For many people, nothing beats lounging in the backyard on the Fourth of July with good friends and family—including the four-legged members of the household. While it may seem like a great idea to reward Rover with scraps from the grill and bring him along to watch fireworks, in reality some festive foods and products can be potentially hazardous to your pets. The ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center offers the following tips:

• Never leave alcoholic drinks unattended where pets can reach them. Alcoholic beverages have the potential to poison pets. If ingested, the animal could become very intoxicated and weak, severely depressed or could go into a coma.

NATIONAL GRID PREPARES FOR SUMMER DEMAND

June 23, 2011 – One way to make the lazy days of summer even more relaxing is to be ready for what the weather will bring.  National Grid has prepared its New York system to help customers beat the heat and urges customers to take steps to cut costs when the temperature rises.

"National Grid's increased investment in the upstate New York electric system in recent years directly supports our reliability during summer's peaks," said Kenneth D. Daly, National Grid president for New York.  "As the frequency and length of customer outages continue to improve, National Grid recognizes that ongoing investment in the system will provide our customers with the service reliability they deserve."

The Travel Channel will feature Buffalo, New York on its new television program, “Off Limits.”  Explorer and history buff Don Wildman is delving into the forbidden, hidden and unseen spaces across America.  The Buffalo, New York episode airs nationwide on Monday, June 27th at 9pm   

For over a century Buffalo, New York was a key player in powering America through the industrial revolution. Its natural wonders, like Niagara Falls, and its strategic location along the Great Lakes made it a powerhouse for the growing American empire. Host Don Wildman will get passed the gates, crawl into the dark tunnels and climb on top of its crumbling mega-structures to get a glimpse at Buffalo’s glory days. Just east of Buffalo he will unearth the ingenious engineering behind the Erie Canal.