Reasons to Spay and Neuter

We are super excited that the weather is changing.  Fall and Spring are busy times at the shelter, the cooler temperatures have everyone moving with more energy and enthusiasm. 

This week we want to share with you why spaying and neutering your pet is important.  First and foremost if more pets were neutered, the need for the humane society in the community might be extinct.  I know you probably think us crazy animal people will never go away, but honestly we could be forced to just sit home and enjoy our own pets, if we weren’t out rescuing and caring for unwanted dogs and cats.

So if you need more reasons than letting us crazy dog people stay at with our pets, take a look at the list of reasons why you should spay and neuter you pet.

1. Unwanted pregnancies
The problem with an intact male is that it’s hard for him to resist a female in heat! An intact male can run away and follow the smell of a female in heat located miles away. 

2. Pet overpopulation

Sadly, 3 to 4 million of unwanted pets are euthanized each year. At least some of these deaths could have been prevented by neutering males (and spaying females). In the shelter world, this is known as pet overpopulation. This is the number one reason the humane society exist. 

3. Behavior 
Unneutered pets have all kinds of behavioral problems. In male dogs, the most common behavior is an aggressive temper.  Of course, there are many intact pets who are perfectly sweet.  Neutering, when done early in life, can reduce aggressiveness and improve behavior overall. For example, it decreases the always-embarrassing "mounting" behavior in dogs.

4. Marking
Few things smell worse than intact male cat urine.  Some people make their indoor cat an outdoor cat when they can't tolerate the smell anymore. This increases the risk of being hit by a car. Neutering, when done early enough in life, virtually eliminates the odor of male cat urine and should prevent marking in male dogs.

5. Roaming and getting in trouble or lost.
Pets are rarely taught how to cross the street safely. So as they roam, searching for a partner or looking for trouble, they might get hit by a car. Neutering decreases the urge to roam or run away from home. In addition, neutering decreases the risk of getting into fights.

An added risk of roaming is getting lost, every year, millions of pets get lost. Some are returned to their owner. Most are not.  To decrease the risk of such a tragedy happening in your family, neuter your pet, pet-proof the fence in your backyard and always keep your pet on a leash during walks. In addition, talk to your vet about the benefits of tattoos and microchips.

So since there is a need for us crazy dog people, this last week we were able to send a few of our older dogs to Mary’s Rescue.  These dogs have fore-ever homes waiting on them when they arrive. One of the benefits to working with Mary’s Rescue is we are able to follow these dogs as they bond with their new families. 

~ ConnieKayA~
   Doggie Mom 

Unwanted Four-Legged Members of the Community

This has been a trying week for the humane society, filled with dark clouds.  There seems to be no end to the homeless and unwanted four-legged members of our community.

Two dogs (different homes) on chains, limited food and water, flies literally eating their ears off.  One Moma dog, seven puppies, no shelter, limited food, now 3 puppies.  Two puppies no home, one run over.   It seems like it never ends…..

As we talked about last week, spay and neuter, will lessen the number of unwanted animals. And yes, we have a spay-neuter ordinance, but the humane society does not have the authority to enforce it.  So the next time you see animal control ask them about the spay-neuter ordinance.  If you know of someone who has a dog that has liter after liter of puppies, call animal control, ask animal control to enforce the spay- neuter ordinance.

As for the dogs on the chain, as long as the dog has food, water, and shelter there is nothing we can do.  Don’t ask us how much water or how much food, or what constitutes shelter. Arkansas’s law is vague. And yes, animal welfare groups have tried and tried to improve the law.  But each time, we are fought at the legislative level by Arkansas Farm Bureau.  See, Arkansas Farm Bureau thinks if you give a domestic animal a decent place to live and define adequate food and water, you are opening the door to crazy animal people wanting farm animals to have humane treatment.

Over the next month you may be approached by a politician out asking for your vote. When you do ask the politician if they will stand strong and support the rights of domestic animals.

With every dark cloud comes sunshine. Our sunshine this week comes with the adoption of a couple of awesome dogs locally, seven adoptions at Petco and seeing pictures, of the dog we sent to Mary’s Rescue, enjoying life with their new families. 

~ ConnieKayA~
   Doggie Mom 

To A Homeless Dog You Could Be The World

This week has seen cooler temperatures but no relief in unwanted animals.  If you haven’t noticed, our weekly theme is consistently, “help there are too many unwanted animals and too few homes.”

Heath our Pet of the Week - Looking for his forever home 

Dogs that have been dumped, surrendered, or abandon by their humans often suffer from behavior issues, including excitability, attention-seeking issues, hyperactivity, persistent barking, fear and aggression toward strange people and dogs.  These dogs can exhibit bizarre, strange or repetitive behaviors such as hoarding, digging deep holes, or compulsive behaviors like sucking on cloth or licking the furniture.

Sonya is a sweet shy girl, she is looking for a fulltime family

Our staff and volunteers understand that these dogs are going to have mental health issues, but often we have good people with good intentions adopt our rescue dogs only to bring them back to the shelter because they do not understand the dog’s behavior.

Rehabilitating an abused dog presents a significant challenge, because these animals have been exposed to negative things they can’t unlearn despite your best efforts. But it’s important to feel hopeful, because life-changing progress can be made and there’s nothing more gratifying.

It takes time to help an abused dog learn to be less fearful and develop trust in humans again. With knowledge, hard work, and commitment, a previously abused pet can be transformed into a much-loved member of your family… but they can’t be reborn. It’s important to always remember that.

Here are some general guidelines for creating a safe environment for a previously abused dog(s):

• Make them feel loved and needed; communicate clearly with them
• Do not force anything on them under any circumstances – allow them to adapt to their new family and life at their own pace. Provide them with a safe place where they can be alone when they feels like it
• Protect them from whatever they fears
• Create opportunities for them to be successful and build their confidence            

We share all of this information this week in hopes that we will have a few good people with good intentions, who are willing to put time, effort, and love into helping us rehabilitate those who have been dumped, surrender or abandoned.  

Volunteers at Petco 

We promise in return you will have wet noses kisses and free tail wags. 

“To the world you are one person, to a dog you could be the world”

If you would like to be a foster home please call Pam Ford at 838-5512.