Typically, I tend to send reminders to the citizens in our community about caring for their pets, and to try and remind my fellow pet owners to be be a little more vigilant regarding the wanderings of those pets.
Today however, I would just like to take a few moments for another purpose. I would like to speak for a little while about those that work behind the scenes, to make the lives of those animals I do wind up taking in to the pound a lot easier.
There are many, many wonderful organizations out there, whose sole purpose is to provide love and homes for the less fortunate animals in our midst. Those animals that have been discarded like an old tire, abused, starved and generally cast aside for whatever reason. Without these organizations, the pain, loneliness and suffering these unfortunate animals go through would be mind-boggling. The one I would like to focus on, is the Lifeline Animal Placement & Protection Organization (LAPP for short), out of Wichita, Kansas.
Perhaps some of my more ardent readers may remember me mentioning how during my first year in this job, I had to put down over two hundred dogs and cats that I simply could not find either the old owners for, or even find new owners for. That is two hundred animals in a town whose population runs less than three thousand. It kept me awake at night, more often than not, trying to figure out how and where I could find an alternative solution to this vexing problem.
As a community, we should all be concerned about the message it sends when we have so many lost and discarded animals in a town this size. Really, whether you own a pet or not, it affects us all. Stray and wandering animals are often left to the mercy of speeding vehicles, angry home owners who often vocalize their dislike of trespassing pets to the extent of wanting to shoot them, and also to other predatory animals. Animals that are dicarded and left to fend for themselves often contract diseases, which they can then pass on to our house pets via feces or perhaps even a bite. In some cases, they might even contract rabies, which they can also pass on to our household pets or our children.
The City of Eureka has a Animal Pound. We are not an Animal Shelter. The difference lies not only in the policies that govern the animals we can pick up, but also the type care the animals might recieve once they are picked up. I am essentially a one-man operation. I feed, clean & care for all the animals I have in the pound by myself. A Shelter on the other hand, might have several people working there, one of whom may be an in house Vet. In many cases, a Shelter has a vet on call 24/7 if they do not have one on staff.
Many Shelters are "No Kill" Shelters. They will keep an animal as long as it takes to find them either a foster home until a more permanent placement can be found, or a new family right away. Animal Shelters are most often "not for profit" organizations, which means they survive on grants from larger organizations like the American Humane Society, the ASPCA and private donations. The Eureka Pound however has very specific limits regarding the amount of time we should keep an animal before it is either returned to the owner, or adopted out. If either of these options fail, euthanization has been our only other option.
Until the wonderful people at LAPP came along that is.
LAPP is a "No Kill" Shelter. I had been calling around, looking for other options last year, when a contact at the Kansas Humane Society in Wichita told me about Patricia "Pat" Morriss, and her wonderful organization. For the past 8-10 months - honestly I've lost track - LAPP has sent numerous volunteers to our fair city to take virtually every adoptable animal we have had. Cats, dogs, puppies, and kittens. Pregnant and old, they have taken them and found them homes with loving families. In several cases, they even arranged to send dogs to places where they recieved much needed Vet care before final placement. And to make what this organization has done for our community even more special - as if what they have done wasn't enough already - in special cases, they have even been kind enough to help out the less fortunate in our community who for health and financial reasons weren't able to keep their beloved pets, by making special trips to take their pets for placement in new homes as well.
Since LAPP has started coming to Eureka, I have only had to euthanize two dogs. Both were animals that I picked up that had severe health issues where euthanization was the only option to stop their suffering. Well over 60 animals have gone through LAPP to new homes. Some animals have gone to Colorado where many cities have a shortage of adoptable pets. In the case of many purebreds, they have gone on to animal rescue groups that handle those special breeds, like German Shorthair Pointers or Austrailian Shepherds. I have frequently recieved e-mails with the pictures of many of the dogs once residents of our Eureka Pound, now lying around their new homes, relishing the love and attention of their new families.
And I can't help smiling. As you should. Smile because you know that without the help and concern of organizations like LAPP in general, and LAPP in particular, most probably all of those animals would no longer be with us. They would have been doomed to an all but too brief existence, thanks to the carelessness or callousness of their former owners. Smile because thanks to LAPP, these loving, beautiful animals now have a bright & loving future, instead of a terminal existence.
So, in closing let me say that we all, pet owners & non-pet owners alike, owe a much deserved debt of gratitude to LAPP and it's many volunteers, who have made the future existence of these animals possible. And the next time you are thinking it might be nice to donate a few dollars to a worthy cause, think of the animals LAPP has taken from us...for us...and give back what you can to help them keep doing it, not just for us, for all the other Eureka-like communities out there who need their help and support.
Thank you LAPP! And God bless you every one!
Thursday, May 15, 2008
Tuesday, April 1, 2008
THE DOG DAYS OF SUMMER!
Ahhhhh! Sunshine! Gentle breezes, sultry summer evenings, punctuated only by the sound of....yikes! Barking dogs! And they are chasing other barking dogs through your freshly manicured lawn, disturbing your summer Karma! What the %$#&!
Yep...summer is just around the corner. And at the risk of sounding like a broken record, there are too many dogs (and cats) running loose around town. Making matters worse, it is already "the season" for many of the female dogs in town, and their would-be suitors are already beginning to make themselves known. So, in the interest of community relations, and because there is nothing I like better than having to repeat myself over & over...here are a few things you should know.
1. If you have a dog that has not been fixed...you should probably take care of that very soon. Not only will it be cheaper for you when it comes time to get those new tags, but it will also keep your male dogs closer to home, and eliminate the visitors your female dog gets in the wee hours of the morning. It is also better for your pets health if they are fixed. Hey...don't believe me? Ask your vet!
2. All dogs residing in the city limits of Eureka are required to have city tags. No exceptions. You are required to have a license for your car, even if it's broke and you can't drive it. Fido is required to have tags, even if he stays inside most of the time. In fact, the City Code for this reads..."No person shall own, keep or harbor any dog or dogs, cat or cats, regardless of age, within the city until he or she have paid the annual city taxes hereafter provided and procure from the city clerk a dog tag or cat tag for the current year for each such dog or cat." And just so you know, the tags for your un-neutered dog or cat, $30.00. If your dog or cat has been neutered....$4.00. And in order to get those city tags, your pets must also have current proof of rabies vaccinations.
3. This past Friday, I just released a dog that had been in quarantine for 10 days, because it came out of the yard, chased a young boy, and bit him. It was not current on its rabies shots, thus the need to be quarantined. At the risk of overstating the obvious, much of this could have been avoided simply by having the dog current on its shots, and by making sure the dog was properly restrained. No one wants to think their dog is capable or likely to be mean to someone. The truth, however, is that all dogs have the ability to be aggressive and territorial. That is why we have leash laws, and laws regarding dogs running at large...to protect us - and them - from this type of situation ever happening in the first place. So, do yourself...and your pet...a favor. Get those shots current, and keep them that way. It's not just the law, it's good common sense. If your dog does get loose - or is allowed to roam loose - and it bites someone, and then they have to go through that nasty series of painful rabies shots...well, it's a very good possibility you have just opened yourself up for a very expensive law suit. The last such lawsuit I read about from Minnesota, cost the owner $75,000. It cost the dog it's life. Enough said? Let's hope so!
4. So...what exactly IS running at large? Basically, it is allowing your dog to run free, anywhere within the city limits, where it is not under the owners direct control and supervision. And no, letting it run loose in your own yard to go potty is not ok, unless you are standing right there with it while it does its business. Let me emphasize this point! You cannot just open the door and let Fido run loose in your own yard, unless you are right there to supervise it, and the dog is under your direct control. Oh, and just so you know...if you chain or tether your dog in an area where it is within range of a public thoroughfare...like a sidewalk...it is still deemed to be "at-large". Your animal cannot be tied up in any area where it can reach people who are walking down the street, or down a sidewalk. If you want your dog to run free, move to the country, or fence in your yard. Otherwise, be a good neighbor, and a responsible pet owner, and keep Fido under control.
5. Its been a tough week. You are sooooo looking forward to sleeping in on Saturday. Then out of nowhere, promptly at the break of dawn, your slumber is disturbed by the noises of your neighbors roosters! Or the cackling of their chickens running around your yard. Running from your cat, or someone elses loose dog. Can't happen here in Eureka you say? Foolish child! Not only can it, but it has since I've been here...a little over two years. As a matter of fact, I know someone right now who has two turkeys in a pen in their front yard. Can you say, romper-room no-no? The City Code says, ""It shall be unlawful for any person to keep or maintain any fowl (i.e. chickens, ducks, geese, guineas, turkeys, etc.) within the city limits." 2-102 (b). Unless you have a proper 4-H permit. If you need one of those, contact the City Clerk in City Hall. Otherwise, it's back to the country for your birds.
6. If you are a dog owner, there is a City Ordinance you should make yourself familiar with. It is Ordinance No. 4086, and it deals with animal restraint, and animal confinement. If you keep your pet outside, you really need to get a copy and read it. It was passed & became effective last May. It will be enforced this year. You can get a copy either by calling City Hall, 583-6511, or by calling the City Administrators office at 584-6140. Get a copy now, and save yourself some frustration later!
7. Now I know not everyone is all that familiar with every breed of dog. Especially now in an age where so many dogs are mixed breeds, like Jack Russells and Dachsunds. I even saw a Blue-heeler/Dachsund mix today. Cute little guy, mottled in color, with one blue eye. But it is hard to miss the fact that a dog is a pit bull, or has a mix of pit bull in them. In either case, they are not allowed within the city limits of Eureka. The City Code says in a nuttshell, that you cannot have a pit bull, or any mix of pit bull or any of the pit bull or the bull terrier breeds, including American Stafforshire Terriers, Bull Terriers, Staffordshire Bull Terriers. The fines are heavy, and the dog may be confiscated. So, if you have any doubt about the dogs ancestry, it might be best to pick one you are more certain about.
8. Lastly for today, I'd like to discuss something called "Right Of Entry". Basically, this is a clause written into the City Code, which gives the Animal Control Officer and the Code Enforcement Officer - thats me - the right to enter upon private property to enforce the codes of the city. It reads as follows:
Chapter 2, article 2-208: "The impounding officer shall have the right of entry upon any private unenclosed lots or lands for the purpose of collecting any animal whose presence thereupon is a violation of this article. It shall be unlawful for any person to interfere with the impounding officer in exercise of this right."
That means if Fido gets loose, and then runs home after I see it and chase it, and then sits on the porch, I can come up on the porch and impound the animal if I deem it necessary. It also means I can come into a yard and check on the welfare and proper tagging of any animal found in said yard. So, if a neighbor tells you I came into your yard while you were gone, and took a peek at Fidos collar to see if it had the proper tags, please do not call the office and scream at my boss about me trespassing on your property. It might be helpful to remember that had your pet not been breaking the law by running loose to begin with...even if it did come home, or had it been properly tagged in the first place...my visit would not have even been necessary. It might not be particularly helpful to stand in front of the Judge and accuse me of breaking the trespass law, when the city laws that you broke prompted my visit to begin with! I'm just sayin'!
So, to wrap up, let me make one final point. It is NEVER ok to beat your dog with a BBQ fork, crowbar, rake handle, shovel, ball peen hammer or anything else that may cause serious injury or even death. In the State of Kansas, that is called animal cruelty and abuse, and that is now a felony. Yes, dogs can be irritating at times. They can be stubborn, and often will not come when you call them. Often it is because they know they will be beaten with one of the above mentioned items if they do come, and often, it is because they have been chained up and neglected for so long, they hardly even KNOW their names, let alone have any incentive to come back to a chain around a tree! If your dog is hard to handle, maybe I can help. If they get loose, maybe I can help there too! It's worth a call at any rate, and could save you a lot of extra heart-ache. It's good to call the local radio station, and let people know your dog is missing. They perform a wonderful public service by announcing it, and should be commended for doing so! But they do not pick up your dog. I do. So after you call them, please, call me too! I might already have your dog. I am always willing to help you look for it! My number is 750-0302. Write it down. You might be glad you did! And Fido will thank you too!
A night in the pound, $75.00 or more. A night at home with his human family who love him...priceless!
Yep...summer is just around the corner. And at the risk of sounding like a broken record, there are too many dogs (and cats) running loose around town. Making matters worse, it is already "the season" for many of the female dogs in town, and their would-be suitors are already beginning to make themselves known. So, in the interest of community relations, and because there is nothing I like better than having to repeat myself over & over...here are a few things you should know.
1. If you have a dog that has not been fixed...you should probably take care of that very soon. Not only will it be cheaper for you when it comes time to get those new tags, but it will also keep your male dogs closer to home, and eliminate the visitors your female dog gets in the wee hours of the morning. It is also better for your pets health if they are fixed. Hey...don't believe me? Ask your vet!
2. All dogs residing in the city limits of Eureka are required to have city tags. No exceptions. You are required to have a license for your car, even if it's broke and you can't drive it. Fido is required to have tags, even if he stays inside most of the time. In fact, the City Code for this reads..."No person shall own, keep or harbor any dog or dogs, cat or cats, regardless of age, within the city until he or she have paid the annual city taxes hereafter provided and procure from the city clerk a dog tag or cat tag for the current year for each such dog or cat." And just so you know, the tags for your un-neutered dog or cat, $30.00. If your dog or cat has been neutered....$4.00. And in order to get those city tags, your pets must also have current proof of rabies vaccinations.
3. This past Friday, I just released a dog that had been in quarantine for 10 days, because it came out of the yard, chased a young boy, and bit him. It was not current on its rabies shots, thus the need to be quarantined. At the risk of overstating the obvious, much of this could have been avoided simply by having the dog current on its shots, and by making sure the dog was properly restrained. No one wants to think their dog is capable or likely to be mean to someone. The truth, however, is that all dogs have the ability to be aggressive and territorial. That is why we have leash laws, and laws regarding dogs running at large...to protect us - and them - from this type of situation ever happening in the first place. So, do yourself...and your pet...a favor. Get those shots current, and keep them that way. It's not just the law, it's good common sense. If your dog does get loose - or is allowed to roam loose - and it bites someone, and then they have to go through that nasty series of painful rabies shots...well, it's a very good possibility you have just opened yourself up for a very expensive law suit. The last such lawsuit I read about from Minnesota, cost the owner $75,000. It cost the dog it's life. Enough said? Let's hope so!
4. So...what exactly IS running at large? Basically, it is allowing your dog to run free, anywhere within the city limits, where it is not under the owners direct control and supervision. And no, letting it run loose in your own yard to go potty is not ok, unless you are standing right there with it while it does its business. Let me emphasize this point! You cannot just open the door and let Fido run loose in your own yard, unless you are right there to supervise it, and the dog is under your direct control. Oh, and just so you know...if you chain or tether your dog in an area where it is within range of a public thoroughfare...like a sidewalk...it is still deemed to be "at-large". Your animal cannot be tied up in any area where it can reach people who are walking down the street, or down a sidewalk. If you want your dog to run free, move to the country, or fence in your yard. Otherwise, be a good neighbor, and a responsible pet owner, and keep Fido under control.
5. Its been a tough week. You are sooooo looking forward to sleeping in on Saturday. Then out of nowhere, promptly at the break of dawn, your slumber is disturbed by the noises of your neighbors roosters! Or the cackling of their chickens running around your yard. Running from your cat, or someone elses loose dog. Can't happen here in Eureka you say? Foolish child! Not only can it, but it has since I've been here...a little over two years. As a matter of fact, I know someone right now who has two turkeys in a pen in their front yard. Can you say, romper-room no-no? The City Code says, ""It shall be unlawful for any person to keep or maintain any fowl (i.e. chickens, ducks, geese, guineas, turkeys, etc.) within the city limits." 2-102 (b). Unless you have a proper 4-H permit. If you need one of those, contact the City Clerk in City Hall. Otherwise, it's back to the country for your birds.
6. If you are a dog owner, there is a City Ordinance you should make yourself familiar with. It is Ordinance No. 4086, and it deals with animal restraint, and animal confinement. If you keep your pet outside, you really need to get a copy and read it. It was passed & became effective last May. It will be enforced this year. You can get a copy either by calling City Hall, 583-6511, or by calling the City Administrators office at 584-6140. Get a copy now, and save yourself some frustration later!
7. Now I know not everyone is all that familiar with every breed of dog. Especially now in an age where so many dogs are mixed breeds, like Jack Russells and Dachsunds. I even saw a Blue-heeler/Dachsund mix today. Cute little guy, mottled in color, with one blue eye. But it is hard to miss the fact that a dog is a pit bull, or has a mix of pit bull in them. In either case, they are not allowed within the city limits of Eureka. The City Code says in a nuttshell, that you cannot have a pit bull, or any mix of pit bull or any of the pit bull or the bull terrier breeds, including American Stafforshire Terriers, Bull Terriers, Staffordshire Bull Terriers. The fines are heavy, and the dog may be confiscated. So, if you have any doubt about the dogs ancestry, it might be best to pick one you are more certain about.
8. Lastly for today, I'd like to discuss something called "Right Of Entry". Basically, this is a clause written into the City Code, which gives the Animal Control Officer and the Code Enforcement Officer - thats me - the right to enter upon private property to enforce the codes of the city. It reads as follows:
Chapter 2, article 2-208: "The impounding officer shall have the right of entry upon any private unenclosed lots or lands for the purpose of collecting any animal whose presence thereupon is a violation of this article. It shall be unlawful for any person to interfere with the impounding officer in exercise of this right."
That means if Fido gets loose, and then runs home after I see it and chase it, and then sits on the porch, I can come up on the porch and impound the animal if I deem it necessary. It also means I can come into a yard and check on the welfare and proper tagging of any animal found in said yard. So, if a neighbor tells you I came into your yard while you were gone, and took a peek at Fidos collar to see if it had the proper tags, please do not call the office and scream at my boss about me trespassing on your property. It might be helpful to remember that had your pet not been breaking the law by running loose to begin with...even if it did come home, or had it been properly tagged in the first place...my visit would not have even been necessary. It might not be particularly helpful to stand in front of the Judge and accuse me of breaking the trespass law, when the city laws that you broke prompted my visit to begin with! I'm just sayin'!
So, to wrap up, let me make one final point. It is NEVER ok to beat your dog with a BBQ fork, crowbar, rake handle, shovel, ball peen hammer or anything else that may cause serious injury or even death. In the State of Kansas, that is called animal cruelty and abuse, and that is now a felony. Yes, dogs can be irritating at times. They can be stubborn, and often will not come when you call them. Often it is because they know they will be beaten with one of the above mentioned items if they do come, and often, it is because they have been chained up and neglected for so long, they hardly even KNOW their names, let alone have any incentive to come back to a chain around a tree! If your dog is hard to handle, maybe I can help. If they get loose, maybe I can help there too! It's worth a call at any rate, and could save you a lot of extra heart-ache. It's good to call the local radio station, and let people know your dog is missing. They perform a wonderful public service by announcing it, and should be commended for doing so! But they do not pick up your dog. I do. So after you call them, please, call me too! I might already have your dog. I am always willing to help you look for it! My number is 750-0302. Write it down. You might be glad you did! And Fido will thank you too!
A night in the pound, $75.00 or more. A night at home with his human family who love him...priceless!
Wednesday, March 12, 2008
COULD IT BE?
That bright orb in the sky...it almost looks like...why yes! The Sun! It looks like the Sun! It's been so long, I almost forgot!
One thing is for certain, our fuzzy friends haven't, and they are out to enjoy it. Which means we need to keep a closer eye on them! Just a friendly reminder...keep those doggies under your watchful eye! Just turning them out to roam free while they take a bathroom break, can wind up being a very expensive proposition for you, and a very uncomfortable one for your pet.
I cannot emphasize enough how much tougher the enforcement of the animal codes will be this year. Please...for the sake of your pet, and your finances...keep those wandering four-legged friends under close supervision.
One thing is for certain, our fuzzy friends haven't, and they are out to enjoy it. Which means we need to keep a closer eye on them! Just a friendly reminder...keep those doggies under your watchful eye! Just turning them out to roam free while they take a bathroom break, can wind up being a very expensive proposition for you, and a very uncomfortable one for your pet.
I cannot emphasize enough how much tougher the enforcement of the animal codes will be this year. Please...for the sake of your pet, and your finances...keep those wandering four-legged friends under close supervision.
Thursday, February 28, 2008
New Year - Same Old Problem!
At the risk of sounding too negative, it seems at first blush that the New Year is so far, not that new at all....at least as far as the dog situation goes. Everyday, as I drive around town, I see dogs, dogs, dogs running loose.
And to add insult to injury, the vast majority of them not only have collars, but they have collars without tags. Rottweiler, Border Collie, Pointer. These are not mutts. We are talking potentially high dollar dogs here. So....whats up dog owners?
Now I understand that sometimes, things happen, and Fido will take off. But why anyone would go through all the trouble of buying an expensive dog, outfitting it with a collar, and then never bother to call once it goes missing remains a mystery to me.
Is a dogs life so worthless, that the responsible party can't even pick up a phone to report it missing, or check to see if it has been picked up? I mean, if you care so little about it...why even get it in the first place?
Well, I understand that we can't legislate common decency and morality. Too bad, because sometimes I can't help but think it would be a good thing. You know, I once heard somewhere that you can tell the measure of a society by the way we treat our animals.
Considering the number of dogs we run through our pound with a population of only around 2900 people or so...you can't help but wonder what that says about us!
And to add insult to injury, the vast majority of them not only have collars, but they have collars without tags. Rottweiler, Border Collie, Pointer. These are not mutts. We are talking potentially high dollar dogs here. So....whats up dog owners?
Now I understand that sometimes, things happen, and Fido will take off. But why anyone would go through all the trouble of buying an expensive dog, outfitting it with a collar, and then never bother to call once it goes missing remains a mystery to me.
Is a dogs life so worthless, that the responsible party can't even pick up a phone to report it missing, or check to see if it has been picked up? I mean, if you care so little about it...why even get it in the first place?
Well, I understand that we can't legislate common decency and morality. Too bad, because sometimes I can't help but think it would be a good thing. You know, I once heard somewhere that you can tell the measure of a society by the way we treat our animals.
Considering the number of dogs we run through our pound with a population of only around 2900 people or so...you can't help but wonder what that says about us!
Monday, February 25, 2008
THANK YOU!
Just a special thank you to all who participated in the City Tag & Rabies Clinic we held on the 16th of February. And a special thanks to Dr. Droge and his staff for their participation as well. Obviously, having your pets tagged and vaccinated is important. The weather was nasty, and the roads were not much better, but if you braved it all to have your pet taken care of, you deserve a special thanks from all of us!
For those of you who missed us, just a reminder that it is vital you have your pets tagged and vaccinated. This year, Animal Control will be a little more proactive in checking for tags. So if you keep your dog chained up outside, please don't be surprised if I stop by to check their status.
Also, as a reminder, there is a new ordinance in effect for the tethering of your pets outside that will start to be enforced when the weather clears up. If you need a copy of this ordinace, please contact Animal Control and request a copy be mailed to you. Or, you can stop by where you pay your water bill, and request a copy there as well.
Finally, just a friendly reminder that there is an ordinance regarding cats as well. If you have a cat, they must also be tagged & vaccinated. If you allow your cat to run loose, it may be trapped along with many of the wild cats I trap every week. Without proper ID, I have no way of knowing a feral cat from a domesticated one, as a general rule. There are also many cat related diseases that your friendly tabby can contract from it's wilder friends if allowed to run loose, so please bear this in mind when considering allowing your cat to roam freely. Animal Control will be much more active this year in going after cats running at large, so please be advised, and act accordingly.
For those of you who missed us, just a reminder that it is vital you have your pets tagged and vaccinated. This year, Animal Control will be a little more proactive in checking for tags. So if you keep your dog chained up outside, please don't be surprised if I stop by to check their status.
Also, as a reminder, there is a new ordinance in effect for the tethering of your pets outside that will start to be enforced when the weather clears up. If you need a copy of this ordinace, please contact Animal Control and request a copy be mailed to you. Or, you can stop by where you pay your water bill, and request a copy there as well.
Finally, just a friendly reminder that there is an ordinance regarding cats as well. If you have a cat, they must also be tagged & vaccinated. If you allow your cat to run loose, it may be trapped along with many of the wild cats I trap every week. Without proper ID, I have no way of knowing a feral cat from a domesticated one, as a general rule. There are also many cat related diseases that your friendly tabby can contract from it's wilder friends if allowed to run loose, so please bear this in mind when considering allowing your cat to roam freely. Animal Control will be much more active this year in going after cats running at large, so please be advised, and act accordingly.
Wednesday, January 30, 2008
Dogs, dogs dogs....
"They're everywhere, they're everywhere!!!" Yep...I'm talking about dogs. I really shouldn't be...they are supposed to be restrained at home, instead of out wandering the neighborhood...but...you guessed it! No matter where I have gone for the past week, it's been a dog day afternoon!
I know, I know, that's why they pay me the big bucks. But frankly, I would be ok with being put of the "chase-your-loose-doggie" business. Really! I could take up needlepoint, work a few crossword puzzles...maybe even eat a few dozen doughnuts!
Now I know that sometimes, things happen, and Fido runs crazy throughout the neighborhood. But most of the dogs I have been chasing - and catching - lately, seem to be just running loose with little or no concern by the owners. How do I know that? Maybe because even though they have collars and are dragging six feet of chain behind them, no one ever bothers to call to see if they have been picked up. Not one call. Go figure!
So, in the hope that this message will be read by someone who still cares about their pets, please take note. If your dog gets loose, call me right away. I will help you find it if I can. It may even be that I have already found it, but because it was not properly tagged, I could not find it's home to return it. Hint, hint!
So, tag your pets. Please! It is the very best way to ensure they get home safely! The annual City Tag event will be coming up on February 16th, at Memorial Hall, from 9:00 AM to 12:00 noon. You can get those city tags and the required rabies shots all in one quick trip!
And please, if you have a dog that is not fixed, get it done as soon as you possibly can! It will help your pet live longer, stay closer to home, and be much easier on the budget when it's time to get those annual city tags. A mere $4.00 versus $30.00!
Lets work together this year to keep more dogs at home, and fewer at the City Pound. I like doughnuts! Really!
I know, I know, that's why they pay me the big bucks. But frankly, I would be ok with being put of the "chase-your-loose-doggie" business. Really! I could take up needlepoint, work a few crossword puzzles...maybe even eat a few dozen doughnuts!
Now I know that sometimes, things happen, and Fido runs crazy throughout the neighborhood. But most of the dogs I have been chasing - and catching - lately, seem to be just running loose with little or no concern by the owners. How do I know that? Maybe because even though they have collars and are dragging six feet of chain behind them, no one ever bothers to call to see if they have been picked up. Not one call. Go figure!
So, in the hope that this message will be read by someone who still cares about their pets, please take note. If your dog gets loose, call me right away. I will help you find it if I can. It may even be that I have already found it, but because it was not properly tagged, I could not find it's home to return it. Hint, hint!
So, tag your pets. Please! It is the very best way to ensure they get home safely! The annual City Tag event will be coming up on February 16th, at Memorial Hall, from 9:00 AM to 12:00 noon. You can get those city tags and the required rabies shots all in one quick trip!
And please, if you have a dog that is not fixed, get it done as soon as you possibly can! It will help your pet live longer, stay closer to home, and be much easier on the budget when it's time to get those annual city tags. A mere $4.00 versus $30.00!
Lets work together this year to keep more dogs at home, and fewer at the City Pound. I like doughnuts! Really!
Wednesday, January 23, 2008
Brrrrrr!
Well, it's official! It's cold outside!!! I know this because of the thermometer hanging on the wall next to my Rocket Science Degree!
So, not that most of you need any reminding, let me play "mother hen" and remind everyone anyway that if you have a pet outdoors, PLEASE be sure they are set up with a warm environment for the weather conditions.
Just a few helpfull hints:
1. If you are using hay or straw for the dog house, check it every couple of days. Moisture can and will accumulate in the bedding, and it may need to be turned or changed if it gets wet. Not only that, but most pets like to "spread it around" a little bit, so they may not have as much in their dog house as they now do outside their dog house!
2. Check those water bowls everyday. It's supposed to get down to 12 degrees tonight, so you can be sure that water will freeze. And unless there is direct sunlight on the bowl during the day, it may not defrost enough to provide potable drinking water.
3. Be aware that if you put out canned food for you dog, it will freeze too. I know most people use dry, but that food can form ice crystals as well, and become soggy later as it thaws.
4. And finally, please be cautious about using creative means to warm your doggies house. Placing an unprotected light bulb attached to an extension cord inside the dog house, can be very hazardous to your dogs health. Not only can they be electrocuted if they chew through the cord, but they can be badly burned if they get too close to the hot bulb. Seems like common sense, I know...but if I mention it here, it's because it has already been tried by someone. Really!
Also, heating pads and those small lap-style electric blankets are just as dangerous. Really, if it is so cold that you think you need to try these things, then maybe it's cold enough to bring the pet indoors for a day or so!
Lastly, just a friendly reminder that we have our annual City Tag & Rabies Clinc at Memorial Hall coming up soon. This year it will be held on February 16th (Saturday), from 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM. Dr. Droge and his staff will also be there to provide any shots your pet might need as well. Your dog or cat will need a current rabies shot to get their City tags...and yes, cats are required to have tags as well!
Tags for dogs that have NOT been fixed will be $30.00, with tags for NON fixed cats running $20.00. If your pet HAS been spayed or neutered, their tags will only cost $4.00. This will be the cheapest time of the year to get your tags if your pet has not been spayed or neutered. Each month after this clinic, a late fee will be assessed, so by August, those tags could be a little pricey! So get them now, and be ahead of the game!
So, not that most of you need any reminding, let me play "mother hen" and remind everyone anyway that if you have a pet outdoors, PLEASE be sure they are set up with a warm environment for the weather conditions.
Just a few helpfull hints:
1. If you are using hay or straw for the dog house, check it every couple of days. Moisture can and will accumulate in the bedding, and it may need to be turned or changed if it gets wet. Not only that, but most pets like to "spread it around" a little bit, so they may not have as much in their dog house as they now do outside their dog house!
2. Check those water bowls everyday. It's supposed to get down to 12 degrees tonight, so you can be sure that water will freeze. And unless there is direct sunlight on the bowl during the day, it may not defrost enough to provide potable drinking water.
3. Be aware that if you put out canned food for you dog, it will freeze too. I know most people use dry, but that food can form ice crystals as well, and become soggy later as it thaws.
4. And finally, please be cautious about using creative means to warm your doggies house. Placing an unprotected light bulb attached to an extension cord inside the dog house, can be very hazardous to your dogs health. Not only can they be electrocuted if they chew through the cord, but they can be badly burned if they get too close to the hot bulb. Seems like common sense, I know...but if I mention it here, it's because it has already been tried by someone. Really!
Also, heating pads and those small lap-style electric blankets are just as dangerous. Really, if it is so cold that you think you need to try these things, then maybe it's cold enough to bring the pet indoors for a day or so!
Lastly, just a friendly reminder that we have our annual City Tag & Rabies Clinc at Memorial Hall coming up soon. This year it will be held on February 16th (Saturday), from 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM. Dr. Droge and his staff will also be there to provide any shots your pet might need as well. Your dog or cat will need a current rabies shot to get their City tags...and yes, cats are required to have tags as well!
Tags for dogs that have NOT been fixed will be $30.00, with tags for NON fixed cats running $20.00. If your pet HAS been spayed or neutered, their tags will only cost $4.00. This will be the cheapest time of the year to get your tags if your pet has not been spayed or neutered. Each month after this clinic, a late fee will be assessed, so by August, those tags could be a little pricey! So get them now, and be ahead of the game!
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