SLM_Pet Guide_062520

PET GUIDE

THIS GUIDE

PETS!

Edition of June 25-26, 2020 • mysuburbanlife.com • Suburban Life

THINGS

PET GUIDE |

Suburban Life

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IS FILLED

WITH ALL

Suburban Life • mysuburbanlife.com • Edition of June 25-26, 2020

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Help is out there for struggling pet owners

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n uncertain times, there is one source of comfort we can all agree upon, and it is the unconditional love provided by our beloved four-legged friends.

And when tragedy strikes a family member, whether through a natural disaster, domestic abuse, a health problem or job loss, we do everything we can to help.

Bringing animals out of crisis and into care and strengthening the bond between humans and animals is at the heart of everything RedRover does. Through emergency sheltering, disaster relief services, financial assistance and humane education programs, we are able to unite our community of pet lovers to help make the world a better and safer place for pets and their people. No matter the crisis, people and their pets can stay together whenever possible.

In the current time of economic and social uncertainty, there are a variety of programs that can help people and pets who are struggling, including:

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Puppy Classes Obedience Classes Agility for Fun Nose Work for Fun Rally Free Trick Classes

URGENT VETERINARY CARE GRANTS

The RedRover Relief program offers financial assistance and resources to pet owners struggling with economic hardship when pets are facing life-threatening emergencies. These grants are intended to fill a small gap in funding that is keeping an animal from receiving urgent veterinary care. In addition to financial support, case managers are there to provide emotional support and guidance throughout the application process.

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE ASSISTANCE PROGRAM

As few as 10% of domestic violence shelters in the U.S. allow pets onsite. And reports show that nearly half of domestic violence victims won’t leave their abusers if they can’t bring their pet with them. RedRover and Purina have partnered to create the Purple Leash Project to help expand petfriendly domestic violence shelters across the United States. Purple Leash Project grants, an extension of RedRover’s Safe Housing program, enable shelters to build

• • • • • •

on-site housing for pets. Adding pet-friendly spaces to domestic violence shelters can save the lives of people and their pets - and allow them to begin their healing process together.

Recognizing there is no one-sizefits-all solution to help domestic violence survivors and their pets, there are additional types of grants for shelters to house pets offsite or partner with organizations like pet shelters to care for pets while a domestic violence survivor is in shelter. Survivors can apply for direct support through the Safe Escape program, which provides up to 90 days of pet boarding to individuals leaving abuse.

COVID BOARDING GRANTS

The new “Emergency Boarding” grant program helps animals who need temporary boarding while their owners are ill due to the COVID-19 virus. This grant will cover the cost of up to two (2) weeks of boarding while a pet owner is hospitalized, or if the pet owner is recovering at home and unable to care for their pet.

Urban Agility Therapy Dog Prep Canine Good Citizen Reactive Dog Program Lights Camera Action!

In Home Training

♦ Other financial assistance programs such as low- and no-cost spay and neuter, as well as transportation services and foster resources. ♦ Resources for parents looking for engaging, at-home activities to do with their children, as well as educators who are looking for resources to use with their remote students. ♦ Emergency planning for pets including the COVID-19 Preparedness for Pets PDF, RedRover Pet Disaster Preparedness tips and an Emergency Pet Caregiving Agreement.

With so many struggling right now, these resources will help keep your family safe during the pandemic, and beyond.

We can’t wait to show you our new space, but until then, check out virtual tours on Facebook and YouTube!

Enroll Today

SM-CL1788107

♦ Pet food and equine resources to connect pet owners to pet food pantries and hay donations.

We’re Not Kitten’ Around!

WSHS has moved into its brand-new 8.600 sq. ft.

Adoption Center and started adoptions by appointment!

We now offer Doggie Birthday parties in our facility.

Three themes to choose from.

Pam Yano, CPDT-KA, CTDI • (630) 203-7016 pam@enjoyyourdogtraining.com

RESOURCES Beyond providing grants and support, RedRover has also assembled a list of COVID-19 emergency resources for pets and people with links to:

Visit our website for our safe, social distancing adoption procedures.

1901 W. Ogden Ave., Downers Grove, IL 630-960-9600 • www.wshs-dg.org SM-CL1787956

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s millions of Americans spend unprecedented amounts of time at home, it also means spending unprecedented amounts of time with their pets. And for cat owners who have sensitivities to cat allergens, this can create unforeseen challenges.

problematic - the major cat allergen called Fel d 1, a protein that cats produce naturally in their saliva. When cats groom themselves, the Fel d 1 is transferred to the hair and skin through saliva.

The allergen eventually lands in the environment as the cat’s hair and dander shed naturally.

According to a recent study by the Human Animal Bond Research Institute and Purina Pro Plan, three in four cat owners say their relationship with their cat is a core part of their health and well-being. However, 26% of households with cat allergen sensitivities also stated that cat allergens have caused huge problems in their life.

Following a decade of research, Purina has introduced Pro Plan LiveClear, the first and only cat food that reduces the allergens in cat hair and dander. Instead of trying to manage the allergen once it’s already in the environment, the allergen is neutralized at its source in the cat’s mouth. When cats eat the food, the key ingredient - a specific protein sourced from eggs - binds to Fel d 1 and safely neutralizes it. In a published study, the food was shown to reduce the allergens in cat hair and dander by an average of 47%, starting in the third week of daily feeding. Learn more at www.proplanliveclear.com.

Having a cat shouldn’t mean choosing between enjoying time with them and living a healthy, full life. Fortunately, there are steps cat owners can take to help manage cat allergens at home.

Step 1: VACUUM AND DUST REGULARLY It’s best to vacuum carpet at least twice a week, according to the Carpet and Rug Institute. Use a vacuum with a HEPA filter to help capture higher levels of allergens. Make sure to focus on spaces where cats play and lay frequently, including below furniture and the furniture itself.

This ensures even those cozy corners get clean and don’t become a hot spot for allergens.

Hard flooring such as tile, wood and laminate should be cleaned regularly as well to eliminate dust and dander. Vacuum on the low setting to get the suction closest to the hard flooring.

Don’t forget spaces such as the litter box area because dust from litter can contribute to airborne allergens. Additionally, wet mop at least once a month to more fully clean hard flooring in your home.

Keep in mind, even though your pet can’t reach some surfaces physically doesn’t mean their allergens won’t get there. Microscopic allergens can float through the air and land virtually anywhere, so dust surfaces high and low with a damp rag or microfiber cloth to capture these particles and remove them from the home.

Step 2: UPDATE YOUR CAT’S DIET Many people think that cat hair itself is the allergen, but it’s actually what’s on it that is

Step 3: GROOM AND BRUSH YOUR CAT An important step in managing allergens at the source is to keep your pet clean. Regularly groom or brush your cat, particularly if they are prone to matted hair. The act of grooming reduces loose hair and thereby reduces the overall allergen load. Some types of brushes will groom and massage at the same time, so once acclimated, many cats enjoy the massage, which can potentially help reduce some stress or anxiety.

Step 4: WASH HOUSEHOLD ITEMS The next step is to stay on top of cleaning household items. For example, bedding and blankets make a warm bed for pets and therefore harbor a multitude of allergens. Be sure to wash all sheets, blankets and pillowcases in hot water at a minimum of 130 F to remove allergens and kill other triggers such as dust mites, according to the Mayo Clinic.

Consider making a habit of washing bedding and blankets weekly to remove allergens from your home.

By combining these allergen management strategies, cat owners can better handle their current situations and be closer together with the cats they love.

Edition of June 25-26, 2020 • mysuburbanlife.com • Suburban Life

smart steps to manage cat allergens at home

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Suburban Life • mysuburbanlife.com • Edition of June 25-26, 2020

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Pet

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Adoption

helters and animal rescues are full of wonderful animals just waiting on a forever home. Adopting a pet can mean lower costs, and often the animals already are trained and housebroken.

Here is a list of local organizations where you can find the perfect pet for your family. Check them out online, and call for hours and details:

Fur Angels Animal Sanctuary Aurora FurAngelsAS.com

DuPage County Animal Service 120 N. County Farm Rd., Wheaton dupageco.org/animalservices/ HELP-Homes for Endangered and Lost Pets PO Box 972, St. Charles HelpingAnimals.org West Suburban Humane Society, Inc. 1901 W. Ogden Ave., Downers Grove wshs-dg.org Humane Society of Aurora 600 S. River Road, Aurora HumaneSocietyofAurora.org

Kane County Animal Control 4060 Keslinger Rd., Geneva KaneCountyPets.com

Naperville Area Human Society 1620 W Diehl Rd, Naperville naperhumane.org Paws and Purrs Humane Society PO Box 541, Montgomery PawsAndPurrs.org Rover Rescue PO BOX 4074, Aurora RoverRescue.org Anderson Animal Shelter 1000 S. La Fox St., South Elgin AndersonAnimalShelter.org Hinsdale Humane Society 22 N. Elm St., Hinsdale hinsdalehumanesociety.org

Aurora Animal Control and Care Facility 600 S. River Road, Aurora Aurora-il.org/animalcontrol/ The Barn on Baseline 16173 Baseline Road, Geneva TheBarnOnBaseline.org HELP save Pets 218 Ogden Ave., Hinsdale helpsavepets.org/ Fox Valley Animal Welfare League 11 John St., North Aurora FVAWL.org Fox Valley Wildlife Center 45W061 Route 38, Elburn fvwc.org

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How does one do that in the midst of Covid-1 9? GOOD NEWS! We can help you raise a healthy socialized puppy even during Covid-1 9. The information below is not only beneficial for puppies, but for dogs of any age. These exercises will increase confidence in your dog and help them feel more comfortable in many different situations. Your goal is to have your dog make a positive connection to each of these experiences. You do not want to push your dog in a situation that scares him. You should monitor your puppy’s response as you work through these exercises.

Use a happy voice and give plenty of praise and treats when introducing new experiences.

Here is a list to get you and your dog well on his way to becoming a great family member.

Have your dog interact with different surfaces so he gets use to the different textures and the sounds the surfaces make when he walks over it. You can even feed your dog his meal on a different surface each day.

• Grass •Towels • Gravel • Aluminum Foil • Concrete • Metal Pans • Plastic Swimming Pool • Stairs (different types)

• Tarp • Unstable Surfaces (Wobble Board, Balance Disc, Pillow} • Bubble Wrap • Slippery Surfaces (Tile, Linoleum} • Cushions • Wood Chips

appears nervous or scared. When you are ready to decrease the distance or increase the volume, you should only do so in small increments. You do not want to rush it and cause fear.

• Household Sounds (Vacuum, Microwave, Doorbell, etc.} • Play fun games with your dog during a storm.

• Watch a show together- one with different sounds - Jurassic Park - Chicago Fire - Chicago PO - Your favorite dog movie where dogs are barking •There are great apps and websites available to play various sounds. Here are a few: - Sound Proof Puppy Training App - Soundbox App - bbcsfx.acropolis.org.uk (over 16,000 sounds} - Various You Tube Channels with vehicle sounds, etc.

Sit on your porch or go to the park and watch the following go by: • People • Bicycles • Traffic o Skateboarders • Trains o Geese • Lawnmowers o Squirrels • Motorcycles o Dogs • Garbage Trucks

Take a drive to a parking lot where there is a Introduce your dog to new sounds. When introducing your dog to new sounds (or sounds lot of activity (Jewel, Target, Forest Preserve). that in the past they were afraid of) you should Open a window so your dog can not only see the sights, but hear and smell them as well. start from a distance and at a low volume.

Start out by parking further away from all of You should make it a fun time for them with the activity. If your dog is doing well, you can the sounds playing in the background while park closer to the activity next time. You want you play with your dog and/or treat him. You to make sure your dog is comfortable, do not should decrease the distance or increase the push it. volume of the sound as your dog becomes more comfortable with the sound. Be sure to Crate your dog in the back of the car and chill monitor your dog’s response. The sound is in a parking lot with the hatch open. too loud or too close to your dog if your dog

Change your looks to get your dog comfortable meeting all types of people.

• Wear sunglasses • Carry an umbrella • Wear a hat • Carry a bag or basket • Wear a Mask • Try on a Halloween Costume • Carry a bag or a basket • Wear work boots Get your dog comfortable with being touched (great for vet visits and grooming visits).

• Feet o Tail • Ears o Head • Head o Overall Body • Have everyone in your household handle your dog Be sure to teach your puppy to be alone.

Once all of this “at home” time ends, you will want your dog to be comfortable when you leave. Have your pup/dog stay by himself in a crate or another room. Take a walk without your dog. Have different family members spend alone time with your dog. Feel free to give him a Kong with frozen food in it to make his alone time something to look forward to and more enjoyable for him. Learning to be alone is a useful skill. Make a habit of it daily so your dog can manage it when we all get back out into the day to day world.

Here’s a FUN activity for your dog. Put his kibble in an empty pop case. Let him figure out how to get the food out. If that’s too hard for him, make it easier until he builds up the confidence to get the food out. Try different size boxes and shapes. As your dog learns the game,

Edition of June 25-26, 2020 • mysuburbanlife.com • Suburban Life

SOCIALIZING YOUR DOG DURING COVID-19 AND BEYOND

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Suburban Life • mysuburbanlife.com • Edition of June 25-26, 2020

| PET GUIDE

HINSDALE HUMANE SOCIETY Announces Millstein Vaccination Program Low Cost Vaccination Clinic & Pet Food Bank Plan

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he Irving & Phyllis Millstein Foundation for Animal Welfare, Millstein Vaccination Program (MVP), provides basic, low-cost pet care services to help all individuals, particularly those struggling from job loss due to COVID. The goal is to help everyone get affordable care for their pets in order to keep them healthy during this difficult time.

Dr. Kristin Tvrdik, Medical Director at Hinsdale Humane Society (HHS) runs the clinics taking place at the Tuthill Family Pet Rescue & Resource Center (PRRC) at 21 Salt Creek Ln in Hinsdale every 1st Saturday and 3rd Tuesday of the month (except for holidays). These clinics are by appointment only and interested parties are asked to register at: https://www.hinsdalehumanesociety.org/ events/vaccination-clinic where they can also view service options, explanations and pricing. Please call 630-3235630 x41 with any questions.

“Our first few clinics have filled to capacity quickly,” said

Dr. Tvrdik. “So that’s an indicator to us that this is definitely something needed right now for people and their pets. We’re so fortunate to have funding from the Millstein Vaccination Program that makes this possible for everyone in need.”

A Pet Food Bank is also available to Clinic attendees.

HHS asks that cats be in a carrier and dogs on a leash no longer than 6 ft. Due to social distancing, curbside protocols will be followed to ensure limited social interaction.

Pets will be taken from, and returned to the parking lot near the clinic door at the back of the facility. All attendees are asked to wear a face mask.

The Tuthill Family Pet Rescue & Resource Center operated by Hinsdale Humane Society is a non-profit, full-service, state-of-the-art facility that completely reimagines animal rescue and related resources. Visit hinsdalehumanesociety.org for more details.

Pet adoptions have increased as people have found more personal time to devote to companion animals. The Pet Health Network says that people experiencing loneliness from being apart from others often turn to pets to help them feel better.

Lucky Dog Animal Rescue in Virginia brought in 149 animals from high-kill shelters in March 2020 and adopted 134 in a single week, matching the agency’s monthly average. Data on New York City animal shelters indicates that, as of early May 2020, 43.5 percent of shelters were experiencing an increased demand for adoption since the COVID-19 outbreak.

As pet adoptions increase, new pet parents are urged to remember to take every precaution to keep their companions safe and secure. The summer months can be a prime time for pets to become lost. Increased thunderstorms as well as fireworks displays can frighten pets. Also, more time spent outdoors may make it easier for “escape artists” to find their way out of backyards or get free

from leashes. Thankfully, there are some steps pet owners can take to keep pets safe.

• ID and collar: Pets should wear collars with attached identification at all times.

This should include an upto-date contact number. ID tags can be made at pet supply stores or are available at the Animal Humane Society facilities.

• Microchip: Microchips are small devices that are implanted under the pet’s skin. About the size of a grain of rice, microchips emit a low radio frequency that can be read by a handheld scanner. Virtually all vet offices and animal shelters are equipped with scanners. Microchips are designed to last the pet’s lifetime, according to HomeAgain, a microchip company. Once the pet is registered, the chip will link to a record of owner information that can be updated easily online.

• Sterilization: AHS says studies show that pets that have been spayed or neutered are less likely to roam for mates and potentially get lost.

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• Pet-proof: Homeowners may have to make adjustments to their yards and homes to ensure pets cannot escape. Some dogs and cats can climb over tall fences or dig underneath. Speak with your veterinarian about how to pet-proof your property.

• Leash pets: Prey instinct can be high and even the most well-behaved pets may act differently when away from home. A secure collar/harness and leash will help keep pets safe on walks.

New pet parents should familiarize themselves with the steps to help prevent lost pets.

Edition of June 25-26, 2020 • mysuburbanlife.com • Suburban Life

espite the sadness, uncertainty and disruption to millions of people’s lives, the novel coronavirus COVID-19 has provided some silver linings. One such positive side effect of people being asked to spend more time at home is the opportunity for individuals and families to open their abodes to needy animals.

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5 ways to prevent lost pets

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Suburban Life • mysuburbanlife.com • Edition of June 25-26, 2020

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