Most Damaging Hidden Winter Pet Hazzards

Hi Reba here,

As I was looking down to see what my mom, Linda Messina, was doing to prepare for the Christmas holiday I saw a HUGE storm roaring across the country. I checked on my earthly friends from California to the East Coast and I saw too much snow, too much wind, too much rain too too much!

Then I thought about how busy our humans are with the weather, traveling, wrapping presents, baking and all the things they do to make the house smell soooooooo good. They might not think about some very important things . . . like The Hidden Hazzards of Winter for us furbabies. So, thanks to Adopt A Pet here are 5 hidden hazzards you might have overlooked.

So take a quick look and I'm sending loving Christmas wishes for a safe holiday to you all!

Buon Natale a tutti voi!

Reba Messina

GOOD WORKS: Rachel Ray, ASPCA Create Temporary Home for Displaced Hurricane Sandy Pets

Reba Messina
Mutt Reporter

Two puppies that were displaced from the Rockaways play in their cage

Owners and family pets were displaced by the hundreds of thousands after hurricane Sandy. Difficult as it has been for the humans to find new or temporary housing having family pets has made it even more of a challenge especially with temporary housing.

In steps the ASPCA. The organization negotiated a lease at $20,000 per month for provide a temporary home, a 20,000-square-foot emergency boarding center that opened over the weekend in a vacant warehouse in Ocean Hill, Brooklyn for family pets.

Run with affectionate precision by a team of disaster specialists from the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, the shelter housed 137 animals by Sunday evening and was expected to house a few hundred, if not more, before the week was out. The center can accommodate up to 700 animals, which are permitted to stay for 30 days free of charge, with full veterinary care, until their owners can reclaim them. The stories of families and pets bouncing from home to home putting greater stressors in their lives is heartbreaking. Mutts and cats don't understand what is going on so the stress is overwhelming to them

Rachel Ray, the celebrity chef, donated $500,000 toward the rent as well as food from her line of pet food to help defray costs.  She really walks her talk!  Read more here.
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More Pet Food Warnings - Something Fishy & Black Friday for Pets!

We've been reeling from all of the pet food recalls of late. They continue and now well. . . another shocker!

Do you feed your dog or cat fish? Is it bought at the grocery store or is it expensive, wild caught, not farm raised, New Zealand fish depleting your wallet to the tune of $100 a month per pet?  Evidently it doesn't matter because regardless in what country the fish were caught chances are very high that the fish was processed in CHINA. This article, brought to us by Truth About Pet Food, needs to be read by all because it not only affects pet food and human food too. Yes even wild caught Alaskan Salmon is shipped to China for processing then shipped back to us for distribution. What's going on in the China processing plants? Read more,..

BUT WAIT THERE'S MORE!!!

As if there has not been enough press about the Jerky Pet Treats imported from China, Truth About Pet Food found that NOT ONE national retailer has removed the jerky treats imported from China from store shelves! Don't know about you but I agree with Susan Thixton that we've got to get the attention of individual store managers. Sounds like a huge effort but as you will read in this article, all we have to do is target our local Walmart on Black Friday. Genius plan because if Walmart caves in all of the other retailers will follow suit! Read more here and get energized and organized.......

As always do your own research to determine what is right for you and for your pet.

7 Ways Cats Help You Decorate

CATS. Today I am muttering about cats. You can't live with them and you can't live without them! This mutt tolerates them!  BOL!

7 Ways Cats Help You Decorate

Houzz- Kitchen Remodel, Bathroom Remodel and More 

From Molly Brandenberg

Browse Outdoor Products on Houzz- For Example:

Irrigation Equipment · Garden Sculptures · Outdoor Planters · Outdoor Pillows · Outdoor Playsets · Outdoor Sofas · Outdoor Stools And Benches · Prefab Studios ·

Laundry Pods - Keep Away from Children

We have things to post about our favorite subject, Dogs, for the Saturday BlogHop but thought this information should get in your hands ASAP.

For those of you who have kiddies in your families please read this information from the Poison Control Centers about the appeal of these little pods to young children.

NEW Disturbing Study - Toxic Chemicals in Thousands of Household Cleaners

Sometimes we want to protect our humans from bad things just as they protect us.  So I, Reba Messina, was pawing through some light reading the other day from the Environmental Working Group (EWG), the same organization that publishes the 'Dirty Dozen' list of foods with the highest level of pesticide residue in foods.

EWG is now compiling a list of common household cleaners (2000 products / 200 brands) that are toxic to our humans!  If these are toxic to our humans then you know who gets the toxins next, or first, it's us pets!

Now here's the kicker..... There are even so-called “green” products that hide hazardous ingredients!  We've known about some of these products but did you know that among the worst offenders are:

• Mop & Glo Multi-Surface Floor Cleaner contains DEGME which can damage the unborn child... 
• Tarn-X tarnish remover contains up to 7 percent thiourea which can... 
• Simple Green Concentrated All-Purpose Cleaner claims to be “non-toxic” but contains ... 
• Mystery mixtures such as Target’s Up & Up and Walmart’s Great Value brands...

You'll want to read more about this 'Hall of Shame'  and sign up to receive the full report that will be released in the Fall of 2012. See how this new information may be affecting little ones in your house both human and fur as well as yourself!




Don't forget to enter my 'Honest Kitchen' Giveaway for free food, $10 in coupons and rewards program!  

Medicines Top the List of Household Poisons for Pets

We thought this Press Release from the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) today was something we wanted to post in advance of the 50th anniversary week. We can never be reminded enough about the things around our homes that can poison our beloved pets. 

SCHAUMBURG, Ill., March 16, 2012 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ -- On the 50th anniversary of Poison Prevention Week, March 18-24, the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) is reminding pet owners that accidental poisonings are a common problem.

The vast majority of accidental poisonings in humans happen in the home, and that's true of pets as well. Many pet owners are surprised to learn how many common household items are hazardous to pets. The AVMA online brochure and video can help pet owners recognize threats to their companion animals.

"Every year, the ASPCA Animal Poison Control hotline handles over 150,000 cases of pets being poisoned, and many of those cases involved common household items," explains Dr. Steven Hansen of the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA). "In our homes, the bathroom is the most dangerous spot for pets. The single most common reason for calls into the poison hotline is because pets have consumed medications."

Dr. Hansen explains that childproof tops on medications offer little protection against a dog determined to get into the container. Not only are prescription drugs dangerous for dogs and cats, but some over-the-counter medicines, like acetaminophen and ibuprofen, are extremely poisonous to pets.

Many household poisonings happen when pet owners dose their own pets using human medications. Owners should never give a pet any pill without consulting their veterinarian.

Other household poisons include:

Houseplants are common household hazards for pets, including Cycad (Sago Palm), philodendron, dieffenbachia and lilies, which are extremely poisonous for cats. For a complete list, visit www.avma.org .

Xylitol, a common artificial sweetener in pudding, sugarless chewing gum and baked items, is very poisonous to dogs and can result in death.

Raisins and grapes are toxic to dogs and cats. While researchers haven't determined the cause of this toxicity, for some reason raisins seem to be far more likely to result in a serious poisoning.

Birds are sensitive to aerosol sprays, like hair spray or fragrances, and also avocados.

Chocolate can make a cat or dog very ill. The more concentrated the cocoa, for example in baking chocolate, the more dangerous it is for pets.

Onions, garlic, macadamia nuts, and coffee grounds are toxic to dogs and cats.

Cleaning products, automotive chemicals, like antifreeze, batteries, pennies, moth balls and glue all present issues for pets. Keep these products in close cabinets or high off the ground.

If you suspect that your pet has gotten into a poison, immediately call your veterinarian, your local emergency veterinary clinic or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at 888-426-4435.

For more information on veterinary medicine, pet health and household hazards for you pets, please visit www.avma.org .

The AVMA, founded in 1863, is one of the oldest and largest veterinary medical organizations in the world, with more than 82,500 member veterinarians worldwide engaged in a wide variety of professional activities.

SOURCE American Veterinary Medical Association

Copyright (C) 2012 PR Newswire. All rights reserved

Pets and Estate Planning

My Mommy was extra busy on her computer this weekend typing away. She said she was putting down thoughts to take to her lawyer on Monday and it was kind of about ME in a round about way. When I sat there listening to her, tilting my head in my cute "what in the heck are you talkin' about way" she said it was about her trust. I started giving her puppy kisses because I wanted her to know that I still trusted her. "Actually Reba", she said, "I am going to change my trust so that I leave money to the shelter where I found you when I go to heaven". And that's what she did.

That got us thinking about what happens to your pet if you die first. We found that a lot of people are putting their pets in their wills and trusts with instructions about how and with whom the pet will live their lives out.  Here's a good article on the subject that we found from Pets for Patriots this morning that gives an overview on pets and estate planning.

Have you included your pet in your estate planning?

Pet Friendly Pharmacies

We caught this on msn Money today and being as it's Monday and we're having computer problems, we decided to grab this article and use it as today's post.

Prescription pet meds were once mostly available only through veterinarians, with a markup of up to 100%, Bob Fountain of Fountain Agricounsel told the Houston Chronicle. The entry of retailers such as Kroger into the pet meds business, as well as a growing online market, is a significant change in the industry. Kroger, Target and others even offer many pet meds at $4 for a 30 day supply! Find out more here.

Here's another article that gives you ways to save on pet meds!