San Diego Humane Society’s Emergency Response Team is something of a model nationwide. The ERT consists of 165 people ready to spring into action to rescue or care for pets, manage tracking systems, run shelters—whatever’s needed. Members of the SDHS Emergency Response Team complete their annual RT-130 Wildland Fire Refresher training at the Animal Fire Rescue facility in Alpine. Team members work hard throughout the year to ensure readiness to evacuate animals in advance of wildfire.Over the past several years, San Diego Humane Society staff and volunteers have deployed across the country to ..read more

By Rebecca Smart, park ranger, Mission Trails Regional Park When you hike or camp with your pet, take a few minutes ahead of time to make sure you’re both prepared—a little prep makes for a great experience. Follow these tips every time you and your furry friends hit the trails and you’ll be wilderness experts for sure! Know before you go. Make sure pets are permitted on the trail or campsite you’re planning to visit. Hiking on designated trails is the best way to stay safe. Gear up. You’ll need a sturdy 6-foot leash, reflective collar and current ID tag. Bring a collapsible water bowl and ..read more

  This January, a statewide ban on pet stores selling dogs, cats and rabbits not obtained from a shelter or rescue went into effect, though the city of San Diego had been ahead of the curve, enacting a similar retail ban in 2013. While groups like San Diego Humane Society applauded the ban, a few bad-apple businesses have been skirting the law through agreements with out-of-state, loosely defined “rescue organizations.” SDHS’s Humane Law Enforcement officers busted three San Diego County pet stores and issued a combined 102 citations over the summer for failing to produce a valid agreement wi ..read more

Putting for Pets at Charity Fundraiser San Diego, CA – On Monday November 4th, 2019, golfers and their furry friends will tee off for the Foundation for Animal Care and Education’s (FACE) annual Golf Tournament benefiting San Diego pets in need of life-saving veterinary care. Held at the picturesque Lomas Santa Fe Country Club in Solana Beach, all golfers are invited to putt for pets! In celebration of our four-legged friends, this one-of-a-kind event allows golfers to bring their dogs on the course to enjoy a day of fun while saving pets and helping families. The day will be kicked off with ..read more

When fire, earthquake, flood or other emergency strikes—near or far—the Emergency Response Team is ready for action. What Is It? The ERT is San Diego Humane Society’s network of responders trained to assist in natural disasters or cruelty cases when animal welfare is jeopardized. Over the past year, SDHS has streamlined a host of emergency groups, including the Animal Rescue Reserve, Special Response Team, and Humane Law Enforcement, into a single, unified force: the Emergency Response Team. “Our goal is to create a modular and uniform response entity that can serve a variety of needs and is ..read more

When San Diego Humane Society was awarded the animal services contracts for six new cities, it had to hit the ground running. What a Difference a Year Makes Just over a year ago, San Diego Humane Society took on its biggest challenge to date. We essentially doubled our workload, having been awarded the animal services contracts for six more cities, including the city of San Diego. We sprang into action, caring for an additional 20,000 animals a year, and we’ve now hit our stride. Our mission to inspire compassion is unwavering and our commitment to zero euthanasia for healthy or treatable anim ..read more

This recipe comes together in no time and is full of nutritious whole ingredients. It’s a great way to celebrate one of fall’s favorite flavors with your dog. (Makes 25–30, depending on treat size) Materials ½ cup pumpkin puree 1/8 cup natural peanut butter 1 egg 1/8 cup old-fashioned oats 1 ½ cups whole wheat flour ½ carrot, shredded ½ cup baby spinach, chopped Instructions Heat oven to 350 degrees. Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat. In a medium-sized bowl, mix the pumpkin puree, peanut butter and egg until well blended and smooth. Add oats, then stir ..read more

Date: Oct 31, 2019 All Day Halloween is supposed to be fun and spooky, but for pets, it can be downright terrifying. Keep pets indoors and far away from eager trick-or-treaters, especially if they bark at the doorbell. Keep the sweet stuff out of reach too, even if it’s not chocolate—wrappers can be a choking hazard. Finally, as cute as it may be, don’t dress your pet up if they seem uncomfortable with it. Costumes aren’t for everyone. The post Have a Happy Halloween appeared first on San Diego Pets Magazine ..read more

Date & Time: Oct 1, 2019 All Day Event Details: October 1: National Black Dog Day It’s an unfortunate truth that black dogs (and cats) in shelters are often passed over, though they are just as loving and loyal as their lighter-colored counterparts. Head to San Diego Humane Society and adopt a black dog this October 1 and celebrate all the black beauties in your life. View available for adoption animals. The post Save the Date! National Black Dog Day appeared first on San Diego Pets Magazine ..read more

If you have unwanted wildlife in your yard, there are humane ways to encourage them to move on rather than using rodenticides and glue traps. Some examples: Don’t leave pet food outside. Securely cover trash cans. Purchase a plastic hawk or owl to deter squirrels. Sprinkle cayenne pepper around your house or yard. Place soaked rags of ammonia or vinegar or spray it directly onto areas wildlife finds attractive. Reapply daily for best results and use only outdoors. Install floodlights to deter skunks.   The post Unwanted Wildlife appeared first on San Diego Pets Magazine ..read more