Keep These 2 Things Away from Your Pets
Fast & Furriest April 12, 2020
1) Chocolate
“Chocolate contains a naturally occurring stimulant called theobromine, which is similar to caffeine. If enough theobromine is ingested it can be toxic to dogs and cats,” said Dr. Sarah Nold, staff veterinarian at Trupanion.
Trupanion traditionally sees a high number of chocolate toxicity claims around Easter.
Last year, in the month of April, Trupanion paid $31,757 in claims related to chocolate, flowers, jewelry, and other foreign body ingestions. This includes the fun-loving Labrador retriever who couldn’t resist the big bowl of chocolate and jelly beans he stumbled upon. After an emergency room visit and a $3,000 bill (covered by their Trupanion policy) the dog left the veterinary hospital a happy camper and was safe at home in time for Easter Sunday.
2) Lilies
Easter lilies are bright, beautiful, and a staple floral decoration in the springtime. However, lilies are incredibly dangerous to our feline friends. In fact, lily toxicity is one of Trupanion’s most common and one of the most expensive toxicity claims, with an average claim cost of $830.
The toxins impact the kidneys and often cause symptoms like vomiting, drooling, lethargy, and appetite loss. Cats can develop tremors or go into seizures, and ingesting even a small piece of a lily plant can lead to kidney failure and death. Every part of the lily plant is toxic and cats can get sick even by licking pollen off their fur or drinking lily vase water.
There are plenty of other options for those who want to bring some fresh flowers and plants into their cat-friendly home this spring. Look for some cat-safe flowers like roses, snapdragons, gerbera daisies, sunflowers, or zinnias. Many herbs—like catnip—and ferns are also safe for pets and can help freshen the house and keep things green.
Pet of the Week – Ariel
Fast & Furriest March 22, 2020
Rena brings the sister of Ana, a previous Pet of the Week. She is a high energy dog perfect for an active family or kids learning to take care of an animal. She can keep up with the youngest and hunker down on a rainy day to brighten up your world.
Sponsored by Blue Ridge Humane Society, you can follow more on Pet of the Week through the dedicated playlist on FYNTV’s Youtube channel and check out a wider variety of shows there as well.
Kids are out, come to the zoo!
Arts & Entertainment March 22, 2020Your kids are out of school. Are you looking for an activity for them that doesn’t expose them to large groups of people? North Georgia Zoo is the answer!
North Georgia Zoo in Cleveland, GA will be open Wednesday and Thursday, 11:00am-3:00pm BY RESERVATION ONLY. This will allow us to limit the number of people in the zoo to levels in alignment with the CDC recommendations of 50 people in close proximity to one another. Tours will be limited to 20 people. Animal Experiences will be limited to 8-10 people. The zoo is an open-air facility that is spread out over a large area, so “social distancing” is the norm here. There are also hand sanitizer stations throughout the facility for your convenience. At this time there are no confirmed COVID-19 cases in our county.
You may reserve a Wildlife Walk (tour of our exotic animals), the Petting Zoo (we have 30-40 babies in the Petting Zoo right now!), or a Hands-On Animal Experience (Wolf Experience, Otter Experience, Meet the Babies, or Fennec Fox Experience). Again, you MUST HAVE RESERVATIONS TO ATTEND EITHER OF THESE TWO DAYS.
Go to www.myfavoritezoo.com to make your reservations! North Georgia Zoo is located at 2912 Paradise Valley Road, Cleveland, GA
About North Georgia Zoo & Farm/ Wildlife Wonders:
North Georgia Zoo & Farm (NGZ) is home to over 300 animals. NGZ is known for its outreach
programs called Wildlife Wonders- Zoo to You which started in 1995. Wildlife Wonders was featured
on “Dirty Jobs” and also provides 1000’s of educational outreach programs each year. Wildlife
Wonders opened their doors for guests to come visit during the fall of 2010 and the name was
changed to North Georgia Zoo & Farm. NGZ is known as a “Zoo like no other” and “My favorite zoo”.
They have earned these titles because of the unique and hands-on experiences they offer.
Sign up for animal encounters with otters, kangaroos, wolves, zebras and more. Enjoy a reptile
encounter and get hands–on with everything from alligators to large snakes. Take a wagon ride to
see exotic livestock, learn about the rare breed livestock breeding program and feed the camels!
Guided Wildlife Walks are provided during regular business hours and offer a chance to learn more
about and get up close with animals such as Cougars, Lemurs, Monkey, Birds of Prey and many
others. The petting zoo and farm animal area is a low-cost option that is great for kids and adults
alike and introduces visitors to over a dozen different farm animal breeds plus other animals such as
giant tortoise, deer, parrots, and baby camel. Baby animals are always available to pet and feed in
the petting zoo area but come in the spring and you may even see one being born!
NGZ is licensed by Georgia Department of Natural Resources and United States Department of
Agriculture. NGZ is a member of the Zoological Association of America. NGZ has received
outstanding reviews from both zoological professionals and visitors.
NGZ offers specialty tours and animal encounters throughout the year by reservation. Zoo
Admittance is seasonal and offered on select days. To view dates, prices, options and more visit:
www.myfavoritezoo.com. To learn more about their Zoo to You program visit: www.azootoyou.com.