AniMeals Healing Hearts Program

 

The AniMeals Healing Hearts Program is vital to the “saving lives” part of AniMeals.  Our ICU and CCU are dependent upon the funds we receive for the Healing Hearts Program.  Real examples include a cat in so much pain from poor dental health, a $1300 vet trip, where all but 5 of his teeth had to be extracted, is what it took to lessen the pain in his mouth enough for him to be able to eat.  There was also a kitten who came to AniMeals with his lip ripped clear up his face.   His vet costs are definitely more than the $55.00 adoption fee that gets these felines into forever homes.  Please help us help these helpless animals by donating today.  Saving a life is just a click away……

10 Tips to Prevent Pet Fireworks Fears

by Amy D. Shojai (Subscribe to Amy D. Shojai’s posts)

Jun 28th 2011 @ 1:00PM Filed Under: Pet Health

 Fireworks from July 4th celebration may be festive to you, but can turn your pets into nervous wrecks. More cats and dogs–and even livestock like horses–become lost on this day than any other when pets panic, go through windows, break tethers and leap fences.

Even safely contained pets shiver, moan, and feel worse with each noisy boom. You may not see quivering scaredy cats, but the stress from noise phobia increases risk of hit-or-miss litter box behavior.

It can take weeks or even months for desensitization and counter-conditioning techniques to teach fearful pets that noises won’t hurt them. With Independence Day right around the corner, refer to these 10 tips for more immediate help.

1. Scared animals calm themselves down by squeezing into tight spots and hiding their eyes. For instance, a dog wriggles between the sofa and wall, while a cat hides its face in your armpit. Offer your pets safe hiding place and let them be.

2. Avoid sympathetic baby-talk that rewards the fear. When you get upset or coddle your cat and dog during fireworks, you tell them they have good reason to be scared. Instead, be matter of fact. When it “booms” you can acknowledge the noise, “That was loud. But it doesn’t bother me, see? It shouldn’t bother you.”

3. Anti-anxiety training tools can help. Anxiety Wrap and Thundershirt are types of dog “vests” the pet wears that apply pressure to his body, and seem to calm fear in pets.

4. Cover up the sound with white noise. Use a white noise machine or a radio tuned to static works well.

5. Play soothing music. Harp music has a unique sedative effect on pets, because the rhythms and sounds mimic brain waves and help calm the fear. Harp music may prompt you to nap, too.

6. Pheromone products also relieve fear and anxiety in pets. Comfort Zone with DAP (dog appeasing pheromone) works well for noise-phobic dogs-it’s produced by mom-dogs when they nurse pups and sooths dogs of any age. The product for cats, Feliway, relieves the cat’s anxiety about its territory because it’s similar to the cheek-pheromone that relieves a cat’s stress. Both DAP and Feliway come as sprays or plug-in diffusers and the dog product also comes as a collar. The spray can be used every one to two hours on bedding or a bandana the pet wears.

7. Just as human babies may be soothed by a car ride, a road trip may soothe pets that enjoy the car and take their mind off the noise. Just be sure your cat or dog is safely secured in a carrier or restraint in the back seat during the ride.

8. The brain can’t think when in a state of panic. But the opposite holds true as well. When thinking, the brain won’t go nutso and turn your pet into a shrieking escape artist. So just before the fireworks start, drill your dog or your cat on favorite commands and tricks with lots of special yummy rewards or games.

9. Whatever you do, be sure that your pets stays safe. Bring outdoor pets inside the garage or the house during the holiday. Provide a crate or confinement in a pet-proofed room.

10. Move horses into secure fenced areas or barns that will safely contain a frantic animal without chance of injury. And just in case, be sure all your pets are microchipped or have other permanent and reliable identification for recovery if they do the desperado dash when the rocket’s red glare fills the sky.

http://www.pawnation.com/2011/06/28/10-tips-to-prevent-pet-fireworks-fears/

If you have any tips, please post them as a comment. Thank you all!

PLEASE BE AWARE!!!

Expiration dates exist to ensure that products remain fresh and safe for consumption and/or use.  Unfortunately, it has been reported to us that local pet stores in Missoula are selling expired replacer milk for animal babies, and babies have died because of it.  It is very important that you check the date on the products you buy for your pets, as expired products can be detrimental and even fatal to your pet’s health.  Please spread the word to pass along expiration date awareness.  Lives are at stake.

New New New!

Freemo’s Pizza has just partnered with AniMeals!  Check out the posters below to see how they are helping the animals of AniMeals!!!

Tips for Safe Camping with Pets!

Are you thinking about taking your dog camping? The outdoors is one of the best places to spend time with your dog. The dog loves all the new sights, sounds and smells. Here are a few tips that may make camping with your dog a bit more enjoyable and possibly safer.

• Consider a pre-traveling vet visit.
• Get current on all shots and vaccinations and obtain a Rabies tag for your dogs collar.
• Consider a possible Lyme disease vaccine.
• Obtain a current copy of their records and vet’s phone number.
• Get a proper dog license & ID tags for your dog–there name, your name and address and phone number.
• Temporary tags may be a good idea – name and phone number of where you are staying.
• Microchips, tattoos and pet registries are also available.
• Bring medications and copy of prescriptions.
• Consider use of a crate for travel and short term restraint.
• Don’t forget to pack plenty of water from home for your dog. Bring their regular food bowls, food and treats. To avoid problems, keep them on their regular schedule.
• Bring their chew toys and dog brush.
• Always bring their collar and leash. Extras may be a good ideas.
• For unexpected situations, pack first aid items for your dog and also a towel. Obtain the phone number of a vet in the area where you are staying.
• Check with your destination to be sure whether dogs are permitted. Pets are prohibited at many state and national parks. Try to get a site with some shade for your dog.
• Many private campgrounds allow dog but it is of utmost importance that you respect the other campers around you.
• Make sure you have complete control over your dog at all times. Keep them on their leash.
• Do not allow your dog to bark. Frequent and continued barking disturbed the wildlife and other campers.
• Closely supervise your dog around children, other visitors and other dogs.
• Never leave your dog outside unattended.
• Always pick up after your dog.
• Make use of designated dog walking areas.
• Use ziplock bags to pick up after them and properly dispose of it in appropriate trash containers.
• Give your dog time to adjust to their new surroundings. Give them time to rest.
• Watch that your dog doesn’t get tangled around tent poles or stakes, tables, trees, rocks etc.
• Make sure your dog is getting enough exercise. But consider the effect of activity and energy levels on your dog health.
• Be aware of how weather conditions effect your dog – heat, cold, rain etc.
• Remove any leftover food after your dog eats. This food could attract unwanted insects or wildlife.
• Be courteous of others while walking your dog. Keep your dog calm and controlled.
• Consider your dogs sleeping arrangements.
• Be aware that your dog may have increased exposure to ticks and fleas. Have the proper tick/flea collars, repellents or use Frontline applications. Other diseases can also be obtained from wild animals and insects.

Original Article:  http://www.lovetheoutdoors.com/camping/tips/dog.htm

Dog hitches 1200 mile ride from home to find his master in New Orleans

Remember the story behind Charlie the dog who hitched a ride to meet his master 1,200 miles away…read it again!

The dogs in New Orleans’ Carnival pet parade included a pooch that hitched a ride 1,200 miles from Taos, New Mexico, to the city where his 26-year-old master had hitchhiked weeks earlier.

Stephan Soleas, Charlie’s owner, had earlier packed his bags and his accordion, and hitched a ride to New Orleans for a few weeks of visits and music. He left Charlie, his 6-year-old Labrador mix behind when he left.

Within a few days of his leaving, Charlie went missing and could not be found.

What happened to Charlie?

He was found wandering by a couple vacationing in Taos. The couple saw a collarless dog and when they opened their car door to check on him, he jumped right in. The couple spent days combing the Taos neighborhood, searching for the owner or someone who recognized the dog but no one did. A nearby veterinary clinic, not equipped with a pet microchip scanner, was no help.

They’d become really fond of this rescued pooch and decided to give up their airline tickets and rent a car for the three-day return drive home with the dog…to New Orleans where they lived.

Not knowing what to call him, they decided on a name they thought fit. And the name they chose was……..Charlie.

After returning home the couple brought Charlie to their long-time veterinarian to get him checked and discuss plans for adopting him. One of the things their vet did was scan for a microchip and it was discovered that this dog did, indeed, have an owner in Taos. The veterinarian called the number of owner to let him know his dog had been found and was amazed to find that Charlie’s owner was in New Orleans, just blocks away from where Charlie was right then!

(I can picture the call….”Hey, we found your dog.” “That’s wonderful, but I’m away from home right now” “Where are you?” “New Orleans” “New Orleans…what the!!!!…….that’s where your dog is too!!”)

The veterinarian said the kind couple took the news well. “I think they were a little sad, and a little shocked, but they were just happy that he was able to get reunited with his family,”

So Soleas and Charlie reunited in New Orleans and two days later, they were in the Krewe of Barkus pet parade marching with all the other pets and their owners.

(and we hope they live happily ever after and that Charlie never is allowed out without his collar on again – and there is a moral to this story, isn’t there? 1. Make sure your dog has a collar with ID, 2. Microchip your pet in case #1 fails).

from http://www.nola.com/pets/index.ssf/2010/02/lost_dog_tale_has_happy_ending.html

 

 

BUY YOUR OSPREY TICKETS THROUGH ANIMEALS!

 

AniMeals Picture of the Day

Here, Kate and Shawn are medicating a kitten in the AniMeals ICU.  This area is off limits to the general public.  Volunteers and Community Service workers are only allowed in this area if given permission by an AniMeals employee. 

CAT FIX!

ANIMEALS ADOPTABLE CAT OF THE DAY!

CAT COMIC OF THE DAY!

SAFE PLANTS VS. TOXIC PLANTS FOR CATS

http://www.catscans.com/plants.htm

CAT QUOTE OF THE DAY

“Dogs come when they’re called. Cats take a message and get back to you.”
- Mary Bly

AniMeals E-Newsletter – Recycling Cottage Thieves

 

 

PLEASE REPORT ANY SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITY YOU SEE AROUND THE RECYCLING COTTAGES!  GET A LICENSE PLATE NUMBER IF THERE IS A VEHICLE INVOLVED!  THANK YOU SO MUCH!!