It’s hard to believe but the holiday season is officially here. A lot of people will be traveling by car to their destination, many with the family dog. While some pets enjoy riding in the family car, others find it stressful.

The American Humane Society has provided us with a great list of tips, whether traveling by car or air, to help minimize stress. Making this an enjoyable trip for both the two and four legged family members.

General Tips for Safe Travel With Pets:

1. Properly identify pets with ID tags and microchips — Make sure your pets have ID and current rabies tags and are microchipped. To be extra cautious, give your pet an extra tag with the address and phone number of where you will be staying for the duration of the trip, in case they get lost after you arrive.

2. Train pets to travel in their crates — Whether you’re heading to your holiday destination by plane, train or automobile, getting your pets used to their crates will make the entire traveling experience less stressful. Even when not at home, pets still view their crates as a safe haven from stressful situations. With a crate, size does matter — Crates should be large enough for pets to stand and turn around in comfortably. Remember to keep water inside the crate or allow for breaks every 3 hours where your pet can drink and stretch. Stainless steel water containers that hook onto wire crates are easy to use and clean up well.

3. Never leave your pets unattended – Just as you would never leave a child unattended, never leave your pet alone in a car.

4. Bring their health records– Many of us can’t remember the last time we got a tetanus shot, let alone remember all the shots and medications our pets have had. Take your pet’s health records just in case he needs to see a veterinarian during your trip. Be sure to check with your veterinarian to see if they would recommend heartworm prevention or treatment for fleas or ticks for the area you are traveling.

Air Travel:

5. To fly or not to fly – As a rule, puppies and kittens, sick animals, animals in heat, and frail or pregnant animals should not travel by air. Animals that are “pug-nosed,” like pugs, boxers and Persian cats, should not fly in the cargo area of a plane. You should also plan ahead because many airlines have restrictions regarding pets and because your pet may need a health certificate to fly.

6. Tranquilizing pets is not recommended — Sedatives are not encouraged when flying because it’s difficult to monitor the animal’s breathing, which can be impaired by the combination of sedatives and high altitude.

7. Boarding is an option — If your animal is too large to fly in the cabin with you, staying at a boarding kennel may be a safer choice. Or you could hire a licensed pet sitter to take care of your pet in the comfort of its own home.

Car Travel:

8. Try to keep pets on the same “schedule” — Stop when you would normally let your animals out at home and at feeding times.

9. Plan lodging ahead — Research your route, make reservations and carry a list of pet-friendly lodging along the way. Also, ask for a room on the ground floor so it is easier to walk your pet. Don’t let your pet stay in the car.

10. Be prepared for emergencies or delays — Keep pet dishes in your car, as well as extra water and pet food, in case of car trouble or bad weather.

This is great information that every dog owner should know; be sure to keep the list handy so you can go through it before the start of a trip.  For more information about American Humane, go to www.americanhumane.org.

*Dogster member Hanna Jane loves to travel, she’s packed and ready for her next adventure.

I received a very sad email yesterday from Dogster member Minika Hall.  She wanted to share her recent tragedy at the dog park, which resulted in the loss of her beloved dog Miles’, as a warning to other dog owners.

Miles’ was an adorable Yorkie who loved the dog park, and Hall enjoyed taking him there on a daily basis.  On Sunday they went for a visit but this time Minika did something she had never done before, brought him into the big dog side of the park.

Here are the details from The Buffalo News.

Miles, an eight-month-old Yorkie who frequented the park with his owner several times a week during the warmer weather, was enjoying a late-October romp.

But Hall made a decision she will always regret. She let her five-pound pooch make his first visit to a separate running area that generally accommodates larger dogs. Until Sunday, Miles had always frolicked in an adjacent area reserved for dogs that weigh less than 30 pounds. On this evening, the special area was empty, and she wanted Miles to have company.

“Miles wasn’t afraid of big dogs,” said Hall, her voice shaking. “He loved to play with the bigger dogs.”

The Yorkie was playing with several other dogs, none of them very large or aggressive, according to Hall. She said what happened next is a blur, but she recalls Miles being stepped on and instantly falling to the ground.

At first, she thought he just had the wind knocked out of him or — in a worst-case scenario — was paralyzed. But after she and another Barkyard patron rushed the dog to an emergency clinic, reality set in. Miles’ tiny neck had likely been crushed as the dogs played, she said.

“People need to see my dumb mistake,” the distraught owner said. “They need to understand that when their dogs are playing, they have to consider the size of other dogs. I knew it, but I never recognized the importance of that until now.”

On the side reserved for small dogs there is a warning that it is only for pups 30 lbs. and under, there is no size specifications on the larger side.  Lisa and I bring the ‘kids’ over to our local dog park and we see many dog owners bringing their smaller dogs into the large side, and for the exact reason Minika did, there was no one in the smaller dog area to play with.  I’m sure just like Hall the owners don’t give a second thought to it being dangerous, why would they?

I know Minika feels guilty over her decision but this tragedy could have happened to anyone. If she had seen an article like this I have no doubt she would never have taken Miles’ into the large dog side, and that’s why she contacted me, to get the word out.  Keep in mind, the dogs in the park were just playing with Miles’, no one was vicious, but when you have a bunch of big dogs engaging in rough play it only takes a second for a tragedy to occur.

I want to extend our heartfelt condolences to Minika over the loss of Miles’.  Thank you for sharing your very painful story to keep other dog owners from experiencing the grief you are now going through, I know it wasn’t easy.

This week’s tip from Sunbear Squad is a must read for all dog lovers.  We must teach others to stop thinking of their dogs as disposable objects, something to be thrown out with the trash when no longer needed or wanted.

Week of Nov. 8:

Watch for pets that are banished from the house before new carpet or furniture arrives for the holidays; they will be wandering and hungry. Call the authorities.

Imagine caring more about furniture than heartbeats.

You “get” this, or you would not be reading any further. It’s horrifying but true. Some people will bring their dogs and cats to a shelter because of remodeling, new furniture, new carpet, new wardrobes. Is this hard to imagine? Ask anyone who works at a shelter or rescue. The stories will inflame you.

Some major metropolitan shelters in America euthanize more than 80% of their dogs and cats every week because they don’t have enough adopters. So a family who drops off a dog or cat at a shelter, believing the pet will find a new home? Sweet, loving dogs and cats? Entire litters? They are dreaming. They are absolutely delusional. That drop off, that hopeful thought of a new home, is a death sentence. WAKE UP AMERICA.

How can we change this cycle of too many dogs and cats, too many people dropping them off at the shelter to “find a new home” in the trash? That’s where their cold bodies go. In the trash. Are you shocked?

Last week, the “No More Homeless Pets” conference closed in Las Vegas. It was a clarion call to CHANGE. Please encourage people to adopt. Please spay and neuter your companion animals. Hearts are beating!!!

-Anna Nirva, Founder Sunbear Squad-

This week’s Sunbear Squad tip is especially important due to the high number of foreclosures and people abandoning their houses, and unfortunately, sometimes their pets.

Watch Tip of the Week Nov. 1:

Listen for pets trapped inside while households travel during the winter. Check garages and sheds. Accidents happen!

Here’s more info on Sunbear from founder of  Sunbear Squad, Anna Nirva. Please exercise more awareness with the traveling months coming. Remember Sunbear’s story. He was accidentally trapped when his owner traveled for work. His owner thought that he had found a new home for Sunbear, but communication broke down. Sunbear waited for 6 weeks in a townhouse laundry room with a bag of food outside the door. His new family never came. His owner never checked to make sure than Sunbear was picked up by his new family as planned.

Do you know of moving or traveling households? This is extremely high risk for companion animals. Some families intentionally abandon their animals, but banks don’t know and don’t inspect the property for weeks. Some families think that arrangements are made for care, but miscommunication can cause days or even weeks of starvation and dehydration.

If you live in a neighborhood with many foreclosed-upon properties, check on those homes, every one. Call out near windows and doors. Do you hear cats or dogs call back?

Please remember that you may save a life. Thank you for all you do to help companion animals in distress!

Please forward this email to animal-lovers. Encourage them to become animal welfare defenders!

Copyright Sunbear Squad Inc. All rights reserved but you may reuse for educational purposes freely.

Ponder Cove is a very nice dog friendly B&B located in Asheville, NC.  Martha, the owner, has a few dogs and one of them happens to be a hunting dog that showed up at her door after being abandoned in the woods. This week’s tip is definitely something to keep in mind if you live in a rural area.

Watch Tip Week of Oct. 25:

Watch and listen for stray hunting dogs in rural areas during the hunting season, where some are coldly abandoned for poor performance.

Here’s another story about a few abandoned hunting hounds,  it was submitted  by a reader of  Sunbear Squad.

An ice storm was bearing down in the southern United States and a pack of 3 adult Beagles and 5 puppies were sighted in a rural Arkansas forest. Concerned animal lovers sent numerous emails to locate a rescuer who could take immediate action to save the dogs, and two compassionate women rose to the challenge.

It’s not like they didn’t have anything else to do that day. Desiree had successfully lobbied for felony animal cruelty laws and had just been informed of the law’s passing, and Carol worked full-time. But later in the afternoon, after learning of the ice storm coming, they gathered their gear and drove 45 miles to the woods where the dogs had been sighted.

And they found the dogs waiting near a plastic tarp tent and food that a caring Good Samaritan had fixed up for them. That’s not all they found…shotgun shells littering the ground near the dogs were a testament to cruel hunters who were shooting at the abandoned dogs.

Carol and Desiree managed to load all eight Beagles into their vehicle and drive them back to town, where Little Rock Animal Village and Care for Animals, two animal rescues, immediately took them into their adoption programs. Thanks to these kind people, the Beagles had warm shelter, food, and affection that cold, stormy night and beyond. Bless their brave hearts.

Abandoned hunting dogs perish daily of exposure and starvation all across America. Please help them whenever you can. You’ll be in good company. Thank you Desiree and Carol!

Read more rescue stories, click here.

I would never have guessed that, but it makes sense when you think about it. There’s usually a lot more accessible chocolate candy in the house for dogs to get into, the result of which can be deadly. Plus, the overabundance of loud noises and door bell ringing can set off a dogs flight instinct.

As pet owners we can keep a few simple things in mind to make Halloween a fun and safe holiday for all our four legged friends.

1. Don’t leave your dog outside. Even if you have a fenced yard, bring your dog inside where it is safe. If your dog is usually kept outside, bring him in a few times before the big night to get him used to being indoors. Your dog may be used to strangers, but so many little ghouls and goblins running about may be too much. Remember also that it is a natural instinct for dogs to protect the family from strangers, and on Halloween there will be no shortage of strangers.

2. Keep your dog restrained. If your dog is timid or scared, or if he tends to love people a little too much, it is best to put him in a separate room away from the front door to limit his excitability, aggression, and chance of running outside and becoming lost.

3. Reassure your dog. The best thing you can do for your dog when he is feeling unsettled by Halloween activities is to act as you normally would. By over-reassuring your dog or giving him an unusual amount of attention, you inadvertently can communicate to him that because you are acting differently, there must be something to worry about.

4. Have your dog get used to costumes. Your dog may see his family members as strangers once they don their Halloween costumes. Before the kids put them on, allow your dog to scent the costumes. If your costume has a mask, keep the mask off when you are with your dog because dogs can become confused when they can’t see our faces.

5. Check your dog’s ID tag. Be sure identification tags are secure on your dog’s collar-just in case.

6. Keep candy away from your dog. Many candies-especially chocolate-are toxic to dogs. The severity of the toxicity depends greatly on factors such as breed, age, size, and how much candy was ingested. Problems may range from a mild upset tummy to vomiting and diarrhea, or even death. If you have any concerns at all, consult with a veterinarian immediately. If you want to keep your dog safe, make certain that sweets, including their wrappers, are kept well away from your dog.

7. Protect dogs from candles and pumpkins. Excited or agitated dogs can easily knock over a lit candle or pumpkin. Be sure those items are away from your dog’s reach, or consider a battery-powered candle that does not burn

8. Think twice about dressing your dog in a costume. While some dogs might enjoy being dressed up, many don’t. Experiment first to see if your dog likes being in a costume. If so, fine-he’ll most likely enjoy himself and the extra attention it brings. However, if he shows any resistance, don’t do it. Dogs feel enough stress around Halloween without also having to endure the discomfort and peculiarity of wearing a strange costume.

9. Be prepared. If you take your dog with you while trick-or-treating, be prepared at all times. Do not let your dog approach the door of a house, and stay clear of possible gags or gangs of goblins who will gather at the door. Dogs do not understand that the person jumping out at you will not hurt you; they often think they can only help you by acting aggressively. Neither children nor adults in costumes should approach a dog without the owner’s consent.

10. Have fun but think of your dog’s safety. Finally, if you want your dog to be included in Halloween festivities, think about his safety much as you would the safety of a small child. Your dog does not understand Halloween, so he needs you to provide the guidance and safety that you always do.

Thanks to Bark Buster’s for sharing those great tips.

* Pumpkin pic is Dogster member Dagobert and Little Red Riding Hood is Bianca.

The cold weather is approaching and Sunbear Squad offers up a great tip of the week to keep in mind.

Watch Tip Week of Oct. 18:

Watch for protruding backbones, ribs, and hips before winter coats hide these signs of neglect. Look at every pet you pass.

If you’re not sure what a starving dog looks like or what you need to look out for, read this story sent over from Anna Nirva, the founder of  Sunbear Squad.

What does a starving dog look like?

THIS DOG WAS SAVED; HE RECOVERED AND WAS ADOPTED.

This dog was considered to be “emaciated” dog, level 5, in life-threatening condition. He was immediately rescued by law enforcement and the county humane society. Notice the protruding backbone, and ribs, and the jutting hip as revealed by dark shadows. Note that the collar is hanging from the neck, where it formerly fitted. This photo also indicates signs of neglect: feces on the ground and the short chain wound around the post.

You can read the story of this dog’s rescue by clicking here, the picture is graphic. He was one of the “Lucky 13″ from Vernon County, WI, and 4 dogs were found dead.

Thanks to our friends at Sunbear Squad for another great tip this week.

Watch Tip Week of Oct. 11:

Watch and listen for signs of torture of cats or dogs by misguided teenage boys (or girls) with nothing to do after school, or gang initiations that require animal abuse.

Every week you receive a Watch Tip to help you be more aware of risks to companion animals in your own neighborhood or region. Take some time today to review the overview of risk factors on Sunbear Squad, so you can be more confident and ready to act to help an animal in distress.

They have no voice. Be that voice. You may save a life.

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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.

It’s a fact: a fire could destroy your home at any time, particularly by misuse of space heaters in the winter, or by a natural fire in the summer. Most families have evacuation plans that include their pets. If you haven’t created a plan, consider making one today.

To start, check the batteries in your smoke alarms to be sure they’re working. Then designate one human family member who would be responsible for each pet. Other steps to keep your pets safe in case of fire include:

Alert Firefighters To Indoor Pets:

Place a Pet Rescue Fire Safety Sticker in your window. These stickers, which are available free from most pet stores and non-profit humane organizations, stick to your front window and tell firefighters to “Please rescue my pets!” They let fire crews know that you have pets inside the house, how many, and what kind.

Since owners are often not home when fires occur, these stickers have saved many pet lives.  Go to the ASPCA site to request a free pet safety pack.

Keep Outdoor Pets Away From Danger:

Keep pet houses or pens away from brushy areas. Fire departments will warn you to clear dry brush away from your home, but that also applies to your pets.

If you have a doghouse or a pen for a rabbit, pot-bellied pig or other outdoor pet, make sure it’s at least 20 feet away from any brush that could possibly become fuel in a fire. That way, you’ll have time to go out and rescue your pet if such a fire does threaten your property.

Always evacuate your pets on a leash or in a pet carrier. Pets will panic at the smell of smoke, and may bolt when outside, making them impossible to find.

Locate Your Pet’s Hideaway:

Keep Your Pets Safe From FireKnow their hiding places. Remember, during a fire, your pets will be terrified, and they’ll most likely run to in the places they feel most safe. If you don’t know their common hiding places, you could run out of time to save your friend.

Find all the best cubbyholes and niches, map them out on a piece of paper, and include the map in your fire escape plan.

Have An Emergency Kit On Hand:

Prepare an emergency kit for each pet. The kit should contain some of your pet’s food, his veterinary paperwork, prescription medications, if any, and photo/description of your pet. You may have to board your pet at a kennel or other facility until you get settled after a fire, and they will require proof that your pet has current vaccinations.

Secure Your Pet During Danger:

Always evacuate your pets on a leash or in a pet carrier. Just as with fireworks, pets will panic at the smell of smoke, and they may bolt when outside, making them impossible to find. Put your dog on a leash; you can carry a cat in a carrier.

Create An Open Access:

Leave an outside door open. If you must evacuate and can’t find your pet in the house, leave a door open that leads to the outside, and then call the pet’s name once you get out. With luck, he’ll hear you and head for your voice, although this works better for dogs than cats. Be prepared; he’ll be panicked. Be sure to have a designated meeting place near your home for everyone to meet so everyone will be accounted for away from the fire.

With a little planning, you can ensure that everyone on two and four legs will be safe in case there is a fire in your home. For more information about pet fire safety, visit the Humane Society.

There are no pictures with this story so I’m featuring  Tater, he’s on Dogster’s Dog Adoption & Rescue Center.

Thanks to our friends at Sunbear Squad for this week’s great tip.

Watch Tip Week of Oct. 4:

As you drive your regular routes, watch for signs of dogs tied out in fields and forests, without human habitation nearby, often without shelter. They are neglected and need help.

For those that ordered a Neighborhood Watch Kit a ‘Wallet Card’ was included. Take a few minutes to make sure that it is up to date and complete.  You can also make them for your friends and family, it’s easy, just download a wallet card form.

If you have any questions about which authority can accept animal calls, make inquiries now of the authorities so you can act in confidence.

Become a fan of Sunbear Squad on Facebook, spread the word.