Less Cats

With generous discounts from The Animal Hospital, Baker Veterinary Hospital, Lewis Veterinary Hospital, and Loyalsock Animal Hospital we have been able to increase the numbers of animals spayed or neutered.  This increase has translated into less litters.  So far this year we have received 183 less cats than the previous year. 

Out adoptions are up to 608!

So the ultimate goal is to adopt out more, prevent overpopulation, and find homes for all the homeless. 

We will keep on plugging along!

Rescues to the Rescue

We are very grateful for area rescue groups who have taken on four of our dogs.  Three of the pit bull puppies were transferred out today.  Out of the Pits rescue group already has screened applicants ready to adopt them.

Tiny Paws rescue is picking up our little Chihuahua Teddy Bear on Saturday.  They will have him examined by a veterinarian and see what treatments he needs to give him a good quality of life.

Plus we have had 18 adoptions since Saturday!  In my mind it has been good week.  (Cant' say that I'm looking forward to Monday though.  Monday's are always crazy.)

Enjoy your weekend and don't forget about all of the homeless, helpless animals.

Miracle Revisited

Miracle is the dog that was found shot three times and survived. (See blogs dated 3/28, 3/29, 3/30, 4/5). Charges for abandonment were filed against former owners Jason and Jodi Ellis.  The Ellis' hired an attorney and asked officer Woltz to settle the charges without going through a hearing.  This is some of the evidence as we know it:
1.  A family was given Miracle but returned her to the Ellis'.
2.  The next day we received a call regarding an injured dog which was found to be shot three times.
3.  When we found the owner of Miracle, Jodi Ellis referred Officer Woltz to their attorney.
4.  The caliber bullet that was removed from Miracle was the same caliber as a gun registered to an Ellis family member.  When searching for the gun under warrant, the Ellis' claimed that the gun had been sold.

Officer Woltz agreed to withdraw one count of abandonment if one of Miracle's owners pled no contest and agreed to pay restitution for half of the cost of Miracle's care.  Not so surprisingly, they agreed. 

Miracle has a new home and a life with people who love her.  I believe justice has been served, but karma is a different story........

Manic Monday

The Bangles got it right when they penned the song Manic Monday.  And that's the way I felt yesterday.  One of our staff members is on crutches so when we received a call about a dog that collapsed from the heat, there wasn't any available staff-so I went.

When I arrived on the scene I found South Williamsport Police Officer Devin Thompson.  He directed me over the dike where he had carried a 100 pound Rottweiler down to the river to help cool him down.  What I saw was remarkable.  A woman was sitting in the river holding up the dog's head while the owner was splashing water over the dog's body.  The woman sitting in the river, (Cinda Jones), had been driving by and stopped to help when she had been flagged down by her nephew. 

The dog, Zeke, did recover consciousness, but remained still while in the river.   The dog owner's father arrived on the scene shortly after me.  I supplied a sheet to carry Zeke up to our ambulance.  Officer Thompson and the dog owner carried the dog up the embankment and into our ambulance.  I drove Zeke to  the dog owner's truck where we transferred him into the air conditioned compartment.  The owner immediately took Zeke to the vet. 

Unfortunately, Zeke did not survive.  His temperature on arrival was 105 F.  That was after having been in the river to help him cool off.  While I am sad about the loss of this family's beloved dog, I am astounded by the efforts of the officer, passerby and owner to help save him.  The lesson to take away from this is that there are wonderful people who really care about animals.  And, heat is a dangerous condition not to be taken lightly especially for our pets who cannot tell us when they are too hot.

Great News

On July 20, I posted a blog about a German Shepherd in very poor condition.  A reader e-mailed me to inquire about her.  She came to visit, helped with her medicated bath, clipped her nails, then fell in love.

She named her Grace and wants to adopt her!  Once she brings in her two dogs to make sure they get along, she will go ahead with the adoption. 

I'm so happy that Grace will find a home, and happy that I have readers of this blog.  Now we need to get the rest of the cats, dogs, rabbits, and hamsters adopted.

Help This Little Guy

Teddy Bear needs someone with a big heart and the funds to pay for his care.  This little six month old Chihuahua has multiple birth defects.  He was the product of inbreeding between a mother and son.  Of the litter of 5, he was the only survivor. 

He came to our attention by a caller who said that three little dogs were in a black metal crate in full sun when the temperatures were in the upper 90’s.  The dogs were panting heavily when Officer Woltz arrived.  He quickly transported the dogs to the shelter where they were wrapped in cool, wet towels and given water to drink.  Luckily, the dogs did not suffer further and we were able to cool them to a normal body temperature.

The owner will be cited for cruelty.  Even though we asked him to surrender the dogs for adoption, he insisted on the return of two.  Legally, we had no recourse.  He was instructed on the proper care of the dogs and hopefully he will comply. 

In case you can’t tell, Teddy Bear has no eyes.  He also has a condition called Hydrocephalus; more commonly known as water on the brain.  This condition caused his fontanel (also called the soft spot) to remain open.  These are the conditions we can see.  We are not sure if he has other problems internally.  He loves to be held and have his neck scratched.  Since he is only 3.4 pounds, he is very easy to carry around, in fact; he very much enjoys being held. 

If you, or someone you know, loves special little dogs such as Teddy Bear, and has the funds to provide a full veterinary work up and follow-up care, please come and visit.  There is something in this little dog that will melt your heart.

Warm Fuzzies

This is for all you bunny lovers.  You must check out our homepage at http://www.lycomingspca.org/ to see the rest of the rabbit pictures.  (And check out the names.  I think someone was hungry when they named them).  The owner of these rabbits originally had them in her house but become overwhelmed and moved them outside.  When the weather became too hot she decided to surrender them.  Rabbits do not tolerate the heat well so she made the difficult decision to find them new homes. 

When pet owners are faced with the difficult decision to give up a pet I try to keep an open mind.  One can never be sure of the circumstances until "you walk a mile in their shoes".  Sometimes it is the best for the animal. Sometimes it is best for the owner.  (allergies, health issues, landlords).  People now a days are so quick to criticize.  Sometimes we have people who continuously get animals,  and regardless of instructions on the proper care of their pet, they fail to give even the basic care.  Plus there are those who intentionally, and willfully abandon their pets to the elements.  Those are the people I cannot understand. 

However, we do the best we can to care for the animals, bring them to good health, and find wonderful homes for them.  Do you want a bunny?