Bark Buckle Up Helps Keep Pets Safe
Bark Buckle UP, a pet safety group, has launched Pet Safety Days, a nationwide initiative to educate pet owners about the dangers of driving with their unrestrained pets. Volvo of Santa Monica hosted a Pet Safety Day event Sunday, September 21, 2008 with Bark Buckle UP to educate pet owners and demonstrate how to effectively use approved pet restraints.
“Seat belts protect millions of people every day,” said Christina Selter, founder of Bark Buckle Up, who buckles up her dog Betty, even if she’s just driving to the supermarket. “In the event of an accident, an unrestrained pet can escape and be hit by another vehicle, cause another collision, or attack emergency crews trying to reach an injured party. It only takes a few minutes to safeguard your pet and by properly securing your pet, you are protecting yourself, your passengers, and your pet from injury, not to mention protecting other drivers and strangers trying to help.”
Bark Buckle UP gave away their FREE first responder approved Pet Safety Kit at the event. In the event of an accident, the information provided in the kit will help rescue workers properly seek care for your pet.
Visit BarkBuckleUp.com for more information.
SMC LAUNCHING LATIN AMERICAN STUDY ABROAD PROGRAM
Santa Monica College (SMC) is launching a Latin American Education Program that will feature at least two trips in 2009. As part of its global citizenship initiative, SMC is establishing a Study Abroad foothold in Latin America with excursions offered in winter and spring 2009 to Belize and Guatemala, with a possible trip to Argentina in the summer.
“SMC has sponsored Study Abroad trips throughout the world for more than 25 years,” said Vice President of Academic Affairs Jeff Shimizu. “But most of them were short-term excursions of three to four weeks. Now, we are planning much longer trips, seeking financial assistance so that more students can participate, and incorporating volunteer work in host countries as part of the students’ experience.”
Another unique feature of the Latin American Education Program is its incorporation of volunteer work. The college is examining several possible volunteer opportunities, with museums, natural preserves, battered women’s shelters, organizations serving AIDS patients, and even an institute for deaf people.
Public information sessions on the trips are scheduled for 5:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. Monday, Oct. 6, and from 11:15 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 7. All sessions are held in Room 251 of the Humanities & Social Science Building, 1900 Pico Blvd. For information, call 310.434.4743.