Cutest Pets of Porter County Magazine February 2020
A Magazine For Pet Owners & People Supporting Local Animal Shelters and Rescues
A Magazine For Pet Owners & People Supporting Local Animal Shelters and Rescues
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A Magazine For Pet Owners & People Supporting Local Animal Shelters and Rescues
Porter County • February 2020
4 Ways Pets Improve
Overall Well-Being
How to
Train Your Cat
Cutest Pet Contest Winners!
Welcome
Message
Today, I am proud to present the first edition of Cutest Pets of Porter County Magazine!
Now that this first one is finished, my goal is to publish one every month.
Jeff Smith
For those who are not familiar, the magazine is a companion project for the
facebook group we started last year; Cutest Pets of Porter County. The Facebook
group is for folks to show off their furry family members and participate in fun and
friendly photo contests.
The group postings and contests have been a nice escape from a lot of the stuff
happening on social media. In future additions of Cutest Pets of Porter County
Magazine, I hope to present pet owner adoption stories. I also want to put the
spotlight on local organizations, volunteers and supporters. I will do my best to find
helpful information, entertaining stories and, of course, we’ll feature many of the cute
pet pictures that have been provided by group members.
I hope you enjoy the magazine. Be sure to join the fun by visiting our Facebook
group www.facebook.com/groups/cutepetspc
Thank you!
Jeff / Cutest Pets of Porter County Magazine
2 February 2020 | Cutest Pets of Porter County
Inside:
Welcome Message......................................2
4 Ways Pets
Improve Overall Well-Being.........................4-5
Cutest Dog Contest Winners........................6-9
Contestants............................................10-12
On The Cover
Oliver
Cover photo by Becky Graykowski
Find Us On Facebook
www.facebook.com/groups/cutepetspc/
Cutest Pets of Porter County
Magazine is a monthly publication.
It is supported by advertising from
local pet related businesses and
services.
Directory....................................................13
How to Train Your Cat: 5 Tips From
a Professional Tiger Trainer......................14-15
Cutest Cat Contest Winners.....................16-19
Contestants............................................ 20-21
Cutest Critter Contest Winners..................22-24
Publisher / Advertising
Jeffery Smith
CutePetsPC@gmail.com
A published advertisement does not constitute an endorsement of products or services. Cutest Pets
of Porter County Magazine reserves the right to refuse advertising at any time for any reason. In
particular we do not accept advertising relating to the sale of animals; this is an affirmation of our
commitment to pet adoption.
All content in Cutest Pets of Porter County Magazine is intended for informative and entertainment
purposes. For issues relating to animal health and wellbeing, please consult your veterinarian.
Information provided in this issue was obtained from sources deemed reliable, and should be
considered accurate at the time of publication.
Cutest Pets of Porter County | February 2020
3
4Ways
Pets Improve Overall Well-Being
Photo courtesy of Adobe Stock
4 February 2020 | Cutest Pets of Porter County
Self-care is an important piece of maintaining a happy and healthy life,
and adopting a pet can be a beneficial way to improve overall wellbeing
in a number of ways.
From reducing loneliness to keeping people more
active, the perks of pet ownership can be felt both
physically and emotionally, and are nearly impossible
to quantify. Plus, adopting a pet can be a feel-good
experience, because you’re not only getting a new best
friend, you’re helping an animal in need find a loving
forever home.
Consider some of these ways adopting a pet can
improve overall well-being. For more information on the
benefits of pet adoption, visit Pedigree.com.
1. Pets Increase Physical Activity
Adopting a pet offers owners a chance to improve
daily exercise habits. From taking walks and playing
in the yard to having a new partner for hikes and visits
to the park, dog owners have numerous opportunities
to be active with their four-legged friends. Cats also
need playtime each day, providing cat owners with a
designated time to get active while bonding with their
pets.
2. Pets Reduce Feelings of Isolation
Pets have the ability to make people feel less alone.
Whether coming home from a long day or taking a
stroll around the neighborhood, having a wagging
tail around can make everything better. The moodboosting
effect of pets is the driving idea behind a
campaign from the Mobil Delvac and PEDIGREE®
brands called Mutts4Trucks, which aims to make a
positive impact on the mental and physical well-being
of professional truck drivers while helping pets in need.
According to research from DePaul University, nearly
one-third of professional truck drivers said being alone
and away from their families is a significant issue
affecting their mental health. To help reduce those
feelings of loneliness, the campaign is pairing drivers
with shelter dogs in need of homes.
3. Pets Encourage Relationship Building
Pets require walks, trips to the vet and grooming, which
can get their parents out and into new settings and
environments. When out and about, pets can provide
a comforting presence for their owners and serve as
conversation starters, helping to put their owners at
ease and encourage socialization. Pets also provide
opportunities to meet, mingle and make friends with
neighbors while at the park, on walks or running
errands.
4. Pets Help with Stress Reduction
Almost anyone who’s ever sat on the couch with a
furry friend knows pets can bring a calming presence.
Having a dog in the house can also help people feel
safer and more secure in their surroundings. From
comforting snuggles to a friendly tail wag, pets have
an uncanny ability to help ease their owners’ minds
and reduce stress.
Cutest Pets of Porter County | February 2020
5
Cutest Dog
Contest Winners
6 February 2020 | Cutest Pets of Porter County
January
Cutest Pets of Porter County | February 2020
7
Cutest Dog
Contest Winners
8 February 2020 | Cutest Pets of Porter County
February
Is Your Pet The Cutest?
Join Us On Facebook
www.facebook.com/groups/cutepetspc
Cutest Pets of Porter County | February 2020
9
Cutest Dog
Contestants
Scooby
Roxy
Abby
Ollie
Jaako Ta
Bella
10 February 2020 | Cutest Pets of Porter County
2020
Boss
Charlie
Delilah
Gabreiel
Dixie
Wyatt William
Cutest Pets of Porter County | February 2020
11
Cutest Dog
Contestants
Tuesday
Riley
Dexi
Ollie
Roscoe
Abby
12 February 2020 | Cutest Pets of Porter County
Directory
Animal Rescue
and Advocates
Begin Again Rescue Co.
2700 Valparaiso Street
Valparaiso, IN 46383
Phone: (219) 263-0348
Email: beginagainrescueco@gmail.com
Web: www.teambarc.com
Pet Supplics
and Services
Your Company Name Here
Address
City, State Zip
Phone:
Email:
Web:
Independent Cat Society
4061 County Line Road
Westville, IN 46391
Phone: (219) 785-4936
Email: shelter@catsociety.org
Web: www.catsociety.org
Your Company Name Here
Address
City, State Zip
Phone:
Email:
Web:
Lakeshore PAWS
4611 Evans Avenue
Valparaiso, IN 46383
Phone: (219) 476-7297
Email: info@www.lakeshorepaws.org
Web: www.lakeshorepaws.org
Porter County Animal Shelter
3355 Bertholet Blvd
Valparaiso, IN 46383
Phone: (219) 465-3550
Email: tbianchi@porterco.org
Web: portercountyanimalshelter.org
Submit Your Listing
Add your business to this directory so people can
find you. We are looking for businesses such as:
• Animal Rescues & Advocates
• Pet Sitters
• Animal Trainers
• Animal Hospitals
• Veterinarians
• Animal Friendly Lodging
• Animal Friendly Restaurants
Contact: Jeff Smith for information
Animal non-profits get a free directory listing
Cutest Pets of Porter County | February 2020
13
How to Train Your Cat:
5 Tips From a Professional Tiger Trainer
If the thought of training your pet cat seems like a
difficult feat, consider the daunting task of training one
of nature’s biggest cats. After welcoming two 4-year-old
Sumatran tigers, Frances and Huntley, the keepers at
Nashville Zoo are doing just that. The training program,
which is sponsored by TEMPTATIONS Cat Treats,
is on display for the public to learn about how these
colossal cats are trained.
The trainers offer these tips and tricks from their
experiences working with their tigers that you can use
to train your cat at home. For more information on cat
behavior, visit TemptationsTreats.com.
Photo by Barbie Ziesmer Freel
14 February 2020 | Cutest Pets of Porter County
5 Tips
Start Smart
While your training might be inspired by the behaviors
you’d like your cat to adopt or change, beginning your
training by rewarding your pet’s existing good habits is
often an easy way to reinforce behavior. For example,
if your cat sits patiently for food, pair this with a treat
and verbal reassurance to praise the behavior and
encourage it in the future.
Identify Motivators
When beginning the training process, identify your
cat’s likes and dislikes. Some cats are motivated by
toys while most are motivated by food. When starting
the training process, try out a few different treat flavors
to identify what gets your cat’s attention. Treats such
as TEMPTATIONS Cat Treats come in a wide variety
of flavors, making it easy to find one that will make
your cat come running. For cats with health or weight
restrictions, utilize toys or tactile reinforcement like
petting for motivation.
Celebrate the Small Victories
Training your cat can be difficult, but it’s a great
opportunity for bonding and relationship building.
Have patience and reinforce your pet’s hard work by
acknowledging his or her effort along the way and
provide encouragement to keep him or her learning
and advancing in training.
Be Consistent
To prevent confusion, remain consistent when
rewarding behaviors and only give praise when your
cat completes a trick or task. If you reward your cat
for following a command halfway or missing a step,
you’re not rewarding the behavior you’d like to see in
the future.
Photos courtesy of Adobe Stock
Focus on Practicality
Cats are smart creatures and full of potential when it
comes to training. Pinpointing practical habits that can
serve you and your cat’s lifestyle in the future is a smart
and achievable goal to tackle while your cat is young
and his or her habits are malleable. For example, if
you plan to travel, make crate training a priority. If
your cat shows resistance with nail trimming and being
held, focus your training on desensitization, which will
allow you to more easily groom him or her or assess
injuries later on.
Cutest Pets of Porter County | February 2020
15
Cutest Cat
Contest Winners
16 February 2020 | Cutest Pets of Porter County
January
Is Your Pet The Cutest?
Join Us On Facebook
www.facebook.com/groups/cutepetspc
Cutest Pets of Porter County | February 2020
17
Cutest Cat
Contest Winners
18 February 2020 | Cutest Pets of Porter County
February
Cutest Pets of Porter County | February 2020
19
Cutest Cat
Contestants
Dinky
Isabella
Robert Meowny Jr
Poppy
Fenix
Snickers
20 February 2020 | Cutest Pets of Porter County
2020
Toby
Cora
Sweet Pea
Luna
Kiwi
Bella
Cutest Pets of Porter County | February 2020
21
Cutest Critter
Contest Winners
22 February 2020 | Cutest Pets of Porter County
January
Is Your Pet The Cutest?
Join Us On Facebook
www.facebook.com/groups/cutepetspc
Cutest Pets of Porter County | February 2020
23
Cutest Critter
Contest Winners
24 February 2020 | Cutest Pets of Porter County
Have a Story
or Event to Share?
Shelter/Rescue News,
Stories & Events are published free!
Send To Jeff Smith
Email: CutePetsPC@gmail.com
This space
could be yours!
For Advertising Info, Contact Jeff Smith
Email: CutePetsPC@gmail.com