Category: Tips

Pet Owners Use Poop to Prank ‘Porch Pirates’

Here come the holidays, which means front porches are filled with packages delivered by UPS, FedEx and Amazon. These packages are prime targets for thieves known as “porch pirates.”

Some pet owners are keeping these thieves away by filling Amazon and other boxes with dog poop, and then placing them on their porches.

Leaving Las Vegas…with a Box of Dog Poop

As Eric Bardo of Las Vegas was picking up after his big dog last year, he got the idea to put the poop in a Priority Mail box and leave it on his porch. Four days later, a young thief took the B.M. bait. Surveillance cameras captured videos of a boy snatching the poop package and then running down the street with an accomplice.

Bardo decided not to report the crime to police. “I didn’t want to call them and say somebody stole a box of poop off my front porch,” he told KTNV.

Apparently Bardo was a turd trendsetter. This year another Vegas resident, Eric Snow, did the same thing after packages were being stolen in his neighborhood.

He filled a box with what he called “reprocessed dog chow” from his 95-pound German shepherd, Heidi, and put it on his front porch. A security camera showed two men pulling up in a green car and snatching the nasty package.

Great Surprise from a Great Dane

Earlier this month in Riverside, Calif., Mikey Zaremba filled a box with poop collected during his Great Dane’s birthday party with several other dogs. Just like those Vegas dog dads, he left it on his front porch.

As you can imagine, Daniel Aldama, the thief who stole the package, got a really big surprise.

“He dropped it as soon as he found out,” Ronel Newton of the Riverside Police Department told CBS Los Angeles. “He didn’t want nothing to do with it and kept on riding.” Aldama was arrested and is facing charges.

Tips for Avoiding Porch Pirates

If leaving your pet’s poop in a box on your porch doesn’t appeal to you, here are some other steps you can take to avoid having your packages stolen.

  • For FedEx deliveries, you can request a signature, schedule a delivery or have the package sent elsewhere, such as to your office or to a family member or neighbor who’s home during the day.
  • You can have items ordered from Amazon delivered to an Amazon Locker. These self-service delivery locations are available in hundreds of places across the country. You’ll get an email when your package has been delivered and will have three business days to pick it up. (Another cool tip: You can also use Amazon Locker to return items purchased on Amazon.)

Photo via YouTube

This story was originally published in December 2016.

6 Ways to Keep Your Dog Safe in Hot Weather

Here come the dog days of summer! As the temperatures rise, it’s especially important to make sure your dog has plenty of fresh water and a cool place to hang out during the hot weather.

Here are some important summer safety tips from the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) and the ASPCA.

1. Never, ever, EVER leave your dog in your parked car. Ever.

“Not even for a minute. Not even with the car running and air conditioner on,” warns the HSUS.

“On a warm day, temperatures inside a vehicle can rise rapidly to dangerous levels. On an 85-degree day, for example, the temperature inside a car with the windows opened slightly can reach 102 degrees within 10 minutes. After 30 minutes, the temperature will reach 120 degrees. Your pet may suffer irreversible organ damage or die.”

Do your dog a favor and leave him at home while you run errands.

2. Skip heavy exercise.

Walk your dog in the early morning or early evening during the hot weather. Sidewalks and asphalt can get very hot, so walk your dog on the grass or have him wear booties.

“Be especially careful with pets with white-colored ears, who are more susceptible to skin cancer, and short-nosed pets, who typically have difficulty breathing,” the HSUS notes.

3. If your dog is panting hard, check his temperature.

“Animals pant to evaporate moisture from their lungs, which takes heat away from their body,” Dr. Barry Kellogg, VMD, of the Humane Society Veterinary Medical Association, told the HSUS. “If the humidity is too high, they are unable to cool themselves, and their temperature will skyrocket to dangerous levels—very quickly.”

If your dog’s temperature is higher than 104 degrees, take him to a veterinarian or animal emergency hospital right away, because it could be heat stroke.

Other symptoms to watch for include drooling, weakness, seizures, vomiting and bloody diarrhea.

4. Don’t shave your dog.

While it’s fine to give your dog a haircut, the ASPCA says you should never completely shave off all his hair: “The layers of dogs’ coats protect them from overheating and sunburn.”

5. Keep insect repellents and citronella candles away from your dog.

“When walking your dog, steer clear of areas that you suspect have been sprayed with insecticides or other chemicals,” warns the ASPCA. “Keep citronella candles, oil products and insect coils out of pets’ reach as well.”

6. Supervise your dog around the pool.

Contrary to popular belief, some dogs are not natural swimmers. If you have a backyard swimming pool, be sure to teach your dog how to get out of it.

“Rinse your dog off after swimming to remove chlorine or salt from his fur, and try to keep your dog from drinking pool water, which contains chlorine and other chemicals that could cause stomach upset,” advises the ASPCA.

Photo credit: Gloria

What You Should Know Before Adopting a Shelter Dog

Are you thinking about adopting a shelter dog? Congratulations — you are a life saver! Just be sure to read the following tips so you’re well prepared for your new family member.

Choosing the Right Pet for Your Lifestyle

Like people, pets have different temperaments and activity levels. If you’re basically a couch potato, a working dog like a border collie would not be the right pet for you. Although you may fall in love with a dog you see on the shelter’s website, consider your lifestyle before making a commitment.

This is the most important thing you should consider when adopting a shelter animal, according to Madeline Bernstein, president of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Los Angeles (spcaLA), an independent animal organization.

“The best type of pet for you and your family—age, breed appearance, species, activity level—is dependent on you,” she told me. “Shelter pets, like people, have different needs and personalities. Do you have kids? Are you active? Do you want to spend a lot of time training? Ask yourself these questions and discuss as a family. Most importantly, come to the shelter with an open mind. Personality and compatibility are really the important things to factor into a decision.”

Finding a Perfect Match at the Shelter

Adopting a dog from a shelter has some benefits over adopting one from a rescue. For example, there are many more dogs to choose from and lower adoption fees.

“In our community, there are too many wonderful, sweet and healthy pets and too few owners,” Bernstein said. “By choosing to adopt, you are helping to end the pet overpopulation crisis. Any adoption is a win, but when you adopt from a shelter, that kennel space is opened for the next needy pet.”

  • Be sure to bring a photo ID. If you’re a renter, it’s a good idea to bring a copy of your rental agreement or a letter from your landlord indicating that dogs are allowed in your home.

  • If possible, you should bring all family members, including your other pets if the shelter allows it, to see how the dog reacts to them and vice versa.

  • Unless you’ve already selected a dog from the shelter’s website, let the shelter staff know what kind of dog and personality you’re looking for, and if you’d prefer a certain breed.

  • Shelters are very stressful environments for animals, so don’t dismiss a dog just because she seems scared and unfriendly in her kennel.

  • Many animal shelters have “meet-and-greet” areas where potential adopters can interact with dogs. Just remember that because of their circumstances, many shelter animals may be skittish and apprehensive at first.

  • Don’t be disappointed if you can’t immediately take your new family member home with you. Many shelters require pets to be microchipped and spayed or neutered before being released to their forever homes.

This video, which is played in the lobbies of Salt Lake County animal shelters, has additional helpful tips about finding the right shelter dog for you.

Preparing Your Children for a Dog

If your children, especially little ones, have never been around a dog before, you can prevent injuries by teaching them how to respectfully treat your potential new family member.

  • Tell your children not to yell at or run toward the dog, which will frighten him. Explain that pets are not toys and must not be treated roughly.

  • Decide who will be responsible for various tasks like walking and feeding your new dog— but don’t give your child too much responsibility right away. The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) recommends that until you know what tasks your children can handle on their own, always supervise them when they are caring for your dog.

Additional helpful tips can be found on the AVMA website.

Preparing Other Pets for Your New Dog

Some shelters have play areas where you can bring your dog to meet the pet you want to adopt so you can see if they get along. If this isn’t available, be prepared to gradually introduce your pet to your new family member. And be sure to give your existing pet just as much, if not more, attention as you do to the newcomer.

It’s important to introduce your new dog on neutral turf – never inside your house. With both dogs leashed, take them for a relaxed walk, side by side and a safe distance apart. Let them meet and sniff each other. If they’re getting along, take them to an enclosed area and remove their leashes. The Best Friends Animal Society has detailed instructions for introducing dogs successfully.

Preparing Your House for Your New Pet

Before going to the shelter to adopt a dog, make sure your house is prepared.

  • Buy pet supplies including food, bowls, toys, bedding, and a collar and leash.

  • Many adult shelter animals have already been housetrained, but be prepared with potty-training pads just in case.

  • Put anything you don’t want your dog to chew or eat out of their reach.

  • Inspect your house from a dog’s-eye view. Hide or tape down any hazards such as electrical and mini-blind cords.

  • Put childproof latches on low cupboard doors. Install baby gates or keep the doors closed to block areas that are off-limits to your new dog.

  • Make sure all trash cans have secure lids or can’t be accessed by your dog.

Check out more pet-proofing tips from the American Humane Association.

Additional Resources

For more information about adopting shelter dogs, visit these websites.

Photo credit: Wikimedia Commons

This story was originally published on Care2.com.

Disturbing Recall Update: Sportmix Pet Food May Have Killed or Sickened Hundreds of Dogs

Back in January, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) made the shocking announcement that at least 70 pets died and more than 80 became ill after eating some Sportmix dry dog food products.

Seven months later, the statistics are even more disturbing. On Aug. 9 the FDA warned the manufacturer, Midwestern Pet Food, Inc., that 130 dogs may have died and 220 were sickened after eating the food.

The FDA started investigating Midwestern Pet Food in late December after the company had voluntarily recalled some of its dry pet food products that may have caused the deaths of 28 dogs. The recalled products contained aflatoxin, a toxic mold that can grow on corn and other grains used in pet food. At high levels, it causes illness and death in pets who eat the food.

In January, Midwestern expanded the voluntary recall to include all of its pet food products containing corn that were manufactured in the company’s Oklahoma plant.

In March, Midwestern recalled several brands of pet food manufactured at its Illinois plant — not for aflatoxin, but because samples tested positive for Salmonella. The FDA concluded that Midwestern’s food safety program seemed to be unable to significantly minimize or prevent Salmonella in its pet food.

According to the FDA warning letter, inspections of Midwestern’s various manufacturing plants revealed evidence of violations of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act as well as the Current Good Manufacturing Practice, Hazard Analysis, and Risk-Based Preventive Controls for Food for Animals regulation. These violations were associated with the deaths and illnesses of all those dogs.

Samples of the dog food that the FDA tested contained extremely high amounts of aflatoxin — as much as 558 parts per billion (ppb). How scary is this? The FDA considers pet food to be adulterated if it contains more than 20 ppb of aflatoxin.

“It is imperative that manufacturers and distributors of pet foods understand their responsibility to comply with all requirements of federal law and FDA regulations and, when applicable, to implement a robust hazard analysis and risk-based preventive controls program,” Steven M. Solomon, director of the FDA’s Center for Veterinary Medicine, said in a statement. “We’ll continue to hold companies accountable and protect animal health as a core element of the FDA’s public health mission.”

If Midwestern doesn’t respond in writing to the FDA with the specific steps they have taken to correct any violations, it could result in legal action, including product seizure or injunction, according to the FDA.

Midwestern hasn’t yet commented on the FDA warning. “As a fourth-generation family-owned company, Midwestern Pet Foods has been committed to ensuring that our products are safe and nutritious for nearly 100 years,” the company said in a statement back in January. “Until recently, throughout our long history, we’ve never had a product recall.”

A 23-page (!) list of all the company’s recalled products and their lot numbers is available on the Midwestern Pet Foods website.

Symptoms of Aflatoxin Poisoning

The symptoms of aflatoxin poisoning may include sluggishness, loss of appetite, vomiting, jaundice (a yellowish tint to your dog’s eyes or gums), and diarrhea. If you’ve been using the recalled products and your dog is experiencing any of these symptoms, you should take them to your veterinarian right away. Some dogs show no symptoms yet still experience liver damage, so you should still have your pet checked out by your veterinarian.

You can report your dog’s Sportmix-related illness to the FDA online through its Safety Reporting Portal or by contacting your state’s FDA Consumer Complaint Coordinators. The FDA suggests working with your veterinarian to submit your dog’s medical records with your report.

If you have any of the recalled products, dispose of them in a way that children, pets and wildlife cannot access them. Wash and sanitize pet food bowls, cups and storage containers. The FDA says there is no evidence that people who handle the food are at risk of aflatoxin poisoning.

For more information about the recalls, contact Midwestern Pet Foods Consumer Affairs at 800-474-4163, ext. 455 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Central Time, Monday through Friday, or by emailing info@midwesternpetfoods.com.

Recall Expanded: At Least 70 Pets Have Died After Eating Sportmix Products

Two weeks ago, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) made the shocking announcement that at least 28 dogs had died and eight became ill after eating some Sportmix dry dog food products.

In an even more disturbing update, the FDA reported yesterday that the death toll has now increased to more than 70 pets, with over 80 becoming ill. “Not all of these cases have been officially confirmed as aflatoxin poisoning through laboratory testing or veterinary record review,” the FDA stated. “This count is approximate and may not reflect the total number of pets affected.” Yikes.

Aflatoxin is a toxic mold that can grow on corn and other grains used in pet food. At high levels, it causes illness and death in pets who eat the food.

Midwestern Pet Food, Inc., the company that manufactures the products, has expanded its initial Dec. 30 recall to now include all of its pet food products containing corn that were manufactured in the company’s Oklahoma plant.

“As a fourth-generation family-owned company, Midwestern Pet Foods has been committed to ensuring that our products are safe and nutritious for nearly 100 years,” the company said in a statement yesterday. “Until recently, throughout our long history, we’ve never had a product recall.”

In cooperation with the Missouri Department of Agriculture, the FDA is now investigating certain Sportmix pet food products. “Case counts and the scope of this recall may expand as new information becomes available,” the FDA stated.

Sportmix Products Recalled Dec. 30, 2020

The following dry pet food products are included in the original Dec. 30, 2020 voluntary recall. They were distributed nationally to online sellers and retail stores. The FDA has encouraged retailers to contact consumers who purchased these products if possible.

Sportmix Energy Plus:

44-lb. bags with the lot number EXP 03/02/22/05/L3
50-lb. bags with the lot numbers EXP 03/02/22/05/L2, EXP 03/02/22/05/L3 and EXP 03/03/22/05/L2

 

Sportmix Premium High Energy:
44-lb. bags with the lot number EXP 03/03/22/05/L3
50-lb. bags with the lot number EXP 03/03/22/05/L3

 

The lot number can be found on the back of the bag in a three-line code, as in this example:

 

The following dry cat food products are also included in the recall, although there have been no reports of cats becoming ill:

Sportmix Original Cat
15-lb. bags with the lot numbers EXP 03/03/22/05/L2 and EXP 03/03/22/05/L3

Additional Sportmix Products Recalled Jan. 11, 2021

On January 11, 2021, Midwestern Pet Foods, Inc. expanded its voluntary recall to include the following pet food products. More than 1,000 lot codes are affected (!), so they are not listed individually.

These products have been recalled if the date/lot code includes an expiration date on or before “07/09/22” and includes “05” in the date/lot code, which identifies products made in the Oklahoma plant.

  • Pro Pac Adult Mini Chunk, 40 lb. bag
  • Pro Pac Performance Puppy, 40 lb. bag
  • Splash Fat Cat 32%, 50 lb. bag
  • Nunn Better Maintenance, 50 lb. bag
  • Sportmix Original Cat, 15 lb. bag
  • Sportmix Original Cat, 31 lb. bag
  • Sportmix Maintenance, 44 lb. bag
  • Sportmix Maintenance, 50 lb. bag
  • Sportmix High Protein, 50 lb. bag
  • Sportmix Energy Plus, 44 lb. bag
  • Sportmix Energy Plus, 50 lb. bag
  • Sportmix Stamina, 44 lb. bag
  • Sportmix Stamina, 50 lb. bag
  • Sportmix Bite Size, 40 lb. bag
  • Sportmix Bite Size, 44 lb. bag
  • Sportmix High Energy, 44 lb. bag
  • Sportmix High Energy, 50 lb. bag
  • Sportmix Premium Puppy, 16.5 lb. bag
  • Sportmix Premium Puppy, 33 lb. bag

Symptoms of Aflatoxin Poisoning

The symptoms of aflatoxin poisoning may include sluggishness, loss of appetite, vomiting, jaundice (a yellowish tint to your dog’s eyes or gums), and diarrhea. If you’ve been using the recalled products and your dog is experiencing any of these symptoms, you should take them to your veterinarian right away. Some dogs show no symptoms yet still experience liver damage, so you should still have your pet checked out by your veterinarian.

You can report your dog’s Sportmix-related illness to the FDA online through its Safety Reporting Portal or by contacting your state’s FDA Consumer Complaint Coordinators. The FDA suggests working with your veterinarian to submit your dog’s medical records with your report.

If you have any of the recalled products, dispose of them in a way that children, pets and wildlife cannot access them. Wash and sanitize pet food bowls, cups and storage containers. The FDA says there is no evidence that people who handle the food are at risk of aflatoxin poisoning.

For more information about this recall, contact Midwestern Pet Foods Consumer Affairs at 800-474-4163, ext. 455 from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. Central Time, Monday through Friday, or by emailing info@midwesternpetfoods.com.

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