Friday, July 8, 2011

13 Things I've Learned

How to make an eBook
How to make a Business Development Plan
How to make a Planning Page
How to start an eBusiness
How to create a blog
How to create pillar articles
How to add page counters to my website
How to make an online store through CafePress
How to ad AdSense Ads to my blog and website
How to submit my articles to a ezine articles database
How to make a donations page
How to make a privacy policy page
How to make a purpose page

Neighbors Help Animals Locked Inside Glen Lyon House

This is an article about how neighbors are helping take care of the animals in Glen Lyon's house while they wait for animal control to take them. This will also be my last blog for a while because our class has come to an end and I start my next one on Monday. Thanks for the great month and hopefully will be back soon!

Neighbors help animals locked inside Glen Lyon house

NEWPORT TWP. - The big mixed-breed dog drank thirstily from the cup of water Amanda Rake held up to the broken window.
"No, no, honey, you can't come out," she crooned, patting the dog's muzzle as others milled around in the junk-strewn, foul-smelling room behind it Thursday. "We're trying, guys. We're trying to get you out of this smelly hole."
Rake's boyfriend Robert Smith led an effort to ensure the eight dogs and other animals - four cats, two ferrets and a bird - in a vacant Glen Lyon house are fed and watered until authorities could do something about the situation. The Luzerne County Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals is meeting the owner's son Friday morning to collect the animals, SPCA employee Cary Moran said.
She said the animals weren't technically abandoned - a male resident of the house at 56 E. Main St. would visit in the evenings to take care of them - and although the house is dirty, the dogs seem to be in good shape. A neighbor has a key to the house and has been feeding the cats, which are locked upstairs.
"They're trying to do the right thing. It's not like they're really bad people," Moran said of the owners. "They got themselves in over their heads by taking in too many animals. Spaying and neutering would have been a good idea."
Moran said the SPCA was acting on a complaint by neighbors. Smith said he saw the dogs in the house for nine days, apparently without the owner stopping by, and decided to take action.
"It was just eating me. I couldn't sleep at night. I had to do something," he said.
After rigging up a system that allowed him to lower a bucket of water into the house for the dogs, Smith bought food from his own pocket, then put out signs and took up a collection from neighbors. He said he has collected $112 and six or seven big bags of dog food, which he plans to donate to the SPCA.
Moran said the SPCA has just two officers to cover all of Luzerne County, from Dupont to Hazleton to Newport Township.
And they have been busy this week.
On Monday, SPCA officers rescued 11 Australian shepherd mixes, a bichon frise and a tortoiseshell cat found malnourished, covered in feces and locked in a trailer Monday at the Petro Stopping Center in Dupont.
SPCA officers had their hands full again on Wednesday, when they responded to the Comfort Inn in Sugarloaf Township to find 21 cats, many in poor health, in one of the rooms.
"It is raining cats and dogs right now," Moran said. "Our shelter is so full. We're just not getting enough adopters through the door."

Microchip Your Pets

Unfortunately animals sometimes get away from their owners and get lost. This article talks about the importance of microchipping and how it can increase your chances of finding your pet if they happen to get lost.

State bill would require more microchips in pets

SCRAMENTO, CA - Supporters believe more dogs and cats would be saved from certain death and returned to their lawful owners if state legislators approve a measure requiring thousands of pets to get a microchip.
Hundreds of people braved the heat to get a free microchip for their pets at the State Capitol on Thursday.
The "Microchip Your Pet Clinic" was held as State Sen. Ted Lieu explained SB 702, a bill he authored that would require all dogs and cats leaving California animal shelters to get a microchip.
He believes "microchipping" would reduce the number of lost pets, the number that end up in animal shelters and the cost of euthanizing them.
"Every year shelters in California impound more than 1 million dogs and cats," Lieu said. "More than half of these animals are euthanized because they could not be reunited with their owners. This process costs taxpayers more than $300 million a year."
SB 702 said dogs and cats will be "microchipped" if they're leaving a shelter and being adopted by new owners or returned to registered owners.
"Lost pets that are not microchipped have only a 13 percent chance of being reunited with their owners. When they have microchips they have a 74 percent chance of going back home," Lieu explained.
Tamara Howard found her little chihuahua, LaBelle, on the side of Mack Road in May.
"She was looking lost so I opened my car door, called her and she hopped in," Howard said. "I took her out immediately to see if she was "chipped" and she wasn't."
Howard waited in line for two hours Thursday to get a chip injected under the skin on LaBelle's neck. About the size of a grain of rice, the chip can be scanned and will reveal a number.
As long as Howard goes online and registers her name, address and phone number with that number, her dog can be scanned with a small device which will reveal the number that will lead to Howard.
Howard said she thinks Lieu's proposal is a good idea.
"It's all about the little animals. They need to find their way home if they get out," Howard declared.
Desiree Lavilla, who brought her two dogs to the outdoor clinic, agreed.
"I'm doing the best I can," Lavilla said. "I'm waiting in line for a free microchip so they can come home one day if they ever get lost."
The clinic "microchipped" 300 dogs and cats and passed out vouchers for 300 more animals to get free chips at a veterinarian's office.
SB 702 passed the State Senate earlier in the day and is now being considered in the State Assembly.

Thursday, July 7, 2011

Flood-Rescued Animals

With all of the recent bad weather, some facilities have been taking precautions to try and rescue as many animals as possible. This is an article about an animal shelter in Jacksonville.

Flood-rescued animals returned to shelter

As recent floodwaters inundated Jacksonville’s animal shelter, volunteers scurried to save the dogs and cats trapped inside from possible drowning.
“I went to the treatment plant to see if there were any flood problems and I noticed that the water was two to two and a half feet up on the animal shelter,” said Rich Jackson, an employee of Jacksonville’s wastewater treatment plant and president of Protecting Animal Welfare Society, commonly known as PAWS.
Jackson said he got permission from animal control senior warden Lyle Walker to relocate the animals to his home on North Main Street. And with the help of about six PAWS volunteers, Jackson loaded up eight dogs, two puppies, 11 cats and seven kittens and took them home.
“Since the [June 18] flood, we have been taking care of the animals from the shelter andduring the past two and a half weeks, we have received about 18 other dogs and 13 other cats that have since been reclaimed or adopted,” said Jackson’s wife, Lisa, who serves as PAWS’ operational manager.
“We received numerous donations of cash, pet food and litter from people in the surrounding area that was very much appreciated,” Rich Jackson said.
On Wednesday, PAWS volunteers took three dogs and two kittens to the animal shelter that the not-for-profit organization had received from animal control during the past week.
“The three dogs and two kittens we took to the animal shelter have not been reclaimed and are available for adoption,” Lisa Jackson said.
It costs $80 to adopt a dog and $50 for a cat. Animal control will provide a $40 certificate to those adopting a dog and $25 for a cat to be applied toward neutering or spaying.

Child And Pet Neglect

Animal neglect is one of the most sad and avoidable problems I frequently hear of. When you throw children into the mix, it gets even more sad. This is an article about a mother who was letting her kids and pets live in a disgusting home.

Police: West York mom charged for letting kids live in filthy home

Officials rescued four children and a number of dogs and cats from a West York house that was infested with fleas and full of sewage and garbage.
Charges have been filed against the mother of those children, according to West York Police Chief Justin Seibel -- four counts of endangering the welfare of children and one count of cruelty to animals.
He identified the woman as Rebecca Jackson, 34, of 1648 Monroe St.
On Tuesday, the house in the 1600 block of Monroe Street house was deemed unfit for human occupancy due to unsanitary conditions.
Eleven dogs and cats were rescued from the home by the York County SPCA, executive director Melissa Smith said.
"The house was unsanitary from waste, but it was mostly human waste," she said.
Smith said sewage was backed up into the basement, and garbage was found in living areas.
York County senior deputy prosecutor Amy Eyster said the county's Office of Children, Youth and Families have taken custody of the four children. Eyster said she'd been told caseworkers were trying to place the children with a family member or friend, and that they are no longer with their mother.
Eyster said she advised West York Police to file the charges against Jackson.
"My position is that no children should be allowed to live in conditions like that," Eyster said. "And when we're notified of conditions like that, we will be filing charges."
Police discovered the children living in filth after recently going to the home on an unrelated matter involving the children, Eyster said.
West York Fire Capt. Charles Zienkiewicz said conditions in the home were "bad enough to deem it unfit for humans."
Pets seized: All told, three pit bulls and eight cats -- including a number of kittens -- were taken from the home, Smith said. All of them were infested with fleas, she said.
She said she hopes the cats will soon be available for adoption.
"We had concerns about the dogs' temperament with other animals, and they are unavailable (for adoption)," Smith said.
SPCA investigators received reports that one of dogs attacked another dog in neighborhood, according to Smith.
On Wednesday, West York Code Enforcement posted a notice to the padlocked front door of the home.
Violations: Also posted on the door was a list of nine health and safety violations, which include insect infestation and hazardous electrical and plumbing systems. The violations must be corrected before the house can be lived in again.
Ericah Brunner and her family moved in across the street from the house about six years ago.
She said she noticed a problem there almost right away. The porch was piled with items.
"And the children were just so dirty," Brunner said.
She said she knew the homeowner had cats because she would see them walking on the roof of the home and on top of air conditioners sticking out of windows. Brunner said she didn't know there were dogs in the home.
Brunner said she wasn't surprised when officials went to the home earlier this week.
However, she was surprised to learn how bad conditions were inside.
"I didn't realize it was that bad," she said.

Wednesday, July 6, 2011

Protect Furry Friends From Heat

I know I already posted one blog that gave tips for responsible summer care, but my friend just told me a horrible story of an individual that left puppies in their car for a couple hours. The puppies were no longer living when she returned to the car. The windows were rolled up and it is very hot outside. Here is another article about how to protect your pets from the heat.

Pet owners reminded to protect furry friends from heat

• HOT CARS/HEATSTROKE: Always leave your pet at home and NEVER leave a pet in a parked car. The temperature inside a car, even with the windows cracked and parked in the shade, can reach 120 degrees in a matter of minutes. If the air becomes too warm, a dog’s body temperature, normally 100.5 to 102.5 degrees, will continue to rise. If it exceeds 106 degrees, heatstroke could result, causing seizures, organ damage and even death. Signs of heatstroke include (but are not limited to): excessive body temperature, excessive panting, dark or bright red tongue and gums, staggering, stupor, seizures, bloody diarrhea or vomiting, and coma. If you suspect heatstroke in your pet, seek veterinary attention immediately!

• HEARTWORM PREVENTATIVE: Both dogs and cats should be on heartworm preventative year-round. Heartworms are potentially fatal parasites spread through the bite of just one infected mosquito. During the summer months, heartworm preventative is especially important due to the increased mosquito population.
• EXERCISE: On very hot days, limit a pet’s jog or walk to the early morning or evening hours. Keep in mind that asphalt gets very hot and can actually burn your pet’s paws.
• SHELTER: It’s best to leave your pet inside your air-conditioned home. If your pet must stay outside, make sure he / she has adequate shelter with access to plenty of cool, fresh water and shade.
• VACCINATIONS: Your pet should be up-to-date on all vaccinations. If you are planning a vacation and your pet will be boarded, make sure to speak with your veterinarian about any additional vaccines they would recommend for the kennel environment.
• FLEAS/TICKS: Fleas are a common problem, but it is possible to get rid of and prevent further infestations. Talk to your veterinarian about the appropriate product for your animal and follow all instructions exactly. Many accidental poisonings and deaths happen each year because people use the wrong product on their pet.
• WATER/BEACH SAFETY: Many people head to the beach, lake or pool to escape the heat and humidity. Remember that not all dogs are excellent swimmers. Always supervise your dog near the pool. At the beach, a strong undertow or riptide can drag a frolicking pet out into the water. . Make sure you bring lots of fresh water for your pet to drink. Rinse any sand, salt or chlorine off your pet as soon as possible.
• HERBICIDES/PESTICIDES: Plant food, fertilizer and insecticides can be fatal to a pet if ingested. Pet owners should read labels carefully and contact manufacturers for specific recommendations about using certain herbicides and pesticides around pets.

Safety do's and don'ts for pets

Here is part of an article about the Safety do's and don'ts for pets. For the full article, please click on the title of this article.

Pet Talk: Safety do’s and don’ts for pets

Do not tease a dog or cat. Remember that you do not like to be teased.
Never touch an unknown dog. Even if you know the dog, always ask permission from the owner first.
Don’t invade any dog’s space. Let it come to you.
Dogs do not like to be approached by surprise, from behind or touched on the head. Once they know you are present, pet them under the chin, on their chest or on the back.
Never stare at a dog’s eyes or put your face close to theirs. Look at them briefly and then look away. This helps them trust you.
Dogs that are tied up or are behind a fence should be left alone. They feel protective and might become aggressive trying to defend their territory.
Sleeping dogs or cats might be startled if disturbed and could react aggressively.
Eating dogs and cats should be left alone. Some are greedy about their food and will growl or bite if they think you are going to take it away.
Dogs can also be very possessive about bones or other treasured toys.
Remember that dogs and cats are living creatures and not cuddly toys. Many do not like to be hugged, carried around or played with roughly. Their only defenses are their teeth and claws and they may use them.
Children can be taught what actions to take if they should be approached by a potentially dangerous dog. Most stray dogs are not dangerous but that can not be known by a child. When a dog’s “prey instincts” are aroused they are more likely to pursue or try to attack. Following are some rules to follow when kids find themselves in an uncomfortable encounter with a dog.
Do not run from a dog or wave your arms around.
Try very hard not to scream or cry out. Kids have to practice this drill as it is against all their instincts.
Avoid eye contact and slowly back away if possible.
Or remain motionless. Be “still like a tree”.
In most situations, the dog, will lose interest and go away.
If a dog comes close, frightens a child or makes bodily contact their best option is to:
Put something between themselves and the dog like a book bag, bicycle or clothing and then slowly back away to a safe place.
If knocked over they should roll into a ball, protecting their head with their arms and lie still.
Be “still like a log” and stay that way until someone comes to help.