National Animal Safety & Protection Month

October is National Animal Safety & Protection Month! It’s important for pet owners to be proactive about their pet’s wellness and take steps to keep them healthy and safe.

• Make sure your pet is up-to-date on vaccines and yearly vet check-ups.

• Keep your dog away from unsafe human foods and plants, including grapes, onions, raisins and of course, chocolate. Additionally, lilies, sago palms, tulips, aloe vera and spider plants are among the list of houseplants that can be toxic to our pets.

• Recognize the signs of dehydration, including loss of skin elasticity, dry mouth, sunken eyes and exhaustion.

• Know the signs of a severe allergic reaction, which include swelling around the eyes or face, vomiting and difficulty breathing. If you notice any of these reactions contact your vet immediately.

• Store your household chemicals and cleaners out of reach, and keep your pets away from any area where chemicals like bleach, fertilizer, glues and detergents are being used. Many household substances can be harmful of ingested, or if they come in contact with your pet’s fur or skin.

• Make sure your pets are wearing up-to-date ID tags and are microchipped.

• Include your pets in your emergency preparedness plans. In addition to your human family members, make sure your pets will have access to food, water, shelter and medications in the event of a disaster or emergency.

• Help emergency personnel know that pets live in your home by displaying a pet safety decal on your door or window.

• Be familiar with the Westmoreland/Fayette/Allegheny County Response Team (CART). Part of the Pennsylvania State Animal Response Team (PA-SART), CART is a non-profit, all volunteer organization that responds to 911 calls involving animals and helps them in disaster situations, including fires, floods, tornados, technical rescue and evacuations.

During the month of October, purchase a pet safety window decal for $1 at Petagogy and we’ll donate all proceeds to the Westmoreland/Fayette/Allegheny County Animal Response Team (CART)!