The Spirit of Special Needs Pets

All animals need plenty of care and love, but pets with special needs often require a little extra TLC, especially as they get older and the disabilities become worse.  Special needs can encompass various disabilities, chronic medical conditions, and behavioral issues.  Some common problems among cats and dogs include missing one or more limbs, hind limb paralysis, deafness and or blindness, diabetes, allergies, and lack of socialization.  Some pets might require diapers, ramps, regular medication, or dog training and/or pet socialization classes.

 

All to often dogs and cats in shelters are overlooked because of “the defects” people see on the outside.  People usually don't take the time to see the wagging tail of the deaf dog chasing the ball across the yard, or the blind dog going up a flight of stairs to get the treat or hug they know is waiting for them, or the 3 legged dog running like the wind and enjoying life. 

 

Animals with disabilities are incredibly adaptable and, despite their impairments, can still be functional and even find a way to play.  In fact, sometimes they pull off tremendous heroic and athletic feats!  Blind, one-eyed, deaf and three-legged pets can live full and happy lives – just spend some time with one and you’ll see how much they can enjoy a wide range of activities and can certainly give just as much love as any pet.

 

Caring for special needs pets does not have to be a burden - it can be a richly rewarding experience.  Here are some general tips to help you if you find yourself caring for a disabled animal.  Of course there are also plenty of web sites dedicated to providing resources and support to assist you in caring for a pet with special needs including "petswithdisabilities.com" and "specialneedspets.org" just to name a few. 

 

People do not have to do much to accommodate a blind pet’s needs.  Dogs and cats use their senses of smell, hearing and touch to get around.  However, owners of blind pets should be careful to keep all furniture in the same place at all times and even pad sharp edges of furniture.  Food and water bowls, litter box, pet bed, and toys should all be in the same place for the pets to easily find what they need.  For cats and small dogs, people should also be careful about carrying their pet from one room to the next.  Animals memorize their paths through the house, so the ride in the owner’s arms can leave them disoriented when set back down – unless it’s in a very familiar place.

 

Since dogs and cats normally have such a tremendous sense of hearing, it would seem that a loss of this sense would be devastating.  However, dogs and cats adapt quite well, and become more sensitive to vibrations they feel.  Just like all dogs and cats, they are excellent readers of body language, so communicating with them is not as difficult as you might imagine.  Deaf pets may not respond to their owner’s spoken words, but they read the signals like any other pet.  The owner may call their pet by clapping their hands or stomping their feet. Some people may also use a flashlight for visual commands.

 

Seeing a three-legged dog or cat may make you feel very sad, but most of them are perfectly adept at doing everything four-legged dogs and cats do.  Most three-legged dogs and cats don’t need any special accommodations to live normal lives – other than making sure they maintain a healthy weight.  Their body weight has one less leg to bear it, which puts more stress on the other leg joints.  Also, dogs need to have their nails trimmed regularly (as all dogs should anyway) to give them the best footing on hard surfaces.  Three-legged cats like to jump up on high surfaces like any other cat, but it’s the jumping off that can be a problem if there is only one front leg to take the impact.  For this reason, the owner should make sure all cat-accessible surfaces are a safe distance from the floor.

 

Every dog or cat deserves to have a good life in a loving home, and should not be ignored because of a disability.  A disability doesn’t necessarily mean the pet will be harder to care for, and it certainly won’t make him or her any less lovable.  So when you come to Pet Pal Animal Shelter to find your next furry friend to love, please be open to the idea that your perfect pet may have some imperfections!  Be a voice for the unbroken spirit of disabled pets.  They truly give us a chance to witness miracles of spirit!

 

Happy tails to you until we meet again!

Adopt a Mutt...the Perfect Family Pup!

Hello again!

 

Yes, I know it's been a while since my last post and I sincerely apologize for my extended absence.  I've been dealing with a lot of health issues and complications related to my surgery back in June, but I think I'm FINALLY past the worst of it...YAY!  So now I'm back and, thanks to all of this idle time recently, I've got lots of new ideas for future blog topics and I'm ready to write!  

 

Do you know what doggy-related awareness day is soooo necessary that its celebrated on both July 31st and December 2nd?  Since 2005, National Mutt Day has been observed to raise awareness about all of the mixed breed dogs in shelters and to remind potential pet parents that it’s the personality and not the pedigree that truly matters when adopting a family pet.  Of course purebreds are attractive because they tend to have distinct traits and physical characteristics, but mixed breeds may offer more benefits that are appealing to the average family.  So before forking out big bucks to a fancy breeder for a purebred pup, please consider the following reasons to be pro-mutt!       

 

1.  Feel good about saving a canine life.
If you adopt a mutt from a shelter, you're literally saving a life.  Even if you aren't adopting from a kill shelter, you've just freed up space for another homeless canine to come in instead of being shipped to the pound or worse.   

 

2.  Mixed breeds are truly unique.
You can look a purebred dog owner in the eye and say with complete confidence that they will never be able to find a dog that is exactly like yours!  Mutts are truly one-of-a-kind!  Even littermates can look very different from one another. 

 

3.  Mixed breeds are full of personality.
Mixed breeds tend to have lots of personality!  Even more importantly, many are easy to train because they have a blend of characteristics rather than all traits of just one breed.

 

4.  Mutts usually have fewer genetic health risks and are healthier overall.
Most purebred dogs include a list of potential health problems in their breed profiles.  These conditions are less common in mutts because they are mixed breeds and are less likely to carry the defective genes.  The average lifespan of a mutt is longer than that of most purebred canines.  Of course the difference will vary by breed, but it is still something that gives mutts an advantage in the eyes of potential adopters.  If you'd rather have a loving companion with fewer health concerns, then a mutt is a great way to go! 

 

5.  Mutts are more affordable compared to purebred pups.
It’s been mentioned before, but it’s a significant factor to consider.  If you adopt a purebred pup, expect to pay for it - and that’s only for adopting the dog and not the vet checkup or puppy shots he or she may need.  Along with that adoption fee, purebreds also tend to have specific needs that make them rather expensive to own.  This will vary based on the individual breed, but grooming and vet care can get well into the hundreds or even thousands.  In most cases, you'll spend less on a mutt over it's entire lifespan.   

 

6.  No need to analyze breeders when adopting a mutt.
Families searching for a purebred must spend a lot of time investigating breeders to make sure they are up to par.  With a mutt, all you have to do is go to your local dog shelter and you have a variety of quality pets to choose from without the extensive breeder background checks!

 

7.  You don't need a show dog. 
Unless you want a show dog, there’s no sense in shelling out a lot of money for a purebred pup.  Some communities have started hosting casual mixed breed shows, so you may still have some opportunities to participate even if you do own a mutt.

 

8.  Fewer preconceived notions about dog behaviors.
Some people see a pit bull or German shepherd and immediately become fearful.  Others see a toy breed and assume the dog is friendly and huggable.  It is harder to make these assumptions with a mutt, which means your dog gets a clean slate when meeting new people!  There are also fewer preconceptions about specific breed features and attributes.  No one will ever tell you that your dog’s posture, fur pattern or ears are “wrong” based on breed standards.  Your mutt sets his or her own standards! 

 

9.  Dog theft is far less likely.
Some purebred dogs are considered very valuable which attracts the attention of thieves.  Fortunately, mutts aren’t viewed this way so they are far less likely to be stolen for monetary gain.  

 

10.  Mixed breeds tend to have more intelligence and common sense.
Since they get the best of both worlds, mixed breeds tend to be trainable, intelligent and have a generous amount of common sense.  While these traits will vary from one dog to the next, this is the general rule in most cases.

 

The purpose of National Mutt Day is to embrace, celebrate and help save the lives of mixed breed dogs.  There are soooo many of these lovable creatures in shelters who are waiting patiently for a family to take them home, so let's help them out by raising awareness about how awesome mutts truly are.  Adopt a mutt - the perfect family pup!  

 

Happy tails to you until we meet again! 

Do Our Pets Understand Us?

     As some of you may know, I’ve been away from Pet Pal for the past month or so while recovering from surgery. During this time, I’ve gotten to spend a lot of time with my parents’ 1-year-old yellow lab name Cooper and I’ve been wondering just how much of what we say he actually understands. It seems as though he comprehends just about everything we say, but I think every pet owner probably says that about their furry friend. So, with all of this free time on my hands now, I decided to do some research on this topic and share what I’ve learned with all of you.
    Pet owners all over the world use words to get their pets to perform commands and, although they can't speak in the human sense, dogs and cats do display varying degrees of understanding and they associate our verbal sounds with actions. It's not so much what we say but how we say it. Cats and dogs don’t actually understand the meaning or content of individual words; they learn through operant conditioning which is a method of learning through rewards and punishments for different behaviors. Associations are made between a particular behavior and the consequence of that behavior. They simply hear a sound and know that a certain response is required. Animals respond more to the energy of the person speaking than to what they’re actually saying. For example, you could yell “good boy” in an angry-sounding tone and your dog would think you’re mad at him, or you could say “naughty girl” while holding a piece of fish and your cat would think she’s being rewarded.

    With that said, our pets can learn to identify and understand many common words used in training exercises. On average, dogs can learn about 100 words whereas cats can understand about 25 to 35 words. This often leads people to believe that dogs are smarter than cats, which would be wrong if you only base their intelligence on understanding. Some people believe cats understand plenty, but choose to ignore us anyway. Maybe cats are just frustrated because their humans don’t listen very well! Cats have been proven to be pretty wordy too when they feel like it!

   Here is what we all need to know about the difference between dogs and cats and their communication skills. Dogs might be better listeners and capable of grasping more words, but cats are better talkers and capable of communicating more with their human friends. Dogs may know 100 words, but they can only vocalize about 15 different sounds. Cats may only understand 25 to 35 words, but they can make about 100 different vocalizations. Perhaps cats are desperately trying to make first contact with us, as they only make these sounds around their human friends and not around other cats. And since very few of us even try to train our cats, how do we know what they are truly capable of?

   Interestingly, cats and dogs are also entirely capable of understanding more than one language. For example, dogs may be required to understand commands in more than one language if they are to have more than one handler. In military scenarios, dogs are required to understand commands in more than one language. In fact, many English-speaking handlers choose to teach their dogs in German because the language contains more hard consonants than English. Using different languages is also a neat way to differentiate between work and play for the dog.

    So I guess it’s a combination of training our pets and really listening to what they are trying to say to us that will help us best connect with them. They are certainly trying to understand our language, so we need to listen more and try to understand their “language” a little better too! And speaking of listening to and understanding our pets, I’m understanding that Mr. Cooper is ready for some playtime now as he’s bringing toy after toy to me and dropping them at my feet! Guess I can’t really miss that hint!


Happy tails to you until we meet again!

Pet Appreciation Week

Although we should be letting our pets know how special they are to us every day, June 7th through June 13th 2015 is National Pet Appreciation Week. This is the "PURfect" time to celebrate just how much our favorite four-legged friends mean to us.

Some of us are cat people and some of us are dog people but, regardless of which category you or I fall into, most of us are just plain crazy about our pets. The connections we form with our cats and dogs are often the longest and strongest relationships in our lives. These kind creatures are our soul mates, our best friends, and sometimes even our surrogate children.

So what makes our pets such key members of our families? Perhaps it’s because our beloved pets have long provided us with comfort, camaraderie, and unconditional love. Cats and dogs are our unending source of kisses, cuddles, slobber, claws, and laughs. They make great companions for anyone at any age and can even be excellent exercise partners...well, at least for those of us who actually want to exercise!

This week is about going that extra mile and really showing our furry family members just how much we love and cherish them. And to help us out with this, here are a few suggestions from a pet's point of view on how they would like us to celebrate this week with them.

1. "Make sure we have a proper and up-to-date identification tag." What a great time to make sure your playful pup or curious kitty can make it home easier if he or she is ever lost.

2. "Treats and LOTS of them ...we pets don’t mind at all when you show us how much you love us with our favorite treats!"

3. "LOTS of hugs and kisses...just because we deserve it!"

4. "Make sure we are eating the right food. Food is very important to us, and we always let our humans know if we're unhappy in this department!" This is a great time to make sure the food your pet is eating is appropriate for their age and weight.

5. "More toys! Have you seen some of the super cool new toys in the pet stores? Some of them are really challenging and make us pets think while we play!"

6. "Take us on a special outing!" This could be visiting a new park or beach, switching up the walking route, attend a pet-friendly social event, etc.

7. "Did we mention treats?"

"Just a few ideas to get you thinking about treats...ooops, we mean Pet Appreciation Week! WOOF-WOOF, MEOW-MEOW!" Happy tails to you until we meet again!

Pets In Paradise

I'd like to start off by giving a great big shout out to Gracie and all of the staff and volunteers who helped make this year's Puppy Love fund raiser so successful.  Putting together an event like that is a huge task that I certainly wouldn't want to be responsible for, but Gracie and her team did an amazing job.  All of the animals at Pet Pal are raising their paws to show their appreciation for all the hard work and for the generous donations received to provide for their care. 

 

So what's up next?  I'm thinking it's time for a well-deserved and much-needed vacation!  Since Memorial Day is the unofficial start of summer, I thought this would be a good opportunity to share a few helpful tips to make summer traveling safe and enjoyable for the four-legged members of the family too.  Whether you're traveling by car, plane, bus, or train, here are some basic guidelines to keep in mind as you plan your trip. 

 

Traveling by car:
1.  Get your dog used to the car by letting him sit in it with you without leaving the driveway and then going for short rides.
2.  Avoid car sickness by letting your dog travel on an empty stomach.  However, make sure he has plenty of water at all times.
3.  Keep the car well-ventilated.  If the dog is in a crate, make sure that fresh air can flow into the crate.
4.  Never let your dog ride in the back of an open truck.  This is extremely dangerous and can lead to severe injuries or death.
5.  Stop frequently for feeding, exercise, and potty breaks.  Be sure to clean up after your dog.
6.  Car rides can get boring for everyone so, if traveling with children, instruct them not to tease or annoy the dog in the car.  Also be sure to have a few favorite toys to keep the dog entertained. 
7.  Never, ever leave your dog unattended in a closed vehicle, particularly in the summer.  If you must leave the car, designate a member of the family to stay with the dog.

 

Traveling by plane:
Each airline has its own set of rules for canine air travel.  Check with the specific airline you're flying on for information and make the necessary arrangements well in advance of your trip. 

 

Traveling by bus or train:
If you plan to travel by bus or train, you may be disappointed.  Dogs are not permitted on Amtrak trains or on buses operated by Greyhound and other interstate bus companies.  Local rail and bus companies have their own policies.

 

Once you've figured out how you're going to travel, it's time to decide where you want to go.  As more families are bringing their beloved pets with them on vacation, the number of hotels, campgrounds, beaches, and even restaurants and wineries that welcome animals is quickly growing.  Sometimes pet-friendly lodging can even cost less than boarding your dog in some kennel where they will most likely feel scared and lonely the entire time.  Find out in advance which hotels or motels at your destination or along your route are pet-friendly.  Be careful because there is a vast difference between places that simply allow pets and those that are truly pet-friendly.  Call ahead and ask to make sure that what they consider pet-friendly really does meet your needs.  Consider asking some or all of the following questions before booking your stay.

 

1.  Are there size or breed restrictions?
2.  Is there an extra charge or cleaning fee for pets?
3.  Are pets required to be on leash?
4.  Are dogs allowed on walkways, paths, or trails?  In city or downtown areas?  On sidewalks?  In stores, galleries, wineries, or other local attractions?
5.  Do I need a health certificate or proof of vaccinations?

 

Once you locate  the perfect place for you and your furry friend, be the perfect guest by doing the following. 

 1.  Respect other guests, staff and the property.

2.  Keep your dog as quiet as possible.
3.  Do not leave the dog unattended.  Many dogs will bark or destroy property if left alone in a strange place.
4.  Ask the management where you should walk your dog, and pick up after him.  Do not leave any mess behind.
5.  Remember that one bad experience with a dog guest may prompt the hotel management to refuse to allow any dogs in the future.  Be considerate of others and leave your room and the grounds in good condition

Don't forget to look for nearby veterinary care and pet supply stores when planning your getaway.  Also, if your pet isn't already microchipped, you may want to consider this before traveling in case of separation.  If nothing else, make sure your pet is wearing a well-fitting collar with a current ID tag at all times.  Of course no one wants to think that something bad could happen on their long-awaited vacation, but responsible pet owners need to be prepared for anything.  

 

Finding the perfect vacation spot for you and your pampered pet will require a bit of planning and preparation, but there are plenty of websites that can help you with the research.  "GoPetFriendly.com", "BringFido.com", and "PetFriendlyTravel.com" are popular sites that have vast resources for any and all of your pet travel needs.  So, wherever your travels take you and your four-legged companions this summer, be safe and enjoy your pets in paradise! 

 

Happy tails to you until we meet again! 

Share the Puppy Love

Well, it's spring time again and with the spring comes Puppy Love!  Pet Pal Animal Shelter's 13th annual Puppy Love Benefit is on Saturday May 9th from 6 PM to10 PM at the Historic Coliseum in St. Petersburg.  This is Pet Pal's largest fundraiser of the year.  It is VITAL to the day-to-day operation of the shelter, providing much needed funds for the care and recuperation of the animals. 

 

This year's "uncorked" evening will include dinner, silent and live auctions, "puppy pimping" (sloppy kisses - no charge), 50/50 raffle, live music, and much more!  A few of the silent auction items include a 3-night stay at Atlantis Casino Resort, a TradeWinds Guy Harvey Outpost Resort weekend, 2 tickets to Counting Crows concert on July 31^st, 2 tickets to Garth Brooks concert on June 6^th, season tickets to the Florida Orchestra, a spa package from Royal Palms Spa, a 3-hour sunset cruise on the Freedom III, Marc Jacobs sunglasses, a Kate Spade scarf and Bella Capelli hairstyle basket, and a whole lot more.  There will be about 200 auction items in all, so there’s a little something for everyone.                 

Although I've been volunteering at the shelter for nearly 3 years now, I've never been able to attend this event but I've heard so much about it over the years that my husband and I decided to sign up to volunteer there this year and will finally be getting in on the fun too!  Keep reading this Happy Tails blog for future posts on the highlights of the evening.  And if anyone is still interested in volunteering, donating, or buying  tickets to attend, call Pet Pal at (727) 328-7738 or visit www.petpalanimalshelter.com for more information.  There will also be a final Puppy Love meeting for all volunteers on Sunday May 3rd at 2 PM at the shelter to go over last-minute details.  

 

With less than 2 weeks to go until the big night, there's still lots to be done which means plenty of craziness at the shelter...even more than usual!  So we welcome anyone and everyone willing to lend a "paw" to help the animals.  They're depending on all of us to make this event a success...so let's all share some Puppy Love! 

Happy tails to you until we meet again! 

Cheers For Volunteers!

In honor of "National Volunteer Week", which is from April 12th through April 18th, I thought I'd dedicate this blog to all the wonderful people who volunteer their time at Pet Pal Animal Shelter.  Whether they're walking dogs, cleaning the kennels, cuddling with the kitties, assisting at adoption events, or even just answering phones as I do, each one of us is helping to make a difference in the lives of animals.  Now that's something we can all feel good about!  Here are a few more benefits of volunteering at an animal shelter:

 

1.  Be part of the solution.  You'll join others working to make the world safe and more humane for all living creatures by lending a hand and spreading the message of responsible pet ownership and animal protection.

2.  Feel warm and fuzzy.  You'll never find a more grateful and accepting friend than an animal you've comforted.

3.  Keep good company.  You'll make lots of new friends — and not just the four-legged kind.  Working side by side with people who share similar interests can create lifelong friendships.

4.  Meet the new you.  You'll discover skills you never knew you had and you may be surprised at what you're capable of achieving.

5.  Enjoy a wagging tail, a purr, and a smile.  Didn't someone once say that the best things in life are free?

 

If you're interested in volunteering with Pet Pal Animal Shelter, this would be an excellent time to get started.  There are so many things happening this Spring and none of it is possible without the help of our awesome volunteers.  So pick up a volunteer application at the shelter or download it online and join us for all the fun! 

 

Here's a list of upcoming events you might enjoy helping out with or maybe just attend as a guest:    

 

Yappy Hour at World of Beer

April 9, 2015, 6 PM - 8 PM

100 4th St. South

 

Your best friend has been waiting all day for you to come home and is ready for Yappy Hour.  While your pet mingles and wags, humans can enjoy drink specials and snacks.  Pet Pal Animal Shelter will have dogs available for adoption on the patio.  Yappy Hour at World of Beer is held every second Thursday of the month and benefits Pet Pal Animal Shelter. 

 

Volunteers are needed for this event to talk to people, fill water bowls, walk and watch our adoptable dogs, etc.      

 

 

Block Party

April 10th, 2015, 6 PM - 10 PM

2263 7th Ave. North

The historic Kenwood District is blocking off two streets for their Block Party.  We will have adoptable dogs, dog treats, water, and our friends with St. Peters Bark will be there too!  Free to attend. 

 

Volunteers are needed for this event to talk to people, fill water bowls, walk and watch our adoptable dogs, etc.     

 

 

St. Peters Bark Grand Opening

April 11, 2015, 10 AM - 5PM

2435 9th St. North

 

In celebration of St. Peters Bark grand opening, Pet Pal will have adoptable dogs from 10 AM to 2 PM.  St. Peters Bark will have specials all day long so bring your pup down and say hi!

 

Volunteers are needed for this event to talk to people, fill water bowls, walk and watch our adoptable dogs, etc.     

 

 

Open House Anniversary

April 15, 2015, 10 AM - 7 PM

Pet Pal Animal Shelter

405 22nd St. South

 

In celebration of our Anniversary, we will have an open house all day long on Wednesday April 15, 2015 providing the following:

 

10 AM - 7 PM:  Extended adoption hours

10 AM - 7 PM:  Puppy Love table all day

10 AM - 7 PM:  Tours all day long

1 PM - 2 PM:  Volunteer orientation

2 PM - 3 PM:  Dog handling class (shelter only, not your pet) 

4 PM - 7 PM:  Snacks & beverages (wine after 5 PM)

5 PM - 7 PM:  Meet the artist of Murals for Mutts

 

Volunteers are needed throughout the day to help with the above. 

 

 

Dog Day at the Rays & Spring Cleaning Donation Drive

April 26, 2015, 1:10 PM - ?

Tropicana Field

 

The Tampa Bay Rays are pleased to invite you to come out to Tropicana Field for Dog Day with the Rays on Sunday April 26, 2015 when the Rays take on the Toronto Blue Jays at 1:10 PM.  This special ticket package includes a seat for yourself and your best pal for just $30 ($40 value) and includes a Rays-themed dog item.  Additional human tickets are available for $25 each and also include a Rays-themed dog item.  Don't forget to bring items from your spring cleaning around your house and/or business to donate to Pet Pal Thrift Store before the game  starts.  Pet Pal Animal Shelter will have adoptable dogs too. 

 

Offer code for dog + human ticket:  3bark

Offer code for human only ticket:  3barkh

    

   

13th Annual Puppy Love Benefit

May 9, 2015, 6 PM - 10 PM

The Historic Coliseum

535 4th St. North, St. Petersburg

 

Our Annual Puppy Love Benefit is our largest fundraiser of the year.  It is VITAL to the day-to-day operation of our facility, providing much needed funds for the care and recuperation of our animals.  The "uncorked" evening will include Dinner, Silent & Live Auctions, Puppy Pimping (sloppy kisses no charge), 50/50 Raffle, Live Music, and much more!   

Volunteers are needed for this event in the following positions:

 

*  Set up (Friday, arrive at 9 AM):  Help transport items to event and set up items.  Set up stage, tables, chairs, decor, etc. 

*  Table monitors, (Saturday, arrive at 4 PM):  You will be assigned a table section to watch over.  Upon your arrival, find the chair for the table monitors and he/she will direct you where your section will be.  Walk around the entire venue and familiarize yourself with all items.  We will also have a written list of items in your section as well as the sneak peak online prior to the event.  Keep a close eye on the merchandise.  Make sure that there are pens available and answer any questions you can about items and that items are being appropriately bid on.             

*  Pack up (Saturday night):  This job is for the real troopers - people willing to stay after the event is over and cleaning up/packing up anything that is left over. 

     

 

For more information on any of these events or other volunteer opportunities including animal fostering or activities children can get involved in, please call (727) 328-7738 or visit www.petpalanimalshelter.com.  Ordinary people doing extraordinary things can change lives!

 

To all the volunteers out there...thank you for doing what you do.  DON'T STOP, YOU ROCK!!!

 

Happy tails to you until we meet again!