Pet News
Hi there, new Pet Parents! So, you got a furry four-legged Christmas gift. Congratulations on your new family member! We bet they’re as cute as a button and twice as much fun. This Blog will help guide you through the first two months with your new pal.
The first 60 days with your new pet are like the opening chapters of a great story you'll tell for years.
It’s where you lay down the rules, set up routines, and start forming an unbreakable bond with your new bundle of love. It is also a time for learning and adjusting, for both you and your furry newcomer.
Let’s hear about Chuck and Flint – this is their story:
Flint was a black Labrador Retriever puppy and Christmas gift for Chuck, a 41-year-old guy who had never had a pet. His wife and two daughters felt that Flint would help Chuck who didn’t have many friends and even though he had lived in his community for 20 years did not know any of his neighbors. Flint instantly became Chuck’s best friend. More on Chuck and Flint in a bit…
Before we dive into our 11 Point Checklist, please remember:
Pets aren’t just for Christmas; they’re for life.
As veterinarians, we don’t advocate the giving of pets as gifts, especially to the unaware because so many of them end up in shelters before the end of the year. Having a pet join your family is a long-term responsibility. So, even though the holiday season may be over, you and your family’s responsibilities as good pet parents are just beginning. With a bit of knowledge and lots of love, you’ll be on your way to being A+ pet parents.
Click here to download our 11-Point Checklist!
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Becoming a pet parent is one of the most rewarding experiences life has to offer, just ask Chuck:
Chuck fed Flint and walked him daily. They took training classes, more than once because even though Flint did, Chuck didn’t quite pass the first class. Over time they both got to know their neighbors, the neighbor’s dogs and where they lived. He and Flint would go on drives during warm months to get ice cream cones in Chuck’s restored antique truck.
It wasn’t always easy, Chuck had to learn how to be consistent in discipline and training, he had to learn how to keep a routine (he was often reminded by Flint, especially around 7pm – biscuit time!) and even though he had two children, Chuck learned more about unconditional love from Flint than he ever thought possible. Chuck is a better person for having had Flint as a teacher and family member.
Enjoy every moment with your new family member, take lots of pictures, and don’t forget to have fun. This is a journey you’ll cherish forever, and it’s just getting started.
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Welcome to the family!
Terri L. McCalla BSc, DVM, MS, Diplomate ACVO
Dr. Terri McCalla Dr. McCalla received a BS in Animal Health Science from the University of Arizona, followed by her DVM degrees from both Oregon and Washington State Universities in 1984. She completed a 3 year residency in Comparative Ophthalmology from the University of Missouri and became board-certified in the American College of Veterinary Ophthalmologists (ACVO) in 1989.
Karen E. Mueller DVM, AVCA Certified
Dr. Mueller has over 30 years of experience in general small animal veterinary practice, feline medicine, and shelter medicine. Dedicated to preventing pain in pets and improving their quality of life, she currently has an animal chiropractic practice in Bellingham, WA. Dr. Mueller is also passionate about reducing pet overpopulation and works with high-volume, low-cost spay and neuter nonprofit programs throughout the Pacific Northwest.
Marnie Ford PhD, DVM, Diplomate ACVO
Dr. Ford graduated from the Ontario Veterinary College in 2000 after completing a Bachelors in Zoology at the University of British Columbia and a PhD in Physiology at Monash University in Australia. Following a rotating small animal internship at the University of Minnesota in 2001, Dr. Ford achieved Diplomate status from the American College of Veterinary Ophthalmologists in 2006 after completing a 3-year residency in Comparative Ophthalmology at the University of Missouri. After co-founding a private referral hospital, West Coast Veterinary Eye Specialists, in New Westminster (2004-2013) she opened Pacific Animal Eye Specialty services, providing mobile medical and surgical ophthalmologic care to patients in the Lower Mainland, Vancouver Island, and the Interior of BC (2013-2019). In 2019, she returned to Australia where she worked full-time in both medical and surgical ophthalmology as well as resident training at Animal Eye Care in Melbourne Australia. In 2023, Dr. Ford returned to Vancouver to provide locum services to ophthalmologists across Canada.
Terri L. McCalla BSc, DVM, MS, Diplomate ACVO
Dr. Terri McCalla Dr. McCalla received a BS in Animal Health Science from the University of Arizona, followed by her DVM degrees from both Oregon and Washington State Universities in 1984. She completed a 3 year residency in Comparative Ophthalmology from the University of Missouri and became board-certified in the American College of Veterinary Ophthalmologists (ACVO) in 1989.
Karen E. Mueller DVM, AVCA Certified
Dr. Mueller has over 30 years of experience in general small animal veterinary practice, feline medicine, and shelter medicine. Dedicated to preventing pain in pets and improving their quality of life, she currently has an animal chiropractic practice in Bellingham, WA. Dr. Mueller is also passionate about reducing pet overpopulation and works with high-volume, low-cost spay and neuter nonprofit programs throughout the Pacific Northwest.
Marnie Ford PhD, DVM, Diplomate ACVO
Dr. Ford graduated from the Ontario Veterinary College in 2000 after completing a Bachelors in Zoology at the University of British Columbia and a PhD in Physiology at Monash University in Australia. Following a rotating small animal internship at the University of Minnesota in 2001, Dr. Ford achieved Diplomate status from the American College of Veterinary Ophthalmologists in 2006 after completing a 3-year residency in Comparative Ophthalmology at the University of Missouri. After co-founding a private referral hospital, West Coast Veterinary Eye Specialists, in New Westminster (2004-2013) she opened Pacific Animal Eye Specialty services, providing mobile medical and surgical ophthalmologic care to patients in the Lower Mainland, Vancouver Island, and the Interior of BC (2013-2019). In 2019, she returned to Australia where she worked full-time in both medical and surgical ophthalmology as well as resident training at Animal Eye Care in Melbourne Australia. In 2023, Dr. Ford returned to Vancouver to provide locum services to ophthalmologists across Canada.
