Skip to main content

Keep your pet from gaining pounds during the holidays

By WTOP Staff

WASHINGTON – Fat cats and pudgy pooches need homes too, and a local shelter is working to spotlight the need of the animals that offer a lot to love.

Just like people, dogs and cats can pack on the pounds, and in local animal shelters, the fat cats and plump puppies don’t always get a second glance, says ChristieLyn Diller, director of marketing and communications for the Washington Humane Society.

Diller says people tend to want little kittens or small dogs, so the big animals just “sit and they wait.”

“We have some that have been with us 200 days or more.”

From now through Sunday, Nov. 24, the Washington Humane Society is offering a break on big love: you get a discount on dogs over 40 pounds and cats that tip the scales at 10 pounds and above, Diller says.

The adoption fees are reduced to $100 for dogs and $50 for cats that fall in the “big” category.

Diller says it’s a chance for the organization to shed some light on the weighty issue of pet obesity at home.

WHS has some healthy tips for healthy pets:

While everyone wants to share the Thanksgiving celebration with his furry family members, overfeeding pets with some human foods can cause serious problems, including obesity.

  • Pets who eat food outside of their normal diet, or large amounts of food, can suffer from serious medical problems, including GI upset with possible vomiting, diarrhea and even pancreatitis.
  • Holiday gatherings provide far too many opportunities for pets to snatch food off of counters or unattended plates. Consider putting your pet in a safe, comfortable place with enrichment to keep them occupied while you are entertaining. This will reduce the stress of having your furry friends under foot and reduce their stress by being around hectic activity and strangers.
  • While small amounts of boneless turkey and unseasoned carrots and green beans can be a nice treat for pets, many foods common in Thanksgiving meals can be toxic to animals, such as onions, garlic, raisins and chocolate.
  • A pet should be fed based on the recommendations of the particular brand and type of food it is receiving, as listed on the label. Remember, if you have an overweight animal, you should feed at the animal’s ideal weight, not its current weight. The actual amount of food for the ideal weight will depend, in part, on the individual animal’s genetics, activity level and metabolism.
  • An altered animal (spayed or neutered) generally requires about one-quarter less food than a similar, intact animal.

The key to a healthy animal is a good, balanced diet and daily exercise. If you’re considering adopting, or already have a pet that is tipping the scale, try these tips to help shed off the extra pounds:

  • Use your dog’s food ration as training treats. He’ll still get the same calories but will have to work for it.
  • Many pets love a good game or puzzle. Purchase a food toy, fill it with your pet’s kibble, and he will exercise his body and mind working for his meal.
  • Cats fill up faster on wet food than dry, making them feel fuller faster. If your cat could stand to lose a bit of weight, try offering at least one meal as wet food, daily.

WTOP’s Kate Ryan contributed to this report. Follow @kateryanWTOP, @WTOP and @WTOPliving on Twitter.

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
Read Next Story

Related News

Frustration grows in Venezuela as earthquake death toll reaches 1,430

Israel and Lebanon sign framework agreement with US in ‘first step’ toward peace, Rubio says

Trump-endorsed populist poised to become Colombia’s next president as rival challenges vote