The ASPCA says to securely anchor your Christmas tree so it doesn’t tip and fall, causing possible injury to your pet. This will also prevent the tree water, which may contain fertilizers that can cause stomach upset, from spilling. Stagnant tree water is a breeding ground for bacteria, and your pet could end up with nausea or diarrhea should he imbibe.
Keep these items away from your pet: Glass ornaments, Christmas trees, poinsettias, Christmas cheer, spun glass or angel hair, foil candy wrappers, batteries, lit candles, electric lights, tinsel, electrical cords, metal hangers, spray snow, angel hair, Christmas ribbon, Christmas tree ornaments and Christmas tree water.
Tips:
1. Try to keep all foods pushed toward the back of the counter, prepared and uncooked. 2. Feed your dog in their dog bowl. 3. Caution your guest on arrival about giving table foods to your dog. 4. If you have guests coming into the home around the holidays this poses many dangers to pets. A child who does not know how to properly interact with your dog may end up the victim of a dog bite incident. 5. If you think someone gave your dog table food, contact your vet immediately. The same is true if your dog got into the trash and ate something he shouldn't have. Since most vet offices are closed on holidays including Christmas, you should have an emergency contact number on hand. Most likely, this will be the nearest Pet Emergency Center. Merry Christmas from The Pet Tree House!
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New Jersey has made history by becoming the first state in the country to ban the use of numerous wild animal species, including elephants, tigers, lions, bears and primates, in circuses and traveling shows. Governor Phil Murphy today signed into law a measure that recognizes both the animal welfare concerns and the public safety dangers posed by such shows. The bill passed the state Senate unanimously in June, and the General Assembly in October. To date, four states and close to 150 localities across 37 states have passed laws governing the use of wild animals in circuses and traveling shows and many more are in the process of considering legislation. In 2016, California and Rhode Island banned bullhooks, a cruel elephant training tool. In 2017, Illinois and New York banned the use of elephants in traveling shows. In Hawaii, we await the signature of Gov. David Ige on a regulation enacted by the board of agriculture to ban dangerous wild animals, including tigers, lions, bears, primates, elephants and crocodiles, from being brought into the state to perform in circuses, carnivals and other public exhibitions. To read more on this story, click here:Breaking News: New Jersey Becomes First State to Adopt a Sweeping Ban on Wild Animals in Circuses
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Three poachers were killed in the Sibuya Game Reserve in South Africa, but not by men. They were eaten by lions. It is believed that the three men illegally entered the game reserve to poach rhinos. Instead they found themselves in an unusual — and deadly — situation. “They strayed into a pride of lions – it’s a big pride so they didn’t have too much time,” Mr. Fox told AFP news agency. “We’re not sure how many there were – there’s not much left of them.” The lions needed to be tranquilized before anyone could approach the remains of the poachers. Because of this, the bodies were not recovered right away. Eventually recovered at the scene were: three pairs of shoes, various limbs, and a head. In addition, equipment often used by poachers for cutting off rhino horns were also recovered. Some people felt that the poachers got exactly what they deserved. Ricky Gervais, who’s a comedian, actor, write, and director, posted dryly, “Rest in pieces.” Other people were concerned about the lions, and the reserve was contacted about their health after the attack. The lions didn’t show any changes in behavior, according to Fox. To read more on this story, click here:Three ‘Rhino Poachers’ Eaten By Lions After Breaking In To South African Game Reserve
PETA and AALAS have been kind enough to provide the following perspectives on this controversial subject: 1. People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) [www.peta.org] We are writing in regards to the "free to good home" advertisements that appear on the Craigslist website. As you may be aware, animals given away for free can, and unfortunately often do, meet gruesome fates. They can end up in the hands of animal abusers like Barry Herbeck, a Wisconsin man who was convicted last year of torturing and killing animals he obtained through "free to good home" ads. He confessed to taking his kids with him when responding to the ads so people would be comfortable turning animals over to him. People known as "bunchers," who obtain animals illegally from random sources to sell to research facilities for profit, often acquire animals by answering "free to good home" ads. Small animals advertised as "free to good home" are sometimes acquired by individuals who intend to use them as bait in training other animals to fight. Gerbils, hamsters, and young kittens are often acquired to be used as snake food. Animal protection organizations all over the United States work diligently to educate people about the proper procedure for placing animals and frequently assist people in finding good homes for their animals. We routinely contact individuals who place "free to good home" advertisements to alert them to the potential perils for their animals and continuously receive appreciative calls from people who say they never knew these dangers existed. To read more on this story, click here:Pet Ads On Craigslist
It’s been a tough year for emotional support animals. Several have made headlines due to incidents with airlines and, in response, many airlines have tightened their restrictions on these animals. The latest: Delta announced in a press release on Monday that it will be imposing stricter regulations on emotional support animals on its flights. Specifically, emotional support animals will not be allowed on flights longer than eight hours. Age also matters. Emotional support animals and trained service animals will not be allowed on flights if they are under 4 months old. This comes less than a year after Delta announced that it would tighten its regulations on emotional support animals in response to an 84 percent increase in incidents with the animals since 2016. The airline specifically called out animals peeing and pooping on flights and biting passengers or crew. United Airlines also changed its emotional support animal policy after an emotional support peacock was denied access to a flight. United now requires “additional documentation,” including a veterinary health form that shows the animal has been properly vaccinated and has been trained to “behave properly in a public setting. With prior documentation and clearance, a customer may travel with no more than one emotional support animal, which cannot weigh more than 65 pounds,” the new regulations say. To read more on this story, click here:‘The System is Clearly Abused’: Why 2018 Was a Terrible Year for Emotional Support Pets on Planes
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Incredible neon sea creatures have been captured lighting up the ocean with their vibrant colors – in what looked like a scene from Avatar. Photographer Simon Pierce, 39, took the images over several months after visiting both Nosy Sakatia in Madagascar and Mafia Island in Tanzania recently. He was thrilled to spot the biofluorescence creatures – which produce their own light – he managed to capture, including fireflies and glow worms. Simon, who is also a marine biologist, from New Plymouth, New Zealand, said: “I felt like I was in the film Avatar capturing these images. “I wanted to capture a phenomena called biofluorescence.” To read more on this story, click here:Neon Sea Creatures Light Up Ocean With Vibrant Colors
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Albino animals are an odd freak of nature, appearing ghost-like in their all-white form contrary to the color of most of their fellow species. Yet, they can be quite beautiful in their plainness. Some 300 species of animals in North America have these rare albino individuals that appear white because of a congenital absence of any pigmentation or coloration, resulting in white hair and pink or blue eyes in mammals. In some cases, unusually white creatures are actually leucistic animals—those that feature a partial loss of pigmentation that doesn’t affect the eye color. To read more on this story, click here:Albino Animals Are a Stunning Oddity of Nature
South Dakota winters can be brutal, with an average annual snowfall of 41 inches. So, the Rapid City Police Department decided to provide some protection for its Belgian Malinois police dog, Jary, in the form of winter boots, according to a post on the department’s Facebook page. But when a K-9 officer put the boots on Jary for the first time, it was immediately obvious the dog was not a fan of the protective gear. Even though he tried on the boots indoors, his gait looked as if he were trudging through big snow drifts. And after the police department posted video of the dog’s first tentative steps on social media, it’s fair to wonder if Jary was more chagrined by having to wear the boots or by the national notoriety that followed. Check out the entire police department video below: (Click on arrow twice to start video)
