Safety Furst

04/29/2021

Life in balance! When life is in balance, everyone is respected. When everyone is respected, everyone is safe! Its a good philosophy. Love this example from Prince William Conservation Alliance!

09/19/2020

Important study. End of life concerns range widely and take a significant toll on both the emotional and physical health of caregivers. What do you think?

Although living with a companion animal is associated with better mental and physical health, there has been little research into what can happen when that beloved companion becomes chronically ill.

This study looked at the effects of living with a dog with osteoarthritis on the mental health of humans in the UK. They found the effects could be quite profound, including feelings of guilt, fear, and hopelessness, and that owners could benefit from more emotional support as they came to terms with their dog’s illness.

However, the researchers also reported that these sick and often elderly dogs were no less loved or seen as less important by their caregivers.

"A striking aspect of these interviews was the ongoing love and devotion owners continued to have for their dogs despite their changed needs and shifted relationships. At the outset of interviews, most dogs were described as 'just a pet' but the relationship between owner and dog in almost all instances was clearly much more complex."

https://doi.org/10.1186/s12917-020-02404-5

07/28/2020

We’re ready! It’ll be our FURST!

🍋Attention!🍋

Lemonade is coming back! Many more details to come....

03/19/2020

NO-COST RECOVER ONLINE COURSE FOR ACADEMIC INSTITUTIONS DURING COVID-19 CLOSURES   Starting March 17, 2020 Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine | Ithaca, NY Providing Alternative Means to Learning RECOVER BLS and ALS Online Courses Free to Students Because the COVID-19 pandemic has cau...

07/06/2019

Animal Law Updates

Effective July 1, 2019 changes were made to Virginia’s Comprehensive Animal Care laws. These changes will be reflected in the enforcement of Prince William County Animal Control.

Animal cruelty
State Code 3.2-6500 now includes a definition for the requirement to tether companion animals. The tether must be three times the length of the animal’s body or 10 feet in length, whichever is longer. The tether can not cause injury or pain and the tether itself or objects connected to the tether cannot weigh more than 1/10th of the animal’s body weight. It is not considered tethering when the animals is being walked on leash. This law does not apply to agricultural animals.
State Code 3.2-6500 includes that adequate shelter in hot weather must have shade provided and the structure cannot readily conduct heat. Adequate shelter in cold weather must have a windbreak at the entrance and sufficient bedding material. Proper bedding material includes straw, cedar shavings or similar materials.
Animal cruelty charges now have a penalty increase from a Class 1 Misdemeanor to a Class 6 Felony if the person who tortures, causes pain, or injury, beats, maims or mutilates a cat or dog that is companion animal and those acts result in serious bodily injury, death, or require euthanasia under the advice of a licensed veterinarian. Serious bodily harm is defined as an injury that results in a high risk of death, extreme physical pain, significant disfigurement or significant physical or mental impairment.
Animal Control Officers are permitted to confiscate a tethered c**k or any other animal if it has been used, is currently used, or is intended to be used for fighting. If the owner of the animal is found guilty, they are prohibited from owning companion animals or fowl.
The definition of livestock includes animals belonging to the genus Vicugna (alpacas)

Dangerous dog (3.2-6540)
After the evidence is presented in court, the court may defer the formal judgement of declaring a dog “dangerous” to a later court proceeding. During the deferment period the dog’s owners will have to abide by certain conditions set by the court. If the owner meets all requirements set by the court during the deferment period, the charges will be dismissed, and the dog will not be deemed dangerous. If the owner fails to meet the conditions set by the court the dog will be deemed dangerous and required to follow the regulations for owning a dangerous dog.

Dogs running at large in packs (State 3.2-6538 County code 4-23)
Governing localities may fine the owners of dog(s) running at large in a pack a fine not to exceed $100 per dog.
County code defines a dog at large when off the property of the owner/custodian and not under control by rope leash or chain.
Running in a pack is defined as when two or more dogs found together, and each dog meets the criteria for running at large. This ordinance excludes hunting dogs. In Prince William County the owner/custodian will be required to produce a valid hunting license to exclude hunting dogs.

To report any violations please contact the Prince William County Public Safety Communications Center at 703-792-6500.

Have a safe and happy summer.

07/04/2018

Check your pups post walks and hikes. Ticks move around on the body for a few hours before settling in to bite, so a quick brush out over a light colored sheet or drop cloth is a great way to be sure you are free and clear! Happy hiking!

05/21/2018

Concise, factual, impactful heads up on summer safety threats from Petplan Pet Insurance - North America A really useful read https://www.pharmiweb.com/pressreleases/pressrel.asp?ROW_ID=278088🐾🐾🐾🐾

Feel the Heat: 10 Potentially Hazardous Summer Hotspots for Pets Petplan pet insurance highlights top risks to avoid when vacationing with pets PR Newswire NEWTOWN SQUARE, Pa., May 21,

05/20/2018

Opossum Power! Go Possum, Beat Tick!

We just updated our opossum info poster to be more comprehensive and factual. Can you spot the differences? As always, find out more about our opossum friends - the good, the bad, and the in between - on our website www.opossumpower.org!

05/14/2018

PAWS UP PEOPLE! STORM ALERT FROM SHEILA AT DOGMA! SHe SPEAKS WE LISTEN!

Update at 2:25 p.m. -- Forecasters warn that a derecho is possible tonight. The last such wind event to hit the region caused significant damage on June 29, 2012. https://twitter.com/NWSEastern/status/996089580892893184 Earlier: Arlington County and much of the D.C. region is under a Se

05/04/2018

Add mulched borders between your lawn and woods to limit habitat, leave larger fallen trees to decompose naturally as habitat for opossum - tick's natural enemy, check your dog for ticks after every walk, they brush off the coat easily onto a white painting dropcloth or old sheet - they take a long time before they find a spot and bite so this is a good practice to be in, wash your hands after handling any tick, dispose in a ziplock bag. If they've bitten in we really like the TickTwister, clean the area and your hands with soap and water and take tick and your dog to a great vet like Ridge Lake Animal Hospital. Treating early is key. This is serious business, but managable with knowledge! Arm yourself!

The number of mosquito-, flea- and tick-borne illnesses has risen sharply in Virginia and DC, according to health officials.