(Welcome to our pet column, courtesy of Pet Connection Programs Inc. of Marilla. We post a new article each week, so be sure to check back on a regular basis!)

While the season's warmer weather offers great opportunity for games of fetch with Fido, it also brings increased risk from exposure to pests, particularly ticks, fleas, mosquitoes and stinging insects. Safeguarding dogs and cats begins with discussions with your veterinarian, but in addition to prescribed healthcare repellents and preventatives, there are several things that can be done to make your yard inhospitable to the stinging, biting troublemakers.

For the first time in American history on April 22, 2013, people in 200 cities and 45 states will join and will walk together in solidarity to raise awareness of child abuse and crimes against children at the inaugural Million March Against Child Abuse. Buffalo will be one of the participating cities.  Child advocate groups, churches, parents, teachers and many other concerned citizens from across Western New York (WNY) will take part in this national event and will converge on Lafayette Square in Downtown Buffalo and March to Niagara Square loudly voicing their collective outrage against child abuse along their route. 

Join the Organ Donation Registry through the Erie County Auto Bureau

April is National Donate Life Month and it is a good time to consider helping the growing list of people living on hope.   As you read this, over 10,000 New Yorkers are waiting for lifesaving organs, including over 500 right here in Western New York.   Thousands more are waiting for life enhancing tissue and eye donations, with 118 people added to the national organ transplant waiting list on a daily basis.