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Pet First aID wITH tHE ct hUMANE sOCIETY

10/26/2018

This past Tuesday, October 23, we teamed up with the Connecticut Humane Society to host a Pet First Aid presentation at their Newington headquarters.The presentation was given by EARS Director of Operations, Jon Nowinski, and included information on pet safety, how owners can learn to get the vitals on their own pets and be more aware of when something may be amiss with them, and of course, what to do should they experience a pet emergency at home or while they are out with their pets. No one likes to think about these things happening, but as we always say, being aware and being prepared will go a long way to helping you - and your pets - stay calm in an otherwise stressful situation.

For those who attended the presentation, we discussed providing some links to information shared during it, and you'll find those links below. If you have any questions, or if you are interested in arranging a Pet First Aid presentation to be given to your own organization, please don't hesitate to contact us at info@earsct.org or (203) 941 - EARS.

You can view an online version of the Pet First Aid presentation on our Google SkyDrive by CLICKING HERE

Other Useful Links From The Presentation:

Download a copy of your own EARS Pet First Aid Handbook

View & Print A List Of Connecticut 24 Hour Emergency Veterinary Hospitals

Make Sure You're Prepared: Download & Print A Pet Emergency Information Card

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It's Fire Prevention Week... Protect Those Pets!

10/9/2018

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Did you know that October 7th to October 13th is Fire Prevention Week? It’s not just a time to check and make sure that your house is fire safe, but also to keep in mind that with the growing population of pets, an estimated 500,000 pets are affected annually by fires. Household fires are one of those emergencies that no one sees coming, and tragically many aren’t prepared for, resulting in panic and lack of coordination. Add to that the concern for pets inside a burning structure and you have even more issues to deal with. But as with many situations – preparedness and prevention is the key to staying safe.

There are a few things that pet owners can do when it comes to preparedness, and most of it begins with small things that can go a long way during an emergency. First and foremost you should assure that responders to your home are aware of the type and number of pets you have inside. Affixing a pet rescue decal to your door frame or a window in the front AND rear of your home is a great indicator. But, make sure it’s updated and accurate, so if you add or loose a pet make sure you change the sticker. Second, if you own dogs always keep a spare leash (slipleashes are great) right near your front door, that way if you are able to evacuate with your pets or a firefighter is able to access your house, everyone can quickly and easily get a dog leashed. If you’re a cat owner, consider leaving at least one cat carrier in a front closet or easy-to-grab area by your doorway. And lastly, know where your pets may go in the event they are stressed or scared. Do your cats have a particular hiding space under a bed? Are your dogs likely to run out of the house if a door is open for them? Is there a safe space on your property far enough away from your home that you can move your pets do while emergency responders are on scene?

A lot of preventative measures rely on what you are doing to make sure your home is safe from potential fire causes. Many people enjoy lighting candles all-year-round, but remember they should never be left unattended, and should never be at a height or in a place where pets may get at them. Some of us leave the heaters on for pets when we aren’t home in the winter, but you should always assure that bedding, toys, and other pet items are far away (at least 5 feet or more) from any potential heat sources. And never, ever, leave a fire burning in your fire place when you aren’t home!

And remember that part of preparedness for emergencies is making a plan for if something happens when you aren’t home. Make sure that a neighbor is aware of the types of pets you own, and has contact information for you as well as another person in an emergency. It helps to keep collars on animals even when they are home because not only can it help if they need to be evacuated from a structure, but collars should have identification tags on them as well. And finally, microchipping your pets is truly the best way to assure they will be reunited with you if they go missing. Many times pets recognize the danger and stress of a fire and will escape a home by running through an open doorway or other exist. Often times people on scene may not even know that they got out because of the activity happening. If your pet isn’t microchipped they could get brought to an animal hospital or a nearby shelter and not be identified, but nearly all veterinary practices and animal shelters have microchip scanners and will scan any animal that is brought to them or picked up by them.

Remember that as with everything, preparedness and prevention is the key to keeping you and your pets safe and sound during an emergency! Have questions or looking for more tips? Contact us any time at info@earsct.org!

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Still Think Disasters Won't Happen Here?

10/4/2018

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Seven… we’ve had SEVEN tornadoes causing major damage in Connecticut so far in 2018… and that’s the largest number in recent history. Hurricanes you watch coming, blizzards are forecast days in advance, even heavy rains are seen coming, but tornadoes are one of nature’s deadliest weather phenomena because not only can they be unpredictable, but they form, strike, and move on so quickly there is often little notice. If you don’t think this type of disaster is something you need to prepare for here in Connecticut, you are making a big mistake.

Any storm that produces rotation has the potential to cause tornadoes, and this time of year we can see a lot of that happening. When severe weather is predicted it’s important to pay close attention to alerts so that you can be prepared to do what’s necessary to keep yourself and your animals safe. Most people have heard about weather “watches” and weather “warnings,” but it’s very easy to get confused over which means what. If you hear that there is a tornado watch it means that there’s storms coming through the area that have the potential to – but haven’t yet – cause a tornado. But if you hear that there is a tornado warning it means you need to take immediate action because a tornado has been visually reported or seen on radar.

If there is a tornado warning you should immediately seek shelter in the strongest part of whatever structure you are in. If it’s an office or municipal building often that would be a staircase or inner room. These are sometimes marked as “areas of refuge” on doors or maps. If you are at home when this happens seeking shelter in a basement is best, but if you aren’t able to do that that the center or strongest point of your house is best even taking shelter under a heavy table or desk. Always stay away from windows, outside walls and doors.

Keeping animals safe during a tornado is no easy task either, especially if your animals get nervous during regular storms. If you have warning of severe weather, putting your pets in carriers or crates and covering them is a good idea. In the event that there is debris or objects that may be in the air or falling around them, carriers and crates will provide protection. After the danger of a storm has passed remember that the outside is going to look and smell vastly different to your pets. Never simply let them out of the house without going with them, and always have them leashed when walking after a storm. Keep them away from downed trees and power lines, and try to avoid walking in areas with lots of debris to avoid pet injuries and entanglement.

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October Can Be Scary For Pet Owners!

10/2/2018

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Did you know that the month of October sees the highest number of reported pet emergencies out of the entire year? From helping themselves to Halloween treats, to getting in to cleaning and car chemicals, the number of pets admitted for various issues to veterinary emergency centers in October drastically increases. Here at EARS, we've made October our Pet First Aid Month, and will be featuring many special events, outreach campaigns, and deals on our exclusively made Pet First Aid Kits. Any pet emergency can be scary for an owner, but knowing what to do in the event that you experience one will help you to stay calm.

As fall settles in there are a lot of potential dangers to our pets, both within the house as well as during outdoor time, and even weather situations can impact our animals. This time of year many people start to do pre-winter cleaning which could mean winterizing your cars or houses, bringing outside plants in from the cold, and more. Each of these things adds to toxicities our pets can get in to so it's extra important to make sure that these things are kept far out of the reach of our curious animals. Chemicals such as cleaning agents, antifreeze, and others should always be put away immediately after use and stored properly. Not all plans are pet-friendly, and even those that are may have inadvertently been exposed to toxins while outside, so any time you bring plants back in to the home you should make sure they are far out of reach of paws. If you aren't sure whether a plant is toxic to pets, make sure you check in to it by visiting or contacting a store or searching for information online.

Even regular outside outings can become dangerous to pets in the fall as there seems to always be a lot more debris strewn about than usual. Sharp sticks, leaf-covered rocks, standing water from rains, and similar things can pose dangers so keep a close eye on your pets even while you are just outside on your daily walks. Never allow pets to drink from puddles, streams, or other outside water sources as you simply don't know what things have gotten mixed in to them and there are many health issues that can come from ingesting unwanted crud.

Stay tuned to our website and social media pages for more tips and tricks all throughout the month, and check out our calendar for upcoming seminars, classes, community events, and online chats! Stay safe and enjoy the fall... it can be a very fun time for pets, and doesn't have to be scary for owners!

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Pet First aID wITH tHE ct hUMANE sOCIETY

It's Fire Prevention Week... Protect Those Pets!

Still Think Disasters Won't Happen Here?

October Can Be Scary For Pet Owners!

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