AniMel’s A.R.C Pet Services

12/20/2024

Holiday Safety Tips:

The holiday season is upon us, and many pet parents plan to include their furry companions in the festivities. As you gear up for the holidays, it is important to remember to keep your pet’s safety top of mind. For whichever holiday you may be celebrating, the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (APCC) has the ultimate holiday guide to help keep your pets safe!

1. Delicious Dangers
While this time of year may include some of the best food, we recommend keeping your pet’s diet the same as any other day. Fatty, sweet and spicy foods as well as turkey or chicken bones can all be dangerous to our pets. While a small piece of boneless turkey is a fine treat, it is always better to ere on the safe side and avoid accidentally feeding your pet something that could have a toxic spice or ingredient in it. If your celebration includes alcoholic beverages, be sure not to leave your drink unattended where pets can get to them.
Use their full list of hazardous foods to know what to look out for!

2. Watch Out for Wires
You may have more festive décor out this time of year, so be sure to keep wires, batteries and glass or plastic ornaments out of paws' reach. A wire can deliver a potentially lethal electrical shock and a punctured battery can cause burns to the mouth and esophagus, while shards of breakable ornaments can damage your pet's mouth and digestive tract.

3. Mistletoe, Oh No!
Both mistletoe and holly can cause gastrointestinal upset and cardiovascular problems if ingested by pets. Many types of lilies that are typically found in holiday bouquets are highly toxic and can cause kidney failure in cats. Poinsettias can also make pets sick with mild to moderate gastrointestinal irritation. So, be sure to keep floral decorations out of paws reach or replace the traditional holiday plant with a faux alternative! You can take a more in-depth look at poisonous house plants with our full list.

4. Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree
Christmas trees can pose quite a few potential threats to furry companions. If you are planning to put up a Christmas tree, make sure it is tightly secured so there is no chance it can tip over and hurt any pets nearby. Other tree tips include:
a. Make sure the tree water is covered and/or inaccessible to curious pets. Tree water is a breeding ground for bacteria that could cause nausea, diarrhea or stomach upset.
b. You can’t see the contents of a wrapped present, but pets might smell it. Be sure to keep wrapped food or candy off the ground!
c. Lastly, steer clear of tinsel for decoration. Ingested tinsel can cause severe vomiting, obstructed digestive tract, dehydration and could even require surgery. Stick to lights and ornaments instead!

5. Caution Around Candles
Whether you are lighting a menorah or filling your home with scented candles, make sure you do not leave any candles unattended. Curious paws and happy wagging tails could knock them over, potentially burning your pet or starting a fire.

6. Loud Noises
It can be easy to forget that our pets may be sensitive to loud sounds while having fun. Loud music, fireworks, celebratory poppers or noisemakers can scare our furry companions. Make sure there is a safe space your pet can retreat to if they need some quiet time, like an interior room. Please also keep in mind that strings of thrown confetti can get lodged in a cat's intestines, if ingested, perhaps necessitating surgery.

7. Talkin’ Trash
While it may be the last thing on your mind throughout the day, our smart pets know where they can find some sneaky leftovers. Make sure you take out the trash or secure the lids on any garbage cans that may have food, broken decorations or any other holiday hazards inside.

8. Snow Globes
Snow globes are made with ethylene glycol, the same chemical used in antifreeze, which is highly toxic to all pets. If a snow globe breaks, the sweet smell can attract pets to taste it, leading to potentially fatal intoxication. Be sure to keep snow globes away from pets and thoroughly clean up any accidental breakages.

9. Salty Hazards
Ice melt and salt-dough ornaments—even when dry—may be enticing to pets but can cause life-threatening imbalances in electrolytes. We recommend using pet-friendly ice-melting agents!

10. Mind your Medication
Keep your medication safely put away and out of paws’ reach. If you are planning on having guests stay with you, make sure they keep any medications away from pets as well. Those unfamiliar with pets may not know how curious some of our furry friends can be, so have houseguests leave their medication in a closed cabinet rather than a bag or suitcase.

11. Tinsel-less Town
Kitties love tinsel as it’s sparkly, light-catching and easy to bat around and carry in their mouths. But ingestion can lead to an obstructed digestive tract, severe vomiting, dehydration and possible surgery. It's best to brighten your boughs with something other than tinsel.

I hope you and your pets have a safe, happy holiday season!

11/24/2024

Thanksgiving Pet Safety:

Thanksgiving is a special holiday that brings together family and friends. It also can bring some hazards for pets. Follow these tips to keep your pets healthy and safe during the holiday.

Watch what your pet eats
Overindulging in the family feast can be unhealthy for humans, and even worse for pets. Fatty foods are hard for animals to digest. Poultry bones can damage your pet’s digestive tract. And holiday sweets can contain ingredients that are poisonous to pets.

KEEP THE FEAST ON THE TABLE
Plain, boneless, and skinless turkey is generally safe for pets in small portions, but other table scraps—including gravy, sauces, dressing, and meat or poultry fat or skin—can be hard for pets to digest, and sometimes even a small amount can cause pancreatitis. The bones themselves can cause choking or intestinal blockage. Plus, many foods that are healthy for people are poisonous to pets, including onions, raisins, and grapes. If you want to share a Thanksgiving treat with your pet, make or buy a treat made just for them.

NO PIE OR OTHER DESSERTS FOR YOUR PETS
Although small pieces of pumpkin can be a healthy snack for pets, pumpkin pie can contain ingredients that are toxic to animals, so it’s best to save pumpkin and other pies for human enjoyment. Chocolate can be harmful for pets, even though many dogs find it tempting and will sniff it out and eat it. The artificial sweetener called xylitol—commonly used in gum and sugar-free baked goods—also can be deadly if consumed by dogs or cats. Uncooked, yeast-based bread dough can cause problems for pets, including painful gas and potentially dangerous bloating.

PUT THE TRASH AWAY WHERE PETS CAN’T FIND IT
Dispose of turkey carcasses, bones, and any related trash in a tightly secured trash bag placed in a closed container outdoors or behind a securely closed door.

WATCH YOUR PETS AROUND FESTIVE DECORATIONS
Some flowers and festive plants can be toxic to pets. These include amaryllis, baby’s breath, sweet William, some ferns, hydrangeas, and more. Plus, festive table decorations like corn cobs, pine cones, or gourds can cause choking or intestinal blockage if swallowed. The ASPCA has lists of plants that are toxic to both dogs and cats, but the safest thing to do is simply to keep your pets away from all plants and table decorations.

Keep pets safe when people visit
If you’re hosting a gathering or overnight visitors, plan ahead to keep your pets safe and make the experience less stressful for everyone.

REMEMBER THAT VISITORS CAN SOMETIMES UPSET PETS
If you know your dog or cat is nervous when people visit your home, put the animal in another room or a crate with a favorite toy. This will reduce the emotional stress on your pet and protect your guests from possible injury. If your pet gets particularly upset by houseguests, talk to your veterinarian about possible solutions to this common problem.

WATCH THE EXITS
Even if your pet is comfortable around guests, make sure you watch them closely, especially when people are entering or leaving your home. While you’re welcoming hungry guests and collecting coats, your pet may make a break for it and become lost outdoors.
Also, make sure your pet has proper identification with your current contact information—particularly a microchip with up-to-date, registered information. That way, if they do sneak out, they’re far more likely to be returned to you. If your pet isn’t already microchipped, talk to your veterinarian about the benefits of this simple procedure.

CONSIDER YOUR EXOTIC PETS
Remember that some people are uncomfortable around exotic pets and these animals may be more easily stressed by the festivities. For everyone’s safety, keep exotic pets away from your guests.

Be prepared for holiday travel
Whether you take your pets with you or leave them behind, you can take steps to safeguard them when traveling for Thanksgiving or at any other time.

ALWAYS SAFELY RESTRAIN PETS IN VEHICLES
This means using a secure, fitted harness or appropriate-sized carrier, placed in a location clear of airbags. Doing this:
* Protects your pets if you get in an accident
* Prevents them from causing dangerous distractions for the driver
* Can prevent small animals from getting trapped in small spaces
If you must transport your dog in the bed of a pickup truck, never leave them loose. Use a secured and appropriately sized and ventilated dog kennel.

11/02/2024

📣 Important Announcement ‼️

AnimMel’s now has availability all day on Wednesday’s and Thursday’s for Nail Trims and Grinding of the nails on all dogs/cats/some small animals & exotics! With that being said I would like to transition my nail clients on Sundays to one of these days to have availability to spend with my own animals ( Rayah & Me In Picture Below ) and getting caught up for the following week but will still offer drop in care as needed for my clients going out of town or working as well as all the other days 🥰

Nail Trims with Grinding Included or Not are $15 for the First Pet and any Additional is $10 Per Pet and I travel all around Chattanooga and some surrounding areas for the same price and I work with all breeds and behaviors! ❤️

10/10/2024

Starting tonight I will not be responding to inquiries until October 21st and will be in contact with very minimal people during my time away! Thank you for understanding ❤️

09/20/2024

📣 Attention to existing/future clients: I will be out of state from October 10th through 20th! Please make sure you have your dates to me prior to October as I would like to make sure your pets are cared for before/during and after while I’m gone as I do have pet sitters I network with that hopefully will be available while I’m away to take care of your needs! ❤️ Please be considerate and book at no later than 1 week prior to your needs as I am not going to be available and other pet sitters need to have enough time to do a meet and greet prior to caring for your pets to ensure they and you/your pets are a good fit! Much love, Melody ❤️❤️

09/10/2024

Some Amazing Facts About Our Canine Friends:

Dogs noses are wet to help absorb scent chemicals

This amazing dog fact might answer a long-standing question that dog owners have. Why are dogs noses wet? The answer is that dog’s noses are wet to help them absorb scent chemicals! Their nose secretes a special mucus that helps to absorb these chemicals, and then they lick their noses to sample them, helping them understand what the smell is.

The Beatles song ‘A Day in the Life’ has a frequency only dogs can hear

In an interview in 2013, Paul McCartney said that he added a frequency only dogs can hear to the end of the Beatles song ‘A Day in the Life’. So watch your dog when you play the song! How’s that for an amazing dog fact?

Did you know that three dogs survived the sinking of the Titanic?

The Titanic was very dog-friendly, with excellent kennel facilities by all accounts for the canines onboard. It has been reported that there was even supposed to be a dog show on Titanic on April 15th.Out of the twelve dogs onboard only three survived Titanic’s tragic sinking, a Pekinese and two Pomeranians. The dogs were in first class and included a Pomeranian puppy - which her owner wrapped in a blanket to escape with, and everyone thought she was carrying a baby. Move over Rose and Jack!

The Saluki is the oldest dog breed

The world's oldest known breed of domesticated dog is the saluki, believed to have emerged in 329 BC. Saluki dogs were revered in ancient Egypt, being kept as royal pets and being mummified after death. There are carvings found in Sumer (present-day southern Iraq) which represent a dog, closely resembling a saluki, which date back to 7000 BC.

Dogs have three eyelids

Many owners haven’t heard of this interesting dog fact, but did you know that your four-legged friend has three eyelids? The third lid is called the ‘haw’ or nictitating membrane, and it’s responsible for keeping the eye protected and lubricated.

09/09/2024

Amazing Cat Facts: Fun Trivia About Your Feline Friend 🐈🐈‍⬛

You may love your cat, but you may not be fully aware of just how cool He/She is — and His/Her overall species — really is. For example, did you know that cats have an extra organ that allows them to taste scents? Or that they developed meowing as a way to communicate exclusively with humans?

Clearly, there’s more to your little feline friend than meets the eye. So, to help you fully appreciate how awesome cats are, I want share my favorite fun facts about these mystical creatures. I pulled together a list of the most amusing cat facts that you can share with your friends and family.

Facts About Cat Anatomy & Physiology:

* Cats are believed to be the only mammals who don’t taste sweetness

* Cats’ claws all curve downward, which means that they can’t climb down trees head-first, they have to back down the trunk.

* Cats’ collarbones don’t connect to their other bones, as these bones are buried in their shoulder muscles.

* Cats have an extra organ that allows them to taste scents on the air, which is why your cat stares at you with her mouth open from time to time.

* Cats’ rough tongues can lick a bone clean of any shred of meat.

Facts About Cat Health & Wellness:

* Cats are crepuscular, which means that they’re most active at dawn and dusk.

* Cats are fastidious creatures about their “bathroom.” If you have more than one cat, you should have one litter box for each.

* Your cat’s grooming process stimulates blood flow to his/her skin, regulates his/her body temperature and helps him/her relax.

Facts About Cat Communication Cues:

* A slow blink is a “kitty kiss.” This movement shows contentment and trust.

* Cats mark you as their territory when they rub their faces and bodies against you, as they have scent glands in those areas.

* Cats may yawn as a way to end a confrontation with another animal. Think of it as their “talk to the hand” gesture.

* If your cat approaches you with a straight, almost vibrating tail, this means that he/she is extremely happy to see you.

If you don’t have a cat, hopefully this will make you want one!

08/28/2024

Prince ( Chihuahua) is here to formally introduce you to the newest member of our Family Rafael Morrison ( Kitten )!! Just a few short weeks ago my Brother was driving down Morrison Springs Road in Red Bank and as he was driving he witnessed two young kittens estimated to be about four weeks old get ran over and killed and he happened to look over and see a third heading towards the road and had stopped to save him and as I was preparing to care for him to later be adopted at the appropriate age, and after he had been neutered, I then realized that he was a month old on August 12 which would’ve put him born around the time of my housefire on July 12 and the day that my soul dog had passed away, and it just felt like it was meant to be and the more I interacted with him the more I realized that he has many of the characteristics of my dog Levi that had passed away, and I just couldn’t bring myself to depart from him!

08/13/2024

Hey 👋 Everyone! I’m slowly recovering from last month’s house fire and the devastating loss of my two beloved soul animals Levi and Palmer and I appreciate everyone for all the love, care and support from so many amazing people and it has truly held me and kept me going as well as all of the babies I get to take care of and I just wanted to update and let everyone know that I am slowly starting to open back up and take on more nail trimming and drop in care visits! I truly appreciate everyone’s patience with me during this time as it has been very overwhelming but I’m starting to come around ❤️❤️ here’s some of the pets I’ve been able to care for the last couple of weeks and has truly helped me during a difficult time to be doing what I love the most!

07/31/2024

I picked some things I know we could use since I’ve been asked to create a list but I’m sure I’m missing some things ❤️ I started it as a wedding registry but now we need basically most things since losing our home.

Melody Bradley and Jeffrey Selvidge's Wedding Registry

07/21/2024

Update

07/21/2024

Today is the day!

07/18/2024

This Sunday this is Happening and it’s the best BBQ in town so come on out and I would absolutely love to see you all!!

07/14/2024

I know I am not able to get back in touch with people at this time but any kind of pet care services I have scheduled in the next couple of weeks please reach out to Annabel! I will get back to everyone as soon as I am able, but at this time if you are needing care, I want to make sure that your animals are still cared for with your upcoming trips and I promise she is amazing and I trust her with my whole life!

07/12/2024

I’m sorry and I will publicly update as much as I can as soon as I recover things like getting my remaining animals transported to me. I will send a further thank you and update and that I never expected that kind of outpouring and just want you all to know that if you have an animal, please love them so much for me and kiss them and spoil them all day. Every day as much as you can and just know that your best friend would literally die to save your life 😭

Also an amazing person and rescue will be given a huge shout out once I’m able to gather my thoughts as she was able to recover my dog’s body so he can get the respect he truly deserves ❤️❤️

07/11/2024

Last week went out with a bang 🧨 and I enjoyed spending Independence Day/Week doing what I love the most and that is making sure all my Furiends were Safe, Loved and well taken care of and it went very smooth and luckily none of my Furiends were frightened with all the festivities going on and no emergencies or incidents were had!

06/29/2024

🎆 July 4 safety 🎆

Fireworks, picnics and other Fourth of July traditions can be great fun for people. But all of the festivities can be frightening and even dangerous for animals. Noisy fireworks and other celebrations can startle animals and cause them to run away; holiday foods can be unhealthy; summer heat and travel can be dangerous; and potentially dangerous debris can end up lying on the ground where pets can eat or play with it.
Whether or not you're planning your own Independence Day celebration, it's important to take precautions to keep your pets safe both during and after Fourth of July festivities.

Preparing in advance:
* Make sure your pets—cats and dogs alike—have identification tags with up-to-date information. If you have horses, you might consider marking a safety (breakaway) halter with your contact information and leaving it on your horse during this stressful time.
* If your pets aren’t already microchipped, talk with your veterinarian about microchipping. This simple procedure can greatly improve your chances of getting your pets back if they become lost.
* If your pets are microchipped, make sure your contact information in the microchip registry is up to date.
* Take a current photo of all of your cats, dogs and horses—just in case.
* If your pet has historically been anxious on this holiday, or if you have reason to expect potentially harmful reactions, consider behavioral therapy to desensitize your pet and reduce the risk of problems. Some pets may need medication. Consult your veterinarian or a veterinary behaviorist.
* Make sure the environment is safe and secure. If your neighbors set off fireworks at an unexpected time, is your yard secure enough to keep your pet contained? Are pasture fences secure enough to keep horses or other livestock confined? Evaluate your options, and choose the safest area for your animals. Make improvements if needed to make the area more secure.

Safety during July 4 celebrations:
* Leave your pets at home when you go to parties, fireworks displays, parades and other gatherings. Loud fireworks, unfamiliar places and crowds can all be very frightening to pets, and there's great risk of pets becoming spooked and running away.
* Consider putting your pets in a safe, escape-proof room or crate during parties and fireworks.
* Keep horses and livestock in safely fenced areas and as far from the excitement and noise as possible.
* If you're hosting guests, ask them to help keep an eye on your pets to make sure they don’t escape. Placing notes on exit doors and gates can help both you and your guests remain vigilant.
* Keep your pets inside if you or your neighbors are setting off fireworks.
* Keep sparklers, glow sticks, fireworks, charcoal and kabob skewers away from curious pets.
* Don't let pets get near your barbecue grill while it is in use or still hot.
* Avoid the urge to feed your pets table scrapsor other foods intended for people. Be especially careful to keep them away from these common foods that are actually toxic.
* Remember that too much sun and heat (and humidity!) can be dangerous to pets. Keep them inside when it's extremely hot/humid, and make sure they have access to shady spots and plenty of water when outdoors. Don't leave pets outside for extended periods in hot weather. And know the signs that a pet may be overheating.
* Never leave your pet in your car when it's warm outside. Vehicle interiors heat up much faster than the air around them, and even a short time in a locked car can be dangerous to pets.
* If you're travelling out of town for the holiday, consider leaving your pets at home with a pet sitter or boarding them in a kennel. If you need to bring them with you, be sure you know how to keep them safe.
* Follow safe food handling and hygiene practices to protect your family and guests.

After the celebrations:
* Check your yard for fireworks debris before allowing pets outside to play or relax. Even if you didn't set off fireworks yourself, debris can make its way into your yard, where curious animals may pick it up to play with or eat.
* Check your pastures and remove debris to protect horses and livestock.
* If you hosted guests, check both your yard and home for food scraps or other debris that might be dangerous to pets, such as food skewers.

Have a Happy 4th and make sure to get refills on your pets anxiety medication, pet CBD oil or treats or diffusers and to block out the noise with Music, the TV or a white noise sound machine!

❤️ Mel

06/28/2024

Let’s Support Our Shelter Friends ❤️❤️

It costs an average of $25 a month to feed an animal at HES. We currently have 600 animals in our care. Will you donate $25 to feed a shelter animal for a month? Let's feed all the hungry animals in the shelter! Visit heschatt.org/donation

Comment below once you've made your donation, and we'll give you a shoutout with the animal you've helped!