By Nancy E. Hassel, LIPetPlace.com
While we are enjoying the warm weather and summer activities – our pets may not be. One thing many people tend to forget or not even think of is pet safety and heat.
While there are many ways your pet can overheat; too much exercise in the heat of the day; squished face pets like bulldogs, pugs, Frenchies, Shihtzus who can’t breath that great to begin with – they have a hard time with the heat; and lack of access to water for your pets especially if they are outside for any length of time in this hot and humid weather.
Of course this time of year the major concern is pets left in cars. It amazes me year after year, that I still see people on a warm day leaving the windows open a crack and leaving their very furry dogs in the car – while they go into a store. According to a study done by San Francisco University, and if you haven’t seen this video of a veterinarian sitting in a hot car which shows how quickly temps rise during a heat wave.
Why not try it yourself, without your pet of course. Next time it is a beautiful 75 -80 degrees, go sit in your parked car crack the windows a bit and sit in there for 10 -15 minutes. Don’t cheat by drinking water or turning the AC on. Now imagine yourself in a fur coat without the ability to sweat. Are you hot yet?
Sometimes people think it’s ok to run into the store for 5-minutes during the summer and leave their pets in the car. But what if you get stuck in the store, there is a long line, problem at the register, etc., and there you are in the air-conditioned store while your pet is sweltering in the heat, causing heat exhaustion or worse death.
What to do if you see a pet left in the car during during the warm spring, summer and fall months:
- Call Animal Control of the town the car is located in. *Helpful tip, program the Animal Control phone #’s of all your town municipal animal shelters into your phone so you can quickly access them.
- Call the police, tell them the location, make/model color of the car, give them the license plate number. Take a photo of the car, license plate and pet inside the car.
- Stay until the authorites arrive to be sure the pet was safely evacuated from the hot car.
- Know the laws in your town, city and state. Some people may take actions into their own hands if the animal is in severe distress in the hot car and may get in trouble for bashing in the window of a car to save the pet. Some areas the laws are changing where you would not get into trouble.
Check to see if the car is running, sometimes people leave their car locked and running with the AC on, water in a bowl to run into a store for 5 minutes. It may not be ideal, but they are making the effort to make sure their pet is cool while they do their errand. This also goes for people who are traveling alone with their pets on a road trip, and may have to stop to use the rest stop.
Pet owners should also know if you are caught doing this or someone reports your car with a pet in it to the police, the police have the right to break into to your car with whatever means necessary, call animal control and have your pet seized. You may be issued a summons, arrested for animal cruelty, or more. So the next time you are running up to the supermarket on a hot day, please, please, please leave your pets at home in the AC!
by Nancy E. Hassel, LIPetPlace.com, All Photos in this article were taken by Nancy E. Hassel – Copyright Protected.
Here are 5 simple tips to help keep your pets safe and warm while enjoying the snowy weather.
1.) Protect your dogs paws. There are many pet boots and products on the market that you can put on your pet, have them wear to help them with keeping their paws from getting frost bite, chapped and sore. Also use pet friendly salt when putting salt down on your sidewalks and driveways. When you come inside, wipe your pets paws with a damp, warm clothe and check for any salt, rocks, cuts or scrap on their paws. Towel them off to ensure their fur is dry before they settle in for a nap!
2.) For cats that are indoor/outdoor cats – during the very cold months keep them inside or at the very least limit their time outside. Cats can be easily injured slipping on an icy fence, accidentally ingesting antifreeze which is toxic to cats and dogs, and they may decide to climb up into a car to keep warm. (Note: Bang on your car hood before starting your car in the winter months in case your cat or a stray cat has climbed into the engine to keep warm.) Keeping them inside is best in the winter. If they seem bored being in, go out and get interactive cat toys and have fun with them inside while the snow comes down outside.
3.) When out for a long hike with your dog in the snow, be sure they have a properly fitted dog coat on if they don’t have their own natural double coat. Bring a first aid kit for pets with you just in case. Put a coating of Mushers Secret paw wax on their paws if they’re not wearing boots. Have up-to-date ID tags on them and always bring an extra collar or leash with you – you never know when you may need while out in the elements. Keep your dog leashed and don’t let him venture out onto ANY ice. (Every year someone is on the news because they fell in trying to save or get their dog off the ice. For tips on how to train your dog to stay off the ice, click here).
4.) Check your pet from head to tail for any minor cuts or snow built up in their fur. Check the tips of their ears, tails and paws to make sure they do not have frost bite. While more pet owners may be better at checking their pets in the summer months for fleas and ticks, make sure you still thoroughly check your pet regularly in the winter. Especially after a long walk or extended time in the cold.
5.) Dogs like humans can experience a bit of cabin fever during the cold, snowed in months. If your dog is bored, check out some fun and helpful ideas here. If you’re not exercising your pets as much in the winter, make sure you are reflecting that in their diets too. Overfeeding your pet during the cold months, while they have less exercise, will easily add lbs, which you don’t want!
Sadly, many dog owners on Long Island think it is ok to leave their pets chained up outside with very little shelter to protect them and keep them warm. (Suffolk County has an anti-tethering law – dogs can’t be tied out longer than 2-hours at a time) If you see a dog left outside chained up all the time, call the police and local animal control within your municipal animal shelter – they will respond.
However, we have many wonderful organizations that work with the owners to educate them, encourage them to bring their dogs inside and also help provide staw, dog coats and blankets and light weight tie outs. You can simply help by making a monetary donation or finding out what supplies they could use. See below for a list of organizations that you can help so they can continue their outreach programs:
Almost Home LI
Break the Chain Program
Guardians of Rescue
Paws Unite People (PUP)
People Advocating for Change (PAC)
RSVP Animal Welfare & Rescue Group
Shelter Link
Unchained New York
By Nancy E. Hassel, LIPetPlace.com
Summertime, summertime, sum-sum-summertime! Summertiiimmmme! While we are enjoying the warm weather and summer activities – our pets may not be. One thing many people tend to forget or not even think of is pet safety and heat.
While there are many ways your pet can overheat; too much exercise in the heat of the day; squished face pets like bulldogs, pugs, Frenchies, Shihtzus who can’t breath that great to begin with – they have a hard time with the heat; and lack of access to water for your pets especially if they are outside for any length of time in this hot and humid weather.
Of course this time of year the major concern is pets left in cars. It amazes me year after year, that I still see people on a warm day leaving the windows open a crack and leaving their very furry dogs in the car – while they go into a store. According to a study done by San Francisco University, and if you haven’t seen this video of a veterinarian sitting in a hot car which shows how quickly temps rise during a heat wave.
Why not try it yourself, without your pet of course. Next time it is a beautiful 75 -80 degrees, go sit in your parked car crack the windows a bit and sit in there for 10 -15 minutes. Don’t cheat and drink water or put the AC on. Now imagine yourself in a fur coat without the ability to sweat. Are you hot yet?
Sometimes people think it’s ok to run into the store for 5-minutes during the summer and leave their pets in the car. But what if you get stuck in the store, there is a long line, problem at the register, etc., and there you are in the air-conditioned store while your pet is sweltering in the heat, causing heat exhaustion or worse death.
What to do if you see a pet left in the car during during the warm spring, summer and fall months:
- Call Animal Control of the town the car is located in.
- Call the police, tell them the location, make/model color of the car, give them the license plate number.
- Stay until the authorites arrive to be sure the pet was safely evacuated from the hot car.
- A great tip is to program the Animal Control (Animal shelter) phone #’s to the town and surrounding towns you live in, into your phone contacts so you can access them immediately.
Pet owners should also know if you are caught doing this or someone reports your car with a pet in it to the police, the police have the right to break into to your car with whatever means necessary, call animal control and have your pet seized. You may be issued a summons, arrested for animal cruelty, or more. So the next time you are running up to the supermarket on a hot day, please, please, please leave your pets at home in the AC!
by Nancy E. Hassel, LIPetPlace.com
It’s begging to look a lot like…bored dogs, scratchy cats and wheel spinning hampsters! Oops I meant Christmas…or the Holidays if you will. Here at LIPetPlace we are always looking for ways to keep our pets safe, happy and well cared for during the holidays, but know with the overwhelmingly busy time of year many pet owners tend to let things slide. I get it, but for safety sake for your pet, (and your wallet), there are few simple things you can do to ensure you dog, cat, ferret, hampster, parrot or bunny stay happy, healthy and out of the Vets office!
This is after all the busiest time of year that veterinarians see pet emergencies, Sparky could have ingested a holiday decoration, or Buster isn’t feeling well because too many family members gave him things he should not be eating.
Here are some tips to keep your pet out of the vet’s office and have a safe and happy holiday too!
- Pet Proof your house, Dr. Michel A. Selmer of Advanced Animal Care Center said this, “Puppies, in particular, may behave like young children, acting excited and inquisitive around lights, ornaments, candles, trees, unfamiliar foods, an influx of new people, and even a visiting pet. Especially during the holidays you must ‘pet proof’ various areas of your house. Pets must be taught off-limits, such as nibbling of ornaments on the lower branches of trees, or sampling the foods on the coffee table.”
- Instruct your guests and family members not to feed your pet as he could get really sick. This usually does the trick with people falling for puppy dog eye expressions, but really emphasize this with your guests. “Rich food and too much of it can spell gastrointestinal distress for your pet,” said Dr. Selmer, and then you end up at your vet’s office with an unexpected expense and stress worrying about your pet!
- Be mindful when you are opening presents and if your pet is getting into any of the wrapping. “When presents are opened, be aware of what you do with the ribbon, which presents a chocking danger. Mistletoe (Phoradendron species) is extremely toxic if eaten, while Poinsettia is mildly toxic. Tinsel can get caught up in the intestine and cause obstructions,” stated Dr. Selmer.
- Have a safe haven for your pet to retreat to. Whether it is their crate or their bed in a quiet room away from guests and crowds. A Kong stuffed with peanut butter (then frozen) also will help keep him busy while away from the crowd, but check on them often to make sure they are ok.
- Watch your pets behavior, if they seem different or stressed out around the holiday crowds, bring them to their safe haven – never ever as a punishment, but as a place to retreat.
- Christmas Tree as play toys! This picture says it all if you have a cat (I have was always fortunate, our cat just liked to go under the tree and hang out), but if you have a mischievous kitty who likes to climb in the tree, think about this before hanging family heirlooms, glass ornaments or sharp objects the cat could hurt himself on while scaling your Christmas tree.
- A tired dog is a good dog, exercise your dog on a long walk before the crowd comes over! I have said this before and I will say it again! This is one of the best things you can do, if you have to get up earlier or walk longer to have a happy, tired dog the day your guests are there, everyone including your pup will thank you!
Most of all enjoy your holidays, don’t forget about your pets needs too and maybe make a donation of a pet toy to your local animal shelter!
Happy Howlidays from Max!!
By Nancy E. Hassel, LIPetPlace.com
UPDATE: 10/31/2012
Many places are still offering help if you have been displaced and have no where to bring your pet. See below for an updated list of pet organizations and businesses offering assistance. They are doing a tremendous job helping families and their pets get through this storm-a big thank you to everyone lending a hand in whatever way you can!
As Hurricane Sandy is bearing down on the East Coast, many people have been evacuated and many of those people own pets. We are lucky that now, there are more and more pet friendly emergency shelters offering assistance to pet owners so they don’t ride out the storm with their pets when they should already be evacuated.
However, we know some people wait until the last minute or don’t know where they can go with their pets, so here is a comprehensive list of available places. I will be updating this as more information comes in to me. Please be safe, make sure you pet has proper ID on at all times, proper collars (so he or she can’t slip out of them), extra water, their food, extra leash, any medication they might be on, etc. Pets can get very scared during a storm like this, so please be careful!
For emergency shelters and privately owned pet businesses that are able to help, please see below:
Suffolk County:
- For Suffolk County residents go to this link to find out more information click here to find out what county government offers: Pet Friendly Shelters in Suffolk County.
- In Westhampton Beach, East End Boarding Kennel is open, fully supplied, staffed and sits almost 20 ft above sea level. There phone number is: (631) 288-7292.
- Pet Sitter Jen Devine of Devine Solutions can also help if you need it in the Huntington area. Contact her at (631) 697-5995.
- Lisa Mongiell of Innovative Pet Care Services in Stony Brook can board small animals, birds, and reptiles. Owners will need to bring enclosure, and food. Call (631) 433-6679.
- K9 Clubhouse in West Babylon can help between Sunday and Tuesday if you need to suddenly get your dog to a safe place after our business hours, don’t panic, they can assist you. Call 631-609-7518 and they will help you.
- Pamper ur Poochie Parlor in Selden is offering assistance to families that need to board their dogs. (631) 860 3093.
- Animal Rescue Fund of the Hamptons (ARF) is the official evacuation center for pets for the Town of East Hampton. Call (631) 537-0400 for more info.
- Hounds Town in Port Jefferson is open if anyone needs help there. Call Marianne Carrano Deszcz at (631) 404-5605.
- The Groomery in Stony Brook is offering assistance housing cats dogs and any birds and reptiles that people cannot bring with them. If you need help contact Melissa at (631) 751-7815.
- Jungle Bob’s Reptile World in Centereach is helping if you have reptiles or turtles, etc. They are housing pets for a $5 fee per night. Please call (631) 737-6474
Nassau County:
- Nassau County government set up a shelter for pets at Mitchel Athletic Complex, Administration Building, in Uniondale. This opened at 3pm today.
- Animal Lovers League is taking pets from residents of City of Glen Cove, NY. Call (516) 676-5913 for more info.
- Crawford Dog and Animal Hospital have spaces available at our kennel, located at 2135 Jericho Turnpike, Garden City Park, NY. Call Keith Niesenbaum, VMD at (516) 746-1566. They currently have room for 50 dogs 10-20 cats. Some small pocket pets.
- Jo-Mar Dog Grooming in Floral Park has limited space available call (516) 488-2705 or email jomargrooming@gmail.com.
- Bid-a-wee in Wantagh, 3300 Beltagh Avenue,Wantagh call(516) 785-6153.
- Last Hope Animal Shelter in Wantagh, 3300 Beltagh Avenue, can take about 6 to 8 dogs, call Linda Stuurman at (631) 664-5481.
- Also check out Pet Safe Coalition‘s website too.
- For Horse owners, you can keep updated on Facebook on the Horse Evacuations East page.
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