Meet Smoke! This lovable guy went on a hike this weekend with one of our volunteers. He did great and loved being outside! He is patiently waiting for his forever home. We can't believe he hasn't been scooped up yet! Everyone who meets Smoke, loves him! He is gentle, loving, and calm; an all around great dog! To learn more about Smoke and submit an application please visit his Petfinder page. Smoke is such a sweet boy! He is a gentle giant and loves people of all ages. He also gets along really well with dogs, but not cats. Are you able to give this sweet, laid-back boy the home he deserves? Breed Estimate: Bluetick Hound Gender: Male Approximate weight: 70lbs Approximate age: 6 years of age Location: Homeward Trails Adoption Center Cratetrained: Yes Coat Type: Short Personality: Sweet and loving The adoption fee for this dog is $275. This fee INCLUDES spay/neuter. If the animal you are adopting is not already spayed/neutered, you will be required to sign a contract legally obligating you to have the animal altered. Please contact your HT rep to learn about exclusive low-cost spay/neuter options made available only to HT adopters! Be sure to ask us about getting a free 30-minute phone consult with a professional dog trainer within the first 30 days of adopting - just for HT adopters. Start your new dog out on the right foot with this valuable, expert advice and guidance FREE! Finally, we are proud to partner with the following veterinarians who offer a free first exam for your animal, exclusively for HT adopters: Caring Hands Animal Hospital, Palisades Veterinary Clinic, Sunshine Animal Hospital and Clarendon Animal Care You can save animals like this one by becoming a foster! Fosters are like way stations between high kill shelters and forever homes. We need fosters so that we can save dogs before they are euthanized at the shelters. If you are interested in becoming a foster, please check out our information about fostering by visiting http://www.homewardtrails.org/foster-a-pet/dog-and-cat-foster-program/ To learn more about Smoke, click here: PETFINDER
Homeward Trails Animal Rescue PO Box 100968 Arlington, Virginia 22210
Firefighters are known for tackling fires, responding to serious accidents, and even rescuing cats from trees. But across the UK they are being trained to cope with large animals that have got into difficulty. The BBC's Sian Lloyd visited the Animal Rescue team from Shropshire Fire and Rescue Service.
As we enter the height of the tax season, it's natural to think about getting some relief related to the countless dollars we spend each year on our pups. Getting a tax break on pet care has been proposed before, without success, but recently there has been new energy around getting a law passed. This time the relief would be specific to rescue pups. Deductions related to fostering is already allowed, but does not include expenses related to adoption. Since January, four bills have been drafted in New York State that would offer a tax credit to residents who adopt a pet. City Councilwoman Julissa Ferreras says that the tax credit would encourage more people to adopt, bringing relief to the state's shelters. She estimates that 3 million animals in New York shelters are euthanized each year due to overcrowding. Click on links below: S4576-2015, sponsored by Sen. Phil Boyle, R-Nassau County, would offer $100 per dog or cat, with a maximum of 3 adopted pets covered per household S2894A-2015, sponsored by Sen. Kevin Parker, D-Brooklyn, would offer $100 per dog, cat, or other animal, with a maximum of 3 pets A5182-2015, sponsored by Assemblymember Alec Brook-Krasny, D-Brooklyn, would offer a single $350 credit for a dog or cat S3670-2015, sponsored by Sen. Patty Ritchie, R-Heuvelton, would offer $500 per household pet, with a maximum of 3 pets — which means a credit of up to $1,500 If one of these bills is approved and signed by the governor, it would make New York the first state in the nation to offer a tax credit like this. I certainly welcome anything that will get adoption numbers up, but I'm also sensitive to the fact that state budgets are already stretched thin. In 2012, a similar bill was defeated in Pennsylvania by a tiny margin--97-96, so it's clearly a divided issue. Are you for the adoption tax credit?
Snakes are fascinating, and with regular handling can be quite tame. However, snakes are obviously not the right pets for everyone. They have unique requirements and should only be kept by those with the commitment to understand and meet their needs. If you are new to pet snakes, find out what you should consider before deciding on a pet snake, and what species are the best snakes for beginners. Choosing a Snake as a Pet - First Things First When choosing a snake, you are making a long term commitment - many can be expected to live longer than 20 years. You must be willing to feed prey animals to your snake (though frozen, pre-killed prey is the best choice), and you will probably have to devote some freezer space to frozen prey items (i.e. rodents). Snakes are very adept escape artists, so make sure you have an escape-proof tank, keeping in mind that snakes are persistent about finding and squeezing through any small gaps. Finally, as beautiful as they are, I strongly recommend against anyone keeping large constricting snakes or venomous snakes. About Choosing Your Snake Get a captive bred snake from a reputable breeder, if at all possible. Wild caught snakes tend to be more stressed and prone to parasites and disease, and more difficult to tame. For more about the advantages of captive bred reptiles, see Should I Get a Wild Caught or Captive Bred Reptile? You will also want to do a cursory exam of your snake to check for any signs of illness: see Choosing a Healthy Reptile for areas and signs to look at. It also doesn't hurt to ask for a feeding demonstration, to make sure your new snake is readily taking pre-killed prey and feeding well. Ball pythons are somewhat notorious for having feeding problems, so this is especially a good idea with ball pythons (though if you get a captive breed ball python it seems less likely that feeding problems will crop up). Recommended Beginner Snakes These are all reasonably sized, fairly easy to care for, and tend to be quite docile: Corn Snakes King and Milk Snakes Ball Pythons Snakes to Avoid Beginners should avoid large constricting snakes, venomous snakes, and snakes with more difficult care requirements, including such snakes as: Boa constrictors / red-tailed boas (not as large as some constricting snakes, but still a handful, especially for beginners) Burmese pythons Tree boas or pythons Water snakes Green snakes Snakes Not Recommended as Pets at All Snakes that are potentially very dangerous (to their owners or others around them) are best avoided as pets, including: Reticulated pythons Anacondas Any venomous snakes General Pet Snake Information for Beginners
Feeding Snakes: Pre-Killed vs Live Prey - feeding pre-killed prey is recommended, since a live rodent can inflict some serious wounds on a snake in self defence (bonus: it is more convenient to keep a supply of frozen prey in your freezer than raising or buying live animals for feeding).
How to Provide a Thermal Gradient - snakes need to be able to regulate their body temperature by moving between cooler and warmer areas. Providing a gradient and making sure the warm side of the tank is warm enough are essential to your snake's health and ability to digest its meals.
Signs a Snake is About to Shed- there are some fairly common signs in a snake about to shed that might seem a bit alarming to a new snake owner.
How to Find and Escaped Pet - just in case your new snake turns out to be an escape artist, this general information on finding lost pets might help you track down your pet (keep in mind, a snake will most likely head for a warm, enclosed space).
Constricting Snakes - some cautions about larger constricting snakes and handling guidelines, along with information specific to boas and pythons.
Whatever snake is chosen, new owners should be familiar with the proper care and feeding, the behavioral characteristics, and the commitment required to keep the snake.
