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News You Can Use

December 12, 2008

Apply Now for 2009 Dog License 

The simplest way to protect your dog should it become separated from your family for any reason is to have a Pennsylvania dog license tag secured to its collar, according to the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture (PDA).

All dogs, 3 months or older, are required by law to be licensed by January 1 of each year.  Dog owners may purchase an annual license for $8 or opt for a lifetime license for $51.  Owners with spayed or neutered dogs pay reduced fees of $6 annually or $31 for a lifetime license.

Print a copy of the Dog License Application (PDF), and mail the completed form to your county treasurer.  Failure to license a dog is a summary offense and carries a maximum fine of $300 for each unlicensed dog.  More than 900,000 dog licenses were obtained in 2008.

The health, safety, and welfare of dogs are also protected by the dedication of licensing fees to fund the Bureau of Dog Law Enforcement.  For more information or if you are in need of assistance, please contact the Bureau of Dog Law Enforcement, (717) 787-3062 or email the Dog Law Enforcement Director, Sue West. 

Installation Critical to Car Seat Safety 

As we prepare for the next round of holiday travel, the Pennsylvania State Police (PSP) is issuing a safety reminder to those with children ages 12 and under.  During the 2-week “Click It or Ticket” campaign coinciding with Thanksgiving travel, PSP child safety seat inspections found less than one-third of those children required to be secured had been secured properly.

Troopers on the road during the campaign issued 50 citations and 132 warnings for failure to properly buckle a child in a safety seat.  The most commonly found problems during the inspections included failure to securely anchor the child seat to the vehicle seat; failure to use the child seat’s harness to hold the child in the seat; facing the car seat in the wrong direction; and, using a seat that had been recalled because of a defect.

State troopers are also recommending that children 12 and under ride in a vehicle’s rear seat due to potential dangers associated with air bag deployment.

Consult the PSP Car Safety Seat Information webpage for tips related to cars and booster seats and a Car Safety Seat Inspection Station Listing by county.

Flu Shot—Not Too Late

It is not too late to get a flu shot, according to the Pennsylvania Department of Health.  Health officials are reporting the first state laboratory-confirmed case of influenza in a woman residing in the North Central region of PA.

The traditional peak season for flu extends between January and March, allowing sufficient time to obtain a flu shot.  The flu vaccine requires as little as one to two weeks to build the necessary immunity.

The Department recommends frequent hand washing, covering your nose and mouth when sneezing or coughing, and avoiding contact with others when you are sick.  Consult your medical provider as soon as the first symptoms of influenza appear.  Antiviral prescription drugs may lessen the duration and severity of the illness if taken early.

Consult the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for additional tips related to influenza. 

Grants Available for Youth Sportfishing, Boating, and Education Programs

Organizations and local agencies involved in providing sportfishing, boating, and aquatic education programs and reengaging youth in outdoor activities may be eligible for up to $5,000 in grant money from the Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission (PF&BC).

Sportfishing and Aquatic Resource Education Grants may be used to purchase equipment and materials and for costs associated with field trips.  Eligible programs will lead to kids increasing their interest in fishing and boating, improving their skills, and building a greater sense of aquatic stewardship and outdoor ethics.

Previous grantees executed an array of projects and programs including those aimed at stream ecology, cold water conservation, fly fishing, watercraft safety, environmental stewardship, fish habitat, and literacy skills.

The deadline for submitting grant applications is January 30, 2009.  The timetable provides for notification of winners on April 15, 2009.

Pennsylvania Offers Free Quitline for Smokers

If you are among Pennsylvania’s estimated 2 million smokers and are looking to break the habit in 2009, you will be pleased to know the state’s Department of Health is offering information and support to individuals who want to quit smoking.

Cigarettes kill more Americans than alcohol, car accidents, suicide, AIDS, homicide, and illegal drugs combined.  Nearly 1 of every 5 deaths nationwide is related to smoking.  A shocking 440,000 smoking-related deaths occur annually.

For those who have tried to quit previously, the federal Centers for Disease Control report the average smoker tries to quit at least 7 times before succeeding.  The success rate doubles for smokers who receive support in their quit attempt.

Get started on your 2009 resolution to quit smoking with information and support from the PA Department of Health and its Determined to Quit website.  For additional information and to locate cessation resources, you may also call 1-800-QUIT-NOW. 

109th Christmas Bird Count Ready to Fly

Break away from the traffic and shopping for the Audubon Society’s 109th Christmas Bird Count scheduled for Sunday, December 14, 2008 through Monday, January 5, 2009.

Binoculars, bird guides, and checklists will be trotted out as families and students join birders and scientists to compile compelling conservation data for current and future generations.  The information facilitates the longest-running wildlife census to assess the health of bird populations and to help guide conservation efforts.

Take a peek at the Christmas Bird Count photo gallery, then learn how you can make a difference for science and bird conservation.  Participants may conduct a backyard birdfeeder count or join a group of birdwatchers afield.  For answers to commonly asked questions click on the Frequently Asked Questions page.