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ANTON MEDIA GROUP • APRIL 13 - 19, 2016
WE LOVE OUR PETS
Leave baby wildlife alone.
Springtime Pet Tips From The SPCA
Baby rabbits, birds, and other critters are arriving. Keeping your dog on a leash and your cat indoors will help these babies survive. Experts’ biggest tip if you find a young wild animal: leave it alone.
Be smart about pets in cars.
Yes, spring! Everybody wants to get outside and enjoy the sunshine and warmer weather. Here are some tips to keep your pets and wildlife safe as you enjoy yourselves. Before your dogs and cats start frolicking outside, make sure their vaccines are up-to-date, in particular parvo (for dogs) and rabies (for dogs and cats). Parvo is a deadly disease that can easily be prevented. Puppies need a series of three vaccines. Your new puppy should not visit public parks and other areas frequented by other dogs until their vaccines are finished. Rabies vaccines are required by state law for both dogs and cats.
Dog licenses are required by towns and cities across the state.
Licensing your dog is an easy way to stay in compliance with your town laws as well as ensure that your dog is current on his or her rabies vaccine. It’s easy to license your dog in any town or city. Simply bring an up-to-date rabies certificate into your local town or city hall and they will happily issue you a license and tag.
ID tags are not just a fashion statement.
They save lives. Both dogs and cats should wear tags at all times. Most animals entering animal shelters are not wearing tags and do not have microchips, making it very hard to reunite them with their owners. You can make metal tags with your name and phone number very cheaply at most large pet stores. Microchips are available from your veterinarian.
Leash, fence, or monitor pets outdoors.
Beautiful weather makes it tempting to let your dog go outside unattended. Rabbits should be brought indoors each evening and never left unattended outdoors. Cats should never go outside unattended. Bird lovers, please remember to place your bird in its cage before you open windows. Horse owners, spring is the time to get back into a riding routine, put horses out on pasture and clean
up after a long winter. If your horse is barefoot or if you pulled her shoes for the winter, it’s time to call the farrier again. Even if you plan on keeping your horse barefoot, she probably needs a trim so she can be comfortable when you go on rides.
Flea, tick, and heartworm treatments are important.
Medications are available from your vet; important for all pets that go outside. Never mix dog and cat medications; they are different.
Beware poisonous plants, some flowers and plants are poisonous to pets.
Lawn fertilizers, cocoa bean mulch, and rodent poison are other pet hazards that appear frequently in the spring. If you suspect poisoning go to the veterinarian immediately.
Spay or neuter pets and “community” cats.
This is the calm before the storm...of kitten season. Every summer, shelters nationwide are overwhelmed with homeless cats and kittens. Many more are left on the streets, and many die. Please get your cat sterilized now if she isn’t already. If you are feeding a stray, she will get pregnant soon and can have as many as 3 litters (15 kittens or more!) this season
Never leave your pet locked in your car—even “just for a few minutes” or “with the windows cracked.” Your pet can suffer heat stroke quickly even on a mild day. Dogs and cats can’t sweat to cool off. And while we all know dogs love to feel the wind on their furry faces, allowing them to ride in the bed of pick-up trucks or stick their heads out of moving car windows is dangerous. Flying debris and insects can cause ear or eye injuries and lung infections, and abrupt stops or turns can cause major injury, or worse. As we humans do our spring cleaning, we should watch for wildlife while mowing, raking, and tidying our property. Block dryer vents and chimney pipes to prevent nests. Following these tips will make spring safer for your beloved critters and the wildlife around our homes. Visit www.nassaucountyspca.org or call 516-843-7722 for more information or to report animal cruelty.
5th Annual Legislative Pet Food Drive Assemblywoman Michelle Schimel is sponsoring a Pet Food Drive in partnership with Long Island Cares. The drive, running through April, will help local soup kitchens and pantries meet the needs of struggling families with pets. “It is heartbreaking to know of beloved pets that are placed into shelters simply because their families can no longer afford to feed them,” said Schimel. Pet supplies, toys, food and treats for dogs, cats, hamsters, fish, reptiles and ferrets will be collected at Schimel’s office located at 45 North Station Plaza, Suite 203 in Great Neck. Collection boxes are also available at the following locations: Great Neck Social Center located at 80 Grace Ave., the Herricks Community Center located at 999 Herricks Rd. and the Port Washington Community Chest located at 382 Main St.
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ANTON MEDIA GROUP • JUNE 8 - 14, 2016
WE LOVE OUR PETS Breakfast Mastermind And Brainstorming Event For Pet Professionals
Keeping Your Pets Safe During A Disaster Hurricane season began June 1
The best way to protect your family from the effects of a disaster is to have a disaster plan. If you are a pet owner, that plan must include your pets. Being prepared can save their lives. Different disasters require different responses. But whether the disaster is a hurricane or a hazardous spill, you may have to evacuate your home. In the event of a disaster, if you must evacuate, the most important thing you can do to protect your pets is to evacuate them. Leaving pets behind, even if you try to create a safe place for them, is likely to result in their being injured, lost or worse. So prepare now for the day when you and your pets may have to leave your home.
Have a Safe Place To Take Your Pets Nassau County has implemented a co-sheltering program, which allows residents and their pets to be housed in the same facility with the County Animal Response Team (CART). Under the co-sheltering program, owners will be housed in a separate portion of the building at Nassau Community College but provided easy and controlled access to their pets. Owners will be issued identification bracelets linking them to their pets. Volunteers will operate the shelter, but less oversight will be necessary since owners are allowed to feed, exercise and interact with pets. Most other disaster shelters cannot accept pets because of state health and safety regulations and other considerations. Service Animals who assist people with disabilities are generally the only animals allowed in those disaster shelters. Town animal shelters and other animal shelters will generally have limited to no available room for owned animals during an emergency and should not be counted on to take your animal. It may be
difficult, if not impossible, to find shelter for your animals in the midst of a disaster, so plan ahead. Do your research before a disaster strikes:
Shelters Should Be Your Last Resort • Contact hotels and motels outside your immediate area to check policies on accepting pets and restrictions on number, size, and species. Ask if “no pet” policies could be waived in an emergency. Keep a list of “pet friendly” places, including phone numbers, with other disaster information and supplies. If you have advance notice of an impending disaster, call ahead for reservations. • Ask friends, relatives, or others outside your immediate area whether they could shelter your animals in an emergency. Visit www. longislandweekly. com/hurricane-prepare-pets for the full version on this advisory. Visit www. nassaucountyspca. org for more tips and information.
American Pet Professionals will host an upcoming breakfast mastermind networking event on Thursday, June 9, from 8 to 10:30 a.m. at Holiday Inn Express in Riverhead. At this event pet professionals can meet with like-minded individuals, get ideas, information and solutions for their pet businesses or animal rescue organization. The last event, held in May in Melville, was a big success with pet pros leaving with an incredible amount of information and knowledge to help their pet businesses grow. During this event different topics will be discussed that pet pros are either struggling with or want more knowledge and information on. Attendees will meet with other pet industry experts, like-minded pet professionals to help answer their business, public relations, marketing, social media and nonprofit questions. As attendees RSVP, they will be sent a questionnaire so the event is focused and will help pet pros get the best, most up-todate information within the pet industry. New and aspiring pet professionals are welcome to register to attend. This event is limited to 20 pet pros. Breakfast and refreshments will be served. Be sure to bring business cards, brochures about your business or rescue, a notebook and pen. For members of American Pet Pros—the cost is only $40 per person. The cost for nonmembers is $55 per person, and non-members can RSVP by going to www. americanpetprofessionals.com/events/ in-person-networking. For more information on this event contact Nancy Hassel at 631446-1105 or by email at Nancy@ AmericanPetProfessionals.com.
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ANTON MEDIA GROUP • JULY 13 - 19, 2016
WE LOVE OUR PETS Be cautious on humid days.
Humidity interferes with animals’ ability to rid themselves of excess body heat. When we overheat we sweat, and when the sweat dries it takes excess heat with it. Our fourlegged friends only perspire around their paws, which is not enough to cool the body.
Keep Your Pets Cool This Summer
Make sure your pet doesn’t overexert herself.
Now that the lazy days of barbecues and swimming pools are here, you can make them better by sharing them with your favorite pet. By following a few pet safety tips, you can keep your animal friends healthy and enjoy the months of sun and fun.
of fresh water during the summer, so check her water bowl several times a day to be sure it’s full. If you and your furry friend venture forth for the afternoon, bring plenty of water for both of you.
Never leave your pet in the car.
Though all that fur helps protect her, your pet can get sunburned, particularly if she has light skin and hair. Sunburn in animals can cause problems similar to those it can cause in people, including pain, peeling and skin cancer. Keep your pet out of the sun between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., and when you do go out, rub a bit of sunblock on unprotected areas like the tips of her ears.
Though it may seem cool outside, the sun can raise the temperature inside your car to 120 degrees in a matter of minutes, even with the windows rolled down. If you need to run some errands, leave the furry ones at home.
Keep your pet leashed.
It will keep her from getting lost, fighting other animals, and eating and drinking things that could make her sick. Even cats can learn to walk on a leash if you train them.
Water, water everywhere.
Whether you’re indoors or out, both you and your pet need access to lots
Pets need sunscreen too.
Say no to tangles.
Keeping your pet well-groomed will help her hair do what it was designed to do: protect her from the sun and insulate her from the heat. If she has thick hair or a lot of mats and tangles, her fur may trap too much heat, so you may want to clip her.
Though exercise is an important part of keeping your dog or cat at a healthy weight, which helps her body stay cool, overdoing it can cause her to overheat. Keep the walks to a gentle pace and make sure she has plenty of water. If she’s panting a lot or seems exhausted, it’s time to stop.
Take it easy on pets that can’t deal with the heat.
Elderly, young and ill animals have a hard time regulating their body temperature, so make sure they stay cool and out of the sun on summer days.
Heatstroke is a medical emergency. If you suspect your pet has heatstroke, you must act quickly and calmly. Have someone call a veterinarian immediately. In the meantime, lower the animal’s body temperature by applying towels soaked in cool water to the hairless areas of the body. Heatstroke can be fatal. The best cure is prevention. Summer does not have to be fraught with peril—with ample precaution, both you and your furry friends can enjoy those long, hot dog-days of summer. Visit www.nassaucountyspca.org for more tips and information.
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Natural Treats And Your Dog BY ANTON MEDIA STAFF
SPECIALSECTIONS@ANTONMEDIAGROUP.COM
Recently, we had a chance to speak with Ron Albeg, owner and CEO of Preen Pets Dog Snacks, about the benefits of choosing a natural dog snack for your pet. Here’s what Albeg had to say:
Why should I feed my dog natural treats? A treat is something given to dogs in addition to their normal daily feedings. The same principle comes into play as we as humans snack. Humans “snack” in between meals. We have to watch the intake of “snacks” through their nutritional ingredients. Dogs, too, can get too many calories/fat from their treats. Treats made of all-natural ingredients provide a healthier, more nutrient-packed alternative when “snacking.” These wholesome ingredients provide energy as nutrition.
Does my dog need treats— isn’t food enough? Food is the dog’s necessity for survival, yet treats are a great enforcer of positive behaviors. Treats can be used effectively when training a dog. Food is enough, but again just like humans, dogs enjoy treats too. Natural treats are usually made with USDA grade meats and farm-fresh vegetables.
What are the main ingredients of a good natural treat?
see TREATS on page 14A
High Quality Ingredients That are Nutrient Dense.
WE DONATE A PORTION OF ALL PROFITS TO:
Chicken Twist
Dog Chicken Jerky USA Premium Chicken Jerky
www.preenpets.com • Contact us: info@preenpets.com • 814-225-3647
155662B