Archive for August 2011

The Last Kid on the Block—
Food safety for the entire family

Wednesday, August 31st, 2011

Feeding your pets has become a little safer with the adoption of the PETNet system.

Feeding my family is a big deal. We eat a vegetarian diet and make natural, organic food a priority. But for all my effort, I still worry about the safety of our food. Vegetables are susceptible to E. coli, too!

While there have long been national resources to protect humans, a 2007 melamine contamination of cat and dog foods was a tragic example of how powerless pet owners were. Within a month, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration received several thousand reports of cat and dog deaths from renal failure after eating contaminated food.

Companies began to voluntarily recall their products, but in a self-regulated industry, there was no way for owners to ensure their pets’ food was safe.

We didn’t have pets at the time, but we watched helplessly as friends lost their beloved cat. The media reported they weren’t alone, but deaths continued. It felt like a crime.

Four years have passed, and earlier this month, the U.S. government’s Partnership for Food Protection and FDA announced the launch of the Pet Event Tracking Network, or PETNet (clever, eh?).

The network will allow the FDA and Federal and State agencies to exchange information about pet-food related incidents. The result is a real-time means of sharing critical information about pet-food contamination or other defects. The hope is that many fewer pets will die before a problem is identified.

While PETNet is working in your favor, you can be proactive as a pet owner. The Humane Society posts a listing of recent recalls. If you find your pet has consumed a recalled product, call your vet—even if your pet isn’t exhibiting symptoms.

You also can protect your pets by cleaning their food dishes between meals, and water dishes every day or two.

We have fish, who we feed tropical fish flakes. Unfortunately, if the flakes were contaminated, I doubt their little bodies could survive poisoning. But it’s good to know that if a problem arises, a system is in place to help before it becomes a national or global problem.

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If you’ve been following our adoption of 11 fish, I don’t have much news to report. All are healthy and happy, but our new tank acquisition has stalled. Hopefully we’ll get our act together and I’ll have something exciting to share soon!

“The Last Kid on the Block” is a continuing series following the Knudsen family’s progress selecting and caring for their first pets. Andrea Knudsen lives in suburban Chicago with her husband and two children.

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The Last Kid on the Block—
A new “leash law” to help keep your dog safe

Wednesday, August 17th, 2011

A leash is one way you can help protect your dog from theft.

I can imagine few things more terrifying for a parent than a missing child. It’s already difficult enough to decide whether it’s safe enough for my kids to play in the yard or walk to school—I don’t know if I’m being an overbearing mom, or if I’m justified protecting my kids from a little bit of crazy in the world.

So I understand how unnerving it must be to hear that dog thefts have risen 32 percent in the past year (224 dogs have been reported missing to date in 2011, compared to 150 at the same time last year). The American Kennel Club reports it receives a call almost daily about an abducted pet.

Dogs have been stolen during walks, during home and car burglaries, and from their own yards. It’s as inconceivable as someone stealing a child. In this case, the pets are taken for resale, ransom or simply to avoid paying for one.

Now it’s time for dog owners to navigate the same fine line as parents: how do you keep your pet safe? First, use your leash! That’s one clear advantage over parents, who can’t tether their children (without being cajoled, anyway). Keeping your dog on a leash reduces the chance that he or she will wander out of your line of sight and into greedy hands.

Second, just like parents, don’t leave your dog unattended, especially outside a store, in your yard if it can be seen from the street, and certainly not in the car (you know better).

Third, be wary of stranger danger. Even if a stranger seems genuinely interested in your pet, don’t provide details about how much you paid or where you live.

Finally, consider safeguarding your pet with a permanent microchip ID from your veterinarian and keep your contact information current. If your pet is ever lost or stolen, his or her true identity is only a scan away.

I hate to think that gone are idyllic days when kids would frolic at the park and dogs would wait patiently as their owners dined al fresco. But times, they are a changing’. All we can do is prepare, be smart, and look out for each other’s kids, be they human or canine.

“The Last Kid on the Block” is a continuing series following the Knudsen family’s progress selecting and caring for their first pets. Andrea Knudsen lives in suburban Chicago with her husband and two children.

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The Last Kid on the Block—
Dealing with scaredy kids

Wednesday, August 3rd, 2011

Parents and pet owners should work together to ensure kids and pets can be best friends.

My daughter has a love-quake relationship with many pets. If it’s bigger than a bread box, she’s most likely “terrified” of it. Except when she’s enchanted by it.

Cats and dogs are the usual objects of her two-faced obsession. She’s uncertain around cats for a few minutes, but eager to follow them like a shadow. And then it’s love.

As you can imagine, it’s not always mutual.

But dogs? She loves them from afar. Loves them. But once she gets close, all bets are off. A couple of neighborhood dogs that are about her size have moved a little too fast and jumped a little too high, imprinting paranoia on her brain. Even the most docile dogs are now suspect.

I have mixed feelings as a mom: I think caution around strange dogs is a good thing, and I don’t want to teach her that all dogs are friendly (I don’t want her to be too comfortable). I also feel that not having a dog is doing her a disservice (she’s not comfortable enough).

What’s a parent to do? And likewise, what’s a pet owner to do?

I’m learning that parents can help in two ways. First, familiarize your child with common dog behavior. How can you tell when a dog is happy? Scared? Playful? (For a pet novice like me, that means learning myself.)

Second, teach your child the appropriate way to approach a dog. If someone approaches you running and screaming, are you going to feel cuddly? Me neither! A child should approach a dog calmly without making eye contact—eye contact can be perceived as a threat.

Kids should always ask the owner before touching or talking to a dog. If the owner gives permission, the dog needs to meet a child by smell first, while everyone involved is calm and still. When the owner says it’s OK, gently pet the dog under its chin or on its side, not on the top of its head.

In case a dog is overly-enthusiastic and jumps on your child, he or she needs to learn to quietly and calmly turn away from the dog and cross her arms over her chest. The dog should calm down; meanwhile the child is less susceptible to bites. Calmly asking the owner to help is a good idea, too.

Pet owners also can take a two-step approach. Start by socializing your dog around kids who are calm and comfortable, arming kids with dog treats to reward your pup for positive behavior. Regardless of the presence of children, never tolerate growling. Also remember that a dog leaning on you or touching you is dominant behavior—affection should only be given when the dog is calm and submissive. Provide rules and boundaries for your dog, just like parents do for their kids.

Also be prepared to teach kids who meet and know your dog the appropriate way to act around your dog. Parents like me may not know what to do. Educating kids keeps everyone safe.

I understand I haven’t been approaching my daughter’s fears in a helpful way, so I have work to do. I’ll need to work at her pace, but hopefully dogs will soon be among her best friends.

“The Last Kid on the Block” is a continuing series following the Knudsen family’s progress selecting and caring for their first pets. Andrea Knudsen lives in suburban Chicago with her husband and two children.

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