Paw Prints
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A blog by the friendly folks at Midland Humane Coalition
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SPAY/NEUTER YOUR PETS! Too many pets end up abandoned and homeless because humans are no longer able to care for them. People get frustrated and desperate and dump these animals on the streets where they struggle to survive and live short and very low quality lives. If they're lucky, they might end up in animal shelters where they are eventually euthanized (i.e. killed) when nobody claims or adopts them. Does this sound like a grim fate for our adorable furry, four-legged friends? The sad reality is: there are too many pets being born and not enough homes willing to take them. Spaying/neutering is a proactive, humane solution to the problem of pet overpopulation. Having your pet spayed or neutered ensures that you won’t be contributing to needless suffering and death of your pet's future pups. WHAT IS SPAY/NEUTER? Spaying (females) or neutering (males) renders the animal incapable of reproducing. Spaying pertains to sterilizing female animals by removing the reproductive organs including the ovaries, fallopian tubes & uterus. It is typically performed on an animal between the age of 8 weeks and 6 months(latter is recommended). There is no maximum age limit on spaying, but an animal must be healthy to make it through the surgery without any complications. Neutering pertains to sterilizing male animals by removing the testes, also referred to as castration. The penis is not operated on during this procedure, and the outer sac that once held the testes is left in place. It is typically performed on an animal between the ages of 8 weeks and 6 months(latter is recommended). It can be performed on older animals as long as it is healthy to ensure recovery from surgery. WHY SPAY/NEUTER? Many pet owners cringe at the thought of spaying or neutering their pet, but the lifetime of behavioral, health and practical benefits to doing so far outweigh the brief moment of discomfort that your pet may endure. Your pet will be healthier, happier and will live longer when you choose to spay or neuter them. BENEFITS OF SPAYING FEMALES
BENEFITS OF NEUTERING MALES
The story below was shared by Margaret Leavitt, Jax's former foster mom and new forever family In January, we had to say goodbye to our beloved Weimaraner, Sam. Our family was crushed, but we were worried about our Pit Bull, Harley. Sam had taught Harley to be a great dog, and we could see that she was lost without him. It was too early for us, but we knew Harley needed a friend. We also needed a new dog to help us heal from Sam's death. We reached out to Cheryl at Midland Humane Coalition for a dog that may fit our needs. She was surprised that we were searching for a dog, because we mainly rescue cats. We weren't particular of breed, or age, but we needed a cat friendly dog. She thoughtfully considered Jax, but asked if we'd like to foster him as he was being vetted. We had only fostered rescue kittens, but we figured we'd give it a try. When we picked him up, he was by himself in the play area at Petsmart. When we saw Jax, he stopped, stared at us, and then started to jump around. It was like he knew we were there for him. Harley made friends with Jax quickly, so after only about 3 weeks, we adopted him. Although our foster period was short, it gave us time to find out if Jax was the right dog for our family. I would recommend fostering to anyone who is considering adoption. Our home is complete once again now that Jax is in it. He adds so much to our lives, but mostly unconditional love. THANK YOU, Margaret, for welcoming Jax to your home - temporarily and then permanently! Want to foster cats & dogs and help us save lives? You provide a temporary home, we provide everything else! Learn about MHC's PET FOSTER CARE PROGRAM.
Created in 2006 by animal expert and behaviorist Colleen Paige, the day was designated to bring awareness to the abusive and inhumane practices in these mills, where female dogs are continuously bred to produce puppies to sell for profit. Conditions in these facilities are often deplorable, and when the adults are no longer able to reproduce, they are regularly abandoned or euthanized. The way to fight back against puppy mills is to adopt from shelters and refrain from purchasing animals from pet stores and other sources that obtain puppies from mills to sell for profit. The buck stops here! This is a prime example of supply and demand. If people will adopt homeless animals from shelters rather than purchasing from back-yard breeders and puppy mills, there will be no demand for such an appalling industry. (Please note: the author of this article is not referring to reputable kennels that breed and show purebred dogs). On National Puppy Day, many shelters and rescues will hold “open houses” to allow people to visit with get to know adoptable dogs that need a home. Want a puppy? ADOPT, DON'T SHOP! Avoid puppy mills. Check out local shelters and rescues instead. There is already an overabundance of puppies being born into this world -- they need homes.
Until potty trained, a puppy will pee wherever it happens to be. “Not on the rug” doesn’t mean a thing to a pup! They go about every 20 minutes when they are awake and always after eating, napping or playing. You must be consistent when potty training which means someone will need to be home with the puppy to be successful at training them to potty outside. American Kennel Club has a helpful article online for tips on training>> Puppy Potty Training Schedule: A Timeline For Housebreaking Your Puppy (akc.org) Perhaps you have just settled in for eight hours of blissful sleep and you are awakened by the cries and whines of the puppy. Remember, they have likely just left the warmth and security of their mom and littermates and they are in new surroundings. They may be cold, need to potty or just need reassurance, but patience on your part is required. You will need to puppy proof your home and garage just as you would child proof it for the safety of a toddler. Make sure there are no wires for chewing within the pup’s reach, rid your home and yard of poisonous plants, keep cleaning supplies and pesticides out of their reach and make sure there are no chemicals in the garage that they can ingest. Anti-freeze is deadly. You will also need to learn what human foods are off-limits for canine tolerance. For instance, the Easter Basket full of chocolate eggs and bunnies may be unwanted calories to you but fatal to a pup. The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals has compiled a list of toxic and non-toxic plants>> Toxic and Non-Toxic Plant List - Dogs | ASPCA Puppies are a lot of work. Some people do not have the patience or the time to devote to a new puppy. There is no shame in that! The shame is taking on the responsibility of a puppy without being aware or willing to do what is necessary to make it a successful member of your household, often resulting in “getting rid of” or banning the pet to a lonely life in the back yard. If that is the case, perhaps choosing an older dog who has already “gone through” the puppy stage may be a better option for you. Others may take the challenge in stride, knowing that it is worth it when we cuddle the furry little body, kiss its soft muzzle and inhale the heady scent of puppy breath. We call it puppy love!
The story below was shared by Cheryl Ives, MHC Adoption Center Staff member, Tiny Tim's former Foster Mom and new Forever Family Tiny Tim has made a perfect addition to our family and pack of “littles”. As a rescuer, I am drawn to the underdog and that is why I was drawn to Tim with his bad knees and his constant pain. However, the timing wasn’t exactly the best to take on another dog. You see, I wasn’t in my own home and we had just lost our big dog, Trixie, who died of old age during the days of COVID. I initially fought bringing him home because of this. It was actually my husband who kept asking about Tiny Tim and saying "just bring him home". Timmy was very stressed in the kennel environment and he was biting some of the staff members. It really did take him a good three months to feel totally safe in our home. He’s really settled in now and even plays with the other dogs. Tim is a really fun, playful dog and we really enjoy his little antics. He loves to chase a ball and now he uses his legs more and doesn’t have to be carried out for breaks. He really has brought joy to us in these trying times. I would encourage anyone to take home a special needs animal as it can be very fulfilling. It certainly has been for us!
How did you pick Tiny Tim? And what made you decide to adopt him? Sometimes they just pick you!! We did not intend to keep Tiny Tim, but after no one stepped up that really would care for him the way we knew we could, we decided to put a deadline of December 24 on him and my husband and I agreed that he would have a forever family with us if no one adopted him. Why December 24? I planned to adopt Tiny Tim on Christmas Eve this year because that was his drop off date in 2019 and we had not found anyone that was a good fit for him that is really committed to his care. What advice/tips would you give people who are thinking about adopting a special needs dog or cat? Really, I would just say not to shy away from the special needs animals. They can adapt and compensate for any deficits. I used to have a blind cat and she made a wonderful pet. Her sense of smell was so keen and you wouldn’t really know she was blind. All they really need is a routine and a lot of love. Here's a glimpse of Tiny Tim's life in his new home |
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March 2021
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