Now that kids are back in school, it's time for back-to-school safety tips! While new school supplies are fun for kids, these items may not be safe if your pet gets into them. Kids may leave their belongings on the floor at home after a busy day at school, making them an irresistible target. Curious pets can find their way into open backpacks and lunchboxes and help themselves to the contents inside. It is good practice to keep lunchboxes and backpacks in a designated area or room in the house to which your pets don't have access. This may mean keeping those items behind a closed door, cabinet, or closet or hanging them on a high, unreachable hook or shelf. 

There are many common foods found in lunch boxes or backpacks that can be toxic to pets if ingested. Fruits like grapes, raisins, apple cores and seeds, grapefruit, pitted fruits like cherries and peaches, avocados, and tomatoes can cause severe health problems if consumed. Other common lunchtime snacks like macadamia nuts, chocolate, onions, garlic, and gum (xylitol) can also be hazardous. Cold packs are used to keep food cool, but they can be deadly if consumed by furry friends. Markers, crayons, pencils, and glue sticks commonly stored in backpacks can damage internal organs or make our pets sick if ingested. Consuming vital backpack items like medications and inhalers may also land your pet in a veterinarian's office. 

Buying non-toxic school supplies will put your mind at ease if your pet is found chewing on a crayon or licking up spilled glue. Keep in mind that art materials must be reviewed by law to determine if they are hazardous. Parents should be on the lookout for an ACMI seal on such products to determine if they have been properly reviewed. These seals will typically either read AP (approved product) or CL (cautionary label). If a product carries an AP seal, it is nontoxic and there are no concerns for toxic effects, though it would still be prudent to assess if the pet is at risk for a foreign body obstruction. Luckily, most products intended for children have this seal and are non-toxic for both children and pets, but it is good practice to always look for the AP seal. We recommend avoiding products that have a Cautionary Label (CL) on them. Although these products shouldn’t be on any children’s school supplies, they do appear in art and office supplies that are intended for adults.

The dogs pictured above from left to right are Bernie, Charlie Brown, and Letty, and they are all available for adoption! If you are interested in adopting, stop by the shelter located at 402 Bryant St. in Ojai, Monday - Saturday between 10 am - 4:30 pm to meet them. You can bring one home for just $50 as part of our month-long Clear the Shelter adoption promotion now through September 10th!