607 28th St, Milford, IA 51351

712.338.2738 Hsnwia.info@gmail.com

humanesocietyofnwia.com

SUMMER 2019 Quarterly Newsletter

Thank you for subscribing to the HSNWIA (Humane Society of Northwest Iowa) quarterly newsletter. We include Shelter news, pet safety info and upcoming events. Stay up to date – Follow us on Facebook!

CAN RECYCLING We have can and bottle recycling cages set up at the following locations so you can donate your cans to HSNWIA. SPIRIT LAKE HY-VEE: South east corner of parking lot by grill shack THE HUTT: parking lot

HSNWIA: in front of our building

Hot Weather Safety Tips

Summer’s here, and that means there are some important things to think about when it comes to your pets. Warm weather can be dangerous for our pets. It’s hard for pets to keep cool when the sun is beating down, and that’s because animals don’t sweat like people do. You probably knew that dogs cool themselves through panting, but did you know that they sweat through their paws too? When there is only hot air for a dog to breathe, it’s a lot harder for that dog to keep cool.

While cats tend tolerate the heat a little better than dogs, and even prefer it (we’ve all seen a cat stretched out on a sunny windowsill), that doesn’t mean that you should forget about your cat this summer! Read on to learn some important summer safety tips for dogs and cats.

NEVER LEAVE YOUR PET IN A HOT CAR It can take minutes – yes, MINUTES –for a pet to develop heat stroke and suffocate in a car. Most people don’t realize how hot it gets in parked cars. On a 78-degree day, for instance, temperatures in a car can reach 90 degrees in the shade and top 160 degrees if parked directly in the sun! Your best bet is to leave your pet home on warm days. If you’re driving around with your dog or cat in the car, bring water and a water dish and take your pet with you when you leave the car.

KEEP THE PAWS IN MIND When the sun is cooking, surfaces like asphalt or metal can get really hot! Try to keep your pet off of hot asphalt; not only can it burn paws, but it can also increase body temperature and lead to overheating. Also, it’s not a good idea to drive around with your dog in the bed of a truck – the hot metal can burn paws quickly (and they can fall out or be injured or killed in an accident).

WATER AND SHADE Do your best to keep your furry friend cool and comfortable when you’re out and about. If you and your pet are out in the sun for an extended period of time, make sure there’s plenty of water available to avoid dehydration. Also, get your pet into the shade as much as possible.

HAIRCUTS If you have a pet with a thick coat, consider a haircut! One inch is a good length to avoid sunburn (yes, pets can get sunburns too!) and also keep your pet cool.

THIS ONE’S FOR THE CATS Keep your windows screened! We all know cats love windowsills. You may want your house to be ventilated, but you definitely do not want your kitty to fall out!

STAY SAFE AT BARBEQUES Backyard barbeques are a lot of fun, but the food and drinks offered can be bad for pets. Keep your pets away from alcohol and foods like grapes, onions, and chocolate.

KEEP YOUR PETS AWAY FROM FIREWORKS The dangers are obvious – pets are at risk for fatal injuries and painful burns if they are allowed to run around freely when fireworks are being used. Some fireworks also contain chemicals toxic to pets like potassium nitrate and arsenic. Not to mention, the loud noises can be frightening and disturbing to pets (remember, their hearing is many times better than ours).

2

FEATURED RESIDENTS Fill out an application online to give

either of our featured residents a loving home: www.humanesocietyofnwia.com/

Available Pets Mr. Grayson

Adoption Fee: $0

Mr. Grayson is 3-years-old and has been with the shelter since 2016! He does well with other cats. He is a handsome fellow who loves to go on your shoulder when you pick him up! He is active and loves to play, be held and loved on, or best of all, give you nose kisses!!! He does well with children as long as they are respectful of him. Grayson is one of our sweetest residents who loves treats and conversations about politics. He is staying in our Sponsored Polaris Industries. Spirit Lake IA Enclosure. A wonderful family paid for Grayson’s Adoption Fee.

Casey Adoption Fee: $150

Casey is our 2nd longest canine resident; she came to us in 2018 from another shelter. Casey is a 3-year-old Aussie/Lab mix. We are looking for an experienced dog owner or rescue for Casey. She deserves to live a great life outside of the shelter. She can get along with other dogs, but we suggest being cautious around cats. She was very curious about them. She's very obedient, outgoing, loves people, and enjoys playing. Casey is one smart cookie and learns very quickly she would be great for agility training! Casey was adopted out for 2 weeks but was returned because she plays rougher than she means to. A wonderful person has sponsored half her adoption fee.

6 TIPS TO SURVIVE FIREWORKS

Dogs have jumped fences, broken chains, torn through screen doors, and even leaped through glass doors—sometimes seriously injuring themselves in the process—in a desperate (and futile) effort to escape the bombardment. Not surprisingly, after fireworks displays, animal shelters report an influx of lost cats and dogs. Many

animals who disappear on the Fourth of July are never found again.

Play it safe by taking the following precautions to help your animal companions survive the annual reenactment of the Revolutionary War with as little stress as possible:

1. NEVER TAKE DOGS TO FIREWORKS DISPLAYS or leave them outside alone during fireworks. Instead, keep them (as well as cats) indoors, and if possible, stay home with them.

2. BE SURE THAT YOUR ANIMALS ARE WEARING COLLARS or harnesses with an up-to-date ID tag. Make sure your pet is a microchipped and your information is up to date, just in case your pet does get away from you.

3. CLOSE ALL YOUR WINDOWS, CURTAINS, AND BLINDS. Frightened dogs sometimes attempt to jump through windows, even on upper floors. Turn on a radio that’s tuned to a classical-music station, play specially designed music to calm dogs, or turn on the TV, window air conditioner, fan, or dehumidifier to help drown out the sound of the fireworks.

4. DISTRACT YOUR DOG BY PLAYING GAMES and be generous with treats for ignoring explosions. In addition to being a reward, food has a beneficial effect on brain chemistry.

5. A THUNDERSHIRT provides gentle, consistent pressure that can help both dogs and cats feel more secure and relaxed during fireworks displays and thunderstorms.

6. CALMING TREATS such as melatonin (a naturally occurring hormone that can also be synthesized) works wonders to calm dogs down (the dosage is 3 mg for a 50-lb. Dog—adjust the dose by bodyweight). There are also many other natural calming supplements for dogs, including herbs, homeopathic, and nutriceuticals, available at any pet supply store—you may want to try more than one to see which one works best for your dog.

UPCOMING EVENTS SCRATCH CUPCAKE SALES June 17th – July 4th Order online or at the shelter MILFORD PICKUP ON: July 25th, 2-6pm FARMER’S MARKET TABLE Arnold’s Park, IA JULY 13th: Succulent Fundraiser 4 pk succulents for $20