New Legislation Passed Recently Makes Ohio One of the First States to Protect First Responders Who Administer Lifesaving Aid to Pets

Columbus, Ohio - Until a new law was passed this spring, it was against the law in Ohio, along with many other states, for firefighters or paramedics to provide basic first aid to dogs and cats rescued from house fires, car accidents or other crisis situations. Only licensed veterinarians could do that.

The legislation passed recently makes Ohio one of the first states to protect first responders who administer lifesaving aid to pets, companion animals or police dogs in crisis. Animal advocates say they hope the statute, which they liken to laws protecting good Samaritans who come to the aid of injured humans, removes hesitation for first responders who might have concerns about tending to injured pets.

The law will allow first responders to, without fear of liability, provide oxygen, perform mouth-to-snout resuscitation, try to stem bleeding, bandage and even administer the overdose antidote naloxone to dogs or cats that have ingested opiates. Liability has been a concern because owners of pets have sued first responders who treated animals that ended up dying.

"It's another layer of protection for the good guys," said Cory Smith, director of public policy for companion animals at The Humane Society of the United States.

Ohio's law, which follows a similar action by Colorado in 2014, came about after Bob Swickard, the director of an EMS service in a small town in northeastern Ohio, contacted state Republican Rep. Tim Ginter with concerns about a recent rash of on-duty injuries to police dogs. In seeking guidance from a veterinarian on first aid for dogs, Swickard said he found "a missed loophole" — it was clearly illegal for EMTs to treat animals. He and Ginter were especially concerned that paramedics couldn't administer naloxone to police dogs that came in contact with prescription pain pills or heroin.

"There is the possibility that a dog could get a snout full of something and go down," Ginter said. "The best that they could do before this law was to call either a veterinarian to come to the scene or call for transport."

Dr. Ed Cooper, head of emergency and critical care at Ohio State University's Veterinary Medical Center, said that as a result of the law, which takes effect Aug. 31, some veterinarians are reaching out to first responders to provide basic training, and first responders are beginning to seek it out.

"The hope in having this law passed is really just to give first responders the opportunity and extend the option without the potential for recourse to assist pets as well as people in these kinds of crisis situations," Cooper said. "So (veterinarians) certainly see it as a positive thing."

What the law doesn't do is require first responders to treat animals, nor does it now make it OK for people to call 911 when their pets get injured or sick. People should still call emergency animal hospitals in these situations.

Smith noted that with two-thirds of American households having at least one pet, it stands to reason that first responders are going to encounter injured animals on the job.

"Really, it's just about building humane communities," she said. "I think when first-response agencies and local governments and especially state governments plan around the fact that animals are such a huge part of our lives, it can only lead to good things."

In this Dec. 9, 2010, file photo, Amira Bichara, right, gasps in relief when a golden retriever rescued from a house fire begins breathing normally, as a firefighter and resident administer oxygen in Kettering, Ohio. Under a new Ohio law taking effect Aug. 31, 2016, firefighters and EMTs can provide basic first aid to dogs and cats rescued from house fires, car accidents or other crisis situations, treatment that only licensed veterinarians could legally provide under existing law. 

In this Oct. 24, 2008, file photo, Perkins Township, Ohio, firefighters administer oxygen to a dog rescued from a house fire in Sandusky, Ohio. Under a new Ohio law taking effect Aug. 31, 2016, firefighters and EMTs can provide basic first aid to dogs and cats rescued from house fires, car accidents or other crisis situations, treatment that only licensed veterinarians could legally provide under existing law. 

In this June 24, 2008, file photo, fire paramedic Kelsey Ward administers oxygen to a pet cat that suffered smoke inhalation before it was rescued from an apartment fire in Enon, Ohio. Under a new Ohio law taking effect Aug. 31, 2016, firefighters and EMTs can provide basic first aid to dogs and cats rescued from house fires, car accidents or other crisis situations, treatment that only licensed veterinarians could legally provide under existing law. 


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Weekend Outing at Cincinnati's Zoo Turned Tragic When a 4-Year-Old Boy Was Hospitalized After Falling into a Gorilla Enclosure

A holiday weekend outing at Cincinnati's zoo turned doubly tragic Saturday when a 4-year-old boy was hospitalized after falling into a gorilla enclosure - and zoo workers had to kill the rare gorilla to protect the boy.

Cincinnati police and emergency crews responded to a report of a child falling into the exhibit at the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden at about 4 p.m. Saturday. Police confirmed the child was taken to Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center near the zoo, and was treated for serious injuries that were not considered to be life-threatening.

Cincinnati Zoo President Thane Maynard said the boy crawled through a barrier and fell an estimated 10 to 12 feet into the moat surrounding the habitat. He said the boy was not seriously injured by the fall.

The Cincinnati Fire Department reported in a press release that first responders "witnessed a gorilla who was violently dragging and throwing the child."

Maynard said the zoo's 17-year-old male western lowland gorilla, Harambe, grabbed the boy and dragged him around. Two female gorillas were also in the enclosure.

The boy was with the 400-pound animal for about 10 minutes before the zoo's Dangerous Animal Response Team deemed the situation "life-threatening," Maynard said.

"The choice was made to put down, or shoot, Harambe, so he's gone," Maynard said. "We've never had a situation like this at the Cincinnati Zoo where a dangerous animal needed to be dispatched in an emergency situation."

The fire department release said  the boy was in between the gorilla's legs at the time of the shot.

Maynard said the Dangerous Animal Response Team followed procedures, which they practice in drills. He said in the 38-year history of the zoo's gorilla exhibit that they've never had anyone get into the enclosure.

After the gorilla was shot, zoo employees unlocked the gate and two firefighters quickly retrieved the child, according to the fire department.

"It's a sad day all the way around," Maynard said. "They made a tough choice. They made the right choice because they saved that little boy's life. It could have been very bad."

Brittany Nicely of Dayton was visiting the zoo with her two children and four other children on Saturday. They were at Gorilla World when the incident took place.

"Out of the corner of my eye, I saw the little boy in the bushes past the little fence area. I tried to grab for him. I started yelling at him to come back," Nicely said.

"Everybody started screaming and going crazy," she said. "It happened so fast."

Nicely said the gorilla rushed toward the boy and led him by the arm through the water in the enclosure. She said initially the gorilla seemed protective and only alarmed by all the screaming.

The area was then evacuated by zoo staff. Nicely stood with her group outside the exhibit.

"About four or five minutes later we heard the gunshot," she said. "We were pretty distraught. All the kids were crying."

Nicely said she spent the whole trip home explaining why they are told to stay close and not run at the zoo.

"That could have been them," she said. "Something like that could have happened. It's a very traumatizing experience for anybody involved. The kids, the zookeepers, the other gorillas that now don't have him there any more."

News of the incident triggered huge social media response.   A video posted by the Enquirer  had been viewed about 71,000 times at 9:30 p.m. Saturday.

Many commenters criticized the parents of the boy for not watching him more closely. A Facebook group called Justice for Harambe was created and gathered more than 100 "likes" in less than two hours.

"This page was created to raise awareness of Harambe's murder on 5/28/16," the page states. "We wish to see charges brought against those responsible!"

Lt. Steve Saunders, the spokesman for the Cincinnati Police Department, said no charges were being pursued against the child's parents.

The decision to shoot Harambe instead of tranquilizing was made in the interest of the boy's safety, Maynard said.

"In an agitated situation, it may take quite a while for the tranquilizer to take effect," he explained, "At the instant he would be hit, he would have a dramatic response. You don't hit him and he falls over."

Maynard also explained that while Harambe didn't attack the child, the animal's size and strength posed a great danger.

"All sort of things could have happened in a situation like that. He certainly was at risk," Maynard said. "Our thoughts and prayers are with the family and little boy.”

He said that zoo officials have not yet spoken with the family of the child who fell into the habitat. Zoo officials will be reviewing the security of the enclosure and their procedures, but said they have no plans to stop the gorilla program.

Harambe was born at the Gladys Porter Zoo in Brownsville, Texas before he was moved to Cincinnati in September 2014. Another gorilla, Gladys, named for her home zoo, also come to Cincinnati from Brownville.

Western lowland gorillas are one of the four gorilla subspecies. According to the World Wildlife Foundation, populations of the critically endangered animal are hard to estimate due to the dense, remote rainforests where they make their home, but experts say between 175,000 to 225,000 could live in mostly in Congo, but also in Angola, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Equatorial Guinea, and Gabon.

In 2009, the International Species Information System counted 158 male western lowland gorillas and 183 females in captivity in the United States.

"Harambe was good guy. He was a youngest who started to grow up. There were hopes to breed him," Maynard said. "It will be a loss to the gene pool of lowland gorillas."

The zoo is open Sunday, but Gorilla World will remain closed until further notice.










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Happy Mother's Day!

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Truth About Pet Food

The latest Pet Food privilege announced by the FDA is regarding prescription cat and dog food. All pet food consumers and veterinarians should take note of this recent FDA Compliance Policy.

For decades the FDA has strictly enforced their idea that drugs are the only cure or treatment for illness – refusing to allow any food to make health or wellness claims. A claim such as ‘An apple a day keeps the doctor away’ is forbidden.

But in the FDA’s infinite collusion with Big Industry, the agency allows pet food the same privilege of a drug (to claim it can cure or treat disease) without any of the requirements of a drug. Pet food is allowed to claim it can cure or treat disease without having to prove the effectiveness or even the safety of the pet food.

Kidney Function Canine Formula Dry/Kibble. This dog food, sold through a veterinarian, is allowed to make the claim of treating kidney disease in dogs.

Ingredients (bold added for emphasis): “Whole grain corn, brewers rice, dried egg product, animal fat preserved with mixed-tocopherols (form of Vitamin E), sugar, dried whey, sodium caseinate, animal digest, calcium carbonate, vegetable oil, potassium chloride, L-Lysine monohydrochloride, fish oil, salt, potassium citrate, choline chloride, zinc sulfate, ferrous sulfate, Vitamin E supplement, niacin, manganese sulfate, Vitamin A supplement, calcium pantothenate, thiamine mononitrate, copper sulfate, riboflavin supplement, Vitamin B-12 supplement, pyridoxine hydrochloride, garlic oil, folic acid, Vitamin D-3 supplement, calcium iodate, biotin, menadione sodium bisulfite complex (source of Vitamin K activity), sodium selenite.”

To read more on this story, click here: Truth About Pet Food

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National Pet Week – May 1 - 7, 2016

Lifetime of Love -- The Basics: Seven days to a happier, healthier pet

Everyone loves their pets but not everyone is aware of what their pet needs from them to keep them happy and healthy long into their pet's senior years. Leading veterinary experts in animal health, welfare, and behavior invite you to take each of the essential actions highlighted during National Pet Week® that are vital to achieving a Lifetime of Love.

Select the pet that's right for your family's lifestyle, and make a commitment to that pet for its life. Even if you have already welcomed a pet into your home, your veterinarian can help you better understand the social and healthcare needs of your individual pet.

Learn about how to appropriately prepare your pet to enjoy a variety of interactions with other animals, people, places and activities. Everyone will be more comfortable!

To read more on this story, click here: National Pet Week – May 1-7, 2016

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Pet Owners Deserve Family Leave, Too

Bringing my adopted cat, Jameson, home with me in 2014 was one of the happiest days of my life.

Having to go back to work two days later was one of the worst.

While the rest of the country is hung up on the necessity of maternity leave — or even the newly coined “meternity” — one group continues to be overlooked when it comes to paid time off from work: new pet owners.

“Paw-ternity” leave is already a reality in the UK — the US pet-insurance provider Petplan found that nearly 5 percent of new pet owners in the UK were offered time off to care for their four-legged kids. (Not surprisingly, the UK is also light-years ahead of the US when it comes to maternity leave, offering up to 39 weeks of paid leave for new mothers.)

It’s time for the US to hop aboard the “paw-ternity” train. It’s not just because I want to stay home and cuddle on the couch with my new feline (which I do). When I adopted Jameson, he was 6 years old and had spent the previous year of his life in an animal shelter. He was suffering from several health problems after being neglected by his previous owner — and was skittish, nervous and uncertain about why he was suddenly being transported to a strange new home.

To read more on this story, click here: Pet Owners Deserve Family Leave, Too

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A Horse Clipper Has Become a UK Sensation Because of Her Serious Horse Clipping Skills

Melody Hames, 27, began clipping her own pet pony at the age of 12, and is now an absolute pro at it.

She had to trim her pony frequently because it suffered from a condition called cushings, causing it to have a thick woolly coat which doesn't change in the warmer season.

As she became more experience she decided to set up her own clipping company in Lancashire, JMC Equestrian.

She set up shop in 2013 and business has been booming ever since.

She used to do normal clippings, but has expanded her horizons after getting quirky requests from clients.

The clipper is now inundated with requests for fancy horse trimmings before shows.

Explaining how she decides patterns, she said: 'Often I will visualize it in my head and clarify it with a quick look at related objects which in turn can create new ideas and viewpoints.

"I sketched out different shapes for castles and also for the armour clip as I knew I wanted a specific kind of style castle and sword.

"This helps me visualize in my head and I run with it from there.

"I use a wide range of blades and clippers, I have blades and clippers to suit pretty much every situation, and ever breed as well as coat type.

"No stencils have been used to date or CGIs here - all hand crafted, it's very much like a craft to me that only comes with experience and practice."

Her designs, some which she draws freehand, take from 30 minutes to eight or nine hours to do.

She is most proud of her castle design, which she did over a few days.

She continued: "I would work for as long as it took though, over the space of days, to suit the horse.

"The castle is important to me as it kick started the larger scale custom clipping and gave me something to really work at. It got me a lot of attention.

"This season my favorite has been the Armour De L'Amore clip as it's on my personal horse Romeo and I have worked over time to build him up.

"Now he stands unaltered with complete trust while I work which has been a challenge as he's was a very nervous character and still is but he trusts me and it's a great feeling."

She trims complex medieval designs into the animals for her clients, and the horses she works on always look fabulous!

You wish you were as beautiful as this horse. Credit: Facebook/JMC Equestrian Custom Clipping

This is definitely Beyonce as a horse. Credit: Facebook/JMC Equestrian Custom Clipping

Just look at this great horse. Credit: Facebook/JMC Equestrian Custom Clipping

Credit: JMC Equestrian Custom Clipping

She hand-draws all her designs. Credit: Facebook/JMC Equestrian Custom Clipping

Utterly majestic! Credit: Facebook/JMC Equestrian

  

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Prince George’s County, Maryland - Prince George's County Animal Shelter: We Could Sure Use More Washable Stuffed Animals for Our Four-Legged Friends Here

We could sure use more washable stuffed animals (not beany-baby type) for our four-legged friends here. Gather them up from your grown kids' room and donate them. The animals here cuddle and love them, or they tear them up and we clean up after them. It's a chance we love to take.

 We also need your empty toilet paper and paper towel rolls. . . just place an extra bag under your bathroom cabinet and save them for us instead of throwing or recycling them. We have a great idea for their use!

Oh, and one more thing . . . plain yogurt -- any brand! Thank you to our generous community for helping out whenever you can.

3750 Brown Station Road

Upper Marlboro, Maryland

(301) 780-7200

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UPDATE - WHS/WARL: Stolen Kitten, Princess Jazzy Returned, Thanks to the Swift Actions of the Washington, DC, Metropolitan Police Department

WASHINGTON, D.C. –.  Three days after her disappearance from the Washington Humane Society-Washington Animal Rescue League (WHS/WARL) New York Avenue Adoption Center, three-month old kitten Princess Jazzy is safely in the caring hands of WHS/WARL staff.

“We are thrilled that Princess Jazzy is back with us safely thanks to the swift actions of the Metropolitan Police Department and alert WHS/WARL staff,” said Lisa LaFontaine, WHS/WARL President & CEO.   “This case is another example of how we will do everything possible to protect the animals in our community, regardless of their size, species or age.   We are especially relieved because Princess Jazzy was under medical treatment prior to the theft and she will now continue to get the care she needs as she awaits adoption into a responsible and loving home.”

WHS/WARL staff members on duty Saturday were able to record a license plate number from a vehicle leaving the Adoption Center shortly after the kitten was reported missing.  The Metropolitan Police Department tracked down Princess Jazzy with the license plate information and returned the kitten to the New York Avenue Adoption Center.

The incident remains under investigation.

About Washington Animal Rescue League/Washington Humane Society (WARL/WHS)

The Washington Humane Society -Washington Animal Rescue League combined organization cares for more than 60,000 animals annually. The merger of the two organizations created the first end-to-end animal care organization in a major U.S. city.  The broad range of programs offered include: rescue and adoption, humane law enforcement, low-cost veterinary services, animal care & control, behavior and training, spay-neuter services, humane education, and many others.  Operating four animal-care facilities in Washington, D.C., the organization occupies a significant footprint in the District, and serves as a resource to current pet guardians and prospective adopters across the region.  Together, the organizations offer one, dynamic, industry-leading animal welfare organization in the Nation’s Capital; creating a unified vision for a model urban community for all animals – pets and wildlife alike – and the people who love them.

To read the initial story, click here: Washington, DC - $1,000 Reward for Information Leading to Arrest and Conviction of Person(s) Responsible for the Theft of a 3-Month-Old Kitten from a Local Animal Shelter (WHS/WARL)

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Washington, DC - $1,000 Reward for Information Leading to Arrest and Conviction of Person(s) Responsible for the Theft of a 3-Month-Old Kitten from a Local Animal Shelter (WHS/WARL)

Washington, DC - A three-month old female, brown tabby kitten named Princess Jazzy was stolen from the Washington Humane Society-Washington Animal Rescue League (WHS/WARL) Adoption Center on New York Ave in NE Saturday afternoon. WHS/WARL is offering a $1,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons responsible for the theft.

“It is hard to believe that someone would commit such a crime,” states Scott Giacoppo, Chief Community Welfare Officer for WHS/WARL.  “In addition to breaking the law, they have put this kitten’s health in jeopardy by circumventing our easy adoption process, and denying the kitten needed medical care.”

WHS/WARL is now appealing to the public to help get Princess Jazzy back to the Adoption Center so that she can receive all the medical procedures that go into the adoption process and to ensure that the family that takes her fully understands her needs. Anyone with information is urged to call 1- 202-576-6664.

About Washington Animal Rescue League/Washington Humane Society (WARL/WHS)

The Washington Humane Society - Washington Animal Rescue League combined organization cares for more than 60,000 animals annually. The merger of the two organizations created the first end-to-end animal care organization in a major U.S. city.  The broad range of programs offered include: rescue and adoption, humane law enforcement, low-cost veterinary services, animal care & control, behavior and training, spay-neuter services, humane education, and many others.  Operating four animal-care facilities in Washington, D.C., the organization occupies a significant footprint in the District, and serves as a resource to current pet guardians and prospective adopters across the region.  Together, the organizations offer one, dynamic, industry-leading animal welfare organization in the Nation’s Capital; creating a unified vision for a model urban community for all animals – pets and wildlife alike – and the people who love them.

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Humane Society of Wicomico County Need Your Help: Donations Needed for the 300 Dogs Rescued from Puppy Mill

Wicomico County, Maryland - After rescuing more than 300 dogs from a property in Eden, the Humane Society of Wicomico County is asking for donations to help care for the dogs. The Humane Society is asking for donations to help lessen the burden for the care of the newly rescued pups. The current needs for the Humane Society of Wicomico County are the following items:

Wet/Canned Dog Food  (NO DRY BAGGED DOG FOOD)

Dog/Puppy Treats

Fabuloso Cleaner (Purple)

Gallons of Bleach 

Chlorox Cleaner

Spray Bleach  

Paper Towels 

Liquid Dishwashing Soap  

Liquid Laundry Detergent 

 Puppy Pads for lining kennels (NO NEWSPAPERS)  

These items can be dropped off at the following locations and times:

Humane Society of Wicomico County 5130 Citation Drive Salisbury, MD 21804. At the front doors from Monday to Saturday 11 am to 4 pm.

Wicomico County Government Office Building 125 N. Division Street, Salisbury, MD 21801. First Floor Foyer - Monday to Friday 8 am to 5 pm.

Wicomico County Civic Center 500 Glen Avenue Salisbury, MD 21801. Box Office Entrance Monday to Friday 8 am to 5 pm.

Wicomico County Solid Waste 6948 Brick Kiln Road Salisbury, MD 21801. At the scale house Monday to Friday 8 am to 4 pm.

Monetary donations are also welcome, and appreciated. Those can be placed through the Humane Society's webpage using the Pay Pal link. Officials are asking that those looking to donate use that link, as this ensures the funds go directly to the Humane Society of Wicomico County. The money raised will reportedly be used for the overwhelming expenses of medications, grooming, and other care for the animals.

The Humane Society says they will be updating their website, as the animals become available for adoption. They are asking that those who are interested, be patient, and not call the shelter at this time.

Update:

Humane Society of Wicomico County:

Thank you for your overwhelming support to help our animals. At this time we kindly ask that you check our website for our needs. We no longer need dry/bagged dog food. We can use wet/canned food. Please no more newspapers but only puppy pads. Cleaning supplies are the most urgent need with bleach, paper towels, liquid dish detergent and liquid laundry detergent. Hand sanitizer can always be used also.

  

Humane Society of Wicomico County Website

You may be interested in reading:  300 Dogs Discovered in Cramped and Deplorable Conditions During a Routine Kennel Check by County Officials

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Inky the Octopus Slipped Through a Gap at the Top of His Enclosure: Escapes Down Pipe to Ocean

By the time the staff at New Zealand’s National Aquarium noticed that he was missing, telltale suction cup prints were the main clue to an easily-solved mystery.

Inky had said see ya to his tank-mate, slipped through a gap left by maintenance workers at the top of his enclosure and, as evidenced by the tracks, made his way across the floor to a six-inch-wide drain. He squeezed his football-sized body in — octopuses are very malleable, aquarium manager Rob Yarrall told the New Zealand website Stuff — and made a break for the Pacific.

“He managed to make his way to one of the drain holes that go back to the ocean. And off he went,” Yarrall told Radio New Zealand. “And he didn’t even leave us a message.”

The cephalopod version of “Shawshank Redemption” took place three months ago, but it only became public Tuesday. Inky, who already had some local renown in the coastal city of Napier, quickly became a global celebrity cheered on by strangers.

Inky had resided at the aquarium since 2014, when he was taken in after being caught in a crayfish pot, his body scarred and his arms injured. The octopus’s name was chosen from nominations submitted to a contest run by the Napier City Council.

Kerry Hewitt, the aquarium’s curator of exhibits, said at the time that Inky was “getting used to being at the aquarium” but added that staff would “have to keep Inky amused or he will get bored.”

Guess that happened.

This isn’t the first time a captive octopus decided to take matters into its own hands — er, tentacles. In 2009, after a two-spotted octopus at the Santa Monica Pier Aquarium in California took apart a water recycling valve, directed a tube to shoot water out of the tank for 10 hours and caused a massive flood, Scientific American asked octopus expert Jennifer Mather about the animals’ intelligence and previous such hijinks at aquariums.

“They are very strong, and it is practically impossible to keep an octopus in a tank unless you are very lucky. … Octopuses simply take things apart,” Mather said. “I recall reading about someone who had built a robot submarine to putter around in a large aquarium tank. The octopus got a hold of it and took it apart piece by piece. There’s a famous story from the Brighton Aquarium in England 100 years ago that an octopus there got out of its tank at night when no one was watching, went to the tank next door and ate one of the lumpfish and went back to his own tank and was sitting there the next morning.”

Yarrall said the aquarium has no plans to replace Inky, but it does intend to better secure the tank where now just one octopus remains.

“They are always exploring and they are great escape artists,” Yarrall said, according to Hawke’s Bay Today. “We’ll be watching the other one.”

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Meet Kora, the 120 Pound Great Dane that Had to Be Rescued from 20 Feet Up in a Tree

When the Plattsmouth Fire Department got a call Saturday night that a 120-pound Great Dane was stuck 20-feet up in a tree, the department didn't believe it.

"We kind of looked at each other ... they can't be serious," said Jon Hardy, a lieutenant with the department.

The department was covering calls for Louisville, Neb., that night because the area's emergency teams were attending a recognition dinner. Members of Elmwood Volunteer Fire and Rescue and Cass County Sheriff’s Office also responded to the call.

And, sure enough, a big dog up a tree is what they found.

No one saw how Kora, the Great Dane who is a quarter Mastiff, got up the tree, but there's suspicion she was chasing a raccoon. After her owner got home from dinner, she couldn't find the dog. Sounds of whimpering led her to a tree in her backyard, where she spotted her stranded pup. A friend of the owner climbed the tree to comfort the dog until the fire and rescue teams arrived.

First, the 15 responders tried to help Kora down the same way she got up with the assistance of a chest harness and a ladder. Kora wasn't having it.

Next, someone attached a leash to the harness. Then, rescuers stretched out a tarp as a safety net. They nudged the dog off of the branch.

"She never hit the ground," Hardy said. "It worked like we hoped."

The dog ran into her house like nothing happened, he said. It's a rescue he will never forget.

"I’ve been doing this 12 years and this is first dog we got out of a tree," Hardy said.

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Today is National Pet Day: What Plans Do You Have for Your Pet(s)?

Pet Day is a chance for those of us who own pets to show them how much we love them. Now, we all can think of the traditional things: a new toy, some tasty treats, or a long walk in the park, maybe a game of fetch, assuming you have a dog! But, think outside the box and come up with some ideas to celebrate your relationship with your pet. Once you have indulged your own animals with their favorite treats, why not consider donating to a shelter or other animal welfare organization?

There are so many neglected and unwanted animals waiting for some love and attention. You can donate your time, or you can donate food or other supplies. Every little bit helps. If you don’t already own a pet, what better time to adopt one? A good phrase to keep in mind is “adopt, don’t shop.”

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