The Pet Tree House - Where Pets Are Family Too The Pet Tree House - Where Pets Are Family Too

Wednesday, July 9, 2014

Fundraiser to Save Sick Pit Bull Was Derailed by Fake Online Donations - Fraudulent Donations Have Been Removed and Account is Now Being Monitored



Felines & Canines, a no-kill animal shelter based in Chicago, decided to take in Sheba, a 3-year-old pit bull from a local intake facility, they thought the sick dog had a mild case of kennel cough. But after examination, the shelter discovered that Sheba was stricken with the potentially deadly virus Parvo.

The dog was given a blood transfusion and monitored closely by a veterinary technician at the Animal Care Center of Chicago. But with some complications, Sheba's medical care quickly became too extensive for Felines & Canines to afford on their own. So the shelter started a GoFundMe campaign to try to raise money to help cover the costs.

And according to a report from NBC Chicago, the money began to pour in. But many of the donations-some of $550 or more-turned out to be fraudulent. Scammers who were testing out stolen credit cards on the crowdfunding site likely caused the phony donations.

The shelter was immediately disheartened and worried that donors would lose faith in the validity of the fundraising effort.

GoFundMe said in a statement that they caught the fraudulent donations early and were able to remove them from the campaign. The website team has also promised to monitor the campaign closely to make sure scammers do not keep inflating the total.

Sheba remains in critical care at the Animal Care Center of Chicago, but an update on the campaign website explains that is making baby steps towards recovery. The team is taking it "hour-by-hour and day-by-day." Any donations received that exceed the cost of Sheba's medical care will go directly to helping other animals in need.

Currently the donations on Sheba's GoFundMe page are just shy of $16,000-a huge excess of the original $1,500 that was asked for by the shelter. Hopefully all of those donations are real and this amazing pit bull gets the highest quality medical care.




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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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Tuesday, July 8, 2014

Rawhide: What Dog Owners Should Know About its Various Kinds and the Pros and Cons that Each Type


Rawhide: Delicious or Dangerous?

There are numerous types of dog bones and chew toys available in the market today, and rawhide is definitely one of the most popular and widespread. Because there have been apprehensions over the use of rawhide chews, dog owners should know about its various kinds and the pros and cons that each type of rawhide poses.

A Brief Overview

Rawhides are basically made from the innermost coating of a cow’s hide. After cleaning and drying it, the piece is cut, rolled, and then shaped into different forms. While the US-processed rawhides are not subjected to any type of chemical treatment that may harm the dogs, some reports reveal that rawhides produced in other countries have toxic substances in them such as chrome and arsenic.

Please, when feeding your dog any type of treat, check its country of origin. The US has much stricter regulations for manufacturers than many other countries that have no such regulations in place for pet products.

There are many types of rawhide chews which typically include granulated, rolled, and compressed varieties. Each kind differs in appearance, texture, size, and hardness. Some can even be flavored. The type of rawhide you buy will depend on the kind of chewing style your pooch has.

How to Make the Right Choice

The primary danger in letting a dog eat rawhide chew toys is when blockages occur; thereby, requiring surgery. This commonly happens when your dog rips huge chunks out if the rawhide, swallows them, and the pieces later get stuck in his digestive system.

It’s always best to monitor your dog’s chewing habits and don’t leave him unattended with rawhide. At the very least, monitor him until you are comfortable that he isn’t able to swallow pieces of it.

To help you decide which variety of rawhide best suits your pooch, consider the following:

1. Granulated Rawhides. Dog chews made out of granulated rawhides, also known as extruded rawhides, are considered to be the softest. This kind comes in small amounts and tends to crumble easily which make it especially suitable for puppies and other light chewers.

2. Rolled or Cut Rawhides. This type is normally rolled or made into strips and then shaped into bone forms, typically with a knot on both ends. The flat knotted chew bones are a little softer as compared to the rolled ones. Because the knots on each end can be chewed off easily, care should be taken so as to keep Fido from swallowing it whole. This rawhide is particularly great for average chewers.

3. Compressed Rawhides. This kind is commonly made from many layers of rawhides that are compressed into a specific shape, oftentimes, into a bone but minus the knots. This brings about an extremely dense and very hard rawhide dog chew that certainly lasts for a long time. This is the only variety of rawhide that fits the chewing needs of large breed dogs as well as aggressive chewers.

4. Other Types. The other kinds include the chew flips, strips, and chips. These are smaller, flat portions taken from rawhide sheets. These types soften easily and are usually the appropriate size when it comes to swallowing whole. These varieties are not good for large dogs and puppies, as well as aggressive and active chewers.

If you’re looking for a safer alternative to rawhide, but one that your dog will love just as much, many options are available. Many dogs love a pigs ear or hoof. Bully sticks are long-lasting and delicious. Antlers are flavorful and fun to chew (and indestructable!). And, special bones made of nylon that are flavored are also great for chewing.


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The Owner of Paws Natural Pet Emporium in Richland, Washington, is on a 30-Day Mission to Eat Nothing But Pet Food


Dorothy Hunter embarked on the bizarre diet June 19 while stocking shelves at her business, Paws Natural Pet Emporium.

"I didn't have time to go get a snack, so I grabbed a bag of treats off the counter, and I was like, wow, you know, these read better than normal people treats," she told KNDO TV. "So I started eating the treats and I was like, you know, I could do this for 30 days."

So far, she doesn't have a bone to pick with the foods she's eating -- to a point.

"I've also been doing our oven baked blueberry treats, as well as freeze dried green beans, carrots," she told the station. "I'm even doing some canned cat food, one is a succulent chicken, and it actually tastes really good. So I'm really happy with that one. I don't do raw bones or meat products like that, or the frozen because I'm just not into raw."






















Hunter has lost at least two pounds eating pet food, and gained a dining partner in employee Amanda Kempf, who has been feeding the pet food to her kids as well.

"My kids love the dog treats as well, and I don't mind them eating those because they are nutritious," Kempf told the Tri-City Herald. "They even told their teachers, who then asked me if it was true. Everything is labeled here so you know what you're buying, and you're buying nutrition."

Like human food, pet food is required to be compliant with food additive regulations and be free of pathogens. Still, consuming kibble comes at a risk, according to nutrition expert Madelyn Fernstrom.

"Choosing to experiment with pet food as a long term option is a nutritional negative and might make you sick," she told Today.com.

Hunter's 30-day pet food gorge mission just happens to coincide with the expansion of her store, but Mike Rylander of WTFark.com hopes it coincides with something that makes more sense.

"Please tell me this has something to do with the legalization of weed in Washington and not that she was just hungry and lazy," he said.











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Transportation Department Strengthens Pet Safety Rule


Travelers who fly with their pets will have access to more information about the loss, injury or death of an animal during air transport under a new rule finalized by the U.S. Department of Transportation on Wednesday.

The rule, which will go into effect Jan. 1, will change the number of carriers required to report incidents from 14 to 27, according to Reuters. Previously only the larger airlines had to provide the information.

The rule also expands the definition of "animal" to include all cats and dogs transported by a carrier, including those being shipped by a breeder. Previously, only pets traveling with owners were taken into account.

All carriers that the rule applies to will now have to file a calendar-year report that will include the total number of animals transported in addition to the total number that are lost, injured or die.

The Transportation Department has been publishing such incidents in its monthly Air Travel Consumer Report but the new rule will provide much more information.

"This rule will provide consumers with a fuller picture of an airline's safety record when it comes to transporting animals," U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx said in a written statement. "Consumers deserve clear and accurate information when choosing among air transportation options."



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Why Pit Bull Prejudice Is 'An Injustice' - In this Film, Documentary Maker, Jeff Theman, Looks at the People and the Animals Who Are Affected by that Cruelty, Including Himself



Documentary maker Jeff Theman thinks it's downright un-American to deem a dog dangerous due to nothing more than the way it looks -- which is what happens in jurisdictions across the country that ban pit bulls and dogs that merely look like them.

These "breed specific laws," as they're called, are "an injustice to the dogs who never did anything wrong and usually resulted in death, and the people suffered hardships as well when they are forced to turn over a family member or risk further penalties," Theman says. "They are disguised as a way to enhance community safety, but fail miserably at that task too. How cruel does one have to be to think these laws are actually helpful to any community?"

In his film "Guilty 'Til Proven Innocent," Theman looks at the people and the animals who are affected by that cruelty, including himself.

                                                                Jeff Theman with his dog Preston


Lakewood, the Ohio town where Theman used to live, enacted a pit bull ban in 2008. Faced with the choice between his pits and his home, Theman chose his three dogs. They, in turn, inspired his documentary.

The Huffington Post: What are you hoping viewers get out of "Guilty 'Til Proven Innocent"?

Jeff Theman: I mainly wanted to provide credible information to those unaware about the issue, and inspire them to be the change in their area. I just wanted to dissect the issue and seek the truth, no matter what the end result would be.

I believe we completed that task, and I am incredibly proud to say we represented the issue truthfully, which is probably the reason we have received the support from the national animal welfare organization Best Friends Animal Society. They use our film to send as a tool to legislators around the country who are proposing to implement or repeal breed discriminatory laws.

We have also been contacted by a few other [lawmakers] around the country when they were looking to repeal their laws, so we are indeed getting the response we hoped for. And the satisfaction of it feels pretty good.

The general response has exceeded all our expectations, and we hope this is just the beginning. We have had people email, message us, post on our Facebook page, all the different emotions they felt while we took them on this journey.

Your film features a whole bunch of people whose dogs were seized, or almost seized, in jurisdictions that ban pit bulls. The dogs were given genetic testing -- and were mostly found not to be pit bulls at all. What lessons can we learn from this?

Yes, I think the most blatantly obvious thing about Lakewood and this film is all the dogs shown that were deemed to be pit bulls all have come back with little to no American Staffordshire terrier, or any other breed under the umbrella term "pit bull."

So what does that tell us about the shoddy enforcement of the law? There were only a handful of dogs where the people were able to get their due process. All the others they basically scared enough, where the owner complied and either re-homed the dog outside the city or moved.

To me, the title means the dogs and their owners were automatically guilty, which is of course goes against what our country is supposed stand for -- so it's our job to inform and prove innocence. The effect of these laws is felt on both sides -- the dog and the owner. It became clear early on one of the primary motivating factors for breed specific legislation was to target social and racial classes of people legally. The dogs were used as a tool and excuse of sorts to harass individuals in mostly the urban settings.

One of the politicians in the film says that he'd support a pit bull ban even if it stopped just one child from being bitten. What did you think of that statement? And why not just ban all dogs, then?

I think that statement made by former Ohio senator Neal Zimmers was completely offensive to the men, women and children who were bitten by other breeds. It shows a lack of compassion for those individuals suffering what is a traumatic life altering experience.

Banning all dogs wouldn't even be an option simply because America loves dogs! But, I will add, there are some policies in place that make it extremely difficult to have a dog, especially housing and insurance restrictions. It's not breed specific legislation, but it is often the same outcome: tearing families apart.

You yourself are featured in the film, along with some of your family members both human and canine. The humans can speak for themselves. Tell me all about the canines!

I now live with three dogs, all who came from shelter environments. Preston is the inspiration to the film, and I adopted him on October 4, 2008, from a rescue, after I left Lakewood because of the ban. He was pulled from a shelter in the Akron, Ohio, area. Some of his past is unknown, but he was saved during a drug bust where the owners allegedly used him for fighting. I could go on and on about him, he is my soulmate, but I've written about him a lot and his story can be found on the website.

One thing I will say that will help everybody understand why I say he is my soulmate is because, he was going to be killed on July 28, 2006. My birthday is July 28. His new life started on my birthday.

I decided to foster my girl, Era, on June 30, 2011. I named her Era because it was going to be a new Era in her life, I just didn't know at the time that it was going to be with me. The plan was to foster her for a couple weeks and then she would go on a transport bus off to somewhere in New England. Preston and her were best buds from the moment they met each other, so I couldn't lose her and decided to officially adopt her after a few weeks. She's a pretty girl and she knows it, let me tell you. I nicknamed her Violent Love because she has a knack for hurting me all in the name of kisses.

Fergie was also a Cleveland city kennel dog. In August of 2012, I decided I could do more for rescue, as most of my work was in advocacy, and open my home to foster another dog.

Fergie was very ill, she was diagnosed heartworm positive, among other more treatable ailments. She was scared, and it showed. I had to seclude her from my other two dogs for two months while she was in treatment. Any stimulation could kill her, so she was only allowed out for bathroom breaks and short term couch cuddling.

When it came time to introduce her with my other dogs, it went extremely well. It helped that they all had time to adjust, and it was done slowly. I really wanted to find her a new home, but everybody was begging me to keep her, including my own mother, who was against the idea of me having a third dog in the house since I am single and it is a lot of work when you pile it on top of the other commitments I have.

Needless to say, I gave it one year, and said if she did not find a home by then, I will keep her. I am no longer allowed to foster dogs.


Late start to my morning, making breakfast for me and the kids. Meanwhile, this is happening right now on the couch... I'm definitely glad my dogs all get along, but this is ridiculous!

I understand that you've come up with a bucket list for your dogs. How is it going so far?

I came up with a bucket list for Preston mainly. One night a few weeks ago, it became painfully obvious that he is getting old. I was on the couch with the girls, and Preston attempted to jump up too. He missed and fell to the ground. When he got back up we just looked at each other and he let out a little sigh.

I helped him up and thought about some of the others who started bucket lists for their dogs. But the thing that is possibly different with mine is, he is not diagnosed with any terminal illnesses -- yet, at least -- and I didn't want to wait until that moments does happen. It was my way to keep myself in check, so I don't go days without appreciating all that he brings me.

The following day we went and spent some alone time together visiting some of the local famous landmarks within Cleveland that I always wanted to go to, but just never had time. I was able to share those moments with him, which was extremely important to me.

I had wanted to mark off the second item on my list, which was to bring him to a GTPI function, and we had our second screening in Cleveland coming up, but the building we had doesn't allow pets unless they [are] service animals, and I didn't want to take advantage of a law meant to help people out of my own selfishness. Maybe one day we will be able to cross that one off, but not now.

The next item I have is we are planning a road trip to Michigan for an animal conference I am going to. All the details haven't been worked out for that yet, but I am fairly confident we will be able to pull that one off.

I'm constantly adding to the list, and we hope to cross off more in the near future. I just want to make sure I never forget the importance of him -- and my girls, for that matter -- and it is easy to just go on with life and it not hit until something tragic happens.

Do you think things are getting better for pit bulls lately?

Oh, it is day and night better for pit bull dogs. They have definitely become the trendy dog to adopt. Celebrities are shown with them, they are featured in positive news articles nearly every day, are in print ads intended to sell household name products. The comparison isn't even close to what it once was. We still have a little ways to go, and that goes for all dogs, but we have come so far as a society to finally get it.

As far as around the county, we are noticing a progressive movement where cities are repealing these laws at a much faster pace than they are being adopted. This tells me we are turning the corner about how we view the dogs -- and their owners.

If there is one thing I wish people understood about dogs we call pit bulls it's that they are just dogs. Breed simply doesn't matter.




This interview has been slightly edited for length and clarity.


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Wednesday, July 2, 2014

Salt Lake City, Utah - Furious Man Confronts Police After Learning They Killed His Dog


Residents in Salt Lake City, Utah are up in arms after a local police officer shot and killed a man’s beloved pet dog last month while responding to a missing child report.

Authorities found the displaced toddler unharmed and sleeping inside its home around 30 minutes after they entered the yard of Sean Kendall on June 18 and killed his 110-pound Weimaraner, “Geist.”

The incident has since managed to garner the attention of animal lovers in and out of Salt Lake City after Kendall published on the web a cell phone video he recorded as he accosted the police outside his home moments after learning what had happened.

"About 15 minutes ago, I got a phone call from Utah Animal Control, calling to tell me that an officer had shot and killed my dog," Kendall says in the beginning of the clip. "He was inside my backyard in a fenced-off area. What was the cause for the officer to shoot and kill my dog?"

The footage next shows Kendall arriving at his resident in the city’s Sugar House neighborhood and furiously questioning the cops.

"What was the probable cause to trespass on private property and shoot my dog?" an outraged Kendall asks on camera.

“We entered the yard looking for a lost child,” Sgt. Joseph Cyr responds, according to Fox13Now. An officer on the scene “was threatened by the dog and shot the dog,” Cyr added. “That’s as simple as it gets.”

“So I get to bury my dog because an officer couldn’t back up and close the fucking gate,” the irate owner replies.

So far, police have only said that the dog approached the officer in an “aggressive manner,” prompting the cop to open fire.

The video has since managed to go viral, and viewers who have become outraged by the Salt Lake City Police Department’s behavior have certainly spoken up. The chief of the SLCPD has since been prompted to comment publically on the matter, a large protest was held outside of police headquarters over the weekend and even the city council has asked for an investigation.

“It’s overwhelming, the support of the community,” Kendall said at the protest on Saturday attended by hundreds, according to the Salt Lake Tribune.

Speaking to a local Fox News affiliate, the dog owner said he believes the officer responsible for the shooting should be disciplined justly. That law enforcement official has since been identified as detective Brett Olsen

“I believe this officer made a terrible judgment call,” Kendall told the station. “In my profession, if I make a terrible judgment I’m fired. “

“He was kind of all I had,” Kendall told Fox13 of his dog. “To me, he wasn’t just some animal. He was my best friend. He was kind of like a child. I went through raising him, training him.”

At a news conference on Friday, Salt Lake City Police Chief Chris Burbank said he believes the officer was in the right.

"It is our responsibility that we do all we can to bring a safe resolution to the circumstances we encounter. This is a seasoned officer who has tremendous experience and has, in fact, been under fire and performed very well," Burbank said of Olsen. "I cannot in my mind imagine an officer coming forward and saying we didn't do all we could to find a missing child."

“In this particular circumstance, evidence shows that the dog was extremely close, in fact, within feet of the officer,” Burbank said. “After 23 years in law enforcement, I haven’t seen this type of public outcry when certain human beings have lost their lives,” Burbank said.

That outcry, Burbank added, has materialized in the form of complaints that he says the police department has received without end since last week.

“I absolutely demand that every single one of my officers treat the public with the respect and dignity they deserve. My officer, and officers, deserve no less,” Chief Burbank said.

Members of SLC’s city council have since written to Chief Burbank calling for a review of departmental procedures and an independent review of the shooting.

On facebook: Justice for Geist
https://www.facebook.com/JusticeforGeist














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Woman Establishes Fund in Dog's Name to Pay for Health Care for Successor Companion Animals at Levindale Hebrew Geriatric Center


Paulette Carter, on the staff at Levindale Hebrew Geriatric Center, brought her dog, Lincoln, to work for years to be a companion to the residents of Levindale. Sitting with her at left, Elaine Mintzes, is establishing a fund in his name to pay for health care for successor companion animals at Levindale. (Kim Hairston, Baltimore Sun / June 18, 2014)

About 100 people gathered for a ceremony at the Levindale Hebrew Geriatric Center and Hospital in Baltimore last week, but it wasn't to honor a person. Instead, they paid tribute to a dog in a way that will help pets in the future.

The story starts with Elaine Mintzes, a longtime city volunteer and philanthropist who was a patient at Levindale in 2012 after suffering injuries in a fire. She remembers having a dog when she was 7; her parents gave the dog to neighbors because she didn't have the initiative to care for it. That was 81 years ago. Since then, Mintzes had no special affinity for pets, until a white poodle leapt into her room at Levindale and sparked a friendship.

"When he wandered into my room that first day, he wasn't terribly interested in me," she remembers. By contrast, Mintzes found herself drawn to the little dog, named Lincoln.

"I thought he might come back if I got some treats for him," Mintzes says.

Lincoln, it turned out, belonged to Levindale employee Paulette Carter, who took the pooch to work every day for more than 13 years.

Mintzes got some dog treats and gave one to Lincoln the next day.

"After that," she says, "he flew by other rooms and came directly to my room. He ultimately learned where I kept the treats, and then learned to open the closet door and get one for himself if I didn't do it quickly enough."

Mintzes and Lincoln bonded for more than a year. When Mintzes went home to her condo, Carter started taking her dog to visit. Mintzes was so insistent about it that she persuaded three doctors to write letters to the managers of her no-dogs-allowed building so Lincoln could come in.

"Lincoln was more responsible for my recovery than the medications Levindale gave me," Mintzes says. And Carter says Mintzes and Lincoln formed a special bond.

"He used to love seeing her," she remembers. "I used to call her 'grandma,' and I'd ask Lincoln if he wanted to go see Grandma. He'd wag his little tail!"

Helene King, media relations coordinator at Levindale, says Lincoln was part of the center's Eden Alternative program, under which several cats live on the property and employees can bring their pets to work to visit with patients. The resident animals are cared for by staff, and that care — including spaying or neutering and food — is paid for by the center. Until recently, that was a bit of a burden. That is, until Mintzes got wind of the situation.

Lincoln died two years ago after a long volunteer career at Levindale, and Mintzes says he was so instrumental in her recovery that she wanted to ensure other patients had the benefit of pets in the center. To do so, she established the Alvin and Elaine Mintzes Fund for the Care of Levindale Animals, with a personal donation to ensure that future Levindale pets get the care they need and can continue living at and visiting the facility.

"For some reason, Lincoln really touched her heart," King says.

Last week, Mintzes hosted a plaque-hanging ceremony at the facility to formalize her fund; the plaque reads, "In loving honor of Paulette Carter and in dear remembrance of poodle Lincoln Carter."

"It was the sweetest thing," says King. "Mrs. Mintzes catered the event and had cookies that looked like poodles. It was a lovely day."

Mintzes says she hopes others will donate to her fund to ensure pets will continue getting and giving great care at Levindale.

"Lincoln knew every nook and corner of the Levindale campus," says Mintzes. "He could have been a tour guide." She says his visits three or four times a week were what motivated her to keep moving through her recovery.

"I haven't gotten over it," she says of the dog's death in 2013. "I grieved more for him than I did for members of my family. Lincoln gave me unconditional love, and he didn't talk back. He was a perfect gentleman. When he opened his bedroom eyes, I became putty in his paws."

Levindale patients benefit from companionship of dogs and cats.


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Sunday, June 29, 2014

Five Years Ago Today, Julie Conway Brought Her Tremendous Fund Raising Skills, Her Smarts and Dedication, and Most of All Her Big Heart to Washington Humane Society!


From: Lisa LaFontaine, CEO & President at Washington Humane Society:

On June 29th, 2009, the landscape for animals in the District - and beyond - was transformed. What happened? Julie Conway brought her tremendous fund raising skills, her smarts and dedication, and most of all her big heart to Washington Humane Society.

There have been a lot of good times and tough rides during those years, but in the process, thousands of animals were saved and found new homes, the communities within and outside our walls became better places, and a bunch of boats, some obvious and some in hidden corners, were lifted.

Thanks from all of us for five great years - can't wait to see the greatness just around the bend!




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Saturday, June 28, 2014

The 2-Year-Old Blue Pit Bull That I Saved, Now Needs to Be Picked Up By A Rescue - If You Are a Rescue, Would You Be Willing to Take Fancy?


I want to first thank you for being loyal followers of The Pet Tree House. As you know my blog covers all areas from pet care to pet adoptions.

As my readers, I am asking for your help. On June, 13th, my husband and I saved the life of a 2-year-old Blue Pit Bull, and now she is ready to be picked up by a rescue so they she can go into fostering, or possibly get adopted.

Pit Bulls are illegal in Prince George's County. This is why she has to go to a rescue first, then put up for adoption. They can not adopt her out directly from the shelter.

I have been in constant contact with the Animal Shelter, and Fancy is progressing very well.

While they are looking for a rescue, I am trying to do my part in helping to get a rescue to pick her up. I have contact several rescues, but most are full and can not take her.

Staff at the animal shelter says, that she is a "tail-wagging sweetheart!"

If you are a rescue, or know of one that may be interested in taking Fancy, please share her story.

The shelter constantly sends me updated pictures her. You can see her pictures below.

Details: 
Name: Fancy
ID #A407542
Sex: Female
Breed: Blue Pit Bull
Age: 2-years-old
Spayed: Yes

Location:
Prince George's County Animal Management
3750 Brown Station Rd
Upper Marlboro, Maryland 20772
(301) 780-7201




                                                                      Take a look at Fancy Now!














Please share Fancy. Thank you, from The Pet Tree House.

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Friday, June 27, 2014

Coolridge Animal Hospital - Your Pet's Health is Our Top Priority!


At Coolridge Animal Hospital it is our commitment to provide the highest quality medicine,and exceed your client service expectations. If at anytime we don't exceed your expectations please contact our Practice Manager Stephanie to discuss your concerns.

Our Bi-annual Wellness exams are designed as an important preventative measure to ensure your pets live a healthy happy life for many years to come.

Your Pet's Health is Our Top Priority

When you bring your pet in for the twice-yearly comprehensive checkup, he or she will receive a nose-to-tail exam. This entails an examination of all your pet's major body systems to help ensure that they are working normally. Because your pet can't tell you what's wrong, your veterinarian relies on regular examinations, as well as your observations, to determine his or her overall pet health.

Skin & Coat

Your veterinarian will begin the physical part of the pet checkup by examining your pet's skin and coat. This is important because the skin and coat are indicators of your pet's overall health.

Nose & Mouth

Your veterinarian will examine your pet's nose for any abnormal appearance or discharge, before examining the inside of your pet's mouth to look at dental health and check for abnormal masses or swelling. This helps to detect any signs of periodontal disease, since dental health is an important contributor to pet health.

Heart & Lungs

Your veterinarian will use a stethoscope to listen to your pet's heart and lungs to check for heart murmurs and abnormal lung sounds. If your pet is due for any routine vaccinations or laboratory work, your veterinarian will take care of these needs during the pet checkup. Older pets may also have blood tests to check their kidneys, liver and other internal organs.

Eyes & Ears

When examining your pet's eyes, your veterinarian will check for discharge, redness, irregular or abnormal response to light and examine the optic nerve in the back of the eye. He or she will examine the ear flap, deep ear canals and ear drums for any abnormal smells, redness, the presence of infection, parasites such as ear mites, growths or tumors.

Legs & Joints

Your veterinarian will manipulate and feel your pet's legs, joints, abdomen and anal sacs to check for any unusual reactions, such as the appearance of pain or abnormal lumps. If a stool sample is available, your veterinarian will also perform tests to check for parasites. This process is an important part of dog and cat health.

Coolridge Animal Hospital
6801 Old Branch Avenue
Camp Springs, Maryland  20784
(301) 449-1610
Email: coolridgeah@gmail.com
Website: http://www.coolridgeah.com


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Washington, DC - Washington Humane Society - Thank You to Delucchi Plus for Designing and Donating Our Bold and Colorful New Signs!



A TREMENDOUS thank you to Delucchi Plus for designing and donating fantastic new signs for our New York Avenue Adoption Center! These bold and colorful signs, which were installed today, will certainly help adopters find their new furry friend.

Come by and check them out and meet your new family member at WHS! See everyone looking for their forever home online at www.washhumane.org/adopt.





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Wednesday, June 18, 2014

I Saved a 2-Year-Old Blue Pit Bull - Can You Help Me Find Her a Forever Home?


I want to first thank you for being loyal followers of The Pet Tree House. As you know my blog covers all areas from pet care to pet adoptions.

As my readers, I am asking for your help. My husband and I saved the life of a 2-year-old Blue Pit Bull, and now she needs a forever home.

Here is our story:

On Friday, June 13, 2014, I was sitting in my home watching a movie. I don't know why but for some reason I got up and looked out of the front door. It was close to 4:00 p.m., and the sun is always hot on the front of my home that time of day. I never go out my front door unless I am going somewhere. I am usually in the backyard playing with my little rescue, Jonas, a Yorkie/Shih-Tzu mix.

As I stepped out onto my front porch, I saw something moving slowly on the grassy area of the apartment complex adjacent to my home. I didn't know it was a dog a first because she was couched so low to the ground. When I realized it was a dog, I ran in the house and called the Prince George's County Animal Shelter, and got my husband.

When we got outside, she had crawled into the street. We kept our distance but were close enough to see that she looked to have rash on her skin, and her belly was very red. We knew not to approach and injured animal.

My husband immediately started directing traffic entering the complex around her. She stared directly in my face, she had the saddest eyes. I comforted her, telling her that someone was coming. Then she laid her head down on the ground…my heart fell, I felt so helpless. I said a prayer asking God to please let this baby hang on until help got here, I just kept talking to her.

It was a very hot day, and we had a hard rain the day before. I told my husband that she probably was out in the rain, the day before.

Within a half an hour, I saw a white van approaching that I recognized as being the Prince George's County Animal Rescue Van. I began waving, as she pulled up. I retreated to my front porch to allow her to do her job, which she did very well. As she opened the door to the van, I heard her say, "oh, you're going to stand for me, good dog?" She had no problem getting her into the van. I thanked her for coming. As she drove away, I looked up and said thank you God.

The next day, I called the animal shelter to check on her and found out that she was doing okay, but hadn't seen the vet yet. I asked what would happen to her now, and was told that she would need to be placed with a rescue before adoption.

Hi, my name is Fancy, and I am looking for a forever home. If you have room in your in heart and in your home for me, please contact the Prince George's County Animal Shelter.

We can not adopt her because we live in Prince George's County Maryland, and it is illegal to own pit bulls here. I suspect someone was hiding her.

I called back today to check on her and found out that the staff has named her "Fancy", she possibly has mange, and is responding very well to treatment. She will be evaluated in 7 days, and then will need to be picked up by a rescue before she can be adopted.

I was able go to the shelter's website to get this picture of her. I could not believe how good she looked. She was looking really bad when I saw her lying in the street.

I have a special connection to Fancy, and I am asking you to please share her to help get her a loving forever home.

If you are interested in adopting her, you will need to check with the shelter to get the information for the rescue.

Location:
Prince George's County Animal Management
3750 Brown Station Rd
Upper Marlboro, Maryland
(301) 780-7201 (The adoption center does not open until 12:00 p.m.)

Name: Fancy
ID #A407542
Age: 2
Breed: Female Pit Bull Mix
Color: Blue

I will keep you updated on Fancy, and of course, let you know when she is adopted!

Thank you for sharing!

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Tuesday, May 20, 2014

Dog Owners Please Read! Jerky Treats Lead to 4,800 Complaints, Including Over 1,000 Dead Dogs and 3 People Who Fell Ill


The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) are teaming up to investigate over 1,000 dog deaths and three people who fell ill after consuming  chicken, duck and sweet potato pet jerky imported from China. Following the FDA’s last update back on October 22, 2013, 4,800 complaints of illness, some including multiple pets in one household, have been reported to the agency involving 5,600 dogs, 24 cats and three people.

According to the FDA’s latest report, around 60 percent of the cases were tied to gastrointestinal and liver disease, 30 percent kidney or urinary disease, and 10 percent that included neurologic, dermatologic, and immunologic symptoms. Approximately, 15 percent of kidney and urinary cases also tested positive for Fanconi syndrome, a rare kidney disease tied to reported cases of pet and human illnesses. The FDA has still been unable to identify an exact cause for the sudden outbreak.

The FDA and CDC are collaborating on a study tracking food consumed by sick dogs reported to the agency compared to what healthy dogs ate. Researchers hope the analysis will be able to tell what type of food (human or pet food) is making pets and people sick. The FDA has already performed 26 post mortem examinations on 26 dogs reported to the agency since October 2013. It was discovered that 13 of these dogs had consumed pet jerky and 11 showed signs of kidney disease while two were identified with gastrointestinal disease.

“The agency continues to review case records, test treat samples from reported cases, screen tissue, blood, urinary and fecal samples, and communicate with the attending veterinarians and pet owners to thoroughly investigate select cases,” the FDA said in a statement. “Because of the volume of information received in response to the Dear Veterinarian letter, the agency has not completed an update to our online case spreadsheets. FDA plans to complete and post these updates in the coming months.”

Of the three humans who fell ill as a result of consuming pet jerky, two were toddlers who ingested it accidently and one adult who was snacking on the pet treat for unknown reasons, NBC News reported. One of the toddlers was diagnosed with a salmonella infection and the other suffered from a gastrointestinal illness and fever, similar to the symptoms experienced by dogs in the same household. The adult reportedly suffered from symptoms including nausea and headache.

“Testing of jerky pet treats from China has also revealed the presence of the drug amantadine in some samples containing chicken,” the FDA added. “These samples were from jerky pet treats that were sold a year or more ago. Amantadine is an antiviral that is FDA-approved for use in people. It has also been used in an extra-label manner (using an approved drug in a way that isn’t listed on the label) in dogs for pain control, but FDA prohibited its use in poultry in 2006.”





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