Press Release

This Valentine’s Day, Don’t Go Breaking Their Hearts

ASPCA Provides Pet Safety Tips To Pet Parents

January 12, 2009

NEW YORK, January 12, 2009—This Valentine’s Day, show the furry object of your affection how much you care by keeping your pet out of harm’s way. To help pet owners avoid the risks of love gone awry, the ASPCA^® (The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals^®) offers the following tips:

Chocolate Overload. “Chocolate (baker’s, semi sweet, milk and dark) can be potentially poisonous to animals,” says Dr. Steven Hansen, board-certified veterinary toxicologist and Senior Vice President of the ASPCA’s Animal Poison Control Center (APCC) in Urbana, Ill. Dr. Hansen advises pet parents to watch for symptoms of excessive ingestion of chocolate, including vomiting, diarrhea, increased urination and thirst, abnormal heart rate and rhythm as well as hyperactivity and seizures.
Chew on This. Gum and candy often contain large amounts of the sweetener xylitol, which can be toxic to pets, especially dogs. Ingestion can produce a fairly sudden drop in blood sugar, and results in depression, loss of coordination, seizures and even liver failure.
Every Rose has its Thorn. Pets may be interested in taste testing the beautiful floral arrangement on your coffee table. “Animals are very good at sniffing out things they shouldn’t eat,” says Dr. Hansen. “Pet parents might notice symptoms of stomach upset, such as vomiting or diarrhea, if their pet has ingested a particularly offensive plant or flower. Most notably, cat owners should be extremely careful if they have lilies in the house, as these lovely flowers can be deadly.”
Gift a Pet, Don’t Give One. “It may be very tempting to give your loved one a cuddly new puppy or kitten for Valentine’s Day,” explains Gail Buchwald, Senior Vice President of the ASPCA’s Adoption Center. “However, before you bring home that precious little one, remember that adopting a companion animal is a big decision.” Why not present your loved one with a Gift-A-Pet certificate to adopt from the ASPCA—if you are in the Manhattan area—or your local shelter? Selecting the right pet for your home, and saving a life, ensures a bond that will last a lifetime, a fitting way to remember the patron saint of love.

###

Founded in 1866, the ASPCA^® (The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals^®) is the first humane organization established in the Americas and serves as the nation’s leading voice for animal welfare. One million supporters strong, the ASPCA’s mission is to provide effective means for the prevention of cruelty to animals throughout the United States. As a 501 [c] [3] not-for-profit corporation, the ASPCA is a national leader in the areas of anti-cruelty, community outreach and animal health services. The ASPCA, which is headquartered in New York City, offers a wide range of programs, including a mobile clinic outreach initiative, its own humane law enforcement team, and a groundbreaking veterinary forensics team and mobile animal CSI unit. For more information, please visit www.aspca.org.