On Saturday, Nick and I made another visit to Kent Animal Shelter, where we got to spend some time with two more great dogs:

A male mix named Jayden:

UPDATE: Jayden has been adopted!!! Yay!!!

And his female companion, named Spring:

UPDATE: Spring has been adopted!!! Yay!!!

These two friendly dogs are in need of new homes, and they both get along wonderfully with one another! When together, they pretty much wanted to pull and play with each other, but when we walked them separately, both proved to be highly trainable....sitting, heeling, and giving eye contact upon request. Both seemed to pick up on what we wanted quickly, and either (or both) of them would make some family lucky to have them. Please consider adopting a dog from an animal shelter or a rescue group next time you are looking for a new friend.

If adopting isn't in your cards, perhaps a game of chance is. The Social Media for Social Good contest is still going strong, and today it is geared towards Twitter users.

All you need to do is follow one or more of the blogs listed below on twitter, and then enter the contest using the Rafflecopter below, and you'll get an entry for each one that you follow. Don't forget, the prize is $112.00 in your pocket and $213.00 to the 501c3 charity of your choice. It is free to enter, and a simple way to try and win some money for an animal rescue charity that is dear to your heart. If I should happen to win, I plan to donate the $213.00 to the Vizsla Club of Central New England - and the other $112.00 will no doubt end up in my vet's pocket one way or another.

P.S. Before I sign off, I wanted to let you all know that little Rocco (Rusty) made it safely home to his new forever family up in Maine.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Here is a list of the participating bloggers:

The following letter was reprinted with permission by the author: 

Stephen McKay, CPDT-KA, Port Chester Obedience Training Club Instructor. 
 

Dear Friends:

With July 4th coming closer, I'd like to take this opportunity to remind you that the manner in which we humans celebrate our nation's independence requires that some measures be implemented to protect our pets. Fireworks are often a source of great fear in many dogs and cats and many shelters become busy in the days following the 4th as dogs are recovered after fleeing their backyards or homes.

Please make plans now to shield your pets from the trauma caused by loud fireworks. Identify a quiet spot in the home that pets can occupy while fireworks are taking place. Keep windows closed in that area and A/C on. Check on them during the evening times when fireworks are busiest.

Exercising pets in the morning and afternoon to tire them out is helpful. Get them out for a potty break prior to sunset so that you don't have to take them out while fireworks are occuring. If medication is required to help your pet through the celebration, seek the aid of a qualified veterinarian now instead of waiting till it's too late.

Also, make sure your dog is wearing an identifying tag and if you haven't yet done so, be sure to microchip your pet and register/update the information on the microchip company's website. If you are travelling with your pet for the 4th, attach a temporary tag to their collar containing your local contact information in addition to your home contact information.

Instruct other family members, including children, of the precautions that must be excercised to help safely navigate through the 4th. Plan ahead now so that the 4th of July may be as enjoyable as possible for everyone, including our pets.

Stephen McKay, CPDT-KA, Port Chester Obedience Training Club Instructor

REMINDER: Kirek is still missing. Please keep looking.

Contributed by: Blair Sorrel, Founder of Street Zaps

Contact voltage is a chronic hidden hazard that can readily victimize an unsuspecting dog, walker, or both. No dog lover could possibly observe a more horrifying scene than witnessing his beloved pet instantaneously maimed or tragically electrocuted. When you exercise your pooch, please exercise greater prudence. Common outdoor electrical and metal fixtures may shock or even kill your vulnerable dog. And depending upon the current, the walker will be bitten and like poor Aric Roman, suffer permanently. But you can, indeed, self-protect.

Just start to adopt this simple strategy — EYEBALL THE BLOCK, AND AVOID A SHOCK. Take a few seconds and make your trajectory toward generally safer, free standing, non-conductive surfaces, ie., plastic, wood, cardboard. Intuit your dog’s cues and if it’s resistant, change directions. Work site perimeters may be live so try to elude them. If necessary, switch sides of the street or your hands when leading to skirt hazards. If you traverse the same route, you may memorize locations of potential dangers. Carry your pooch when in doubt. Consider indoor restroom products like PottyPark when external conditions are chancy or RopeNGo’s hardware-free leash and harness. And don’t rely on dog booties as a palliative as they will actually put your pet at even greater risk since the dog can’t tell you they’re leaking! To learn to more, please see StreetZaps. A safer walk is yours year round if you are willing to open your eyes and mind to it.

For more information check out: http://www.StreetZaps.com