“YOUR VIEW: Don't abandon unwanted pets; have them spayed or neutered - Everything Alabama Blog” plus 1 more

YOUR VIEW: Don't abandon unwanted pets; have them spayed or neutered - Everything Alabama Blog

Posted: 11 Dec 2010 03:38 AM PST

Published: Saturday, December 11, 2010, 5:40 AM

What I used to call an animal problem, I have now decided is really a people problem. You may not have had it happen to you, but you probably know someone who has had dogs, puppies, cats and kittens dropped out in his yard or on the road where he lives. It is not the animal's fault for being born; it is the person owning the animal not being responsible -- not spaying or neutering the animals, or not keeping females away from males during the crucial time.

There are people who take their pets on a joy ride just to throw them out and leave them to die a slow, painful death, either by starving, being hit by a car or being attacked by other animals.

Maybe you are one of the people who think someone will take in the animals you drop off. You see several dogs in a yard you pass by, and you feel sure that family will take in your pet. But most people who have several animals are at their max on the number they can care for. Most people who see a stray dog in their yard or near their property will either shoot it or run it off.

Dogs cannot hunt for food like a wild animal (unless they get into packs; then they will attack your pets, livestock and people).

Think before you decide to drop off an animal to fend for itself. By discarding animals in that way, you are making your problem someone else's problem. If the animal is lucky, someone will take it in, or have it put to death. No, it does not give me pleasure to have to take care of your problem.

Animals do have feelings, and they show us much love. Try to show some in return. If we all work together by saving one animal at a time, what a difference we can make.

The Humane Society of the U.S. estimates 3 million to 4 million dogs and cats are euthanized each year.

During this Christmas season, instead of buying lots of presents, pay for a dog or cat to be spayed or neutered. It's thoughtful gift for both the person and the pet.

Carolyn Shelton

Heflin

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Keep your pets safe from holiday hazards - The Post-Standard - Syracuse.com (blog)

Posted: 10 Dec 2010 11:57 PM PST

Published: Saturday, December 11, 2010, 6:00 AM Updated: Saturday, December 11, 2010, 7:35 AM

While you're sipping eggnog and chatting with your guests, guess what your dog is doing?

"Dumpster diving through the kitchen trash, finding the party leftovers," said Cathleen Duckett, a veterinary technician at Lake Country Veterinary Clinic in Marcellus.

Your cat, meanwhile, just scratched the angelic-looking toddler in the red party dress who yanked its tail.

No matter what you're celebrating -- Christmas, Hanukkah, New Year's Eve or Kwanzaa -- "You have to be very sensitive to the needs of pets at holidays," said Dr. Joan Graulich of Nottingham Pet Clinic in Syracuse.

Duckett provided a list of mischief your pet may get into this holiday season.

Given a chance your pet will likely:

• Devour the entire box of Aunt Flo's Christmas chocolates including the wrap and bow. Dark chocolate and sugar-free candies are toxic if ingested. Paper products can cause choking and intestinal blockage.

• Use the extension cord for a chew toy. Electrical cords can cause severe burns and even death by electrocution.

• Knock the glass ornaments from the tree and proceed to walk through them. Tiny shards of glass can often go unnoticed until infection sets in. Large cuts may require stitches.

• Drink the Christmas tree water to which you added preservative. Depending on the brand, it can contain toxic chemicals.

• Stick his entire nose into the lit, scented candle. Cats and dogs are both subject to burns from candles, fireplaces and space heaters.

• Eat the poinsettia as an appetizer and the tinsel like it was spaghetti." Many common houseplants are toxic to cats and dogs. Cats love tinsel, which can cause choking and strangulation of the intestines."

Graulich said the belief that poinsettias are fatal to cats and dogs is an urban legend. Eating a poinsettia can irritate an animal's mouth or cause vomiting or diarrhea, but not kill your pet, she said.

Other holiday plants that can be dangerous to pets are amaryllis bulbs, which will cause mild vomiting and diarrhea, and mistletoe, which can affect a pet's heart rate, she said.

It's lucky that tinsel has waned in popularity because if an animal, particularly a cat, eats it, it can seriously damage the intestines, she said. In past years, she's seen two or three cats every Christmas because they've eaten tinsel.

To keep pets safe, "The thing to emphasize is chocolate," she said. "And small parts. There tend to be a lot of small things lying around during the holidays."

Dogs like the taste of chocolate. But if a dog eats chocolate, it can face problems ranging from diarrhea to seizures and death. Unsweetened baking chocolate and dark chocolate are the worst culprits, but all chocolate, fudge, and other candy should be placed out of a dog's reach.

The darker the chocolate and the smaller the dog, the more potential for trouble.

Sugar-free sweetener is the real danger. Xylitol is a popular sweetener in sugar-free gums and candies, but it's deadly to pets. Many of the party leftovers your dog found in the trash -- chicken wings, ham bones, lobster shells, bacon grease, cheese puffs, almost any fatty food -- can be enough to cause diarrhea and vomiting and even pancreatitis. Bones are a choking hazard and often get lodged in the roof of a dog's mouth, Duckett said.

And don't give your dog beer or alcohol.

"Very small doses of things can be toxic or cause liver damage in dogs," Graulich said. "I know that some people have given dogs marijuana or marijuana brownies. Dogs should not drink or do drugs. It can cause permanent damage," she said.

While cats may have more discriminating palates than dogs, they can also create holiday mayhem.

If your cat is a climber, make sure your Christmas tree is anchored securely. Tie it to the ceiling or a door frame using fishing line.

Changes to routine, and a house full of noise and people, can stress an animal.

"Having a dog used to being in a crate is a good idea because it's a place where they feel safe," Graulich said. If you're expecting a house full of guests, move the crate to the basement or a quiet room.

Give your cat a calm place to hide as well, she said, and keep the litter box in a quiet place.

Both guests and hosts share responsibility for an animal's behavior, Graulich said. "Parents should be responsible for a child, and teach the child to ask the owner if it's OK to pet an animal and to ask the owner before offering a pet anything to eat.

"A child that runs after a cat and wants to grab it will probably be scratched. At the same time, the pet owners should also make sure pets are tucked away in a safe place."

As the door opens to let guests in, dogs and cats may take the opportunity to flee, and your holiday party turns into a search party. Make sure your dog or cat has an ID.

No matter how busy the holidays may get, make sure your dog gets enough attention and keep up its regular routine of feeding and exercise, Graulich said.

As any dog owner knows, a tired dog is a well-behaved dog.

Call Gloria Wright at 470-3024 or send e-mail to home@syracuse.com.

» Tips to keep your pets safe this winter [The Courier News]

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Saturday, December 11, 2010