ASPCA: Pets and Fireworks Don't Mix

The ASPCA recommends keeping your pooch indoors as much as possible during backyard parties and Fourth of July festivities, even if he is a pro picnicker. From toxic food and beverages to raucous guests and fireworks, the holiday weekend is a minefield of potential pet problems.

"Even the most timid dog can leap a six-foot fence if he's spooked by loud noises," says Dr. Pamela Reid, Vice President of the ASPCA Animal Behavior Center. If your dog shows signs of distress from fireworks or boisterous revelers, Dr. Reid suggests giving him a Kong toy stuffed with peanut butter. "The persistent licking should calm his nerves," she says.

The ASPCA offers some more expert advice:
    * Keep your pet on the wagon. Since alcohol is potentially poisonous to pets, place all wine, beer and spirits well out of paws' way.
    * Avoid scraps from the grill. Stick with your pet's normal diet--any change, even for a day, can result in stomach upset. Certain foods like onions, avocado, chocolate, grapes and raisins are especially toxic to pets.
    * Skip the sunscreen. Avoid lathering your pet with any insect repellent or sunscreen not intended for the four-legged kind. Ingestion can result in drooling, vomiting, diarrhea, excessive thirst and lethargy.
    * Stay fire-smart. Keep your pet away from fireworks, matches, citronella candles and lighter fluid, which if eaten can irritate the stomach, lungs and central nervous system.
    * Be cool near the pool. Don't leave pets unsupervised around a pool or lake--not all dogs are expert swimmers! Also, pools aren't large water bowls--they contain chlorine and other toxic chemicals that can cause stomach problems.

For more, go to www.aspca.org.

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info@pueblocolliesheltie.org

Pueblo Collie/Sheltie Rescue
234 S. Hacienda del Sol Dr.
Pueblo West, CO 81007

719-547-4008

Baby Cody Taking It One Step at a Time

We have good news to report.  Baby Cody (listed on Available Dogs under Medical Hold) has his cast off and his team of specialists say they are pleased with the way he is healing. His little leg was broken before he came into rescue and we got a good scare a couple weeks back that his leg was not healing properly.  All along, he has been tended to by excellent, very caring vets (including specialists).  But as those of you with pets know, there are always uncertainties.  So we crossed our fingers and paws, and said our prayers to the Big Dog in the Sky.   It seems to have worked.  Cody is now undergoing physical therapy and cold laser therapy at CSU Vet School.  (Only the best will do for our foster dogs  … and foster pups.)  Our sincere thanks to Cody's foster parents Alida and Jim, who have cared for him above and beyond.  Another special thanks to Dr. Brenda McClelland and Dr. Mike Jewell of the Pet Wellness Clinic in Ft. Collins, who have personally supervised his care with incredible devotion.  Cody's vet bills will be high.  If you would like to help, you may do so by going to PayPay on our website (just tell us that it is for Baby Cody) or you may send a check to the address listed on this page. 

PCSR Will See You There!

We are fortunate to have terrific volunteers throughout Colorado.  You can visit with them at the following events.  For more info, contact our fundraising chair extraordinaire Kathy Melton at grmkm@comcast.net, or call her at 719-948-0104.

July 11, Sat. - Wheat Ridge, 7th Annual Adoption Party, Brown Dog School, 9900 W. 44th Ave.  11-3
July 11-12, Sat.-Sun. - Centennial, Tagawa Gardens Grey Kitty Birthday Celebration and Pet Rescue Event, 11-3.  More.
July 18-19, Sat.-Sun. - Elizabeth Celtic Festival.  More.
Aug. 8-9, Sat-Sun. - Highlands Ranch Celtic Festival
Aug. 22, Sat. - Colorado Springs, Rally to Rescue, PetCo, 4515 Continental Heights, 10-4.
Sept. 10-13, Fri-Sun - Estes Park, Long's Peak Scottish Irish Highlands Festival.  Look for our volunteer Deb!
Sept. 13, Sun. - PCSR 30th Anniversary Picnic
Sept. 19, Sat. - Parker, Barker Days, 9-3. H2 O'Brien Park, Main St. Can bring dogs.  Want to help?  Call Kathy (above) or Denice at 303-688-8523.  More.
Sept. 20, Sun. - Pueblo West, Pet Awareness Day, Best Friends Animal Hospital, 10-5
Oct. 3, Sat. - La Veta Oktoberfest
Nov. 7-8, Sat-Sun. - Centennial, Tagawa Gardens Holiday Event
Dec. 5, Sat. - Holiday Bake/Craft Sale, King Soopers, Northern Ave., 9-4

Want to Help PCSR Dogs?  Here's How!
We need foster homes in the Pueblo area.  If you can help, please write to us at info@pueblocolliesheltie.org; or contact foster committee chair Doris Quinlan at dorisq3@comcast.net / 719-544-8276.  We also need help in Denver and northern Colorado, plus Colorado Springs. So if you can can foster, help with transport, do homechecks, help at fundraisers and events, etc., we would love to hear from you.

From time to time we need extra help taking dogs for walks at our director's Pueblo West home.  We do ask for adults to do this volunteer work.  Teens are welcome when the parent is also volunteering and present at all times.  Email us if you would like to help.

Pueblo Collie Sheltie Rescue, Inc., (PC/SR) is a non-profit 501(c)3 organization established to rescue, rehabilitate and place lost, abused and abandoned collies, collie-mixes, shelties and sheltie-mixes in loving, responsible homes.  Dogs stay in foster care and receive complete veterinary care until carefully screened and approved adopters are matched to rescue dogs.