pleas from the pound and other happenings - 4 luv of dog ...owner surrender coordinator for 4 luv of...

The Daily Bark: Pleas From the Pound and Other Happenings Volume4,Issue1,January23,2012

Spay/Neuter: Help Reduce Animal OverpopulationByMeredithHolt

InsideSpay/Neuter 1 ContactInfo 4 2011Numbers 1 SilentAuction 4BoardingBunch 2 DearMissMolly 5DentalCare 3 UpcomingEvents 5

Eachyear,6millionto8millionhomelessanimalsentersheltersacrosstheU.S.,accordingtoHumaneSocietyoftheUnitedStatesestimates.Abouthalfareadopted,andtheotherhalf,sadly,areeuthanized.

Themosteffectivesolutiontothenationwidepetoverpopula-tionproblemisspaying/neutering,whichisanimportantpartof4LuvofDogRescue’smissionandincludedintheadoptioncontract.

Adoptionfeesare$150foradogthathasbeenspayed/neutered.Otherwise,thefeeis$100plusa$50deposittobereturnedtotheadopteronceproofthatthedoghasbeenspayed/neuteredisreceived.

Anyunaltereddogadoptedfromtherescuemustbespayedor

neuteredwithinonemonthafteradoptionorwhenageappropriate.“Wedofollowuponthisandwillreclaimadogifitisnotspayedorneuteredintheappropriateamountoftime,”saysKishHilmert,4LuvofDogRescuepresident.

Further,therescuewillnotplaceadoginahomethatalsohousesanunaltereddog,unlessthereisavalidmedicalreasonnottoperformthesurgery.Applicantsmayclaimtheirunaltereddogneverleavestheiryard,butaccidentsdohappen.

“Wedothisbecausewewanttohelpreducetheanimaloverpopulationprobleminthiscountryandwedonotsupportthebreedingofdogs,”Hilmertsays.“Wewanttoensurethatweareadoptingtohomesthatalsowanttohelpreducetheanimaloverpopulationproblem.”

2011 By the NumbersDogssurrenderedtotherescuebytheirowners:69(25%)Dogsrescuedfromlocalandregionalpounds:206(75%)TOTALRESCUED:275Numberofownersurrenderdogsadopted:67(27%)Numberofpounddogsadopted:183(73%)TOTALADOPTED:250

Dogsthathaven’tbeenfixedfacegreaterhealthrisks.Maledogshaveagreaterriskofprostateissuesandtesticularcancer,andfemaledogscandevelopcancerousmammarytumorsandlife-threaten-inguterineinfections,sheexplains.

“Sadly,asavettech,Ihaveseenallofthisinunaltereddogs,”Hilmertsays.“Itissosadtoseeadogdiefromanillnessthatcouldhavebeeneasilypreventediftheirown-ershadchosentospayorneuterthemearlieroninlife.”

Spaying/neuteringhelpspreventbehavioralproblems,too.Dogsthathaven’tbeenfixedmay“spray,”ormarktheirterritorywithstrong-smellingurine.They’realsomorelikelytodisplaysignsofaggression.

Note:Formoreinformationontheimportanceofspaying/neutering,seeDearMissMollyonpage5.

More than 910 dogs have been adopted to date!

Page2 TheDailyBark:Volume4,Issue1,January23,2012

TodonateusingPayPal,pleasevisitourwebsiteandlookforthisgraphic.ItislinkedtoourPayPalaccountsoallyouhavetodoisclick!www.4luvofdog.org

4LuvofDogRescuehasnoshel-ter.Mostofitsdogslivewithfosterfamilies.Butwhatiftherearen’tenoughfosterhomesforallthedogs?

Usuallytherescuehasatleastthreedogslivinginlocalboardingfa-cilitieswhiletheywaitforafosterhometoopenup.Belowaresomewaystohelpthesegreatdogs!

How can you help?Financialdonationsarealwaysac-ceptedtooffsetthecostofboardingtherescuedogs.

Tomakeadonation,visit4LuvofDog.organdclickthe“Donate”buttonintheupperleft-handcor-ner.

TheBoardingBunchByLindsayStordahl

Exercising, socialization and playAmandaSteinerisavolunteerwiththerescueandspendstimeexercis-ing,socializingandtrainingthedogsinboarding.

“Iusuallytakethedogsoutforanhourwalk,sometimesrollerblad-ing,”shesaid.“Itaketimetoletthedogsplaywithtoysandtimeforworkingonbasiccommandssuchassitanddownwithtreats.”

Shesaidoneofthebestwaysvol-unteerscanhelpisjustbyspendingtimewiththedogs.Regularexerciseandsocializationarethekeystohavinghappy,healthydogs.

“Therescueneedsasmanyvolun-teersaswecangettoprovidethisforthedogsonaregularbasis,”Steinersaid.

Oncesomeonehasbeenvolunteer-ingorawhile,heorshecantakeadogforacoupleofhoursfora“date,”saidJamieFloan,managerofoneoftheboardingfacilitiesandownersurrendercoordinatorfor4LuvofDogRescue.Thesedatescouldbeanythingsuchasvisitingadog-friendlystoreorjustacarride.

Moreinformationonhowtobe-comeavolunteerisavailableat4LuvofDog.orgunderthe“HowtoHelp”tab.

Take a dog to an adoption event

Eachdogneedsahandlerattheseevents.

TrainingVolunteerscantakedogstotrainingclassesiftherescuehasonegoingon,saidStacieFolmer,adop-tioncoordinatorandassistantfosterhomecoordinatorfortherescue.

Become a foster home! Or better yet, adopt!It’simportanttogetthesedogsintofosterhomessotherescueknowshowtheyactinahome,Floansaid.Mostdogsactcompletelydifferentoncesettleddowninahomethantheydoinboarding.

“Justbecauseadogisinboardinginsteadofafosterhomedoesn’tmeanthatdogislessadoptablethananotherdog,”Folmersaid.“Itjustmeanswedidn’thaveafosterhomeforhimorher.”

Nowlet’smeettwoofthedogsinboarding!

Asmoredogscomeandgofromtherescueeachday,theactualdogsstayinginboardingfacilitiesisalwayschanging.Toseewhichdogscurrentlyneedfosterhomes,visit4LuvofDog.organdclick“Fosterhomeneeded”under“Availabledogs.”

Meet Pixie!Pixieisapitbull-typedog.Shewoulddobestwithafosterownerwhoispatientandabletoworkwithher,Steinersaid.“Wherever Continued on page 5

Pixie

“Regular exercise and socialization

are the keys to having happy, healthy dogs.”

TheDailyBark:Volume4,Issue1,January23,2012 Page3

“Grandmother, What big teeth you have,” said Little Red Rid-ing Hood, her voice quivering slightly.”The better to eat you with, my dear,” roared the wolf.

Regardlessofwhatyourpeteats,healthyteethareimportantforoverallgoodhealth.Unfortunately,80percentofdogsand70percentofcatshavesignsoforaldiseasebyage3,accordingtotheAmeri-canVeterinaryDentalSociety.“Brushingyourpet’steethisveryimportant.Petsagesevenyearstoouroneyear,sonotbrushingyourpet’steethforoneyearislikenotbrushingthemforsevenyears,”explainedKishHilmert,veterinarytechnicianatCasseltonAnimalServiceandfounderof4LuvofDogRescue.

Bacteriacombinedwithsalivaandfoodparticlesbetweentheteethandgumscancauseplaqueac-cumulationsontheteeth.Bacteriagrowsintheplaque,andascalciumsaltsaredeposited,plaqueturnstotarter.Withoutproperdentalcare,plaqueandtarterbuildupleadstogumdisease.Symptomsofgumdiseaseincludeyellowandbrownbuildupalongthegumlineandpersistentbadbreath.Brokenteetharealsoacommonproblemespe-ciallyamongoutdoordogswhochewhardobjectslikecowhooves.

“Dogandcats’teetharegradedonadentalscaleofzeroto4,zerobeingperfectand4beingamouthfilledwithgingivitis,possibleboneloss,alargeamountofbacteriaandtartarbuildup.Havingamouth

GoodDentalCareaMustforYourPetByBethBradley

graded3-4canbeaspainfultoapetashavingabrokenbone,”Hilmertsaid.

“Itisimportantthatpeoplegettheirpets’teethprofessionallycleanedwhentheirdentalgradeisatalevel1-2.Iftheydothisandkeepgettingannualcleanings,theirpetshouldhaveahealthymouthandnevergettoalevel3or4,”Hilmertsaid.“Ifananimalhasalevel3-4mouth,theywillmostlikelyhaveteethpulled.Teethatthisleveloftenaredecayingunderthegumlineandcancauseboneloss,painfulgumrecessionandmanyotherhealthissues.”

Whenananimal’steethareig-nored,theycandevelopperiodon-taldiseasejustlikepeople.Symp-tomsincludered,swollen,tender,recedinggums,bleeding,painandbadbreath.Periodontitiscanresultintoothloss.Theinflammationandinfectionassociatedwithperiodon-taldiseasemaydamageorgansliketheheart,liverandkidneys,orleadtootherserioushealthprob-lems.Petownersshouldlookforsignssuchaschangesineatingandchewinghabits,pawingatthefaceormouthanddepression.

Therescuetakesinalotofseniordogsthatareindesperateneedofdentalcare.“BrieandMickeybothhadsevereproblemsinthe3-4category,”Hilmertsaid.“Theybothhadsomuchdentaldisease;theyhadthemajorityoftheirteethpulled.Theirdentaltreatmentstookmorethanfourhourseachandcostmorethan$700dollars.Their

adoptionfeeswouldnevercoverthecost,buttherescueknowshowimportantdentalcareisforadog’soverallhealthandwellbeing.”

“Mickey’sownerwasgoingtoeuthanizehimbecauseshecouldnotaffordhisdentalcare,amongotherthings.Hehassincebeenadoptedintoawonderfulhomeandisdoingawesome.Briehasalsobeenadoptedintoalovinghome.Shewasaseniordogwhowasnotreclaimedatalocalpound.Shehadmultiplehealthissuesthathadtobeaddressedpriortogettingherden-talworkdone,”Kishsaid.“Iamproudourrescuedoessomuchtomakesurethedogsinourcaregetthemedicalattentiontheyneed.”

Mickey, before

Mickey, after

Page4 TheDailyBark:Volume4,Issue1,January23,2012

Contact Information 4LuvofDogRescuec/oNaturalPetCenter303713thAve.S.Fargo,ND58103

Phone:(701)205-0190

Pleaseunderstandthatourphoneismonitoredbyvolunteers.Ifnooneanswers,leaveusamessagethatincludes:

•Yourname•Phonenumber•E-mailaddress•Whyyouarecalling•Thebesttimetoreachyou

Wewillmakeeveryattempttorespondtoyourinquirywithin48hours.Ourpreferredmethodofcontactise-mail.E-mailusat:

info@4luvofdog.org-generalquestions

foster@4luvofdog.org-informationonfostering

volunteer@4luvofdog.org-tofindouthowyoucanhelp

donate@4luvofdog.org-informationondonationsofmoneyand/orsupplies.

Becoming a foster home is one of the most important things you can do to help our organization. Please consider becoming a foster today!

Applyonlineat:www.4luvofdog.org

Tear-off reply form for contributions via mail: Fillinyournameanddonationamount.----------------------------------------------------------------------------I,_____________________________wouldliketocontributeto4LuvofDogRescue.

$5_____$10_____$25_____$50_____$100_____$250___Otheramount$_____

Pleaseremitto:4LuvofDogRescuec/oNaturalPetCenter303713thAve.S.Fargo,ND58103

orremitdonationviaPayPallinkatwww.4luvofdog.org

Date:November4,2011Attendees:650Volunteers:35Itemsupforbid:715Sponsors:250Totalraised:$28,000*All numbers approximate

3rd Annual Silent Auction & Gala

4 Luv of Dog Rescue’s board mem-bers enjoy an evening that took a lot of preparation, but was well worth it.

The chocolate fountain was a hit.

Donated items lined many tables.

Q:Often,Iamasked“Whydoes4LuvofDogRescuerequireresi-dentdog(s)tobesterilizedbeforewecanadoptfrom4LuvofDogRescue?and“Whydoyourequirethattheadopteddogbesterilizedperadoptioncontract?”

A:Toanswerthesequestions,wehavetolookatwhytherearethou-sandsofrescues.Thisisbecauseofdogsthatareunsterilized,forvariousreasons...mostusuallynotagoodreason.Wecandiscussthispartsomeotherpottybreak(wellya’knowIgottadomybusiness!)...Anyway,becauseofoverbreed-ing,therearesomanyofus(andwealldeserveluv!)thatwhenweare“thrownaway,”(andyes,Ihatethattermandthefactthatwehavetouseit!WOOFWOOF,sorry,Iwasupset.)weendupstarvinginthestreets/alleys,torturedorcaughtandsenttopoundwherewehopethatsomeonehasmoneytopullus,haveusvettedandhasaplace

Dear Miss Molly ...

forustolayourwearybodies.Theonlythoughtthatkeepssomedogsgoingisthehopethatwemightfindsomeonetolove,loveusandtakeushomeforever,nolie!Sothatiswhyrescuessuchasthisrequireresidentdogstohavebeenspayed/neuteredandwhywe,thedogstobeadopted,alsoneedtobespayed/neutered.Let’sstopthecycle!WOOF!

Have a question for Dear Miss Molly? Please e-mail dearmissmolly@4luvofdog.org.

TheDailyBark:Volume4,Issue1,January23,2012 Page5

Continued from page 2

shecamefromdidn’tspendmuchtimewithher,soshe’slearn-ingasshegoes.”

Pixieisonesmartand

happygirl,Steinersaid.Andshehasaspecialrequestfor

afosterhomewitha“ChuckIt”andtennisballs!

Meet Pete!Peteislikelyablacklab/pitbullmix.“Heisaverylovingdogandthrivesonhumanattention,”Floansaid.ShebelievesPeteneedsaquiet,nurturingfosterhometoshowhimtheoutsideworldisnotscary.

“Hepreviouslywasinashelterforsixtosevenmonthssohe‘grewup’inakennelenvironment,andthat’swherehefeelsmostcomfortable,”Floansaid.

Lindsay Stordahl writes the blog ThatMutt.com and is the owner of Run That Mutt dog running and pet sitting.

Pete

Upcoming “Meet the Dogs” EventsSaturday January 28, 1-3 p.m., at West Fargo PetSmart

Saturday and Sunday, February 11 and 12, 1-3 p.m., PetSmart Charities National Adoption Weekend

Saturday, February 25, 1-3 p.m. at West Fargo PetSmart

Saturday, March 10, 1-3 p.m. at West Fargo PetSmart

Saturday, March 24, 1-3 p.m. at West Fargo PetSmart