The Benefits of Spaying or Neutering Your Cat

All cats and kittens should be either spayed or neutered unless the owner is in the business of raising purebred cats. The days of letting the family cat have a litter of kittens so that kids could observe the miracle of birth are long gone. Animal rescue groups have done an excellent job communicating the tragedy of homeless pets. Most people now realize that stray and feral cat overpopulation is an enormous problem.

According to 2008 stats from the Humane Society, there are approximately 88 million owned pet cats in the United States (more than dogs!). Nearly one third of all US households own a cat and on average most of those homes have two cats. Eighty seven percent of the pet cats in the U.S. are spayed or neutered. It's a very common procedure and there are many benefits.

What Is Spaying And Neutering?
Sterilizing a cat is known as neutering for males and spaying for females. Neutering a male cat is a fairly simple procedure performed by a professional veterinarian. The cat is placed under general anesthesia, and the testes are removed through an incision in the scrotum. The incision is very small and stitches are usually not even necessary.

Spaying a female cat is a more involved and invasive procedure, and as such is often more expensive. The ovaries, fallopian tubes and uterus are removed after the cat is immobilized with general anesthesia. The operation is known as an ovario-hysterectomy. The abdominal area is shaved and the surgical wound usually only requires a few stitches.

Kittens should be spayed or neutered when they reach sexual maturity, which is usually between four and six months of age. However a cat can be safely spayed or neutered at any age, so even older adopted cats should have this procedure.

Some rescue organizations participate in a "catch and release" program where homeless cats are captured, neutered or spayed and released. This is considered more humane than euthanizing strays. The catch and release program is sometimes known as TNR (Trap-Neuter-Return) and the cats that are sterilized have part of one ear clipped. If you adopt a cat with a clipped ear, he or she has almost certainly been already spayed or neutered as a result of this effort.

Why Spay Or Neuter Your Cat?
There are many benefits to spaying or neutering your cat, and they extend to your pet, your family, your home and society in general.

Stray and feral cat overpopulation is a massive problem. The life of a homeless cat can be miserable and harsh. Feral cats also contribute to the destruction of other indigenous wildlife, especially birds.

Un-spayed female cats may be restless and noisy and exhibit other behavior problems.

Males who are not neutered (also known as Tom Cats) have many behavior problems, including a tendency to roam if allowed outside and a habit of spraying strong smelling urine inside the house to mark their territory.

Spayed and neutered cats generally have fewer health problems and a longer life expectancy.
Is there a downside to sterilizing your pet cat? Not really. Sometimes neutered males require slightly less food after the procedure so they don't gain weight. But most cats are healthier, happier and calmer if they've been spayed or neutered.

Fast Facts On Cat Sterilization
Most animal shelters and rescue groups require cats to be spayed or neutered before they will allow them to be adopted. The new owner should anticipate picking up the cost for this procedure.

The cost of spaying or neutering varies widely depending on the U.S. location, but will range from a low of $50 through a pet shelter to a high of $200 for a private veterinarian in a large urban area.

In most cases your cat will be able to come home the same day, especially if they are scheduled to be spayed or neutered in the morning.

For nervous cat owners who worry excessively about their beloved kitty, most vets are happy to call you after the procedure is over to let you know how your pet is doing.

Millions of beautiful cats and kittens are exterminated each year by animal shelters who can't find enough homes for them. The famous artist Leonardo da Vinci once said "even the smallest feline is a masterpiece." Cat owners can help make sure that each precious fur covered work of art has a happy home. The best way to accomplish this goal is through responsible spaying and neutering. FOLLOW US!

Woman Sleeps in Freezing NYC Park to Save Senior Feral Dog

A very dedicated woman spent two freezing cold nights sleeping in a cardboard box in a New York City Park in an effort to gain the trust of a 10-year-old wild dog named Charlie, or Ricky, depending on who you ask.  Her devotion, along with that of many other concerned neighbors, paid off, and now he is warm and receiving the medical care and love he needs.

Denise Lauffer is a dog walker who has adopted three feral dogs and a stray since she moved to the Washington Heights area in 1994.  For the last several years, she’s been leaving food out for Charlie, a dog born within a pack of wild dogs that freely roamed Highbridge Park.

To read more on this story, click here: Woman Sleeps in Freezing NYC Park to Save Senior Feral Dog FOLLOW US!

In Less Than 13 Days, Oregon Dachshund Rescue, Inc., Will Have To Vacate, Leaving These Dogs Homeless - Please Donate If You Can, And Share

Sharing for my friends at: Oregon Dachshund Rescue, INC.

In less than 13 DAYS.. Oregon Dachshund Rescue, INC. rescue doxies will no longer have a place to call home...

Oregon Dachshund Rescue Inc. is desperate and needs your help!

The location in which the rescue dachshunds live in, are cared for and most importantly, saved, is being listed on the market and we are down to less than two weeks left to vacate.

We are still short the down payment on another property and are reaching out to you for any donation you can make. If everyone could just do $5 or $10, it all adds up! As a 501(c)(3) non-profit, Oregon Dachshund Rescue Inc. will provide a tax-deductible receipt.

If you can help, please donate! Please also share this to friends and associates who might not know about us but share in the same passion in making a difference in the lives of these wonderful dogs.

Thanks so much!

Donations may be made either by check to:

Oregon Dachshund Rescue Inc.
P. O. Box 820082
Portland, OR 97282
Via PayPal to jrangan@comcast.net

Or simply give Jenell a call at 503-313-3220 to make a CC donation.

Visit them on Facebook: Oregon Dachshund Rescue Inc.
Website: http://www.odr-inc.org/

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Dogs That Survived House Fire Nearly Ready For Adoption

Two weeks ago, an Auburn home caught fire during a standoff between the homeowner and police.

Inside were four dogs. Somehow, three managed to escape the burning home.

“There had to be angels looking out for these dogs,” said Elsie Lodde, founder of the Recycled Pets NorCal animal shelter.

The entire home was burned down.

“Between the shootout with police and the fire, the fact that three of the four dogs survived is really amazing,” Lodde said.

How the dogs escaped isn’t known – except for Angel, who jumped out of a second-story window.

“He went to the vet and they did x-rays and they kept an eye on him. I think it’s amazing he escaped with minor burns,” Lodde said.

All the dogs have burns on their paws.

With no home, Lodde with Recycled Pets NorCal took the dogs in to try and help them find a forever home.

“People can’t see how cute they are between all that extra fur and fluff and scruff,” Lodde said.

The dogs are getting groomed at A Purrfect Groomer in West Sacramento by Dana Chavez-Rey – who says despite everything the dogs have gone through, they’re doing well.

“They’re far more social than some of the dogs we see here,” Chavez-Rey said.
Angel still has a scab on his back where his fur was singed.

“It looks like it’s already healed.  There is a scab there and hopefully with time his hair will grow back,” Chavez-Rey said.

Now that they’re looking good – hopefully they’re feeling good too.

“Once they get groomed you see the change in their expression and their eyes,” Chavez-Rey said.

Still smiling faces, despite everything they’ve been through.

The dogs will be available for adoption after they are spayed and neutered on Wednesday. If you’re interested in adopting the dogs, head to Recycle Pets NorCal’s website http://recycledpetsnorcal.org/.


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Dog Chases Ambulance To Be With Owner

The outpouring of allegiance to a dog drew attention on the social networks this Christmas Eve: The dog followed his owner, a homeless man, up to a hospital and the attitude of the team from the fire department to stop the ambulance and welcome the animal, was seen as a good gesture.

The firefighters noticed, rearview mirror of the ambulance, that the dog was determined to follow the vehicle on the streets of De taguatinga, administrative region to 21 miles from the Centre of the federal capital.

The owner of him, according to the fire department, had suffered a epileptic seizure. The team sympathized with the suffering of the dog, opened the door and left him to get in the ambulance. In the hospital, the ' faithful companion ' was on the side of the stretcher during the whole service.


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Homeless Dogs Rescued From Junkyard Transform Into Beautiful, Loving Pups

Little strays Elmer and Elsie were scared and covered with motor oil when members of Hope For Paws found them alone in a Los Angeles-area junkyard.

Elsie was so terrified that upon seeing her rescuers, she darted well out of arm's reach underneath a low platform. It took time, but with characteristic patience and kindness, Hope For Paws' Eldad Hagar and Lisa Arturo eventually coaxed both of the pups out of their hiding places.

To read more on this story, click here: Homeless Dogs Rescued From Junkyard Transform Into Beautiful, Loving Pups

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We Love Shelter Pets! According To This Report, You Do Too

Shelter pets are the best! You know it, we know it and a new report shows we're far from alone in holding -- possibly also hugging and cuddling -- this belief.

The PetSmart Charities 2014 U.S. Shelter Pet Report finds that 66 percent of people considering bringing home a new pet say they would adopt their new furry friend instead of going to a breeder or other source. That's up from 58 percent in 2011.

To read more on this story, click here: We Love Shelter Pets! FOLLOW US!

Dog's Touching Love Letter To Owners Who Abandoned Him Will Change How You See Strays

If a homeless dog could write a letter to the people who left him on the side of the road, what would he say?

"Never Say Goodbye," a poignant Purina-sponsored short film, imagines the answer. It follows an abandoned shiba inu as he tries to find his way back to the family he loved so dearly and struggles to come to terms with the fact that they might not want him anymore.

To read more on this story, click here: Dog's Touching Love Letter To Owners

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All Dogs Deserve a Second Chance, No Matter How Old They Are - Meet Bear, a 16-Year-Old Homeless Dog Who No One Wanted - A Family Took a Chance on This Sweet Dog, and The Results Were Amazing!

"Bear" was abandoned, 16 years-old and on the brink of death. No one in their right mind would adopt him from a shelter. However, one family did. The results were amazing.

His fur was either matted or missing and he was just a skeleton of a dog. But thanks to a little food, grooming and (most importantly) love... Norman transformed into an entirely different dog. Dog adoption not only saves lives, it makes them so much better.

Bear's information page at the shelter; a 16 year-old dog needing help.

Life is far from easy for older dogs at animal shelters.  Most people come in looking for a puppy and pass right by the senior dogs, who are usually more susceptible to health problems in the shelter environment.  Most people don’t realize that there are many advantages to owning a senior dog, like all the love and appreciation they have for their new parents who saved them.

Meet Bear, a 16-year-old homeless dog who no one wanted.  Bear was not always a stray, he was abandoned and found all alone with no identification.  This German Shepherd mix was dirty, and had matted fur or chunks of his coat missing.  He was malnourished.  He had no meat on his bones and was a skeleton of a dog.

One day, a family came in and walked past all the yapping puppies to the quiet, sad looking soul in the corner.  They decided to take a chance on this sweet dog who no one else paid any attention to.  This story proves that Bear, who is now known as Norman in his new life, only needed a little love to turn around his tragic past.

All dogs deserve a second chance, no matter how old they are.

His ride to freedom.

The first day home.

Norman (his new name) found a cozy spot for naps.

Lots of naps.

He started living the good life.

Eating and napping were his favorite past times.

Also, he loved to be loved.

After being rescued, he had an entirely different outlook on life... and look.

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Atlantic Small Dog Rescue Has Set Up a Veterinary Fund to Help Care for the Dogs From Puppy Mill in Virginia - Can You Help?

Atlantic Small Dog Rescue has received some dogs who were rescued from a Puppy Mill. These dogs have been kept and raised in deplorable conditions, and have not received proper veterinary care their whole lives.

Now that they have been rescued their new lives will begin! ASDR will bring these dogs in to care, bring them to the vet, and ensure any medical problems are addressed. We already know that a number of these dogs have dental issues and will need deep cleanings, and possibly extractions. These procedures cost hundreds of dollars each, but mean a great deal when it comes to the future comfort and health of these dogs. Every dog will also be spayed or neutered before being sent to their new home.

We are also taking in at least one dog who may be pregnant, so her puppies will require their puppy vaccines and a thorough health check.

Are you able to donate even a little bit to our veterinary fund for these pups? Every dollar counts and will make a huge difference to these little guys!

Keep an eye out for their adoption advertisements to be posted on our Facebook page!

If you want to help these Puppy Mill dogs on their road to recovery, please consider a donation to our GoFundMe campaign. Every one of them will require spaying or neutering which will cost approximately $2,000 alone, and many will also need dental work. Please visit http://www.gofundme.com/56n79c or email money transfer your donation to paypal@asdrescue.com every little bit helps! Even $1!

If you would like to donate to help these dogs, click HERE!

A full write up on the details of their rescue will be posted some time in the afternoon or evening for you all to see!

The dogs will NOT be available for adoption right away, but we will be posting photos of them as we can. If you are interested in adopting one, please be patient, and wait until we post the dogs as available. They will each have their own post in our "available dogs" photo album with as much of a writeup on them as we can manage. But remember, they are from a puppy mill, so their lives have not been the best before now. Thankfully most of them seem like nice dogs, and even a few are quite friendly! We will be doing our best to bring them out of their shells upon their arrival, but for some that may take a while!

Some statistics on the dogs coming in: of the 10 dogs who are coming to us 6 have known dental issues that will require treatment, 8 have skin issues including scabby ears and hair loss, 1 has a heart murmur, 1 is possibly pregnant, 1 has an eye infection, and 1 has a hernia! That's a lot of health issues for one small batch of pups! These dogs range in age from 1 or 2 years old up to possibly 10 years old, and approximately half of them are 5 or under. Just a bit more information to tide you over until we can give more!

The transport has been delayed by a week, which gives us a bit more time to get prepared! We're coming close to the $1,000 mark, do you think we can reach it today?
About: Atlantic Small Dog Rescue

Just in case anyone was wondering, not ONE person who does work for ASDR is paid for their time. In fact, board members and other volunteers often donate their own hard earned money to fundraisers to help the dogs we take in. 97% of all funds raised go directly towards helping the dogs in our care, the vast majority of which is veterinary bills. The remaining 3% of the money we take in is spent on administration (banking fees, promotional materials, etc). And of all of the money we take in, only 50% is from adoption fees. That means that in order to continue the work that we do we must fund raise! We just wanted to clear up some misconceptions about non-profit organizations in order to allow you, especially those who are new to us, to understand how we work!

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Approximately 132 Dogs and 4 Birds Searching for New Homes After Being Rescued from Puppy Mill in Virginia

Page County,VA  - More than 130 small breed dogs are looking for a home after being rescued from a deplorable puppy mill in Virginia.

The puppy mill in Page County closed permanently in early July. On the property were more than 130 dogs and even a few birds giving birth non-stop while mill operators collected mounds of dough.

“There are 10,000 to 15,000 puppy mills in operation across the United States and our goal is to shut each and every one of them down,” said Scotlund Haisley with Animal Rescue Corps.

The nonprofit tipped deputies to the breeding facility after investigating reports of a large amount of animals living in disgusting and nasty conditions. The majority of the dogs were underweight and had untreated eye and ear infections, skin issues, severe matting and respiratory conditions.

“They live like this their entire existence, producing litter after litter until they can produce no more, then they are discarded,” said Haisley.

Most of the animals were treated by doctors and then sent to dozens of shelters and small rescues in Virginia, Maryland, Tennessee and Canada. Now the transition is on to get them a permanent home.

“A lot if these dogs come out and they’re afraid of human touch,” said Kristin Lamoureux with Mutts Matter Rescue. “They’re not house broken so they are kind of living the life of a feral animal.”

The goal is to bring normalcy to these animals -- from sleeping in a bed to even drinking water out of dish -- the little knowledge that is needed before adoption. It is a bumpy road to recovery that won’t be easy for these little faces. But at least it is a better direction than the one they were in.

“The great reward is reaching into this cage, looking into the eyes of an animal that's known nothing but pain and suffering, and promising them new life,” said Haisley.

Charges for the mill operators are still pending. Animal Rescue Corps says if you want to help stop these operations, their advice is get your pet from a shelter. That is pretty much a guarantee that it didn't come from one of those mass breeders in the United States.

Video:


                The Pet Tree House will update with they become available for adoption!

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UPDATE! Woman Comes Forward as Owner of Abandoned Dog with "Free" and "I Need a Home" Written on It

Yesterday, I told you about a dog that was found with the words, "FREE" and "I Need a Home" written on it's forehead and sides.

The owner of an abandoned dog with the words "free" and "I need a home" written on it in permanent marker found in a Northern California community last week has come forward, police said.

A Yolo County woman on Wednesday drove to the Benicia Police Department and provided photos, veterinarian records and witness testimony to prove that she is the dog's owner.

The woman also told police the dog somehow got out of her yard and has no idea how the pet ended up in Benicia.

Police do not suspect the woman played a part in the dog's abuse and abandonment.

The dog was found on July 3 in downtown Benicia by Shannon Bettencourt, who said the pet was scared and shaking.

"I was heartbroken, it was really sad," Bettencourt said in a previous interview with NBC Bay Area. "Nobody wants to see an animal like that ever."

Bettencourt took the dog home and named her Libby, short for Liberty. She thought it was appropriate since she found Libby the day before the Fourth of July.

Bettencourt had plans to formally adopt Libby this week.

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Libby, An Abandoned Dog Found with the Word "Free" Written on Her Sides, and "I Need A Home on Her Forehead", Finds Her Forever Home!

It’s a sad fact, dogs are abandoned every day. But, not usually in the shocking manner that this sweet girl was left.

Shannon Bettencourt was walking in downtown Benicia, California on July 3 when she spotted a dog, scared and whimpering next to a tree outside of a Chinese restaurant. The frightened dog had ‘FREE’ scrawled across her sides in black magic marker and the words ‘I need a home’ scribbled on her forehead.

“The first thing I thought was to call the police but then I was like no, they’re going to call animal control,” Bettencourt explained to KTVU News. “I didn’t know what could happen from there. I was like no way, I’ll at least keep her for the night.”

One night was all Bettencourt needed to fall in love with the sweet old girl.

“Somebody just kind of treated her like trash but she ended up being my treasure,” Bettencourt told reporters.

She decided to keep her and named her Libby, short for Liberty since she was found so close to Independence Day. Bettencourt says Libby is very smart, well-behaved, and clearly has had some training, making it even more shocking that someone would abandon her so carelessly.

As sad as her story started, Bettencourt says that finding Libby was a blessing. She’ll spend the rest of her days being loved by her new forever family.

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