There’s an app for everything – even dog ownership! Laugh all you want, but there are quite a few apps that can prove to be greatly beneficial to dog owners. With the help of smartphone apps, you can locate dog parks, manage your pet’s veterinary information, and much more. These apps truly excel because they both give you valuable information about caring for your pet, as well as practical functionality that makes pet ownership much easier.

To help you choose the right app for your needs, we’ve compiled a list of our top five favorite apps for pets, in no particular order:

• Pet Dossier – With the Pet Dossier app, you can organize all of your pet’s information in one convenient place. You can store medical information, grooming and medication reminders, and much more. The app is only $1.99, and 25% of the profits go to support the ASPCA.
• Dog Park Finder Plus – This app provides up-to-date information on local dog parks and dog-friendly establishments. If you’re on a road trip – and your dog has tagged along – this app will be quite useful.
• Petoxins – Petoxins is an information app that could end up being a life-saver. The app contains a comprehensive list of common plants, with pictures and safety information. The entries are detailed, and will tell you the plant’s level of toxicity to different animal species.
• Dog Whistler Pro – Don’t have a dog whistle but want to do some serious training with your dog? The Dog Whistler Pro app is here to help! Within the app, you can control the tone’s frequency and pattern, allowing you to train your dog with more precision.

Whether you own a dog or a cat – you can use these smartphone apps to become a better pet owner. They make caring for your pet easier and give you quick access to important information. Your pets are a part of community just as you are. Make sure you’re treating your dog or cat right by using these smartphone apps for pets.

In an apartment, fire safety is paramount. You should always use your kitchen responsibly, as household fires typically start there. Luckily, it’s not difficult to keep your apartment safe from kitchen fires as long as you cook responsibly, practice wise cleaning habits, and stay vigilant while cooking. To help, we’ve put together this list of common causes of apartment fires, so you know what to look out for next time you are in the kitchen.

In order to practice good apartment fire safety habits, you must know the common ways that kitchen fires start. That way, you’ll be able to prevent unsafe conditions before they arise:

• Oil/Grease – Oil and grease are common kitchen fire culprits. Grease can build up on your stove or in your oven if you are not cleaning diligently, and this can cause fires. Additionally, oil that is heated to a high temperature must be handled with care; if it is thrown into a trashcan haphazardly, the entire can might go up in flames.
• Unattended cooking – This one’s a no-brainer, right? However, according to the National Fire Prevention Association, unattended cooking is the number one cause of kitchen fires. Always stay in the kitchen while you are cooking and always keep a timer running.
• Clothing/Cloth – While clothing fires are not especially common, they present a high risk of bodily harm. Avoid loose-fitting clothing while cooking, and keep towels and oven mitts well away from burners or open flames.

If you practice these safety habits, you and your family will be at a much lower risk from kitchen fires. Practicing wise apartment fire safety habits is important – not just for you and your family, but for your neighbors as well.