Sadly, too many of these high-energy pets end up in shelters, abandoned through no fault of their own, because the owners weren’t aware of this simple issue: high energy in pets, just like in kids, must be managed/burned off first in order for the pet to be able to focus, listen to you, and behave. Without this simple management tool, you fail your pet and put his life in jeopardy if you end up surrendering him to a shelter. Shelters typically classify high-energy pets as unadoptable and end up euthanizing them. So listen up – the fix is simple and immediate and makes everyone’s life better!

It’s so simple and easy to manage your pet’s high energy, if you understand the difference between “suppressing” your pet’s high energy and “burning it off.” Consider this — have you traveled on a really long flight, and well into the flight you find yourself getting antsy? Your legs begin to twitch, your feet tap, you constantly shift position in your seat? That’s built-up energy, an actual physical thing, not a made-up saying. Can you convince yourself to ignore the twitching and just sit still? Of course not. Built-up energy needs to be managed, not ignored or suppressed. You have to get up and move around, shake it off, literally burn it off, before you can go back to your seat and sit quietly, comfortably, and focused.

Look at young kids – without regular exercise and physical activity, they get antsy, wiggly, and what happens then? Well, if the parents just order them to “sit still” or “be quiet,” they can’t. The kids begin to act out and get into trouble. It’s not because they want to get into trouble; it’s because they are being controlled by pent-up, unmanaged energy. It’s actually not their fault. It’s the parents’ job to help manage/diffuse their kids’ pent-up energy. And, generally, drugs are not the answer. It’s a simple biological issue — just get them active and burn off the energy. Likewise, for pets, it’s the owners’ job to manage the pets’ level of energy to keep the pet in a better state of behavior, focus, and comfort.

The body’s energy cannot be just ignored; the body continues producing more and more energy, and the energy keeps piling up inside, energy on top of energy. The ONLY way to eliminate all this increasing energy is to physically work it off. It’s the same with animals; except animals can’t rationalize that, so it’s all on the owners to take charge of this issue.

Regular small bursts of exercise is the answer. One or two or more times a day, 20-30 minute bursts of activity are all that’s needed to diffuse excess built-up energy. With the excess high energy burned away, you and your pet can both relax and de-stress better. Your pet becomes more focused and trainable, and you become more at ease and patient.

Another benefit of managing your pet’s energy is that, once the built-up energy is diffused, your pet will be able to focus better on you and actually hear you and absorb training. You’ll have an infinitely better behaved pet if you make exercise a regular part of your routine. And not just a leisurely stroll down the driveway or a quick pottie break in the back yard, but an actual 20-30 minutes of vibrant activity – a run around the block, fetch with his favorite kong toy, swimming in the pool, etc.

Or, if weather prevents you from getting outside, you can still play inside – tag up and down the halls, wrestling on the bed, tug of war with a rope toy, climbing up and down the stairs, etc. Get creative – whatever gets his heart rate up and circulation going for 20-30 minutes will help burn off the energy. One, two, even three or more times a day depending on your pet’s energy level. No big marathon runs or workouts needed. You’ll find these daily little bursts of activity are lifesavers – you and your pet will both be so much happier and relaxed. Burning off energy also burns off tension, stress, and anxiety. Everyone wins!

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God Bless and Happy Pet Parenting!

With love and good wishes,
jeannie.   

About jeannie:  I’ve been pro-actively involved in pet rescue all of my life. I founded Milagro Senior Pet Refuge© (Phoenix) in 1998, and BareFootPets (TM) in 2008.  Animal welfare has always been and will always be my heart’s work. If my only legacy is that I save a handful of precious souls that would not survive otherwise, I’m good with that.

The post Take Control Of Your Pet’s High Energy appeared first on BareFootPets.

Too Hot For Your Feet? Then It’s Too Hot For Hers Too.

Don’t make your dog walk on it. Simple as that.

Avoid Midday and Evening Walks When The Pavement Is Most Hot.

While we’re on the subject of “too hot,” you also should be very careful about what time of day you walk your pooch. In the heat of Summer, your little Precious can suffer heat stroke very quickly if you’re not paying attention. Get in the habit of waking a half hour earlier in the mornings so you can walk her before the sun is all the way up. Early morning is WAY better than evenings because the pavement has cooled down overnight and won’t scorch her little paws. If you walk in the evenings, don’t be fooled. Sure, the sun’s not bearing down on you, but the pavement hasn’t cooled down yet. It’s still giving off all the day’s heat and her little feet can still be burned. To know for sure, test your own bare foot. A good tip to know–asphalt can be way hotter than cement. Stay on the sidewalks or grass and avoid asphalt at all costs. Always take water with you and give her some as often as she’ll take it.

Booties ~ What A Great Idea!

A novel and very effective idea to protect your lovebug’s feet from hot or cold pavement is booties ~ you can buy them online or at any pet supply store; a great, fun little investment in your pet’s good health. Check out little Layla’s pink booties above. Adorable or what! The bottoms are a good solid rubber that doesn’t let heat or cold through.   🙂

Alternative To Walking Outdoors.

The best way to protect your pet’s health is to find somewhere INDOORS to walk her when the weather is too hot or too cold. Lowes, Home Depot, Petsmart, Petco for example. These are all ideal pet-friendly places – temperature controlled, safe from outdoor natural predators, and they encourage your pooch to interact with people and socialize. Your dog will LOVE you for it.  🙂

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God Bless and Happy Pet Parenting!

With love and good wishes,
jeannie.   ?

About jeannie:  I’ve been pro-actively involved in pet rescue all of my life. I founded Milagro Senior Pet Refuge© (Phoenix) in 1998, and BareFootPets (TM) in 2008.  Animal welfare has always been and will always be my heart’s work. If my only legacy is that I save a handful of precious souls that would not survive otherwise, I’m good with that.

The post Pavement Too Hot For Her Tootsies? appeared first on BareFootPets.

How To Identify If Your Kitty Is Dehydrated.

How to tell your little one is dehydrated? As a loving kitty owner, you need to be very aware of your kitty’s behavior at all times so you can read the signs early. If you suspect kitty is not feeling well, pinch the skin up and down her back. Does it stay pinched and loose when you let go? Then she’s dehydrated. Make it a habit every day when you’re loving on your kitty to do the pinch test. Also, does she hover/linger over her water dish? She’s dehydrated. So, establish the good habit to support her kidney health by ensuring that she’s always hydrated. How do I do that? First of all, START EARLY. Don’t wait until she shows signs of kidney trouble. When the signs start, she’s already in trouble.

A Good Fountain Is Excellent Support For Kitty’s Hydration And Health.

The best way to help your kitty stay hydrated, hands-down, is with a food-grade ceramic drinking fountain and a good filter. Kitties are naturally fascinated by running water, which is a big help. Just leave a faucet on somewhere in the house and watch them come running. No doubt you’ve seen the cute videos on YouTube of kitties and faucets. I’ve discovered that even a kitty that’s not feeling well will hang around a fountain or running faucet. You can use this to your kitty’s advantage. Don’t wait for her to develop signs of poor kidney health. Start her on a fountain when she’s young to help discourage kidney troubles down the road.

Choosing A Fountain.

Having fresh water available to kitty at all times is paramount. Having a running fountain of fresh filtered water is even better, because it attracts her even when she’s not feeling well. This is an especially important time for her to be drinking more water. There are many places you can buy pet fountains. Definitely avoid plastic units. Plastic harbors bacteria. Ideally, you want a “food-grade” ceramic fountain–food-grade ceramic like the dishes people eat and cook on, not the ceramic that art pieces are made of because art glazes contain lead.

After much online research, I found “Fountains by Ebi” (http://ebifountains.com/).

You can custom-order the fountain to your liking as far as size and look and what type of filter you want in it. I’ve been using my Ebi fountain for several years now, and I promise you from personal experience it is one of the BEST INVESTMENTS you’ll ever make for your kitty’s health.

Added Hydration Support.

A kitty that’s already dehydrated will have a tough time drinking enough water to re-hydrate herself, even at the fountain. In these instances, you can give her a little extra support with “sub-q” fluids. Sub-q fluids must be prescribed by your veterinarian. It’s like a bag of IV fluid that you see in hospitals. The bag comes with a line, and you can use 10-20 needles per bag depending on the level of distress your kitty is in, and how much fluid your veterinarian recommends for her.

Before You Run Screaming For The Hills, Hear Me Out.

Your veterinarian can show you how to give the fluids to your kitty. Don’t be afraid of it. You just pull up a pinch of skin over her shoulders and insert the needle under the skin. Don’t go any deeper into tissue or muscle–just under the surface of the skin. The first time or two you’ll feel awful, like you’re hurting her. I almost fainted, because I’m afraid of needles. So I was feeling guilty for kitty AND i was trying not to throw up. But you’ll quickly get the hang of it and be able to insert the needle without her even noticing, especially because you know you’re helping her.

The needle simply goes just under the skin, NOT into a vein or muscle. Her body will quickly absorb the fluids and she’ll be feeling like a million dollars again in less than 30 minutes. I’ve found that having kitty sit in the bathroom sink while I give her the sub-q fluids helps to discourage her from struggling. She seems to feel safe all snuggled down in it. And I’m not wrestling with her to stay still, so the whole process is easier on both of us. She relaxes quite comfortably in the sink for the two or three minutes it takes to dispense the fluids under her skin. When you’re finished, massage her skin at the injection site for a couple of seconds to ensure the fluids don’t leak back out, and Voila!  You’re done and she’s already on her way to feeling better. Sub-q fluids are lifesavers–the best and fastest support for a dehydrated kitty and for a kitty with kidney disease.

Sub-Q Fluids Are Tremendous Support, But Not A Cure.

NOTE: Sub-q fluids are not a cure for kidney disease. They simply offer her much-needed comfort and desperately needed hydration that she can’t get on her own by drinking water. I make it a point to keep a supply of sub-q fluids and needles on-hand at all times. In my rescue organization, we’ve saved more lives by having sub-q fluids immediately available right when we need them, rather than having to wait for a scheduled appointment and an emergency run to the vet. Hydration isn’t just a matter of the kitty’s comfort. It can be a matter of her life, and time and treatment are of the essence. It’s a glorious feeling to know you’re caring in such a great way for this precious little soul. Because of you, she has the healthiest, most wonderful life.

Here’s a cute video of Princess, a Milagro Senior (www.milagropets.org). She actually prefers to drink from our little fish tank instead of the kitty fountain. There are no fish in it, but Princess enjoys it so much we keep it set up just for her. And that’s cool, too. As long as it’s clean and she’s drinking, that’s the main thing. See how you can make the critical act of staying hydrated fun for your kitty? Be creative.

So your take-away tip on this subject – invest in a food-grade ceramic fountain for your kitty or, like Princess, a running fish tank. Be very sure the water is always clean, and always always always make sure she’s hydrated. If your kitty needs more critical care, ask your veterinarian about sub-q fluids.

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God Bless and Happy Pet Parenting!

With love and good wishes,
jeannie.

About jeannie:  I’ve been pro-actively involved in pet rescue all of my life. I founded Milagro Senior Pet Refuge© (Phoenix) in 1998, and BareFootPets (TM) in 2008.  Animal welfare has always been and will always be my heart’s work. If my only legacy is that I save a handful of precious souls that would not survive otherwise, I’m good with that.

The post Hydrate Your Kitty And Save Her Kidneys. appeared first on BareFootPets.

Okay, How Do I Begin?

I know it’s tough to carve out time in your already hectic day to brush Fido’s teeth, every day after day no less. You already dread it, don’t you. Let’s make it easy then. First step–whenever you find little moments and you’re sitting around snuggling with Fluffy, massage her gums at the same time. See–no extra time needed. Massage very lightly, ok, don’t get all invasive on her like the bathroom scene with Channing Tatum and Jonah Hill in 21 Jump Street. At this point, you’re just getting her used to your fingers in her mouth, like it’s no big deal. I introduce my kitties and pups to gum massage by hand-feeding them cat kibble one piece at a time. They love being hand-fed so, when i start checking out their gums, they’re pretty much okay with it. Massage her gums lightly and very briefly, then stop, before she has a chance to object. Go on your merry way like it was no big deal. [TIP: Knowing when to ignore your pet is a tremendously effective training and handling tool ~ more on that later.] By making gum massage part of snuggle time and creating a positive experience instead of a dreaded chore, she’ll come to associate it with pleasure. Keep this tip in your memory bank.

Baby Steps … You’re Getting There

Once you’ve got your pet feeling okay about having her teeth and gums handled, you can introduce a toothbrush or rubber thumb. I prefer the rubber thumb because it’s similar to your finger and seems less foreign to the pet. Before you go shoving them in her mouth, tho, let her sniff them and get familiar, even batting them around like toys. Remember, baby steps. Use the brush to massage her teeth without paste for the first few times. Once she’s comfortable with the toothbrush or rubber thumb, then try adding a tiny dab of flavored pet toothpaste. She may not be sold right away–don’t force it. Never force it. But definitely keep the massaging in your routine and eventually try adding toothpaste again. You’ll get there eventually.

Here is a really good pet toothpaste I like to recommend for you. It’s popular because it’s made in the USA, it’s safe, pets like it, and it works!

In the meantime, stimulating her gums is a good thing. If, however, you have a pet who just refuses to warm up to a toothbrush, no worries. There are options. There are some great dental washes for pets that you put in their drinking water. Can’t get any easier than that!  Here’s a good one. Completely odorless/tasteless so your pet won’t detect it and get all fussy. It’s made in the USA and completely safe for your pet.

I also found this product below that you spray right onto their teeth and gums and, as the pet licks his lips and sloshes it around, it begins to reduce plaque and heal his mouth. It’s all organic, no chemicals to create allergies or inflammation, and makes your pet’s breath very fresh and sweet so you just want to get all up in his face and snuggle with him!  🙂  Give it a try!

It’s NEVER Too Late.

Ideally, you want to start your pet’s dental care when she’s a puppy or kitten. If she’s older, tho, no worries. Always better late than never at all. Just remind yourself how important dental care is to her overall health.

Bottom line is you may have to try a few approaches to your pet’s dental care before you find the one your pet responds to, and that’s ok, because there are many products of all kinds out there to choose from. One of them will work for you. As long as you’re patient and consistent, you’ll get there. Just keep your eye on the prize–longterm good health and protection for your beloved furbaby.

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God Bless and Happy Pet Parenting!

With love and good wishes,
jeannie.   ?

About jeannie:  I’ve been pro-actively involved in pet rescue all of my life. I founded Milagro Senior Pet Refuge© (Phoenix) in 1998, and BareFootPets (TM) in 2008.  Animal welfare has always been and will always be my heart’s work. If my only legacy is that I save a handful of precious souls that would not survive otherwise, I’m good with that.

The post Ignore Your Pet’s Teeth … They’ll Go Away. appeared first on BareFootPets.

Why Is Chipping So Important?

Pets become lost for many reasons, some of them preventable, others unavoidable mishaps. Compare losing a pet to losing a child–you need turn your eyes away for only seconds and they can be gone. You can be the world’s best pet parent, and it can still happen. We’re all human. The lawn care guy leaves your gate open, the cat darts out the door when you answer to sign for a Fedex, the dog jumps out the window of your car when he sees a cat on the sidewalk, etc.

And, of course, there’s always the unfortunate possibility of your pet being stolen. Thieves can easily figure out your routine, when you’re not home, and they can climb your fence, grab little Fluffy and be gone in a New York minute. Without Fluffy having a chip, most likely you’ll never get her back. Chipping tells the finders you are the rightful owner and eliminates any claims someone else may be trying to make for your pet.

Posting on social media is a huge help, for sure, but that depends on people actually reading the posts, and then those specific people being in the right place at the right time to find the lost pet. With chipping, the owner’s contact information is secured right on the pet at all times. Chipping is hands-down the best way to recover a lost or stolen pet.

What Does A Chip Do And How Do I Get My Pet Chipped?

A chip is a nearly microscopic little disk, if you will, that is inserted with a needle, as if giving the pet a shot. Typically, chips are implanted between the shoulder blades, where it will remain permanently. The injection is nearly painless for most pets. The chip is programmed with a serial number that is registered to you and contains your name, address, and phone. Some chip manufacturers also provide a website where you can opt to set up a profile for your pet with photos and certain identifying information to make identification even more exact. You can get your pet chipped at your vet or most pet stores. The cost is generally $35 to $45. Most rescue organizations include micro-chipping in the adoption process if you adopt the pet from them.

If your pet shows up at a shelter, the folks there have a scanner gun that they will scan over your pet. If the pet is chipped, the scanner gun will capture the information, and they can call you immediately. If someone finds your pet and wants to help get her back home safely rather than drop her off at a shelter, the finder can go to any PetSmart, Petco, veterinarian, etc., and ask them to scan the pet for a chip. There is no charge for simply scanning. Once the rescuer has your contact information, they can let you know that Fluffy is safe and sound and can get her back home to you. Chipping is critical to your pet’s wellbeing and keeping your family whole. There is no better substitute.

Being Chipped Can Mean Life Or Death To Your Pet.

Chipping also protects your pet from being killed should she end up in a shelter. Shelters screen incoming strays for chips. If your pet is chipped, then all is well, because first thing they will do is call you and you can go get her safely back home. But be aware–shelters typically deal with overcrowding, so they don’t invest lots of time trying to identify lost or stray pets. Sadly, kill rates for shelters across the nation are still very very high. If your pet is not chipped and ends up in a shelter, she is in extreme danger. They may put her to death in a matter of hours and you’ll never even know. You may still be driving your neighborhood, posting flyers, searching hopefully and calling for her, not knowing she’s no longer alive. Avoid such a terrible heartbreak–chip your beloved pet. Cats and dogs both. If you love her, chip her.

While We’re On The Subject Of Shelter Kill Rates …

Awareness is growing nationwide about the epidemic of high shelter kill rates, especially for cats. Barely 1 in every 10 cats gets out of a shelter alive–there is no excuse for this. While many shelters are finally abandoning old set ways of using euthanasia to “control” what they identify as “pet over-population,” we still have a very long way to go to stop the terrible killings. If you have an interest in learning more or volunteering to help in this overdue animal welfare revolution, get this book–Redemption by Nathan Winograd. It’s truly eye-opening. When you finish the book, pass it on, keep it going. It’s on our generation to get the word out and get the wheels in motion.

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God Bless and Happy Pet Parenting!

With love and good wishes,
jeannie.   ?

About jeannie:  I’ve been pro-actively involved in pet rescue all of my life. I founded Milagro Senior Pet Refuge© (Phoenix) in 1998, and BareFootPets (TM) in 2008.  Animal welfare has always been and will always be my heart’s work. If my only legacy is that I save a handful of precious souls that would not survive otherwise, I’m good with that.

The post If You Love Her, Chip Her. appeared first on BareFootPets.

Thankfully, the leash was attached to the pup’s harness, not its collar. The pup could have been horribly injured, choked, and even died, if the leash had been attached to the collar around its neck. This is a very important reminder that collars are just ornamental and for dog tags only.

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God Bless and Happy Pet Parenting!

With love and good wishes,
jeannie. 

About jeannie:  I’ve been pro-actively involved in pet rescue all of my life. I founded Milagro Senior Pet Refuge© (Phoenix) in 1998, and BareFootPets (TM) ) in 2008. Animal welfare has always been and will always be my heart’s work. If my only legacy is that I save a handful of precious souls that would not survive otherwise, I’m good with that.

The post Another Argument For Harnesses appeared first on BareFootPets.

Remember — chocolate can be FATAL to a pet!  Keep a close watch on the candy that comes into your house around Halloween.  No candy or even candy wrappers on the floor.  Containers and candy up high and totally out of reach from your pets.  It’s easy to keep a close eye out, and may save your sweet pet’s life!

Any time is a dangerous time for pets to be left outside.  But Halloween is even more dangerous for pets to be outside, more than other holidays, and especially for black cats.  Sadly, there are nasty people lurking about, waiting and watching for animals to abuse, and even kill.  Don’t let your pet become a statistic!  Keep them safely indoors the whole week before Halloween, and don’t let them outside again till after Halloween has passed.  No matter how much they fuss!  You are their protector — be strong and don’t give in till after the day passes.

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God Bless and Happy Pet Parenting!

With love and good wishes,
jeannie.   ?

About jeannie:  I’ve been pro-actively involved in pet rescue all of my life. I founded Milagro Senior Pet Refuge© (Phoenix) in 1998, and BareFootPets (TM) in 2008. Animal welfare has always been and will always be my heart’s work. If my only legacy is that I save a handful of precious souls that would not survive otherwise, I’m good with that.

The post Trick or Treat! appeared first on BareFootPets.

Life got you stressed out?  Too busy?  Need a nap?  Take a cue from your pets.  It’s not that hard.  All you have to do is watch them.  Here are some sweet samples from my house.

. . . And Finally . . . These Right Here Below – This Is What You Call A Lonnnng Nap.

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God Bless and Happy Pet Parenting!

With love and good wishes,
jeannie.   ?

About jeannie:  I’ve been pro-actively involved in pet rescue all of my life. I founded Milagro Senior Pet Refuge© (Phoenix) in 1998, and BareFootPets (TM) in 2008. Animal welfare has always been and will always be my heart’s work. If my only legacy is that I save a handful of precious souls that would not survive otherwise, I’m good with that.

The post Lazy Is An Art Form appeared first on BareFootPets.

The article below is republished, with permission by its author, in its entirety to underscore the absolute critical importance of not leaving animals in cars.  Fortunately, this story has a happy ending.  Sadly, that’s not always the case.  Please take a few minutes to read and lock this information away in your brain so that you will always be mindful and protective of your own beloved pet.  Remember, at best your pet has the mental capacity of a two-year-old child.  He can’t save himself — he needs you to watch over him at all times. And if you get it wrong, there aren’t always do-overs.  Gratitude to Amy McGorry, Fox News, for this very important reminder.

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This lucky dog in New York City has now found a loving home

A dog that had been trapped inside a hot car this summer in New York City for as long as 24 hours now has a new home — thanks to the police officers who rescued him from the dire situation and the officer who then took him into her heart.

An official from the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) told Fox News Digital that New York City Police Department officers rescued the fluffy white dog — an American Eskimo dog whose name is now Snow — and brought him to the ASPCA Animal Recovery Center on the Upper East Side of Manhattan.

There, the dog was given medical care and behavioral treatment until he was ready for adoption.

AS MORE FRENCH BULLDOGS ARE STOLEN, PET LOVERS WANT TO KNOW: WHAT’S GOING ON WITH THIS BREED?

Last month, the NYPD tweeted about the rescue as it was happening. It said police responded to calls from “caring New Yorkers” who notified them about a dog locked in a hot car in the heat of the summer.

The responding police officers discovered the car was off, the windows were closed and the distressed dog was inside, according to the NYPD 19th Precinct’s tweet.

Police tweeted that the dog was locked inside the car for two hours; the ASPCA confirmed afterward that the dog was trapped inside the car for at least 24 hours.

The officers broke through one of the car’s windows, removed the suffering pup from the car once they were able to open the door — and brought the animal to the ASPCA for treatment.

A criminal investigation was underway at that time, according to the June 18 social media post.

On an 85-degree day, it only takes 10 minutes for the inside of a car to reach a deadly 102 degrees, the NYPD said.

Another tweet shared by the NYPD 19th Precinct said the temperatures that hot summer June day were in the mid-80s.

CATS CLASSIFIED AS ‘INVASIVE ALIEN SPECIES’ BY POLISH SCIENTIFIC INSTITUTE

The precinct said that on an 85-degree day, it only takes 10 minutes for the inside of a car to reach a deadly 102 degrees.

This sweet dog — an American Eskimo dog — was trapped in a hot car in Manhattan for approximately 24 hours. It took the dog a month to recover and to be available for adoption. (ASPCA)

The NYPD social media post also said the law prohibits leaving “an animal unattended in a car under these dangerous conditions — thankfully the pup was rescued & is being cared for.”

Officer Aruna Maharaj, one of the NYPD rescuers, remained in touch with the ASPCA during Snow’s month-long recovery, a media spokesperson for the ASPCA told Fox News Digital.

This dog — rescued from a hot car — has now been adopted. The dog’s new name is Snow. The officer who adopted the pet “knew Snow was special.” (ASPCA)

The ASPCA also confirmed that the officer and her fiancé made the adoption official just last week.

“From the moment Officer Maharaj was involved in this case, she knew Snow was special,” the ASPCA official told Fox Digital News.

“When [the officer] rescued Snow from the car, she instantly fell in love.”

The spokesperson said that the officer was not looking to adopt a pet — but when she rescued Snow from the car, she instantly fell in love.

82% OF AMERICANS FELL IN LOVE AT FIRST SIGHT WITH THEIR DOGS, SURVEY FINDS

“She immediately brought him into her car with the air conditioner blasting, where he sat on her lap, licked her face and wouldn’t move from her company,” the ASPCA spokesperson added.

Officer Aruna Maharaj, one of the NYPD rescuers, holds Snow, who was removed from a hot car in June. Maharaj has since adopted Snow. (ASPCA)

The ASPCA official said the dog’s adoption was delayed for several weeks because Snow needed to receive medical care and behavioral care.

Officer Maharaj officially adopted Snow once the dog was cleared.

She brought him to her home, where he now enjoys a large backyard and walks to a nearby park, according to an emailed statement from the ASPCA.

Snow is enjoying a large backyard and regular walks to a nearby park.

The official also said Snow has been adjusting well to his new family and to having a cat sibling.

This pup rescued by officers with the NYPD is now enjoying himself again. (ASPCA)

Fox News Digital reached out to the NYPD, who said the officer was not available for comment; the department did not comment on the case.

As the summer continues, the ASPCA shared the following tips and advice for everyone when dealing with pets and the heat. 

Never leave pets alone in a parked car

A car can overheat even when the window has been left cracked an inch or two.

PENNSYLVANIA BABY BOY DIES IN HOT CAR INCIDENT: WHAT PARENTS NEED TO KNOW NOW

The temperature inside a parked car may be as much as 20 degrees hotter than the temperature outside.

Not only can it lead to a fatal heat stroke — it is also illegal in many states.

Know the signs of overheating in pets

The signs that an animal is overheated include excessive panting or difficulty breathing, bright red gums, increased heart and respiratory rate, drooling, mild weakness, stupor — or even collapse.

Symptoms can also include seizures, bloody diarrhea and vomiting, along with an elevated body temperature of over 104 degrees.

Heat stroke can be life-threatening.

PIGS AND A PLAYLIST? FARMER FINDS HIS PIGS ARE HAPPIER WHEN THEY HEAR MUSIC

It can cause permanent damage or death.

If you’re worried a pet might be experiencing a heat stroke, immediately remove your dog from the environment

Let your dog pant out excessive heat in a controlled and cooler space, such as an air-conditioned room, the ASPCA advises.

During very hot weather, use good judgment about keeping pets indoors

Also, when walking dogs in hot weather, never let them linger on hot asphalt — which can burn their sensitive paw pads.

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

Since pets are close to the ground, the hot asphalt can also contribute to their body heating up very quickly.

Amy McGorry is a contributing health reporter for Fox News Digital. Follow her on Twitter @amymcgorry.

The post Pets And Hot Cars appeared first on BareFootPets.

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Imagine the Possibilities

As reported earlier, an Austin Pets Alive director recently posted a “no-win” hypothetical designed to demonstrate the impossibility of No Kill. I responded that “I don’t believe in no-win scenarios” and showed how poor and incompetent leadership, and not a failure of No Kill, are to blame for Austin’s fall from grace.

To further respond to Austin Pets Alive’s cynical apologia, I’d like to offer a “hypothetical” of my own, one just as dire. But instead of accepting defeat, I’m asking people to imagine an outcome that recognizes our duty to animals and the people in our communities who love them.

Imagine You Run An Open-Admission Shelter.

Your intake rate is higher than the national average. Like most communities, you have pockets of affluence but also incredible poverty. You are getting your daily influx of animals. And then you get the call.

The state has requested assistance in closing down a puppy mill. They asked other shelters for help, but you would take the lead. In one day, you would get three times the number of dogs than the number of kennels you have, and you already have dogs in those kennels. As the animal control authority for all ten towns and cities in your county, you also get dogs daily.

On top of that, you are not just getting any dogs. While the other shelters are getting the puppies, you are getting the dogs used for breeding. Most of these dogs have severe conditions or other challenges: dogs with untreated tumors, dogs with rotten teeth, dogs with neurological problems who walk in circles, under-socialized dogs, heavily traumatized dogs, dogs matted from head to toe who are painful to touch, blind dogs who lived inside pet carriers their whole lives.

What Would You Do?

We know what would happen at the shelters that Austin Pets Alive champions, such as those in Philadelphia, Memphis, El Paso, and Los Angeles. After killing the dogs, the Executive Director would talk about “public irresponsibility,” saying the dogs were “unadoptable,” and how “euthanasia” relieved them of their suffering. “Public irresponsibility,” “unadoptable,” and “euthanasia” are all code words that show a profound lack of imagination.

If you chose to kill the dogs, too, Austin Pets Alive would not criticize you for it. Instead, they would circle the wagons around you, claiming the fault lies with the puppy mill. And there is some truth there: Fault does lie with the puppy mill for exploiting, neglecting, and abusing those poor dogs. But once the dogs are in the care of the shelter, the calculus changes. Whether those dogs live or die is now up to the shelter. At that point, the only choice is whether the shelter will perpetuate the harm by killing them or whether it won’t.

In Sheltering, We Like To Fall Back On The Cliché That Killing Is A Last Resort.

But while shelter directors give lip service to that, it often is a first resort: The thing that is routinely and casually done when the cages get full. The thing that is done even when they aren’t full. Because that is just what we’ve done in shelters for over 100 years, and collectively, these pounds stopped imagining a different outcome. But in reality, this “solution” is the most extreme, inhumane, and violent of all possible responses.

Imagine Child Protective Services taking in abused, abandoned, and homeless children and then killing them. It is unthinkable. As a society, we should no more tolerate it for animals. Indeed, if we had never started killing, the suggestion that we should do so would be preposterous. Yet custom has reconciled those running animal shelters to view it as inevitable.

So What Would Happen If You Threw Out The Calculus?

What would happen if, instead of debating whether the killing was the first or the last resort, it was no resort? What if you took killing off of the table? The pro-killing Naysayers argue that you would become a hoarder: the animals would pile up and get sick. But the Naysayers are wrong. There are communities across the country, including those with extremely high intake rates — almost ten times the rate of New York City, the most congested urban area in the United States — that have done it: with sustained placement rates of 99%. And the two things they all have in common are leaders with a “can do” attitude  — with imagination — and the No Kill Equation.

So where will you house the dogs? Who will provide the triage? Who will treat the rotten teeth, the tumors, and the matted fur? How will you adopt them? This is the scenario I faced several years ago when I ran an animal shelter in New York. And here is what happened.

First, I employed an essential trait of any leader: staying in control. If you are confident, your staff will be confident. If you believe, the volunteers will believe. Then I employed a bit of imagination. What if we put up a big tent outside to house the dogs? So I called a local party rental store and asked them to donate a wedding tent in exchange for promoting how they helped us save lives. Whatever the circumstances, it was my job to imagine a solution. If it didn’t work, it was my job to imagine another solution. Leaders do not throw up their hands and say if we can’t do this one thing (killing or refusing to take them in), there isn’t anything else we can do.

What if we created the equivalent of a MASH hospital by issuing an all-hands-on-deck call to volunteers and staff, bringing them in on their off days? Not enough veterinarians? What if I called my daughter’s orthodontist to help with rotten dog teeth? If a door is closed, you open it. If it is locked, you kick it down. If it is reinforced, you smash a window.

That Is What I Did.

And when the vans arrived and the officers carried off the dogs, it was an awesome sight to behold. Volunteers had established an assembly line bathing the dogs, delicately cutting the mats, and cutting toenails. A local veterinarian canceled her appointments and spent the day doing triage, with staff acting as assistants, and then spent the evening doing surgeries. A local dentist came in to clean, fix, and pull teeth. The media was there with cameras rolling, we reached out to rescue partners in five states, and we kept the shelter open late for adoptions. As long as people came in, our adoption floor was open for business.

We had already created the infrastructure necessary to save lives. We had the No Kill Equation in place — foster care, comprehensive adoption programs, socialization and behavior rehabilitation, medical care, working with rescue groups, marketing and promotions, a robust volunteer base, and more. These programs allow a shelter to save lives not just in ordinary circumstances but could be called upon to give more during extraordinary ones.

All I had to do was create an environment and provide the tools that allowed people to help. When you make it easy for people to do the right thing, they will. And within 48 hours, we had emptied the shelter without a single dog losing his life, without even unfurling the big tent.

Of Course, We Owe It To The Animals To Do These Things.

That goes without saying. But we also owe it to people — the people clamoring for change in their communities. The people fighting shelters that refuse to do these things, but who would be a shelter’s biggest cheerleaders and fiercest allies if shelter directors stopped viewing them as enemies and partnered with them to save lives. Killing those dogs would have been unfair to the volunteers who gladly spent the day caring for them and unfair to the human orthodontist who talked about that day years later. They had so much to give and would have felt so much anguish had our “solution” been simply to kill. A leader’s job is to give people the opportunity to help, not to turn them away with platitudes about public irresponsibility and the inevitability of killing.

Recently, a reporter asked me what I thought was the most important trait a county or city should look for when hiring someone to run the local shelter. I thought of a few: past success, a passion for saving lives, a belief in one’s duty to animals and the community, and the ability to get results. But, when all is said and done, the most important trait of all is imagination. If you can imagine a different outcome than killing; a different outcome than closing your doors to animals in need; if when faced with adversity, you can imagine how you might do things differently; and you permit yourself to try it even when conventional wisdom says you should not; you’re already more prepared than the vast majority of shelter directors in this country. Because, unfortunately, for far too many shelter directors and in far too many “animal protection” organizations, imagination is in tragically short supply.

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God Bless and Happy Pet Parenting!

With love and good wishes,
jeannie.   ?

About jeannie:  I’ve been pro-actively involved in pet rescue all of my life. I founded Milagro Senior Pet Refuge© (Phoenix) in 1998, and BareFootPets (TM) in 2008. Animal welfare has always been and will always be my heart’s work. If my only legacy is that I save a handful of precious souls that would not survive otherwise, I’m good with that.

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