2020 has been a record high for adoptions. It’s also been a record low for surrendered and abandoned dogs. All in all, a bang up year for man’s best friend.

Demand was so high for dog and cat companionship, many shelters at one point had waiting lists! But it wasn't alwasy so.

To Me, You Are Perfect

A white and tan pit bull, Dash was one of the longest residents of the Maricopa County Shelter in Arizona. Older pit bulls are often shelter veterans, as many adopters are looking for small dogs and puppies.

Molly Romine, a State Farm® HR employee and shelter volunteer, knew Dash would be a great addition to someone’s home. Molly and other volunteers organized the 12 Dogs of Christmas adoption push which included Dash in Dec. 2018.

The shelter’s 12 longest-term residents were all pit bulls ranging in age from two to 10. The team spruced up their kennels with eye-catching decor, gave the pups holiday make-overs, and shared social media posts to gain attention. The shelter also offered stockings full of donated leashes, collars, and free training sessions.

“I worked a couple of hours a night to get these dogs a home for the holidays,” shared Molly. “It was a lot of hard work but it was worth it to see Dash and all the other dogs adopted just before New Year’s Eve!”

Helping local shelters during Covid

Volunteering has been difficult during Covid due to social distancing and other safety measures. But there are other ways to give back. Owner surrendered and abandoned pet numbers are starting to creep back up. There are plenty of pets available for adoption at your local shelter.

“If you’re not sure adoption is for you, consider fostering! It’s a short term commitment with long term impacts,” Molly recommended. “If you foster a pet, you are giving that animal a much needed respite from the stressful shelter environment. You can also provide the shelter with helpful intel. Maybe the dog is great with kids but scared of car rides. This can really help match the pup with the right family.”

Is your home feeling a bit empty due to covid? Reach out to your local shelter to see if you can fill it with dogs or cats for a long “howliday” weekend of fostering and cuddles.

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After this year, we can all use a silver lining. Odds are you, or someone you know, have adopted a new pet this year.

2020 has been a record high for adoptions. It’s also been a record low for surrendered and abandoned dogs. All in all, a bang up year for man’s best friend.

Demand was so high for dog and cat companionship, many shelters at one point had waiting lists! But it wasn't alwasy so.

To Me, You Are Perfect

A white and tan pit bull, Dash was one of the longest residents of the Maricopa County Shelter in Arizona. Older pit bulls are often shelter veterans, as many adopters are looking for small dogs and puppies.

Molly Romine, a State Farm® HR employee and shelter volunteer, knew Dash would be a great addition to someone’s home. Molly and other volunteers organized the 12 Dogs of Christmas adoption push which included Dash in Dec. 2018.

The shelter’s 12 longest-term residents were all pit bulls ranging in age from two to 10. The team spruced up their kennels with eye-catching decor, gave the pups holiday make-overs, and shared social media posts to gain attention. The shelter also offered stockings full of donated leashes, collars, and free training sessions.

“I worked a couple of hours a night to get these dogs a home for the holidays,” shared Molly. “It was a lot of hard work but it was worth it to see Dash and all the other dogs adopted just before New Year’s Eve!”

Helping local shelters during Covid

Volunteering has been difficult during Covid due to social distancing and other safety measures. But there are other ways to give back. Owner surrendered and abandoned pet numbers are starting to creep back up. There are plenty of pets available for adoption at your local shelter.

“If you’re not sure adoption is for you, consider fostering! It’s a short term commitment with long term impacts,” Molly recommended. “If you foster a pet, you are giving that animal a much needed respite from the stressful shelter environment. You can also provide the shelter with helpful intel. Maybe the dog is great with kids but scared of car rides. This can really help match the pup with the right family.”

Is your home feeling a bit empty due to covid? Reach out to your local shelter to see if you can fill it with dogs or cats for a long “howliday” weekend of fostering and cuddles.

• They are more than twice as likely to be hit and killed by a car on Halloween compared to any other day of the year. 
• 23% of fatalities occur with children between the ages of five and eight.
• 70% of accidents occur away from an intersection or crosswalk.

Whether you're going door-to-door, driving or passing out treats at home, State Farm wants to help keep your little princesses, pirates, and police officers safe this Halloween with these tips:

If you're going door-to-door

• Always accompany young children.
• Exercise great caution during the "scariest" hours - between 5 and 9 p.m. It is especially dangerous for pedestrian accidents between 6 pm and 7 pm.
• Stick to neighborhoods with sidewalks. If you must walk on the street, keep to the far left, facing traffic.
• Practice safe crossing procedures - use crosswalks; wait for corners; and look left, right and left again before crossing.
• Stick reflective tape onto costumes to make your child more visible. Also have them carry a flashlight.
• Make sure costumes and shoes are the correct size to prevent tripping.
• Use face paint and leave the masks at home. They can obstruct vision.
• If an older child is venturing out without supervision, ask them to go with a group. Discuss the route and agree on a curfew. Give older kids cell phones so they can stay in touch.

If you're driving

• Drive slowly
• Be alert for children and eliminate in-car distractions.
• Practice extra caution at intersections and corners.
• Pull in and out of driveways carefully.
• Discuss these and other driving pointers with your teen driver. Drivers ages 15-25 were involved in approximately one-third of fatal crashes involving child pedestrians on Halloween.

If you're handing out treats

• Keep your home brightly lit indoors and outside.
• Clear debris and other obstacles from your lawn, sidewalks and steps.
• Opt for battery-operated candles in jack-o'-lanterns or other areas where costumed trick-or-treaters might stand.
• Keep pets kenneled or in another room.

In addition to protecting children from accidents, remind them of "stranger danger" on Halloween. Teach children to visit only well-lit homes. Tell them to avoid dark streets and to not enter unknown homes. Kids should show their candy to parents before eating it. Homemade treats from people they don't know shouldn't be eaten.

For tips to help keep your cool and avoid incident, click on the "+" signs in the interactive image below.

Wishing you and yours a healthy, happy, and SAFE holiday season!

"The flames were outrunning the smoke. If someone wanted to know what the gates of hell look like, I think this is pretty close," said Bob Pratt, as he reflected on the two year anniversary of the Valley Fire. Bob and his wife Kathy are survivors.

The Valley Fire struck Lake County, California on September 12, 2015. The fierce wind-driven firestorm had an insatiable appetite for destruction. Residents had little time to react. According to Cal Fire, the Valley Fire consumed 76,067 acres, destroyed 1,958 structures and damaged 93 more.

Individuals, families and the community at-large were changed forever once the wildfire made its indelible mark. Two years later, the wildfire’s scars are still visible. Though progress has been made, it seems the whole county is under construction.

The Pratts live in the small town of Cobb, California, north of the Napa Valley wine country. The destruction of their home was complete. They lost their home, photo albums, and cherished possessions but they survived.

As with any wildfire, the damage sustained by individual homes varied. Some homes were completely destroyed. Others were left untouched and many more homes suffered a range of damage somewhere in between. No matter the final fate of a home, the evacuation process during the Valley Fire was traumatic for those impacted.

Tom and Linda Moran live in a beautiful home in Hidden Valley Lake with panoramic views. They watched the wildfire from their patio as it moved from across the valley. It traveled along the hilltop ridges and suddenly the flames were licking at nearby property lines.

"It was panic,” said Tom. “We had five minutes to get out. It was incredible.” Linda explained they “drove out with flames on both sides of the road. It was surreal.” The Moran home survived the fire with a relatively small amount of damage.

The way a community pulls together in times of need is impressive. The people of Lake County are no different. The Moran and Pratt families received tremendous support from their friends and broader community, including complete strangers. The people of Lake County have suffered together, are recovering together and have learned a lot in the process.

Lessons Learned

When asked about what they learned in all this, Bob Pratt didn’t hesitate. “Make sure whoever your insurance company is, that they do what they say they'll do the way they say they'll do it and that you can rely on them,” Bob, a State Farm policyholder, shared. “Because if everything goes,” he continued, “that is where you start. So, make sure you have an insurance company that understands your needs and that you are covered.”

With two little dogs to care for, Bob’s wife Kathy chimed in to remind us that it is important not to forget your pets and their needs. Indeed, pets are members of the family. In your emergency kit, pack dog food and treats, medication and favorite toys. This will give your pet a sense of stability in a stressful situation.

Some other tips the Moran and Pratt families shared are:

• Create defensible space on your property (grass down, trees trimmed, natural fire breaks). It is a key step for the safety of your home and firefighters.
• Have a bag with key items prepared. Create an A, B, and C list to organize your priorities. Depending on the amount of time you have to evacuate, work your way down your lists.
• Take digital photos of your home and personal possessions. Keep the digital photos off site or on the cloud. Also, use a scanner to digitize your printed photos albums.
• Hold on to receipts you accumulate during evacuation and recovery. They are very important in claims process.
• When it comes to filing a homeowner’s insurance claim, the relationship you have with your agent and claim representative matters. Communication is a key to resolving any claim.

Once Lived, Never Forgotten

Not every hardship and wound resulting from the wildfire will find closure but, a lot can be fixed, rebuilt and renewed with fresh optimism for the future. As Bob searched for personal items in the ashes of his home, he did find the melted remnants of his gold wedding ring. It was right where he thought it would be.

He has since set the gold into the handle of his walking stick and moves about his daily business with confidence. Bob carries a reminder of the wildfire with him everywhere he goes. That isn’t unusual for those that experience such a life altering event. The wildfire experience becomes a part of you; you never look at your home and community the same way.

Americans love taking summer road trips and vacations, and 91% are taken in a personal vehicle. Between the Memorial and Labor Day holidays over 650 million trips will be made.¹

Having a breakdown along the way or returning to a home that’s been burglarized can put a damper on your good times. We've compiled lots of tips to help protect your car, home and family. Click the links below in preparation for your summer fun!

Before you go, prepare your home and vehicle.

At home make it look like you never left: leave some lights on, lock up and stop your mail and newspapers.

Prepare your car for the road ahead: check tire air pressure, replace worn wiper blades and inspect the AC and brakes.

These are just a start, click here to learn more!

Stay safe along the way.

Getting there can be half the fun...or not! To help ensure you'll be happily singing “On the Way to Cape May” instead of dealing with unpleasantries -- click here!

Safely make the most of your vacation.

So many vacation options: water fun, camping, grilling...these tips and helpful info can help you safely avoid mishaps. Go here!

¹ - statisticbrain.com

• Take Familiar Roads – Traveling on roads you know well will help you avoid potholes.
• Travel on well-lit roads – When driving at night, travel on well-lit roads so you can see the surface.
• Slow Down – Give yourself a chance to see the pothole and avoid it before you’re in it.
• Avoid Tailgating – Allow time to see road conditions ahead. The minimum recommended following distance of 2 seconds (some experts recommend 3 seconds or more) would give you time to spot and hopefully avoid a pothole.
• Brake Before Impact – If you can’t avoid a pothole, if possible brake to slow before impact (don’t skid), but be off the brakes long enough for the wheels to be moving. There’s less damage when a tire is rolling than during aggressive braking when the load on suspension, wheels and tires is greater, potentially causing more damage on impact with a pothole.

To see more pothole tips, hover over the blue dots on interactive image below.

Wishing you and yours a healthy, happy, SAFE holiday season!

Holiday Decorating Tips

Follow these tips to help keep your home safe:

Candles

• Keep candles on a stable, heat-resistant surface and at least one foot away in all directions from combustible items.
• Don’t leave candles unattended or within reach of children and pets.
• Don’t allow candles to burn to the bottom of their container.
•  Try using “flameless” candles instead.

Lights:

• Use only lights that have been tested for safety by a nationally recognized testing laboratory, such as UL. Lights for both indoor and outdoor usage must meet strict requirements that testing laboratories are able to verify.
• Check each set of lights, new or old, for broken or cracked sockets, frayed or bare wires, or loose connections.
• Check outdoor lights for labels showing that the lights have been certified for outdoor use, and only plug them into a ground-fault circuit interrupter (GFCI)-protected receptacle or a portable GFCI.

Selecting and using extension cords:

• Purchase only cords that have been approved by an independent testing laboratory.
• For outdoor projects, use only extension cords marked for outdoor use.
• Avoid powering multiple appliances with one cord.
• Never use indoor extension cords outdoors.
• Don’t plug multiple cords together.
• Don’t run extension cords under rugs or furniture and never staples or nails.
• Stop using extension cords that feel hot to the touch.

Additional Decorating Content Links:

• Your Guide to Safe Holiday Decorating
• How to Avoid a Holiday Decorating Disaster

Holiday Cooking Safety Tips:

• The leading cause of fires in the kitchen is unattended cooking.
• Stay in the kitchen while you are frying, grilling, boiling or broiling food.
• Keep anything that can catch fire — oven mitts, wooden utensils, food packaging, towels or curtains — away from your stovetop.
• Always cook with a lid beside your pan. If you have a fire, slide the lid over the pan and turn off the burner. Do not remove the cover because the fire could start again. Let the pan cool for a long time.
• Never throw water on a kitchen fire.
• Make sure you have working smoke alarms.

Turkey Fryer Fires:

• More than one-third of fires involving a fryer start in a garage or patio. Cook outdoors on a flat level surface, at least 10 feet away from any buildings or trees and keep the fryer off any wooden structures, such as a deck or patio.
• Shut off the fuel source or flame when adding the turkey to the hot oil to prevent a dangerous flare-up, which can occur when oil spills over the rim.
• Make sure your turkey is properly thawed and dried before lowering it slowly into the pot.
• Never leave a hot turkey fryer unattended.
• Do not use ice or water to cool down oil or extinguish an oil fire.
• Keep an extinguisher approved for cooking or grease fire nearby.

Additional Holiday Cooking Content Links:​

• Eat, Fry, Love: A Cautionary Remix
• Putting Kitchen Safety First

Holiday Shopping Tips

Parking lots are busy and have increased vehicle and pedestrian traffic during the holiday season.

• Use identified travel lanes and watch out for others cutting across lanes.
• Slow down and watch out for cars backing up.
• Watch for pedestrians.
• Park away from other vehicles to help avoid door dings.
• Store purchases, packages, and valuables out of sight.
• Always lock your vehicle and take your keys.

Additional Holiday Shopping Content Links:​

• 16 Travel Safety Tips
• Holiday Safety Alert
• Home Safe Home
• Hustle and Bustle and Fire and Burglary - Keep your Home Safe This Holiday Season
• Tips for a Safer Holiday Season