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How to Be Pet Prepared for a Natural Disaster When a natural disaster strikes, the first priority is always the safety and care of your family members. As pet parents, the well-being of your furry family members is also top of mind. Unfortunately, according to the American Humane Association, one in three pets will become lost at some point during their life. Emergencies come in many forms, and they may require anything from a brief absence from your home to long-term evacuation. Each type of disaster requires different measures to keep your pets safe. The best thing you can do...

Happy Howl’oween Halloween is right around the corner, which means time is ticking for your pet's costume! Surprise your trick or treaters this Halloween with your dog dressed to impress. Looking for some inspiration? Check out my pet friends below! First in line is Bodhi, and this roaring costume is from Amazon. Or if your pet is from royalty, check out Abe, King of the Dog Park. A costume like his can be found at Petco. I won’t forget about the ladies either. Check out Lucy in her BEEautiful costume. Find Lucy’s Bee costume at Petsmart. Here are some similar...

5 Fun Activities for your Dog in the Fall Who doesn’t love fall? The leaves are changing colors, spooky programs are coming onto television and you can watch football every Sunday! While there are many fun fall-themed activities for you to indulge in, Sparky Steps wants to provide you with some autumn-inspired fun for your dog! Leaf piles! The classics never get old. Raking up all of those leaves can be a pain, but having a dog makes it more fun. Throw the good old tennis ball into your pile and watch as your pooch nosedives right on in. They’re...

Approaching Dogs Properly: Insights to Help Keep You Safe It’s a statistic that really makes you stop and think about what's safe and what isn't safe. Data from the CDC and other sources indicates that several million dog bites happen every year. In fact, according to the website dogbitelaw.com, more than 750,000 human victims seek medical attention annually for some type of canine bite. Many animal behaviorists will tell you that animals can try to bite when they’re feeling threatened, vulnerable or fearful. Here at Sparky Steps, we care for dogs every single day. One thing we know for sure...

Why Dogs Should Never Be Off-Leash, Even in Their Own (Unfenced) Yard How many times have you been walking your dog and been approached by other dogs, presumably in their own yard, but not leashed? Have you worried about what could happen if they left the yard and attacked you? What if your dog thought you were being attacked and went after the other dogs? The reality is, accidents can happen in a split-second. Dog owners should be considerate toward people walking down the sidewalk or street, even if they’re not walking with any dogs of their own.   Poor...