It’s National Mutt Day! 🐶 A special day to celebrate mixed-breed dogs around the world!
Over 3 million dogs enter shelters every year, and these often loyal and healthy pups are just waiting for a loving home to make their own. These sweet pups are sometimes overlooked, so today, we’re celebrating all mixed-breed dogs.
What can you do to help celebrate National Mutt Day?
🐶 Adopt a mixed-breed dog
🐶 Donate to an animal shelter or your favorite pet non-profit
🐶 Volunteer at an animal shelter
🐶 Help spread the word on how to prevent pet suffocation
🐶 Spread the love for mutts by sharing posts on social media or a photo of your favorite pup
If you own a mixed-breed dog, give them an extra hug today! All dogs have so much love to give, regardless of their specific breed! National Mutt Day is a Doggone Good Day! ❤️
🐶🐱 How many pet owners do you know? Probably too many to count!
But ask yourself: How many of them are actually aware of the dangers of pet suffocation? The answer is probably “Not that many!”
And that is why we have our international mission to spread awareness about the dangers of pet suffocation from chip bags, food bags, pet food bags, containers, jars, etc. Awareness is our best defense against pet suffocation – the more people that know, the more pets we can save!
Please share our social media pages on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn, TikTok, and our website, www.preventpetsuffocation.com, with your family, friends, vets, rescue groups, shelters, and fellow pet owners.
It’s quick, easy, and a simple way to save pet lives! 🐶🐱
Having a baby? Own a dog? Introducing your new baby to your special pup does not have to be stressful. It is important to get informed ahead of time, so the interactions between new babies and pets go safely and smoothly.
As the excitement of your new arrival builds, your dog may be picking up on the energy and anxiety within the home. To help ensure your pup is prepared, consider these safety tips:
🐶 Establish new habits and routines early – You may want to alter the timing of your dog’s eating, exercise, and bedtime routines to better fit in with the baby’s schedule. Introduce these several weeks before the due date, so the dog can get used to them.
🐶 Let the dog be curious – Familiarize the dog with the baby’s new clothes and toys, especially the baby’s scent. Bring home a baby blanket from the hospital to let him smell beforehand.
🐶 First Introduction – When you bring the baby home, don’t overexcite the dog. Act normally when greeting the dog. Keep the dog leashed at the first introduction. If you are calm and relaxed, your dog will be more likely to follow your lead. Take your time with letting your pup sniff and see the baby. Don’t rush into face-to-face contact. Slowly work up to it. Give the dog positive feedback.
🐶 Don’t forget to give your dog proper attention – Babies are very time-consuming, and it’s easy to forget to spend enough time with your dog. Reassuring your pup with affection, playtime, treats, and exercise will help keep him calm and secure.
🐶 Teach your baby to respect pets – Don’t let your baby or toddler pull on the pup’s coat, ears, or tail, climb on them, or hit them. Teaching children to be gentle and loving to pets early can ensure a loving relationship with animals.
Adding a new member to your family is an exciting time. There are many books, articles, and guidelines to help parents transition a new baby into a household with pets. It’s important to remember dogs can be unpredictable. Your baby’s safety comes first at all times. Get prepared by doing your research early so your baby and pup can live in harmony. 🐶
Today is National Pet Fire Safety Day! We’re here to remind you to prevent house fires and keep your pets safe!
Did you know that over 500,000 pets are affected by house fires each year? And, over 1,000 house fires annually are started by pets themselves, according to the National Fire Protection Association.
What can you do to help keep your pets safe from a fire hazard?
✔️ Avoid open flames. Blow out candles and block off access to the kitchen if your pets can reach your stove.
✔️ Keep all wires out of chewing distance – especially from kittens and puppies!
✔️ Have a pet rescue plan in place. Talk to your family about who is in charge of your pet in case of a fire and be sure to practice fire drills!
✔️ Keep your pets confined to a space near an entry/exit point when you’re out with their leashes nearby. This will help their chances of them being rescued.
✔️Notify rescuers of your pets and their favorite hiding places. Also, make sure your pets have collars with tags in case they escape on their own.
✔️Use monitored smoke detectors and check batteries regularly.
With careful planning and consideration, you can ensure your pets are safe no matter the emergency!
📷 It’s All American Pet Photo Day!
1, 2, 3 – say CHEESE! Celebrate today by sharing a photo of your furry family members with friends and family. We bet your phone is full of fun images of your favorite pets!
From dogs to cats to rabbits to fish, grab your camera and snap away!
🎉 Prevent Pet Suffocation has earned the 2023 Platinum Seal of Transparency with Candid!
Candid/GuideStar is the world’s largest source of information about nonprofit organizations. By adding information about our goals, strategies, capabilities, and vision, we are highlighting the difference we hope to make in the world to prevent pet suffocation.
Our followers and supporters, as well as over 10 million GuideStar users, can find in-depth information about our organization. Our updated information goes to over 200 charitable websites and applications that use GuideStar data, including Facebook and Network for Good. Check out our updated non-profit profile at guidestar.org!
How will you be celebrating July 4th this weekend? A barbecue? A cookout? S’mores around the campfire? Fireworks? Swimming? Delicious food, snacks, and beverages are definitely on the menu!
Yet, we still need to be vigilant with all snack bags, chip bags, marshmallow bags, hotdog buns bags, cookie bags, etc. around our pets whether inside the house or outside in the yard.
Amidst all the fun, it’s easy to miss seeing our pets gaining access to any of these bags or containers. All of those snack bags, chip bags, and other food bags can lead to pet suffocation. So, let’s plan ahead! This year, make sure you’ve taken the necessary steps to protect your pets from suffocation risks and overheating issues. Below are some tips to help protect your pets from mishaps and accidents while preoccupied with entertaining or playing.
HOLIDAY FOODS – Make sure your pet can’t ingest any holiday foods and treats like bones, grapes, onions, chocolate, xylitol, and alcoholic beverages.
FOOD BAGS – Keep all food bags like chip bags, snack bags, and plastic bags safely stored away from your pets to prevent pet suffocation. Cut up all bags and dispose of properly. With more guests and children around, it’s easy to get distracted and not notice what your pet is up to.
POOLS – Never leave your pets unsupervised around a pool, lake, or other bodies of water. Have your dog wear a flotation device when on boats. Don’t allow your dog to drink pool water which contains toxic chemicals.
SHADE – Pets can get dehydrated quickly, so if you’re spending time in the yard, at the beach, or at the pool, make sure your dogs have plenty of water and shade.
IDS – With the hustle and bustle of traveling over the weekend or celebrating with friends and family, you want to ensure your pet doesn’t escape or get lost. Make sure that your pet is microchipped or has an ID tag on his collar.
With these pet safety tips in mind, you can relax and enjoy this long holiday weekend! Together we can make sure that all pet owners are aware of the dangers of pet suffocation while enjoying this national holiday!
💔 Why is losing a dog so painful? Many of us have experienced the heartbreaking loss of a beloved dog and found ourselves overwhelmed with inconsolable grief that can last weeks and months.
This is a fresh topic for me as I unexpectedly had to say goodbye to my beautiful English Spring Spaniel, Jag, in early June. In good health at age 11, I thought I would have two or three more years with him. With a sudden onset of symptoms of a brain tumor, our time was cut short, stolen from me by an intangible thief. This photo is taken during our last hour together. Jag could make me smile through my tears. The grief is visceral. Most of us have been through it – with the profound love for a dog, eventually comes a profound loss.
According to Frank T. McAndrew, Professor of Psychology at Knox College, research shows the loss of a dog is often comparable to the loss of a loved one. He writes, “Unfortunately, there’s little in our cultural playbook – no grief rituals, no obituary, no religious service – to help us get through the loss of a pet, which can make us feel more than a bit embarrassed to show too much public grief over our dead dogs.”
Dogs provide us with such dedicated companionship that our bond with our loyal pet can be more gratifying than personal relationships. Who doesn’t daydream about playing in a pile of puppies or snuggling with our canine companions? And, dog owners are known to be typically happier than people who own no pets at all.
Things to help with the grieving process:
❤️ Validate your grief and realize it will take time to heal.
❤️ Speak to a counselor or join a grief support group.
❤️ Embrace your memories of your dog through photos, a scrapbook, or shadow box.
❤️ Have a memorial service for your pet by spreading the pup’s ashes in a special place.
❤️ Volunteer at a rescue group or shelter or foster a pet until you are ready to share your life with one again.
The loss of a dog can be devastating. Grief has no timeline or rules. Most of us will not be able to resist owning another cherished dog at some point. They are worth it!
🐶 Today is Take Your Dog to Work Day!
Whether you are working from home, remotely, or in the office, what better way to make the work day more fun than by taking your dog to work with you? It sure makes the time fly!
If you do plan to take your pup into work, here are some tips to keep in mind:
🐶 Make sure your pet is well-groomed and clean.
🐶 Puppy Proof your work environment. Keep toxic foods, poisonous plants, and all food bags like chip bags and snack bags safely out of reach of your pup.
🐶 Be prepared with your supplies. Have your pup’s snacks, food, poop bags, toys, water bowl, and leash handy.
🐶 Keep your dog with you at all times. If necessary, appoint a co-worker to watch your pup if you have to leave the area.
No matter where you’re working today, be sure to show your pup some extra love! ❤️
It’s the first official day of summer!
Looking for fun ideas on how to make sure your pup has a fantastic summer? Here are a few things to add to your calendar:
☀️ Treat them to a pup cup at your favorite local ice cream shop
☀️ Head to the pool or beach for an afternoon of swimming and relaxing in the sun
☀️ Go for a hike in the woods to get some fresh air
☀️ Schedule a puppy playdate with a loved one so your dog can socialize
Remember: Don’t forget to pack water and treats for them. And, never leave your pups in the car this summer! Dogs overheat very quickly and struggle to cool themselves down.
By being mindful of their needs, you can make sure your furry family members have an adventure-filled summer! ☀️🐶☀️