25 May 2024
Tips for Staying Safe this Memorial Day Weekend!
By Humane Society of Ventura County
Reminder! HSVC will be closed in observance of Memorial Day on Monday, May 27th. Services will resume Tuesday, May 28th, at 10 am. Whether you are planning on staying at home and barbecuing with a few friends or heading off to go camping this holiday weekend, please consider the following do's and don'ts to keep your pets safe. IDENTIFICATION & COLLAR: Holidays can be a scary time for animals, so make sure your animal is always wearing an ID tag and a secure collar in the event it gets lost. We highly recommend microchipping your pet to help ensure a safe reunion if your furry friend ends up at a shelter or veterinarian’s office. HSVC offers this service for $25, please call us at 805-646-6505 if you need an appointment. We also recommend you have a recent photo of your animal handy in case they do escape to help identify them. FOOD & DRINKS: It may be tempting to share your barbequed food with your pet but keeping your pet on its normal diet is the safest way to prevent any type of food-related illness. Dogs left unsupervised can easily get into potentially hazardous things such as bones, twine, and toothpicks. Foods such as onions, avocados, grapes, and yeast dough can be very dangerous to your animal’s health. Keep alcoholic drinks away from your pets! For a full list of potentially dangerous foods for your pets, visit the ASPCA website. INSECT REPELLANT & SUNSCREEN: Do not apply any insect repellant or sunscreen on your animal that is not specifically made for pets! Animals may lick off these topical lotions and become very sick. Insect repellant with the ingredient DEET can cause neurological problems in your animal. Signs that your pet may have ingested one of these would result in drooling, vomiting, diarrhea, excessive thirst, and lethargy. Products such as Citronella candles and insect coils should be kept away from animals at all times. If ingested, it can affect their nervous system and even result in death. SMALL CHILDREN: The holidays are a time for family to come together, and if your relatives bring small children around a pet that is not used to living with little ones, do not leave them unattended. Children can't help but pull their ears and tails or lay on pets while they are sleeping. Not all dogs or cats are patient enough to tolerate this, so keep everyone safe and happy and supervise children around the animals. Applying these safety precautions throughout the long weekend will help ensure that you and your pets have a fun and safe holiday!
