Pet Auto Safety

Due to the recent hurricanes buffeting the coasts of Florida, Pet Vacation Homes feels it is a needed service to post an extensive list of pet shelters, rescues, breed and adoption agencies in Florida. Many, if not all of these places will have disaster relief information that will be helpful in this time of need. Be sure to remember to take care of your pets needs if you will be leaving the area and not bringing your furry companion. We will be updating this list as more information becomes available.

• Animal Matters - Boca Raton
• Tropical Dawg Golden Rescue - Boca Raton
• Bishop Animal Shelter - Bradenton
• Greenman’s Glen Animal Sanctuary - Brooksville
• Humane Society/S.P.C.A. of Sumter County,Inc. - Bushnell
• South Lake Animal League - Clermont
• Central Brevard Humane Society - Cocoa
• Animal Aid, Inc. - Coconut Creek
• Wakulla County Animal Shelter - Crawfordville
• Animal Rescue Need and Intervention - Daytona Beach
• PetRescue.com - Debary
• Feline Friends - Deerfield Beach (Cats Only)
• West Volusia Humane Society - DeLand
• Suncoast Humane Society - Englewood
• Abandoned Pet Rescue Adoption Center - Fort Lauderdale
• Humane Society of Broward County - Fort Lauderdale
• Broward County Animal Care and Regulation Division - Fort Lauderdale and Pompano Beach
• Alachua County Animal Services - Gainesville
• Gainesville Pet Rescue - Gainesville
• Puppy Hill Farm - Gainesville/Melrose
• Houndhaven - Groveland/Clermont (Dogs Only)
• Adopt a Pet - Homestead
• Second Chance Felines - Hudson
• First Coast Shih Tzu and Furbaby Rescue - Jacksonville (Dogs Only)
• Jacksonville Humane Society - Jacksonville
• Purrrfect Love Cat and Kitten Rescue - Jacksonville (Cats Only)
• The StrayCatHouse - Jacksonville
• Safe Harbor Animal Rescue & Clinic - Jupiter
• Adopt a Cat Foundation - Lake Park
• SPCA - Lakeland
• Feline Rescue Inc. - Lighthouse Point (Cats Only)
• Heidi’s Legacy: Dog Rescue, Inc. - Lithia (Dogs Only)
• Suwannee County Humane Society - Live Oak
• Animal Rescue Foundation - Longwood
• Cats Exclusive Inc - Margate (Cats Only)
• Central Brevard Humane Society - Melbourne
• Pet Rescue - Miami
• The Humane Society of Greater Miami - Miami
• Second Chance Animal Rescue, Inc. - New Smyrna Beach
• Helping Hands Rescue at Westend - Newberry
• Orange County Animal Services - Orlando
• Orlando Home for the Cats - Orlando (Cats Only)
• Orlando Humane Society - Orlando
• Humane Society of Bay County - Panama City
• Chihuahua Toy Breed Rescue & Retirement - Pembroke Pines
• Kritter Rescue - Pensacola
• Animal Welfare League of Charlotte County - Port CharlotteThe Humane Society of Sarasota County - Sarasota
• Heartland Animal Rescue - Sebring
• Save Our Strays - St. Petersburg (Cats Only)
• Leon County Humane Society - Tallahassee
• Tallahassee-Leon Community Animal Service Center - Tallahassee
• SPCA of Pinellas County - Tampa
• St. Francis Society - Tampa
• North Animal Care and Adoption Center - Titusville
• North Brevard S.P.C.A. - Titusville
• The Animal Shelter - Winter Garden
• Humane Society of Polk County - Winter Haven
• Polk County Animal Services - Winter Haven
  

Breed Rescues:

• We Care Rottweiler Rescue - DeLeon Springs
• Florida Dachshund Rescue - Gulf Breeze
• Akita Rescue Society - Jacksonville
• Catahoula Rescue State of Florida South East Region - Mims
• Doberman Rescue League - Oakland Park
• Florida Basset Rescue - Parrish
• Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier Club of Greater Tampa Bay - Sarasota
• Siberian Husky Rescue of Florida - Seminole
• Cocker Spaniel/Small Dog Rescue of Central Florida - Statewide
• Florida Doberman Rescue - Statewide
• Doberman Rescue Concern of Florida - Statewide
• Florida Basset Rescue, Inc. - Statewide
• Tampa Bay Pug Club Rescue - Tampa
  

Other Resources:

• Broward County Animal Care and Regulation Division - Fort Lauderdale and Pompano Beach
• Pet Aid League, Inc. - Low cost Spay/Neuter for Dogs and CatsServing Broward, Miami-Dade and Southern Palm Beach Counties in Florida
• Save a Homeless Puppy, Rescue an Older Dog - Dedicated to helping shelters and other dog rescue organizations find loving homes for abandoned and homeless dogs
• Humane Association of Wildlife Care and Education - Serving St. Johns, Clay and Flagler Counties
• Back to Nature Wildlife Refuge - Miami

Provided by PetVacationHomes.com

For those who have multiple pets or a dog that is too large for the back seat of a car, the cargo area of a hatchback car, SUV, or minivan is the most comfortable place they can be. Pet auto barriers separate the drivers and passengers from your pets so that the pets do not distract the driver. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports that between 1995 and 1998, 14% of crashes involved distractions (the cause of 28% of the crashes is unknown). Distractions include anything from cell phones, radios and CD players, other passengers (including pets), and so on. A hyper pet or a pet who is not used to riding in the car can definitely be a distraction. Pet auto barriers can be of wire or netting. A netting barrier has the benefit of being able to stretch and fit into almost any sized vehicle. However, it may not be as durable as one made of steel. A steel wire barrier can also be adjustable but careful measuring of the inside of the vehicle needs to be done to make sure the barrier adjustments will fit. Other fittings would also need to be considered such as the roundness or straightness of the vehicle ceiling or the tire hump on the vehicle floor. However, the benefit of a steel wire barrier is that it is much stronger and more durable than a netting barrier.If you have a large dog or multiple pets, and if you have a car with a hatchback, an SUV, or minivan, you may want to consider a wire pet auto barrier. Prevent an accident by keeping your pets from distracting the driver. If an accident does occur, protect the passengers and driver by keeping your pets from crashing into them, and protect your pets by having a barrier that keeps them from flying through the front windshield of the car.

Best for small and medium sized dogs, a pet car seat is the perfect way to pamper your dog AND keep them safe. We love to take our dogs with us when we travel, but sometimes the seat of the car just isn’t comfortable. The dogs tend to lose their balance when we make those turns or make those stops. The seat belt works great for keeping the dogs from being thrown on the floor, but the car seat adds comfort. And comfort is great if you are taking a long road trip for summer vacation.Most car seats are plushly padded and some even provide a boost so the dogs can still look out the window. A good pet car seat should somehow attach to the seat of a car. Some will hang right over the front passenger seat. (But be sure that the airbags for the passenger side is turned off before you use a pet car seat in the front seat. Air bags are safe for adult people only.) The best pet car seats have a connecting strap where one end clips onto your pet’s harness and the other somehow utilizes the car’s seat belt.

There is a new product soon to be on the market called Pet Gard (Patented by Jade Electronics, Inc.). If you ever have to leave your pet in the car, the Pet Gard promises to alert you if the car gets too hot. A small heat measuring device plugs right into the cigarette lighter. And if the temperature begins to reach an uncomfortable level for your pet, the device pages the small pager you can carry on your key ring.

We don’t recommend leaving your dog in the car but every once in a while you may have no choice. For example, we all want to take our dogs with us when we go on vacation, right? But if you have to make a stop along the way where your dog is not allowed, you can use the Pet Gard.

Keep an eye on our blog for more information on this new product.

Before you travel in the car with your dog this summer, the most important thing you should do is consult your dog’s veterinarian to make sure your dog is healthy enough to go on a road trip. It is very important to take any health problems your dog may have into account and make sure the trip will not aggravate these health issues. You will also want to consider your dog’s temperament. A dog with a nervous tendency, for example, may not enjoy a long ride in the car. Health problems can occur if a nervous dog is exposed to stress for a long period. If you are unsure how your dog will handle a car ride, take him with you on several small local trips, such as to the park or the pet store. This will not only get them used to a car ride but it will also help them associate it with something fun. Just remember to use a dog seat belt and don’t leave your dog alone in the car.

If the road trip requires overnight stops, check with the hotels or motels you will be staying at to make sure that your dog is welcome. Be sure you pack all the necessary items your dog will need such as food and water, leashes, comfortable bedding, medication, and a first-aid kit. Also be sure to carry your vet’s information with you and see if they can provide you with a 24 hour emergency number. You will also want to make sure your dog is wearing his ID tags and that the information on the tags is legible. Carry a photo of your dog for in case your he gets loose and lost.

Share your dog or cat or cat with us.  Tell us a cute story about your pet, share your pet’s most recent accomplishment, talk about how your pet overcame a serious health issue, tell us if your pet was a rescue pet or a humane society pet, or just tell us why your dog or cat is the best pet ever!

Whether you live alone or are married with children, whether you have an active outdoor life or prefer to stay at home, there is a dog or cat to fit your lifestyle. So where do you find such a wonderful companion? Per this article, “Where to Find the Perfect Pet”, your local humane society is the best source for finding a healthy and great dog or cat.  The animals are already evaluated for health and temperment.  And the humane society can help you find the perfect match.

So don’t get your pet from a pet store or a breeder.  Many of these animals are from puppy mills.  Please don’t support these often dirty and inhumane facilities that only breed animals for money and not for the love of the breed.  Adopt from your local humane society whose goal is not to make money but to find good loving homes for dogs and cats.