Pets in the paper – putting the “free” in freezing
Check out these animal stories in The Oklahoman today -
- Zoo promotion puts the “free” in freezing. (Oklahoma City Zoo)
- Protecting your pets from cold. (statewide)
- Peta ad adds first lady. (Washington, D.C.)
Staff Writer Carrie Coppernoll
OKC back open after digging out
Don’t worry, you have one more chance to visit the Oklahoma City Zoo in 2009 – today!
After closing for nearly a week because of the snowstorm, the zoo will be open today. Staff (including Executive Director Dwight Scott) have been digging out and clearing the ice and snow to allow visitors back in. Here’s the zoo’s Facebook status:
Oklahoma City Zoo and Botanical Garden The Zoo will be open Thursday, Dec. 31. Please be careful as there may be some slick areas on grounds. We will be closed on New Year’s Day! Thank you to everyone for your patience while our team worked to dig the zoo out from under all of that snow.
Staff Writer Carrie Coppernoll
Pets in the paper – coats for pets with coats
Check out these animal stories in The Oklahoman -
- Pets need to find warmth when weather turns cold. (statewide)
- Nature center plans activities. (Norman)
- Nonprofit groups adopt former police horses. (Tulsa)
- Animal case gets new twist. (Texas)
- Parties vote back U.S. beef important ban. (Taiwan)
Staff Writer Carrie Coppernoll
Pets in the paper – bears aren’t coats
Check out these animal stories in The Oklahoman since Saturday:
- At zoo exhibit, it’s a bear’s life. (Oklahoma City – Be sure to click on this one and check out the neat panorama photo!)
- Opinion: Zoo’s growth continues. (Oklahoma City)
- Take care of pets during holidays. (Norman)
- Packing up one fragile tusk to go. (Norman)
- Two-legged pooch offers hope to wounded veterans. (Ardmore)
- Fishing days set for children. (Tulsa)
- Build-a-Bear videos raise conservative ire. (Missouri)
- Rainbow of underwater color shines in Caribbean. (Belize)
Staff Writer Carrie Coppernoll
OKC Zoo closes today
The weather is awful, so the Oklahoma City Zoo is closing today. So for those of you who were planning to ice skate around with strollers and children on the slopes of the zoo this afternoon, your beautiful day out has been ruined. Here’s the info zoo spokeswoman Tara Henson sent us:
Due to the inclement weather and for the safety of our guests, the Zoo will be closed for the day. Essential personnel will be working until noon. Security is round-the-clock, as usual.
Staff Writer Carrie Coppernoll
Pet Show – taking your furry friend on the road
Listen to Pet Show! Our guest this week was the illustrious Harrison Forbes! He’s the host of the nationally-syndicated Pet Talk show and author of the book Dog Talk. He’s an expert who’s been heard all over the world. (And as a side note, he’s been interviewed by Larry King. So in a way, the Pet Show crew is almost as awesome as Larry King. Admittedly, we don’t have suspenders.)
Anyway, Harrison’s impressive resume aside, he spoke to us about traveling with your pets this summer. Anybody who’s ever tried to load up a dog or cat and go for a road trip knows this is no easy task. Harrison gives us some great advice for keeping your pets calm and happy during the drive.
Our Tale Tips for the show are more than necessary considering the horrific heat in Oklahoma these days. Dawn shares info about how to protect your animals from the heat:
- Keep up with your regular vet visits.
- Pets need water and shade when outside.
- Look for symptoms of heat problems – panting, difficulty breathing, drooling, weakness, collapse, seizure, vomiting or high temperature.
- Don’t leave your pet in the car. Seriously.
- Keep animals that can’t swim away from the pool.
- Don’t leave windows open in upper stories. Pets can be attracted to the air flow and fall out.
- Haircuts are good – shaving to the skin is bad.
- Keep your pets off hot asphalt, which can burn the pads of their paws.
- If you’re boosting your lawn with chemicals, use them carefully and away from animals.
Staff Writer Carrie Coppernoll
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Keep your pets safe in the summer
The Humane Society gives these Top 10 tips for keeping your pet safe this summer:
- Never leave your pet unattended in the car on a warm or sunny day. Cars quickly heat up to a dangerous temperature, even with the window slightly open.
- Be sure to keep your pets up-to-date on their vaccinations and preventative medications. Fleas and ticks stay busy in warm weather and summer is also the prime time for heartworms. Check with your veterinarian about the best way to keep your pets healthy.
- Keep your cats indoors to keep them safe. Cars, other pets, and wild animals can all pose risks to your cats’ safety. By providing playtime, cat trees, and other enrichment, your cat will be happy and content to stay indoors with you.
- Beware of cocoa mulch and other gardening products. Cocoa mulch can be deadly if ingested and has an appetizing scent to some animals. Pesticides, fertilizers and other harsh chemicals can also be quickly fatal if ingested.
- When taking your dog for a walk on a hot day, plan for shorter walks mid-day, when temperatures peak, and longer walks in the morning and evening when it’s cooler. Hot sidewalks can burn the pads on your dog’s paws, so walk on the grass when possible.
- If you have pet rabbits, be sure to keep them indoors because they don’t tolerate heat well. Keeping a rabbit indoors will also provide protection from predators who might try to attack a rabbit in an outdoor hutch.
- Never leave your dog outdoors unattended on a chain or tether. Long-term chaining during the hot summer months can result in countless insect bites, dehydration, and heat stroke. Even short-term unattended tethering can pose risks such as theft or attacks by people or animals.
- When driving with pets, be sure to keep them properly restrained and inside the vehicle. Special seatbelts and secured carriers can protect pets during accidents and prevent them from distracting the driver. The back of a pick-up truck is never a safe place for a pet to ride.
- Be mindful of your pets around your wild neighbors. When going for walks or playing in a fenced yard, don’t allow pets to harass birds, rabbits, squirrels, and other wild animals.
- The summer months are the peak season for dog bites because so many kids and dogs are playing outside. You can reduce the risk of your dog biting through training, socialization, and getting your dog spayed or neutered. Kids can learn to stay safe through good manners around pets and humane education.
Staff Writer Carrie Coppernoll
Pets in the paper – prevent hot dogs
No, not the kind you eat – the kind that pant and plop down on your living room in dramatic fashion.
Check out these animal stories in The Oklahoman today -
- Heat poses risks for pets, too. (statewide)
- Keeping your animals cool during the hot summer months. (statewide)
- Broccoli-snake head case goes unsolved. (New York)
- Reeling in a sizable catch hooks kids on fishing fun. (Choctaw)
- Dog show convenes. (Oklahoma City)
Staff Writer Carrie Coppernoll
Pets in the paper
Check out these animal stories in The Oklahoman today, yesterday and Saturday -
- Dog injuries prompt search for abuser. (Jenks)
- Habitat project for dogs reset. (Oklahoma City)
- Ladybug helpers. (Oklahoma City, Saturday, page 1d)
- Mine That Bird pulls off upset. (Kentucky)
- Fighting for “vicious” dogs. (Shawnee)
- Buddy in the storm.
Staff Writer Carrie Coppernoll
Pet Show! Keep your dogs calm during storms
Listen to Pet ShowAs we all know, spring is a pretty volatile season in Oklahoma, and this season is the prime time of year for thunderstorms. For many pets, this can be scary.
Dr. Debra Horwitz, of Veterinary Behavior Consultations in St. Louis, talked to us about all the great ways you can keep your pup calm during the storm.
Staff Writer Carrie Coppernoll
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
