Keeping Your Pets Safe On The 4th of July

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Whether the neighborhood teens are throwing firecrackers on your street… or your entire community is enjoying “the exuberant splendor” of a big fireworks display, your pet can become frantic and run away, trying to find a safe haven.

More pets go missing around the 4th of July than any other time of year, and noisy fireworks are to blame.

According to national statistics, animal control officials across the country see a 30-60% increase in lost pets each year between July 4th and 6th. In fact, July 5th is one of the busiest days of the year for shelters.

Mark Jakubczak, Certified Pet Detective and Founder, PetAmberAlert™, is committed to increasing the chance of beloved lost pets returning home. He said, “Sadly, only 14% of lost pets are returned to their owners, according to nationwide statistics. And worse, 30-60% of lost pets are euthanized because they cannot be properly identified and returned to their owners. That’s why we’re hoping to reach more pet owners and reduce these trends with our infographic.”

PetAmberAlert’s July 4th Lost Pets Infographic called “Afraid on the 4th – Keeps Pets Safe” puts a spotlight on the alarming statistics and provides tips on how pet owners can protect their pets.

Here are 4 simple tips on how to keep pets safe… plus a bonus tip on how pet owners can have a better chance of finding a lost pet.

1) Stay inside: Try to keep your pet indoors at all times during holiday celebrations. Ideally, someone stays home with your pet. Also keep your dog leashed when going out for walks.

2) Make them feel safe: Comfort your pets with petting, hugging, talking to them in a soothing voice, providing a treat and staying nearby if possible. Make sure they can access their crate or “safe place.” Also ask your veterinarian or local pet retailer about natural calming products, anxiety wraps and other products that can help.

3) Avoid the noise. Try to drown out the fireworks sounds as much as possible by closing windows, playing music or turning on the TV.

4) Act normal! Your pet takes cues from your and your family’s actions. It will help if you go about your normal routine as much as possible, talking and playing with your pet as usual.

5) Protect your pet before the fireworks begin. There are a number of lost-pet devices and services available today, and it’s wise to be proactive in case your pet gets lost. Among the various pet-finder services available, the Pet Amber Alert ID Tag/Pet GPS combines Amber Alert technology with a QR Code and pet GPS to help MORE lost dogs, cats and even birds return home safely.

By following these tips, hopefully fewer families will face the heartbreak of losing a pet during the July 4th holiday.

https://www.petamberalert.com/blog/keeping-your-pets-safe-on-the-4th-of-july/

Make Dog Tail Docking Illegal in Washington

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Tail docking – chopping off most of a dog’s tail at birth – was once a procedure with purpose. However, as the years progressed the procedure that was originally done to aid in work tasks became a procedure done for aesthetic purposes. Tail docking is no longer necessary for household pets. Nevertheless, many breeds are trademarked by their docked tail. Tail docking is illegal in many countries; if Washington were to ban tail docking many states would follow suit.

Tail docking is common in the history of many breeds. The miniature schnauzer originally had a docked tail because it was thought to increase agility, protect from rabies and strengthen the back. The breed was created to hunt rats; a tail would have been a perfect grip for an angry and startled rat. Miniature schnauzers are now bred as companion animals, though tail docking is still commonplace. The procedure is currently done only to uphold a certain image.

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Brad Pitt cleaned dog poop before Oscars’ big win

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Brad Pitt has revealed that he cleaned up his dog poop before he walked in for the Oscars ceremony.

The ‘Troy’ star said that he was not afraid to get his hands dirty and pick up after his pet pooch, who left him and fiance Angelina Jolie, 38, a little surprise on Sunday morning, Metro.co.uk reported.

The 50-year-old actor further added that he had to clean up dog poop in his bedroom. (ANI)

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Family’s missing dog found 10 YEARS after he first disappeared

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Homeward bound: Dog found 10 year's after he goes missing

The 13-year-old Staffordshire Bull terrier, who was found in a city underpass, was due to be put down the next day but was saved by a quick-thinking vet

A South Wales family’s missing pet dog has been found ten years after he disappeared – and was just a day from being put down.

The Staffordshire Bull terrier, called Chance, literally lived up to his name after owners – mother and son Sion and Julie Coombes – got the surprise phone call.

As an 11-year-old schoolboy Sion had been left heartbroken when his much-loved pet vanished from his home in Barry in 2004.

He and his mum Julie Coombes put posters on lamp posts hoping to find the loveable black and white terrier but gave up hope and bought another dog for Sion to play with.

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Take the kids, but I’ll fight you for the dog

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A fifth of separating couples found deciding who gets the dog “as stressful” as who should care for the children.

In response, more and more dog owners are considering signing prenuptial agreements to avoid custodial battles over their four-legged friends.

In one case, Liam Gallagher, the Oasis singer, and his estranged wife Nicole Appleton went to court over who kept their dogs.

Nigella Lawson was said to be devastated after her ex-husband Charles Saatchi won “custody” of a stuffed mutt they owned dubbed Narles — a mixture of their first names.

The charity Dogs Trust urged couples to think about their pets, especially with January being the most popular month for divorce. A survey for the charity found a quarter of couples believed that their dog would pose the biggest dilemma if they split up.

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Cold Snap Will Be a Killer for Birds, Group Warns

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American Bird Conservancy (ABC), one of the nation’s leading bird conservation groups, is reminding people that we’re not the only ones suffering in the cold gripping much of the nation. This weather can be deadly to birds, some of which are being driven farther south than normal in search of open water and sources of food.

“Birds can survive the kind of severe weather we are seeing, but only if they get needed food and water,” said Dr. Daniel Lebbin, a conservation biologist at ABC. “Their ability to stay warm in frigid temperatures requires them to eat sufficient food.” Putting out extra food on bird feeders and on the ground, including suet and fruit for birds that don’t normally eat seeds, can make the difference between life and death for some birds.

Lebbin said that an ice-free water supply is also critical and often attracts birds that don’t visit feeders. “Water is just as important as food, if not more so. By providing warm water frequently, or installing a bird-bath heater, people can help the birds out substantially during severe weather events,” he noted.

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Retiring police dogs ‘deserve pensions too’

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Retiring police dogs in Nottinghamshire are to be given a £500-a-year pension.

The county’s police and crime commissioner announced plans for the three-year pension plan, saying the dogs had “worked hard all their lives” and deserved to be recognised.

Paddy Tipping said the money would be given on request to the dogs’ handlers to help them foot the cost of any vet bills.

“We give pensions to police officers and we look after (them) when they retire,” he said.

“The dogs have worked hard all their lives and we should make some provision for them as well.”

Around six police dogs retire in Nottinghamshire every year.

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Jade, Hero German Shepherd, Saves Newborn Baby Abandoned In Birmingham Park In England

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A keen-eared German Shepherd has been credited with saving a newborn’s life after the infant was abandoned in a park in Birmingham, England.

According to the Birmingham Mail, Roger Wilday, a 68-year-old grandfather, had been walking his 9-year-old German Shepherd, Jade, last week when the dog suddenly sprinted toward some bushes. Jade is said to have laid down next to what appeared to be a discarded carrier bag and refused to return to her owner’s side.

As Wilday approached his dog, he realized that the carrier wasn’t empty.

“I walked over and saw a carrier bag — then I saw it move,” Wilday told the Birmingham Mail. “I thought it was a bag of kittens, but then I saw her little arms and a head, and the baby started to cry.”

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Pet cemeteries will now accept human remains for burial alongside beloved family pets

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Pet owners can now spend eternity in the dog house.

A new regulation unveiled by the state this month would allow pet cemeteries in New York to accept the cremated remains of human beings hoping to be buried forever beside their beloved family pets.

The new rules resolve a two-year-old dispute that began when the state refused to allow the Hartsdale Pet Cemetery in Westchester to accept the ashes of a former NYPD officer who wanted to spend his afterlife with his three Maltese pups.

The cop’s niece, upstate attorney Taylor York, took on her uncle’s cause and battled the state to allow the burial.

“People do get a sense of comfort from knowing they can lie for eternity with their beloved pet, that they can be loved and protected in the afterlife just as faithfully as when they were alive,” York said

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San Francisco SPCA Offering Pet Condoms to Sex-Addicted Dogs and Cats

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We got you to click didn’t we?

That’s exactly what the SPCA is hoping will happen by advertising pet condoms on its website. Appropriately dubbed “Animal Instinct,” the new pet condom is about as real as that dog who drove through the streets of San Francisco.

But the campaign is for real. In its latest effort to call attention to the need for pet owners to spay and neuter their horny dogs and cats, the SPCA launched a new website which advertises pet condoms, encouraging owners to “put it on before they get it on.”

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