This post and my attendance at Better with Pets were sponsored by Purina. As always, all opinions and statements are entirely my own, and I only share information that I believe will be helpful to our readers…who all know that life is Better with Pets!
Last week, I had the opportunity to attend the third annual Better with Pets summit in New York. This event brings together the movers and shakers of the pet world to discuss important facets of our pets’ lives and our interactions with them. This year’s event focused on the topic of pet emotional wellness, a subject that resonates with all pet lovers who want their dogs and cats to live a happy, healthy lifestyle.
In this first of a two-part series, I’ll look at the summit and share tips from each of the panels.
The Morning Sessions
The media and digital influencers stayed overnight in Manhattan but we took a shuttle bus to the day-long summit held at the Brooklyn Expo Center. The event was hosted by Emmy-nominated comedian and writer, Josh Gondelman (who recently adopted a senior pug named Bizzy!)
Before the three morning panels, Purina senior research nutritionist Dr. Arleigh Reynolds spoke about his work in Alaska with The Frank Attla Youth Program which helps pair youth with the dogs that have played such a vital role in rural Alaskan life through the years.
This Purina video explains more about the important program and its impact on the community:
Panel #1: “An Evolving Relationship with Cats?”
The first panel of the day discussed how Millennials are changing the relationship between pet owners and cats. The panel was moderated by Hal Herzog, Ph.D. and featured (left to right) Purina behaviorist Dr. Sandra Lyn, Christina Ha, the founder of Meow Parlour, the first permanent cat cafe in New York City, and Mikel Delgado, CCBC, of Feline Minds.
Some quick takeaways from this session:
- A recent survey that showed that nearly half of the 1,000 millennials surveyed own a cat.
- Eight-eight percent of cat owners consider themselves similar to their pets.
- Meow Parlor has had 70 cat adoptions since opening.
- Social media benefits not only adoption rates but also retention rates.
- Unlike dog videos–which often bring tears–cat videos make us laugh.
Panel #2: “Stress, our Pets and Us”
The second panel provided an in-depth look at pets’ environments and the impact it may have on their stress levels. Moderated by America’s Veterinarian Dr. Marty Becker, the panel featured Purina Senior Scientist Ragen McGowan, PhD., Heather Lewis of Animal Arts, and Dr. Tony Buffington, professor and veterinarian.
Session highlights:
- Get cats into the upper kennels at the veterinarian’s office for their health and well-being.
- Some changes to your pet’s environment may take up to six months to pay off.
- Make sure the perception of control is greater than your pet’s perception of threat.
- Horizontal bars are less stressful for cats than vertical bars.
- A matte finish on kennels is less stressful than shiny.
- Flooring where dogs don’t skid reduces stress.
- Florescent lighting is not good for pets who are disturbed not only by its flickering but also by its sound.
- LED lighting is softer and can be dimmer so is better for kennels.
- If you have a dog and a cat that get along, look for toys they can play with together. Don’t forget to exercise their minds and keep them interested. Boredom can be as difficult as stress.
- It’s important for a cat to have a safe place the dog in the household can’t reach.
- The most important enrichment device for dogs and cats is the food puzzle; it’s intrinsically motivating.
Panel #3: “Raising Pets and Kids”
The third panel focused on the benefits of raising pets and kids together and how it brings unique benefits that extend beyond a typical human-animal bond. Moderated by Zara Boland, the panel featured Jayne Vitale, program director of the Mutt-i-grees program at North Shore Animal League America, professional photographer Stasha Becker, Dr. Ilana Reisner of Reisner Veterinary Behavior and Consulting Services, and Charley Bednarsh, Director of Children’s Services for Brooklyn Family Justice Center.
Session highlights:
- Teach your child the responsibilities of living with a pet.
- Don’t project human qualities on your pet; he is a cat or dog.
- Be a good role model.
- Help children realize our language is very different than the language of a pet.
- Teach children the language of dogs and cats and let them recognize when it’s time to give pets their space.
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