"Practice kindness toward animals, for he who is cruel to animals becomes hard also in his dealings with men. We can judge the heart of a man by his treatment of animals"  ~ Immanuel Kant

(www.rufftales.com)

Bubbles

Highway dogs don't get second chances. When I saw Bubbles on the Highway 71 median, Christmas eve, I said a short prayer for our safety. The cars never seemed to notice a 40 pound dog scrounging for food on the highway. I pulled onto the frontage road that paralleled the highway, so Bubbles could see me. When I called to her, the skinny blue dog left the highway and came toward me. Ever so gently, she approached, as I reached out to her with a handful of treats. She hesitated at first. When she began to eat gently from my hand, I quietly slipped a lead over her neck. She was safe!


We rapidly had her spayed and I named her 'Bubbles.'  She's a young Blue Lacey mixed with pure joy! She adores everyone that she meets. She recently found her forever home with a young woman in Bastrop County. They'll be best friends forever.

DOG TRAPPING BAIT FOODS

Stray animals are common after disasters. Many pets are scared and won't come to strangers. Live traps are life savers for strays. The following are good bait foods for trapping dogs or cats... (Oily/smelly foods are best!) 

smelly bait foods

• tunafish in oil 
• canned cat food
• bacon (and bacon grease soaked biscuits) 
• bbq brisquit 
• sardines/canned fish
• deboned fried chicken
• deviled eggs 

FEEDING STATION FOR TRAPPING STRAYS

feeding station

Devastating Texas wildfires separated many animals from their homes. If you see a stray dog in your area, try to coax it into your yard. If she's friendly, take her to your local shelter, where she'll be reunited with her owner. If the dog is shy, set up a feeding station to provide food/water until you can get a live trap to catch the dog. Call your local shelter to borrow a trap or obtain one online. See the December 2010 posting for 'Dog trapping' tips...

Union Chapel Fire (from Best Friends Boarding Kennel)

The devastating 2011 fires in Bastrop Texas forced many families to leave their homes abruptly. Do you have an evacuation plan with your pets? Animals left behind will NOT flee disaster, they often equate home with safety. 

Tips for safely evacuating with pets:

• Always keep collars/ID tags on pets.
• Microchip your pets now. Later can be too late.
• Post a 'pet rescue window decal' to alert rescue personnel that pets are in your home. 
• Keep dog leashes near the front door.
• Leash train your dogs.
• Own a crate for each pet.
• Don't own more animals than you can take during an evacuation.
• Animals sense anxiety. Stay calm. Load pets (especially cats) into crates indoors. Don't load/unload pets outdoors, where they can flee. 
• Keep leashes on your pet while they ride in the car. 
• Keep windows up so animals don't jump from the car.
• If you have time, pack pet meds, food and water.
• Keep an emergency kit with pet supplies in a closet.
• Vets and kennels are good boarding destinations.
• Most emergency shelters and hotels will take pets.
• Livestock trailers should be kept in good working order. Inspect and inflate the tires regularily.
• Keep extra halters and lead ropes in trailers.
• If you must leave pets in a home, fill bathtub/sinks with water. Leave open bags of food on the floor.
• Leave a window open for cats. 
• Notify authorities that you left pets in your home.
• Dogs should be released from chains if left behind.
• Go back ASAP to get animals.
• If you return after an evacuation to find pets gone, check your local shelter. Post pictures on Facebook/ Craigs List. Put LOST signs up with the word 'Reward' so people will contact you.

Have you considered adopting a big dog, but you don't have a big yard? Big dogs need a big couch, not a big yard! If well exercised and trained, big dogs can be calm, couch potatoes. They are much safer and healthier living indoors.

Sprocket

Want to take a good picture of your dog or cat? Here's a few hints:

• Shoot outdoors.
• Shoot on a cloudy day. No hard shadows.
• Get eye level with the pet. Don't shoot above them.
• Get the animal to look into the camera by using a squeeky toy. It's important to capture them looking at you!
• Shoot with a nice (or neutral) background.

This picture of Sprocket was posted on FaceBook. He had 4 good adopters apply for him the first day. A great picture with a clever bio, is invaluable for posting homeless animals.

Cisco's crate

Do you crate train? It's a useful tool for housebreaking puppies. Pups don't like to soil their sleeping area, so it teaches them to wait to potty. Buy a crate from a pet retail store (I like the wire crates) and place the crate in a living room, near a window. When you first put the pup in the crate, give praise and treats. Place a blanket, toys and treats inside. Keep the door open to create a positive experience. General Rule: when the pup is unsupervised in the house, use the crate.

I usually leave the house for a couple hours when I first crate a new puppy. The pup will cry for awhile, but eventually settle into his new den. NEVER take the pup out of his crate while he is crying, or it reinforces the behavior. Wait until he's completely quiet to remove him!

Young pups will usually have to potty after waking from a nap, so be sure to go promptly outside. Praise them enthusiastically for eliminating outdoors. Take him to the same area each time. Depending on the pup's age, that's how long they can go without pottying. (ie: 3 month old pup can hold it 3 hours, 4 month old/4 hours etc...)

Don't leave water in the crate or the pup will have to potty prematurely. Be sure the pup is properly exercised, walked and socialized.

2 lb-Festus

3-month-old Bugsy

Do you know the proper age to sterilize your dog or cat? 

Pups can be fixed at 12 weeks of age and kittens at 2 pounds. 

If you wait longer, you risk an accidental litter or higher costs at the vet, (since most vets charge by weight.) 

Another benefit of an early spay/neuter is that young animals heal quicker than older animals! Its never too late to fix your older pet, as they can have litters at any age.

rescue supplies

Travel much? Good things to carry in a car when you encounter a stray dog or cat...

1. puppy food (high calorie)
2. leather gloves
3. sturdy slip lead
4. bowl/water jug
6. packaged meat sticks
7. canned pet food
8. dog biscuits
9. fold down wire crate
10. towels
11. Capstar flea tablets

I found a stray dog on the roadway. She was shy, but eventually came to me when I offered a 'Slim Jim' meat treat. I put a slip lead over her head as she ate the treat. I wore leather gloves and  gently picked her up and put her in the crate in my car. She was pregnant and had pups the next day. Momma and her 8 pups were eventually adopted out to lovely indoor homes, thanks to that enticing 'Slim Jim.'

"I care not for a man's religion whose dog or cat are not the better for it." ~ Abe Lincoln

 Fresh spay incision   

What's the first thing to do if you find a stray animal and you take it home? (Especially if its female)

- - - - TAKE HER TO THE VET! - - - -

 Many stray females are discarded BECAUSE they are pregnant. Also, if you have resident pets, protect them from disease by promptly vaccinating the stray. While at the vet, get the stray fixed.  Long haired dogs and cats hide pregnancy well, so don't take a chance on a surprise litter. (Ask your vet for a 'rescue' discount.)

If you locate the owner of the stray, ask them to reimburse you for the vet bills and insist they tag and contain their pets. Fixed pets stay home better too!

Are you experiencing cold weather this winter season? Imagine living outdoors, trying to stay warm in a doghouse. Unless that doghouse is sealed, insulated and heated, it does nothing to provide warmth to the dog inside. Because animals can't complain, owners mistakenly think their pets are fine. Unfortunately, animals suffer silently. During freezing weather, bring dogs and cats inside a heated area. Provide warm bedding and plenty of high calorie food to supplement their excessive energy needs.

No fence fighting 

Does your dog bark or growl at dogs (or people) as they walk by your fenced yard? Dogs that need exercise and mental stimulation can develop fence fighting issues that lead to aggressive, territorial behaviors. Stop these bad behaviors before they become patterns. 

• Supervise your dog when he's outside and stop him before he shows fence aggression. 
• Take your dog for more walks and socialize him with other well-behaved dogs. 
• Be sure he is neutered.