Pet Auto Safety

As much as we want to take all our loved ones with us when we celebrate our country’s Independence Day, we should really leave our pets at home. Unless we can take them back home before the fireworks, your pet would have a lot less anxiety at home by themselves than they would with the fireworks display.

As spectacular as the big sparkly lights in the sky are, dogs just can’t appreciate the awesomeness of it all. The sounds terrify them and seeing the beautiful resulting display does nothing to appease their fears.

Out of terrifying fear, dogs will try to bolt and run. And if they take you by surprise, you might find your pet’s leash jerked right out of your hand. Hindered by fear, your dog will run far and fast. And they probably won’t pay any attention when crossing streets with oncoming cars.

So please, leave your pet at home this holiday night, and have a safe and happy 4th of July!

Audrey Frederick has the benefit of experience and wisdom when it comes to taking care of pets. She has written a wonderful article which can help you help your dog overcome separation anxiety. Please read this wonderful article below.

Separation Anxiety in Dogs!
By: Audrey Frederick

Also check out her cat and dog website at http://www.cats-and-dogs-on-the-web.com.

Animal Haven is the largest no-kill animal shelter in the greater Kansas City area. Their euthenasia rate was only 8% in 2008 because this shelter does everything they can to reunite lost pets with their owners and to find a happy home for homeless pets - even for homeless pets with health or temperament issues.

I recently made my first visit to the shelter and really liked what I saw. The entire facility was clean. There are volunteers everywhere taking shelter dogs for a walk or socializing with the cats. Animal Haven has large outdoor pens for the dogs to get more play room during the day. (The outdoor pens are only used during the day and during fair weather conditions. The dogs are housed in comfortable indoor pens at all other times.) The area for the cats was also clean and comfortable. During the day, some were let out to wander and play in the cat play area.

Animal Haven has a wonderful veterinary team. They will treat most sick and injured animals rather than euthenize them. Animal Haven has professional dog trainers train the dogs in order to help curb some bad habits or to do basic training. The dog training really makes the dogs more adoptable.

Animal Haven has many volunteer opportunities and has lots of other pet-related services to offer. Check out their website at http://www.animalhavenkc.org.

We love the new Cruising Companion™ Houndstooth Dog Car Seat Covers. Not only are they durable, but they are also fashionable. The Cruising Companion™ Houndstooth Dog Car Seat Covers come in houndstooth patterns of black & white, brown & white, or pink & white. It has two seat belt slots for use with the matching Cruising Companion™ Houndstooth Dog Car Harnesses or any of our other dog car harnesses. The Cruising Companion™ Houndstooth Dog Car Seat Covers are also machine washable should you take you dog to the dog park where the ground happened to be muddy. My dogs go to the dog park all the time and it is often wet and muddy. But the upholstery of my car stays nice and clean.

Poor Maya burned her paw the other day. When we went to the dog park, Maya was so excited that she burst out of the car as soon as I took off her dog car seat belt, but before I was able to put on her leash. I have learned to put on the leash before taking off her seat belt, but only after Maya burned her paw while running around on the hot asphalt pavement of the parking lot. One of her feet blistered and some padding came off. I took her to the vet, but the only recommendation they had was to give her some pain medicine and not let her walk around too much. She limped for three days.

Before you take your dog out this season, be aware that the black asphalt pavement is very hot and can burn your dog’s feet. Try to avoid the black asphalt pavements or try to park in a shaded area. Maya’s injuries were very minor and limted to only one of her paws, but could have been much worse.

Whose Maya?  Check out her profile on the Pet Pals page of Pet Auto Safety.com.

You would be surprised at home many things around your home can be harmful to your pet. If you have a puppy or a curious adult dog, please read this following article on the common houshold dangers to your dog:

Protect Your Pet - Common Household Dangers to Your Dogs
By: Guy Berg

The most obvious reason you should care for your pet is so that your pet lives a long and happy life and gives you happiness in return. But now there is another reason. Cities all over the US are cracking down on people who abuse or neglect their pets. Neglect includes leaving a dog chained in the yard day-in and day-out or letting a dog roam the neighborhood. Just because someone regularly feeds a dog, a dog constantly chained up or allowed to roam can eventually lead to a dangerous dog which is more inclined to attack or bite people than a dog who is properly cared for. Check out this fantastic article written by someone in a city who is issuing citations for dog owners who do not properly are for or restrain their dogs:

Citations Issued to Dog Owners Who Do Not Properly Care For or Restrain Their Dogs

The shelters are full all over the United States due to people giving up their pets.  This economy is making it more difficult for people to pay their bills. But before you give up your pets, consider all the quality benefits you will be losing. Studies have shown that pets help us with our health and stress. The comfort of a pet can help with various health issues including high blood pressure, anxiety, and depression. See our blog post on health provided by animals. If you are stuggling in this economy, don’t you think it would be easier to deal with stress by keeping your best friend around?

Besides, caring for your pets are not really all that expensive. You can get inexpensive dog food which may not have all the specialties of the name brand dog foods but it is still adequately nutritious. You can also purchase pet medications and their shots online from sites which provide vast discounts as compared to the costs of veterinarians. Be sure to research any such sites to make sure they are a legitimate company selling legitimate products. You can get recommendations from humane societies and check to see if the site is owned by a company who is a member of the Better Business Bureau. Other than food and shots, there is really no other expense associated with keeping your pet. Check out this heart-warming article on a woman who lived in her car with her dogs. She may have lost her home, but she has not lost her beloved pets. There’s no doubt that they will help her get through these hard times.

The GMC Acadia prevailed over two dozen other entries vying for the award.SAN DIEGO, Feb. 23 /PRNewswire/ — The very attributes that make the GMC Acadia crossover one of the most comfortable and safest vehicles for people have been recognized by leading pet safety advocate Bark Buckle UP, which recently gave Acadia its Pet Safe Choice Award for 2009 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=il5A3veguX0The GMC Acadia prevailed over two dozen other entries vying for the award. Acadia features GM’s OnStar safety and security technology that includes emergency services and hands-free navigation; standard third-row bench seating for restraining pets and ample room behind the seats for pet crates; tinted windows, tri-zone climate controls and a large, power-operated sunshade for comfort; and top federal and insurance industry scores for crashworthiness.In addition, Acadia enjoys best-in-class fuel economy for owners who take their pets along for the ride, with an EPA-estimated 24 mpg highway for front-wheel-drive models.Sixty-three percent (or 71.1 million households) own a pet, according to the American Pet Product Manufacturers Association, and devoted owners spent more than $43 billion on pet products and services in 2008.”Many of our customers treat their pets like members of the family, and Acadia provides the pet-friendly safety and comfort features they are looking for,” said Cheryl Catton, executive director of advertising and promotion for Buick, Pontiac & GMC. Catton accepted the Bark Buckle UP award at the recent Chicago Auto Show, where dogs from the American Kennel Club S.T.A.R. program and the Kane County Sheriff’s Office helped demonstrate the importance of restraining pets in vehicles.”Not only does the Acadia provide first-class transport for our customers’ pets, it is filled with safety and security features that enhance pet safety — including technology such as OnStar, which can direct owners to the nearest veterinary clinic in the event of an on-road emergency,” said Catton. “In addition, GM has been a leader in urging that pets be restrained in vehicles and not be left unattended in parked vehicles.”"With so many pet owners traveling with their pets today, safety is key — not just for pets, but for humans who travel with them — to making a conscientious purchase,” according to Christina Selter, a pet safety expert and founder of Bark Buckle UP. “We believe the GMC Acadia has earned high marks in this area for its outstanding leadership in car design and function.”Selter said more pets are on the move than ever, with an estimated 300-percent jump in car travel from 2005. Unfortunately, statistics from the Traffic Safety Evaluation Guide show that 98 percent of pets ride unstrained, she said.The laws of physics mean that in a 35-mph crash, a 60-pound pet can cause an impact equivalent to 2,700 pounds, injuring itself and human occupants in the vehicle. In addition, an injured pet that is unrestrained can escape from a wrecked car, biting first responders or causing another collision.For more information on the GMC Acadia, visit www.gmc.com. To learn more about other Bark Buckle UP 2009 winners, visit www.barkbuckleup.com.General Motors Corp. (NYSE: GM), one of the world’s largest automakers, was founded in 1908, and today manufactures cars and trucks in 34 countries. With its global headquarters in Detroit, GM employs 244,500 people in every major region of the world, and sells and services vehicles in some 140 countries. In 2008, GM sold 8.35 million cars and trucks globally under the following brands: Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, GMC, GM Daewoo, Holden, Hummer, Opel, Pontiac, Saab, Saturn, Vauxhall and Wuling. GM’s largest national market is the United States, followed by China, Brazil, the United Kingdom, Canada, Russia and Germany. GM’s OnStar subsidiary is the industry leader in vehicle safety, security and information services. More information on GM can be found at www.gm.com.SOURCE General Motors CorporationWebsite: http://media.gm.comWebsite: http://www.gm.comWebsite: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=il5A3veguX0Website: http://www.gmc.comWebsite: http://www.barkbuckleup.comContact: Debbie Frakes, Director, Buick, Pontiac and GMC Communications, 313-667-2579, debbie.frakes@gm.comMedia Bark Buckle UP, 619-239-BARK (2275) bark@barkbuckleup.com

Since we just posted a blog about dog crates, we thought it would be a good idea to post some tips on crate training your dog. To crate train your dog, after all, is generally much easier than to train your dog to enjoy riding in the car (unless your dog naturally enjoys riding in the car).

The first thing you do is set up the dog crate and put your dog’s favorite bed in there. If your dog doesn’t use a dog bed, that’s fine. Depending on the dog crate you may not have to put anything inside.

Second, get your dog’s favorite toy or treat. It is important that you use whichever excites your dog the most. Some dogs go nuts over certain toys while other dogs dance in circles over certain treats. When your dog is adequately excited, coax your dog into the dog crate by slowly leading them inside with the toy or treat. When the dog goes inside, be sure to give them the toy or treat and lots of praise. Train your dog with positive reinforcement so they learn the crate is a rewarding place to be.  It is important that you do not force your dog into the dog crate. If the dog is hesitant, just lead them as close to the dog crate as you can and give them their reward and praise. If you continue practicing on and off throughout the day, and possibly throughout the week or more depending on the dog, you will find that your dog will get more comfortable being around the dog crate and will eventually go inside.

When the dog is comfortable going all the way inside the dog crate, put several treats in the dog crate to encourage your dog to go inside and close the dog crate door. If your dog is distressed when you close the door, leave them in for only a short moment. After lots of practice, you can eventually leave your dog in the dog crate for longer periods of time.

After your dog is used to being in the dog crate for a minute or two, leave the room. Do not respond if your dog cries. Let them cry. This may sound mean, but if you run to your dog and let them out of the dog crate when they cry, you may mistakenly train your dog that crying will get them out of the dog crate.

When you feel that you can leave your dog home alone in the dog crate, you may leave certain toys in the dog crate. The best toys are the ones which are non-destructible, like a Kong. Do not leave toys or treats which the dog can chew up and possible choke on.

The three most important tips to remember when crate training your dog are:
1) Don’t let your dog out of the dog crate just because they are crying or whining.
2) If your dog is a chewer, don’t leave anything in the dog crate which your dog will chew up. This means toys, blankets, and dog bones.
3) Never use the dog crate as a form of punishment. The dog crate should be a place of comfort and safety.