July: National Lost Pet Prevention Month

Sales professional Jennifer Heiner serves as a retail director of a New Jersey-based running company that markets a line of running apparel. Jennifer Heiner is an animal lover and an owner of an English bulldog.

  Dogs offer their owners entertainment, companionship, and love. Scientific studies have added that owning and spending time with a dog boost physical and emotional health. Here are a few of these scientific findings: 1. Dogs make their owners feel happier. A 2009 Japanese study found that by merely staring into a dog’s eyes, people can increase their level of oxytocin. Oxytocin is the “love hormone” that makes people feel happy and satisfied. A 2019 Australian study concluded that dog owners experience reduced levels of loneliness. This information is supported by a survey from the Human-Animal Bond Research Institute in which 85 percent of the respondents said that canine ownership reduces their loneliness. 2. Dogs encourage physical exercise. A study led by British scientists in 2019 discovered that dog owners are four times more likely to achieve their physical activity requirements than people who do not own dogs. The study said that dog owners walk with their dogs nearly 300 minutes per week, 200 minutes more than people who do not own dogs. 3. Dog owners have healthier hearts. A review of scientific studies conducted between 1950 and 2019 revealed that dogs help their owners respond positively to stress, one of the major causes of cardiovascular disease. A common observation in the studies was that the bond between humans and dogs results in longer life and a lower risk of death from coronary events.

While dogs do a lot for us, we need to protect them as well. July is National Lost Pet Prevention Month, and there is a great website that is dedicated all to this topic. 

NATIONAL LOST PET PREVENTION MONTH -July 2022 - National Today

Even the local news station had a segment on tips and tricks if and when a pet goes missing: 

July is National Lost Pet Prevention Month – NBC New York

It is important to not give up the search too early - call local police departments, animal hospitals, and animal shelters, and KEEP CALLING THEM to get the word out and to continuously check back in to ensure your pet has or hasn't been dropped off or turned in to one of them. Hard copy fliers in the area, as well on social media are critical to getting the word out as well. There are companies who also track and trap pets if there have been sightings of them in the neighborhood - they are specially trained to effectively capture the pet without scaring them off, hurting them, etc. 

Always keep your pet secure on a leash when outside, or in a fenced in area, and never leave your pet unattended. 

Protecting Your Pets from the Dangers of Fireworks

A former retail director for a New Jersey running company, Jennifer Heiner laid the foundation for her career by studying political science, ethics, marketing, and economics at Lehigh University in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. An active student, Jennifer Heiner-Pisano participated in the marketing club, the dean’s advisory board, and the Business Writing Fellows Program. For her efforts, she achieved a position in the National Scholars Honor Society and National Society of Collegiate Scholars. She graduated with a bachelor’s degree in political science and ethics in 2006.

Jennifer Heiner-Pisano is an avid runner and has helped to organize several group runs in preparation for the New York City Marathon. For instance, she served as a pace group leader and assisted with the organization of the Three Bridges Runs, which offered runners the opportunity to run up to 20 miles.

In addition to running, she pursues wide range of other interests and hobbies. The owner of an English bulldog, she is a committed animal lover and donates her time to animal rescue activities. She also previously worked at an animal hospital. There, Jennifer Heiner saw first hand how many animal suffered in fear from fireworks, a prevalent occurrence during this time of year. 

There are some important things to remember leading up to the July 4th holiday weekend, and ways to keep your pets safe, comfortable, and fear free during the holiday. 

The best course of action is to make a plan ahead of time - talk to your vet about your dog's nerves during fireworks and other loud events. Create a safe space for that dog to be in safely and securely. A lot of pets go missing during holidays such as this because they get nervous or scared and actually run away through an inadvertently left open door. 

Lastly, if things are really severe, your pet's doctor can recommend a variety of calming medications to take the edge off the most nervous pet.