Recently, there was one incident, which got lots of play in the press, where a sweet middle aged mutt named Jojo was stolen from outside the Castro Safeway. After over a week of being missing he turned up in Marin after he was SOLD to a family. SF Animal Care and Control say that one dog per week is STOLEN in SF.

Please do not take your dog “out on the town” if you do not plan on being by their side at all times. Most dogs, well trained or not, feel very unsafe and insecure when tied up and left alone outside a public place while the owners are shopping and eating. I promise, your dog would rather be home, safe and warm, as opposed to outside cold and scared, or stolen!

K9 Safari will not be walking dog starting Thursday, Dec 24th, through Friday, January 1st. We will be back, rested and so excited to play with your dogs on Monday, January 4th.

All of us at K9 Safari wish all of our furry friends and their families a warm, wonderful and happy holiday season!

- Megan

Foxtails are little spikey stickers that can burrow into your dogs’ paws and fur. It is VERY important that you check your dogs’ paws, ears and fur for foxtails on a daily basis. They can cause lots of problems once they burrow into the dogs’ skin. We try our best to remove the foxtails we see after the walk but it is always good to be thorough.

Fleas love the warm weather too. If you notice your dog itching, make sure they are on a monthly medicine like Advantage or Frontline.

Though we only get a few REALLY hot days, it is extremely important to keep your dogs cool and hydrated. We always have water accessible for your dog while in transport. Though the beach is ideal on hot days, the sand can often get so hot that it burns the pads on their feet. In result, we choose to go to nice and shady spots so the dogs have the option to rest out of the sun.

Enjoy this wonderful “Indian Summer!”

Also, Please keep in mind that the loud noises from fireworks and celebrations can often spook our dogs. Every 4th of July, San Francisco Animal Care and Control gets numerous reports of missing dogs due to do their fear of loud noises. Make sure your dog is safe and keep them calm by playing classical music to drown out the noise. Also, this is a good excuse to make sure their tags are up to date and they are registered with SFACC.

Have a Wonderful Weekend!

The weather is fantastic! Unfortunately, with spring comes the dreaded foxtail. Foxtails are a small, annoying, hitch-hiking weed which will plague our sweet dogs. These little weeds may accidentally be inhaled or fall into your dog’s ear. If this is the case, your dog will be sneezing repeatedly or shaking its head emphatically. Foxtails can also burrow into your dog’s paw as well as thick fur so we HIGHLY suggest you check your dog’s paws and fur on a daily basis just to be cautious. Once a foxtail is in it needs to be removed by a vet as soon as possible. You may even want to consider cutting your dog’s hair to prevent problems.

Also, as the weather gets warmer Fleas become more abundant. It is very important to your dogs’ health as well as the other dogs in the groups that you keep your dog on a quality flea control. Please ask your vet what will be best for your pooch and try and be consistent.