January Pet Holidays!

 

• National Train Your Dog Month.
• Walk Your Pet Month.
• Adopt a Rescued Bird Month.
• Jan. 2, 2019: National Pet Travel Safety Day.
• Jan. 2, 2019: Happy Mew Year for Cats Day.
• Jan. 14, 2019: National Dress Up Your Pet Day.
• Jan. 22, 2019: National Answer Your Cat’s Question Day.
• Jan. 24, 2019: Change a Pet’s Life Day.
• Jan. 29, 2019: Seeing Eye Guide Dog Anniversary.

 

Calendar from http://www.dogtipper.com   

Jan 2nd is National Pet Travel Safety Day

 

History of National Pet Travel Safety Day

National Pet Travel Safety Day was created by celebrity pet and family lifestyle expert Colleen Paige in order to heighten awareness of the traveling needs of dogs and cat.

Tips to make sure your pet travels safely
Just as you would never leave the driveway without ensuring that your child is safely buckled in with a seat belt or securely fastened into a car seat or booster seat, so your fur baby should also be restrained when you get behind the wheel. An unsecured dog is a danger to your dog, your passengers, and the driver.

Cats travel best in their carrier. Help make travel easier on your cat by making the carrier a safe place for your cat. Leave the carrier out and open at home, lined with a cuddly blanket or sweater. Toss your cat’s favorite treats and toys inside then let your cat come and go at will.
Secure carriers with a seat belt so that, in the event of a sudden stop, the carrier is secured.

Make sure your pet is properly vaccinated. Talk with your veterinarian about proper vaccinations. Travel often means coming in contact with other animals so be prepared.

Look at pheromone products. Pheromone products produce an overall feeling of comfort and safety mimicking the pheromones released by a nursing mother. Sprays you can spritz on a pet carrier or a pet mat are easy for travel in the car and a hotel room.

Don’t let your dog ride in your lap. Are you old enough to remember children riding in the front seat in their mother’s laps? (Yep, we are!) Today no one would think of letting children in their lap yet many people sit in the front seat–and even in the driver’s seat–with their dog or cat in their lap. Riding with a pet in your lap is illegal in several states with proposed legislation in other states–but you don’t have to rely on a law to do the right thing for both you and your dog. Please secure your dog or cat (in his carrier) in his own seat.

Don’t let your dog ride in the front passenger seat. The weight of your dog or your cat’s carrier sitting the passenger seat will signal to the corresponding air bag that it needs to deploy in the case of an accident, possibly injuring (or worse) your pet with its 200 mph force when it suddenly deploys. If you put your small dog in the passenger seat, he needs to be up on a booster seat that doesn’t apply any weight to the seat itself. Some cars have on-off switches for the passenger air bags as well. In general, though, the back seat is the safest place for your dog or for your cat carrier!

Don’t let your dog ride in the bed of a pickup. You’d think this would go without saying but people still continue to travel with dogs in pickup beds. More and more states are making this illegal but regardless of the law in your location, never drive with a dog in the bed of a pickup.

Don’t let your dog stand on the center console. Dogs (even secured dogs in seat belts) in the back seat can sometimes reach that console between the front seats. If your dog is putting his front feet on the console to get attention, he’s distracting you as you drive.

Travel with food and litter. While it takes up some space, it’s much easier to travel with your pet’s food and your cat’s favorite brand of litter rather than shopping for it at your destination (or, worse, finding yourself having to buy a different brand.)

Microchip your pet. Even if your dog or cat wears a collar with a tag, it pays to have your vet place a permanent microchip in your cat in case she should be lost on a trip.
When you get your pet microchipped, be sure to register that number with a service such as HomeAgain.

Check your pet’s ID tag; if it is damaged or hard to read, replace it.
Create a tag with your cell number. It’s also a good idea to create an ID tag with your cell phone number.
Travel with a pet first aid kit.
Consider a high-tech tracker. For added protection beyond the tag, look into high-tech tag options that use GPS or Bluetooth technology to help you track a lost pet using an app on your cell phone.

Carry the scent of home. Your pet’s favorite blanket is a comforting scent of home in a new place, whether that’s the carrier, vet’s office or hotel room.

If you’re traveling out of town, look up the address and phone number of animal hospitals at your destination and along the trip route. Print out the information or add it to your smartphone for easy access.

Choose car travel whenever possible. Car travel is less stressful on dogs and cats than air travel.

Rethink a trip if your pet is too large to fly in the cabin with you. If your dog is too large to fly in the cabin (20 pounds max, depending on the airline), think long and hard before considering a flight with him in cargo. It’s extremely stressful and, for some pets, dangerous.

Carry a record from your home vet confirming that your dog or cat has had all the necessary shots. Hotels and other lodging establishments may require showing proof of vaccinations at check-in.

Pack an emergency card in your wallet explaining that you are traveling with X number of pets, their descriptions, and your veterinarian’s contact information in case you should be involved in an accident.

To prevent dehydration, pack plenty of water and a water bowl for your trip. A clip-on water bowl is useful for hikes and roadside stops, too.

Give your dog opportunities to stretch his legs with rest stops every two or three hours. Not only is it good for your dog, but the stop is good for the driver as well.

Remember that you should NEVER leave a dog or cat alone in a car. Doing so puts your pet at risk of heat injuries, hypothermia and theft.

Our #1 Pet Peeve – What We Ask You to Do on National Pet Travel Safety Day
In our travels, we notice that most cat lovers are good about traveling with their cats in carriers. The cat remains in her carrier until safely arriving at the destination, inside and with the door closed.

Pet parents with dogs, however, are not following the same safe practices—and many are participating in what is our number one pet peeve when it comes to pet travel safety: letting their dog stick his head (if not his entire upper body) out the open window as the car speeds down the highway.  

If there’s one single thing we wish we could emphasize on National Pet Travel Safety Day, it’s please stop letting your dog put his entire head out the window! The list of dangers is scary:

Your dog could lean too far out of the window—either in excitement or by accident—and fall out the car.
A sudden stop or accident could project your dog out the window.

Your dog could lose his eye if a projectile—even something as small as a bug or flying piece of gravel off the pavement—becomes embedded in his eye.
Your dog could see a dog (or squirrel!) and suddenly jump from the car.

Your car could be sideswiped by a passing car, crushing your dog between the two cars.

To keep your dog happy and safe, just crack the window about an inch. Fresh air and scents will come rushing in the window, providing plenty of enrichment for your dog while he travels safely inside the auto.

 

 

Article from https://www.pawzaar.com 

Ways To Change A Dog’s Life For Change A Pet’s Life Day: January 24th
 

January 24th is Change A Pet’s Life Day. This special day is for encouraging people to adopt pets from shelters and raise awareness about animals in need. There are tons of ways to celebrate and change an animal’s life for the better. Even though we encourage adoption on this day and many shelters have reduced prices to celebrate, you don’t have to adopt a dog every year to make a positive impact. Here are eight ways you can change a dog’s life for the better on Change A Pet’s Life Day.

1. Adopt Or Foster
Adopting a shelter dog is a huge way to make an impact on a dog’s life, but even if you’re not ready to commit to a lifetime of love just yet, you can get a trial run by fostering. Fosters also help other dogs by freeing up some resources at shelters so other dogs can get what they need and have a better chance of finding forever homes. Lots of shelters have reduced rates for Change A Pet’s Life Day, so it’s a great day to look into adopting, too.

2. Sponsor A Dog
If you’re unable to take home a dog of your own right now, many shelters, rescues, and sanctuaries will allow you to sponsor a specific dog of your choosing. Depending on your sponsorship, you might get updates and pictures in the mail that let you know how your pup is doing, or you may be able to sponsor an adoption fee to encourage a loving forever family to take your dog home. It’s a great way to change a dog’s life for the better if you can’t adopt.

3. Volunteer Your Time
Shelters are always in need of people to help walk dogs and give them love and attention while they wait for forever homes. Volunteering your time will help shelters provide care for all the dogs that they look after, and it helps dogs get some much needed socialization, which in turn helps the pups become more adoptable. Being a volunteer makes a big difference in the lives of dogs who are waiting to find their new families.

4. Donate
Shelters cost lots of money to operate, and most of them are non-profits. They rely on donations from animal lovers so that they can take care of as many as possible. By making a charitable contribution to a shelter, you’re making sure that dogs get food, medical care, vaccinations, microchips, and everything they need to stay healthy and prepare for a life in a loving home.

5. Spread The Word About Adoptable Dogs
Thanks to social media, getting the word out about adoptable dogs has never been easier. By simply sharing dogs in need on your Facebook wall, and other social media, you’re helping those pups get seen and shared by others.  It’s very easy and makes a huge difference in the lives of dogs looking to get adopted.

6. Raise Awareness For Shelters
Check local shelters near you and see if they are holding any events for Change A Pet’s Life Day. Chances are good that you can get involved and, at the very least, help raise awareness for what the shelter needs to make dogs’ lives better. Spread the word to all your friends and make upcoming shelter events a fun chance to get together with the people you care about for a good cause. The dogs will appreciate it, and you’ll get even more people involved.

7. Tell Your Dog’s Story
A simple way to help encourage others to adopt and make a difference in a dog’s life is to share your own dog’s story. Where did you meet your dog? Was it love at first sight? What were the challenges, and how has your pup changed your life for the better? Showing the positive impact your dog has had on your life is a great way to show others that a dog might be right for them, too. You’ll be helping to encourage adoption, and it’s a great opportunity to talk all about your dog, which is something we dog owners are always happy to do.

 

8. Make Some Positive Changes For Your Dog

Maybe you’ve already adopted a pup of your own, and that’s a great first step in changing a dog’s life for the better. But there are always more changes you can make and ways to improve your own bond with your dog. Try learning some new tricks or getting into an exercise routine. See what you can do to connect with your dog on a deeper level, or just try making some homemade food or treats. Changing a dog’s life for the better will change your own life for the better, too.

Article from http://dogtime.com  
 

CARL Boutique Thrift Store
 

2750 E Main St., Suite B, Ventura
Enter from Borchard Drive
805-677-9111
thriftstore@carldogs.org
www.carlthrift.com
Click here for map.
Tuesday – Saturday from 11-4:30 pm

Donations of clothing, housewares, books, furniture and jewelry gratefully appreciated!

Click here for other items our thrift store accepts and items our thrift store does not accept.

Please drop off donations Tuesday – Saturday 11:00 am – 4:00 pm.

Please do not leave donations after hours! Please hold onto all donations and drop them off Tuesday – Saturday 11:00 am – 4:00 pm. Thank you!

Follow us on Facebook!

Check out what we’re selling on eBay!

This is an ongoing fundraiser. Contact C.A.R.L at http://info@carlvc.org If you would like to donate recyclable bottles, cans.
 

Direct Dog Care TEAM
Direct Dog Care Team does Walking, Transportation, Playgroups, Socialization, C.A.R.L. Off-Site Training Program, Washing & Grooming, Special Needs & Training of the CARL dogs.