Helping Dallas Seniors Care for their Companion Animals

For many older people, pets are more than just a furry companion. A growing body of research indicates that pets are vitally important for many elderly people's health and mental wellbeing.

Pets provide comfort, companionship and unconditional love, easing the loneliness of increasing social isolation in old age; they require care and exercise, helping keep their owners active and staving off depression. Pet ownership is correlated with improved cognitive function, lower blood pressure and bad cholesterol levels, and older pet owners make fewer visits to doctors than those who are without animal companions.

However, owning a pet can pose challenges for the elderly. As physical strength, vision and coordination deteriorate, assistance caring for a pet may become necessary. Rising healthcare and other costs, along with a dwindling nest egg can make it hard for an older person to provide food and veterinary care for their companion animals, particularly when tough economic times start to eat into already meager funds. And seniors who are hospitalized or moved to assisted-care facilities or nursing homes may need to arrange fostering or adoption of beloved pets they can't take with them.

In direct response to these issues, a new non-profit organization was launched this year to brighten the future for Dallas-area seniors’ pets. SPAN - Seniors’ Pet Assistance Network - is a 100% volunteer organization established to serve the needs of Dallas-area seniors who require assistance in caring for their companion animals.

Presently, SPAN provides financial assistance for basic pet needs such as food, grooming, and veterinary care with future plans to include: providing new homes for pets that can no longer stay with their owners, offering inhome assistance and providing transportation to and from veterinary clinics and other pet-related errands for seniors who are homebound.

“We still have a long way to go in raising funds since we’re solely funded though private donations, but through the support of the community I’m confident that this is a cause everyone will embrace,” said Adelle Taylor, who founded the organization in May this year.

We encourage you to support this important initiative any way you can, to help our Dallas-area seniors struggling with the current economic situation. SPAN is a 501(c)3 organization, so financial donations are 100% tax deductible and may qualify for matching funds by companies who match employee donations.

For more information on SPAN and how you can make a difference in a seniors’ pets life, please visit http://www.seniorspets.org/.

A bit of Feline Fun...

Puppy's Playthings Making You Poor?

Lots of people assume that when you get one of these:


You need to spend lots of money on these:

And with the current economic climate the way it is, some dog owners are fretting that they won't be able to provide their pooches plush playthings without some belt-tightening.

But never fear, your trusty puppy has saved the day (and your budget) - because he doesn't need expensive toys - just some food and shelter, all your love... and an old sock!


Don't let the price of puppy playthings get between you and some quality time with a four-legged fur-friend - most dogs and cats can have a fabulous time with some old wrapping paper, a piece of thick rope, cardboard boxes... and of course anything they can grab from the laundry hamper!

Spending time playing with your pet can be the best (and cheapest) present you can give them. Happy play time!

Dallas Anti Tethering Ordinance Now in Effect!

Amended Section 7.3.1 of the City of Dallas animal ordinance is now in effect. It prohibits tethering of dogs except in specific instances (see below). Report violaters by calling 3-1-1.

The ordinance specifies the following:

• Requires that no dog be tethered unless it is in the immediate possession and control of its owner. An exception will be made if the dog is properly tethered for a period no longer than necessary for the owner to complete a temporary task.


• If and when a dog is tethered it must be tethered in a manner that does not allow the dog to leave the owner’s premises; does not allow the dog to become entangled; and allows the dog access to food, water and appropriate shelter. Also, the dog must be properly fitted with a harness or collar and the tethering device must be attached to that harness or collar and not directly to the dog’s neck. The tethering device must be a minimum of 10 feet in length and strong enough to prohibit the dog from escaping.

Special Offer for Dallas Residents - Free spay/neuter AND $25 Wal-Mart Gift Card!

The Dallas SPCA is currently offering FREE spay/neuter services to residents of Dallas Zip Codes 75216 and 75217 - and as an added bonus, if you bring your pet(s) in for spay/neuter before July 15 (that's next Tuesday), you'll get a FREE $25 WAL-MART GIFT CARD!

Call the SPCA at 214/742-7722 now to book an appointment! When you pick up your pet following the spay or neuter, you will be given your free $25 Wal-Mart gift card (one card per family, however multiple pets can be spayed or neutered at no cost).

When you call, say you want the "MAC 75216 or 75217 Free Program." You will also need to print out this letter and bring it with you.

HURRY to take advantage of this limited time free spay/neuter offer with bonus $25 Wal-Mart Gift Card!

Esterilizar a su mascota(s), recibirá una Tarjeta de Regalo de Wal-Mart con un valor de $25!

Live Chat this Wednesday: Free Summer Health Advice from ASPCA Vet

As the mercury continues to rise, the ASPCA has invited Dr. Louise Murray, Director of Medicine at the ASPCA’s Bergh Memorial Animal Hospital, for a live chat about enjoying the summer safely with our pets.

Join Dr. Murray on Wednesday, July 9, from noon to 2:00 P.M. EST on the ASPCA Online Community.

Dr. Murray will be available to answer all of your burning questions about protecting your pets from heat exhaustion, potential poisons and other seasonal hazards.

Your facebook account can help get pets adopted

The ASPCA's new Adopt an ASPCA Pet application lets you post photos of real dogs and cats in the ASPCA Adoption Center to your Facebook profile, helping those furry faces get major visibility.

And by sending the photos as gifts to friends and family members, you'll help spread the word even further.

Not only will you seriously cuten up your profile, but every photo you show off could help a kitty or pup find that special human they've been waiting for.

P.S. Not yet on Facebook, but know somebody who is? Tell a Friend today!

Pets and Pools - A Swimming Summer Safety Idea!

With temperatures soaring, everybody loves a nice cool dip - but did you know that your swimming pool could be a death trap for your beloved pet?

A bit of forethought can help avert disaster though!

• Any pet owner with a pool should introduce their animal to the water gradually and in a non-threatening way, to prevent panic the first time Fluffy or Fido is chased, falls or jumps into the pool - because it will happen sometime!


• Even if your animal loves the water and is a strong swimmer, they can panic if they can’t find their way out, get fatigued or distressed, so ensure a happy ending for everyone by making sure any animal (pet or critter) that ends up in the pool can easily get out.

The Skamper Ramp is an animal safety product that can save the lives of dogs, cats, critters - even kids - by providing an easy way out of swimming pools!

As soon as we saw it, we thought, "What a fantastic idea! Why hasn't anyone thought of it before?!" And as a bonus, it's recyclable and 100% made in America: Safe, Green and Patriotic - why not pick one up for that 4th July puppy play date?

See the Skamper Ramp in action.

It's hot out there - don't leave your dog in the car!

Did you know that even on comparatively cool days, such as 72 degrees, a car's internal temperature will rocket to 116 degrees within 60 minutes? And keeping the windows open a crack hardly slows the rise at all. (source: Article on Stanford study).

Every year, countless dogs die unnecessarily, after being locked in cars while their owners work, visit, shop, or run other errands.

Check out www.mydogiscool.com for more information and a handy temperature checker form to see if it's too hot to take your dog out today. Also check out the ASPCA's hot weather tips - and remember, if you love your dog enough to take them with you - you love them enough to know when to leave them at home.

If you wouldn't leave your child in the car, don't leave your dog in the car - enjoy a humane summer!

Dallas City Council votes YES to new animal control ordinances

After hearing literally hundreds of people speak for and against the proposed updates to city animal laws, the Dallas City Council voted 10-3 in favor of the changes.

The new ordinances include the following provisions (for more details, go to http://www.dallasanimaladvocates.org/):

• A charge of $70 per animal for breeders to obtain permits.


• A single house be limited to six cats and/or dogs. People owning more than a half-acre of land would be allowed eight - something not contained in earlier versions of the proposal. People who today own a greater number of animals could apply to the city for grandfathering, allowing them to retain their animals without penalty.


• Dogs and cats be spayed or neutered. But the ordinance would provide numerous exceptions to a previously proposed mandatory spay-neuter provision. Dogs and cats younger than 6 months old, a service animal or the property of a licensed breeder would be exempt from spaying or neutering regulations. A veterinarian may also certify that an animal shouldn't be spayed or neutered for health reasons, the briefing document states.


• The city could seize, then impound a dog suspected of causing bodily injury to a person until after a hearing to determine the dog's fate. Now, such dogs are quarantined for 10 days, then returned to their owners in many cases.


• Tethering unsupervised dogs to trees or poles be prohibited except "for a period no longer than necessary for the owner to complete a temporary task."


• Owners must provide at least 150 square feet of space and a "building or properly designed dog house" for a dog confined outdoors.

Dallas City has a dreadful pet overpopulation problem, as well as extensive evidence of people in certain areas tethering their dogs outdoors 24x7 with little to no shelter or protection. These changes are designed to start addressing the problem and hopefully reducing the number of animals being euthanised in the City's shelter.

The Rescuer and The Rainbow Bridge

Today we'd like to share a moving story that was emailed to the North Texas Animal Rights Network (NTARN) recently by Dr. John Pippin, a cardiologist on the board of the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine who is a huge animal rights supporter...

"Almost all animal rescuers know of the Rainbow Bridge, where departed animals wait for their people to meet them for the last joyous walk across the Bridge together. This story is also about the Rainbow Bridge, but concerns those animals who never found their forever homes on earth. Although NTARN is not a rescue or adoption group, many of us who are activists also do rescue and adoption because the need is there, and because our hearts are there. This essay is not original to me, but it is my tribute to the rescuers, who are granted automatic sainthood in my book."

THE RESCUER AND THE RAINBOW BRIDGE

Unlike most days at the Rainbow Bridge, this day dawned cold and gray. All the recent arrivals at the Bridge did not know what to think, as they had never seen such a day. But the animals who had been waiting longer for their beloved people to accompany them across the Bridge knew what was happening, and they began to gather along the pathway leading to the Bridge.

Soon an elderly dog came into view, head hung low and tail dragging. He approached slowly, and though he showed no sign of injury or illness, he was in great emotional pain. Unlike the animals gathered along the pathway, he had not been restored to youth and vigor upon arriving at the Bridge. He felt out of place, and wanted only to cross over and find happiness.

But as he approached the Bridge, his way was barred by an angel, who apologized and explained that the tired and broken-spirited old dog could not cross over. Only those animals accompanied by their people were allowed to cross the Bridge. Having nobody, and with nowhere else to turn, the dog trudged into the field in front of the Bridge. There he found others like himself, elderly or infirm, sad and discouraged. Unlike the other animals waiting to cross the Bridge, these animals were not running or playing. They simply were lying in the grass, staring forlornly at the pathway across the Rainbow Bridge. The old dog took his place among them, watching the pathway and waiting…yet not knowing for what he was waiting.

One of the newer dogs at the Bridge asked a cat who had been there longer to explain what was happening. The cat replied, “Those poor animals were abandoned, turned away, or left at rescue places, but never found a home on earth. They all passed on with only the love of a rescuer to comfort them. Because they had no people to love them, they have nobody to escort them across the Rainbow Bridge.”

The dog asked the cat, “So what will happen to those animals?” Before the cat could answer, the clouds began to part and the cold turned to bright sunshine. The cat replied, “Watch, and you will see.” In the distance was a solitary person, and as he approached the Bridge the old, infirm and sad animals in the field were bathed in a golden light. They were at once made young and healthy, and stood to see what their fate would be. The animals who had previously gathered along the pathway bowed their heads as the person approached. At each bowed head, the person offered a scratch or hug.

One by one, the now youthful and healthy animals from the field fell in line behind the person. Together, they walked across the Rainbow Bridge to a future of happiness and unquestioned love. The dog asked the cat, “What just happened?”

The cat responded, “That was a rescuer. The animals gathered along the pathway bowing in respect were those who had found their forever homes because of rescuers. They will cross over when their people arrive at the Bridge. The arrival here of a rescuer is a great and solemn event, and as a tribute they are permitted to perform one final act of rescue. They are allowed to escort all those poor animals they couldn’t place on earth across the Rainbow Bridge.”

The dog thought for a moment, then said, “I like rescuers.” The cat smiled and replied, “So does God, my friend. So does God.”

... and so do we! THANK YOU to everyone who rescues an animal - you're saints in our eyes too!

Getting serious about new animal control ordinances in Dallas, Tx

Today the animal control ordinance debate before the Dallas City Council hits its home stretch. Dallas Animal Advocates are presenting the case for the changes in a council briefing session today, highlighting the benefits of spay/neuter, the costs of shelter overcrowding and the unacceptable numbers of animals being euthanised every year, animal cruelty implications of unsupervised tethering and more. They will showcase shelter worker interviews, videos and case studies of other cities that have approved similar ordinances.

The council votes on these changes next Wednesday, June 25 - we ask all Dallas residents and business people who'd like to see Dallas held to a higher standard to visit the Dallas Animal Advocates website to learn more, and to sign the petition supporting these changes.

There are a lot of people with financial interests in maintaining the status quo who are pushing hard against the changes - "hobby" and commercial breeders among them. Breeding more animals in an overpopulated city is only contributing to the problems, so if you'd like to see more animals finding homes and fewer animals being killed in overcrowded shelters, please speak out in support of the changes!

Piano playing cat

Because it's Friday and everybody deserves a smile - check out Nora's latest piano-playing exploits. She is just too cute!

Dogs more likely to bite if not neutered

In case you needed another reason to spay/neuter your dog:

An article in the New Yorker a while back by the business author Malcom Gladwell points out that “A 1991 study in Denver... compared a hundred and seventy-eight dogs with a history of biting people with a random sample of a hundred and seventy-eight dogs with no history of biting. The breeds were scattered: German shepherds, Akitas, and Chow Chows were among those most heavily represented. (There were no pit bulls among the biting dogs in the study, because Denver banned pit bulls in 1989.)

But a number of other, more stable factors stand out. [Among them]:
(a) The biters were 6.2 times as likely to be male than female,
(b) and 2.6 times as likely to be intact than neutered.

Neutering your male dog will not only help the pet overpopulation problem, but can reduce the likelihood of him biting people - especially children.

Have you made the appointment yet?

Father's Day is this weekend!

Want to give Dad something that's environmentally and socially responsible for Father's Day? How about making an honor donation in his name to his favorite animal-related cause or local animal shelter?

The Humane Society of the US allows you to make gift donations, while Organic Bouquet will donate 5-10% of the retail price of any gift purchase to the HSUS.

You can send your dad a special eCard (see image for an example of one of the eCard choices) if you make a Fathers Day honor gift donation to the ASPCA or, if you prefer to give by phone (call 1800 628-0028), they’ll send him a greeting card in the mail.

Celebrate your Dad by showing off those strong values of compassion and responsibility that he taught you - and save him from having to pretend he loves that garish Garfield tie!

I can't believe he's a purebred!

A Rhodesian Ridgeback puppy recently rescued from Dallas Animal Services shelter

There's a common misperception about that if you are looking for a specific breed of dog or cat for your next pet, you should contact a breeder or buy your new companion from a pet store.

But did you know that fully a quarter of the animals in shelters are pure bred? And that's in addition to the multitude of breed-specific rescue groups around the country who are always at capacity, desperately trying to find homes for the animals they have rescued from abandonment, abuse or saved from the dreaded euthanasia needle at a shelter.

In fact many less reputable breeders who are selling their animals for a huge premium will dump unsold "inventory" on the shelter system, contributing to the problem of shelter overcrowding that results in thousands of animals being euthanized every year.

While there are good, trustworthy breeders out there, recent reports by the Humane Society, Oprah Winfrey and PETA show that the majority of animals sold in pet stores, over the internet and through classified advertisements come from "puppy mills" - commercial breeding facilities that see animals as pure commodities for profit generation. The breeding stock live in often inhumane conditions, caged and bred repeatedly until they can't bear any more and are killed or dumped on a shelter. The litters are sold to credulous people who are taken in by a cute, furry baby-face or dumped when they can't sell.

Often people feel that you don't know what you are getting with a rescue animal. In fact, if the animal is being fostered by a rescue organization or staying any amount of time at a good shelter, they have mostly likely been fully vetted and trained, and the volunteers and staff will know if the animal is good with children, good with other dogs or cats, housebroken, etc. On the other hand, pets bought from pet stores and unregistered breeders often have behavioral and health problems that might not be apparent for months —problems that can cost thousands of dollars to treat, if they are treatable at all.

A pet store purchase has helped to unnecessarily perpetuate a system of cruelty and exploitation, whereas adopting a rescued animal is doing something good in a world that could sure do with it! And, as with responsible breeders, a good rescue always takes their dogs or cats back if there is a problem.

Ultimately one of the smartest way to get a new pet - whether you want a specific breed or a mutt - is to adopt. By choosing not to buy from disreputable breeders, you'll get an animal that has been vetted, vaccinated, spayed or neutered, and most importantly you'll save a life.

Contact your local animal shelter, search the American Kennel Club site or look for a purebred cat rescue group - you could make the ultimate bargain: get a pure bred pet for less than it costs to buy from a puppy mill or pet shop and save a life!

2 Minutes in the Dallas City Animal Shelter

This video is a brief introduction to some of the "inmates" of the Dallas City Animal shelter. The dogs featured in the video are as individual as they come - some are pregnant; some scared; some are hopeful that you might be their next forever home; while others are clearly depressed - their faith in humans dashed by their callous abandonment or surrender. To spend two minutes looking into their faces is to open your heart to their plight.

Dallas Animal Services have too many wonderful animals in their shelters and are forced to euthanize thousands every year for whom they can't find homes - please consider adoption if you're looking for a new pet - click here to see all the pets available. Your adoption could save a life.

Dallas residents should also get informed about proposed changes to the City's animal ordinances - click here to visit the Dallas Animal Advocates site to learn more - while you're there, why not sign the petition supporting spay/neuter ordinances as a measure to address the pet overpopulation crisis? Speak out now by writing a letter to the council, signing the petition or speaking at an open mic session - whatever you do, don't do nothing. Dallas animals need your voice because they don't have one of their own.

New Baby? Boston based school helps baby-proof man's best friend

If your dog is prepared for a new baby's arrival, it can make the transition a lot easier, reducing stress and potential danger. Planning ahead like this can help reduce the number of dogs surrendered to shelters when couples decide to have children.

Check out this video about a Boston-based doggie school that helps you prepare pup for the new kid on the block!


Baby-Proofing Man's Best Friend

Pesky Parasites Are Not Just a Pooch Problem

Every dog owner knows that canines are susceptible to parasitic infestation, especially worms such as heartworms, hookworms, roundworms, and tapeworms.

As it turns out, cats are as much at risk of contracting common parasites as Fido and pals. In fact, according to a recent survey by the American Pet Product Manufacturers Association (APPMA) more than a third of the 90 million cats in the U.S. have not seen a vet in the past year.

Spring, in particular, brings an increased risk of worms and other parasites that can be contracted from mosquitoes, sandboxes, dirt, and standing water. Even indoor cats are at risk of contracting the same parasites, which come inside via shoes, open doors and windows, and other pets.

In response to the consumer need for increased awareness of the risks of feline parasites, Bayer Animal Health has added new information to its Web site about the risks posed by worms and tips to protect cats. The Web site, http://www.petparents.com/, includes an interactive section that allows cat owners to uncover parasites in their own homes and backyards from a cat’s point-of-view.

Now is a good time to get educated on pet parasite prevention - do your pet a favor!

Doggie Dining in Dallas

In early 2007, the Dallas City Council passed a variance to state law allowing restaurants to obtain permits to let them welcome dogs onto their outdoor patios. But restaurateurs have complained that the policy is too restrictive, so this week the council voted to ammend to the city ordinance in hopes of making the law friendlier to both restaurants wanting to welcome pooches to their patios, and the people who choose to bring their pets.

Currently, the measure states that Dallas restaurants must:

• Provide a separate entrance to the outside of the restaurant to the outdoor patio.
• Post a "dog-friendly restaurant" sign at the front entrance.
• Install "air curtains" to separate the patio from the restaurant's interior.
• Prohibit food preparation, including mixing drinks or serving ice, in the patio area.
• Clean the patio every 30 minutes with animal-friendly chemicals whenever a dog is present.
• Prevent wait staff or other food handlers from petting or otherwise making contact with dogs.
• Ensure that dogs are wearing collars with current rabies tags and remain on a leash.
• Bar dogs from sitting or standing on restaurant seats, tables or countertops, or from having contact with dishes or utensils.

This week, the council admitted the requirements were flawed and amended the ordinance to require restaurants to:

• Install a "self-closing device" on each door that provides access to the patio.
• Keep dogs at least 7 feet from any door accessing the restaurant, except when entering or exiting the patio.
• Maintain a "patio free of visible dog hair, dander and related waste and debris."
• Hose or mop the patio with animal-friendly chemicals every six hours, or before each shift, when a dog has been present.
• Prohibit the feeding of dogs.

Source: Dave Levinthal, Dallas City Hall Blog