Find out how to help your furry friends during tropical storms and hurricanes
For pet owners, a natural disaster like a tropical storm or hurricane can wreak havoc on the lives of their animals, whose routines may have been disrupted because of inclement weather. The wet weather has also caused an increase in the number of stray animals that local shelters are caring for. Carol Childs, who runs the National Humane Society in Carrollwood at 4039 Gunn Highway, said she's received about 18 cats since Debby hit Tampa Bay on Sunday. "People have been finding them (animals) in puddles," she said. "Because the ground is so wet, they are crawling into motors (of cars)." Childs said people who normally don't mind seeing stray animals are worried about them because of Debby's effect on Tampa Bay. "Because of the rain, people …
At least seven dogs I know have contracted kennel cough in the last month and a half. Here's what to watch for, and how to respond if your dog has symptoms.
In the last month and a half, many dogs in this area have contracted kennel cough. I know of seven dogs from the local dog park that have gotten it, and who knows how many others that I don’t know about. I've been one of the lucky ones (knock on wood), and Kaiah and Grayson have escaped this round. A friend told me that someone told her that he would not be coming back to the park because other people don’t vaccinate their dogs. She asked him if he had vaccinated his dog, and he said, “Well, yes, from rabies, but that is it.” This made me think that maybe I need to talk a little about kennel cough and preventive measures. How Do Dogs Get Kennel Cough? Just like humans, dogs can get a virus many different ways. Dogs contract kennel cough …
