Frankie The Law Dog

Some Dog Toys Are Can Be Hazardous to Your Dog’s Health

Although it is important to provide your dog with adequate exercise and stimulation through play, there are some popular types of dog toys that you should either supervise very closely or avoid altogether.

Tennis Balls Do Not Make Good Dog Toys

Tennis Balls Do Not Make Good Dog Toys

Dogs love tennis balls.  They bounce.  They are somewhat chewy.  They can be catchable.  But tennis balls are bad news for dogs.  Smaller tennis balls, like any small toy or ball, can be a choking hazard for big dogs.

Additionally, some veterinarians say that the nylon fuzz on tennis balls is too abrasive for dog’s teeth and can wear down the tooth enamel leading to potentially painful and expensive dental problems down the road.

Moreover, tennis balls can be chewed apart and the pieces swallowed, creating a risk of choking or intestinal blockage, either of which could be deadly.

Any Dog Toy That Is Too Small for the Dog or That Has Small Pieces

Small toys that can fit entirely into the dog’s mouth can create a choking hazard for your dog.  That may seem like a no-brainer, but if you have several dogs of different sizes–say a Chihuahua and a Boxer in the same household–you need to think about keeping toys around that are safe for all the dogs.  If you keep tiny toys around for your tiny dog, be very careful to keep the small toys away from the bigger dogs in the household.

Prior to purchase, it is important to inspect any dog toys for small parts that could fall off or be chewed off and swallowed.  If a dog toy poses a choking hazard for children under the age of three, it is also not safe for your dog.

Stuffed Squeaky Dog Toys May Be Hazardous

Squeaky Dog Toys Can Be Fun, But They Require Diligent Supervision

Stuffed toys with a squeaky mechanism inside are very popular, and dogs do love to bite them and make them squeal.  But stuffed toys are easily chewed apart by rambunctious dogs.  Once the toy has developed a hole or two, the stuffing can end up all over the place and both the stuffing and the squeaky mechanism can be pose choking hazards.  If swallowed, they can cause potentially deadly intestinal blockage.  Any play with stuffed squeaky dog toys should be closely monitored at all times.  It can take only a moment for a determined dog to rip up the toy and swallow the insides.

Rawhide Chews

Rawhide chews for dogs are very popular, but they present a couple of potential dangers to your dog’s health.  First, if larger pieces break off during chewing, the dog could try to swallow them whole.  Large pieces of rawhide pose a real threat of choking or intestinal blockage if swallowed.  Carefully supervise your dog as she enjoys her rawhide chew, and be ready to retrieve pieces that break off.  When the chew gets small enough to be swallowed whole, take it away from the dog to prevent swallowing.

Second, rawhide chews manufactured in some countries outside the United States may not be safe for your dog at all.  As this dog owner’s experience demonstrates, rawhides manufactured outside the U.S. may contain salmonella bacteria, arsenic, lead and pesticides.  Health problems from rawhide chews may include sore throat, choking, intestinal blockage and acute pancreatitis.  So, if you are going to use rawhide chews, make sure you purchase them from a trusted manufacturer.

Open Your Heart and Home to a Shelter Animal This Holiday Season

Participate in Petfinder’s First-Ever Foster a Lonely Pet Program

Inspired by the book A Dog Named Christmas, by Greg Kincaid, Petfinder has introduced the Foster a Lonely Pet program.

A Dog Named Christmas is about a developmentally challenged young man who, in spite of objections from his father, decides to foster a dog from a local animal shelter during the holidays.  His relationship with the dog, a yellow Labrador Retriever he names Christmas, influences others in the community to open their hearts and homes to animals in need.  And his bond with Christmas changes perceptions that others have about him and his capabilities.

Motivated by this inspiring story, Petfinder is working with a network of thousands of shelters and rescue groups across the United States to give families an opportunity to share their homes with an adoptable dog or cat during this holiday season.

Fostering a shelter animal for the holidays is a great idea for so many reasons.

• It could give the dog or cat a chance to spend the holidays in a loving home during the holidays instead of in a crate at the shelter.  Animal shelters are often overflowing and understaffed during the holidays.
• It could provide a break for someone, like my friend Valerie with Animal Friends Society (a program participant), who is currently fostering a number of animals.
• If you are thinking of adopting a dog or cat, fostering one for the holidays could provide you with a chance to see how a pet will fit with your family and lifestyle.
• It is a good deed, and those are just worth doing anytime, but especially during the holiday season.

Fostering an animal through the Foster a Lonely Pet program is not a forever commitment.  You may choose to provide a loving and safe environment for a lonely animal for a few days or for the entire holiday season through the New Year.

Lucy Still Loves Her Foster Mom

Go to Petfinder.com to locate a shelter or rescue organization in your local area and celebrate the holidays in the company of an animal who needs you.

Incidentally, the aforementioned Valerie was our Lucy’s foster mom before we brought Lucy to her forever home.  Lucy still remembers Valerie and has plenty of love for her former foster mom whenever we see her.  So, even though fostering a shelter animal is not necessarily a permanent commitment, it is certainly possible to build a permanent bond with an animal through fostering.

Donating to a Shelter? Make Sure Your Money Goes to the Dogs

Make Sure Your Charitable Donation Really Helps Those in Need

During the holiday season, many people feel moved to open their hearts and wallets to try and help those who are less fortunate.  There are many wonderful charitable organizations that do a lot of good work with the monetary donations people provide.

There are other charitable organizations that end up spending most of the money they receive on fund-raising and other expenses.  Not that there is anything inherently wrong with administrative spending and fund-raising.  After all, there are expenses involved in running a charity, and fund-raising plays an important role in helping many charities stay alive.

BBB Says at Least 65% Should go to Charitable Activities

But how much is too much for a charity to spend on telemarketers and other fund-raising efforts?  The Better Business Bureau Wise Giving Alliance Standards for Charity Accountability suggests that charitable organizations should spend at least 65% of their total expenses on program activities (the actual “charity” part of the equation), and no more than 35% of the money you donate on fund-raising.

Want to Know Where Your Money is Going When You Donate to Charity?

If you want to know how your donations of money are being used by a charity, there are a couple of easy ways to find out.  Charities that meet all of the BBB’s Standards for Charity Accountability can receive accreditation through the BBB.  The website provides a National Charity Report Index that makes it easy to search for information about charities that are BBB accredited.

Charities are not legally required to submit information and seek accreditation through the BBB, but many reputable charities do so.  If a charity has received BBB accreditation, you can be sure that most of the money you donate to the charity will be going to the actual work of the charity.

Charity Navigator is an independent charity evaluator that provides information about many of the largest charities in the United States.  They have a searchable database that gives a detailed breakdown of each listed charity’s revenue and how that revenue is used.  Charity Navigator evaluates only public charities in the U.S. (that is, charities that are tax exempt under § 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code and that must file IRS Form 990).

Another good source of information about public charities can come from your state’s government websites.  Many states require that all public charities that solicit donations within the state comply with the state’s charity registration laws.  For example, Florida’s Solicitation of Contributions Act regulates the solicitation of public contributions and requires full disclosure of certain types of information from those who solicit charitable contributions in Florida.

The Florida Division of Consumer Services website has a great deal of valuable information, including a Gift Giver’s Guide that allows Floridians to access information about specific charities registered in Florida.

Incidentally, we decided to check the State of Florida registration for Animal Friends Society, Inc. The rescue organization from which we adopted Lucy, devotes an impressive 89% of its total revenue to program services.  By doing a little homework, I know that when I give to Animal Friends Society, the money really goes to the dogs.

Why Retractable Dog Leashes May Not Be Your Best Choice

Retractable Dog Leashes Are Not the Best Choice for Training or Safety

The mere fact that retractable dog leashes have earned the love of personal injury attorneys and the ire of dog trainers should tell you something.

What is a Retractable Dog Leash?

A retractable dog leash is a leash that is supposed to allow the handler to be able to adjust the distance the dog is permitted to wander away.  The leash itself consists of either a very thin or a webbed cord that is commonly about 16 feet (5 m) or 30 feet (9 m) in length.  The handle is usually plastic and contains a mechanism that allows the dog handler to stop the extension of the leash by pressing a button on the handle.  A clip on the leash attaches to the dog’s collar.

A Classic, Sturdy Six-foot Dog Leash is Best for Dog and Handler

What is Wrong with Retractable Dog Leashes?

Retractable leashes have two big strikes against them:

• They are not effective for training one’s dog.
• They pose serious safety issues for humans and dogs.

Retractable Dog Leashes are Ineffective Dog Training Tools

The very characteristic that makes retractable dog leashes seem so attractive to dog owners is what renders them ineffective as a dog training tool.  The flexible mechanism allows the dog to wander away from the handler up to the length of the leash fully extended.  This encourages the dog to stop paying attention to her handler and to pursue whatever interests her.

Theoretically, the handler need only push the button to stop the leash; however, when you’ve already lost the dog’s attention and focus, it may be difficult to “reel” her back in, particularly if she has scented something much more interesting to her than your commands.  The flexibility of the leash gives the dog the erroneous impression that she is the master of her own destiny on the walk.  If you want to effectively train the dog to focus on and follow your verbal and physical commands, allowing her this sort of freedom on the leash is not the way to do it.

Many retractable dog leashes have a locking feature that stops the leash at a certain length.  However, if the leash has gotten damp or is starting to wear out, the locking mechanism may be difficult to engage.

Retractable Dog Leashes Pose Safety Hazards for Dogs and Their Handlers

Consumer Reports notes that retractable leashes have caused cuts, burns and even amputations when the cord came in contact with skin or became wrapped around part of the owner or the dog.  According to the report:

In 2007 there were 16,564 hospital-treated injuries associated with leashes, according to Consumer Union’s analysis of statistics collected by the Consumer Product Safety Commission. Of those, about 10.5 percent involved children 10 and younger; 23.5 percent involved injuries to the finger. The CPSC’s data does not parse the leashes into types but it’s likely that the amputations were caused by retractable leashes.

Other injuries have been reported as well.  For example, in September 2008, the Slydog brand retractable leash was recalled due to complaints that the metal clip would break and fly off.  A Texas teen has sued the manufacturer after the retractable leash she was using snapped back and punctured her eye.

Safety Tips for Using a Retractable Dog Leash

This Puppy is Better Off Without a Retractable Leash

If you must use a retractable dog leash, keep the following safety tips in mind:

• A retractable leash should be used, if at all, only on well-trained dogs that respond immediately to voice commands.
• Make sure to use the appropriate size leash for your dog’s weight.
• Check the locking mechanism prior to each use of the leash to ensure that it will engage instantly if needed.
• Do not allow children to use the retractable leash.
• Read and heed all manufacturer warnings for the leash.