It didn’t take him very long to train me to get up and give him a snack at 1:00 every morning. Who said dogs were dumb?
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All posts for the month May, 2013
- English: dog in a soft crate Taken by Elf (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
I have been with the SPCA for the last ten years. I have some amazingly talented people that I am fortunate enough to work with. This list was compiled by Patricia Kendall just to make sure I give credit where it belongs.
With all of the tornados, earthquakes and a horrible fire season does everyone have what they need to take care of your pets in an emergency. They are furry family members and they need their own emergency kit. Here is a list of things that you will need….
Disaster Preparation for Pets:
Crate– Have a crate for each pet in your home. In the event of an emergency, it will be a safe, secure place for them to be. Ideally, you should have your pet crate trained, so they are used to be in a crate. This will help to alleviate some stress for your pet during an emergency.
- English: dog in a wire crate strapped into a car for safe traveling Taken by Elf (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
Food– Have at least a 3 day supply (1 week is preferred). If you have canned food, be sure to include a manual can opener.
Water- Same as food, keep 3 days worth, but a week is preferred.
Vaccine Record- Keep an updated copy of your vaccine records, vet information, a list of medications, and medical and/or behavior issues.
Medication– Keep a week’s worth of medication in your emergency kit, just be sure to rotate it.
Pet bowls- Use a couple small bowls to use for food and water. There are collapsible styles available that are light and take up less room.
Trash/Poop Bags– Keep a roll of pick up bags handy. This will enable you to clean up after your pet and prevent any possible disease spread.
Bleach & Paper Towels– You won’t be sure what resources will be readily available in an emergency, so keeping bleach and paper towels will make clean up and sanitation easier.
Cat Litter & Litter Box- (If you have cats). They will be confined to a crate, so you will want a small pan and litter that will fit in your crate. Preferably it will take up no more than half of the crate.
Leash, Harness, and Collar- It is a good idea to keep a spare leash, collar, and/or harness in your kit for easy accessibility. You will have a backup if needed.
Toys– Having a toy or two available to your pet will provide a distraction and alleviate stress and boredom.
Current photo and description of your pets- Should you become separated from your pets you will need this to help identify them and provide proof of ownership.
Collar and Tag- A tag can provide immediate identification and help you re-unite with your pet quickly.
Microchip– Microchip your pet. It provides permanent identification. Collars can get caught and come off of your pet if they are trying to escape from somewhere. A microchip is registered with your contact information, and a secondary contact so your pet can find its way home.
Rescue Alert Sticker– These stickers are placed in a front window of your home and notify emergency personnel of how many pets are in your home. If you use one of these, please keep them current.
Have a plan. Find a safe place ahead of time that you will be able to go with your pet in case you are evacuated. Make a plan with a friend or family member out of town that will be able to care for your pet in the event of a longer term displacement situation. Be sure to include their contact information on your vet/pet information list in your kit.
Related articles
- Potty/Crate Training (thedognannyblog.wordpress.com)
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Working in an animal shelter we see an abundance of sad and negative things happen. People lose their jobs, homes and have to make the decision to surrender their pets to take care of the kids. We see it every day. Every once in a while we have very positive things happen. More often than not they are from young kids in the community who just want to help the animals.
We have seen a huge increase in the number of kids who decide to have people make donations instead of buying presents for their birthday. They collect the donations and then bring them to the shelter for the animals. There have been several girl & boy scout troops and classrooms doing supply drives for us as well.
We appreciate the generosity and it gives me hope for the future. We hear repeatedly about the bad stories and horrible things that are done. How about we give equal time to the amazing kids doing positive things. These are the people who will grow up and make a difference.
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SPCA Events
We have become very busy here at the SPCA. There used to be two to three events for the entire year. The Doggy Derby is now in its eighth year. More about the Doggy Derby later. The “Lights of Love” campaign is in its third year and we have added at least 10 other events. One a month they said, it will be fun they said. “They” are trying to drive me crazy.
I am very thankful that we have two amazing volunteers that organize these events. Dawn is our special events coordinator, that would make her “they” lol. She is very enthusiastic when it comes to planning events and has some great ideas. Her goal is one fundraising event per month and she is getting it done.
Joanna is our volunteer coordinator . We would not be where we are today without her. I am fairly certain I have never met a more dedicated and organized person than she is. She keeps all the volunteers organized and in line making sure things get done. Our volunteer program has at least TRIPLED in size and participation since she took over. The volunteers now know what they can do to help. The staff appreciates all they do for the animals.
Working together we are making a difference in the lives of the animals that come in to our shelter.
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Honeydew the water dog!
I want to play but I am exhausted
Harley. Head of SPCA Security
Come play with me
Where are all my staff???
Morgan
Puppies waiting for forever families to adopt them at the SPCA of Solano County
There have been so many animals that have come through the shelter it is impossible to remember them all. Some do stand out. Some happy, some not so much. The family that came in every single weekend for almost 6 months looking for “just the right dog”. They were so excited when they found the right one. There are also the sad cases of abuse or neglect. “Wyatt” came to the SPCA through our veterinarian who was working at a vaccine clinic. The people who found him took him to the clinic and she told them to bring him to us. He had broken a front leg and it didn’t heal straight. He has a great mom now and he is a service dog.
People always say “I could never do this job” or ask how I manage to not take them all home. I know that we are doing our best to find them a great home. There have been a few I almost kept. “Sami” is a black & white Chihuahua about 4 years old now. She came in with a puppy too large for her stuck in the birth canal. We were told they bred her to a boxer. We got the puppy out and our veterinarian saved her. I came very close to keeping her. I fostered her and she never did spend a night in the shelter. An amazing home presented itself and I had to let her go. I didn’t want to but I knew it was best for her. She is completely spoiled and loving life.
There have been the pets who’s owners passed away and no family members could take them. The pets of families who have lost their homes or the new baby is allergic. The reasons go on and on. One of my favorite stories is the man who came in trying to solve a problem. He was waiting for a job to start in two weeks and didn’t have the money to buy dog food and didn’t want to surrender them. He just needed a little help. We were able to provide him with a bag of dog food. A month or so later the same guy came back with a cash donation and several bags of dog food.
The thing that keeps me motivated to do this job is the knowledge that we are making a difference.
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It has taken eight years to realize the goal of establishing a low cost spay/neuter clinic here at the SPCA of Solano County. There aren’t many if any good options for people trying to do the right thing at a reasonable cost. Eight years… All of a sudden things are happening all at once. The construction is going about as well as any construction project does. You can have a timeline and a plan and you are always at the mercy of the people actually doing the work.
The SPCA of Solano County was established in 1974 by a group of animal lovers who wanted to make a difference. The shelter itself has been at its current location since 1980. The biggest change to the shelter property happened in 2007. Due to a generous donation from Leroy & Marge King in Fairfield, CA we were able to remodel the shelter facility including, kennels, office, and cat room (more on the cat volunteers later). The King’s wanted to make a positive impact on the animals waiting for their new forever homes. They succeeded.
In 2010 we received another grant that allowed us to construct an Education Center as well as a retail space. The William & Patricia Martendale Humane Education Center has given the SPCA a place to conduct volunteer meetings, trainings, fundraising events, and humane classes. The retail store carries pet supplies, food, frontline, and many more items and proceeds go directly into helping support the animals at the SPCA waiting to be adopted.
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It gets easier from here? Right?
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