Home Foreclosures Affect Pets

With home foreclosures on the rise, pets are often the silent victims of the state of our downtrodden economy. Many people who cannot afford to keep their homes are forced to move to lower-cost apartments that do not allow pets. These pets are then given up or, worse, abandoned. There are shelters and animal rescues in the nation that have created foreclosure programs, much like safekeeping programs, that allow owners to leave their pets temporarily while they can make arrangements to find a new home that allows pets. Unfortunately most shelters and animal rescues do not have the space or foster homes to sustain such a program indefinitely. It's best to find a friend or family member who can help in such a situation, but it is never humane to just leave your pets behind or release them outside to fend for themselves. Pets are domesticated animals that do not have the skill or know-how to fend for themselves and survive on their own. Pets don't know the state of the economy and cannot understand why one day their beloved guardian is showering them with love and feeding them daily and the next they are without the affection and protection they need.


Find pet-friendly housing in Arlington, Virginia and the Washington, DC area.

Animal Rescue or Shelter?

What does it mean to be an animal rescue or pet rescue organization? Is an animal rescue something different than an animal shelter?

The Animal Welfare League of Arlington in Virginia, with an open-door policy and animal control services under its roof serves, as I suspect many shelters do, as both an animal shelter and animal rescue. Many shelters not only provide homes to unwanted pets and adopt out great animals, they also provide a variety of animal rescue services. Every day the loving staff at the Animal Welfare League of Arlington rescue pets from adverse situations.

For example, if shelters and rescues did not exist, it would not necessarily make guardians of unwanted pets keep them, would it? Then what would happen? Would the dog of the people who are moving to a place that does not allow pets be dumped on the side of the road or simply left behind? It happens, more often with cats, that they are abandoned when a family moves. Left to fend for themselves.

But what, exactly, is the difference between and animal rescue and and animal shelter? According to an entry in Wikipedia:

"There are two major difference between shelters and rescue groups. Shelters are usually run and funded by local government. Rescue groups are funded mainly by donations and most of the staff are volunteers. While some shelters put animals into foster homes, many are housed on site in kennels. Rescue groups place all their rescues into foster homes as they do not have shelter facilities."

Well, the Animal Welfare League of Arlington is partially funded by the County but offers additional services such as veterinary assistance, low-cost spay and neuter, additional healthcare for unwanted animals and so much more with help from donations.

The Animal Welfare League of Arlington does employ the use of volunteer foster homes, as many other shelters do and as rescues do, and, there are several rescue organization in the Virginia area that do have onsite kennels, in addition to foster homes.

There is also a common misconception that all shelters impose a time limit on animals in their care. At the Animal Welfare League of Arlington, as with many of the more progressive shelters, this is absolutely not the case.

It seems that as animal shelters evolve, the lines between animal rescues and animal shelters are blurred.

Thankfully, however, at least in Virginia, we have so many shelters and rescues serving the animals of our community that hopefully, one day, no dog, cat or small companion animal will have to do without rescue.

Canine Melanoma Vaccine Update

There is much interest, still, in this new canine melonoma vaccine but

still little information seems to be available. News reports suggest

that the vaccine could one day help humans, too. And other reports state

that dogs receiving the vaccine have lived up to three times longer than

expected.

I would suggest contacting the Animal Medical Center in NY for more information or discussing it with a veterinarian such as South Paws in Fairfax, Virginia, that is participating in the study.

Pets, Smarter than you think?

From National Geographic...

Could pets be even smarter than we think? I say true animal lovers have known this all along!

Good news for dogs...

From the VA SPCA, good news for dogs...

All three bills: puppy mill regulation, dog and cock fighting prohibitions and posting of bond by owners for seized animals have passed out of both Houses. House Bill 538 has to go back to the House from the Senate to accept the Senate amendment but hopefully that will happen this week.

The animal fighting bill, House Bill 656 came out of Senate unanimously as did House Bill 999, which requires the posting of a bond. The Puppy Mill regulation bill, House Bill 538 has had a somewhat more difficult fight but that is to be expected. It came out of the Senate 34-5 today. This bill was developed and promoted by a few of us in the Virginia animal welfare world and didn’t have the same “sexy” quality that the Vick case brought to dog fighting… and we didn’t have paid lobbyists supporting it, we just had you. The success of this bill is due entirely to the calls and letters and emails you all sent to your elected officials. This is a new area of regulation in Virginia and a bold step for which you should all feel proud.

If you go onto the Legislative website, www.leg1.state.va.us, you can look at any of these bills, how they moved through the process and who voted for them. You can click on Bills and Resolutions, then Most Frequently Accessed, you will find House Bill 538 and then House Bill 656 were nos. 3 & 4, after the budget bills. That is testament to the citizens’ interest, pro and con, on these important matters.

Spay and Neuter Law

Looks like California has taken a giant leap forward in the effort to make a dent in pet overpopulation by making spay and neuter not only the burden of shelters and rescues, but of the law. According to the NY Times:

"Mayor Antonio R. Villaraigosa of Los Angeles signed one of the nation’s toughest laws on pet sterilization, requiring most dogs and cats to be spayed or neutered by the time they are 4 months old. The ordinance intends to reduce and eventually eliminate the thousands of euthanizations conducted in the city’s animal shelters every year. The ordinance exempts some animals, including those that have competed in shows or sporting competitions, guide dogs, animals used by police agencies and those belonging to professional breeders."

Finally, legislators take it upon themselves to make the problem of pet overpopulation the entire community's responsibility, not just the shelters and rescues.

Beagle Wins Best in Show

Uno, Westminster Kennel Club's 2008 Best In Show dog, is our hero! A Beagle winning Best in Show? Uno represents not just the under dog, he represents "every dog." He's the champion of the common dog and a savior to homeless animals and animal shelters everywhere. Sure, previous winners were great dogs, Bichons, Newfies, Spaniels, Poodles, etc., but let's face it, animal shelters don't have an abundance of homeless toy breeds or gentle giants. Shelters do however, on almost any given day, have at least one Beagle or Beagel mix awaiting a new home. Let's hope that Uno works his way into the hearts of dog-lovers everywhere and starts a new fad that helps to reduce the number of unwanted Beagles in our animal shelters!

Just a little fun fact, the beagle was the second most adopted breed at the Arlington shelter in 2007 -- most likely due to the shear number of beagles at the shelter last year!

Indoor Dog Parks

Anyone who has ever been to a dog park knows how much fun pooches have prancing about, sans leashes, and pouncing on one another. Doggie day care, at least the ones I have seen, are much like indoor dog parks. The catch? They're not free and owners are not typically present to witness the fun. That's why indoor dog parks are a great idea! One indoor dog park has opened in Woodbridge, Virginia. Professional Paws Daycare allows residents to bring their pooches to their 6000 square foot area for a romp. Owners must be present to enjoy the sight, but it's not free -- $15 per session. Might be fun for Fido but wouldn't a free indoor dog park be even better?

Pet Contraception

There are numerous types of animal shelters and rescues out there, all with their own ideas on what’s best for the animal community, but the one thing that almost all of these organizations seem to agree on is that the best way to control the number of homeless, unwanted animals is by spaying or neutering. Some organizations spay and neuter all animals in their care, others require adopters to have the animals spayed or neutered upon adoption. Whatever the method, most rescue pets must be spayed or neutered at some point. There are, of course, some obstacles to this such as surgery cost, adopter noncompliance, and veterinary access. What if pets could be somehow sterlizied without the financial burden or surgical procedure? This may provide shelters and rescues with an easy, low-cost approach to control pet populations.

The Alliance for Contraception in Cats and Dogs (ACC&D) has been formed and supported by leading animal welfare agencies to find this method of sterlization. The mission of the ACC&D:

To expedite the successful introduction of methods to non-surgically sterilize dogs and cats and to support the distribution and promotion of these products to humanely control cat and dog populations world wide.

Check out the ACC&D’s website for more info and ways to get involved and support the effort.

Pets Reduce Stress

Pets have always been credited with helping us reduce stress in our lives. Dogs keep us exercising -- a sure fire way to reduce stress. Many pets, including dogs, cats and rabbits, keep us happy by providing much-needed love and companionship. Studies have shown that pets can even help to control blood pressure. So, if you’re a healthy, animal-loving person, why not adopt a pet? The benefits are endless for you and your rescued furry friend!

Heartworm Prevention Reminder

I was once given the most valuable freebie ever, at least the most valuable for pet owners. This giveaway was better, in my opinion, than any logo pen, magnet, sticker, can lid, or jar opener. It was a magnet reminder for my dog's heartworm medication. Each month it would beep to notify me that it was time for a fresh heartworm preventative chew. Upon giving the treat to my dog I would then simply press a little button and it would be silent until the same day the next month. Before that I kept a calendar on the fridge and, dutifully, put the stickers on each day of the month, but there was nothing to remind me to check the calendar. I would recommend a gadget like this for any dog owner, if I could only find another one like it.

In lieu of such a cool, no-hassle, free gadget like this, some companies do offer an email reminder service -- not a bad idea. Revolution and Heartgard allow you to apply for a membership for an email reminder each month. Why not take advantage of this? Of course, if anyone can find a fridge magnet reminder, please share with the rest of us who could use a little no-hassle reminder to make our lives, and Fido's, just a little bit easier.

Good News for Rabbits

The House Rabbit Society has announced that Petsmart is ending its "test" of selling baby rabbits in its stores. The Society states,

We have heard that it was because of the vocal opposition of animal lovers across the United States that they have reconsidered their choice. Please thank PetSmart for their decision, and let them know that it was the right choice. Please address your thanks to PetSmart care of:

PetSmart

John Alpaugh Vice President,

Specialty Merchandising19601 North 27th Avenue

Phoenix, AZ 85027(623) 580-6100

mailto:corpcommunications@ssg.petsmart.com.

Although I could find nothing about this decision on Petsmart's Web site, I'm trusting that the House Rabbit Society knows what they're talking about. This is great encouragement for those who spoke out against the ill-conceived "test" of selling rabbits. There are plenty of rabbits already in shelters and rescue groups that need homes. No one needs to buy a rabbit.

Puppy Mills in Virginia Exposed

The Humane Society of the United States has brought to light the deplorable conditions of many unlicensed breeding facilities in Virginia. The undercover operation shows filthy, crowded conditions and lack of veterinary care for dogs that exist solely for their breeders' profit. It's easy to feel shock and horror that people could operate these inhumane facilities. But are the breeders the only ones to blame? What about those of us who purchase these dogs? In our desire for a puppy of a certain breed, do we shirk our responsibility to learn where the puppy came from? If we buy a puppy based on a cute photo on the internet, what do we know about the conditions in which it has lived? What is that purchase price going to: The pet store that doesn't ask questions of their suppliers and the breeders who protect their profits by keeping operating costs low?

Besides mistreating the breeding animals and their pupppies, these puppy mills are adding to the pet overpopulation crisis by selling unneutered dogs. Do any of these breeders or pet stores require neutering? I doubt it. What can we do? Like the illegal drug market, if there were no consumer demand, there would be no suppliers. Obviously, one answer is to adopt dogs from the large supply of homeless animals already in our Virginia shelters. If you decide to buy a purebred dog, investigate first and make sure you are buying from a reputable breeder. Visit the facility and ask for references from a veterinarian. Find out whether a breeder is primarily interested in the welfare of the dogs or in making a sale.

Until we consumers demand change, puppy mills will continue to exist. Let's look at our own contribution to the problem and make decisions that promote animal welfare.

Deer Collisions

It seems that the first two weeks in November tend to have the greatest number of vehicle-deer collisions. Obviously, this can be deadly for both people and deer. With the frequency of deer sightings in Northern Virginia, we need to be on the alert when driving even in urban areas.

The Insurance Information Institute gives defensive driving tips for avoiding deer including being particularly cautious from sundown to midnight and at dawn and never swerving out of your lane to avoid a deer.

According to the Humane Society of the United States

"The breeding season for deer occurs between October and January. This period—termed the "rut"—involves dramatic physiological and behavioral changes in male deer. ... Nervous and almost constantly active during the rut, males wander into residential areas and places where they would otherwise never be seen."

For our own well being as well as for wildlife, let's be alert and careful while driving.

Why Is Petsmart Selling Rabbits?

I have thought of Petsmart as an innovative retailer in that it does not sell dogs or cats and it offers space to rescue groups to show animals for adoption. But the company's decision this summer to do a "test" of selling baby dwarf rabbits harks back to the bad old days of pets being sold to anyone with the money with no questions asked. To their credit Petsmart has included on their site the very appropriate blast from the House Rabbit Society about the folly of this idea.

As anyone who has animal shelter experience knows, rabbits are the third most frequently surrendered animal. While they are wonderful pets for the right people, they are not low maintenance and they have a lifespan of more than 10 years. At the Animal Welfare League of Arlington over the past fiscal year, the average shelter stay for rabbits before finding an adoptive home is 69 days. This compares to 36 days for cats and 25 days for dogs. Shelters and rescue groups are overwhelmed with unwanted rabbits.

Petsmart says, "We are testing the rabbit market believing that adoption and responsible sales can successfully coexist." So Petsmart already "believes" that selling rabbits can be successful. I welcome Petsmart to ask shelters and rescue groups to report on how many of these "baby" rabbits end up homeless when their owners (or their children) lose interest, don't have the time, or discover that someone in the household is allergic to their purchased pet.

Blessing of the Animals

Each October near the feast day of St. Francis of Assisi churches throughout the world hold a special Blessing of the Animals service.

This custom is conducted in remembrance of St. Francis of Assisi's love for all creatures. In the Arlington, Virginia area a Blessing of the Animals will take place at the Arlington Presbyterian Church at 3507 Columbia Pike in Arlington on October 6 at 5:00 p.m.

Some people may think that there are many more serious problems in the world to warrant a special service, but caring for and honoring the creatures with which we live is a good step toward making our world better.

Albert Schweitzer said, "Compassion, in which all ethics must take root, can only attain its full breadth and depth if it embraces all living creatures and does not limit itself to mankind."

Whether we attend a religious service or not, the first week in October is a good time to remember all the creatures that share our world and to renew our commitment to be compassionate toward all living beings.

Microchip Concerns Premature

Animals shelters, veterinarians, and animal welfare advocates have touted the benefits of microchip identification of companion animals for several years. It is standard practice at many animal shelters to microchip all dogs and cats before adoption. But recent news reports have alarmed many people about the possible health risks. A series of veterinary and toxicology studies, dating to the mid-1990s, stated that chip implants had "induced" malignant tumors in some lab mice and rats.

The controversy mostly surrounds the very recent practice of implanting microchips with medical or identification information in human beings. But the reports also have alarmed pet owners. No one wants to implant something in their pet that might cause cancer. But it seems that science is a long way from being ready to state that microchips cause cancer.

The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) advises pet owners against a rush to judgment on the technology. As a pet owner I’m still glad that my dog has a microchip. If she were to get lost and somehow lose her identification tags, she would still have the microchip as a permanent means of identification. We saw after the Katrina disaster how difficult it is to reunite pets with their owners when they have no permanent identification. Until further studies are done pet owners should still rely on microchips as the best way to find their lost pets.

Bring Fido!

Doesn't your dog deserve a getaway, too? Thanks to Travelocity and BringFido.com, you can find a dog-friendly hotel, motel or B&B just about anywhere in the US. Isn't your furry friend in need of a little vacation time, too?

Cat Predicts Death

Is Oscar, a hospice cat at the Steere House Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Providence, R.I., a harbinger of death? According to nursing home staff, he has, on several occasions, curled up with a patient who passes away within hours. The staff is so certain of the accuracy of Oscar's predictions that they will call a patient's family once Oscar has chosen to perch himself upon the patient's bed. It sounds a bit eerie but, according to doctors, most patients are too ill to be aware of the cat's presence and most family members take comfort in the companionship that cat provides for their dying loved one.

This story may sound far-fetched, but animals have been known to pick up on signals that humans often miss. A study reported in New Scientist shows that dogs predicted epileptic seizures with 80% accuracy. The dogs were not trained for this, they began predicting the seizures spontaneously by whining, licking or standing by the person who would have the seizure.

Also, dogs can predict certain cancers by smelling a person's breath. Our animal companions have highly developed senses of smell and awareness of subtle body language that we can't replicate. We've only begun to find out all the benefits that our furry friends can provide, besides the obvious -- love and companionship. So a cat sensing that a person's last moments are drawing near isn't surprising.

Michael Vick Indicted

It appears that the evidence is overwhelming enough to indict Atlanta Falcon's Quarterback Michael Vick on charges related to dog fighting.

Upon searching Vick's property in Virginia, officials found dogfighting equipment, blood stains on carpets and walls, and more than 60 dogs. The indictment also states that Vick and two others named in the indictment, executed as many as eight dogs that were not performing well by hanging, drowning and slamming against the ground.

These allegations are absolutely sad and sickening. What kind of man could possibly treat "man's best friend" this way?