| How to Deal With a Stray Dog Posted: 14 Jun 2016 05:00 PM PDT At some point, you've probably seen stray dogs. There aren't firm figures on the number of stray dogs in the United States, but they are a big problem. Stray dogs may forage for food, stake out territory, breed, and have unwanted litters with transmittable diseases. Many dogs become homeless when they are separated from their owners, get lost, or escape. Life for a dog on the street is difficult, especially if they're used to being cared for. If you see a stray dog, learn how to safely deal with the dog so that you're both protected. EditCaring For a Stray Dog Immediately - Check the urgency of the situation. Seeing an unattended dog outside may instinctively move you to help, but you want to make sure that you are not making the situation worse. For instance, if you see a dog weaving through traffic, chasing after the dog could put you, other pedestrians, and motorists in danger. Wait until the dog is in a safe place before providing assistance.
- If the dog is already in a safe place, don't do anything to scare the dog which could put him in a dangerous situation. Stray animals can act unpredictably, so be cautious.[1]
- Determine ownership. Before you whisk a dog a way to safety, make sure that the dog is actually alone and not simply separated momentarily from his owner. You can save yourself a lot of time, hassle and potential criminal charges by making sure the dog is actually lost. Simply wait to see if the owner comes to claim the dog.[2]
- If the dog has a leash and collar on, you can try to safely grab the leash. This will keep the dog in one place while you wait for an owner to hopefully appear.
- Watch for aggression in the dog. Dogs on the street will fall into one of two categories: a dog that has been separated from its owner or a stray dog without a home or loving family. There are some safety concerns with both types of dogs. Owned dog's separated from their owners may be fearful or aggressive when approached by unknown people, including you. The dog may not be used to "street life" and may bite, scratch or run away in fear when you approach it.
- Or, you may be dealing with an aggressive dog that broke loose from his owner's home or yard looking for a fight.
- Check for obvious signs of disease. Since you're unsure what diseases the dog may be carrying, look for aggression, snapping, and biting at everyone and everything. This could indicate that the dog is rabid. If so, he'll also refuse water and salivate a lot. Or, another type of rabies will make the dog look very sick, prevent it from walking, but it will still salivate a lot. If you see any signs like this in a stray dog, call the police and animal control.[3] The dog may also be carrying any of the following diseases:[4]
- Rabies
- Distemper
- Ticks, fleas, mange
- Ringworm and other fungal diseases
- Heartworms
- Kennel cough
- Intestinal parasites: roundworms, hookworms, tapeworms, whipworms
- Protect yourself at all times. Before finding a home for a stray dog, you'll need to catch and restrain him. This can be a little dangerous since dogs can sometimes be defensive or even hostile because of prior abuse, neglect, sickness, or his general temperament. You can approach the dog with a barrier, like a tennis racket or skateboard. This can keep the dog from biting you while you get closer to it. If you fear the dog at any time or think the situation is beyond your capabilities, retreat to a safe place and call animal control or the non-emergency police line for help.[5]
- Remember that a barrier object is not meant to be a weapon for you to swing at the dog in an attempt to strike them. It is just a barrier for your own protection.
EditGetting Help For a Stray Dog - Build rapport. If the dog seems open to being approached (he sits or stands without raised fur or bared teeth, and doesn't growl or snap at you), start to gain his trust. Offer something like a treat that builds trust and lets the dog know you have good intentions. Slowly approach him and offer the back of your hand with your palm down for the dog to sniff. Take your time and pause if he becomes frightened or hostile.
- Pay attention to what triggers an emotional response from the dog and be sensitive. Pause and allow the dog to get more comfortable before starting to approach the dog again.
- Never reach over the dog's head or body. The dog will see this as a threat and either run away or may bite you before retreating.
- Restrain the dog. Once you've gained the dog's trust and you can get close to him, restrain him. Quickly and quietly slip a leash or rope around his neck. This is important to control the dog and prevent him from running away.
- If the dog twists and tries to get away after you've gotten a leash on him, try to verbally reassure him. For example, say, "Calm down, boy," in a gentle, but firm voice.[6]
- Find the dog's owners. If you take the dog to any veterinary clinic or the Humane Society, they can check for a microchip that locates the owners. If the dog has an owner, the owner will be notified and your job is done. If there's no microchip, you could still try to find the owners by doing any of the following:[7]
- Post "found dog" flyers around the neighborhood where you found the dog. If the dog has a home, it is likely that he didn't wander off too far from it.
- Notify local veterinary clinics, animal shelters and animal control/police departments that you found a dog. Give a thorough description of the dog—color, gender, breed, weight, and any other distinguishing characteristics.
- Call the local radio station to see if a lost dog has been reported or to see if they will mention it on the air. This is a good option in small communities.
- Post found dog ads on-line and with local community newspapers.
- Take the dog to the vet. If you decide to bring the dog to your home, have him checked out at the veterinary clinic first. The dog will be examined for fleas and internal parasites. This will keep you from bringing these pests into your home or exposing them to your other pets.[8]
- Talk with your family before bringing home a stray dog to make sure everyone agrees with the decision. You should also make sure your landlord is fine with another dog, if you rent.
- Foster your rescue. If a home has yet to be located for the dog, you might want to consider adopting it temporarily or perhaps permanently. If you take the dog to the Humane Society, they may not be able to take the dog in right away. But, if you are able to hold on to the dog for a quarantine period of up to two weeks, they may then take the dog and give it all of the necessary tests and vaccines.
- Be prepared to pay for medical expenses and other costs. Some shelters may offer discounts for caring for strays.[9]
- Have your own animals spayed or neutered to prevent contributing to pet overpopulation which leads to dog homelessness.
- Wash your hands well after being in contact with any stray dog. You can transfer diseases from one dog to another just by petting them and a few diseases can be transmitted to humans as well.
- It's best to make sure the animal shelter is a no-kill shelter.
- Be aware that some canine diseases can be spread to humans, like rabies, ticks, fleas, or internal parasites. Because of this, you should be cautious when approaching a strange dog.
- You should not drive with an unrestrained stray in your vehicle. If he is nervous, he can behave erratically and cause disturbances while you drive. Use a crate or restrain him with a leash well away from the driver.
- Adopting a dog is a long-term commitment. Make sure you are ready to take on the responsibility of adding one to your family.
EditRelated wikiHows EditSources and Citations
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| How to Check a Child's Hair for Lice Posted: 14 Jun 2016 09:00 AM PDT Head lice (Pediculus humans capitis), otherwise known as pediculosis,[1] are parasites that can live in humans' hair and on their scalps and clothes.[2] They don't carry disease, but they can be a nuisance, and frequent scratching of the scalp may lead to infection.[3] Contrary to popular belief, head lice are not a problem related to poor hygiene; in fact, lice actually prefer clean hair. These critters don't jump like fleas, so they can only spread by crawling from one person to another. Therefore, a child with long hair that rests against another child is more likely to have some of these hitchhikers climb aboard during play.[4] While direct head-to-head contact is the most common means of transmission, sleepovers, wearing another child's hat, swapping hair brushes,[5] or laying on another child's bed are some of the common ways that children with any length of hair can contract lice.[6] If your child was recently exposed to someone with a confirmed case of lice or is complaining about an itchy head, this is how to check for lice. EditWet Combing to Diagnose a Lice Infestation - Wash your child's hair. Be sure to use shampoo and conditioner. The resulting moisture at the root of your child's hair, where lice thrive, may temporarily prevent their movement along the scalp.[7] Conditioner will also make it easier to comb through your child's hair. Use a comb containing gaps no more than 0.2mm.[8]
- Comb your child's hair. Use a wide-toothed comb to straighten out any tangles or knots in the hair.
- Switch to a lice removal comb. Now that your child's hair is clean and straight, you can begin to inspect their scalp more closely for lice.
- Make sure you'll be able to see. Have your child sit perfectly still. Use a room with good lighting, or sufficient natural light from outside.
- Drape a white-colored cloth across your child's shoulders while searching. This way if any lice fall off your child's head while searching, the lice can be collected and easily discarded.
- If necessary, have a flashlight or headlamp handy so that you can examine the roots more carefully.
- You may also want to have a magnifying glass on hand to be sure you don't miss anything.
- Start at the scalp and brush out firmly to the ends of your child's hair. You can hold the brush in place with each stroke to systematically search for lice. This will allow you to thoroughly examine each section of your child's head. [9]
- Pay extra attention to the area of the scalp around the ears and at the nape of the neck. Although lice can live anywhere on the scalp, these areas tend to be tell-tale regions during an infestation.[10]
- Check near the hair follicle, about 1/4-inch (6 mm) to 1/2-inch from the scalp, for eggs (called nits). Nits are about the size of a pinhead and are glued onto the hair shaft. They are oval-shaped and translucent in color when first laid, but turn brown as the embryo develops.[11]
- Inspect the comb's teeth after each stroke. Look for lice and their eggs (nits).
- Understand what to look for. Adult lice are light brown and their bodies will be about the size of a sesame seed. Nits may be brown, yellow, or white.[12]
- Closely examine the comb's teeth both during and after each comb stroke, using a magnifying glass if necessary. If examining under a blacklight, the nits will appear as light blue in color.[13]
- Rinse the comb under a faucet after each stroke or dislodge the lice using a piece of wet toilet paper. This will remove any lice that were picked up during combing. It will also wash away any dandruff your child might have, which can resemble lice nits.[14]
- Work over each region of your child's head at least once. It may be more effective to repeat this process, as lice can move around on the scalp.
EditDry Combing to Diagnose a Lice Infection - Comb through your child's hair. It may be helpful to detangle hair with a brush or comb first.
- Use a fine-toothed lice comb. This process will be similar to wet-combing.
- If nits pose a problem to thorough combing, try soaking hair in a 3%-5% white vinegar bath prior to using the lice comb.[15]
- Trap lice. You might be able to pin lice against the comb using your fingers, but tweezers may be more effective.[16]
- Some experts say that manually removing lice as described above may be more effective (though also more time consuming) than over-the-counter lice treatments.[17]
- Place any lice you find in a small cup of isopropyl (rubbing) alcohol. Lice can survive in water, and may escape if not properly dealt with after combing. You should also soak the combs used to find and catch lice in rubbing alcohol for at least one hour.[18]
- Be vigilant. If you have found lice and/or nits and removed them with a comb or tweezers, it is important to repeat the procedure on a daily basis. Eggs may take several days to hatch, so it's important to continue treatment and removal, even if it seems like the problem is getting better. Some experts recommend nightly lice inspection and removal and continued monitoring for two to three weeks after the initial treatment.[19]
- While dry combing is an excellent way to detect lice, picking individual lice with tweezers can be a tiresome and time-consuming activity for both you and your child. Some experts recommend wet combing, as it allows you to quickly diagnose and partially treat the infection more efficiently.[20]
- If your child has a hard time sitting still for prolonged periods, try doing lice inspection/removal with a movie or TV show on. Television may provide a welcome distraction for your child while you look for and remove lice and nits.
- Wash your child's clothes and bedding. Even if your child doesn't show any signs or symptoms of a lice infection, if one of their friends has lice, it's best to take precautions.
EditTaking Preventative Action - Ask around. Find out from your child's school whether anyone in his or her grade has reported a lice inspection. You may want to ask other parents as well.
- Look for signs and symptoms. Take note if your child or one of your child's friends engages in frequent head scratching or appears to have an itchy scalp or crawling sensations.[21]
- Do not let your child share combs, brushes, helmets, or hats with anyone. You may also want to advise your child to avoid touching couches, chairs, or pillows that a person with lice has used.[22]
- Check the rest of your family. If your child has lice, there's a good chance you or someone else in your home may have been exposed to lice. If you are manually removing lice from your child's head, wear rubber gloves or thoroughly wash your hands afterward, as lice have been known in some cases to live underneath a host's fingernails before spreading to the head.
- Wash laundry frequently. Bedding, towels, hats, and recently worn clothes should be washed with hot, soapy water and put through a clothes dryer at 140 degrees Fahrenheit (60 degrees Celsius). You may also want to vacuum pillows and car seats, and store anything that can't be washed (like stuffed animals) in a sealed plastic bag for at least two weeks to ensure that any lice and unhatched eggs are dead.[23]
- Nits are often mistaken for dandruff. Understand what both dandruff and nits look like so you can discern one from the other.
- Have the child sit on a tall stool in front of the TV while you check for lice, so she is distracted and better able to sit still.
- Wash any clothing, pillowcases, and bedsheets that may have been exposed to lice in hot water. Run them through the dryer, as lice cannot survive extreme temperatures.
- If lice are found, begin treatment immediately.
- Don't wait for your child to complain about an itchy head before checking for lice. A small population of lice may not cause itchiness, and it's better to identify a lice problem early.
- Head lice treatment products are expensive and contain pesticides, so it's important to confirm a child has live lice before applying a treatment. Lice treatments shouldn't be used simply as a preventative measure.
- A fine-toothed lice comb may not be effective method of checking a child's hair for lice. Unless you comb right against the scalp, you can easily miss capturing the lice. Nits are difficult to remove with a comb because they are glued to the hair shaft and may be smaller than the tooth gaps in the comb.
EditThings You'll Need - Bright lamp or flashlight (optional)
- Comb
- Tweezers
- Rubbing alcohol
- Magnifying glass
EditRelated wikiHows EditSources and Citations
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| How to Yarn Bomb Posted: 14 Jun 2016 01:00 AM PDT Yarn bombing is a new, cozier alternative to graffiti and other street art. If you already have a talent for yarn-based crafting, you can now use those talents to brighten the dull, ordinary appearance of your neighborhood. EditPart One: Planning the Yarn Bomb - Understand yarn bombing. Yarn bombing is one of the newest trends in street art. A yarn bombing artist chooses a plain structure and uses it as a canvas to display a beautiful work of yarn-based art.
- Most yarn bombs are created through knitting and crocheting, but technically, any form of street art that uses yarn can be considered a yarn bomb. This includes pieces made with latch hook, cross stitch, or simple wrapping techniques.
- The phenomenon started in the Netherlands in 2004. Since then, it has spread across the world, but has mostly been limited to big cities.
- Get ideas. If yarn bombing is big in your city, you can get inspiration from the work of local artists. If you don't see much yarn bombing where you live, though, you can still get ideas by looking for yarn bombing photographs online.[1][2]
- Some of the most popular large objects include trees, signs, statues, fences and benches. For something on a smaller scale, you could yarn bomb stones or pine cones.
- Find an object to yarn bomb. Keep an eye out for simple, plain objects that might benefit from a bit of yarn bombing artwork. You can start in your own backyard, or you can venture out into your neighborhood.
 - Look close to home. Notice the objects you pass on the street during your daily routine and pick from among those. Yarn bombing close to home will make it easier to plan the project and to keep an eye on the finished work after installing it.
- Choose something manageable. If you're just starting out, you probably should avoid yarn bombs on statues with intricate parts or any other major endeavor. Start with something simple. If you have success with that, you can gradually work your way up to more challenging projects.
- For larger yarn bombs, frequently a knitting or other fiber arts circle will plan a larger yarn bomb as a project, with each person either creating a certain number of pre-sized squares to be assembled quilt-style on the object being bombed, or with each person being responsible for one part of the bomb, i.e. an arm for a sweater for a statue, or one sign post covering for a group of signs. In this way, the amount of work doesn't become overwhelming for one person and can be a fun project to share with your knitting or fiber arts compadres!
- Make sure that you will be able to secure the yarn around the object well enough to prevent it from falling down, though. On a tree, horizontal branches can prevent the work from slipping down the trunk of the tree. On a street sign, however, you would need to figure out a way to attach extra strings through holes in the post or around the sign to prevent the yarn bomb from slipping down the pole.
- Get the permission you need. If you plan to yarn bomb something on your own property, you won't need any permission to do so. For objects on others' private property or on public property, however, you'll need to get permission to create your piece from the appropriate sources.[3]
- The element of surprise can make the experience more fun, but you should make sure that anyone who needs to know about it knows about it beforehand.
- Ask your neighbor before yarn bombing his tree.
- Get permission from the property owner or your boss before yarn bombing the parking signs in your company parking lot.
- Ask the local art council or city council before yarn bombing a bench in a local park or a city parking meter.
- Plan on taking it down later. Yarn bombing is not meant to be a permanent form of artwork. When you plan the creation of your work, you'll also need to plan on taking it down.
- Even the best yarn bombs have a limited life span. Rain, wind, and dirt can quickly strike the object, causing it to become grungy and frayed within a few short weeks.
- To maximize the beauty of the work and avoid complaints, it is best to plan on removing the yarn bomb before this happens or before the destruction gets too bad.
EditPart Two: Creating the Yarn Bomb - Take measurements.[4] Visit the object you plan to yarn bomb and use a cloth tape measure to determine the dimensions of that object. You will need precise measurements to create a snug piece.
- For large objects, you need to measure the width, height, and depth of the object. If the object is round, you will need to measure the circumference instead of the depth.
- Measure each part of the object that will be included in the yarn bomb. For instance, if you are yarn bombing a tree, measure the trunk and all of the branches you plan to use, as well as the spaces in between branches. You will also need to measure parts along the same trunk or branch where the circumference varies.
- Make sure that you are using a fabric measuring tape as you take your measurements. This type of measuring tape gives you greater flexibility when you measure oddly shaped objects.
- Draw a diagram of the object. Sketch out the object on a sheet of paper and mark down the appropriate dimensions in the appropriate places. You can use this diagram to help you plan out how many pieces you'll need for the final work and how those pieces will fit together.
- Some people find it easiest to collect the measurements before making the diagram, while others may find it easier to make the diagram first and mark the measurements down later. Work in whichever order makes sense to you.
- It might help to make several copies of your diagram. Doing so will allow you to sketch different design ideas without ruining or obscuring your measurements.
- Determine which technique to use. As noted elsewhere in this article, knit and crochet pieces are the most common, but you can actually use any technique that allows you to work with yarn. Simply choose whichever technique appeals to you most.
- If you are yarn bombing a three-dimensional object, like a tree, street sign, stone, or statue, it will be easiest to crochet or knit the piece.
- If you are yarn bombing something with a wire grid, like a fence or park bench, cross stitch and latch hook techniques will work best.
- Design the piece. Once you have the technical stuff figured out, you will need to figure out the aesthetic, artistic aspect of your yarn bomb. Think about the colors and patterns you want to include.
- You could technically yarn bomb something in a single color, but many of the most notable yarn bombs arrange multiple colors in a simple or complex pattern. When using multiple colors, make sure that the colors will look good together. You should also consider whether or not the colors will look good in their final surroundings.
- Ask yourself why you are creating the yarn bomb. If you have a message or a theme in mind, you should build the design around that theme.
- Determine whether the piece will be one large work or several patchwork pieces stitched together. If it will be the latter, plan out the color of each patchwork piece and sketch out how the pieces should fit together. Do a few calculations to determine the dimensions of all pieces before making any of them.
- Create the yarn bomb. After you plan out the design and dimensions of your yarn bomb, you will need to actually create the pieces. Each piece will be created separately and away from the actual object you plan to yarn bomb.
- When you create a knit or crochet piece, you will actually be making two-dimensional pieces that will wrap around the three-dimensional object to create a final three-dimensional effect.
- If you are yarn bombing with latch hook, cross stitch, or wrapping, you will not create the piece prior to installation. For these methods, you will create the piece as you install it.
- Measure each piece after you create it to verify that it matches the dimensions you measured and calculated earlier.
- If you are creating a large patchwork piece, you might be able to stitch the pieces together before installing it as long as those pieces form a single two-dimensional work of yarn.
EditPart Three: Installing the Yarn Bomb - Go during the best time of day. In some instances, it might be best to install the yarn bomb during daylight hours. Other times, you might find it more beneficial to install it at night, when few others are around to interfere.
- Yarn bombing during the day will likely make it impossible to remain anonymous, but if secrecy is not important to you, the daylight will make it much easier to see.
- If you want to remain anonymous, you will need to pick a time of day when very few people are likely to be around. Usually, this means installing the yarn bomb at night.
- Bring everything you might need. Aside from your yarn artwork and installation tools, you may also need to bring a few helpers with you.
- You will need to bring a yarn needle, matching yarn, and scissors to actually install a crocheted or knitted piece. If you are latch hooking or cross stitching, bring the tools you would usually use to create a piece of this nature.
- Take your diagram, as well, so that you can check your work against it as you move through the installation.
- You should also bring along a ladder if you need to reach tall places and a flashlight if you are working at night.
- Even if you think you can install the yarn bomb on your own, it is a wise idea to bring at least one friend with you if you are doing the work in the evening or at night.
- Wrap each piece around the object. Use your diagram as a guide as you wrap each piece of yarn artwork around the appropriate part of the object. Hold each piece in place with safety pins until all of the pieces are in their correct position.
- If you are cross stitching, latch hooking, or wrapping, you won't have any previously created pieces to wrap around the work. Instead, you will need to use the object itself as your canvas and create the entire work on scene.
- Sew seams to install the yarn bomb. Use additional yarn and a large yarn needle to stitch all the seams together, holding the yarn bomb in place more securely. Once everything is in place, you can remove the safety pins previously responsible for holding the pieces together.
- Use a simple stitch to make the process as easy and quick as possible. For instance, a whip stitch is usually a good choice.
- Never cause any property damage. It is crucial that you do not cause any damage to anyone's property while installing your yarn bomb.
- Aside from man-made property, like benches and signs, you should also avoid damaging the plants and animals living in the area.[5]
EditPart Four: Enjoying the Experience - Take pictures. Take pictures of the process and of the final result. If you install the yarn bomb while it is still light outside, you should snap a photo as soon as the installation is complete.
- After you install the piece, you should take pictures as soon as possible before any damage comes to it.
- If you want to remain anonymous, do not declare that you are the one responsible for the yarn bomb on any public forum, including social media accounts with strict privacy settings. If you absolutely must take credit for the work, wait until after you've taken it down before announcing your role.
- Check on your yarn bomb later. Return to your yarn bomb a few hours or days later to check on it. Viewing your yarn bomb anonymously can also help you learn about the honest reactions of people on the street who are viewing the artwork for the first time.
- Ask for feedback. While anonymous feedback is great, you should also ask for feedback on your yarn bomb from people who know that you were the one to create it.
- It's best to start with people who already knew about the intended yarn bomb or those who you believe can keep the yarn bomb a secret.
- After you've removed the yarn bomb or have otherwise indulged in a satisfactory amount of anonymity, you can begin asking strangers and acquaintances for their opinions. Get opinions from the artistically inclined as well as the everyday passerby.
- Take it down according to your schedule. As noted earlier, a yarn bomb is not meant to be a permanent structure. It is best to remove your yarn bomb before it starts to deteriorate too dramatically.
- Know that someone else may remove your yarn bomb before you have the opportunity to do so. People who find the yarn bomb an annoyance may cut it down prematurely. The city may also choose to remove it if they get complaints or if they believe the yarn has gotten too dirty.
- Have fun with it all. One major purpose of yarn bombing is to brighten the drab qualities of ordinary, everyday life. If you aren't brightening your own life by creating the piece, a large aspect of the process is missing.
EditThings You'll Need - Yarn
- Scissors
- Yarn needle
- Fabric tape measure
- Paper
- Pencil
- Crochet hook, knitting needles, latch hook tool, cross stitching needle
- Camera
EditSources and Citations
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