Colder Weather Pet Safety Tips

The colder weather is upon us, Clear The Air would like to share some cold weather safety tips for your pets from the ASPCA.

Exposure to winter’s dry, cold air and chilly rain, sleet and snow can cause chapped paws and itchy, flaking skin, but these aren’t the only discomforts pets can suffer.

Winter walks can even be dangerous from exposure to ice-melting agents if they are licked off bare paws.

Here are some helpful tips for keeping your pets safe this winter from the ASPCA:

• Repeatedly coming out of the cold into the dry heat of your home can cause itchy, flaking skin. Keep your home humidified and towel dry your pet as soon as he comes inside, paying special attention to his feet and in-between the toes. Remove any snow balls from between his foot pads.
• Never shave your dog down to the skin in winter, as a longer coat will provide more warmth. If your dog is long-haired, simply trim him to minimize the clinging ice balls, salt crystals and de-icing chemicals that can dry his skin, and don’t neglect the hair between his toes. If your dog is short-haired, consider getting him a coat or sweater with a high collar or turtleneck with coverage from the base of the tail to the belly. For many dogs, this is regulation winter wear.
• Bring a towel on long walks to clean off stinging, irritated paws. After each walk, wash and dry your pet’s feet and stomach to remove ice, salt and chemicals—and check for cracks in paw pads or redness between the toes.
• Bathe your pets as little as possible during cold spells. Washing too often can remove essential oils and increase the chance of developing dry, flaky skin. If your pooch must be bathed, ask your vet to recommend a moisturizing shampoo and/or rinse.
• Massaging petroleum jelly or other paw protectants into paw pads before going outside can help protect from salt and chemical agents. Booties provide even more coverage and can also prevent sand and salt from getting lodged between bare toes and causing irritation. Use pet-friendly ice melts whenever possible.
• Like coolant, antifreeze is a lethal poison for dogs and cats. Be sure to thoroughly clean up any spills from your vehicle, and consider using products that contain propylene glycol rather than ethylene glycol.
• Pets burn extra energy by trying to stay warm in wintertime. Feeding your pet a little bit more during the cold weather months can provide much-needed calories, and making sure she has plenty of water to drink will help keep her well-hydrated and her skin less dry.
• Make sure your companion animal has a warm place to sleep, off the floor and away from all drafts. A cozy dog or cat bed with a warm blanket or pillow is perfect.
• Remember, if it’s too cold for you, it’s probably too cold for your pet, so keep your animals inside. If left outdoors, pets can freeze, become disoriented, lost, stolen, injured or killed. In addition, don’t leave pets alone in a car during cold weather, as cars can act as refrigerators that hold in the cold and cause animals to freeze to death.

Information provided by ASPCA: Cold Weather Pet Safety Tips

Do You Know Our Story?

While we distribute around the world, we truly are a small business and pride ourselves on carrying the highest quality odor eliminating products that are safe for our environment and 100% made in the USA!

We would like to share our story with you about how Earth Care Products was born:

Hello, I am Bill Vaughan founder and owner of Clear the Air, Earth Care Products. Over 20 years ago I was working in corporate America as an engineer/marketing executive when the trend of corporate downsizing was in full swing. Three times I had a comfortable job making good money for a good company. Three times those companies were bought out or merged, making my job and many others either redundant or unnecessary. But I hold no grudges; instead I took my lesson to the streets and went into business for myself.

A friend of mine told me about a small company that had a “miracle” product for removing odors. I was so impressed with the way the product removed odors I decided to buy into the company. Over 16 years ago Earth Care Products was born which manufactures and sells odor eliminating products through pet stores (PetCo), on line, and pest control distributors. One of the things that I like best about our product is that it is all natural and non toxic. It will not hurt mother earth and it is safe even if you or your pet eats it.

We do all our manufacturing and packaging in the USA . Product assembly and shipping is done at Partnership With Industry (PWI). PWI provides job preparation, job placement and ongoing workplace support for adults with disabilities. PWI assists their clients to find meaningful work, earn a paycheck and achieve the pride and independence that employment brings. I feel this is a great opportunity for our company to serve our community.

I invite you to try our products, I know you will find they work better than any other product you have tried for removing odors. We offer a 100% money back guarantee if you are not completely satisfied. Just call us if you have any questions.

If you are interested in distributing our products please contact me.  bvaughan@cleartheair.com

Pet Friendly Ways To Celebrate Mother’s Day

Mother’s Day is May 10 and Clear The Air would like to share these purrfect ways to celebrate all mothers!

Purrfect Mother’s Day Ideas: Pet-Friendly Activities

With Mother’s Day around the corner, it’s time to start thinking about the special women in your life who are mothers. And if you know a dog or cat mom, she deserves to celebrate Mother’s Day, too, though it can be challenging to find pet-friendly activities for these mothers and their fur babies. Here are a few pet-appropriate ideas for treating pet parents in celebration of Mother’s Day, in fur-friendly style.

Pet-Centric Bistro Lunch

There are many establishments that cater to animal owners and welcome patrons of the four-legged variety. The website BringFido.com allows you to search for a dog-friendly places in your area, whether a pub, sidewalk cafe, coffee shop or trendy eatery, the fur babies are welcomed at an outdoor table.

Booking a reservation at one of these restaurants will guarantee a good time for mom and her wet-nosed companion. Mimosas and Milkbones, anyone?

Dinner and a Furry Flick

As quaint as a furry bistro may be, finding pet-friendly dining establishments can be a tedious task in certain areas, so an alternate plan is to treat your pet mama to a night in. Create a pizza that both mom and fur baby can enjoy. Use organic flour, instant yeast, salt, organic sugar, extra virgin olive oil, and warm water, to make a pizza dough safe for dog consumption. Top it off with dog-safe toppings, like spinach, shredded carrots, artichoke hearts, pineapple, green beans, broccoli or sweet potato. Avoid onions and mushrooms, which do not agree with the puppy constitution.

As for the film, the most recommended movies to enjoy with your pets, according to PetMD, are Scooby Doo, Best in Show, 101 Dalmatians, Lady and the Tramp, and coming in at the top of the list, Homeward Bound. Cuddle up with mom and pooch and let the laughter, barking and meowing commence.

Dog Park Picnic

If you’re not in the mood for a bistro, but still want to get parent and pet out of the house for the special day, plan a trip to an animal-friendly park in the area. The proud mama can let her babies run around before settling down for a picnic meal of packaged gourmet sandwiches from a local deli and freshly homemade dog food for your four-legged companions.

To make this outing extra special, give the gift of edible delectables. Decadent chocolates or chocolate-covered strawberries not only make a great gift, they’re also the perfect dessert to top-off an outdoor picnic meal. Don’t forget to sign the card from both you and Fido.

Mother’s Day is a time to celebrate those special ladies who pour love into everything they do, who give more than they receive, and who always think of their loved ones first, whether those loved ones have two legs or four. So make sure those caring mothers get a little special treatment of their own this year, from you and the fur babies.

Success Story From The Humane Society

Here’s a wonderful story from the San Diego Humane Society about Katie, a.k.a. Madeline, a Tortoiseshell kitten.

Katie’s mom writes:

I adopted a beautiful female Tortoiseshell kitten from the San Diego Humane Society last October 23. Her name there at the SDHS was Madeline. I had just lost my precious 15 year old Manx kitty (Maggie) two months earlier and was ready to give another pet a home. I searched for what seemed a long time before I met Madeline, and she agreed I was the one to take her home.

Madeline was one of the very first kittens I met there, as her little home was located in the front, inside the Gift Center, along with some other gorgeous kittens. Her name has since been changed to Katie, but we’ll call her Madeline here, as that was how everyone there at SDHS knew her. I could not believe how quickly she made herself right at home that first evening after departing the carrier. It was if she had been here a while and had already adapted. No time was wasted, as she wanted to play. Madeline has brought so much joy and love into my life.

Madeline is just as described on her profile adoption intro. She has a ton of personality, is very friendly and social, loves people and loves to cuddle, when she has time and is ready. She is very independent. She loves to play fetch and her favorite activity is when we play with her cat catcher teaser toy. Anyone who comes to visit me is greeted with affection and excitement by Katie.

Thank you to the SDHS for everything you do for the animals and also thank you to all the Volunteers and foster families for all they do in socializing, readying and loving the kittens as they await adoption.

-Janet

Are you ready to add a new furry family member? Check out the animals available for adoption at the San Diego Humane Society here.

Lenora Is Looking For Her Forever Home

If you were thinking of getting a new dog for the family this Christmas, adopt a dog from the San Diego Humane Society. They have so many precious dogs looking to be your new best friend. Check out this beautiful birthday girl wishing for her new home!!

Happy Birthday to this little beauty, Lenora! She’s been patiently waiting for more than 360 days for her new family and she’s hoping if she wishes hard enough, her birthday wish will come true!

Lenora is 5 years old and as sweet as can be. She loves to snuggle and give kisses to her favorite humans. When she’s not cuddled up, she loves playing fetch and goofing around with the water hose.
She’s also one of our top Volunteer Picks for her sweet demeanor and silly personality.

Make her birthday wish come true this weekend at our San Diego Campus! Here’s more information on Lenora.

Keeping Your Dog and Cat Active

Are your pets at home alone all day??

While you are at work, your dogs and cats are sitting at home just waiting for you to come home. Some pets may even chew up the furniture just because they are bored. Pets need to be active and need mental stimulation, it is important for their health. You can also help prevent problem behaviors by providing your pets with toys or activities to do while you are gone.

Here are some tips from the ASPCA on how to keep your dog and cat active when you are home and when you aren’t.

Keep Your Pets Safe On Halloween

Halloween is a fun time of year for the family, but the noise and excitement of the night may not be as much fun for your pets. It is important to take extra steps on Halloween to make sure your pets stay safe. Here are some Halloween safety tips from Clear The Air:

• Keep all Halloween candy and wrappers away from pets to avoid choking or poisining. Chocolate and xylitol (a sweetener in candy) can be very toxic for animals. Have some pet treats on hand to give your pets so they don’t feel left out.
• Keep your pets inside for their safety even if you are going to be home. Stay with your pet if they need to go outside to use the bathroom to avoid anything harmful that could happen due to a cruel Halloween prank.
• Find a quiet place in the house for your pets to stay when the trick-or-treaters will be constantly ringing the door bell and making noise. The loud noise and constant strangers at the door may stress your pet out. Also you don’t want your pet to run out the house while the door is constantly being opened up.
• Halloween decorations should be used where your pets won’t be able to get to them. Pumpkins with candles should not be placed on the floor because they can be easily knocked over or can burn a curious pet.
• Pet costumes should be non-restrictive and should not have any dangling accessories that pets can choke on if they came off. Supervise your pet while they are in their costume.  If your pet doesn’t seem to be comfortable in a costume then it’s a good idea to just let them go as themselves for Halloween.
• Make sure your pets are wearing their ID tags in case they get separated or scared and take off. This can be a good time to think about getting your pet microchipped if you haven’t already. It can help bring pets home quicker if they get lost.

Successful Story From The San Diego Humane Society

Another sweet cat finds her forever home!

The San Diego Humane Society helps many homeless animals find their “furrever” home. Here is yet another success story about Sophia (now called Amelie) who is very happy with her new family:

Here’s her story:

My cat Scheherazade died about six months ago. She’d been my little friend for 17 years, and I was heartbroken. She and I were simpaticas, and I didn’t think I’d ever want another pet. But I received an e-mail from the Humane Society saying they were having a special on “Ninja Panthers” (i.e., all-black kittens), and there was one that looked just like Scheherazade when she was a kitten. It was a male, and I immediately thought, “Dante! I’ll call him Dante!” I called to find out if he could be held until I got there, but someone had just taken him home.

My husband said, “Let’s just go down there. I’m sure they have other kittens.”

We went to the Gaines Street campus, and the adoption counselor asked what we were looking for in a kitten. I said I wanted an affectionate one. She let us play with all of them and told us a little bit about each. There was one, though, a little gray female called Sophia, that was sweet, playful, and affectionate–just a bundle of charm. My husband said, “I like that one.” I agreed, and we brought her home.

I can’t tell you what a delight she is. She was so well socialized that she was right at home with us in just over an hour. I work from home, and she loves to help–typing and sorting papers are her favorite–and she loves to play and to cuddle, and she’s so well behaved. I couldn’t ask for a better or more perfect friend than our little Sophia (now called Amelie). I think Scheherazade would be pleased that we found her. Thank you.

Sincerely,
Diane

How To Remove Odors From Your Car

Does the inside of your car smell funny??

Many things can happen, your child spills food, your dog has an accident or it just has a bad smell! Clear The Air eliminates these odors!

Here’s how to remove odors from your car:

• Hang or place one or two bags in car.
• Leave windows open for air circulation.
• Do not set bag in direct sun, can be placed under the car seat.
• If there are strong odors in your car you may also want to sprinkle Clear The Air Odor Eliminator for Carpets and Furniture on all upholstery and carpet. Leave down overnight and vacuum. All odors will be completely eliminated.
• The bags will continue to eliminate new odors for up to 3 months. Each bag will cover approximately 100 square feet, some air circulation is best.

How To Make Your Home Safer For Your Pets

• Flea Control – Summer is over, but that doesn’t mean you need to stop controlling fleas on your pets and in your house. Flea protection should be used all year long. The cooler weather will allow you to control the fleas easier. Your veterinarian can help you with a flea prevention plan that is best for your pet to use all year long.
• Put Away School Supplies – Back to school items, such as glue and glue sticks, can be dangerous for your pet if large amounts are ingested. Keep those pencils, pens, markers and other school essentials away from your pets. Pencils and pens can cause blockages if they are swallowed by your pet.
• Remove Wild Mushrooms – Fall is the perfect time for wild mushrooms to grow. Most are not toxic, but the poisonous mushrooms can be fatal to your pet. If you think your pet has eaten wild mushroom, call your veterinarian immediately. Symptoms can range from gastrointestinal problems to hallucinations.
• Avoid Rodenticides – During the colder months, rodents look for warmer places to shelter. Rodenticides can be toxic to pets and cause bleeding disorders.  Consider using alternative ways to get rid of rodents around your house. Also bee cautious letting your pets roam around your neighbor’s yard if they have used rodenticides to control their rodent problems.
• Protect Heat Sources – Pets can be burned by portable heaters and fireplaces. Fireplaces should have screens in place to protect your pets from being severely burned. Don’t leave pets unattended around portable heaters when they are being used.