Pets Cause $3 Billion Dollars In Damaged Devices
Sandy Robins, Square Trade Insurance
A study by SquareTrade Insurance showed pets cost owners more than $3 billion dollars in damaged devices. Overweight, overprotective and coddled pets are the most dangerous.
We spoke with Sandy Robins, who was a Pet Specialist for SquareTrade Insurance. She told us that it used to be that the age-old excuse was, "The dog ate my homework." Nowadays, you are more likely to hear, "The dog ate my laptop or peed on my iPad!"
The study by SquareTrade Insurance showed that American pets have bitten, chewed, licked, drooled upon, and otherwise damaged more than eight million devices, which adds up to more than $3B in repair and replacement costs. The most commonly damaged device is the smartphone, which accounts for one third of all devices damaged. The study also found that 3 out of 4 devices damaged were not covered by insurance or a protection plan.
The types of accidents caused by our four legged friends are as diverse as the breeds we collectively love. While ultimately forgiven, the top animal accidents are:
*Chewing: Two-thirds of the accidents are caused by the pet putting the item in their mouth
*Causing owner to drop: 21 percent of accidents happened while the owner was using the device
*Vomiting/peeing: About 1 in 6 cat or dog owners say that one of their pets has thrown up on or gone to the bathroom on one of their electronics
*Two-thirds of the accidents happened while a pet was unsupervised
Animal accidents are not just due to mischief or unruly behavior. The SquareTrade research investigated what pets were most risky and what human behavior increased the rate of accidental damage.
*Male pets: Male pets are 50 percent more likely than female pets to damage your devices
*Peeved pets: 17 percent of pet owners believe that their pet damaged the device because it was angry with them
*Overweight pets: 72 percent more likely to have a pet-related accident
*Overprotective pets: 2 times more likely to have a pet-related accident
The survey also found that if you let your pets sleep in the bed with you or ride in your lap while driving, you are two to three times more likely to have a pet-related accident.
To improve pet owners device protection, SquareTrade offered the following tips for an accident free household:
1. Give your pets the attention, training and exercise they need so they have less interest in your gadgets
2. Leave your devices high up and out of reach of curious dogs and cats
3. Never charge devices at floor level or with exposed power cords
4. Don't leave your device next to liquids of any sort
5. Always use a protective case
Are you at a higher risk than other pet owners?
Coyotes Stalking our Neighborhoods - Dr. Debbie
I saw a scraggly coyote in front of my house one morning - the second coyote sighting in my neighborhood in a week. I feared what could have happened if my 15 pound terrier was outdoors alone. Wildlife is beautiful, but when my little terrier, Boss, is in harm's way - my doggie momma protective instincts kick in. While not a threat to be exaggerated, the coyote nonetheless poses a risk to our pet's safety.
Coyotes are increasingly becoming a concern in urban areas - some are displaced by the urban sprawl that consumes their potential habitat. But other coyotes become urbanized savvy to living, feeding and thriving within city environments. Coyotes are born opportunists and dine on what they find available. They eat small animals like rabbits and rodents, but also consume ample vegetable matter with up to 40-percent of their diet consisting of seeds, grasses, fruits and flowers.
The most serious coyote concern for pets is injury and predation. As a veterinarian, I can recall many a client whose pet was brought in injured by unknown wildlife or whose cat just one day reportedly just vanished. While many might believe their cat was stolen, in reality these cats most likely fell victim to coyote predation. Likewise, small to medium sized dogs can be injured or lost to the same fate as their feline counterparts.
Steps to Keep Your Pet Safe
Whether you have pets or not, it's important not to feed coyotes. Intentional feeding of coyotes makes them dependent on humans and less fearful, which increases the chance of an unwanted, dangerous interaction with people or pets. Just leaving unsecured garbage is invitation enough for these opportunists. Secure all garbage in closing containers and avoid leaving bagged garbage at the curb overnight. Pick up uneaten pet food as soon as your pet has finished eating.
Pet owners should take precautions to keep their household pets protected as well. Keep cats indoors and maintain all pets on leash control when outdoors. Ensure your dogs and cats are up to date on their rabies vaccines. Even indoor cats that do not venture outdoors should be current on this vaccine for both pet and human safety.
Besides rabies, keep your pets current on other vaccinations, deworming and preventatives as recommended by your veterinarian. Coyotes are known to harbor carry skin mites, canine distemper virus, canine parvovirus, adenovirus and heart worm disease. So even if your dog never leaves your yard, there is potential for infectious disease crossover between wildlife and your pet.
These wild canids are masters at adapting to their changing world, and it's unrealistic they are going away on their own. As humans we are the ones that need to change to make urban areas less appealing, removing easy feeding sites, and by raising awareness to the potential crossover between wildlife and pets.
Featured veterinarian known as "Dr. Debbie" on national pet radio program, Animal Radio. Ebook author of "Yorkshire Terriers: How to Be Your Dog's Best Friend"; "Pugs: How to Be Your Dog's Best Friend"; "Mini Schnauzers: How to Be Your Dog's Best Friend"; and "Shih Tzu: How to Be Your Dog's Best Friend." Dr. Debbie's books.
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The Dogfather's Grooming Tip with Joey Villani
Treating Your Pet's Poison Ivy
Joey told us he had poison ivy, which he got from grooming a dog. This is probably the fourth time in his grooming career that he contracted poison ivy from a dog.
Contrary to belief, dogs do get poison ivy, and you can get it from your dog. It's not real common on dogs, but some dogs can come down with irritation and a rash. However, it's not as bad for dogs as it is for humans.
When your dog comes in contact with poison ivy, it can last up to eight hours on their fur. This means that they can contaminate you, your car and even your furniture during that time. Basically, anything they come in contact with for eight hours.
Since poison ivy is an oil, any type of degreaser would work, like Dawn Dish detergent. There are other remedies, like bleach and water, but these are items that Joey would never apply to his skin or on his dog.
In his search for a great product, Joey came across a product called Tecnu. Tecnu was originally invented by a doctor as a waterless cleanser for radioactive dust. It was developed in the 1940's when they were testing the atomic bomb. Somehow, this doctor's wife found out that it removed poison ivy.
You can find Tecnu in most drug stores on the shelves. In fact, you have probably walked by it a million times, but have never used it. Tecnu will remove the oils from you or your pet, and is safe for both of you. It also removes skunk odor and can remove sap from your clothes. It is a cream that you rub on you and your pet. Be careful not to get it into your pet's eyes. Then rinse with cool water, and repeat the whole process over again. While it can be a little bit of a process, and a little bit messy, it's definitely a lot better than having the itchy rash all over your body or your dog's body!
If you don't want to wash your pet, in a pinch you can use a waterless shampoo. This is a good idea any time your dog has been hiking or running in he woods. Just keep it in the car and apply it to your dog before he gets in the car.
Animal Radio News with Stacey Cohen
It's a Cam-Lamb-Chick-Fish
If you thought the now extinct 9-patty Wendy's T-Rex burger was excessive, did you hear about the Guinness Book of World Record's winner for the "largest item on any menu in the world?" The dish in question was a whole roasted camel stuffed with a lamb, which was stuffed with a chicken, which was stuffed with fish or eggs. The giant meal was prepared by an Arabic group who typically make the camel feast for weddings and other parties.
Pigeon Defects from Japan to Canada
A racing pigeon from Japan went off-course and wound up in Vancouver, Canada. The wayward bird showed up in British Columbia emaciated and dehydrated. It was eventually learned that the pigeon embarked on a 600-mile race on a northern Japanese island. But the journey apparently wasn't long enough for this particular bird, who instead chose to fly across the Pacific Ocean. The phone number for the pigeon's owner was found from a tag on the bird's leg. The owner said he was relieved to find out the bird was still alive, pointing out that this must be a "superior pigeon." Nevertheless, he chose to let the bird stay in Canada to spare him the stress of making another ocean crossing.
Unusual Back-Seat Passenger in Patrol Car
Police in Canada raised the bar when it came to unusual back-seat passengers. A Royal Canadian Mounted Police officer picked up a weeks-old baby moose along the side of the Trans-Canada Highway. The young moose was crying out for her mom, but there was no sign of her. Like most people, the orphaned animal wasn't eager to get in the back of the police cruiser, but she calmed down once she got to the SPCA and gulped down a gallon of milk. The moose probably wouldn't have survived in the wild on her own.
Pampered Pet Resort Costs More Than $72,000
Man's best friend has a place to go if they need a couple days away from their two-legged companions. The Paw Seasons Canine Holiday Resort in Long Ashton, England offers dogs a luxurious vacation that comes complete with spa and grooming sessions, fancy clothes and screenings of dog-friendly films like "Lassie" and "101 Dalmatians." The pampered pooches can even get a private, custom-made suite modeled after their owner's home. The actual owners, however, are not allowed to stay at the resort. Instead, the Paw Seasons staff keeps them up to speed with Facebook and YouTube updates. The two-week package costs more than $72,000, but that includes a donation to Battersea Dogs Home and Cancer Research.
Monkey Bites Rookie Cop
Police said a routine traffic stop became anything but for one rookie cop in Texas when he was bitten by a monkey while handing out a ticket. The officer had a camera clipped to his sunglasses and captured the incident on video. When he leaned in to hand the driver the ticket, a small monkey jumped out and clamped down on the officer's hand. It turned out the monkey was a trained entertainer who traveled with the car's driver to carnivals.
Listen to the entire Podcast of this show (#1331)
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