Month: December 2010

Happy New Year! Well… almost. There’s still time to make this New Year’s Eve a safe and happy one for your pets. We just received this great press release from the LA Animal Services, and thought it was the perfect time to share it here on our blog, as it applies for pets everywhere, not just in Los Angeles. The press release is titled “Celebratory Noisemakers are No Fun For Pets” – and neither are fireworks which also abound this time of year. So read on for their pet safety tips for New Years Eve.

Make this New Years Eve fun and SAFE for you and your pets! Big gatherings, loud noises, and startling fireworks are some of the things we love about the Holidays – but they can be very frightening for our pets. With a little planning and precaution, you can ensure that this New Years celebration is enjoyable for everyone.

Pet Safety Tips for New Years Eve:

1. UPDATE IDENTIFICATION

The biggest risk of all this New Years Eve is that pets will get loose and become lost. Even if a pet is secured inside, the sound of noisemakers, gunfire, and fireworks can cause them to enter an extreme panic mode – sometimes even breaking through glass windows. Make sure your pets are licensed, microchipped and wearing identification tags.

Dogs should be wearing a current license. You may qualify to renew your LA City dog license on line: http://www.laanimalservices.org/serv_animallicense.htm (Other cities check with your local animal control.)

Make sure the microchip company has your current address and phone numbers.

To learn more about microchipping, ask your veterinarian.

Help us help your best friends get home if they get lost by keeping their license up to date and by always updating your address with the microchip company if you move.

2. KEEP PETS INDOORS

Keep your pets in a safe, enclosed room, preferably one without windows. If you’re having guests over, consider keeping pets in a room that’s off-limits to guests with plenty of water and food.

3. CREATE A CALMING ENVIRONMENT

Surround pets with their favorite toys and other familiar objects. Sometimes the smell of an article of clothing from your laundry can help comfort them. Play soothing music and keep the room as quiet as possible by closing doors, windows, and blinds.

4. KEEP AWAY FROM NOISEMAKERS

Even if your pet doesn’t seem obviously upset by noisemakers and fireworks, they can still cause harm to pets. Avoid potential burns, injuries, or possible ingestion by keeping all pets out of the vicinity of celebratory noisemakers and fireworks.

Hello friends! It is the end of a long, emotional few days — but ones that have me reflecting on the value of our fellow creatures, humans included. My recent adventures began with efforts to secure the safety of one previously unlucky dog whose time was up at a Los Angeles municipal shelter. It is these efforts that have served to remind me of my connection to other humans and the power of collaboration. Georgie, a gentle Rottweiler-pit bull mix, was slated to be put to sleep one morning early this week. I had been circulating his photo and plea for adoption for weeks, but no one had stepped up. Many rescue groups wanted to help but were too overwhelmed with multiple animals in the same circumstances.

Georgie needed an advocate, and for whatever reason, he crossed my path. I was trying to help him, but as my efforts were not yielding any results, I felt discouraged and so very sad for Georgie. I sent a final plea and soon found I would not have to give up on Georgie!

The despair that threatened to overwhelm my efforts was replaced by the strength of good friend — the kind of strength that keeps us on-task and moving toward our goals. Adrienne provided me that strength, as she often does, and I love her for it. She helped me assemble a team of people to help Georgie, each one providing a step in his journey toward a forever home. Thanks, my friend!

So I guess today, while I am sharing… finish the post by clicking here.

Pia blogs often at The Daily Wag on MarthaStewart.com, the home of episodes from Francesca and Sharkey – Martha Stewart’s two dogs. Dr. Pia Salk is a psychologist, animal welfare advocate, and expert on the human-animal bond. Pia frequently highlights the important role that animals play in our lives and how our societal treatment of animals conveys important messages to our youth. In her own work, Pia often credits the animals as being “the real therapists.”

Time for another helpful guest blog article written by By Liam Crowe, CEO and Master Dog Behavioral Therapist from Bark Busters USA! Can’t Play Outdoors? When the weather outside is frightful, try these indoor games with your dog. All dogs need exercise, even when the weather doesn’t cooperate. On those cold, snowy, windy or rainy days when it’s too nasty to take your daily walk, try playing some of these indoor games with your dog to keep him healthy and happy. In addition, playing with your dog, like training him, enhances the bond you share and helps him keep his focus on you!

You can change these games depending on how your dog is best motivated: praise/belly rubs, favorite toys, items to fetch, or treats. If you do use treats, one way to keep your dog from gaining weight from too many snacks is to use some of his mealtime kibble to play the games. As with any activity, keep each session short and fun! It’s better to end the game before your dog gets bored or overly excited.

WHERE’S THE TREAT?

Start with 3 or 4 buckets (old cups or margarine tubs would work too). Show your dog that you have a treat or a favorite small toy. Put your dog in a SIT/STAY or DOWN/STAY about 10 feet away, then make sure he can see you as you place his prize under one of the buckets. Then say WHERE’S THE TREAT? and encourage him to smell the buckets—give him lots of praise when he paws, sits beside, or barks next to the correct bucket, and then lift it up so he can claim his reward. You can up the difficultly level by changing the position of the buckets after you place the treat or pretending to put treats under multiple buckets.

NAME THAT TOY

Gather a group of toys that are noticeably different (for example, a stuffed duck, pig and shark). Hold a toy up for your dog to sniff and see, get him excited, and toss it, saying WHERE’S YOUR SHARK? When he comes back with it, give him lots of praise, then do the same with the pig, then with the duck, etc. Repeat again and again, and be consistent with your naming. Once he has mastered a few names, set out multiple toys and tell him which to get.

FIND IT!

Put your dog in a SIT/STAY. Show your dog a toy or treat and put it on the floor so the dog can see it. Say FIND IT! Naturally, your dog will enthusiastically—and hopefully, easily—find the toy or treat. Make the next prize a bit more difficult to locate, say, behind a chair. Continue to vary treat placement, or, for a real challenge, set up a roomful of hidden delights in advance. Watch your dog as he searches, and tap your foot and give an OOH or gasp to get him excited about the ones he’s missed.

STAIRWAY TO HEAVEN

Settle in at the bottom of the staircase, putting your dog in a SIT/STAY next to you. Throw your dog’s favorite toy to the top of the stairs. Say FETCH or GET IT. After he dashes up the stairs and grabs the toy, call him to COME, ask him to DROP or RELEASE, and repeat as above until your dog slumps to the floor in giddy exhaustion. (Note that this is not a good game for puppies, as their joints are still developing, or dogs prone to injury.)

RECALL REPRISE

Enlist a significant other or child to help with this game. Each person grabs a handful of treats or kibble. Stand a couple of feet apart. One person calls the dog to COME. When he does, he receives praise and a treat. Then the other person calls. Praise and treat. Both people take two steps backwards. Repeat. Every fourth or fifth time, use praise only. See how far apart (Different rooms? Different floors?) you can venture. For even more fun, have three or more people in different rooms calling the dog.

CLEAN UP!

Teach your dog to CLEAN UP after playtime by picking up his toys and putting them back in the toy box. Have your dog pick up a toy while you hold the toy box up to him. Tell him to DROP IT. When he does, give him lots of praise. Repeat with the next toy. Once he gets the idea, put the toy box on the floor and guide the dog over to it and say DROP IT. Keep it fun and simple, and use the same words each time for every command.

COME WHEN CALLED

Call your dog to COME, put him in a SIT/STAY, and then move away from him. After a minute or so, call him to COME again, and repeat. Try to increase the distance you move away and the length of time you wait before calling your dog to you. This game is great for dogs with attention-seeking behaviors, as it teaches them to wait for your commands.

CIRCUS CLOWN

If your dog likes to jump, you can burn off a lot of his energy by teaching him to jump over and through things. Start with your dog on a leash. Place a pole or stick just barely off the ground, and have your dog walk over it. As you raise it each time, you will need to move him back and let him get a running start. Give him lots of praise every time he jumps over. Once he masters the pole, try a Hula-Hoop!

HIDE & SEEK

This old standby is still loads of fun for you and your dog. Have your dog STAY in one room. Go into another room and hide. Call your dog. Try not to give away your location by laughing! Kids love to play this game with the family dog.

WORK FOR YOUR DINNER

Remember that dogs use about the same amount of energy when they are challenged mentally as physically! Treat-rewarding puzzles, such as the Buster® Food Cube, Canine Genius® connectable toys, or the Wobbler by KONG®, make your dog work for his treats—or you can use kibble with the toys to feed your dog his entire meal.

In addition to the games above, Training Dogs the Aussie Way by Bark Busters founders Danny and Sylvia Wilson contains about 20 pages of tricks to work on with your dog (available at BarkBustersBoutique.com, Amazon.com, or from your local Bark Busters trainer). Remember that basic obedience is the foundation for having fun with your dog—games and tricks should be a fun and rewarding bonding experience, not a stressful time, for you and your dog.

— Written by By Liam Crowe. Liam Crowe is the CEO and grand master dog behavioral therapist of Bark Busters USA (www.BarkBusters.com), the world’s largest dog training company. Since inception, over 500,000 dogs have been trained worldwide using Bark Busters’ dog-friendly, natural methods, which focus on fostering a positive relationship between owner and dog to establish a lasting emotional bond based on respect and trust.

From our own Dr. Pia Salk, we bring you a reminder that the holidays can be hazardous to your pets’ health. Please take a moment to read Dr. Salk’s blog post on Martha Stewart’s The Daily Wag… it could save your pet’s life!

Did you know that the staff here at Adopt-a-Pet.com has decades of volunteering experience helping homeless pets? Be inspired by our stories (and yours!) in our brand-new Volunteer Newsletter! To subscribe, and lend a helping paw to shelters and rescues near you, fill out your Volunteer Profile at http://www.adoptapet.com/volunteer/signup. Make sure you check the box next to: “I want to receive Adopt-a-Pet.com’s special quarterly newsletter all about volunteering.” Now, read on as Jennifer Warner, Adopt-a-Pet.com’s Director of Shelter Outreach, shares her volunteering story…

“Where should I volunteer?” written by Jennifer

Volunteering for an animal shelter or rescue can be one of the most rewarding – and challenging – experiences of your life! It has been for me. I’m Jennifer, the Director of Shelter Outreach for Adopt-a-Pet.com, and I’ve been volunteering for animal shelters and rescues for almost 20 years. I’m here to share with you what I’ve learned from my very diverse experiences in choosing where I volunteered, from one-person rescues to some of the biggest organizations in the US. You may hear from me on other volunteering topics in future issues of our newsletter as well. I’d like to help you get the most out of your volunteering to help homeless pets!

I got my start volunteering to help homeless pets at a large nonprofit shelter in New York City, taking dogs out for walks around the park. I’d grown up around and loving many dogs, horses, barn cats and a rabbit, but this was my first direct exposure to the world of animal sheltering and the reality of pet overpopulation. I chose to volunteer at that shelter because I thought as my first “shelter” experience, it would not be as overwhelming as the city shelter system. They also offered flexible hours, allowing me to come in any time I had time. That worked out perfectly with my ever-changing school and work schedules. And they certainly had plenty of dogs living for months in kennels, who were overjoyed to have me take them out for a walk!

When I moved to Los Angeles, I thought volunteering would be a great way to meet some new animal-loving friends. It was… and little did I know it would also help me find a job! I started right away at a local spca. They had immediate volunteer training and opportunities available, while the shelter that was closer to me had a many-month long waiting list for orientation space, due to springtime students. Anyway, the spca’s mobile adoptions really needed volunteers. They could only take out as many dogs as they had handlers, and high adoption rates at their mobiles meant those dogs had a really great chance of finding a home. Fortunately for me too, it was a wonderful way to be introduced to places all over my new city, as well as new friends.

As much as I enjoyed volunteering for that spca, I’d read about the Pasadena Humane Society & SPCA’s innovative shelter design and extensive volunteer opportunities. They were a relatively large shelter, taking in over 12,000 animals each year as animal control for (then) six cities, but had the flexibility and funding of a private nonprofit to also offer education, spay/neuter, cruelty investigations, and more. I’d done my research, and wanted to help an organization that did all that to help homeless pets.

A few months later, during the orientation, their Volunteer Coordinator announced that they were looking to hire a Mobile Adoption Coordinator as staff. After a few outings as a volunteer, I was hired, and so began my career in animal welfare! Over the next decade, I worked for the Pasadena Humane Society & SPCA, though I still continued to volunteer for other rescue organizations, mostly transporting animals. My line between “staff” and “volunteer” was sometimes blurred. But, I was fortunate enough to have wonderful management that supported all of my “extracurricular” activities, from fostering litter after litter of underage kittens in my office, to driving vans full of animals to rescues all over California!

When I started working for Adopt-a-Pet.com over two years ago, I  expanded my volunteer work to stay in direct contact with dogs and cats at my local shelters and rescues. Since I now work from home, I can now foster from home too, and I also continue to take photos and videos of shelter pets on the weekends. I had interacted with many rescues and shelters, and knew which ones had policies and people that were a good “fit” for my volunteering skills and style.

I hope my volunteering story will help you decide where and how to volunteer. If you haven’t signed up for the of Adopt-a-Pet.com’s Volunteer Community – that’s a wonderful first step! Thank you for offering your time and skills to help homeless pets.

It’s the holiday season, one of the most popular times for families to adopt a pet – and for pets to end up in the vet emergency office! Both new and experienced pet owners are unaware of how many common items can be hazardous – even fatal – to household pets. Plus, during the holidays our homes are often filled with family and friends who may not fully realize the dangers. You may think your pet would enjoy a party, but the safest thing to do is keep all your pets closed away in a bedroom or otherwise away from the guests, who may, in the generous holiday spirit and excitement of the festivities, not realize that giving a begging dog “just one” treat could be fatal. Especially if your home or festivities include any of these pet-toxic foods or decorative items, please be careful they stay safely out of your pets’ reach… so everyone can safely enjoy the holidays!

If your pet ingests any of these potentially fatal items please CALL YOUR VET IMMEDIATELY.

Human Food: Chocolate, grapes, raisins, avocados, Macadamia nuts, onions or onion powder, garlic, caffeinated drinks, alcohol, any type of cooked bones, fish bones, moldy or spoiled food, raw yeast dough, products sweetened with xylitol which is found in chewing gum or mints.

Common holiday items: antifreeze (tastes sweet pets may lick off floor), ice melting products, liquid potpourri, electrical cords, mothballs, Christmas tree water (pesticides used on the tree can leach into the water), ribbons or tinsel which can clog up intestines.

Have a safe and happy holiday!

When we are each out and about looking for meaningful gifts or just choosing between brands at the grocery store, it is quite natural for the sensitive individual to opt for a brand that supports a cause over one that does not. This is typically indicated by a colored ribbon of some sort on the packaging.

While I am all for companies taking part in bigger-picture issues, I am aware that these efforts are also in the service of boosting product sales- which is certainly fair. That said, I wonder how many of us read the small print or really know what the donation is in fact going towards.

The good news is that we have choices when it comes to what our dollars support. I strongly believe that we each ‘vote with our dollar.’ So I much prefer to vote for things in keeping with my ethics if possible. But that is not always an easy task as it involves staying informed and asking questions that we may not even know to ask…

…Click here to read the rest of Pia’s article on The Daily Wag!

Pia blogs regularly for The Daily Wag on MarthaStewart.com. She is a psychologist, animal welfare advocate, an expert on the human-animal bond – and she is Adopt-a-Pet.com’s spokesperson.

Did you know that the staff here at Adopt-a-Pet.com has decades of volunteering experience helping homeless pets? Be inspired by our stories (and yours!) in our brand-new Volunteer Newsletter! To subscribe, and lend a helping paw to shelters and rescues near you, fill out your Volunteer Profile at http://www.adoptapet.com/volunteer/signup. Make sure you check the box next to: “I want to receive Adopt-a-Pet.com’s special quarterly newsletter all about volunteering.” Now, read on as Katya Friedman, Adopt-a-Pet.com’s Director of Partnerships and Promotions, shares her journey into volunteering…

“How can I best make a difference?” – written by Katya

I got bitten by the volunteer bug at a young age. In high school, I was the kind of girl who was always making announcements about how to get involved in after-school programs that help at-risk youth or reading to kids. I started a Community Service Club, and began my journey as someone who wanted to be involved, work with community, and turn awareness into action. I think I knew even back then that I was on the right path. Working with children remains one of my greatest joys.

Although my family always had dogs and I always loved our pets, it would not be until years later that I focused my volunteerism towards the animals. About five years ago my friend who is a screenwriter (I live in Los Angeles so its par for the course!) wrote a Cinderella-type story about a Pit Bull at a shelter. He visited one of our local shelters to get a better idea of the reality for his writing, and I had the good fortune of going along with him; from that day on, I truly would never be the same.

I saw the best and the worst in humanity, all wrapped into one day. I saw a world of hurt for the animals, but I also saw hope in the hands of volunteers. Confusion and anxiety hung like a cloak on so many discarded pets, but volunteers brought comfort and peace in the walks and talks they offered. There was fear in the eyes of dogs, cats and bunnies, but volunteers were there to quench that fiery fear with love. All around me, I saw caring shelter staff who supported their volunteers, and volunteers who in turn supported their shelter staff. It was symbiosis at its finest and the beneficiaries were the animals.

I signed up for orientation, and I was off and running. When I began volunteering at the shelter, I was worried about where I was needed most. Where could I make the biggest difference? Where could I help other volunteers do what they’re doing? Where could I most efficiently put my time to help more animals? I started with dog walking, and I even lost a few lbs right away (nice perk!) Walking dogs who are living in kennels is so rewarding. The exercise, the sunshine, sitting under a tree in the shade and letting the dog just be. It was bonding and felt invigorating, as much for me as it did for them.

I moved onto taking pictures of dogs and cats to update the shelter’s website. The photos sessions were a blast because I got to know the personality of the animals. Even though it can be challenging to convince a cat to warm up to a camera, or get a young pup to sit still, I came armed with treats and did my best. These new glamor shots helped many animals get seen better – and we all know that when animals get seen they get saved.

Next I attempted crafting pleas to network animals whose time was up. I think the creativity and vulnerability required to effectively network shelter animals comes easily if you spend a little time getting to know them. It all comes from them, and what fun it is to craft their story! That’s when it hit me: even the small things we do can be efficient and useful and important when it comes to saving animals. Even one hour a week of Tweeting Critters from your lunch desk at work – every single bit helps. Being involved isn’t about a time minimum or the perfect activity, it’s about opening your heart. Whether you can volunteer every day or at one adoption event a month, being a part of the solution to end animal population and inspiring others to do the same IS the best way to make a difference.

A little less than a year ago, I was lucky enough to begin working for Adopt-a-Pet.com. I am so grateful that every day I get to think about what can be done to help animals most, and how we might be able to help make that possible. Moreover, I’m so grateful every day that there are volunteers like you. Without you, the shelters and rescue groups could not do it. They need our support and help to do all they do, as it really does take a village. It takes a volunteering community.

These days it’s not easy to find a sense of community in a city as large as Los Angeles. Often it’s not easy to find a sense of community anywhere, be it the town is small or sprawling. With our computers and phones and cars and automated everything, we’re moving fast and we have less and less time for one another. The beauty of volunteering is that volunteers come together from all over, just to help the animals; and that is exactly how we will save more lives. In doing so, it’s also how we will save each other. We cannot live in isolation and change this problem alone. We need everyone’s strength to move this mountain. By working with shelter staff and rescue groups, working together, and working for the animals, we’re also working to better our own lives as a community.

If you’re not already, I’d like to invite you to be a part of Adopt-a-Pet.com’s Volunteer Community – or as I like to think of it, our Community Service Club! Thank you for doing all you can do, however you can, and know that you’re the answer.

Most of us know that exposure to household toxins like asbestos can lead to mesothelioma in humans; animals are just as susceptible to common hazards. Understanding that there are hidden dangers lurking around their house, pet owners can keep their furry friends safe, healthy and ultimately protected.

Most pet owners know to keep dangerous materials away from their animals such as cleaning supplies, people food and antifreeze, because any inquisitive pet easily ingests those items. However, there are more household items overlooked by pet owners that are equally as dangerous that a pet may ingest or inhale.

Household garbage poses the single, largest threat to any pets’ health. Animals are drawn to the smelly refuse, typically looking for delicious scraps of people food left over. Especially with dogs, picking through the trash to find the tastiest bits is not practical; instead, any trash that smells good is munched.

This is a terrible hazard since garbage cans hold a smorgasbord of household waste including medications, paper towels used for cleaning, and even batteries. Broken glass, say from a light bulb, can cut an animals’ gums or tongue, and can cause horrible damage to the esophagus or stomach if swallowed.

Many pet owners do not know the threat airborne toxins can have on their furry shadows. Inhalation of any toxin, like bleach vapors, secondhand smoke or paint fumes not only have damaging health risks for people, but also for pets. Animals are naturally curious, exploring the world through their sense of smell or taste, simply investigating what their owners are doing can be risky.

Though most pet owners understand the dangers cleaning supplies can pose for their animals, but what is often missed are the hazards of home renovations. Construction dust, insulation particles, asbestos or mold, common side effects of any renovation project, are also unsafe for animals.

Anything that is toxic for people is also toxic for pets. This overlooked hazard can often cause silent, yet deadly diseases in pets. Especially with inhaled toxins, animals can develop respiratory problems, circulatory disorders or cancer.

Ways to Keep Your Pet Safe

Simply, if it is unsafe or unhealthy for humans, it is also for animals. By following a few easy rules, any pet owner can keep their animals happy and healthy.

• Keep trashcans securely covered.
• Do not put unused or expired medications in the trash or down the drain. Many communities have safe ways to get rid of medications through local refuse collection sites.
• For cleaning or renovation projects, wear a protective mask and coverings, have proper ventilation and keep pets away.
• Do not leave any hazardous items on the floor, counters, tables or anywhere a pet can easily access.
• Keep dangerous products, like cleaning supplies, renovation materials or unsafe people food in a locked cabinet. Since many pets are able to open cabinets easily, attach child locks.
• For any extended home renovation including painting, tiling, wallpapering, sanding or refinishing surfaces, keep pets out of the house. If the renovation lasts more than a day, keep pets at a friend’s house or a kennel. Animals can not only ingest or inhale hazardous materials, there is also a threat of animals stepping on nails, glass, insulation or broken tile.
• Always inspect pets’ mouths, eyes, ears and feet to see any telltale signs of naughty behavior.

The most important way pet owners can protect their furry friends is to use common sense. Remember “If it is dangerous for me, it is dangerous for them.” For many pet owners, having an inquisitive shadow is so common that sometimes they can forget what they are doing may not be healthy for their animals.

By keeping a watchful eye on your curious friend, you can keep them safe and healthy. If you suspect that your pet ingested or inhaled a toxin, seek immediate veterinary care.