July 4th is often the official "kick-off" of summer.  Including your pet in many of your activities can be fun for everyone involved, but be sure to take precautions where necessary. 

Parades, barbecues, family gatherings and fireworks are the hallmarks of our Independence Day celebrations.  But, be aware that fireworks are frightening to many dogs.  When dogs panic from firework noise, they often run and many dogs have been lost this way.   Be sure to keep your pet on a lead or keep her/him indoors.

Summertime Safety

Just as you would keep an eye on small children, be aware of where your pet is and what s/he is doing when you are at gatherings.  Whether you're in the backyard, at the beach or someplace else enjoying a lazy day of summer, don't let your pet get too close to the grill or fire pit.   Avoid gastrointestinal emergencies by keeping your pet away from charcoal and discarded food items such as fish or sparerib bones, pits from fruit (including avocado), corn cobs, skewers and garbage in general. 

If you and your furry buddy are out in the car and you need to stop at a store, NEVER leave your pet in the car.  Even though some people don't think temperatures in the 80s feel too warm; in an enclosed, sunny space such as a vehicle, the temperature can reach over 110 degrees in just 10 minutes.  This can cause heat-stress or heat stroke in a pet, which can lead to death.

If you see an animal locked in a vehicle in a parking lot, intervention may be necessary.  Try to locate the owner of the car through the store or restaurant's paging system or contact the police to free the animal.

As the weather starts to get warmer, pets with long hair and/or thick fur should have it trimmed.  Pets with thick fur and an undercoat are especially susceptible to overheating in temperatures that may seem mild to most humans.  Their coat traps the warm air, which is ideal in the winter, but during the summer, it can quickly cause overheating.

Grooming is key to your pet's comfort during the warm weather.

Dog breeds sporting thick fur include German Shepherd, Newfoundland, Poodle, Chow Chow, Akita, Sheepdog, Corgi and Great Pyrenees.  Cat breeds that have abundant coats include Norwegian Forest Cat, Himalayan and Persian.

In humid weather, dogs with long-haired coats (even if the fur is more silky than thick) may develop an offensive musty odor and should be bathed/groomed regularly.

Having your pet groomed regularly also helps to cut down on the shedding so you'll find fewer fur balls and less hair around the house.  Although, some breeds such as the poodle, don't shed at all, so regular grooming is a must for them.

Take a moment to schedule a series of regular grooming appointments at the start of the season to best ensure your pet's comfort throughout what is sure to be a long, hot summer.

As we humans know, a great haircut can make all the difference! 

P.S.  Don't forget to protect your pet from mosquitoes, black flies, fleas and other annoying pests by using flea and tick treatment regularly.  It's easier to prevent problems than to treat after the fact.

March 20th is the first day of Spring, bringing with it longer days, warmer (we hope) temperatures and Spring flowers. 

With Easter around the corner, it's important to note that Lilies are highly toxic to cats.  The leaves, pollen and flower of lily plants can make your cat extremely sick and can even be fatal.  Some signs of lily toxicity are loss of appetite, vomiting, lethargy and liver failure. 

According to the ASPCA, some varieties of lilies are also toxic to dogs and include lily of the valley, calla lily, peace lily or palm lily (which is the houseplant Dracaena).  Dogs who have ingested these lilies may experience stomach upset, tremors and depression.

A few other popular Spring blooms are also dangerous.  These include Daffodils (otherwise known as paper whites, narcissus or jonquils), Tulips and Azaleas.  Daffodils and Tulips contain poisonous alkaloids that can cause drooling, intense vomiting, convulsions, diarrhea and heart problems.  If the leaves of the Azaleas are ingested, they can cause loss of appetite, stomach upset, weakness, leg paralysis, central nervous system depression, cardiovascular collapse and death.

If you suspect your pet has plant/flower toxicity, seek immediate veterinary attention.

Pay careful attention to the type of plants/flowers you bring indoors or plant outside.  There are a number of attractive plants that are non-toxic to pets.  Consider African Violet, Rose, Begonia or Easter Daisy, to name just a few.

Great news!  Zoomin Groomin has just signed with The Entrepreneur Source, the nation’s premier Franchise Business Coaches. We are honored to be included in their list of premium Franchise Opportunities. TES is familiar with our segment and we anticipate national expansion with them.

Purina's Adopt-A-Thon event will showcase some of the Central Brevard Humane Society’s (CBHS) shelter dogs and will provide fun, educational information about responsible pet ownership. There will also be CBHS merchandise there for purchase. 

All proceeds will go to help provide care to the homeless animals in Brevard County.  


Bring your dogs and cats for grooming!
Zoomin Groomin will be there from 11 a.m. - 2 p.m., offering on-site grooming and giving 10% off that day or for a future booking.

Event locations:

April 14th
Walmart Supercenter 
2700 Clearlake Road
Cocoa FL, 32922

April 28th
Walmart Supercenter 
1040 Malabar Rd., S.E.
Palm Bay FL, 32909

May 5th
Walmart
845 Palm Bay Rd. NE
West Melbourne, Fl 32904

May 12th
Walmart
1001 E. Eau Gallie Blvd, 
Satellite Beach, FL