< Updated 2025-03-03 >
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MIKE DOW: – This is Woof Meow with Don Hanson on Star 977. Don is owner and operator at Green Acres Kennel Shop Union Street in Bangor and the force behind the valuable website ForceFreePets.com. Today’s episode deals with the fact that the pet care industry is lightly regulated, at best.
DON HANSON: When entrusting your precious pet to the care of a pet care professional, it is essential first to ask them detailed questions about how your pet will be treated. The pet care industry is lightly regulated at best. While three excellent ethical standards describe how pets should be cared for and trained, complying with these standards is not mandatory. That means some pet care businesses may be using outdated methods and tools, like shock collars, squirt bottles, air horns, and more, that have been declared inhumane by animal behavior experts. These things are not only unnecessary; they conflict with a pet’s basic welfare requirements and can cause permanent trauma. I’ll explain what to look for after the break.
MIKE DOW: – For 30 years, Don has been owner and operator of Greenacres Kennel Shop, Union Street in Bangor, training classes, boarding, grooming, pet food and supplies, and education, in-person and online. Don is also the force behind ForceFreePets.com, a very valuable resource dedicated to providing you with information about your pet’s care and training.
DON HANSON: If you want to learn more about ethics in the pet care industry, I encourage you to visit my blog at ForceFreePets.com. I recently wrote a detailed article on the subject. Another excellent source is the Pet Professional Guild. Their ethical standards are outlined in their Guiding Principles, and when you choose a pet care provider who is a member, you can be sure that they are following their ethical standards as it is a requirement of membership. Remember, your pet is equivalent to a three-year-old toddler and must always be treated with kindness and compassion. Ethical pet care businesses will have their code of ethics available in written form and on their website. Choose wisely.
MIKE DOW: – Animal lovers listen for Woof Meow with Don Hanson each Monday at 4:20, and at various times during the week only on Star 977.
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