Resources

How to Keep Your Pets Safe While Driving Travel season has arrived, and many pet owners are preparing to take their furry friends on their next vacation. However, traveling with pets requires more than just letting Fido hop into the passenger seat. Keeping your pet safe while driving isn’t difficult; with proper supplies, your pet can stay safe while driving and enjoy the ride. Here’s How to set yourself and your pet up for a successful drive: Familiarize Your Pets with Riding in the Car Hopping into a moving vehicle is not second nature to pets. For many animals, the movement of a car is stressful and confusing. It’s critical to familiarize your pet with this new environment before taking a long road trip. Here’s how to introduce your pets to the car: Exercise Pets Before Drives A well-exercised pet reduces stress responses and is more likely to stay calm in a new environment. Take your dog for a 15-minute walk around the block before trying a trip in their car. A lengthy play session with their favorite toy can achieve similar results for cats or other animals. Bring Familiar Toys or Blankets Bring your pet’s favorite toys and blankets...

Find resources local to you that provide free or discounted services, food banks, etc. for your companion animal. Visit: https://pets.findhelp.com/

Disaster Preparedness / Evacuating your Animals Emergencies come in many forms, and they may require anything from a brief absence from your home to permanent evacuation. Each type of disaster requires different measures to keep your pets safe, so the best thing you can do for yourself and your pets is to be prepared. The ASPCA American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals offers simple steps you can follow now to make sure you’re ready before the next disaster. As every evacuation is different, we have no idea until it happens where people can go, if their pets can stay with them in the evacuation center, what roads would be open, and what agency would be helping. That is why it is crucial to HAVE ANIMAL CARRIERS/TRAILERS AND TRANSPORTATION READY. Leave as soon as you get the evacuation notice. DO NOT LEAVE YOUR PETS BEHIND OR SET THEM FREE. At the time of evacuation you should be given the safest route out and where to go or call for the evacuation center and assistance once you are SAFELY AWAY FROM YOUR HOME. Plan in advance for shelter alternatives that will work for both you and your pets such...

Neglect or Abuse of an Animal or Animals Cruelty to animals, also called animal abuse, animal neglect or animal cruelty, is the infliction by omission or by commission by humans of suffering or harm upon any non-human animal. If you observe or suspect animal neglect or abuse, please contact animal control for your area immediately so they can investigate. City of Sedona Animal Control  928-282-3100 Yavapai County Animal Control  928-771-3282 Coconino County Animal Control  928-679-8756

Wildlife Resources If you encounter a sick, injured, or orphaned wild animal, the webpage links below will help guide you. Arizona Game & Fish  602-942-3000 Flagstaff Office 928-774-5045 Running W Wildlife Center, Cornville 928-821-0098 Please contact if you require snake removal in the Verde Valley: Sonoran Reptiles  928-273-5232 If there is a wild animal that is causing a public safety issue for any reason, please contact Game & Fish or the: Department of Public Safety 928-773-3700  

Pet Rehoming Here is a great page from Adopt-A-Pet.com on how to find a new home for your pet:  https://www.adoptapet.com/blog/how-can-i-find-a-new-home-for-my-pet/ You can also set up a pet profile on Adopt-A-Pet.com to help find your pet a new home. They have the largest non-profit pet adoption website. It is a simple, reliable, and free program to help you place your pet from your loving home directly to another. To find out more information about it, go to:  https://rehome.adoptapet.com/how-it-works For more information on how the Humane Society of Sedona can help go to:  https://humanesocietyofsedona.org/shelter/owner-surrenders/

How to Pet Proof Your Home Keep your pets—and your possessions—safe. Before you bring a cat or dog into your home, it’s wise to pet proof your space. The Automobile Club of America offers some sound advice.

Pet Loss and Grief “For one species to mourn the death of another is a noble thing.” Aldo Leopold Best Friends Animal Society offers a number of resources to help you cope if you are grieving the loss of a pet.   “Trusted Care for Companion Pets” Mingus Cremation for Pets  928-852-0353

Seniors and Pets There are numerous reasons for adopting a pet. From companionship to security, pets can provide seniors a better quality of life and improve aging in place. Finding the right pet for you or your family member is easy, and the benefits can be far-reaching. Aging In Place has a guide that will help you decide on the best choice for you. Attached is a guide that carefully examines the benefits and risks of owning a pet in assisted living, as well as what to consider before adopting a pet into an assisted living community.   For more information: Assisted Living for Seniors with Pets  

Perfectly Imperfect: Home Modifications for Disabled Pets Life with a disabled pet can be challenging. The responsibilities of frequent vet visits, daily medications, and special nutrition can be demanding even for the most dedicated and attentive pet parent. But the joys of caring for a dog or cat with special needs are plentiful, and the work is rewarding. https://www.homeadvisor.com/r/home-modifications-for-disabled-pets/

  Make sure you read this list from the ASPCA about these little known substances that would result in a terrible outcome for your pet.

Online Pet Care and Training It can be stressful and upsetting when a pet is sick or injured, especially during non-business hours. While emergency vets are available, they can be expensive and inconvenient. Online Doctor reviewed several online pet care and veterinary services to recommend the best of the best, for you and your furry companions.   Training is essential to building a bond with your dog. And, it’s easier, more enjoyable, and more effective when done in the dog’s home with its owner. GoodPup provides private training with certified trainers who teach cues and advanced behavior on topics like crate training, barking, begging, and jumping. Sign up today by clicking on the image below to receive an exclusive lifetime discount and GoodPup will make a donation to the Humane Society of Sedona!

Covid-19 and Pets You have probably seen and heard a lot about the coronavirus (COVID-19) and how to keep you and your family safe. But what about the other, furrier members of the family—your pets?  The U.S. Food and Drug Administration offers some questions and answers to help keep you, your family, and your pets safe during the pandemic.

Bringing a Cat into Your Family Check out this quick list of important tips for bringing home a new kitty! https://www.grove.co/welcome/cat-adoption-guide/

Introducing Cats – Step by Step Process *There is a myth that cats are solitary animals and don’t want feline companions-that is simply untrue. Cats live in colonies for a reason; they love their friends and family! 1. Get “Base Camp” ready. Have a room ready for your new cat. They will need food, water, and litter boxes along with appropriate hide places, toys, a cat tree, treats, bedding, etc. Use the blanket given to you by us at adoption which will smell like your new kitty. Here is a video on how to set up Base Camp for your new kitty. Here is a video on setting up a room for a shy or fearful cat 2. Start New Kitty in “Base Camp” The new kitty should be in Base Camp to start. Once they are comfortable and confident in this room, meaning they come out right away and seem to want to see what is on the other side of the door, you can move onto the next stage. But if they are hiding, creeping around and seem uneasy, they are not yet ready. It’s important to socialize your new kitty properly while in their Base Camp. You...

Teaching Cats to Scratch Appropriately 1. Provide Appropriate Cat Scratchers: -Cats need places to scratch which is why they will choose your furniture and other places to scratch if you don’t provide alternatives. -You want to have a variety of scratchers; ones they can sit on and scratch, along with ones they can reach up and stretch and scratch. Cats enjoy reaching up high and extending their entire body while scratching like some wild cats would do on tree trunks. Here is a Floor Scratcher – Click Picture to Purchase: Here is a Scratching Post (We encourage you to get a very tall cat tree which would include a scratching post.) – Click Picture to Purchase: 2. Prevent Inappropriate Scratching: -If cats are still scratching furniture, you can use packing tape or even double-sided tape on the areas they are scratching. They do not like the feeling of it and will avoid it. -You can also try just covering that area with a blanket. Eventually they will learn and you can remove the tape and blankets. 3. Move Scratchers: -If you notice your cat is scratching a particular area of the couch or furniture, move your scratchers close to that...

Litter Box Training Tips and Tricks Great advice from cat expert Jackson Galaxy and a summary of the tips and tricks you can use at home: Most cats will just automatically use the litter box after being shown where it is, but some cats may have issues. Kittens in particular might need extra training while cats who have suffered some sort of trauma or perhaps lived outside their whole lives may need some support. Here are some basic tips and tricks! Most Important: *At LEAST one litter box per cat. If you have 3 cats, you should have at LEAST 3 boxes. Most experts say that having an extra litter box is key to curb any competitive or disruptive behaviors. Therefore if you have 1 cat, 2 boxes are best; 2 cats, have 3 boxes, etc. *You have to clean or scoop the boxes every day! Cats are inherently clean animals and are averse to dirty litter boxes. If the boxes are not clean, they will look elsewhere. You should be emptying the litter box completely, washing the box out, and replacing with fresh litter every week. *Make sure their food and water is as far away as possible from...