Most dog lovers consider their pets part of the family. This is great -- until we realize that dogs, like humans, are exposed to real dangers from ordinary things in and around our own home. Of greater concern is that some of the things we as humans take for granted can present serious hazards to dogs.

Did you ever think about the fact, for example, that common household items such as string, rubber bands, electrical wire and the cords from your blinds or window shades could be dangerous to your dog? Have you made sure to secure household cleaners, insecticides, plant fertilizer and antifreeze so your dog doesn't get into them? Did you know some household plants can be toxic to dogs, and that some common drugs can be harmful to drugs?

A site called HomeGuides offers some valuable free advice about "Keeping Pets Safe in the Home," covering the above, as well as providing a room-by-room safety guide, Check it out here: https://homeguides.co.uk/pet-safety/

Image: Pixabay.com

Tuesday, February 25 is World Spay Day.  Created by the Doris Day Animal League in 1995 as Spay Day USA, World Spay Day has been recognized by nearly 70 countries, shining a spotlight on the power of affordable, accessible spay/neuter to save the lives of companion animals, community (feral and stray) cats and street dogs who might otherwise be put down in shelters or killed on the street.

Please make sure your dog and every pet you know is spayed or neutered. Right here in the Asheville area is one of the nation's leading spay/neuter clinics which offers affordable spay/neuter: ASPCA Spay/Neuter Alliance. Here are all of the great reasons you should spay or neuter your pet from the Humane Society of the United States:

https://www.humanesociety.org/resources/why-you-should-spayneuter-your-pet

Hiking Hounds is one of the most popular Asheville Humane Society volunteer activities. Each month, volunteers take shelter dogs on hikes as part of the enrichment programming. You'll spend a few hours in Bent Creek hiking the trails with dogs who will love you for it.

The next hike will be on Sunday, March 1.

Start time is 10 AM for repeat hikers and 9:30 AM for new hikers. Hikes are typically 3-5 miles at a brisk pace with elevation changes and provide vigorous exercise for our volunteer hikers as well. They do not cancel hikes because of rain, as our pups don’t mind getting wet. Hikers generally return to the shelter at 16 Forever Friend Lane, Asheville around 11:30 AM to 12 PM.

Note: New and repeat hikers alike are required to sign up in advance. If you'd like to sign up for this hike, email ahshikinghounds@outlook.com. Hikers are signed up on a "first come-first serve basis" and you must have a confirmed reservation to attend a hike. If you don’t get an email from Hiking Hounds, assume they didn’t get yours! Please be sure you can actually make the hike; if we have late cancellations, a dog gets left behind without a hike.

For more information visit the Hiking Hounds Facebook page.

Join Blue Ridge Humane Society at the Champion Hills Clubhouse in Hendersonville, NC on Tuesday, March 24 from 12 to 2 PM. This Benefit Luncheon will feature special guest speaker Adam LeGrand of K9s for Warriors. The event will celebrate the positive impact of animal rescue not just in Henderson County but in the lives of veterans across the nation. Adam will speak directly to the profound effect that a service animal has had in his life, after Molly was rescued from a Henderson County shelter and became a part of the K9s for Warriors Program. Tickets are $75 per person. For more information, visit: https://www.blueridgehumane.org/calendar/benefit-luncheon/

Pet Wants is a new mobile pet food delivery service in the Asheville area. Part of a national franchise, the objective of Pet Wants is to deliver fresh, high quality food directly to the customer's door. According to Pet Wants, "Most commercial pet food is manufactured in mass quantities and sent to a series of distribution warehouses before finally making it onto the shelf at your local store. There it sits…possibly for up to 6-8 months before it’s purchased for consumption. Because pet food loses its nutritional value over time, pets can ultimately end up eating a diet that’s low in nutrition and can ultimately lead to unnecessary sickness, disease and even a shortened life.

"Freshness is the key to good nutrition. We provide our proprietary pet food formula that has been carefully developed over the years and deliver to your home to ensure freshness. Your pets will appreciate a healthy, complete and balanced pet food made from fresh, all-natural ingredients. Since our food is slow-cooked to lock in nutrients and is made in frequent, small batches, we deliver the fresh and highly nutritional food to our customers within weeks, not months, of being made. Our customers appreciate the convenience of our auto-delivery system that they can modify prior to each delivery. This ensures that the best possible food is delivered when they need and only how much they need – delivered right to their door – for the same price as most premium commercial pet foods."

The local owner of Pet Wants, Christian Ray, is a Brevard College graduate and founded the Blue Ridge Flyball Club. Pet Wants makes free, personal delivery of quality pet food to Buncombe County households. For more information, visit: https://www.petwants.com/Asheville/