Sunday Smiles

Happy Sunday Everyone! This is precious! :-)

Dogs Can't Always Swim.......

Summer is near, which means fun in the water for you but not necessarily for your pet. Did you know that more than 170,000 dogs, cats and other small animals drown every year? Most people don't realize that while the majority of animals can swim, they can't necessarily get out by themselves!

Many pet owners try to protect their pet by training them to swim to the pool steps to get out of the water. This works fine in a daylight, non-threatening environment, but at night or if panicked, a dog will panic and forget it's "landmark." Animals can't see the steps for the very simple reason that they are under the water.

Pet drownings are preventable! To help prevent such senseless accidents, install a ramp in your pool, to your boat or floating dock. A lightweight, durable and easily installed ramp, such as a Skamper Ramp, will ensure your pooch or kitty can easily exit the water. To learn more about Skamper Ramp's and how they can save animals lives then click here.

Stop Animal Drowning! Install a ramp today. Skamper Ramp's cost from $65 - $99. It could be the best money you ever spend. :-)

Sunday Smiles - Talking Dog

This is hilarious! Enjoy! :-)

What To Do If Your Pet Was Stolen!

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We all worry about this from time to time and we should. Over 2 million pets are stolen each year. You hear the horror stories about people stealing pets all the time. I can only imagine how sad and scary a situation it must be. What's even worse than that is that stolen pets are sometimes used as bait dogs in dog fights, experiments in laboratories, food for certain cultures or just plain tortured. It's horrifying and it's a crime. Here are a few tips on keeping your pet safe....

1. Make sure you have your pet microchipped even if they stay in the house all the time (like cats). You never know when someone might accidentally let them out. 

2. Don't leave your pet outside in your yard unattended while you are at home and especially when you are not at home. Stay out there with them as they enjoy the yard. You can get some fresh air too.

3. Don't leave your pet in a vehicle unattended.

4. Don't let people you don't know or don't know well watch your pet or walk your dog.

5. Make sure you keep up-to-date photos and written descriptions of your pet just in case of an emergency.

6. Beware of strangers in your neighborhood. Report an unusual or suspicious behavior to the Police and/or Animal Control immediately. Make sure you write down the license plate numbers of suspicious vehicles that you see. However, word of caution -- don't be too obvious that you are doing it.

7. Don't talk to strangers about the value, bloodlines, training or special abilities of your pet.

8. If a stranger approaches you about buying or breeding your pet, tell him the pet has been spayed or neutered (even if it hasn't). Write down the person's name, address (if you can get it) and license plate number. Make sure you keep a close eye on your pet afterwards!

9. Spay or Neuter your pets. This will make them less inclined to wander and eliminates any resale value for breeding purposes.

If you suspect that your pet has been stolen then click here for instructions on what to do. Remember, time is of the essence so don't delay. Act quickly!

Leaving Pets In HOT Vehicles = DEATH!

Via My Dog Is Cool!

I was so upset the other day. I parked next to someone that left their two Boston Terriers in their vehicle on a warm day so they could go into Petsmart. Yes, I said Petsmart! You know, the store that not only allows pets but welcomes them. They left their dogs in their vehicle for over 20 minutes with only a small crack in two windows. This is NOT adequate ventilation for air to flow through your vehicle. I went inside and had the license plate called over the intercom. When the vehicle owners didn't respond I called the police. The dogs were overheating so bad that they were about to pass out. The people finally showed up and said the typical line, "We were only in the store for 5 minutes." Ugh! That pisses me off so bad. I have seen dogs die in vehicles before and until now (a new law has been passed in South Carolina and other states) you couldn't do anything about it or the police would put you in jail for opening up someone else's vehicle to save their animal. Needless to say, I gave them a good stern talk about the dangers and gave their dog's some water. I don't like having to talk to people about this but if it saves just one animal then it is worth it.

I continue to see this happen over and over again and  I just DON'T get it! Intelligent people, ignorant people and just plain stupid people do this. The problem is that they just don't think....think about anyone else but themselves. Can you tell that this really upsets me?! Sometimes, I think that there might be good intentions there. People want to bring their animal along because they love car rides. They think that they will only be in a store "for just a second" and then they wind up leaving their pet in a car for longer than anticipated.  

Here's a tip - If your pet's love car rides then make a special trip and take them for one. Drive slow and crack the windows so they can feel the air on their faces. The car ride doesn't have to take long - just a trip up the road and back. Your pet's will be so happy and you won't have to worry about leaving them in a hot car and killing them.

When the temperature outside is over 55 - 60 degrees....don't leave your pet in a vehicle! The vehicle (even on a cool cloudy day) can heat up very fast. Just think about it this way. Think about a very large glass cake cover. You then place this large glass cake cover on asphalt in the hot sun and then place yourself in it. Within minutes (sometimes seconds) the area within the large glass cover starts to rapidly heat up and the air in the glass cover gets hot and dry. It gets harder for you to breathe the longer you are in there. Next comes heat exhaustion and then you feel like you are going to pass out. Then comes heat stroke and after that comes death! Yes, DEATH!

Obviously, I am very sensitive and passionate about this subject. So many people say they love their animals but they don't act like it. I did a blog post last summer about this very important subject. Click here to read it. It just may save your pet's life!

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Monday Musing

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Happy Monday! This is too cute not to share. Believe in Yourself! :-)

Happy Earth Day! Reduce. Reuse. Rewoof.

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In honor of Earth Day, here are some ways you can help the environment and reduce the carbon footprint of you and your beloved fur family.

1. Recycle - Recycle used blankets, towels, sheets, pillows, etc and donate them to your local animal shelter. You wouldn't believe the need that your shelter has for these items. Don't forget to wash all the items first. The best way is to use "free and gentle" laundry detergent and fabric softener sheets to ensure that the animals don't have an allergic reaction to the detergent used for cleaning.

Also, make sure you recycle your pet's food cans and bags. Opt for buying larger bags of dog food when you can to reduce packaging materials used. A great thing to buy is an air tight food container to keep your pet's food fresh.

2. Scoop the Poop - Clean up your dog's poop with biodegradable poop bags instead of plastic bags from the grocery store. Curious why you should clean up your dog's poop? Click here to learn more.

For the kitty, go for Eco-friendly cat litters, avoiding brands with mined minerals.

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3. Reduce - Don't Shop. Adopt. When searching for your next pet, opt to adopt. There countless numbers of homeless pets looking for a loving home. You'll save money, resources - and a life.

Also, don't forget to spay and neuter your pets to reduce the unwanted animal population. Many shelters and rescues offer reduced-cost spay and neuter certificates if the cost is keeping you from fixing your pet during these hard economic times. Call your local shelter or Humane Society to see if they can help you reduce the number of unwanted animals and keep your pets healthier.

4. Reuse - Cut down on paper products—clean up with rags or recycled paper towels.

5. Water - Give your pet filtered tap water instead of bottled or tap water to drink. If you must use bottled water then be sure to recycle the containers that you use. Why use filtered water instead of tap water? Click here to learn more. A great filter to use is PUR.

6. Grooming - Go Green! Use earth-friendly pet shampoos and grooming products whenever possible.

7. Living Green -  There are lots of great Eco-friendly dog and cat products out there (leashes, collars, toys, cleaning products, treats, etc). You can find some great ones here, here and here.

8. Garden Delights - If you have space, consider growing your own garden for you and your pets. Have a small space? Then consider a container garden. Pets love vegetables. Some great one you can feed your pets are carrots, lettuce and green beans. Before using insecticides, research mulching and other gardening practices that can help reduce the amount of insecticides and herbicides you might need.

Today is a day to appreciate the Earth and all it's wonderfulness. It's also a day to learn and act to help keep it a safe place for all living things, including your beloved animal friends. Let's all do our part today and everyday to help protect and preserve this beautiful place we call home - Mother Earth.

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The Battle Inside

Monday Musing

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Monday Musing

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