A Kenneling Alternative

Pet Safety

Unchain A Dog Month

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January is Unchain a Dog Month. Most of us have encountered dogs that are chained up outside. And it is particularly heartbreaking to see during the deepest freezes of winter and the hottest days of summer. And while some communities have ordinances against leaving pets outside in certain weather conditions, this doesn’t eliminate all situations where dogs are chained outside without shelter year round.

There are organizations that are making inroads to allow individuals to unchain their dogs. One of those is called Fences for Fido. [Read more…] about Unchain A Dog Month

Why Did The Turtle Cross The Road?

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From now until October you may see turtles crossing the road. Or, if you live near a body of water, they may appear in your backyard. 

According to the Turtle Rescue League, in “late summer and fall, hatchling turtles are digging up from nests, looking for water and later on males and females are heading to places to hibernate.”

If you find a turtle crossing the road, make sure you stop in a safe location before assisting the turtle. Keep it low to the ground in case you drop it if it kicks itself out of your hands, pick it up on the sides of the shell not the tail, and do not turn it around. If you have a snapper, use a blunt object to scoot it across the road so you don’t hurt it. You can wait to make sure it doesn’t turn around to recross the road before you leave. [Read more…] about Why Did The Turtle Cross The Road?

Microchipping Your Pet

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In the chaos of moving from a house in the suburbs to a condo in the city, I realized that I had missed one very important step in the hundreds of updates, decisions, and changes that relocating can involve. I hadn’t updated the contact information registered to my dog’s microchip. 

When adopting from a shelter, microchipping isn’t even a consideration in most instances. Pets are generally microchipped at a shelter.  However, if you haven’t microchipped your pet you might want to consider doing so. It is a great way to ensure identification of your pet in the event a collar breaks, your pet panics and runs away during fireworks, or if your pet is lost during a natural disaster.

Further, most shelters and veterinarian offices have a universal scanning tool to check a pet so that they can find information on the owner. Which means, like myself, you need to remember to update the data when you change addresses or phone numbers.

According to the Blum Animal Hospital in Chicago, the microchip generally has a 25-year life span, so once your pet is microchipped it is normally good for their entire life. While microchipping is a personal decision, Blum points out that only 22 percent of non-chipped dogs make it back to their owners, and even fewer non-chipped cats find their way home. 

While there are no guarantees, a microchip can be another tool in your kit to help keep your pet protected and more likely to be returned to you in the event they get lost. Reach out to your veterinarian for specific questions on microchipping options and whether it is the right choice for you and your pets. 

National Pet Preparedness Month

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June kicks off the official start to summer. And with summer weather comes the threat of weather-related emergencies that could impact you, your family, and your floofins. 

No one likes the idea of planning for an emergency situation, but various groups have quick and easy checklists, videos, and articles available to make creating your personal plan simple and complete. 

No one can forget the images from Hurricane Katrina when people had to either make a decision to leave a cherished pet behind or remain with them and potentially perish. Things have changed in that many more shelters will allow people to bring their pets in the event of a natural disaster and evacuation. But, that doesn’t mean that every shelter and every situation will accommodate you and your floofins.

In addition to making an emergency plan for your family, ready.gov recommends that you also include your pet in that plan. Other factors they recommend you consider for your pet when making plans for a natural or man-made disaster scenario include: emergency kits; evacuation plans; shelter information; and identification. 

Consider using the resources available at ready.gov/pet-toolkit or view their YouTube video to be ready for any emergencies that might occur. And be sure to have all of your information, including emergency contacts, up-to-date in your profile for your Floofins & Co. account.

Plant a Pet Friendly Garden this Spring

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Are you aware that many common flowers and vegetable plants can be poisonous and/or toxic to dogs and cats? Whether you’re planting a new garden or maintaining an existing one, it’s important to design it to contain pet friendly plants, as many toxic plants can have a detrimental effect quickly and with only a little bit of ingestion. [Read more…] about Plant a Pet Friendly Garden this Spring