Author Archives: stacy Pettit

Proper Prior Planning: A Must

posted September 7th, 2011 by stacy Pettit

By Stacy Pettit

Last weekend, I know many of us stayed glued to the TV or near our cell phones to check in with friends and family on the East Coast as Hurricane Irene ferociously drilled the shore. Last week’s storm should serve as a reminder to properly care for those friends and family closer to home – our pets – in the event of a natural disaster. And with Oklahoma already seeing its fair share of disasters in 2011 including blizzards, fires, floods, extreme heat and tornados, the sooner you have a plan in place to keep your pet safe, the better.

FEMA has declared September as National Preparedness Month so what better time to gather supplies and create a plan in case the unimaginable happens to you and your family? Here are a few tips to get you started:

Make sure your pets have proper tags and contact information on at all times. This will make it easier for you to find your pet in case you get separated. It is also a good idea to put medical information if your pet needs medicine on the back of their tags.
Much like the kit that you pack for the rest of your family, include three days worth of food and water for your pet along with a first aid kit in a natural disaster safety pack. Other good ideas to include in this pack are food bowls, extra leashes and collars, and an adequate supply of medications that your pet might be on.
Always plan to bring your pet along with you if you must evacuate your home. A pet has a much better chance at survival if he is with his owner. If you are away from home when disaster strikes, talk with a neighbor ahead of time and ask them to check in on your pet if you are not home during a disaster.
Because it is a good idea to take your pet with you if you are evacuated, be sure and have a list of shelters or hotels that allow pets. If it is impossible to bring your pet with you to a shelter, check out possible places to board your animals.

With such a wide array of possible natural disasters, you must be ready to think on your feet. If you become confused about what to do for your pets in a disaster, the best idea is to treat your pet as part of the family. After all, let’s face it – they are a big part of the family and in the end, if a nightmare hits your home, having that friend there to support you will make the rebuilding process a little easier.

Tags: Pet Health, Prepared Pets
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Assistance Dog Week

posted August 5th, 2011 by stacy Pettit

by Stacy Pettit

Dogs did not receive the title as man’s best friend simply for their wiggly tails and sloppy kisses. These four-legged friends quickly become family and remain loving and devoted to their owners until the very end.

This is just one of the many reasons why dogs are often chosen to be assistance animals to aid people with disabilities.

August 7 to the 13 is International Assistance Dog Week, a week created to celebrate these dedicated and gifted animals. Whether these dogs are trained to help the blind or aid the deaf, assistance dogs work hard to bring happiness to the lives of those they lead. And it isn’t just these dogs that put hard work into becoming a friend to those with disability-related limitations. Puppy raisers and assistance dog trainers spend long hours teaching and training these K-9s, molding them into being heroes to those who stand by their sides.

Opening the refrigerator door.

If you do not use a service dog yourself, how about helping those in need of an assistance dog? For the physically disabled, gaining one of these friends can often be difficult and costly. However, non-profit organizations like that of Therapetics Service Dogs of Oklahoma work to train and place these animals into the lives of those who need them the most. In honor of International Assistance Dog Week, donate to this and other organizations that are committed to building better lives and to shaping an unbreakable bond.

Helping with a sweater.

Tags: Service Dog, Therapetics
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Mark Your Calendar

posted July 29th, 2011 by stacy Pettit

By Stacy Pettit

The fun and excitement of the Fourth of July is now far in our past, and the excuse to celebrate a holiday seems to be so far in the future with Labor Day several weeks away. Well, Sunday, July 31, the dogs are throwing you a bone and giving you an excuse to celebrate a holiday dedicated to the best, and furriest, of friends. This Sunday is National Mutts Day, a holiday devoted to dogs of mixed breeds that are sometimes viewed by pure breed owners as inferior. So go ahead – take your mutt out on a walk in the River Parks or to the newly reopened Biscuit Acres dog park in Hunter Park and prove to everyone that mutts kick butt!

If you don’t have a mutt to celebrate the day with this weekend and you are looking to adopt, check out your local animal shelter or a number of rescue organizations such as the Humane Society of Tulsa or the Tulsa SCPA for the mutt of your dreams. What better way to celebrate Mutts Day than to give one of these often overlooked dogs a forever home? Ask any mutt owner out there – they still go down as man’s absolute best friend.

Now, after showering your mutt with all the love and attention Spot deserves this weekend, plan some time to show some puppy love on Monday, August 1 for DOGust the First, or the universal birthday for shelter dogs.

Dogs at the animal shelter are often forgotten. Since most of them lack someone to give background information to Animal Welfare workers, they are stuck without a birthday in a shelter where their days are numbered. On DOGust the First, stop by Tulsa’s animal shelter and begin a new life for one of these furry friends. If you aren’t able to bring home one of these four-legged pals, the animal shelter takes donations including kennel beds, animal care supplies and cleaning products. They also take you – volunteers!

Because such little funding goes toward Tulsa Animal Welfare and with many of these dogs destined to be euthanized at the shelter, a day dedicated to these animals could not be more important and should serve as a reminder that they need all the love they can get. So encourage others to remember these friends on their birthday by giving them the best birthday gift of all – a new home.

Tags: DOGust the First, National Mutt's Day
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Pets in the Heat

posted July 22nd, 2011 by stacy Pettit

By Stacy Pettit

The dog days of summer have scorched their way through the month of July, and it looks like no relief is coming soon. With temperatures reaching triple digits multiple days in a row, Oklahomans have been left praying for it to rain cats and dogs to cool off this fiery month. But while we sit inside with the AC on full blast, we can’t forget about our four-legged friends’ safety in the heat. Afterall, paws can’t operate a thermostat very well, and wet-nosed kisses might keep you cool, but they don’t provide relief for our pets out in the sun.

Just like their human companions, dogs and cats can suffer from heat stress and heat exhaustion. To ensure Spot and Mittens beat the heat, the ASPCA has released a few tips pet owners can follow. First and foremost, keep your pets inside in the extreme heat. If this isn’t possible, make sure pets have plenty of shade outside along with multiple bowls of fresh, clean water to keep them from getting dehydrated throughout the day. Your pet can also try a new ‘do! The ASPCA recommends shaving dogs’ coats down to a one-inch length, but never to the skin in order to keep pets from getting sunburned. Also, pamper your kitty by brushing them frequently. This helps prevent problems caused by excessive heat.

Pets still need exercise during the hot months of summer, but be smart and put yourself in your pet’s shoes, or paws for that matter.

When taking your dog on a walk, make sure you go in the early morning hours or in the late evening. Concrete and asphalt can burn paws in the heat of the day and remember, your pet is still wearing a coat while you can romp around in shorts and a t-shirt.

Even if you’ve converted Fido’s dog house into an igloo this July, it’s best to know the warning signs of overheated pets. These include excessive panting, difficulty breathing, increased heart rate, unresponsive behavior, seizures, vomiting, weakness, and even bloody diarrhea and collapse in some cases. Keep an eye on older and overweight pets as well as those with heart and lung diseases. These animals are more prone to heat strokes. If any of these warning signs occur, move the animal to a cool area and call your vet immediately.

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