Remember To Send In Your Cutest Pet Photo For Our Contest!

Cutest Pet Photo Contest Deadline Soon Approaching!  Make sure to send us a picture of your cute pet and win FREE Clear The Air Canister!  Email your submission to: YourCommunityPathway@gmail.com.  Don’t Forget!  Winners are announced October 31st!

New Bill To Pair Dogs With Veterans

Earlier this week, the House of Representatives unanimously passed a bill with a feature that will pair trained shelter dogs with veterans. Living with a pet can only improve the lives of our soldiers when they return from duty, giving them a helpful companion filled with unconditional love. We applaud our government for their effort on passing the Veterans Dog Training Therapy Act and hope to see this bill implemented after further approval. — Global Animal

Yesterday the House unanimously passed a package of veterans’ health care legislation (H.R. 2074), and included in the final bill was the Veterans Dog Training Therapy Act (H.R. 198), introduced by Rep. Michael Grimm, R-N.Y., which will help pair vets with pets and is good for both soldier and canine.

The legislation would create a pilot program for training dogs as a form of therapy to help treat veterans suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder and other post-deployment mental health conditions. The dogs could come from shelters, and after training, they would become service dogs to assist veterans with disabilities.

Rep. Grimm, a Marine combat veteran from Operation Desert Storm, said in a press release, “As a veteran, and an American, I am thrilled that this legislation has passed the House, and I urge my colleagues in the Senate to pass it without delay, so that it can be signed into law and allow us to begin providing assistance to our returning veterans.”

The bond between people and animals is a strong one—and can even be a healing one. Pets are good for our emotional and physical health, and studies show that having a pet can lower your blood pressure and cholesterol levels. Caring for a companion animal provides a sense of purpose and fulfillment and lessens feelings of loneliness and isolation in people of all ages.  – Global Animal

Keeping Halloween Safe For Your Pet

Halloween is a fun time for kids and adults, but it can also be scary for animals if you’re not careful. Any holiday brings an increased risk of harm and health problems for animals when candy and decorations are involved, but Halloween can be especially risky for a number of reasons. We encourage everyone to have a safe and fun holiday, but please keep the safety and well-being of your pets in mind!

Here are some tips to keeping your pet safe during the Halloween season:

1. Never leave your dog outside unattended – this is a generally safe rule to follow, but it is particularly important on Halloween. It is a sad truth that disturbed individuals have been known to injure and even kill pets on Halloween. No matter how safe your neighborhood may be, Halloween often brings out the pranksters and vandals, so don’t take any chances and keep your dog inside with you where you know he is safe.

2. Most people will agree that there is nothing cuter than a dog in costume.  However, as appealing as your dolled-up pup may be, it is important to always keep your dog’s happiness, safety and comfort in mind.

If you are going to put your dog in costume, make sure it fits properly and does not pose a risk of strangulation. Remove any loose accessories that could be choked on such as ribbons or buttons. If your dog seems even the slightest bit uncomfortable, please reconsider your costume choice. A ballerina beagle may look adorable, but your dog does not know why he is wearing the getup and may do whatever it takes to get out of it, including chewing through the fabric.

3. Everyone knows the best part of Halloween is the candy, but unfortunately this is one of the main reasons that vets see an increase of sick animals around this holiday. Dogs have an incredible sense of smell and will likely notice the increase of sweets in the house. Keep all types of candy away from your dog!

Most people already know that chocolate is toxic to dogs and can make them very sick. But chocolate is not the only sweet treat that poses a risk. Sugar-free candy contains a chemical called Xylitol that can make dogs severely ill even in small doses. Candy foil and wrappers can be just as harmful, as they can cause choking or a blockage in a dog’s digestive tract. If you have kids, let them know that the dog cannot share their Halloween treats.

4. If you put up Halloween decorations, be sure to keep them well out of your dog’s reach. Dogs gravitate towards things that are shiny, small and/or inedible – all of which can cause serious health problems! Candles, lights and cords are a huge safety hazard for all pets. A curious dog that gets too close could be burned or electrocuted. A wagging tail can knock over a candle and start a fire in no time at all! Instead of putting a candle in your pumpkin consider using a small battery-powered light, which is safer and lasts longer!
5. Make sure your dog is in a safe, secure place when the trick-or-treaters come knocking at your door. The continuous knocking or ringing of a doorbell combined with the constant opening and closing of the door will offer plenty of opportunities for your pet to dart out and run away. 

In addition, strangers arriving in spooky masks can be very frightening and could cause even the friendliest dogs to behave aggressive or territorially as a result of stress and fear. To avoid unnecessary stress or unpleasant confrontations with the neighborhood children, I suggest keeping your dog in a separate room. Try leaving a radio or TV on to drown out the sound of the many visitors.
6. No matter what your friends said in college, a drunk dog is NOT a happy dog. Never ever give any amount of alcohol to any animal. If you think it would be funny to see your dog intoxicated, think again. Alcohol is essentially poison to dogs and can cause symptoms including but not limited to: vomiting, disorientation, seizures, irregular heartbeat, heart attack and death. If you have a party make sure you clean up any leftover drinks, as some dogs are attracted to the sweetness of beer and wine.

While keeping your family safe during Halloween is always a must, keeping your pets healthy and safe is also essential. If you have kids, I recommend sharing these tips with them so they can learn how to be responsible and keep their beloved pet safe while enjoying the Halloween festivities.  Please safe, be smart and have a very happy Halloween!

Key facts to potty training your Puppy

Do the words “potty training” strike fear into your heart?  Maybe they should if they haven’t already and you are looking at adding a cute cuddly little puppy to your family.

Potty training your puppy isn’t easy. It takes time, work and a lot of doggie treats. Even if you have an older dog, the same rules apply.

Give your dog what it wants

Most dogs want food, and lots of it.

Besides the obvious no-no’s (chocolate, grapes, xylitol candy — all of which have proven toxic to pets), fatty foods are best avoided since they can cause pancreatitis and/or diarrhea.

Beyond this, let your imagination run wild. Use fancy dog treats, string cheese or chunks of cooked meats (chicken, ham, hot dog). Make potty training worth it for your pet.

And give them a treat right when they potty, not 10 minutes later once they’re back in the house. If you wait until they come inside, then they will think they’re getting the treat for coming indoors. You need to make it obvious and instantaneous.

Take your time

Accept the fact that potty training is no going to happen overnight.
You have to take the time to wait past the puppy procrastination until the potty action commences. If you don’t wait, your puppy is guaranteed to potty once it gets back inside where there’s nothing around to distract it. This applies each and every time.
The proof is in the pottying

Don’t let your pup fool you. Make sure you see them in position, doing their business to completion before you take them back inside.

If you’re not sure, you must stay outside longer. Otherwise, when you come inside, you might as well get out the carpet cleaner right away, because you know what’s going to happen next.

Of course there is always going to be that occasional accident and who wants their house smelling like an indoor designated potty area.  Make sure to use Clear the Air for Carpet/Furniture when you go through the not so fun battle of potty training.

Pest World 2011…We’ll Be There!

We are heading to New Orleans, LA for Pest World 2011 in just a few days!  Should you be in the area, the event is October 14-22, and we will be in booth 911.  Hope to see you there!

Dangerous Plants You Should Not Have Inside or Outside Of Your Home If You Have Pets

Plants can be a beautiful way to spruce up your home and garden, but if you share your home with a dog or cat, you’ll want to choose your plants carefully. The leaves, seeds, berries and bulbs of some common plants can be poisonous to pets.

Many flowers, such as hyacinth, oleander and hydrangea, can cause stomach irritation when ingested by your cat or dog. Wisteria, lily of the valley, morning glory and narcissus are other common plants that have parts that could be poisonous such as seeds, pods, roots, bulbs and flowers, and therefore should be avoided when landscaping your yard.

Vegetable and fruit gardens should also be treated with caution. The leaves of rhubarb, shoots of potatoes and seeds of apples can be extremely poisonous to dogs and cats. Instead, try planting beets, honeydew melon or zucchini squash, none of which will pose a threat to your precious pets.

If you’d like to bring your garden inside, tuberous plants are great to include in any fresh-cut arrangement. While some members of the tuberous family are completely poisonous, such as iris and lilies, others can be safe when handled intelligently. As long as their bulbs are discarded, tulips, daffodils and buttercups are a beautiful and safe way to bring nature indoors.

In the spring, be sure not to plant azaleas, primroses or geraniums, which are entirely poisonous to dogs and cats. Consider planting impatiens, sunflowers or petunias instead, as they are all safe and will add color and beauty to your outdoor space.

Floral decorations are not solely relegated to springtime, however. The winter holidays are a popular time to celebrate with seasonal plants, so be mindful as you decorate. Cats and dogs should stay away from holly and mistletoe–both of which contain poisonous berries–and English ivy and poinsettia plants, whose leaves, flowers and stems are toxic.

Volunteer for this year’s national pet food drive

Are you interested in helping to feed needy pets and keep them in their forever homes?

From October 30 to November 13, PETCO, the PETCO Foundation, Best Friends Animal Society, and Hill’s Science Diet will host the second annual Pet Food Drive to kick off the holiday season and ensure that all pet parents can enjoy a healthy and plentiful holiday season with their four-legged family members.

Are you interested in helping?

Then sign up now to help during this year’s national pet food drive. All food collected during the food drive will be donated to food banks in each local community to help families in need care for and keep their pets.

If you are interested in helping, click here go to PETCO’s Volunteer Match page to sign up to volunteer.

Who: You
What: Volunteer to help meet and greet the public to encourage food donations
Where: A PETCO store near you

When (your choice of shifts):

• Sunday, October 30, 11:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
• Saturday, November 05, 11:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
• Sunday, November 06, 11:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
• Saturday, November 12, 11:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
• Sunday, November 13, 11:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.

Why: To help families in need feed and keep the pets they love

Responsibilities

• Contact the store manager of your store location one to two weeks before your volunteer day to make sure he or she knows when you will be there and to find out where the display table will be located. Ask if there is anything else you need to know.
• Dress code: Business casual. This can include dress slacks or khakis, button-down and/or collared shirt (polo shirt with PETCO or Best Friends logo is acceptable if you have one). Skirts or business casual dresses of appropriate style and length are also acceptable. Please do not wear jeans or shorts.
• Please arrive 15 to 20 minutes early for your shift.
• Greet the public, tell them about the need for pet food in food banks, and ask customers to make a donation.
• The event table will include a display of Hill’s Science Diet products. Let people know that Hill’s is matching all donations of their products.
• Answer any questions customers may have.

How to sign up to volunteer

If you are interested in helping, click here go to PETCO’s Volunteer Match page to sign up to volunteer. Start the registration process by clicking on the link for PETCO Foundation Pet Food Drive on the first page, and then follow the prompts to register and sign up. If you need help, click on the project contact name provided in the event information.

After you sign up, you will soon receive a confirmation message about your store selection and time of shift. You will also receive a link to a webinar that provides you with additional information about food banks, the 2011 food drive, your responsibilities as a volunteer, as well as helpful best practices for successful solicitation of donations from customers.

Amazing Story: Dog who saved owner on 9/11 named American Hero Dog!

Computer sales manager Michael Hingson was at his desk on the 78th floor of the World Trade Center’s north tower on the morning of 9/11 when American Airlines Flight 11 crashed into the other side of the building, 18 floors above. And he lived to tell the tale because of his guide dog, Roselle.

The yellow lab calmly guided her blind charge 1,463 steps out of the building and, as debris fell and dust billowed, found a subway station and led them both underground to safety.

Roselle died in June at the age 13, but her heroism lives on. At a star-studded red carpet event in L.A. Saturday night the yellow lab was honored as the American Hero Dog of the Year.

“She saved my life,” Hingson wrote on the American Humane Association’s site. More than 400,000 people cast votes for Roselle and 7 other finalists. But it was Hingson’s moving description of her actions on 9/11 that helped her take the top dog honor.

Just as they got out of the building on 9/11, the south tower collapsed. “While everyone ran in panic, Roselle remained totally focused on her job,” Hingson wrote. “While debris fell around us, and even hit us, Roselle stayed calm.”

Hingson, the seven other finalists and their handlers were flown to Los Angeles to attend the ceremony at the Beverly Hills Hilton where they were joined by another four-legged celebrity, RIN TIN TIN Smith, a twelfth-in-line descendant of the original RIN TIN TIN. These four-legged celebrities were joined by a raft of two-legged ones including celebrity judges Betty White, Whoopi Goldberg, Kristin Chenoweth, Mark Hamill, Jillian Michaels, Susan Orlean (author of the new book, “RIN TIN TIN: The Life and the Legend”), TODAY’s Jill Rappaport and Top Chef Fabio Viviani.

“Every day, across America, dogs protect, comfort, and give their unconditional friendship and affection to the ill, the infirm, the wounded veteran, and the frightened child,” Robin Ganzert, President and CEO of the American Humane Association, said of the awards. “It was time to recognize the contributions of man’s best friends and celebrate the heroic feats they have performed for us every day.”

Keep Rodents Out This Winter

When the temperature drops, people aren’t the only ones looking for ways to stay warm. Pests seek warmth indoors, too.

Protect your home from unwanted visitors this winter with these simple home preparedness tips from Terminix Pest Control.

Seal pests out and warmth in:

• Place weather stripping on the bottom of all exterior doors to ensure they seal tightly. Doors that do not have a tight seal can allow a variety of pests to enter the home and can allow warm air to escape.

• Use caulk to seal any holes or cracks in your home’s exterior. Large holes should be stuffed with steel wool or wire before sealing with caulk or other materials.

• Eliminate cracks or openings around pipes and utility lines that enter the home. These are potential problem areas that can allow pests in and heated air out.

• Close the flue damper when the fireplace isn’t in use. An open damper can allow a large amount of air out and can be an entry point for a variety of insects, rodents and wildlife.

• Ensure attic and foundation vents are equipped with tight-fitting 1/4-inch hardware cloth. This will help keep rodents at bay. Also install insect screening over windows, utility vents and other areas where small pests may slip through.

Check the exterior

• Move piles of firewood and other debris away from the home’s foundation. Both provide ample sources of shelter for rodents and other pests such as termites, and could encourage them to live near the home.

• Trim tree branches and shrubs away from the home. Rodents and other insects can scale rough surfaces like trees or large shrubs in order to access your home’s roof or other entry points in the home’s exterior.

Ask your exterminator for our Earth Care Clear The Air Odor Remover Bags.  They will rid the foul dead rodent odor from within your walls, without having to lift a finger.  You can also order our bags online.

Pest Control Speaker – Bill Vaughan

Bill Vaughan of Earth Care Products recently was a speaker at the Oregon Pest Control Association meeting in Florence Oregon.  Bill discussed various types of odor control and how to add odor control to your Pest Control Business for additional income from your existing customers.  Please contact Bill if you would like information regarding adding odor control to your PCO business.  (760) 941 5302