Purrfect Pets

If you live in the Denver area, you may be interested in this. I found a great boarding place, which seems like a better option than other boarding facilities, in my opinion. Evergreen Cat Lodge is a cat-only boarding facility that offers suites - not cages - for cats whose owners who want to board them when they travel.

The Evergreen Cat Lodge offers three types of suites from which cat parents may choose. The Very Important Pet (VIP) suites are large in size and offer large windows that overlook the 9 acre estate. Most of the VIP suites also contain either an electric fireplace or an electric replica of a wood burning stove. VIP suites cost $35 per day.

The lodge also offers Deluxe suites for $29 per day. Most of these rooms are as large as the VIP suites and most also contain windows.

Economy suites are availabe for $22 per day and are smaller rooms that still offer the comfort of home.

All of the suites at the Evergreen Cat Lodge contain things that might be seen in a home to offer a more comfortable atmosphere for your kitty. All the rooms also have a glass door so that cats can be checked on without disturbing them.

Litter and water are cleaned and changed at least twice each day. Additionally, liquid and pill medication can be given to your kitty at no extra charge. All kitties also get individual attention while they stay at the facility. As to not disturb cat’s feeding schedules, cats can be fed once, twice, or three times a day or free fed. While the lodge does provide cat food at no extra charge, cat parents are encouraged to bring their cat’s regular food as to not disturb their diet.

All cats are required to be up-to-date on their FVRCP vaccine and cats who spend time outdoors are also required to be up-to-date on their rabies vaccines.

The Evergreen Cat Lodge offers the comfort of home to your cats while you are away. To learn more information about this facility, please visit their website or give them a call at: 303-679-1245.

The BDVM Mac Lean Clinic, a low-cost spay/neuter clinic in Chicago, Illinois, is set to open its doors for service in late May. The clinic will aim to provide 5,000 spay and neuter surgeries to cats and dogs in its first year of service and wants to gradually increase that number annually as its facility will allow. The clinic will also provide vaccinations and parasite treatments to cats and dogs. The clinic will offer a sliding-fee scale, based on a pet owner’s income and subsidized rates for practitioners of trap-neuter-return programs and low-income individuals.

The clinic was named after long-time donors Sabrina Mac Lean and William Wheeldon.

The clinic held an open house for the public to preview the facility on April 4; however, you can still schedule a time to view the facility before it opens its doors. To schedule a time to see the clinic, please contact Jenny Schlueter at 773-784-5488 ext. 231 or e-mail her at jenny@treehouseanimals.org.

Sources:

CatChannel: Low-Cost Spay/Neuter Clinic to Open in Chicago: http://www.catchannel.com/news/2009/04/03/low-cost-spay-neuter-clinic-to-open-in-chicago.aspx

Tree House Humane Society: Presenting the Tree House BDVM Mac Lean Clinic: http://www.treehouseanimals.org/Appeals/Bucktown08/Bucktown.htm

Pet Sitters International, an educational organization for professional pet sitters, is encouraging dog and cat owners to alert emergency teams that you have a pet at home who needs care in the event that you are in a serious car accident.

The organization has recently unveiled the new vehicle window clings, which are similar to the window stickers you put in your home windows to alert fire fighters that there are pets in the home needing rescued.

The red and white vehicle window clings provide a space for you to put the name and number of an emergency contact who can be reached in case of a serious vehicle accident, so that your pets may receive the care they need at home until you return. The clings are 3 inches square, vinyl, and can be easily removed and reused.

You can get a vehicle window cling by sending $1 and a self-addressed stamped envelope to: Pet Sitters International, 201 E. King St., King, NC, 27021.

Source:

Cat Channel: Car Sticker Lets Cat Parents Plan Ahead

A PetCo holiday fundraiser succeeded in raising $3 million this year for local animal shelters around the country as well as local animal welfare organizations.

During the holiday season, PetCo stores decorated their walls with paper tree ornaments for the Tree of Hope fundraiser. Customers could purchase an ornament in $1, $5, $10, or $20 increments or they could round up their purchase price. Each time a customer purchased an ornament, they helped build the “tree.”

Fifty percent of all the proceeds went to supporting local animal shelters around the country that house homeless pets until they find good homes. The other fifty percent of the proceeds went to supporting local animal welfare organizations where the money was raised.

PetCo also partnered with Iames in order to help them raise money for and promote their Home 4 the Holidays campaign, which found homes for over one million homeless pets this past holiday season.

I think it’s fantastic that so much money was raised to help homeless pets this year, despite the current state of our economy. If you gave to the PetCo Tree of Hope this year, thank you for doing so!

Source:

Cat Channel: Tree of Hope Raises $3 Million for Homeless Pets

Animal cruelty occurs when a person physically harms or neglects to care for a pet. Yesterday I talked about what constitutes animal cruelty and you can read that post here.

It is very important for you to report any animal cruelty you suspect because most animal organizations are made aware of animal cruelty from reports filed by concerned neighbors, co-workers, family members, and friends. Without your help, an animal may not get out of a bad situation. Additionally, many people who are cruel to animals go on to become violent toward humans. So, reporting animal cruelty may help you save both the animal and people. Finally, only 11 states currently require veterinarians to report animal cruelty if they suspect an animal is being hurt or neglected.

Animal Cruelty Laws

Animal cruelty laws vary from state to state. If you would like to read about your state’s animal abuse and neglect laws please visit this website and select your state. Knowing the animal cruelty laws in your state will help you decide when it is appropriate to file a report on an animal you believe may be being hurt or neglected by its owner (or another person).

Where to Report

A good place to make reports of suspected animal cruelty is at your local animal advocacy agencies. Many shelters also take and investigate reports of animal abuse and neglect. To find a local organization near you to investigate possible animal cruelty, please visit this site. You can search by state, city, or zip code.

Some animal organizations will even allow you to file a report on-line for your convenience.

Reporting animal cruelty is very important, and I encourage you to do so if you suspect an animal of being abused or neglected.

Resource:

ASPCA: Reporting Cruelty FAQ

If there is a fire in your home or apartment building, will the firemen know that you have a cat or two or three? Unfortunately, they won’t know that you have pets unless you have a window decal showing that pets are trapped inside the home. This is especially the case if you are not home when the fire occurs.

You can get a free window decal as part of the ASPCA’s Free Pet Safety Pack. The safety pack also includes a free magnet containing the number for the ASPCA Poison Control Center in case your cat ingests something he or she shouldn’t.

You can get your free safety packet by visiting the ASPCA website here.

Once you get your free window decal, mark the number and type of pets you have and securely fasten it in your front window where firemen can see it if they need to put out a fire in your home or apartment.

The New York City’s ASPCA is holding a “Free Over 3″ event where they are waiving the adoption fee for cats three years of age or older on Dec. 6-7 and Dec. 13-14. I think this is a wonderful event, and encourages cat lovers to adopt older cats.

Many people love little kittens because they are so cute and tiny. However, there are also a lot of great reasons to love and adopt older cats. Older cats are less rambunctious than kittens. When you have an older cat, he or she usually already knows the rules of being in the house, so you won’t have to spend time peeling your kitty off your curtains or tryi to break her of the habit of lying on your countertops.

Gail Buchwald, ASPCA’s senior Vice President of Adoptions said, “At the ASPCA, we have a wide range of cats, so whether you’re looking for a playful kitty or a snuggly lap cat, we’ll strive to find the ‘purr-fect’ match. Also, adult cats have well-formed personalities, so what you see is what you get.”

All cats at the “Free Over 3″ event will already be spayed or neutered, vaccinated, and microchipped. Adopters will also receive adult cat information, a cat carrier, and a voucher for follow-up veterinary care at the ASPCA Bergh Memorial Animal Hospital for 14 days after the adoption takes place.

Interested adopters should bring two forms of valid identification, all of the vaccination records for pets currently in their home, proof of income, and two personal references to the event.

The “Free Over 3″ event will take place at 424 E. 92nd St. There is a limit of two cats per household at this event. For more information, or if you would like to see the cats the New York ASPCA has to offer, please visit their website.

Please tell me what you think in the comments section below!

Sources:

Cat Channel: ASPCA Waives Adult Adoption Fees

ASPCA: View Adoptable Cats

PetSafe, a company that sells pet training, safety, containment, and lifestyle products, is giving away PetSafe Micro ID Rescue Collars in order to encourage pet owners to put identification information on their pets. Many pets are lost each year, and while most pets who have visible identification are returned home, 90% of pets without visible identification never make it home, according to the American Anaimal Hospital Association.

The PetSafe Micro ID Rescue Collars feature the following:
*Break away collar that fits up to 16 inch necks (for cats and small dogs) and up to 26 inch necks (for large dogs)
*A unique ID number that can be connected to the PetSafe Rescue Service if you choose
*Is lightweight and comfortable
*An easy to use software program that allows you to create your pet profile, add photos, and add veterinarian records
*Universal access with the ability to be accessed with Microsoft or Macintosh programs

The collar’s main feature, a digital ID system allows you to upload vet records, pet photos, personality characteristics, and emergency contact numbers. The colloar can be plugged into any computer USB port so that anyone who finds your pet can easily identify and return your pet. Additionally, the collor has a toll free number that one can call if he or she does not have access to a computer for pet identification.

PetSafe is giving out these collars free of charge through January, 2009; however, customers are required to pay a shipping and handling charge of $8.99 per collar.

If you are interested in getting a PetSafe Micro ID Cat Rescue Collar, please visit this website. PetSafe also offers Micro ID Rescue Collars for small dogs and large dogs.

If you decide to try this product, please leave a comment and tell me how you and your furry friend like it!

Sources:

Cat Channel: PetSafe Offers Free Pet I.D. Collars

PetSafe: Micro ID Collars

According to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA), the number one cause of household poisonings in pets is the ingestion of human medication. In fact, the ASPCA’s Animal Poison Control Center dealt with 69,000 pet poisonings with the ingestion of human medication in 2007 alone!

The ASPCA’s website lists the top 10 most dangerous human medications for pets, and they are as follows:

Acetaminophen: Cats are particularly sensitive to this over-the-counter medication. It can affect the transport of oxygen and damage red blood cells in cats.

Isoniazid: This is a common medication used to treat tuberculosis, and is particularly toxic to dogs. Dogs can suffer rapid onset of seizures, which may lead to death.

Anti-depressants: When anti-depressants are ingested by cats and dogs, it can result in vomiting and lethargy. Additionally, some anti-depressants may lead to a condition known as serotonin syndrome, characterized by rapid heart rate, elevated boy temperature, agitation, high blood pressure, tremors, vocalization, seizures, and disorientation.

Vitamin D derivatives: Ingestion of vitamin D derivatives can lead to a life-threatening situation, even after pets ingest a small amount of these drugs. Symptoms resulting from ingestion of these drugs can include increased thirst and urination due to kidney failure, vomiting, and loss of appetite. These drugs elevate the blood calcium level in pets, and symptoms may not appear for 24 hours after ingestion.

Methylphenidate: This medication is used to treat the psychiatric condition Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder in humans. If pets ingest this medication, heart rate, body temperature, and blood pressure can reach dangerous heights. The medication can also cause seizures in pets.

Baclofen: Baclofen is a muscle relaxer for humans, but can affect the central nervous system if ingested by cats or dogs. Some symptoms that can be caused by this medication include disorientation, coma, vocalization, severe depression, and seizures.

Non-Steroid Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs): These drugs, including naproxen and ibuprofen, are used to treat pain in people. These are the most common drugs ingested by pets, and pets are affected severely by even small doses of these medications. Ingestion of NSAIDs can cause intestinal or stomach ulcers. They can also cause kidney damage in cats.

Flourouracil: This is a topical medication to treat solar keratitis and minor skin cancers in people. This medication is severely toxic to dogs. It has been known to lead to death in dogs who have chewed on discarded q-tips to apply the medication. Symptoms of ingestion include vomiting, cardiac arrest, and seizures.

Pseudoephedrine: Pseudoephedrine is found in many over-the-counter medications used to treat sinus problems and colds. If ingested by cats or dogs, it can cause seizures and high blood pressure, elevated body temperature, and rapid heart rate.

Anti-diabetics: Anti-diebetics include medications like glyburide and glipizide. If ingested by a pet, it leads to low blood sugar, which can cause seizures, disorientation, and a lack of coordination.

Tomorrow, I will provide some tips you can use to ensure your pets do not ingest over-the-counter or prescription medications.

If you believe your pet has ingested human medication, please either call your veterinarian, veterinary hospital, or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at: 888-426-4435.

Please tell me what you think in the comments section below!

Sources:

Cat Channel: Primary Cause of Pet Poisoning: Human Drugs

ASPCA: Top 10 Human Medications That Poison Our Pets

Denver area animal shelters are beginning their Chip Your Cat campaign! I think this is such a great idea and program.

The Denver Dumb Friends League, the Denver Area Veterinary Medical Society, and participating members of the Metro Denver Shelter Alliance are participating in the campaign. The Chip Your Cat program is being sponsored by HomeAgain and Bayer resQ, and will provide 150,000 microchips and lifetime registration to cat owners in Adams, Denver, Jefferson, Arapahoe, Broomfield, and Douglas counties over the next year.

The shelters hope to promote the significance of having your cat microchipped as well as promoting the image of cats as pets. According tot he president of the Dumb Friends League, Bob Rohde only 10% of cats who are brought into shelters are reunited with their owners. He hopes the program will help reunite more lost cats with their owners.

I think this program is excellent. I have both of my cats microchopped to increase the chances they will find their way back to me if they ever, Heaven forbid, got lost.

To find a location participating in this program, please visit the Chip Your Cat website.

Please tell me what you think in the comments section below!

Source:

Cat Channel: Denver Shelters Start Microchip Program