Last night was a scary one! After arriving home from a fantastic book signing at the beautiful Azure Social Room (photos later!), I could not find Lola anywhere in the house. I was not sure how long she had been missing and I was so frazzled that I did not pick up my mobile phone when it rang. After coming to my senses I realized that I should probably check my messages and, sure enough, there was a kind message from a lady named Sarah telling me that she found Lola two streets away! I rushed over to Sarah's home and introduced myself. Lola had already bonded with her daughter Hailey and was all snuggled up. I think Lola was disappointed to see me! All of this got me to thinking that it was time to re-visit some of Summer Safety Tips for pets....
-First thing we will do today is walk around the perimeter of our backyard gates and make sure that she can no longer sneak out under the gate!
-Practicing our commands is a good idea too. We have gotten a bit lax in that area since we brought a baby in to the house. It has changed Lola's life so much so I always want to spoil her and forget to enforce the rules sometimes. This is important because I need to know that she will respect my commands while we are around a road or other people.
-Double check collars and ID tags to ensure that they fit properly and can be read easily. Thank God Sarah could read the phone number on Lola's tag last night!
-Summer is a good time to check your yard and walking trail for poisonous leaves and plants. Dogs can react to certain houseplants as well so be cautious!
-Keep chocolate treats, tobacco products, and medications away from your four legged friends!
-Keep poisonous cleaning and household products up high and out of reach (just like you would for your toddler.)
-Don't forgot to ask your Vet for advice on protecting your pet from tics, fleas, and heart worm. There are simple and in-expensive treatments so take the time to seek advice.
-Most importantly, love on them and have fun with them. There is nothing like the bond shared between master and pet! Pay them back for their uncompromising love with a lot of summer fun!
