Six Tips for a Pet-Safe Summer

The last days of May signal the unofficial start of summer for folks, young and old, across the country. But with these carefree months of no homework and summer Fridays comes an increased risk for illness or injury for our furry pals.

From unpredictable weather to unusual routines, our animals are exposed to all sorts of hazards during June, July and August, and your pet is counting on you to keep him safe. Check out the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals' top six tips for keeping your family pets safe and secure all summer long.

-	Give your pet access to plenty of fresh water at all times. Even the healthiest pets can suffer from dehydration, heat stroke and sunburn if overexposed to the heat.
-	Avoid lathering your pet with any insect repellent or sunscreen not intended for the four-legged kind.
-	Keep your pet away from matches, citronella candles and lighter fluid, which if eaten can irritate the stomach, lungs and central nervous system.
-	Be cool near the pool. Don't leave pets unsupervised around a pool, lake or high waters—not all dogs are expert swimmers!
-	Never leave your dog, cat or any other animal friend alone in a car! The inside of a car can heat up very quickly—even with a window open.
-	Be prepared! From tornadoes to floods, we've seen the devastation severe weather has brought to pets and their families these past few weeks. Develop an evacuation plan well ahead of time in case you're forced from your home in an emergency.

Will You Take a Moment to Help Crack Down on Puppy Mills?

At puppy mills across the country, mother dogs are crammed into small wire cages, stacked on top of each other, breeding litter after litter. They get no exercise, socialization, rest between breeding cycles, or human interaction. They often live in their own urine and feces, and the wire flooring injures their paws. 

Many of these large-scale commercial dog breeders do not even have to meet the bare minimum standards of the federal Animal Welfare Act, because they sell puppies directly to consumers over the Internet. But the U.S. Congress is considering the Puppy Uniform Protection and Safety Act, known as the "PUPS Act," to close this massive loophole in federal law and help to crack down on the worst puppy mill abuses.   

Will you take a moment today to contact your federal legislators and ask them to co-sponsor the PUPS Act? Click here to take action. It's simple and only takes a minute.

This important federal legislation—introduced by Senators Dick Durbin, D-Ill., and David Vitter, R-La., and Representatives Jim Gerlach, R-Pa., Sam Farr, D-Calif., Bill Young, R-Fla., and Lois Capps, D-Calif.—would also require that dogs used for breeding be provided daily exercise. Breeding dogs can be kept at puppy mills for 10 or 12 years before they are "spent," and shouldn’t they at least be able to get out of their cages and stretch their legs?

It’s time to make sure that we have common-sense standards for the protection of dogs. By taking action today and contacting your federal lawmakers, you can make your voice heard and stand up for these animals who so desperately need our help.

Dogs should be treated like family pets, not like a cash crop. Will you do your part to help end the cruelty that thousands of dogs face every day in puppy mills? 
Thanks for all you do for animals.

Sincerely,



Mike Markarian
President
Humane Society Legislative Fund

Pet tips for April 20, 2011

1.      Walks are good for your dog…and you, too!

2.      Remember that a dog cannot adjust to temperature changes as easily as you can. Instead of putting on or removing a sweater, a dog must regulate temperature changes internally.

3.      There is no mistaking a physically and mentally healthy dog, especially one that is stimulated by an active environment.

4.      Both praise and discipline must immediately follow a specific behavior: A dog will always associated praise and discipline with its most recent behavior.