Important factors to consider for the protection of all family members

In response to the recent spike in pet food recalls, the ASPCA®’s (The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals®) Animal Poison Control Center has some suggestions on how to best keep two-legged and four-legged family members safe:

1. Do your research. Salmonella is the contaminant that appears to be the cause of concern during this most recent round of pet food recalls.

The most important thing for pet owners to do if they suspect their dog’s food has been contaminated is to stop feeding their pet the recalled food immediately. If the pet shows signs of illness after eating a recalled pet food, a trip to the vet should be first on the list of to-dos, and then the food manufacturer should be notified.

*** Pet owners can identify the recalled foods by visiting the FDA’s website at www.fda.gov. ***

2. Know the signs. While healthy adult dogs are relatively resistant to illness from Salmonella bacteria, pets with health issues (such as young puppies, elderly and pregnant dogs that could have compromised immune systems) may be at greater risk for becoming ill. Dogs who are affected by Salmonella may exhibit symptoms such as vomiting, diarrhea, fever, lethargy, and drooling or panting—an indication of nausea. *In severe cases, the bacterium may spread throughout the body resulting in death.

3. Clean is key. Salmonella isn’t only dangerous to the pet eating the food, but could also affect the pet parent serving the food. Salmonella can be spread through direct contact with the affected product and animal feces, so exposure should be avoided. The best way to protect family members, including other animals in the home, is to thoroughly wash your hands (or paws) after any dealings with the product or feces. In addition, all bowls, utensils and surfaces that may have come in contact with contaminated food should be washed using hot soapy water and rinsed thoroughly or sanitized in the dishwasher.

For more information about the ASPCA’s Animal Poison Control Center and potential pet toxins, visit www.aspca.org/apcc.

Please meet Jasmine the super-sweet, white Jack Russell, who is 15 years young, and lives with her Mom Joyce in Warsaw, VA.

Jasmine is this week’s winner of Honorable Mention in the Iams Senior Plus, Play Young, Stay Young Contest which is happening on Facebook right now!

“Jasmine, our 15 year old Jack Russell is always on the go! We recently moved to the country and it didn’t take Jasmine long to inspect her 10 acre property. Our little girl likes to run, bark, dig holes and race up the porch steps for a taste of cat food put out for the ferals. Jasmine loves rolling around in good smells in the grass and always looks for trash bags to get into! Sunning and chewing a good bone are also favorites, but acting her age is not! She just keeps playing young & staying young! “

Congrats to Jasmine!

*** Do you have a cat or dog who refuses to act his age? If you do, enter him/her in the Iams contest!! It’s awesome and you can win premium pet food! ***

IAMS started the contest recently, and it goes ‘til June 3^rd; it’s on their Facebook page.

“Play Young, Stay Young” goes as follows:

1. Each week, until June 3, the Iams team will pick one cat and one dog winner (11 years or older – “super senior pets”) based on a photo and a 100-word essay submission from pet parents.

2. It’s super easy to enter! They’re seeking pets that essentially refuse to act their age – pets that are older but still act younger. (For example, our Benny [Golden Retriever] is over 12 but still roaches around on his back like a puppy after he gets his dinner every night!)

3. Each winning animal will receive a year’s supply of Iams Senior Plus dog food! That is a lot of dog food!

So are you wondering how you can enter the awesome IAMS contest?

It’s easy-go here to the IAMS Facebook page!

As veterinary care has become more advanced over the years, the cost of treatment has gone up accordingly. Your dog or cat can now receive treatments once thought only for humans, from radiation therapy to organ transplants. The use of imaging such as MRI is also becoming more common in the office of veterinarians. According to the ASPCA, new developments in pet healthcare meant that pet owners spent $13 billion on veterinary care in 2010.

While the advanced treatment options mean that with dog insurance or cat insurance, your pet receives a better standard of care and may live longer, it also means you may pay more to keep your pet healthy. Because of these rising costs, some people make the decision when they get a pet to put it down if it becomes very ill or injured.

But in the heat of the moment, making the actual decision to put a precious pet to sleep can prove more difficult than previously expected. Purchasing cat or dog insurance when a pet is healthy means treatment may be covered and euthanasia can be avoided.

Coverage and Deductibles

Most pet insurance plans have a deductible. The deductible is the amount you pay out of pocket for your pet’s health care. The amount varies from plan to plan and is determined by how high the premium of the plan is. An average deductible may be around $100 per year.

After the deductible, you may still have to pay a small amount of the cost of treatment out of pocket. Many insurance plans pay for 80 to 90 percent of the costs, meaning you have to pay the remaining 10 or 20 percent. Coverage can vary depending on the treatment your pet needs as well.

Premiums

The cost of pet insurance depends on the amount of coverage you receive and the company you decide to work with. The premium also depends on the type of pet you have. Keep in mind that you have multiple pets, you will need to purchase a separate plan for each pet—one plan does not cover multiple animals.

Premiums can range from around $20 per month to over $100. In most cases, if you want to cover preventative and wellness care, you need to pay an extra amount each month. Wellness care coverage will take care of the costs of vaccines, a yearly exam, and spaying or neutering a pet. Some wellness care options include the cost of dental care as well.

Choosing a Vet

Pet insurance does not limit who you can take your pet to see. You do not have to choose a veterinarian from a list of providers or change vets once you enroll in most plans. In many cases, you do not need a referral or pre-authorization.

What’s Not Covered

Not every insurance plan covers every disease or condition. A number of plans exclude congenital disorders. For example, hip dysplasia is a congenital disease in certain breeds of dogs and some insurance companies do not cover it. If your pet has a congenital disease, look for a plan that covers them. You may also need to look into dog arthritis treatment.

Some plans also do not cover pre-existing conditions. Those plans will not help you if your pet already has a medical condition.

Making the Decision

In the end, whether you get pet insurance or not depends on your specific situation. Some breeds of dog or cat need more medical care than others, so pet insurance is a good way to insure against high medical costs down the road. You can save on the cost of health care for a pet by choosing a breed that does not experience as many health problems.

Whether you have a pet now or are looking for one, it’s important to do your research first. Compare plans from a number of different providers. Make sure the plan covers your pet’s specific health needs and that the plan will cover your pet based on his age. Some plans have age limits while others do not. Keep your pet healthy and schedule regular vet appointments for him, whether you decide to purchase pet insurance or not.

About the author:

Elli is a writer YourLocalSecurity.com. She was born and raised in Colorado & now enjoys skiing, playing tennis, and hiking in the mountains of Salt Lake City, Utah.

Have you all heard of DOGTV, the new television programming that is taking the nation by storm? As its name suggests, DogTV is a television channel scientifically developed for canine viewers.

DOGTV is cable’s first television network for dogs that is created exclusively for canines, and the humans who love them.

DOGTV’s 24/7 programing helps stimulate, entertain, relax and habituate dogs with shows that expose them to various movements, sounds, objects, experiences and behavior patterns, all from a dog’s point of view.

The network is built around a core team of highly acclaimed pet experts including Victoria Stillwell.

Recently featured in major publications including “TIME Magazine,” “The New York Times,” and “The Huffington Post”; and featured on national news and talk shows such as “NBC Nightly News,” “Ellen,” “Late Show with David Letterman,” “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” and “Chelsea Lately,” DogTV is quickly becoming a household name in the US and abroad.

Well the new TV phenomenon has a blog end, too! It’s re-launching soon and it’s called the Alpha Dog Blog. Stay tuned for more on that end!

In the meantime, check out DogTV for a discount that’s special only for you, as ThoughtsFurPaws readers! You’ll find some awesome stories and videos akin to not even major network television – it’s THAT cool!

Currently, DogTV is only offered on TV in the San Diego test market. However, it’s available as a streaming online channel that can be accessed by any pet lover in the world starting now!

And guess what?

I’m offering you a special promotion code that allows you to receive 50% off the online streaming price for the first two months! Hooray!

 Simply type in: FB2M50%01 and you’ll get the 50% discount.

Let me know what you think about DogTV in the comments section!

How To use DOGTV?

Look at those white-gloved paws and that fuzzy belly… this kitty is Klondike. He is 11-years-young and lives with his mom, Brianna in Minong, Wisconsin.

They are the winners of Honorable Mention in the Iams Senior Plus, Play Young, Stay Young Contest which is happening on Facebook right now!

Isn’t Klondike a cutie? Here is the essay that won then the Honorable Mention:

“He loves to run after his little brother Jack. When I put my hand under a blanket he goes nuts. Whenever I open the door to go outside he thinks he can run outside. He is a baby at heart too. He goes nuts on feathers. I have a bird feeder outside the window and his big blue eyes just light up when he sees a bird. He thinks he can get them. After he uses the bathroom he runs around the house and makes weird noises. He is one big weirdo. And that is how my cat Klondike stays young.”

Do you have a cat or dog who refuses to act his age? If you do, enter him/her in the Iams contest!! It’s awesome and you can win premium pet food!

IAMS started the contest recently, and it goes ‘til June 3rd. It’s on their Facebook page.

“Play Young, Stay Young” goes as follows:

* Each week, for 8 weeks, the team at Iams will pick one cat and one dog winner (11 years or older – “super senior pets”) based on a photo and a 100-word essay submission from pet parents.

1. It’s super easy to enter! They’re seeking pets that essentially refuse to act their age – pets who are older but still act younger. For example, Benny is 12 but still roaches around on his back like a puppy after he gets his dinner every night!

2. Each winning animal will receive a year’s supply of Iams Senior Plus dog food! That is a lot of dog food!!

3. So are you stoked about this contest or what? Are you reading this, saying I MUST enter this contest … so how do I do it?

4. It’s easy-go here to the IAMS Facebook page

Did you know that an estimated 1 million dogs are named primary beneficiary in their owner’s wills?

Or that cat owners will spend nearly $5,000 on treats over the course of their cat’s lifetime?

Did you know that food costs are the biggest expense for most pets?

Me neither.

I learned it in this awesome infographic from the Silicon Valley Humane Society and Mint!

“It takes a lot more than love, treats, and toys to give your pet a happy life,” says Beth Ward, Chief Operating Officer at Humane Society Silicon Valley. “If you really love your pets or you’re thinking of adopting one, then you need to be aware of the hard costs involved.” (This quote is from the MintLife article.)

This infographic is about the lifetime costs of owning a pet.

Personally, I think it should be hung in every single rescue organization in the US. It’s effective in conveying that owning a pet isn’t just a companionship thing – it’s a financial thing, too.

According to MintLife, she continues, “Many cats and dogs can live for 20 years or more. Keeping them alive, happy, and healthy for the duration of their life requires a sustained commitment. It takes good financial planning.”

Shelters Can Benefit Greatly from Big Hauls of Pet Food, Toys, and Supplies

Before the third season of ‘Extreme Couponing’ premieres on TLC on May 28, the ASPCA® (The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals®) (ASPCA) is issuing a challenge to ‘Extreme Couponers’ everywhere: consider using your bargain-shopping prowess to help your local animal shelter or rescue group.

“Many local animal shelters – in addition to needing monetary donations – are in constant need of supplies,” said Julie Morris, Senior Vice President of Community Outreach for the ASPCA. “Generously purchasing these items for your local animal shelter or rescue group will not only help their daily operations, but it can also help improve the quality of life for the animals in their care.”

Your local shelter may be in need of one or more of the following:

• Pet food – for dogs, cats, puppies, kittens and rabbits – and pet treats
• Pet toys – chew toys, rawhides, rope toys, feather toys, treat toys and ball toys
• Pet care supplies – leashes, collars, litter, litter boxes, and scratching posts
• Pet bedding – dog and cat beds and towels that can be laundered
• Operational supplies – garbage bags, newspapers, cleaning products, paper towels, office supplies

The ASPCA recommends first calling your local animal shelter or rescue group to see if they are in need of donated food, toys and/or supplies, and what preferences they have in terms of products or brands.  Some shelters may feed their animals certain types of food (wet or dry; kibble or canned), while others may prefer using environmentally friendly cleaning products.

If you’re an ‘Extreme Couponer’ – or a seasoned coupon-clipper – and you decide to use your shopping skills to make a difference for your local animal shelter, we want you to show us your haul!  Take photos of your shopping excursion, the goods you scored, and the moment you arrive at the shelter to present them with your generous donation. Submissions will be accepted through this tab on the ASPCA’s Facebook page through June 1. We’ll also be taking to our Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest pages, and our blog, to feature how much you’ve donated and show the country your generosity. The top five winners will receive a special over-sized ASPCA shopping tote full of swag.

About Extreme Couponing

TLC’s hit series EXTREME COUPONING documents the creative real-life strategies of savvy shoppers as they clip and save their ways to outrageous deals, and as they share their impressive hauls with their communities and local charities. The new season of the series will premiere Monday, May 28 at 10/9c.

About the ASPCA®

Founded in 1866, the ASPCA® (The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals®) is the first humane organization established in the Americas and serves as the nation’s leading voice for animal welfare. More than one million supporters strong, the ASPCA’s mission is to provide effective means for the prevention of cruelty to animals throughout the United States. As a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit corporation, the ASPCA is a national leader in the areas of anti-cruelty, community outreach and animal health services. The ASPCA, which is headquartered in New York City, offers a wide range of programs, including a mobile clinic outreach initiative, its own humane law enforcement team, and a groundbreaking veterinary forensics team and mobile animal CSI unit. For more information, please visit www.aspca.org. To become a fan of the ASPCA on Facebook, go to www.facebook.com/aspca. To follow the ASPCA on Twitter, go to www.twitter.com/aspca.

From the Best Friends Animal Society website and Facebook page:

Last year, the Back in Black adoption event was introduced to showcase black dogs and cats and give them the best chance at being adopted. And over 900 pets found homes!

This year, we’re back with Back in Black 2.

Our goal is to find good homes for 1,000 or more pets in black this May.

Right now, thousands of wonderful animals are waiting to be adopted at shelters and rescue groups nationwide. And every day, 9,000 pets are killed in shelters because they don’t have a home.

Best Friends and our No More Homeless Pets® Network Partners are committed to saving them. Join us!

Click here to find adoptable black pets near you.

Erasing myths about black dogs and cats

Even though they make wonderful pets with great personalities, black dogs and cats are often overlooked for adoption, but why? After all, the color of a pet’s fur has no relationship to their ability to provide unconditional love, companionship and devotion. Here are a couple of theories:

• Bad photos hinder “love at first sight.” Black dogs and cats are harder to photograph because their eyes are close to the color of their fur and their facial expressions and personalities don’t always shine through in pictures. That’s a real disadvantage since many adopters “meet” their new best friends online.
• Superstitions! There are negative stereotypes about black cats and dogs that simply aren’t true. Just ask anyone who loves their beautiful black pet! They’ll tell you about all the wonderful qualities their pets possess and that they wouldn’t trade them for anything.

What are you waiting for? Change the future—and the world—for homeless pets in black today. 

There are 129 No More Homeless Pets® Network partners with adoptable black cats and dogs participating across 37 states.  Click on a state below to find local groups. Click on the group to visit their website for more event details.

Alabama | Arizona | Alaska | Arkansas | California | Colorado | Connecticut | Delaware | Florida | Georgia | Hawaii | Idaho | Illinois | Indiana | Iowa | Kansas | Kentucky | Louisiana | Maryland | Massachusetts | Michigan | Minnesota | Missouri | Montana | Nebraska | Nevada | New Hampshire | New Jersey | New Mexico | New York | North Carolina | North Dakota | Ohio | Oklahoma | Oregon | Pennsylvania | Rhode Island | South Carolina | South Dakota | Tennessee | Texas | Utah | Vermont | Virginia | Washington | West Virginia | Wisconsin | Wyoming | US Virgin Islands

The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals® (ASPCA) has announced the creation of a Legal Advocacy department to increase legal protections for animals across the country. The department will provide “second chair” legal support through the coordination of legal and other expert services vital to the effective handling of animal cruelty prosecutions, as well as conduct selective, affirmative civil litigation in cases with the potential to effect substantial change in animal protection laws nationwide. The team will also provide legislative analysis and bill drafting expertise to the ASPCA’s Government Relations department.

The Legal Advocacy department will be led by Stacy Wolf, who adds this position to her current role as vice president and chief counsel of the ASPCA’s Humane Law Enforcement department.

Wolf, who was a career public defense attorney before joining the organization’s Legislative Affairs department in 1998, was responsible for spearheading the passage of New York’s felony animal cruelty law, dog shelter law, exotic pets ban, veterinary reporting law, and dangerous dog law.

Ms. Wolf also served as legislative chair of the New York State Bar Association’s Special Committee on Animals and the Law.

“The formation of the Legal Advocacy department is an essential step toward fulfilling the ASPCA’s mission of providing effective means for the prevention of cruelty to animals throughout the United States,” said Matt Bershadker, senior vice president of the ASPCA’s Anti-Cruelty Group. “Stacy has a wealth of animal law experience and possesses the necessary tools to implement significant legal change for the benefit of animals.”

Wolf has already appointed two people to the department: Jennifer Chin, who will serve as Legal Advocacy counsel; and Sandy Christiansen, who will serve as director of case development.

“I am thrilled to have Jennifer and Sandy join the ASPCA in this capacity,” said Wolf. “Their exceptional backgrounds are unique, yet complimentary, and both will play a vital role in helping to shape stronger animal welfare laws through the judicial system.”

Chin will provide second chair legal assistance to prosecutors handling animal cruelty cases across the country; assist in affirmative civil litigation cases brought by the department on behalf of the ASPCA; and provide legislative analysis for the ASPCA’s Government Relations department. Chin comes to the ASPCA from the United States Attorney’s Office in Newark, N.J., where she served as Assistant United States Attorney since 2008 specializing in criminal appellate work. She worked on complex civil litigation at two private law firms prior to her time at the U.S. Attorney’s office.

Christiansen will focus on affirmative outreach to identify and develop potential litigation opportunities; working with prosecutors and investigators on Legal Advocacy cases; and conducting legal research and legislative analysis. Prior to joining the ASPCA, Christiansen was the president and CEO of the Spartanburg Humane Society in Spartanburg, S.C. since 2005. In this role, he was responsible for supervising a staff of 41 employees and helping to grow such programs as humane education, anti-cruelty initiatives, behavior and training, and animal transport. During his 19 years working for the welfare of animals, Christiansen has also gained extensive experience in conducting cruelty and animal fighting investigations.

The Legal Advocacy department is part of the ASPCA’s Anti-Cruelty Group, which is also comprised of Humane Law Enforcement, Field Investigations and Response, Anti-Cruelty Behavior, Strategy and Campaigns, Forensic Sciences, and Anti-Cruelty Projects.

About the ASPCA®

Founded in 1866, the ASPCA® (The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals®) is the first humane organization established in the Americas and serves as the nation’s leading voice for animal welfare. One million supporters strong, the ASPCA’s mission is to provide effective means for the prevention of cruelty to animals throughout the United States. As a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit corporation, the ASPCA is a national leader in the areas of anti-cruelty, community outreach and animal health services. The ASPCA, which is headquartered in New York City, offers a wide range of programs, including a mobile clinic outreach initiative, its own humane law enforcement team, and a groundbreaking veterinary forensics team and mobile animal CSI unit. For more information, please visit www.aspca.org.

To become a fan of the ASPCA on Facebook, go to http://www.facebook.com/aspca. To follow the ASPCA on Twitter, go to http://www.twitter.com/aspca.

What if saving a pet’s life was as easy as visiting your Facebook profile or posting something to it…?

A new, unique, online Facebook application – Share a Pic, Save a Pet allows you to help save the lives of the nearly 8 million homeless pets in the U.S. today to drive public awareness and increase adoptions through social media!

Thousands of healthy, loving pets are in need of adoption right now, and you can help!

How?

Donate your Facebook page to a four-legged friend finding a forever home with Share a Pic, Save a Pet.

It’s quite fun to play around, test it out, and share these guys on your profile – you never know who may be looking or who may be wanting to adopt.

Created by non-profit PetSmart Charities and powered by Adopt-A-Pet.com, the first-of-its-kind Facebook application transforms individual profiles to alert your friends, family and followers about adoptable pets in your own community that need lifelong, loving homes, giving Facebook users an exclusive way to ‘donate’ their profile to showcase homeless pets in the community.

How to Use Share a Pic, Save a Pet

1. Go to http://apps.facebook.com/shareapic-saveapet/

2. Input your ZIP code.

3. Select up to 10 adoptable dogs or cats to showcase on your profile by breed, color, size and gender.

4. Adopt-a-Pet.com’s nationwide shelter database enables the application to populate your Facebook profile with photos of local pets available for adoption and links to local animal-welfare organizations where the pets available for adoption. These pictures are shared directly to your Friends’ news feeds and on your Facebook timeline!

We tried it on our personal Facebook page and its fun and functional both – your friends will catch on in no time and undoubtedly be doing the same.

Just imagine the lives we could save if everyone puts up ten pets every day for one month?!?

So check out Adopt-A-Pet.com’s Share a Pic, Save a Pet now – and get to sharing!