My journey to switching to Cruelty Free products

Recently, I did a Fun Fact Friday on my Instagram and Facebook pages where I told my followers that whenever possible, I purchase cruelty-free products. But, what does that mean? This week I wanted to dive a little deeper into the topic. 

Up until 2 years ago, I was completely ignorant to the fact that many of the products I use on a day-to-day basis were tested on animals. Everything from my personal and household cleansers, fragrances, medicines, hygiene products, and even the majority of the cosmetics I used; came from big corporations that practice animal testing. It came to my attention when my sister had adopted the cutest beagle mix there ever was, Owen, and in doing research about his breed my sister and I learned that laboratories test their products on beagles for skin, hair, and cosmetic products due to their calm demeanor.  After doing further research, and seeing some awful pictures of what happens to these beagles when they are tested on, I was even more horrified to learn that the laboratories euthanize these beagles after their research because they are considered too damaged to be adopted. (Rescue Freedom Project). Being an animal lover, I thought I knew about all the atrocities that humans do to animals, but this one was new to me. I soon learned through animal activist groups that there was something I could do to help the situation: educate myself and change my brand choices for my every day products. 

One group making an impact for animal rights and on the issue of laboratory testing is The Rescue Freedom Project. This amazing organization is pioneering the way in not only educating the public about animal testing, but they are also working with laboratories to help find homes for the animals that are victims of the testing. What is even more amazing is they are working with legislators as well.  Their Beagle Freedom Bill mandates laboratories offer up those healthy survivors of experiments for public adoption. The Rescue Freedom Project is also offering a total of $250,000 in grants for applicants looking for funding of research whose goal is to change animal testing in research to other methods, such as in-vitro and in-silico methodologies (Rescue Freedom Project).

Beagles are not the only animals that these laboratories test on. They also test on rabbits, cats, pigs, goats, and guinea pigs. I feel tremendous guilt that it took me so long to become aware of this issue but I try to tell as many people as I can about my journey to bring awareness to this problem and how I use my dollars both with my purchases and with my donations to the Rescue Freedom Project to put an end to animal testing.

Additionally, this issue is multifaceted. Some companies don’t test all products on animals, but if they test some, you may choose to not purchase from that company at all. Some companies claim they do not test on animals, but only because they have sourced their ingredients from other companies that already performed the testing. 

Personally, the more I know, the more motivated I am to find new ways to help—like this article! If you want to become more conscious about the products that you purchase, you can download a variety of apps that help you understand what companies and products are tested on animals. I use the Cruelty Cutter app. 

While I know that going entirely cruelty-free may seem like an overwhelming task, I suggest making small changes at a time. I started with my cosmetics. I am slowly beginning to incorporate more animal friendly choices into my purchases, and as the culture is becoming more aware of these facts, more companies are coming to the forefront offering a kinder alternative. 

I hope you enjoyed this look into why I choose to go cruelty-free! Let me know what you think in the comments below! Thank you!

Edited by Tara Rico

Canine Flu: What to know

You may have heard about the alarming surge in people contracting the flu in California, but did you know that Canine Influenza is on the rise as well? In California alone there have been 6 dogs confirmed positive with the canine flu since mid December 2017 (TIME). But what is it? What are the symptoms? And what can you do to prevent and treat it?

Canine Influenza is fairly new to the United States. According to the American Veterinary Medical Association, the first case was reported in Chicago in 2015. Since then, this virus has spread and has been cited as infecting a group of shelter cats in Indiana. At this time, there is no evidence that this virus can be transmitted to humans, and the group of shelter cats are the only known species to have become infected besides dogs.

Over 80% of dogs exposed to the canine virus are infected (AVMA). The signs that your dog (or cat) may have the canine flu can closely resemble "kennel cough" or, more technically, canine infectious tracheobronchitis.  If you notice any of these symptoms in your pet, it is imperative you take your animal to their vet promptly. Your vet will do a series of tests to confirm if your dog is infected with the Canine Flu so to treat them properly.

Symptoms my include:

·      A continuous cough that persists even after the treatment of antibiotics

·      Nasal discharge

·      Lack of appetite

·      Sneezing

·      Fever of 104-105 degrees

·      Some dogs may exhibit more severe symptoms such as a higher fever up to 106 and an   increased respiratory rate.

As long as you recognize these signs and take your dog to the vet, there is great success of recovery with treatments of antimicrobials, fluids, and anti-inflammatory medications. Antimicrobials are used to slow the spread of the microorganisms that carry the virus. It is important to know that if your dog does become infected they will have to be quarantined for up to 4 weeks, because the virus is extremely contagious. However, if left untreated, the results can be fatal to your pet. 

Being as informed as possible when being a pet parent helps us to provide the best care for our canine children. If you notice these symptoms, some things you can do to immediately alleviate your pet's discomfort are to continue a good nutrition and to give them supplements such as Phosphorus 30C to boost their immunity. Also making sure that their bed is in a quiet and warm place of your home. (Pets WebMD)  But remember, your vet is your best source for diagnosis and treatment. 

I hope this helps you understand what to look for and how to treat and care for your pets if they become ill. 

Let me know what you thought of this blog post in the comments below!

Edited by Tara Rico

If an unleashed dog or coyote approached your dog, would you know what to do?

Have you ever been on a walk with Sparky, when suddenly there is a bark or a growl that isn’t Sparky? Before you know it, the two of you are about to cross paths with a medium sized dog you’ve never seen before who is bounding at you with a ton of energy. 

In my 13 years of experience, I have encountered stray and loose dogs, and even coyotes approaching me and the animal(s) I am walking. For those who have not had this experience, it can be both unnerving and scary! You're instinct may be to run away, or to try and confront the animal. But what is really the best thing to do? You don’t know if the other animal is aggressive, and if it’s a coyote, that chance is high. Living in California, I felt it was imperative to share with you some tips that have worked for me when put in these situations.

1.     Try and remain calm: Often, our first reaction is to tense up and become anxious. However, the animal you are walking will sense that and will more likely become anxious as well. This can increase stress for the animal (and you!) and your animal can become harder to control. The best way to stay calm is to take a deep breath or two and know that you are prepared for what may happen next…

2.      Don’t run: Many animals, especially pets, will take that as a clue to play (or attack) and start chasing you. Instead, avoid sudden fast or large movements and back away slowly from the oncoming animal so as not to alarm it.

3.      Step in between your pet and the approaching animal: You can square your hips and shoulders toward the oncoming animal and place your body between the two. This body language reinforces your self as a dominant figure.

4. Make loud noises: Or give out commands such as,  “No!” “Sit!” or  ‘Stay." A loose dog may recognize those commands and stop from approaching you.

5.     Carry SprayShield, and use it if necessary: SprayShield is a pet deterrent spray.  The active ingredient (citronella) is a natural essential oil that has been used in human, animal, and environmental applications for thousands of years. Although it can cause discomfort in certain individuals with allergies to citronella, it is considered safe for the vast majority of people and animals.

6.      Get your animal to safety as fast as possible: This is if you have encountered an extremely aggressive dog or coyote.  If you have a smaller dog, pick them up and try to find a safe place to put them (the bed of a nearby truck, behind the fence of a neighbors yard) If you have a big dog sometimes it is best to let go of the leash to have them try to run to safety.

7.      Protect yourself: Once you know your animal is safe, protect your throat and neck area. You can use your arm to be a shield to protect those vital areas of your body.

For all intents and purposes, the information here does not serve as any guarantee. These are just some tips that have worked for me over the years. I strongly encourage you to do your own research on these concerns, so you can also be prepared for the unexpected! Let me know in the comments what has worked for you! 

Edited by Tara Rico

What does it mean when a Business says Background Checked?

As our relationship with technology advances, there has been a real increase for on-demand type services. You can have your groceries, wardrobe, meals, and loved ones brought to your door with the swipe of a finger. With the increase of the presence of these services, there has also been an increase in the use of the term “background check” -- but what exactly does that mean? As it turns out, there is more than one answer, and it varies from company to company. Many companies with on-demand services for drivers, babysitters, and pet-care require their prospective employees to pass a background check. While every state has its own regulations for background-checks and employment, major companies often use either a company called Chekr or Sterling Talent Solutions. 

What I've found in my research is that certain background-check companies screen applicants by using Social Security numbers to identify associated addresses. It then reviews driving and criminal histories in national, state and local databases. Those databases include the U.S. Department of Justice, National Sex Offender Public Website, and ones that flag suspected terrorists. On the other hand, other companies conduct "digital background checks." While these digital background-checks utilize similar databases, it came to my attention that the digital background checks offered by certain companies are simply not as thorough as those that use Social Security numbers.

For the well-vetted employees of Doggie Dreamz, I background-check each prospective representative using a local private investigative agency called The Solution Group out of Van Nuys.  The background check I receive is extremely detailed, including any major and minor infractions nationally and internationally. In talking with the private investigator of this firm, he informed me that for companies like his, they will additionally go to each individual county that the applicant has lived in and check the Criminal and Civil databases as well as the sex offender database. As you can imagine, this can be very time consuming; especially, if the applicant has lived several places in the past 10 years. For this reason, using these type of companies can be more expensive and thus, many companies use the less expensive background groups like Checkr and Sterling Talent to cut costs. Unfortunately, this cost-cutting decision also limits the amount and extent of information available for applicants. This means criminal records from other counties, countries, or from more than 3-5 years ago may be overlooked, putting the consumer at risk. When it comes to safety, hindsight is 20/20. Don''t take shortcuts when it comes to the well-being of yourself and your fur-family members.

I feel it is important to let as many consumers as possible know that just because a company claims to utilize background-checks, that doesn't automatically equal safety and security. Take the time to find out what companies your on-demand groups are using for background checks and how extensive is the data provided.  As a business owner, I take my clients' safety very seriously, so I only hire someone I trust and who has passed a full and thorough background check. This puts myself and my clients at the best kind of ease. Better safe than sorry! 

Let me know if this has been helpful in the comments below.

Edited by Tara Rico

Could your pet be suffering from separation anxiety?

Just like people, pets suffer from anxiety. Especially, separation anxiety when their owners go to work or on vacation.  As a pet sitter, I have seen many of my clients exhibit at least some of these behaviors. Below are 5 of the most common signs of separation anxiety in animal:

1) Going to the bathroom in the house

2) Excessive barking, crying, or howling

3) Destructive behavior such as chewing or digging

4) Trying to escape

5) Pacing, panting, and/or excessive licking

Anxiety left untreated can lead to ongoing and progressive psychological and physical stressors that you and your pet don’t need! If your animal is displaying these behaviors there are several things you can do to ease your animal’s anxiety.

1. Before you leave for work or vacation, consider giving your pet lots of exercise. Giving your dog a long walk or playing with your cat can help release some anxious energy your pet (and you!) may have.   
2. You can also try counterconditioning. Counterconditioning is a technique that provides a positive reinforcement to distract your pet from the negative action they are engaging in. One of the best ways to do this, in my experience, is using a “puzzle” toy with treats inside. Your dog or cat will be motivated physically and mentally to obtain their treat, thus alleviating some of the anxiety they feel when you leave.
3. Leave an item of  clothing that smells like you in your pets bed. Pets are hyper-sensitive to smell and nothing is better to them than your scent. A previously worn shirt or pair of socks could be just what they need to settle down.

If your pet is still exhibiting signs of separation anxiety after trying these techniques, you may want to consider consulting with a dog trainer or animal behaviorist. Some causes of separation anxiety in animals do require more intensive training and counterconditioning. Also, consider getting a dog walker who is also a pet sitter. Having one person to walk and watch your pet while you’re away will help maintain your pet’s routine and can give them comfort while you are away.

Remember, anxiety is a natural emotion for pets and people, but redirecting that energy into positive outcomes and engagement will add to the quality of your pet’s life and your peace of mind! Our pets can feel our emotions, so ease your own stress by making life as stress-free for your pet as possible. I’d love to hear some other tips and tricks you’ve used to help your fur family. Comment below! 

Edited by Tara Rico