Labor Day is almost here, and what better way to spend your last summer party than with your pooch? Good food, friends, and fun are all essential for Labor Day celebrations, but is your dog prepared for the festivities? Here is a list of dangers for your dog to avoid during this Labor Day to ensure he/she stays healthy and happy all weekend long.

Heat stroke – Hydration is crucial for dogs. Did you know a dog can overheat in just a matter of minutes? If your dog has a heavy coat, he or she is more susceptible to heat stroke. Consistently monitor body temperature and be able to notice anything unordinary. Symptoms of heat stroke are panting heavily, a rapid pulse, glazed eyes, a deep red or purple tongue, vomiting, sticky, thick saliva, lethargy, or any unsteadiness or staggering. Heat exhaustion, stress, or stroke is extremely serious and can be fatal. Remember–NEVER leave your pet alone in the car even for a few minutes. This is the most common cause of heat stroke.

Paw burns – Have you ever walked on a scorching patio or beach without sandals? Imagine how your pooch feels this Labor Day when your porch is so hot you could cook an egg on it. Make sure there is a shady place near the party for your dog to hang out. Also, be careful while grilling. A hot grill plus a curious dog can lead to disaster. We recommend putting your pooch inside when the grill is on, but if you insist, watch him or her closely. If you see him get burned, or any signs that he did (limping, licking his paws, cracked or blistering skin or pads), apply a cold, wet compress, clean the area with pet-safe ointment or aloe vera, and wrap with gauze.

Dogs get sunburned too! – Contrary to popular belief, your dog can get sunburned and needs protection. Hairless, light skinned, light colored, shaved, or pink-nosed pups are especially in danger of being burned. We recommend doing one of two things for pet sun protection. Pick up a non-toxic, fragrance free doggie sunscreen like Vet’s Best Sun Relief spray; or, another option is baby sunscreen. A lotion works best with heavy coated dogs since you can rub it through the coat to the skin. Essential areas are the ears, bridge of the nose, nose, and the underside of his body.

Swimming time – If your dog loves to swim, this section is for you. Most of us love to enjoy the water during Labor Day weekend, and your pooch probably does too. If he isn’t a good swimmer, a doggie life preserver would be a good idea. Never leave a dog unattended when swimming. Also, don’t let him drink pool or ocean water. Pool water contains chlorine and the ocean contains salt, both of which can be harmful and can dehydrate your pet. Make sure you have fresh water available at all times.

Human foods are not for pets – Who doesn’t like barbequed food? But it’s not for dogs, and you must resist the urge to give them a treat from the grill. If you’re having a big Labor Day party, you might want to consider putting up a sign for your guests that says “Please do not feed the pets.” Some foods are toxic to dogs, such as onions, grapes, mushrooms, avocados, lunch meat, and more. Plus, dogs have very sensitive tummies. Even the smallest amount of food can upset their stomach and cause diarrhea or vomiting.

Traveling by car – Many of us travel to friends or family by car during Labor Day weekend. If you plan to bring your pooch in the car, you might want to consider a few things. If your dog has never traveled by car before, get him accustomed prior to travel. Making him feel comfortable will significantly reduce car sickness. Also, a dog restraint is always recommended. This will help keep the dog from being a distraction to the driver, as well as keeping him safe.

The long Labor Day weekend is meant to be enjoyed by both humans and dogs. Be prepared, keep your canine safe, and don’t let one of these dangers for your dog put a damper on your festivities.

“I wanted a place where owners that are busy could have peace of mind that their dogs are getting exercise and getting cared for during the day,” said Elena Sweet, a dog trainer and paramedic who opened Totally Dog in 1999.

Sweet, now 40, said she saw a need for a place where dogs could run free and be themselves far from the stress of urban life. Camp costs: $45 a day.

According to police, the person took in a missing dog that belonged to a neighbor couple and demanded $150 for its return.

When the wife learned Thursday the neighbor might have her tan Pomeranian named “Cookie,” she confronted the person and was told how much it would cost to get the pooch back.

The Flint Journal says the wife was told the neighbor paid $150 for the dog and needed to get that money back before allowing Cookie to return home.

Police said today the case remains under investigation.

That’s great news for the millions of adoptable shelter dogs that need homes all over America. One very common barrier to pet adoption is long hours spent at the office, so The Humane Society of the United States is tackling the problem of pet homelessness creatively, urging employers to implement programs that would allow dogs in the workplace.

“The more than 50 dogs that ‘work’ in The HSUS offices every day have been a huge boost that more companies should be enjoying,” says Jennifer Fearing of The HSUS.

To assist employers in implementing a dogs-at-work program, Humane Society Press, the publishing division of The HSUS, published a 202-page book, Dogs at Work: A Practical Guide to Creating Dog-Friendly Workplaces, the definitive guide to creating a business environment where employees’ dogs are welcome.

How, exactly, would stem cells help dogs?

Ruggles started having problems walking. This four- year-old hunting dog, that was normally very athletic, couldn’t walk up the stairs or get around one day. An old injury the dog had sustained during puppyhood was causing Ruggles to start limping and having difficulty walking as he was getting older.

Ruggles’s family decided to try stem cell treatment.  The vet extracted cells from fatty tissue in Ruggles’s abdomen and sent them away to a lab to have the stem cells extracted. When the cells were returned, the vet injected them into the affected areas.

They were able to heal the injury because stem cells can become any type of cell that the body needs in order to repair itself. Ruggles was back to climbing the stairs one week after the stem cell treatment!

To read more about the stem cell procedure, visit Peoplepets.com.

The officer noticed that the dog appeared to be quite pregnant, but the woman told him that she was not. She told the officers that  she was only supposed to watch the dog for a short time, and that her owners never picked her up.

The officer put the dog in the back of his patrol car to be impounded, but when he got to the station, he found more than one dog in the back.

Dutchess had given birth to a male puppy during the ride. The officer took the dog to a kennel, and brought the puppy to her. Soon after, she gave birth to a second puppy.

Dutchess was then taken to the Yavapai Humane Society, and it is believed that she gave birth to more puppies, although it is unclear how many were born.

Authorities are looking for her owners.

Social networking has delivered yet another way to raise funds to help animals in need. Edward Norton, movie star of Fight Club, Primal Fear, The Painted Veil, and People vs. Larry Flint (to mention just a few of the many famous flicks he’s starred in), created Crowdrise.com. You can sign up, create a profile, and start a fundraising project, which you can promote on Facebook, Twitter, and other social networking sites.

Kristen Bell launched a Crowdrise.com project to raise money for special needs pets. Her pup, Sadie, rescued from Hurricane Katrina, was in bad shape when she first came to live with Bell. Sadie needed extensive surgery on her ear, and she was missing several teeth. Her experience with Sadie prompted Bell to partner with the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) to serve dogs in need.

To find out more about Kristen Bell’s campaign and about Crowdrise, visit Crowdrise.com.

I thought that my big, red dog, Apollo, was a lap-full, but Daisy the Dane beats out Apollo! My Rottweiler-and Yellow Lab-mixed mutt may look large and brave, but he’s a huge softie. Thunder or any loud noise scares him, and he’ll come scurrying over to mama for protection. Lying next to me is not enough for Apollo. He feels safest by being as close as possible to me. My legs sometimes go numb with an 80-plus pound dog on my lap!

Daisy’s belief that she is a lap dog caught the attention of Peoplepets.com for their caption contest. Send in your clever captions for Daisy’s picture and maybe your fun caption will be the winner!

Visit Peoplepets.com website to enter the contest.

London dogs are entertained by the Scooby Doo theme song while they figure out what flavor of ice cream they desire. It sounds like K99 London could be something American dogs would appreciate. Dog lovers in America love to spoil their hounds and what better way to treat our pups on these sweltering summer days than with canine ice cream!

Read the full article on the  Peoplepets.com website.