 June is National Pet Preparedness Month, so what better time than right now to remind everyone about the importance of having a plan for you and your pet in the event of a natural disaster or other emergency. Doing a little preparation ahead of time can help ensure that your whole family stays safe in the event something unexpected and potentially catastrophe happens.
Why It’s Important Emergencies aren’t exactly predictable, but there are some simple steps you can take so you’re prepared to jump into action if you need to and can ensure you and your pets’ well-being. For instance, emergency preparedness experts recommend that pet parents:
Prepping ahead can help make a stressful situation just a little less worrisome. Check Out These Resources Visit our Care Corner web page for more information on how best to prepare in case of an emergency that requires you to leave your home. What You Can Do To Help Phinney’s believes in keeping people and their beloved pets together. We do this by extending a helping hand to pet parents in need when these emergency vet visits become too costly for some to afford. Ways you can help include donating to Phinney’s or volunteering. And, anyone in need of help in caring for their pets can visit our Get Help page for more information.
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 That little unassuming food bowl in the corner of the kitchen that your dog or cat eats out of may be doing more harm than you think. Every day you feed your pet and place that food in a bowl. But are you handling the food properly? When was the last time you cleaned that bowl? Mishandling pet food and food bowls can lead to bacterial contamination–and both could harm pets and their people.
Why It’s Important Taking care of your pet’s food dish as well as the way you handle the food is an important step in keeping the whole household healthy. A recent study reported by CNN reveals that found that pet food dishes ranked highly among the most contaminated household objects and may even have bacterial loads close to those of toilets! A dirty pet food dish could breed bacteria like E.coli and Salmonella, which could lead to diarrhea and other health-related issues. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s Animal Health Literacy Campaign notes that if food is left in pet bowls too long, microbes could develop and lead to illness in those who come in contact with it. To help minimize risks, it recommends washing and drying pet dishes, scoops and storage containers prior to refiling them. Taking precautions like these can help keep everyone healthy. Check Out These Resources Visit our Care Corner web page for more information on the best way to handle your pet’s food and dishes. What You Can Do To Help Phinney’s believes in keeping people and their beloved pets together. We do this by extending a helping hand to pet parents in need when these emergency vet visits become too costly for some to afford. Ways you can help include donating to Phinney’s or volunteering. And, anyone in need of help in caring for their pets can visit our Get Help page for more information.  Rachel Geller (pictured here with Rosie) shines a light on why cats do what they do and is available free of charge to help address cat behavioral issues! We’re purring with excitement over this news!
Dr. Rachel Geller, who is dedicated to promoting the prevention of cat surrenders and abandonment by helping people navigate their cats’ behavioral challenges, recently reached out to Phinney’s to let us know she’s available to provide free cat behavior counseling to those in Massachusetts and all around the world! Rogue peeing, yowling, aggressive biting and/or scratching are some of the most common issues pet parents with cats may have to deal with. If a medical issue isn’t at the root of the behavior, chances are your cat is trying to tell you something. And that’s where Rachel, the author of Saving the World, One Cat at a Time: What I Know About Cats - And Why You Should Know It, Too, comes in. Rachel was recently featured on WBZ News Radio where she provided tips on how to better understand cats, and we’ve updated Phinney's Get Help page with Rachel’s contact information, so if you or someone you know is struggling with cat-related behavioral issues, Rachel may be able to help. Our heartfelt thanks go out to Rachel for all she does to help cat parents better understand what their cats are trying to tell them, so they can respond in a way that can lead to positive results. For pet parents who are struggling with their cats’ behavioral issues and think there’s no other option but to surrender their pet, Phinney’s wants you to know that there is tremendous hope—and help—out there. P.S. You can also connect with Rachel on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and Instagram. More than half of the pets in America are overweight, and many of them are severely obese. The extra pounds your pet is carrying can make him very sick and even shorten his life. Because of obesity, your pet may develop diabetes, arthritis and many other chronic health issues that cause pain and disease, or require taking medications. That will make your pet more uncomfortable and make it harder for you to afford his care. It could even make it impossible for you to care for your pet, as you may need to give injections and pills regularly. Your pet may refuse medications, or you may not be able to do it. Pet food is expensive. You may be paying a lot of extra money to overfeed your pet, or burdening Phinney’s Friends with unnecessary purchases. Of course you don’t want your pet to lead a less healthy life. Act now! Start a new chapter in your pet’s life! 1. Don’t let yourself be fooled by the looks Many of us believe we know, and we actually don’t. We see so many overweight pets nowadays that we look at a healthy pet and think she is too thin. Then we look at an obese pet and think she is fine. Yes, it’s more common to see a heavy animal than a healthy one! 2. Take a close look at your pet Now that you know you shouldn’t be fooled by what you see everyday, take a good look at your pet. You should be able to see your pet’s waist tuck in just behind the ribs, but not see the ribs easily. The following pictures show the ideal, healthy shape of a dog and a cat. Ideal, healthy shape:  And here is how they look when they are overweight:  And here are a dog and a cat who are too thin:  3. Gently feel the side of your pet’s body When you touch your pet, the ribs shouldn’t show a lot, but you should be able to feel them easily. That’s a normal, healthy weight. If you can’t feel the ribs easily, your pet is too heavy. 4. Check the amount you are feeding Get the bags and cans of food you are feeding your pet and take a look at the feeding chart. Compare it to your pet’s weight. Don’t know your pet’s weight? Call your vet clinic and find out. They always weigh your pet unless you get a house call visit. The following charts show the recommended amount of calories to feed your pet, and the caloric content in cups or cans of common dog and cat foods.   Note: only large breed cats are healthy at higher weights, of 15 to 20 lbs.  Now, do you feel you have a better idea if your pet is a healthy weight?
If you need help, leave us a message to Phinney’s at 617.203.2053 or reach out to us online. We may be able to help you tackle this problem.  The world is starting to get back to a “new normal.” Many people have resumed working outside of their homes and are starting to go out and socialize more. This transition, while a welcome change for many, can be hard for pets who most likely have gotten used to (and loved!) having their people around more. The new separation may cause some anxiety in pets, but there are ways to help lessen the impact.
Why It’s Important When a pet gets anxious this can lead to some poor behavior and potentially a decline in health, too. For example, dogs might start chewing, licking, panting, or pacing to excess, having accidents inside the house, or excessively barking, and cats might have accidents outside their litter box or start meowing incessantly. And, anxiety and stress in pets can even contribute to bouts with overeating, diarrhea, vomiting, and other health issues – for example, bladder stones or crystals and heart disease. Fortunately, there are things you can do to help your pet be more comfortable – and hopefully stay healthy – when your routine changes. Here are some simple things to try for keeping pet behavior and health in check:
Check Out These Resources Visit our Care Corner web page for more information on how to help ease your pet’s anxiety. What You Can Do To Help Phinney’s believes in keeping people and their beloved pets together. We do this by extending a helping hand to pet parents in need when these emergency vet visits become too costly for some to afford. Ways you can help include donating to Phinney’s or volunteering. And, anyone in need of help in caring for their pets can visit our Get Help page for more information.  Having a disaster response plan that addresses pets' needs is a labor of love. No one wants to imagine a time when they’ll be uprooted, their homes destroyed, and their lives potentially changed forever. But for the people of Ukraine, that reality is playing out in unimaginable ways.
The media is now flooded with images of people carrying their pets in carriers or in their arms, hiding in underground bomb shelters with their cats and dogs, and traversing war-torn areas to evacuate with their pets in tow. These images are a confirmation of the unbreakable bonds people and their pets share. And they are also a reminder that we all should be as prepared as we can be to care for our pets if a man-made or natural disaster strikes. “Our pets have our hearts, and they are our family. And as their caregivers, we have a duty to safeguard their well-being,” says Phinney’s President, Morgan Ritz. “We realize this is a tough topic, but we also recognize that it’s necessary to be ready for emergencies. When we think about the unconditional love our pets give us and how much they rely on us, we see how important it is to protect them,” adds Morgan. To help pet parents, we’ve developed this infographic below, which includes some emergency preparedness planning tips. And for additional resources on how to keep all the members of your family (including the furry, scaly, winged, and amphibious members) as safe as possible if a disaster happens, visit Bark Tweet Meow.  If a natural or man-made disaster happens it’s important to have a plan of action as to how you’ll safely transport your pet(s) and provide for them.
While no one can necessarily predict when disaster will strike, there are many resources that can help pet parents come up with an emergency preparedness plan to put the human, furry, scaly, and amphibious members of the family in a better position to stay safe. For instance, Ready.gov, a national campaign designed to educate the public on how to prepare for, respond to, and mitigate the damaging effects of natural or man-made catastrophes, makes available a list of recommendations on how to prepare our pets in the event of such disasters. Here’s a quick look at those tips: First, come up with an evacuation plan. Keep in mind that many hotels and public shelters may not allow pets, so take some time to identify some pet-friendly havens. Let family, friends, and neighbors in on your plan, so if you are unable to care for them for some reason, they can step in to do so. Get your pet microchipped and keep your contact information up to date in the event you and your pet become separated. Turn to local animal shelters, animal control, or emergency management offices to see if they have additional recommendations on how to care for your pet(s) during an emergency. Assemble a “go” bag for your pet(s). This should include basic survival items, including food and water. Ready.gov recommends having two kits, a lightweight version in the event of immediate evacuation and a larger one if you and your pet(s) must shelter in place. Consider, too, whether your pet needs additional items in their go bag(s), such as:
Ready.gov also recommends keeping your pet(s) registration paperwork and any other relevant documents along with a picture of you and your pet(s) in a waterproof container and scanning those so you have them saved electronically for cloud access. Please note that the above information is not an exhaustive list, is provided for general information only, and does not constitute any form of specific advice.  Chewing is good for your dog, and providing the right chew toy is important. But, not all chew toys are created equal! Here are some tips on how to choose the right chew toy for your dog.
Why It’s Important If a dog chews on the wrong thing, it could damage their teeth and potentially cause other serious health issues because broken off bits could get lodged in the dog’s GI tract. Take O’Riely for example. His person Kimberly reached out to Phinney’s for help after he developed an abscessed tooth fracture and needed emergency dental surgery. Kimberly no longer gives O’Riely real bones to chew on as they are a major cause of tooth fractures, and his case is just one example of how hard bones can do damage. The first step to picking out the best chew toy is to figure out your dog’s chew style. From there, invest in toys that are sturdy, unlikely to fall apart easily, and can withstand your dog's jaw power! Check Out These Resources Visit our Care Corner web page for more information and resources that will be helpful while you are unable to care for your pet. What You can Do To Help Phinney’s believes in keeping people and their beloved pets together. We do this by extending a helping hand to pet parents in need when these emergency vet visits become too costly for some to afford. Ways you can help include donating to Phinney’s or volunteering. And, anyone in need of help in caring for their pets can visit our Get Help page for more information.  Cute little critters like guinea pigs need care just like any other pet in the family. It is important to take good care of your guinea pig so they can live a long, happy life.
Why It’s Important Keeping your guinea pig well cared for ensures their happiness and can reduce the need for emergency vet visits. Listed below are 5 grooming tips to make it easier to keep your guinea pig comfortable, clean, happy and out of the emergency vet!
Check Out These Resources Visit our Care Corner web page for more information on husbandry, exercise and proper grooming for your guinea pig. What You Can Do To Help Phinney’s believes in keeping people and their beloved pets together. We do this by extending a helping hand to pet parents in need when these emergency vet visits become too costly for some to afford. Ways you can help include donating to Phinney’s or volunteering. And, anyone in need of help in caring for their pets can visit our Get Help page for more information.  Trimming your pet’s nails is not only to protect the furniture or floors in your home. It actually keeps them healthy and comfortable.
Why It's Important Cats, dogs, and even bunnies need to get their nails trimmed regularly. While this may seem like a small detail, it's an essential part of caring for your pet. Long nails can cause pain and discomfort. In cats, for instance, they can grow so long as to puncture the paw pads. Painful and dangerous, as it can cause an infection. Cats go into the litter box with their little feet! If the nails don't get trimmed for too long, the overgrown nails could cause long-term problems, which may require more expensive vet visits, even an emergency trip to the vet. Case in point: Muffin the Cat, who Phinney’s recently helped get emergency vet care because her nails had become ingrown. Click here to read Muffin’s story. If you feel uneasy about trimming your pet’s nails, you can always contact your vet for help. Vets will charge for this service, but typically it is not much money. Your vet can even help you become more comfortable doing this at home, preventing the need to take a trip to the vet every time your pet needs its nails trimmed. Check Out These Resources Visit our Care Corner web page for more information on the importance of trimming your pets nails and for some information on needed supplies. What You Can Do To Help Keeping your pet safe and healthy is important and can reduce emergency vet visits, which can be costly. Phinney’s believes in keeping people and their beloved pets together. We do this by extending a helping hand to pet parents in need when these emergency vet visits become too costly for some to afford. Ways you can help include donating to Phinney’s or volunteering. And, anyone in need of help in caring for their pets can visit our Get Help page for more information. |
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Phinney's is an all-volunteer registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit that helps low-income people keep their pets. U.S. federal tax ID 94-3475924. All content on this website is the property of Phinney's Friends, Inc. unless otherwise noted. Donations are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law.
PO Box 425, Lincoln, MA 01773
Phone: 617-203-2053 Fax: 617-979-8705 |
