April is National Adopt-A-Greyhound Month!

April is National Adopt-a-Greyhound Month!⁣
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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.⁣
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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.⁣
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Some important Greyhound facts to know: ⁣
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🐶 They need fenced-in yards and enjoy daily walks.⁣
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🐶 They require a special collar because their necks are wider than their heads. ⁣
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🐶 They must be kept leashed because they can reach top speeds in three strides. ⁣
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🐶 They can see up to half a mile away.⁣
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🐶 They were originally bred as hunting dogs.⁣
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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.⁣
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Greyhounds are vulnerable to pet suffocation, too, so make sure you pet-proof your home against any potential suffocation risks. ⁣
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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!

🐱 Today is Respect Your Cat Day!⁣⁣⁣

⁣⁣⁣It’s the perfect way for you to show your feline family members some extra love.⁣⁣⁣ This doesn’t mean just giving them attention, but also knowing how to properly take care of them.⁣⁣⁣

⁣⁣⁣Some handy tips to keep in mind:⁣⁣⁣

⁣⁣⁣🐱 Learn how to properly hold and pet your cat⁣⁣⁣

⁣⁣⁣🐱 Only scruff a cat in an emergency⁣⁣⁣

⁣⁣⁣🐱 Know how much and what to feed your cat⁣⁣⁣

⁣⁣⁣🐱 Learn when and how often to bathe your cat ⁣⁣⁣

⁣⁣⁣🐱 Learn how to trim nails properly⁣⁣⁣

⁣⁣⁣🐱 Keep your cat stimulated with toys and activities⁣⁣⁣

⁣⁣⁣🐱 Learn proper litter box training⁣⁣⁣

⁣⁣🐱Understand your cat’s body language⁣⁣⁣

⁣⁣⁣🐱 Keep appliance lids, trash cans, and container lids closed to prevent your cat from getting into them⁣⁣

⁣⁣⁣AND⁣⁣⁣

⁣⁣⁣🐱 Keep all food bags and pet food bags safely stored away from your car to prevent pet suffocation. ⁣Cats are very agile and can easily jump on high tables and counters to get food bags.⁣

⁣How will you be showing your cat some extra love today? ❤️🐱

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.⁣ 🐶🐱

🦌 Did you know suffocation is a serious problem for our wildlife?

Food bags and containers can travel into yards, beaches, forests, and more, putting deer, foxes, squirrels, birds, and other wild animals at risk for suffocation – just like the doe in this photo.

This poor deer in Kenora, Canada got into serious trouble when she got her head stuck in a plastic birdseed bag and almost suffocated. Luckily, local residents and the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry came to the deer’s aid and saved her from suffocating. No one was able to get close enough to the deer until Ministry personnel decided to sedate it in order to remove the bag. Shortly thereafter, the deer was released back into the wild.

Not every story of trapped wildlife ends so well.

So, what can you do?

✔️ Cut up your food bags before you dispose of them ⁣

⁣✔️ Never leave trash outside, no matter where you are ⁣

⁣✔️ Pack any food you take outside of the home in plastic containers rather than plastic bags⁣

✔️ Cut up all string, rope, netting, fishing line, and plastic drink holders before disposing of them

✔️ If you see an animal, bird, fish, or pet in distress, please try to help them or call for help

Little changes can save the lives of many wild animals! ❤️

Photo and story courtesy of TBnewsWatch.com Staff.

🚨Are you prepared to save your dog if he starts choking?

We have all had that scare where we’ve seen our pups cough, gag, or clear their throat while chewing a dog treat, a milk bone, or a rawhide or even while playing with a ball or chew toy. Usually, it’s no problem and the dog happily continues chewing. But, what if he starts to really choke? What can you do?

Act quickly and calmly! Try to locate and clear the food or foreign object from the dog’s airway by carefully using your fingers. Use caution so you do not get accidentally bitten, and don’t force anything if you are not certain. If you can see an object in your pet’s mouth, consider using the Heimlich Maneuver. However, if you suspect your dog is seriously choking, it’s best to rush them to a vet first.

To help prevent choking, always supervise your pup when he’s playing with balls and toys and eating treats like rawhides, bully sticks, and milk bones. Don’t leave snack bags, food bags, and other objects out where they can get into trouble.

Have a first aid kit ready and learn CPR and the Heimlich Maneuver to better ensure your pet’s safety. Preparation is key!

Thank you to the Meredith Corp. and Daily Paws for the Heimlich Maneuver infographic and information. 🐶🐱

How many chip bags, snack bags, pet food bags, and other food bags do you have in your house right now? Things like:⁣

⁣✔️ Potato chips⁣

⁣✔️ Pretzels⁣

⁣✔️ Popcorn⁣

⁣✔️ Cereal⁣

⁣✔️ Shredded Cheese ⁣

⁣✔️ Peanut Butter ⁣

⁣✔️ Yogurt ⁣

⁣✔️ Pet Treats⁣

⁣All of these food bags and containers and many more can pose a life-threatening suffocation risk to your pets. And, most people have no idea!⁣ A lot of these bags are made from a strong mylar-like material (like a balloon) which helps keep snacks fresher. When a curious dog puts his head into the bag looking for leftover crumbs, the bag creates a vacuum-like seal around the dog’s neck. As he tries to breathe, the bag tightens around his neck, cutting off the oxygen. When a dog cannot remove the bag from his head, he will usually start to panic, desperately running around until he collapses and dies from asphyxiation, often losing his bowels, as well. This happens within minutes.⁣

⁣Food containers and jars can also be deadly for your pets. Cats and dogs can easily get their head stuck in one and unable to get out. ⁣Cut up all food bags and dispose of properly. Ensure containers and jars are not left open for a pet to get into. Visit our Information page to learn more on how to prevent pet suffocation. ❤️

🐶 This week is Professional Pet Sitters Week! Pet sitters are invaluable, and it’s important to recognize and thank them for their hard work and dedication to our pets. ⁣
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Do you leave your pets with a sitter? If so, you’ll want to make absolutely certain they know the risks of pet suffocation!⁣
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Educating your pet sitters will ensure that no tragic accidents happen while you’re away from your pets.⁣
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🚨 Now is a great time to chat with your pet caretakers to ensure they are aware of the dangers of pet suffocation, so you can relax and know you are leaving your precious pets in good hands. ⁣⁣⁣
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Share our Facebook page, Instagram page, and website, preventpetsuffocation.com, with them, so that they can get educated. If they bring food with them, ask them to cut up all chip bags, snack bags, pet food bags, etc. and keep bags, containers, backpacks, and purses safely out of reach of all the pets. Consider posting our latest Infographic, found on our website, to your refrigerator or bulletin board. ⁣⁣⁣
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This week, make it a goal to let every pet sitter and owner you know about the dangers of pet suffocation.⁣
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The more people we share our message with, the more pet lives we can save! ❤️

Have you ever found your cat sleeping or playing in an appliance or container?

Here’s your reminder that cats are JUST as vulnerable to pet suffocation as dogs are!⁣
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We often hear stories of dogs who have lost their lives to suffocation, but let’s not forget about our feline friends. Their agility allows them to easily jump on food counters, tables, and refrigerators where they have easier access to food bags and containers. ⁣
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Cats are also prone to hiding in enclosed and small places like bins, plastic containers, and washers and dryers. ⁣
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So, what can you do?⁣
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🐱 Be extra cautious when leaving bags on top of the fridge, in the laundry room or garage, and on countertops and shelves.⁣
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🐱 Cut up all bags and dispose of them properly.⁣
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🐱 Keep all containers tightly closed and safely out of reach of your pets.⁣
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🐱 Always close drawers and appliance lids like washers and dryers.⁣
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Cats are quick on their feet, and we have to stay on our toes! Visit the Information page on our website for more helpful tips and information. 🐱

❤️ Have you seen our Memorial Photos Page on our website?⁣⁣
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This page is where we honor the hundreds of pet lives we’ve lost due to pet suffocation. We pay tribute to all of these beautiful faces whose personal stories help spread awareness to prevent pet suffocation.⁣⁣

The Memorial Photos Page has just been updated with the latest 17 dogs and 1 cat that we have lost to pet suffocation recently. Hover over each photo to see the pet’s name and click to enlarge photo.
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Click the Memorial Photos tab on our website at www.preventpetsuffocation.com. Please send us a message to share your story. 🐶💔🐱