Don't Let Your Dog Become a Statistic!

Each year over 10 million dogs are lost, many ending up in shelters and rescues, some not that fortunate. Follow these simple steps below to ensure that you do not loose part of your family.

• Always have up-to-date identification on your pet. If possible, have them micro-chipped to ensure their safe return even if their collar comes off
• Always use a leash when.

• Train your dog. Training can not only help teach your dog to stay at home, it teaches them to come back when called, helps create a better bond between you and your dog and regular training helps relieve anxiety.
• Spay or neuter your pet to ensure that when they do come back, they do not bring a new family with them.
• Have a family disaster plan that includes all your pets in case of emergency.

If your pet does become lost, always remember to call your local shelters to let them know and to make sure they have not been picked up. Find an animal shelter near you.

Halloween Safety Tips

Remember, Halloween can be a really frightening holiday for pets. While adults and children alike enjoy the costumes and candy, these things can actually distress or endanger a companion animal.

Nancy Peterson, HSUS companion animals issues specialist, cautions, "Dogs and cats rely on daily routine. When that routine is disrupted by lots of noise and commotion, like trick-or-treaters ringing the doorbell or lots of strangers in unusual clothes in their house, pets can become frightened or agitated. It's best to keep pets at a safe distance from the festivities."

To help people keep their pets safe at Halloween, we recommend taking these precautions:

• Keep pets safely inside, away from trick-or-treaters and other Halloween activities. This will ensure that pets won't become frightened or feel threatened at the sight of noisy costumed children. Cats, especially black ones, may be the target of pranksters. In addition, frequently opened doors provide a perfect opportunity for escape, which can go unnoticed during all of the commotion. Be sure all pets are wearing collars with ID tags in case of accidental escape.
• Keep candy out of your pet's reach. Candy can be harmful to pets and chocolate is toxic to cats, dogs, and ferrets.
• Keep pets away from decorations. Flames in jack-o-lanterns and candles can quickly singe, burn or set fire to a pet's fur. Pets can become tangled in hanging decorations like streamers and can choke on some decorations if they chew on them.
• Don't bring the family dog along for trick-or-treating. Dogs may become difficult to handle during the noise and confusion of the festivities. A lost dog or dog bite will quickly end your Halloween fun.

"Keep your pet safe in an enclosed area with a toy and soothing music," adds Peterson. "Resist the urge to include your pet in your Halloween activities, and everyone can enjoy the holiday."

Parts Reprinted with permission from The Humane Society of the United States.

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Problem Child? How a Pet Sitter & Dog Day Care can Save Your House!

We've all had one or know someone who has, that problem dog that tears everything up while you are away at work or out for a night on the town. I've personally had two, an American Eskimo that loved to tear up walls and carpet when it was storming and a Border Collie/Springer Spaniel mix that enjoyed long days digging in the yard and chewing on our deck. We tried Bitter Apple which normally works great for small problems. People suggested Vaseline and cayenne pepper which sounded harsh at first but after 4 dog door replacements we were happy to give it a shot. All ended up just being extra seasoning for our freaked out/bored babies. My wife and I talked about pet sitting & day care and checked with friends to see if anyone else had used them, normally when we did we were laughed at. Then we looked at the price and were scared. In the end, we tried it anyway. The first time we dropped them off we were leery, when we saw video of their day and took our worn out puppies home... we were true believers!

We started taking our puppies on Tuesdays and Thursdays figuring Mondays they would have had enough action from the weekend and hoping that Wednesday and Friday they would be worn out from the previous day's activities, it worked for us. It's been over a year now and we have not had to replace a dog door since. Well... except after we added a new larger dog in the family that could not fit through the other one. We've also kept a dog sitter on call just in case our dog day care is booked for the day we want to take them. This is also a great way to get energy out.

Dog Day Care has done wonders for socializing our "kids" with other "kids" and have kept them from tearing up our house when we're gone. To see if dog day care or dog sitter is right for you, just look at your best friend and think, "Wouldn't they be happier with companionship all day long? How much money are they costing me in damage? Would it be nice to sleep late? And work out what works for your budget and best friend. Visit our dog sitter or dog day care section to find someone near you.

Finding a Lost Pet

When your beloved dog or cat strays from home, it can be a traumatic experience for both of you. Here are some tips that we hope will help you find your pet.

• Contact local animal shelters and animal control agencies. File a lost pet report with every shelter within a 60-mile radius of your home and visit the nearest shelters daily, if possible. To find your local shelter go to www.pets911.com or check your phone book. If there is no shelter in your community, contact the local police department. Provide these agencies with an accurate description and a recent photograph of your pet. Notify the police if you believe your pet was stolen. More>>