 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.
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 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.  Phinney's helped O'Riely get the dental care needed to chew better. Phinney’s recently helped pay for an expensive dental procedure little O’Riely needed. This six-year-old Boston Terrier/Yorkie Mix suffered from an abscessed tooth fracture on the left side of his upper jaw, and had stopped eating – poor little guy!
But we’re so happy to hear he’s feeling better now that he’s gotten the medical care he deserved. His fur mom, Kimberly, originally put O’Riely on antibiotics after his diagnosis to reduce the swelling and pain, but that was just a temporary solution. And it was all she could afford. O’Riely found himself suffering again, only chewing on the right side of his mouth once the antibiotics wore off. Kimberly felt stuck because other organizations did not get back to her. We’re so grateful we were able to answer the call to get O’Riely the care he needed, which consisted of pre-op blood work and a tooth extraction. O’Riely’s care, while pricey and extensive, was imperative as poor dental health can cause pets to suffer a lower quality of life and cause other diseases. Even though Kimberly tried preventative measures, like taking away certain bones and chews that can fracture teeth, she knew it was too late for O'Riely’s teeth. They wouldn't heal on their own, so he needed surgery. We’re so glad we were able to help thanks to generous donations from caring people! Thank you for being a supporter of our wonderful mission of keeping pets and their people together.  Phinney's new president, Morgan Ritz, loves helping pets and people. Phinney’s is pleased to announce the appointment of its new President, Morgan Ritz. A lifelong animal devotee, Morgan always wanted to do what she could to bring relief to the millions of animals out there in need of help. So she started volunteering with The Cat Connection in 2010, was involved in every aspect of the nonprofit, and served as its president from 2016 to 2021. Also driven to helping people, Morgan built a career in the mental health field, most recently working as residential manager of a group home. Now she lives in Watertown with her clowder of failed foster cats and her boyfriend, where she works as a dog walker and cat sitter. Morgan believes that all animals (with the possible exception of house centipedes, LOL) deserve a chance to have a good life. And she is thrilled to have the opportunity to work with Phinney’s to help pets and their people stay together happily ever after. “I am incredibly excited to have this opportunity to help Phinney’s. I have long been a fan of the organization’s mission and impressed by the difficult and important work done by its volunteers and superhero President Daniela Caride!” says Morgan. “I am so looking forward to working with this amazing team to help people and their pets stay happily together.” "Morgan is super enthusiastic about Phinney’s mission, and our Board is confident she will excel in every way, given her skills, drive and dedication," says Daniela, who is ecstatic about Morgan's arrival. She has been working closely with Morgan during the past two months, so the Board and Morgan could be sure everyone was happy with the new distribution of roles. After 10 years as President and 15 as a volunteer, Daniela has decided to step down from this leadership role and continue her work with Phinney’s as an Advisor to the Board of Directors. And she is looking forward to this new chapter in her life, in which she can contribute to Phinney's in new ways. “Words cannot express our Board’s gratitude for all Daniela has done for the organization,” says Director Laura Scott, Phinney's Communications Chair. "We are thrilled that Daniela will continue on as Board Advisor, so that Morgan can learn the ins and outs of how Phinney’s operates, and we can continue to meet our day-to-day and strategic goals.” “Being President of Phinney’s during this past decade taught me so much about the needs of the community, and the need to listen, be kind and generous to one another,” says Daniela. “It has also given me so much joy by allowing me to make friends with wonderful people and shape such an amazing organization. Thank you for these amazing experiences. I’m so excited about this future journey!” As we celebrate our 25th anniversary and with Morgan’s leadership, we look forward to continuing our mission of helping people and their beloved pets stay together. Please join us in thanking Daniela for her selfless contributions and in welcoming Morgan as Phinney’s new President!  Thanks to the kindness and concern of Phinney's volunteers, Little Bit spent time with a nice foster family while his cat dad, John, recovered from an illness in the hospital. When it comes to caring for the pets we all love so much, indeed every little bit helps! And, it sometimes takes a village to make sure the furbabies that make our lives so special have what they need when their pet parents need to be hospitalized and can't look after them temporarily. That's what happened to this handsome boy Little Bit, who's person John needed Phinney's help. Thanks to our dedicated volunteer Starr, and the foster mom she found for Little Bit - our faithful volunteer Faye -, he got the care he needed while his cat dad was on the mend. If you've ever wondered if doing a little something to help is going to be enough, rest assured: EVERY LITTLE BIT helps! Whether you're interested in volunteering, fostering, or donating to support Phinney's mission, your care matters. This amazing black and white pile of love is a testament to that.  Griffin and his person, Tina, are ever-so-grateful for the help Phinney's has been able to give for his ongoing medical care. Griffin, who stole everyone’s hearts last year when we helped him undergo an emergency leg amputation due to a devastating leg break, is back at it! We recently learned this mini-Pinscher heartthrob needs Phinney's help in getting some bloodwork and radiographs done ahead of a dental procedure, which is scheduled for March. Thanks to generous donations to Phinney’s, weare able to assist Griffin’s person Tina, who can't afford the cost on her own. Griffin, one of Phinney’s beloved Godpets, is indeed a real trooper, who's been through a lot. In addition to undergoing his leg amputation, he's got ongoing eye and thyroid issues and a couple of years back he had to have more than a dozen teeth extracted due toresorptive lesions, a condition that’s more common in cats but less prevalent in dogs. The dental X-rays he gets in March should tell if there are more resorptive lesions requiring attention. We know that with the love people share in their hearts for him and the other pets that Phinney's helps we can continue to be there for them thanks to donations from special people like you.  Broozer Bob is a 9-year-old kitty that Phinney's supplies with insulin, syringes and other items needed to control his diabetes. His elderly mom is very grateful! Hi everyone, As 2021 comes to a close, our neighbors continue to suffer economic insecurity. Phinney's is still committed to doing all we can to provide relief to pet owners in need, and we hope we will be able to pursue our mission with even more vigor in 2022. We are awed by your enormous generosity. We serve the populations that are most vulnerable to COVID-19, and as their needs continue to increase during the pandemic, we are more grateful than ever for your contributions. We also appreciate those who are making the season brighter through the Phinney's Angels Tree, by purchasing ornaments of our neediest pets. In this season of charitable giving, please consider supporting Phinney's by making a tax-deductible donation. Thank you for your support! - Daniela Caride, Phinney's President  This is Whispers! Phinney's helped his mom in November, by paying for tests and medications at the vet. Now Whispers is feeling much better and on his way to treatment. Hi everyone, One thing I learned this year is that Phinney's isn’t just here for low-income people and their pets. We’ve helped one another as friends while volunteering — cheering one another on, listening or offering a shoulder, and offering a safe space to talk when we needed that most. The pandemic has been tough for so many, affecting many people’s health, their families, and their ability to support themselves. Some of Phinney’s volunteers and donors understandably have had to step away. But those who have left are never too far. A love for animals unites us. Indeed, despite the tough reality the times have brought, our mission continues. It is seared in our hearts and connects us no matter what we are doing or where we are. I certainly hope we can all breathe more easily in 2022. But regardless of what the future holds, we'll keep fighting. There is nothing that makes us happier than being part of something that means life, hope and happiness to the people and pets we help. Every tear of joy we witness when a pet is saved and goes back home to a hearty hug is a miracle we can call our own — all thanks to this amazing group of people we call Phinney's. Hard times come and go. Our passion for helping pets and the people who love them does not fade. Our holiday wish is for everyone to feel our warm embrace, no matter where they are. Happy Holidays to you and your loved ones! - Daniela Caride, Phinney's President   These are some of the many text messages we got this year from grateful pet owners who received Phinney's help. It is only thanks to your donations that Phinney's was able to keep so many pets and people together during hardship and uncertainty. For the past 25 years, Phinney's has brought hope and happiness to countless pet owners in need and saved the lives of thousands of pets who would have been otherwise euthanized. Your donations perform miracles every day to those in need. During our last fiscal year, we were able to pay $68,341 toward veterinary visits for ill pets, and additional $24,426 for annual vet checks, tests and medication that keep beloved pets healthy and happy. We also spent $16,578 on pet supplies for dozens of families in need. Phinney's efforts are embodied in Phinney's Angels Tree, a plump blue spruce decorated at the grounds of the Pierce Park (you can visit it any day until the end of January at 17 Weston Rd, Lincoln MA). This tree is adorned with hand painted watercolor ornaments of some of Phinney's neediest pets. They are dangling from the branches carrying messages of joy and encouragement, chosen by the donors who purchased them to support Phinney's. (You can buy them too, at phinneys.org, if you'd like!) We are cheered by the paintings of these pets, whom we love as our own, and the beautiful messages of Phinney's supporters. And we are eager to continue this good work. Please consider donating today at phinneys.org or mailing a check to Phinney’s Friends P.O. Box 425, Lincoln, MA 01773 Thank you! - Daniela Caride, Phinney's President  Help change the lives of pets like...
Buddy, a gorgeous black cat who raises the spirits of his wheelchair-bound dad Valley, a kitty who entertains her mom, who copes with cerebral palsy Oliver, a handsome kitty with GI problems permanently fostered with Phinney's Sarge, a Pittie lovebug who guides his legally-blind mom Miss Chevious, a feisty calico who helps her mom with anxiety  Gustavo is a calming force for his cat mom. So, when he needed emergency treatment and surgery to save him from a life-threatening urinary blockage, we were so glad his family reached out for Phinney's help.
Unable to work, his mom just couldn’t afford the medical care Gustavo needed. Fortunately, thanks to generous donations, Phinney’s was able to cover the cost of Gustavo’s surgery, who’s still a young guy and doing well, recovering post-op at home. “You have no idea how much this means to us,” his grandma said, reflecting on how tough things have been the past couple of years for her daughter. “This gave us so much light in our world! Thank you so much again,” she wrote. Perhaps one of the most heartwarming things about Gustavo’s story is that his mom said she intends to pay it forward in the future and spread the word about how to donate to Phinney’s. This means a lot to us because we always want to be prepared to jump into action when a pet needs our help. Together, we can do this! |
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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 |
