In honor of National Pet Week, Sit, Stay, Speak! will be offering tips and information this week about pet care. Here's the first:

Pet Proof Your House

Kids aren't the only ones that can be harmed by common household chemicals and products. The chocolate you crave can poison your dog, cat or ferret. Your kitten may look cute tossing around that rubber band or piece of string but it can cause an intestinal blockage if swallowed.

Some other hazards perhaps lurking in your home sweet home:

* Antifreeze containing ethylene glycol has a sweet taste that makes it attractive to pets, but even a tiny slurp can be deadly. Instead, use antifreeze made of propylene glycol, which is safe if consumed in small amounts.

* Cedar and soft wood shavings may smell good, but emit fumes that can harm hamsters and gerbils.

* Many common over-the-counter medications -- asprin, ibuprofen, vitamins and cold medicines -- can be toxic to animals. Put away medication bottles and tubes, and pick up any stray pills off the floor.

* There is a long list of human foods that are potentially harmful to pets, including; onions, coffee grounds, macadamia nuts and alcoholic beverages.

* Fumes from non-stick cookware or self-cleaning ovens can harm birds.

* Certain common household plants are poisonous including; azaleas, geraniums, philodendrons and dieffenbachia (I know this one for a fact because in college, my puppy chewed on my dieffenbachia. Fortunately, she pulled through.)

Click here for the complete list of common household pet dangers, from the Humane Society of the United States.

Have any events for National Pet Week? Let us know.