A Cautionary Tale...

Often when I'm out walking a dog or a llama (or even a horse), I find myself thinking of things I want to share with you.  So...here's my blog.  [Well, that idea didn't last long!]

 This morning [which now was two years ago] when I was walking Elvis, a lovely, sweet-tempered, big yellow lab, a young woman jogged up silently behind us, making both of us jump.  Dogs on leashes are sometimes protective of their humans, and she could easily have been bitten running up behind us like that, especially since she passed us on the "dog" rather than the "human" side. 

This incident reminded me of the day I was out walking Sonny, my llama, when a man on a bike came up behind us.  I'm sure he thought he was being courteous by being quiet, but the sudden appearance of a large, silent predator (yes, we humans ARE predators) behind him triggered a flight response in Sonny.  Because I, too, had been startled by the man's sudden appearance, Sonny yanked the lead line out of my hand and took off.  Fortunately, we were on a neighborhood walk on a trail that we've hiked together hundreds of times, and llamas are extremely intelligent.  So though Sonny was heading toward heavily trafficked Foothill Boulevard, I knew he could get home without crossing any major streets, and I trusted that he'd be waiting at the gate when I got there. 

I was about 50 yards away when I saw him standing by the entrance to a boarding

The moral of the story? Two of them, actually:

(1) If you're riding a bike, running, or walking and coming up behind someone, especially someone with an animal, gently call out a "heads up" just to announce your presence and to avoid startling the person or the animal or both with your sudden unexpected appearance.

(2) If you're approaching a loose animal, especially one who doesn't know you, take a look at what's behind the animal before you make a move. Most animals will move away from you--and they don't often look behind them for potential hazards like traffic. If possible, put yourself between the animal and the hazard and use the animal's natural instinct to move away from you to direct it toward safety...

            AND WALK CALMLY--DON'T RUN.

Rise in temperatures correlates to rise in pet heatstroke

July 12, 2011
 

Pet Sitters International offers pet owners 5 tips for heatstroke survival
 

As the temperature rises, so do Fido and Fluffy's chances of experiencing heat-related problems. As the scorching days of summer descend upon us, Pet Sitters International (PSI) outlines what steps should be taken if a pet is suffering from heatstroke.
 

According to the Animal First Aid Chapter of PSI's Certification Program, which was created in conjunction with Thom Somes, the Pet Safety Guy™, pets can easily suffer from heatstroke.
 

"High body temperatures and stress can cause a pet to go into heatstroke," Ellen Price, PSI academic manager, said. "Heatstroke is most often caused when pets are left in a confined space with little or no ventilation during periods of warm temperatures and high humidity."
 

The signs of heatstroke can include:

• Uncontrollable panting
• Foaming at the mouth
• Depression
• Lethargy
• Agitation
• Vomiting
• Loss of consciousness
• Tongue and gums that turn from bright red to blue to gray
• Capillary refill time of more than two seconds

PSI suggests the following five survival actions if a pet is suffering from heatstroke.

• Restrain the pet. Muzzle only if absolutely necessary. If muzzled, cool the pet because it will not be able to pant and cool itself.
• Bathe or hose the pet with cool water (not cold) until its temperature subsides. You can also place the pet in a cool, well-ventilated space and wrap it in a wet, cold sheet or towel.
• Prepare to treat for shock. This includes placing the pet on its side with head extended. If the pet isn't muzzled, open its mouth and cautiously pull the tongue past its teeth with your fingers. Keep the tongue extended to keep the airway open. Slightly elevate the pet's hindquarters.
• Monitor the pet's temperature with a digital thermometer.
• Transport to the veterinarian or emergency animal hospital.

For more information about PSI, PSI's Certification Program or to locate a professional pet sitter in your area, please visit www.petsit.com.

© 2011 Pet Sitters International, www.petsit.com. Used by permission.

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As many of you already know, I love taking and sharing photos of our animal companions--like those of Juno, Elvis, and Sonny in this newsletter.

Have you ever thought of getting a portrait done of your pet?  If so, I'd like to recommend that you take a look at the work of Dawn Secord, artist and fellow animal-lover.

You can learn more about Dawn and take a look at some of her work on her website (click here to do that), but also check out her blog  where you can see examples of work in progress, from beginning reference photo to final portrait.