“Orphan pets find new thanks to shelter - San Jose Mercury News” plus 1 more |
| Orphan pets find new thanks to shelter - San Jose Mercury News Posted: 17 Jan 2011 11:19 PM PST  Shepherd mix Tristan waits for a home at Pet Orphans of Southern California in Van Nuys, CA. (Hans Gutknecht/Staff Photographer) (Hans Gutknecht) For the homeless dogs and cats that wind up at Pet Orphans of Southern California, the shelter must seem like a little piece of heaven. At the facility in an industrial section of Van Nuys, canines have a choice of multiple gardens and shaded, flagstone-paved courts to scamper about. Comfy "cathouses" are outfitted with shelves, vertical climbing spaces and even chairs for the felines to flop all over. Then there's the caring staff, who not only know every animal by name but also each one's medical and, sometimes, emotional history (average population is about 35 dogs and a few more cats). And volunteers come by on a daily basis to pet, play with and otherwise provide individualized TLC. But make no mistake: The orphans are there to be permanently placed in good homes, plain and simple. "The only criteria that we have is that the animal is potentially adoptable," kennel manager Linda Sackman explained. And Pet Orphans tries to make that process as easy as possible. Open 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. seven days a week, the organization tries to match animals' personalities with the needs and makeup of interested families. There's even a "reality room," where potential parents and pets can essentially test drive one another. No appointments are necessary, though some background information must be gathered before they'll send a critter home with you. It costs $255 to adopt a dog and $120 for a cat; you can get a second kitty for half price. All animals come spayed or neutered, microchipped, current on their shots and with collars and a bag of food.One pet lover has sworn by the 38-year-old organization for nearly a quarter century. "We had Otis and Charlie and, now, Payton," Ann Lewis of La Crescenta said. "He's a beautiful dog of unknown ethnicity and I've had him about five months. Our other dogs lived 10 and 13 years. "They know something about the dogs when you go to pick them out," Lewis said of why she liked adopting from Pet Orphans. "They observe them and begin the training and the dogs have had their shots. And they're a good resource for all kinds of things. I feel comfortable knowing that we got the pet there and that we can always go to them." Of course, the recession has impacted every aspect of Pet Orphans' effort. There's been an uptick in callers facing foreclosure or unaffordable vet bills inquiring about relinquishing their beloved companions. Rising medical costs also arguably contribute to the spike in animals with health issues from shelter transfers, where the bulk of Pet Orphans' population comes from. Adopters are wary of vet costs, too. "Some people who come here looking for a pet want us to guarantee that they won't have any expenses with it," Sackman said. "Well, that doesn't exist. Every living creature is, by default, prone to be sick at some point." As for Pet Orphans' operating budget, the recession has cut individual donations - its main funding source - by more than half. If you want something in exchange for support money, you can buy discounted supplies or have your four-legged friend groomed at the facility. Nevertheless, the organization's co-founder and president, Diane Scripps, hopes to, somehow, open a low-cost veterinary clinic next door. "I am optimistic to the degree that, in the last couple of years, the cause of helping homeless and sheltered animals has become a big issue," Scripps said. "Oprah's concentrated on it, and Bob Barker and Ellen DeGeneres. So I feel that the low ebb we're at right now is solely financial, and as the economy eases back, things will be better." Money concerns aren't about to stop Scripps and her dedicated crew from continuing the work they so clearly love. "I'm 82 years old and, thank God, while all my friends are either deteriorating or dead, I have something really to live for," Scripps said. "This is very energizing." This entry passed through the Full-Text RSS service — if this is your content and you're reading it on someone else's site, please read our FAQ page at fivefilters.org/content-only/faq.php |
| A few fun facts about our favorite pets - Sacramento Bee Posted: 17 Jan 2011 11:47 PM PST We're still sorting through our New Year's resolutions, most of which seem to involve our pets (walk them more, brush their teeth more often). As we swing into the new year for real, we thought we'd share some information from two of our favorites books we've written, "BowWow" and "MeowWow" (both from HCI). Don't bite the man who names you: A handful of breeds were named for people. Louis Dobermann, a German tax collector in the mid-19th century, developed the elegant and protective breed that bears his name. Another is the Parson Russell terrier – commonly known as the Jack Russell – named after the Rev. John Russell, a Victorian-era clergyman with a fondness for hunting terriers. The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel was named after King Charles II, although centuries after his death. There's also the Gordon setter, named after the Duke of Gordon. An All-American cat: The Maine coon cat is an American original. This hardy, long-haired breed was developed as an all- purpose, all-weather New England farm cat and companion. The markings for which the breed is best known – a distinctively marked tabby – leaves the cat with a fluffy tail that somewhat resembles the tail of a raccoon. Despite the persistent idea that the large cat came about because of mating with raccoons … well, hate to ruin a good story, but it's just not true. Nor is the idea of that the cat developed from matings with North American bobcats. Maine coon cats are all cat, and a lot of cat, for all that. White can be a fright: Not all white cats are deaf, but it's certainly not uncommon. White cats with blue eyes are more likely to be deaf than white cats with eyes of any other color. As protected indoor cats, however, a deaf cat can still be a wonderful pet. Just say "Aaaaahhhh!": All dogs have pink tongues, with two notable exceptions: the chow chow and the Chinese Shar-Pei, breeds with tongues variously described as purple, black or blue-black. Both breeds originated in China, and the Shar-Pei (the name in Chinese refers to "shark skin") was in the 1970s described as the rarest breed in the world – a distinction lost long ago as the breed has become more popular. Cats who chitter- chatter: Chattering is an involuntary reaction of a cat who sees something she wants very badly – a fluttering bird or a feline enemy – but can't get to for some reason, such as being on one side of the window when the bird or other cat is visible on the other. If the keyed-up cat could pop her knuckles or chew gum to let out that extra energy, she would. By the way, a cat that's wound up is best left alone. A little redirected aggression could leave you with some nasty claw tracks on your arm! Beware … watch out … don't enter: The phrase "Beware of dog" is so old that its Latin equivalent, "cave canem," has been found on signs in Roman ruins. The word "watchdog" isn't quite as old, but it has been around a long, long time. The first known mention of it? By Shakepeare, in "The Tempest." We'll share more tidbits in the months ahead. We're both chronic savers of interesting pet facts. © Copyright The Sacramento Bee. All rights reserved.  Pet Connection is produced by a team of pet-care experts headed by veterinarian Dr. Marty Becker and journalist Gina Spadafori. The two are also the authors of several best-selling pet-care books. E-mail them at petconnection@gmail.com or visit www.petconnection.com. Back columns: www.sacbee.com/spadafori. This entry passed through the Full-Text RSS service — if this is your content and you're reading it on someone else's site, please read our FAQ page at fivefilters.org/content-only/faq.php |
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