Five Ways to Organize Your Pet for Summer

Summer is coming. How do you mark the arrival? Do you stock up on suntan lotion? Buy yourself a new beach bag? Maybe you’re thinking about a summer vacation and planning where and when you’ll go. You’ve probably already sent in the deposits and medical forms for your children’s camps and signed everyone up for swimming lessons. In the midst of all this planning, have you given any thought to your four-legged and furry friends? Take a few minutes and check these five for Fido off your list:

1. Hydration.

You don’t leave for a day at the beach without packing a cooler of snacks and drinks, right? Well, your dogs and cats need the same tlc during the hot summer months. If your animals are able to go outside, buy an extra bowl or two for outdoor hydration. If your exercise plans during the warmer months include taking along your dog, make sure you bring along a collapsible bowl or water bottle.

2. Fur Care.

You make appointments for your highlights and hair cut, so make sure you give your pet the same amount of attention prior to the summer. Flea and tick baths and dips are a priority, so make appointments at your vet or groomer now to avoid problems later. The same goes for those pets with long fur. Book a trim now and you’ll find your dog panting with happiness, not heat stroke.

3. Shade.

If your animals spend a lot of time outside, take stock of your yard and see if you have appropriate spots for shade. If you don’t, figure out where you can hang a temporary sheet in a corner of the yard and purchase the equipment you’ll need. If you don’t like that idea, go in search of a real dog house.

4. Put Together A Pet Care Bin.

Throw one in your car and stash one by your front door or mudroom, especially if you live near a beach. Keep a towel, soft brush, and collapsible water dish in a canvas bag. That way you’ll always be ready for fun, and the wet sandy paws that tend to go with it.

5. Doggy Day (and night) Care.

Going on vacation? Chances are everybody else in your town is too, so line up your pet care now not at the last minute. If you’re giving the job to your neighbor’s daughter, have her do a trial run while you are there so you’re comfortable with her knowledge. No matter who you are leaving in charge of your pet, make sure they have critical information about your pet (including appropriate shots and paperwork) before you leave. If you don’t have that organized, there are many great pet organizers on the market, like the Pet.doc, which is available for $8.95 at: www.GetButtonedUp.com/ our-products/all-products/pet-doc/.

How do you care for your pet during the Summer? Do you take your pet on vacation, or do you have someone watch them? Let us know!

Planning for Your Pets In Emergencies

By Darryl J. Madden, Director, Ready Campaign

If you are like millions of animal owners nationwide, your pet is an important member of your household. When planning your family for disaster, don’t overlook the needs of your cherished family pets. In order to be safe and survive an emergency you must take steps to prepare today.

September is National Preparedness Month (NPM), which is a great time to take action and get your family and your family pet Ready. This year, NPM is focusing on helping Americans take concrete steps to be ready, and this includes your pets. Readiness comes in many forms and preparedness is everyone’s responsibility. We have to work together, as a team, to ensure that our families, neighborhoods, and communities are ready. Get an emergency supply kit. Make a family emergency plan. Work with your neighbors and know who might need just a little extra help. These steps include preparing an animal Emergency Supply Kit and developing a pet care buddy system.

The Ready Campaign and Citizen Corps, with support from Coalition Members across the nation, including a range of state and local governments, businesses, and organization, urge pet owners to take action during NPM to plan for their pets’ safety in an emergency strikes their community. Throughout September, activities and events will take place across this country to highlight the importance of emergency preparedness and promote individual involvement, such as first aid trainings, town hall meetings and much more. Look for opportunities to participate in these events in your community and then take steps toward becoming better prepared – for you and your pets.

At ready.gov or by calling 1-800-BE-READY, TTY 1-800-462-7585, pet owners can receive free emergency preparedness information on how to properly prepare for their pets, including how to assemble a pet Emergency Supply Kit, develop a pet care buddy system and how to make plans in advance for their animals if they need to evacuate. In addition, an instructional video is available at: http://ready.gove/america/about/instructional.html that demonstrates how to make an emergency plan for your pets.

Thank you all who responded and entered to win an autographed copy of LUCKY ME: A Children’s Guide to Animal Companionship and Safety by Christi Drue Dunlap. (Excerpt can be read HERE.)

The Winner

The three winner is Matt Bliton! Matt has been notified by email of his win. Prize must be claimed within 7 days or a new winner will be chosen – again a random.

Visit the www.luckymebook.com for more information about the author and the book. Also, visit Christi’s blog, Life in the Fur Lane to see her musings about life as a mom in a very furry, fun-filled home.

Buy LUCKY ME at these retail outlets:

1. Summerland Publishing

2. Amazon

3. Borders

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Author/photographer/mom/blogger Christi Drue Dunlap loves animals. Her blog, Life in the Fur Lane, finds humor and beauty in the chaos of having a child and many pets. She writes and blogs because “family and furry friends make her house a home,” she says. “And life without fetch playing and the occasional furball just wouldn’t be as love-filled and fun.”

If you are thinking of adding a pet to your family, this book is a great guide to help your kids understand how to gently care for a family pet. Now you have a chance to win one of THREE autographed copies of LUCKY ME: A Children’s Guide to Animal Companionship and Safety by Christi Drue Dunlap. Be sure and read the excerpt we ran HERE.

About the book:

Told from the point-of-view of Rocky, an adorable rescued pug, this book will show children (and their parents) what it feels like to be a pet without a home; what the inside of a Humane Society looks like; ways to make sure your new pet feels at home, right away; and how animals tell us what they like and what they don’t.

With over 14 practical tips, LUCKY ME features heartwarming, up-close photographs of seven dogs and three cats: Rocky the Pug, Martha the Bernese Mountain Dog, Bogard the Vizsla, Belle the Lewellen Setter, Durham the Great Dane/Pitbull Mix, Puck the Cairn Terrier Mix, Harry the Poodle/ Bichon Frise Mix and Oliver the Domestic Long-Haired Cat, Gherkin the Domestic Short-Haired Cat and Serena the Calico Domestic Short-Haired Cat.

Visit the www.luckymebook.com for more information. Also, visit Christi’s blog, Life in the Fur Lane to see her musings about life as a mom in a very furry, fun-filled home.

LUCKY ME: A Children’s Guide to Animal Companionship and Safety was published in 2009 by Summerland Publishing. ISBN: 978-0-97954444-9-1. Library of Congress #: 2009931296.

Author Christi Drue Dunlap

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Author/photographer/mom/blogger Christi Drue Dunlap loves animals. Her blog, Life in the Fur Lane, finds humor and beauty in the chaos of having a child and many pets. She writes and blogs because “family and furry friends make her house a home,” she says. “And life without fetch playing and the occasional furball just wouldn’t be as love-filled and fun.”

Enter To Win!

This giveaway is open to U.S. residents over 18. Here’s what you need to do to enter to win:

• Fan us on Facebook and follow up on Twitter and post that you have done so!

• Extra Entry: Leave a comment on this blog (be sure to include your email when you submit the comment, so we know how to reach you).

• Extra Entry – mention this giveaway in a post or tweet with a link back and leave a comment letting us know you’ve done so.

• Extra Entry – sign up for Buttoned Up’s e-newsletter.

• Please post a separate comment for each extra entry so we know it’s been done!

• Entry period closes at midnight PST, Sunday, August 29th, and the winner will be announced Monday, August 30th.

**Note winner will be picked at random using Random.org and announced in the newsletter on Monday, August 30th. Winners will be contacted by email. Winners will have seven (7) days to contact us and claim the prize before another winner is selected.

Explaining to children how to take care of a new pet can be complicated and often overwhelming. Author/photographer/mom/blogger Christi Drue Dunlap makes it easy with her thoughtful and instructive new book LUCKY ME: A Children’s Guide to Animal Companionship and Safety. With sweet-but-smart text, children and parents alike learn how to care for and keep their new pets happy, safe and secure both inside and outside their homes.

ROCKY the Pug

Excerpt from Lucky Me: A Children’s Guide to Animal Companionship and Safety by Christi Drue Dunlap

“Hi, my name is Rocket. But you can call me Rocky. Everybody does. There is a lot to know before you bring a new animal friend home to live with you. My friends and I have some things we’d like to share…

“There are many ways you can help keep us safe when we come home to live with you. Can you think of some?

“Puck [the Cairn Terrier Mix] likes to go for walks, but to do so he needs to be on a leash. Whenever we are outside of your yard, make sure you keep us on a leash.

“This keeps us safe from getting lost, being hit by a car, getting in fights or catching diseases from other animals.

“A collar with identification tags, including a phone number, will help others reach you if we get lost.

“You should also license you dog or cat. This is required by most local governments and helps the Humane Society locate you if we should get lost. Your animal nfriend must have a rabies shot before getting a license. This helps all of us stay healthier and safer.

“To keep yourself safe, you should be careful when you see an unfamiliar dog, even if he looks friendly like my buddy Bogart [the Vizsla]. The first thing you should always do is tell a grownup – a teacher, a parent, or anyone else you know.

“It is best not to approach dogs to try to read their identification tags; let a grownup do that.”

About the book:

Told from the point-of-view of Rocky, an adorable rescued pug, this book will show children (and their parents) what it feels like to be a pet without a home; what the inside of a Humane Society looks like; ways to make sure your new pet feels at home, right away; and how animals tell us what they like and what they don’t.

With over 14 practical tips, LUCKY ME features heartwarming, up-close photographs of seven dogs and three cats: Rocky the Pug, Martha the Bernese Mountain Dog, Bogard the Vizsla, Belle the Lewellen Setter, Durham the Great Dane/Pitbull Mix, Puck the Cairn Terrier Mix, Harry the Poodle/ Bichon Frise Mix and Oliver the Domestic Long-Haired Cat, Gherkin the Domestic Short-Haired Cat and Serena the Calico Domestic Short-Haired Cat.

Visit the www.luckymebook.com for more information. Also, visit Christi’s blog, Life in the Fur Lane to see her musings about life as a mom in a very furry, fun-filled home.

LUCKY ME: A Children’s Guide to Animal Companionship and Safety was published in 2009 by Summerland Publishing. ISBN: 978-0-97954444-9-1. Library of Congress #: 2009931296.

Buy LUCKY ME at these retail outlets:

1. Summerland Publishing

2. Amazon

3. Borders

Win LUCKY ME:

We will be giving away THREE autographed copies of the book! So come back on Wednesday to enter to win your copy.

Author Christ Drue Dunlap

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Author/photographer/mom/blogger Christi Drue Dunlap loves animals. Her blog, Life in the Fur Lane, finds humor and beauty in the chaos of having a child and many pets. She writes and blogs because “family and furry friends make her house a home,” she says. “And life without fetch playing and the occasional furball just wouldn’t be as love-filled and fun.”

How to Get Organized for a New Pet

How much is that doggy in the window? Or better yet, how much is it going to change your life? Whether you are single in the city or married with kids in the ‘burbs, adding a pet to your family is a major decision that goes way beyond their adorable furry faces and slobbery kisses. It’s really hard to resist the snuggly wonder of a new puppy or kitten, but before you take the plunge, remember that pets require a huge commitment, both financially and emotionally. Take a long, realistic look at your family and its different personalities before you bring home a new pet. If you are the type who forgets to water the plants, then maybe you’re better off with a lower maintenance pet like a fish. Do you like furry pets but don’t have a consistent schedule? Opt for a guinea pig instead of a dog. Spend a little extra time now to help you make the right decision for you and your family and its new furry friend.

Sarah on “delayed gratification”

Alicia on “trying it out”

Here’s what to think about if you’re considering a pet:

1. Finding Mr. or Mrs. (Furry) Right.

2. Determine Distribution of Labor Ahead of Time.

3. Keep it All Together.

Pet-Friendly Subaru Joins Forces with ASPCA

Here at AskPatty.com, we like to think of ourselves as extremely pet friendly. Our contributing editor Breanne loves to share stories about her Corgis, we recently paired with Christina Selter of BarkBuckleUP at the Chicago Auto Show to announce the 2010 Top Ten Pet Safe Vehicles, and our good friend Yvonne DeVita of Lipsticking is currently planning BlogPaws 2010, the first ever pet blogger conference, which will take place in Columbus, Ohio, on April 9 & 10, 2010.

Well, Subaru believes there is a natural connection between pet parents and people who drive Subaru vehicles. In fact, almost half of Subaru owners have a dog, and 7 out of 10 Subaru owners have some kind of pet.

(In case you didn’t know, AskPatty President Jody DeVere drives a Subaru and owns three dogs!) Inspired by its customers, Subaru has built a strong partnership with the American Society to Prevent Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) to help bring pets and people together.

For the past two years, Subaru has partnered with the ASPCA as part of the “Share the Love” event, resulting in a $1.2 million donation in the first year alone. This past holiday season, the ASPCA helped connect Subaru dealerships with local animal welfare agencies around the country to promote Share the Love with fun-filled events and activities. Subaru’s matchmaking resulted in more than 350 adoptions and raised $28,000 for local agencies!

Subaru is once again celebrating its special connection with the ASPCA and dog and pet lovers everywhere, in a video campaign featuring two adopted pooches, Olive and Zelda, behind the wheel of a Subaru Forester. See all of their "Dog Tested. Dog Approved" adventures (like parallel parking, shopping for kibble, and picking up sassy poodles!) at Subaru.com.

On top of these programs, Subaru offers discounts off the Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price (depending on model and accessories) on certain vehicles to eligible Guardian Members of the ASPCA. As part of the Subaru VIP Partners Program, eligible Guardian members can save between $1,300 – $3,300 on the purchase or lease of any new Subaru from participating dealers, without haggling! All Subaru model lines (Forester, Impreza, Legacy, Outback and Tribeca) are included in this VIP Program offer, subject to availability and dealer discretion. Learn more about this program at ASPCA.org.

Do you have an inspiring pet adoption story? The ASPCA invites you to share your story with them on their Facebook page! We here at AskPatty.com think it would be even better if you could share a great story that also includes your pet and your car!

Visit the ASPCA on Facebook!
Follow Bark Buckle UP on Twitter @BarkBuckleUP
Find out more about BlogPaws 2010 on Twitter @BlogPaws

By Brandy Schaffels
AskPatty.com Editor

AskPatty Joins with Bark Buckle UP Pet Vehicle Safety Awards

Millions of Americans love their pets, and many drivers love to bring their pets along for the ride. Bark Buckle UP is dedicated to pet travel safety, and as the leader in pet safety education travels the country to work closely with first responders, safety experts, and pet industry leaders to educate and promote awareness for pet safety while traveling with our pets.

The recognized leader and experts for pet travel safety, the Bark Buckle UP Pet Safe Awards are earned by premium vehicles, products, and services each year and are tested and selected by judges including first responders, pet experts, safety, and travel experts.

The Pet Safety Lady, Christina Selter and her teams are currently evaluating an entire fleet of vehicles for this year’s round of Pet Safe Vehicle Awards. AskPatty will join with her as part of the Bark Buckle UP team to announce The Top Ten 2010 Pet Safe Vehicle of Choice Winners at the 2010 Chicago Auto Show; the Top Dog winner will be announced at the New York Auto Show.

Manufacturers that enter vehicles for judging are eligible to participate with Bark Team for media, special appearances, product placement, events, and giveaways. Bark Buckle UP will shoot video footage of each vehicle along with dogs, judges, demonstrations, and vehicle highlights. The Top Dog winner will be invited to go on the road with Bark Buckle UP for guest appearances, and the 2010 national media tour.

The vehicles are evaluated on a variety of pet-related aspects, including how easily the vehicle accommodates animals and kennels of various sizes, ease of access to pet from within the vehicle, as well as entry and exit, ventilation for animals in the rear, as well as whether the vehicle has pet-friendly surfaces and their ease of cleanup. Pet and vehicle safety are also huge factors, so Bark Buckle UP also evaluates the vehicle’s anchor points for animal harnesses and restraints, rollover statistics, whether the vehicle has backup cameras, and such features as side or curtain airbags.

Automakers who would still like to submit a vehicle for consideration can register at www.barkbuckleup.com.

If you are a pet owner, you can find out lots more tips and information about your pet’s travel safety at BarkBuckleUP.com. Pet lovers should register for a FREE pet safety kit and sign up for their newsletter to be notified of their special events, as well as the latest in Bark Buckle UP recognized pet safety gear!

Meanwhile, watch AskPatty.com for additional pet safety features and information from the Pet Safety Lady and Bark Buckle Up!

Jody DeVere, President and CEO (right)
http://www.askpatty.com
Christina Selter, Pet Safety Lady (left)
http://www.BarkBuckleUp.com

Forever Home – A Guide To ReHoming The Rescued Dog by Maura Furie

Champ

Mr. and Mrs. Smith and their two young children moved from an apartment into a small house with a fenced in yard. With a new baby on the way and new carpeting installed, they decided it was time to add a puppy to their family. Mr. Smith’s Uncle Ted had a Labrador Retriever who was a very good dog, obedient and gentle. Mr. Smith wanted the same kind of dog.

Mrs. Smith asked other Lab owners what they thought of their dogs and was told that Labs are good family dogs.

Labrador Retrievers are good with children, love to play, are natural retrievers, and good hunting dogs. Mr. Smith would like to have a bird dog when he hunts with his brother in October, and likes the fact that Labs look macho, but are really soft. Because Labs require heavy exercise, Mr. Smith agreed to walk the dog at least two miles every day once it was old enough.

Mrs. Smith found a breeder nearby who had done genetic testing and hip x-rays on their breeding stock. The breeder would not let the puppies go until they were ten weeks old, at which time Mr. and Mrs. Smith visited. Of a litter of nine, four puppies were promised to hunters looking for show prospects. The Smiths gave the remaining five puppies a temperament test and chose a black male with a waggedy tail. They named him Champ.

Champ was cute and cuddly and fast enough to get away from the baby.

Mrs. Smith placed vinyl tarps all over her new carpeting, Mrs. Smith fixed a hole in the fence, and all was well. The Smiths and their three children loved the puppy. Unexpectedly, Champ became bigger and bigger. And bigger. Typical of his breed, Champ took a long time to housebreak because of his slowness to mature both physically and mentally. Like other Labrador Retrievers, Champ liked to carry things in his mouth, and he liked to chew. And chew some more. He was given chew toys, but he did not stop there and his teeth marks appeared on the furniture, the wood molding, the car upholstery, and school books. Mrs. Smith, busy raising three children and working at a part time job, did not have time to train Champ, even if she had known how. Mr. Smith was going to walk the dog every day, but he was too tired most of the time. The kids were knocked over by Champ every time he stood up, and he chewed up their toys.

Tired of the big dog and all his messes, Mrs. Smith enrolled Champ in an obedience class when he was two years old. Although he did well in class, he still chewed up the children’s toys, knocked the kids over, and Mr. Smith was the only one who could walk Champ, if he used a prong collar, but he was too tired. By three years of age, Champ had exhausted the limits of his family, and a new baby was on the way. The decision was made to rehome Champ.

At the local shelter small dogs are rehomed quickly.

Large dogs wait longer and often do not find a new home. Because Mr. Smith was concerned that Champ may be euthanized should be be dropped off at the shelter, he called the shelter first to discuss the matter. After all, Champ was a really good dog. The shelter had a list of people looking for a well bred young Lab from a family environment. After making a few phone calls, Mrs. Smith contacted those people on the list who lived in rural areas. He and the children, with Champ, visited a family who had lots of room for an energetic dog.

As you probably realize, Champ was very lucky to have had a family that cared enough about their dog to be careful in choosing a new home for him. Most people who give up a pet leave it at an animal shelter where an untrained dog is just another cellmate.

Where did they go wrong?

Seeing another person with a well trained dog, Mr. and Mrs. Smith thought that choosing the proper breed was the key to success. They did not have a clue as to how much patience and training had gone into the making of Uncle Ted’s dog. They did not realize that Uncle Ted’s dog had not always been so well behaved, or that she was given a sufficient amount of exercise. For the Smiths, a better choice than a ten week old hunting breed for canine companionship would have been a grown dog from a non-hunting line. They would have been much happier with a dog that was already housebroken and had basic training. Even if they had chosen an active breed, everyone would have been happier with a dog small enough for the oldest child to walk.

Rehoming Champ

Rescuing a dog like Champ is not a scary task. He is good with children, is finally housebroken, has been neutered, and has a stable temperament. Champ’s new family immediately took him to task, consistently but kindly making him mind and giving him plenty of exercise. With the ability to work off his energy, Champ stopped chewing everything in sight, keeping his teeth to appropriate chew toys and large knuckle bones. He learned not to jump on people and to sit nicely at the door before entering or exiting the house.

Had the Smiths not been so caring in rehoming Champ, the situation may have been different. Had another family adopted Champ, say the Clueless family, his stable temperament and gentle nature would not have saved him. Here, Champ jumps on Mom and is yelled at; jumps on Dad and gets rubbed behind the ears; jumps on the kids and gets hit. His exercise consists of being let out in the yard for potty breaks. Instead of a high quality dog food, he is fed the cheapest food available at the grocery store.

Because he jumps on the children, chews the possessions of others, and smells bad, he spends more and more time in the back yard. Left to his own devices, he discovers that digging is not only fun, but helps to relieve some of his pent up energy. One day his digging creates a lovely hole under the fence. He is free to roam the neighborhood. Mr. Clueless clips a heavy chain onto Champ’s collar. No more wandering.

Champ has an accident in the hallway several nights in a row because the poor quality dog food he is fed upsets his digestive system, and nobody will get out of bed at 2:00 a.m. to let him outside. He is relegated to being in the back yard all night as well as all day. He barks all night. Nobody can sleep and the neighbors complain. Champ is brought to the animal shelter. He is five years old and untrained. He does not find a new home.

What we have learned:

Be realistic in choosing a puppy or dog

If you had a dog as a child, who fed the dog, walked the dog, trained the dog, and cleaned up after the dog? If it wasn’t you, then you do not have experience.

By the way, the Smiths now have another dog, Prince, of unknown parentage. Prince was almost two when they got him, weighs about half of what Champ did, and already had basic training and good manners when he came to live with them. Prince has a forever home, and the Smiths are very happy with him.

To order your copy of Forever Home, A Guide to ReHoming the Rescued Dog go to http://foreverhomebook.net or http://wildrosepress.biz. For a review of the book, visit TCM Reviews at http://www.tcm-ca.com/reviews/3228.html. Buttoned Up is also giving away three copies of the book! Don’t forget to enter to win your copy today!