Match your pet’s breed to your lifestyle.

You may walk through a shelter or rescue and see a dog with the most adorable face. But, is it the right one for your lifestyle? One of the most important factors of responsible pet adoption is picking the best pet that matches your lifestyle. Every dog breed is different and may have certain breed characteristics or personality traits. Do your research. Pick a pet breed that complements your daily schedule as well as your family needs. Consider how much time and energy you have to dedicate to a new family member. For example, do you work long hours, travel often, or live in a smaller space? Keep in mind that State Farm does not have a breed restriction policy. All dog breeds or types are welcome!

Research your animal welfare organization.

There are a variety of animal welfare organizations helping pets every day. Research which animal shelter or rescue group you would like to adopt from and make sure to ask questions. For example, most animal shelter organizations are run by volunteers. They have spent a lot of time getting to know each one of these animals. They may have information about behaviors and quirks that may not be listed on a piece of paper.

Budget for your pet.

The cost of bringing home a pet could be more than you think. In addition to food, toys, and training, your new pet will need a yearly veterinary exam, preventative care, and vaccinations. In addition to these expected costs, can you cover costs of an expected pet injury or illness?

Your pet’s medical care may cost hundreds or even thousands of dollars. At the end of the day, you want your new dog or cat to be happy and healthy. Consider your finances when adopting a new pet. Can you afford the potential cost for the unexpected? A great option to consider is getting pet medical insurance. State Farm provides medical insurance coverage for cats and dogs through Trupanion. This option makes illness or injury treatment decisions easier, allowing pets to get the care they need without worry of paying for treatment.

Responsible pet adoption is important for the wellness of your furry family member.

Whether you’re looking to bring home a new puppy, kitten, or an adult pet, there are a number of factors to consider when it comes to responsible pet adoption. But by picking your breed, doing your research, and budgeting for your new pet, you’re on your way to being a responsible pet owner.

Thinking about adoption or fostering a pet?

Trupanion has created a free, recorded webinar to help you learn even more about how to prepare, including Q&A with Animal Behaviorists and leading Veterinarians. Watch the webinar here.

Arson dogs are trained to work with a human handler and find evidence at fire scenes. The dogs are searching for accelerants such as gas, oil or fuel used to start fires. State Farm is the only company in North America that provides funding for the training of arson dog teams.

The State Farm Arson Dog Program is available to fire departments and law enforcement agencies across the United States. Since its beginning in 1993, the program has placed more than 425 dogs in 46 states, three Canadian provinces and the District of Columbia.

Arson is one of the most difficult crimes to solve, as the evidence literally burns up. Insurance fraud causes billions of dollars in damage each year. In fact, many police and fire departments are seeing an increase in suspicious fires because of business closures, financial challenges and social disruption.

"Fire investigators should have every tool possible to combat this deadly crime," said Heather Paul, State Farm Arson Dog Program Coordinator. “These dogs help fire investigators to do their job. Arson dog teams can quickly locate evidence of accelerants such as gasoline or fuel used to start a fire.”

Meeting and training with a new best friend

All of the dogs are Labrador retrievers and come from animal rescues or disability assistance programs. The dogs are trained months before they meet their human handler and must work for every meal. When the dog smells fuel, they sit down and point with their nose. Their “reward” is a handful of dog food and praise. They can locate accelerants quickly, even if it is buried under debris.

Canine handlers are police detectives or fire investigators. The training class is four weeks long and the handlers know it will be intense. Over the four weeks, the handler and dog will repeat training drills multiple times a day. Food reward dogs only eat from the hand of their handler so these training drills will be repeated multiple times a day for the life until the dog retires.

Following a month of classes and drills, the arson dog teams are tested and certified by the Maine State Police. Once certified, the teams travel back to their communities to begin investigating fires. The dogs live in the home of their handler and they retire in the home of their handler. For the men and women training in the program, working with a dog is a career highlight.

Congratulations to the newly certified teams in Class No. 52!

1. Fire Chief Billy Dillon & K-9 Piper - Howe Springs Fire Rescue (Florence, SC)
2. Special Agent Michael Kuban & K-9 Phantom - Office of the Illinois State Fire Marshal (Springfield, IL)
3. Special Agent Kenny Arnold & K-9 Gunny - Office of the Illinois State Fire Marshal (Springfield, IL)
4. Special Agent Jeff Pride and K-9 PJ - Office of the Illinois State Fire Marshal (Springfield, IL)
5. Captain Stephanie Schofield & K-9 Jennifer - Rawlins Fire Department (Rawlins, WY)
6. Fire Inspector John Neeb & K-9 Mika - West Fargo Fire Department (West Fargo, ND)
7. Fire Investigator Thomas Cantola & K-9 Maya - Girard Fire Department (Girard, OH)
8. Fire Investigator Brian Acors & K-9 Erny - Richmond Fire Department (Richmond, VA)
9. Arson Investigator Darren Jurado & K-9 Brownie - Compton Fire Department (Compton, CA)
10. Fire Investigator Lee Maness & K-9 Vinny - Cobb County Fire and EMS (Marietta, GA)
11. Detective Michael Douglas K-9 Ruthie - State of Florida, Division of Investigative & Forensic Services (Tampa, FL)
12. Detective Cody McIntyre & K-9 Rico - State of Florida, Division of Investigative & Forensic Services (Tallahassee, FL)
13. Firefighter Brent Autry & K-9 Tony - Milan Fire Department (Milan, TN)
14. Assistant Fire Chief Jim Kanavy & K-9 Mikey - Scott County Fire Department (Georgetown, KY)

Arson Dog Calendar

Each of this year's class of K-9 crime-fighters is featured on one of the calendar pages below. Click to download.

In the News:

• West Fargo Pioneer: Fire corner: Welcoming Mika to the team (09/30/20)

National Dog Bite Prevention Week (NDBPW) is April 12-18, 2020. As a member of the National Dog Bite Prevention Week® Coalition, State Farm joins the the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA), Insurance Information Institute (I.I.I.), American Humane, and the dog behavior expert Victoria Stilwell to draw attention to how people can reduce the number of dog bites.

Last year, State Farm alone paid $146 million dollars for 3,340 dog bite and injury claims. Many of these incidents could have been prevented.

According to Stilwell, the coronavirus pandemic has affected pets too.

“Dogs that are used to kids being at school and adults at work are now finding themselves surrounded by their families 24/7,” says Stilwell. “Most welcome the company, but some dogs are having a hard time adjusting to the constant noise, attention and lack of space.”

Stress can affect pets and cause them to feel anxiety. In some cases, dogs will exhibit anxious behaviors like barking, aggressive or destructive behavior.

Here are some tips to help you and your pets cope while sheltering at home.

• Create a "dog only" zone. This den-like space or ‘safe zone’ can be a crate where the door always remains open or a quiet location for your dog when they need some space.
• Supervise small children around any dog. To make it easier, you can use baby gates to keep dogs and kids separated if you can’t actively supervise them.
• Teach your dog some new skills. It's a great time to challenge your dog to learn new cues. If you need the help of a trainer, many now offer virtual consultations.
• Keep dogs on a leash, if you can take your dog out for a walk. Do not allow your pet to socially interact with other dogs or people. While humans are observing social distancing rules, help your dogs do the same.
• Have a plan in place for your pets. If you become too sick or require hospitalization, someone will need to take care of your animals while you heal. Just like any disaster preparedness plan, have a “bug out” bag prepared.

State Farm is one of the few insurance companies that does not have a breed restriction list. The company does not exclude homeowner or renter insurance coverage because of the breed of dog owned. State Farm joined forces with the Victoria Stilwell Academy for Dog Training and Behavior to create the free online course Being Good Pet Neighbor. It educates owners about being responsible with pets.

Coloring Pages for At-Home Education