PAWPRINTS

Archive for March, 2009

April kicks off Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Month—but you can’t fight cruelty if you don’t know what it looks like.

“It’s almost impossible to make conclusions based on a pet’s behavior alone,” says the ASPCA Animal Behavior Center’s Kristen Collins, CPDT. “The best way to tell whether a pet is being or has been abused is to observe his body and the surrounding environment.”
ASPCA Special Agent Kristi Adams agrees. “The clues I look for when investigating a scene,” says Adams, ”are whether the animal is being provided with adequate food, water and shelter, and whether he or she appears injured or sick.”

Check out ASPCA’s  complete list of telltale signs that an animal needs help.

If you suspect an animal is being abused, don’t keep it to yourself—report it to your local authorities. Reporting suspected animal cruelty ensures that animals in jeopardy receive prompt and often lifesaving care. By making a complaint to the police or humane society in your area—which you can do anonymously—you help ensure that animals in need are rescued and that perpetrators of animal cruelty are brought to justice.

In 2008, the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center handled more than 140,000 cases of pets exposed to toxins, many of which were everyday household items. Some of the worst offenders were those living things that keep your home fresh and green—household plants!

The ASPCA has created a video of their top toxicologist, Dr. Steven Hansen, Senior Vice President, ASPCA Animal Health Services, discussing the dangers of 17 common plants that you may have in your homes right now, including lilies, chrysanthemum and sago palm. Dr. Hansen shows you examples of each plant, so you’ll know exactly what to look out for.

 This video is available for viewing on the ASPCA website . Access it by clkicking HERE.

Remember, if you suspect your pet has ingested something poisonous, please contact your veterinarian or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435.