Archive for the ‘Seasonal Health Alerts’ Category

Don't leave home without your license!

Along with the 2010 New Year comes a reminder to all friends of canines that it’s once again time to buy all our dog licenses for any dog over the age of 4 months.

Why not do so early this year and save $5 to $10, depending on where you are located.

In the City of Victoria, when you purchase your dog license between Jan 01 and March 31, you will save $10.

In the Oak Bay District, when you purchase your dog license between Jan 01 and March 31, you will save $5.

Also, if your dog has been spayed or neutered in the preceding 12 months, your license will be free this year, so long as you provide proof from your veterinarian clinic or hospital indicating the date of the procedure.

Boris is already sporting his 2010 tag and this year it is a square, blue tag that the Animal Control Services Officers will be looking for when they cruise local parks.

If your dog is found not wearing an up to date license, you can be fined at least $50. right on the spot so make sure your best friends are legal this year and don’t forget to put on the new tag whenever you are enjoying being a Dog About Town.

© DogAboutTown.ca – 2009 – All rights reserved.

While you and your family are busy merry making this Holiday Season, please make sure that your canine & feline best friends don’t accidentally get into the booze. Alcohol is toxic, dangerous and possibly fatal to our furry friends.

Boris says, “Make certain your don’t end up looking like this over the Holidays”….

7 Rum & Cokes

One Large Purple Haze

One bottle of Tequila!

© DogAboutTown.ca – 2009 – All rights reserved.

Boris and his humans wish all our furry friends and their humans a safe and happy HOWLoween this 31st of October 2009.

All humans please remember that us dogs have much more sensitive ears and noses than you do and we can find the noise and smell of fireworks quite disturbing.

In order to minimize any negative effects fireworks may have on us, please ask your humans not to take you out to any noisy fireworks displays and to please turn up the stereo or play you a nice, soothing movie so that you won’t be so upset by the booms and whistles you may hear outside in your neighbourhood.

Also, if we are frightened, please don’t pet or cuddle us, as giving affection when we are feeling afraid or nervous can traumatize us even more. When you remain calm and pretend all is fine, we won’t feel so scared because we look to your energy for direction and support.

And when it comes to all those tricky treats, please keep them away from us, because human treats are not usually good for us dogs – especially chocolate which is really toxic to us. Also our dog noses work overtime at Halloween with all those treats everywhere, so please make sure that we can’t get ahold of any gum, candy or food wrappers because we could choke, get an upset stomach or an intestinal  blockage.

Also, those human party snacks can be way too salty for us and as for alcohol, we could die if we get into the booze, so please help us to have a dog safe Howloween,  by keeping all of those human treats far out of our reach.

Happy Howloween!

© DogAboutTown.ca – 2009 – All rights reserved.

Foxtail Grass

There are approximately 60 species of spear grass, commonly known under many different names, including, foxtail grass, porcupine grass, needle grass, silver spike grass, etc. and “spear grass” is the generic term used for any wild grass that has barbed seeds.

There is a great deal of foxtail barley grass growing in the Victoria area (it looks similar to wheat), including the off leash area of Beacon Hill Park, and although this grass is beautiful and graceful in it’s green and purple growing stage, once it dries out, the spears easily attach themselves to anything that brushes past, including your best friends.

No matter what name you give this insidious grass, there is no denying that… Read the rest of this entry »