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Halloween Safety Tips for Your Pet
By: Susan Bulanda
Animal Care ExpHeidi Ganahl the CEO of Camp Bow Wow offers the following safety tips for Halloween.
Fido may look adorable in his new superhero costume, but that cape won’t necessarily keep him out of harm’s way. Dressing up your pet for Halloween can be harmful.
Costumes should not constrict the animal’s movement, hearing or sight, or impede their ability to breathe, bark or meow. Also, it may be helpful to try on costumes before the big night. If your pet seems distressed or shows abnormal behavior, don’t bother.
Before your pet participates in any Halloween activities, take a closer look at his or her costume and make sure it does not have small, dangling or easily chewed-off pieces that they could choke on. Also, watch out for ill-fitting outfits which can get twisted on external objects on your pet, leading to injury.
Putting make-up or face paint on your pet can be harmful. Paints could potentially irritate their skin, or may be eaten. Even make-up that is non-toxic could cause stomachaches or worse.
Candy bags are strictly for the enjoyment of trick-or-treaters, not your pet. Chocolate in all forms, especially dark or baking chocolate, can be very dangerous for dogs and cats.
Give your pooch their own Halloween candy by treating them to their favorite doggy snack. If you do suspect that your pet has ingested something toxic, please call your veterinarian or your local control center immediately.
Keep an eye out for decorative edible items like Halloween pumpkins and candy corn, when participating in this year’s festivities with your pet. While these are considered to be relatively nontoxic, they can be harmful, causing stomach upset in pets who nibble on them.
Do not take your pets trick or treating. It’s possible that your dog could get spooked by a ghost or goblin and a dog bite or fight could occur.
Happy & Safe Halloween to All!
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Will Blacony Birds Find Your Window Bird Feeders
Yes, we think the answer to that question is definitely a yes!Cruising along through one of social media’s popular sites, we saw this cool image which immediately sparked the idea for a short article on window bird feeders. Along with a recent email from a friend who had just started feeding hummingbirds in her Golden, Co town (and she lives on the 4th floor) – we knew that yes, there are birds who visit balconies to find food or shelter.
Now maybe these are just some city-dwelling pigeons shown here, but the bird homes sure are neat looking. The trick might be to first offer something substantial that birds will see. Maybe something hanging near the ledge, like a birdbath with fresh water, or a suet feeder… something that won’t leave any mess below for neighbors 🙂 They’ll appreciate that too! Keeping a simple saucer of fresh water available at all times may even lure birds to your balcony.
Once birds are familiar with an offering, place a feeder on the window, or glass sliding door. Obviously, it would do best on the stationary door that doesn’t open. Like that famous saying… “if you build it-they will come”.
Window feeders are available in all shapes, sizes and varieties too; for nectar, seed, suet, mealworms, fruit and nuts, the secret is letting birds know you’ve got the goods! And the best news with feeders placed on balconies… no squirrels like the typical backyard. Even if you reside say on the seventh floor, there’s no reason you can’t enjoy the wonderful antics of feathered friends!
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Built-in Squirrel Baffle Solves the Problem
As long as there’s food being offered for birds… there are pesky squirrels trying to get their fair share! And more than their share at that, little pigs can consume their own body weight in less than one week. It’s so frustrating in fact, some folks just give up on feeding their birds.With the correct feeder, it doesn’t have to be this way at all. Should squirrels be a real nuisance around your place, and everything you’ve tried in the past doesn’t seem to work, a bird feeder with a built-in squirrel baffle may just be the answer.
Some companies who manufacture these are experts in the field… no pun intended. Designs have been tested and perfected over the years to thwart shenanigans of the most clever critters. Arundale, BirdsChoice, and Squirrel Buster are just a few. They pretty much guarantee that squirrels won’t get past the baffles that are incorporated into their designs.
Available in both hanging and pole-mounted styles, these high quality bird feeders will last for many seasons of squirrel-free enjoyment. Some of the designs have been around for years, with proven track records of success.
Save yourself birdseed, money and aggravation with a quality bird feeder that already includes a squirrel baffle… you birds will thank you too!
Birding Tips, Information & News
