Pawprints - All About Dogs and Cats Blog

Travelling Tips from the ASPCA

Your summer vacation’s almost here—and for some pet parents, traveling’s no fun if the four-legged members of the family can’t come along. But without thoughtful preparation, going on the road or flying can be highly stressful, both for you and your animal companions. Before you embark on your journey, the ASPCA would like to offer a few helpful hints.

• Please visit your veterinarian before traveling to make sure your pet is up to date on vaccinations and has all the medications he needs. Also ask about parasites or other health risks native to your destination. For travel outside of the continental United States, additional planning and health care requirements may be necessary. Contact the foreign office of the country you are traveling to for more information.
• Your pet should have a microchip for identification and always wear a collar and ID tag with an address or phone number where you can be reached—that includes cell phone number and destination info.
• Always bring plenty of plastic jugs filled with bottled or tap water from home. Drinking water she’s not used to could upset your pet’s stomach. If flying, freeze water in a bowl the night before. It won’t spill during loading and it’ll melt by the time she’s thirsty.
• Fly your pet in a USDA-approved shipping crate large enough for her to comfortably stand, sit and turn around in. Write “Live Animal” in large letters on at least two sides of the crate, and draw arrows indicating the crate’s upright position. (Of course you should ask the airline if small animals can fly with you in the cabin.)
• If driving, never leave your pet in a parked automobile. On a hot day, even with the windows open, a stationary vehicle can become a furnace in no time, and heatstroke can develop.
• 

Crufts 2008 was a great success and there were many thousands of visitors and dogs from all over the world. All of which contributing to ensure that Crufts maintains its status of being the World’s Greatest Dog Show. Crufts is officially recognised as the world’s largest dog show by the Guinness Book of Records and the 2008 show had almost 23,000 dogs entered, including 1,165 dogs from overseas and 160,000 dog loving visitors.

Crufts 2008 Best in Show

The Crufts 2008 was held 6th - 9th of March . The Best In Show winner was The Giant Schnauzer CH JAFRAK PHILIPPE OLIVIER owned by Mr and Mrs K Cullen.

Crufts 2009 dates are 5th – 8th March 2009 at the NEC, Birmingham.

Back in February, ASPCA put out a call for photos of your first puppy (and kitty) loves for their My Furry Valentine Contest. The judges have selected the top entries, and have announced the winners. They can be viewed here.

Congratulations to the winners.

KOLD News 13   March 13, 2008

After hearing news about hundreds of dogs and puppies saved from a hoarding situation, the community is flooding the Humane Society of Southern Arizona with donations.

Whether it’s signing a check, dropping some cash, or bringing supplies, there’s no shortage of helping hands.

“I can not tell you how many people have come here today, not only with their donations, but saying, ‘what else can I do?’  It’s phenomenal,” said Susan Dellheim, volunteering at the donation booth.

“My heart just went out to these little babies,” said Toni Graham, dropping off a stack of towels and a $200 donation for the animals.  “We just had to do something.”

Volunteers are busy unpacking bag after bag of donations, including dog food, pet shampoo, blankets, and towels.

Even local veterinarians are giving their time, away from their own clinics, to help.  “I actually blocked off my afternoon of appointments,” said Dr. Erika Hartle-Schutte with the Pantano Animal Clinic.  “And I’ve blocked off my schedule tomorrow afternoon as well, because the need is going to continue for a time.”

And it’s not just citizens stepping in, but also businesses rolling to the rescue.  Thursday, PetSmart hauled in a semi-truck full of supplies for the animals.  Other companies also donating necessities include PETCO, Ok Feed & Supply, Park & Bark, and Phoenix-based Milum Textiles.  Christie’s Appliance is pitching in a washer and dryer to help with the heavy laundry volume.  Eegee’s and Spike Beverage have provided meals for workers.

ASPCA NEWS ALERT

Ready to do a little homework, pet parents? National Poison Prevention Week is almost here─March 16 to March 22─and because our pets depend on us to keep them safe, we think it’s the perfect time to review the harmful substances your furry explorers may encounter at home. Here are just a few ways to ensure that your household is pet poison-proof:

• Keep prescription and over-the-counter drugs such as painkillers, cold and flu preparations and antidepressants behind tightly closed cabinet doors.
• Make sure chocolate, coffee and other potentially dangerous foods are kept out of pets’ reach.
• When using products to eliminate fleas, ticks and other pests, follow directions exactly. Be sure the item you’re using has been formulated specifically for your pet, and check with your veterinarian before using it.
• Many common household plants such as lilies, azaleas and kalanchoe can cause surprisingly severe, even life-threatening effects in pets. Please check our complete lists of toxic and nontoxic plants.
• Take care to use cleaning products that have been proven safe for use around pets. If you do use bleaches, detergents or disinfectants, keep your pets away from the cleaned areas until the product has dried thoroughly, and be sure to store the products in a secure place.

Visit the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (APCC) online for lists of specific items that could be dangerous to pets. And if you fear your pet has been poisoned, don’t panic. Call the APCC hotline at (888) 426-4435. Please note that a consultation fee for this service applies.

MONTREAL, CANADA – (For Immediate Release) – Rolf C. Hagen Inc.’s product development concepts have earned it a leadership position in the pet industry. Now, these “winning” ideas have also garnered another honor for the company: the highly-regarded Global Pets Forum Award 2008. Hagen was given the award in January during a ceremony at the Grand Hotel Kempinski in Geneva, Switzerland for a presentation on how it has responded to “Changing Consumers, Changing Opportunities.”

Conducted by company president Rolf Hagen Jr., the presentation detailed how Hagen recognizes and appreciates shifts in consumer values, attitudes and lifestyles, then uses this knowledge to implement a brand strategy that helps the company and its retail partners reach consumers in a changing market.

The two other finalists for the Global PETS Forum Award 2008 were TRIXE Heimtierbedarf GmbH & Co. KG of Germany and Tropehagen Zoo of Norway. Like Rolf C. Hagen, these two companies were individual category winners before advancing to the finals. Participants in the Global PETS Forum, which drew 217 industry leaders from 28 countries, joined a panel of judges from PETS International magazine to cast ballots for the Global PETS Forum Award 2008, which was sponsored by the German Pet Trade & Industry Association and WZF GmbH, organizer of the Interzoo Show.

Crufts 2008Crufts, the world’s greatest dog show will be taking place from 6th – 9th March 2008 at the NEC, Birmingham.  The show is open from 8.15 to 19.30 each day.

Officially recognised as the world’s largest dog show by the Guinness Book of Records, Crufts 2008 looks forward to expecting almost 23,000 dogs, including 1,165 dogs from overseas. As for human visitors the 2007 show had over 153,000.

Your pet’s safety could be at risk while you are out.  

In the event of an emergency, ASPCA’s  pet rescue window decal alerts rescue personnel that pets are inside your home. The pack also includes an ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center magnet—a great way to keep the APCC’s toll-free emergency number handy at all times!

Order yours now.

On Friday, February 15, the ASPCA celebrated I Love NYC Pets Month by giving shelter dogs a chance to take the stage.  

At the ASPCA’s third annual “Best in Show” competition, ten adoptable dogs displayed their talents to a panel of celebrity judges, including Emmy award-winning actress Kristen Johnston; legendary actress and singer Maureen McGovern;  DJ Angie Martinez; Lonneke Engel (the face of Ralph Lauren’s HOT perfume) and the ASPCA’s Supervisory Special Investigator, Officer Annemarie Lucas.

The feisty contestants scored on overall presentation, attentiveness to their handlers and creativity of their tricks … and really hammed it up for the judges. All the dogs were rewarded with treats, resounding applause and television coverage.

Whitby, Ontario -  Wednesday, Feb.27,2008

Dozens of abandoned cats have made themselves at home on the grounds of the Whitby Mental Health Centre.

Up to 50 cats per year are being left on or near the centre’s property and although staff has been trying to fix the problem, they can no longer deal with the volume of animals.

Until recently employees at the facility have been getting family and friends to adopt the abandoned animals, said Aron Muscutt, a groundskeeper for the property. Now that finding adoptive families has become difficult, the felines are left to roam free.