Furry Friends Rescue Blog

With the recent scare over BPA’s in plastics, mom had gone through and threw out anything that was bad (except for a few things).  Luckily, she always buys stainless steel bowls for me so there was no danger there, at least for me.  It seems like most of the danger for plastics was for young children, but pets like kids are sometimes more sensitive to these chemicals than humans.

Another danger lies in the cleanliness of the bowls used to feed us.  Plastic is more porous than stainless steel or ceramic bowls and so it captures bacteria and holds onto it more easily.  The materials and chemicals used to create plastic bowls can also be affected when you microwave it or apply heat to it.  Go Fetch Gifts wrote a nice article about the safety of plastic bowls and how it’s probably safer to switch to stainless steel or ceramic/porcelain.  When purchasing ceramic or porcelain bowls, make sure the decoration or paint used on the bowl is lead-free.  Check out Go Fetch Gifts second blog entry on using stainless steel, they talk about kitty acne and probably causes related to plastic bowls.

Also remember no matter what, you must clean your pets bowls regularly!  Stainless steel bowls are easy to clean, just use a soft rag or sponge and regular dish soap.  It doesn’t need any bleach or harsh abrasive materials, these things can actually damage or change the structure of the dish, so stay away from them.  With hard to clean, caked on messes, just soak the bowls in dish soap and warm water until it softens.

While there are responsible breeders out there, there are many more backyard breeders or people not watching out for their pets. This results in a high number of unwanted animals and unfortunately a high kill rate in some areas of California. In an effort to stop this waste of life and resources, there is a bill out requiring the Spay and Neuter of most animals ages 6 months and older. Please help support this so we can end the need for kill shelters.

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Each year, over $250 million dollars is spent housing and euthanizing homeless dogs and cats in California. Approximately 1 million dogs and cats enter California’s shelters each year, and over half of them (500,000+) are euthanized (killed) simply because there are not enough homes. STOP THE CYCLE!

Visit their Home page at www.yesonsb250.com to learn more.

Download the Support Letter here and fax it to:
Senator Dean Florez
Fax: (916) 327-9057

Send the letter to your state senators as well – find out who your state senator is by clicking on Your Senator at the State Senate Website: http://www.senate.ca.gov/~newsen/senators/senators.htp

For more Information, check out our news page or view the bill California SB 250 The Pet Responsibility Act.

Okay.. so maybe it’s not exactly a theory yet, but there is some scientific proof now that for many dog owners, having a dog makes them happier.  Mom’s friend once asked her when was the last time she had been so stressed out it made her cry.  She thought for awhile and then told him that she couldn’t remember… I’d like to say that I’m the reason why!  Dr. Morgan, doggie psychologist, has a nice ring to it don’t you think? BOL (bark out loud).

Well a recent study at Azuba University in Japan showed that playing with your dog and holding their gaze could increase a hormone in your body that makes you happier.  The article by New Scientist said biologists Miho Nagasawa and Takefumi Kikusui found that Oxytocin levels increased in certain situations.  The hormone is linked to infant care, romantic love and friendship, otherwise known as the “cuddle chemical.”  According to the article studies have shown that oxytocin dampens stress, combats depression, and breeds trust in humans.  I wonder if staring at my mom long enough will produce enough of this hormone so she’ll give me extra treats.. note to self – must try staring at her later tonight.

The biologists ran control groups who avoided their dogs gaze and other groups that play with the dogs and tried to keep their gaze for 2 1/2 minutes.  The group that stared the longest showed a 20% increase in oxytocin levels!  The hormone levels were measured by urine samples before and after playtime.

So there you go.. dogs make people happier! However, you should never add a pet to your family when life is stressful, this can often lead to more stress and is unfair for you and the dog.  When adopting and adding pets to your home, you should be in a stable place in your life.  Then when life starts feeling more stressful, us furry ones can help make your day that much better.

Thanks to the Woof Report for cluing me into this article!  Check them out at www.woofreport.com and sign up for their daily newsletters!  It’s chock full of fun things and good information!

Typically National Senior Pet month takes place in November, however I just read this article in Bark Magazine about senior dogs that it made me want to highlight them early.  I’m sure we’ll do a tribute come November as well.  Mom’s first dog was an adopted 11 year old eskie, toothless and deaf.  He was fantastic, came house broken, settled right in and became mom’s little white shadow.

There’s a lot of myths surrounding adopting older dogs, such as they all have issues, they can’t be trained, etc.  While an older dog may not have as many years to live as a puppy, he still has a lot of love to give and life to live.  Giving a senior dog a second chance helps de-mystify the idea that old dogs don’t make great pets.  Many older dogs are more mellow, require less activity and are happy and content to be your companion.  Dogs at every age will have different issues and personalities, but if you look, I’m sure you can find an older dog that will match you!

Check out The Senior Dog Project website for some great resources on older dogs!  It include an Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) list about adopting one, what to do if you have to give one up, and special care tips for senior dogs.  Senior dogs have a higher euthanasia rate in shelters.. give an older dog a second chance today!

The benefits of adopting/rescuing a senior dog (reposted with permission from the Senior Dog Project website):

I had read this letter a long time ago and as harsh as it sounds, it is often a reality for many shelters across the nation.  I came across it again on Ask Spike Online and thought it would be good to share again.. gives a strong perspective about what it’s like managing a shelter.

A Letter from a Shelter Manager

I think our society needs a huge “Wake-up” call. As a shelter manager, I am going to share a little insight with you all…a view from the inside if you will.

First off, all of you breeders/sellers should be made to work in the “back” of an animal shelter for just one day. Maybe if you saw the life drain from a few sad, lost, confused eyes, you would change your mind about breeding and selling to people you don’t even know.

That puppy you just sold will most likely end up in my shelter when it’s not a cute little puppy anymore. So how would you feel if you knew that there’s about a 90% chance that dog will never walk out of the shelter it is going to be dumped at? Purebred or not! About 50% of all of the dogs that are “owner surrenders” or “strays”, that come into my shelter are purebred dogs.

The most common excuses I hear are; “We are moving and we can’t take our dog (or cat).” Really? Where are you moving too that doesn’t allow pets? Or they say “The dog got bigger than we thought it would”. How big did you think a German Shepherd would get? “We don’t have time for her”. Really? I work a 10-12 hour day and still have time for my 6 dogs! “She’s tearing up our yard”. How about making her a part of your family? They always tell me “We just don’t want to have to stress about finding a place for her we know she’ll get adopted, she’s a good dog”.

Odds are your pet won’t get adopted & how stressful do you think being in a shelter is? Well, let me tell you, your pet has 72 hours to find a new family from the moment you drop it off. Sometimes a little longer if the shelter isn’t full and your dog manages to stay completely healthy. If it sniffles, it dies. Your pet will be confined to a small run/kennel in a room with about 25 other barking or crying animals. It will have to relieve itself where it eats and sleeps. It will be depressed and it will cry constantly for the family that abandoned it. If your pet is lucky, I will have enough volunteers in that day to take him/her for a walk. If I don’t, your pet won’t get any attention besides having a bowl of food slid under the kennel door and the waste sprayed out of its pen with a high-powered hose. If your dog is big, black or any of the “Bully” breeds (pit bull, rottie, mastiff, etc) it was pretty much dead when you walked it through the front door.

Those dogs just don’t get adopted. It doesn’t matter how ’sweet’ or ‘well behaved’ they are.

If your dog doesn’t get adopted within its 72 hours and the shelter is full, it will be destroyed. If the shelter isn’t full and your dog is good enough, and of a desirable enough breed it may get a stay of execution, but not for long . Most dogs get very kennel protective after about a week and are destroyed for showing aggression. Even the sweetest dogs will turn in this environment. If your pet makes it over all of those hurdles chances are it will get kennel cough or an upper respiratory infection and will be destroyed because shelters just don’t have the funds to pay for even a $100 treatment.

Here’s a little euthanasia 101 for those of you that have never witnessed a perfectly healthy, scared animal being “put-down”.

First, your pet will be taken from its kennel on a leash. They always look like they think they are going for a walk happy, wagging their tails. Until they get to “The Room”, every one of them freaks out and puts on the brakes when we get to the door. It must smell like death or they can feel the sad souls that are left in there, it’s strange, but it happens with every one of them. Your dog or cat will be restrained, held down by 1 or 2 vet techs depending on the size and how freaked out they are. Then a euthanasia tech or a vet will start the process. They will find a vein in the front leg and inject a lethal dose of the “pink stuff”. Hopefully your pet doesn’t panic from being restrained and jerk. I’ve seen the needles tear out of a leg and been covered with the resulting blood and been deafened by the yelps and screams. They all don’t just “go to sleep”, sometimes they spasm for a while, gasp for air and defecate on themselves.

When it all ends, your pets corpse will be stacked like firewood in a large freezer in the back with all of the other animals that were killed waiting to be picked up like garbage. What happens next? Cremated? Taken to the dump? Rendered into pet food? You’ll never know and it probably won’t even cross your mind. It was just an animal and you can always buy another one, right?

I hope that those of you that have read this are bawling your eyes out and can’t get the pictures out of your head I deal with everyday on the way home from work.

I hate my job, I hate that it exists & I hate that it will always be there unless you people make some changes and realize that the lives you are affecting go much farther than the pets you dump at a shelter.

Between 9 and 11 MILLION animals die every year in shelters and only you can stop it. I do my best to save every life I can but rescues are always full, and there are more animals coming in everyday than there are homes.

My point to all of this DON’T BREED OR BUY WHILE SHELTER PETS DIE!

Hate me if you want to. The truth hurts and reality is what it is. I just hope I maybe changed one persons mind about breeding their dog, taking their loving pet to a shelter, or buying a dog. I hope that someone will walk into my shelter and say “I saw this and it made me want to adopt”. THAT WOULD MAKE IT WORTH IT

I had recently blogged about this particular subject before, but with increasing home foreclosures I felt a need to mention it again.  Check out the previous blog here for extra resources.

Unfortunately there are some times where you have to re-home your pet, whether it’s just not a good fit or economic hardships, these things do happen.  When you reach that point, it’s important to do your research and try to find the best solution to finding a new home for your pet!

First off.. look at the reasons you have for wanting to give up your pet.  See if there may be solutions, such as training, daycare, etc.  There are lots of resources and professionals out there who would be willing to give you some opinions on your particular situation.

Make sure you check out our resources and training pages.  The San Jose Animal Services site also has information: http://www.sanjoseanimals.com/surrenderInfo.asp.

Secondly, if there’s no alternative, weigh your options.  Never re-home your pet to strangers without a small adoption fee.  The adoption fee helps increase the changes that your pet goes to a good home and isn’t used for dog fighting or medical testing.

Check with family and friends to see if anyone wants your pet or if they’re even willing to care for them until you are in a better place.  As resilient as animals are, they still do better in stable environments.

Contact local rescues, especially ones that home foster animals, but be patient.  You cannot expect rescues to take your dog immediately, most are entirely volunteer run and they need to make sure they have the space and resources.  Furry Friends Rescue also has a Guardian Assist program where you would keep your dog until it got adopted but have access to our adoption showcases and your pet would be posted to our website which receives a lot of local foot traffic – http://furryfriendsrescue.org/about_us/guardian_assist.

As a last resort there are local shelters.  If you can find one that is no-kill, that’s best, old dogs or dogs with issues often have slimmer chances at adoption from shelters.  Be prepared to pay a small fee to some shelters, many are underfunded and doing their best to help animals.

Doing your research and asking questions, can help save your pets life from being euthanized in a shelter.

I’ve got to tell you a story, mom had never housebroken a dog before and when she adopted her first dog from Furry Friends Rescue, she was worried she wouldn’t be able to do it (but it turned out Griffen was already housebroken)..but then when she started fostering she was even more worried!

However after some research and training with me, she realized it wasn’t as scary as she thought!  If you’re worried or scared of house breaking a dog, here are some tips and good information to know.

The first step is to learn about natural dog behavior and also breed behavior if you happen to know the breed of your dog.  Dogs in general won’t pee or poop where they sleep – unless they’re feeling sick, getting old, or have a small bladder for some reason.  Which is one reason why FFR always suggests crate training, it helps your dog feel safe, makes it easier to travel or board them, and helps with housebreaking!  Since most dogs won’t relieve themselves where they sleep, the crates help limit a dogs space and allows you to control their movement while you housebreak.  You can feed/water them, crate them (where they’ll learn to hold it) and then take them out to potty where you then praise and give them rewards for a job well done – outside of course!

When first bringing home a puppy (we suggest reading Before & After Getting Your Puppy by Ian Dunbar) or any new dog, it’s always best to set up an area where they can’t “fail” – meaning they can’t get into any trouble or if they do, it’s okay.  The area should be just enough room for them to sleep in or somewhere where if they have an accident it can be easily cleaned up.  If you don’t have such a space, creating one is easy, get a pen and put tarp or pieces of linoleum underneath it.

One way to start is to control the dogs intake of food and water.  Puppies can general hold their bladders for an hour for each month they are old – for example a 3 month old can probably hold their bladder for 3 hours.  However, they’re not going to really try, so it’s best to take them out every hour or so and when they go potty outside, praise and give them treats.  You want to try and associate something good with going bathroom outside.  You can also attach words to the action like ‘potty outside’, this can sometimes come in handy when it’s rainy and cold and you want them to hurry up.  If they’ve eaten, you’ll want to take them out about 30 minutes after so they can go poop, until you know they can hold it.

If you want to move around the house with them, it’s a good idea to leash them and tie it to your belt loop, that way they can’t go very far and you’re more likely to catch them from having an accident.  Learn the signs that your dog gives before it goes to the bathroom, this usually entails, sniffing around, tail up before squatting or lifting a leg.  If you catch them in the middle of the act or just as they’re going to start, CLAP your hands or create a loud noise to try and stop them.  Then take them outside, let them do their business and again treat and praise.

Mom would keep treats in a plastic bag by the bathroom door or in her pocket for those just in case situations.  Praise and lots of petting and attention can work if you can’t grab the treat motivator in time.

Another tip is to limit the number of rooms the dog has access to right when you start.  Mom would use baby gates and close  doors so we only had access to her room, the hallway, and the kitchen (which has the door to the potty yard).  Since we (me and the fosters) spent a lot of time in her room and the kitchen, we learned quickly not to pee in either of those areas.  The hallway became an issue, so mom grabbed some of the blankets we slept on and pulled her laptop and a book into the hallway and we just sat there for a few hours.  After a few sessions of this, the fosters stopped peeing in the hallway and learned to go outside, they associated the hallway as another living space.

Mom then moves to closing the door (but still keeping our space limited) so that we learned to hold it until she let us out.  I also learned to give her a signal that wanted to go outside.  You can also try training your dog to ring a bell tied to the door knob to let you know they need to go.

Just remember two things – 1) to have patience, some Nature’s Miracle and a couple of good shammy’s to clean up the messes and 2) consistency is key, the more you do it, the more likely your dog will pick up housebreaking much more quickly.

If you want some more information, check out the FFR Behavior/Training Page and Ask Spike Online has some great potty resource pages!

Good luck!

Well.. at least that’s what most of our humans think.  I’d beg to differ, it’s much more fun to find that smell on the ground and roll your body in it.

BUT.. if your human insists on keeping you clean then whatcha going to do?  There are plus sides to being clean though, mostly for the humans since us dogs don’t seem to care.

1) Less shedding!

2) We smell nice and they want to cuddle and snuggle us more!

3) Helps maintain a healthy coat and shine!

Bathing, Brushing, and Nail Clipping

Nowadays the doggie bathing products are a lot nicer and more balanced so regular washing won’t damage your pets coat or irritate their skin.  Granted each dog is different and regular bathing can vary from every week to every month depending on the type of coat and skin your dog has.

Not to mention bathing and grooming your pet is a great bonding experience.  Brushing your pet also helps keep their coats healthy and is a chance for you to make sure there aren’t any strange lumps, bruises, or scratches on your dog or cat. If your pet doesn’t like to be brushed, start by petting and stroking them the entire length of their body.  You can buy brushes with soft bristles or even rubber ones (like Kong’s Zoom Groom Brush) that feel more like hands and work your way up.

Then there’s the dreaded nail clipping/trimming process!!  If you’re like my mom, you try to exercise your dog to wear their nails down or you pay someone to cut them for you. BOL! (Bark out loud).  No matter how hard she tried when I was a puppy I just didn’t like my paws touched.

However, if you’re willing to try and train your dog, be patient. Show them the clipper or dremel first and use a motivator (treats or toys) to show them there’s nothing to be afraid of.  Then when they’re comfortable, clip one nail and again use the motivator (give them a treat).  If you keep going slow and watch the dogs comfort level, it should make it easier to clip their nails after awhile.  If the dog is getting agitated, stop and wait to clip the rest.  With any training you want to try and end on a positive experience.

Here’s a few products mom’s tried out on me in the past:

Happy Tails Spa – she loves their all in one shampoo/conditioner.. why? because i don’t like bathing and the quicker the better!

Isle of Dog – they make a great shampoo for dogs with white coats, mom’s last dog was an eskie and it helped keep his coat nice and white.

For nail clipping/trimming – make sure you research the different kinds of clippers/dremels (sanders).. depending on your dog and yourself, there might be one that works better for you.

For Teeth Cleaning – Check out my last post during Dental Health Month!

Disclaimer – FFR does not endorse any stores or products, the above mentioned products were things that I’ve tried out but there are plenty of great dog cleaning products out there now!

Mom came across the following essay on askspikeonline.com, it’s called “How Could You”, from Jim Willis’ book Pieces of My Heart.  She read it and had to hug and hold me tight, promising to love me forever and that she was so glad she gave me a second chance at life.  Enjoy the read and for those of you considering getting a dog, this is definitely a must read.. we live long lives and are definitely a commitment.

When I was a puppy I entertained you with my antics and made you laugh. You called me your child and despite a number of chewed shoes and a couple of murdered throw pillows, I became your best friend. Whenever I was “bad,” you’d shake your finger at me and ask “How could you?” – but then you’d relent and roll me over for a bellyrub.

My housetraining took a little longer than expected, because you were terribly busy, but we worked on that together. I remember those nights of nuzzling you in bed, listening to your confidences and secret dreams, and I believed that life could not be any more perfect. We went for long walks and runs in the park, car rides, stops for ice cream (I only got the cone because “ice cream is bad for dogs,” you said), and I took long naps in the sun waiting for you to come home at the end of the day.

Gradually, you began spending more time at work and on your career, and more time searching for a human mate. I waited for you patiently, comforted you through heartbreaks and disappointments, never chided you about bad decisions, and romped with glee at your homecomings, and when you fell in love.

She, now your wife, is not a “dog person” – still I welcomed her into our home, tried to show her affection, and obeyed her. I was happy because you were happy. Then the human babies came along and I shared your excitement. I was fascinated by their pinkness, how they smelled, and I wanted to mother them, too. Only she and you worried that I might hurt them, and I spent most of my time banished to another room, or to a dog crate. Oh, how I wanted to love them, but I became a “prisoner of love.”

As they began to grow, I became their friend. They clung to my fur and pulled themselves up on wobbly legs, poked fingers in my eyes, investigated my ears and gave me kisses on my nose. I loved everything about them and their touch – because your touch was now so infrequent – and I would have defended them with my life if need be.

I would sneak into their beds and listen to their worries and secret dreams. Together we waited for the sound of your car in the driveway. There had been a time, when others asked you if you had a dog, that you produced a photo of me from your wallet and told them stories about me. These past few years, you just answered “yes” and changed the subject. I had gone from being “your dog” to “just a dog,” and you resented every expenditure on my behalf.

Now you have a new career opportunity in another city, and you and they will be moving to an apartment that does not allow pets. You’ve made the right decision for your “family,” but there was a time when I was your only family.

I was excited about the car ride until we arrived at the animal shelter. It smelled of dogs and cats, of fear, of hopelessness. You filled out the paperwork and said “I know you will find a good home for her.” They shrugged and gave you a pained look. They understand the realities facing a middle-aged dog or cat, even one with “papers.” You had to pry your son’s fingers loose from my collar as he screamed “No, Daddy! Please don’t let them take my dog!” And I worried for him, and what lessons you had just taught him about friendship and loyalty, about love and responsibility, and about respect for all life. You gave me a goodbye pat on the head, avoided my eyes, and politely refused to take my collar and leash with you. You had a deadline to meet and now I have one, too.

After you left, the two nice ladies said you probably knew about your upcoming move months ago and made no attempt to find me another good home. They shook their heads and asked “How could you?”

They are as attentive to us here in the shelter as their busy schedules allow. They feed us, of course, but I lost my appetite days ago. At first, whenever anyone passed my pen, I rushed to the front, hoping it was you – that you had changed your mind – that this was all a bad dream…or I hoped it would at least be someone who cared, anyone who might save me. When I realized I could not compete with the frolicking for attention of happy puppies, oblivious to their own fate, I retreated to a far corner and waited.

I heard her footsteps as she came for me at the end of the day and I padded along the aisle after her to a separate room. A blissfully quiet room. She placed me on the table, rubbed my ears and told me not to worry. My heart pounded in anticipation of what was to come, but there was also a sense of relief. The prisoner of love had run out of days. As is my nature, I was more concerned about her. The burden which she bears weighs heavily on her and I know that, the same way I knew your every mood.

She gently placed a tourniquet around my foreleg as a tear ran down her cheek. I licked her hand in the same way I used to comfort you so many years ago. She expertly slid the hypodermic needle into my vein. As I felt the sting and the cool liquid coursing through my body, I lay down sleepily, looked into her kind eyes and murmured “How could you?”

Perhaps because she understood my dogspeak, she said “I’m so sorry.” She hugged me and hurriedly explained it was her job to make sure I went to a better place, where I wouldn’t be ignored or abused or abandoned, or have to fend for myself – a place of love and light so very different from this earthly place. With my last bit of energy, I tried to convey to her with a thump of my tail that my “How could you?” was not meant for her. It was you, My Beloved Master, I was thinking of. I will think of you and wait for you forever.

May everyone in your life continue to show you so much loyalty.

I’ve entered myself into a contest!  If I make it into the top 3 for this week (March 3-March10) then Furry Friends Rescue gets entered for a chance to win $10,000!!  Imagine all the animals we can rescue, vet, and re-home with that!  That’s at least 25 animals we can give a second chance too!

So head on over to the website Bissell’s Most Valuable Pet Photo Contest and vote for me!  You only have to vote once, we’d really appreciate it!

-Morgan.