PhilaPets.com Newsletter: June 2005

Hello PhilaPets friends!

Summer is here! We hope you and your pets are finding some time to enjoy the weather.

This is our first PhilaPets Newsletter! This monthly email is part of our continuing mission to not only provide the best care to your pets but also provide the best service to you, our clients. We hope it includes information that is valuable and pertinent to you. In this month's newsletter, we've included some pet-related events that are going on here in Philadelphia, including our top-story PhilaPets.com Pet First Aid and CPR class with the Red Cross, and some very important safety tips.

SMILE!

Want to show off your pets? Just send us their pictures and we will make them forever famous in our client gallery. Their image will also show in the upper left-hand corner when you login to my.philapets.com.

Hopefully, this fame won't go to Slim, Lizzy, and Tucker's heads.

EVENTS:

PhilaPets.com Pet First Aid and CPR class with the Red Cross

Will you know what to do when your pet needs help? Your pet depends on you for his or her well-being, especially in an emergency.

By engaging in this four-hour class, you may learn something that may one day prove to be life-saving for your pet. Important topics you'll learn include: how to stop bleeding and splint broken bones, how to keep your pet safe before arriving at the veterinarian, and how you can perform rescue breathing and CPR on an animal (to name just a few!).

Everyone is welcome to attend. We've secured a rate of only $60 for PhilaPets.com Clients. It costs $75 for everyone else. At the end of this program, you get your very own Pet First Aid Kit (truly worth the $60 in itself!) and a great Pet First Aid book. You'll also see our Pet Care specialists there -- we want our people to be as well-versed in animal safety as possible. We can't emphasize enough how important this class is! And, it is rarely offered so don't miss this opportunity!

When: Choose EITHER Tuesday, June 14th at 6-10pm or Wednesday, June 15th at 6-10pm
Where: American Red Cross - Chapter Headquarters, 23rd and Chestnut, Philadelphia
To register: Call Janice at (215) 299-4047 or (800) 42-CROSS. Tell her you are a PhilaPets client to get the discount! And bring a friend!

Dog Wash at the Schuylkill River Dog Park benefiting People Pet Partnership (PPP)

When: Saturday, June 18th; 12-4pm
Where: Schuylkill River Dog Park (26th & Spruce)

Dog Days of Summer Adoption Festival

Fun. Sun. Lots of Smiles.

Come and adopt a new family friend! Join the Alliance for Philadelphia's Animals, its partners and more than 100 homeless animals. You can meet adoptable dogs and cats, talk to animal experts, enjoy entertainment and activities, and benefit from pet product giveaways.

When: Sunday, June 26 from 11 am to 5 pm (rain or shine)
Where: Logan Square, 19th and the Parkway, Philadelphia

SAFETY TIPS:

Tip #1:

In the upcoming months of heat, be sure to stay on guard if you open a window. We have heard too many horrific stories of cats and dogs falling out of windows. Please make sure that you have a secure screen in place on all open windows.

Tip #2:

Now that the water fountains are on in the dog runs, be careful not to let your dog drink too much water before exercising. Gastric dilatation-volvulus (GDV), or "bloat", occurs mainly in large breed dogs (Labs, Golden Retrievers, Australian Shepherds, Bernese Mountain dogs, etc.). It is most likely to occur when a dog is fed or drinks a lot of water and then runs around playing or exercising. What happens is the stomach twists around itself, not letting anything through. This twisting, or "torsion", also cuts off blood supply to the area, causing the tissue to die within minutes to hours. This is an EXTREME medical emergency and needs immediate surgery to correct. If your dog is acting strange and painful after exercising, rush him/her to the vet immediately! Although it is extremely important to keep your dog hydrated and to keep your dog well exercised, it's always a good idea to keep your pet calm after drinking and eating.

See the facts at PetEducation.com.

Tip #3:

Can your pets get sunburned? They sure can.

When going out this summer, make sure to pack extra sunscreen for your animals. Pets with light-colored fur are most susceptible to getting burned.

For more information, see this article on PetEducation.com.

THINK PAWSITIVE!

Are you a fan of the Schuylkill River Dog Run? Isn't it a nice thing to be able to bring your dog somewhere in the city where they can run around, be with their fellow brethren and get that energy out? Why not give something back? This park has gone through tremendous change and the Schuylkill River Dog Owners Association is constantly working to maintain and improve the quality of the dog run so our furry friends can enjoy themselves. A mere $20 will make you a member and help make the park a better place to play. Please see http://www.phillyfido.net for more information.