Can Pets Look at The Eclipse? 🌗

Lola & Friends: Issue 120

“Cats have it all - admiration, endless sleep, and company only when they want it.
- Rod McKuen

 
Hey, Friends!

We just received word that a new AIR BUD movie is coming out in which Buddy takes on the world of competitive pickleball.

Picklebud: the Golden Years is coming soon to a retirement community near you!

Now, let’s see what’s in store for this week’s issue:
 

Pet Safety & The Eclipse

There is a total solar eclipse coming our way on Monday, April 8th.

We all know it’s unsafe to look into an eclipse, but what makes it different than looking into the sun at any other time? We’ve heard a lot of people say “it’s just an old saying, but it’s fine to look into an eclipse if it’s quick.”

Here’s why it’s dangerous: when the moon blocks out the sun, your pupil expands just like it would if you were in a dark room. This helps you see better in the dark by allowing more light into the eye. During an eclipse, however, the edges of the sun are still beaming past the moon, sending high levels of UV light directly into your retina.

Your pupil is wider and more receptive to that light, which leads to serious damage that can be permanent. The last thing you want is for your pet to gaze up with wide pupils.

Fortunately, pets aren’t likely to stare up at the eclipse. By nature, they’re not as interested in the phenomena and avoid gazing at the sky. Still, it’s possible that they could.

So, here are our suggestions for pet safety during the Eclipse on Monday:

Keep the eclipse out of your pet’s view.

It’s unlikely that they’ll spend time looking at an eclipse, but there’s a chance that they could. Why risk the damage? Dogs and cats have eyes that are vulnerable to the sun, just like our own eyes are.

Keep your pets away from people, preferably inside.

The thing that’s more likely to affect your pet is the emotional state of the people around you. If there’s a crowd of people acting strangely, your pet will pick up on that. This could cause them some stress and confusion and make them anxious.

The bottom line is that it’s not worth the risk, however small.

More News

American Airlines has freed up pet travel for those with medium-to-small-sized pets. You can bring your furry friend on American Airlines flights so long as you keep them in a pet carrier and they stay under the seat in front of you for the duration of the flight. There is a carry-on pet fee, but this is still great news for all of our traveling readers out there!

A lull in winter donations has led the Connecticut Humane Society to an urgent need of dry dog food donations. The vast majority of our readers live nowhere near Connecticut, but you can donate remotely or contact the humane society by clicking here. This is a sign to check in on your local shelters and see if there’s anything you can donate, or if there’s an opportunity for you to help out by volunteering!

There are so many new products, treats, and dietary options for our pets that it’s hard to know which are safe and effective. Compelling advertisements may tug at your heartstrings, but are they rooted in truth? This article will give you a foundation of knowledge to use as you make purchases in the future.

Therapy Dog Spencer was a staple of the Boston Marathon. He encouraged millions of runners over the years, reliably showing up to the race with a flag in his mouth. Spencer passed away from cancer recently, but his legacy will live on forever thanks to a large bronze statue made in his likeness, fittingly placed in the marathon’s path so he can continue to encourage runners for decades to come.

 

Dr. McLeod explores the wide-ranging health benefits of turmeric for cats in this article. Everything from mental well-being to joint health may be affected by this powerful, accessible spice.

What is the name of Elliott's Dog in The Movie E.T.?

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Akira is a black pit bull who might have the cutest face on the planet. The fact that she’s a pit bull, though, makes it harder for some people to get to know her. In this video, she dresses up to meet the Easter Bunny and patiently waits and watches the crowds before her big moment. Just look at her…

A disabled cat on vacation decided to climb up a mountain cliff and nestle herself cozily into one of its nooks. The moment captured in this video is both hilarious and inspirational, seeing as Penny (the cat) saw no issue scaling a wall despite the fact that she has cerebella hypoplasia.

This man went above and beyond to help shelter dogs in Morocco.

It should be easy for dogs to find homes, but there are a lot of hoops to jump through and this makes it extremely hard for shelter dogs to get to those who might adopt them abroad.

So, Zac networks his way to the top and secures a method for shelter dogs to get first-class travel from their rescue missions to their new homes! This is a departure from our normal “Paws of Kindness” sections, but it’s an excellent one.