K and H Pet Products Blog

Perfect Climate Deluxe Pond De-Icer keeping water ice free for pet ducks.

Pets distract drivers, study says…By WILLIAM LOPE and CHRIS HARRIS
The Record (Hackensack N.J.)
September 04, 2011

Fido may love to ride in the car, but too many owners are putting themselves and their beloved pets in danger by engaging in distracting behaviors on the road, according to one recent survey of dog owners.

The survey — conducted by the American Automobile Association and Kurgo, a manufacturer of pet travel products — examined the behind-the-wheel habits of dog owners who travel with their pets.

Nearly six in 10 drivers — 56 percent of respondents — said they travel by car with their dog at least once a month. Respondents admitted to petting their dogs (52 percent), taking their hands off the wheel to hold the dog while braking (23 percent), and using their hands to prevent the dog from getting into the front seat (19 percent), according to the survey.

The AAA foundation for traffic safety said that looking away from the road for 2 seconds doubled the chance of being in a crash.

Only 16 percent of respondents said they used a pet restraint when traveling with their furry companions, while more than 83 percent acknowledged that an unrestrained dog in the car can be dangerous.

“Drivers should use a pet restraint system for their dog every time the pet is in the vehicle,” said Cathleen Lewis, director of public affairs for the Florham Park-based AAA New Jersey Automobile Club. “A restraint will not only limit distractions, but also protect the driver, the pet and other passengers in the event of a crash or sudden stop.”

At the Paramus (N.J.) Pet Smart, Marge Andrews said she drives with her dog, but does not use a harness to safeguard Bella, a Yorkshire and Boston terrier mix puppy she rescued just two weeks ago.

“She sits in the seat next to me, staring out the window,” said Andrews of Bergenfield, N.J.

Dog owner Diane Lombardi of Ringwood, N.J., said she sees people on the road, distracted by their dogs all the time and suggests owners invest in a harness or seat belt.

“If you love your dog, treat them like you would a baby,” said Lombardi. “Would you leave your baby loose in a car? If the dog is not tied down and you have an accident, they could end up running off or worse. It’s absurd not to use a harness.”

Barbara B. Goldberg of Kearny, N.J., said she uses harnesses to keep her two rescue dogs Hannah Belle, a Finnish Spitz mix, and Lt. Tiberius, a Basenji Thai Ridgeback mix, comfortable and safe by also tying them to the back seat headrests of her Subaru Forester.

“I’m concerned about their safety, as well as mine and anyone on the road,” she said.

Three percent of the respondents admitted to taking pictures of their dog with cellphones while driving.

“That crosses the line,” said Renee Hooker, 21, of Wayne. “It parallels texting while driving.”

I promised I would send you a picture of Lincoln sleeping on his bed. Wendy graciously sent us another bed after we didn’t receive ours. Lincoln thanks you so very much and as you can see he loves it!  Thanks again

Will you be attending the Global Pet Expo in Orlando?  Visit the K&H booth, #2767

K&H Booth #2767

I just wanted to say thank you for giving my 13-year old barn kitty a chance to spend his last days in warmth and comfort. Baker came here years ago after surviving what would kill most kitties. His experience in the hands of his tormentor became something he couldn’t overcome by coming indoors. I tried for months to get him inside, but even as a young kitten, the doors opening and closing seemed to be the triggers to his terror, so I gave up.

He was diagnosed with cancer about six months ago and still would not come inside. Rather than force him to relieve a terror he would rather not deal with, I found your small lector kennel pad to keep him warm.  I put a large dog carrier outside, and placed your warming bed inside. I covered it with a dark blanket to keep the wind at bay and set it in a secluded corner by our porch. He hardly moved from that bed except to eat. Today, the vet paid his final visit and Baker went with the angels.

Had it not been for this warming bed, he would have sought refuge under the house. So I just wanted to say thanks. You gave him the comfort of being inside without him having to be inside.  The carrier is now occupied by my eight year old barn cat Everest- the other four will have to find warmth in the hay as I could only afford one bed after paying for tests to determine what type of cancer Baker was carrying.

I will miss him, but I am grateful that because he had a warm place to live outdoors, I was able to see him every day without having to crawl under the house and check on him.

M.A.M.

Oregon

www.felinexpress.com (CFA award-winning website)

www.kitten-rescue.com

Hey All,

Since we are always looking for ways to make our farms more efficient & economical - I thought that I’d share our experiences on the new tank heaters we’ve been using…

We have one 225 gallon tank, and two 100 gallon stock tanks that we heat in the winter months. All three tanks are built into a wood box. Each box has an inch and a half of rigid foam insulation between the box walls and the tank. There is no insulation on the bottom of the tank. All tanks are left uncovered 24 hours a day.

We’ve been using the K & H stock tank filters in our tanks for nearly 2 years now. This fall we purchased their new heating element that installs in the housing of the filters. The heater is rated at 500 watts, and the pump is rated at 30 watts. To date - there has not been a trace of ice in any of our tanks. By switching from the standard drop in 1500 watt heaters to the K & H filter/heater system - not only do we keep our tanks cleaner - we cut our tank heating costs by more than 50%. The only draw back (which is very minor) is that 2 outlets are required to run the system…one for the heating element, and one for the pump.

Fleet Farm caries both the filter and the heating element.

Here is the link to the manufactures web page - http://www.khmfg.com/farmandranch/stock-tank-de-icers-filters/clean-flow-filter.html

Hope this helps,
Dave

BuckMann Farm
Forest Lake, MN 55025

From SS in New Jersey

LOVE the Lectro-Soft kennel heater!  I put one in the doghouse for the barn cat to use (she loves it!).  One day I was in a panic because I couldn’t find one of my goats.  I happened to glance over at the doghouse, and apparently my goat quite enjoys the heater too, because I found her sitting contently on it in the doghouse.