Picking Up the Poo

Last week was National Scoop the Poop week. (I know, we can’t believe we missed it either.)

It’s no one’s favorite chore, but it is an important one. In addition to unattended poo being a smelly eyesore, an environmental concern and a bottom-of-the-shoe mess waiting to happen, in many cities–including Minneapolis–picking it up is the law. The city requires that pet waste be picked up immediately.

This might not seem like a big deal, but it is–quite literally–a big deal. It’s a 3.6 billion pound deal. There are some 75 million dogs in the US creating a whopping 3.6 billion pounds of waste every year.

If you don’t scoop the poop, not only are you technically breaking the law (though to be fair, we’ve never heard of anyone being hauled away for failing to pick up after Spot), but you’re creating a potentially dangerous environment. When left on the ground, doggie poo eventually ends up in the water table, along with the poo’s bacteria, viruses, and microbes, making it a nasty environmental pollutant. Some studies have placed pet waste as high as third or fourth on the list of sources of bacteria in contamined waters. Pet waste can also cause illness in other pets and people, with small children who spend lots of time playing on the ground and touching their eyes and mouths without thoughts about being sanitary at the highest risk.

Whether your pup is a Yorkie or St. Bernard, a mutt or a purebred, every pup poops, and they can’t pick it up themselves. As their loving owners (and responsible citizens) it’s our solemn dooty.

Poo Scooping Tips:

Keep an eye on your pup’s diet–a healthier diet with less additives tend to lead to less icky poo.

Some dogs can be trained to do their duty at home before or after a walk, helping you out so you don’t have to carry around a bag of the good stuff until you find a trash can. But don’t be too discouraged if you can’t get Fido on a set schedule like this; some breeds need a little exercise to go number two.

Go eco-friendly and use excess plastic bags around the house to pick up the poo, rather than buying plastic bags for this purpose.

Breathe through your mouth :)

The Animal Humane Society's Walk for Animals is this Saturday

Want to walk for animals this Saturday but St. Paul's a little out of the way? If Golden Valley is closer to your neck of the woods, then you're in luck.

This year, the Animal Humane Society will care for some 35,000 animals. Those pups, kittens and other critters need your help to get the care they deserve. Did you know the Animal Humane Society receives no federal, state or county funding? It operates out of funds generated by adoption and retail fees along with charitable donations. This weekend you can walk, collect pledges, donate and show your support for the Animal Humane Society and the many pets the organization cares for.

The annual Animal Humane Society's Walk for Animals, sponsored in part by Purina, starts at 10 a.m. at the Animal Humane Society in Golden Valley. The Walk heads through Theodore Wirth Park and then back to the Animal Humane Society, for a total of five miles (though you can turn around at any point).

Bring your pets of all shapes and sizes–as long as they're friendly, of course, and up to date on vaccinations.

Come prepared for the weather–the walk is on, no matter the conditions!

Festivities begin bright and early at 8:30 a.m. with live music and activities, followed by the Walk at 10, pet contests at noon and a variety of pet-centered activities until 2 p.m., including a microchip and nail trim clinic.

Calling it "the best stand-up-on-your-hind-legs-and-bark event of the year," the Animal Humane Society has a hefty goal of $1,000,000 for this fundraising event. It's a big number, but nearly half of the funds have already been raised and the walk is still four days away. And with that tight timeline, if you don't have time to collect funds for the event before the weekend, don't worry, there is no minimum fundraising requirement to attend the event. However, keep in mind that the goal of the Walk is to raise funds for animals in need and a $25 donation is suggested.

If you receive pledges after the Walk, mail them to the following address with a note including your name, address and a request to add the funds to your Walk total:

Attn: Walk for Animals
845 Meadow Lane North
Golden Valley, MN 55422

If you are unable to attend the Walk but you'd still like to contribute, you can mail your donation to this address as well.

For more information, visit this website.

First Annual No-Kill Walk for the Animals is April 30

Hey, animal lovers. What are you doing next Saturday?

April 30 marks the first annual Twin Cities No-Kill Walk for the Animals, a fundraiser for Minnesota no-kill rescues and animal shelters. The walk will be held around Como Lake, with registration at Como Park Pavilion (1360 Lexington Parkway North, St. Paul) at 9 a.m.

Bring your pets who play well with others, leashes, and bags to pick up after your four-legged companions.

Collect donations from friends and family before the walk, and bring your own donation as well. Every penny counts.

This year's goal is $25,000.

You can choose your own organization to donate to. Participating rescue organizations include Homeward Bound, Secondhand Hounds, Pet Project Rescue, Minneapolis St. Paul Miniature Schnauzer Rescue, Basset Buddies Rescue, Inc., Gentle Touch Animal Sanctuary, Coco's Heart Dog Rescue, Rescued Tails Animal Sanctuary, Small Dog Rescue of Minnesota, and TLC Canine Rescue. A complete list can be viewed here.

Want to spread your donation around? There will be a community donation jar at the event that will be divided equally among participating organizations.

The No-Kill Walk is sponsored by Happy Hound Rescue. Happy Hound Rescue will be offering adorable 'Dogs Rock the World' t-shirts to participants who obtain $50 in donations.

The walk is on rain or shine. Come support animals in need!

For more information, visit the No-Kill Walk for the Animals Facebook page.

April is Pet First Aid Awareness Month

We know the importance of first aid awareness for our children, family and friends, but what about our four-legged friends? As with any first aid knowledge, you hope to never need it, but if you ever do, you’ll be very grateful you learned it.

April is Pet First Aid Awareness Month. The American Red Cross has a wealth of information for keeping your pet safe–more than we can fit in this blog, so we recommend you visit the Red Cross website. We’ve also highlighted some of the most important notes here.

Knowing what is normal is critical in being able to spot what is abnormal. Do you know what your pet's gums look like? How about average temperature, heart rate and breathing pattern? If the answer is no, go have a little cuddle with Fido or Felix and familiarize yourself with your pet's physical norms. When you know what is right, it will be easier to spot when something is wrong.

After the brutal winter we had this year, I know we're all ready to worship the sun til September, but the heat can be dangerous for our pets. It gets even more dangerous when a pet is left in a hot car. Make it a rule not to leave your pet in the car, even for a short time–heatstroke can happen quickly and is dangerous, sometimes even fatal. It's important to know the signs of heatstroke and what to do if you spot them in your pet.

Heatstroke Signs:

Heavy Panting

Inability to Calm Down

Red Gums

Fast Heart Rate

Inability to Get Up

What to Do if You Suspect Heatstroke:

Take Temperature Rectally

If it's above 105 degrees, cool your pet down with a water hose

Stop cooling when your pet's temp reaches 103 degrees

Bring your pet to the veterinarian right away.

As we mentioned in an earlier posting, some seemingly innocuous plants and flowers can be dangerous or even fatal for your pet. Brush up on ferocious flora and fauna at the ASPCA Poison Control website.

CPR isn't just for people. Learn how to perform it on your pet.

The Red Cross also recommends assembling a pet emergency kit. In it, keep things like leashes, food, water, medications, copies of medical records and current photos of your pet.

Want to learn more?

Some Red Cross chapters offer courses in Pet First Aid. Find your chapter here.

The Red Cross has also put together a Pets and Disaster Safety Checklist. Check it.

You can also visit the Red Cross Store online for dog and cat first aid guides with DVDs

Meet Your Future Pet

Spring is a popular time to add a four legged friend to a family. Warmer weather, longer days and time off from school come together to create a more puppy- or kitten-friendly atmosphere. No one likes house-training in a snowstorm.

If you are ready to take the leap and add a pet to your party, here are some upcoming adoption events you may want to check out.

I found my kitten at an adoption event and we bonded immediately. The picture above is from her first evening at home. It didn't take her long to feel comfortable...

Saturday, April 9

Underdog Rescue

Pet adoption event at Urbanimal in Uptown

12:30–2:30

Secondhand Hounds

Pet adoption event at Minneapolis PetSmart

11:00am–2pm

Homeward Bound Dog Rescue of Minnesota

Dog adoption event at Petco in Maple Grove

11:30am–4:00pm

Last Hope, Inc. Companion Pet Rescue

Pet adoption event at Apple Valley Petco

11:00am–3:00pm

Sunday, April 10

Last Hope Inc. Companion Pet Rescue

Pet adoption event at Apple Valley Petco

12:00pm–3:00pm

Saturday, April 16

Secondhand Hounds

Pet adoption event at Eden Prairie PetSmart

11:00am–2:00pm

Pet Haven Inc. of Minnesota

Small dog adoption event at Chuck and Don's Pet Food Outlet Calhoun

11:00am–1:00pm

...and...

Medium and large dog adoption event at Petco Richfield

11:00am–1:00pm

Sunday, April 17

Underdog Rescue

Pet adoption event at It's a Pet's Life in Plymouth

12:30pm–2:30pm

And if you do attend any of these events, comment and let us know how it went–especially if you find a furry companion to take home.

Protect Your Pet from Poisons

We may have missed National Poison Prevention Week (March 20–26), but that doesn’t mean we can’t bring you some helpful tips and information to protect your precious pet.

The ASPCA (American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals) released the top 10 pet toxins of 2010 after its Animal Poison Control Center fielded some 167,000 phone calls regarding pets exposed to possible poisons over the year. Let’s make this a learning situation. Here are the top 10 culprits:

Medications for People

The things that are meant to make us better can also make our pets sick. The ASPCA said a full quarter of the calls their Animal Poison Control Center took were regarding human medications, most often over-the-counter pain meds, antidepressants and ADHD medication.

Insecticides

Falling shortly behind medications, insecticides made up about one-fifth of the APCC calls. These include not only household bug control products but things like flea control for your pet. The ASPCA warns to always read label directions and follow them carefully.

Rodenticides

Like insecticides, but, you know, for rodents. Keep in mind that the same poison meant to lure mice or rats could lure your cat or dog as well. If you use rodenticides, be sure to place them somewhere your pets cannot reach.

Food

Tasty for us, dangerous for them. The ASPCA reminds us that some seemingly harmless foods are dangerous for pets, like grapes and raisins (canine kidney failure) or onions and garlic (anemia).

Veterinary Medications

Like kids’ cold medicine or gummy vitamins, many pet medications are flavored. This is helpful when you need to give your pet a dose, but dangerous if your pet finds them too tasty and ingests more than he or she should.

Chocolate

Sometimes it’s strange to think that something so delicious and wonderful could be bad for anybody at all. Alas, it’s true. And according to the ASPCA, the darker the chocolate, the more dangerous it is for your pet.

Household Items

From cleaning supplies to batteries, everyday items around the house can be very dangerous if ingested. Do your best to keep hazardous items where pets can’t get to them.

Plants and Flowers

While they clean the air and add to the aesthetic of your house, some flora and fauna can also prove fatal. For example, both lilies and sago palms are dangerous for pets.

Herbicides

If you use herbicides, be sure to keep pets away from the area until it is dry and read and follow all instructions.

Garage Items

Our garages and sheds are often ripe with dangerous items. Be sure to keep items like antifreeze and fertilizers out of your pets’ reach.

Dog and Cat Breeder Regulation Bill

Minnesota is one of the top producers of puppies in the nation and a prominent producer of kittens. It is also one of 16 states that have yet to regulate commercial dog and cat breeders. This means Minnesota dog and cat breeders are not required to obtain licenses for breeding, are not inspected by the State, and are not required to adhere to any set standards of care. And all too often, this lack of oversight leads to unhealthy and dangerous conditions for defenseless young animals. A new bill titled The Dog and Cat Breeder Regulation Bill could change all that.

Introduced by Minnesota Senator Barb Goodwin and Minnesota House Representative John Lesch, and supported by the Animal Humane Society, Animal Folks MN and a host of others, the bill stands to ensure the healthy and safe breeding of puppies and kittens throughout Minnesota.

The bill defines a commercial dog or cat breeder as “a person, other than a hobby breeder, who possesses or has an ownership interest in animals and is engaged in the business of breeding animals for sale or for exchange in return for consideration, and who possesses ten or more adult intact animals and whose animals produce more than five total litters of puppies or kittens per year.” For comparison, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) starts licensing breeders at four breeding females and the majority of states in the US start licensing breeders at two to 10 breeding animals.

If passed, the Dog and Cat Breeder Regulation Bill would spell out standards for breeders in the areas of veterinary care, animal well-being and inspections.

Setting this bill apart from animal cruelty laws that are already on the books in Minnesota, regulation is a preventive measure whereas anti-cruelty laws can be put into action only after cruelty has taken place. In simpler terms, regulation is proactive while anti-cruelty laws are reactive.

Want to do something to help? You can sign an online petition to pass The Dog and Cat Breeder Regulation Bill here . You can also contact your State legislators. Calling is your best bet for being heard. It’s also best to refer to the bill by number rather than name (Senate File 462; House File 702).

Learn more at the Animal Humane Society’s website and the Animal Folks MN website. You can also watch a Fox 9 clip regarding the bill here.