Helpful Information

Pets will die in hot cars and you may be their only hope of survival.  Individuals may be absolved from being sued for breaking into locked vehicles as long as they have done the following:

• Checked to make sure the vehicle is actually locked
• Have a reasonable belief, based upon the known circumstance, that entering into the vehicle is necessary because the vulnerable person or domestic animal is in imminent danger of suffering harm
• Called 911 or law enforcement either before or immediately after breaking into the vehicle
• Use only the necessary amount of force to break in.
• Remain with the animal (or person) until first-responders arrive on the scene.  

Keep in mind that when outside temperatures are only 78 degrees, the temperature inside a parked car can soar to 100°F in just minutes, and on a 90-degree day, the interior temperature can reach as high as 109° in less than 10 minutes.  This will cause organ damage and an extremely painful death. 

Introducing a new dog into the home can be a tricky.  Below are some suggestions for you to consider:

• Meet in a neutral location.
• Have one person managing and handling each dog. 
• Make sure both dogs are on equal footing. One dog loose and off leash and another controlled by you can lead to stress and anxiety and isn’t the right way to introduce dogs to each other.
• Let them approach each other and meet quickly. This might look a lot like when you meet a dog on the street while going for a walk. The important thing here is that you don’t want any escalation of activity between the two. 
• Start off by taking them for a walk around the block before you go into the home. Then, while still on leash, lead them calmly into your home and see how they do. 

Be patient. Some introductions take longer than others, but if things have gone well so far, you can try taking them off leash and keep a close eye on how they do together. It may seem difficult at first, but just like with any friendship, things can take some time. 

See other tips here:   https://resources.bestfriends.org/article/introducing-dogs-each-other 

The Best Friends Organization offers this information about introducing cats and dogs:

 "Some dogs do fine living with cats; others simply cannot live safely with felines. Sometimes, a dog can live with certain cats (depending on their age, temperament and activity level), but not others. Even if your dog has successfully lived with cats in the past, it is important to remember that each dog and each cat is an individual and therefore each introduction is different. "  

We recommend to very slowly introduce your cat and dog.  Let them view each other through a baby gate or a crate.  Have them slowly get used to smells and movements gradually increasing exposure over time.  Keep your dog on a leash until you are sure the two can safely occupy the same room.  

Ask for more suggestions for introductions at the animal shelter when adopting your pet.  Consider the temperament  of both pets before making your choice.  Do your research on introductions before bringing home a new pet.  Adoptapet.com offers additional suggestions here:   

https://www.adoptapet.com/blog/6-steps-to-introduce-a-new-cat-to-your-dog/