Owning a pet is a fabulous and rewarding experience. But every animal and their needs are different, so how can you make sure you’re ready for a new addition to your family and your home and that you choose the right one for you? Our tips on how to choose the right pet are here to help…

Say goodbye to preconceived ideas

You may like the look of a particular pet but that doesn’t mean they’re right for you. Every pet has its own personality and certain breeds of dogs often have strong traits – for example Jack Russell terriers can need a lot of exercise and play to stop boredom setting in and shih tzus require lots of grooming. If you have children look for a friendly, confident dog rather than focussing on a particular breed.

Most people think that all small pets are great for children but it isn’t always the case. Some pets, including hamsters and chinchillas, are nocturnal which means that when the kids want to play, their pets are snoozing happily and won’t appreciate being disturbed.

Pets like gerbils and mice are quick and agile so it’s difficult for children to handle them without squeezing too hard. And rabbits are prey animals and don’t always enjoy being picked up and cuddled.

On the other hand, less popular pets like rats can actually make great pets and love social interaction with people. So think about what you want from your small pet and do some research before you take one on.

Think about your lifestyle

You may have an idea of what kind of pet you want, whether that’s a dog or degu, but think about what would be best suited to your home and lifestyle.

For example, if you work full time and you want a dog, who would take care of them during the day? Are there any local dog day care or dog walking services you can use and have you looked into the cost of this?

If you want a cat, will they have access to outside space while you’re out and about during the day and how will you feel if you come home to a clawed sofa?

Do some research on the size, temperament, exercise requirements, lifespan and health predispositions of different pets and breeds to make sure they’re the right choice for you.

Don’t impulse buy

It might be tempting if you see a gorgeous pet looking longingly at you but think about whether you’re really ready for the long term commitment. Your new pet could live for anything from two years to 20 or more and that impulse purchase might not seem like a good idea further down the line.

Plus if you haven’t done your research, you won’t know anything about the pet’s history and any health or behavioural problems that they come with. Choosing the right pet requires both planning time so don’t rush in to anything.

Do your sums

From everyday things like insurance, food and toys to unexpected vet bills, having a pet is a financial commitment.

Some pets may cost a few hundred pounds a year while others can cost thousands so make sure you factor in how much your new pet will cost before you choose them.

Think about a rescue pet

Thousands of stray, abandoned and unwanted pets are desperate for a good home. Charities like Blue Cross can offer support and advice about individual pets and help you find the right one for you and your family.

They’ll discuss your lifestyle and what you want from a pet and suggest suitable animals from the many in their care.

An adult rescue pet is a great choice because their personalities are already established so you can be more confident about whether they’ll fit in well to your lifestyle. They will be neutered, microchipped and vaccinated so they offer great value compared to the outlay involved in buying from a breeder.

If you want a particular breed of dog but still want to help a rescue pet, you can contact specific breed rescue organisations via The Kennel Club.

Use a reputable breeder

If you do want to buy a pedigree dog or cat, ask your vet or breed club to recommend a responsible breeder. Ask the breeder for all the relevant paperwork, like pedigree registration papers, health screening certificates and a written medical history, including vaccinations and worming.

Ask to meet the pet’s parents, relatives and siblings to observe their temperament and general health and welfare and find out if the parents or any of their other litters have developed inherited diseases or problems.

Ask about how the youngsters have been socialised and avoid those that have been reared in kennels, as they may have missed out on important aspects of growing up.

You can also ask to contact the breeder’s vet and other people who have bought youngsters from them to verify this – if they refuse, go elsewhere.

Don’t purchase online or from dealers who offer multiple breeds or types of pets – these may well turn out to be puppy farmers or commercial dealers who have little interest in the welfare of the pets they sell.

Find your perfect match

There aren't any fixed rules about what makes the perfect home because every pet and their needs are different. If you’re looking for a pet, do everything you can to find one that’s the right match for you and your lifestyle.

Source: bluecross.org

Starting a business involves planning, making key financial decisions, and completing a series of legal activities. Scroll down to learn about each step.

1. Conduct market research

Market research will tell you if there’s an opportunity to turn your idea into a successful business. It’s a way to gather information about potential customers and businesses already operating in your area. Use that information to find a competitive advantage for your business.

2. Write your business plan

Your business plan is the foundation of your business. It’s a roadmap for how to structure, run, and grow your new business. You’ll use it to convince people that working with you — or investing in your company — is a smart choice.

3. Fund your business

Your business plan will help you figure out how much money you’ll need to start your business. If you don’t have that amount on hand, you’ll need to either raise or borrow the capital. Fortunately, there are more ways than ever to find the capital you need.

4. Pick your business location

Your business location is one of the most important decisions you’ll make. Whether you’re setting up a brick-and-mortar business or launching an online store, the choices you make could affect your taxes, legal requirements, and revenue.

5. Choose a business structure

The legal structure you choose for your business will impact your business registration requirements, how much you pay in taxes, and your personal liability.

6. Choose your business name

It’s not easy to pick the perfect name. You’ll want one that reflects your brand and captures your spirit. You’ll also want to make sure your business name isn’t already being used by someone else.

7. Register your business

Once you’ve picked the perfect business name, it’s time to make it legal and protect your brand. If you’re doing business under a name different than your own, you’ll need to register with the federal government, and maybe your state government, too.

8. Get federal and state tax IDs

You’ll use your employer identification number (EIN) for important steps to start and grow your business, like opening a bank account and paying taxes. It’s like a social security number for your business. Some — but not all — states require you to get a tax ID as well.

9. Apply for licenses and permits

Keep your business running smoothly by staying legally compliant. The licenses and permits you need for your business will vary by industry, state, location, and other factors.

10. Open a business bank account

A small business checking account can help you handle legal, tax, and day-to-day issues. The good news is it’s easy to set one up if you have the right registrations and paperwork ready.

Source: sba.gov

Why should I purchase flood insurance if:

Q. I already have a home insurance policy?

A: Most homeowners insurance does not cover flood damage. Only flood insurance covers the cost of rebuilding after a flood.

Q. My community has never flooded?

A: Flooding can happen anywhere at any time. Poor drainage systems, summer storms, melting snow, neighborhood construction, and broken water mains can all result in flooding.

In high-risk areas, there is at least a one-in-four chance of flooding during a 30-year mortgage.

Q. I live outside the high-risk flood area?

A: Even though flood insurance isn’t required for your property, flooding can happen to anyone.

In fact, from 2014 to 2018, policyholders outside of high-risk flood areas filed over 40 percent of all NFIP flood insurance claims and required one-third of federal disaster assistance for flooding.

Q. My home flood damage could be covered by federal disaster assistance?

A: Federal disaster assistance is only made available when there is a Presidential disaster declaration, and most flood events do not result in a declaration. Disaster assistance typically comes in the form of loans that must be repaid – with interest!

Disaster assistance from FEMA and the U.S. Small Business Administration is designed to kick-start recovery, but is not enough to restore your home to its pre-disaster condition or to replace your treasured household items.

Flood insurance does not have to be paid back, and it is designed to restore your property to its pre-disaster condition. There is no better way to protect the life you’ve built than with NFIP flood insurance.

Q. I'm renting a property?

A: It’s likely your landlord has flood insurance that covers the building, but not its contents.

Affordable, contents-only flood insurance will help you protect the items inside of your unit in the event of a flood.

For more information on flood insurance, contact Lallis & Higgins Insurance.

Source: floodsmart

One of the unpleasant and unhealthy effects of water damage is mold development. Aside from the smell, allowing mold to grow in your home risks your health.

You can prevent mold from growing, but time is essential. If your home is not completely dry within roughly 24 hours, mold will develop.

If you hire a water damage technician, they will do everything possible to prevent mold growth. Many homeowners choose the DIY route to water damage restoration. If that’s what you decide to do, then you’ll need to move quickly.

If you have a wet/dry shop vac, it will be a great tool to start the drying-out process. The job will go faster if you can rent an industrial-grade wet/dry vacuum.

You’ll want to start drying out the water-logged area immediately, which means using fans. You can begin with box fans, but you should consider renting an industrial fan since they can move five times as much air.

While you can use a consumer-grade dehumidifier, an industrial-quality dehumidifier will dry things out faster. Using a rental dehumidifier, you should be able to pull 18-20 gallons of water from the air every 24 hours. Most consumer-grade dehumidifiers have small tanks that only absorb 5 gallons of water daily.

Source: ibuyer.com

Whether you've been hauling large trailers for years or you're about to embark on your first family vacation with a small travel trailer, towing isn't something to be taken lightly.

To pull a trailer behind another vehicle, a driver needs to develop a whole new set of skills. Just the process of hitching and unhitching a trailer from a tow vehicle requires know-how and numerous steps, and forgetting even one crucial element in the process could compromise safety.

Getting Ready for Towing

Check those trailer tires. A lot of people check the tire pressures on their pickup truck, but they forget to check the tires on the trailer. Also inspect the trailer tires for dry rot and cracking, especially if the trailer is stored outside and hasn't been used for months. Even if the tires appear to have plenty of tread, they age over time and that can lead to tire failure. Also, your tow vehicle's tires may require a higher pressure for towing, as outlined in the owner's manual. Don't forget to make sure the wheel lug nuts on the trailer and tow vehicle are tightened to the specified torque.

Make sure your tow vehicle's maintenance is up to date. Towing puts additional stress on the tow vehicle, so before heading out on a towing road trip, be sure your truck has recently had an oil and filter change, the brake pads have plenty of life remaining, the engine coolant is filled to the proper level in the reservoir, and the transmission fluid is topped off, Ibbotson says. It's also a good idea to have your trailer's brakes (if it has them) checked and adjusted, and keep the wheel bearings greased.

Match the hitch ball to the trailer. Make sure the ball on your tow hitch is the same size as the coupler on your trailer. Incorrectly sized hitch balls are the No. 1 cause of trailer accidents. Hitch balls typically come in three sizes: 1⅞ inches, 2 inches, and 2 5⁄16 inches.

Don't get stuck on the side of the road. Always make sure you have at least one spare tire for your trailer. You'll also want a lug nut wrench specific to your trailer's wheels, as well as a jack that will work properly with your trailer in case you need to change a flat tire on the side of the road.

Use trailer safety chains. All trailers should have safety chains that hook up to the hitch. Always cross the trailer's safety chains, don't just run them straight. If anything were to happen and the trailer got disconnected from the tow vehicle, the crossed chains will form a ‘cradle' for the tongue of the trailer to fall down onto, instead of digging into the pavement. The chains should have enough slack to permit sharp turns but not drag on the road.

Check trailer lights. Before hitting the road, double check to make sure the trailer's electrical wiring system is properly connected to the tow vehicle. Inspect the wires by hand; they should be loose enough to be able to make turns without getting disconnected from the tow vehicle, yet not so loose that they touch the road. With a partner to visually confirm, check that the trailer's running lights, brake lights, turn signals, and hazard lights are all working in correlation with the tow vehicle.

Choose the right hitch. Some vehicles come with factory-installed tow hitches, but for those that don't, finding the right hitch is important. Visit your local trailer rental company and explain what you intend to tow. A professional there can give you proper guidance. A trailer hitch should be connected to the tow vehicle's frame, not the bumper.

Consider getting tow mirrors. If your trailer is wider than your tow vehicle, look into getting factory or wider aftermarket tow mirrors to help see the trailer's blind spots while driving and to aid rear visibility when backing up. You need all the mirror width you can get when you're towing a trailer. Many new trucks and SUVs are also available with blind spot warning systems that not only help with the truck's blind spots but also give warnings for the entire length of the trailer.

Get a larger fuel tank. Some full-sized pickups can be ordered with a larger than standard fuel tank—a good idea if you plan on doing a lot of towing. You generally use more fuel while towing, and stopping at small, remote gas stations is not always easy when towing a long, tall trailer.

Use wheel chocks. When unhooking the trailer from the tow vehicle, place wheel chocks (sturdy, wedge-shaped blocks) in front of and behind the trailer's tires to ensure the trailer doesn't roll away when it is released from the tow vehicle.

Key Driving Tips for Safe Towing

Know your trailer. "In many cases, the trailer weighs more than the truck. All that extra weight behind the truck will have a huge impact on the truck's ability to stop quickly and navigate sharp turns. Height can also be an issue, as travel trailers can be much taller than the truck, so keep clearances in mind when pulling into gas stations or low bridge situations.

Make wider turns at curves and corners. Because your trailer's wheels will end up closer to the inside of a turn than the wheels of your tow vehicle, the trailer tires are more likely to hit or ride up over curbs. Safe towing requires that the driver take constant care to give a wider berth than usual around any corner.

Allow for longer stopping distances. Stopping distances will increase from what your tow vehicle can normally achieve on its own, because of the added weight of the trailer. This means you'll need to be more attentive to vehicles stopping suddenly ahead of you when towing, and begin braking sooner than if you weren't towing.

Drive in the right lane on highways. Try to drive in the right lane as much as possible, so you can use the extra stopping room of the right shoulder of the road in case you need to brake suddenly. Driving in the right lane will also make it easier to get over to the shoulder in the case of a tire blowout.

Adjust trailer brakes according to load. Many trailers have electric brakes, and the power level can be adjusted by the driver if the truck is fitted with an optional in-vehicle trailer brake controller system. It's important to adjust how heavily the trailer's brakes are applied.

Don't ride your truck's brakes on long downhills. Shift the truck's transmission to a lower gear to help slow the vehicle and take some strain off of the brakes. Many of today's pickup trucks have a tow/haul mode that, when the driver engages the system, will automatically downshift the transmission when it senses the truck is on a long downhill. Applying the brakes at intervals to keep the speed in check (as opposed to constant application on the brake pedal) will help keep the brakes from overheating.

Use a spotter when backing up. Have someone outside at the rear of the trailer while backing up whenever possible; mirrors—even wide tow mirrors—typically can't provide all the visibility you may need, particularly in situations where there are other vehicles, objects, or people in close proximity.

Practice driving with a trailer. "Before hitting the road, it's a good idea to practice accelerating, backing up, braking, making wide turns, and using your sideview mirrors. This is especially important if you are brand-new to the art of towing a trailer behind your vehicle.

Disconnect wiring before launching a boat. Disconnect the trailer's wiring from the tow vehicle before backing the trailer into the water at a boat launch. This will avoid any electrical problems that might arise from submerging the trailer's lights in the water.

Check your route ahead of time. Some roads don't allow trailers on them, and certain roads also have weight, height, and width limits. Planning your route ahead of time will save you from the hassle of having to backtrack to find roads that allow your rig.

Source: consumerreports.org

As the parent of a new teen driver, there’s plenty to worry about.

You might question your teen’s skills behind the wheel. Or you’re concerned they’ll become distracted by a cellphone, other passengers or trying to eat while on the road.

Rather than simply hoping (or fretting) that your teens reach their destinations safely, you can begin the conversation now by teaching them about common distractions(link is external) — and how unsafe behaviors can lead to a crash.

The Pediatric Trauma Program at University of Michigan C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital has ideas to help.

Consider these “S-M-A-R-T” tips for preventing distracted driving:

Teens and safe driving: the S-M-A-R-T method

[S]tay focused on driving

• Keep your eyes on the road
• Scan surroundings for hazards
• Keep both hands on the wheel
• Check for blind spots

[M]ake preparations before you begin

• Secure children and pets
• Find your sunglasses
• Store loose items
• Set the stereo, navigation tools and climate controls
• Complete personal grooming or adjust clothing
• Fasten your seat belt

[A]void all other activities

• Don’t use your phone
• Wait until the vehicle is stopped before:
• Looking for loose items
• Changing vehicle controls (air conditioner, mirrors, etc.)
• Searching for music or changing the radio
• Consuming food or drink
• Reading a map or adjusting a GPS

[R]ely on passengers

• To make phone calls or texts
• To navigate your route
• To secure pets or help children
• To look for things in the vehicle
• To adjust radio or climate controls

[T]ext or talk later — leave your phone alone!

• Create a calm environment inside the vehicle
• Ask friends and family not to contact you when they know you’ll be on the road
• Let others know that you don’t talk on the phone or text while driving
• Return the favor: Don’t call or text other drivers

Other ways to help

Families can request a teen driving kit from Mott’s Drive Smart(link is external) website. The kit includes a free “cell keeper” bag to hold your teen’s phone while he or she drives.

The campaign offers a Parent-Teen Driving Agreement(link is external) for young drivers and their parents to keep each other accountable for maintaining good habits.

There’s also Distractions Avenue(link is external), a simulation game to see how quickly you and your teen can choose to avoid distractions and arrive safely at your destination.

Most important, model safe driving behaviors yourself so your teens learn by example.

Source: mottchildren.org

Anyone who has a television knows how easy it is to buy the right car insurance. Finding the right marine insurance is not so easy. This article presents an overview of the three most common types of marine insurance.

Doctrine of Uberrimae Fidei

Unlike other types of insurance, marine insurance is subject to the longstanding doctrine of uberrimae fidei or the doctrine of utmost good faith. Under the doctrine, a person applying for marine insurance is obligated to disclose all information that may be material to the risk, whether or not the insurer asked for it.

Material information is information relevant to the insurer’s decision to underwrite the risk. The information solicited in the application is presumptively material. Under federal maritime law, the failure to disclose material information or the misrepresentation of material facts, whether intentional or not, allows a marine insurer to rescind the policy. State law is not consistent on the effect of a misrepresentation or non-disclosure of information. Under California statutory law for example, an insurer may rescind a marine insurance policy if the insured has intentionally failed to disclose or has misrepresented facts, whether or not material to the risk.

Depending on the marine operation, several different types of marine insurance may be required. The three most common types of marine insurance are hull, cargo, and protection and indemnity (P&I). There is no such thing as a standard marine insurance policy and not all marine insurance companies insure against the same risks in the same type of policy. Marine insurers may use their own forms or may incorporate forms issued by industry groups such as the American Institute of Marine Underwriters.

Hull Insurance

Hull insurance generally covers physical loss of or damage to a vessel. There are various types of hull policies depending on the type of vessel being insured. Different policies exist for yachts (private pleasure craft), fishing vessels, tugs and barges, large commercial vessels such as containerships, and passenger carrying vessels. The coverage may apply for a specified period of time or a single voyage.

Coverage under a hull policy is either on an “all-risk” or “named perils” basis. An “all-risk” policy covers all risks of physical loss or damage to a vessel from an external cause unless otherwise excluded. Common exclusions include wear and tear, marine borers, ice, and improper/inadequate maintenance. A “named” perils policy covers physical loss of or damage to a vessel but only from the perils named in the policy. The traditional named perils include heavy weather, fire, piracy and similar sea perils. Additional perils are covered under the “Inchmaree” clause, named after a late nineteenth century British case in which the need for coverage for non sea-related perils was recognized. The Inchmaree clause provides coverage for, among other things, loss or damage due to the negligence of crew, charterers, and repairers, latent defects, and accidents in loading, handling, and discharging cargo.

Hull policies often contain navigational limits resulting in no coverage if the vessel is navigated outside of those limits. Some hull policies confine coverage to those times when the insured vessel is in port, otherwise known as “port risk”. Hull policies may also limit coverage to a certain time of the year and require the insured vessel to be “laid up” during the rest of the year.

Hull policies typically provide coverage for the cost to salvage the insured vessel and the expenses incurred to prevent further damage after a casualty, known as “sue and labor” expenses. A hull policy also covers the liability of a vessel owner arising from a collision between the insured vessel and another vessel.

Hull policies are “valued” policies in which the insurer and the vessel owner agree what the insured vessel is worth. The vessel’s value is stated in the policy and that value forms the limit of what the insurer will pay in the event the vessel becomes a total loss.

Cargo Insurance

Cargo insurance covers physical loss of or damage to goods while in transit. Generally cargo insurance applies from the time the insured goods leave the warehouse at the point of origin until they arrive at the destination warehouse and during different modes of transportation including vessels, trucks, and railroads. Like hull policies, cargo policies insure goods on two bases, “all-risk” and “named perils” and are as varied in their terms as the commodities they insure. Cargo policies may contain special conditions for specified commodities such as refrigerated cargo, automobiles, and used goods.

Cargo policies can be issued to cover a single shipment of goods or as an “open policy” that covers multiple shipments made by the insured over a period of time. If goods are sold on a CIF (cost, insurance & freight) basis, a certificate of insurance may be issued under the open cargo policy and endorsed to the buyer as part of the transaction. Open cargo policies may also be issued to freight forwarders who are allowed to provide insurance for their customers’ goods. Under those circumstances, the freight forwarder issues an insurance certificate on its own cargo insurer’s form, to its customer.

Cargo is typically insured for its invoice value, freight if paid, and other paid charges plus 10 percent. This valuation is thought to approximate the amount needed to place the cargo owner in the same position he would be in had the cargo arrived at destination in sound condition. Cargo policies also cover “sue and labor” expenses or the cost to minimize or avoid further damage to the cargo such as the cost to recondition or re-package the goods.

Like hull policies, cargo policies may have geographic restrictions.

Protection and Indemnity Insurance

P&I insurance covers the liability of a vessel owner arising out of his ownership of the insured vessel. It covers the vessel owner’s liability for injury to or death of persons aboard the insured vessel such as crewmembers, passengers, or stevedores. It also covers liability for injuries or death suffered by persons on shore caused by the negligence of the vessel’s crew.

In addition to liability for bodily injury or death, P & I insurance covers the vessel owner’s liability for damage caused by the insured vessel to fixed structures such as bridges and docks. It also covers liability for damage to other vessels except when caused by a collision with the insured vessel, which liability is covered under the hull policy. In the case of a cargo-carrying vessel, P&I insurance covers liability for cargo loss or damage.

P&I insurance covers the expenses incurred for the removal of the wreck of the insured vessel when compulsory by law and under federal statutory law, a wreck must be removed even if its owner was not at fault in causing the wreck. Further, if the vessel owner is sued, the expenses incurred to defend the suit are covered.

Some P&I policies cover the liability of the vessel owner for pollution but many exclude such coverage. Vessel owners can buy separate pollution liability insurance to protect themselves if the P & I policy excludes such coverage.

P&I coverage is often part of the marine insurance policy issued for a vessel. However, some vessel owners may choose to become members of a P&I Club. A P&I Club is a mutual funded by its members to provide P&I coverage for each other. The P&I Clubs have rules dictating the scope of coverage provided to the members instead of a policy.

Because many marine businesses are multi-faceted, marine insurers commonly offer package policies that combine coverages for a variety of risks. A Marina Operator’s Package policy is an example of such a policy and usually covers the insured’s vessels, docks, and shoreside structures as well as the insured’s liability to others arising out the business’s operations. It may also cover loss of business income and pollution risks.

Persons engaged in marine-related businesses should make sure they have appropriate and adequate insurance for those businesses. Several different types of marine insurance may be needed. A marine business should always work with an experienced marine insurance broker to assess its needs and obtain the necessary coverages.

Contact Lallis & Higgins Insurance for more information on Marine Insurance.

Source: bullivant.com

Check Your Pet Daily

If you live in or are visiting an area that's particularly vulnerable to ticks (check with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's website if you're not sure), one of your best defenses is to inspect your pet daily.

Just having the tick walking on your pet is not dangerous, it's when the tick attaches and feeds for a long period of time, over a day or two—that's when parasites can be transmitted.

Pets with longer hair or fur may be particularly likely to pick up a tick. Longer hair provides the critters with more surface area to latch onto and more places to hide.

If you have a dog, dedicate a few minutes each day to brushing or combing his or her fur, and run your hands through it.

Cats are vulnerable, too, though typically less so than dogs because they are regular groomers. But you should still give yours a daily once-over, especially if he or she likes to play outdoors. Starting at the head, run your fingers like a comb over the cat's entire body.

Ticks prefer dark, moist places, so for both cats and dogs, make sure to inspect under their tail and around the anus, belly, face, ears, groin, "armpits," and between the toes. If your pet is particularly squirmy, you may need a partner to help hold your pet steady. Remove any attached ticks with fine-tipped tweezers.

Tickproof Your Yard

If your only method of tick prevention is just checking the dogs, that's not enough. You'll need to do more.

Minor adjustments to your yard, such as keeping tall grass and weeds trimmed, clearing leaf piles, and making a tick trap by using a "bait box" can make a big difference in keeping tick populations down. Several approved pesticides are available, though they come with risk, so it's best to first try to tick proof your yard without chemicals.

A fence around your yard that effectively keeps out wildlife that can spread ticks, such as deer, may also help.

Consider Medications

There are several products approved by the Environmental Protection Agency and the FDA, including topicals (which go on the pet, such as in its fur or in a collar), oral medications, and a Lyme vaccine for dogs—but there are pros and cons associated with each. (Consumer Reports has not tested these products.)

• Topicals. These substances (such as fipronil, permethrin, pyrethroids, and amitraz) come in the form of medicated dusts, collars, sprays, shampoos, and other topical treatments. They kill ticks via direct contact with the animal's fur or skin. One topical product, permethrin, is toxic to cats, but small quantities are considered safe for dogs. Several decades ago, Consumer Reports urged the FDA to remove DDVP, a pesticide found in some flea collars and no-pest strips, from the market entirely. But you can still find it in many products. Though it's not an ingredient in many of the more widely used tick medications for pets, such as Advantage II, Frontline Plus, K9 Advantix II, and Revolution, you should make sure to read labels carefully if you want to avoid it.
• Oral medications. These drugs—such as afoxolaner (NexGard) and fluralaner (Bravecto)—kill ticks via contact with your pet's blood. The tick is still going to bite and that bite could lead to a skin infection, but the tick "will be killed before it can transmit any of the disease-causing organisms.
• Vaccine. The Lyme vaccine for dogs appears to be safe, but experts aren't yet sold on its effectiveness. And it's best when paired with another product.

Part of the problem is that many dogs, especially in high-tick areas, have already been exposed to Lyme—often without showing any symptoms—and data suggest that the vaccine works best on dogs who haven't been exposed. Your dog should be tested for Lyme disease before receiving the vaccine.

Reactions to the shot can include hives, itchiness, and facial and injection-site swelling. Vets typically administer it only to dogs in high-risk areas or if their owners ask for it.

Remember: Whichever products you choose to protect your pets from ticks, be sure to follow all the instructions about the species and size of animal the product is meant for. Don't use items meant for dogs on cats, for instance, and don't use items meant for adult animals on puppies or kittens. Don't use any products meant for humans on your pets, either.

It's best to rely on an EPA- or FDA-approved product. There's little evidence that homemade remedies, such as essential oil mixtures, will provide reliable protection, and there's a chance that a homemade anti-tick concoction could harm your pet.

Source: consumerreports

1. Clean the kitchen

Check a couple of these items off your winter home safety maintenance checklist to improve conditions in your kitchen.

Deep clean the garbage disposal

Nobody likes a stinky sink, so take a little time this February to clear the air in your kitchen. A clogged garbage disposal isn’t just gross—it can create expensive plumbing problems. Here’s how to clean your garbage disposal.

1. Turn off the power.
2. Wipe the grinding chamber and drain.
3. Deodorize with ice and vinegar.
4. Keep your garbage disposal clean for the rest of the year by grinding orange and lemon peels once a week.

Clean out the oven

Did you know that 8% of home cooking fires are caused by dirty ovens or ranges?1 Grime and food built up over the year can render your oven a grimy fire hazard if you don’t clean it regularly.

The good news is cleaning the oven is as easy as following the instructions on your favorite brand of oven cleaner.

2. Be fire smart

It’s easy to take your hallways for granted when it comes to routine checks and maintenance. These quick tasks take only a few minutes and can keep your home safe all year.

Check fire extinguishers

Kitchen fires are serious business. From 2012 to 2016, cooking was the leading cause of home fires and home fire injuries and the second leading cause behind home fire deaths.

You can keep an accident from becoming a tragedy by investing in a fire extinguisher and training your family on how to use it. If you already have one, check the gauge to make sure it's in the green. If not, get it recharged.

Test smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors

Dead batteries caused 25% of smoke alarm failures from 2012 to 2016.3 Simple routine maintenance can keep your home much safer.

This February, check all the batteries in your smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors to make sure they’re functional. If it’s been over 10 years since you last replaced these units, invest a little cash and replace your existing detectors.

3. Odds-and-ends upkeep

Make your home feel a little cozier with these bedroom and living area improvements.

Change your HVAC filter

Air quality is important inside and outside your home. Breathe a little easier going into spring by changing your HVAC air filter in the hallways, ceilings, or wherever your vent is located. While vents can vary from home to home, the process takes about as long as changing a lightbulb.

Clean linens, carpets, and curtains

Dust, mites, and dander can all cause allergies long before spring pollen strikes. Deep clean your bedsheets, duvets, and comforters in each bedroom to keep the creepy crawlies away. The carpets and curtains in your living areas will also need some love after a year of use.

Change Wi-Fi and personal passwords

Internet-connected smart devices like security systems and cameras need a little maintenance too. Regularly changing your home Wi-Fi password and passwords to accounts like email, bank, and social media accounts can keep prying eyes at bay.

Use unique, complex passwords for each of your accounts for extra security. You should do this more than once a year, but it’s never too late to start! Try using a password manager this month to keep all your data safe.

Upgrade indoor lights

Brighten things up with an upgrade to your living room and bedroom lights. You can control smart lights and anything plugged into a smart plug directly from your phone.

These devices let you turn on the lights or start your morning coffee without getting out of bed. You can also find smartbulbs that add mood lighting for that big date with your valentine.

4. Inspect bathrooms

Here are a few home safety maintenance tasks to make your throne room fit for a king.

Clean out your medicine cabinet

Proper disposal depends on the type of medication you’re throwing away. There are some medications you can flush and others you can’t. For those you aren’t sure about, many cities have take-back locations that will dispose of medications properly.

Recaulk the tub and toilet

Prevent leaks and water damage in your home by checking the sealing and caulking in your bathroom. It only takes a few minutes to patch up any problem areas. You can find caulk online or at your local hardware store.

Deep clean to prevent mold

Bathrooms are a paradise for molds, mildew, and fungus. This February, clean out your vents, fix any water leaks, and scrub the walls and ceilings to prevent black mold and other household mildews.

5. Upgrade outside

While February can be chilly, for those in warmer climates, spring is just around the corner. Here are a few ways you can keep the outside of your home safer until the warm weather comes.

Keep the driveway and sidewalk clear

If you live in a cold, snowy area, you already know how important it is to de-ice the driveway and sidewalk. Even if you don’t use the sidewalk near your home, others do. Keeping ice-melting salt and a snow shovel handy for those winter storms can make your home safer for your family and neighbors.

Watch for ice dams and icicles

Ice buildup on your roof and gutters can cause expensive damage later in the year. Patch up any areas that tend to collect water to prevent leaks and further damage to your roof.

If you live in a warmer area, clean out your gutters this February to prepare for the spring showers. Clogged gutters can cause expensive issues with your roof even if snow and ice aren’t part of the equation.

Upgrade locks

Boost security and convenience with new smart locks this year. Smart locks make it easier for you to get in and out of your house without letting intruders in. They’re especially handy for anyone who tends to lose their keys or needs to let visitors in.

Get ahead on spring cleaning

It can be easy to get cabin fever this time of year, so make your home feel a little safer, cleaner, and happier this February by checking some items off this home maintenance list.

Source: safewise.com

Warm weather has arrived. For many of us, that means spending happy hours outdoors hiking, running, and walking in the woods. It also means watching out for ticks.

Even if you remember to wear insect repellent and regularly check yourself, it's easy to forget that your pets are vulnerable to these sneaky critters, too.

Ticks prefer moist, wooded, and shady hiding places, such as tall grass, brush, and shrubs, and they can lurk in nonwild places, too, like your backyard. In order to survive, they feed on the blood of humans and animals.

After a tick bite, your cat or dog could develop a serious illness, such as Lyme disease (which can cause symptoms such as an abnormal gait or stance, fever, lethargy, and enlarged lymph nodes); cytauxzoonosis (a parasitic infection, specific to cats, that can cause difficulty breathing, fever, loss of appetite, jaundice, coma, and death); skin irritation or infection at the site of the wound; and other complications. That's according to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA).

There isn't a one-size-fits-all approach to protecting your pets from ticks, but there are ways to minimize the danger. (If your pet does get Lyme, treatment usually involves several weeks of antibiotics.)

Here are three strategies to help keep your dog or cat tick-free.

Check Your Pet Daily

If you live in or are visiting an area that's particularly vulnerable to ticks (check with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's website if you're not sure), one of your best defenses is to inspect your pet daily, says Lori Bierbrier, D.V.M., a veterinarian and medical director of the Community Medicine program at the ASPCA.

"Just having the tick walking on your pet is not dangerous," she says, "it's when the tick attaches and feeds for a long period of time, over a day or two—that's when parasites can be transmitted."

Pets with longer hair or fur may be particularly likely to pick up a tick, says Martine Hartogensis, D.V.M., deputy director of the Office of Surveillance and Compliance in the Food and Drug Administration's Center for Veterinary Medicine. Longer hair provides the critters with more surface area to latch onto and more places to hide.

If you have a dog, dedicate a few minutes each day to brushing or combing his or her fur, and run your hands through it.

Cats are vulnerable, too, though typically less so than dogs, says Hartogensis, because they are regular groomers. But you should still give yours a daily once-over, especially if he or she likes to play outdoors. Starting at the head, run your fingers like a comb over the cat's entire body.

Ticks prefer dark, moist places, so for both cats and dogs, make sure to inspect under their tail and around the anus, belly, face, ears, groin, "armpits," and between the toes. If your pet is particularly squirmy, you may need a partner to help hold your pet steady. Remove any attached ticks with fine-tipped tweezers.

Tickproof Your Yard

"If your only method of tick prevention is just checking the dog," Hartogensis says, that's not enough. You'll need to do more.

Minor adjustments to your yard, such as keeping tall grass and weeds trimmed, clearing leaf piles, and making a tick trap by using a "bait box" can make a big difference in keeping tick populations down. Several approved pesticides are available, though they come with risk, so it's best to first try to tickproof your yard without chemicals.

A fence around your yard that effectively keeps out wildlife that can spread ticks, such as deer, may also help.

Consider Medications

There are several products approved by the Environmental Protection Agency and the FDA, including topicals (which go on the pet, such as in its fur or in a collar), oral medications, and a Lyme vaccine for dogs—but there are pros and cons associated with each. (Consumer Reports has not tested these products.)

Topicals. These substances (such as fipronil, permethrin, pyrethroids, and amitraz) come in the form of medicated dusts, collars, sprays, shampoos, and other topical treatments. They kill ticks via direct contact with the animal's fur or skin. One topical product, permethrin, is toxic to cats, but small quantities are considered safe for dogs.

Several decades ago, Consumer Reports urged the FDA to remove DDVP, a pesticide found in some flea collars and no-pest strips, from the market entirely, says CR senior scientist Michael Hansen, Ph.D. But you can still find it in many products. Though it's not an ingredient in many of the more widely used tick medications for pets, such as Advantage II, Frontline Plus, K9 Advantix II, and Revolution, you should make sure to read labels carefully if you want to avoid it.

With some of these pesticides, Hansen warns, "there could be some transfer to kids who have a lot of contact with their pets."

According to a 2012 statement from the American Academy of Pediatrics, the evidence about whether childhood exposure to low levels of pesticides can be harmful is still emerging. But some data suggest that such exposure may be associated with cognitive and behavioral problems, as well as pediatric cancers.

Oral medications. These drugs—such as afoxolaner (NexGard) and fluralaner (Bravecto)—kill ticks via contact with your pet's blood. "The tick is still going to bite," Bierbrier says, and that bite could lead to a skin infection, but the tick "will be killed before it can transmit any of the disease-causing organisms."

Vaccine. The Lyme vaccine for dogs appears to be safe, but experts aren't yet sold on its effectiveness. And it's best when paired with another product, says Thomas Mather, Ph.D., of the University of Rhode Island.

Part of the problem is that many dogs, especially in high-tick areas, have already been exposed to Lyme—often without showing any symptoms—and data suggest that the vaccine works best on dogs who haven't been exposed. Your dog should be tested for Lyme disease before receiving the vaccine.

Reactions to the shot can include hives, itchiness, and facial and injection-site swelling. Vets typically administer it only to dogs in high-risk areas or if their owners ask for it.

Remember: Whichever products you choose to protect your pets from ticks, be sure to follow all the instructions about the species and size of animal the product is meant for. Don't use items meant for dogs on cats, for instance, and don't use items meant for adult animals on puppies or kittens. Don't use any products meant for humans on your pets, either.

It's best to rely on an EPA- or FDA-approved product. There's little evidence that homemade remedies, such as essential oil mixtures, will provide reliable protection, and there's a chance that a homemade anti-tick concoction could harm your pet.