I’ll be on the EZHelp radio show tomorrow and hope you’ll tune in. Here’s the blurb the radio station is putting out about my appearance…

Thom Somes, “The Pet Safety Guy”, believes in a pet’s ability to uplift, to inspire, and to restore us. He also believes in a pet’s right to a healthy, thriving life of contribution. For over 12 years, his mission has been to create a richer, fuller life experience for humans and animals everywhere. Somes has created a way to give back to “Petizens” around the World….BIG time!

The show airs at 11:00 a.m. EST on Sunday, August 3. To chat and listen click here, or if you just want to listen click here.

Posted: August 3rd, 2008 under Pet Tech News, pets.
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After a fire at a Saskatchewan home, firefighters saved two dogs and one cat.

Members of the Regina Fire Department rushed two cats and a dog out of a burning house Tuesday afternoon.

Angela Prawzick, spokesperson for the Regina Fire Department, said a neighbour called 911 at 1:45 p.m. to report a fire at 18 Scrivener Cres.

[…]

“Both the two cats and the dog looked like they certainly suffered some smoke inhalation. Our firefighters did administer oxygen to the dog, (and) they did provide some life-saving efforts to all of the animals,” she said.

“They’ve since been brought to the veterinarian’s. . . . I’m not sure what their status is at this point.”

Prawzick reminded people that when their house is on fire, their first priority should be to get out of the house.

Read the rest here.

In our Pet Tech First Aid & Care classes, we teach the idea that Prawzick mentioned…ensure your own safety, then your pets. Once you’re safe, then you can assess the situation and work on how to safely take care of your pets.

Posted: July 23rd, 2008 under pets.
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The idea that dogs have a built-in ability to swim isn’t always the case. Some dogs need to be taught to swim…

Just like a child who takes swimming lessons, a canine needs to gain confidence before it can swim comfortably on its own, experts say. Here are five steps to getting your dog’s paws wet:

1. Start with water exposure Get your pup used to water with a spray bottle, a hose or a shallow plastic pool, Hassen says. This ensures that it gets accustomed to the feeling of water.
2. Start at a pool or lake with a gradual slope Your first lessons should take place in a body of water in which your pet can gradually walk in the water with you, Peterson advises. You can promote a positive attitude by bringing toys, such as a ball, and encouraging your dog to retrieve.
3. Move into deeper water with your support As you move into deeper water, support your dog’s backside or belly to help it learn that it can float as it paddles with its paws. Hassen says it’s important that the dog learns to “level out” its torso to actually swim in the water.
4. Help your pup find the exit Once your dog is in the water, make sure it follows your commands to find the exit — be it from a swimming pool or into a boat. Hassen suggests leading the dog gently on a leash.
5. Don’t overdo it Dogs that have not swum a lot before don’t necessarily have the muscle conditioning for a strenuous swim. “If your dog never swam for more than five minutes before, don’t ask it to swim out a mile to a raft where you’re going,” Peterson says. “The dog may be too tired to swim back in.”

Continue reading here.

Posted: July 15th, 2008 under dogs, pets.
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Vickie Holt, of Animals Reign, who is one of our newest Pet Tech Instructors from Seattle sent us this little chuckle a few days ago…

I was taking three of the stuffed dogs, that I bought during our class, to another instructor. We were going to meet half way at a shopping center, and I had the big life-sized Husky in the front seat with me, with windows down waiting for her. All of a sudden, an SUV wheeled in next to me and the man jumped out of the car, walked over and stuck his hand in the window to pet the beautiful…..oh, that’s a stuffed dog! He was so embarrassed, but we both had a good laugh. He ended up taking half a dozen of my business cards to share with others, he was so interested in the idea of pet first aid. I guess I should ride around with a fake dog in the car all the time!

I guess that’s one way to get people to sign up for a class!

Posted: July 1st, 2008 under Pet Tech News, pets.
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Skip, an 18 year-old Chicago cat, was given CPR and oxygen after being rescued from a burning apartment.

A 47-year-old man lost almost everything in an apartment fire late Thursday, but emergency workers managed to save what matters most to him — an 18-year-old cat named Skip.

The tenant, who asked not to be identified, burned his arms during two unsuccessful attempts to save the pet he has had since it was a kitten.

Then, the Royal Oak Fire Department arrived about 9:45 p.m. to 949 N. Main St., put out the fire in 10 minutes and rescued the cat.

“We found him under the bed,” Fire Inspector John Petras said of the black cat that was suffering from smoke inhalation.

Paramedics gave the cat CPR and used a pet oxygen mask to help the elderly feline breathe again. He spent the night at an emergency veterinarian clinic. Petras then drove the owner to the clinic Friday to pick up his “little buddy.”

“He’s tougher than me,” the man said. “I couldn’t breathe the smoke was so thick. I was choking on it.”

The Chicago Tribune has the full story.

Posted: June 29th, 2008 under pets.
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