It’s almost National Animal Shelter Appreciation Week!

Shelter Appreciation Week is held the first full week of November each year, making this year’s event from November 7th through the 13th. The idea originated in Lincoln, NE, with the Capital Humane Society, and was picked up nationally by the Humane Society of the United States as a way to acknowledge and promote the contributions of shelters around the country.

This year, the Central Missouri Humane Society has already been able to contribute a lot to the community!

• Between January 1 and November 1, CMHS has taken in 5,133 animals, providing food, shelter and veterinary care during their stay
• Our amazing vet staff has completed hundreds of spay and neuter surgeries, both for the animals adopted from the shelter and for animals in the community!
• Quarterly vaccination clinics offered by CMHS administered 321 routine vaccinations, 30 microchips and 99 nail trims at an affordable cost for pets in the community!
• CMHS keeps extensive files of lost and found pets in the community, checking each day if there are matches to be made and lost pets to return to their families!
• Our food pantry has given out hundreds of pounds of pet food to families in the community who are struggling to make ends meet.
• And of course, we help families find their newest pet and our animals their ‘fur’ever homes every day!

Our volunteers and supporters are a huge part of our ability to provide services to our community! In 2009, our volunteers contributed almost 5,000 hours of support to CMHS, assisting with everything from special events to animal socialization! (At minimum wage, that's over $30,000 in support!) Additionally, donations from the community are a fantastic help – every pile of newspapers, jug of bleach and bag of kitty litter that is donated allows more of CMHS’s limited funds to go directly toward the care of the animals.

If you’re already a volunteer or donor, this week is as much for you as for us! We simply couldn’t keep doing what we do without your help. CMHS is able to keep its doors open because of you, and we’re so fortunate to have such a wonderful and diverse group of supporters!

If you’re interested in ways to offer support, consider these opportunities:

• Host a donation drive! Gather your coworkers, classmates or friends and collect bleach, kitty litter, durable dog toys, towels, blankets, etc. Every item donated is one less item CMHS has to purchase, helping us stretch our budget!
• Volunteer! We are always looking for great volunteers to help care for our animals, assist with special events and promote our pets!
• Adopt! If you’re looking for another pet, please consider the wonderful animals we have at CMHS. Your pet will come fully vaccinated, spayed or neutered and microchipped, all for an adoption fee that goes right back into the care of the animals!

Happy National Cat Day!

Tomorrow is National Cat Day, founded by Pet Lifestyle Expert & Animal Behaviorist Colleen Paige and sponsored by Animal Miracle Foundation & Network. It is a day to celebrate our feline friends and remember and help those that sit in shelters awaiting their furever homes. Shelter cats especially need our love and support; nationwide, the approximately 4 million cats entering shelters face difficult odds - about 70% of them will be euthanized. Cats are euthanized at a higher rate than dogs because so few cats have any owner identification information - no tags, no tattoos, no microchips. Because of that, less than 2% of cats in shelters will be returned to their owners, compared to 15% to 20% of dogs.* That small percentage leaves shelters overwhelmed with more cats needing homes than they have space for.

There is hope for these kitties, though, and you can help! Below are a few ideas on how you can make a difference in the life of a cat, whether it's yours or one that's waiting for its furever home in a shelter.

• Microchip your cat! And if your kitty is already microchipped, talk to your friends and family about the importance of microchipping their pets. Microchips can literally save the life of an animal that ends up in a shelter. It may be the only thing that gets your pet back into your care.


• Give your kitty some lovin'! Let them know how much they mean to you by taking some time out of your busy day to show them you care. Brush 'em, pet 'em, belly rub 'em - it doesn't matter as long as they get some kitty lovin'.


• Volunteer at your local shelter. All shelters need help, and the more help they get, the more the animals benefit. Volunteer to brush and socialize cats, or, if you've got the space, help them out by fostering.


• Raise some funds for a shelter or rescue. Host a garage sale, a bake sale, or a craft sale. Whatever you do, your local organization will appreciate the extra help!


• Have a supply drive at your school or office. Since many shelters are hurting for funds, it really helps out when the community donates goods like bleach and cat litter.


• Visit your local shelter and adopt your next feline friend. Adoption really is the best option, and you'll feel good knowing you saved a life. Watch for special events at your local shelter, like the CMHS Monster Mash Bash.

Enjoy National Cat Day, and be sure to show a kitty some extra lovin' on their special day! More information about National Cat Day can be found at http://www.nationalcatday.com/index.htm.

*Shelter statistics from Petfinder.com

Howl-o-ween

Halloween is just around the corner - a night filled with candy fueled ghouls and goblins. As we prepare by carving pumpkins, hanging spiderwebs, and readying costumes, it's important to keep our pets in mind as well. While loads of fun for us, Halloween can be overwhelming for our pets, and maybe even a little scary. Keep the following in mind, though, and you can have a safe and spooktacular night!

• Keep an eye on those spooky decorations. Those dangling spiderwebs may be tempting to kitty cats, and maybe even some dogs. Be sure that all decorations are out of reach of four legged friends so they can't become entangled or ingest anything. Be sure to watch out for candle too!



• Make sure jack-o-lanterns aren't accessible. Some dogs may be tempted to chew on your carved pumpkin, and while pumpkin itself is fine, large chunks of gourds can potentially cause an intestinal blockage.



• Keep all sweet treats out of reach. Chocolate is poisonous to dogs, and some candies have artificial sweeteners in them which are also toxic. Wrappers are a big no-no as well, so be sure that all little goblins and ghosts clean up after themselves. Allow your pet to join in the fun by getting them a special dog or cat treat.



• Keep pets inside on Halloween night. There's bound to be a lot more activity than normal, and that, combined with freaky costumes, can really spook your pet - they may become frightened and run off. To prevent this, keep them safe and indoors.



• Be sure that your pets are safe during trick or treating. No matter how friendly your critter may be, the constant ringing of the doorbell and groups of costumed kids may stress them out. Keep pets confined during trick or treating hours so they can't bolt out the front door if they become frightened. Give them a special treat to keep them occupied and happy.

Have a safe and spooktacular Howl-o-ween!

Dealing with Allergies

For lots of people, pets are considered members of the family. That's why it's so frustrating when you discover that you or someone in your household is allergic to the four legged furry kid. Getting rid of a beloved pet because of allergies is not an option for many people, so here are a few helpful tips for keeping those allergens under control and your pet in your home.

1. First, understand that you are probably not allergic to your pet's fur, but to their dander and/or the proteins in their saliva. When animals clean themselves they spread the protein from their saliva over their coat, therefore the more the animal cleans itself, the more they spread potential allergens (that's why cats can be such a problem - they're so clean!). Some animals produce less dander than others; some proteins will be less irritating to you than others; it all depends on how your body reacts to the specific allergens.
2. Groom your pet on a weekly basis. Brushing and bathing can do wonders for helping to keep allergens down. This means you should give your pet a bath every week (yes, even your cat - they can get used to bathing if done on a regular basis). Constant bathing, however, can be rough on your animal's skin. Be sure to use a gentle shampoo formulated for pets (no people or baby shampoo - dogs and cats have a different pH than people) and watch for dry skin issues. Once dry, brush your pet outside where you don't have to worry about pet hair blowing around the house and under furniture.
3. Keep pets out of the bedrooms and off of furniture. Though this won't keep all allergens from spreading to these areas it will help keep them down a bit - and every little bit helps when fighting allergies.
4. Vacuum at least once a day. This will help pick up dander and protein covered hair and help you breathe easier. Certain vacuums are designed to pick up pet hair better and are more efficient at trapping allergens - they may be worth the investment if your vacuum cleaner isn't doing the job.
5. Use an allergen catching filter on your furnace, and get an air filter or two for your living and sleeping areas. Although filters won't fix an allergy problems on their own, they'll certainly help keep allergens down.

By utilizing these techniques you can help keep your allergies in check and keep your furry family member in your home!

Adopt a Dog Month

October is a wonderful time of the year. The leaves turn color, the air is crisp, and it's a great time to find your new best friend! That's because October is Adopt a Dog Month - a whole month dedicated to the joys of rescuing an animal in need. If you're looking to add a four legged friend to your family, please consider adoption. Below are just a few of the reasons why adopting your next dog is a wonderful idea.

• You'll save a life. Whether you adopt from a shelter or a rescue group, you'll be saving the life of not just one, but two dogs! Your pet will get its furever home and a spot will open up for another animal in need.


• Rescued pets are grateful. A rescued dog knows that it's been saved and they'll show it! You'll be rewarded with tail waggin' and face lickin' for the rest of your days.


• You can have your pick. Shelters and rescues have a wide variety of animals available for adoption, from purebreds to mutts, and puppies to adults. There are even breed specific rescues out there if you're looking for a particular type of dogs.


• You may have a head start. A lot of animals in shelters and rescues already know commands and have at least started on their housetraining. Adopting means that you may get a dog that already has manners and knows that pottying is for outside.


• You'll help curb the pet overpopulation problem. Adopting a dog means that you aren't encouraging and supporting mass, uncontrolled breeding. And many shelters and rescue organizations spay and neuter their pets before adoption, so you won't have to worry about contributing to the overpopulation problem yourself.


• Love, love, and love. Adopting a dog means bringing lots of snuggly, furry love into your heart and home.
  
  
  
  
  

Fun Facts!

Here are a couple of fun facts about your canine and feline companions.

1. The U.S. has the highest dog population in the world.
2. 87% of dog owners say their dog curls up beside them or at their feet while they watch T.V.
3. Newfoundlands are great swimmers because of their webbed feet.
4. Basset Hounds cannot swim.
5. Greyhounds are the fastest dogs on earth, with speeds of up to 45 miles per hour.
6. Three dogs survived the sinking of the Titanic – a Newfoundland, a Pomeranian, and a Pekingese.
7. An estimated 1,000,000 dogs in the U.S. have been named as the primary beneficiaries in their owner’s will.
8. An American Animal Hospital Assoc. poll found that 33% of dog owners admit to talking to their dogs on the phone and leaving answering machine messages for them while away.
9. Humans have kept dogs as pets for over 12,000 years.
10. The largest breed of dog is the Irish Wolfhound.
11. The world’s smallest dog breed is the Chihuahua.
12. The St. Bernard is the heaviest.
13. It has been scientifically proven that owning cats is good for our health and can decrease the occurrence of high blood pressure and other illnesses.
14. Stroking a cat can help to relieve stress, and the feel of a purring cat on your lap conveys a strong sense of security and comfort.
15. The ancient Egyptians were the first civilisation to realise the cat's potential as a vermin hunter and tamed cats to protect the corn supplies on which their lives depended.
16. Cats see six times better in the dark and at night than humans.
17. Purring does not always indicate that a cat is happy. Cats will also purr loudly when they are distressed or in pain.
18. A domestic cat can run at speeds of 30 mph.
19. On average, a cat will sleep for 16 hours a day.
20. Ailurophile is the word cat lovers are officially called.



*Dog facts from http://www.animalsneedhelp.com/2008/04/20/102-interesting-facts-about-dogs/
* Cat facts from http://www.catsinfo.com/catfacts.html

Fall Safety Tips

Fall is nearing, and with cooler nights, sunny days, and falling leaves, it is certainly a beautiful time of year. There are pumpkin festivals, the trees change color, and toasty fires are lit. While it is a wonderful time of year, there are some safety concerns to keep in mind when it comes to your four legged friends.

1) Wild Mushrooms – If you like to go walking on the trail or hiking through the woods with your pup, be sure your dog isn’t grazing on any mushrooms during the outing. While most mushrooms are non-toxic, the ones that are toxic are extremely toxic! Better yet, it’s a good idea to not allow your pet to munch on anything they may find while out on a walk - there are lots of things they may come across that can make them sick or may even poison them.

2) Decorative Gourds – Lots of folks decorate their home with squashes and pumpkins during the fall. While these gourds aren’t poisonous for dogs, they can definitely cause a stomach upset or even an intestinal blockage if consumed. Make sure all gourds and pumpkins are out of reach of your pooch for their safety.

3) Fires – Fall is a wonderful time to have a roaring fire, whether it’s in your living room fire place or in a backyard fire pit. Wagging tails and burning logs don’t exactly mix, though, so be sure to keep an eye on your pooch anytime they’re around a fire. Also be sure to never leave your pet unattended when there is a fire lit, mo matter how fire savvy they may be.

4) Fallen Leaves – Piles of fallen leaves are a picturesque part of the season, but be sure to watch your four legged friends around them. Your pet may be tempted to chew on the crunchy leaves, but that can be dangerous for them. Oak leaves are poisonous, and other leaves can cause a blockage. As cute as it may be, discourage your pet from snacking on fall foliage.

5) Halloween – Though it still seems a ways off, Halloween will be upon us in no time. No matter how friendly and easy going your pet may be, Halloween can be a stressful event for them. Doorbells ringing, kids yelling, and strange costumes can put your dog or cat on edge. Do them a favor and let them hang out with a favorite toy or special treat in another room if you expect trick or treaters. That will also ensure that they don’t bolt out the door when it opens for groups of costumed kids. And be sure to keep that candy well out of reach. Not only is chocolate bad for them, but artificial sweeteners and wrappers can make them sick as well.