Our MissionThe goal of The Pet Project is to provide the best information and skills for a successful relationship between owner and pet.
Choosing an appropriate animal and preparing for it significantly decreases the chances of the relationship ending at an animal shelter or worse. Healthy pets, safe interactions, and happy guardians is what we want! |
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Video Clip Series
We have created a series of informative video clips to assist caretakers with their animals. Our information has been introduced in the context of guiding children, however, they are appropriate for any age.
Pet Chickens!
Chickens make fabulous pets that are fun and beneficial for the whole family! Many chicken breeds are known to be wonderful pets for children. In addition, they are great for natural insect control and for a period of time they lay eggs! Did you know that chickens are the closet living modern relative to the tyrannosaurus rex? These fascinating creatures are very intelligent, they dream when sleeping, and can even be taught to do tricks!
As with any animal, research should be done regarding the health and habitat maintenance for owning chickens. Keep in mind that some cities or residential areas prohibit resident chickens. The lifespan on a chicken is typically around 8-10 years. Breed, genetics, and lifestyle have a large impact on their longterm health. In the appropriate scenario, pet chickens are a highly rated and rewarding pet to have!
As with any animal, research should be done regarding the health and habitat maintenance for owning chickens. Keep in mind that some cities or residential areas prohibit resident chickens. The lifespan on a chicken is typically around 8-10 years. Breed, genetics, and lifestyle have a large impact on their longterm health. In the appropriate scenario, pet chickens are a highly rated and rewarding pet to have!
Pet Rats!
Pet rats are so much fun to have! They are a great starter pet that live for 2-3 years. Adult supervision is recommended with any animal, especially one as small as a rat. These highly trainable and sweet creatures are very smart and social. Rats have impressive memory capability, they can laugh, and are compassionate towards their friends and family! Rats are very easy to care for and have a lot of potential to become the favorite of the household pets!
Canine & Equine Ranch has been home to 3 rats in the past few years. Our first, Penelope, was adopted from Santa Barbara County Animal Services. She had been sitting at the shelter for a long time since most people don't go to an animal shelter to adopt a pet rat. She was a beloved member of our ranch family and we miss her dearly. The current boys, Watson & Holmes, were adopted from Placer SPCA. They were abandoned in a vacant apartment. We didn't want these elderly rats to die without a loving family, so we brought them home to our sanctuary. They have lived longer than expected and we are enjoying their company!
Canine & Equine Ranch has been home to 3 rats in the past few years. Our first, Penelope, was adopted from Santa Barbara County Animal Services. She had been sitting at the shelter for a long time since most people don't go to an animal shelter to adopt a pet rat. She was a beloved member of our ranch family and we miss her dearly. The current boys, Watson & Holmes, were adopted from Placer SPCA. They were abandoned in a vacant apartment. We didn't want these elderly rats to die without a loving family, so we brought them home to our sanctuary. They have lived longer than expected and we are enjoying their company!
Pet Pigs!
Caring for a pet pig is very rewarding but they aren't for everyone! It is easy to fall in love with those adorable internet photos of piglets. Contrary to the online sharing perception, these are not easy pets. First time owners often find themselves with some serious behavioral issues, damaged property, and ultimately having rehoming the pig.
One very important point that we aim to convey is that potbellied pigs are already the smallest version of healthy pig. They should not be bred any smaller. Such pigs are often called "tea cup" and "micro mini". This is a very unhealthy practice and does not serve the best interest of the pig nor the owner. They usually have health problems and rarely have a long lifespan. The cute photos and deceptive marketing of such pigs leads to many unwanted pigs in shelters and sanctuaries.
If you are interested in owning a pet pig, please visit a rescue or sanctuary to learn more about them and experience full grown and mature pigs. Also check with your zoning restrictions, landlord, or home owner's association to make sure that you are allowed to have a pig.
A proper diet is very important for pigs. Often, people think that they can feed a pig all their table scrapes. However, a small pig will become very overweight. Potbellied pigs don't have a conformation that can support extra weight. Occasional treats aren't harmful as long as the main portion of the diet is a potbelly maintenance pellet. Healthy treats include plain oatmeal, plain shredded wheat, vegetables, and low sugar fruits.
For more information enjoy our video below and check out these helpful links!
http://www.peta.org/blog/top-ten-fascinating-facts-pigs/
http://petpigs.com
http://www.petpigeducation.com
One very important point that we aim to convey is that potbellied pigs are already the smallest version of healthy pig. They should not be bred any smaller. Such pigs are often called "tea cup" and "micro mini". This is a very unhealthy practice and does not serve the best interest of the pig nor the owner. They usually have health problems and rarely have a long lifespan. The cute photos and deceptive marketing of such pigs leads to many unwanted pigs in shelters and sanctuaries.
If you are interested in owning a pet pig, please visit a rescue or sanctuary to learn more about them and experience full grown and mature pigs. Also check with your zoning restrictions, landlord, or home owner's association to make sure that you are allowed to have a pig.
A proper diet is very important for pigs. Often, people think that they can feed a pig all their table scrapes. However, a small pig will become very overweight. Potbellied pigs don't have a conformation that can support extra weight. Occasional treats aren't harmful as long as the main portion of the diet is a potbelly maintenance pellet. Healthy treats include plain oatmeal, plain shredded wheat, vegetables, and low sugar fruits.
For more information enjoy our video below and check out these helpful links!
http://www.peta.org/blog/top-ten-fascinating-facts-pigs/
http://petpigs.com
http://www.petpigeducation.com
Sharing our experiences and knowledge of different pets is very useful to potential first time caretakers within the community. When people choose an appropriate pet for their lifestyle, the chances of that animal entering the rescue system dramatically decline. As an organization, we are trying to make animal guardianship as successful as possible to reduce the number of animals in need.
Did you have a cherished first pet? Tell us about him or her!
Did you have a cherished first pet? Tell us about him or her!