Give Your Pet Extra Protection in Cold Weather

If you think it’s much too cold outside, chances are that your dog does too.  Dogs were domesticated for different purposes and not all breeds are designed to endure the cold climate of the northeastern United States.

Northern breeds, such as Huskies, have longer hair and thicker skin and can tolerate colder temperatures.  Other breeds, such as toys and terriers, as well as older dogs, should remain inside when the temperature starts to drop.

If your dog was not bred for cold weather, don’t let it out for extended periods in the winter. Overexposure to the elements could lead to frostbite of the ears, toes and tail.  Dalmatians and other dogs with thin ears are particularly susceptible to frostbite.

Be sure to clean your dog’s pads as soon as you bring him inside after a walk on a snowy or icy day.  The rock salt used on sidewalks and roads can irritate your dog’s pads.  Avoid walks on icy sidewalks if possible. 

 Spilled antifreeze can also be a problem in the winter.  If you spill it, wipe it up promptly.  Anti-freeze smells and tastes good to dogs and cats, but even a small amount is fatal.  Non-toxic antifreeze is available at local stores, although in order to be completely safe, you must first flush the old antifreeze out of your radiator.  If you suspect that your pet has swallowed anti-freeze, call your veterinarian immediately.

Dogs are social pack animals and are happiest being with your family in your home.  If you choose to keep your dog outside, the law requires you to provide a clean outdoor shelter that protects from the wind and snow, preserves body heat and keeps the dog dry. 

The dog house must be weatherproof and the floor should be constructed of wood, not metal, and raised at least two inches off of the ground.  Dry bedding of plastic, wood chips or straw must be provided.  The bedding must be changed on a regular basis.  The house must be large enough for the dog to sit up or sleep in a stretched out position.

 Be sure that your dog has access to unfrozen water at all times.  Dehydration is just as possible in the winter as it is in the summer and snow is not a substitute for water.  Also, give your outdoor dog extra food to help maintain body heat during cold weather.

Photo courtesy of Shine4Him8: sxc.hu

Haiku Winner

Deck the Tannenbaum

by Carol K. Frank

Leaps, alights, swoops – whoops!

Slumped boughs swiped bare of baubles.

Catty-cornered fit.

This haiku is one of the honorable mention winners in the Women’s Humane Society’s haiku contest featured in our newsletter, The Guardian.

Meet Lacey

Several people told us what a nice cat Lacey is and they weren’t wrong! She is a very affectionate cat that likes nothing better than demonstrating just how much she enjoys a little human company. A lucky adopter can look forward to spending many happy years with two-year-old Lacey. If you would like to visit Lacey (tag number 4084), stop by the Society on Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m. – 4 p.m. or on Wednesday from 1 p.m. – 7 p.m. Visit our website for more details on adoptions.

Rabbits and Parakeets!

Precious

Precious is just one of 7 rabbits currently available at the Women’s Humane Society. She also shares the small animal room with 15 parakeets. (We also have yellow/green parakeets in addition to the parakeets shown here.)

If you would like to visit six-month-old Precious or the parakeets, stop by the Society on Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m. – 4 p.m. or on Wednesday from 1 p.m. – 7 p.m. We will be closed for adoptions from December 22 through December 28. Adoptions will resume on Tuesday, December 29. Visit our website for more details on adoptions.

Meet Cat 4684

This cute five-month-old cat is patiently awaiting a visit from his new person or family. If you would like to visit this cat (tag number 4684), stop by the Society on Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m. – 4 p.m. or on Wednesday from 1 p.m. – 7 p.m. Visit our website for more details on adoptions

Haiku

Untitled

by Sister Elizabeth A. Heller

He swishes his tail,

then looks lovingly at me.

Hairball coming up!

This haiku is one of the honorable mention winners in the Women’s Humane Society’s haiku contest featured in our newsletter, The Guardian.

Meet Bella

Bella, a one-year-old former stray, has been patiently waiting for a new home for several months now. Bella enjoys a good brushing and spending time with people. She has been known to visit the administrative offices to supervise work being done and enjoy the view from the window. If you would like to visit Bella (tag number 3597), stop by the Society on Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m. – 4 p.m. or on Wednesday from 1 p.m. – 7 p.m. Visit our website for more details on adoptions

Enjoy a Safe Holiday Season with Your Pets

The holiday season brings drastic changes to your pet’s familiar home. Twinkling lights, candles, garland, and even a live tree, suddenly appear in the living room – and that can mean t­rouble for curious pets that use their mouths to explore strange new additions to your home. Below are a few tips to keep the holidays happy for your pets.

*Make sure your Christmas tree is safely secured to the wall and floor.  Unstable trees can fall on top of your pet or child, causing serious injuries.

*If your pet absolutely will not leave your Christmas tree alone, consider getting a small table top tree instead of a large free-standing one.

*Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, and Christmas candles can be an enticing danger for pets and children.  Carefully supervise children and pets when candles are lit.

*If you suspect that your pet or child will be unable to resist touching tree ornaments, hang them high on the tree and pinch the wire hangers tightly around the branches.  Use short loops of securely tied ribbon in place of wire ornament hangers and unbreakable ornaments for increased safety. 

*Keep tinsel and garland out of your pet’s reach.  Both can cause problems if swallowed.

*Don’t add aspirin to the water in your Christmas tree base.  Drinking aspirin-laced water could kill your pet.

*Place electrical and extension cords out of your pet’s reach.  To discourage dangerous chewing, camouflage cords or slit a piece of PVC tubing and place the cords inside.  Old garden hoses slit length­wise can also be used to conceal cords, although they are not generally as strong and resistant to biting as PVC tubing.  A single bite of an extension cord can send 110 volts of electricity through your pet’s body and can result in death. 

*Don’t give your pet his own plate filled with your favorite holiday foods.  Unfamiliar food can wreak havoc on an animal’s digestive system.  Chocolate should never be given to dogs.  It contains a chemical called theobromine which can be toxic.  Call your veterinarian immediately if you suspect that your dog has ingested chocolate.

*Never give your pet hollow bones, such as turkey or chicken bones.  They break easily and can become lodged in your pet’s throat and can puncture the intestinal tract.

*Onions are another food that can make your pet very ill.  Onions cooked in food, as well as raw onions, can cause problems.

*A steady stream of noisy holiday visitors can be upsetting to animals.  Consider putting your pet in a separate room with food, water and a few toys when guests visit.  Your pet will appreciate the peace and quiet and everyone will have a happier holiday.

Photograph courtesy of ftibor: sxc.hu

Help Your Pets Enjoy a Safe Thanksgiving

It may seem cruel not to share your Thanksgiving Day meal with your pets, particularly if they’re eagerly waiting by your side as you eat, just hoping to catch a stray piece of food if it falls from your fork. While a few samples may not harm your pet, treating your pet to turkey, mashed potatoes, stuffing and the rest of your menu can result in upset stomachs and even more serious problems. Pets aren’t used to eating seasoned foods and may develop diarrhea or other gastrointestinal problems if you give them these foods. Other foods, such as onions and chocolate, can actually be toxic or even deadly to your pets.

 Keep in mind that an unattended trash can full of holiday meal remnants is very tempt­ing to your dog or cat.  Swallowing turkey bones can puncture your pet’s diges­tive tract, resulting in a serious and potentially fatal internal injury.  Discarded plastic wrap and string can strangle a pet.  If your pet swallows string, it can wrap around the intestines.  Should this happen, your pet will need immediate emergency surgery.

 To avoid problems, put everything you are throwing away in a sealed plastic bag before placing it in the trash can.  Take the trash outside as soon as possible to eliminate any trash can foraging by your pet while you are watching the football game.  

Photo courtesy of davidlat: sxc.hu

Food Needed

You may remember a few months ago that our food storage area was so full that we ran out of room to store food donations. Since then, the animals have been busy eating and now Brian, our kennel supervisor, has informed us that we can once again need unopened bags and cans of dog and cat food and cat litter.