Start the Year Off Right!
Change a Pet's Life Day is January 24th, 2019. You can change a pet's life simply by adopting. We recommend contacting any of the wonderful local shelters and rescues to add a lovable fur-kid to your family! There are plenty of shelters to check out, including the Animal Rescue League, Brandywine Valley SPCA, Humane Pennsylvania, and Pennsylvania SPCA.
Be Safe in 2019:
My Close Call
I generally try to keep the blog light and make sure that you have the best information available for pet-related events, products, and deals, but something happened recently that I feel I must share.
I figure I can view my start to 2019 as either incredibly lucky or incredibly unlucky. You see, January 2nd is the day my house did not burn down, and for that I am so thankful! I feel a bit unlucky when coming so close to what could have been a major disaster.
And since I encountered a defective product that potentially could have burned down my house, I feel a moral obligation to tell as many people as possible. While the most common causes of house fires started by pets is turning the knobs of the stove accidentally or knocking over space heaters, in my case particular case it was neither of those. Of all things, it was a 18" x 18" pet heating mat that led to trouble. I'm sure many of you have pet heaters and heated pet beds. Who would think something on low heat could overheat to the point of melting through four layers of fabric?
In the winter, I cover an upholstered chair the cats enjoy with a chair cover, a blanket, and a heated mat to keep the cats cozy. Additionally, I place a lightweight pillow on top of the heater as my cats love to be extra comfortable. A few hours after plugging it in, my husband went downstairs to our TV room and smelled something unusual. It turned out to be a pillow and 3 layers of fabric melting. This pet heater was just a few weeks old and also had an "overheating" protection mode built in. Needless to say, it completely overheated and never automatically shut down. Thankfully, no one was hurt and my cats are fine. Thank goodness!
Prior to this incident, the pet heating mat seemed to be in good working order. I had no indication that it would malfunction. I ask that if you use a pet heating mat, that you check it frequently and don't leave it on when you're not home! If you're interested in knowing the specific model of pet heater, please email me and I'll be happy to share specific information.
In conclusion, be extra careful with items that generate heat! It's cold here on the East Coast and using pet heaters, heated blankets, and space heaters are very common.
Although it seems like common sense, it's always good to be extra cautious and follow these basic tips for pet heaters, heated blankets, and space heaters.
1) Never use unattended
2) Unplug from outlet when not in use
3) Inspect item regularly for safety
4) If you smell unusual odors from product discontinue use
5) Keep cords tangle free and do no pinch cords
6) Follow cleaning instructions
7) Avoid using extension cords
8) Read your instruction manual carefully. Make sure to follow recommendations.