Thursday, February 25, 2010

This week's adopt-a-shelter dogs: Buddha & Max

My name is Buddha and I'm a very Zen boy. Kids tend to disturb my Chi (really they just scare me to death) so I need a home with adults only. I’m a four-year-old chow/shepherd mix. I really enjoy my exercise...a nice walk in the morning and a little yoga at night. I make a great running buddy or even a companion while you ride your bike. I enjoy a nice swim too. If you have a nice big home for this boy then you need to come to NOAH and talk to a matchmaker today!

Hello my name is Max. I'm a handsome six-year-old shepherd mix and I love to go for walks. I also like kitties and children. Since I feel that I'm the best dog around, I'm not too fond of other dogs trying to get your attention. I love to play fetch and I like my stuffed toys. I want to be the only dog in your life and in return I'll love you forever. I'd be the perfect family pet. Come visit me at NOAH today!

Monday, February 22, 2010

Washington State Senate Passes Spay & Neuter Resolution Honoring Spay Day 2010

The Humane Society of the United States, the nation’s largest animal protection organization, commends the Washington state Senate for passing S.R. 8702, honoring the organizations and pet owners participating in Spay Day 2010.

Spay Day is The HSUS’s annual campaign designed to highlight the importance of saving animal lives by spaying or neutering. On Spay Day, and throughout the month of February, The HSUS brings together hundreds of spay/neuter events to create a wave of spay/neuter activity and awareness across the country.

Similar spay/neuter resolutions have been passed in Wisconsin and Pennsylvania and have been introduced in California, Maine, Michigan and Maryland.

“Washington state animal shelters and humane societies euthanize approximately sixty thousand cats and dogs each year, many of whom are healthy and adoptable, due to a lack of critical resources and public awareness of the importance of spaying and neutering,” said Senator Jeanne Kohl-Welles, D-Seattle, the sponsor of the resolution. “This tragic overpopulation of pets costs our taxpayers millions of dollars annually through animal service and control programs aimed at coping with the plight of homeless and unwanted animals. Spaying and neutering is an important part of combating this problem.”

More than 500 events are scheduled to take place this year in Washington, 48 other states, the District of Columbia, and four U.S. territories. Local animal shelters, spay/neuter clinics, veterinary practices, and others will be hosting events in their communities, providing much-needed services to families with pets and educating their communities about the importance of spaying and neutering. There are 14 Spay Day-related events scheduled in Washington. To find an event near you, visit humanesociety.org/spaydayfind.

“Spaying and neutering are the only permanent, 100-percent effective methods to control pet overpopulation,” said Daniel Paul, Washington state director for The HSUS. “The death of millions of pets each year is a tragedy, but, by spaying or neutering their pets, Washingtonians can help provide the solution.”

For more information on Spay Day, visit humanesociety.org/spayday.

Monday, February 01, 2010

Just for Fun: Giving Medications to Pets

Anyone who has ever administered medications to a cat and/or dog will totally relate. Enjoy! (Note: I received this in an email and don't know where it originated; hence, the lack of a byline/credit.)

Cats
Pick up cat and cradle it in the crook of your left arm as if holding a baby. Position right forefinger and thumb on either side of cat’s mouth and gently apply pressure to cheeks while holding pill in right hand. As cat opens mouth, pop pill into mouth. Allow cat to close mouth and swallow.
 
Retrieve pill from floor and cat from behind sofa. Cradle cat in left arm and repeat process. 
 
Retrieve cat from bedroom, and throw soggy pill away. 

Take new pill from foil wrap, cradle cat in left arm, holding rear paws tightly with left hand. Force jaws open and push pill to back of mouth with right forefinger. Hold mouth shut for a count of ten.
 
Retrieve pill from goldfish bowl and cat from top of wardrobe. Call spouse from garden. 

Kneel on floor with cat wedged firmly between knees, hold front and rear paws. Ignore low growls emitted by cat. Get spouse to hold head firmly with one hand while forcing wooden ruler into mouth Drop pill down ruler and rub cat’s throat vigorously.
 
Retrieve cat from curtain rail, get another pill from foil wrap. Make note to buy new ruler and repair curtains. Carefully sweep shattered figurines and vases from hearth and set to one side for gluing later.
 
Wrap cat in large towel and get spouse to lie on cat with head just visible from below armpit. Put pill in end of drinking straw, force mouth open with pencil and blow down drinking straw.
 
Check label to make sure pill not harmful to humans, drink 1 beer to take taste away. Apply Band-Aid to spouse’s forearm and remove blood from carpet with cold water and soap. Retrieve cat from neighbor’s shed. Get another pill. Open another beer. 

Place cat in cupboard, and close door on to neck, to leave head showing. Force mouth open with dessert spoon. Flick pill down throat with elastic band.
 
Fetch screwdriver from garage and put cupboard door back on hinges. Drink beer. Fetch bottle of scotch. Pour shot, drink. Apply cold compress to cheek and check records for date of last tetanus shot. Apply whiskey compress to cheek to disinfect. Toss back another shot. Throw Tee shirt away and fetch new one from bedroom. Call fire department to retrieve the damn cat from across the road. Apologize to neighbor who crashed into fence while swerving to avoid cat. Take last pill from foil wrap.
 
Tie the little bastard’s front paws to rear paws with garden twine and bind tightly to leg of dining table, find heavy-duty pruning gloves from shed. Push pill into mouth followed by large piece of filet steak. Be rough about it. Hold head vertically and pour 2 pints of water down throat to wash pill down.
 
Consume remainder of scotch. Get spouse to drive you to the emergency room, sit quietly while doctor stitches fingers and forearm and removes pill remnants from right eye. Call furniture shop on way home to order new table. 
 
Arrange for SPCA to come collect this mutant cat from hell and call the local pet shop to see if they have any hamsters.
 
Accidentally drop pill on floor. Watch cat pounce on the pill and devour it.

Dogs
Wrap it in bacon. 
Toss it in the air.