Animal Shelters Overrun With a Different Kind of Oil Spill Victim

Filed in archive Animals in Need on July 18, 2010

© daveparker

St. Bernard Animal Shelter in Violet, La. is overrun with oil spill victims. Probably not the ones you are expecting however.
Hundreds of pet owners are surrendering their dogs and cats to the shelter as things take a turn for the worse. With so many people losing their livelihood as a result of The Gulf oil spill, hundreds of pets are being dropped off at the shelter each month with no end in sight.

The pet parents are struggling so much that they can barely afford to feed themselves, let alone their faithful companions. Among the normal straggly strays you will find chihuahuas, full blooded labs, and fancy Persian cats. These dogs and cats have never suffered a day in their life before BP's failure.

St. Bernard is seeing more and more pets dropped off every day and the number is likely to increase. The shelter is already overbooked and running out of room. Just another sad story about the destruction in the Gulf of Mexico.

If you would like more information or you would like to help out in some way please contact the St. Bernard Animal Shelter or The Louisiana SPCA.

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Will Banning the Sale of Pets Cut Down on Animal Shelter Euthanasia?

Filed in archive Animal Shelters on July 18, 2010

© bossco

For years the San Francisco Animal Control and Welfare Commission has argued about different ways to reduce the number of pets that have ended up in their care. In fact in the 70's they managed to get a ban on baby chicken and bunny sales in local pet shops. This ban was put in place because their was a disproportionate amount of chick and bunny drop offs at the city shelter following Easter holidays each year. They are no considering taking the same measures once again.

The city shelter in San Francisco is the only shelter in the city that takes small animals. Right now they are finding that in addition to the influx of cats and dogs they are having brought in due to family financial issues they are also seeing more hamsters, mice, and rats.

The shelter argues that small animals are impulse buys. People buy them because they are tiny not realizing how much work they can really be. So maybe they shouldn't be allowed to buy them at all. This isn't to punish people but to save animals.

Some members of the commission are even arguing for a total ban on pet shop animals, even cats and dogs. The argument is that the cats and dogs often come from pet mills where they are brought up with illnesses and have been bred to behave badly.

So what do you think? Will banning the sale of pets improve the large number of pets that end up in shelters and then euthanized each year? Is this going too far?

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Things You Won’t Hear From Your Veterinarian

Filed in archive Animals in Need , Humane Societies For Animals on July 1, 2010

© Wonderlane
What do you need to know about taking care of your pet? It's not enough that you pay a yearly visit to the vet. They do help maintain health and well-being for your cat, dog and other pets, but there's so much more you can do.

Here are a few things your pet doctor won't tell you:

1. Your pet is overweight. About 40 percent of pets in the U.S. can lose some weight. Obesity in pets is a leading cause of health problems, including heart disease, diabetes and skin inflammation. Pet owners have websites that will guide them in knowing the presence or absence of body fat. Ideal body weights vary within breeds but there are general indicators of an overweight pet like not being able to feel their ribs, the presence of a pooch in the side of their abdomen and shortness of breath.

2. You can check with a vet before buying or adopting a pet. Owning a pet is a big decision. You should think about whether you are financially and emotionally capable of caring for a pet both in health and sickness. Consult with a vet and discuss your work schedule and family life to make sure you have enough time to care for a pet. You should also know that some breeds can have more medical problems than others.

3. It's important to monitor closely your pet's symptoms. Around seventy percent of the vet's diagnosis is based on getting a good history and getting the correct information out of pet owners. Vomiting and regurgitation are two different things. So are upper respiratory coughing and lung coughing. Make sure you take careful notes when you notice anything unusual in your pet.

4. Even indoor pets should wear a collar. All pets must have an ID collar. And if your pet likes roaming the neighborhood or wandering away, try having a microchip implanted for extra security.

5. It is usually better to have pets neutered. That gives cats 92 percent less chances of developing develop breast cancer. Think about the approximately 4 million dogs and cats that are euthanized each year simply because there are not enough homes for them, too.

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Shelter For Animals

Filed in archive Animal Shelters on June 21, 2010

© jon_a_ross
Animals are a gift to the society and it is our duty to protect them and provide them with all the help they need. Animal shelter is such a facility where homeless, lost or abandoned animals are kept. These shelters give the much needed care till they are adopted, taken back by their owners or put up in a new home. There are many types of shelters, like open door shelters, sanctuaries, no kill shelters etc. Sanctuaries are used mainly for wild animals which cannot be adopted. Animal shelters for dogs are known as dog pounds and dogs which are adopted from these shelters are known as shelter dogs or pound puppies.
There are various shelters like the ASPCA shelters, the Humane Society shelters which help in giving the animals a proper home. People, who like to take these animals home, get in touch with these shelters thus showing their love and kindness and gifting themselves a nice pet.

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Dozens of Volunteers Help With Abandoned Dogs at Florida Animal Shelter

Filed in archive Animals in Need on May 30, 2010

© AmazonCARES

A recent raid on a home that was reported for animal abuse led a Florida shelter to obtain 261 neglected dogs. In order to help shelter workers with the massive incoming of pets many volunteered. Since the seize took place over 70 volunteers have shown their support and providing financing. They have come out to clean and groom the dogs, help feed and treat them, among other things.

The pets were taken from a local home in Polk County Florida. The home had doubled as both an animal shelter and a residential abode. When authorities arrived dogs were living outside as well as inside every room of the house. I'd like to believe the owners had good intentions that went awry.

Officials in Polk County are amazed at the turn out of volunteers they have gotten to help care for the dogs. It just goes to show that there are still plenty of good people in the world. For more about this story read Polk Dog Abuse: Volunteer Today in Polk to Care for 261 Abused Dogs By Keith W. Kohn, Orlando Sentinel.

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