SanTanValley.com

In addition to all the usual trouble pets can get into, Arizona summers bring additional risks for our furry friends particularly dogs who tend to be outside more than their feline counterparts. Here’s a list of what pet owners needs to know as the weather heats up.

RATTLESNAKES:

Diamondback, Mojave or any of the 17 rattlesnakes native to Arizona are now out and about and dogs who confront snakes, can get bitten. The venom destroys tissue and affects the nervous system. It can even result in death. And antivenin is expensive. If you’ve got a curious dog or live near “Rattlesnake Row” consider Snake Aversion Training and/or the rattlesnake vaccine. If your dog is bitten bring it to a veterinarian as soon as possible

It seems lost pets are everywhere, except back at home- you see their pictures on pet websites, newspaper ads, and flyers. You may have even noticed them wandering around the neighborhood.  No one wants to experience the pain of losing their furry friend. And it’s not just because the door was left open, the gate was unlocked or they chased a squirrel and ran away.

If your pet is gone it may have been stolen. According to the American Kennel Club petnappings are up 70% with animals, both pure bred and mixed breed, being stolen from homes, backyards, stores, sidewalks even shelters. Stolen pets are used in dog fighting, animal mills, medical experiments, and other illegal schemes. Here’s how to prevent your pets from disappearing in the first place, as well as tips to get them back if they’re gone.

Furever Friends Rescue was started about a year ago by three women, Nancy Babos, Shari Eisenberg and Ranee Morrow who had a vision for a new kind of rescue group, one that would address the needs of not just the animals but also a specific segment of the human population.

People who experience life changing circumstances, such as aging or serious illness may no longer be able to care for their pet. Furever Friends Rescue finds new homes for these pets, stepping in when individuals go into assisted living, nursing homes or hospice care. They can also help with the pets of people who have died and whose relatives cannot care for the animal.

Used to be that the family pet was happy with a new squeaky toy or extra table scraps for the holidays. But just as the latest in high tech gadgets tops the Christmas lists of people this year, technology is even making an impact in gifts for pets with products ranging from food and toys to health care.

There are air conditioners for the doghouse as well as pet air purifiers for your house.

Buying a dog (or cat) is so last century. These days everybody who’s anybody (as well as everybody else) is adopting furry friends from one of the many rescue groups, humane societies and local animal shelters.

Ironically, many of the people promoting the “Don’t Buy..Don’t Breed” movement can afford to buy any type of pet they want  but choose to adopt because they are concerned about the millions of healthy animals euthanized every year and they don’t want to support puppy mills or backyard breeders.

People often travel with their dogs and take them everywhere but sometimes it’s necessary to leave their pet behind.  Boarding facilities are busy during the upcoming holiday season so plan now for your pet's stay. There are a number of boarding kennels (or “Pet Resorts”) in the East Valley ranging from simple to swanky.

Check with friends, neighbors and your veterinarian for recommendations but nothing beats an in-person visit so you can see the place for yourself and talk to the staff.

If you don’t get direct answers to your questions, if the people seem evasive, if their explanations are vague or unsatisfactory, or if you just don’t like the look of the place, go with your instincts and go elsewhere. But whatever facility you choose, follow this “The Pre-Boarding Checklist.”

Judging by the picture it should be obvious that not every pet is thrilled with the idea of dressing up for Halloween. But Halloween, once just a children’s holiday has expanded to include not just the adults in the family but the pets as well. While including four legged friends can be fun it can also be scary and dangerous.

First, there’s all that candy lying around which is an attractive and potentially fatal temptation for pets. Chocolate, baked goods and other treats are dangerous to animals.  A chemical in chocolate, theobromine, is toxic to dogs. The darker the chocolate the more deadly it is. Just one ounce of baking chocolate can poison a 50-pound dog.  Sugar-free candy often contains xylitol, which is very harmful to pets and it takes very little to be potentially lethal for a dog.