October 2
015
|
Halloween Pet Safety
For most of us, Halloween can be a ghostly good time. Candy, costumes and frights in the night can be a lot of fun. Unfortunately, our pets don't necessarily agree. For them it can be a stressful night that causes anxiety.
MABTR would like to offer some tips and advice for treats - NOT tricks - on Halloween. Keeping your pets safe and secure will ensure that they don't need to go running to their mummies.
- Make sure your pets have on identification at all times. With that front door continuously opening and closing for trick-or-treaters, there is a chance they could run out - especially if they're spooked.
- Give your pets a quiet, safe place on Halloween. Scary parties, constant doorbell ringing or too many strangers in your home can be stressful to your four-legged friends and even make them physically ill.
- Halloween candy, wrappers and decorations should be kept out of your pets' reach. Chocolate can be toxic to animals, and many sugar-free candy, gum and baked products today contain xylitol, a sweetener that is toxic to dogs. Tinfoil, cellophane, plastic candy wrappers and party supplies can be hazardous if swallowed.
*If you suspect that your pet has ingested any amount of xylitol, call your veterinarian immediately.
- Keep lighted pumpkins out of your pet's reach. Pets can knock them over, and curious kittens especially run the risk of being burned.
- Keep all electrical cords and wires out of your pet's reach. Halloween decorations are a great way to celebrate the holiday but can be harmful and even deadly to your pets should they chew on or ingest them.
- Unfortunately, there can be tricks in addition to treats on Halloween. Keep your pets inside so that they will not be the target of pranksters who might tease, injure, steal and even seriously harm pets on this night.
- Costumes are fun for people, but not necessarily for your pets. Don't dress up your pet unless you know they enjoy it. Make sure the costume isn't annoying or unsafe, and doesn't restrict movement, vision, hearing or ability to breathe or bark. Avoid costumes with small or dangling accessories that the pet could chew off and possibly choke on. Make sure that costumed pets are supervised at all times.
- It's never a good idea to take your pet trick-or-treating. Dogs may become excited and uncontrollable, and if frightened may bite. For their protection, cats should be kept indoors at all times.
|
Home Safety Guide for Pet Owners - Part II
Animals give us so much. They help ease stress, decrease the risks of depression, and provide a consistent source of love and affection. In exchange, it's our job to take care of them and make sure nothing we put in their path causes them harm.
Last month in this series, we talked about common household dangers and food safety. This month, we'll wrap up with tips to pet-proof your home, and what to do to prepare for natural disasters.
How to Pet-Proof Your Home
There's really no uniform way to pet-proof your home - it varies by pet and home. However, we can
take you through a typical home room-by-room to discuss the common hazards found in each and suggest easy ways to deal with them.
Kitchen Safety
The kitchen is probably the most dangerous room in your house - for you and your pets. You at least know what items to avoid, but animals don't see the same risk in a hot stove, sharp knife, or indigestible trash items that you do.
The most effective way to make your kitchen safer for your pets is to make it inaccessible to them. For some pets, you can
install a gate
to make it impossible for them to enter the room without you letting them in - but this solution might be insufficient if you have an agile pet prone to making tall leaps. In that case, you need to attend to each of the risky areas separately.
1) Garbage
Problem: This is probably the biggest risk since kitchen garbage cans sometimes hold tasty treats for hungry animals.
Solution: You can buy
special garbage cans with lids that lock to keep them out. Or you can keep your garbage cans stored behind a pantry or cabinet door (although you have to be vigilant about keeping the door closed).
2) Cabinets
Problem: Kitchen cabinets contain any number of items that can cause problems for pets - toxic cleaning supplies, dishes made of (breakable) glass, and sharp utensils, to name a few. Most animals aren't able to open cabinet doors, but if you end up with an especially smart or savvy one, you may need to be more concerned.
You don't have to worry much about the individual items in the garbage or cabinets as long as they're stored in ways that make it impossible for your pets to access them.
Bedroom and Living Room Safety
For the most part, bedrooms and living rooms are pretty safe. Since these tend to be the rooms that pet owners spend the most time with their pets in, we do want to address the few safety hazards that could cause problems.
1) Electrical Cords
Problem: Dogs with chewing tendencies can cause a lot of frustration in what they ruin, but when it comes to electrical cords, the biggest risk isn't to the cords themselves. You don't want your pet getting a jolt of harmful electricity.
Solution: Wherever possible, keep the cords off the ground so they're out of reach. In the instances where that's not an option, you can try to block them with furniture, tape them to the walls so they're less tantalizing to your dog, or try a product designed to discourage chewing like a
cord cover or
chew deterrent spray
3) Tall Furniture
Problem: Small pets may have a hard time jumping on and off of tall pieces of furniture, especially once they start getting older. You don't want your pets to hurt themselves just trying to get up on the couch to hang out with you.
Garage Safety
Some pets might have little reason to ever spend time in the garage, for others it might be a regular destination because that's where they stay when you're out or during the night. If your animals will be spending any time in the garage, you need to make it pet proof.
1)Tools
Problem: Your tools can be a choking hazard and the sharper ones can cause cuts or other injuries.
Solution: Make sure you put them up out of reach. Depending on the layout of your garage, that could mean putting them in cabinets, in your workroom, or simply putting a lock on your toolbox so they can't get into it. If you don't have a good out-of-reach spot in your garage for your tools and don't want to keep them in the house, it may be worth investing in having some cabinets or a comparable sealed off storage space installed.
2) Garage Temperature
Problem: You're probably good about keeping the inside of your home at a comfortable temperature, but most of us don't think much about the temperature of our garage. That's all well and good, unless you're expecting to keep your animals in there for any length of time.
Solution: If it's a time of year that's especially hot or cold, make sure there's a fan or space heater in the garage with them to compensate. If the forecast warns of extreme weather, go ahead and find somewhere to keep them inside rather than risk the health concerns that can come with overheating or freezing.
3) Antifreeze and Other Chemicals
Problem: Many of the chemicals in our cars, cleaning supplies, and lawns get stored in the garage and many of those need to stay well out of reach of our animal friends. Antifreeze in particular can be deadly to pets, but any other chemicals you have should similarly be stored where pets can't get to them.
Solution: Wherever you figured out to put your tools to keep them out of reach, do the same for your car and cleaning chemicals. Make sure they're behind a closed door, a lock, or some kind of barrier that keeps your pet from getting into them.
Bathrooms, Closets, and Laundry Room Safety
All these smaller rooms should either be treated as off limits to animals, or pet proofed along with the rest of your house. In particular, if you use one of these rooms to keep your animal in when you leave the house, or if you have a pet that treats one as a comfortable safe space, you need to make sure nothing's accessible that could cause harm.
1) Medicines and Chemicals
Problem: Items like cleaning supplies and prescription medicines must be your priority. You have to be careful not to leave them out where your pet can reach them.
Solution: Keep them behind closed cabinets or high up where they'll be out of reach. If you have a pet with a skill for opening cabinets, use some of those child locks we recommended for the kitchen.
2) Appliances
Problem: If you have a pet that likes to curl up in small spaces, your washer and dryer could become a deadly trap.
Solution: Make sure you always make a point to check the washer and dryer before you start it to confirm that your pet isn't inside. And keep the doors to it closed in between uses.
3) Toilet Water
Problem: Toilet water is not the safest water for your pet to drink. You use chemicals to clean your toilet that you don't want them ingesting. Also, it's flat-out unsanitary.
Solution: The first simple solution is to make sure your pet always has clean water in their bowl so they're not tempted. The second simple solution is to keep the toilet lid down.
Porches and Balconies
The spaces we like best for spending time outside can come with some hazards for our pets as well, particularly dogs. You want to let them be outside with you when you spend time on your porch or balcony, so take a little time to make sure the space is safe for them.
1) Height
Problem: Obviously this problem is specific to balconies, but if you're high up, you have to worry about your pet falling off the edge - cats may be able to manage the fall, but a dog will likely be severely injured.
Solution:
Buy a mini-fence to put around your balcony to make sure they don't have the chance of falling. If you block any space along the edges they could fit through, you can trust them to hang out with you on the balcony without concern.
2) Tight Crawl Spaces
Problem:
Decks and porches may have crawl spaces underneath them that a pet could get stuck in.
Solution: Invest in a
mesh screen that blocks the crawl spaces, so they don't have the option of going in after a toy or quick-moving critter and getting stuck.
3) Grills and Fire Pits
Problem: Anything hot comes with burn risks, but a grill also tends to emit tempting meaty scents that make them especially attractive to your pets.
Solution: Use plenty of caution anytime you have a fire or BBQ going and keep an eye on your pet. Your pleasant backyard gathering shouldn't cost them an unpleasant burn.
Yard Safety
If you have a yard, your pet will likely spend a significant amount of time in it. Most yards are largely harmless, but for pets with escapist tendencies or yards with certain types of plants in them, you need to be careful.
1) Escape
Problem: A missing pet can be a terrifying experience. Beyond your own yard there are fast moving vehicles, other threatening animals, and untrustworthy humans who might be tempted to steal your beloved furry family member.
Solution: A good fence is paramount if you'll be letting a dog out in your yard. Even if your fence seems mostly adequate, you should make a point to check for spots your pet could fit through after especially windy days or big rainstorms that could affect the sturdiness of it. If you have a dog that's a digger, you can try putting cayenne pepper along the edge of your fence, or burying
anti-dig yard guard so they can't get through even if they try. If your pet's a magician with special escape skills no matter what you try, technology can come to the rescue. Get a
pet GPS, so you can pull up your pet's location through an app the moment they disappear.
2) Toxic Plants
Problem: Some plants we find lovely can be poisonous to our loved ones.
3) Choking Hazards
Problem: Many items common to backyards like sticks, rocks, or fruit pits can serve as choking hazards for your pets - especially any items that look like they may be tasty or that resemble toys.
Solution: Keep an eye on your pet when they're in the yard and do occasional sweeps to look for anything suspicious so you can dispose of it.
Pet Safety During a Natural Disaster
Making sure everything in your house is pet proofed is a start, but with natural disasters affecting the lives of people around the world with a growing frequency, you should also take moves to be prepared to protect your pet if one comes your way. While the disasters your area may be prone to will vary based on geography, the main steps you can take in advance to help make sure your pets are protected are pretty similar across the board.
The systems and plans our country has in place for
dealing with natural disasters often don't consider pet owners. That makes it your job to make sure you're properly prepared so you don't face the choice of staying and risking yourself and your family, or leaving your pet behind. Here are a few precautions you can take to make sure you're prepared if a disaster strikes.
1) Make sure your pet is identifiable
- Make sure your pets are wearing collars with tags that have your contact information on them. For extra protection, talk to your vet about getting them microchipped as well. If your pets get lost in the process of fleeing a natural disaster, these simple steps will vastly increase the chances of them finding their way back to you.
2) Keep them inside - A dog or cat that spends time outside when you're not home will be at greater risk during a storm or flood. Find a good spot inside for them to stay when you're not home so they won't be left to the whims of the weather.
3) Keep up-to-date on vaccinations - This will affect both where you're allowed to take them and what risks they face if they escape. You don't want to be turned away from a hotel or sanctuary in a moment of need because your pet isn't vaccinated.
4) Prepare an emergency kit - Think of all the things you'd need for a few days of travel with your dog - food, a leash, clean-up bags, water, any medications they take, and the paperwork that shows they're up-to-date on shots. If you keep everything together, you'll have an easier time grabbing it in a hurry if you need to leave suddenly during a natural disaster.
5) Keep a handy list of nearby pet-friendly hotels - BringFido, Pet-Friendly Hotels, Marriott, Choice Hotels, and Pets Welcome are some of the many websites you can use to find a place to stay.
|
MABTR 2016 Calendar Photo Submission & Pre-orders
Submit a picture for the MABTR 2016 calendar OR order your copy today.
-Submit your Boston or Boston Mix photo for the 2016 full color calendar. (Dogs DO NOT have to be a MABTR alumni.)
-The entry fee is $25, which includes one copy of the calendar. (one photo per dog)
-Additional calendars are $15, which includes shipping
-Every photo submitted is *guaranteed* a spot in the calendar.
-Photos must be submitted no later than midnight October 20th.
For instructions on submission and/or PURCHASING your calendar(s) click here
Calendars will be mailed out in early December in time for the holidays!
|
Adoptable Dog of the Month
My name is
Chandler.
I am a 1.5 year old Boston MIX and weigh 26 pounds. I need a new home because I am not good with other male dogs. I prefer large breed females. I am being fostered in Omaha, NE
I am a friendly young man. Full of smiles, energy and love to give. I live in a busy household and have adjusted well. I would love a family that enjoys the outdoors and has time to take me along with them. I enjoy walks and playtime.
I do need some training. Have not received much in my previous home. I tend to not always have manners. I am smart. I know my commands and if given the time and direction I will learn!
|
Ask Jennifer
Q:
What is the best way to clean facial wrinkles?
A:
It is important to clean all skin wrinkles on every breed of dog to remove dirt and dead skin to ensure no bacteria is accumulated. This is not limited to just the face, but extends also to the body and tail areas.
Start with a warm washcloth or baby wipe (a brand that is hypo-allergenic) when cleaning in the wrinkles. Use your fingers to spread the skin. If you find it to be a tight place convert to a Q-tip. Regardless of what you use to wipe away dirt, moisture, and debris from the wrinkles, you always want to be sure that the areas you cleaned are dried thoroughly. This method should be repeated one to three times a week depending on how much time your dog spends outside.
If you are facing an infection between the wrinkles seek a vet for an ointment. Yeast and bacteria are not fun for your dog to have!
|
Alumni Feature - Rocky
We adopted Rocky from MABTR on February 9, 2008 when he was a little more than 2 years old. I learned about Rocky from a co-worker whose parents were fostering Rocky. When they brought him to our house, he was the biggest Boston Terrier we had ever seen. Our 4 year old Boston, Scooter, accepted him as a brother. Soon he became part of our family as he accepted us. Rocky did not like to be hugged, but that wore off after a few years, and he was a real snuggle bunny. He loved to go for walks and play fetch. He used to avoid the water at the lake until I threw a tennis ball in the water, and he swam right out and got it. We played fetch almost every day in the backyard. He also liked to play tug of war with a rope with Scooter. Scooter would growl and Rocky would bark with the rope in his mouth, and their tails would be wagging as they loved it!
Rocky slept with us the first night and later spent most of his nights with one of the boys until they went off to college. Rocky also loved boating and car rides and catching rabbits and birds and chasing squirrels. We adopted another Boston named Fritz in October of 2010, who Scooter and Rocky also accepted as a brother. Rocky would fetch and Fritz would chase him and bark at him and Rocky would fake him out to get the ball to me.
Sometimes he would bring the ball short, and I would say, "I can't reach that" and he would pick it up and drop it closer or roll the ball with his nose to me. Rocky knew every kid in the neighborhood, and Leah who lives down the street would let the dogs out for me at lunchtime when I was at work and take Rocky running. Rocky barked more than most Bostons but usually with a good reason. He used to howl when my niece played the piano and bark on cue when I sang, "How much is that doggie in the window?"
Rocky was a faithful, loyal and loving boy. He would greet you with a sloppy kiss and was always wagging his tail. Prostate cancer took his toll on him in the early morning hours of 11/5/2014, when with great sadness I took him to the Urgent Pet Care when he told me I must let him go. It was very hard to do that. His last day was a beautiful day with nice weather for our nightly walk, kids who played with him and a game of fetch. He climbed up on me and snuggled close while I watching TV and fell asleep. He licked my face to wake me up a few hours after bed time to let me know that he needed me. I wish I could have done something more, but I know he waits for me at the Rainbow Bridge. Rocky and I loved each other and he was a blessing to our family. I still miss him, but know in my heart he is with other dogs I have loved in my life.
-- Sam M.
|
|
Thank You for Your Donation!
$30 in honor of Lela Welsh
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
$3,000 Donna H
$120 Raymond N
$50 Audrey C
$30
Lori L, Kelly B, Karla P, Cynthia K
$25 Ann A, Charity C
$20 Susie M, Sara S, Matthew S, Pam M, Michael M, Ashley H, Tina W, Mandi G, Collette P
$12 Sally S
$10 Diana L, Angela C, Katherine F, Leslie M, Lisa B, Veronica Z, Gerald P, Marsha H
All donations are tax deductible!
|
Allow a Boston to Hitch a Ride with You During Travel
Many of us travel for business or pleasure by car. We are looking for you to help us transport a dog from one state to the next to get him/her into foster care or towards their forever home.
Share with us your travel plans even those scheduled in the future. Email luckypawpals@aol.com your starting and ending location, date of travel, and your name and phone number. We file the travel schedule and if the need approaches we will contact you with details.
The doggies thank you for allowing them to hitch a ride!!!!!
Remember that you can write off at tax time your gas or mileage when transporting a MABTR Boston.
|
|
|
All
donations
(monetary or items)
are
tax-deductible.
MABTR is
100% volunteer-driven. Your entire donation amount goes towards rescuing, rehabilitating, and re-homing Bostons in need in foster care.
|
|
Employer Match Programs
Did you know that many employers will match your donation to a 501(c)3 organization? Some even pay a flat fee to the organization for volunteer hours!
Check with your human resource department for details!
A few companies we know of are:
- AT&T
- Wells Fargo
- MidAmerica Energy Holding Comp.
- Pfizer
- Allstate
- CenturyLink
- CNA Surety
- CSG
- 8z Real Estate
- Great Western
- Thrivent Financial
- Western Union
- SalesForce
- Microsoft
- United Way
|
Adoption Corner...
~~Happy Tails~~
|
45 Bostons rescued
in September!
283 Bostons rescued so far in 2015!
2,745 Bostons rescued to date!
We ask that you help us educate the public about their options when looking for a new pet. We appreciate the fact that you are not purchasing your pet from a pet store that sells lives animals, since 98% of all puppies in a pet store come from terrible situations such as puppy mills. For more information on puppy mills visit our site and read all you need to know about puppy mills.
If you are interested in a breed other than a Boston check out the links below.
-Petfinder
-Rescue list by breed
-Google search under
" "breed" rescue"
|
|
Congrats to
Lori M of NE who won the Boston wooden jewelry trinket box, which raised
$130!
Thanks to everyone who participated!
|
Facebook Monthly
Photo Contest
Thank you to everyone who submitted photos and voted in the September FB photo contest.
We have a tie!
Our winners are:
Farrah and Daisy submitted by Rebecca
Bo and Baby submitted by Sarah.
Look for next month's contest (Theme: Spooky Paws) with details posting October 20.
|
|
Monthly Raffle for October
|
Boston Terrier Christmas Village
- by Danbury Mint
*includes moving train!*
Get a head start on your holiday decoration prep!
|
Other online shopping networks that give back to MABTR with each of your purchases are:
|
|
Boston FB Groups to 'Like' by city.
|
Did you know that there might be a Boston Terrier fan page on FB in your area? You should consider joining in!
Click below for the link in your area!
Minnesota
St Louis
Des Moines
|
|
Saying Goodbye
"Keep their memories close to your heart and remember in another time, in a beautiful place you will see them again."
|
Cooper 2/05-9/15
|
Dessie 2/07-9/15
|
Otis 12/06-9/15
|
Scarlett 7/05 - 9/15
|
Snout 6/05 - 9/15
|
Sophie 7/03 - 8/15
|
Tucker 7/14 - 9/15
|
Lola 12/04 - 9/15
|
Golden Paws for Golden Years
Did you know
that MABTR has such a program where an adoptor 60 or older adopting a Boston 7 years and older receives $50 off the adoption fee?
|
|
Volunteer Opportunities
|
Our rescue organization has a very hard-working and dedicated crew of volunteers committed to improving the lives of Boston Terriers and Boston mixes across 13 states.
If you are interested in helping please email your interest and contact information to luckypawpals@aol.com.
Also make sure to add yourself to our email list by clicking here. Include your state so you get the proper notices.
You're in for a rewarding experience! Opportunities to help include:
- Newsletter articles
- Volunteer at local events
- Fundraising
- Fostering
- Babysitting
- Transporting
|
September's Fundraiser Recap
September was a month of public exposure when partnering with other organizations for adoption days.
|
Local MABTR Events
Join us!
-all breeds welcome-
Sunday, October 18th
Blue Springs
Dogtoberfest 2015
-- 10am-4pm
at Kemper Outdoor Education Center in Fleming Park. Admission is FREE, but please consider bringing a dog food item for the food drive. Click here for more details!
Sunday, October 25th
Independence
Halloween Photos -- 1-4pm at Petco, 4201 S. Noland Rd.
Come in costume for a Halloween Pet Photo for just $5. All proceeds benefit MABTR! Click here for more details!
Saturday, October 31st
St. Louis
Boston Boo Halloween Party -- 1:30-3:30pm at the AKC Museum of the Dog, 1721 South Mason Rd. $5 per dog. Dog run off leash. All Breeds are Welcome. All Pets must be up to date on Shots. Please bring no longer needed and gently used pet items for our trash to treasure program. All donations will be used to assist homeless foster dogs prepare for their new furever home!
Nebraska
Sunday, October 11th
Omaha
2015 Puppy Up! Omaha
-- registration at 10 am, opening ceremony and walk at 11am at the Chalco Hills Recreation Area, 8901 S. 154th St. Click here for more details!
Sunday, October 19th
La Vista
Bark-toberfest --
1-3pm at Nebraska Brewing Company Tap Room, 6950 S 108th St
. Click here for more details!
Saturday, October 24th
Omaha
Boston Boo Bash -- 1-3pm at
Sue's Park. 5109 S. 51 St (north of Q St)
Click
here for more details!
|
 |
Make a donation
in Memory of..
or
in Honor of...
of someone special
(human or pet)
MABTR has a program that will mail your special someone a card recognizing the individual pet or human that your donation was made in behalf of.
Donate here
|
|
No anesthesia
Dental Cleaning
Boulder, CO
|
|
Well Animal Institute offers dental cleanings that are anesthesia-free.
So many dogs are in need of dentals; however, health concerns may deter them from getting what is needed.
Here is your solution for only $185!
For every dog that comes in and gets their teeth cleaned,
$30 goes towards a rescue.
Win-win for MABTR and the dogs!
|
|
|
|
