Long Timers, Time Limits and a Common Question

One of the most common questions we're asked here at the Central Missouri Humane Society is, "How long do you keep an animal before...well...you know...?"
And the answer is, "As long as it takes!"

The Central Missouri Humane Society is an open door shelter, meaning any animal, no matter what age, breed, condition, or even species is welcome. In the past, this has included thousands of dogs and cats, the occasional pig, chicken and goat, and even snakes, raccoons and an alligator! Because we are an open door shelter, however, we sometimes receive more animals than we are able to care for. Sadly, this does mean we euthanize some animals. But it is never based on how long an animal has been in our care. Rather, we consider each individual animal - their health, their temperament, and their ability to handle the highly stressful environment that is life in an animal shelter.

Depending on their age or breed, some animals are adopted within days of being relinquished. Others take a while to find their perfect home. One of the longest residents in recent memory was Simba, an orange tabby who came in as a kitten, but missed getting adopted as a cuddly youngster. 16 months later Simba finally got his 'fur'-ever family! The staff and volunteers who cared for Simba were sad to see him leave, but excited for his new future.

Though staff and volunteers get to know and love our long-time residents like Simba, all animals deserve a family to call their own. Throughout February, in honor of the month of love, we will highlight a new dog and cat each week that has been at CMHS for months, and is looking for a family to love them! Additionally, we'll be blogging about their day-to-day life here at the shelter, and how you can help make the stay of any animal a little more comfortable. Email staff@cmhspets.org if you are interested in one of these great pets!


Meet Kit Kat! This gorgeous black and white girl has been a resident of CMHS since August 23, 2010! As an adult cat, she is pretty low-maintenance. She is excellent at using her litter box, and is content to entertain herself with toys or naps. She currently resides in our cat colony room, and gets along great with other cats. Her hobbies include bird watching from the window seat, and keeping tabs on the staff and volunteers at CMHS from the top of the climbing tree in the colony.



With her distinguished white muzzle, Sage got her name for looking like a wise old sage. Sage has been looking for a new family since October 22, 2010. At four years old, this terrier mix's temperament is a sweet as her smile! She is a docile dog who gets along well with other calm dogs and children. Her foster home reports that she gets along a little too well with cats! She doesn't chase, bit or bark at them, but she sniffs at them, keeps a watchful eye, and is prone to following them everywhere! This is far more entertaining for her than for the cats! Beyond that, she is a fantastic pet- house trained, crate trained, walks wonderfully on a leash, and loves to snuggle up to her humans.

Holidays with Your Pet (Part I: Travel)

The holiday season is upon us! As many of you hit the road or the skies to visit loved ones, here are some things to remember if you're bringing your furry friend with you:

Hitting the road?

• Keep your pet secure in a crate or in a fitted harness that attaches to the seatbelt. This will prevent him from losing his balance during sudden stops or starts and around corners. The crate should be large enough for him to stand up and turn around in. Both crates and car-ready harnesses are readily available at major discount stores and pet stores.
• Feed your pet about 3 or 4 hours before hitting the road, to ensure she can digest a bit and won't become carsick. If it's a particularly long journey, offer your pet food at a rest stop or gas station when the car is not in motion to ensure she's able to eat comfortably.
• Plan for emergencies! In addition to his regular collar and tags, include a travel tag with information on where you're staying and a cell phone or local number where you can be reached. If he's not already, consider getting your pet microchipped as an extra method of identification. Also, bring a copy of your pet's vaccination records, in case your animal gets loose and is picked up by local animal control - they may need proof of a rabies vaccination before he can be returned to you!
• It should go without saying, but never leave your pet alone in the car for anything longer than a quick bathroom break! In the winter, the car can act as a refridgerator, trapping and holding cold air, potentially giving your animal frostbite or worse!

Travelling by air?

• Schedule a visit to your vet in the week before you leave. Most airlines require a clean bill of health and vaccination records before your pet is allowed to fly. At this vet visit, you can also discuss whether its safe to tranquilize your pet. While tranquilizing can affect your pet's breathing and has it's own risks, for some pets the benefits of being calm during the stress of air travel outweigh the risks associated with medication.
• Book a direct flight if possible. This will eliminate the chance that you and your pet become separated during travel due to delays or missed connections. Carry a photo of your pet with you when you travel, and let airline staff both at check-in and on the plane know you're travelling with your pet so they are able to keep you informed.
• Check with your airline to verify documentation and procedures for travelling with your pet. Some smaller pets may be allowed to ride under the seat in the cabin; most will ride in the pressurized cargo cabin. Ensure that the crate you have for your pet is approved by the USDA for air travel - the store you purchase your crate from should be able to tell you.
• In addition to the collar and tags your pet will wear during travel, ensure you have your contact information and travel information attached to the crate. You may also want to attach a photo of your pet, on the slim chance she may escape her crate during travel - airline staff will be able to identify her and return her to the proper crate.

Bloodsuckers

Ah, summertime. Abundant sunshine, barbecues, lounging by the pool, and, of course, bugs. Lots of bugs, and the kind that like to bite you and, unfortunately, your pets. There's nothing like a flea infestation to take the fun out of your summertime plans. Following are some tips on how to deal with those pesky bloodsuckers if they do indeed invade your pet and your home.

1. Bathe your pet (yes, even a kitty) with a pet safe, soap free shampoo to help wash away fleas, flea eggs, and flea dirt first. Do not use a flea shampoo when bathing your pet, as some pets can have a bad reaction to the mixing of pesticides from the shampoo and topical treatments. Thoroughly dry your pet off and wait 24 hours to apply a topical treatment like Frontline or Advantage. Be sure to use the correct dosage for your size animal - never take a chance on being able to split the medication between several pets. The bulk of the fleas should be dead within 24-48 hours, but if you still feel like your pet has a large number of fleas you can use a product called Capstar available from your vet.

2. Skip the flea collars, powders, and sprays. They don't work and they don't prevent. The extra money it costs for a topical treatment is well worth it, and when you consider that it takes an average of 3 months to fight an infestation (yup, sorry to be the one to have to tell you that)you really need to use the stuff that actually works.

3. Wash your pet's bedding, your bedding, and any other blankets or throws that your pet may have come in contact with. Wait to put those items back out until you've treated the area.

4. Vacuum, vacuum, vacuum. And then vacuum again. Vacuuming helps rid your home of fleas, flea dirt, and flea eggs, so doing it at least once a day makes a big difference. Flea eggs are not sticky; they are designed so that they can fall off the animal wherever they go and spread the eggs around a large area. Think about that for a moment - fall off the animal wherever they go. Yup, that's gross, so vacuum your home thoroughly, including floors, couches, beds, tables, counters - anywhere your pet has been. Be sure to empty your vacuum cleaner bag or canister outside immediately after you're done. If you have a bag system this will mean throwing away the bag every time after you vacuum, but it's the only way to make sure those fleas don't escape back into your home.

5. Treat your home with a carpet and upholstery spray to rid those areas of fleas. Make sure it has an Insect Growth Regulator in it to help break the reproductive cycle. Follow instructions closely to keep your pet and your family safe. If the infestation is really bad you may want to use a flea bomb to help rid your home of the pests, but be aware that all living creatures must be out of the home for several hours in order to use a bomb.

6. Be diligent. Be sure to treat your pet with the topical preventative once a month every month. Vacuum at least once a day. Treat your home a second time if necessary, and put all the bedding through another wash cycle. The battle against the bloodsuckers is a frustrating one, but if you stay diligent and keep on top of them, you will come out ahead.