Did you know more than 40,000 pets die each year in house fires and that 1,000 dogs cause fires every year? As the summer heats up, so too does the danger of fire. Here are some tips to keep both you and your dog safe. How Pets Start Fires Candles create a beautiful glow, but can be a fire hazard as your dog or cat knocks them off a table. Now they make flameless candles, which are just a pretty as the real ones … plus they are less messy! Pets are curious so be careful of them approaching fireplaces as well. Do not let your dog or cat chew electrical cords. Be careful of crock pots that can be tipped over while you are away from home and your pet is alone. Believe it or not, many dogs and cats have managed to turn on a stove or range with their tails! Consider stove top covers like the kind used to baby proof your home. Puppies can often chew through cords and start electrical fires. You may want to keep your puppy in a crate while you are gone during the day to keep him out of mischief. Beware of water bowls on wooden decks. The hot rays of the sun, when filtered through a glass water bowl can actually ignite the wooden deck. To read more on this story, click here:July is National Pet Fire Safety Month
Boston -- Police dogs simply follow their noses to sniff out narcotics. But inhaling powerful opioids can be deadly, so officers have a new tool to protect their four-legged partners: naloxone, a drug that has already been used for years to reverse overdoses in humans. Law enforcement officers have started carrying naloxone with them on drug raids, when K-9s are often sent into houses or cars to find narcotics. Three police dogs in Florida were rushed to an animal hospital last year when they ingested fentanyl, a powerful painkiller that is often mixed with street heroin but 50 times more potent. Massachusetts State Police started carrying naloxone for their K-9s in March. Police in Hartford, Connecticut, started in January. Even just a small amount of powdered fentanyl can sicken police officers who come in contact with it during an arrest. Just last month, Ohio police officer Chris Green nearly died from an accidental overdose after patting down a suspect and getting white powder, believed to be fentanyl, on his hands. To read more on this story, click here:New Drug Kits Save Police Dogs from Opioid Overdoses
During the dog days of summer, the last place your dog should be is in a car alone. In Maryland, it is illegal to leave a cat or dog in a standing or parked car in a manner that endangers the health or safety of that animal. It is also illegal for a bystander to smash a car window to save a pet trapped in a hot car. The law allows for police, local and state public safety employees, animal control officers, and fire rescue volunteers to use reasonable force to remove a cat or dog left in a car without being held liable for any damages. “Even if you have the windows down, even if it's in a shady place, I recommend just trying to avoid [leaving a pet in a car] at all costs” said Dr. Amelia Kaeding with Falls Road Animal Hospital. Different breeds can feel the effects of heat faster, particularly older dogs and puppies. “Swollen tongue, so if their tongue is looking really big. And then once heatstroke gets much more serious, I worry about vomiting and diarrhea, especially if there's blood in it; muscle weakness, shaking, tremors, they can even get seizures,” said Dr. Kaeding. Dogs with a lot of hair or smooshed faces are also very susceptible to heat stroke, and it doesn't take long for a car to get hot. “Even on a 70 degree day and it feels nice and cool out, if you leave a dog in a car, it can get to 90 degrees in about 10 minutes,” said Stephen Wells the executive director with the Animal Legal Defense Fund (ALDF). The ALDF tracks various “hot car” and “Good Samaritan” laws in different states. Twenty-nine states have some form of a hot car law that prohibits leaving a companion animal in an unattended vehicle. However, the laws differ place to place. “In Maryland, there is a law that allows emergency responders to be able to break into a car but not members of the public, at this time,” Wells said. Wells added it’s not likely for someone to face charges if they saved the animal, but there’s always a chance. He said it helps to do a few things to make sure you’re covered. “It's good to have a witness, have somebody there. Make sure you're prepared to take care of that dog once you get them out. Do the least amount of damage possible and just make sure you don't risk the dog's or anyone else's safety while you're doing that,” Wells said. Eleven states currently have Good Samaritan laws that grant immunity to anyone freeing a trapped animal. Dr. Kaeding also warns pet owners to watch that their pets don't overheat while playing outside. If they do, it's recommended you take them to the veterinarian. You should also blow a cold fan on them, and dip them in cool water. Do not use ice or ice cold water. It can constrict the blood vessels and cause the dog to actually retain heat.
At 4' 4" tall and weighing in at 50 pounds, Darius is currently the biggest rabbit in the world! The craziest part? He may not hold that title for much longer because his son is on track to be even bigger. Jeff is 3' 8" and still has about 6 months of growing left. His owner, Annette Edwards, expects him to be much bigger than his dad. The two are members of the Continental Giant breed, which was bred for their meat, but are now loving house pets. They are so large that they must sleep in large dog crates instead of rabbit cages. The rabbits eat their way through 2,000 carrots and 700 apples a year.
Montgomery County Humane Society: We are low on a few items: *Fabuloso *Toilet paper *Paper towels *Canned kitten food *Dog & cat toys *trash bags (30 gallon) If you can help us, our hours to drop off are from 11:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. daily at 601 S. Stonestreet Avenue, Rockville, Maryland 20850 Thanks you guys so much for your support!
Indianapolis, IN - Second lady Karen Pence paid tribute to the cat Saturday on Twitter, saying Oreo "touched a lot of hearts in your little life." Oreo along with the family's other cat, Pickle, and rabbit, Marlon Bundo became famous in January, when the family moved to Washington, D.C. Oreo made his national debut in a photo of the U.S. Air Force flight, which Vice President Mike Pence tweeted. Since then, Marlon Bundo, better known as BOTUS (Bunny of the United States), has remained in the spotlight with an Instagram page. The black-and-white rabbit even has made White House appearances, recently stealing the show at an event for Military Appreciation Month. At the time, Karen Pence said he was "kind of famous," as the first bunny to ride on Air Force Two. CNN reported Oreo was 13 years old, according to an aide to the vice president.
Lakeland, Florida – A Lakeland couple is making sure their 17-year-old rescued Chihuahua’s golden years are his best, experiencing the love every dog should, the love he missed out on during years of abuse and neglect. Tiffany and Billy Hutto rescued Coffee Bean after he was left abandoned and abused on a street in Miami. The Huttos have now created a bucket list for Coffee Bean and are determined to check off as many items as possible. Coffee Bean has met Miss Florida, walked on the beach at sunset, and had a massage, complete with a manicure and pedicure. “I wanted him to know what it felt like to have unconditional love. So I decided, why not do ia bucket list,” his new mom Tiffany Hutto told WFLA. Tiffany contacted the city hoping to fulfill a few more items. Coffee Bean met City Manager Tony Delgado and was presented a “Bone to the City”. A trip to the Lakeland Fire Department made this little dog’s day when he got to sit in a big fire truck. Coffee Bean was also made an honorary K-9 for the day, with a badge placed around his neck by Lakeland Police Chief Larry Giddens. “I would say perseverance. Leading that kind of life and still have the will to get up and go and live out 17 years is pretty Extraordinary,” Lakeland Police Officer and K-9 Handler Chad Whitaker said. “We picked things around here that wouldn’t be so difficult to do, and wouldn’t tire him out. I think it’s helped him perk up because when we got him he was severely depressed,” Hutto said. They found Coffee Bean two months ago at Pawlicious Poochie Pet Rescue in Pinellas County. The organization rescues dying, critically ill and old dogs. According to the owner of the nonprofit rescue, Jaime Mcknight, Coffee Bean was a critical case. When he was rescued, she spent weeks at a vet clinic trying to save him when he originally arrived. His new family has several dogs with special needs. Hutto said she hopes to encourage other people to adopt animals with special conditions. As for Coffee Bean, he still has more items to cross off his list. You can follow Coffee Bean at his Facebook page.
Eighty ducks have allegedly died in the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool within a matter of two days, the National Park Service reports. From May 20th to May 21st, approximately 80 ducks were found deceased in the Reflecting Pool, a press release reads. National Park Service (NPS) says a necropsy performed on the ducks revealed their death was caused by "high levels of parasites that developed and grew in snails that live in the pool." Chemicals alone are not sufficient enough to fully reduce the parasite and snail population, so the pool must be drained and cleaned, NPS says. NPS says humans who come into contact with the parasite could develop a "swimmer's itch:" an allergic reaction in the form of a skin rash. They say it is not contagious and rarely requires medical attention. It will take around two days for the pool to be fully drained, NPS says. Crews are set to clean the pool on Tuesday, June 13 and the pool is expected to begin refilling on Friday, June 16.
