Learn more about our non-profit's mission and consider a donation to our cause.
Happy Earth Day! Today is an amazing reminder of how we all should work together to take care of the planet we live on. This year, the theme for Earth Day is “Planet vs. Plastics”. This theme is a call to spread awareness on the health risks of plastics to our environment, pets, wildlife, and people. Some ways to do your part:
🌎Support Our Pollinators – Bring native bees and other pollinating creatures to your yard and garden by choosing the right plants.
🌎Clean Up Plastic in Your Neighborhood or Local Park – Masks, gloves, takeout bags, plastic containers, chip bags, food bags, and other packaging are in abundant use, and, without proper disposal, many end up discarded on beaches, roads, lawns, parking lots, and parks where pets and wildlife can have easy access to them.
🌎Swap Out Your Kitchen and Household Products – Consider using biodegradable products that don’t use chemicals or plastic.
🌎Plant a Tree – Trees attract insects and pollinators, capture carbon, offer shade, benefit agriculture, and reduce the risk of disease transmission.
🌎Use Wildflowers and Native Plants – Wildflowers and indigenous species are beautiful and attract native insects that improve both pest control and pollination.
🌎Reduce, Reuse, Recycle in the Garden – Buy in bulk when you can to reduce plastic bags usage. Reuse or return old plastic pots and trays. Plant flowers and plants directly into the ground.
🌎Stop Pesticides and Chemicals in the Garden – Instead of chemicals, try companion planting, natural remedies, and attracting predators to your garden.
🌎Conserve Water – Avoid overwatering your plants. Don’t water your garden vegetables and plants from overhead, which invites fungal disease. Water at the soil level.
To make our planet a safer place for animals and humans, it’s going to take all of us. If you’re not already, start being more mindful and proactive about ways to protect our Earth. Invest in Our Planet! 🌎
Please take the survey whether you’ve lost a pet to suffocation or not! Your response will aid us in our ongoing campaign to effect change in food packaging and reduce the number of accidental pet deaths by suffocation.
Visit the link on the Home page of our website at www.preventpetsuffocation.com. We’re so grateful for each response and appreciate those who have taken the time to already respond.
Thank you to all who continue to support Prevent Pet Suffocation! ❤️
🐶🐱 Today is National Pet Day! How will you be celebrating?
It’s the perfect day to celebrate the happiness we receive from our beloved pets. Yet, this day is also dedicated to the many pets who live in shelters or have lost their owner and need love and companionship, too.
❤️ Today is an opportunity to consider adopting a rescue pet, fostering a dog or cat, or just helping out a pet owner who is having a hard time being able to walk their dog or play with their pets. These acts of kindness can bring priceless benefits to the health and welfare of these pets who need it.
National Pet Day is also an excellent time to ensure your home is safely secured for your pets.
🐶 Discard any broken or unsanitary toys, chew toys, leashes, collars, and bedding.
🐱 Ensure your pets are up to date on their vaccinations and health checks.
🐶 Check collars to ensure tags are secure and phone numbers are legible. Consider microchipping your pet.
🐱 Keep all food bags, toxins, and containers safely out of reach of your pets. Cut up all chip bags, snack bags, and pet food bags to prevent pet suffocation. Keep lids on containers when discarding.
Spread the love today and tag us in some of your latest pet photos as you enjoy National Pet Day! 📷
🐶 Did you know today is National Hug Your Dog Day? Few things are better than giving your furry family member a squeeze!
Plus, hugging your dog actually has therapeutic benefits for you and your pup.
Studies have shown that hugging pups increases oxytocin, the “cuddle hormone”, which helps to lower stress, blood pressure, heart rate, and cholesterol.
❤️ Hugging creates a sense of well-being and contentment between you and your pet. It also can help with a dog’s behavioral issues and bad habits by providing a sense of trust between you and your dog.
If your canine companion isn’t a hugger, try a belly rub, a scratch behind the ears, or gentle petting.
Our dogs deserve all the love and affection we can give, so make sure you give them an extra hug today! 🐶
🆘 Did you know that April is National Pet First Aid Awareness Month?
Though it’s always smart to take your pet to a veterinarian if they need care, a time may come when you need to give your furry family member first aid until you can make it to the vet.
🚨 Make sure you’re prepared for an emergency. Prevention is key!
Here’s what you can do this month to prepare:
🐶 Learn CPR for pets. We have a Pet CPR video posted on our website under Blue’s Blog at preventpetsuffocation.com. Consider taking a Red Cross course and downloading a Pet First Aid app on your phone.
🐱 Take the necessary steps to reduce any choking hazards, poisonous or toxic substances like xylitol and chocolate, and pet suffocation dangers like chip bags, snack bags, and pet food bags within your home.
🐶 Cut up all bags, secure all trash cans, and store chips and snacks in glass bowls or containers instead of bags.
🐱 Have a pet first aid kit fully stocked and easy to access in your home. Include your pet’s vet and medical records, backup medications, hydrogen peroxide, antibiotic ointment, gauze, scissors, medical tape, wet wipes, blanket, travel food bowls, packets of food and water, a flashlight, and an extra leash and poop bags.
🐶 Learn more about common signs of need for pet first aid including bowel obstruction, choking, suffocation, broken nails, dog or cat bites, abscesses, and poison and toxins ingestion.
Rest easy knowing you’re prepared, if need be, for your pet’s health emergency!🚨
April is National Adopt-a-Greyhound Month!
Did you know that Greyhounds make amazing pets? Jax was adopted by a friend of mine after Jax’s racing career ended. Jax is a very mellow and loving dog, has adapted very well to his new home, and has enhanced my friend’s life with his gentle and sweet personality.
According to Larry Kay, co-author of “Training the Best Dog Ever”, Greyhounds, bred for a racing lifestyle, are kept in kennels when they’re not on the racetrack, fed special high-performance diets, and race up until age five before they are considered no longer viable. Luckily, Greyhound fostering and adoption groups have stepped up and are helping these gentle giants find forever homes.
Some important Greyhound facts to know:
🐶 They need fenced-in yards and enjoy daily walks.
🐶 They require a special collar because their necks are wider than their heads.
🐶 They must be kept leashed because they can reach top speeds in three strides.
🐶 They can see up to half a mile away.
🐶 They were originally bred as hunting dogs.
It may take time for them to get used to living in a home, walking on grass, and navigating around furniture, but they quickly adapt to their new lives.
Greyhounds are vulnerable to pet suffocation, too, so make sure you pet-proof your home against any potential suffocation risks.
Thinking about adopting a retired Greyhound? Find a reputable Greyhound Rescue and Adoption organization to work with. They do careful vetting of new owners to ensure the match is a good fit. Be prepared to fall in love!
Happy Birthday to our Founder, Bonnie Harlan!
A message from Bonnie: It’s my birthday! A perfect way to kick off spring which signals rebirth, renewal, new life, and new beginnings!
If you would like to help Pip and I celebrate my birthday and the arrival of spring, please consider making a donation to our non-profit, Prevent Pet Suffocation. We want to continue to keep our loving pets, especially the new puppies and kittens spring often delivers, safe and sound from pet suffocation. You can click on the Donate button at the top of our website. Thank you! Cheers! 🐶🎉🐱
🐰 Happy Easter Weekend! Flowers are blooming, birds are singing, the weather is warming, and hope is in the air!
Whether you’re celebrating Easter with a small get-together or large gathering, it’s very important to pay attention to seasonal treats and items that can be harmful to our furry friends who are sure to be joining in on the fun.
🍭 Those delicious Easter baskets full of sweets, colored eggs, and plastic Easter grass are fun for the kids but can be a hazard for your pets.
🍫 Make sure to keep all chocolates and xylitol products like sugar-free gum and candy safely away from your pets.
🐶 Try using colored tissue instead of the plastic Easter grass as this can be a choking hazard to your dog or cat if ingested.
🌷 Seasonal flowers like lilies, daffodils, and tulips are also toxic to pets.
🐥 If your child receives a live duckling, baby chick, or bunny this year, please keep them safely away from your household pets at all times.
✂️ Make sure you cut up all candy bags and treat bags and dispose of them properly to prevent pet suffocation!
We know that pets are truly members of the family, so always keep them in mind as you celebrate and enjoy the warmer weather and nature’s beauty! ❤️
Today is National Puppy Day! A day to celebrate puppies of all breeds, shapes, and sizes!
When adding a new pup to your household, please consider the mixed breeds, mutts, rescues, and senior dogs that would all love a forever home, too.
Dogs bring so much joy, companionship, and love to our lives, it’s important to give back to these wonderful pets who just want to please their owner.
To observe National Puppy Day, consider:
🐶 Taking your pup out for an extra walk or playdate.
🐶 Adopting a special needs dog, a senior pup, or a loveable mutt.
🐶 Visiting your local animal shelter to volunteer.
🐶 Spoiling your pup with a new pet bandana, collar, leash, or chew toy.
🐶 Posting a photo of your pup on social media using the hashtag #NationalPuppyDay.
🐶 Don’t forget to puppy proof your home to keep it safe from pet suffocation risks.
Cuddle your furry best friend today as we celebrate all the amazing pups! 🐶
🚨 It’s National Animal Poison Prevention Week! 🚨
According to The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA), one-fifth of all phone calls they receive involve pets who’ve accidentally swallowed human medications. Over-the-counter medications and human prescriptions make up 20% of panicked calls from pet owners whose dog or cat has ingested some type of medication.
❌ And it’s not just medications to look out for! Foods such as grapes, raisins, onions, garlic, and chocolate can also be poisonous to your pets, as well as any foods or products that contain xylitol like sugarless gum, candy, jello, yogurt, toothpaste, shaving cream, and others. Check your garage and storage rooms for toxic substances like rat poison, antifreeze, and fertilizer.
This week make sure you’re keeping any medications, foods, and toxic products out of reach from your furry family members! Don’t throw any of these in your trash can where a pet could easily get into it. Have the number of your local Pet Poison Hotline stored in your phone in case of an emergency.
➡️ And don’t forget that all types of food bags and containers can cause pet suffocation. Keep all of those stored safely away from your pets, as well!
Small changes can save the lives of many, so take a look around your home and keep the safety of your pets in mind. 🐶🐱
