PAWSITIVELY PURRFECT PET SITTING

08/27/2024

07/19/2024

OREGON-

This survey will be used for the public to report suspected harmful algal blooms. The questions are based on those included in the One Health Harmful Algal Bloom System (OHHABS) Environmental Form.

07/19/2024

Pay Attention Oregon-

Get updates from the Oregon Health Authority when cyanobacteria advisories are issued and lifted.

07/10/2024

07/07/2024

Another fail Oregon Humane Society
Stop bringing in pets from out of state, you could save SO MANY more in your own backyard!!

Marion and Polk have been let down. What happens when your out of state pets get loose, abandoned or dumped? You only take back the easy ones. You are contributing to the problem.

Spay/neuter and microchip your pets!!
-Cassie Farm

The Oregon Humane Society in Salem is no longer contracting to assist with stray animals. Previously, we would transfer all of the stray dogs we picked up to the care of OHS for vet treatment and sheltering until their owners could collect them or they were adopted out. Other local police agencies also contracted with OHS. With these services no longer available, we currently have very limited resources and options for taking in loose dogs.

At this time, we are asking for additional assistance from the public to help identify owners of loose dogs so we can get them back home as quickly as possible. You can help us do that by calling in any loose animals you see, photographing them, and posting them on social media (community boards, lost and found pet pages, etc). The loss of this contract impacts all of Polk County and adds an additional burden on law enforcement agencies who handle dog at large calls.

We appreciate the support of our community and those members that will provide the assistance necessary to locate owners as soon as possible while we work through this transition period. We will post updates in the future as we finalize plans for housing and treating the dogs in our community that get loose or have been abandoned.

07/05/2024

🎆 Fireworks Safety for Pets 🎆

Fireworks can be stressful and dangerous for our dogs, wildlife and veterans. Here are some essential tips to keep your pets safe and calm during fireworks:

1. Keep Them Indoors: Loud fireworks can scare pets. Keep them inside in a quiet, secure area.

2. Create a Safe Space: Set up a comfortable, quiet space with their favorite toys and bedding. Use white noise, fans, or calming music to help drown out the sound of fireworks.

3. Update ID Tags: Ensure your pet’s ID tags and microchip information are up to date, just in case.

4. Avoid Fireworks: Keep pets away from fireworks and other potentially harmful items.

5. Head Out of Town: If possible, take your pet to a quieter spot for the evening to avoid the noise and stress of fireworks.

6. Plan Aftercare: Arrange for decompression outings and calming activities for your pet in the days following the fireworks to help them recover from any stress.

For more detailed guidance, check my bio for a link to my Boom-Be-Gone Fireworks Protocol.

Keep your pets safe and sound during fireworks! 🐾❤️

04/30/2024

📣Calling all animal lovers & advocates! 📣

Are you ready for a day filled with furry fun and heartwarming stories? 💙Join us at OSU Pet Day on Saturday, May 4th from 10 am to 3 pm. 🐕🐾

Stop by our booth to learn all about our mission to support senior dogs in need. Whether you’re a seasoned pet parent or just looking to lend a paw 🐾, we welcome you with open arms (and wagging tails)! So mark your calendars, grab your friends 🐩🐕‍🦺🐕 (furry or otherwise), and join us for a day of celebration and education. Let’s make OSU Pet Day a bark-tastic event to remember! 🙌🎉

Please share to make this event super successful! 😊

04/08/2024

Pet owners have been given some important advice.

03/18/2024

We are happy to announce that Marion County Dog Services will open its adoption kennels for regular walk-through hours every Tuesday and Thursday, beginning Tuesday, March 19th.

Kennels will be open for walk-through from 12pm-6pm. Visit the shelter and meet adoptable dogs!

All adoptable dogs can be viewed online at mcdogs.net.

Don't see the right match for you? Consider signing up to volunteer or joining our foster program to learn more about our dogs!

02/28/2024

Meet several of our adoptable Shepherds this Saturday, March 2nd!

MCDS will be participating in an event hosted by our amazing rescue partner, Salem Dogs!

Visit Ace Hardware, located at 706 Madrona Ave. in Salem, Oregon. We'll be located in the garden center.

German Shepherds are one of the most common breeds that we see at Marion County Dog Services. Visit us at Ace Hardware to learn more about the amazing Shepherds we have available for adoption!

Thank you to Salem Dogs and Ace Hardware for making this event possible.

Please note: While we cannot conduct adoptions on-site, any interested adopters can complete an adoption questionnaire in-person or online. A team member with then reach out to you to schedule an adoption appointment.

01/22/2024

Prevent Pet Suffocation is excited to launch our latest Infographic with the data from our Pet Suffocation Survey!

Please share this important infographic with your family, friends, pet sitters, and dog walkers. Ask your vets, rescue groups, and pet shelters to post it on their social media sites and in their offices, etc.

To save the infographic, click on it, then right click, and choose "Save Image As". The infographic will be available to print off from our website soon. Sharing spreads awareness! Thank you!
www.preventpetsuffocation.com

01/13/2024

Ice Melt Dangers Alert! ❄️ While essential for safe sidewalks, these sneaky substances can harm our furry friends. Safeguard your pets by wiping their paws after outdoor excursions, investing in pet-safe ice melts, or using booties for added protection. If your pet ingests ice melts, don't wait! Contact an emergency vet immediately.

11/26/2023

It’s a gamble you guys 🎲

When you bring your seizing dog to the vet and the FIRST question is not “what do you use for flea and tick meds?” Then you know we have a big problem here.

Most people tell me that when their dog has a seizure or any neurological issue they take the dog to the vet and after tons of bloodwork and test after test with a clean bill of health that their vet never, not once, asked about flea and ticks meds that might have been given.

How are consumers ever going to learn about the dangers of this product if vets don’t even CONSIDER that this drug MIGHT be part of the problem? When you get a new puppy and you go to the vet guess what is in your puppy pack? Yup. One of these chewables.

I’m not sure what else to do so I just spread the word. It’s all we can do.

11/08/2023

Please consider contributing to you local animal shelter!! The volume of daily intakes is sky high! Be responsible by not condoning to breeding and please spay/neuter your pets when age appropriate.

Today we're sharing our capacity levels. Each kennel highlighted in blue indicates that a dog is being housed in that kennel. Yellow indicates that there is more than one dog being housed in a kennel (typically for small dogs who come in together or puppies). As you can see, we do not have any open kennels.

We're asking for help from our community today. If you have found a lost or stray dog, please post it on social media and report to us @ 503-566-6988. If you can safely keep the dog in your care while looking for the owner, please consider doing so. Most dogs are reunited with their owners within 24 hours of being lost.

If you have lost your dog, please call us at 503-566-6988, and we will be happy to reunite you with your pup if it has been brought to our shelter!

We have several dogs available for adoption. If you can adopt, please fill out a questionnaire at mcdogs.net. All adoptions are by appointment.

Thank you for supporting Marion County Dog Services!

10/28/2023

Lucky Leach, LLC Shares Great Advice!

HELP YOUR ANXIOUS DOG SURVIVE HALLOWEEN 🎃👻 -Julia Henriques
It’s Halloween and that can be a tough time for your dog. First, even before the holiday, there are big inflatable monsters 👻 and wailing creatures in front yards as you walk around the neighborhood. Then on Halloween night, hours of excited, squealing kids roaming the streets in weird costumes … with the doorbell ringing every couple of minutes. More social dogs may love helping you greet the kids, but if you have an ANXIOUS or SHY dog, Halloween can be a TERRIFYING experience. There are some natural remedies you can use to help calm your dog. And you can try some of these ideas to let your dog have a trauma-free evening.

✅FEED AND EXERCISE EARLY
Give your dog a good walk before dark, so he’s as relaxed as possible. Definitely make sure he gets out to p*e and p**p before the streets are teeming with kids. Feed him earlier too. Lots of dogs aren’t interested in food when they’re scared. And he may get sleepier after a meal.

✅LET HIM FIND A SAFE SPACE
Encourage your dog to settle down somewhere he feels safe. That may be his crate or favorite bed, the basement or bedroom … and probably not near the front door or windows. Here are some other things you can do to help him relax.. Close your curtains or shades to muffle sound. Play classical or other calming music (you can find some especially for dogs on YouTube) or keep the TV on. Try pressure wraps, like a Thundershirt or T-Touch Wrap. Even a tight T-shirt can help him feel more secure. Try distracting him with a raw bone, treats or even an interactive toy. If you’re not too busy handing out candy, don’t be afraid to massage or snuggle with your dog. If he needs to go out, take him out on a leash … DON’T let him loose in your yard where he might panic and escape.

✅CALMING REMEDIES FOR HALLOWEEN
Here are some natural calming remedies to help your dog relax.
1️⃣ CBD OIL- CBD (cannabidiol) oil can be really effective at relieving fear and anxiety. CBD oil comes from h**p, not ma*****na, so it doesn’t contain more than 0.3% THC (tetrahydrocannabinol). It can still relax your dog, but it won't make him high.
Your dog’s endocannabinoid system has receptors throughout his central nervous system. These connect with receptors that stimulate serotonin production. Serotonin is a natural mood stabilizer. There’s even some dog specific research. I’m The AHVMA (American Holistic Veterinary Medical Association) surveyed dog owners who gave their dogs CBD. The researchers asked how well CBD oil worked for the dogs … and while they didn’t ask about Halloween anxiety, they did ask if CBD helped with thunderstorm or fireworks phobia.
Nearly 22% of the dog owners using CBD for this purpose said it was … “more effective than conventional meds.” Almost 30% of them said CBD worked as well as conventional meds.
🔻How To Give Your Dog CBD
Buy a product made for dogs (preferably a full spectrum, organic tincture) and follow the dosing instructions on the label. Start giving it before your dog gets anxious, and give a few more drops if your dog seems to need a higher dose. Cannabinoid receptors vary between different individuals, so you may have to give more CBD to get the calming effect.
But higher doses will likely just make your dog a bit sleepy, so you don’t have to worry about side effects. In fact, the AHVMA researchers asked what side effects the owners they surveyed noticed. The most common side effect was sedation (followed by dry mouth and increase thirst) so your dog might get a little sleepy. That could be helpful if he’s feeling Halloween stress.

2️⃣ HERBS- There are several herbs that have calming effects for dogs. Most sedative herbs shouldn’t be used long term, but they can work very well to manage dog’s fear/stress

German Chamomile- This is a mild herb that’s well known for soothing the digestive tract, but it can also soothe your dog’s anxiety. Use a glycerin tincture and give .25-.50 ml per 20 lb, twice daily leading up to the event. Place it in your dog’s mouth or drinking water. Chamomile is very safe but occasionally some dogs can be allergic. Start with a small amount to make sure your dog doesn’t have a reaction.

Oat Straw- Dr Randy Kidd recommends oat straw as his first choice to manage anxiety. You can make a tea and add it to your dog’s food, so it’s easy to give. Buy organic oat straw at a health store and make a tea using 1 tsp herb to 8 oz water. Let it cool and add 2-4 oz to your dog’s food per day at stressful times.

Valerian Root- Valerian root is an effective anti-anxiety herb. Starting 3 days before the holiday, give 5 drops of valerian root tincture, 3-4 times a day (for any size dog). ⚠️Don’t use valerian in pregnant dogs. Start slowly and increase gradually to avoid tummy upset.

3️⃣ FLOWER ESSENCES- Flower essences are gentle extracts that can be very effective in calming your dog. You can dose them straight into your dog’s mouth, or you can just put them in the water bowl. It doesn’t matter if other dogs drink from the same bowl. The magic of flower essences is that they don’t affect an animal who doesn’t need them. Flower essences are completely safe so you can’t overdose them. Keep giving them as needed throughout the evening … even every 15 minutes or so.
RESCUE REMEDY Is the easiest one to use. It's a famous blend that you can buy in any health food store and even many pharmacies. It’s a combination of Rock Rose, Impatiens, Clematis, Cherry Plum, and Star of Bethlehem, which each help with different types of fear or anxiety.
You can also consider some individual remedies or read the descriptions online and combine a few that you think suit your dog.
‼️Here are some that are good for fear-
-Rock Rose- good for panic and fear
-Mimulus- for fear of known origin
-Red Chestnut- if your dog is very clingy
-Cherry Plum- good for loss of self control, so try it if your dog seems panicked or is barking uncontrollably.
There are also companies that sell blends for specific issues. Aldaron Essences and Green Hope Farm are two good ones you can find online.

✅During peak doorbell-ringing hours on Halloween, you can give flower essences every 15 minutes until your dog feels calm, then re-dose as needed.
4️⃣ ESSENTIAL OILS- First, some cautions about essential oils. Always buy high-quality oils. For safety, always dilute the oil, using 3 to 6 drops of essential oil per ounce of a carrier oil like almond, jojoba or apricot kernel oil. ⚠️Don't give essential oils by mouth. You can use your own choice of essential oils, diluted as above and applied to your dog's collar or bandana, or in a diffuser. If you diffuse essential oils, you must leave a door open so pets can leave the room if they're uncomfortable. Some oils that are good for anxiety are frankincense, violet leaf, Linden blossom. Roman, chamomile and lavender.
Or try the recipe below from aromatherapist Kelly Holland Azzaro.

‼️Essential Oil Recipe For Fearful Dogs- Start with a carrier base and choose ONE carrier oil such as, 2 oz Jojoba oil or 2 oz aloe vera (Aloe barbadensis) gel or lavender hydrosol for a spray mist.
🔻Suggested Essential Oils:
8-10 drops of neroli
6-8 drops of petitgrain
4-6 drops of lavender
Shake well to combine thoroughly. Then spray your dog's neck or rub on his collar or a bandana around his neck. ⚠️Note: usually it’s best to avoid putting essential oils directly on your dog’s coat or skin, where he could lick it off and get an internal dose by mistake. The above diluted recipe is safe for topical use.