by Nancy E. Hassel, LIPetPlace.com

Being prepared for an emergency with your pet:

• Have proper ID tags on your dog/cat with your Cell phone # on it.

• Make sure if your dog is microchiped  – that the microchip registered with your proper contact information (many people don’t realize this) read our post here “Is your pet’s Microchip registered?“

• Have a copy of your pets most recent veterinary records with you and an extra copy in your car, take a photo of them store them on your phone as well.

• If you have to evacuate – Do you know where you are going? Is it pet friendly shelter or hotel? Can you bring your pets with you?

• If you are staying with family or friends and they have pets you should bring your pets crate with you, (or go out and buy one now), to be able to give your pet a safe secure place to be incase the pets don’t get along.

• Have an extra crate in the trunk of your car – if you have to leave in a moments notice.

• Gas up you car before the storm is close and get some cash so you have it just in case.

• Have a recent, clear picture of your pet printed out – put in a ziplock baggie, (what if you can’t re-charge your phone?)

• Store pertinent contact information for Emergency Vets within a 50 mile radius of your home and Animal Shelters in your phone (and have printed out) – you may not have wifi – so being able to access your contact list is helpful.

• Have a bag prepared and ready to go with all your pets needs.

• Always have an extra collar and leash in you car and in this bag.  And in your car also.

• Have a 1^st aid kit prepared and in the bag – I keep one in my car too.
• Take a Pet CPR and 1st Aid class – being prepared ahead, knowing what to do can save a pets life.  Click here to see the next class coming up on Long Island.
• Have a week’s supply or more of pet food and water (if you feed raw realize that you may have to feed kibble in place of that raw food in case you’re power goes out or if you are staying somewhere with your pet that has no refrigeration for the raw food.)  Also a great option for Raw is the freeze dried raw food that doesn’t have to be refrigerated.

• Any medication your pet is taking – make sure you have refills of that ready to go – call your veterinarian now – better to be safe than sorry. (Many vets will call a pets prescription into a local pharmacy if you can get to the vet’s office or if you don’t live close to your vet.)

• Have towels and blankets in your car – incase your pet is wet and needs to be dried off.

• Have a crate, carrier or cage easily accessible if you need to leave in a hurry – and you can throw it in your car. (Many store our crates in not so easy to get to places – attics, basements, if you have to grab it in a moments notice).

During the storm – if you don’t have to evacuate and you’re riding it out at home as many of us will be – remember that:

• Many pets can be completely freaked out during storms. They feel the Barometric pressure, they hear the wind, rain and thunder.   So you and your family have to be diligent about keeping them safe, indoors and confined.

• Make sure your doors leading outside are secured – so your pet doesn’t sneak outside.

• If you have a gated yard, be sure to tie or bungy cord that gate shut, and if you absolutely have to take your pet out during the storm (this is Very much NOT suggested!).  If you do have to take them out for potty, have a properly secured collar or harness on, (that they can’t slip out of), and leash your pet to take them outside.   Wear gloves or tie your dog to you when going outside so the leash doesn’t slip out of your hands.

• I personally would wait to take my dog Cody outside or only let him go potty a few feet from the door and if you have wee-wee pads in the house – see if your pet would use them.

This is not about being paranoid – this is about being prepared!

For Long Islander’s you can click here for a list of Animal Shelters below:

Long Island Town Municipal Shelters – where lost pets could be:

Town of Babylon Animal Shelter
51 Lamar Street
West Babylon – 11702
631-643-9270

Whether your pet is a pet actor, you need to learn about dog training, or want to network with pet professionals, 2013 is already proving to be a very busy Pet Events year!  With many events coming up – just in January alone.

First if you want to learn to grow your audience and presence on social media for your pet business or rescue group then you can tune in to a Live Free webinar on Wednesday, January 9th, 2013 at 8pm EST. Leading New New York social media consultant, Jen Lew (www.JenLew.com), will talk about proven techniques to help those that are still social media novices and help those that are more familiar with do’s and don’ts of social media. Click here for details.

The next FREE Responsible Dog Ownership Class, which features dog training and education for new, about to be and veteran dog owners is being held on Wednesday, January 16th from 6pm to 9pm.  There will be experts speaking in the class and the class is for People only, and attendees get a goody bag filled with educational materials and fun dog items just as a thank you for attending.  To RSVP and find out where the class is being held click here.

Does your Buster know how to bust a move? Ride on a bike or do other amazing pet talent acts that can entertain and audience?  Then you must head over to Doggie U K9 Academy in Bay Shore, on Friday, January 18th for their first ever Pet Talent Casting!  The owners of Doggie U, along with a former TV producer are looking for pet talent that can be part of the performers for the upcoming 2nd Annual ‘Black Tie for Paws’ taking place on Saturday, March 23, 2013.  The pet talent casting will be held for 2 hours on the night of Jan. 18th, and to reserve a spot so your spot can strut his stuff at the casting call Doggie U at (631) 968-7972 or email doggieuk9academy@aol.com for more info.

Ever wander what you would do in a pet emergency?  Do you know how to save your pet if he is choking or needs CPR? Then you are in luck, a special January Pet First Aid & CPR Class is being held by Robyn Elman certified PetTech and President of In Home Pet Services.  The class will be on Saturday, January 26, 2012 from 9:30am to 1:30pm and held at Bid-a-wee educational center in Wantagh, NY.  The cost is $85 per person and a portion of the proceeds will go to help Pet Safe Coalition – who by the way is still caring for displaced Sandy pets 9 weeks after the storm.  To register for this class or find out more information call (718) 347-PETS or go to www.InHomePetServices.com.

For many more Pet Events, be sure to sign up for the FREE weekly Pet Events Newsletter the only comprehensive and fun resource for pet events happening across Long Island through Manhattan!  Click here to sign up! (or to submit your event too!)

Rory is very excited for all the pet events coming this year!

Photo credit: Kathy Kiley (Rory’s mom!)

by Nancy E. Hassel, LIPetPlace.com

‘Doggie, Doggie are you okay?’ This mantra or ‘1-and-2-and-3-and-4-and’… may sound familiar too if you have ever taken a Pet CPR class – you know the importance of ‘Doggie, doggie are you ok,’ or the way to count when doing chest compressions on a dog that doesn’t have a heart beat.  It might sound like a scary scenario but knowing is so much better than not knowing what to do in an emergency situation with your pet or a clients pet.

Finally after two years of scheduling conflict, I was able to take Robyn Elman’s Pet CPR & First Aid class this past Saturday, November 17th at the Bidawee learning center in Wantagh.  The class was packed with pet owners, and pet professionals alike (LIPP members there too!).  While I have a lot of experience with dogs, and plenty of experience with pet first aid thanks to my Doberman Shanna who seemingly always would get a superficial cut or scrap from running around at mach 10-speed or flying through the woods chasing a bunny.  But I definitely did not know much about Pet CPR, the proper way to give dog’s chest compressions who have barrel chests vs. tapered chest dogs or anything about the breathing techniques.  I also learned a lot of additional pet first aid information.  So no matter how experienced you are as a pet owner or pet professional, you will learn a lot from this class, including saving your pets life if you had to.  I can’t implore you enough to enroll in the next class that comes your way, it is worth every penny.

Robyn observing students as they practice chest compressions

According to statistics American Animal Hospital Association, 1 in 4 pets would be saved if applying only 1 pet first aid technique in a pet emergency prior to getting the pet to a veterinarian.  That is a pretty serious statistic.  When you think about what your pets get into, what they may ingest that is not supposed to be ingested, how they can get injured just in every day life – a cut or scrap on the paw from a long walk or run, to walking on salt covered icy roads.  Wouldn’t you rather be prepared to help your pet, and be more knowledgeable about his injury when you get to the veterinarians office?

Robyn showing how to muzzle your dog

Learning how to properly muzzle your dog with a leash or piece of torn clothing is something else that was new to me.  I have sent the technique done, but never had to do it myself, and now I know what to do in case of an emergency and a pet has to be muzzled.  As Robyn said in the class, “Any dog that is already in pain or has to be moved into pain can and will bite.” Moving a dog that is injured, let’s say into your car to get to the vet, is moving a dog into pain – it is the dog’s natural instinct to protect himself so a bite can happen even if it is your own dog.  So learning how to properly muzzle a dog is vital knowledge for any dog owner.  Think about it, what if you are out on a hike with just your dog and he hurts his paw or gets injured on walk – and you are trying to help but because he is in pain, he is growling and showing his teeth.  What then do you do?  If you know how to muzzle him, you can safely muzzle him and help him by getting him to a vet without the fear or pain of getting bit by your own dog.

Robyn is the President and Founder of In Home Pet Services, Inc. (IHPS) and pet tech who has been teaching the class for years now in our area.  Not only was the class super informative, but Robyn was an excellent teacher and quite funny in many instances – so while you were learning, you might have cracked up a bit too!  At the end of the class you will get a certificate that is good for 2 years that you took and completed the class, you do have to renew every two years – as all of Robyn’s employees and franchise employees do.

To learn more about the pet first aid and cpr classes near you go to www.Pettech.net or for more information on In Home Pet Services go to www.inhomepetservices.com.

demo dogs!

Robyn intro of Pet CPR Class

Robyn helping students in the class learn the proper way to muzzle

Max demo's the muzzle, what a good boy!

by Robyn Elman, President & Founder of In Home Pet Services, Inc., Certified Pet Tech

Would you know what to do if your pet or a client’s pet was choking? Do you know the most common case of poisoning veterinarians are seeing right now? Would you know the steps to save your pets life if he or she was hit by a car? Taking a Pet First Aid & CPR class can teach you how to calmly and confidently deal with any of these situations and other pet emergencies.

According to the American Animal Hospital Association 1 out of every 4 more pets would have survived if only ONE Pet First Aid Technique was applied prior to receiving emergency veterinary care. While taking a Pet First Aid & CPR class is vital for anyone who owns a pet, it is essential for anyone who works with pets on a volunteer or professional basis – whether it be a shelter worker, animal rescuer, dog trainer, groomer, animal control officer, or pet sitter.

The next class offered in our area will be on Saturday, November 4th, 2012 from 9:30am to 1:30pm and is held at Bid-a-wee’s educational building in Wantagh, (3300 Beltagh Avenue  Wantagh, NY 11793), across from Last Hope Animal Shelter.  The class is a lot of fun and students will learn from lecture, demonstration, and a lot of hands on practice in the class. Upon completing the class, students will know how to handle ANY emergency that can happen with their pet or a pet in their care, and also receive a 2-year certificate, emergency muzzle, full manual, and more.  This class is perfect for every day pet owners and pet professionals that work with animals on a regular basis. Register online at In Home Pet Services, Inc. or on the In Home Pet Services facebook page. The cost of the class is $85 per person and proceeds will be donated to Pet Safe Coalition – a non-profit group that teaches emergency preparedness and works with local government in setting up shelters for pets displaced in natural disasters.  Many pet accidents and emergencies happen during the holiday season, and this is the last class in our area for the year, being prepared for any pet emergency may just help you save a pet’s life!

Recent News 12 Video on Pet First Aid & CPR

by Nancy E. Hassel, LIPetPlace.com

On Monday, April 9th, after a busy morning of client meetings and errands, I was driving to my office on Sunrise Highway near Islip heading East and I saw a lot of smoke in the distance.  I said to myself, “Wow, something is seriously on fire!”   And within the hour I learned that there was a big and growing brush fire in Manorville, NY.  Didn’t think that much of it at first other than it reminded me of the Pine Barrens fire in the 90’s.  A few minutes after learning of the fire, I saw a post on Facebook by a Long Island Equine Disaster Preparedness, (which was originally created during hurricane Irene by a horse owner on LI), that there were over 200 horses needed to be evacuated and the call for help was very urgent.  Being someone who has been riding horses my entire life, I was immediately sick to my stomach at the thought of spooked horses near a fire.

Horses being lead out of Fire zone. Photo Credit: Newsday/John Paraskevas

So I re-posted the original post on both my personal and business Facebook pages to see if any of my horsey set connections could help.  I also called a few of the phone #’s  on that were posted to see if I could get updates and spoke with Christine Distefano from Amaryllis Horse Equine Rescue to get any updates.  The response from both dog/cat and horse people was amazing of everyone wanting to help and people that were already on their way to help.

On the ground reports of it being chaos and people having to walk in and walk horses out were coming in from a few different places.  But an army of people were there to help with horse trailers and had places to bring the horses – posts were coming in from all over LI of people offering up stalls and stables.  It is a wonderful and amazing thing that all the horses and their owners made it out safely.  We also had a group of Long Island Pet Professional members from all over LI ready to help as reports that Kent Animal Shelter may have to evacuate their 110 animals were being posted, but thankfully they ended up not having to evacuate.  (Big thanks to everyone who offered help!)

But the question remains in my mind, are you ready in case of an emergency with your pet?  Whether it is a dog, cat, horse, bird, or reptile, do you have a plan of action, back up plan?  Unfortunately in disasters like this is when we realize just how important a plan is.  Just something as simple as having your dog’s or cat’s ID tags up to date, extra set of collars and leashes readily available, and of course pet medical records and proof of vaccinations – seriously you can scan onto your Smart Phone or ipad these days.  But I would suggest having a hard set of copies in your car glove compartment.

Other important things you should consider when having an evacuation plan are to have a contact near your home – that if you can’t get there in time they can.

• Contact information for your pet’s veterinarian
• Recent Photo of your pet
• Water, food and containers
• Leash/muzzle/harness
• Any Medications for your pet and/or list of them
• Pet carrier or cage
• Kitty Litter & container for cats
• Also put your veterinarian phone # into your phone
• Sign or decal on your windows alerting firemen how many pets and what type may be in your home
• First Aid Kit for pets in your car at all times – in case your pet gets injured and you can’t get him or her to the vet right away

Remember too, that your pet may act differently during an emergency, so make sure their collar and/or harness is on correctly so the don’t slip out of the collar and run away.  Have a family meeting to discuss a plan of action for any emergency and be sure to include all pets in that plan so everyone knows what to do, where to meet during emergency etc.  Suffolk County residents please know that emergency shelters are often pet friendly – they work with animal organizations to ensure you leave your home With your pet and will help keep your pet safe.  More information on this can be found here.

Thank you to all our volunteer firefighters, police and rescue for doing what you do! Crossing fingers and paws that this fire will be out in a day or so.  A big thanks to Fetch Doggies, SuperPaws, Sit, Stay and Play (sitstayplaydogs@yahoo.com),  Iguana Party,  East End Boarding Kennel, Pre-K-Nine Training (PreKnineTraining@aol.com), Pet Peeves Dog Training, ArtCasso for contacting me to offer help if anyone needed it, I was just one of many messengers getting the word out.  And if I forgot anyone thank you too.

Horse being lead to safety. Newsday Photo Credit: Photo Credit: John Roca