Although this tip mentions teenage boys, it’s a good idea to be on the lookout for anyone that might be harming animals.  Here’s another great tip from our friends at Sunbear Squad.

WATCH TIP for week of Oct. 5

Watch and listen for signs of torture of cats or dogs by misguided teenage boys with nothing to do after school.
Be A Good Samaritan For Animals

Halloween can be a lot of fun, but it can also be very scary for dogs. According to Liam Crowe, the CEO and master dog behavioral therapist of Bark Busters USA, Halloween is when they hear about more dogs dying or straying than any other holiday.

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.

* 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.

* 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.

* 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.

* 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.

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

* 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.

* 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

* 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.

* 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.

* 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.

Our friends at  Sunbear Squad remind us how important it is to be on the lookout when we’re driving.

WATCH TIP for week of Sept. 28

As you drive your regular routes, watch for stray pets along roads. Be ready to call the authorities, so they can be taken to safety.

Be A Good Samaritan For Animals

Another great, and important, tip from our friends at Sunbear Squad.

Week of Sept. 20:

Watch for spring’s puppies and kittens now banished to the back yard-do they have shelter, food and water?

Be a Good Samaritan for animals.

Finally, after a long hot summer, fall weather has arrived.  Our friends at Sunbear Squad have sent over a great reminder to keep an eye on outdoor pets because they can still overheat.

Watch Tip for the week of September 14, 2008:

Watch for pets without fresh water-warm breezy fall days cause dehydration. Pets without shade are more vulnerable to heat stroke.

Be a Good Samaritan for animals.

Thanks to our friends at Sunbear Squad for a very timely tip of the week.

WATCH TIP for week of Sept. 7

Watch for pets along rural highways that have been injured by farm machinery during the harvest season—-be prepared to act quickly.

Be A Good Samaritan To Animals

Wishing all our Dogster pals and friends at Sunbear Squad a safe and happy Labor Day.

WATCH TIP for week of Aug. 31

Watch for pets that have matted fur from stickers and burdock-they may get infections in their mouths from attempts to clean their fur because the tiny barbs become embedded in the mouth tissues.

BE A GOOD SAMARITAN FOR ANIMALS

We all know the importance of having a fire emergency evacuation plan to get your two legged family out of the house safely.  Pets are family too, and there are a few extra safety precautions you need to know about.  Thanks to Eddie for bringing this to my attention.

Here are some great tips brought to us by VPI Pet 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. You can e-mail the ASPCA at beprepared@aspca.org to request a free pet emergency sticker.

Keep Outdoor Pets Away From Danger

Keep Your Pets Safe From FireKeep 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.

As always,  thanks to our friends over at the Sunbear Squad for this tip of the week.

Watch for pets that act afraid of raised arms or vigorous movement–this may be a sign that the pet is a victim of cruelty. Look for more signs of abuse like scars or limping, and if you find any, be a Good Samaritan for animals. Call the authorities.

There have been recent posts on this subject, however, since we are in the heat of the summer  I think it’s  worth repeating.  Let’s help stop tragedies like this from happening again.

Here’s a good reminder of how important it is not to leave your dog in a hot car.  Even if you’re just doing a quick errand  the temperature can skyrocket after just a few minutes. Parking in the shade or leaving the windows cracked does little to alleviate this pressure cooker.

Magistrate Ross Clugston told the court Darragh’s $10,000 greyhound Go Bronco would have suffered “enormous pain” as he lay in the back of a station wagon for about 12 hours between January 12 and 13 this year.

According to the Humane Society “On a warm, sunny day windows collect light, trapping heat inside the vehicle, and pushing the temperature inside to dangerous levels. On an 85-degree Fahrenheit day, for example, the temperature inside a car with the windows opened slightly can reach 102 degrees within ten minutes. After 30 minutes, the temperature will reach 120 degrees. At 110 degrees, pets are in danger of heatstroke. On hot and humid days, the temperature in a car parked in direct sunlight can rise more than 30 degrees per minute, and quickly become lethal.”

Darragh left the dog in the car after colliding with a bus on Glebe Point Road as he left the Wentworth Park racing track on the evening of January 12.Mr Clugston said the dog was howling in pain when a passerby discovered him.

The witness managed to force open the car door so he could pour water over the dog, but despite veterinary intervention, Go Bronco died as a result of heat exhaustion and dehydration three days later.

Rebecca Simmons, the Outreach Communications Coordinator for the Companion Animals section of The HSUS,  states “Pets, more so than humans, are susceptible to overheating. While people can roll down windows, turn on the air conditioner or exit the vehicle when they become too hot, pets cannot. And pets are much less efficient at cooling themselves than people are.”

Terry John Darragh, 37, also was ordered to perform 150 hours of community service and was fined $1,000 at Balmain Local Court on Wednesday.

It’s a good thing I’m not a judge.