Bully For You!The Ezine for Pit Bull Lovers
April/May 2011 Volume 12
In This Issue:
What's Up?
Paws-i-tive Press
What's New at The Proper Pit Bull
Disaster Preparedness for Pets
Quote of the Month
What's Up?
I live in the southern United States. Last Wednesday, more than 150 tornadoes swept thru our region and the area in which I live was under a tornado warning five nights in a row.
So, not surprisingly pet safety and disaster preparedness have been on my mind a lot lately. Hence, this issue's article on Disaster Preparedness for Pets. I'll admit, it's
not a glamorous topic or a fun topic. But, I think it's an important one.
Meanwhile, I'm still doing research and writing content for a new informational website on pet insurance. I want to thank those of you who have sent me reviews of the
pet insurance companies you are using or have used in the past.
If you'd like to share your experience with pet insurance in a way that could benefit others, send me your review
via this contact form. Please include the name of the insurance company and anything about
your experience you think would be important for others to know--whether it's about coverage, customer service or filing a claim, etc. Since this may
be published on the web, if you wish to remain anonymous, please use a pen name.
While I'm working on the pet insurance site, I'm going to need to scale back and publish Bully For You! every other month. So, expect to see the next
issue around the end of June or first part of July.
Paws-i-tive Press
Good News About Pit Bulls and the People Who Love Them
Reader's Share Their Pit Bull Pictures and Stories
Tank and Rocket
A Pit Bull Named Skyy
A Rescued Bully Named Quill
Izzy - World's Perfect Dog
Check out Janie Knetzer's
new
blog -- find dog treat recipes and some very helpful dog tips.
What's New at The Proper Pit Bull
Your Questions Answered About...
My Husband is Fed Up with Our Puppy
Is a Fenced Yard a Must to be a Responsible Owner?
Can Anything be Done About an Ear Crop That's Too Short?
Is it OK to Use a Prong Collar?
Disaster Preparedness for Pets
Do you know where your pet would go if you were suddenly and unexpectedly homeless? Who would care for your pet if you couldn't? It's something to think about.
It seems every few weeks or so a major man-made or natural disaster somewhere in the world hits the news. And, it's not just human lives that are turned
upside-down. Pets are often left to fend for themselves without food or shelter. If you are ever forced to evacuate your home, the cardinal rule of pet safety is: Never leave a pet behind!
During times of emergency, the resources of public agencies are stretched to the nth degree. So, it will be up to you to ensure your pets are safe
and cared for.
While you can't cover every possible contingency in advance, planning ahead can help you be prepared to respond in the best possible way to any given situation.
Here are some things to consider.
Where would your pet stay? In general and whenever possible, your pet is better off going wherever you go. Ideally, you want to keep your pet with you. So, it's good to know in advance where you and your pet will be welcome together.
If it's not with friends or relatives, websites like Pets Welcome.com can help
you locate pet-friendly lodging.
Who will care for your pet if you can't? The answer may vary depending on the circumstances. But, it's a good idea to
review your options now and talk with people and facilities who might be involved in your pet's care if you are incapacitated or otherwise unavailable. One option is to make arrangements with
another pet owner to look out for each other's pets should the need ever arise.
What items should you have on hand during an emergency? FEMA recommends that you have an emergency supply kit
with enough food and water for at least three days for each member of your family. And, that of course includes your pets. The Honest Kitchen
offers high-quality, human grade pet food that has been dehydrated. Some owners feed this as a regular diet. But, it's especially convenient
for traveling and for emergencies.
Other items aside from food and water include:
- Medications and Medical Records (Remember, if you need to board your pet you will need to show that vaccinations are up-to-date.)
- Identification--ID tags, a current photo, proof of ownership if you have it
- A Pet First Aid Kit
- Collars and Leashes
- A Crate or Pet Carrier
The American Veterinary Medical Association has put together an impressive booklet called Saving the Whole Family to help you get your disaster preparedness plan in place.
Quote of the Month
"A breed of satin and steel. Pit bulls are a mixture of softness and strength, an uncanny canine combination of fun, foolishness, and serious business, all wrapped up in love."
~D. Caroline Coile, author of "Pit Bulls for Dummies"
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