Out in the Cold: Make Your Yard Safe for Wildlife This Winter....

From http://www.humanesociety.org

Out in the Cold: Make Your Yard Safe for Wildlife This Winter

And don't forget the food and water

The Humane Society of the United States

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  Once you start feeding the birds, try to keep your feeders full all winter long. iStockphoto

Your neighbors' inflatable reindeer aren't the only wildlife you might spot this time of year. There are plenty of real, live wild animals out there trying to survive, with only fur or feathers to shield them from the cold. Help them out by making sure your holiday decorations are safe and animal-friendly, and share the holiday love by offering a few basics—food, water, and shelter—to get them through the winter. Here's what you can do.

Be careful how you string your lights

Ready to put up your annual holiday light spectacular? Prevent deer from getting tangled in your lights: wait until after the first week of December (the peak of the deer rut, when they are most actively scraping their antlers), and don't put lights on trees less than six inches in diameter.

Attach lights firmly, rather than stringing them across open areas, and use multiple short strands that will be less trouble for any animal who might get caught in them. If an animal does get entangled, contact a wildlife rehabilitator or your state wildlife office.

If you have windows birds might hit, place snowflakes or other decorations 4" apart on them.

Store your summer stuff

Put away hoses, tomato cages, netting, stakes, ties, hammocks, and swings when not in use, and add flagging to clotheslines. Remove volleyball nets, rather than wrapping them around the post, as deer may rub their antlers on the pole and become entangled.

Create a Humane Backyard

Winter eats (and drinks) for the birds

Keep your bird feeders full. If you leave home for vacation, ask a friend or neighbor to fill your feeders, especially when extended cold temperatures and snow cover are expected. Here’s what to offer:

• Sunflower seeds—black oil, striped, and hulled—safflower seeds, and white proso millet
• Vegetarian suet and suet mixes
• Peanut butter mixed with cornmeal, pressed into cracks of bark or spread on a pinecone and rolled in seeds
• Pumpkin seeds (washed and dried in the sun or oven)
• Cut pumpkin shell in pieces
• A straw feeding wreath with wild flower or grass seed heads (sunflowers, purple coneflowers, grass, wheat, rye, barley, safflower)
• Dried, untreated corn on the cob or whole or cracked kernels
• Unsalted popcorn and cranberries, threaded onto cotton string and draped on trees
• Don't forget the water! In winter, water can be hard to find. Make sure your wild neighbors have plenty of water available.

Give your Christmas tree back to nature

Choose a living Christmas tree to bring into your home this holiday. They may be smaller and need a little TLC, but you can enjoy it for years as it grows to provide food and shelter for wild critters. If you go with a cut tree, set it outside after the holiday as a gift for wildlife. 

Winter is the perfect time to start seedlings of native plants, bushes, and trees to plant for your wild neighbors in the spring. Check online or at a local garden center to find the best native plantings for your region. 

If you have trees in your yard that are beginning to die, leave them standing (unless they present a safety risk, of course). Their cavities can supply food and shelter for animals large and small. 

Thanks for visiting my blog for the animals. It's always great to connect with another animal lover. If you and I don't speak up for them, who will? 



Coins That Count: 

Is your coin jar overflowing? Turn that loose change into cash that helps animals by donating to The HSUS at participating Coinstar machines nationwide. Where to go» Find a Kiosk near you...

     https://www.coinstar.com/kioskfinder?element=Charity&parmName=HumaneSocietyofUS

                                             
Until next time….hug your animals. Tell them you love them. If you don’t have a pet, adopt one. Make adoption your first option when seeking a pet. Adopt. Don’t shop. Can’t adopt. Please consider fostering one. The animal will have the taste of home and the shelter will cover the expenses. Can’t foster? Make a donation or volunteer at your local shelter. Please, don’t hunt. Unless you’re starving down in a ditch somewhere, there is no logical reason to do so. Whatever you do, however you do it, please be a voice for the animals large and small. All it takes is one to make a difference, good or bad.
                                     
Together, you and I can make a difference in an animal's life.  I’m one for the animals. Are you? Thanks for visiting. Stay safe. Be strong. Be happy. Smile. Show compassion. Be nice to one another. Pass it onward. If you like what you see here, please consider signing up to become a follower. Please feel free to share this post with others.

    Regards,

    S.J. Francis

    In Shattered Lies: "Good and bad, it's All About Family."  

Available now from Black Opal Books and for sale at on-line retailers and independent booksellers.

   “Some secrets should remain that way.” 

      My Black Opal Books Author Page:

            http://www.blackopalbooks.com/author-bios/bio-sj-francis 

                 My web page: http://www.sjfranciswriter.com  

                                     Twitter: https://twitter.com/sjfrancis419 

 Facebook fan page:  https://www.facebook.com/pages/SJ-Francis/480058115420325 

                  My writing Blog: http://sjfranciswriter.blogspot.com 

                                                     

          A Book Review 4 U: http://abookreview4u.blogspot.com  

                  A Consumer's View: http://aconsumersview.blogspot.com 

Pinterest:   http://www.pinterest.com/sjfrancis419/  

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Good Reads:       https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/33550975-s-j 

And now for some legal stuff: Copyright 2017 by S.J. Francis. Opinions expressed here are solely those of the author, S. J. Francis and are meant to entertain, inform and enlighten, and intend to offend no one.

                                          

Help Chained Dogs in the Winter (or Any Time) ....

     A note from S.J. Francis: At this time of year, any time of the year, but especially in the frigid, cold winter, or hot humid summer, one of the worst things to ever find is an animal, usually a dog chained outside. It's not healthy for the dog to be deprived of time with his/her owner and clean water and access to food. Even with a dog house, it isn't good for the dog to be outside. Anyone can come along and harm your dog, poison it, shoot it, strangle it, let it loose or worse. Is that what you want? I don't. Dogs, all pets, all they really want is to be with you, loved by you, protecting you and sitting or lying down alongside you. If your idea of getting a dog or any pet is to chain it outside, then it's better off that you don't own a pet. Chained dogs have been killed by trespassers, feral dogs and wildlife while tied outside. So, please, please do not chain your dog outside in winter, summer of any time of year. Your dog cannot protect you while chained outside. If you think so, you're so wrong. In the meantime, what should you, a passerby do should you stumble upon a chained dog outside. Should you help? Yes, but how? Here are a few tips I found from a PETA blog to help you out.. Meanwhile, when it doubt, check it out....

5 Steps to Help Chained Dogs in the Winter (or Any Time)                                         

                        What to do if you see a Chained Dog Any time of Year: Watch the Video:

                                              https://youtu.be/Jner10kaNyA

Dogs left outside without proper care or shelter can suffer from dehydration and hypothermia—and in winter, they can get frostbite or even freeze to death. Dogs should never be left outside, but when they’re outside and deprived of access to water or shelter, the situation is an emergency. Their well-being, if not their life, could depend on you to take action. Check out current legislation on tethering dogs in your area and these tips to help chained dogs:

Important: Remember that you should not go onto private property without the owner’s permission.

1. Gather Information

Even if you can’t go on the property, you can still look from the street, the sidewalk, the driveway, and even the front door—these places are considered “publicly accessible.” Take photos and videos if possible, as this evidence will help if you file a complaint. Carefully note what you see, including the key details below.
Location: Record the address or accurately describe the exact location and description of the home if there is no visible house number.

Description: If you can tell the dog’s breed, approximate age, size, and sex, record that information, too.
Dog’s health: The situation may be dire if the dog appears hunched over or if you can see protruding ribs, spine, and/or hipbones.

Shelter conditions: Note whether the dog is tethered, chained, penned, or running loose as well as whether there’s proper shelter within reach. An adequate shelter should have four walls, a raised floor, a solid roof, and an opening covered by a flap in the winter, and it must be waterproof. It should be small enough that the dog’s own body heat can help provide some warmth but large enough to allow for standing up and turning around. If the only accessible shelter is an airline carrier, a wire crate, a barrel, or something else that collects water, ices up, or lets the cold and wind in—or if the dog has no shelter at all—that is extremely serious.

2. Look for Food and Water

Try to see if there are any buckets or bowls of food and water. If the water is frozen or there’s  none at all, take action, as described in the next steps. If the dog seems thin, look for any evidence of food.

3. Talk to the Owner

Knock on the door, and be very polite. Mention how cold it is out and say that you were wondering if the owner could let the dog, who appears to be shivering, in the house. If the owner is worried that the dog will make a mess or gives another excuse, suggest the laundry room, a bathroom, or even a heated garage overnight—anywhere warm.

If the owner refuses to allow the dog inside, politely ask for permission to help. Ask if you can provide the dog with fresh water, food, and/or straw bedding. Emphasize that this will all be free of charge—you just love dogs and would like to help.

4. Call the Authorities

If the owner won’t let the dog inside or allow you to help, be polite, leave the property, and call local animal control. If the agency is unresponsive or closed, call the local police or sheriff. State clearly that the dog has no access to water or shelter and needs to be taken indoors as required by law.

Be calm, firm, polite, and precise, and mention the temperature. Carefully note the time that you called and the person you spoke with. If the dog has no shelter or is sick or injured, stay there until an officer arrives. Remember that your involvement could mean the difference between life and death.

5. Work to Get a Tethering Ban Passed

The best way to prevent dogs from suffering and dying on chains is to get a tethering ban passed. If chaining is legal in your area, please contact your local and state representatives and encourage them to get this cruel practice banned, as so many other jurisdictions have.

*****

And if you’d like to do even more for cold dogs, consider sponsoring a doghouse so that one more neglected pup will at least have a safe place away from bad weather.                                  

SPONSOR A DOGHOUSE HERE: http://peta.vg/doghouse

Copyright 2016 PETA.


     

Thanks for visiting my blog for the animals. It's always great to connect with another animal lover. If you and I don't speak up for them, who will?



Coins That Count:

Is your coin jar overflowing? Turn that loose change into cash that helps animals by donating to The HSUS at participating Coinstar machines nationwide. Where to go» Find a Kiosk near you...

     https://www.coinstar.com/kioskfinder?element=Charity&parmName=HumaneSocietyofUS

                                            
Until next time….hug your animals. Tell them you love them. If you don’t have a pet, adopt one. Make adoption your first option when seeking a pet. Adopt. Don’t shop. Can’t adopt. Please consider fostering one. The animal will have the taste of home and the shelter will cover the expenses. Can’t foster? Make a donation or volunteer at your local shelter. Please, don’t hunt. Unless you’re starving down in a ditch somewhere, there is no logical reason to do so. Whatever you do, however you do it, please be a voice for the animals large and small. All it takes is one to make a difference, good or bad.
                                     
Together, you and I can make a difference in an animal's life.  I’m one for the animals. Are you? Thanks for visiting. Stay safe. Be strong. Be happy. Smile. Show compassion. Be nice to one another. Pass it onward. If you like what you see here, please consider signing up to become a follower. Please feel free to share this post with others.

    Regards,

    S.J. Francis

    In Shattered Lies: "Good and bad, it's All About Family."  Available now from Black Opal Books and for sale at on-line retailers and independent booksellers.

   “Some secrets should remain that way.” 

      My Black Opal Books Author Page:

            http://www.blackopalbooks.com/author-bios/bio-sj-francis 

                 My web page: http://www.sjfranciswriter.com  

                                     Twitter: https://twitter.com/sjfrancis419 

 Facebook fan page:  https://www.facebook.com/pages/SJ-Francis/480058115420325 

                  My writing Blog: http://sjfranciswriter.blogspot.com 

                                                    

          A Book Review 4 U: http://abookreview4u.blogspot.com  

                  A Consumer's View: http://aconsumersview.blogspot.com 

Pinterest:   http://www.pinterest.com/sjfrancis419/  

                 Google Plus: https://plus.google.com/u/0/104831238907682620486/about 

Good Reads:       https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/33550975-s-j 

And now for some legal stuff: Copyright 2016 by S.J. Francis. Opinions expressed here are solely those of the author, S. J. Francis and are meant to entertain, inform and enlighten, and intend to offend no one.

                                         

Considering a Pet? 8 Great Reasons to Adopt a Senior Shelter Pet...

A Note from S.J. Francis:

I love animals. All animals. Small and large. Wild and domestic. Baby and senior and in between. Senior Animals are the best. I speak from experience. I've raised all my babies until they were seniors and passed over the Rainbow Bridge. I've also adopted senior animals and those with special needs and I have no regret about any of them. I currently have five pets, two dogs and three cats. All are rescues and three are all Seniors. Seniors are the best. As the post below says, they're no trouble at all. For the most part, they're mellow and relaxed. I need not say anymore. This post says it best. If you considering adopting a pet, please do adopt and don't shop. Please Adopt a Senior Pet. Everyone loves to adopt babies, puppies and kittens. Seniors are usually left behind in favor of those. Not me. 

Make adoption your first option, always. There's no better way to save a life.

Cheers! S.J. Francis

8 Great Reasons to Adopt a Senior Shelter Pet

The Animal Rescue Site

When you’re considering adding a new pet to the family, it can be tempting to go with the cutest puppy you can find. Shelters are also full of senior pets in need of a home. However, these loving animals are often difficult to place due to their age. Despite this, there are some big benefits to adopting a senior pet.

---

Skip the Housetraining Stage

Senior dogs typically come fully housetrained, so you don’t have to worry about stepping in puddles if you let them out of your sight for a moment or getting up every few hours to take them outside.

---

You Don’t Have to Teach Them Everything

These dogs often have picked up at least some basic commands over the years, such as “no” or “sit.” Older dogs can learn new tricks, too, and their longer attention spans can even make them easier to train than a rambunctious puppy.

---

No More Puppy-Proofing

Most older dogs are well past their chewing stage, so you don’t have to worry about whether you left your shoes out and are going to find them shredded. Senior dogs that do still want to chew have usually learned to stick to appropriate chew toys.

---

They’re Great for Easygoing Families

Even the calmest puppy requires a great deal of training and exercise, but senior dogs tend to be more mellow. They’re also often more accepting of unfamiliar situations and tend to settle into their new homes more quickly.

---

You Know What You’re Getting

Puppies can be unpredictable, especially if you don’t know their backgrounds or medical histories. With a senior dog, you know the dog’s size, color, coat, and personality.

---

You’re Getting a Healthy Dog (or Cat)

Shelter dogs of all ages come with their shots and having been spayed or neutered, but senior dogs come with the added benefit of a thorough medical history. You don’t have to worry about a hidden genetic issue, such as hip dysplasia, that may come out later.

---

They Fit Into any Lifestyle

Older dogs are far more flexible than puppies and are typically happy to stay at home or head out for an adventure. You don’t have to worry about socialization or waiting until a vaccination series is finished before heading to dog-friendly areas.

---

You’ll Be a Hero to a Deserving Pet

---

Many senior dogs spend a long time in the shelter and may become depressed. Some have been separated from long-term homes that were unable to care for them. Adopting a senior dog saves lives, and they repay it with kindness and gratitude. For more inspiration, read about these lucky senior dogs who found security and love.


Copyright 2016 The Animal Rescue.com Blog
See the Original Post: http://blog.theanimalrescuesite.com/cs-senior-adoptions/?gg_source=ars&gg_campaign=Ad%20-%20468x250news-slidercssenioradoptionsjuly2016ars&gg_medium=house&gg_content=2016-07/468x250newsslid_160707073047.jpg


                                         

Thanks for visiting my blog for the animals. It's always great to connect with another animal lover. If you and I don't speak up for them, who will? 

       Coins That Count:

Is your coin jar overflowing? Turn that loose change into cash that helps animals by donating to The HSUS at participating Coinstar machines nationwide. Where to go» Find a Kiosk near you...

     https://www.coinstar.com/kioskfinder?element=Charity&parmName=HumaneSocietyofUS

                                           
Until next time….hug your animals. Tell them you love them. If you don’t have a pet, adopt one. Make adoption your first option when seeking a pet. Adopt. Don’t shop. Can’t adopt. Please consider fostering one. The animal will have the taste of home and the shelter will cover the expenses. Can’t foster? Make a donation or volunteer at your local shelter. Please, don’t hunt. Unless you’re starving down in a ditch somewhere, there is no logical reason to do so. Whatever you do, however you do it, please be a voice for the animals large and small. All it takes is one to make a difference, good or bad. 
                                               

                                                    
Together, you and I can make a difference in an animal's life.  I’m one for the animals. All animals. Large and small. Domesticated and wildlife. Are you? Thanks for visiting. Stay safe. Be strong. Be happy. Smile. Show compassion. Be nice to one another. Pass it onward. If you like what you see here, please consider signing up to become a follower. Please feel free to share this post with others.

    Regards,

    S.J. Francis

    In Shattered Lies: "Good and bad, it's All About Family."  Available now from Black Opal Books and for sale at on-line retailers and independent booksellers.

   “Some secrets should remain that way.” 

      My Black Opal Books Author Page:

            http://www.blackopalbooks.com/author-bios/bio-sj-francis 

                 My web page: http://www.sjfranciswriter.com  

                                     Twitter: https://twitter.com/sjfrancis419 

 Facebook fan page:  https://www.facebook.com/pages/SJ-Francis/480058115420325 

                  My writing Blog: http://sjfranciswriter.blogspot.com 

          A Book Review 4 U: http://abookreview4u.blogspot.com  

                  A Consumer's View: http://aconsumersview.blogspot.com 

Pinterest:   http://www.pinterest.com/sjfrancis419/  

                 Google Plus: https://plus.google.com/u/0/104831238907682620486/about 

Good Reads:       https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/33550975-s-j 

And now for some legal stuff: Copyright 2015 by S.J. Francis. Opinions expressed here are solely those of the author, S. J. Francis and are meant to entertain, inform and enlighten, and intend to offend no one.