Remember, in ANY kind of weather, if YOU see something, JUST DO SOMETHING.  Now’s the time to keep your eyes open for animals locked in hot cars, left outside without shade or water, and/or being dragged around at social events without a water source present. 

PREVENTING HEAT STROKE IN DOGS:

Warm weather is here and it’s important to remember that dogs, like humans, can get heat stroke.   After all, dogs wear a fur coat all day long so think of how hot they can get and fast!  As dogs can’t speak for themselves and pant even when they are just mildly thirsty, there are some signs to look out for to make sure your dogs are not overheated.

Dogs don’t sweat like we do and their inner temperatures rise and fast!

Dogs don’t sweat in the same way that we humans do and the only sweat glands that they have are on the pads of their feet.  Dogs pant to cool themselves off and have an inner mechanism that helps them cool their skin.  But, if the air around them is hotter than their internal system heatstroke can occur.

Some signs to recognize your dog is overheated

There are some signs to recognize that your dog is becoming overheated including: whining, fidgeting, and excessive panting, increased salivation, bright red tongue or gums, depression, weakness, dizziness, vomiting, and/or diarrhea.

If you think your dog has heat stroke, cool him off and take him to your veterinarian immediately

If you think your dog might have heatstroke, take him to your vet or the emergency room.  On your way, try to cool your dog off.  Run water over his or her body before and/or place some cold towels on the pads of your dog’s feet.  A cool towel all over your pup’s body will help reduce his temperature as well while in route. Your vet or doctor will then take the necessary steps to ensure dog does not have heatstroke.

Below are some ways to prevent heat stroke during the hot summer months:

Take your dogs on walks in the early morning or evening

Make sure that you take your dogs out early in the morning or at night when it is cooler out.  Always bring water along with you and if your dog starts to walk really slowly or pants excessively, it is time to stop, give him some water and bring your overheated dog home.

Try to keep your dog indoors during the hot summer months

If you can leave your dog inside during the summer months, that is preferable. If you have to leave your dog outside, make sure that your dog has plenty of cool fresh water to drink and plenty of shade. A shaded umbrella, small wading pool, or a place that has shade and shelter is a necessity if your dog is left outside.

Never, ever leave your dog in the car, not even for five minutes!

Most of us know that that leaving a dog in a car, even with the windows rolled down while you run into a store for something can be fatal. The inside car temperature can jump quickly on warm days as well as overcast days due to the concentration of UV rays penetrating the car’s windows.

If you keep your dog out of the heat during the really hot times of day, keep him or her hydrated, you should have no problem during the hot summer months.   This is the best way to prevent heatstroke for your dog.

HOW CAN YOU TELL IF YOUR CAT IS OVERHEATED:

Remember during the hot summer months, it is especially important to keep plenty of cold water out at all times.  If you can leave your air conditioning on when you aren’t home, it can really help your cats stay cool.

Below are some normal behavioral patterns during the hot summer months:

• Don’t be surprised if your kitty is grooming more than usual. It is their way of cooling themselves off by reaping moisture from their saliva to their fur.

• Cats have their sweat glands on their paws. If your cat is leaving wet paw prints, he or she is sweating. Try cooling your cat down by dipping its paws in water or even with a damp, cool towel.

• Don’t worry if your cat starts panting. Cats pant more rarely than dogs, but your kitty is simply taking in cooler air if he or she is particularly hot. Heavy panting could be cause for concern, however, and you should call your vet.

Learn how to check to see if your cat is dehydrated

You can check for dehydration several ways:  roll your kitty’s bottom eyelid down. You should see moisture pool up in the lower lid.  No moisture, kitty needs a trip to your veterinarian a.s.a.p.

Check your cat’s mouth by pressing your finger lightly against her gums (which should be pink and happy). If they stay pale, or appear streaked or white, call your vet for an immediate appointment.

While your cat is resting, gently pick your kitty up the scruff of her neck, without lifting her body. Pinch the scruff lightly, release. The skin should fold down within seconds. If it remains in a pinched position- call your vet!

Monitor your cat for symptoms of heatstroke

Heatstroke is a real medical emergency. If you think your cat has heatstroke you must act quickly.  Move your cat to a cool place and immediately contact your veterinarian. Symptoms of heatstroke include:

Heavy panting, drooling, red tongue and lips, dullness, weakness, convulsions, and/or vomiting.

If any of those symptoms occur, make sure to cool of your kitty with a wet towel all over her body including the groin area and then get your kitty to your veterinarian.

If you keep in mind that our kitties are like us, humans, when it gets hot out:  they need plenty of water, a cool place to hang out, and need to be watched for symptoms of anything different or unusual that might need immediate care.

– PetPav

Connect with PetPav:  Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest, Google +, and Instagram!

Warm weather is here, the pools are ready, and Memorial Day Weekend is upon us.  At least in Western New York, Memorial Day kicks off the start of warm weather celebrations and relaxation. By this time, in our area, the fear of frost is gone, and everything is suddenly greener over night.

Despite this long holiday weekend, we are on social media – signing and sharing, spreading awareness, replying to e-mails and endeavoring to make the world a better place, if even for a DAY, for animals in need.

Unfortunately, during holidays (and the nicer weather), many people become MIA when it comes to Animal Advocacy. Sunshine, yard work, pool parties and the like become the highlight, while the sometimes unpleasant “task” of championing for the voiceless takes a back burner.

There is nothing wrong in celebrating holidays and long weekends with friends and family, taking a break from the computer to enjoy warm weather and all the fun that comes with that. But imagine if EVERYONE took a break from advocating during the nice weather or holiday seasons? What then?

Animal suffering doesn’t stop on holidays. Or when the weather warms up (in fact, many animals suffer MORE in the warmer weather for obvious reasons like lack of shade, lack of water, and being left in hot cars). But sometimes, people want to “forget” that and rather, enjoy the summer months without “thinking” about “that kind of thing”.

How wonderful if, during the nicer weather and the warmer long holiday weekends, that we all still made the decision to JUST DO SOMETHING, every day, to better or save the lives of animals in need.

Yep, this means that you may have to actually carve out time from your nice day off work or long holiday weekend to plan for that. My laptop is never far from me when I travel out of town, because even on MY vacations, I always take the time to champion for animals. The great thing about being an Animal Advocate is that a dedicated person can advocate from ANY place, you just have to make the time.

This Memorial Day, have FUN. Enjoy the sunshine, those cold glasses of iced tea on the deck, and special times with friends and family. And, while you’re at it, take a moment or two to enjoy your blessings during your long holiday weekend and remember those who aren’t as blessed. Then take that thought, and do something with it, to positively impact a four-legged someone who is quietly waiting in misery for a better life to come along.

Because they are out there, every day – even on Memorial Day.

You may be aware that just-do-something.org is working with local and state legislature on “puppy mill” reform.  

During a meeting with one of our NYS State Legislators for this, the topic of Animal Petitions came up; and the way that a legislator’s office receives and processes United States petition signatures on Animal Welfare issues.

After our discussion, we called a number of US Senator and Governor offices, and asked for their comments as well.  Many of them were the same:

Many petition creators and signers are not aware that many United States Animal Petitions*, even with meeting their goal of the desired number of signatures, are not acted upon.  A few of the main reasons for this:

1. Who is signing:  When directing Animal Petitions to legislative offices, many of the petitions are signed by individuals that are NOT constituents of that state’s legislators.  The majority of state and county legislators only act upon the requests of THEIR constituents, and that is then based on the number of signatures/calls/letters received on a specific issue.
2. Where the issue is located: The majority of state and county legislators normally do not have jurisdiction to impact issues going on in other states, or even in other counties in the same state.
3. How petition signatures and petition information is received: When individuals sign on-line petitions, the signatures come into a legislator’s office ONE AT A TIME.  The legislator is NOT the first person who reviews these petition signatures.  There is usually an appointed person who maintains and monitors this.  

With that said, if the petition information is NOT clear, and/or if the issue is something that the legislator cannot act upon because it is either out of jurisdiction or there are not enough constituent signatures, the petition is usually NOT acted upon and many times does not reach the individual it was directed to.  

Processing petitions on the end of the receiver is time consuming and there are costs associated with that.  Obviously, more time will be spent on petition signatures that have all the ready and clear information up front, rather than spending time on those that do not.

• What can make petition information unclear?
  Lack of identifying, and/or vague, and/or false vague information.  Petitions should always be created to include the following mandatory information:

1. Name, Address (with State, City/Town, Zip and County) and valid e-mail address of the petition creator.   A Valid e-mail is necessary so that the receiving entity can respond back to the creator, and confirm or address petition information if necessary.
2. Specific petition goal description, or if the goal is to amend an existing entity, then the existing entity should be listed by the Full Name and/or Bill number.
3. Name, Address (with State, City/Town, Zip and County), and valid e-mail address of petition signer.  A Valid e-mail is necessary so that the receiving entity (ESPECIALLY if it’s a legislative office) can respond back to the petition signer with an acknowledgement of signature receipt.  I have been told that many petition signers do NOT provide a valid e-mail address.
4. The State, City/Town, Zip and County (and name/address if you can obtain it) of where the issue is.  Believe it or not, many petition creators neglect to mention this crucial information.  This plays into who should be signing.
5. Supporting information of the specific issue. Try to include these key items: names, dates, pictures, supporting documentation, links to related information and a timeline. The content of information in your petition should be clear, direct, and factual.
6. Are there other related Animal Petitions on the same issue? Include those links in  your content also. It’s okay to have more than one petition circulating on that same issue.

• Who really should be signing?
  Limiting or restricting the related petition (WITH A NOTIFICATION of who should sign) to only those constituents who have the power to influence their related legislation works the best.  Examples:

1. If a petition creator is trying to abolish ‘puppy mills’ in the State of California, then only residents of California should sign the petition.
   • This petition should then be directed to the Governor of California, and the related legislators for that State.
2. If a petition creator is trying to abolish ‘puppy mills’ in the town of Sacramento, California, then only residents of California should sign the petition with a specific request ask those residents of Sacramento, CA to sign the petition.
   • This petition should then be directed to the Governor of California, and the related legislators for that town.

Many people do not know who their legislators are, so many will be unsure of whether their signature will help or hinder a petition.  There are many available methods through the Internet (including zip code searches, which is very easy), to help an individual determine whether or not they should sign a petition.

IMPORTANT:  This is NOT to say that you should only ask local residents to sign a petition. But rather, highlight the importance of key constituent signing, and then asking all to sign and share, regardless of their location.

• How should the results come to the petition receiver (example: legislative office)?
  During our most recent meeting with our State Legislator’s office, I was shown real-time examples of how different on-line petition signatures are received via e-mail.  Many times, the signature e-mail page received has less than ⅓ of the necessary identifying information that is needed in order to take any action.  And, remember, these signatures come in as INDIVIDUAL e-mails.  

1. What is needed for the petition receiver?
   • Complete (ALL) information as stated above.
   • Properly obtained signatures as outlined above.

• Petitions should be regularly updated on the Petitioner’s end.
  On many petitions that are signed, the signers and sharers never hear back on the status.  It can be a simple as “We haven’t heard back on our petition submission yet”.
  Along with this, the targets that are provided the related petition is not followed up with, so once the petition is submitted, petitioners need to be diligent on reaching out to the target to find out updates on action.  NEVER LET A PETITION DROP. If people care enough to sign and share your petition, then see it through to the end with whatever action(s) you have stated you will do.

• Want to make an additional impact?
  It was suggested that petition creators should include a way for petition signers to make an additional, more personal impact, by also always asking that in addition to electronically signing, that they also send a personal message to whomever the petition is directed to via e-mail or mailing address (both of which should be provided).  

• Why?  Because it hits home the importance of an issue on a personal level, one that will most likely be better remembered than a form letter from a petition. 

  Personal messages should include:

  1. Issue, clearly stated.
  2. Petition signer’s Name, Address (with State, City/Town, Zip  and County), Telephone Number, E-Mail.
  3. Reason why this is important to petition signer.
  4. Acknowledgement that they also signed electronic petition.

*This is NOT to say that globally signed Animal Petitions do not make an impact – because they certainly do.  So we are not saying don’t sign them.  YOU SHOULD.  Circulated Animal Petitions evoke Social Media action. Many times, petitions are acted upon solely from the “uproar” and awareness that is caused on Social Media rather than the petition itself.  That’s why is DOES matter whether or not you sign, and share, petitions – regardless of whether they are regarding an issue in your district or not.

*These guidelines are posted to be helpful, additional information so that Animal Petitions are created with the most impact in mind.

There are those that have the opinion that Animal Petitions don’t make a difference.
THEY. ARE. WRONG.
So keep signing, keep sharing, and go that extra mile to JUST DO SOMETHING in the Animal Petition world.

Go here to find a list of sites where you can sign and share Animal Petitions.

• Want us to share an Animal Petition? Give us the related link, and we will do just that.
• Want to tell us about the Animal Petition YOU created and are passion about? Tell us in the form of a Guest Blog, and we’ll post it and share it all over the place.

YOU can make a difference, we ALL can.
Creating, signing and sharing Animal Petitions is one way we ALL can help change the lives of animals in need.  So get out there and help make a difference – right now!

                                                                                                                                                            Why Animals?

One of the common questions I am asked is “Why do you help animals, when people need our help?”.  I completely understand why people ask this question. I’ve noticed that when confronted, many other animal lovers and welfare and anti cruelty advocates will immediately jump on the defensive, declaring that animals have no voice and need humans. While this is undoubtedly true, there really is no need to to feel defensive, or think you have to overly justify the passion you have for welfare and cruelty issues.

In my mind, passion for any cause is created from one or both of two factors, personal experience, or exposure to negative facts. Whatever the reason, passion for a cause comes from an inner feeling to help and assist, ultimately making the world a better place. Therefore it doesn’t matter what cause you support, as long as you support what you believe in. And why should everyone support one cause anyway? Curing one problem in the world solves nothing. Only by having a variety of people supporting a variety of causes, can we really make an impact on the world as a whole.

However this does sometimes lead to follow up questions, such as “But how does helping animals benefit mankind?”. On first impression this questions may seem not to have an answer, however like all good causes you have to look deeper into an issue to truly understand it.

Firstly animal welfare. Obviously animal welfare is primarily concerned with improving the care, lifestyle and handling of animals, but inturn by doing so it challenges the processes, procedures and ethics of large national and multinational companies. Companies which wield power over governments and remain largely unchallenged, can be brought into the public eye and allow others to question them.

Secondly animal cruelty. As well as providing safe haven, care and treatment for abused and mistreated animals. fighting against animal cruelty also removes the ability for evil people to do more harm in the community.

So be proud of the cause you support, whatever it is. And be proud of everyone else that supports a good cause. They, like you, are trying to make a difference, and like you, their passion will directly and indirectly affect how we live our lives in the future.

Simon Robson, Owner Best Friends Buddy (Atlanta, Georgia)

Simon was born with a love for animals. Growing up with a family who trained Cocker Spaniels for agility and obedience competitions, he learnt to care for dogs from the day he could walk. That passion grew into a lifelong commitment to helping and defending creatures in need and distress. Simon has vocally and constructively fought for countless animals that many others had given up on, and is proud to have appeared on national television, discussing the rights of animals and animal adoption. His varied career has seen Simon learn to deal with the harsh realities of abandoned and mistreated pets. He strives to change the future of animal care through education. 

Check out Bark, Wag & Blog on the Best Friends Buddy website – all geared towards Animal Welfare!

Go on Tumblr,  Tweet and connect on Google with Best Friends Buddy for Animal Welfare!

Mouse and Rat Poisons – please consider the risk to your pets

At this time of the year rats and mice come sneaking into the house to avoid the cold and look for easy pickings. There are just a few things to know before you reach for the rat bait.

Poisoning from rodenticides are one of the most common types of poison cases seen by vets. The best way to avoid an animal being poisoned is to be careful with the use and application of the poisons.

Ensure they are put away in secure cupboards, remember that cats can climb and even if they don’t eat the poison they could knock it off the shelf where it could be made available to the less discerning pet (or child).

When placing the bait ensure it is placed in a secure container that only rats and mice can get into.

The identification of what your pet may have eaten is paramount to enable the vet to treat your pet correctly. Take the container, packet, bottle with you so that they can identify the poison and treat accordingly.

Remember that our pets can be poisoned by eating a rat or mouse that has ingested poison! So watch for symptoms and if you have any concerns take your animal straight to the vet.

Symptoms differ depending on the type of poison, the amount ingested, the size, age and health of your pet. Many poisons have an anticoagulant that prevents the blood from clotting, causing hemorrhaging and death. Signs can appear over a period of upto 4 days after ingestion. It may be seen as breathing difficulty, seizures, diarrhoea, vomiting, fever, blood in urine, faeces, very pale gums, vomiting and more.

The new baits that are available can stay for up to 4 weeks in the animal’s system. They can be treated with an antidote, vitamin K, blood transfusions but unfortunately this may not work.

You will be surprised at the number of everyday household items we are keeping in our home that are poisonous to our animals.

If you have any concerns take your animal to the nearest vet!

For a free downloadable list of poisons go here.

– Joanna Clough
Director at Pet First Aid & Training (New Zealand)
Find them on Facebook! 

How do ducks breathe? Amazingly, some people think that ducks draw breath through their butts, AND/OR that they can breathe underwater. False, and false.

But what IS true, is that if a duck’s bill is compromised, breathing can become challenging, if not impossible.

Why the concern? Because in the wintry weather, or the freak ice storms, or even this weekend, where we are having (hopefully) our last snow/freeze of the season, in Western New York, a duck’s bill can freeze over, and in some cases, freeze completely shut.

And yes, this applies to ALL bird types, but seems to be most prevalent in swans and other water fowl.  Why? Because water fowl spend the majority of their time in or around the water, mainly foraging for food. This means repeatedly dunking their bills in the water. And what happens during extreme cold, when water is involved? Yep, it freezes. Water on a duck’s bill is no different. Dunk, get wet, freeze, repeat.

And then you get this:

Most times, that’s okay. A duck can survive with some ice on their bill, as long as they still can open it to eat and breathe.

But some times, you get this:

And then that duck gets into trouble.

Ducks breathe through their bills. Yes, they can breathe through their mouths also.

But, BUT – if a bill becomes completely iced over, it closes off the nostrils (those holes located on top of the bill, called nares), and in the very worst scenario, it freezes the bill completely shut.

For any bird, the inability to use their bill becomes a struggle to live. Literally. Without being able to have use of their bills, any bird will soon succumb to starvation and suffocation.

Both equally awful.

What can you do?

If you come across ANY bird with heavy ice on it’s bill, DON’T just take that interesting picture and walk away (believe it or not, that’s been done before – people are out taking pictures or walking in the park, they see a duck with a frozen bill and think it’s “neat”. We need to take that one step farther and think about the situation that duck is in. For that bird, it’s not “neat”, it’s deadly).

DO call Animal Control or your local Humane Society immediately, with the description of the bird and the location.

DO stay to watch where the bird goes (as best as you can) until help arrives.

DO pursue making additional calls to ensure that someone will come to the aid of that bird.

It takes a while for Spring to show the warmer side of the season. For many animals, and birds, Spring is still a miserable time of year. Snow, ice, freezing sleet, slushy cold mud – it still all happens in the Spring. It’s happening RIGHT NOW in Western New York.

Remember, you can JUST DO SOMETHING to save a life.  And you will be saving a life.

Never turn your back.