Does Your Pup Beg at the Table?

🐶 Do you often have an audience while you dine?

If you own a dog, most likely, the answer is yes! It’s hard to resist those puppy dog eyes while we eat. They can look so cute trying to get you to throw them some tidbits. 

Having your dog beg can not only be very annoying, but it can also be a safety risk for your pup. It just takes a few minutes for a dog to grab a chip bag or other food bag or container while you are distracted and find themselves at risk for pet suffocation.

Keep these handy safety tips in mind to help prevent your pets from begging while you are eating.

✔️ The easiest way to prevent your dog from begging is to not have them near you while you eat. Confine your dog to another room or put them in their crate while you eat. 

✔️ Train them to find something else to do while you are eating and to ignore you.

✔️ Teach them to go to a designated spot and stay there while you’re eating. 

✔️ Don’t give your pups table scraps as it will reinforce the begging behavior. 

✔️ Use positive reinforcement when your dog leaves people’s food alone. 

✔️ Keep all food bags and containers off the table while you eat.  

Make sure the whole family follows the same rules and boundaries so your pup doesn’t get confused. With a well-behaved dog at meal times, eating can be more relaxing for you and safer for your pups. 

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 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!

💔 Many of us have experienced the profound loss of a beloved dog and found ourselves overwhelmed with inconsolable grief that can last weeks and months.

According to Frank T. McAndrew, Professor of Psychology at Knox College, research shows the loss of a dog is, in almost every way, often comparable to the loss of a loved one. He writes, “Unfortunately, there’s little in our cultural playbook – no grief rituals, no obituary in the local newspaper, 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 unconditional love and 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 cats or no pets at all.

McAndrew writes that the psychologist Julie Axelrod has pointed out that the loss of a dog is so painful because owners aren’t just losing the pet, but a source of unconditional love or a primary companion who provides security and comfort. 

Things to help with the grieving process: 

❤️ Validate your grief and realize it will take time to heal. Practice self-care.

❤️ Speak to a counselor or join a grief support group.

❤️ Embrace your memories of your dog through photos or create 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. 

Dogs are an important part of our family. The loss of a dog can be devastating. Grief has no timeline and there are no rules for mourning. Most of us will not be able to resist owning another cherished dog at some point. They are worth it!

🐶🐱 June is National Pet Preparedness Month! Are you including your pets in your family emergency plan?⁣

Our rescue dog, Blue, (in photo above) was hit by a car around midnight on New Year’s Eve eleven years ago. He sneaked out the front door when a dinner guest went to his car to get his phone. We had to rush Blue to an ER Vet who helped save his broken leg. There was only one ER Vet nearby, and luckily, we knew where it was ahead of time.  

⁣We know that your pets are important family members, so this month, make sure you’re prepared to keep them safe no matter what happens.⁣

⁣The likelihood that you and your animals will survive an emergency such as a fire or flood, tornado, hurricane, or evacuation depends largely on emergency planning.⁣

⁣What can you do?⁣

⁣✔️ Assemble an animal emergency supply kit with food, water, a first aid kit, collar, leash, toys, and any items your pet might need on the go.⁣

⁣✔️ Develop a pet care buddy system. Plan with friends and neighbors to ensure your pet will be taken care of even if you’re not around.⁣

⁣✔️ Have a copy of your pet’s vet records and include a photo of you and your pet to show ownership in case you become separated. ⁣

⁣✔️ Create a list of places that accept pets if an emergency happens. ⁣

⁣✔️ Have an evacuation plan ready and practice with your pets. ⁣

⁣✔️ Visit ready.gov to learn more about the steps you can take to keep your pets safe!

Help keep your pets safe! Be Prepared!

This is why we remind everyone to cut up and properly dispose of all food bags, including chip bags, snack bags, cereal bags, pet food bags, etc. This cat got very lucky when a Good Samaritan saw him struggling with a chip bag over his head.

She writes: “This poor little kitty. Saw “this” as I drove down Sagepark. I thought WTH, backed up & the poor thing was panting, just lying there. I grabbed the Lay’s chip bag off of his head & he scampered away. Just sat stunned, drooling & still panting. My first thought was, who did this!? But then again, he could have just been trying to get the crumbs out & the bag got stuck on his head.”  

Stray dogs, feral cats, and all types of wildlife are vulnerable to suffocation when they find food bags people have thrown in the trash or left at beaches, parks, and campsites. Please help protect our animals by taking measures to prevent pet suffocation. It just takes a few minutes to help save an animal’s life. 

Visit our website at www.preventpetsuffocation.com for more information and safety tips.

Happy Memorial Day Weekend! 

With holiday celebrations in full swing this year, Memorial Day is known as the unofficial start to summer! It’s the perfect weekend to celebrate with family, friends, and pets with a pool party, BBQ, backyard games, or watching baseball. No matter how you celebrate, it’s important to keep your pet’s safety in mind. 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 the kick-off to summer!

“What can I actually do to prevent pet suffocation and help spread the word?”

We get asked this a lot! Here are a few easy ideas to start with:

🐶 Share our posts on social media warning your friends and family about the risks of pet suffocation. You can use one of ours here or from our Facebook page! There are infographics posted on the website you can print off and share.

🐱 Tell your story. If you or someone you know has lost a pet to suffocation, please contact us and continue to talk about the issue.⁣

🐶 Sign our online petition to Frito Lay to add warning labels to their chip bags. The petition is posted at the bottom of our website’s home page at www.preventpetsuffocation.com.

🐱 Visit the link in our bio to learn more and make a donation. As a non-profit, we rely on the generosity of our followers and pet advocates to help us fund our mission.

⁣We appreciate all of those who continue to help us raise awareness!

It’s National Rescue Dog Day! 🐶⁣ Our dog, Blue (photo), was a rescue puppy from a kennel in Tucson. ⁣Part Staffordshire Terrier, Blue was one of the most affectionate, sweetest, smartest, and happiest dogs we ever owned. 

National Rescue Dog Day was founded to bring awareness to the countless number of amazing dogs in shelters waiting to be adopted, to educate young children about animals, and to encourage spaying and neutering of pets.⁣ ⁣Rescue dogs often overcome extreme circumstances, and yet they often provide comfort, security, love, and friendship as devoted family pets.⁣

⁣How can you get involved today? Here’s a list from nationalrescuedogday.com:⁣

⁣🐶 ADOPT: If there is room in your life for a dog, consider adoption and giving one a forever home.⁣

⁣🐶 FOSTER: Many dogs abandoned in shelters benefit from socialization or would just thrive better outside of a shelter environment. Others may be in need of some medical care or rehabilitation in a home setting before an adoption can take place.⁣

⁣🐶 DONATE: Shelters always need donations. In addition to financial donations, shelters have a list of much-needed items such as blankets, toys, treats, and leashes.⁣

⁣🐶 VOLUNTEER: Help out at your local shelter. Taking dogs for walks, grooming them, and giving them plenty of affection improves their socialization.⁣

⁣🐶 SPAY/NEUTER: Be responsible for your pets. Overpopulation is the number one reason shelters exist.⁣

⁣Visit nationalrescuedogday.com for more information!

As the spring and summer months approach, and we can enjoy the outdoors more often with our dogs, it’s a good time to be aware of insect bites from ticks, bees, wasps, scorpions, ants, and other pesky insects.   

Ticks carrying Lyme Disease can be found in remote wilderness, parks, fields, beaches, picnic areas, and residential areas including in your yard. Some signs of Lyme Disease in dogs include joint discomfort and pain, lethargy, fever, and kidney issues. Contact your veterinarian if you suspect your pet has been exposed to Lyme Disease. 

Some signs of insect bites on dogs include redness, swelling, drooling, limping, itchiness, and shock. Some treatment options include using a cold compress for swelling, applying a paste of baking soda and water or aloe vera to the area, giving an oatmeal bath, and if safe, using Benadryl. If your furry family member is bitten or stung, be sure to remove the stinger and keep an eye on them for an allergic reaction.

Check your pet’s fur and coat after each visit outside for ticks or insect bites. Make sure they’re taking their flea and tick medicine, as well. Talk to your vet about the Lyme Vaccine for dogs. Should any reaction occur, have the number of your local emergency vet on hand. Meanwhile, enjoy the outdoors knowing you are ready and prepared! 

🚗 Does your pet love to ride in the car with you?

With summer approaching, there’s nothing more fun than bringing your pet along for the adventure, so please make sure that you’re also keeping pet suffocation risks in mind!

❌ Leaving fast food bags, snack bags, drink containers, and other food bags in your car, purse, or backpack can pose a serious suffocation risk to your pets.

Running a quick errand and leaving your pet unsupervised for just a few minutes leaves enough time for them to suffocate from one of these items.

We have lost several dogs to suffocation while they waited for their owners to return to the car. The owners had no idea their pet was at risk, and they were all devastated to find out too late. 

This week, make it a goal to clean out your car and create a safe space for your pets both inside and outside of your home! 🐶🐱