LOVE THOSE PETS!

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JUST A SHORT NOTE TO STATE THAT THE PURPOSE OF THIS PUBLICATION IS TO PASS PRECIOUS INFORMATION ON TO THOSE OF NEED. OCCASIONALLY, THERE WILL BE ARTICLES BY OTHER WRITERS. I MAY NOT NECESSARILY AGREE WITH THEIR VIEWPOINTS, HOWEVER, I DO RESPECT THEM. THANK YOU

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If you would like to add information to this page please feel free to contact me at:

OUR CONTACT INFORMATION AND HOURS HAVE CHANGED TO:

1-732-264-7500 MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY 7:30AM EST TO 5PM EST
1-609-577-3555 24/7/365 FOR EMERGENCIES
OR ANN@HOMELESSTOINDEPENDENCE.ORG

Thank you!

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Ordinary Dogs! Extraordinary Feats!
Watch the Incredible Dog Challenge National Finals January 14th

Edge-of-the-seat action on four paws! From Agility to Freestyle Flying Disc to Diving Dogs, tune in to the Incredible Dog Challenge National Finals on NBC, January 14th at 5 pm EST, and watch ordinary dogs perform extraordinary feats.

Posted 01-11-12

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Cat Proofing Your Home

Curiosity and playfulness are part of your cat’s charm, but they can sometimes get her into trouble. Take these steps to make your home a safe environment.

Beware of poisonous plants

Cats like to chew on grass and plants inside and outdoors. You’d be surprised by the number of plants that are irritating, dangerous and even deadly to cats if eaten. Even non-poisonous plants can cause vomiting and diarrhea.

Keep these plants out of reach or, better yet, don’t have them in the house at all. If your cat likes green stuff, purchase cat grass.

Lock-down

Put child-proof latches on your cabinets to keep your cat from licking, chewing, or eating cleaning products. They contain dangerous chemicals. You probably don’t want the cat lying on your pots and pans, either.

Off the meds

Keep all medications, both over-the-counter and prescription (human and animal) in a secure cabinet. Child-proof containers aren’t necessarily chew-proof for your pet. Be sure to pick up any dropped pills.

Play keep-away

Pack away anything you don’t want broken. Cats love exploring, jumping on tables, cabinets, sideboards, and bookshelves to investigate their space. They may accidentally knock over or break fragile items and knickknacks, then walk or chew on the broken pieces.

Unplugged

Unplug electrical cords. If your cat’s a chewer, she could be in for a nasty shock. You could also deter her from chewing on cords by placing them in a cord protector or coating them with a bad-tasting substance like hot sauce or a non-toxic ointment or spray available at pet supply stores.

Strike the cords

Keep drapery cords coiled out of reach. Your cat could strangle herself by getting the cord wound around her neck or choke on a plastic pull that she’s chewed into pieces.

Check the dryer

Check the dryer before closing the door, then keep it closed when not in use. Cats love to hole up in dark, quiet places, and tragedies have occurred. Kittens often climb into refrigerators, freezers, and dresser drawers, so check these, too, before closing them.

Unset the table

Remove tablecloths from unattended tables. New kittens are especially curious about what’s up there on the table and will try to climb the tablecloth. The result could be broken china and crystal and an emergency trip to the veterinarian.

Put a lid on it

Keep the toilet seats down. A kitten could fall in and be unable to get out.

Under cover

Cover garbage disposal switches. Natural climbers, cats usually find their way to the kitchen sink sooner or later. Many have been known to play with electric switches such as the one for a garbage disposal. Special covers are available at hardware stores to help avoid disaster.

Screen it

Make sure your screen door has a secure latch. Don’t run the risk that your cat could slip out unnoticed. Check that your window screens are secure and sturdy.

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Preparing Your Pets For Disaster

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — According to the American Pet Products Manufacturers’ Association 2009 – 2010 Pet Owners Survey, 62
percent of American households have pets. Whether they’re two or four-legged, furry, scaled or feathered, our friends mean much to
us and are important members of our families.

With September being National Preparedness Month, if you haven’t already, now is a good time to think about your best friend or
friends in time of danger. Did you know an estimated 20 percent of disaster evacuation failure is attributed to people unwilling to
leave their pets? Animals left behind in disasters can become a risk for emergency responders, and be at risk themselves for health
complications or getting lost, injured or killed.

“It is very important to have a disaster preparedness plan for your pet or pets,” said Federal Coordinating Officer Gracia Szczech.
“When it comes to our companion animals in time of disaster, we go into protection mode with our decisions. Being ready increases
the likelihood of survival for all involved. Save on difficulty, stress and worry – be prepared.”

The Federal Emergency Management Agency, American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, American Kennel Club,
American Veterinary Medical Association and Humane Society of the United States have collaborated in developing pet
preparedness guidelines.

Scamper with a supply kit!

•Food for three days in airtight, waterproof container;
•Water for three days;
•Medicines and medical records – have an extra supply;
•First aid items including cotton bandage rolls, bandage tape, scissors, antibiotic ointment, flea and tick prevention, latex gloves,
alcohol and saline solution, and a pet first aid reference;
•Collar with ID tag, harness or leash – wear at all times and have back-ups;
•Important documents such as registration information, adoption papers, vaccination documents and medical records in a plastic bag
or waterproof container;
•Crate or other pet carrier;
•Pet litter, litter box, paper towels, newspapers, plastic trash bags and cleaning supplies;
•Photo of you and pet together; and
•Familiar items such as toys, treats and bedding.
Sniff out a plan!

•Evacuation: Plan how you will assemble and where you will go. Secure appropriate lodging in advance. Consider friends or family
outside the area. Other options may include a pet-friendly hotel or motel. If a public shelter could be your destination, think about
boarding facilities nearby such as kennels or vet hospitals.•Buddy system: Plan with neighbors, friends or relatives to evacuate your
pet if you are unable to do so. Talk with them about your evacuation plans and supply kit. Designate locations to meet. •Talk to your
vet: Let your veterinarian help you with vets or animal hospitals in other cities where you may seek shelter. Consider microchipping,
as the permanent implants may be invaluable if you and your pet are separated.•Contact information for emergency treatment: Have
contact information for animal control agencies and vet emergency centers. Put “Pets Inside” stickers on your windows or doors.Be
on guard!

•Stay informed on what could happen and what types of emergencies are likely to affect your region. Be ready to adapt this
information to your personal circumstances and follow instructions from authorities on the scene.Preparedness can be a lifesaver
for you and your pets. Just do it! No pets left behind!

For more information on developing your pet preparedness plan, go to http://go.usa.gov/cfw and http://go.usa.gov/cfG or call 800-BE-
READY.
Follow the recovery in Tennessee online at www.twitter.com/t_e_m_a, www.twitter.com/fema, www.facebook.com/TNDisasterInfo,
www.youtube.com/fema and www.flickr.com/photos/t_e_m_a.

The social media links provided are for reference only. FEMA and TEMA do not endorse any non-government websites, companies
or applications.

FEMA’s mission is to support our citizens and first responders to ensure that as a nation we work together to build, sustain, and
improve our capability to prepare for, protect against, respond to, recover from, and mitigate all hazards.

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The Theobromine in chocolate is toxic to dogs because they can’t digest it as efficiently as humans. It can cause irregular heartbeat,
muscle spasms, hyperactivity, and in large quantities, even death.

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People travel with their pets for practical and sentimental reasons . . .

Why leave members of your family back at home when all you’ll do is wish they were with you on your vacation? Virginia wants you
to bring your pets along with you!

More and more places accommodate animals today — hotels and campgrounds, state parks and outdoor shopping centers, tourist
attractions and outdoor events — so that our four-legged friends can feel part of the fun.

Of course, service and guide dogs are welcome everywhere with their humans!

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Animal Rescue
Hi, all you animal lovers. This is pretty simple.. Please tell ten friends to tell ten today! The Animal Rescue Site is having trouble
getting enough people to click on it daily to meet their quota of getting free food donated every day to abused and neglected animals.

**It takes less than a minute to go to their site and click on “feed an animal in need” for free. It’s in a purple box in the middle of the
page.

**This doesn’t cost you a thing. Their corporate sponsors/advertisers use the number of daily visits to donate food to
abandoned/neglected animals in exchange or advertising.
Here’s the web site! Pass it along to people you know.
http://www.theanimalrescuesite.com/ <
AGAIN, PLEASE TELL 10 FRIENDS!!! you will have done good!

EDITOR’S NOTE: THIS IS TOTALLY FREE, AS I HAVE DONE THIS TODAY MYSELF!

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YOUR PET AND EMERGENCIES: HOW TO PREPARE

If any good has resulted from the news of hurricane related disasters and local storm flooding that forced many
people from their homes, it is that no one is immune to such calamities. Every household should have an
emergency plan that includes ensuring the safety of their pets.

Remember, most emergency shelters and many hotels/motels do not accommodate pets.

With this in mind, consider some of these suggestions as you develop your own household emergency plan:

- Keep your pet’s shots current and their records handy. Most kennels require proof of current rabies and
distemper shots. It is a good idea to keep these papers with other important papers you would carry if you
needed to evacuate.

- Contact motels and hotels outside your area to determine if they will accept pets in an emergency. Keep a list
of these hotels so you can refer to it in the event of an emergency.

- Make sure your pets wear identification. Consider a microchip identification for your pet which is a service
offered by the MCSPCA and many veterinarians. Identification tags are a must, even if your pet is microchipped.
Some shelters or animal control services cannot read microchips, so it is very important that your pet is wearing
ID tags.

- Make arrangements with friends or relatives who live outside of your area to take care of your pet(s) in the
event you are unable to keep them with you.

- **Take photos of your pets with your name, address and phone number on the back in case you are separated.
Include the contact information of your vet also, just in case.

- Assemble an emergency supply kit which includes some of the following:
o Medications (with instructions) o Food for at least 3-4 days o Water, bedding
o Kitty litter and tray o Bedding material o Crate or carriers for your pets

- If you are forced to evacuate your home take your pets with you. You may not be able to return to home for
several days or weeks. Never, ever leave a dog chained to his doghouse! He can drown or suffer other harmful
injuries by not being able to move or reach higher ground in case of flooding. Do not leave your animal alone
outside under any circumstances. Pets, like other members of your family, deserve the protection and security
of emergency preparedness. We urge you to contact your elected officials to urge them that accommodations
for pets must be included in emergency and disaster planning. How heartbreaking it must have been for people
in the stricken areas to leave their pets behind. After all, for most of us our pets are our family too. Plan today
for their future. Please remember that the worst time to think about where your pet will go in an emergency is
when the emergency is upon you. By planning ahead, all the members of your family, including your animal
companions, can be safe, so that you can all be reunited when the crisis has passed.

For more information check out http://www.state.nj.us/njoem/preparedness.html.

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WE LEAVE NO STONE UNTURNED WHEN IT COMES TO HELPING OTHERS!!