-Fort Worth FurGotten Friends.

Dog for adoption via DFW FurGotten Friends.

Dogs were on-site for adoption and the beer and food were incredible. Each pint of beer sold benefitted a dog in need. There were also games and raffle prizes made available throughout the night. We had a great time supporting a wonderful cause. Besides…there is no better excuse to drink beer (as if I needed one anyway).

Cheers!

Tekisha — YapTalk

  Author:YapTalk   Date:November 6th, 2016

There are other great places besides the pet store to shop for your dog.

As the holidays approach you might be thinking about buying gifts for the 4-legged members of your family. Here are five places that you’d never probably even thought about shopping for the pets in your life.

1. Groupon –  Groupon is a great place to find deals on groomers, pet sitters, toys beddings and more. Just a quick search on the website for my area turned in over 600 results.
2. Wholesale Clubs –  Wholesale clubs like as Sam’s Club or Costco not only offer bulk items for human consumption but they also have pet items such as training pads, food, treats, cleaning supplies and much more.
3. Dollar Stores –  Skip the big-box discount store and save big on the things your pet needs. Brand and off-brand food and treats as well as toys, leashes, bowls, beds. Dollar stores can help you save big when shopping for your dog.
4. Tractor Supply Company – Tractor Supply Company is an American retail chain of stores that offers products for home improvement, agriculture, lawn and garden maintenance, and livestock, equine and pet care. This chain sells pet gates, pet beds, pet dryers, food, treats dog houses and thousands more pet items.
5. Amazon – Yeah, I know this one isn’t really considered “unique” but did you know that you can order a month or more supply of your favorite brand delivered right to your door?

  Author:YapTalk   Date:November 5th, 2016

The yellow ribbon means to give the dog some space.

The Yellow Dog Project is a global movement for owners of dogs that need space. It hopes to educate the public and dog owners to identify dogs needing space, promote appropriate contact of dogs and assist dog parents to identify their dog as needing space.

The Yellow Dog Project seeks to educate appropriate ways to approach or make contact with a dog with permission of a dog owner only, whether or not a dog is a “yellow dog”. They also seek to promote the use of yellow ribbons to identify yellow dogs needing extra space.

The Yellow Dog Project was started by Tara Palardy; a dog trainer in the city of Red Deer, Alberta, Canada. In a statement to supporters, she said, “I started to teach owners how to deal with their yellow dogs and that’s where this whole thing started – locally.” She is also the manager of a dog daycare in the same city; volunteers every Sunday to the Central Alberta Junior K9 Club; and provides dog walking services.

Originally intended as a way to support the yellow ribbon concept to her local clients in Red Deer, Tara’s Yellow Dog Project site jumped from a group of some 250 nearby canine enthusiasts to a growth of 100 times that size in just over six months. The Yellow Dog Project on Facebook now boasts over 27,000 “Likes.”

  Author:YapTalk   Date:November 4th, 2016

According to a recent Washington Post article, young Americans in their 30’s commonly known as ‘millennials’  are choosing to share their lives pets rather than other humans. The article says that this generation is less likely to be homeowners, car owners or parents than their predecessors, but they do lead in one category: Pets.

The pet market is a $63 billion dollar industry that has increasingly grown since 1996. Pets are becoming replacements for children. Reportedly, three-fourths of millennials have dogs while a whopping 51% are cat owners. This generation of people are approaching pet parenting as seriously as generations in the past have approached preparing for and raising children. They buy all the books and do all of the same research that first time human parents would. Millennials are not the only people spending big money on their pets. In 2015, Americans as a whole shelled out $11 million on pet pampering products and services such as regular grooming, toys, pet costumes, bedding, strollers…etc.

This also opens a larger market for the smaller breed dogs due to the fact that most millennials are urban or apartment dwellers and prefer animals who take up less space and consume less food. The millennials are delaying parenthood and demanding flexible work arrangements — all of which, researchers say, has translated to higher rates of pet ownership.

What are your thoughts on this new trend? Do you think it’s better for American society or worse? We’d love to hear your opinion on this subject.

The younger generation are reportedly choosing their pets over children. What do you think of this trend?

Article Credit: https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/business/wp/2016/09/13/millennials-are-picking-pets-over-people/

  Author:YapTalk   Date:November 3rd, 2016

Consider your pet in your estate planning.

Ever wonder what would happen to your little ‘Yapper’ if you died prematurely or unexpectedly? With the recent passing of the Minnesota legislation (H.F. 1372), pet owners in all 50 states can now create living trusts to pay for the care and maintenance of pets that survive them. As with regular trusts, pet trusts provide a legally sanctioned arrangement where any money or property set aside in the trust of for a pet will be 100% dedicated to that animal’s care. One might recall a few years back when the infamous billionaire, real estate tycoon Leona Helmsley, left a $12 million dollar trust to her little Maltese, Trouble.

What is a Trust?

A living trust is a legal document created by you (the grantor) during your lifetime. Just like a will, a living trust spells out exactly what your desires are with regard to your assets, your dependents, and your heirs. The big difference between a will and trust is that a will becomes effective only after you die and your will has been entered into probate. A living trust bypasses the costly and time-consuming process of probate, enabling your successor trustee (who fills basically the same role as an executor of a will) to carry out your instructions as documented in your living trust at your death, and also if you’re unable to manage your financial, healthcare, and legal affairs due to incapacity. After the pet dies, the remaining funds are distributed to among other heirs or as directed by the trust or the courts.

Conditions of the Trust

The pet must have been alive during the grantor’s life-time for the pet to benefit. Also, the trust must be enforced by a person specified in the trust for the terms or by a court appointee.

Many Americans and other countries around the world are now considering their pets as part of the family. Personally for me, as a single woman who has no human successors; the benefits of creating a trust for my little Terrier, Bella are numerous! The main benefit however is that it provides me with peace of mind of what would happen to Bella if I were to become incapacitated or died unexpectedly.

I know this is something that we don’t like to think about but when considering your estate planning don’t forget about your little furry friends. Don’t leave their welfare up to chance in case tragedy should occur.

  Author:YapTalk   Date:November 2nd, 2016

Why does your dog’s haircut and bath cost so much?!

Ever wonder why you might pay $25 or $30 bucks for a haircut while the average price for a dog’s visit to the groomer is $50? Here is a cute little list that should give you a little insight into why this is the case.

Reason # 10: Your hairdresser doesn’t wash and clean your rear end.

Reason # 9:   You don’t go for 8 weeks without washing your hair or brushing                              your hair…at least we hope you don’t!

Reason # 8:    Your hairdresser doesn’t have to give you a sanitary trim.

Reason # 7:   Your hairdresser doesn’t have to clean your ears.

Reason # 6:    Your hairdresser doesn’t include a mani and pedi.

Reason # 5:     Your hairdresser only washes the hair on your head.

Reason # 4:     You sit still for your hairdresser.

Reason # 3     Your hairdresser doesn’t have to remove the “boogies” from your eyes.

Reason # 2:   You don’t bite or scratch your hairdresser.

Reason #1:   The likelihood of you pooping or peeing while your hair being cut is slim to none.

  Author:YapTalk   Date:November 1st, 2016

Bad Moms is now available on DVD or for streaming. Mila Kunis plays Amy, a wife and the mother of two human kids and a dog named Roscoe. This movie is intends to convey the message that being a mom is a hard and often thankless job but in the end, all will be well. However, the movie for me, that it is a heck of a lot easier being a dog mom than a human mom.

Bad Moms tries to represent the different types of moms: The meek and timid mom, the mom who constantly feels guilty and worries about if she is doing the right thing for her family, the slutty single mom…(is it bad that I relate to her more in this film?) the bully mom…etc. It is an entertaining movie but the characters are one-dimensional and clichéd. Christina Applegate’s character’s actions for example, are a bit too over-the-top for my tastes. I often found myself wondering if this movie is meant to be a dark comedy, or a touching but humorous film about being a mother? I think the film tries to be both but in the end it just doesn’t flesh out.

Early on in the movie, Amy says: “At least once a day, I feel like the worse mom in the world.” I am sure that many women can relate. However, I can’t imagine constantly feeling like a failure or questioning my actions almost constantly for 18 or more years.  Of course that is the cynical view. Most women will probably tell you that in spite of it all, they do love being a mother and happy that they made that decision.

Bad Moms has its cute and family friendly moments. However, parents, be aware that this movie is intended for a mature audience only. For example, there is an outrageously funny but very raunchy scene that involves a hooded sweatshirt, that made me blush a couple of times. Trust me, you do not want your underage kids around for that scene!

Overall, Bad Moms is an enjoyable film. I have no doubt that being a mother is an amazing experience but I’ll stick with the fur babies. It is a very telling moment when one of the characters in the movies tells their wife that they missed the dog more than they did their own daughter.

Download or rent a copy of Bad Moms today! Be sure to stick around for the end credits to see a touching montage of the actresses in this film interviewing their real life mothers about their experiences with being a mom. It is a very candid and touching interview. Check out the trailer below: