Your Dog's First Aid Kit

Be prepared. Keep a first aid box in your home for your dog the way you do for the rest of your family. If your dog has special needs discuss with your veterinarian any special items you should keep handy. General items you should have for any dog cover a variety of possible problems, from bee stings to wounds.

A styptic pencil or powder in case your dog catches a toenail that bleeds is necessary. You should have Benadryl for allergic reactions. You should also have Betadine or a good povodine iodine solution to clean bites or wounds in case your dog is ever entangled with another animal. Good gauze and water proof tape are also musts. Pepto Bismol or Pepcid AC, and a can of pumpkin like you'd use to make pumpkin pie should be kept in your house to address diarrhea and constipation respectively. A bottle of eye wash or saline solution is smart to have.

Having a first aid kit is not a replacement for veterinary care. If your dog is bleeding, or in anaphylactic shock, you need to seek the help of a veterinary medical professional. However, there is no excuse for not being prepared.

When you call your veterinarian or your animal emergency hospital, let them know what products you have that might help. There's a big difference between having to call your vet to say, "My dog has been stung by a bee can can't breath!" and in saying, "My dog has been stung by a bee and can't breath! I have Benadryl in my hands. What should I do?"

Often even if your vet wants you to bring your dog immediately for medical attention, your ability to administer on-the-spot help can be life saving.

If your bring your dog on vacation with you, bring the first aid kit. Even if you bring the dog on a long hike or drive, put the kit in the car with you. It's better to be safe than sorry.

Here's an important tip: have a copy of your dog's most recent vaccination record, signed rabies certificate and license copied and ready right there inside of your first aid kit. How many times do you have an emergency close to home, and during regular business office hours? Exactly. On the chance that you have an emergency while away from home, or during hours when your veterinarian is not reachable, you will have your dog's records handy to present to the on-call or emergency vet. Be sure to tell the emergency vet about any medical conditions like thyroid condition or lyme disease.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Volunteer of the Year - Pike County Chamber of Commerce

Every year the Pike County Chamber of Commerce celebrates volunteerism with a dinner and an evening of recognition and thanks. Area charities are invited to participate, each naming their own Volunteer of the Year.

This year the Pike County Humane Society celebrates the dedication of Kathy Varkados, long time supporter and friend to the PCHS. Kathy not only volunteers with us and shares her home with many wonderful rescued pets, she also became a board member this year. We'd like to take this opportunity to let everyone know that we couldn't be doing all the important work we do without the dedication and constant support from our core group of hard-working volunteers. Thanks Kathy for being an exemplary part of this team!

HOW YOU CAN HELP

What can you do to help?

Many things! Lots of things! You do not have to have a ton of time or a ton of money to make a difference.


Here's 7 things you can do right now:

1. – SPREAD THE WORD
Go onto our site and check out the Upcoming Events link.
Email that info and link to your friends and coworkers as often as you can.
Print it out and hang up the info at your office or community bulletin board.


Link the shelter website onto your website. Most likely, you have a website. Do you have a blog? Got a facebook page? Myspace? Ebay listings? Business website? Yahoo profile? MSN Live profile? Are you on classmates or reunion or linked or anything? Well... Link us!

Do you have an area business?
You could hang flyers to our events in your front window. (We often include them with our twice-a-month emailer. Or you can make your own!)

You could put a donation can or even a food donation bin in your storefront.

2 - ORGANIZE YOUR OWN FUNDRAISER!

It doesn’t have to be a big thing.
Are you having everyone over for a Birthday Party, Holiday Get Together or a little barbecue?
Put right in your email invites –
“Please bring one can of dog or cat food for the Pike County Humane Society!”
or “We’re asking our guests to donate $2 each to the PCHS in lieu of gifts.”

You’d be surprised. Those 12 cans of food you gather, or that $20 you collect could help save an unwanted animal’s life.

Think you want to take on something a little bigger? Wonderful! Have a little bake sale, or a tag sale. Invite your neighbors to join you in a yard sale where the proceeds or a percentage of the profits go to the shelter. Sponsor a photography contest, or a poetry contest. Have a hot cider or lemonade stand. You probably have an idea already!


Maybe you have your own small business. Could you pick a product from which you could donate a dollar of each sale?

One of our favorite members does a candle sale for us every year! She raises money by selling candles to people and sending us the proceeds. A wonderful group of local realtors organized Realtors to the Rescue, and had a cocktail party in our honor. They charged admission, raffled off some prizes, and raised a couple thousand dollars! Local students have held successful educational events such as Pennies for Puppies. The YMCA after school group had a lemonade stand and donated $45! Area bands have had concerts, and motorcycle clubs have had their own runs where proceeds were given to us. The Cinder Inn has an annual Memorial Day Concert for us! Most recently Altec Lansing raffled off some products to their employees, sending the money raised to Safe Haven, and The Pike County Humane Society.
And speaking of Safe Haven, every year they have a costume parade and costume contest "Mutts & Meows" with us to help benefit both worthy causes, which often working closely together.
Every dollar helps.

3 – VOLUNTEER

We need volunteers of all kinds. We need people to come up to the physical shelter and help us clean. Help us take care of the buildings and grounds, help us create and maintain a safe and wonderful haven for the animals.
We also need volunteers at our fund raisers. Could you help hand out information, sell hotdogs, and walk pets at adoption events? Could you bake us some brownies for our next bake sale?
Email our new Volunteer Coordinator Phyllis at psimpson@ptd.net

4 – DONATE

It’s convenient with the PAYPAL link. Or you can drop a couple dollars in our area donation cans. You can pick up a case of canned cat food or dog food and bring it up to the shelter, or drop it off at an area food deposit like the Grand Union in Milford PA. Think about it: if just everyone that reads this could donate $5 imagine how many animals we could feed!!

New items and gift certificates are always needed for our fundraisers! We have basket bingos, tricky trays, raffles, silent auctions and door prizes at different events. Did you get two crock pots at your wedding shower? Did your mother in law get your taste all wrong with her holiday gifts to you? Did you see a nice deal on a new Dirt Devil at Kmart? Do you have some new items your shop is discontinuing? Donate these items to help us have successful fundraisers.

Here's an easy one! Can you donate some home made cookies or muffins to a bake sale? We have bake sales all the time, most often in conjunction with another fundraiser like a tricky tray, spaghetti dinner, or off site pet adoption day. This is a great way for us to raise a few dollars for the animals and make the event all the sweeter ;)

Obviously, monetary donations are always a tremendous help. We need to pay very large veterinary bills every month. We spay and neuter the animals in our care. We make sure none of our pets have worms, fleas or ticks. We rabies vaccinate and do other testings and vaccinations as well. We have medical evaluations performed and we have to make sure we provide medical treatment for the animals that need it.
Additionally, we have to pay for electric and gas, garbage pick up, snow removal, and other operating costs. We have to pay for food and grooming. We need cleaning supplies, and office supplies. We need to maintain our vans and put gas in their tanks so we can bring pets to the vet and back. We have to make sure the shelter is warm in the winter and cool in the summer. We have to maintain the buildings and the grounds so that the animals in our care are always safe.

It costs about $6,000 a week to keep this shelter running. Several area municipalities contribute a few hundred dollars every year which helps. Some contribute nothing. What does your community contribute? The Pike County Commissioners in the past have contributed $4,000 a year. We are grateful for these contributions. But please realize - they do not even cover one week’s worth of expenses....

5 – MAKE YOUR ELECTED OFFICIALS LISTEN

Write to your senators, your congressman, your govenor, and your most importantly your county commissioners. Demand that they support this shelter. TELL THEM all the things this shelter does for the county - things that would NOT be done at all without us.

Your vote is your voice. You have the power to make them listen. Attend your municipality or township meetings, and ask what your elected officials are doing to support the only animal shelter and animal response assistance in the county. Make sure they know you aren’t going to support them in their elections if they don’t support us.

6 – COME TO THE EVENTS

We try to have different kinds of fund raisers for you to enjoy. From the tricky trays to the spaghetti dinners, your whole family can usually come out for a few hours of fun for a minimal donation to a very worthy cause. Come to the events. Spread the word. Show your support.


7 – BE A RESPONSIBLE PET OWNER

Don’t forget, one of the best things you can do for us is to open your home to a shelter pet.
And, to insure that your pets, no matter where they came from, do not become shelter pets.
Your pets are your commitment and responsibility.
Take that responsibility with the utmost seriousness.

Make sure your pets are happy and healthy and safe. Obey licensing and leash laws. Make sure your pets have the rabies and other vaccinations and annual tests they require to live a happy healthy life. Always neuter or spay your pets, like we do. Do not support puppy mills. Make sure your pets are on a healthy vet-approved diet. Dogs need to be heartworm tested, and they need flea & tick, and heartworm prevention. Do not contribute to the disease and parasite problems in our area. Do not let your pets run loose.

Do not turn your back on your pet. Pets get sick, get old, need training, need help... it is part of your promise to them to care for them through those times. Set a worthy example for your children by showing them the meaning of responsibility and commitment. Do not throw your pet away if it becomes "inconvenient." What are you teaching your children?

And if you aren't in a place where you can make a full and serious commitment to a pet, then don't have any. Your treatment of your pet is important to shaping how your children view living creatures, old age, illness, commitment and responsibility, as well as contributing to the health and well being of the entire community.

The Rainbow Bridge

Just this side of heaven is a place called Rainbow Bridge.
When an animal dies that has been especially close to someone here, that pet goes to Rainbow Bridge. There are meadows and hills for all of our special friends so they can run and play together. There is plenty of food, water and sunshine, and our friends are warm and comfortable.

All the animals who had been ill and old are restored to health and vigor. Those who were hurt or maimed are made whole and strong again, just as we remember them in our dreams of days and times gone by. The animals are happy and content, except for one small thing; they each miss someone very special to them, who had to be left behind.
They all run and play together, but the day comes when one suddenly stops and looks into the distance. His bright eyes are intent. His eager body quivers. Suddenly he begins to run from the group, flying over the green grass, his legs carrying him faster and faster.

You have been spotted, and when you and your special friend finally meet, you cling together in joyous reunion, never to be parted again. The happy kisses rain upon your face; your hands again caress the beloved head, and you look once more into the trusting eyes of your pet, so long gone from your life but never absent from your heart.


Then you cross Rainbow Bridge together....

Author unknown...
http://www.rainbowbridge.com/Poem.htm

Adopting one dog may not change the world, but the world will surely change for that one dog.

The Starfish Story A man was walking along the beach one morning. During the night the tide had stranded thousands of starfish on the beach As the waves came crashing in he noticed a little girl in the distance. She was picking up the helpless starfish one at time and putting them back into the ocean. Curious, he approached her, and watched several times as she repeatedly made the effort to accomplish the seemingly impossible task of saving them. Finally, he asked "little girl you cannot possibly save them all so why waste your time?". Without hesitation she picked up another starfish, held it up to the man, and said "tell that to this little starfish". As he thought for a moment the little girl smiled, ran to the ocean and placed the starfish in the water. The man then reached down and picked up two starfish, took them to the safety of the water and continued on his walk.

Fran brought this story to our attention, as it has a special place in her life, and we decided to share it here.


At The Pike County Humane Society, we're trying to make a difference, one animal at a time.
You can help.
Donate. Volunteer. Adopt a shelter pet.

Spread the word.
Thank you.

Seniors for Seniors!

People over 60 years old,

can adopt dogs over 8 years old,

for FREE.

No Adoption Fee!

We are offering our senior citizen supporters a chance to share their homes with a senior dog without our asking for an adoption fee for Nov 09. Hopefully this will help certain important members of our community to be able to afford vet care, food and essentials.

Anyone can adopt a senior cat for "a donation," no set fee, just what you would like to give.

All dogs and cats are spayed/neutered and vetted.

No one wants to spend their golden years alone, come meet one of our senior dogs!

Come to the Pike County Humane Society, and meet your new best friend.

All adoption applications are subject to approval.

This promotion is good for the month of November 2009.

Good Night!

May you all sleep THIS good!

Rabbit Care

Check out this short video of our rabbit area.

And here's another one!

CARING FOR YOUR PET RABBIT

Food:

Rabbits need fresh water every day.

They need unlimited amounts of Timothy Hay or Grass Hay every day. Without this hay they will not be able to properly digest. Having the hay also calms them and reduces stress and nervous behaviors.

They also need rabbit food/pellets that you can buy in any pet supply store, and fresh vegetables. The pellets should not contain protein over 16%. A balanced diet is half fresh foods and half pellets.

Fresh foods a rabbit can have are:

Carrots and carrot greens/tops, apples, pears, parsnips and parsnip tops, beets and beet tops, parsley, basil, dandelion, kale, celery, cucumber, and tomato. (A little banana is good too, but don't leave any in there if they aren't interested to eat it right away.)

Do not give your rabbit lettuce or cabbage. These are too high in nitrates, and cause the rabbit digestive distress.

Alfalfa hay and marigold hay are also great for your rabbit’s health. Lionhead rabbits can not have Alfalfa.

Rabbits can also have yogurt drop treats. Yogurt drop treats are also available where you get your rabbit pellet food and your timothy hay.

When looking at other rabbit treats in petshops such as seed sticks, be careful not to give your rabbit any with dyes, sugar, or chemicals.

Papaya is a wonderful digestive aid you can give your rabbit. Putting a chewable papaya tablet from your vitamin shop in your rabbit’s food every day will help keep him comfortable and regular.

A handful of oats, like from the uncooked old fashioned oatmeal box is a great treat for the rabbits especially in winter as it is a natural body warmer.

Do not feed your rabbit grapes or raisins. Just like with dogs, there is a property in the grape skin that can cause kidney damage.

Why all the fuss about digestive health? Rabbits are lagomorphs, which are non-regurgitating animals. Rodents and lagomorphs tend toward having issues with their digestive and excretory systems. A carefully balanced healthy diet is the key to your rabbit’s longevity.

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Veterinary Visits:

The are no regular vaccines a rabbit needs. You only need to bring your rabbit to your veterinarian when something is wrong.

Here’s some things that you should watch for:

Rabbits can get ear mites. Mites make hive like homes inside the rabbit’s ears that look like filo dough. If you see these crusty layers in your rabbit’s ears you need to get him medical attention.

Rabbits can get impacted pretty easily. Impaction is when a rabbit’s poop isn’t passing all the way out and packs against the rabbit’s bottom. This can be caused by a cage not being clean enough, or by a digestive illness. Rabbits die from impaction commonly, so if you see signs of this seek medical attention for your pet right away.

Sometimes a rabbit’s teeth keep growing. They need to be clipped just like finger nails with a very sharp tool. If you see your rabbit’s teeth have grown, bring your rabbit to a vet for a teeth trim. Often it’s something your vet can show you how to do yourself but you should consult your veterinarian before trying to clip the teeth as there could be other mouth disorders going on.

There are other illnesses such as upper respiratory snuffles & anorexia, other info like grooming tips for long haired rabbits and genital lap cleaning, and other conditions such as epilepsy. Your veterinarian can answer your questions, or you may want to invest in a decent bunny care book, or seek out an informative website.

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Rabbits are communal animals. This means they do not fall within the pack mentality.

Rabbits can be litter box trained. They can live happily in a cage if they get the chance to be taken out and played with, exercised and left to run around free sometimes. They can also live happily outside of a cage, where they can run free in a room or a confined area, where they can use a litter box.

Rabbits are indoor pets. While it is true livestock rabbits used for food can grow a warm enough coat to survive outside in a mild winter in this area, that does not mean that they thrive or are happy. They often suffer heat stroke, dehydration, cage-craze, impaction, or frost bite if forced to live outside, let alone the loneliness the rabbit would suffer.

At the Pike County Humane Society, we have pets for adoption. A pet is a part of the family. A pet is not livestock that should be forced to live outside, isolated and alone.