PAWPRINTS

Archive for October, 2008

Pet Parents BEWARE!

Please do not leave your precious pets unattended outdoors on Halloween. There are freaks out there who will torture and do unthinkable things to your furry companions!

Make sure your pet has a safe Halloween by following these guidelines from the ASPCA:

 “Many of our favorite Halloween traditions could pose a potential threat to our companion animals. As pet parents start to make plans for trick-or-treating or costumes, they should be aware of Halloween-related products and activities that can be potentially dangerous to pets.” warns Dr. Steven Hansen, Senior Vice President, ASPCA Animal Health Services, including the ASPCA’s Animal Poison Control Center in Urbana, IL

The following are just a few precautions you should take:

No Chocolate: Even if your pet has a sweet tooth, ingesting chocolate—especially baker’s and dark chocolate—can be dangerous for dogs and cats, possibly causing vomiting, diarrhea, hyperactivity and even seizures.

No Sweets for the Sweet: Candies containing the artificial sweetener xylitol can be poisonous to dogs. Even small amounts can cause a sudden drop in blood sugar, which leads to depression, lack of coordination and seizures.

Dangerous Décor: Keep wires and cords from electric lights and other decorations out of reach. If chewed, your pet could experience damage to his mouth from shards of glass or plastic, or receive a possibly life-threatening electrical shock.

Don’t Play with Fire: Keep your pets away from jack-o-lanterns with lit candles inside—knocking the pumpkin over can easily cause a fire. And curious kittens can get burned or singed by candle flames.

Costume Caution: Please don’t put your pet in a costume unless you know that he or she loves it. Costumes can cause skin irritations, obstruct a pet’s vision or impede his breathing.

For more information on having a safe Halloween with your pets, please visit the complete list of Halloween Safety Tips. And if your pet accidentally ingests potentially harmful products, immediately consult your veterinarian or the ASPCA’s Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435.

Platina Luna Blade Runner, an eighteen month old male Russian Blue, with a shimmering blue-gray coat and emerald green eyes triumphed over 248 other cats in 41 breeds to become the first Russian Blue cat to win the Cat Fanciers’ Association title of Best Of The Best.

Runner, with owners Teresa Keiger and Rob Miller.

Runner, from Greensboro, North Carolina, was named Best-in-Show at the CFA-Iams Cat Championship held at Madison Square Garden in New York on October 18-19.

First runner-up was Deydream High Hopes, a 3 ½-year-old Manx Grand Premier from Easthampton, New Jersey and second runner-up Tigerboy Keymaster of Wishes, a 6-month-old Exotic kitten from Hong Kong.

The total number of entrants this year was down from 325 in 2007 to 248 , a drop that is thought to be due to the nationwide economic slowdown and higher energy costs that made it harder for owners who do this for the love of cats rather than fame or fortune to travel to New York. But Tiger Boy, an Exotic Shorthair tabby and this year’s second runner-up, came all the way from Hong Kong to participate.