If you are able to join us in the walk, click here to register.  Select Join/Create Team, type YBFF in the team name box under Register with an Existing Team and select Search. Once you get to the Team YBFF team, select Join Team. You can choose to support the team in a number of different ways, it’s up to you! 

Once you’ve decided how you’re going to participate, you will need to fill in your personal information and billing information.

You are not required to donate to walk with the YBFF team. On the day of the race, just wear a yellow t-shirt and bring your dog! We will provide details on a time and a meeting spot at Wash Park closer to the day of the event. We’ll have prizes for you and your dog, and also something fun and yellow for your dog to wear, so be sure to get there early!

If you are unable to participate in the walk, you may also choose to make a donation on behalf of the YBFF team.  Once you click the link above to donate, choose to Donate to a Furry Scurry Team, click on Team YBFF, and then click on Support Team YBFF to choose your gift amount.

Follow us on Facebook for race and team updates! Also, when you like us on Facebook, you’ll be entered in a drawing to win a special prize on the day of the race! 

We look forward to seeing everyone in May! If you cannot come, we thank you in advance for any gift you may be able to give; your donations help those who cannot speak for themselves.

Your Best Friend’s Friend
303-692-1140
Contact@ybffpetcare.com
www.ybffpetcare.com

Say AHHHH

Have you taken a good look at your pet’s mouth lately? According to the American Veterinary Dental Society, 80 percent of dogs and 70 percent of cats show signs of oral health problems by the time they are only 3 years old. Like us, pets need dental care, not just to keep their teeth pearly white, but for their whole health. Poor dental health can contribute to conditions such as liver disease, heart disease, intestinal problems and more.

If your pet has bad breath, swollen gums (or red or bleeding gums), yellow teeth, tartar, missing teeth, or is reluctant to chew it’s definitely time for a visit to your veterinarian. The best way to avoid problems like this though is by having regular checkups with your veterinarian, and preventive care. Brushing your pets’ teeth and giving chew toys to help scrub away tartar are excellent ways to help your cat or dog have a healthy mouth. So, in honor of Pet Dental Health month, make a commitment to your pets. Learn how to brush their teeth, and if they haven’t seen the vet recently, make an appointment today.

When considering where to get your puppy or dog, it’s no secret that, while we all want to take every little sad face home from the pet store, the local pet shop is the worst place to purchase a puppy. Pet stores tend to stock their cages from commercial breeders, a.k.a puppy mills, who keep dogs in deplorable conditions and breed them over and over again without regard for the animals’ health and well-being.  As a result, many of those puppies you see in the cages in the mall will develop health or behavior problems due to inbreeding, overbreeding and early neglect.

So, if you’re thinking about adding the love of a companion animal to your home, visit your local animal shelter. Unfortunately, even if you want to get a puppy out of the cramped pet store cage, once you buy that puppy from the mall, your cash keeps the cycle of the puppy mill cruelty going.

On a lighter note, there are hundreds of local pet shelters with great dogs and cats just waiting for your love. There’s great sites like www.petfinder.com that will help you find the breed of your choice in your area.  There are also many breed specific shelters if you’ve got your eye on a certain type of animal. For example, the Retriever Rescue of Colorado, HO-BO Care Boxer Rescue, Golden Retriever Freedom Rescue, Colorado Sheltie Rescue, Doberman Rescue of Colorado and many, many more.

There are also many no-kill shelters, that are brimming with dogs and cats who need homes. These are the most crowded of pet shelters, as many shelters euthanize the animals after a certain period of time simply due to overcrowding.

Adopting a pet from any shelter gives one (or more) pets a safe, loving home and prevents potential disease, death or further neglect and abuse.  After you’ve adopted a new pet, make sure to contact your veterinarian immediately to set up an appointment to make sure your new family member is healthy and up to date on all his or her vaccinations. Additionally, petfinder.com is a great resource, with articles like Tips for the First 30 Days of Dog Adoption, which can be a huge help for a first time “pet-adopter.”

Once you’ve brought your pet home, you’ll want to make sure you’ve got someone to watch the dog every couple of hours if you are unable to, especially if you’ll be out of town for an extended period of time. Companies like Your Best Friend’s Friend provide many professional pet services like dog walking, pet sitting, overnight pet sitting, pet errands, pet chauffering and many other unique animal services to keep your new pet stress-free and comfortable in their new home. For services, call Your Best Friend’s Friend at 303-690-1140, email  at contact@ybffpetcare.com, or visit us online to schedule services at www.ybffpetcare.com.

In Colorado, the cities of Denver and Aurora have breed-specific bans on pit-bulls, that were originally enacted by the City of Denver in 1989. Shortly after it’s enactment, a group of dog owners and humane associations challenged the constitutionality of the ban in Denver. Many challenges have been attempted since the initial ban, but to date, none have been successful.

In the article, Dangerous Dogs: Breed Or Owner To Blame? Most Say Owner on thehufingtonpost.com, the debate of nature vs. nurture comes into play. “The majority of American pet owners believe a well-trained dog is safe – even if it comes from one of the bully-breeds,” explains the article’s author, Sue Manning.

Out of the 1,000 dog owners surveyed for the article, half seem to agree with the nature argument, while half believe the dogs are raised to be gentle or aggressive. One of the pet owners on the nurture side of the argument even cites the Micheal Vick dog fighting operation as a prime example of how a dog can be “reintroduced back into a society that’s not going to abuse them” after they had been trained to kill.

While there are many anecdotal tales of a dog’s aggression or sensitivity, there doesn’t seem to be enough support on the nurture side of the argument to have the ban lifted, at least in Colorado. What do you think?

Salt & De-icers
Although salt and de-icers may make the driveway safer for you and your children, its one of the biggest threats to your animal’s tender feet. Excessive contact with salt and de-icers can lead to chemical burns on paws. Always keep your eyes on your pup after your walks to make sure he or she is not limping, this could be a sign of soar paws from chemicals or salt. Try to keep your dog off the sidewalk and in the grass during winter walks. Also, be sure to wipe off their paws completely with warm water once you’ve come inside from your walk.

Another threat from winter chemicals is ingestion. Dogs may lick their paws or your boots after being outside, so again, make sure to clean yourself and your dog off when you come inside.

Ice Balls
Another winter threat to paws is the ice balls that gather between the pads and toes. To reduce the accumulation of ice balls, keep the pad hair trimmed and short during the winter months. Long hair on the paws can not only contribute to the development of ice balls, but also retain some of those nasty de-icing chemicals, so keep them clean and trimmed.

Frosty Paws
Humans are not the only ones at risk for frostbite when the temperatures dip. Dogs left in the cold for long periods of time can get frostbite on their paws and ears quickly. In the winter, keep walks to a minimum, clean all ice and water off paws and fur once they’ve come inside, and check ears and paws for any signs of frostbite (ears will look discolored, raw, or skin will turn in on itself). If you suspect your dog is at risk for hypothermia or frostbite, contact your vet right away!

Dry Skin
Like human skin, animal’s skin, especially exposed skin like the paw pads, can become dry and cracked in the dry winter air. Bag Balm, which is available at most pharmacies, can be applied in a thin layer daily or every other day to keep your pet’s paws from cracking and bleeding. Also, keeping a humidifier in the house helps prevent dry, itchy skin for both you and your pet.

Protecting The Paws
There are many products specifically designed to protect dog paw pads in the winter. The best protection for your dog’s feet is specially made dog booties. Just like you wear boots in the winter to protect your feet, dog boots will prevent injury to your dog’s feet. Ask your local pet retailer or veterinarian about the products they recommend, but remember that proper sizing of booties is important in ensuring that they are comfortable for the dog, and provide maximum protection.

Also, you will need to make sure your dog is comfortable with his paws being touched. Start slow, by putting one booty on at a time and using treats to entice your dog to let you touch his or her feet as you put the booties on the first couple of times. Once you’ve introduced all four boots, let him practice in the house, as he may be a little unsure of himself at first. After he masters the house, let him in the backyard and front yard with his new booties. Eventually, with a little time and patience, you can train your dog to wear and love his boots!

All YBFF team members are trained to take special care of your animals all year long, but especially in the extremes of the winter and summer. Please contact us for any pet sitting, dog walking, cat care, overnight care or other pet services 7 days a week, 365 days a year.

303-690-1140
contact@ybffpetcare.com
www.ybffpetcare.com

Here are just a few tips to keep  your pets safe and warm in the cold winter months:

1) Keep Pets  Inside
While animals do have  fur coats, when temperatures hover around zero, their coats are no match for frost bite. Keep animals inside unless absolutely necessary (potty breaks) and when they must go outside, dress them in pet sized sweaters and paw pads or animal booties to keep their  paws from  touching the icy surface. If a pet has been outside for a long period of time, make sure to check them for signs of extended exposure. Frostbite appears on the ears first. You will start to see black or discolored skin, and the skin will roll over itself, or just doesn’t look right. Call your vet at the first sign of frostbite, or if you think your pet may be at risk.

2) Keep Antifreeze and Other Chemicals Out of Reach
Antifreeze, motor oil and other chemicals are lethal poisons for dogs and cats. Be sure to keep them out of reach or in an inaccessible cabinet, and thoroughly clean up any spills from your vehicle.

3) Don’t Leave Animals Alone in a Car
Even if you’re just running into the store for a second, leaving  a pet alone in a vehicle in frigid temperatures can be deadly. A car can act like a refrigerator in the winter, holding in the cold and causing the animal to freeze to death.

4) Clean Your Pet
Thoroughly wipe off your dog’s legs and stomach when she comes in from the snow. She can ingest salt, antifreeze or other potentially dangerous chemicals when licking her feet and cleaning her fur. Also, paw pads can bleed and become infected from snow or encrusted ice.

5) Keep a Furry Coat
Never shave your animal’s coat down in the winter. This is acceptable to keep an animal cool in the summertime but their fur coat is their first defense against the cold in the winter. Also, always make sure your pet is completely dry before letting them outside.

6) Don’t Loose the Leash
Never let your dog  off the leash on snow or ice, especially during a snow storm. Dogs can lose their scent in the heavy snow and quickly become lost. Also, always make sure your animal is wearing ID tags.

7) Keep Kitty Inside
This is something we can’t stress enough. Ideally, cats should never go outside anyways, especially if they’re declawed. Outdoors, cats can freeze, become lost, injured or killed. Additionally, when cats are outdoors in the cold, they may seek warmth  under the hood of a car, which is unsafe for obvious reasons. So, even if you do not own a cat, if you park outside, always pound on the hood of your car in the winter time just to make sure a neighborhood cat has not climbed up inside for warmth.

The most important thing to do in the winter for your pet’s safety is to keep them inside, under your supervision.

Don’t forget to call  to set up spring services!  Call: 303-690-1140,  email: contact@ybffpetcare.com or visit us at  www.ybffpetcare.com.

We provide care for our clients  pets to the best of our ability, but we can’t always be there to provide tips, ideas and news on the best ways to take care of your pet.

We invite you to check out our new blog (you’re already here!) and check back often, for tips, tricks, news and fun updates about YBFF and the world of dog walking, pet sitting, cat care, horse care etc., and all things pets we love!

Sincerely,
Your YBFF Team

Don’t forget to call  to set up spring services!  Call: 303-690-1140,  email: contact@ybffpetcare.com or visit us at  www.ybffpetcare.com.