Paws Up Safe Home

Paws Up Safe Home A no kill, non profit shelter for lost, abandoned, and abused , dogs and cats.

03/14/2026

This month is all about Pet Poison Prevention. No pet parent wants to have to wonder what they should do if their pet ingests something potentially toxic. Thankfully there are great resources out there! Both Pet Poison Helpline and ASPCA Poison Control have trained veterinarians in toxicology that can help guide you to the next steps. Not all accidental ingestions means a trip to the ER and if you are not sure what to do you can reach out to the poison help lines to determine next steps. Here at Sentinel, we can use the information they provide you to help determine the best treatment options to help your pet. It's a team effort to ensure the best outcome possible! Visit the Pet Poison Helpline social media platforms this month to see other helpful tips!

03/12/2026

Its National Pet Vaccination Month! šŸ¾ Join us at the Missoula Fairgrounds on Wednesday, March 18th for a free, walk-in pet vaccine clinic. We will be providing rabies vaccines, annual vaccines and microchips for dogs and cats from 11:00am-2:00pm. All annual vaccines have been generously donated by Petco Love.

Can't make this clinic? We will also be offering free vaccines on March 27th as part of Project Community Connect at the library - more details to come! šŸ’™

01/24/2026

Dangerous cold and wind chills are expected through the weekend. Limit time outside and check on neighbors, older adults, and pets. Dress in layers, cover all exposed skin, and if you donā€™t have reliable heat, go to a warming center or a friendā€™s warm home. On the road, slow down, pack an emergency kit, and avoid travel if conditions are bad.

01/14/2026

You Didn't "Cool Him Down." You Took Away His A/C.

Itā€™s 90 degrees out. You look at your fluffy Husky (or Golden/Shepherd) and think: "He must be roasting in that coat! I should shave him."

Please, put the clippers down.

You are applying "Human Logic" to "Dog Biology." And it could hurt him.

šŸ”„ 1. The Thermos Effect: A double coat works like a high-quality Thermos. In winter, it holds heat in. But in summer? It keeps the heat OUT. The long "Guard Hairs" reflect the sun and trap a layer of air that blocks the heat. The Thermal Proof: If you look at a shaved dog with a thermal camera, the shaved skin glows red hot. The hairy parts stay cool. By shaving him, you exposed his skin directly to the sun.

ā˜€ļø 2. The Sunburn Risk: Your dog has pink, pale skin under that fur. He has zero protection against UV rays. Shaving him is like sending a pale human to the beach without sunscreen. He will get sunburned, and it drastically increases the risk of Skin Cancer.

šŸ§¶ 3. The Coat Never Recovers: Itā€™s called "Post-Clipping Alopecia." The fuzzy undercoat grows back fast, but the waterproof top layer takes years. The coat comes back patchy, frizzy, and absorbs more heat and dirt than before.

The Solution: Don't Shave. Deshed. Take him to a groomer for a "blow out." Remove the dead undercoat so air can flow through the guard hairs.

Keep the shield. Lose the fluff. šŸŗā„ļø

01/14/2026

Did You Know that fragrance is considered the new ā€˜second-hand smokeā€™ for our pets too?

Pets are smaller and spend more time indoors, scented products in our homes have become a direct threat to their health.

The Alarming Reality:

Our pets are like the "canary in the coalmine":
"...pet dogs form an excellent surrogate population for exploring the carcinogenic potential of the domestic environment.... ...allowing them to be used as early sentinels of environmental problems.ā€
ā—¦ Source: PubMed: 9405322

Chronic Coughing:
ā€œEnvironmental factors play a large role in some chronic airway disease processes and can cause
exacerbation of coughing. Owners should not smoke indoors and any possible airborne irritants such as air fresheners, incense, perfumes, and noxious fumes should be eliminated.ā€
ā—¦ Source: PubMed: 24007620

The Good News:
The easiest ways to create a healthier environment for you and your pet is to switch to fragrance-free cleaning, laundry, and personal care products and get rid of any air 'fresheners'.

Letā€™s clear the air for those who canā€™t speak for themselves.

-Download our "Fragrance Free Pets" poster/handout and learn more at: https://www.fragrancefreecoalition.com/

01/06/2026

Paws Up Safe Home has closed as of December 29, 2025. The Tylers will still be taking care of the remaining senior animals here and will continue to do so under their personal Missoula County animal Services kennel license. Paws up Safe Home has been a 501c3 animal shelter since 2000, starting with Renee Stowe and Elinor Williamson, two amazing women in Seeley Lake. When Renee passed away, we, the Tylers took the animals to our home in Potomac in 2010. We have loved this journey in our retirement. We met and so appreciated our fantastic board members, Jo Ogden, Maryanna Rich, Nancy Braun, and Sherri Housley, who were with us the entire time we. had the shelter. We, through the shelter, met so many wonderful new friends who also loved and cared about animals. We would like to thank Nancy Braun, Louise Cameron and Greg Ragee for being so dependable, for weekly showing up for cleaning and grooming for over 12 years. This was so amazing as we were an all-volunteer group of people, where all funds taken in were spent on the animals, no one got paid, only in the satisfaction of caring for and loving these animals. And they gave back in more ways than one. They gave us purpose, pride in how they grew from unimaginable circumstance to wonderful, adoptable pets for some fantastic people who gave a loving home and new life..In closing we would like to thank all who donated over the years, those who helped with shelter duties, had fundraisers, supported our bake sale and Sunday Market and craft sale booths, the businesses who donated, and most of all for support and trusting us to care for the animals over the last 15 years. Our page will be open for information about animal related news and lost and found. Feel free to reach out with any missing dog reports, and we will post them. As per IRS rules, all funds remaining, will be donated to another 501c3. We have chosen Mission Valley Animal Shelter, as they need help. Other items will be donated as soon as we contact other shelters to see what they may need. Any suggestions of animal related 501c3's in need, please contact us. We will have a list of items available as soon as weather permits. A big heartfelt Thank you again from all of us!

12/19/2025

Let me tell you about the worst kind of human. December rolls around, and they see those puppy videos. Their kids want a "new" dog for Christmas. So what do they do? They take their 12-year-old dog - the one who loved them through job losses, breakups, new babies, and every single bad day - and they DROP HIM AT A SHELTER. They look into those confused, loyal eyes and walk away. That dog spent his ENTIRE LIFE believing his family was forever. And now he's in a concrete kennel, terrified, wondering what he did wrong. Spoiler: He did nothing wrong. His humans are just garbage. Here's what kills me - senior dogs almost NEVER get adopted. They die in those shelters, heartbroken and confused. Meanwhile, that family is taking Instagram photos with their Christmas puppy. If you can abandon a dog who gave you everything, you don't deserve the new one either. Dogs aren't Christmas decorations. They're not upgrades. They're family. And if you throw away family when they get old, then you deserve every bad thing that comes your way. Shelter workers will tell you - the saddest eyes belong to senior dogs who got dumped. Those dogs don't understand. They just wait. They wait for someone who's never coming back.

12/18/2025

What are YOU returning this holiday season? Sweaters don't die when returned.

Dogs should never be gifts. Please never give a dog as a surprise and research the breed before you get ANY breed of dog. Dogs and specifically Huskies can be A LOT of work!

*** Think seriously when giving a pet as a gift. December "gifts" will be February rescues.

12/11/2025

Rock salt causes chemical burns on animal paws within minutes.
Over 10,000 dogs are treated each year for salt injuries.
Wildlife like foxes, raccoons, and deer are affected too.
Salt runoff harms birds and contaminates soil for months.

Safer alternatives include sand, grit, pet-safe ice melt,
and simply shoveling early and often.

Address

1270 Copper Cliff Drive
Potomac, MT
59823

Telephone

(406) 244-2552

Website

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