In Riverside, CA 14 Lhasa Apsos died of smoke inhalation when a fire broke out in the house of a hoarder. The firefighters couldn’t get to the fire in the kitchen and porch because clutter blocked their way. The house was filled from floor to ceiling with junk making it hard to get to the dogs who were all caged in a room.

This is such a sad story because it was so unnecessary, those dogs should not have died.  Obviously this person was a hoarder so there were other issues going on, but it’s so important to know about fire safety.

A few days ago I  posted about the dogs that set fire to their mobile home, in the article I included a link to some fire safety tips. After reading this story I’ve decided to repost them for everyone to see.  Here are some great tips from VPI Insurance.

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A number of  Marine and Army bases have banned pit bulls, Rottweilers, and other dogs they deemed dangerous.

By implementing this ban some dog owners are going to be forced to give up their dog or leave base housing.  Now, the Marine Corps Recruit Depot at Parris Island has agreed to try something new, they’re allowing animal behavior experts from the ASPCA to give temperament tests. The ban started in 2008 after several dog attacks happened on the base, one killing a 3-year-old boy.

Over 100 dogs will be tested and those who pass will get a waiver to stay on base until 2012. Here are the details from the ASPCA press release. Read the rest of this entry »

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On Saturday some of you listened to Horst and Bo on Animal Tales radio. I just want to give a little shout out to them because the show is really a part of a fundraising campaign which has helped dog adoption and lowered the euthanasia rate in Tampa.

TampaPets.org – No More Homeless Pets HC is a coalition of over 50 pet rescues in the Tampa Bay area. Our pet radio show is actually part of a fundraising campaign that we donate to fund the Tampa Pets Adoption Expo which now attracts 5000 people twice a year and produces over 800 adoptions. Our coalition is proud to have reduced our euthanasia rate from +33,000 5 years ago to less than 20,000 this year. Unfortunately, especially in the south, there is no shortage of dog-fighting rings and puppy mills and it’s hard to comprehend the level of cruelty that exists.

Obviously there is still much work to do but we do feel encouraged and appreciate all the support we can get. We feel the only way to truly make an impact is public education. So much of what goes on is due to ignorance – at every level of society – so I encourage all of our guests to please keep up the good fight and make sure people understand how important it is to get involved.

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Believe it or not, Labor Day weekend is here, the unofficial end of summer. It will be a busy time as families enjoy picnics and spending time outdoors, or even taking off for a last minute getaway.

Whatever is on the agenda you don’t want to forget about your four-legged buddy. Whether he’s joining in the activities or will be left home there are certain precautions to take to ensure a happy, safe holiday for all.

The ASPCA has some great tips to keep in mind as you prepare for the weekend.

1. Do not apply any sunscreen or insect repellent product to your pet that is not labeled specifically for use on animals.

2. Always assign a dog guardian. No matter where you’re celebrating, be sure to assign a friend or member of the family to keep an eye on your pooch-especially if you’re not in a fenced-in yard or other secure area.

3. Made in the shade. Pets can get dehydrated quickly, so give them plenty of fresh, clean water, and make sure they have a shady place to escape the sun.

4. Always keep matches and lighter fluid out of paws’ reach. Certain types of matches contain chlorates, which could potentially damage blood cells and result in difficulty breathing-or even kidney disease in severe cases.

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As I was going through the news this morning I came across a story about a house fire that trapped three dogs. Sadly two of the dogs died, the third was able to be revived.

No one was home at the time, but firefighters found three dogs inside during their first search of the home. They were able to revive only one of the dogs.

There wasn’t much more reported in the article but the point I wanted to highlight was that no one was home when it happened.  When the firefighters got there they had no idea any dogs were inside the home, it was pure luck that they found them on their first search through the house.

The ASPCA has FREE window decals you can put on your window to let emergency workers know how many animals you have inside.  That way if you’re not home when something happens whomever responds to the emergency will immediately know to be on the lookout for your pets. Having this information beforehand could mean the difference between life and death.

To get a window decal just go to the ASPCA site and fill out the form for the free Pet Safety Pack. It also includes a ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center magnet. The only thing to keep in mind, the number is toll-free but there is a $60 evaluation fee charged when you call.

The National Capital Poison Center site provides a toll-free number which will connect you to your local poison control agency, the service is free. Also, check out the DoctorDog.com site which has some important tips if you think your dog may have been poisoned.

The bottom line, the more prepared you are the safer your pets will be.

* Window decal pic courtesy ASPCA

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Whether you want Mittens or Rowdy for President this is a vote you’ll want to cast.  The ASPCA is having a Vote Against Cruelty campaign, they are trying to get as many votes as possible before election day.

Stop by their site and you can check out the candidates and see where they stand.  Read what Rowdy the dog has to bark about or Mittens the cat is meowing about.  Click on the map, see how many signatures the  Vote Against Cruelty petition has received in your state has.

Most important, have fun and then pass this on to everyone you know. The more signatures they have the harder it will be for lawmakers to ignore the dog (and cat) lovers of America.  Take a stand, lend a paw for change.

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An elderly couple in Queens, NY had 33 poodles removed from their house on Wednesday.

A social worker who visits the owners alerted the ASPCA due to the deteriorating conditions inside the house.

“It was overwhelming,” said Alison Cardona, director of disaster response for the ASPCA.

“There were poodles everywhere. The whole house was packed full of miniature white dogs, the heaviest of which was 20 pounds. They were literally everywhere, scurrying under sofas and under beds and peeking out at us.

“I can’t even describe what it was like in there. This was 33 dogs in one home, they weren’t going outside and they weren’t being walked.

“Let’s just say conditions were deteriorating quickly.”

The couple is not facing charges, it just looks like a situation that got out of control.  Due to the age of the couple and health problems they weren’t able to care for the dogs properly anymore.  Not being able to find homes for them led to a downward spiral and way too many dogs in a two-bedroom house.

The dogs, the youngest of which is only 2 months old, were taken from the home to the ASPCA’s adoption center on East 92nd Street.

For most of the pooches, it was thought to have been their first trip outside.

The dogs were being groomed and given care at the center before being put up for adoption, said Cardona. She said the chances of finding homes were very good. “They’re tiny little things, and people in New York like little dogs,” she said.

I can’t think of a better way to end American Humane’s Adopt-A-Dog Month than by adopting an adorable white poodle.

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How many of you knew that tomorrow is National Homeless Animals Day? I know I didn’t. Here’s a little information from the Humane Society of Naples.

(Naples, FL) Saturday, August 16th is “National Homeless Animals Day,” a day that animal shelters around the nation note to call attention to the millions of homeless pets that suffer every year because they have no home.

Some private shelters such as The Humane Society Naples are no-kill shelters and don’t kill pets to make space. However, unlike private shelters, most public pet shelters don’t have the option of turning pets away when there’s no space. They are forced to perform the sad duty of eliminating pets after holding them a certain number of days to make room for more intakes.

In addition to pets who die in a shelter, there are those pets in the wild who suffer as well. Dumped and abandoned by owners who can’t or won’t take the time to find them a home or deliver them to a shelter, these pets try their best to survive on the streets and in the backwoods. There, they face disease, parasites, hunger and death by humans and other animals.

Here’s what you can do to help:

People who care about this problem can help by contacting their local pet shelters and rescue groups to lend a hand and start or increase spay/neuter efforts.

How great would it be to celebrate this day by adopting a deserving fuzzball? C’mon, you know you want to do it!

OK…so you’re full up on cuteness and love. Here’s another way you can help.

The Humane Society Naples has a special fund set aside to help cover some or all of the cost of pet sterilization for pet owners of modest means.

This Spay Neuter Assistance Program (SNAP) has provided over 50 free pet sterilizations this year, preventing the birth of hundreds of unwanted pets. The program will continue as long as there are funds available. To contribute to this fund, contact Andy Reed, The Humane Society Naples Development Director at 643-1880 x 21 or andy@hsnaples.org.

As always, your kindness and generosity is greatly appreciated!!

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