Home for the Holidays

For individuals who celebrate a holiday in December, it is well known that this is a time for friends and family.  And for many, family includes the four legged members of the tribe.  At the Lycoming County SPCA we are quite busy as families decide to adopt a pet.  Our hope is that every animal finds its forever home and enjoys the comfort and joy of being loved and well cared for.  After all, isn't that something that everyone would enjoy?

Peppy will be celebrating her first Christmas with me.  This little Chihuahua was found in a crate full of feces and urine.  Unfortunately, her owners were unable to care for themselves much less this little dog.  Peppy weighed just 4 pounds, had difficulty seeing due to cataracts, and had a mouth full of rotten teeth and infected gums.  Through all of that, she remained friendly and affectionate.  Now weighing  7 pounds with a few remaining healthy teeth, she is enjoying her new life with another dog, two cats, and a loving owner. Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukah, Happy Kwanza, and may peace and joy be with us all!

Full to Over Flowing

Neglect Turned Around

Can you believe this is the same dog?  Lucky Meatball (yes that's his name) came to the SPCA in May.  He was underweight, suffered from mange, and an eyelid that had turned inward.  After surgical repair of his eyelid, good food, and multiple medicated bath; this happy-go-lucky dog is in good health.  He loves everyone he meets and he will especially love his next family.  Lucky Meatball is a must meet canine! 

How to Train a Dog

Right off, you should know that you will not learn how to train your dog from this blog. However, you will learn some dos and don'ts.

Recently, an adopter put out a plea for help on facebook.  She described her problem and received many different suggestions.  A month later, she was asking our SPCA trainer for help.  So what went wrong? 

First off, training a dog requires patience. For those of you who have housebroken a puppy, you know that the puppy does not learn in one easy lesson.  It requires consistent, repeated, positive training.  So teaching a dog not to bark, chase cars, jump on visitors, counter surf, etc., requires consistent, repeated, positive training.  And that takes time and does not happen over night.

Secondly, the owner of the dog needs to decide which training method to use and stick to the plan.  Our SPCA dog trainer trains with positive reinforcement.  Dogs receive lots of play and praise for doing the right thing.  So if you decided to train positively, you need to do it consistently and not change when you don't see instant results.  Changing patterns of training confuses the dog and frustrates the owner.

Third, it is worth spending the money to take a class or two.  Trust me on this one.

Fourth, training does not end with the classes.  If you want a well behaved dog, keep up with the training from leash walking to where the dog sleeps.  Both the dog and owner will be happier.

Tell the Truth About Your Animal

Recently, our SPCA received a "stray" dog.  Several days later a woman comes in to claim the dog.  She has paperwork with the "finder's name and address on it.  So the poor dog was in the shelter for 3 days as a vindictive move on the part of the ex-boyfriend. 

So it is lose-lose all around.  When an animal is surrendered as a stray and the person who surrenders it knows the animal, we cannot get good information about the animal.  Plus the animal is held at the shelter for the required hold period and cannot be adopted until the hold period is over.  It has financial implications as well because it costs the shelter money to inoculate, feed, and shelter the animal.

So please do not lie about an animal when you bring it to a shelter.  It isn't in the best interest of the animal.

Raising Funds For Charity

I am often amazed by the individuals and groups that will host various fundraising events to help raise funds to care for homeless animals.  From young children to adults the ambition and ingenuity
of our supporters is amazing.  From home made pet treats to lemonade stands, we have had people work hard and give generously.  There are also tons of businesses that donate when purchases are made. 

A new twist on fundraising is an app named Walk for a Dog.  More information can be found at WoofTrax.com.  There you can learn more about the app, and should you choose to download the app, you can choose your favorite charity.  Wooftrax will make a donation based on your use for that charity.  The Lycoming County SPCA received a donation from Wooftrax, and that is how we found out about it.

 Once in a great while there will be some people who will raise funds for their own benefit.  And that is a difficult thing to reign in. My advice is to always write a check to your favorite charity and only pay cash if you are paying it directly at the charity's facility. 

The Lycoming County SPCA likes to acknowledge donations we receive with a thank you letter-another great reason to write a check.  And THANK YOU for your support!

Animal Sheltering is Hard Work

Necessary Veterinary Care

Every pet owner should establish a relationship with a veterinarian.  This is important for many reasons.  First and foremost, your veterinarian will make sure that your pet is up-to-date on necessary vaccinations and free from disease.  Just as you would vaccinate a child against polio, you need to vaccinate your pet against disease.  Puppies and kittens need a series of shots so that they can build immunity as they grow, they need to be wormed, receive flea preventative, rabies vaccine,  and get checked for diseases such as heartworm, feline leukemia, etc.  Trust me. It is worth the expense. 

Yes, it may seem expensive to you, but as anyone who has attended college will tell you, schooling is expensive.  And many veterinarians who have been in practice several years may still be paying off their college loans. Then you have to pay for the rent, utilities, supplies, the receptionist and vet tech, insurance, health care, and make enough for their own paycheck. 

Another reason you need to see a veterinarian is that you need that relationship in case something happens to your pet.  It could break a leg, swallow a poison, get attacked by another animal, the list can be quite long.  If you are not a client with an established veterinarian, it is unlikely that they will see you in case of an emergency unless you can pay ahead of time.  And if you cannot afford routine veterinary care, you should wait to have a pet until you can afford to care for it.

Fleas, Fleas, Fleas

Tis the season for fleas.  There are numerous products on the market to prevent flea infestation and they are well worth it.

Fleas cause discomfort for a pet.  The aggravation and itching can lead to irritated skin and possible infection if left untreated.  Flea bites transmit intestinal worms that can deteriorate the health of a pet.
If fleas infest a pet they can be brought into the home where they can multiply and also bite humans who reside in the home.

So it is a good idea to avoid fleas in the first place.  Your pet will love being flea free!

Getting to the Truth

As the executive director and also a humane officer, I often encounter situations where I know a pet owner is not telling the truth.  People will call and complain about a neighbor's treatment of pets, I go and talk to them, and the pet owner denies.  Then what?  It becomes a "he says-she says" but there is no proof to back up the verbal exchange. 

Yesterday I visited a property because the dog owner was alleged to have left the dog all weekend without care.  She denied this but I did advise her on her legal duties as a pet owner.

Later, I received two calls from neighbors.  The owner left the property at 5 PM and the dog was howling in distress.  I went to the property, left notices on all the doors to call and leave a message when she arrived home so that I would know the dog was being cared for.  While leaving the notices I did hear the dog howling and it did sound piteous.  I could understand why the neighbors were concerned.  I certainly would be distressed to hear the dog whining and howling if I lived nearby.

The next day I drove by the property at 7:30 AM and the notice was removed.  I checked messages back at the shelter and the owner called at 10:59 PM.  So the dog was confined for six hours.  This is a reasonable amount of time.  So how will this be resolved?   

As for the cruelty law, I have no evidence that the dog is being neglected or mistreated.  I saw the dog on my first visit and it appeared happy and healthy.  I feel bad for the neighbors who are concerned about the dog but now it is more abut disturbing the peace rather than cruelty.  Humane Officers have no enforcement powers regarding disturbing the peace.

It would be great if they could work something out.

Ever Hear of Turnspit Dogs?

Someone asked me if I knew why the SPCA was founded.  I replied that Henry Bergh founded the ASPCA in New York because of the mistreatment of horses.  "No", I was told, "It was because of turnspit dogs."

With a little research, I found that small dogs were used in a wheel to turn the spit for meat cooking over the fire.  This occurred mostly in England during the 16th century.  Some individuals attempted to recreate the use of the turnspit dog in Manhattan, NY; but it was deemed cruel to the dogs and was frowned upon.

The specific article I read about turnspit dogs did say that the SPCA was founded because of the poor treatment of the dogs.  And that is also true, but it wasn't just the unfortunate turnspit, but all dogs, cats, and horses. 

Back to the 21st century where SPCAs everywhere continue to battle cruelty to animals.  A lot of our investigations are situations of neglect where uneducated, impoverished individuals don't provide necessary care. 

Animals have been used for centuries to work.   How is it that one person can perceive treatment as "normal" and others deem it cruel?  Why is it that some people are in tune to an animal's suffering while others are not?  I guess that is why we have SPCAs.  We need to educate people and keep our eyes open for the animals.

Animal Cruelty in Pennsylvania

The Lycoming County SPCA constantly receives calls about dogs chained to dog houses and we respond to every single call.  Unfortunately this is no illegal in Pennsylvania.  The dog house must maintain the dog's body heat when it is cold, shelter it from inclement weather, and be clean and sanitary.  The dog must have access to food and water.  The dog must have access to necessary veterinary care. 

When people call us to complain, they think we can take the animal away because it lives outside.  THIS IS LEGAL IN PENNSYLVANIA!  So when you call a Humane Society keep in mind that the Officer can make recommendations for the owner to be in compliance but the Officer cannot remove the animal without a warrant and without just cause.  Any warrant must be approved by the district attorney's office and a judge. 

If you do not want to see dog chained to dog houses 24/7 call you representatives and senators and tell them you want the laws changed.  You have the power to make a difference.

CAn't We Just Get Along?

This week we received a dog from a "foster mom" who could not handle the dog.  In her defense, she wanted to foster a small dog but instead got a 10 month old, 100 pound dog with bad behaviors.  To top it off, she was on crutches. 

A rescue group was involved and wanted to transport the dog from PA to Michigan.  The woman who made contact with me about transport was told (by me) that it wasn't necessary to send the dog to a rescue, we would be able to find a home for the dog.

Well! what a firestorm I set off by saying we didn't need to send the dog to rescue.  I was called a liar, an abuser, and I was being cruel to the dog. 

I'm not sure how my response to "find the dog a good home" caused such venom and hateful words.  Why should there be conflict between rescues and shelters?  If a shelter can find a home for a dog why should the rescue be offended?

I received a call from a woman in Michigan who questioned what was going on with our shelter.  We had a nice conversation for 15 minutes and she was very understanding.  I liked that she called to get the story straight, too bad there aren't more people like her.  She was willing to "get along".  Let's play nice and keep the animal's best interests in mind.

Consistent Training

I'm watching my friend's dog while they are out of town.  He has separation anxiety so he is a nervous dog.  I take him to work with me and he stays with me in my office.  If I leave my office for a few minutes, he is so excited that I came back that he jumps on me.  Ordinarily, this would not bother me, but this dog is a little over 100 pounds.

My friend agreed that the jumping is a problem.  In talking to her about it she said that there are times when they invite him to jump up on their shoulders.  (Light bulb!!)

This dog has learned that it OK to jump on people because he is sometimes allowed to do so.  Dogs need consistent training in order to avoid unwanted behaviors.  This dog should never be permitted to jump on anyone because he is unable to distinguish when it is OK and when it in not OK.

If you have a behavior that you do not want repeated, you need to have the same response every time.  In that way the dog can learn what is expected from him. 

So the moral of this story is, if you get a cute puppy that is going to grow to 100 pounds, don't ever let him jump on you unless you are willing to accept the consequences. 

Eater Basket Hazards

Easter is not too far away and with Easter comes a variety of hazards for our pets.  Many dog owners are well aware that chocolate is toxic for dogs, especially dark chocolate.  So don't let the dog eat the bunny.  (Chocolate bunny, that is.)

Be VERY aware of candy or gum that has XYLITOL as an ingredient.  This can be deadly for your pets.  More and more products contain this chemical and it is a killer of pets.

And that cute and colorful "grass" can create blockages in cat stomachs.  What is it with cats that they like to eat that?  If only they could talk.

Be aware of Easter Lilies, Daffodils-they are toxic to pets too.  These are not the only plants that are harmful to pets, but are most often associated with Easter.

Holidays can be busy times and we can be distracted with a lot of comings and goings.  Keeping our pets out of mischief can be a full time job.  With a little extra awareness we can keep our pets safe and the humans can be the ones to eat the bunny ears. 

Cruelty Takes its Toll

Animal sheltering can be a very difficult job.  People are very emothional about their animals, and then again some are not.  Probably the worst part about the job is the neglect and crueltly inflicted on animals.

So far this year, as of March 26, Officer have seized 72 animals due to neglect!  That is 20% more animals seized during the same time period compared to last year. 

On March 25, Officers seized two horses.  When they arrived with a search warrant, they found a deceased horse.  It had dug a trench in the barn in its efforts to try to get back up, but eventually succombed and died.  It was a gruesome sight.  The horse obvioulsy suffered and the owner did not show any sympathy for the unfortunate horse's plight.  The two hourses that were removed were pathetically thin.

Now here comes the emotional part.  The owner can't believe we took her horses! She is distraut to the point that she went to the hospital.  Really?  Who among us think this horse is OK?

I Heard You Smother Dogs

I answered the phone to a woman who was asking about our cremation services.  She was having her sick and elderly dog put to sleep and wanted to know how much it cost to have a cremation so that she could get the ashes back. 

To clarify the costs I asked her if the dog would already be deceased or would we be performing the euthanasia.  She replied indignantly, I wouldn't let you do it, you smother them don't you?

Sorry, but I actually laughed out loud at that one.  She didn't think it was funny and said so.  I agreed it is not funny but it is amazingly inaccurate.  I explained that the dogs receive a shot in their rump that sedates them.  Then they receive an intravenous injection that totally sedates them and stops their heart from beating.  It is a very quick procedure.

How do stories like this get started?  It is so unfortunate that rumors spread so rapidly and the truth gets buried much more quickly.  I receive calls, emails and facebook messages asking questions about many topics.  It makes me appreciate people who take the time to get the facts instead of relying on the rumor mill. 

So no, we do not smother animals.  How sad that someone would believe that!

Out with the Old, In with the New

What if a family brought their adult dog to a shelter because they got a puppy?  Would that bother you? 

What if the reason they brought the adult to the shelter was: "I don't believe in veterinary care so we got a new puppy"? 

This really happened.  A man brought in his lab because they got a puppy.  To add insult to injury, the man noted that the dog doesn't seem quite right.  The poor dog has inflamed and infected teeth!  His mouth must be very sore.  It's hard to believe but true.

Another true story.  A man wanted to adopt a German Shepherd but the dog hates cats.  So the man was willing to give his cat to his mother so he could adopt the dog.  That isn't as bad as the first scenario but bad enough that I wouldn't want him to adopt our dog. 

Shouldn't pets be adopted for the life of the pet? 

Savings More Cats

Beginning April 1, 2014 the Lycoming County SPCA will accept cats for surrender by appointment only.  In this way we will be able to accept cats and kittens as space allows. 

 

            The SPCA is modeling this program after seeing the progress made by Erie County SPCA.  After one year of implementing their program, Erie County SPCA reduced their euthanasia rate by 88 %.  That shelter also experienced a reduction in illness and death once the cat by appointment program was initiated.

            Our goal is to stop using euthanasia as a means for population control. When the residents of Lycoming County call us to add their cat to our waiting list, they will help us save lives. 

            With the new cat room addition for incoming cats, the SPCA will have new arrivals examined, spayed or neutered, and then moved to the  public cat room for adoption.  As the cats and kittens are adopted, it will free up space for incoming cats.

            By allowing the SPCA to schedule the incoming cats, staff will not be required to perform needless euthanasia to make space for incoming cats.  The SPCA will continue to provide euthanasia services for owned pets when requested.

            Sounds good, but there are critics.  People worry about the cats we don't take in.  However, it isn't as if we won't take them in, we are just asking people to wait.  In this age of "I got to have it and I got to have it now", people are accustomed to instant response.  If the alternative is euthanasia- is that better?

Your Pet in a Diamond

I came across an interesting article about the Infinity Diamond.  The company creates a diamond using signature carbon from pet owners and their pets.  Using a lock of hair (and other technical ingredients) they create a personalized diamond.  You can even have a photo or personal message holographically engraved on the diamond which can be seen under 10x magnification.  What a cool idea if you can afford it!  If you are as intrigued as I was, visit www.infinitydiamond.com.