Scottsdale Pet Expert

Posts Tagged ‘safe’

Just last month as I was driving around McDowell Mountain Ranch doing my morning visits, I spotted a small terrier mix sprinting around the neighborhood. It was only 9AM, but it was already at least one hundred degrees outside. I stopped my car and did the trick of, “Here little buddy! Do you want a  treat?” He came to me and I checked the blue collar around his neck for identification.  There was nothing there. Just a collar. I scooped the little guy up put him in my air conditioned car and drove him to Dr. Sosnow at North Scottsdale Animal Hospital (that office is great!) We scanned the little guy for a mico chip and he didn’t have one. So now I had a dog who’s owner I did not know and I was not about to surrender it to Animal Control. 

This type of situation happens all of the time.  If you are one of Bella’s House & Pet Sitting clients, chances are you have heard our speech about ID YOUR PET! Accidents happen, that is why we have car and health insurance. If your door ever opens in your home, or you take your pet for a walk, then there is a possibility that your pet will escape. Without proper identification, your chances of finding them are slim.

If your pet escapes:

-          Wildlife could harm or kill your pets if they get loose.

-          Someone may be bold enough to just keep your pet and assume you don’t want it. I have heard some stories!

-          Your pet could end up with Animal Control. If you do not go to the facility every day to check to see if your pet turned up, they could put your pet down after the third day!!! Did you know that Arizona pet overpopulation is so bad that 75% of sheltered animals are put down! (Don’t buy, adopt a pet!)

Luckily this story ended happily. When I found the dog, I contacted the Debbie the activities director and she put a bulletin on the community TV Channel. The owner walked in the office just a few minutes later looking for “Smokey” and the owner and pet were happily reunited.  Please consider this a serious warning about IDing your pets. Not all stories end happily.

This information has been provided to you by Danielle Vasta, Owner of Bella’s House & Pet Sitting. Please contact her at: (480)330-4552 or www.BellasHouseAndPets.com for any of your pet sitting needs!

Halloween Tips for your Pets!

Halloween is a fun time for children and adults, but for your pet it could be scary, dangerous or traumatic. Keep the following tips in mind this Halloween from the Humane Society of the United States–

1)      Keep your pet in a quiet place, away from the noises of Trick-or-treaters. If you haven’t learned from the Pizza Hut commercials, dogs know to aim for the door when the bell rings! Try to keep your pet(s) in a contained area of your home with music or a noise distraction so that they do not get scared or go into protection mode each time the bell rings. This is an opportunity for Fido or Fluffy to bolt out the door so be sure to contain them in a separate part of your home.

2)      Keep flame decorations, like jack-o-lanterns out of your pet’s reach. Pets are curious, they will try to sniff and possible burn their snout. If they don’t sniff they may knock over a candle or pumpkin and cause a fire.

3)      Keep candy away from pets – Candy, especially chocolate can be toxic to pets. Wrappers can also be harmful if swallowed. Be sure to keep it out of reach from your four legged loved ones!

4)      Resist the urge to put your pet in a costume unless they are used to it on a regular basis. Most pets do not like the constraint of a costume. If you do decide to dress them up, make sure the costume does not constrain their movement, hearing or ability to breathe. Check the costume for parts that your pet could chew off and possibly choke on.

5)      Leave the dog home when you take the kids out trick or treating. Your pooch could get scared by costumes or frightened by the numerous people trying to pet them.

6)      Be aware that your pet may not recognize you in your Halloween costume. Pets are very sensitive to different appearances. Even during some pet sits, pets take a minute to remember me if I have something as simple as a ball cap on!

Please keep these important tips in mind when handing out candy or trick or treating on Halloween.

This information has been provided to you by Danielle Vasta, Owner of Bella’s House & Pet Sitting. Please contact her at: (480)330-4552 or www.BellasHouseAndPets.com for any of your pet sitting needs!