It's National Pet Sitting Week, Plan a Trip, Enjoy



As I am sitting here typing this, I am listening to the weather. Yet again, another snowstorm is going to blast through North Andover. What to do?

Well, as you are hunkered down in your home, looking out the window at the never ending snow, I recommend PLAN A TRIP... Why not, you deserve it, it has been a very long winter. Have pets? Don't let that stop your plans. There are several reputable pet care services in our community.

I've been working in pet care for over 11yrs and I have tackled hurricanes, snowstorms, power outages and floods. Mother Nature and I have had our differences but in the end we both understand the pets still need to be care for.

If you are looking for a pet care provider here are a couple helpful tips:
1. Insured & Bonded
2. Registered Business with the town
3. CPR certified
4. Accomplishments in the industry and in the community

Common questions to ask:
1. What type of animal experience does the person have? ( holding a leash doesn't count)
2. How many dogs will be walked together at the same time
3. Who will have the key/access to your home
4. Is the business affiliated with any organizations within the pet/business industry
5. References

Pet Sitters International is one of the top business organizations in the pet care industry. They have announced this week is National Pet Sitting Week - a week dedicated to the hardworking and loving people that care for your pets.
If you are looking for a pet care provider in your area I suggest you visit this website and type in your zip code www.petsit.com


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Diggin ' Out the Dog Walker - 2013

 

 

 

 



Winter Wonderland and Your Dog

As the season changes and the snow and cold approaches us, we must consider how this affects our dogs.
Like humans, dogs can experience hypothermia and frostbite. They can also become victims of inappropriate shelter, lack of water and become poisoned by heating oil and antifreeze.
When going outside you must make a conscience effort to keep your dog warm:
Short haired breeds or puppies- please consider a sweater or coat. Chances are they will only want to go out for a quick potty break. Because of their lack of fur they will become cold much quicker. Take them out and immediately back in. A quick 5-10 minute piddle break is sufficient and then you can spoil them with outdoor play time. You and your dog will be much warmer and happier.

Long haired breeds and big dogs- They will probably be pummeling through the snow in your yard and having a great time. Keep an eye on them, do limit their time, but know they will have a longer tolerance to the cold than the tiny pups.

Dry your dogs off thoroughly when they come in. This will eliminate the chill that could linger along their bodies and help prevent the flu. For our long haired furry friends, brush regularly, salt and dirt could build up in their fur. This could also cause other health problems, make your dog smell, and will most likely drag a lot of dirt into your home too.
Check all your dogs paws for salt. If they have fur in between their paws, cut the fur back or ask your groomer to do this. Salt could build up and sting your dog or may cause your dog to lick profusely. This may cause your dogs to cut their paw pads while they are trying to dig the salt out.
Frostbite does happen quite quickly to our pets. The most common areas affected are the ears, toes tails and their lungs. But how do you know if your dog is experiencing frostbite? The frost bitten area may become read or swollen or the skin may become pale. Your dog may even attempt to tell your with a little whimper too.
If Frostbite is to happen: Cover the area in a blanket and rub your hands over that area. This will help get the blood to circulate. Also, take a warm towel and place it on the affected area, please do not use a hot towel. Hot over warm may be too strong for your dog and this could cause the body to go into shock. Call your Veterinarian if you believe your dog has experienced frostbite.
On the days our weather provides strong winds or low temperatures and the wind-chill falls below zero are the days you will want to forgo a long walk with your dog. Hypothermia can set in quite quickly with your dog. Dogs that experiences hypothermia usually show signs of shivering, stumbling, drowsiness and their body temperatures will have dropped dramatically. Same as a dog with frostbite, if you believe your dog has experienced hypothermia please contact your Veterinarian immediately.

Winter is here and will be with us for the next couple of months. As a dog owner if your take the proper precautions both you and your dog will have a lot of fun together and enjoy this Winter Wonderland !

http://northandover.patch.com/blog_posts/winter-wonderland-and-your-dog

Plan Ahead for Hurricane Sandy and Your Pets

Hurricane Sandy may or may not grace us with her presences this coming week however, let’s PLAN and be prepared:

1. A couple extra cans of dog or cat food
2. Can opener – manual not electric
3. Buy a gallon of water
4. Super yummy treats and a favorite toy
5. Medications- ( may be worth getting the prescription filled if running low )
6. Collar with ID tags – animals name and phone number and your contact info
7. Crate or a carrier – incase you must evacuate
8. Flashlight and extra batteries
9. Wee Wee pads and some cleaning supplies
10. Pet First Aid kit

Plan on indoor playtime! If you have a dog and cat that tend not to get along or a cat that is typically an outdoor cat…well your house may have a little extra energy this week. Please remember this is not the norm for your pets, they may be nervous, tired and or anxious please have a little extra patience with them.
Bring in your outdoor pets…ALL cats must come in!

1. If you have bunnies, try bringing their cage into your garage for a few days
2. If you have a barn, prep it and have extra food available incase you are unable to get outside to check on your animals

If you need to evacuate please remember:

1. Most hotels will allow you to bring your pet "in case of an emergency" but please call to confirm first.
2. If you are going to a family or friend’s home, This is all new to your pet too, understand your animal’s behavior may not be his normal self.
3. If you are being placed in a shelter please confirm they allow pets. A RED CROSS SHELTER WILL NOT ALLOW ANY ANIMAL INTO THEIR SHELTERS. Please request a town or FEMA sponsored shelter as they care and realize your pet is your family ~ ALL are welcomed

Tracey is the owner of Wiggles & Jiggles Pet Care of North Andover MA www.wigglewalk.webs.com on facebook at www.facebook.com/wigglesjigglespetcare

http://northandover.patch.com/blog_posts/plan-ahead-for-hurricane-sandy-and-your-pets

Animal Evacuation for Isaac: Have We Learned From Katrina?

courtesty photo AP Photo David J. Phillip

As I write this blog on Thursday August 30, 2012, 8 a.m., Hurricane Isaac has already hit ground in the Gulf of Mexico, Mississippi, Georgia and Alabama. Many homes have been destroyed and thousands of people have been evacuated. But the lingering question is What about their pets?

First of all, our prayers from all of us in North Andover, MA to all of the people affected by this storm. Included in our prayers will be the safety of your pets, livestock and wildlife.

Hurricane Katrina was the deadliest and most destructive hurricane of the 2005 Atlantic hurricane season. As the rescue efforts began with Katrina, one of the worst mistakes that was made during the rescue effort was mandating people leave their pets behind. First responders were instructed to evacuate people only, save human life first, leave animals behind. More disturbing The Red Cross refused to allow pets into their designated shelters.

Yes, by theory it may make sense to some "save the human first" but to animal lovers this was absolutely not an option! As rescue teams came to help people from their rooftops, once these folks found out they were unable to take their pets with them, many refused to leave. In return, many people and pets lost their lives.
Question to you- Would you leave your pet behind in a natural disaster? The answer for me is NO. My Lani is my dog but she is my family. Leaving her is NOT an option I would even consider. If Mother Nature is going to take my dog, she is going to take me too! ( Would a Parent leave his/her child behind ?) NO, so why would I leave my Lani behind? Clearly from what happened with Katrina, thousands of other people felt the same way and did not evacuate.

During Katrina...

1. First Responders were told to save human life and leave pets

2. Red Cross refused animals into their shelters

3. Thousands of people refused evacuation because they were not going to leave their pets behind

4. Many pets that did make it to shelters were never reunited with their families: Family member may have died, animals may not have been micro chipped or had not identification on their collars or people became homeless and didn't have a place for their pet to live.

During Katrina, who could forget Anderson Cooper in the canoe filming and saving animals? Anderson was filming dogs on roof tops, tied to trees left to die and animals swimming for survival. He was the leader in educating the entire world on the flaws in protecting our pets, lack of inclusion in evacuation plans and informing Local, State, and Federal Officials that this was truly a life or death problem for animal and humans. I will never forget the raw emotion of Anderson yelling into the camera demanding first responders to get back out there and save the animals. Anderson Cooper opened the eyes to many in our country to the extent of this problem. He really is an Animal and Human Advocate !

Seven years later.....

There has been great progress with rescue to our animals and evacuation plans:

1. After Katrina many States, including Massachusetts passed legislation to include animals in evacuation plans.

2. Red Cross still doesn't allow animals in their shelters however, they have become more collaborative and have partnered with many rescue leagues. The rescue leagues are being allowed to set up shelter in the same location or near the Red Cross shelters. This will allow the families to still be near their pets. In many cases this will also save lives, people that may not have evacuated before will now as they can be with "ALL" their family members.

During Isaac...

1. Rescue leagues across the country have started their campaigns.

2. Media outlets have shown endless pictures of first responders rescuing families including their pet.

Since Isaac is still an active storm, we will not have the true assessment for a few days. However let's all say a prayer and hope there really were "Lessons learned from Katrina."

http://northandover.patch.com/blog_posts/animal-evacuation-for-isaac-have-we-learned-from-katrina#photo-11174597

Help! My Dog Is Lost - What Do I Do ?



Losing a pet can be one of the scariest experiences a pet owner may ever be faced with. Here in North Andover, well we seem to know this well. This past year our town has seen an upswing in dogs getting away from their owners and taking a stroll around town.
The BEST way to find your dog is to act quickly. If your dog has taken off, gotten out of his collar, snuck out the door or you just can't find him: Call North Andover Animal Control, Amy McCarthy at the North Andover Police Dept. 978-683-3168

START your search immediately. Please do not wait for your pet to "just return home". Grab your leash, some treats, a bottle of water and a blanket. Put a crate in your car and begin your search.
As you are reading this STOP what you are doing right now and take a PICTURE of your dog !
( why not? He is cute anyway) Keep an up to date photo on your phone and download a copy to your computer. Update this picture a few times a year and make a note of any special markings your pet may have.
TIPS FOR FINDING YOUR LOST PET

• Immediately contact NAPD , contact Bulgers Animal Hospital and also contact Andover Animal Hospital and the MSPCA to complete a lost pet report.
• Make sure you supply the best telephone number to reach you any time of the day in case your pet is found.
• Post fliers with your pet’s picture around the area where he was last seen and around your neighborhood.
• Contact your Veterinarian

ADDITIONAL TIPS - SOCIAL MEDIA utilize every form of social media available

• Post a picture of your pet on your Facebook page and ask all your family, friends, your dog walker, groomer and everyone else you can think of to share your post.
• Craig's List is a must as your pet may leave your town and go over to a surrounding community. CL has a broad readership
• Twitter - start tweeting, you just never know who will see your tweet and your pooch !

Granite State Dog Recovery - contact this non profit organization that is dedicated to finding lost pets. They have teams all around New England to help you find your family furry friend. The success rate from this organization is unbelievable and it is must for you to contact them ASAP

• Call 1-800-639-LOST
• Lost@granitestatedogrecovery.com
• http://www.facebook.com/granitestatedogrecovery

WHAT YOU NEED TO RECLAIM YOUR PET

• Current government issued identification with your name and address (driver’s license; state ID, etc)
• Current vaccination records
• Pictures of your pet
• Proof of ownership (vaccination records, adoption
  papers, bill of sale, dog license)
• There are some fees involved in reclaiming your pet.

HOW TO KEEP YOUR PET SAFE

• DO NOT leave your animal unattended for long periods of time. Many pets become lost because they have been outside in a yard or enclosure and they escape from an unnoticed opening. Sometimes they are just bored and want to roam.
• Always be sure your animal is wearing an appropriate collar with an identification tag and your contact information. If you change your telephone number, make sure you get a new tag for your pet with the updated information and put your email address on it too!
• License your dog. North Andover only charges $20.00 for a license. Dogs wearing dog licenses are much more likely to be reunited with their families
• Microchip your pet. Most veterinarians and shelters/rescue leagues can provide this service at a low cost.
• Secure all outside enclosures where you keep your pet
• NEVER walk your dog off leash

http://northandover.patch.com/blog_posts/help-my-dog-is-lost-what-do-i-do#photo-10874793

It's Dog-Gone HOT !

Wow ! The next couple of days may be record breaking HOT !! Summer vacation has started and everyone is enjoying this beautiful weather. We are planning our trips to the beach, hanging out at the pool and cooking on the grill. With all this excitement are you remembering your pets? As hot as you are, their body temperatures are higher and they can become dehydrated much quicker.
Like humans, dog and cats bodies are made up of 80% water. Having enough water in an animal's system determines the proper flow of nutrients needed for the functionality of the organs and helps prevent illness.
But more simply put…it’ HOT and your pet needs water. He is thirsty!
As a rule of thumb, a dog needs approximately twice as much as its body weight to remain hydrated. For example: a dog that weighs 15lbs should have at least 30 oz of water a day.

• Keep the water bowl full all day.
  This time of year keep multiple bowls in easy access places to where your
  pet may be.
• Keep the water bowl clean I have seen so many of these water fountains for pets and owners fill them up thinking they don’t need to change the water until it is empty. Hum… probably not one of my favorite pet nventions, people tend to forget it is “still” water in that container at room
  temperature. It needs to be changed and the container needs to be cleaned. If not, bacteria and mold will grow inside. Once ingested by the pet, mold can lead to severe internal sickness.
• Ice Cubes Dogs love chewing on ices cubes, it helps get fluids in their bodies and it is a fun interactive toy
  too!
• Dog pools, sprinkler or hose Take the kiddy pool, fill it up with water and let your dog jump around in it. Oh my god, have you ever seen a dog in a kiddy pool? They bounce all around and have a blast too. If you don’t have a pool, a sprinkler or a garden hose can be just as effective.
• AC or Fan Yup…spoil your pet a bit…my Lani, she loves her AC and ceiling fan as she lounges on her couch.

If you have concerns that your dog or cat may be dehydrated do the “scruff” test

To determine the extent of your pet's dehydration a dehydrated dog or cat will lose skin elasticity. Pull lightly on the skin at the scruff of the neck and note how quickly it returns to its normal location. The longer it takes, the more dehydrated your dog or cat is.
And as always, with any health questions or concerns please call your veterinarian immediately.
Now that the sunny warm weather is here , fill the ice cube trays, buy some frosty paws treats and enjoy a happy and hydrated summer with your pets.

Stay cool too !

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