Working Together!

As of late, I have had several people ask me if I could take their dog or puppies, and find them homes. Unfortunately, I am not able to offer this service. What people need to know is that I am technically a pound, not a shelter. So what is the difference?

Well, a shelter generally survives on donations and grants. Most often, they are no-kill, which means they do not euthanize their animals. They keep them until they find homes for them. This is not always the case, but most often they have the ability to keep animals for a longer period of time than I do. They are also often afilliated with people who will provide foster homes for animals until a more permanent placement can be found. The larger shelters often have their own veterinarian either on premises, or on call, which means that the animals you might get from them will have already been spayed or neutered, and be up to date on their shots. Many shelters will also micro-chip their animals prior to adoption, and they charge a larger adoption fee. Often shelters will require you to go through a home check prior to adoption, and they will require you fill out an application. And they usually have a much larger animal capacity than I do.

Pounds, like mine, are generally controlled by a City or County government. This means we usually have a limited budget, and for this reason, are unable to provide many of the services a shelter might be able to provide, like spaying or neutering prior to adoption. We usually have a smaller animal capacity than a shelter, and since we are regulated by our respective City or County governmental bodies, we will have limits on how long we may keep an animal before we are forced to euthanize them.

The other main difference, is that a shelter will welcome animals from private citizens unable to care for or keep their pets...often for a donation of some kind. The Kansas Humane Society in Wichita is a good example of this. City or County pounds, more often than not, can only take in the animals they catch running loose...and as I just mentioned, then only keep them for a short period of time. Since our space is usually very limited ( I only have 12 cages ) we are forced to move our animals in and out much faster...one way or the other.

While I do make every effort to find homes for every dog & cat coming through our pound, the sad truth is, there are too many animals for the number of potential homes available! Somewhere between 4-5 million dogs are euthanized every year in this country. So try as I might, the truth is I just can't save them all. No one can!

But you can help! How? By having your dog or cat spayed or neutered for starters! While it is true that you can find pure-breds in many shelters, they are far out numbered by the mixed breeds. And I think we all know how the breeds get mixed! The other way you can help is by working with your local pound or shelter. Be a volunteer! This doesn't mean you have to clean out the dirty cages, although I'm sure that would be much appreciated! No, what many...most...of the dogs I have need, is love & attention! They need socialization, training, and someone to just sit & pet them for a while, or maybe take them for a walk outside!

And finally, in my case, work with me to find a home for your pet, instead of dumping them out in the country, or just turning them loose and hope I will find them! While I may not be able to take your dog right away, in many cases, I might be able to help find a suitable foster home or animal rescue that can! It may take a little longer, but if you ever truly loved & cared for your pet...then surely you would think it worth the wait.

I'm willing to bet your pet would think so!

Winterize Your Pets!

As I am writing this, the wind is howling outside my door, and the temperature is about 10 below zero with windchill factored in. If it is too cold for you...then most likely, it is too cold for your pets as well!

So which dogs handle cold better? Labrador Retrievers, Golden Retrievers, German Shepherds, Huskies and American Eskimo's are all breeds that handle cold weather very well. That doesn't mean that in extreme temperatures like we are having now, they won't need a little extra help...like hay in their dog houses for example. Breeds that don't do well in weather like we are having now are Boxers, Chihuahuas, Miniature Pinschers, Smooth Coated Rat Terriers, Pitt Bulls, and several other breeds that have smooth coats. They will definitely need more protection than just hay...such as sweaters or coats. The best thing you can do for these breeds is to bring them inside during frigid weather! In temperatures like we are having now, they won't last long outside, even with a sweater! Like I said, if it's too cold for you, even with a sweater, it's too cold for many of these dogs too!

One other thing to remeber is those chemicals you use to treat ice. Salt, and other types of ice melt can have adverse effects on your pets if they lick their paws after they have walked through them. You can combat this by having them wear dog booties, or be sure to wipe their paws down with a cloth after they come inside.

If your pet resides indoors, protect the animals feet when you take him outside in sub zero weather. He is not accustomed to the freezing ground. You can provide them with shoes or spray PAM on their feet. The PAM seals their feet, locks out the cold and prevents their feet from cracking.

If your is an outdoor pet, ensure your animal has a continuous supply of fresh water and an adequate, daily food supply. Placing the water inside an enclosed area will prevent it from freezing. A light bulb placed near the bowl will also help to prevent the water from freezing. Avoid metal bowls, which freeze faster than plastic bowls. And remember, dogs will need more food than normal in extremely cold weather to help keep their metabolic rate up and enable them to stay warmer.

Finally, here are a few tips regarding appropriate bedding for your outside dogs:

Thick Pad with Cedar Chips or Shredded Newspaper:
One form of winter bedding dog owners may choose is a thick pad, with a washable cover, containing cedar chips or shredded newspaper, Cedar chips can irritate a dog's skin and may cause an allergic reaction in some animals. If a dog frequently chews on items, this type of bedding may not be a good option because of the danger of chips or paper ingestion.

Blanket or Quilt:
Many dog owners may utilize a blanket or a quilt as winter bedding for their dog. Dog owners must ensure the blanket or quilt does not get wet with water or ice. A wet blanket or quilt may retain water making a dog colder. Specialty stores now sell heated dog blankets.

Straw or Hay:Straw or hay provides a good bedding option for dogs as it allows moisture to evaporate and both are relatively inexpensive. However, like other types of bedding, straw or hay needs frequent changing as it may harbor pests or other insects and can also become wet. If unchanged, straw or hay may become moldy which can lead to respiratory or skin problems in dogs.

If you aren't sure you have a cold weather breed dog, you can follow this link, and see if yours in on the list!

http://www.dogbreedcenter.com/cold-weather-dogs-image-gallery.htm