pleas from the pound and other happenings - 4 luv of dog ...owner surrender coordinator for 4 luv of...
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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:
[email protected]/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 [email protected].
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