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Health & Fitness

Be A Pawtriot!

It has been a while since I blogged for Patch, but this oppressive heat wave and the fast-approaching July 4 holiday have given me pause (and “paws”) to remind people that deadly consequences often happen to pets who are not properly cared for, especially around this time of year.

First things first:

·   It should be a no-brainer to realize that if it is too hot for humans to stay outside, pets covered in fur will suffer even more.  You say your yard is shaded and you leave a bowl of water outside.  Sorry, that does not cut it.  After all, pets are part of the family.  Aren’t they?  Would you or someone you care about want to be left outside looking in?

·   You got a dog as a pet to protect your house.  Oh, it’s a “guard dog,” you say.  Trust me, an alarm system would be much more effective.  If someone wants to break into your home bad enough, the criminal will not think twice about using a weapon to harm/kill your dog.  If you show your pet love and compassion and it has indoor privileges, it will return the love and it will protect you, your family, and the house it lives in.  That’s loyalty for you!

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·   You’re worried about the pet bringing fleas inside.  Proper grooming and flea medication would resolve that issue.  The pet sheds and you don’t like fur on the floor.  There are dozens of vacuums to choose from and make clean-up quick and easy.

·   You take your dog with you when you run errands.  NEVER ever should you leave your pet (or other family member) in a vehicle, even “for just a minute.”  Outside, 78 degrees may feel comfortable to us, but inside a parked car, the temperature could rise between 100-120 degrees in just minutes.  Imagine how hot the interior of a car can get when we experience a 90-degree-day (160-degrees in less than 10 minutes).  Animals can sustain brain damage or even die from heatstroke in just 15 minutes.

Enjoy the 4th of July, but not at the expense of your pet’s well-being:

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You will be gathering with family and friends to celebrate this wonderful country we live in!  Enjoy yourselves, but be aware that your pets may be traumatized by the noise from the fireworks (and guns that might be shot off).  They may try to hide, and dogs have been known to jump through a window or dig under, chew through, or climb over fences in search of a place away from the sounds.

Here are a couple of suggestions to keep your pets safe:

- Give your pet a quiet, cool place to retreat inside the house where sounds are less intense.  Dogs and cats are sensitive to loud noises as they can be painful to their ears.  Keeping them inside will also protect them from stray fireworks or from those whose motive may be to intentionally harm pets with fireworks.  Their retreat could be a basement or an interior room, like a bathroom. Provide access to clean, cool water.

- Close all windows and turn on a radio or television to mask the sounds.  Have your pet's favorite toys and bed to comfort him.

- If you cannot avoid taking your dog to the festivities, keep your pet on a short, secure leash at all times and watch for signs of stress.  Never use a retractable leash in these situations.  Have a back-up plan should your dog become overwhelmed by the activities.

- Make certain your dog wears a collar and ID tag at all times.  For more secure identification, pet owners should consider microchipping as a permanent way to identify pets and help ensure a safe return if lost.

- Keep your veterinarian's phone number handy in case of any medical emergencies.

Year after year, especially just days prior to July 4, innocent shelter animals are put down in order to open up kennels in anticipation of the influx of “stray” pets that Animal Control will pick up and take to the shelter and keep locked up until their owners go to redeem them.  Talk about fear a pet will experience.

Last but not least:

Imagine the love you will feel if you can save the life of a homeless pet, or two!  Even if you are unable to bring a pet into your home at this time, you can show your support of the animal rescue organizations and animal shelters by spreading the message that all animals, especially those we domesticated, deserve compassion and care in exchange for their loyalty and love.

Every weekend you can find a mobile pet adoption near you.  In addition, you can visit any of the city and county animal shelters (www.laanimalservices.com, www.petfinder.com), including Best Friends in Mission Hills, during the week.  Speaking of which, if you are considering a pet, first do some research.  Learn about which type pet might best be suited for your lifestyle.  If you like a particular breed dog, for instance, find out if it will require a lot of exercise; how often does it need to be groomed; how will it do if you live in smaller quarters; are there health issues you might need to be aware of.  If you cannot afford a vet, do not get a pet.

If you think you can only train a puppy or kitten, please know that “you CAN teach an old dog new tricks.”  If you are not a jogger or do not particularly enjoy a lot of exercise, then do consider an adult dog as a companion.

I have made it my mission to try to educate about and promote pet welfare.  Whether I blog tomorrow or a year from now, I hope that you will participate in my mission and share my messages with others so that one day, in the not too distant future, people will have learned the meanings of “responsibility” and “commitment” when it comes to bringing a pet into the family.  And maybe, just maybe, innocent pets will not have to die alone in our shelters.  That would really be something to celebrate!

Here's to having a pawsitively enjoyable summer!

P.S.  I spread my messages on various items (pins, car magnets, T-shirts) that you can see (and purchase if you are so inclined) on www.pawnuts.com and www.zazzle.com/pawnuts.  Each item has a message that will stick.

 

 

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