Some Cautionary Notes For Halloween And Online Buying In Between
by C. Miriam Yarden, B.Sc., MS, APDT
LBReport.com Contributing Editor
REMINDER: As I wrote last month on LBReport.com, Sunday Oct. 10 is the annual Walk for the Animals to benefit Friends of LB Animals, which takes place at Marina Green in downtown Long Beach (Shoreline @ Linden). Registration starts at 7:00 AM; the 10K run begins with staggered starts at 7:30 AM; the 5K run begins at 8:30 AM; the opening Ceremony is at 9 AM and the 2K/5K walk starts at 9:30 AM. The registration fee is just $30 and includes water, T-shirt, doggie bags, prizes, etc...and you can register online -- right now -- at www.folba.org. Sunday will be a day when you can walk your dog and help LB animals too...and you don't have to have a dog to attend, walk or run. Just come by and enjoy the day with us and the hundreds of wonderful animals you will meet. The animals need all the help we can give them! Further info, click here. SEE YOU SUNDAY (Oct. 10) AT THE PARK!
(October 9, 2010) -- There are two warnings for pet owners that are important. While unrelated, one is most timely and the other relates to the safety and general health of our companions. Please read and ponder!
The first alert is about the purchase of pet medications online. This has become very popular lately because of the convenience, the lower prices and the comfort of having them delivered to our homes. However, please note the following:
The Food and Drug Administration has found unscrupulous internet businesses selling counterfeit, outdated. mislabeled and incorrectly formulated animal medications. In order to protect yourself AND your pet, order from a website that belongs to a Vet-VIPPS accredited pharmacy. The Veterinary Verified Internet Pharmacy Site is a voluntary accreditation program that the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy began offering last year. Companies earning the Seal of Approval meet strict criteria, including federal and state licensing and inspection requirements.
Only a few businesses have gone through accreditation and to find them go to their website www.nabp.net. For more information about purchasing pet medicines from e-pharmacies, visit www.fda.gov/animalveterinary or call 240-276-9300.
It is worth the trouble of finding out what you are buying and from whom. It is also worth a few dollars more to make sure that the medication actually works, or having to rush your pet to the veterinarian with a possible adverse reaction.
The second alert is very apropos: since Halloween is coming up on us, it is getting dark and the evenings are beginning to get a little creepy. This is ideal for Halloween and the often spooky surprises small ghosties spring on us.
Those same spooky surprises should not be allowed to frighten and scare our cats and dogs and we must make sure that they are SAFE. They can easily burst out through an open door, bark uncontrollably, menace the small visitors or really outlandish costumes, and even fear-bites can occur in which case you may be sued out of every piece of goodie you are handing out -- and much more that just the goodies.
DON'T take your dog or cat with you trick-or-treating! He can get scared, run away or even be hurt by another child. Or hurt another child..
When trick-or-treaters come to your house, put your cats and dogs in a safe room where they must stay. Give them their own toys or a special bone, fresh water -- this way they can’t rush out the door and get lost.
If you have a Halloween party in your home, do the same thing -- enclosed in a safe room which no one can open without your presence, toys, bones, water, etc., and visit them from time to time to make sure that they are calm and unafraid.
Do NOT share any of your candy and goodies with your pets! Chocolate, sugar and sugarless foods of any kind are harmful and from causing severe reaction and illness, can also cause fatalities. Place your "loot" out of their reach where neither dogs or cats can have access to it.
Be especially careful with BLACK cats and dogs. Every year cases are reported where black cats (and dogs) are stolen for use in Satanic rituals. Why do you think Animal Control agencies will NOT release black cats just before and after Halloween?
If you feel you must dress up your pet is a silly costume, be sure an adult has chosen the costume and check for any parts that he may chew, swallow or choke on. Make sure that he is comfortable in the costume (actually, very few are!). Don’t EVER put any kind of mask over your companion’s face or head! DON’T dress up cats -- they become too easily frightened and can hurt themselves. And PLEASE, don’t paint them with any kind of paint...
Our Companions are dignified, proud dogs and cats. Let them be who they are -- the best dogs and cats they can be. However, we wish you a fun Halloween, enjoy the little ghosts, queens, princesses, Supermen, skeletons and many more inventive and often original "apparitions." Boooooo!........
Disclosure: LBReport.com is a longtime supporter of Friends of LB Animals, and we have an ad running for the all-volunteer organization and this event.
Mike Kowal, Realtor
Some Cautionary Notes For Halloween And Online Buying In Between
