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.

Meet Alex and Ashle

It's time to meet a couple more of the people in our pack. This time, it's Alex and Ashle.

Name: Alex Johnson

When did you first start with Bark Avenue: January 2011

Why did you pursue this line of work: I love dogs but unfortunately do not have the space for one at home. Walking dogs lets me feel like the fun uncle who gets to come over and play with the pups.

Favorite breed: Goldendoodle or Boxer

Favorite fictional animal: Clifford because he's huge! I don't think I'd want to clean up after him though :)

Favorite dog/cat sitting memory (thus far): I walk two miniature poodles named Indy and Napoleon. The first time I met them they came running up to me and jumping several feet into the air. They looked like flying squirrels, it was adorable. They're quickly becoming my favorite pups.

Name of your first pet: Martini, my cat.

Current pets: Martini, my cat :)

If you were a pup, what breed would you be: I think I'd want to be a Boxer. They just seem so built and athletic, two things I'll probably never be... ha

Favorite thing to do when you're not dog/cat sitting: Take photographs.

Guilty pleasure: Watching 30 Rock and eating Taco Bell :/

Name: Ashle Briggs Horton

When did you first start with Bark Avenue: November 2010

Why did you pursue this line of work: I've always loved dogs and it's a perfect complement to my other job as a freelance writer.

Favorite breed: I have a soft spot for French Bulldogs. They look like little alien monsters–in the best way possible.

Favorite fictional animal: Wilbur in Charlotte's Web totally won my heart. And then there's Babe. Apparently I have something for pigs.

Favorite dog/cat sitting memory (thus far): All of the pups seem excited to go on their walks, which is adorable, but no one shows it like Otis. He gets to the door before I can even turn the key and once I'm inside he greets me by jumping as high as he can and wiggling mid-air. There's nothing like it.

Name of your first pet: Sylvester–a tabby cat I was terrified of. I was three years old and he was big and mean. But there was also Stratton, a large black lab who was the sweetest pup you could ever meet.

Current pet: Bijou, a gray striped, green eyed cat who gives hugs when she's asleep

If you were a pup, what breed would you be: A Spanish Water Dog–I've always secretly wanted dreadlocks.

Favorite thing to do when you're not walking pups: Writing at one of the local coffee shops

Guilty pleasure: Coffee-flavored anything. Though I don't feel that guilty about it. :)

Get to Know Homeward Bound

This week, Bark Avenue introduces you to one of Minnesota's great rescue organizations, Homeward Bound. Laura Berg of Homeward Bound fills us in on what makes the nonprofit tick and what we can do to help.

BA: What was the impetus for starting Homeward Bound Dog Rescue?

HB: Homeward Bound was started about 15 years ago with just one litter of abandoned puppies. Cheryl Adams, the director, saw a need for more rescue services around the area and started Homeward Bound. We since have grown from one foster home and just a few dogs to over 100 dogs, anywhere from 15 to 25 foster homes at a time and about 20 dogs placed every weekend. We now have the ability to take dogs from many of the agreeable pounds in Minnesota and when we have space we also will take dogs from high kill pounds down south.

BA: How many pets have you rescued so far?

HB: We have rescued around 20,000 pets (dogs, cats, and the occasional ferret or miniature piglet!)

BA: You have a rule that all Homeward Bound Rescue dogs must live indoors. Can you tell us why you created that rule?

HB: That rule mainly has been created to encourage and place dogs in homes where they will be part of the pack/family. We see far too many dogs who end up living out their lives in kennel runs or on chains outside, forgotten, and almost neglected. Dogs crave and need love, attention, exercise, training, and to be a part of a pack. When they end up outside, rarely do they get that attention. We make exceptions in the case of certain dogs and certain homes (farm or hobby farm type homes that want a dog to work the farm with them), but overall we are strict on our dogs living indoors.

BA: You seem to have a soft spot for black dogs. Why is that an important cause for you?

HB: Black dogs are often the first to be killed in pounds and the last to be adopted. The reason it has become so important to us is that there is nothing "wrong" with these dogs. They make just as good of a pet as a lighter colored dog but people still overlook them. Our purpose is to make the general public aware of this so rather than walking past the black dog and seeing him/her as ordinary, they stop and take a second look or a moment to get to know them. We are soon going to have a website that highlights our black dogs for adoption specifically to try to bring more attention to the issue of black dogs getting overlooked and euthanized at such high rates. (www.notjustanotherblackdog.webs.com).

Personally, for me it's an important cause because most of my fosters tend to be the big, black dogs. I had an absolutely amazing foster dog who spent over two years with me for no other reason that she was a big, black dog. She was perfect in every way and was passed over for two years despite our efforts to get Kelty attention. I have four big black foster dogs right now who almost never get interest or attention simply because they look "ordinary" or "boring."

BA: What has been the most rewarding thing for you with Homeward Bound Rescue so far?

HB: The most rewarding thing for me personally is when a dog that has been with us for a long time, has special needs, or has captured a lot of our hearts finally gets a home. Of course, it brings some tears and some sadness, but at the end of the day it's the best possible feeling to know that a dog who otherwise would be dead or not even had a chance ends up in a loving forever home. Rescue does not come without heartbreak but it is also incredibly rewarding.

BA: Do you have any pets of your own?

HB: I have three dogs of my own as well as reptiles (another passion of mine!) I think it's really hard to do rescue and not have a pet of your own!

BA: What’s your best advice for someone who is interested in adopting a pet?

HB: Decide first what characteristics you are looking for in a pet (age, size, breed, temperament, activity level, etc). Once you have an idea of what you are looking for, look up on Petfinder or a shelter/rescue website to check out the dogs. There are millions of dogs waiting on homes. Get as much information as possible about the dog's personality and decide based on what you are looking for if it would be a good fit in your home. Most rescues will have you fill out a pre-adopt application as well. It's not to be nosey or to know everything about your personal life but rather to make sure the dogs we have put so much of our love, time, and energy into are going to a home that will treat them well and love them as much as we have. Most rescues have adoption events to attend as well to meet the dogs in person. Spend time with the dogs you are interested in and get a feel for their personalities. Sometimes the dog picks you! Once you bring your new dog home, know that the first few days are going to be overwhelming for both you and the dog. Relax, take it slow, and have patience. It's a big change for everyone–a happy change, of course, but a big change. If you have questions after adoption, don't hesitate to contact the rescue/foster home for the dog–most are more than willing to help with any issues/concerns/questions.

BA: What about people who are unable to adopt at this time–what can they do to help?

HB: We can always use volunteers to come walk the dogs at adoption days, donations (financial and supplies), and foster homes if they can temporarily take a dog into their home. Most importantly, spread the word!