Pet Party Line is a column written by Beth Byrd and is featured weekly in The Citizen News, one of our local newspapers.

Pet Potpourri

This week’s column is a collection of pet potpourri!

The term “dog days of summer” originated with the Romans. The 6-8 hottest weeks of summer were known as "days of the dog." The theory was that the dog star, Sirius, rose with the sun - roughly from July 3 to August 11 - adding its heat to the sun and producing the hottest season of the year.

If your dog has bad breath, it could be from excess plaque and dental tartar (just like humans). Without treatment, this could lead to painful gum and bone infections. Teeth cleaning biscuits or bones are specifically designed to help in the maintenance of your dog’s teeth and are a good treat. Many vets recommend a good dental exam and cleaning around middle age and all urge maintenance in keeping your pet’s mouth clean and healthy.

The Human Society of the United States recently donated $100,000 to China for the purchase of rabies vaccine. Hopefully, this will help end the mass slaughter of 50,000+ dogs after a rabies outbreak there.

A special thank you:

An unselfish youngster, Brooklyn Numan of Ward, SC, was celebrating her birthday recently and requested that instead of gifts, guests should donate pet food, toys, chews, treats, collars, etc. and money to All Gods Creatures. This money will help us with our goal to build a permanent shelter.

Giving in memory or in honor of a loving pet or pet owner is a great way to help animals who haven’t had the joy of a wonderful home, and also share how much you appreciate your own pet or a person who cares about our furry friends. A contribution was made to All Gods Creatures by Susan Forest in loving memory of her mother, Betty June Drafts of Johnston who was a devoted pet lover.