Loosing a Fur-Child While Traveling

This article was printed in the Blytheville Courie

The Humane Society has been busy the last couple of weeks, several volunteers have been in the boot-hill of Missouri looking for a lost dog.  The dog’s name is Rainy.  Rainy is a 2-1/2 year old Boston Terri.  Her mom was involved in an accident on the southbound side of I-55 at mile marker 1. Once Rainy’s mom was able to get out of the vehicle, she immediately started trying to find Rainy – mom lost sight of her as she ran across the northbound side of I-55.  Since the accident Rainy has been seen once in a cornfield near the accident site.  Volunteers have spent days and nights covering the farmland and ditches but Rainy is still missing. 

This week if you have a moment take a ride out around mile marker 1 or say a short prayer for Rainy and her mom, Rainy’s Mom after twenty days in Blytheville searching daily for Rainey, has returned home.  It must, be a horrible feeling to know you fur-child is lost and you have to leave them behind.   

Most of us think this situation will never happen to us – but just in case, we want to share a few tips about finding your lost pet while traveling.

If you dog gets loose or lost, finding them within the first few hours is crucial.  Veterinarians have confirmed that even a small pet such as a small dog or cat can trot indefinitely at 3 miles per hour. So, if for some reason your pet must run frantically non-stop, and if he does so at just 3 mph, he could travel 24 miles in just 8 hours; 36 miles in 12 hours; 72 miles in a full 24-hour day.

Although not always true, when lost and on his own, a dog tends to roam, sometimes in circles, sometimes in rather straight lines. A cat on the other hand, will tend to run/hide, until he finds a safe spot in which to hole up that is not already occupied by a tough opponent, a spot which is dry, and one which offers some protection from the elements.

There a few other things that you should consider:

• Walk the area looking in small spaces and under cars. If you have another dog walk it in the same area.
• Ask those helping you search not to chase the dog if they see him or her, but to try to keep the dog in- sight until you get there.
• Look at dusk and dawn because animals tend to move more during these hours. 
• Put food and water at the dogs last known location including a piece of your worn clothing like a sock or shirt and check the location often.
• Take a photo of your dog with your phone number attached to every animal shelter, veterinary office, and groomer. Don't just call, go in person as soon as possible. Visit the shelters again within 5 days. 
• Post a reward immediately on social media like Facebook, Craig's List, and yard sale sights. Also run an ad in the local newspaper right away. Holdback one piece of information about your dog to be sure someone wanting to claim the reward is not a fraud.
• Go door to door with flyers and post them in public places.
• Things to do before traveling with your pet:
• Be prepared by keeping a collar and tags with good phone numbers on your pet.
• Keep recent pictures of your pet.
• When traveling place your pet in a secured crate or harness and seatbelt.
• When you find you pet please remember that once a pet is lost, he is frightened, hungry, confused, disoriented. As such, he may or may not behave as you are accustomed to seeing him do. Your much-loved long-term friend may even run from you if you see him. It's not that he has forgotten you, he has just reverted to survival mode, in which he can no longer -- at the moment -- be certain of who is a friend vs who is out to get him. Please exercise patience.

Rainy is our pet of the week – please share her picture as much as possible, some of you may think finding Rainy is a longshot, but we have found dogs 220 days after they have gone missing and we are praying for the same outcome with Rainy. 

~ ConnieKayA ~
A Southern Girl sharing her passion for living an abundantly blessed life.

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.

Humane Society Update

As many of you know Bed and Biscuit Boarding is the result of my love for animals and my work with the Blytheville Humane Society.  The Big Man and I have 14 rescue dogs all but 2 are between 7 and 16 years old.  We have a difficult time finding someone, other than family members to help with our four-legged babies.  Because of our difficulty finding someone who would love them and put up with their sometimes odd personalities, when we bought the land next to our home, it became home to Bed and Biscuit Boarding. 

I occasionally write the Humane Society newspaper column.  So I thought for those who do not have access to the newspaper I would share the article her on our blog.

Humane Society Newspaper Column

This week the humane society was tasked with finding a forever home for the sweet little pig that was left on our door step.  Our foster homes did a great job, but they realized our sweet little pig needed a forever home.  Pigs are social animals – they need company, human or pig, they don’t care.  Pigs can be annoying and demanding.  Pigs also grow-up – they get bigger, I know they are so cute when they are little, but seriously they grow up.  Personally I have seen a grown sow teardown a wooden fence and turn over a cast-iron bathtub.  

This week the humane society volunteers did a great job of finding a rescue and coordinating travel for our sweet little pig.  By the time you read this article, the sweet little pig will be a resident of a rescue in Alabama, where she will live out her happy little pig life.

As we continue to move into 2016 the humane society continues to receive calls daily about “unwanted” Christmas gifts.  Just this week we have had two families call with 3 puppies they no longer want. 

Folks, the truth about dogs are they are going to park, they are going to be too playful and sometime too aggressive or too timid, they are not always going to listen and yes, they will make a mess. But, in return they will love you unconditionally and for an added bonus they are great for stress relief if you will take the time to pay attention to them. 

As Mother Nature turns on the chillers this week – please remember you furry and feathered friends.
Dogs, cats, horses, chickens, and yes, sweet little pigs need a warm place to stay.  Their spot outside doesn’t have to be heated and cooled but it does need to be warm, dry, safe and the pet has to have access to clean unfrozen water and adequate food. 

Shiloh Ann once homeless and scared now
part of a family that lovers her
Nana's Girl

If you don’t have appropriate shelter and someone knocks on your door, don’t shoot or curse the messenger, the humane society member is there about your freezing or starving animal. Remember humane society members are trying to help you, we really do not want to take your pet, believe me we have enough unwanted pets to care for. If you truly love your pet we will help you find a dog house or shelter for the animal.  The humane society also may be able to help you with food during the cold weather. 
Please remember we are here to speak for the animal and to help you be a better pet person.

Connie Ash
Doggie Recuse Mom