Food Bags Can Be Deadly To Pets!

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 website to learn more on how to prevent pet suffocation. ❤️

(Infographic courtesy of Danada Pet Hospital)

Have you ever found your dog or cat sleeping or playing in an appliance or container? Though cats are prone to hiding in enclosed and small places like bins, plastic containers, and washers and dryers, some dogs like it, too! Both pets may seek out hiding places if they are frightened or nervous.

We need to watch both carefully. Cats’ agility allows them to easily jump on food counters, tables, and refrigerators where they have easier access to food bags and containers. ⁣Dogs can be very strong and easily open doors, drawers, closets, and trash cans that aren’t tightly secured.

⁣So, what can you do?⁣

⁣🐱 Be extra cautious when leaving bags on top of the fridge, in the laundry room or garage, and on countertops and shelves.⁣

⁣🐱 Cut up all bags and dispose of them properly.⁣

⁣🐱 Keep all containers tightly closed and safely out of reach of your pets.⁣

⁣🐱 Always close drawers and appliance lids like washers and dryers.⁣

⁣Our pets are smart and curious, and we have to stay on our toes! Visit the link in our bio for more helpful tips and information. 🐱

🐶 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. ⁣⁣

Do you leave your pets with a sitter? If so, you’ll want to make absolutely certain they know the risks of pet suffocation!⁣ ⁣Educating your pet sitters will ensure that no tragic accidents happen while you’re away from your pets.⁣

⁣🚨 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. ⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣Share our social media accounts with them, including Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, and our website, 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. Post our latest Infographic, found on our website, to your refrigerator or bulletin board as a great safety reminder. ⁣⁣⁣

⁣This week, make it a goal to let every pet sitter and pet owner you know about the dangers of pet suffocation.⁣ ⁣The more people we share our message with, the more pet lives we can save! ❤️

🐶 It’s National Walking the Dog Day!⁣⁣

⁣⁣Will you be taking your pet out for some fresh air and exercise?⁣⁣

⁣⁣It’s good for you and for them!⁣⁣

⁣⁣Get dressed, grab your leash, doggie bags, and some water, and enjoy some time outside with your favorite pup or pups. ☀️⁣⁣

⁣⁣Whether it’s just around the neighborhood, at a local park, or on a nearby beach, make it a point to get out with your dog today!

❤️⁣⁣ Today is National Love Your Pet Day! An entire day to show your beloved pets how much they mean to you!⁣⁣

⁣⁣⁣⁣The top reason people love their pets is because they give them unconditional love.⁣⁣

⁣⁣Looking for ways to give some of that love back to your pet pals? Some ideas to make your pet feel extra special today are:⁣⁣⁣⁣

⁣⁣⁣⁣🐶 Taking them on a long outing or walk in the park, woods, or beach.⁣⁣⁣⁣

⁣⁣⁣⁣🐱 Arranging a fun playdate with their best fur buddy. ⁣⁣⁣⁣

⁣⁣⁣⁣🐶 Buying them a new play toy, leash, collar, or cozy bed. ⁣⁣⁣⁣

⁣⁣⁣⁣🐱 Adopting a pet from a shelter or donating your time or items needed to your favorite rescue group.⁣ ⁣⁣⁣

⁣⁣⁣🐶 Practicing SAFETY first by pet-proofing your home against anything that can cause pet suffocation including cutting up all food bags, locking your trash cans, and serving all chips, snacks, and goodies in glass or plastic containers.⁣⁣⁣⁣

⁣⁣⁣⁣So, no matter if your favorite pet is a dog, cat, rabbit, bird, hamster, or horse, celebrate them today on National Love Your Pet Day by spoiling them rotten and keeping them safe from pet suffocation. ❤️

❤️ Happy Valentine’s Day from Prevent Pet Suffocation!⁣

⁣Will you be our Valentine? Today is all about love, so make sure that you’re doing all that you can to keep your furry love bugs safe.⁣⁣

Will you be spoiling your pets with love and gifts this Valentine’s Day? They always steal our hearts! ⁣⁣⁣One in four people buy Valentine’s Day gifts for their furry Valentines. Need a few ideas? Here are some safe suggestions your pet will love:⁣

⁣🐱 A treat from a local pet bakery⁣

⁣🐶 A new bed or spot to relax⁣

⁣🐱 A handful of new plush toys⁣

⁣🐶 A winter sweater⁣

⁣🐱 A new collar or leash⁣

🍫And, don’t forget these safety tips as we indulge in candy and treats on this special day! Keep any chocolates, alcohol, and xylitol products like sugar-free gum and candy safely out of reach of your pets! Cut up all candy bags and treat bags to prevent pet suffocation!🍫

⁣We hope you all have a wonderful, love-filled holiday! ❤️

This sweet young cat suffocated in January in a plastic food bin, crushing her owners. He flipped the latch trying to get to the food that was in the container, crawled in, and either it latched on its own or one of the owner’s other cats accidentally hit the latch. The owners didn’t find their cat until they arrived home from work.

Sadly, Prevent Pet Suffocation has reported several cats lost to suffocation in plastic bins for food or cat litter. Cats love to get into tight enclosed places. We remind everyone to keep all containers and appliance doors tightly closed and keep food bags and containers off high shelves that cats can easily reach by jumping.

🏈 Are you an NFL fan? If so, we’re betting you’ll tune into the NFL Conference Championship football games this weekend!

⁣As you’re getting ready for a fun weekend at home, remember to keep the safety of your pets in mind. Here’s what you can do:

⁣🐶 Serve chips and snacks in resealable plastic containers or glass bowls instead of bags ⁣

⁣🐱 Cut up all chip bags, snack bags, and other food bags⁣

⁣🐶 Keep your kitchen pantry door and trash can lids closed⁣

⁣🐱 Be extra vigilant to ensure that any other family members and guests are aware of the risks of pet suffocation and how to prevent it⁣

⁣Visit the Information page on our website for more tips!

📸: @king.georgevii

🎧 Our founder, Bonnie Harlan, was recently interviewed on the podcast “All My Children Wear Fur Coats”, hosted by Peggy Hoyt, attorney, author, Animal Advocate, and CEO/Founder of the non-profit, Animal Care Trust U.S.A.

Bonnie and Peggy discuss the mission of Prevent Pet Suffocation, how to prevent pet suffocation, and how it affects domestic pets and wildlife. In 20 short minutes, you can learn a lot about how to prevent pet suffocation and keep your dogs and cats safe.⁣ You will hear many life-saving tips to protect your beloved cats and dogs from pet suffocation. Worth a listen!⁣⁣⁣
⁣⁣⁣⁣
Episode 30 of the podcast series is available on all major podcast providers including Buzzsprout, Spotify, Apple, GooglePodcasts, iHeartRadio, Pandora, and more.
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Tune in and share with your fellow pet owners! 🐶🐱 🎧

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

Not only can food bags and containers travel into yards, beaches, forests, and more, putting deer, foxes, squirrels, birds, raccoons, and other wild animals at risk, but wildlife and fish can also get tangled in, caught in, and suffocate in all types of trash – just like this raccoon in this photo who got his head stuck in a jar on Christmas Eve.

Luckily, WILD Florida Rescue (@wildfloridarescue), a nonprofit ER service for injured and sick wildlife, and The Humane Society Caregivers on Otter Creek worked together to rescue this raccoon, remove the jar, and release him back into the wild.

Not every story 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

✔️ Crumple up all drink cans and food cans

✔️ Keep lids screwed on tightly on jars and containers

✔️ 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 from WILD Florida Rescue.