Feel Good and Make a Difference With Your Friendly Pet!

By:  Stacie Beasley, FUNanimal Pet Services, LLC

Imagine those in constant pain lying alone in a hospital bed or in Hospice, and then for a little while, being distracted by a warm, friendly and furry animal.  Every stroke of that loving pet’s fur brings serenity, with each warm lick of the tongue brings smiles, and fun memories are triggered by conversations of past beloved pets.

Kids with reading difficulties feel more comfortable reading out loud to the calm non-judgmental animal lying in front of them.  College students take a mental break in between final exams by sitting with and stroking the therapy pet.  Dementia patients and the elderly in assisted living facilities are delighted by the visiting pets and enjoy chatting about their pets of past and present.  The mental health benefits and developmental benefits of a therapy pet are numerous and real.

As little as an hour of your time each month with any kind of friendly and well-mannered pet as a “Therapy Pet Team” can bring about these small miracles.  Yes, any kind of pet!  Of course the dog is most common, but there are therapy cats, ferrets, guinea pigs, rabbits iguanas and even tortoises!  There are lists of local facilities that are looking for therapy pet volunteers.  One of the facilities that my therapy dog, Clancy, and I visit is MedStar Southern Maryland Hospital.  It is so heart-warming to see the impact he has on the patients, visitors and staff.  They definitely are in need of more volunteers like us since there are so many different people every day that would benefit from pet therapy.  Do you have a friendly pet?

There are a variety of therapy dog organizations you can join.  Procedures and costs vary.  Pets On Wheels is just a one-time $30 fee for a pet temperament screening (just to make sure your pet is okay with sounds and situations it may encounter), the credentials and to be covered under their insurance during your therapy pet visits.

Donna Sovaiko is the coordinator for our area:  [email protected] 410-935-8000.  You may also sign up to volunteer at www.PetsOnWheels.org

(Stacie Beasley is a Marlton resident and owner/operator of FUNanimal Pet Services.  Please contact her at [email protected] or 301-257-0755 for questions, comments or suggestions for future pet articles.)

Oh, the Weather Outside is Frightful! (Even for pets!)

Stacie Beasley, FUNanimal Pet Services

Animals seek warmth anywhere they can find it as the temperatures drop.  To protect your vehicle’s engine and to save an animal’s life, remember to knock on the hood of your car or honk your horn before starting your car.  Engines can stay warm for hours after being shut off, offering an enticing warm shelter for cats.  If you have the remote start feature, give a quick press of the “panic” button on your car key first to scare away any unsuspecting sleeping felines before remote starting your car.

Another vehicle-related danger of winter is exposure to anti-freeze.  Ingesting as little as a teaspoon of the harmful chemical of ethylene glycol can kill.  Its sweet taste unfortunately attracts pets, so be sure to promptly clean up any spills and keep it out of pet’s reach.

Staying warm uses up more energy.  Pets that spend a lot of time outside need more food, especially protein.  Ask your vet if you should vary your pet’s diet for the winter.

Dehydration is often a forgotten danger of the bitter cold, for water sources freeze outside. Also avoid using metal bowls this time of year (if you don’t know already from watching “A Christmas Story”, yes, tongues will stick to metal in below freezing temperatures.)

As we struggle to keep our footing in the slippery conditions that winter brings, keep in mind that salts, de-icers and other chemicals are dangerous for your pets.  Try to use kitty litter or sand for traction instead.  If you must use a chemical, supervise your pet in those areas to make sure they don’t drink from puddles and remove the slush and dissolved product as soon as possible.  Wash paws after exposure.

Check paws after outside adventures to pull out any snowballs that have gathered in between pads which are not only uncomfortable, but also could lead to frostbite!

Frigid weather lessens the sense of smell, causing more cases of lost dogs than any other time of the year.  Keep your pet leashed or fenced in as they frolic in the snow with an ID tag.

Be a Santa Paws this Holiday Season

By:  Stacie Beasley, FUNanimal Pet Services

Tis the season for giving!  While we may get our pets a new treat or toy during the holidays, let’s not forget about the less fortunate animals that would be pets, if they had a home.  By donating or volunteering your time, you help bring some comfort to an animal in need and you get to experience that “feel good” feeling!

Some easy ways to give back and feel good about yourself:

·         Donate food, blankets, beds, new or old toys to an animal rescue organization

·         Donate money to an animal cause, charity or sponsor an animal (in someone’s name to make a nice holiday gift for someone that cares about animals.) Check with your employer to see if they will match your contribution.

·         Volunteer!  Of course less people are willing to work on Christmas, but the animals still need to be taken care of and given attention.  Spend an hour or two at a local animal shelter or rescue. 

·         Have a social well-behaved pet?  Cheer up a lonely person at a nursing home, hospital or the like by sharing your pet with them for a little while over the holidays.  Visit PetsOnWheels.org for more information on how!

·         Create a shelter for feral cats to help them stay warm in the winter months.  See the picture at the bottom of this page or do a web search for “how to build a shelter for feral cats” for many more ideas.


Holiday Hazards for Pets

To add on to last month’s Thanksgiving dangers, there are many things to be aware of to protect your pets through the holiday season.  Some of them include:

·         Tinsel – attractive to pets, but if ingested, it may cause serious internal damage

·         Bulbs and bulb hooks – avoid placing bulbs on the bottom branches of your tree

·         Candles in pets reach – remember that’s everywhere if you have a cat!

·         Wires – a puppy favorite!

·         Christmas tree water – cover it with the tree skirt

·         Getting a pet for someone as a gift – instead, make up a gift certificate to help them pick out a new pet after the hectic holiday season

Pets Will Be Thankful
if You Avoid These Food Temptations

(CORRECTION:  It was published in the Marlton Advocate at the bottom of this article that FUNanimal Pet Services is located in the Marlton Plaza.  While we do frequent there and participate in a dog training club at Fresh Pet, our business is not located there.  Please see "Contact Us" for more information.  There has also been a correction to the "Never give your pets... Food Chart" at the bottom of the page.)

 Ah, the delicious scents throughout the house on Thanksgiving Day!  Now imagine if your nose was 10,000 times more powerful, how would you feel? 
Our furry companions will be using all the tricks in their book to make
you “accidentally” drop some food on the floor.  However, be strong and do your pets a favor by avoiding these Thanksgiving temptation pitfalls!

There’s nothing like fresh baked goods! 
Don’t let those puppy eyes persuade you to drop a piece of raw dough on
the floor though… it could actually rise in your pet’s belly, causing a tummy
ache or worse! You also don’t want to let them lick the cake batter off the spatula for salmonella risks and of course chocolate can make your pet very sick.

Be sure the turkey or any meat you sneak under the table to your pet is ALWAYS boneless!  In fact, avoid giving any cooked bones to your dog for they often splinter causing various internal injuries.

While those dishes with herbs such as Sage are so tasty to us, it can cause stomach upset and central nervous system problems for your cat.

Pets often don’t know when to stop when presented with a large amount of delicious options.  Too much of the yummy stuff will cause an upset stomach, a messy behind and may contribute to organ damage or other health problems.

Seal up that recycling and trash bin! 
That piece of aluminum foil covering the turkey, the piece of wax paper with raw meat remnants, the plastic wrap covering the green bean casserole, and the toothpicks removed from the ham are just some of the dangerous items your
pet will be attracted to.  If ingested, you will likely be spending Black Friday at the vet.

Never let your pet eat: