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Thankful for Our Animal Friends!
Each and every day, our pets provide us with companionship and unconditional love for which we can be most thankful. As we gather with family and friends this holiday season, tables filled with food and hearts full of love, it’s tempting to allow our pets to enjoy Thanksgiving feast leftovers. Be sure to read these important tips about ways to keep your pets safe, healthy, and happy this Thanksgiving:
Some highlights from the ASPCA Thanksgiving Safety Tips list include:
- be sure only to offer boneless, well-cooked turkey bits to your pets
- don’t allow your pet to eat raw bread dough
- feeding your pet too much table food can cause intestinal troubles
North Shore Animal League America shares these bits of advice for pet owners:
- avoid feeding pets fatty foods
- onions can be harmful to the circulatory systems of dogs and cats
- ensure your pets continue to get regular exercise throughout the busy holiday season!
- cats and dogs should not eat grapes or raisins
- make sure your pets have a safe retreat to relax when the house is filled with family members and the bustle of holiday activities
Animal Planet recommends these top 5 Thanksgiving treats for pets:
- Fruits & veggies
- Bones (made for dogs) and chews
- Skinless, boneless, well-cooked turkey
- Biscuits and pet treats
- Toys
Finally, read the recommendations shared from Pet MD regarding sharing Thanksgiving leftovers with your pets.
What are you and your pets thankful for this holiday season?
September is National Preparedness Month
September 2013 marks the tenth National Preparedness Month, sponsored by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). This month is designed to raise public awareness about the need to make preparedness a part of our daily lives.
FEMA’s National Preparedness Community offers a wealth of resources. Check out the resources for Pet Owners as well as the National Preparedness Month toolkit for community groups organizing preparedness events.
The American Red Cross helps families create a Family Game Plan and has partnered with Disney to share this Disaster Preparedness Activity Book for children. Check out this first part in a series of videos to help families prepare:
The CDC’s collection of Emergency Preparedness and Response includes information about how to create a Family Disaster Plan and a step-by-step guide for how to protect you and your loved ones in times of disaster.
And, to help protect our furry friends, read ASCPA Expert Tips: Keeping Pets Safe and Calm During Disasters.
Being proactive can help protect your family, pets, and home in times of disaster. Now is the time to prepare!
Why Rescue?
If you are considering welcoming a pet into your family, it’s so important that you consider rescuing and adopting a pet from your local animal shelter or rescue group.
Why adopt? The Humane Society of the United States shares these top five reasons to “adopt, don’t shop.”
- You’ll save a life.
- You’ll get a healthy pet.
- You’ll save money.
- You’ll feel better.
- You won’t be supporting puppy mills and pet stores.
There are many rescue groups that offer their services to help place animals in need. How do you know if the group you’re dealing with is a reputable one? Look for groups that are attentive to your needs, answer your questions, are committed to the welfare of the animals, show attention to detail, and spay/neuter the animals.
Pets bring such joy to our lives! Animals in need of rescue deserve our love and devotion.
The National Mill Dog Rescue created this touching video portraying The Rescuer’s Creed. This creed exemplifies what it means to be a rescuer, and how your willingness to adopt an animal in need can change lives forever!
Video shared via Life with Dogs
Upcoming Dog Events in Pennsylvania
Are you looking for fun activities for you and your dogs? Look no further than the Bring Fido website, where you can browse by location and search for events of interest! This site also offers many resources about traveling with your beloved canine companions. You can follow Bring Fido on Twitter, too.
Here are just a few upcoming events in Pennsylvania. Mark your calendars!
The Bruiser Memorial 5K and Sarge Fun Walk with Your Dog, September 7, 2013 (Allentown, PA) – benefits National Canine Cancer Foundation
Humane Society of Berks County Walk for the Animals and Walktoberfest, September 14, 2013 (Maple Grove Raceway) -a walk and afternoon of live music, contests, prizes and activities
Dogs & Storks, September 16, 2013 (Monroeville, PA) – an event to help expectant and new parents and dogs acclimate to a new baby in the family
Pottstown Pet Fair, September 21, 2013 (Pottstown, PA) – free event for local pet owners, vendors, pet rescues, veterinarians, dollar dog walk, and more!
Barctoberfest 2013, September 28, 2013 (Boyertown, PA) – an afternoon of fun at the Boyertown Community Park with pet vendors, rescue groups, and more!
WoofStock, September 29, 2013 (Harrisburg, PA) – a huge event to raise awareness about pet adoption, featuring live entertainment, contests, vendors, and more!
Barktoberfest, October 19, 2013 (Macungie, PA) – pet parade, costume contest, trick contests, kiddy korners, and more!
Enjoy adventuring with your pet this season!
Protect your pets this flea and tick season!
Yesterday one of our Brave Tide ambassadors, Chase the lovable Lab, visited the vet for his annual check-up, where we learned that this year’s flea and tick season is developing into one of the worst in recent years due to warm temperatures emerging earlier this spring.
What can you do to prevent flea and tick infections in your pets?
- Talk to your veterinarian about being proactive through the use of preventative medications. Be sure your pet’s medication is appropriate for its weight and species. Be consistent in applying the medication as prescribed.
- Ensure your pets are well groomed, and check their bodies for ticks and fleas after spending time outdoors.
- Keep your pets and family members out of long grass and areas where wild animals may spread fleas and ticks, and take measures to keep rodents and other wildlife from entering your family’s space.
- Consult the experts if you believe your home has been infested so steps can be taken to properly eradicate the pests.
Flea season is influenced by weather conditions. You can check out your local region’s predicted flea conditions by using this tool from the Weather Channel.
Here are additional resources for you to become more informed about ways to protect your pets, home, and family from these nasty critters:
It’s Flea Season Again. Are You Ready for the Battle?
How to Get Rid of Fleas and Ticks
Keeping Your Pets Flea-Free
Photo Credit: Lindsay Schroeder
Microchipping to Help Protect Your Pet!
How will your pet be identified if he ever strays from home and gets lost? Collars and tags can easily become displaced when a dog is on the move, therefore it’s important to take steps to ensure important owner contact information can be found if your dog or other pet becomes lost. If the lost animals are found and owners cannot be reached, these precious pets eventually end up in animal shelters. Unfortunately, only a small percentage of the animals reported lost are ever reunited with their owners.
Microchipping is one way to ensure your pet can be identified when he is found. Microchips are the size of a grain of rice. They are implanted by a veterinarian in a simple procedure that does not require anesthesia. Microchip costs vary by practice, but most average around $50. Microchips aren’t just for dogs- cats, horses, and most other mammals can be microchipped.
It’s important to realize that microchips work when the lost pet is taken to a veterinarian’s office or shelter so the chip can be scanned. Its registration number is then located in the company’s database where the owner’s contact information is found. It’s very important to ensure your microchip registration information is accurate and up-to-date!
Contact your vet for more information about microchips and the companies used in your area, and don’t forget, microchipping is just one way to help keep your pet safe. Identification tags are a must!
Here are some additional resources on the benefits of microchipping your pets:
Should you microchip your dog? from Cesar Milan
Microchipping your dog or cat from WebMD
What are the advantages of microchips? from Petfinder
Identifying lost pets with microchips from The Humane Society
Hundreds of animals in need of adoption!
Nearly one thousand animals have been surrendered to Animal Care & Control of Philadelphia in recent weeks and are in need of adoption! Check out this NBC10 news story to learn more:
No matter what the reason these animals are turned in by their former families, they are in great need of our help. Adopt today and spread the word!
Adoption prices include:
- Adult cats- $10
- Kittens – $30
- Older cats (5+ years) – Free!
- Puppies (<6 months) – $40
- Pen Pal Dogs – $20
- Benefactor Dogs – $250
There are even deals on cats on “feline Fridays”!
Visit ACCT Philly’s website to learn more about this great organization and how you can support animals in need. Additional ACCT contact information:
Animal Care & Control Team of Philadelphia
111 W. Hunting Park Avenue
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 19140 (map)
(267) 385-3800 | phone
(267) 385-3889 | fax
info@acctphilly.org
Donate Blood and Save Lives
One of the ways we can help others in need is to donate blood. Healthy blood is needed not only to help treat victims of emergencies and disasters, but for the thousands of people in need of blood on a daily basis.
Giving blood is easy. First, determine if you’re eligible to donate. The American Red Cross lists their eligibility requirements here, and the Miller-Keystone Blood Center posts their eligibility criteria here.
Next, find a blood donation center in your area. The Miller-Keystone Blood Center serves Berks, Bucks, Carbon, Chester, Lehigh, Luzerne, Montgomery, Northampton, Philadelphia and Schuylkill counties in Pennsylvania, and Hunterdon and Warren counties in New Jersey. Click here to find directions to their locations. This Community Blood Drive locator will help you find blood drives in your local area.
The American Red Cross website allows you to search for donation centers and blood drives near you. Click here to make an appointment to donate today!
You may have some questions about blood donation. Read the American Red Cross FAQs and the FAQs at the Miller-Keystone Blood Bank to learn more. Also, watch this video from the American Red Cross. We hope you will consider giving blood and saving lives today!
Summer Safety!
The temperatures are warming up here at Brave Tide headquarters, and it’s time for everyone to make sure they’re prepared to provide for their pets’ safety during the warm summer months ahead.
Here are some great resources to check out to help best prepare for fun in the sun with your pets this summer!
Summer Travel Safety Tips for Pet Owners
MSPCA Hot Weather Tips/Summer Safety for Pets
Reader’s Digest Summer Safety Tips for Dogs
American Kennel Club Summer Safety Tips
Summer Safety Tips for Pets from Pawnation
Summer Travel Safety Tips for Pets from The Huffington Post
Infographic resources to read and share!
From the Counter Surfer
From Quik Shade Pets
Featured image source from the MSCPA website
D5 Creation
