The Humane Society of the United States is hosting a series of town hall meetings with president and CEO Wayne Pacelle.

The meetings are an opportunity to discuss current issues affecting animals in your state and across the country.

Every day, The HSUS celebrates animals and confronts cruelty—but we can't do it without you. Your support is essential to our success. This is a great chance to hear from Wayne, inquire about animal issues important to you, and offer your ideas to create sustainable change.

Backyard swimming pools are synonymous with summer fun, but not for everyone. Swimming pools can be deadly for pets and wildlife.

According to the most recent statistics, there are more than 8 million swimming pools in the U.S., and an estimated 1 of every 1,027 pets drown in pools each year. Yet, this tragic figure doesn’t account for the tens of thousands of wild animals that suffer the same fate.

The Humane Society of the United States recommends a few simple pool precautions that can help you dramatically lower the risk of pets and wildlife drowning in pools:

Have a great 4th of July weekend and enjoy the fireworks, but please remember to keep your pets at home. They often become frightened and frantic by the noise and commotion of Independence Day. In fact, animal shelters across the country are accustomed to receiving "July 4th" dogs—dogs who run off during fireworks celebrations and are rescued by animal control officers or good samaritans who take them to the safety of a local shelter.

Fortunately, preventing pet problems on Independence Day is possible by simply planning ahead and taking some basic precautions.
 
•Resist the urge to take your pet to fireworks displays.

•Do not leave your pet in the car. With only hot air to breathe inside a car, your pet can suffer serious health effects—even death—in a few short minutes. Partially opened windows do not provide sufficient air, but they do provide an opportunity for your pet to be stolen.

•Keep your pets indoors at home in a sheltered, quiet area. Some animals can become destructive when frightened, so be sure that you've removed any items that your pet could destroy or that would be harmful to your pet if chewed. Leave a television or radio playing at normal volume to keep him company while you're attending Fourth of July picnics, parades, and other celebrations.

•If you know that your pet is seriously distressed by loud noises like thunder, consult with your veterinarian before July 4th for ways to help alleviate the fear and anxiety he or she will experience during fireworks displays.

•Never leave pets outside unattended, even in a fenced yard or on a chain. In their fear, pets who normally wouldn't leave the yard may escape and become lost, or become entangled in their chain, risking injury or death.

•Make sure your pets are wearing identification tags so that if they do become lost, they can be returned promptly. Animals found running at-large should be taken to the local animal shelter, where they will have the best chance of being reunited with their owners.

•If you plan to go away for the holiday weekend, read our information on Caring for Pets When You Travel.

A July 4th Feast for All
In need of some recipes? Check out the HSUS Staff favorites. They are Animal-and Earth-friendly ... taste-test approved!

Check out the new Community page on the Taking Action for Animals website, with lots of great tools including the conference's Twitter stream, photos, a map of attendees, and more. And, don't forget to register! Use the promo code Mspc to get $25 off!

Where in the World?
Find out where other attendees are coming from on our map »








Caught in the Act(ivism)
Browse photos and watch our video for a sneak peek of this year's conference »









A Little Birdie Told Me
Follow the conference on Twitter and check out all the tweets about TAFA »