Diva
Sophie
Violet and Cody
Sue's Views
Sniffles and Friends Newsletter  - July 2009
Sue's Views
Sniffles' Friends
No one can think of a better time than summer the pleasant outdoors and
sunshine with your furry friend, but this fun season presents its own set of
situations that can be dangerous. Here are some summer safety tips for you
and your four-legged summer friends!

  1. Be aware that the City parks may use plant treatment chemicals
    (insecticides, plant food, etc.) that can be fatal to your pet if
    swallowed. Also, there are hundreds of plants that can be harmful or
    fatal to animals. There is a list of toxic plants on the Sniffles and
    Friends “Links” page if you would like to print it and keep it handy.
  2. Don’t leave pets in parked cars – even for a minute! Animals can
    quickly develop brain damage, heat stroke, and can quickly die. If you
    see an animal in a parked car on a hot day, alert the management of
    the establishment where the car is parked. If the owner does not
    return immediately, be sure to contact Animal Control’s abuse hotline
    1-866-601-7722
  3. Microchip your pet and/or purchase an ID tag. This is the best way to
    make sure your pet is returned to you in the unfortunate event that he
    becomes lost outside!
  4. Ask your vet if your pet should be taking heartworm prevention
    medication. Heartworm disease is transmitted through mosquito bites,
    and can be fatal to both dogs and cats. Don’t forget to apply flea
    treatment in the hot summer months!
  5. Never leave a pet near a pool (or anywhere else for that matter)
    unsupervised.
  6. Make sure your dog or cat has plenty of water available on these hot
    days!
  7. Be careful of the “short-nosed breeds” which do not do well on hot
    days. (pugs, bulldogs, Boston terriers, etc.) same goes for senior dogs
    and many long-haired breeds.
  8. Although it’s tons of fun for us, sometimes our furry family members
    don’t get as excited as we do about crowded events, especially in hot
    weather. This can be stressful and uncomfortable for dogs and cats –
    also cats have been known to become frightened of fireworks, take
    off, and never be seen again. For so many reasons, please keep cats
    indoors at all times!

Summer is lots of fun for us and for our four-legged friends – take
precautions and have a safe, happy summer!