Pets and Fireworks: Safety Tips to keep your pets safe.

Many People love Fireworks, but...

Most Pets Don't!

Here are some safety tips and things to keep in mind so you and your pets have a safe 4th of July!

Loud noises, flashing bright lights, things flying through the air! The 4th of July=Fireworks.  While most humans many enjoy them, it can often times stress out, scare and confuse a pet.  More pets go missing from July 1st-July 6th than any other time of the year.

1)  Leave your pet indoors...Try to make them comfortable with bedding, toys, plenty of water and food.  Put them in a safe place, so they don't accidentally run out the door when you or a friend opens it.

2)  Turn on some soothing music, the TV or a fan to even out the noise. 

3)  If you have company coming over, let them know your pets are scared of fireworks and so you have put them in a safe area, let them know you prefer they don't go in and see them because, lets face it, no one knows what a scared dog or cat will do.  They may bite, they may try to run...Who knows!

4)  If your pets are outdoors with you, use caution with fireworks.  Most days, you throw a ball and want them to fetch it...Today you may be throwing something that can explode in their face or burn their paw.  While this seems like common sense, I think it bears restating.  DON'T LIGHT FIREWORKS WITH YOUR PETS AROUND!

5)  Make sure they have their collars and tags on.  Even if they don't like it and don't normally wear it, please, please put it on for now.  If they should run, this will be the easiest way for someone to identify your pet.

6)  Try Essential Oils to help calm them.  See our Blog on Essential Oils by clicking here.

7)  If you see an animal running loose, please report it to your local animal control, animal shelter, local rescue groups/lost and found pet sites on facebook.

8)  Glow sticks are fun, but not for pets.  They can chew on them and ingest the contents with can lead to sickness or swallow the plastic, leading to an obstruction or chocking.

9)  I'll be the first one to admit it...Beer is great, but if your going to give it to your pets, make sure it is made for them.  "Alcoholic beverages and food products containing alcohol can cause vomiting, diarrhea, decreased coordination, central nervous system depression, difficulty breathing, tremors, abnormal blood acidity, coma and even death. Under no circumstances should your pet be given any alcohol. If you suspect that your pet has ingested alcohol, contact your veterinarian or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center immediately.", according to the ASPCA.  Stop by Tails to Remember and pick them up some Bowser Beer, it's made for them.

10)  Keep items they don't need to be in out of their reach.  Lighters, bug spray, matches, citronella candles and torches...ANYTHING that they don't need to be in, put out of reach!

We hope everyone has a safe and Happy 4th of July.

Thank You for Nominating Tails to Remember as a nominee for Emerging Business of the Year!

Tails to Remember Pet Services would like to thank the person or persons who nominated us for the Greater Springfield Chamber of Commerce Small Business Awards as a new and emerging business.  It's hard to believe that our Boutique will be open for two years at the end of this month, and even harder to believe that our self service pet wash and full service, onsite pet cremation center have been open just over a year.  We couldn't be happier.

When we were nominated for this award, we knew we were doing something right.  And we knew we were doing something different. Acknowledgement like this means so much. 

When we started planning, many years ago, we knew we didn't want to do the same old thing, so we didn't, and we don't ever plan on it.  From the unique gifts and treats for pets and pet owners in our boutique, to the locally made urns and other remembrance products we offer, we wanted to make sure we were different.  While finding locally made and Made in the USA products can be challenging, we are always up for a challenge. (about 90-95% of our products are locally made, made in Illinois or Made in the USA!)  

We also knew pet owners wanted an easy place to give their pets a bath, but we also knew they didn't want to drag towels and laundry back and forth, so we decided to install a self service pet wash, we decided to provide towels.  Our shampoos are high quality and ph balance for pets.  Our prices are affordable and we work hard to keep our facility clean. 

Yet, we knew not everyone wanted to give their dog or cat a bath themselves.  And I have not met alot of people who like to trim toe nails or even would want to attempt to groom their pet!  (I tried it once, thank goodness it was before "Nailed it" was popular on the web, let's just say, I won't be trying again.)  So the addition of the grooming salon, Dames and Sires Beauty Spa, just seemed logical.  The salon is run independently from Tails to Remember by owner, Samantha Hudgins.  She employs another "Canine Cosmetologist" and a Grooming Assistant.  They use organic shampoos and conditioners and really spend time with your pets.  Therefore, that is the reason it took me over a year to find the right person to rent the salon, we wanted people who love animals and care for them as if they were there own.  In between the three of them across the hall, I believe they could start a small zoo...Horses, prairie dogs, guinea pigs, snakes, pot belly pigs, dogs and cats, you name it, it seems like they have it. 

Of course, the biggest part of our business is also the saddest.  We know the heartache of losing a family member, and we are proud that we have been able to help so many through this process in the past year.  We offer families so much more than just a basic cremation option.  From our ability to brush out and clean up their beloved family member so they can see them one last time, to our unique dual tag identification system, ensuring them that they are receiving their pet's remains, from our ability for families to have a visitation for their pet and even witness cremation if they desire and to even being able to use our facilities to have their vet perform euthanasia services, we have it all and so much more. 

So Thank You to whomever nominated us for this award and Thank you to all those whom we have been able to assist in any way in the past years.  It makes the hard work worth it and we couldn't have done it without you.

 For those who haven't been in to see us, please stop by and check out what we have to offer.  Our Boutique and the grooming salon are open Tuesday-Saturday 9 a.m.-5 p.m., and of course, for the loss of a pet we are available 24 hours a day by calling 217-725-9511.

Tails to Remember Pet Services

3036 Peoria Road

Springfield, IL 62702

217-725-9511

TailsToRemember.com

info@TailsToRemember.com

To Schedule an appointment with Dames and Sires Beauty Spa, please call 217-361-5733 or online at DamesAndSires.com

This month's Spotlight on Rescue group is REGAP (Retired Greyhound As Pets) of Illinois. 

Check them out at https://regapgreyhounds.org/

April is Adopt a Greyhound month!

Every year in the overly competitive sport of greyhound racing, hundreds of dogs are "retired" because they are either too slow or have been injured. That's where groups like REGAP come into play. REGAP is a non profit, greyhound adoption group, founded with the goal of finding these retired athletes homes once their racing careers have ended. These are perfectly healthy dogs with a lot of years left and a lot of love to give.


The group is based in Mendota, Illinois but has representatives in several cities around the state who conduct "Meet & Greets" at local pet stores and participate in local events to promote greyhound adoption. Volunteers bring their own personal pets so people can meet a greyhound up close and personal. Adoptable dogs are at the kennel in Mendota and must be seen there and can be viewed online at https://regapgreyhounds.org/available-greys/



They are billed as the second fastest land mammal in the world, second only behind the cheetah. Don't let that scare you into thinking that you will need acres to allow them to run. They also have the nickname of "45 MPH Couch Potato"! They are quiet, mild mannered and actually make great apartment dogs. You do have to commit to not allowing them off leash except in a fully enclosed area. The adoption process is pretty easy but you will have to make 2 trips to the kennel in Mendota as they do not do on the spot adoptions. You can find the adoption process here: https://regapgreyhounds.org/adoption-process/

A Special Thanks to Cheryl Carroll, from REGAP, for providing this information.

Please follow us and REGAP on facebook for upcoming events here at Tails To Remember and to see when REGAP will be here for a meet and greet!

Your feet Hurt...What about your dog's?

You’re on your feet all day long, after walking all day, they hurt and are sore.  You take your shower, trim your nails, rub your feet and suddenly it hits you….What about Fido?  He has 4 feet, his nails are thick and long and he has no shoes for protection from salt, gravel or anything sharp.  Here are some tips for foot care for your dogs from Dames and Sires Beauty Spa.

Dog’s nails grow quickly and if left untrimmed for too long, can give them difficulty with traction, let alone causing severe pain, which could lead to medical issues, like walking irregular, which can lead to skeletal problems.  “Nails typically should be trimmed every two to four weeks, and we highly recommend filing,” says Michelle Michael from Dames and Sires Beauty Spa.

Don’t feel bad if you didn’t know there was a difference or even an option, neither did I, but the ladies at Dames and Sires have explained and showed me the differences.

Trimming-Trimming is basically is cutting off the sharp, long tips and making the nails shorter again, while avoiding cutting the quick, which is the blood vessel supply and the nerve in your dogs nail.

Filing-Filing follows trimming, and is done with a filer. “It allows us to get closer to the quick, making the nail as short as possible, without causing pain or bleeding of the nail.  It also helps the quick recede, making it possible for us to get the nails shorter in subsequent visits.  It also smoothes the rough edges of the nail after trimming,” says Michelle.

Long nails cause many issues such as allowing the quick to grow with the nail, which if left untrimmed for too long of a time can make the nail become frail and easy to fracture, and in some cases allow the quick to grow to the total length of the nail, making trimming both dangerous and painful.  (Remember, there’s a blood vessel and nerve in it.)  It is important to not try to trim a long nail short all at once, as it will take time for the quick to recede.

Trimming the hair in the paw pad area can help your dog feel better too.  The hair traps dirt, debris, burrs and many other unwanted objects which can not only make your house dirty and muddy, but can cause other problems for your dog.

Also make sure you check their paw pads, even though the pads are a thick, tough skin, they still can become cut from sharp objects like rocks or salt, they can also become irritated from chemicals in yards, ice melt and a variety of other conditions.

To help prevent these things from occurring, we recommend a regular grooming schedule for your dog.

Although the basic treatment packages include nail trimming and removal of paw pad hair,  the groomers  at Dames & Sires Beauty Spa also offer nail filing, paw butter and/or  Paw Spaw treatments as an add on service.  Call them at 217-361-5733 to ask about their new amazing Spaw treatments which include soaking their paws in a luxurious, anti-fungal and anti-septic fizzy treatment, trimming, filing and Paw Butter to lock in moisture.

Samantha Hudgins owns and operates Dames and Sires Beauty Spa, located at Tails to Remember in Springfield, IL.  Michelle Michael has been an Academy Instructor and groomer for many years.  Together, Sam and Michelle have over 28 years of experience in grooming a variety of animals, including dogs, cats, rabbits, ferrets and guinea pigs.  

Dames and Sires Beauty Spa is available for all your pet grooming needs, they are now open Tuesday-Saturday from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and can be contacted by calling 217-361-5733 or by
booking online at DamesandSires.com.

They are located at Tails to Remember Pet Services, 3036 Peoria Road, Springfield, IL 62702.