May 13, 2013

Get In The Car And Go…With Your Pet!

Walter and Albert on their favorite beach

Walter and Albert on their favorite beach

Spring is here which means warmer weather and Labor Day to look forward to!

A lot of people are planning vacations right now and the pet lovers among them are thinking, “Can I take my best furry friend with me?”

To answer this question, I sat down with Brittney Turner, a local photographer and bulldog lover who took her bulldog Walter on numerous trips to Savannah, GA before he passed away in January this year.

(Coincidentally, the University of Georgia mascot is a white bulldog and Georgia fans love their bulldogs.  This made Savannah the perfect place for Walter and Albert to receive VIP treatment.  Brittney said, “People would always come up to us wanting to take pictures of or with Walter and Albert.”  She estimates that over 1,000 people have taken pictures of Walter and Albert.)

Like any pet owner, Brittney was nervous about taking Walter on his first long road trip ( a 12-14 hour drive). Add to that the fact that Walter was in his retirement years (ten, which is old for a bulldog) and you have a recipe for a very nervous dog mama.

After making multiple phone calls to the hotel and reading everything she could get her hands on about traveling with pets, she set out on her first trip to Savannah with Walter.

When taking your dog on a car trip, you may be wondering:

How Often Should I Stop?

Brittney says “I read all the pet articles about traveling with your dog and they said to stop every two hours and let your dog out. So on the first trip, I did and after about two or three stops, he had had enough of that. He would get out of the car, do his business right there and want to get right back in. He was like ‘I don’t care that you have food. I don’t care that you have water. I’m ready to GO!’”

So finally what I started doing was I would make really quick stops for myself and about halfway through the drive, we would stop for an hour so Walter could get out, eat, and drink. Usually we would stop at Sonic so we could eat outside.”

What Makes A Pet-Friendly Vacation Spot?

Albert: Don't forget the dog!

Albert: Don’t forget the dog!

If you’re planning to spend a lot of time with your dog on vacation, look for a walkable city with lots of parks and outdoor dining. Brittney found  Savannah’s historic downtown district to be very pet friendly because of all its green space and its walking- friendly layout.

Arkansas’ State Parks are very pet friendly. My parents have been taking their Chihuahua along on their RV adventures for years to Petit Jean, Mt. Magazine, Mt. Nebo, the Smoky Mountains of Tennessee, and even the Florida beach!

I was surprised to learn that Disney World, and in fact all of Orlando, Florida is pet friendly. Disney World has five kennels where you can board your pet for $15/day and every restaurant in the city with outdoor seating is mandated to allow pets.

Brittney emphasized that if you’re planning a beach vacation, check ahead of time to make sure they allow pets on the beach because policies differ from place to place.

For the top five pet-friendly vacation spots, click here.

What Should You Look For In A Hotel?

The Mansion

The Mansion

Assuming you’re not staying with relatives or camping, you’ll need to find a pet-friendly hotel. Brittney picked The Mansion on Forsyth Park for her accommodations in Savannah.  They not only allowed pets, but were very accommodating to Walter each and every time he stayed there, which was two to three weeks at a time several times per year.

When you’re checking out hotels, look for:

  • Pet-friendly policies (is your pet within the weight restrictions?)
  • Amenities (does your dog take medicine that has to be refrigerated?)
  • Location (Is there an appropriate “potty area” right outside the hotel? If not, are you willing to hoof it a few blocks?

Of course, not all dogs are up for a road trip. If your dog has frequent accidents indoors, gets sick in the car, or if you won’t have the time to care for him on vacation, then boarding him at a reputable kennel or a friend’s house is the best idea. I recommend Furry Feet Retreat in Alexander, Ar. for boarding (phone: 501-847-5927).

Have you taken your pet on vacation? If so, how did it go?

I want to thank Brittney Turner for granting me an interview and the use of her photos. In honor of her late, great bulldog, Walter, Brittney has a special photography service for pets called “Special Attention Sessions”. These packages are offered at a discounted rate for elderly and terminally ill pets and can be done in your home. For more information, click here.

Walter in his wagon

Walter in his wagon

Posted by on May 13, 2013 in dogs and tagged , , , .

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March 28, 2013

Kitten Season Is Here: What You Need To Know

Image

Spring is officially here…

because today when I visited the Little Rock Animal Village, I was greeted by five litters of kittens!

Kitten season, as it’s known in shelter circles, starts in Spring and extends through Fall. If you’re looking to adopt a kitten, Spring and Summer are the best times because there will be a wide variety to choose from and because shelters often discount adoption fees during this time in an effort to free up cages.

It’s also a fun time to be a shelter volunteer, because, let’s be honest, who can resist this face?

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BUT…

Maybe you’re not in the market for a kitten at all but a pregnant cat shows up in your yard, at your school, or where you work. Now you have a dilemma. What should you do in this situation?

I spoke with Tricia Power of the Bryant Animal Control and Adoption Center and she advises anyone who finds a pregnant cat to, first of all…

1. Notify local animal control with a description of the cat.

It could be someone’s missing pet.

If no owner comes forward, Tricia recommends…

2. Get the cat spayed ASAP.

This part may be a little upsetting to some folks because spaying the mother cat will mean that she loses the litter. However, it is a lot easier to find a home for one cat than five cats. Also consider that even though the kittens would surely be adorable, your local shelter may have fifty other adorable kittens who need homes as well.

If you need help affording the surgery, go to my Spay/Neuter Clinics page where you’ll find a directory of low-cost spay/neuter clinics all over Arkansas. Also check the Events calendar for scheduled clinics.

But what if the mama cat has already had her kittens?

sleeping kittens

In this case, you’ll want to…

Get the mama and her kittens to a confined space

This could be a garage or laundry room. The objective is to keep the cats safe from cars and predators. Keeping the mother cat safe is important because young kittens don’t stand much of a chance of survival without their mother . (Rescuing orphaned kittens is another topic completely and is addressed here at Alley Cat Allies.)

Kittens should remain with their mother until they are at least eight weeks old. During this time, the mama cat is teaching her kittens manners as well as predatory skills. Separating kittens from their mothers too early can result in behavior problems later on. (for a photo guide to kitten age, click here)

tuxedo kitten

At eight weeks, you can bring the mama and litter to the local animal control and they will be placed for adoption. In Saline County, there are several towns that do not have access to animal control. In those cases, Saline County residents can contact Bryant Animal Control and Adoption Center and they will help find homes for the kittens and mother.

I want to thank Tricia Power for her help with this article. This is merely an overview , but if you want in-depth information on how to care for feral cats and kittens, as well as advice on trapping and socializing, visit the Alley Cat Allies website.

# Posted by on March 28, 2013 in cats and tagged , , , , .

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February 20, 2013

Shelter Volunteering Is Not Sad

Foster Cats

Foster Cats (Photo credit: sneakerdog)

 

The other day, I was chatting with a client…

when I brought up that I volunteer at Little Rock Animal Village (the city-run animal shelter). She asked me a question that I get a lot:

“Does it make you sad?”

I’d like to answer that question here.

No, the vast majority of the time, shelter work does not make me sad. It’s relaxing for me and very rewarding to see animals get adopted into good homes.

In fact, I’ve compiled a list of experiences that have made me much sadder than petting cats at the shelter:

1. The state of Arkansas sending my tax refund to the wrong address

2.The price of Starbucks coffee

3. The mall during the month of December

4.Cubicles

5. Pop stars that are younger than me

6. Millionaires who are younger than me and have less education

7. Facebook during election season

8. The declining spelling skills of our nation’s youth

At the cat shelter - its like crack for my wife

At the cat shelter – its like crack for my wife (Photo credit: nicco)

I think the reason more people don’t volunteer at shelters is the fear that it will be depressing. For this, I partly blame the ASPCA, who is responsible for running those black and white TV ads that would have Cruella De Vil reaching for a tissue box.

The ASPCA has done a lot of good things, but that ad is not one of them. Watch it a few times and you’ll be convinced that animal shelters are full of pitiful, sick, injured animals whimpering at the backs of their dirty cages.

I’ve been working with the cats at the city shelter for a year and a half, and I can attest that it is not a depressing place to volunteer. The employees work hard to keep the floors and cages clean, and they all love animals. Ask them who their favorite cat or dog is and they’ll be quick to point out the ones they’ve become attached to. The building is well-lit and there is a lot of fenced-in grassy area outside for volunteers to walk the dogs.

So here’s a list of things I love about volunteering at the shelter

1. Watching kittens play together (they think they are so ferocious!)

2.Walter, a cat who would put a paw on each of my shoulders and nuzzle me under my chin

3. A solid white cat who perched on top of my head

4. Chaplin, the cat with a mustache

5. Tiger, who purred like a race car

6. Watching a shy cat slowly come out of its shell and learn to trust

7. The cat who had 6 toes

8. The cat who had “smoke” fur (white at the base, black at the tips).

9. Holding a purring cat in my lap

10. Cats going to good homes

And if that list doesn’t convince you, watch this video I took of a shelter cat attacking a jingle ball!

 

 

Posted by on February 20, 2013 in cats, volunteering and tagged , , , .

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January 7, 2013

Free Pets: Good Idea or Bad Idea?

Toy or Treat 1

Picture yourself browsing the kennels at your local animal control…

and you come across two pets, one with an adoption fee of $100 and one with no adoption fee. Which of these animals has a better chance of going to a good home?

Conventional wisdom tells us that people only value what they pay for, so someone who gets a cat for free wouldn’t value it enough to feed it and care for it properly, would they? People who adopt a cat for free probably doesn’t have the money to give it a good life, or do they?

These are questions the rescue community is faced with all the time, and opinions vary widely.

Let me give you two local examples:

1. The Little Rock Animal Village

catsnightout

I’ve been volunteering with the cats at LRAV for a year and a half. Recently, they started an event called Cats Night Out where on the 1st and 3rd Thursday of every month the shelter stays open until 8:00 pm and allows adult cats to roam the halls and lobby area to get some exercise and exposure to potential adopters.

On these nights, adult cats over one year old are free to adopt. As a volunteer, I have had a lot of fun at these events introducing visitors to our cats and mingling with other cat volunteers. At each event, at least one cat has been adopted, and last Thursday, we had a record of eight adoptions. The reason for this event is kittens usually fly out the door pretty fast, but adult cats can linger in the shelter much longer if they don’t get special attention.

2. The Humane Society of Pulaski County

Ryan

A few days ago, Arkansas Pet Gazette made a donation to the HSPC to sponsor two adult black cats, which typically take longer to adopt out than their lighter-colored friends. I talked to the receptionist about using the donation to cover the cats’ adoption fees and she told me that even if a cat is sponsored, they don’t tell potential adopters until they have already filled out the adoption application and are ready to pay for the pet themselves.

The HSPC feels that if they advertise an animal as free to adopt, it will attract the kind of adopters who can’t afford the upkeep on a pet.

So, you can see by these two examples that shelters frequently disagree on the subject of free pets.

My personal opinion is that as long as a shelter screens potential adopters by running an animal cruelty background check and talking with them about their expectations for having a pet, it won’t matter in the end how much they pay for their new furry friend. However, I respect HSPC’s decision not to advertise free pets and I know they have the animals’ best interests at heart.

What do you think about free pet adoptions?

Regardless of where you stand on the subject, you may be interested to read about  a study conducted by the ASPCA that investigated whether it was harmful to adopt out cats for free.

Looking to adopt? Check out our Events Calendar for local adoption events!

Posted by on January 7, 2013 in adoption, cats, events and tagged , , , .

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December 13, 2012

How to Make a Hipster Cat Toy With Michelle Munyon

Michelle Munyon with her son

Michelle Munyon with her son

Tired of the same catnip-filled mice and jingly balls for your cat? How about an octopus? Or a mustache?

Michelle Munyon is the crafter behind Etsy store The Hip Catch where she specializes in unusual cat toys.

Michelle was kind enough to do an interview with Arkansas Pet Gazette and even passed along instructions for her most hipster item:

The Toy Mustache.

Screen Shot 2012-12-03 at 4.02.17 PM

APG: When did you first get interested in making cat toys?

Michelle: I discovered etsy a couple years ago. I was sewing handbags at the time. I started my shop with those, and then I added in pet Christmas stockings, because I had made a few for friends for the holidays and I thought they turned out pretty cute. And then since I have a cat, I started making cat toys and now that’s what I mostly sell in the shop.

APG: As a cat owner, I have to ask, how do you get crafting done with a feline around? Because my cat is always trying to bat at my yarn, bite at my scissors and basically prevent me from accomplishing anything other than rubbing her tummy.

Michelle: So, being a cat owner and making cat nip treats really brings out my cats love for me! As soon as I open up the jar of catnip, Mija is over in my face. I normally will put a towel on the ground and let her roll in her own stash so she keeps busy. But, when I’m photographing the finished toys to add them to the shop, she is constantly in the pictures, trying to get the toys. I just pick her up, put her behind me, try to snap a few shots, and repeat, cause she will be right back up in about 30 seconds!

Michelle's indoor cat Mija

Michelle’s indoor cat Mija

We also have an outdoor kitten. We live on an old farm in the country and in July we found out we had a kitten living under the old chicken coop. It took us about a week to get it to come out and another few weeks for us to be able to pet him, but he has warmed up to our family and we’ve adopted him as our “stray.” My husband named him Hobo and we feed him a little food each day and he sticks around but he’s free to go where he pleases (except in the house).

Hobo, the outdoor cat, with Michelle's son

Hobo, the outdoor cat, with Michelle’s son

Are you ready to try your hand at making the mustache cat toy? I’ll warn you: I tried it and it’s harder than it looks!

You will need:

-felt
-scissors
-catnip
-pen or chalk pencil for tracing
-scrap of paper
-embroidery thread and a needle
-fiber fill

The execution is simple.

  1.  Cut two pieces of felt (for the front and back) into a mustache shape.
  2.  With your needle and thread, sew the two pieces together–ALMOST!
  3.  When you still have a little sewing left to do, stuff the mustache with fiber fill and catnip
  4.  Finish sewing.

Mine turned out smaller than I wanted it, so I turned it into a Christmas ornament and it hangs on my tree! Here’s how it turned out:

mustache

Thank you, Michelle, for being our guest here at Arkansas Pet Gazette!

Posted by on December 13, 2012 in cats, DIY and tagged , , , , .

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November 7, 2012

Cute Guys and Kittens Calendars On SALE!

 

That’s right! From now until November 27th, 2012, the Cute Guys and Kittens Calendars are 25% off!

Use coupon code: CALENDARTIME at checkout

The calendars are impressive quality and make great Christmas gifts!

UPDATE: In the spirit of the holidays, we have decided to donate ALL proceeds to the Humane Society of Pulaski County.

Order yours HERE.

In case you missed them, here are previous posts about the Cute Guys and Kittens Calendar:

Cuteness in Three Easy Steps

Is That a Cat On Your Shoulder?

Cute Guys and Kittens: Take One

Radio Personality Poses for Calendar

Cute Guys and Kittens: Take Two

Posted by on November 7, 2012 in cats, photos, products and tagged , , , , .

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October 27, 2012

How To Make A Dog Toy Out Of A T-Shirt In 15 Minutes

If you are low on money and feeling crafty, boy have I got the pet project for you:

The T-Shirt Tugga Toy!

 

All you need are T-shirts you don’t mind cutting up and scissors.

The instructions I modified can be found here.

To make a toy for a large dog:

1. Cut 20 strips 1 inch wide and 20 inches long from the T-shirt (or several tshirts if you want color variety).

2. Put all the strips together and tie a knot in one end.

3. Separate your strips into 3 groups and braid tightly until you’ve braided almost all of it.

4. Then tie a knot in the other end.

Voila! You’re done!

Variations:

For smaller dogs, use fewer strips of fabric and shorter strips.

Bryant Animal Control and Adoption Center is doing a Toy or Treat Drive for the animals from now until Halloween. They put plastic trick or treat buckets on the kennels so visitors can drop in treats or toys  for the dogs and cats. I whipped up four tugga toys and stopped by to hand them out.

The dogs were so happy to receive their treats and homemade toys!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Posted by on October 27, 2012 in dogs, products and tagged , , , , .

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October 16, 2012

Beebe Finds A Human: Part Two of Beebe’s Adoption Story

Back in February, I wrote about a pitbull mix named Beebe, so named because someone threw him over the fence into the backyard of the governor’s mansion.

While in his foster home with Out of the Woods, he learned to obey hand signals and jump through a hoop. Even with these skills under his belt, Beebe remained in foster care for almost a year before a young man named Chris saw his photo.

Chris tells it like this: “I was working at the country club and my boss got an email with Beebe’s photo. He showed me the picture and I instantly wanted him.”

This was to be Chris’s first time to adopt a pet, although he had owned several Pit Bulls before. After checking with his landlord, he brought Beebe home. Beebe is the only pet in the house where he is potty trained, kennel trained, and continues to learn more commands from Chris.

Check out these photos of Beebe in his new home:

Beebe’s adoption can teach us a few things about hard-to-place breeds like bully breeds. The odds were stacked against him with many counties in Arkansas banning Pit mixes and still countless others who aren’t too trusting of the breed because of ingrained beliefs about these breeds. Out of the Woods has their work cut out for them.

First, OOTW spent a lot of time and energy on training Beebe to be a good house dog. A trainer worked with him while in foster care to teach him to respond to hand signals. He was also evaluated by several trainers to see how he responded to other dogs and people.

Once the rescue organization figured out Beebe’s needs and what Beebe had to offer, they took good photos and wrote an excellent profile for him on Petfinder. They even went the extra mile and uploaded multiple videos of Beebe showing off his newly found skills.

It took a while, but Out of the Woods didn’t give up on finding Beebe a forever family. They kept spreading the word until the right person found him.  Good job, Out of the Woods!

Thank you for adopting, Chris!

There’s a LOT of animal-related activities going on this time of year! Check out the Events tab for a complete listing.

Posted by on October 16, 2012 in adoption, dogs and tagged , , , .

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October 2, 2012

Adopting an Adult Dog: Lucky’s Story

Last week, I wrote about a family that adopted a puppy from the local humane society. This week, we’ll hear from Sandy Dolberg, Little Rock resident and member of the Little Rock Dog Training club, who adopted Lucky, an adult, all-black ,purebred Pug, five years ago.

Sandy’s home already included  another Pug and an American Straffordshire Terrier. So, why add another? Sandy said she had wanted another Pug for a while and also wanted to try brace obedience training with the two of them.

Side note: I looked up “brace obedience” on YouTube, and you should too because it’s pretty cool. Brace obedience requires you to have two dogs of the same breed attached to each other by a short leash while they work together to compete in the show ring.

When Sandy got a call that the Humane Society of Pulaski County had rescued a bunch of puppy mill dogs, she went down to look at the Boston Terriers. She hadn’t planned on adopting that day, but when she saw Lucky, “It was love at first sight.” she said.

It may surprise you that Sandy found a purebred dog at a shelter, but according to the ASPCA, 25% of dogs who enter shelters are purebred. While I believe mixed breeds are just as good as purebreds, Sandy’s story goes to show that you never know what you’re going to find at your local animal shelter/rescue.

If you’re wondering how Lucky gets along with his fur-siblings, his mom says they get along pretty well. When Sandy first brought him home, he was calm and subdued, “But, he came out of his shell. Now he’s vocal and wild!” she said.

He’s not ill-behaved though. Lucky has been a student at the Little Rock Dog Training Club since 2008 when he first learned “sit”, “down”, “stay”, and “come”.

He even does the dog show circuit where he’s won five titles from AKC Companion Dog (CD), Beginner Novice (BN), Rally Novice (RN), Rally Advanced (RA), and from UKC United Companion Dog (UCD). The following photos show Lucky and his brother Bo at their most recent show in Little Rock:

Bo and Lucky

He’s quite the clown with that tongue sticking out! Thank you for adopting, Sandy!

Are you thinking about adding a pet to your family? Petfinder is the best place to quickly search online for adoptables in your area.

Posted by on October 2, 2012 in adoption, dogs and tagged , , .

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September 17, 2012

Where Are They Now? Adopted Pets In Their Forever Homes

Puppy in a box

Advocating for animal adoption is a lot like the American Romantic Comedy.

You prepare, wait, and hope until FINALLY the big event happens. In a romantic comedy, the couple says “I do” or kisses for the first time.  In the case of animal rescue, a homeless animal goes to be with its forever family. Everyone goes home happy!

We call it a “happy ending”, but really it’s the beginning of a whole new story. If you’ve ever wondered what happens in the months and years after a pet finds his forever family, you will want to read the article series I’m starting today.

The first story I’ll tell is Angie’s.

It all started when Angie’s kids (age eight and thirteen) started begging for a dog. Their family had never adopted a pet before, but they had seen commercials on TV promoting shelter adoption and decided to go by the Humane Society of Pulaski County to look around. Angie and her husband went without the kids because, “My son has a big heart and he would be so upset that we couldn’t take all the animals home, so it was best for us to look without the kids.”

They stayed for two hours, going from kennel to kennel. The last one they looked at was a mixed breed puppy with a long tail named Lexi. Angie’s husband was smitten with the shy girl. The longer they played, the surer he became that this was The One.

Etta’s first day with her new family!

When they took her home, Angie said, the puppy they renamed Etta was so skittish, she cowered when the wind blew. It didn’t take her long to come out of her shell, though.

Etta is now four months old, having spent one of those months in Angie’s home. She has her own blanket and pillow and all the family’s attention since she’s the only pet.

Angie describes Etta as extremely loyal and sweet. ”If I go to the kitchen to wash my hands or something, she will lay on my feet while I’m standing at the sink. She follows me everywhere.”

At first, Angie was a little apprehensive about adopting a dog with an unknown breed because she was worried that aggression would surface later on, “But,” she tells me, “so far so good!”

Etta in the car

Etta in bed

What a lucky dog! Angie, thank you for adopting!

Coming up next: Whatever happened to Beebe, the pit bull mix?

Posted by on September 17, 2012 in adoption, dogs and tagged , , , .

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