Houston Humane Society Disaster Preparedness With the aftermaths of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, now more that ever is the time to prepare for the next storm.

Disaster Preparedness: Pet Safety Checklist  Weather crises, such as hurricanes, are events that most people along the gulf coast prepare for as there is usually advanced warning.  However, other disasters, such as fires and chemical spills, need to be taken into consideration since they can happen without warning with no time to prepare.   No matter what the emergency, it is critical that you take your pet with you. Pets left behind may be lost, injured or killed.   The following is a checklist of items to have prepared and ready to go.  q       Portable pet carrier for cats, small dogs, other small animals and birds.  Clearly label the carrier with pet’s name, your name, address and phone number. Get pet(s) accustomed to carriers ahead of time.  Keep in easily accessible place.              The following can be packed in an airtight Rubbermaid or other suitable container:   q       Dry towels or blanket to line carrier and use if necessary.                                                q       Roll of paper towels.                                                                                                                  q       Food and water bowls for each animal.                                                                           q       1-2 weeks supply of food and water in airtight containers.  Check periodically and replace with fresh as needed.  Include your pet’s favorite treats and toys. q       If you use canned food, hand-operated can opener.                                                         q       1-2 weeks supply of all medications your pet is taking clearly labeled with administrative instructions.  Be sure to include flea preventative and Heartworm treatment. Check these supplies periodically, and adjust and replenish as needed.                                                                                                         q       Litter and litter boxes for cats.  Empty soda water boxes or disposable aluminum pans are excellent as disposable litter boxes.             q       Health records including vaccinations in case of evacuation or need to stay in boarding kennel or other facility.  q       Collar with current identification tag and microchip.                                         q       Recent color photographs of each pet in case they get lost.                                              q       Check out boarding kennel beforehand and keep the name and number handy.      q       Numbers of pet-friendly hotels and motels.                                                          q       Written instructions on caring for your pet in the event you must leave pet at the boarding kennel.              q       Animal First Aid Kit (Ask your veterinarian what your pet will need).                   q       Leashes.  Keep extra in emergency kit.                                                                              Your pet will be under severe trauma during this time so keep his/her routines as familiar as possible. Keep your pet(s) with you at all times or in a safe boarding kennel.  Do not leave a pet at home alone.  Take along familiar toys.  Get pet accustomed to riding in the car in advance to alleviate some of the stress. To download your copy click here.

Shelter from the Storm – Planning Ahead for Your Pet        Before a disaster strikes, plan where you and your pets will seek shelter, in case you need to evacuate your home.   Do not leave your pet behind. If it is not safe for you to stay, it will not be safe for your pet.  Do not count on disaster shelters, local animal shelters or local boarders to keep your pets.   q       Red Cross disaster shelters will only allow service dogs for people with disabilities: pets will not be allowed.       q       Local humane societies and boarding facilities may be evacuating their own animals to safety, or they may be too full to take in more pets.  q       Make a list with phone numbers for vet clinics and boarding kennels outside your immediate area.   q       Call animal shelters outside your immediate area to see if they will provide temporary foster care and shelter for pets in an emergency.  Talk to your coworkers, neighbors, friends and relatives about helping each other’s families and pets during natural or man-made crises.  q       Can you stay with out-of-town friends or relatives? Have you made arrangements with them for you to bring your pets with you?  q       Do you have a vehicle in good working condition that can transport both you and your pet to safety? If you cannot leave, do you have a safe hiding room with proper supplies?  q       If you are away from your pet during an evacuation order, do you have a neighbor or friend who can get your pet to safety? If so, do they have a key to get into your house? Does your pet know them? How will your pet respond to them?  Always know where pet-friendly hotels and motels are located.   q       The following are some of the hotel/motel chains that do allow pets, though policies (deposits, weight restrictions, and number of pets in each room) will vary by location. Call in advance about each individual pet policy.  *AmeriSuites   *Best Western   *Courtyard Marriott  *Days Inn    *Holiday Inn *Howard Johnson   *La Quinta   *Motel 6   *Red Roof Inn    *Residence Inn To download your copy click here.

From the start of the new year to the end of the year, the Houston Humane Society is here to help you and your companion animals live happy, safe and healthy lives.  During the often busy and hectic HOWLiday season, schedules and routines will be turned upside down and sometimes it's the little things that are often forgotten.  Without any prevention or preparation, the HOWLiday season's dangers can be fatal for your pets.  Listed below are the upcoming holidays and their dangers so that loving and caring pet owners like you can prevent HOWLiday accidents.

	Halloween A time of excitement for children and parents but that is not the case for your pets. Trick or Treaters in their festive costumes can frighten your animal. Furthermore, the continuous knocking on doors can startle your pets. Help calm your pets by placing them in a secure room (away from the noise) until the night is over. By bringing your animals indoor, you are also keeping them safe from predators, both humans and other animals. In addition, remember to watch Fluffy or Fido around the candy…chocolate can be deadly. Lastly, make sure all young trick or treaters know not to give candy. Note: The Houston Humane Society will not adopt solid black cats or kittens during the week of Halloween.
	Thanksgiving & Christmas These are times where the food is in abundance. Foods like chocolate is poisonous to animals and poultry bones can split and cause your pet to choke and/or puncture vital organs. Make sure to keep your pet(s) on their regular diet and keep the table scraps to a minimum. Remember: DO NOT give bones or chocolate to your pets
	New Year's, July 4th & Labor Day Fireworks, food and fun but these holidays bring bright lights and loud noises that can startle and scare pets. Put them in a secure place (inside the home) until the night is over. Furthermore, when you are barbecuing those hamburgers, hot dogs and chicken-REMEMBER to keep the table scraps to a minimum and definitely keep those chicken bones away from your pet. Remember: DO NOT give bones or chocolate to your pets
	Plant Poisonous to Pets     PLANT TOXIC PARTS PLANT TYPE Aconite roots, foliage, seeds garden flower Apple seeds cultivated tree Arrowgrasses leaves marsh plants Atropa belladonna entire plant esp. seeds, roots garden herb Autumn Crocus entire plant garden flower Azaleas entire plant cultivated & wild shrub Baneberry berries, roots wildflower Bird-of-Paradise pods garden flower Black locust entire plant esp. bark, shoots tree Bloodroot entire plant esp. stem, roots wildflower, herb Box entire plant esp. leaves ornamental shrub Buckeye sprouts, nuts, seeds tree Buttercup entire plant esp. leaves wildflower, garden herb Caladium entire plant house plant Carolina jessamine flowers, leaves ornamental plant Castor bean entire plant esp. beans house plant Chinaberry tree berries tree Chockcherries leaves, cherries, pit wild shrub Christmas berry leaves shrub Christmas Rose rootstock, leaves garden flower Common privet leaves, berries ornamental shrub Corn cockle seeds wildflower, weed Cowbane entire plant esp. roots wildflower, herb Cow cockle seeds wildflower, weed Cowslip entire plant esp. leaves, stem wildflower, herb Daffodil bulbs garden flower Daphne bark, berries, leaves ornamental shrub Day lily entire plant is toxic to cats garden & wildflower Death Camas leaves, stems, seeds, flowers field herb Delphinium (Larkspur) entire plant esp. sprouts wildflower Dumbcane entire plant house plant Dutchman's breeches roots, foliage wild & garden flower Easter lily entire plant is toxic to cats flowering house plant Elderberry leaves, bark, roots, buds tree Elephant's ear entire plant house plant English Ivy entire plant esp. leaves, berries ornamental vine European Bittersweet entire plant esp. berries vine False Flax seeds wild herb False hellebore roots, leaves, seeds ornamental flower Fan weed seeds wildflower, herb Field peppergrass seeds wildflower, herb Flax seedpods wildflower, herb Foxglove leaves wild & garden flower Holly berries shrub Horsechestnut nuts, sprouts tree Horse nettle entire plant esp. berries wildflower, herb Hyacinth bulbs wild & house plant Iris leaves, roots wild & garden flower Jack-in-the-pulpit entire plant esp. roots, leaves wildflower Jatropha seeds tree, shrub Jerusalem Cherry unripe fruit, foliage ornamental plant Jimsonweed entire plant esp. seeds field plant Laburum seeds, pods, flowers ornamental plant Lantana foliage house plant Larkspur young plants wildflower Laurels leaves shrub Lily of the valley leaves, flowers garden & wildflower Lupines seeds, pods shrub Manchineel Tree sap, fruit tree Matrimony vine leaves, shoots ornamental vine Mayapple unripe fruit, roots, foliage wildflower Milk vetch entire plant wildflower Mistletoe berries house plant Monkshood entire plant esp. roots, seeds wildflower Moonseed fruit, roots vine Morning glory seeds, roots wildflower Mountain mahogany leaves shrub Mustards seeds wildflower Narcissus bulbs garden flower Nicotiana leaves garden flower Nightshade leaves, berries wildflower, vine Oaks shoots, leaves tree Oleander leaves ornamental shrub Philodendrons entire plant house plant Pokeweed roots, seeds, berries field plant Poinsettia leaves, stem, flowers house plant Poison hemlock leaves, stem, fruit field plant Potato shoots, sprouts garden plant Rattle box entire plant wildflower Rhododendron leaves ornamental shrub Rhubarb leaves garden plant Rosary pea seeds house plant Skunk cabbage entire plant esp roots, leaves marsh plant Smartweeds sap wildflower Snow-on-the-mountain sap field plant Sorghum leaves grass Star of Bethlehem entire plant wildflower Velvet grass leaves grass Wild black cherry leaves, pits tree Wild radish seeds wildflower Wisteria pods, seeds ornamental plant Woody aster entire plant wildflower Yellow jessamine entire plant ornamental vine Yellow oleander entire plant esp. leaves garden plant Yellow pine flax entire plant esp. seedpods wildflower Yew bark, leaves, seeds ornamental tree Here are some signs of plant poisoning and what to do   if you suspect it.     convulsions   diarrhea   abdominal pain   pale gums or tongue   swollen tongue   refusal of food   continual vomiting        If your pet is showing any one of these symptoms it is   possible it has eaten a poisonous plant. Plant poisoning   is dangerous and medical attention should be sought   immediately. Try to identify the plant that has been   ingested and have its name available when you contact   your vet.
	Houston Humane Society Suggests Round up the whole family and bake a batch of homemade treats for your four-footed family members and enjoy a happy, safe and healthy HOWLiday season! For Recipes of tasty treats for your precious pooches and/or cherished kitties! Cheese Please Hound Rounds 2 Cups white flour 1/2 cup low-fat cottage cheese 1/2 cup shredded low-fat cheddar cheese 2 tbsp. vegetable oil 1 tsp. chopped cilantro leaves 2/3 cup water 3/4 cup chopped peanuts Step 1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees Step 2. Mix together flour, Cheddar and cottage cheese, cilantro leaves and parsley Step 3. Add oil, peanuts and water and mix thoroughly Step 4. Break off golf ball-size pieces and shape into balls Step 5. Place on a greased baking sheet and bake for 30 minutes. Step 6. Cool on a rack and serve. Store in a sealed container in the refrigerator.
	Simple Simon's Birthday Bones Tip: Use these tasty treats for any and all occasions! 2 cups whole-wheat flour 1 tbls. baking powder 1 cup natural peanut butter 1 cup skim milk Step 1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees Step 2. In a bowl, combine flour and baking powder. Step 3. In another bowl, mix peanut butter and milk. Step 4. Add wet mixture to dry, and mix well. Step 5. Turn out dough on a lightly floured surface and knead out to 1/4 inch thick ad cut our shapes. Step 6. Place on a greased baking sheet and bake for 20 minutes or until lightly brown. Step 7. Cool on a rack and serve. Store in a sealed air-tight container.
	Thanks to Three Dog Bakery for providing the HHS with these yummy treat recipes. If you would like to contact them call (713) 522-8779 or by email click here.