Pet Advice

/Pet Advice

5 Phone Numbers Every Dog Owner Should Have Handy

By | January 24th, 2020|Categories: General, Pet Advice, Pet Safety Tips|

If you’ve got a dog (or, is it that the dog has you?) this is one list you’ll want to print out and keep near the phone. In an emergency, when the internet is down, or if you simply need assistance with your dog from a real, live person, these 5 phone numbers should be in the Rolodex of every dog owner: National Animal Poison Control Center: 1 888 426 4435. In an emergency every second counts. The National Animal Poison Control Center is a 24-hour manned emergency hotline sponsored in part by 36 different companies. While there is sometimes a charge for consultation, this call could save the life of your dog. Spay/Neuter Helpline: 1 800 248 SPAY. Irresponsible breeding results in the abandonment and euthanization of thousands of dogs each year. SPAY USA is a national referral service that helps connect pet parents with free or low cost spay and neuter services in their area. With partnerships at over 950 programs and clinics nationwide, they eliminate finances as an excuse for not spaying or neutering your pets. Emergency Disaster Information Line: 1 800 227 4645. Provided by the American Humane Association, this number provides support and relief information for pet owners [...]

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Beagles R Us Rescue

By | January 24th, 2020|Categories: Lost Pets, Pet Advice, Pet Safety Tips|

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How a therapy dog is changing students’ lives at Lakewood High School

By | January 24th, 2020|Categories: General, Pet Advice|

Able, the school's furry friend, is making a difference every single day Author: Dorsena Drakeford Published: 5:40 AM EST January 15, 2020 Updated: 5:40 AM EST January 15, 2020 LAKEWOOD, Ohio — The stresses of life impact just about everyone, especially today’s teenagers. Lakewood High School has a special way of helping students handle the emotional roller coaster life can bring. It comes in the form of a classmate, named Able, who very well may be the most popular – and furriest – "kid" to roam Lakewood’s halls. Able is a therapy dog. “At first I was a little scared because I’m not really a dog person,” said student Alicia Dinya. “When I found out, he wasn’t that bad, I started liking him.” Able’s favorite spot to visit? No surprise: The lunch room. “He just roams the entire cafeteria sometimes looking for snacks, but usually pets,” said teacher Julie May, who brings Able to school. He’s a friend to all, and ready to lend an ear whenever needed. “He’s so sweet,” said 11th grader Shantajah Davis. “When you’re upset or when someone’s sad or something, he knows.” Adopted by May in 2012, Able is not her first therapy dog. A pup named Madison [...]

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Who to call if you see a pet left in the cold

By | January 23rd, 2020|Categories: Cleveland News, Pet Advice, Pet Safety Tips|

CUYAHOGA COUNTY, Ohio — A Winter Weather Advisory and Wind Advisory doesn't just impact people, but also pets. With temperatures in the low 20s this weekend, many owners will be making sure their pets are safe and warm inside. Unfortunately some pets are left outside in the elements. Animals, despite their fur coats, are susceptible to frostbite and hypothermia just like people. If you find an abandoned or stray animal, or witness a pet left outside in extreme weather for extended amounts of time, find your county in the list below to see who to contact about the situation. Ashtabula Ashtabula Animal Protection League: 440-224-1222 Ashtabula Dog Warden cruelty line: 440-576-6538 Ashland Ashland County Dog Warden: 419-289-1455 Ashland County Humane Society: 419-281-4722 Cuyahoga Cleveland Animal Protection League: 216-377-1630 Cuyahoga County Animal Shelter: 216-525-7877 Erie Erie County Dog Warden: 419-627-7607 Geauga Geauga Humane Society abuse line: 440-338-4819 extension 41 Huron Huron County Humane Society: 419-663 7158 Huron County Dog Warden: 419-668-9773 Lake Lake Humane Society cruelty Line: 440-951-6122 extension 105 Lorain Lorain County Dog Kennel: 440-326-5995 Medina Medina County Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals abuse line: 330-723-7722 Portage Portage County Animal Protection League cruelty line: 330-296-4022 extension 102 [...]

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Pet obesity on the rise for eighth consecutive year

By | October 1st, 2019|Categories: General, Pet Advice, Pet Safety Tips|

BREA, Calif., Jan. 2, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- One of America's most common New Year's resolutions is to lose weight, and statistics show that pet owners should share that goal with their dogs and cats. Data from Nationwide, the nation's first and largest provider of pet health insurance, reveals that pet obesity is on the rise for the eighth straight year. Nearly 20 percent of Nationwide members' pet insurance claims in 2017 were for conditions and diseases related to pet obesity- equaling a sum of more than $69 million in veterinary expenses. The boost in total obesity-related claims signifies a 24 percent increase over the last eight years. As with people, excessive body fat in pets increases the risk of preventable health issues and may shorten the life expectancy of dogs and cats. Nationwide recently sorted through its database of more than 700,000 insured pets to determine the top 10 dog and cat conditions related to or made worse by obesity. Below are the results: Most Common Dog Obesity-Related Conditions Most Common Cat Obesity-Related Conditions 1. Arthritis 1. Bladder/Urinary Tract Disease 2. Bladder/Urinary Tract Disease 2. Chronic Kidney Disease 3. Liver Disease 3. Diabetes 4. Low Thyroid Hormone 4. Asthma 5. Torn Knee Ligaments 5. Liver Disease [...]

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Fall Pet Dangers

By | September 27th, 2019|Categories: Pet Advice, Pet Safety Tips|

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Helping stray cats: TNR is the key

By | September 17th, 2019|Categories: Advocacy, Cleveland News, General, Lost Pets, Pet Advice|

Nearly three-quarters of cats who enter our nation’s animal shelters each year are killed. Most are free-roaming, stray or feral cats. Here at Best Friends, we refer to them as community cats. Although some of these cats are adoptable, many more are not. And for unadoptable cats, a trip to the shelter is often fatal. TNR saves cats’ lives Trap-neuter-return (TNR) entails trapping, neutering, vaccinating, and returning community cats to their original outdoor locations. It is not only the most humane method of preventing cats from entering the shelter system, it’s the most effective. TNR also ensures the cats’ health and welfare. Once these cats are sterilized and vaccinated, they can live healthy, happy lives in their communities, where caring residents look out for them. Sterilization and vaccination provide a public health benefit to the community, too, a vast improvement over the failed trap-and-kill approach that’s been used for generations. What is Best Friends doing to help? Best Friends sterilizes, vaccinates and releases tens of thousands of community cats each year, preventing many thousands of births. Support TNR and help reduce the number of community cats, and ultimately the number of cats being killed in America’s shelters. Find a program [...]

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Neighborhood Cats

By | September 17th, 2019|Categories: Pet Advice, Pet Safety Tips|

Neighborhood Cats WE ARE RECOGNIZED LEADERS "In my 16-plus years with the Humane Society of the United States, the nation's largest animal protection organization, I've gotten to know many wonderful people around the world caring for community cats - and the feral-cat rescue group Neighborhood Cats leads the way for street cats in New York City and around the world."  Catster, November 20, 2014 "New York has had prominent neuter/return programs for feral cats for decades, and is home of Neighborhood Cats, one of the most influential organizations teaching neuter/return technique...."  Animals 24-7, December 5, 2015 WE WORK HANDS-ON WITH THE CATS At Neighborhood Cats, all our knowledge comes directly from the cats themselves - we're out there every day trapping, helping caretakers, working with animal shelters, teaching workshops and launching new programs. We have people on the ground in New York City, New Jersey and on the island of Maui in Hawaii. The many thousands of cats we have personally assisted have taught us how best to help the cats and the people who care for them. WE INNOVATE Neighborhood Cats invented many of what are now common practices in the Trap-Neuter-Return field. Mass trapping - the TNR of entire colonies at once - was popularized [...]

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Skipper Isabelle’s dog boating safety tips

By | August 13th, 2019|Categories: Cleveland News, Pet Advice, Pet Safety Tips|

Isabelle is a well-weathered skipper on a boat located along the shores of Lake Erie. The word "boat" sends her into a tail wagging and jumping frenzy and is clearly in her mind better than any treat at the moment. The increase of canines aboard boats nationwide and on longer journeys is on the rise. In fact some families find a stray or adopt while yachting. Canine safety and preparation are a must for the skipper and crew embarking on any yachting adventure on any type of boat. Catamarans, sailboats and power boats are a lifestyle that many canines enjoy with family and friends. Research shows 70% of Americans boat with their dogs. Most skippers agree that small dogs are easier to cruise with but accommodating medium to large dogs is certainly possible. Docking, dinghies and ladders present challenges, so have a plan. Just as emergency preparations should be in place for your pets at home, they are also critical when boating. Bring along extra provisions like water, food, sunscreen, first aid kit and personal flotation devices for not just the two-legged but four as well. Isabelle proudly wears her personal flotation device and also has foul weather gear in [...]

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Taking care of your pet’s dental health

By | July 16th, 2019|Categories: Pet Advice, Pet Safety Tips|

"Dental health is a very important part of your pet’s overall health, and dental problems can cause, or be caused by, other health problems," states the American Veterinary Medical Association. "Your pet’s teeth and gums should be checked at least once a year by your veterinarian to check for early signs of a problem and to keep your pet’s mouth healthy." Just like humans, pets are prone to broken teeth, infections, abscesses and periodontal disease. Some pets are born with bad teeth and may require quick surgery to remove puppy teeth that did not fall out on their own. A routine dental appointment at a veterinary clinic will include blood work to ensure your pet is able to handle anesthesia, oral X-rays if needed, tooth scaling and scraping to remove plaque and any tarter buildup, and finish with a polish. The procedure takes less then an hour unless multiple teeth need to be extracted. Your veterinarian will then work with you on how to best maintain your pet's dental health with proper brushing, the best oral hygiene products, pet food, treats and toys to use to help maintain a better overall outcome. Lack of dental care in a pet can [...]

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