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Total cuteness.  Hedgehog in an office chair

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The reality of working in animal welfare and what you may not know

The reality of working in animal welfare and what you may not know

Understanding No  Kill vs Kill Shelters and other things you may not know.  Getting to know the people in the world of animal sheltering, the terms and the guidelines they work from and why. The People In Rescue… For the majority who choose this field, they do so because of dedication to the mission of animal sheltering and have a love for animals. They have seen the good and bad in humans. Try…

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To Those Bringing a New Pet Home.

To those of you who are bringing a new pet home, I ask these four things of you. BE patient BE understanding BE knowledgeable BE prepared Flash when he joined our family As a former worker in rescue, I believe that most of the animals surrendered to shelters are due to lack of patience, understanding, knowledge or preparedness. Here are my four requests for anyone bringing home a new family…

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How I stuck with an exercise program.

Always happy to see me. If it comes close to resembling exercise, I will not like it. I’ve never been ‘in shape’ but after my thyroid decided not to work the pounds crept on. I have tried everything from gym memberships, at home equipment, personal trainers and DVD’s. To get out was one obstacle, to stick with it was another. It doesn’t help that I have two very active friends. One even would get…

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What the box of Christmas Stockings means to me.

Not just a Christmas stocking they are memories. This time of the year is always bittersweet for me. As I unpack the Christmas stockings, I see the names of the pets I have had to say good-bye to the past year. The feeling of emptiness returns and I am forced down memory lane. Moments of sadness are then filled with the happy memories. I remember that while I feel our time together may not have…

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Making A Difference For Lost Pets With Facebook

How you can make a difference by Friending your local Rescue, Shelter or Lost Pet Group on Facebook. The photo used for the “Lost” post for Titus As a shelter employee, my heart would sink with every lost pet Facebook message. A family looking for their lost dog was always hard on me. It was the dead of Winter in Northern New York. Titus, a senior yellow Labrador Retriever, was nowhere to be…

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Why you should not purchase/adopt a pet as a gift- or should you?

With the season of gift giving rapidly approaching some people may be considering giving the gift of a dog, cat or small animal. It seems like the right thing to do. Shelters and rescues across the country may be more visible with holiday campaigns; I know the ASPCA commercial makes me want to do something- thank you, Sarah McLachlan. I read that even she changes the channel when her commercial…

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I think my area has finally hit the season of Winter. Low temperatures, wind, and snow are forecasted for the next few days. For me, it means coaxing one dog out to go potty and convincing one dog to come in. While I don’t ever have to worry that she will stay out long enough for it to be dangerous, I would rather be safe than sorry. Especially since she is a Senior now and I am not sure how great her judgment is.

Just because your dog or cat has a Winter coat does not mean (s)he is protected from the harsh elements. Paws and ears are often the first to be affected. Even if you are careful and just taking your dog out for a quick walk salt and other chemicals can be deposited on the pads of their feet. This can cause problems with the skin or because of ingesting chemicals while licking. Once home it is a good idea to wipe paws off. It will take off any chemical residue and give you an opportunity to check the pads for damage.

Pets who do have to spend some time outside need to have a place to get out of the elements. A sturdy shelter that is placed out of the wind with bedding that is thick enough to insulate and help keep them dry. Changing the bedding and water frequently to prevent the water from freezing and the bedding from being wet or soiled. Feeding extra amounts will help them have the energy supply they need to help keep them warm as well.

For areas with community cats (feral cats), you never know where they may be taking shelter. Your car engine may have seemed like a great place to snuggle when it was nice and warm after you came home last night. A quick slap on the hood of your car can prevent a cat from being injured, or killed, upon starting your engine. There are some easily made community cat boxes to help them find shelter from the cold.

It is also a time that some health problems may become more noticeable. Arthritis pops up more during these cold months making this a great time to make sure your pet has had their yearly wellness visit and vaccinations. If your Veterinarian suspects arthritis, there are options out there to provide relief. While at the clinic if your pet is not microchipped ask. There are many different microchip companies on the market. Find out what brand they use and if there are any yearly fees. If the chip they use doesn’t fit your budget, you can check with other agencies that provide this service. I know the Vetco clinics through Petco have a microchipping service for a small fee.

Lastly, be prepared as a family. My Dad taught me not to let my gas tank get too low and to make sure I had an “emergency kit” in my trunk with water, snacks and a blanket. I found out the hard way after being snowed in that you get sick of trying to figure out what to eat when the cupboard is bare. Now I make sure food is stocked, especially before a storm hits. Oddly enough I always seem to have that extra bag of pet food around. Stay warm and safe and enjoy the snow!

Vetco Link https://www.petco.com/veterinary-services?ddkey=https%3ASearchDisplay

Tractor Supply Vet Clinic Link https://www.tractorsupply.com/policies-information_pet-vet-clinic_pet-vet-clinic.html?ddkey=https%3Atsc%2Fsearch%2Fmicrochip

Community Cat / Feral Cat Housing https://www.alleycat.org/resources/feral-cat-shelter-options-gallery/

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Not crazy... just one of a select few. (It’s nice to know I’m not alone)

The night before Thankgiving, I was walking through our basement with an armload of firewood when I saw something that I could not quite believe. It was confusing and heartrending at the same time. A small mouse was sitting upright in the middle of our basement. It was hunched over, hanging its head with its eyes closed, and this may sound crazy, but it looked sad and completely defeated.

I approached it slowly, hoping that it was just fast asleep, drunk on whatever food it had managed to scrounge from our cellar. Sadly, that was not the case. As I reached out a hand to let it know that I was close, it lifted its head, looked up at me sideways, and slumped, hanging its head and closing its eyes again. It made no attempt to move. It was vulnerable and helpless.

As I gently picked it up, it did not protest - it assumed the same position. It looked up at me once, dropped its head to its chest again and closed its eyes. Within a few minutes it was asleep in my hand.

Close inspection revealed an injured rear leg that the mouse was dragging behind it. We consulted with a wildlife rehabilitator who was at capacity but offered valuable advice. She said it was likely nerve damage and suggested a week of cage rest to see if the injury would resolve on its own. So we spent the holiday weekend creating a habitat for and feeding our new guest. And we are seeing significant progress already.

Our guest will be with us for a few more days, until it is strong enough to be integrated with a colony - at that time, we’ll bring it to our dear friend Ellen Jareckie, a wildlife rehabilitator and the artist behind House-Mouse Designs®. She will keep the mouse through the winter and release it when it is stronger, in early spring.

I think it would be safe to assume that many who read this will believe that I am nuts for spending days trying to rehabilitate a mouse, and I understand. But seeing a small, helpless creature in a vulnerable state broke my heart. I had to do something.

Text/photo by Neil Brogan

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Life with a parrot can be challenging. Here is Indy’s story

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http://www.twohoundsandalab.com/2017/12/01/indy-the-g2-goffins-cockatoo/

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With her adoption I found my passion