Pre-Holiday Events

Technically, the holiday season doesn’t start until next week. But there are several events to get you in the mood this weekend

If you’re in the mood to volunteer, the Suffolk Humane Society and the Norfolk SPCA could use your help. SHS needs volunteers to help with the cats at the Chesapeake Square PetsMart. For more info call Lee Murphy at 538-3030, option 2. They also need volunteers to walk, comfort, socialize, and play with the animals at Suffolk Animal Control. You have to be approved by SAC and the application form is on the SHS website at www.suffolkhumanesociety.com.

The Norfolk SPCA needs volunteers to help in the shelter on Thanksgiving Day. They’ll be closed for viewings and vaccinations but still need people to feed and care for the animals there. More info should be on their website at www.norfolkspca.com.

Suffolk Humane Society is celebrating National Shelter Appreciation Week by having an adoption event tomorrow, November 21st, at the Suffolk Animal Control shelter. The adoptathon will be from 10 to 3. The shelter is located at 124 Forest Glen Drive off of Holland Road near Forest Glen Middle School.

Portsmouth Humane Society has 3 events tomorrow. They’re hosting cat adoptions at the Hilltop PetsMart from 10 to 4 tomorrow. They’re also hosting pet adoptions at the Greenbrier PetsMart from 12 to 4. Then it’s time for chili! Cincinnati Chili Night will be held at the Portsmouth Women’s Club at 304 Sycamore Road in Portsmouth. A Cornhole Tournament starts at 5. Chili will be served from 6 to 9. Tickets are $8 in advance and $10 at the door. Kids under 10 are free. All proceeds benefit PHS. Call Shelly at 409-2663 for tickets.

Heritage Humane Society is hosting Pet a Pal at Victoria’s Restaurant tomorrow. Volunteers will have adoptable pets there from 9 to 1. They’re also having a Win a Cadillac Raffle. When you buy a raffle ticket, you get a $10 gift card to Victoria’s Restaurant. The restaurant is located at 5269 John Tyler Highway in Williamsburg.

The Peninsula SPCA will be walking dogs in the Coliseum Central Holiday Parade tomorrow. The parade route is on Hampton Roads Center Parkway. The parade runs from 9 to 11:30 in the morning.

Christopher Newport University is hosting Gone to the Dogs on Sunday. Shelter dogs from the Peninsula SPCA will be on the CNU campus for a day of socializing, baths, and training. CNU students are providing all the materials needed and will be working with the dogs to help them be as adoptable as possible. This event will be from 12 to 3:30.

Well, that’s it for this weekend. I’ll have some Turkey Day tips and more gift ideas for you next week.

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Generous Gifts

Can you believe that Thanksgiving is next Thursday? That means Christmas is just around the corner. I have a few generous gift ideas that you and a group of friends or coworkers could give to help pets.

You could sponsor a shelter animal. Contact any local shelter or rescue to see if they could use a sponsor. Dog Deserve Better has a sponsorship program for the holidays. You can sponsor a dog in a foster home by mailing a package or sponsoring online. You can buy things the foster needs for the dog like toys, treats, balls, collars, leashes, and beds. If you sponsor online, the money can go toward vet care and gift cards to pet supply stores. For more info, send an email to Nate at info@dogsdeservebetter.org. The Animal Aid Society also has a sponsorship program. For more info, go to www.animalaid-va.org.

You could help PETA provide doghouses for neglected backyard dogs who don’t have shelter from the weather. Each doghouse is $265 and filled with straw. Volunteers also provide treats, toys, and food or water bowls for the dogs. If you have the money you can pay for a whole doghouse. Or, you can get together with friends and coworkers and each pay $25 or so. It all adds up. Check out the Angel for Animals program at www.peta.org.

Don’t forget the Military Working Dogs. Dog handlers and their dogs could use your support. The Military Working Dog Team Support Association assists deployed, active duty, and retired working dogs and handlers, and supports the War Dog Memorial. Right now they’re gathering items from the wish list of active duty dog handlers and the Veterinary Corps. All donations are tax deductible. To see the wish list, go to www.mwdtsa.org.

You don’t have to do all this by yourself either. You can have a Pet Drive and collect items or gather monetary donations from friends, family, and coworkers. From what I’ve been told, all the donations are greatly appreciated. And, the donations allow the rescue or shelter to use available money for vet care and other needed services.

So, if you can, be generous this holiday season. I’ll have a post of simple gifts for Christmas later. And, tomorrow I’ll have all the weekend events for you.

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Good Deals For The Holidays

First, I want to thank Dr. Holland for being with us on Wednesday for the Pet Chat. She answered 42 questions about pet care in one hour. They were good questions too.

Sorry I couldn’t get my blog posted Friday. There were some computer problems. It aggravated me because there were a lot of adoption events and fundraisers for local shelters and rescues. But, I found a couple deals and some good information for you while I was trying to get logged in.

I found a good way to save you money on pet food and other things for your pets. Ask.com is a popular search engine. Now there is Ask Deals. You can find coupons, rebates, sales, and coupon codes for online and local shopping. Go to www.ask.com/deals?dealsPgType=home&o=10429&l=dir and type in your zip code and category you want. Not only can you find pet deals, you can find all kinds of deals. Give it a try. You can even find your local sale papers there.

Greenies has a coupon offer for Christmas. You can get a $1 coupon for Feline Greenies. And you can get a $2 coupon for Greenies canine chews in a 27 ounce tub. Go to www.greenies.com/en_US/ExclusiveOffers/?cs=1 to print out your coupon.

The FDA has issued a health alert about 2 kinds of pet treats possibly contaminated with Salmonella. The FDA hasn’t recalled them but advise that you not feed them to your dogs. PetsMart did recall them though and expanded their list to include 12 more items. Don’t give your dog pig ears packaged by Doggie Delights and Pet Carousel. And don’t give them beef hooves packaged by Choo Hooves, Dentley’s, Doggie Delights, and Pet Carousel. You shouldn’t even be handling them. No dogs have become sick so far. Let’s keep it that way. For more info, go to www.fda.gov/NewsEvents/Newsroom/PressAnnouncements/ucm189400.htm. For the PetsMart list, go to www.petproductnews.com/headlines/2010/11/10/petsmart-expands-recall-to-include-12-more-pet-carousel-products.aspx.

You know the 234th birthday of the Marines was celebrated last week. And you probably know that the Marine mascot is a bulldog. I have a lot of respect for people in the military. They have a hard job. I found a blog post about a day in the life of Lance Corporal Chesty XIII. He’s the official mascot of the Marine Barracks in Washington, D.C. You can read it at www.cocothebloggingdog.com/2009/11/lance-corporal-chesty-xiii-official.html.

I also found a way to support our troops by helping them bring home the pets they rescue while deployed. Operation Baghdad Pups has a website with a wish list of items they need to bring the dogs and cats back to the US. Check it out at www.spcai.org/baghdad-pups/helping-the-troops.html.

That’s it for today. I’ll have more info on Thursday if my computer cooperates.

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Pet Chat!

Yes, we’re having another Pet Chat with Dr. Lisa Holland!

Tomorrow, November 11th, Dr. Holland will be here to answer all your questions from 12:15 until 1:15. It’s a great way to spend your lunch hour.

Dr. Holland works with the Animal Medical Care Center in Yorktown. That’s the clinic I take Mac and Munch to. The vets and staff there are terrific. Anybody who can handle Mac has got to be good.

At our last Pet Chat, we had so many questions and only one hour. Dr. Holland couldn’t get to them all. They were great questions though. I‘m sure you have more questions considering all the pet food and pet medication recalls we’ve had recently.

So, get your questions ready and join us tomorrow at 12:15. We’re going to answer as many questions as we can in an hour. It should be great!

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Free Kittens And Puppies

I recently had someone ask me if I knew where they could get a free kitten. They didn’t want to pay a $100 adoption fee and thought the Pets for Seniors fee was too much, even though it cost less and the cat had already been spayed and vaccinated. This person insisted on getting a kitten. A free kitten at that.

I went through all her options and recommended that she check with rescues and other shelters. I even discussed the advantages of getting a cat from the Pets for Seniors program. It was like talking to a brick wall. She insisted that her vet would charge less than $100 for spaying, vaccinations, deworming, and an office visit. Of course, this person hasn’t had a kitten in over 20 years. I finally suggested that she call her vet and get a price list for everything a kitten needs. I wanted her to find out how much it really cost to have a kitten spayed, dewormed, and vaccinated. It was still like talking to a brick wall.

I was so frustrated that I emailed a friend who works with a cat rescue and vented a bit. I know volunteers in rescues and shelters hear all these excuses on a regular basis. My friend and I know that there is no such thing as a “free” kitten or puppy. You know that too. Between wellness checks, vaccinations, deworming, and spaying or neutering, a “free” kitten or puppy will cost around $500, possibly more. My vet wants at least $179 just for spaying a kitten or puppy. That doesn’t include anything else.

Personally, I think $100 adoption fee is a steal. Just knowing that your new best friend has already been vetted, is healthy, and is ready to go home with you is great. You don’t have to arrange a lot of visits to the vet or pay all the fees associated with it. Some shelters have their own vets who take care of everything before the pet gets adopted, or has it all done for a reduced price. A lot of rescues get a reduced price from their vets too. But they still have to pay the vet. That’s why they have fundraisers and raffles. Otherwise, all the money comes straight out of the volunteer’s pockets. Any adoption fee you pay just covers the vetting fees that have already been paid.

So, if you’re thinking of getting a puppy or kitten, I suggest you check with the local shelters and rescues. You can usually find what you’re looking for, any age, breed, or color. I do want to warn you about looking in the paper or on Craigslist. A lot of backyard breeders advertise there. They want to sell their kittens and puppies for the highest price they can get. On Craigslist, they call it a “rehoming fee” because you aren’t supposed to sell animals there. But it’s really the price they want to sell the puppies or kittens for. The next time their dog or cat is in season, they breed them again for more money. The backyard breeders and the big breeders do the same thing. They contribute to the overpopulation of pets to make money. And, about half of the puppies and kittens sold are later resold or eventually end up in a shelter or rescue.

If you get a puppy or kitten from an ad, they may have their first round of shots and be dewormed. But you have to finish the shots and get them spayed or neutered on top of paying a high price for the pet to begin with. Puppies need 3 distemper shots, a shot for parvo, a shot for rabies, and a shot to prevent kennel cough. If they have worms, it takes about 2 treatments to get rid of them. Then you have the heartworm test and preventative. Kittens need most of those shots too. And they need to be tested for Feline Leukemia and FIV in addition to heartworms.

There really isn’t any such thing as a “free” kitten or puppy. Since you’re going to pay for it one way or another, why not get one from a shelter or rescue. You know your money goes to a good cause, you aren’t lining someone’s pockets, and you aren’t contributing to the pet overpopulation problem. And, you know your new best friend is healthy and ready to go home with you.

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FDA Warning

Do you want the good news first or the bad news first? I think we’ll start with the bad news.

The FDA has issued warning for people who are treating diabetic dogs with Vetsulin. They found out that Vetsulin has varying amounts of crystalline zinc insulin and is unstable. That means your dog could be getting too much or too little insulin with each dose. The FDA recommends that you use another insulin product until Vetsulin is proven to be stable. You can get more info on this at www.fda.gov/AnimalVeterinary/newsEvents/CVMUpdates/ucm188752.htm.

Now for the good news. I found a cute poem for all you pittie lovers. You can read it at http://fortheloveofthedogblog.com/article/dog-writing-poetry/top-10-reasons-you-cant-trust-a-vicious-pitbull.

Care2 is having a helter contest were you can vote for your favorite shelter. The prize is $10,000 for the shelter and the contest ends December 16th. You can vote at www.care2.com/go/z/e/AFrtz/zJZA/AqkQb.

There are a lot of events going on this weekend. The biggest one is Woofstock. Woofstock is a free pet friendly adoption event for Virginia Beach Animal Control. They’re gong to have low cost rabies vaccinations, contests, demonstrations by the Virginia Beach K-9 and Mounted Police teams, a pet fashion show, pet vendors, rescue booths, and dog and cat licenses. Woofstock is happening on Saturday, November 7, from 10 to 4 at Redwing Park.

Somebuddies Inc. cat rescue will be at Petco in Williamsburg on Mooretown Road. They’ll be there tonight from 5:30 to 7:30 and tomorrow from 1 to 4.

The Cat Corner is having a Holiday Bazaar and Yard Sale tomorrow from 10 to 3. They’re going to have holiday decorations, baked goods, and all kinds of bargains. It’s a good way to help raise money for all the cats. The Cat Corner is at 85 Fulton Street in the Phoebus section of Hampton.

Heritage Humane Society is having their Fall Festival tomorrow at Godspeed Animal Care Clinic in Williamsburg from 1 to 5. They’ll have face painting, door prizes, a cake walk, and lots of adorable animals looking for a new home. Godspeed Animal Care is located at 102 Tewning Road.

The Great Dane Rescue of the Commonwealth is having their Fur-Ever Home for the Holidays adoption event tomorrow. They’ll be at Petco in the Janaf Shopping Center in Norfolk from 1 to 4.

Portsmouth Humane Society is having a cat adoption tomorrow at the Hilltop PetsMart. Both PHS and Virginia Beach Animal Control will have adoptable cats there from 10 to 4. The cats are already spayed or neutered, vaccinated, and ready for a new home.

Portsmouth Humane Society will also have adoptable pets at the Chesapeake Square PetsMart. They’ll be there from 12 to 4.

Now for the surprise I hinted about yesterday. We’re going to have another pet chat with Dr. Holland next week. Next Wednesday, November 11th, we’ll be chatting with Dr. Holland from 12:15 to 1:15. Get your questions ready and join us. It should be a lot of fun.

Well, that’s it for this week. I’ll be back Monday with some new info for you.

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H1N1 And Pets

I was going to tell you about a few things that aggravated me this past weekend. But, I have something much more important to tell you about.

All the vet reports I have read in the past said that pets probably couldn’t get the H1N1 flu virus. That has changed. A cat in Iowa was recently diagnosed with the H1N1 virus. The cat has recovered. The virus was spread from a sick family member to the cat. The vet said that it didn’t appear that the cat passed the virus on to other animals or people.

So far the virus has been found in humans, pigs, birds, and ferrets all over the world. It has also been reported in turkeys in Chile and Canada. The virus has been spread from humans to the animals. The American Veterinary Medical Association is keeping track of all the cases reported in animals. They suggest that you keep an eye on your pets and take them to the vet at the first sign of illness. The AVMA is also posting updates on their website at www.avma.org/public_health/influenza/new_virus.

To help keep your pet healthy, vets recommend that you wash your hands before and after petting or playing with your pet. They also recommend that you keep your pet away from sick family members and other sick pets. It helps to always cover your mouth when you cough or sneeze. If you are sick, go to the doctor. If your pet seems to be sick, take it to the vet right away.

Now if that’s not enough to worry about, there has been another recall of Wysong dog food because it is contaminated with mold. Wysong Maintenance with lot numbers 090706 and 090817 is recalled. Wysong Senior with the lot number 090811 and Wysong Synorgon with lot number 090629 are also recalled. If you have these, return them to the store right away.

It’s hard enough for us to get the vaccine for the H1N1 flu. Now you need to watch for it in your pets. I don’t know if they are working on a vaccine for pets yet. There are vaccines for the Canine flu though. Using good hygiene practices will help keep you and your pet from getting the H1N1 flu.

Tomorrow, I’ll have all the weekend events for you and a surprise too.

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Adopt A Senior Dog Month

November is known for its holidays. Thanksgiving is the most obvious holiday but, there are several dog and pet related holidays too. November is Adopt a Senior Dog Month. And, the first week in November is National Animal Shelter Appreciation Week.

So, for all the rescue and shelter volunteers, I and my crew want to say “Thank You.” You do so much to help the homeless pets find new homes and comfort those who have been abused, neglected, and abandoned. There are ways you can show support for the local shelters and rescues too. You can donate something from their wish list. Almost all shelters and rescues have a wish list on their website. Or, you can send them a gift card to a pet supply store, office supply store, or feed store. You can also donate gently used pet items. Sponsor a spay or neuter surgery for a dog or cat. Volunteer your time at the shelter or rescue. Adopt or foster a pet that needs a home until the right one comes along. Donate a Kuranda dog bed so the dogs won’t have to sleep on a cold concrete floor. You can find more info about the donation program at www.kuranda.com/shop/donate.asp. And, always keep a collar and I.D. tag on your pet. Even if you microchip your pet, whoever finds it may not be able to scan the chip. Having a collar and tag will help them know how to contact you.

If you want to adopt or foster a pet, consider getting a senior dog or cat. So many people want a puppy or kitten but senior pets will give you love and companionship without the hassles of having a younger animal. Usually they are spayed or neutered, they have been potty trained, are finished with the chewing and teething stage, are a little less energetic, and most of them know basic commands. Sometimes a senor pet will have medical problems, but most are fine and healthy. Munchkin is almost 15 and most days she can keep up with Macabee. She keeps him in line too. Senior pets can fit into your life with little trouble and won’t drive you crazy like a youngster would.

I found a couple more things you might be interested in. If you’re going out of town for a few days and want to hire a petsitter, there is a Pet Care Instruction page you can print out. You fill out all the info about food, medicines, walks, playtime, favorite toys, hiding places, contact info, and what to do in an emergency. Then you put it on the fridge for the petsitter. You can get this at www.somebuddiesinc.com.

The Cat Corner is having a Holiday Bazaar Fundraiser this Saturday. You can drop off items tomorrow from 10 to 3 and Friday from 9 to 12. If you donate an item to The Cat Corner, you can shop early on Friday from 1 to 3. They’re looking for slightly used items, holiday decorations, baked goods, and other items to sell to raise funds to care for the cats. The Cat Corner is at 85 Fulton Street in the Phoebus area of Hampton.

Do you knit, crochet, or weave? Ever consider using your dog’s fur as yarn? It sounds a bit strange to me but a lot of people do it. I found a person who pins yarn from your dog’s fur. You send in a bag full of shed hair and she’ll send you a skein of yarn. Or, you can order an item that she will make from the dog yarn. You can check it out at www.designerdogyarn.com.

That’s it for today. Tomorrow I’ll tell you about a couple things that aggravated me over the weekend. Nothing serious but it’s about being a good pet neighbor.

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Happy Howloween!

I know Halloween is tomorrow and it’s a lot of fun for kids. But, you can make it a howling fun time for your dogs too.

Maybe you’re going to dress up your doggie kids and go trick or treating. Remember to make you and your dog visible to cars. Use reflective leashes and collars. If you don’t have any, put some reflective tape on the leashes and collars you do have. You can use a flashing tag on the collar too. You can also tie a glow stick or two to the collar and leash. Wear one yourself too so you can be seen. You don’t want to be the Invisible Dog Walker.

You could also have a Halloween party for your dog and all your doggie friends. You could host a party to raise money for a local shelter or rescue. Or, you could collect food or supplies that rescues and shelters need. Use invitations and party ware with bones, paws, or pumpkins on them. Have prizes for the best pet/human duo, weirdest, spookiest, or most original costume. Have pet friendly decorations – no open flames. It would be great to have the party outside in a fenced in yard. If it’s inside, keep the guest list small. Make sure you have plenty of full water bowls and pet treats. Don’t forget food for the humans. You can have activities like a Haunted Agility Maze, bobbing for hot dogs or tennis balls, a scavenger hunt, or a timed retrieving race. Don’t forget to take pictures of everyone. And, have prizes and goody bags for everyone too.

I was looking up some remedies for ear mites in cats last night and came across something really cute. It’s a list of reasons cats should adopt a human. Check it out at www.dr-dan.com/earmites.htm. It’s the second post on the page.

There’s only one event this weekend. Bennetts Creek Home Away From Home Pet Boarding is having a Holiday Open House on Sunday from 12 to 3. There’s going to be refreshments, facility tours, and drawings for prizes. They will also be taking pet pictures with Santa. Proceeds from the pictures benefit the Suffolk Humane Society. For more info, go to www.bchomeawayfromhome.com.

Virginia Commonwealth Bank is still having their Annual Pet Drive until November 16th. They’re collecting dog and cat food, kitty litter, and other items for pets. All the donations will be given to Suffolk Humane Society. For more information, call Debi Brooks at 925-1466. You can drop off your donations at 1703 North Main Street in Suffolk.

That’s it for this week. Have fun and be safe tomorrow. By the way, we’re planning another pet chat soon. I’ll have more info for you next week.

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Halloween Safety Tips

Well, Halloween is 2 days away. I know you can’t wait to dress up your furry kid for all the Trick or Treating. Watch out for chocolate and things with the artificial sweetener Xyltol. They can turn Halloween into a nightmare for you and your dog. I have more safety tips for you so you can have fun and not frights on Halloween night.

Don’t keep your dog outside on Halloween night. Bring him inside with you. There are too many mean spirited people out there who want to harm any innocent unprotected being they can find. Keep your cats indoors too. Besides there being mean spirited people out there, there will be plenty of costumed strangers, both small and big. And your dog may think he has to protect you from all those strangers.

If your dog is overly friendly or afraid of strangers, keep him in a room away from the front door. He could bolt out the door or become aggressive with so many strangers and loud noises. He’ll be safer in a separate room.

Do what you normally do. If you give your dog too much attention when he seems worried, it makes him think that he has something to worry about. Just like in a thunderstorm, praise him when he’s calm.

Let your dog get use to seeing you and your family in costumes. Let him smell it and check it out. Keep the masks off though. Masks can confuse your dog because they can’t see your face behind a mask. If you’re going to dress your dog in a costume, get him use to it first. Some dogs like the extra attention they get when they’re in a costume. Other dogs don’t like wearing a costume at all. Make sure your dog’s costume is not constrictive in any way. It should not cover the eyes or ears or be too long either.

Make sure your dog has an I.D. tag on his collar with your name, address, and phone number. If you’re taking him out trick or treating with you, use a short leash and some reflective tape on the leash and collar. Or, use a flashing tag on the collar so drivers can see you and your dog.

Keep your dog away from candy. You know about the dangers of chocolate and xylitol. But a dog who wants candy will gobble it down wrappers and all. That can cause problems that only a vet can solve.

Keep your dog away from candles and lit pumpkins. The swish of a tail can start a fire or burn your pet. Don’t go up to doors and stay clear of groups of children. Your dog can get scared and bite if someone jumps out at him. And don’t let kids in costume approach your dog without your consent. He may be frightened by the costume and mask.

Have fun and be safe. Your dog is like a small furry kid who gets excited and doesn’t really understand Halloween. You have to keep an eye on him and keep him safe.

It would be really nice if you have some treats for the pets when they come with their kids. Why should the kids get all the treats anyway? Have some dog biscuits handy or make a batch of homemade treats to give the dogs. I think I’m going to make pumpkin wafers. The recipe is real easy. Mix a 15 ounce can of plain mashed pumpkin with ¾ of a cup of cream of wheat or rice cereal, and ½ a cup of dry powdered milk. Drop by small spoonfuls on a lightly greased cookie sheet. Bake at 300 degrees for 15 to 20 minutes. I told you it was easy.

Some of these tips came from Bark Busters USA. You can checkout their website at www.barkbusters.com. Have fun and be safe! I’ll have weekend events and party tips tomorrow.

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