This holiday season BBB will have a sale of 25% off all invoices for December. This includes training fees and possible travel fees for those outside of Garden City or Holcomb.
You may have heard that there is an increase in animals going to shelters after Christmas. I had heard the same and about a year ago I was going to write an article discussing this phenomenon. To my pleasant surprise I discovered this was in fact a myth. When I looked for studies regarding adoption rates and pet return rates to shelters there wasn't any information backing this idea. In fact, pets received as gifts have a higher retention rate, but that doesn’t mean they should be given lightly. The studies do tell us what the main factors associated with relinquishing pets are: inappropriate expectations, lack of regular vet care, and not attending obedience classes. In other words, go into the commitment with eyes wide open. That’s it. Do the research and know what to expect from the pet. Add training classes as part of the gift. Be prepared for the behaviors that the animals have. Birds call out, dogs bark, cats sharpen their claws, etc. Understanding why animals do the things they do helps to minimize and guide the behaviors in your home. Accepting the animal behaviors and learning how to use positive training to guide the behavior goes much further to keeping the whole family together.
Perhaps you know of someone who could use some help with their furrier family members. Gift them lessons during this sale and receive 25% off. The lessons don't have to be in December, but the invoice must be paid in full by December 31st to receive the 25% discount.