Fourth of July Pet Safety Tips

Many of us are looking forward to Fourth of July weekend this year. Families will be gathering for outdoor barbeques, friends will be enjoying the warm summer weather by the pool and what Independence Day celebration would be complete without fireworks?
 
Unfortunately, in the flurry of patriotic parties that are planned for the long holiday weekend, pets can unintentionally be put at risk. Many of the activities that humans see as fun and games can be dangerous and frightening for our pets. Knowing how to keep your pets safe and happy during the festivities could quite literally save their life.

Proper Identification

Be sure that your pet is wearing a collar with legible and up-to-date contact information at all times. In the event that your furry friend escapes from the safety of your home, proper identification will allow neighbors, animal control and law enforcement agencies to contact you if your pet is found. Microchipping your pet is an easy and inexpensive way to implant them with a permanent form of identification. Most animal shelters, police departments and veterinarians are equipped with scanners that can read microchips and access the contact information they contain.

Prevent Escape Artists

In all the commotion of a family picnic, your pet could easily slip through an open door or window unnoticed. By the time your family becomes aware of its missing member, they could be miles away, lost and disoriented. To prevent any curious escape artists, ensure that your pets are contained to areas where they will be safe and unable to wander out of your home or yard unsupervised. Your guests should also be aware of the presence of pets and will help you to keep an eye out for their security. In situations when your guests may not be pet-savvy, it may be best to board your pet or keep them separated in another room for the evening.

Food Safety

A favorite part of any holiday celebration is the delicious food. Our pets share this sentiment and would happily rummage through a wastebasket to sample the chargrilled goodness. Styrofoam trays, aluminum foil, paper products, plastic bags and other food containers can pose a safety hazard if consumed by a hungry pet. It is also essential to keep in mind that certain foods that are safe for humans can be harmful to pets. Ribs, chicken and other meats on the bone, corn on the cob, hot dogs, fruit salad and desserts are among the barbecue foods that could be potentially dangerous for pets.

Action Plan

In the event that your pet becomes lost, it is important to have a plan. Be familiar with animal care facilities in your area and have your local law enforcement’s contact information handy. If your pet does run away, enlist the help of your family, friends and neighbors to hang fliers and post photos and information on online message boards. Social media is a particularly powerful tool to reach a large number of people and quickly locate a lost pet. Be sure to send a photo of your pet along with your contact information to local animal shelters so that you can be notified if your pet is brought in.

Fireworks

Humans love the booming, crackling and pretty colors of fireworks in the night sky. Pets, however don’t share our love of pyrotechnics. The loud bangs, potent smell and bright flashes can cause pets to panic and flee in search of a quiet place. While you’ll want to end the holiday surrounded by your loved ones enjoying a firework display, do your pet a favor and leave them in a calm place where they won’t be exposed to the fear and anxiety that come with a pyrotechnic presentation.

Although it may be difficult to feel as though you are excluding your pets from all the fun this holiday weekend, the most important thing is their security and well-being. You will be at ease knowing that your their safety has been carefully considered and your pets will certainly thank you for keeping them well-protected!

In the event that your pet becomes lost or if you have found a lost pet, visit Animal Friends online for valuable tips and resources at ThinkingOutsideTheCage.org/LostAndFound.

Adopting Two Cats from Animal Friends is Twice as Nice!

During an extremely active kitten season, Animal Friends has been working diligently to admit as many cats and kittens as possible from a variety of sources. In an effort to do all that can be done, Animal Friends is filled to capacity.

That's why we are sharing the many, many benefits of adopting two cats - it's "Twice as Nice!" But we're not stopping there. When you adopt one cat between now and June 30, your donation will cover two feline adoptions!
 
Here are just a few of the reasons to consider adopting two cats:

• Having a constant playmate to chase and wrestle with helps keep cats lively, well-exercised and healthy.
• Often, destructive behavior in pets can be traced to boredom. The stimulation of a companion can help to ward off inappropriate feline behaviors and scratching.
• Two cats will keep you laughing with their antics.
• Many cats are social creatures, and will happily groom one another and sleep cuddled together.
• People who work long hours, travel overnight or spend frequent evenings away from home will find a warm greeting upon returning, but without the guilt of leaving a beloved pet all alone.
• Two cats will bring their humans double the love. The only thing more heartwarming than the love of a pet is the love of two.
• They make great lap warmers in winter and will offer an endless supply of purrs and head butts.
• Adopting two cats actually saves four lives - the two you're adopting, and the two that will take their places on Animal Friends’ adoption floor who are then given a priceless second chance thanks to your adoption.

Having two cats doesn't require much additional effort. An extra food and water dish and litter box is worth the joy your instant family will bring. AnimalFriends' Adoption Counselors will work with you to find exactly the right cats – two that are compatible with you as well as each other.

Click here to view our adoptable cats right now, or stop by our resource center to meet them today and take two of our furry felines home for the cost of one adoption donation!

Guest Post: Dede Rittman, Author of Grady Gets Glasses

Who doesn’t love dogs, and cats, and bunnies?

Animal Friends employees and volunteers do an extraordinary job of caring for furry friends in need, as I have seen firsthand.  I visit Animal Friends on a regular basis, recycling my newspapers, cardboard egg cartons, towels, and blankets (and they always need more- plus pet food donations!) I was very fortunate to “book” a book reading and signing for my new children’s book “Grady Gets Glasses” at Animal Friends- with new children friends and all of the bunny friends!  What an exciting afternoon!

The volunteers brought all of the bunnies into the room- with pens set up around them to keep them safe.  I read “Grady Gets Glasses” to the kids- while wearing bunny ears, of course!  The kids were very responsive to the rhymes and the rabbits- so, of course, I had to hand out Grady stickers!  And then, all of us went inside the penned areas to pet the bunnies!

What a fun afternoon!  The Animal Friends employees and volunteers kept a watchful eye on the small children, educating them about the care and petting of bunnies.  It was so sweet!  And the children truly enjoyed the book reading and their new (pretend) rabbit friend Grady, and their new real rabbit friends at the shelter.

Please invite us back for another reading!  Grady and I had a wonderful time!

“Grady Gets Glasses” coloring books are also available, and a new toy Grady is coming soon!

Dede Rittman
Author, Speaker, Teacher

Animal Friends' Home-to-Home Adoption Program Presents Jake!

 

Jake is an 8-year-old Black Lab/Australian Heeler mix who is in search of a full-time home with lots of love to give! He is neutered and up to date with all of his vaccines. Jake is very well trained, house broken and loves to play with the other dogs and cats in his home. He is also great with kids and loves to run around and play fetch.

 

This handsome guy was taken into his current home when his previous owners were moving and were unable to take him with them. Instead of surrendering him to a shelter, family friends offered to take him in. Unfortunately they do not have the space to keep Jake. He is a wonderful dog and they would love to find him a great full-time home!

 

Jake would make a perfect companion for someone who wouldn't mind throwing a ball about a thousand times (although Jake is a good sport when it's quitting time). This dog is a professional when it comes to a good game of fetch. He will always drop the ball in your hand when he brings it back. Jake is always looking to please, he listens to commands very well and is just a big sweetheart.

 

UPDATE: Jake was adopted and has started his new life with a loving, new family!

 

 

 

 

Why 'Kitten Season' is Much More Serious than It Sounds

At Animal Friends, each spring marks the beginning of what is known by many as ‘kitten season.’ And it’s not as fun as it sounds.

Between late spring and early fall, thousands of kittens are born in our region to stray and feral cats that are becoming active after a long winter. From April through August of 2015 alone, Animal Friends brought in 385 kittens.

With such an influx in cats in need of immediate help and a limited amount of space, volunteers and resources, kitten season can be a difficult time for any shelter.

The sudden spike in the cat population this spring means many residents will likely encounter a litter of kittens in a window well, in a bush or in a garden. When this happens, there are several important things to bear in mind.

Do not attempt to pick up or move a litter of kittens.
Mother cats can often leave their kittens alone for up to three or four hours while they are out finding food or searching for a new location. If you’ve been watching a group of kittens and are not sure if the mother is returning, try sprinkling baby powder in the area and looking for footprints. Kittens should never be taken away from their mother.

If you're certain a litter is abandoned, know what to do.
While the best-case scenario is always to bring a mother and her kittens to the shelter together, this is not always possible with stray litters. Keep in mind that kittens require a constant source of heat and must eat every two to four hours. They cannot drink dairy milk or water so it is always important to have a plan before taking in a litter of kittens. When in doubt, always contact a shelter to ask for instructions.

Once the kittens are in our care, the fight is just beginning.
Many stray kittens are often exposed to fleas, upper respiratory problems and countless other medical complications. With very fragile immune systems, kittens under four weeks old require 24-hour supervision and must receive deworming and flea treatments every two weeks. When they reach two pounds, they are spayed or neutered, helping to proactively decrease the number of stray and unwanted animals in the area. Once they reach a weight of 2-1/2 pounds and are given a clean bill of health, kittens are ready to be adopted.

The road to adoption for a stray kitten is certainly not an easy one and without aggressive spay/neuter programs combatting overpopulation, this journey will only become more difficult. By continuing to provide education and valuable resources to pet owners, Animal Friends is helping to end kitten season once and for all.

You can get involved with Animal Friends this June by sponsoring a spay/neuter, attending some cat-themed June events, or donating an item on Animal Friends’ Amazon Wish List. And remember, June is Adopt a Shelter Cat Month so stop by Animal Friends and you just might find the perfect furry friend!

A Message from our President & CEO

Dear Friends,

From the steadfast dedication of our staff and volunteers to the unwavering support from caring, generous people (like you!) it’s clear how deep the compassion runs at Animal Friends.

And, if we could run on compassion alone, Animal Friends would forever be without want or need. But, this is not the case … and is my reason for writing you today.

We have not yet maximized our 50-cents-on-the-dollar, up to $40,000, match for 31 Days of Compassion. We still need to raise approximately $10,000 to take full advantage of the challenge!

With that in mind, I am thrilled to announce that we are extending 31 Days of Compassion through Fri., June 10. In doing so, I know every dollar of this generous challenge will be successfully matched. But we can’t do it without you.

Please, click here to donate generously today.

In appreciation,

David J. Swisher
President & Chief Executive Officer
Animal Friends

Rygar

Before his first birthday, Rygar had suffered through more hardships than any dog should in a lifetime.
Rygar was one of seven puppies that came to Animal Friends after being confiscated by our Humane Investigations team. He, along with four of his littermates, was found to have parvovirus, a potentially life-threatening virus. At such a young age, Rygar was already being forced to fight for his life.
Thankfully, Rygar was treated and made a full recovery. He received all of his vaccinations, was neutered and became an Animal Friends’ summer camp puppy where he helped to show the young campers about the importance of responsible pet ownership. Rygar worked with the students to learn manners and basic commands while teaching them about the important relationship people can have with their pets. Educating the next generation about how to treat their pets is a vital part of allowing Animal Friends’ lifesaving mission to continue for years to come.
After summer camp, Rygar was quickly adopted. Buta few months later, he was back at Animal Friends. His family was moving and couldn’t take him.
As tiny Rygar grew, he developed an extremely painful condition which caused his kneecaps to roll inward. Rygar’s case was severe and affected both of his hind legs. We set up a consultation and scheduled the surgery that would rebuild his knees.

After a successful surgery, Rygar went into foster care. His road to recovery promised to be a long one, but with the help of his foster parents, Rygar was well on his way to leading a normal life.
Several weeks into his recovery we received a call from Rygar’s foster family … they had quickly fallen in love with him and his foster home became his new permanent home! We weren't surprised, but we weren't any less thrilled for the little guy.
Rygar’s miraculous story is one that shows in so many ways the amount of compassion that goes into what we do at Animal Friends. Over the past month for 31 Days of Compassion, we’ve enjoyed sharing stories that may have brought a tear to your eye, but have no doubt warmed your heart. These stories show what is possible with the love, dedication, determination (and of course, compassion!) of our staff, volunteers and supporters like you.
You can ensure that the next animal in need will receive the same compassionate care as Rygar. Donate now.