Dog Fighting...How To Recognize It And What To Do About It.

We've all heard about Michael Vick and his dog fighting ring, I'm sure.  Does this type of thing really exist in our own neighborhoods though?  I mean we like to think we live in a safe area.  Unfortunately this illegal activity can exist anywhere.  Your neighbors may even be participating in this behavior and you will not even know it unless you know what to look for.

http://www.aspca.org/fight-animal-cruelty/dog-fighting/dog-fighting-faq.aspx

If you hear someone asking for free kittens then that is a red flag.  Do not be fooled by the fact that they may have children with them.  Free kittens or cats are ALWAYS a bad idea for this reason.  They are used for bait to help make these dogs fight.  The kittens do not stand a chance and will always be killed in a horrible way.  They are then just tossed in the garbage like trash.  People will also look for free dogs and come by to see if they are submissive.  Submissive dogs make good bait as well because they will not fight back and if they do these people will tape their mouths shut so they can't fight back.  This is all an effort to make the other dog get a taste for fighting and blood so they will continue to do this behavior.  These people praise the behavior so the dog thinks it is a good thing to do.

The dogs will also more than likely be chained up outside with very heavy chains.  There will always be more than one and it will be breeds like pittbulls, rottweilers, etc. that people are already afraid of and feel are aggressive.  Unfortunately what a lot of people do not know is these breeds were originally used as nannies or herding or general working dogs...they were never deemed aggressive.  Humans made them that way and have inbred them so the genetics are not as they were initially so these dogs have gotten a bad rap over the years.

The dogs used for fighting are most likely not vaccinated or cared for medically either.  Why should they care for them medically if they are just going to let them kill each other?  The dogs may be heart worm positive, have tick borne diseases, distemper, or any variety of other medical issues.  Unless rescued from this situation, these dogs will never be treated for any medical condition they may or may not have and any injured dog will not receive treatment for injuries.

Gypsy with dog fighting injuries.  Notice she has no ears and is missing a leg.

The graphic picture above is not meant for shock but to show you what can happen to another dog during a fight.  This is definitely considered animal cruelty and is also very illegal.  People spend many years in jail if they are found guilty of this activity. There are also activities beyond just dog fighting such as drugs found to be involved as well.

Please check the link above for information as well as the links on this blog for more information regarding what to look for and if you do stumble upon what you feel is a dog fighting ring please leave immediately and call the police!  Give them the address and as specific a location as possible but do not go back there as the people would rather see you dead than to go to jail.

If you have any pertinent information to add please feel free to comment or ask any questions.  Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Flipbook and be sure to remind your family and friends about us.  As always, thanks for reading.

Adopting From An Agency Or Shelter...Is There A Health Guarantee?

The answer to this is no.  There is never a health guarantee even if you go to a breeder.  There is absolutely no way to guarantee the health of any animal unless there is genetic testing and even then it's impossible to tell whether or not a recessive gene will rear it's ugly head and bring out the disease or illness.

Take Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) for example.  This is an ultimately deadly disease most common in the Maine Coon, American Shorthair, Devon Rex, Ragdoll, and British Shorthair breeds.  It is basically the heart not properly functioning and its inability to pump blood effectively.  The walls of the heart will also thicken as the disease progresses so symptoms will get progressively worse.  There is no cure but there are medications that your pet can take to potentially prolong their life.  HCM is a genetic disease and can be detected through genetic testing however, your vet may tell you that your pet has a heart murmur.  If you have any of the above mentioned breeds you will want to pursue this further with more testing to make sure it is only a heart murmur and not HCM.

http://www.vetmed.wsu.edu/cliented/hcm.aspx

http://www.winnfelinehealth.org/Pages/06_Meurs_final.pdf

Another disease that is not able to be tested for is Feline Infectious Peritonitis (FIP).  This too is a deadly disease that can come on very quickly and will take your cat's life.  FIP is caused by a coronavirus very common in cats but doesn't often result in FIP.  This is found often times in multi-cat homes, catteries and shelters.  This does not mean that people should have only one cat at a time or not adopt from shelters or rescue organizations or seek breeding options. 

This cat is exhibiting the sign of enlarged belly consistent with FIP

Is there a vaccine?  Yes, but it's safety and effectiveness aren't able to be verified so I personally would not risk it out of my own paranoia.  FIP is not common and if your pets are healthy then there is no real reason to worry about it but it is worth knowing about.

If your cat all of a sudden stops eating, is very lethargic but his/her belly continues to grow it is time to go to the vet quickly.  Again, THERE IS NO DEFINITIVE TEST FOR FIP.  I personally know of one vet who was set on a FIP diagnosis for a cat and was set on euthanasia but decided to do one more test.  This test found it was NOT FIP and that cat is alive today because of this $140 test.

http://www.vet.cornell.edu/fhc/brochures/fip.html

http://www.winnfelinehealth.org/Pages/FIP_Web_2010.pdf

I do not write about these two specific diseases to scare anyone but to bring up the fact that there are no guarantees when you either adopt or buy a pet.  You, as their parent, have to be diligent in their health care and not just keeping them healthy and providing the appropriate care needed but being your pet's advocate.  You are their voice.  Nobody can tell you about genetic disorders if you are adopting and potentially even purchasing from a breeder.  Just due diligence on you and your vet's part will help keep your pet healthy.  It is unfair but it is a fact.  Appliances come with guarantees, not animals.

Please give us your respectful comments and questions.  Don't forget to follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Flipbook!  As always, tell your family and friends about us and thanks for reading.

Animal Cruelty...What Is It And How To Help Prevent It? It Isn't Just About The Animals.

This topic is so hard for some people and if you are in the trenches helping abused and neglected animals who are part of cruelty cases then it is even harder.  Most people will say even if they do not like cats or dogs or animals in general they would never hurt one on purpose.  That is the norm.  Then there are people who have such disregard for life that they get enjoyment out of seeing another living creature hurt.  These people would also have no problem hurting another human do please do not fool yourself into thinking they wouldn't hurt you too.

The definition of animal cruelty is:  the crime of inflicting physical pain, suffering or death on an animal, usually a tame one, beyond necessity for normal discipline. It can include neglect that is so monstrous (withholding food and water) that the animal has suffered, died or been put in imminent danger of death.  (http://legal-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/Animal+cruelty)

Here is a link to find the animal cruelty laws in your US state:
http://www.aspca.org/Fight-Animal-Cruelty/Advocacy-Center/state-animal-cruelty-laws.aspx

Please do not use the word "cruelty" frivolously because it is very serious to accuse someone of this crime.  Cruelty does not include letting your cat be indoor/outdoor or having an outdoor dog despite what your opinion on this topic may be.   There also has to be proof so be sure if you are going to accuse someone you have absolute proof and a local animal law attorney can help you with figuring out what this entails.

http://www.aspca.org/fight-animal-cruelty/reporting-cruelty-faq.aspx

http://aldf.org/article.php?list=type&type=85

Here are some pictures of one type of act of cruelty from the folks at "Unchain Your Dog".  
http://www.unchainyourdog.org/FactsPhotos.htm

I won't post anymore pictures because I do not want people to receive pleasure out of viewing thing that evil from this blog.  Suffice it to say, the research that happens on cats, dogs, and the slaughtering of animals can be considered cruelty and if you really want to see the pictures you will have to research them yourself.  I warn you, though, it is extremely disturbing.

Please talk to your local law makers about this topic and try to get laws passed that will help stop this behavior.  There is absolutely no reason for this behavior to continue and no reason these animals should be treated like this.  At the very least start with unchaining dogs and fighting the people who continue to have dog fighting rings on a daily basis because these type of people aren't just fighting dogs, they are more than likely into other illegal activities as well.

http://aldf.org/article.php?id=927

This topic isn't just about animals, it's about saving our communities and keeping them and the sentient beings in them safe.  If we all start to think outside the box and work with law enforcement to put these criminals in prison and work to get harsher laws for these crimes then we can begin to feel safer about 1) having those indoor/outdoor cats, and 2) maybe allowing our children to play safely in local playgrounds and in our own backyards.

This is a hot topic so please keep any comments respectful, but we do welcome any comments as long as we all respect everyone's right to an opinion.  Don't forget to follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Flipbook.  As always, thank you so much for reading!

Getting Yourself And Your Pet Ready For Storm Season

Here in the Southeast United States it is officially hurricane season.  This begins every year on June 1 and some people take it more seriously than others.  So in order to take the middle of the road with preparation I thought I would mention some things in we can do not only for ourselves but for our pets as well in case we do have a hurricane, or any storm.

Regardless of the storm there should be a few things we should always keep on hand and one of those things is a gallon of water per person per day.  That is normally my rule of thumb so everyone stays hydrated.  When it is hot and there is no air conditioning and people are sweating it is extremely easy to get dehydrated.  You should also keep a gallon of water per day per pet on hand as well for the same reason...hydration.  However, your pet cannot sweat so it is even more important to make sure your pet stays hydrated.  Animals pant to release heat from their bodies.  They also release heat from their paw pads.  If your pet is panting excessively then you might consider hosing him/her down with the garden hose to keep them cool.  Do NOT put wet cloths on their body because that will keep the heat in and that is very, very bad for them.

Of course another thing to keep on hand is non-perishable food.  Not just for yourselves but for your pet as well.  Canned food is good as is dry food.  You will just need to make sure you really keep an eye on the expiration date of these foods and if they are coming close to due then feed your dog or cat the foods and buy more to keep on hand.  There is nothing wrong with rotating this food.  You can also keep your pet's favorite treats the same way.  For dogs, if you use the natural chews then once again keep an eye on any expiration dates they may have.  For cats, the freeze dried treats you will want to make sure you store properly so they do not go bad.

Since I live in the Southeastern United States, I can say with confidence that if there is a hurricane and the eye of that storm has come over your area you can reasonably expect to be at least a week without conveniences depending on the category level of the hurricane.  I personally went through a category 3 hurricane and the eye went over my area and we were without power (and water although we had a well at the time) for a week.  I also work full-time in the public safety arena so I'm familiar with the damage various storms can do as well and how they can affect people's lives.

If your pets are not microchipped I strongly encourage you to get them done in case something happens to them and they get lost.  Vets and shelters will scan found pets and this will allow you to get your pet back.  This is especially important if you have outdoor or indoor/outdoor cats or outdoor dogs. 

Keeping your pets up to date on their vaccines is important as well not just during storm season but all year.  Especially rabies but your vet will have others he/she recommends as well.  These are important for the health of your pet.

Please prepare for the appropriate storm season in your area.  This will save time and energy and worry later on if there is a storm that hits your area.  Not only do you owe it to yourself but you owe it to your pets to prepare them as well.

Be safe and let us know if you have any questions.  Please follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Flipbook.  As always, thanks for reading.

What Exactly Are Heartworms? Can Cats And Dogs Get Them?

Heartworms are extremely dangerous worms that begin with a single mosquito.  The name "heartworm disease" can be misleading when dealing with cats because it is mostly a lung issue and not a heart issue; however, the heart is affected in dogs when the disease has progressed significantly.

The treatment is very hard on a dog's body as well because it is basically small doses of arsenic that are injected to kill the larvae and worms but obviously not the dog.  The vet will have to watch your dog for a period of time to make sure everything goes well and your dog will have to be kept quiet for a period of normally 6-8 weeks.  There is no real approved method of treatment for cats as of yet and the diagnosis is extremely complicated.

http://www.heartwormsociety.org/pet-owner-resources/heartworm.html

http://www.petsandparasites.org/dog-owners/heartworms

So what do we as pet parents do about this?  Well most importantly everyone should be on heartworm prevention regardless of your geographic location and whether or not you have seen a mosquito.  There are places outside of the USA that are prone to mosquitos as well and humans as well as animals should be protected against various diseases.

http://www.mosquito.org/mosquito-borne-diseases 

PLEASE GIVE ME PROTECTION!

Heartworm disease is an easily preventable disease and all it takes is giving your dog a monthly preventative.  You can also give your cat a prevention as well since statistics have shown the cats who have shown positive for heartworms have been indoor only cats.  It is rare, but it does happen to cats as well. 

So what are the symptoms?  What should we look for in our pets?  Well if they are coughing more than normal or the cough is persistent, get very tired after a little to moderate activity, they begin losing weight and their coat isn't up to par.  If your pet gets tired after just mild activity and they begin to lose weight but are eating the same amount or more food it is imperative you get him/her into the vet immediately for a heartworm test and/or chest x-ray.  Heartworms are deadly if allowed to progress too far.

http://www.fda.gov/animalveterinary/resourcesforyou/animalhealthliteracy/ucm188470.htm

http://www.vcahospitals.com/main/pet-health-information/article/animal-health/heartworm-disease-in-dogs/773

This prevention should, in my opinion and my vet's opinion, be given year round without interruption.  There is no reason to skip this protection for your pet (cat or dog) just because it is winter and we do not feel these creatures are not out because we may be wrong.  I know here in the Southeastern United States our winters are getting warmer (not that they were very cold anyway) which to me is a justification to treat our pets all year. 

Please talk to your vet and get his/her opinion and advice.  Also check out the links I have provided here from reputable sources.  If you have other sources for me please send them to me because I am always looking for research information to share with people outside of this blog.

Please leave your comments or questions and tell your family and friends about us!  Don't forget to follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Flipbook.  As always, thank you for reading.

Do I Really Need To Get Kittens In Pairs?

The answer to this question is only if you want a well socialized adult cat.  Kittens need each other to learn how to be well rounded cats.  This can only be taught by being with other kittens or other cats.  They need the mental, social and emotional stimulation that they can only give each other.  If you think about it we can't learn how to meow from them anymore than we can teach them the English language.  We need other humans like they need other cats.  It just makes common sense. 

http://www.goathouserefuge.org/two-kittens-are-easier-than-one/

http://www.mchumane.org/documents/kittencare.pdf

The above links have some very good insight into kittens.  They are work and they are very, very, very busy.  They also, like human children, haven't developed their adult personalities yet so just because they are sweet and snuggly now doesn't mean they will be as adults. 

Having two kittens is actually easier than having one believe it or not.  Two kittens will keep each other occupied and they will play with each other instead of bugging you all the time wanting to play!  They will be tons of entertainment and will keep you laughing. 

These pictures are very cute and show part of what playing is for kittens.  If you only have one then this chewing and wrestling will happen on you instead of an appropriate playmate.  Yes, you can show them a toy instead of you, but they are very social beings most of the time and will keep coming back to you for interaction. 

They will pounce, jump and stalk one another as if they are prey which is very, very normal.  If you have just one then they will do this with you!  They may do this even if they do have a playmate, but redirecting them is easier if there is something else to focus their attention like another moving target that is their size and looks like them. 

Another plus is when you are away from home, ex. at work, then they will have each other to snuggle with and play with so they are not bored.  A bored kitten is like a bored puppy...destructive.  They do not have the eduction yet to know right from wrong but if they have an appropriate playmate and appropriate toys then the likelihood of them getting into trouble is much lower.

Kittens are cute but if you want a pet whose personality is already developed then you might want to consider an adult for many reasons but 1) you know what you're getting personality wise, and 2) the chances of him/her doing well alone (if you only want one) are higher. 

If you aren't sure what you want, then you might want to consider fostering until you know for sure.  Not only does it save a life, it gives you a chance to spend time with an animal and give it a good home until the right family comes a long.  It is definitely rewarding.  Check with your local rescue organizations or shelters for more information.

Thank you so much for reading and I hope this has given you some insight.  Tell your family and friends about us and if you have a topic you'd like to see discussed please let us know.  Don't forget to follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Flipbook!  Again, thanks for reading.

The Weekend Was Busy...

There was just so much to do and not enough time to get it all done, but isn't that always the case.   As far as our furry friends go, there is of course news to tell on the rescue front.  There were a couple of kittens found on a nearby highway that were picked up by a fellow volunteer so they are now safe.  There are always animals in danger of being euthanized at our local shelters as well because of space issues (i.e. too many animals coming in and nowhere to put them so they have to euthanize the ones there to make room).  Then of course there are always adoption events for the animal rescue organization I volunteer with.  The picture below is me holding a 6 week old kitten named Buttercup.

 

 

She is so sweet and had been playing off and on for the entire 3 hours she was at the event.  We of course could not resist this photo opportunity.  Would you have been able to resist her at all?  I can't, that's for sure.

 

Then Thor and Megan, our Newfoundland nephew and niece, were there getting baths as well.  Once they got done they were, as always, a big crowd draw and people were taking pictures of them and loving on them which they really live for.  Thor's Wobbler's is getting worse apparently and he lost about 4-5 pounds this week which is really not good.  He is so skinny it is truly breaking our hearts not just for him but for his parents as well.  He of course puts on a brave face at the store.  If you are owned by a large breed dog, please pay attention to their gate (walking habits) so you will know if it changes.  There is no cure for Wobbler's.

 

http://vet.osu.edu/wobbler-syndrome

 

All in all it was a great weekend and it is our hope to have many adoptions for the homeless animals and maybe even find some barn homes for homes with lots of land for some semi-feral cats.  They are quite a help to those not only with barns but with lots of property. 

 

http://www.aspca.org/adoption/feral-cats-faq.aspx

 

If you are in the Raleigh, NC area and are willing to have at least one semi-feral cat on your property please contact me for some no costs details as to how you are able to have this for your land.

 

I hope you all had a wonderful weekend and have a wonderful week.  We'll talk more about the fur kids this week!  Let me know if you have any specific you'd like me to discuss or if you have any input.  Your family and friends might be interested in reading so please tell them about us and as always thanks for reading!