Parade of Homes featuring the best of new homes in Manitoba, Canada
Issue link: http://publications.winnipegfreepress.com/i/1481503
Puppies are full of energy, which means you will need lots of energy to keep up. They also need to be trained — to walk on a leash, sit and stay, and to relieve themselves outdoors. If you're planning to adopt for the first time, why not consider an older dog? There are so many benefits — they are usually well house-trained, leash-trained and they're much more sedate. Check out Before the Bridge Senior K9 Rescue (beforethebridge.ca) for information about adopting or fostering an older dog. The Winnipeg Humane Society (winnipeghumanesociety.ca) features adoptable dogs and cats on its website, along with information about behaviour classes and a checklist to ensure you're ready to adopt. Pet owners have to budget for quality food and be prepared for medical emergencies, as well as routine annual veterinary checkups and vaccines. Exercise is important, as are walks to take care of business. Pets need leashes, dishes, beds and toys. And cats need a litter box and scratching post or pad. Most importantly, you must supply appropriate living space. Dogs cannot be kept on chains, and all animals need to feel safe and comfortable. If you worry a pet will mess up your white carpets or scratch expensive furniture, try making your home more pet-friendly. (It will be more human-friendly, too). Ask your builder or supplier about new styles of durable, scratch-resistant flooring. Luxury vinyl, tile, laminates and many more flooring materials are improving year by year. Where you want to have carpet, check out specialty products such as Stainmaster PetProtect, which is made to be ultra-durable and easy to clean. PetProtect carpets release hair more easily to make vacuuming a snap, and when installed with Stainmaster cushions, they help to mitigate odours if your dog rolls in something stinky or has an accident. GET SET FOR A PET — Cont'd from page 113 Shop for pet furniture that's attractive to you as well as your dog or cat. HomeSense and Winners carry dog beds, cat scratchers and poofs that are designed to fill the fashion bill. Along with supplies and grooming services, pet stores offer tips for families to make their home more welcoming — and safe. PetSmart notes that you must do some pet-proofing to ensure that medication, cleaning solutions and potentially toxic human food is safely out of reach. Halloween candy and wrappers, candles and decorations ASK YOUR BUILDER OR SUPPLIER ABOUT NEW STYLES OF DURABLE, SCRATCH-RESISTANT FLOORING. 116 Parade of Homes FALL 2022