The Humane Society of the U.S. has great advice on how to keep your pets safe July 4th.
The days after the Fourth of July are the busiest for shelters as they’re flooded with animals who ran away because of fireworks. I’ve noticed a rash of lost posters appears every year in the week following the holiday. For every lost poster, there is a person who never thought it would happen to them. Don’t let it be you and your pet.
Remember to plan for your pets when you’re making your own plans for the 4th of July.
- make sure they have i.d.—tags & a microchip
- don’t take your dog to fireworks displays
- keep cats inside
- keep dogs inside, a dog that has never jumped a fence or tunneled under one can do it in a panic
- if you know your pet is terrified of fireworks, consult your vet ahead of time about herbal anti-anxiety remedies or medication
- consider trying a pheromone dispenser or an Anxiety Wrap
- if your fireworks go off at an unexpected time and your dog panics, get her into an enclosed space whether it’s your house or your car (don’t leave her in an unairconditioned car!)
If your pet panics and runs away, this very thorough article has excellent advice, including putting out items scented strongly with your smells and your pet’s like your dirty clothes and your pets bedding or your cat’s litterbox. Post on Pets911.com. And watch out for scams.
If you live with a dog or if you have kids, don’t miss this superb article on how to have smooth, happy interactions between children and dogs. It’s packed with great advice on how to read your dog and how to teach children the right ways to pet a dog. I’m excited, because it’s not often I come across such a well written, cogent article on dog behavior. You’ll notice there’s no archaic talk about dominance to be found in the article. Yea Linda Lombardi!!
Some highlights:
- if a child asks to pet your dog, don’t force your dog to be still, either by picking them up or holding their leash tightly. Instead, let your dog approach the child if they want to be petted. And if the dog doesn’t want to be petted, let her be.
- teach children to pet dogs under their chins or along the sides of their necks or their sides. Most dogs do not like to be petted on the tops of their heads.
- I love this gem on how to explain to children how not to approach dogs—“How would you like some strange person to run up to you, squeal, grab your face and give you a big kiss? They get that, they understand that when you put it in those terms,” says Robinson.
- and finally, if you need to say no to children petting your dog, it’s ok.
Definitely read the whole article. It’s worth it!
Rat droppings
Feds seized undisclosed pet food products at an Illinois PETCO warehouse at the request of the FDA because they were stored in unsanitary conditions. In April, the FDA found “widespread and active rodent and bird infestation”. Apparently PETCO didn’t take these findings too seriously since a second inspection in May found “continuing and widespread infestation”—including “live and dead rodents and birds on or around the food containers, some of which had been gnawed and defiled by excrement”.
This one warehouse supplies 16 states:
- Alabama
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Missouri
- Nebraska
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Wisconsin
Although no illnesses have been reported yet, the FDA warns that people who have handled PETCO products in these states should thoroughly wash their hands in hot, soapy water. Surfaces and food bowl that came in contact with PETCO products should also be washed. Products packaged in can and glass containers should also be thoroughly washed.
If your pet has become sick from eating PETCO food, you need to file a complaint with your local FDA Consumer Complaint Coordinator. I would assume that this also applies if people have become sick as a result of handling these products.
At this time, PETCO has nothing on its website about the raid.
This Friday June 20th is Take Your Dog To Work Day. I’m thinking, unless you already take your dog to work at least sometimes or you have the most laid back dog and you know the other dogs at your workplace will be laid back too, this may not be the best day to take your dog to work for the first time.
But, that’s not to say you can’t bring attention to the value of dogs in the workplace or focus on the TYDTWD mission of spotlighting the benefits of adopting your dog from an animal rescue organization. In fact, participating workplaces are asked to partner with animal shelters to help increase adoptions of shelter dogs.
Some tips on a successful Take Your Dog To Work Day:
- bring a familiar blanket or bed
- keep you dog confined to your workspace
- identify an appropriate potty place outside & bring poop bags
- bring a puzzle toy like a Twist ‘n Treat or Tricky Treat Ball
- make sure your dog is clean and flea free
- provide water
- avoid any situations where resource guarding may occur
- don’t leave your dog unattended
- keep your dog leashed outside and in common areas
- be considerate of co-workers
- have a back-up plan if your dog isn’t happy and needs to go home early
Lance Corporal David Motari, the Marine videotaped throwing a puppy into a rocky ravine, is being “separated” from the Marines and others involved in the incident are being disciplined. I suppose it’s at least some kind of justice. But, this isn’t the only video of servicemen abusing animals and clearly more needs to be done.
The Humane Society of the US has identified three areas where the Department of Defense needs to improve or change its policy concerning animals.
- American Servicemen are prohibited from adopting stray animals they befriend in Iraq.
- Pet and stray dogs are being killed in an attempt to prevent rabies although research finds that these culls are both ineffective and inhumane.
- There is no prohibition or punishment for cruelty towards animals in the Uniform Code of Military Justice.
You can help by contacting the Dept. of Defense and the various branches of the military and urging them to make a change.
