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.