Disaster Preparedness Tips

When disaster strikes, don't be caught unprepared! Follow these important tips:

1. Pet Identification. Identify your pets at all times with collars or microchips. Collars should display your name, telephone number and an emergency contact. While collars can become lost, microchips are a secure means of assuring that your pet is identified via an electronic device that is painlessly implanted in your pet's shoulder area. Since animals may escape during disasters, permanent identification will increase your chances of retrieving your pet(s).

2. Evacuation Supplies. Be prepared for emergency evacuation by having pet carriers on-hand and in an accessible place near the front door. An "Evacsak" is an alternative to a carrier and is similar to a pillowcase but ensures safe pet transport. For reptiles or fish, make sure you have lightweight plastic tanks that can be used for transporting animals in a hurry.

For dogs, keep an extra leash hanging near the front door where friends or neighbors can find it. All dogs should have collars and leashes, especially since a frightened dog may slip away if held only by the collar.

3. Evacuation Stickers. Affix a pet evacuation sticker on your front door or on the front door of your refrigerator indicating the number of pets residing in your household and an emergency contact number in case the animals must be removed without your knowledge. Without this, rescuers may not be aware that there are animals in the home, particularly in the case of cats that may hide when frightened.

4. Emergency Support System. Inform your landlord, neighbors, friends and relatives that you have pets in your home that may need their care in the case of an emergency. Make sure that at least two individuals have keys to your home and are familiar with your pets. Consider starting a "buddy system" in your neighborhood to ensure that someone will check on your animals in a disaster, and agree to do the same for them.
Identify several possible locations where you can take your pet(s) if you need to evacuate your home.
And, before disaster strikes, contact your veterinarian to see if he/she has a disaster plan. Know where you can take your animal for medical attention in the event that it becomes necessary due to a disaster.

5. Medical Records. Keep copies of your pets' medical records on hand so that if they are treated in the event of an emergency, the veterinarians know about any prior health conditions or medical needs. If your pet requires medication, always have a back-up supply on hand in case a disaster strikes and you cannot get to your veterinarian.

6. Emergency Supplies. You should have the following supplies on hand at all times:

• A 2-week supply of pet food and water
  
• A 2-week supply of cat litter and plastic bags for waste disposal
  
• A small container of soap for cleaning purposes
  
• First Aid kit and manual
  
• You may wish to purchase a crate for your cat or dog

In general, you should always leave plenty of fresh water available for pets left alone at home. While leaving extra food out is inadvisable due to the health hazard of obesity, extra water may protect the animals from dehydration if they become stranded at home.

7. Retrieving a Lost Pet. Know where the local animal shelters and rescue organizations are in your area. You may need to visit them to look for a missing pet. It is important that you start looking for a missing animal as soon as you realize that it is gone, since some shelters may not be able to house animals for long periods of time.
Take several pictures of your pets and keep them with you at all times. You will need them in the event that you become separated from your pets and need to identify them. Similarly, be ready to describe any distinguishing markings or characteristics of your pets.

Courtesy of
ASPCA
424 East 92nd St.
New York, NY 10128-6804
(212) 876-7700
www.aspca.org

Fourth of July safety tips

Take a moment to think about all the different, seemingly imperceptible sounds your pet can hear. Not only can they hear within a larger range, the shape of their ears also helps them to pick up sounds that often escape our senses. Think then how loud a firework might be to your best friend, the same dog that can hear the shaking of a cookie jar 2 floors away or the mailman dropping off a package 20 doors down. Not surprisingly, dogs and fireworks can often be a frightful, anxious experience for your pet.

Shelters and animals rescues report taking in more strays during the 4th of July holiday than any other time of year. This statistic makes sense when you consider the way dogs react to fear and/or confusion. While some may choose to cower, hide and shake, others may attempt to flee – searching for their owners or simply attempting to escape the loud noises outside. A good indicator of how your dog may behave during a fireworks display is to gauge their behavior during a thunderstorm. If your dog typically paces or hides, it is likely they will do the same during a fireworks event.

However, there is always the possibility bizarre behaviors to appear. Some, otherwise calm dogs, may turn destructive or aggressive when confronted with loud, unfamiliar sounds. It's best to make your dog's fireworks safety a priority to help ensure they will remain cool, calm and collected while everyone else revels in the streets.

In an effort to keep our pets safe and comfortable at home while we celebrate July 4th, here's a short list of tips to provide help an anxious dog during fireworks.

• Be sure your pet has a collar with current ID tag. Having your pet microchipped is always a good idea. I don't want to start off the list so "doom and gloom", but it's better to be safe than sorry.
• Do not take your pets with you to events where there will be fireworks – unless you are 100% certain they will be non-reactive.
• Find a secure, quiet place in your home for your pet to relax. If your pet is crate trained, crating is a good idea – you may want to move the crate to the quietest part of the house. I would also suggest keeping the room dark, leaving some chew toys with your pet and playing ambient noise from either a radio, TV or other device.
• Pets should not be left outside during fireworks. Dogs have amazing abilities to scale fences and walls when scared, and your dog should be kept in a quiet, confined area in the home during fireworks.
• Do not cuddle or reassure a dog that is scared. This will only reinforce the behavior for your pet and could make them more anxious. A better technique to deal with dog frightened by fireworks is to distract the dog with physical activity such as a game of tug or fetch. A chew toy can also be effective in the situation of an anxious pet – what you're really looking for is something for them to be able to exert energy and calm themselves down.
• Yelling at or reprimanding a frightened, anxious dog will not help the situation – in fact, it will most likely cause confusion. As the pack leader it is your responsibility to show your dog the "proper" way to behave. The best way for the pack leader to do this in the case of fireworks is to remain calm and as if you do not notice the noise outside.
• Be mindful of the way you are handling your pet if they are frightened. Petting your dog and showing them affection while they are anxious or scared will most likely reinforce negative behaviors. A better strategy here is to give your dog a short, gentle massage or place your hand on their head as reassurance.
• Going out of town? Make sure to leave your pets with a trustworthy, proven individual that understands the unique nature of this time of year. Even better – leave your dogs in the care of someone who will agree to stay home with your pets while the fireworks are going on if your dog has historically had a difficult time.
• In the case of an escaped pet, contact your veterinarian/local veterinarian, emergency animal hospitals, shelters and animal control.
• If you have found a stray pet, please also contact these resources above instead of attempting to track down an owner by yourself. Remember – not everyone checks Craigslist for a lost pet, nor would they see a "Found" poster in your neighborhood if they live more than a few towns over.

Source http://saveabull.com/2011/dogs-and-fireworks-help/

Keep your pet safe this summer

By: Dr. Fiona Caldwell

For Pets Best Insurance

It’s summertime! With rising temperatures and time off school come vacations, fun in the sun and time with family. The heat, sun and summer activities can also bring some perils, especially to the furry members of your family. While there are a number of things you can do to keep your pets healthy, like ensuring they have pet insurance, knowing the following things can help keep your pets safe this summer.

Heat stroke is a very deadly threat to pets. Heat stroke is defined as severe hyperthermia, with temperatures sometimes over 105 degrees. The animal can suffer severe internal damage to important organs, especially the brain. Dogs don’t sweat like we do, and their only means of cooling themselves is by panting. While in the right combination of circumstances any dog could potentially suffer from heat stroke, the dogs most at risk are those that have difficulty breathing, such as older dogs with underlying respiratory disease and ‘brachycephalic’ (short snout) breeds.

Signs of heat stroke include rapid breathing and heart rate, vomiting, diarrhea, dehydration, and depression. As heat stroke progresses, severe respiratory distress, gray or purple gum, seizures, and eventually collapse can be seen. NEVER douse your pet in water if you believe they are suffering heat stroke, lowering the body temperature too quickly can be lethal. Immediate veterinary attention is paramount.

Understanding Different Dog Tolerance Levels

Source: http://www.badrap.org/rescue/dogdog.html

A Normal Trait that is as Flexible as it is Manageable

This page is designed to help demystify the common trait of dog-dog aggression. Dog aggression shows up in numerous breeds, and it's generally "no big deal"...unless you deny it, misunderstand it or exploit it. Like so many dog owners, we expect that our dogs have the potential to show some degree of dog aggression in select situations. Our job as responsible stewards is to keep our pets out of those situations by reading their body signals and understanding their individual limits. At the same time, we work to improve the tolerance of each dog through appropriate socializing opportunities. Because dog aggression is not a "one size fits all" trait, outlined below are four very common levels of dog-tolerance that we've come to recognize in our work with the dogs.

Typical Dog Tolerance Levels in a Group of BAD RAP Ambassadogs:

Read more...

Puppies aren't presents

More puppies are abandoned after Christmas than at any other time of the year. Why? Puppies make cute, adorable Christmas presents, but in the days and weeks that follow reality usually sets in. Overcome with the responsibility that it takes to own a puppy and have it become a part of the family will force many people to give up their puppies to a shelter, or in some cases just turn it out on the streets.

Puppies chew things. They chew up furniture and children's toys. They eat Mom's good shoes, and shred Dad's newspapers. Many families find that they don't have the patience for this kind of behavior. After the holiday has past, they begin to wonder what they were thinking, when they got a puppy.

Puppies bark a lot. They may get on your nerves, if you're the type who likes peace and quiet. Many puppies will even whine and cry all night long, during the first few weeks after being separated from the mother, and the rest of the litter. Working parents who have to get up early find they are angry, stressed, and frustrated shortly after the puppies arrival. Kids who have to get up early for school suddenly realize the reality of a puppy is not quite like the fantasy they once envisioned.

Puppies have potty training issues. This is one thing many people aren't prepared to deal with. They will ruin carpets, furniture, even bedspreads and mattresses. Anyone who thinks that they will potty train a puppy "in a hurry" would do best to think again. Potty training takes time and effort. It needs to happen when you are stressed out, when you are tired, and when you have other things to do.

Adopting a puppy should be done, not on the spur of the moment, but only after a great deal of thought, and reflection. You have to make sure that it is the right choice for your family because a dog needs love and attention. They deserve a family that has the time and energy to give them that love.

Read more at Suite101: Puppies for Christmas: Is This a Good Choice for Your Family?

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Thanksgiving Safety Tips

'Tis the season for friends, family and holiday feasts—but also for possible distress for our animal companions. Pets won’t be so thankful if they munch on undercooked turkey or a pet-unfriendly floral arrangement, or if they stumble upon an unattended alcoholic drink.

Check out the following tips from ASPCA experts for a fulfilling Thanksgiving that your pets can enjoy, too.

Talkin' Turkey
If you decide to feed your pet a little nibble of turkey, make sure it's boneless and well-cooked. Don't offer her raw or undercooked turkey, which may contain salmonella bacteria.

Sage Advice
Sage can make your Thanksgiving stuffing taste delish, but it and many other herbs contain essential oils and resins that can cause gastrointestinal upset and central nervous system depression to pets if eaten in large quantities. Cats are especially sensitive to the effects of certain essential oils.

No Bread Dough
Don't spoil your pet's holiday by giving him raw bread dough. According to ASPCA experts, when raw bread dough is ingested, an animal's body heat causes the dough to rise in his stomach. As it expands, the pet may experience vomiting, severe abdominal pain and bloating, which could become a life-threatening emergency, requiring surgery.

Don't Let Them Eat Cake
If you're baking up Thanksgiving cakes, be sure your pets keep their noses out of the batter, especially if it includes raw eggs—they could contain salmonella bacteria that may lead to food poisoning.

Too Much of a Good Thing
A few small boneless pieces of cooked turkey, a taste of mashed potato or even a lick of pumpkin pie shouldn't pose a problem. However, don't allow your pets to overindulge, as they could wind up with a case of stomach upset, diarrhea or even worse—an inflammatory condition of the pancreas known as pancreatitis. In fact, it's best keep pets on their regular diets during the holidays.

A Feast Fit for a Kong
While the humans are chowing down, give your cat and dog their own little feast. Offer them Nylabones or made-for-pet chew bones. Or stuff their usual dinner—perhaps with a few added tidbits of turkey, vegetables (try sweet potato or green beans) and dribbles of gravy—inside a Kong toy. They'll be happily occupied for awhile, working hard to extract their dinner from the toy.

Source: http://www.aspca.org/pet-care/pet-care-tips/thanksgiving-safety-tips.html

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Paws-itively Fun Indoor Games for Dogs

When it's raining or too cold to go out and play, try these fun indoor dog games.
By Arden Moore

To start playing indoors, pick a room with enough space for tail-wagging romps, and stash the breakables out of puppy's reach. Intermingle tricks and games with a few reinforcing obedience commands, and you'll have a fun-loving dog with good manners. Let the games begin!

Play hide-and-seek. Have your dog heel by your side in a room. Throw a treat across the room. As your dog darts after it, slip around the corner out of sight and call your dog by name. When he races to you, reward him with a treat and plenty of praise. Repeat four or five times.

Teach your dog to behave like a Houdini hound. Hold a small treat or ball in one closed fist and keep the other fist empty. Extend both arms out and ask your dog, "Which hand?" Let him sniff both. When he noses the fist with the toy or food, open your hand, show it, and praise. Repeat, randomly moving the toy or food into your left or right hand. Now you're both ready for an audience!

Have your dog "find the keys." Stash your keys on the couch, under a chair, or in your dog's bed. When he brings them to you, reward him with a treat. Then stash them in a new place and repeat the retrieve-and-get-a-treat steps.

Play "get the remote control." Dogs like jobs. While having your dog fetch the remote brings out the true couch potato in you, it gives your dog a mission. When he brings you a remote, reward him with a treat and plenty of praise. Then sit down and enjoy a good canine caper together — perhaps "Frasier" or "Lassie" reruns.

Excerpted from "50 Simple Ways to Pamper Your Dog" by Arden Moore. (Storey Books, 2000)

What you can do if you see someone leave their pet in a hot car!

Long story short, there are crazy people out there who just don't care what they subject their pets to and then there are those people who simply don't realize the dangers of leaving an animal in an unconditioned car on a hot day.

So, I've created a non confrontational way to deal with the problem. Today I created some fliers (attached or you can download them at http://markadamsteam.homestead.com/dogs_in_cars_posters.html). One to put on the car where the pet is located and the other to fill out with make, model of car, license plate number and location of vehicle to take into the office of the store so that they can make a public announcement on the PA and get the owner to return to their vehicle. At that time, they will find the other notice that you have left on the car and hopefully, do something to help their pet.

I realize this does nothing to help the pet immediately but after my experience last year, I am seriously wanting not to get shot by an outraged pet owner and I encourage you to take the same measures.

Perhaps we can forward these to our neighboring rescue groups and get the word out. No pet deserves to die in a hot car and we can do something to help. Print a few out and just keep them in your car...just in case. I've included 2 color images you can print out or a black and white PDF. Sorry for the huge run-on email. This is just something I felt I had to do something about. Thanks!

Lisa Adams


Volunteer with CARE

Two Choices - from Bad Rap