Newsletter 3-8-14
Help the shelter!
Beginning February 3, whenever you use your Rewards Card when shopping at Freddy's, you will be helping the Scraps Hope Foundation earn a donation from Fred Meyer. All you have to do is link your Rewards Card and use it when you shop at Fred Meyer. If you do not have a Rewards Card, you can sign up for one at the Customer Service Desk of any Fred Meyer store. Log into your account, or click the link below and put this number in, 83825 The Scraps Hope Foundation will come right up.
You can link your Rewards Card online at fredmeyer.com/communityrewards. You will be asked to log into your online account or create an online account. At that point you will be able to search for the Spokane Humane Society. This is an ongoing program and you may enroll at any time. The more supporters who link their Rewards Cards to a nonprofit, the more that nonprofit could earn.
One Vaccine can change your dogs life forever
Make certain every vaccine given to your dog is necessary. Don't play roulette with your dog's well being.
One vaccine can change your dog's life forever:
http://wp.me/p1CvaB-3cF
Check out the latest study results on the rabies vaccine!
Until recently, annual or biannual revaccination for rabies was required by some states, even though nearly all USDA licensed rabies vaccines have a three-year duration, and there a
re no two-year licensed vaccines. Today, all states recognize the three-year revaccination standard, after completion of the initial two-dose series given within 12 months.
Full study: http://www.ivcjournal.com/articles/rabies-challenge-fund-five-year-doi-study-results/
Check out the latest study results on the rabies vaccine!
“Some people think rescue dogs are bad mannered or have problems you can’t fix, but let me tell you that they truly love more and show it with their kind personalities. KoKo is so sweet and she’s turned into a celebrity dog with my fans!”
A 2012 study in the Journal of Veterinary Behavior suggests some cases of aggression in dogs are due to undiagnosed, untreated pain. Yet another reason it's essential to look for and treat pain on our dogs -- which they WILL try to hide if they can.
Jerky Treat update: After the recall last year due to illegal antibiotic residue, two companies have decided to change their strategies. New Waggin' Train and Milo's Kitchen products will be introduced in March 2014. I would still advise avoiding these treats until the cause has been identified (e.g., both companies still add glycerin to their jerky treats, a possible culprit).
Does Spot need to loose weight?
Beware: The Lies They're Telling to Keep You Buying
The giants are stopping at nothing to hold on to their market share, and to prevent the little guys from grabbing it instead, who may truly have a healthier product for your pet. Watch out as they fine-tune their marketing messages.
By Dr. Becker
According to a recent article in PetfoodIndustry.com, two huge players in the commercial pet food market, Procter & Gamble (IAMS, Eukanuba, Natura Pet Products) and Colgate-Palmolive (Hill’s Science Diet, Hill’s Prescription Diet), have faced declining sales in recent years.
It seems Mars (Royal Canin, Pedigree, Cesar, Nutro) and Nestle-Purina (Alpo, Mighty Dog, Dog Chow, Puppy Chow, Beneful, One, ProPlan, Canyon Creek Ranch) have locked up about half the less expensive end of the market, and small and medium-sized pet food producers are increasingly taking a bite out of the premium end once ruled by P&G and Colgate-Palmolive.
What’s interesting about this is that according to Colgate-Palmolive, it was able to begin reversing its downward trend in 2012 with the introduction of Hill’s “Ideal Balance” and “Prescription Diet Metabolic,” and the re-launch of Hill’s Science Diet with “natural” ingredients and improved taste.
Per PetfoodIndustry.com, Colgate-Palmolive “has reoriented its research and development and branding strategies, taking into account both changes in consumer preference and the positioning of its emerging rivals.”
In other words, this pet food manufacturer has studied changing trends in what consumers are looking for in pet food, as well as trends in how competitors promote their products, and has developed new marketing strategies (packaging, labeling, advertising) to reposition their products to be more attractive to consumers and more competitive in the marketplace. And it’s working. Pet owners are buying the hype (literally).
For the record, it’s important to keep in mind that repositioning a product isn’t the same as improving a product.
Both Colgate-Palmolive and P&G are trying to remain competitive as pet owners demand higher quality pet food ingredients, but they have approached the challenge in different ways. P&G purchased Natura (maker of Innova, Evo, California Natural) to try to tap into the growing “natural” pet food market, while Colgate-Palmolive reformulated and expanded their Hill’s brands.
More at link above.
Bill says mandatory veterinary prescription writing will lower cost of pet ownership, encourage competition.
Pro’s in our opinion, it would do away with the VERY HIGH dispensing fees that some vet’s charge.
Con’s, you wouldn’t be able to pick it up at your pets office visit.
Boycott stores that sell puppies, and support puppy mills and back yard breeders!
Where are the pet stores that sell puppies and/or kittens in your area? Here's a list, courtesy of ASPCA. Their guidance: Never shop at stores that sell these animals! Our additional guidance: Work with your city, town, or county to enact an ordinance to prohibit the sale of commercially bred dogs, cats, and rabbits.
Put in YOUR zip code, then choose stores that sell puppies.
Salty Dog, Salty Cat, what’s in that food?
Dangers of Rawhide
Veggies are good for your dog!
Watch your dogs mouth.
We still are finding the best combo are Pro Den Plaque Off in the food and Petzife spray each once a day.
How to quickly prepare for an emergency with your pets.
Last but not least, cats and declawing.
Ever wonder why we are so against declawing of cats? Think we're being too harsh when we will not adopt out to families that plan to declaw? Check out this article (courtesy of The Volunteer Auxillery for Animal Shelters, Inc.) and you might feel differently.
Declawing: Do You Really Understand What This Means?
Declawing:
-Declawing is not a “simple” surgery
-To declaw your cat, the bone, nerve, joint capsule, collateral ligaments, and the extensor and flexor tendons must all be amputated
-10 separate, painful amputations of the third phalanx up to the last joint of each toe are performed
-Complications from surgery include: excruciating pain, damage to nerves, hemorrhage, chronic back and joint pain as shoulder, leg, and back muscles weaken
-People say “my cat wasn’t in pain”. The truth is, cats often do not shown pain because it is a sign of weakness
-Declawing is illegal in several countries, including Japan, Australia, England, and most of continental Europe
Psychological & Behavioral Complications:
-Most cats are so shocked by declawing that their personalities change
-Cats who were lively and friendly become withdrawn and afraid
-Deprived of their primary means of defense, cats become nervous, fearful, and/or aggressive, often resorting to their only remaining means of defense, their teeth
-A declawed cat frequently resorts to biting when confronted with even minor threats
-Balance is affected by the inability to grasp with their claws
-Some cats stop using their litter box because of the pain associated with scratching in the litter after a declawing procedure. This means they will find a more comfortable place to go….i.e.- your rug, carpet, blankets, etc.
-Removing the claws makes a cat feel defenseless. The constant state of stress caused by a feeling of defenselessness may make some declawed cats more prone to disease.
Statistics:
-50% of cats will come out of the operation with immediate medical or behavioral complications for 2-3 weeks, and 30% will have complications for the rest of their lives
-90% of the cats with litter box aversion are declawed cats
-80% of declawed cats that are surrendered to shelters are euthanized because they have a behavioral problem
-70% of cats turned into shelters for behavioral problems are declawed
-Many declawed cats surrendered to shelters are surrendered because of behavioral problems which developed after the cats were declawed. Ultimately this results in euthanasia
Dogs for adoption right now through Inland Small Dog Rescue
REX
Coming up but not listed yet
Lacey
A ten month old Chi/Doxie X that is a very sweet girl.
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