Adopt a Dog Month

Every day, thousands of lovable, loyal dogs are surrendered to our nation’s shelters — not because they’re bad, but because their owners just couldn’t take care of them anymore. Be a hero, and give a homeless dog the chance to find happiness and a forever home during American Humane’s Adopt-A-Dog Month in October. Dogs are fun-loving, loyal and make great sidekicks for all of life’s adventures— and animal shelters are filled with amazing dogs just waiting for a hero like you: large, small, mixed breeds, even purebreds. Save the day by adopting a homeless dog who’ll reward you with years ofhappiness and companionship. Visit a local shelter during American Humane’s Adopt-A-Dog Month this October. There’s a loyal sidekick waiting just for you! To learn more, or visit us online American Human Society's website.
Dog Care Tips from American Humane

Keep your dog safe, happy and healthy by following these tips:

Identification: Tagging and microchipping your dog are essential to helping him find his way home if he islost. The tag should indicate your dog’s name, as well as your name, address, home phone number and cell phonenumber. Microchips are miniature electronic capsules embedded under the pet’s skin. They are safe and effectiveand provide excellent backup identification in case your pet’s collar and tags are lost.

Spay/Neuter: It is estimated that approximately 3.7 million animals are euthanized at shelters each yearbecause there are not enough homes for them. Having your pet spayed or neutered ensures that you will notadd to this tremendous burden. Spaying or neutering will also eliminate the risk of certain diseases and cancersof the reproductive organs, as well as reduce the risk of behavior problems such as aggression and territorialmarking. A dog that is spayed or neutered will live a happier, healthier and longer life.

Veterinary Exams: To keep your dog healthy, be sure to take him to the veterinarian for an annualexamination. Your veterinarian can detect signs of a problem — such as dental disease or heart problems —before it becomes serious, and prescribe appropriate treatment.

Vaccinations: To protect your pet from getting a serious disease, keep his vaccinations up to date. Thisis important even if your dog mostly stays inside or at home. All dogs should be vaccinated for distemper,parvovirus and rabies. Depending on where you live, vaccinations for other common diseases may also berecommended by your veterinarian.

Feeding: Make sure your dog eats high-quality food every day and has fresh water available at all times.

Training and Behavior: Most behavior problems — like constant barking or getting into the trash —can be solved with a little training. Don’t give up; contact an animal trainer or behavior consultant for help.

Exercise: Spend quality time with your pet every day. Playing with and walking your dog will allow you both to bond. It will also relieve your dog’s boredom, which can lead to behavior problems such as digging and barking.

Grooming: Pets need regular brushing, bathing and dental care, and breeds with long fur require frequenttrips to the groomer.

Dog-Proofing Your Home:

• Use childproof latches on your cabinets.

• Place medications, cosmetics, cleaners, chemicals and detergents on high shelves.

• Keep trash cans covered or inside a latched cabinet.

• Keep food out of reach (even if the food isn’t harmful, the wrapper could be).

• Keep the toilet lid closed to prevent your dog from drinking harmful cleaning chemicals.

• Place electrical and phone wires out of reach.

• Put away children’s toys and games.

• Move houseplants out of reach — they may be fatal if ingested.

• Clean antifreeze from the garage floor and driveway — one taste can be lethal.

• Keep all sharp objects and tools out of reach.

Open Truck Beds: Don’t let your dog ride in an open truck bed. An estimated 100,000 dogs die each yearby being bumped from truck beds onto the road and into traffic. Also, do not leash your pet inside a truck bed.Many dogs have been strangled when bumped over the sides of trucks and left helplessly dangling. If your dogmust ride in the back of the truck, put him in a crate secured to the truck bed.

Unattended Pets in Your Vehicle: Dogs are much moresusceptible to heat stroke than humans. Temperatures inside a parkedcar can quickly reach levels that are lethal to your dog, even when theoutdoor temperature is moderate. With an outdoor temperature of 72 degrees, the temperature in a parked car can reach 102 degrees in just 30 minutes.

Sarah is just one a the THOUSANDS of dogs that are up for adoption just here in Central Arkansas!