Dean Vicker's Pet Tips
Below is a list of seasonal articles written by Dean Vickers'. Dean Vickers is the Ohio State Director for The Humane Society of the United States and a long time pet lover and owner. He understands the "experiences" that come along with owning pets and has compiled them for your reading pleasure. Use his tips to enhance both you and your pets experience together. He can be reached at dvickers@hsus.org or by calling 614-607-7139.
Keeping your Pet Safe and Healthy During the Winter Months - As tough as the bitter cold temperatures and frigid winds of winter are on us, they can be even tougher on pets. Just because your pet has a fur coat, it doesn’t necessarily mean they can endure the cold weather. Sure, some dogs love the snow and cold and are able to tolerate it better than other dogs. My Chow loves this time of year; the more snow the better for her; not so with my short -haired Ridgeback mix. Although it can be a struggle to coax the Chow inside, it is important to remember that dogs and cats are domesticated animals, and are as accustomed to the warm shelter of the indoors as we are.
Coping with the Loss of a Pet - Those of us who have pets know the important place they occupy in our lives and in our hearts. In fact, over 80% of American pet owners consider their pets to be members of their family; I would fall into that statistic. Pets have the incredible ability to know when to leave you alone and when, despite your protests, you need to be loved. They know instinctively when you need someone close to you who does not judge you, but only wants to comfort you.
Howl-O-Ween, Your Pets & Halloween - As pet owners or caretakers, it is important that we pay special attention to our companions to ensure that they also enjoy the festivities surrounding All Hollow’s Eve. A little pre-planning combined with a little common sense will go a long way in keeping your pets safe and their stress levels at a minimum.
Keeping Your Dog Safe in the Hot Weather - If your dogs are like mine, they think there is nothing better then a nice ride in the car on a hot summer day, or a cool evening, or a…lets’ face it, some dogs just love to go on car trips. It doesn’t matter where to, they just want to be close to their family. However, if the car trip is to run errands, even quick stops, it is best to leave your dog safely at home where it is cool rather than risk his life in a parked car. When left in a parked car, even for short periods of time, pets are susceptible to heat stroke, brain damage and death.