It's Memorial Day Weekend Blog Hop! Tips on Keeping Pets Safe While Having Fun & Honoring Our K9 Vets

Wolf Salutes Our Veterans

Memorial Day Weekend. You can feel the excitement in the air as the summer is unofficially kicked off...in some areas the balmy weather is just arriving and pre-season to-do lists include opening up the family swimming pools, cranking up the BBQ grilles and filling the air with delectable smells, hearing the hum of lawn mowers trimming the grass, and packing the family car for the first long weekend jaunt of the season. Please keep in mind that in all of the fun of having backyard parties, folks visiting, and road trips, please be sure to keep the furkids safe. Some tips to remember to have a fun and safe holiday:

• Keep pets in a separate room or kennel while guest are arriving and leaving to avoid any escapes and to help quell any anxieties.
• Keep collar and tags on in case they get spooked or sneak off.
• Keep a leash nearby for emergency roundups.
• Keep lit candles and lighters out of their reach.
• Keep them away from hot/flaming BBQ grilles.
• Do not use pesticides where your pets will be.
• Watch out for poisonous yard plants.
• Keep access to swimming pools limited so the furkids can not accidentally fall in. Have an access ladder or float available in case they do.
• Keep backyard gates closed and locked. 
•  Keep a watchful out for foods and beverages that are harmful, i.e. alcohol, chocolate, onions, grapes, certain nuts, chicken bones, caffeinated drinks (including that iced tea and iced coffee!), garlic, and salt. And ladies, watch those purses! Gum with xylitol, pain relievers, and medications are toxic to dogs! For a full list of harmful foods, visit the ASPCA website.
• Keep your vet, after hours clinic, and poison control numbers posted near your phone and in your cell phone. 
• If you are traveling, please be sure to safely restrain your pet either with a pet seat belt or crate. And NEVER leave a pet in a hot car, even if the windows are cracked. If you see a dog in a hot car, report it immediately and get the pet help! (According to Mydogiscool.com, even if it is an 82°F day, inside a car the temperature can be a deadly 109°F !)

But let's not forget the real reason for the holiday. Memorial Day. A Day to remember our veterans and their sacrifices so that we may all enjoy the fun and frolicking times. We pay homage to our veterans, both two- and four-legged. Since this is a canine blog, I'd light to highlight some of the K9 veterans and say a big "Thank You" for all they do, do, and will continue to do in years to come as working canine soldiers.

The U.S. War Dogs Association would like to honor the United States War Dog with their own commemorative stamp. You can sign the petition to have the War Dogs recgonized on a U.S. Postal Stamp by visiting the War Dog Commemorative Stamp petition site.

To view videos and photos of War Dogs, visit the U.S. War Dogs Association website.

Did you know that the Siberian Husky and Malamutes were used as War Dogs during WWII? I have also previously written about Buck, a Siberian Husky pictured here, who was the U.S. War Dogs Ambassador. For his service, he deserves to be remembered. Buck journeyed North of the Rainbow Bridge on March 23, 2006, but his service and story will always be remembered. Buck - you did us proud.

Harley reading about War Dog Buck, the Husky.

If you'd like to learn more about Buck and the War Dogs, you can visit Buck's Heroes.  As many of you know from previous posts, this is a beautiful book we purchased and have on our bookshelves here at the FiveSibes™ homestead and is a fitting book to read this Memorial Day. 

Harley looking at the illustrations of K9 heroes.

Beautiful ill-

ustrations 

depict the story about how Buck and his handler, Vietnam War veteran Johnny Mayo, visit the Vietnam War Memorial in Washington, D.C. 30 years after the war to meet up with other handlers. While there, Buck starts to see and hear the ghosts of war dogs past, who tell Buck the story of what it was like to be a canine soldier serving with, and protecting, their soldiers in the field.

Did you know you can adopt a military working dog? For more information, visit the Official Department of Defense Military Working Dog Adoption Website.

We would like to take a moment to honor all the military and police K9 soldiers and their handlers for the work they do, and dedication they have, each and every day by viewing this video tribute to them:

 
For a beautiful tribute to our human soldiers from the Uniformed Services Benefit Association,

please click HERE.

This Memorial Day post is dedicated to my late Dad, who served with the U.S. Army's "Big Red One" First Infantry, and his second tour with the Rainbow Division, 16th Infantry. This photo was taken of him during WWII on base with two of his furpals. His compassion for, and love of, dogs is just part of his legacy.

  

Our FiveSibes™ Family wishes everyone a happy and safe Memorial Day weekend!

Join the Blog Hop!