Keeping Your Furry Friend Safe on Halloween

I know that a lot of dogs love to dress up for Halloween. Me? Not so much. I’m more interested in all the extra goodies that appear at my house around this time of year. Unfortunately, human treats are not usually good for us dogs! Candy – especially chocolate – can be extremely toxic to us. Artificially sweetened candy, gum and other goodies may also contain xylitol, a highly toxic substance. We may also ingest food wrappers, causing a risk of choking, upset stomach or tummy blockage. Various party snacks can be too salty and may contain ingredients that can poison us. Alcoholic beverages and dogs do not mix – they pose a significant risk of severe illness or even death! Keep all of these “human goodies” far out of our reach. If you are not positive that you can keep us away from these hazards, then consider confining us to another area of your home during the festivities, such as a nice, comfy bedroom. Keeping appropriate dog treats around for us can be a great idea, but remember not to overfeed. Sliced carrots or apples (hold the caramel) can be tasty and healthy snack alternatives for people and dogs alike! And watch those costumes. We like to eat them!

Fulbright Elementary Visit

Today my pal Jenna and I visited with children at Fulbright Elementary in Little Rock. We talked about the shelter and why we have so many homeless animals. Most of the children had dogs and cats of their own, so I asked them what are some of the most important things that our furry friends need. These are some very smart kids and knew all the answers! Here they are: food and water, shelter, grooming, exercise, a collar with a name tag, and lots of love and attention. They did forget to mention doggie treats, but that’s okay. As you can see from my photos, I get lots of doggie treats. The kids had a collection for the shelter and gave us a whole carload of Pedigree dog food, which is just what they needed. Thanks Fulbright Elementary!!! Poor Jenna had to go back to the shelter when we were finished because she doesn’t have a home yet. Her owner moved away and left her in the back yard without any food or water. Can you believe it? A nice neighbor saw her there and brought her to us, and we gave her lots of good food so she wouldn’t be hungry anymore. She’s lots of fun to play with. I wish I could have brought her home with me.

Next week we are going to the Youth Home, and then the week after that we are going to Henderson Middle School

Later!

Abner

My Story

Hi Everyone.  My name is Abner, and I am the humane education dog for the Humane Society of Pulaski County, a no-kill shelter in Little Rock, Arkansas.  I have visited with nearly 3,000 children in the central Arkansas area, teaching compassion for all living things.  I talk about what we do at our shelter and why we have so many unwanted animals.  Most of the children have pets of their own so I remind them how important it is to take good care of them.   One of the fun things I do is to ask the children what type of dog I am.   So far, I am a collie, basset, beagle, daschund, Australian shepherd, and corgi.  I am very unique.  I have short stumpy legs and a long body so lots of kids can pet me all at once!  I will add some more photos of where I’ve been later.  I am going to Fulbright Elementary on Tuesday and I’m looking forward to that.  Talk to you later!

Abner