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The Critter Coalition
Pet Safety Tips
We, at CritterChitChat.com, feel that this is one of the most important pages we can bring to you, our fellow animal lovers. Too often, people can't even begin to imagine the kind of things that can happen to their pets ... most of them in the wink of an eye. Through my years as a radio host for "The Animal Hour", I heard hundreds of sad stories about how pets were lost, killed or experienced terrible pain and dreadful brushes with death. Most of these tragedies had only one thing in common ... not cruelty as you might expect, not conscious unkindness of any kind ... just the omnipresent specter of human ignorance.
The level of guilt and sadness so many of these folks had to live with need not be perpetuated ... Our hope is that the tips and the alerts I include on this page will keep these tragedies to a minimum. Read them and please pass them on ... After all, our "fur babies" rely upon us to keep them safe ... You honor their trust in you when you take the time to educate yourself to the many perils they might face on a daily basis without your awareness. I wish you a long and loving life with your animal companions ... may you both "shine" from the lovely life you share. Blessings, Kate
Desert Dangers ...
Our desert is a wild place ... we are the visitors, not the beasties that own this untamed land. Unfortunately for our companion
animals, we humans are all too easily lulled by the oceans of cement upon which we've built our towns and homes. We too easily
(and to our pets peril) forget the denizens of the brush and sky. The number one terror I am told of over and over is the
disappearance of indoor/outdoor Cats and the taking (yes the "taking" ...) of small Dogs. Believe it or not, I have heard
directly from people who were walking in a wash or along a desert path when a Coyote swooped in and raced away with their
precious little dog in their mouths ... Stunned, no one I know was able to move quickly enough to change their pets fate that
day. A tiny life is needlessly lost and another human heart is broken ... None of us need any more of this kind of thing .. I
know you agree. Read on ...
Your pets' enemies are Hawks, Owls and Coyotes ... these creatures see your lovable Cat and your little Poodle as prey, food,
survival. It is your job as the human companion to remember these hazards and keep your pet from them. By being alert and
walking your Dogs on a leash and only where you know it is safe, usually in populated areas, you will go a long way in keeping
this kind of tragedy from occurring to your family.
With your Cats, creating an indoor/outdoor window box/pen or ledge for them will go a long way in answering the problem of their curiosity about the great outdoors. Inside, you can also add a little catnip to the life of your more determined pussycat friends ... yes, they get a little "happy", but not much worse than a swallow or two of wine for you. Also be sure they have a cat tree where they can perch and feel safe. Catnip mice and little soft balls they can carry around in their mouths are also a way to keep them happy inside. And if you are interested in contacting me, I can talk you thru how to create an indoor/outdoor cat pen. They are relatively easy to make and inexpensive, certainly the least you can do for your feline friend who gives you so much by deigning to be YOUR cat... :-)
Before we leave our desert warning section ... I must mention Snakes, Black Widow and Recluse Spiders and Scorpions. While these
creatures are not predatory toward your pets, all too frequently they can be in the same place at the same time where your pet
might be sniffing or digging around. This can result in a nasty and dangerous sting or bite for your Dog or Cat. Keep your Dog
away from wood piles and dry brush...(Spiders and Snakes just love these cozy places...) Small dogs are, of course, at greater
risk with these night hunters, so letting "Muffy" into the back yard at night, especially if your yard is just desert or if you
have a grassy area or many plants, is not a good idea. The sting of a Scorpion can be extremely painful and even a baby Rattle
Snake can kill the subject of its bite. Keeping your little fur ball out of harms way is the best way to keep him safe. In fact,
when it comes to these venomous "critters", a quick visit to your Vet is always a good idea if you suspect that a bite by one of
them has occurred.
(NOTE: Tho it is very helpful to the Vet for you to be able to describe the snake, please don't get too close, even if someone takes action and kills it. People have suffered snake bites after the snake has died. Apparently the snakes' nervous system can cause a spasm, resulting in a bite when you would least expect it. And if that idea doesn't give some of us the "willies", I don't know what will!!)
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