G o o d - b y e t o a s n o w y , c o l d w i n t e r a n d w e l c o m e t o s p r i n g . T a k e a d v a n t a g e o f t h e s u n , g o o n s o m e f u n w a l k s w i t h y o u r d o g . W e k n o w w i n t e r c a n b e h a z a r d o u s f o r y o u r p e t . H e r e a r e s o m e i n t e r e s t i n g t h i n g s a b o u t s p r i n g a n d y o u r p e t t h a t a r e w o r t h k n o w i n g . S p r i n g h o s t s h o l i d a y s t h a t c o m e w i t h d e c o r a t i o n s a n d s w e e t s . M o s t p e t o w n e r s k n o w t h a t c h o c o l a t e i s t o x i c , b u t d i d y o u k n o w t h a t E a s t e r l i l l i e s a n d c e r t a i n b u d s a r e t o o ? W h i l e p l a s t i c E a s t e r g r a s s l o o k s i n n o c e n t e n o u g h , o n c e i n g e s t e d b y y o u r p e t , i t c a n c a u s e i n t e s t i n a l b l o c k a g e s a n d d e h y d r a t i o n . A s f o r t h e r e a l g r a s s , b e o n t h e l o o k o u t f o r l a w n t r e a t m e n t s i g n s — f e r t i l i z e r s a n d p e s t i c i d e s a r e h a r m f u l t o o u r f o u r - l e g g e d f r i e n d s . B e f o r e y o u l e t t h e f r e s h a i r b l o w t h r o u g h y o u r w i n d o w s , d o u b l e - c h e c k t o m a k e s u r e y o u h a v e s c r e e n s i n p l a c e t o k e e p y o u r d o m e s t i c a t e d a n i m a l s i n s i d e a n d t h e w i l d o n e s o u t s i d e . A l s o , w h e n i t c o m e s t o t h a t c r i s p a i r , r e m e m b e r t h a t y o u r p e t i s s u s e p t i b l e t o s p r i n g a l l e r g i e s j u s t l i k e y o u . I f y o u n o t i c e e x c e s s i v e s n e e z i n g , i t c h i n g o r r e d e y e s , t a k e y o u r p e t t o t h e v e t f o r a n e x a m i n a t i o n . O n y o u r d r i v e t h e r e , k e e p t h e c a r w i n d o w s c l o s e d a n d y o u r p e t p r o p e r l y r e s t r a i n e d i n a s a f e t y h a r n e s s o r c r a t e . A n d b e f o r e y o u g e t b a c k i n t o t h e c a r t o h e a d h o m e , c h e c k y o u r p e t ’ s r e c o r d s t o m a k e s u r e v a c c i n a t i o n s a r e u p - t o - d a t e a n d t h a t y o u h a v e a c u r r e n t p r e s c r i p t i o n f o r h e a r t w o r m , f l e a a n d t i c k p r e v e n t a t i v e s . p y a n d h e a l t h y t h i s s p r i n g . Spring/Summer 2015 www.ffcas.org Spring Safety Good-bye to a snowy, cold winter and welcome to spring! Here are some useful tips to keep in mind while enjoying the warm weather with your pets. Spring hosts holidays that come with decorations and sweets. Most pet owners know that chocolate is toxic, but did you know that Easter lillies and certain buds are too? While plastic Easter grass looks innocent enough, once ingested by your pet, it can cause intestinal blockages and dehydration. As for the real grass, be on the lookout for lawn treatment signs—fertilizers and pesticides are harmful to our four-legged friends. Before you let the fresh air blow through your windows, double-check to make sure you have screens in place to keep your domesticated animals inside and the wild ones out. Also, when it comes to that crisp air, remember that your pet is susceptible to spring allergies just like you. If you notice excessive sneezing, itching or red eyes, take your pet to the vet for an examination. On your drive there, keep the car windows closed and your pet properly restrained in a safety harness or crate. And before you get back into the car to head home, check your pet’s records to make sure vaccinations are up-to-date and that you have a current prescription for heartworm, flea and tick preventatives. These simple precautions will help ensure that you and your pet stay happy and healthy this spring. Wine, Whiskers and Wags - Please Join Us Sunday June 7, 2015 1-5 PM Paradise Springs Winery 13219 Yates Ford Rd Clifton, VA 20124 The event will feature delectable wines, scrumptious catered fare, a silent auction with dozens of desirable items for bid and meet-and-greets with shelter pets. Tickets are $35 online (through June 5), and $40 at the event. Ticket price includes a raffle ticket, wine tasting, and catered hors d’oeuvres by Trattoria Villagio on the winery’s historic grounds. Dogs and children are welcome, and we suggest bringing chairs and blankets for your afternoon picnic. Special feature this year - Pender Veterinary Centre will be offering free onsite wellness checks. Stop by and "Ask the Veterinarian!" HELP US SAVE ON POSTAGE. SIGN UP FOR EMAIL TODAY AT WWW.FFCAS.ORG. We do not sell or share your information. SOMETHING TO MEOW ABOUT ! Spay Neuter Grant Awarded We are pleased to announce that FFCAS was awarded a $1,000 grant from the Virginia Federation of Humane Societies at the March 2015 conference. This grant will allow us to fund spay and neuter surgery for more than a dozen community cats, lessening the chances of future homeless pets. Since 2008, the Fairfax County Animal Shelter has been working in conjunction with community volunteers to humanely reduce the homeless cat population in our community through TNR (trap-neuter-return).