Heart Like a Dog

The Good, the Bad, and the Oh My God of living with dogs!

Scanning Your Pet at the Vet

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Today is the 15th of April, and you know what that means.

Did you guess the deadline to file your taxes?  Well yes, that is true today is tax day.  Have you done that yet?  (I just barely squeaked in this year causing myself a WHOLE lot of unnecessary stress.)

Chocolate Lab

Taxes? You can eat those right?

The actual event I was referring to though is Blog the Change for Animals, you know, the quarterly blog hop, where we write about our favorite animal-related causes, read posts, leave comments, and share! And in doing so, we help make a difference in the lives of animals or inspire someone else to get involved or make a difference.
Blog the Change

I decided to write about microchipping your pet.  I know you guys are savvy.  You know a pet that is lost and found by someone else has the best chance of being reunited with their owner when the pet is chipped.

But did you know that some towns, and I won’t say where, (CHICAGO) have reduced their stray hold to three days for dogs and zero days for cats?  It’s true. And it’s sad. And the best chance your pet has at being reunited with you if found by someone else, is the information contained on that precious little chip.

We’ve all heard the stories of pets found hundreds, even thousands of miles away that are eventually reunited with their owners, all because of the microchip.

For the most part, the tiny little chips stay exactly where they are implanted, BUT they are foreign objects and there are times when they may shift a little bit, or even move.  My vet told me of one dog that actually stuck out its tongue with the chip on it.

My suggestion is when you go to the vet for your pet’s annual check up, ask them to scan the pet to make sure the chip is in place.  If the chip isn’t where it’s supposed to be, the vet can continue scanning until they find it.

It’s important to note where that chip might be.

If the unthinkable happens, you’ll be able to share, that Fido is chipped, but the chip has moved slightly and you can share the general area of where the chip is located.

True confession.  Delilah came to us via American Lab Rescue, and she was chipped when we got her. But up until Sampson had his dental cleaning in December of 2013…he wasn’t chipped.

Honestly, I couldn’t tell you why we never did it when he was a puppy, but once I started blogging and discovered the importance of chipping, we did talk about it and I was all for it, until I saw that needle.

Holy shit, I can’t believe they actually call it a needle.  To me it looked like a ballpoint pen refill.  I’ve heard people say, it doesn’t hurt and to that I say, “Bullshit. You try shoving a ball point pen shaft into your shoulder and then tell me if it hurts.”

Go ahead tell me. 

It’s still bullshit.

So when Sampson had his dental cleaning and was under anesthesia, I had him chipped.  When I spoke to my vet about it, she agreed under anesthesia was the way to go and actually confessed that she hated when people insisted on chipping their pet without anesthesia.

So now both dogs are chipped, which brings some peace of mind to me.

Although, I’m pretty sure that anyone who found Delilah would quickly realize she was quite the handful and want to find her rightful owner.

Oh come on, you know it’s true.  Not everybody can handle a dog like Delilah.

Shit, most days, I can’t even handle her.

But Sampson, Sampson is such a good boy, it kind of worries me.  So that little bit of extra insurance is something that helps me sleep a little bit better at night.

Oh who the hell am I kidding?  I sleep with two big dogs, or rather, I try to sleep with two big dogs.  Yesterday morning for reasons known only to her, Delilah barked.

One time.

Once.

And that was it for me, I was awake for the day.

But that’s a rant for another day.

Delilah - 9 years old

Someone touched me with their foot. 

Are you participating in Blog the Change?  Want to participate but not sure what to write about?

Here’s a few ideas.

  • Share what you’ve done to Be the Change for Animals
  • Who do you know who acts tirelessly on animals’ behalf?
  • What favorite cause has a special need right now?

When We Blog the Change, We Become the Change.

Styrofoam Coolers, Not Just For Beer

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Blog the Change

Typically when I write for Blog the Change I write about dog causes, and honestly there are so many near and dear to my heart, I’m sure I could come up with another one, but today’s post is about cats.

You read that right, it’s about cats.

I was reading an article recently (why don’t I book mark these things?) where the author indicated there are far more homeless cats than there are dogs.  To me this makes sense (and please, cat people feel free to correct me if I’m wrong),  for the following reasons.

  • Cats typically aren’t as dependent on people as dogs are
  • Cats can be more independent  or sometimes more skittish than dogs
  • Cats have a hunting instinct which often times takes them away from civilization
  • Cats produce more off-spring than dogs do (one to two litters per year vs one per year for dogs) (Source  ASPCA)

What really got me thinking about this is, I saw a cat at work.  No, the cat wasn’t working.  (Although I did watch a cat catch and play with a chipmunk once, it was truly fascinating).  What I meant was I saw a cat outside the building where I work.  I was outside talking with our maintenance guy when we saw this cat approaching the garage.  I called to the cat and took a few tentative steps in its direction, but it slunk around the garage and into the woods.

I work on a busy road, but the building is in a small plaza and we are in the back.  There are woods behind us, as well as a walking trail and there are some condos/apartments on the other side of the trail, so it is possible this cat belongs there, but I don’t know.

It’s been cold here (it’s January after-all) and the poor little cat stayed on my mind.  Then we got snow and as I walked up to the door at work  I saw little cat tracks walking past it. I thought about the poor cat and wondered how can I help it?

Then I remembered a photo I saw on Facebook on how to make a shelter for a cat out of a Styrofoam cooler, I checked with building maintenance first to make sure it wouldn’t be a problem.  We discussed the location (sometimes I see kids in the parking lot cutting through or using skateboards and don’t want to make the cat a target) and agreed upon an area that houses the air conditioning units, as it’s protected by a small wall.   Next I consulted Mr. Google and headed to the store.

I bought a cooler for $3.99 at my local grocery store.

Just a cooler, you know the kind you grab to throw a six pack in on your way to the beach.

Just a cooler, you know the kind you grab to throw a six pack in on your way to the beach.

I removed the top and set it aside.

Hubby gave me a utility knife but I struggled getting the blade all the way through the Styrofoam so I used a paring knife.  (Shhh, don’t tell him, he’s always telling me I used the wrong knife for the job.) 😉

Making a feral cat house out of a Styrofoam cooler

Use your knife to cut a door.

Once the door was cut, I put the top on and flipped it upside down so the top became the bottom.  I tried using  T-pins to secure the two pieces together, but in the end I used tape.

Hubby suggested I use the cut out piece to make a type of awning over the entryway, so I used two T-pins to secure it in place.

Styrofoam Cat Shelter

I’m not sure I like the awning and I’m pretty sure the cat will care less.

I may or may not leave the awning.  My concern is it will fall down and scare the cat.

I’ve read online some people have used those reflective blankets you get for camping to line the inside of the cooler, but the suggested material for the inside is hay.  Material can get wet and freeze, but hay will dry out quickly and the cat can burrow inside the hay.  The Styrofoam will keep the cat’s body heat inside the house and help keep the cat warm.

I will place a brick or heavy rock on the top of the house to keep it from blowing away and I will face the door of the house close to one of the building walls to help keep the weather out and make the house warmer.

I also bought some cat food but decided at least for now I’m not going to feed the cat.  I don’t want it to become dependent on the food because what would happen if I found another job?  Who would feed the cat?  BUT I’m hoping once the cat starts using the house eventually I will be able to catch it and take it for vetting.

I’m also going to set one of these up in a treed area by my house, because I’ve seen cat tracks across our front steps as well as noticed a cat watching us on our morning walks.  I’m not sure if it’s a stray or not, but I’d rather try and help than not.

The whole cooler house too me less than 10 minutes to make and less than $5 for the needed materials.  It’s a quick and easy way to help the feral cat population.

For more ideas and examples of how to set up a cat shelter, check out Neighborhood Cats.  If you know of an area with a feral cat problem check out the Feral Cat Project for ways you can help.

Heart Like a Dog

Welcome to Thursday’s Barks and Bytes hosted by 2 Brown Dawgs and Heart Like a Dog. The Barks and Bytes hop is for anything at all and all bloggers are welcome. You don’t have to be a dog blog to join. For new blog hoppers, a blog hop is list of links that is shared on multiple blogs. In order to be fair to all participants Linda and I ask you to please use the linky list. If your blog does not support a linky list, please link back to either Linda or I.

I am also joining the Blog the Change blog hop.

Just a Run of the Mill Dog

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Blog the Change
This post is part of Be the Change for Animals, a quarterly blog hop focused on animal welfare.

I was undecided as to what to post about today.  Until my sister’s dog, Bandit went missing.

A run of the MILL dog.

A run of the MILL dog.

Typically one wouldn’t think a lost dog would be a cause to write about concerning changes in animal welfare.

Except Bandit isn’t just a dog.  You see Bandit came from a Puppy Mill. This is Bandit’s story as I remember it.

Twelve years ago when my sister decided she wanted a Jack-Rat (Jack Russell/Rat Terrier) she found a ‘breeder’ in North Carolina.  Excited she and her husband drove to Virginia to spend the weekend with friends and then my sister and her friend, drove from Virginia to North Carolina to pick up her puppy.

My sister was horrified when she got to the ‘breeder’s’ home.  There were cages, upon filthy cages chock full of dogs.  The ‘breeder’ took her past these cages on their way to the Jack-Rats.  My sister noticed one cage where a dog lay dead, just hanging out of the crate.  The ‘breeder’ said, “Oh, she died having puppies this morning, I haven’t had the time to clean out the cage.”

My sister was appalled.  When she got to the crate containing the Jack-Rat’s raised her hand and pointed, “I’ll take that one.”

And so Bandit came to live with my sister.

It’s important to note that Bandit did not know how to walk on a floor.  He’d never had the opportunity.  He spent his entire young life in a wire crate.  And he’s never been in one since.  He’s terrified of the crate and when my sister attempted to put him in one he lost his stuff.

Typically when a dog goes missing you can set up a humane trap, and the dog can be lured in with food.  We’re almost certain Bandit would never go into one of these Have a Heart traps.  He’s too afraid.

So my sister and brother-in-law have to hope that at some point Bandit will either find his way home or relax enough to allow someone to get close enough to snag him.  The good news is he’s been spotted near a farm just a 1/2 mile down the road from my sister.  The bad news is so far he’s eluded capture, and he’s spending his time in the wilds of New Hampshire where some dangerous predators also live.  

Bandit’s story is important to Blog the Change for Animals because his story sheds light on a very unsavory section of animal welfare.  Puppy mills.

I want to be clear here.  There is a difference between responsible breeders and puppy mill breeders.  

  • A responsible breeder screens purchasers of their puppies and almost always has some type of application or contract when you purchase that puppy.  
  • A responsible breeder will take the puppy back if health or behavioral issues arise.
  • A responsible breeder would NEVER allow their dogs to be sold in pet stores.  

Which means the puppies sold in pet stores come from puppy millers. 

Many areas of the country are taking steps to prohibit puppies from being sold by pet stores.

So how can you help?

  • Educate people about responsible breeders, whether it be on your social media resources or in person.
  • Find out if there’s a local chapter that advocates for stronger animal welfare laws.  CT has an advocating organization called Connecticut Votes for Animals. I signed up to receive e-mail alerts when a law regarding animals is coming up for a vote. Not only do I know when a vote is coming up, they also tell me what action I can take to facilitate the passage of the bill.  Because of organizations like CVFA, CT recently passed a law prohibiting chaining a dog out 24/7.  
  • Contact your state representative and ask how you can get involved.

If we can stop pet stores from selling puppies, we can shut down some of these mills.  

If we can educate people about responsible breeders, we can shut down some of these mills.

If we speak up for those who have no voices, we CAN be the change for animals. 

Together we CAN be the change for dogs like Bandit.

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