MSPCA’s July 4th Pet Safety Recommendations

Fireworks, dangerous foods and heat top the list of concerns for Jamaica Plain pet owners. As JP gears up to celebrate the Fourth of July Holiday the MSPCA-Angell is imploring pet owners to heed basic safety precautions to keep pets safe and healthy during the long weekend. Fireworks: Not Fun for Fido
Dr. Terri Bright of the MSPCA’s Behavior Services Department cautions that fireworks can be especially terrifying for some dogs. “We must keep in mind that the sense of hearing in dogs is far superior to ours—so they hear and feel these sounds with much greater intensity,” she said. Dr. Bright’s top tips for helping dogs weather the fireworks storm include:
• Keep dogs in a small interior room of the house with a noise machine and shades drawn so as to block out both explosive sounds and the bright lights of fireworks
• Offer an engaging and tasty treat such as a peanut butter- or meat-filled Kong to keep dogs occupied and comforted
• Play their favorite games, and have special toys for them to engage with
• Keep outside time to a minimum while fireworks displays are going on—even if that means moving up the post-dinner walk to earlier in the afternoon and ensuring bathroom breaks happen before the displays
• Never leave dogs outside unaccompanied as a general rule—and certainly not during fireworks displays, which can elicit unpredictable behavior (such as fleeing) that dogs may otherwise not exhibit
• As a last resort you may want to see your veterinarian to determine if a mild tranquilizer may help your dog get through the displays

“As with all things a little common sense goes a long way and by following these tips dog owners are much more likely to see their pets comfortably through the most intense displays,” said Dr. Bright. Top Summer Holiday Health Concerns
The MSPCA’s Angell Animal Medical Center is keen to help pet owners avoid a trip to the animal ER ahead of the July 4th Holiday weekend.

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Lucy the Shop Dog

Lucy, the shop dog of AAA Appliances at 769 Centre St., relaxes in the window. Credit: Chris Helms

From Ivy at Ivy Insurance to Monkey at Pups N' Paradise, JP is home to several shop cats. But we also have shop dogs, like Lucy, who presides over AAA Appliances on Centre Street. Each weekday we post a “Photo of the Day” from around the neighborhood. If you have a photo that screams (or even whispers) "Jamaica Plain," here are four ways to nominate it:

Email me at chris@jamaicaplainnews
Tag a picture on Twitter with @02130News
Put your photo in the Jamaica Plain News photo pool on Flickr
Tag a picture on Instagram with #02130News

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Kitten Found with Paws Frozen to Fence Seeks New Home

A homeless kitten found in Dorchester with his front paws frozen to the metal wire of a neighborhood fence is on the mend and will soon be placed for adoption at the MSPCA-Angell in Jamaica Plain. A good Samaritan, who heard the kitten’s cries from inside his house on March 7, used warm water to free the frightened feline’s legs from the fence before rushing him to the Emergency & Critical Care Unit at the MSPCA’s Angell Animal Medical Center. Hypothermic, scared and in pain
Angell’s Dr. Meagan Rock was first on the scene. “This little guy was extremely lucky to have a kind stranger step in and help because his situation rendered him defenseless against the cold and predators,” she said. “And by the time he got to us he was hypothermic and his legs were swollen.”

The team actively warmed the kitten using blankets, convection heat and warm water bottles, and administered pain medicine to sooth his sore paws.

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