Don't Forget Us

It has been a week since Hurricane Florence made so many people have to run away from their homes.  We are so sad seeing that some peoples left their pets behind.  Thankfully there are other peoples who went in and saved them.

We have talked before about having a Pet Emergency Evacuation Plan.  It’s not super easy but with planning it’s not so hard to take dogs and cats and birds in your car and drive to safety.  We talk about making sure you have enough food and water and other things your pet will need but what do you do about horses or other farm animals?

Not everyone who has a horse or cows have trailers and not many horses will fit in the back seat of a car.  And where would you put all the hay and stuff?

 That doesn’t mean you should just leave them behind.  There are many things you can do to make sure they are safe too.

What to do depends on what the emergency is.  There are “emergencies” that don’t mean you have to leave your house but are still dangerous.  At these times you need to know if your animals are safer in a barn or out in a field.  But, if it is not safe for you to stay, it isn’t safe for your animals either.

The Humane Society website has lots and lots of information about what to do in the different kinds of emergencies.  If you have a large animal or know someone who does, please share the information with them.  No one wants to see their animals hurt but may not know what to do.   Knowing what to do ahead of time can avoid needless suffering.

We hope you never have an emergency evacuation but please take a minute to make sure you know how to protect your pets if you do.

Stay safe,

Zeva

P.S. Blatant self-promotion.  For the bestest pet gift baskets in the universe check out pawpalsboutique.com

Running Free, Not Me!

Did you know that a long time ago, when Mom was a girl, family dogs stayed outside all the time and ran free around town? I bet it would be fun to run around town and visit other dogs but it must have been very dangerous living back then.

Today most people let their dogs stay in the house and don’t let them run free when they are outside. I know that some adoption agencies won’t let a dog get adopted unless the house has a fenced yard. Fenced yards help keep pets safe. Fences keep dogs from running into the road where cars are and help to keep them from getting stolen. Today dogs that are running free around town can get picked up by the Police.

Pets that run free, especially cats and little dogs, are targets for undomesticated animals like foxes and coyotes. Porcupines and skunks many not eat you but they sure can make your life miserable. Even tangling with a squirrel or snake can mean a trip to the Vet. A neighborhood cat was almost taken by an eagle. Good thing her Mom heard her screaming and was able to rescue her. She is going to be okay but she did have to go to the emergency Vet to get stitches and shots.

Fences can be made from lots of things like wood or vinyl. There are even fences that are invisible!

DixieLee and I have a nice fenced in area. It is big enough for us to have good races and play fights in. It’s made out of chain link. DixieLee is a good jumper but the fence is high enough so she can’t jump over it and she’s not big on climbing over it like some dogs would be.

Dogs have been known to climb on top of dog houses or wood piles and jump over their fences from there. Some dogs prefer to go under their fences.

DixieLee almost dug her way out from under our fence. I don’t think she started out thinking of tunneling her way out, it’s just that she likes to dig holes and a couple of the holes happened to be near the fence. Some dog fences have a border of metal netting that helps keep a dog from digging their way out. Another way to keep a dog from digging under is to make sure that the fence goes at least 6 inches under the ground.

We get to go in our pen most any time we want but only when Mom or Dad is home. They don’t need to be outside with us but they want to be able to keep an eye on us. They know that DixieLee can get into trouble without even trying and escaping from the yard would be big trouble.

When we first got our new fence she tried to squeeze between the end of the fence and the house. Dad had to put an extra post in to fill the gap.  Like I said she doesn't look for trouble but it does seem to find her.

It’s a beautiful Spring day in Northern New Hampshire so I think I stop now and go outside in my pen and enjoy some sunshine and fresh air.

Love,

Zeva

P.S. Blatant self-promotion. To see the bestest pet gift baskets in the universe, check out pawpalsboutique.com

Dogs Against Fireworks

July 4^th (Independence Day) is a big holiday for humans in the United States.  They get together and they have picnics, which means the Dads cook on the grill and everyone eats outside.  Then, when it gets dark, they like to have fireworks.

 Fireworks are an important part of the Independence Day celebration.  Even the old guys who signed the Declaration of Independence said the day should be celebrated with bells and bonfires and the Congress of Philadelphia said there should be 13 fireworks to represent the 13 colonies/states.

 Fireworks are big explosions of color in the sky which I might like if it weren’t for the noise. Fireworks are very, very loud.  Human have little ears that are close to their heads.  Dogs have big ears so we hear things ten times louder than you do.  That would make fireworks very, very loud times ten.

 I read a lot and so I know all about 4^th of July and fireworks but most dogs don’t so imagine, hanging out at home, catching a little nap after a nice day of begging for treats at the picnic and all of a sudden, the world explodes!  Whoa!  Next thing you know, Spot and Fluffy are 20 miles from home and still running.

 Here are some things humans can do to help pet not be scared when there are fireworks.

 1.  First thing is to know when there are going to be fireworks.  Lots of towns have big fireworks shows where everyone goes to the park and watches.  LEAVE YOUR DOG AT HOME!  Check for fireworks in all towns near you because, remember, dogs can hear things happening much farther away than you can.

 2.  Make sure your pet has their tags on and that their microchips are up to date.  That way, if they do run away, it will be easier for them to find someone to help them get back home.

 3.  Being in the house will make your pet feel safer.

 You can make it even better by keeping the lights on (not only humans are afraid of the dark).  Closing curtains helps with the sound and with the flashing lights.  When I’m scared I go in my crate and close my eyes.  DixieLee’s crate is a wire one so Mom puts a blanket over the top and two sides.  She keeps the front open so DixieLee can get air.

 If your pet doesn’t have a crate, keep them in one room.  If they get really scared, they will want to run and could hurt themselves running and jumping from room to room trying to get away from the noise.

 Make sure they have water.  Drinking water can help keep calm.

 Turn on some soothing music or the tv.  Having a little noise will make the house more “normal”.

 4.  If you are home with your pet, don’t get crazy yourself.  If we want to cuddle, hey, cuddling is good, but if we don’t, please don’t force.  Remember we are scared and scared pets will scratch and bite even if we don’t mean to.

 If you set up a nice room for us but we prefer being under the bed, let us stay under the bed.  We know what makes us feel safe even if we can’t tell you.

 5. If you know your pet is really scared of fireworks, talk to his/her vet.  They may be able to give them something to help keep them calm.  I prefer something herbal but that’s up to you.  My friends tell me Thunder Shirts work too.

 6.  If you had fireworks at your house, check the yard the next day.  The firework’s casing and sparkler sticks don’t make the best toys.   

 Knowing your pet is safe will make celebrating Independence Day much more fun for you.

 Your friend,

 

Zeva

 

 P.S. Please check out my new Facebook page at Laurel Mountain Basket Company Pet Division where you’ll find lots of fun and interest pet posts.  Like us while you’re there.  Don’t make me beg!

Winterizing your Pets

Winter is on the way and Mom and Dad are getting ready.   The oil man came with his big truck and put oil in our tank and another man is coming to clean the furnace so we will have a nice warm house when it gets cold outside.  We have the storm windows in place and the snow blower has new spark plugs and clean fuel.

It gets very cold in New England and cold weather can be hard on pets so Mom and Dad make sure Dixie and I are safe and can enjoy the winter months.  Winter is especially hard on puppies and seniors so if you are a puppy or a senior, or if you have a medical condition like diabetes, you need to limit the time you spend out of doors.  I know it’s fun to play in the snow but you can get tired really easy, so be careful.

Dogs with short hair also need to be careful and not stay outside too long.  Dixie is a mix of short hair breeds and she has never seen snow so Mom is going to buy her a coat or sweater to wear when she goes out.  This should be fun to see since Dixie doesn’t even like to wear a collar.  Hee, hee.

When playing or exercising outside we need to be careful that the snow doesn’t get in between our toes and turn to ice.  Make sure your humans check your feet when you come inside and if there is any ice, make sure they make it go away.  Some dogs wear boots to keep their feet dry.

Speaking of ice, if you live near a pond or any kind of water, do not go out on the ice.  It can break and you could fall in and get died. 

People don’t like to have ice on their stairs or sidewalks so they put down this ice melting stuff.  That ice melting stuff is dangerous if dogs or cats lick it.   If you get it on your paws, don’t lick it off.  Wait until you are back in the house and let your human get if off with a moist cloth.  There is ice melting stuff that is especially made for households with pets so make sure your humans buy that kind.

Another thing that can make a pet sick or died is called Antifreeze.  Antifreeze is something that people put into their cars so the car works in the winter.  They tell me that Antifreeze is sweet and tastes good but it has a poison called Propylene Glycol in it which is very, very bad.  People can buy Antifreeze without Propylene Glycol in it which is much safer.

I know most of you are house dogs but if you know any dogs that live outside, let them know that they need to be extra careful.  They should have some kind of shelter to keep them out of the wind and snow.  A dog house that is big enough to turn around in but small enough to keep their body heat in is a good choice.  The floor covered with hay or a nice blanket and a blanket over the door helps too. 

An outside dog needs extra food during the winter and having unfrozen water available is a challenge.  There are special water dishes that help keep water unfrozen.

I love coming in the house and cuddling in my warm bed after an afternoon playing in the snow.  I’m looking forward to showing Dixie how to bury her nose in the snow and chase snowballs.

What are some of you favorite things to do in the wintertime?

Your North Country friend,

Zava

 

P.S. Shameless self-promotion.  One of my favorite things about winter is Christmas!  That's when we all get presents.  Our Santa Paws is one of my favorite Christmas gift baskets

Driving Ms. Zeva

One of the things I like most about my job is that I get to go with Mom when we have errands and when we deliver our gift baskets.  I ride in the back seat of our SUV right behind Mom.  I have AC and heat so that I don’t cook in the summer or freeze in the winter.  I get left alone for minutes when Mom has to go into a store, but NEVER when it is too hot outside.  In the winter, I even have extra blankets to snuggle in if I want.

I like sitting behind Mom because I can look out the window.  I like smelling the air as we drive.  I can smell the trees and animal as we drive through the wooded areas and even the not so pleasant smells when we drive through the cities.

I like to have the window open so I can smell better.  Mom only opens it enough for me to stick my nose out of but too small for me to stick my head out of, and when I am left alone in the car, the window is only open a couple of inches.

My safety is important to my humans.  And I bet if you are reading this blog, your safety is very important to your humans too.  Obviously, a dog that gets to use to the family computer is very well taken care of.

That’s why I’m wondering why some people think they know better than our humans how to treat us.  Some places have laws that say that we have to wear seat belts.  And now they are trying to say we can’t stick our noses out of the window!  Well, technically, they are trying to say we can't stick our heads out of the window because we could be hurt.  We could get buggies in our eyes or even get smacked by a branch or something hard if our humans aren’t careful.

If we are driving through some states, like New Jersey, my Mom could have to pay the policeman $1000 because I am not wearing a seat belt!?  Yes, if our humans get our car crashed, we could be very hurt or died.  And it probably isn’t safe for a dog to sit in their humans lap while the human is driving.  But come on.

 Isn't it better to let humans know the dangers of letting their dogs stick their heads out of windows or letting them sit in their lap than to make a law?  Look at all of the information that came out this summer about not leaving dogs in the car when it's too hot.  People who didn't know about how bad it is learned and now they won't leave their dogs alone to be died.

Those people who think up these laws mean well I’m sure but why aren’t they working harder to protect those dogs that don’t have good humans taking care of them.  The dogs that are made to be in dog fights, the dogs used as bait to train fighting dogs, or the dogs kept in puppy mills.  These are the dogs that need to be rescued and protected.  Not dogs like me who ride around in nice SUV’s and live with humans who try their best to keep us safe.

I would be interested in hearing about your car riding experiences and how you feel about mandatory seat belts for dogs.

Your friend,

Zeva

P.S. Shameless self promotion.  Here is the sign that hangs on our door.  I think it says it all.  Every dog should have one of these.

Were Not Even in Kansas!

Mom has been keeping an eye on the weather forecast today.  We may be in for some stormy weather.  Just last year we had a very, very bad tornado near my house that destroyed lots of houses.  It was so bad that people are still getting their lives and homes back together.

I'm glad my mom knows what to do if we have an emergency.  I have my own emergency kit.  All of my important papers like medical records and stuff are in a box.  I'm not on any medication right now but if I were, the medication is kept in that box.  My box could hold a recent photo so my humans will have a picture to post if I get lost.  Mom has lots of photos of me in her phone so we don't need any others.  If we have to leave the house we can grab my kit very quickly and put it into my crate which goes in the car in a flash.

Other things that are in my doggy emergency kit are:
Extra leashes and collar
A blanket
Food in pop top cans or powdered food made for camping
A dish
Bottled water
and
Toys

If we have to leave our town, we have friends who live far enough away that we can stay with.  If you don't have friends like that, make sure your humans know about pet friendly shelters in your area or pet friendly hotels that are far enough away.

If we don't have to leave the house, we have a nice room that is partly under ground where we can go.  It is where Mom has her gift basket supplies so the humans will have lots of cookies and candy to eat if we need to stay in that room long.  They also have healthy human food and lots of water to drink.

Make sure you don't get left behind because you will be soooo scared that you might break out and run away and not be able to find your way home again.

It can be scary but trust your humans and you will be fine.

Your friend,
Zeva
P.S. The photo shows what happened when a micro burst hit our town a few years before I was born.  See that black line on the right?  That is where the wires burned the road.  Sacry....

Happy Birthday USA

What do you think of when I say Fourth of July celebration?  Parades?  Fireworks?  Picnics?  I love a good party but not all pets do.  Parades, with large crowds of cheering people, marching bands playing music and people throwing things from floats make some pets very anxious.  Fireworks, although pretty, are very, very loud to our sensive ears.  And picnics.  Fourth of July picnics are actually dangerous places for pets.

Lots of things that you see at a picnic may seem harmless but they are not.  Hot dogs, hamburgers, potatoe salad, chips, they're just food.  So what's wrong with food.  We dogs should only eat dog food even though we love human food.  You might think a little human food would be okay.  Well, dogs you see, we're never full.  If we can beg or steal human food we will keep going until we are really sick.

That can of beer or glass of wine you leave by the side of your chair, can be mightly tempting to a pet.  But pets should NEVER be allowed to drink any kind of alcohol.  Alcohol is so toxic to pets
.
And the other stuff we might find lying around like sunscreen, insect repellant, citronella candles or oils can cause serious harm if we eat them.  You see, we can't read and some of these things look like they would be fun to play with.  We won't know it's not good to eat until it's too late.

Fireworks and glow sticks also look like toys but are poisonous so please make sure they are well out of reach.  Like I said before, the noise from fireworks is scarey to many pets.  So many pets get scared by fireworks that the Fourth of July is the day/night when the most pets get lost.  The loud continuous noise is so scary a dog or cat might keep running.  They are so scared that they could run so far trying to get away from the noise that they can't find their way home.  They could even run into traffic and get hit.

Please help us stay safe this Fourth of July.  I have a nice crate in an air conditioned room that is a perfect place for me to spend the Fourth.  I can have my own good food and cool water with ice in it and nap the day away.  If you don't have AC, find a nice cool room and turn on a fan. If your pet is really scared, you can call your vet today and have them give you  something to help.  There are also some good holistic treatments you can get at most pet stores. 

Wishing you (and your pets) a happy and safe Fourth of July.

Your friend Zeva

P.S.  Follow me on Twitter @zevathedog or see the pet gift baskets I designed at Laurel Mountain Basket Co

Hazardous Waste Material

I love going for walks on the Manhan Rail Trail with my Mom. The Rail Trail is a beautiful paved trail near our house where people ride their bikes, roller blade or just walk with their dogs. Walking the trail is so much fun. You get to meet lots of people and dogs and there are so many interesting smells. Like I said, dogs get to walk on the trail and some days there are lots of marking to explore.
Mom doesn't mind too much when I sniff a post or tree but when I get too close to a pile of poop she reminds me with a gentle tug on my lease to keep walking. I guess in the human world dog poop is something bad.
Mom read that, according to Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) dog poop is a dangerous pollutant like toxic chemicals. If it gets into drinking water or even if humans get some on their feet when walking barefoot, it can make them sick. Really sick. They could get tummy hurts like cramps or diarrhea or really bad things like blindness, kidney disorders, intestinal illnesses. Lung, brain, liver or heart disease could happen because of some of the things that are in dog poop.
Dog poop can have worms like ringworms, whipworms and tapeworms and evil viruses like Salmonella or E Coli.
Dogs can get sick too. They can get Parvovirus, Distemper or Giardia.
So, it's very important for humans to make sure to clean up after their dogs. Mom keeps a rake and shovel handy so my pen at home is always clear of poop and when we go anywhere her pockets are filled with little poop bags. We even keep an extra box in the glove compartment of our car.
Our company promotes responsible dog ownership so we include a big box of poop bags in many of our dog gift baskets like our Dog Gone It! gift baskets .
So humans, please pick up after your dog so we can all be safe.
Your friend,
Zeva

STOP! THIEF!

We've been seeing alot of posts recently about dogs that have been stolen! Figuring out which pets were stolen or simply lost is not easy.   According to the American Kennel Club 224 dogs stolen during the first seven months of 2011, that's 49% more than the same period in 2010.  In 2008 there were 71 cases reported.  WOW!

Some people say the economy is to blame for the increase in dognapping.  They say that stolen dogs are being sold over the Internet, are being held for ransom or that because people don't have the money to get a pet from a shelter, they are stealing other people's pets.  Yorkies, Pomeranians and other small breed dogs are especially popular breeds of dognappers since they are easy to snatch and hide.

As if that's not scary enough, really, really, really bad people are stealing dogs to use as bait dogs.  Bait dogs are used to train fighting dogs.  They use dogs that are stolen from happy homes and teach other dogs to kill them. Remember the Michael Vick story?  Yeah, I belive he has been rehabilitated.

Here are some things people can do to help protect their dogs from dognappers.

1.  Don't leave your dog unattended.  It only takes a minute to untie the leash from a parking meter or post outside of your favorite coffee shop.

2.  Heatstroke is not the only bad thing that can happen to a dog left unattended in a car.  They can get stolen.

3.  Never let your dog roam free in the neighborhood.

4.  Don't leave your dog in a fenced in yard when you are not home.  It only takes a minute to open your gate and walk away with your pet.

5.  Make sure your dog ALWAYS wears a collar and they id tags. 

6.  Microchip your pet and make sure you register with the proper agency.  A microchip that is not registered is useless.

7.  Keep proof of ownership papers handy.  They can simply be the paperwork that you got with your town tags or from your vet.

8.  Keep a recent photo handy.


If your dog should go missing.  Report it immediately to the local aurhorities and shelters.   Print up fliers and post them around your neighborhood.  Post a photo and other information with on line rescue services.  And most importantly  NEVER, NEVER, NEVER give up hope.  Sometimes it takes months or even years for us to find our ways back home.  We depend on you to keepus safe and if we do get lost or stolen, to keep on looking for us.

Be safe,

Your friend,

Zeva

What If Your Human Gets Lost?

I go almost everywhere with my humans.  When we go for walks, I have to stay on my leash even if I don't like to because they don't want me to get in trouble.  We live where there are lots of woods but I have to stay in my fenced in yard. Mom says it's because she doesn't want to get lost from me.
Every day we go on FaceBook and read about dogs that got lost and we try to help them find their ways home.
According the ASPCA "Approximately 5 million to 7 million companion animals enter animal shelters nationwide every year, and approximately 3 million to 4 million are euthanized (60 percent of dogs and 70 percent of cats). Shelter intakes are about evenly divided between those animals relinquished by owners and those picked up by animal control. These are national estimates; the percentage of euthanasia may vary from state to state."
How awful!
I have a microchip.  Do you? Did you know that even if you have a microchip, it can't help you unless your humans remember to register it?  We were talking with our friend the town dog officer and he said that sometimes when he scans for a chip on a dog he has found, he finds the chip but it's not registered so he can't contact the people and let them know their dog is safe.  When you get your microchip, your humans get all kinds of paperwork that tells them how to make sure you are registered.  I know my Mom keeps the telephone number for the place I am registered at in my "important papers" box in the drawer near our telephone.
Also remember to wear all of your tags when you go out.  Your rabies vaccination tag and your town license tag can also help humans find your lost family.
I hope your humans never get lost from you but if they do, make sure you have evertything you need to get them home safely.
Your friend,
Zeva

Ghosts, Goblins and Pets, Oh My!

It's almost time for Halloween and Trick or Treating.  Just like with human kids, Halloween can be fun or really scary for us fur babies.  Here are some ways to keep pets safe and still have fun.
There is no way I am dressing up in a costume.  I will wear a pretty new halter or collar (one with precious stones would be nice), or even a silk scarf as a fashion accessory (okay, a kerchief) but NO  funny costume!  Lots of dogs, like my friend Sophie, do like to dress up.  So check with your pet first to make sure they like dressing up.  Also,  check the costume for anything that can be chewed off and choke on.
If you are staying at home and giving out the treats, please keep the candy bowl out of reach. Candy is very tempting but things in candy like xylitol (artificial sweetener) and chocolate are very dangerous.  Pumpkins aren't poisonous but they can cause tummy aches if we munch too much.  And don't forget that lighted candles inside the pumpkin are super dangerous not only for pets.
Trick or Treaters coming to the door is very exciting.  I love to bark whenever the doorbell rings and I like to race my humans to the door to see who has come to visit me.  Remember that we can't tell the difference between children in scary monster costumes and real scary monsters. So if your pet is afraid, it's okay to let him or her stay in their crate where it is safe.
An open door is an invitation to join in the fun.  Please make sure your pets have proper id just in case they decide to go out on their own on Halloween night.
Have a Safe and Happy Halloween,
Your friend
Zeva

Gourmet Dining With Zeva

Begging is not allowed at our house but human food smells so good I always hang around the kitchen.  After all, something might fall on the floor.  I have to sneak in because I'm not allowed in the kitchen when my humans are working.  They say the kitchen in a dangerous place for pets.  Stoves are hot to touch and even though trash cans smell really good, there can  be very bad things in them like sharp edged tin cans.
Also some human foods are very very bad for pets.  Everyone knows that chocolate is bad  because it contains theobromine.  Thebromine can increased heart rate, overstimulate the central nervous system and constrict arteries.
If you eat theobromine you can suffer from vomiting, diarrhea and hyper behavior.  It can even cause cardiac failure, seizures and death. Baking chocolate is the worst because it contains the highest amount of theobromine.
Your humans should have the telephone numbers of an Animal Emergency Hospital and Poison Control Center written down just in case.
Chocolate is not the only food that is bad for dogs.  Alcohol and hops (don't drink your dad's beer!), bread dough, milk, onions, tomatoes, citrus fruits, raisins, grapes, caffeine.  The list is so long it's just easier to remember to eat only good nutritious pet food.  Maybe that's why begging is not allowed in our house.
Stay safe,
Your friend,
Zeva