Gardening Hazards

Last weekend, we did some long overdue yard work.  With warmer weather finally here, lots of people are doing the same thing.  It is important to remember our pets when we begin our outdoor projects.

Keep in mind that some chemicals in fertilizer and pest treatments are highly toxic to pets.  For more information about bad toxins, visit the ASPCA’s website.   Here is a link to safe gardening suggestions:  http://www.aspca.org/pet-care/pet-care-tips/pet-safe-gardening.aspx.  You will find other information if you search the site for “pesticides.” 

Happy gardening!

Rescue Mommy

In Sickness and In Health

I succumbed to a nasty cold last week.  Its effects still linger.  You cannot lay about forever.

Even though you feel awful, your pets need you.  It was nice that Rescue Daddy could help.  I eventually had to drag myself out of bed and take Gracie for some walkies.  She is definitely my dog.  She will take short walks with other people.  She prefers to walk with me and will quickly “do her business” then dash to the house if she is with someone else. 

As I do with every illness, I think about what would happen if I had a debilitating illness.  We treat our pets like children.  The law, unfortunately, does not recognize them in the same manner.

You can take steps to protect your pet.  Brother Wolf Animal Rescue regularly offers a class with an estate planning attorney who reviews your options.  (Check the Events page on their website at www.bwar.org for dates and times.) 

If you do not live in the Asheville area, you can find a wealth of information on the Internet.  Start with the ASPCA’s website.  They have an entire section devoted to pet planning.  Here is the link:

http://www.aspca.org/Home/Pet-care/planning-for-your-pets-future

In further searches, I learned that mentioning your pets in your will is not the best option.  What happens if you have a car accident or serious illness?  Wills apply to the dead, not the living, so no one would check your will for instructions about your pet.  Pet protection agreements and pet trusts offer better legal protection and cover more events besides your death. 

Pet protection agreements do not necessarily require assistance from an attorney.  You can even buy versions on those legal websites they advertise on TV.  Pet trusts, which are recognized in 46 states, require an attorney’s assistance, so they could be costly. 

Each year, thousands of animals find themselves dumped in shelters all over the country because their owners either passed away or developed serious health problems.  It is important to have a plan for your pets.  You made a commitment to care for them for their entire lives.   With a little advance planning, you can be sure that commitment will be honored after you are gone.

Rescue Mommy

Huge Brother Wolf Adoption Event Today!

Today, August 1 is the kickoff of the ASPCA Challenge. Brother Wolf is competing for up to $100,000 in grants. Shelters must adopt more pets from August to October than they did last year.

They have a huge event planned for today. Adoptions will be offered at a heavily discounted rate. If you have been thinking about adopting a pet, please visit the shelter today. They will be open from 8:00 a.m. to midnight. Yes, MIDNIGHT!

We have listed a lot of dogs and cats on our “Adopt Me” page in hopes you might find your best friend. Please take a look. Good luck, Brother Wolf!

Rescue Mommy and Daddy

ASPCA Virtual Pet

While preparing last week’s article about household toxins, I noticed the ASPCA website gives you the opportunity to adopt a virtual pet. I thought it might be a cool thing for kids to try. Apparently, you must care for it just like a real furry friend. Here is the link to their website:  http://www.aspca.org/

Enjoy!

Rescue Mommy

A Clean House is Making Me Sick!

A few years ago,we noticed that the cats would always vomit after we mopped the floors. We figured it was Murphy’s Law. Then, one day, it occurred to us that maybe the floor cleaner we used might be the real culprit. We tried an eco-friendly, plant-based product, and the vomitting stopped.

Just as it affects us humans, chemicals in household cleaners impact the health of our furry friends. The ASPCA has a very interesting area on their website that provides information about household cleaners:

http://www.aspca.org/pet-care/ask-the-expert/ask-the-expert-poison-control/cleaning-products-2.aspx

(In case the link is inactive sometime in the future, just go to aspca.org and look for information about their poison control center.)

For example, did you know that the fabric softener sheets we sometimes toss in the dryer can be toxic to our cats? On the ASPCA site, they state dryer sheets can cause gastrointestinal distress, among other things.

You can also obtain a free safety packet from the ASPCA. It includes a magnet that lists their poison control center number. Unfortunately, their poison control center is not free; you must pay a consultation fee. Of course, who wouldn’t gladly pay a fee if your pet is in distress?

We hope you find this website as usual as we did.

Rescue Mommy and Daddy