Non-surgical cat and dog sterilization surged into the spotlight last week when the topic was featured in Science Magazine. When U.S. billionaire Gary Michelson announced $75 million in grants and prize money for the development of a single-use, nonsurgical sterilant for dogs and cats, suddenly, researchers who had abandoned their non-surgical sterilization research work began ramping up their efforts again. Read about the research, grant winners, and how this all came to be in the article in Science Magazine online, and visit Found Animals press page for even more about these exciting developments.
Month: September 2009
Good News In Pet Adoption 9.29
This week features a couple who has lost weight by volunteering at an animal shelter, and Girl Scout Troop 9644 who donates they’re creativity to make online pictures of dogs more inviting.
We’ve just had mug shots of dogs taken in front of concrete blocks before,” Noble said. “The girls’ backdrops are more colorful and make more of a portrait for our dogs.” “I felt so bad when I saw the dogs looking so sad in the cages,” said Alexys Perez, 11, a student at South Park Middle School. “It feels good to help them have a better chance to survive.”
Fred Schwartz and his wife, Joan, said they never imagined they would have lost weight after nine months of volunteering to play with animals at Wayside Waifs. Fred said he lost 20 pounds; Joan lost about 15.
new Shepard Fairey ADOPT limited-run print
We wanted you to be the first to know that the newest Shepard Fairey “Lead By Example” ADOPT print will go on sale at a random time on Thursday, September 24th. This gold and black version is truly stunning! Each print is signed and numbered (out of limited run of 400) by Shepard Fairey and proceeds go to help get homeless shelter animals seen and saved! The collectible red/blue version sold out in under 90 minutes, so be ready on Thursday, September 24th if you want to grab a gold one. Stickers, shirts and bandanas are available now too, so be sure to let the world know you support pet adoption in every way.
On behalf of the animals and the Adopt-a-Pet.com team we thank you for your support. Woof!
Good News In Pet Adoption 9.18
This week we found an animal shelter with a reality TV show that uses parolees for helping hands. Also, an 8-year-old third grader writes a book about pet adoption.
On 17 acres in the rugged terrain of Canyon Country, Tia Torres provides a place to live or work for six parolees, 225 pit bulls, 204 volunteers, two French bulldogs, 19 cats, a husband and four kids. But the rescue’s been a money pit requiring creative financing. So now she’s turning to reality TV — with Animal Planet’s “Pit Bulls and Parolees.”
“He never gives up,” Deni Bayer, 37, said of her son, a rising third-grader who spent much of the summer working on the book. “For him to sit still this long, any of his teachers will tell you, is a big deal.” The book’s initial print run is 150 copies; the book sells for $10. Joshua said he will divide the proceeds from book sales among Whipkey’s group, the Charles County Humane Society and the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.
New Site We Love: WagWorld.com
Ever wish you had a whole group of dog-loving friends to share info about favorite dog-friendly places? Now, thanks to the new site Wagworld.com, you do!
Wagworld.com is a new, interactive website all about celebrating daily adventures you and your dog have together. It’s a great place to find information about dog-friendly places, including parks, beaches, restaurants, hotels, coffee shops and more — anywhere you and your best buddy can have a tail-wagging good time. Best of all, you can read reviews of dog-friendly spots written by ordinary people, so you get the straight (dog) scoop, and you can write reviews of your favorite places to bring your pooch, too. If you don’t see your favorite pup-alicious scene listed, just add it to the map! It’s cute, easy-to-use, and incredibly useful… it even features articles about all things dog-centric. Check it out at http://www.wagworld.com
Good News In Pet Adoption 9.11
This week we bring news of 400 animals being rescued in Hawaii, plus a woman working a unique angle of animal adoption: military dog adoption.
It may be the biggest rescue mission in Oahu history. More than 400 animals were rescued from Waianae. There were more than 100 dogs, 100 cats, and 200 ducks and birds.
Benny, a retired military working dog, is a happy-go-lucky German shepherd who will do anything his master commands. If it weren’t for Debbie Kandoll, he might not have ever had a chance to display his obedience.
Click the links to read more about this week’s Good News!
How To Introduce A New Puppy To Your Adult Dog
Introducing a new puppy to your dog? Get expert tips for a seamless introduction between your new dog and adult dog.
This is the first in our series of puppy, dog, and cat behavior articles, to help readers with their newly adopted pets! The method I describe below is for DOG-FRIENDLY adult dogs. If you do not know if your dog is good with other dogs, or has ever shown any type of aggression to another dog (growling, snarling, barking), please do the introduction with a trainer or behaviorist present.
Ideally, you’ll have assessed your household’s current dog(s) before you add a puppy to the mix. Consider the physical condition of your current animals. Many people think getting a puppy will ‘liven up’ their older dog. Most older or calm/quiet dogs are quite content as they are and may be intolerant and very unhappy with a puppy’s boisterous behavior. In multi-dog households, a new puppy can throw off the balance and everyone might need some reminding of their training. A temperament and energy level match for your current pets is usually the best match, but if you do end up with a puppy and older dog, here are some suggestions to get it off to the best start!
– Get ready. Make sure your dog(s) are current on all their vaccinations, including bordatella (kennel cough) especially if the puppy is coming from a shelter or rescue kennel, or has been exposed to other dogs within the last 2 weeks that were from or in a kennel. Get your vet’s recommendations whether total separation (quarantine) is needed and for how long. There are many potentially fatal diseases that puppies can be ‘incubating’ that will not show up for up to two weeks. Altered pets are less likely to be territorial, so getting your current dogs fixed at least 1 month before introducing a puppy is recommended. Also treat your current dogs for fleas and other parasite prevention as recommended by your vet.
– Total separation. Just having the new puppy in the house is enough for your older dog to get used to, without having to deal with the puppy jumping all over him and his toys, bed etc. Try to have the puppy’s starter room be one that your adult dog does not use for sleeping or eating and is puppy-proof (bathrooms work well), or use a crate. Feed, play and train separately, giving equal time to both dogs.
– First introduction. Pick neutral and unfamiliar territory, such as a street or park you don’t usually visit, or if the puppy has not completed his vaccinations yet, ask a neighbor if you can use their yard. All dogs and new puppy should be on leashes. If you have more than one dog already at home, introduce them to the puppy one at a time. Start with the most friendly and submissive of your dogs.
For a really young puppy (4 months and under): start by having a friend holding the puppy in their arms. With your friendly adult dog on leash, let him take a good sniff. Then separate them, put the puppy down (puppy also on leash) and allow the dogs to approach one another at their own speed. For an older puppy or one that’s too big to be easily held, you can start with both dogs on leash, and let the adult dog approach and stiff while you restrain the puppy from jumping or doing the sniffing, it’s his turn only after the adult dog is done.
Stay relaxed! The dogs can sense if you are tense. Try to keep the leashes slack at all times. Verbal encouragement, such as “good dogs!” reinforce any good behavior. If the adult dog wants to stay away from the puppy, do not “force” him to say hello.
If there is any growling or other signs of aggression, you may need to do a slower introduction, such as walks around the neighborhood together, with the puppy walking behind (not able to touch) the adult dog. If the aggression continues, consult a behaviorist or trainer. If all goes well, allow the dogs to spend five or ten minutes together and then proceed to the next step.
– Short sessions. Going on walks together is a wonderful bonding activity! Even one or two walks a day is enough time together for the first week. If all goes well, you can progress to supervised off-leash access to one another, often after a big walk together, when both will be more relaxed after the exercise. Pick the largest play area possible so the dogs have room to move around. Remove all toys from the mutual play area to avoid possible fights over toys. End the play session if the older dog repeatedly exhibits ‘lay off me’ behavior such as trying to avoid the puppy, showing teeth, or growling/snapping. See next section.
– Allowable behaviors. Especially before the age of 4 months, or if they have not been around other dogs, puppies may not recognize subtle body language signals from adult dogs that they have had enough. Well-socialized adult dogs with good temperaments can set limits with puppies with a growl or lip-curl. These behaviors should be allowed, within reason – once or twice is ok, especially if puppy “learns” and stops the behavior. Do NOT correct an adult dog that is showing “correct” back off signals, but do step in to stop the reason for them: don’t allow your puppy to continue to harass your adult dog with too-rough or unwanted play. Step in and redirect puppy’s teeth onto a toy and get him to play with you instead, or end the play session completely.
For the most part, dogs adjust to puppies over time, but since the consequences of a problem can be severe, it is wise to follow a slow introduction process as outlined above to ensure all goes well with adding a new puppy to your home.
For introducing adult dogs, see our Multi-dog Home tips here.
Good News In Pet Adoption 9.4
This week we bring you news of a new organization to help connect pet adopters and rescuers via the sky, also a heart-warming story of a little pug who keeps on truckin after loosing ability to use her hind legs.
Pilots N Paws, an online forum that connects animal rescue groups and volunteer pilots, is launching the Pilots N Paws 5000, the largest pet airlift ever. From September 12 to 20, Pilots N Paws volunteers will attempt something that’s never been done — transport 5,000 homeless animals in a single week.
Molly was born with energy to burn and initially appeared healthy in every way. But at three months of age, the unthinkable happened – her back legs simply stopped working. Throughout the years, Mandy and Molly visited school children and the elderly in Santa Barbara.
Click the links to read more about this week’s Good News!
Los Angeles WILDFIRES animal shelters and rescues that need help
8:30 a.m., 9/1/09 Los Angeles California wildfires continue to burn out of control, threatening homes, people, and animals. “The Station fire” grew to more than 122,000 acres overnight last night, despite signs of improving weather conditions. We have put together this list of animal shelter and rescues that are assisting animals and people affected by the wildfires. If you hear any updates or have additions, please let us! This list includes: Animal Acres, Baldwin Park shelter, Basset Rescue Network, Gentle Barn, Irvine ACC, Linda Blair Worldheart Foundation, Pasadena Humane Society, Villalobos. Listing alphabetically!
Animal Acres
Acton, CA
http://www.animalacres.org
9/1 12:15am – found a more uptodate site with the evacuations and how to help Animal Acres here: http://kcdisasteraid.wordpress.com/ latest update 8/31 says they are “recruiting/managing standby volunteers for Animal Acres” for a 2nd evacuation, as where they were 1st evacuated to is now in the path of the fire.
Baldwin Park – Los Angeles County Animal Shelter
4275 N. Elton, Baldwin Park, CA 91706
The nonprofit that organizes help for this shelter is Animal Advocates Alliance http://animaladvocatesalliance.org/category/adopt-now/
8/31 11:55pm: “The fires have burned away from Baldwin Park’s service area and as of right now we are actually not that inundated. However a lot of our resources are at the fire and anything and everything could change at any moment. So I guess what we’re really most in need of is adopters to help empty the kennels! Kindest regards, Ric Browde”
Basset Rescue Network
Acton, CA
Main website: http://www.bassetrescuenetwork.org (see Latest News)
Fire updates & donations: http://www.firstgiving.com/ActonFire_BassetRescueNetwork
They have 100 basset hounds and mixes.
2:44 AM, 9/1/09, Kennel Manager updates: “We are safe as of 2:44AM. Here from the property we would evacuate all animals with the assistance of several neighbors as during an evacuation it’s unlikely that non area residents could get through.” The shelter needs money for the expenses that comes with the smoke, ashes, fire and pending evacuation.
Gentle Barn
Santa Clarita, CA
http://gentlebarn.org (for donations)
http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#/pages/The-Gentle-Barn/54967149038?ref=ts
8/31: they are taking in animals from the fires, as they are currently not in the evacuation area (but close by). “Jay headed out to the fires in Acton with our stock tailor to see if anyone needed help. So far we have four new horses and two new donkeys from the fires. we shall see who Jay brings home next.”
Irvine Animal Care Center
6443 Oak Canyon, Irvine, CA 92618
http://www.cityofirvine.org/cityhall/cs/animalcare/default.asp
8/31: This shelter took in 40+ dogs from the Pasadena Humane Society to make room for fire evacuees. Those dogs need adopters, and they accept online donations too.
Linda Blair Worldheart Foundation
Acton, CA
Fire update page: http://lindablairworldheart.org/?p=749
(FB page: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Acton-CA/The-Linda-Blair-WorldHeart-Foundation/70244399672?ref=ts )
8/31 8:56pm: “Our first and biggest need are donations. We need financial donations to help us with the many costs that can/will arise from this crisis situation. We are also in need of donated crates, at least 42″ in size as our doggies are large. We can always use blankets and dog bowls as well…. If you are willing to help load dogs in crates and transport to our evacuation spot and don’t mind getting called in the middle of the night please let us know. You can email worldheartvolunteers@gmail.com for more information.”
Pasadena Humane Society
361 S. Raymond Ave., Pasadena CA 91105
http://pasadenahumane.org then click on “Donate Now to Fire Disaster Relief!”
8/31 4pm update: they currently have all the supplies and volunteers they need. Monetary donations are still being accepted.
Villalobos Rescue Center
Canyon Country, CA
http://www.vrcpitbull.com
8/31: have heard rumors they were evacuated, but have been unable to confirm – does anyone know?
Wildlife Waystation
14831 Little Tujunga Canyon Rd 91342 (818) 899-5201
9/1 update: http://www.scpr.org/blogs/fire-updates/2009/08/31/wildlife-way-station-receives-abundance-volunteers/
DO YOU NEED HELP getting your animals to safety? Please contact the Kinship Circle Disaster Aid Network. They stand ready to deploy volunteers. You can reach them at 917-596-9040 or http://www.kinshipcircle.org
Need wildlife help? Contact Valley Wildlife Care, a nonprofit, volunteer organization. They will intake ANY wildlife from the fires. http://www.valleywildlifecare.org 818-346-8247
(image is map of the fire per LA Times as of 11 p.m., 8/31/09)