Donate To A Local Shelter This Holiday Season!

Greetings of the season to our readers and a big holiday hug for another year of helping homeless pets.Thank you to The North York Mirror for the opportunity to showcase pets of many kinds who are looking for that second chance at love and life.  In this column, we introduce you to Kimmi, an exuberant black Labrador mix, and to Maurice, a handsome tabby cat with a knack for making everyone feel welcome.  During this upcoming time of giving, please consider making a donation to an animal shelter or rescue group, whether it is a financial offering, supplies or a gift card; all donations are graciously accepted and appreciated.  Kimmi is a year-and-a-half-old black Labrador mix whose owner surrendered her to the animal shelter for adoption because she was undergoing surgery and realized that she would no longer be able to keep up with Kimmi's high activity level and need for generous amounts of exercise. Shelter staff say that Kimmi has a sweet, charming and exuberant personality, which can be said of most young labs.  Kimmi needs space to run, roll, play and run some more. A house with a fenced-in backyard is recommended over an apartment, as Kimmi is an active, outdoorsy type of girl.  A family with children 12 or older is suggested, as Kimmi may accidentally knock over smaller children. A home with another dog for her to play with would be a bonus, but no cats please - Kimmi will take chase. Her future family should also be committed to taking her to obedience classes, as she needs some polishing and is an eager learner.  If you are interested in knowing more about Kimmi's adoption, please contact Toronto Animal Services East at 416-338-7539 or visit www.toronto.ca/animalservices. The shelter is located at 820 Progress Ave. and they will soon have their Christmas tree erected, anxiously awaiting gifts of supplies, toys and treats for their residents.  Maurice is a young, neutered male tabby cat who is about two years old. He is full of feline antics, knows how to find a nice sunny spot to sprawl in and enjoys not only being in the sunlight, but the spotlight, too. He is known as the Wal-Mart greeter because he's always the first cat to welcome the volunteers when they arrive at the shelter each day.  Maurice is extremely social and gives affectionate head bumps and kisses to human friends, old and new. He is an all-around super boy who has beautiful markings and an extraordinary disposition. He will require some special attention to his diet as he has a sensitive stomach but this is quite easy to manage. If you are interested in knowing more about Maurice or any of the other cats through Furry Friends, email adopt@furryfriendsshelter.org, call 705-792-4911 or visit their website at www.furryfriendsshelter.org

insidetoronto.com 

Great Advice From adoptapet.com

Common Questions About Pet Adoption

Q: Although there are millions of pets in shelters needing homes each year, many pet-owners-to-be

don’t think about pet adoption when they’re looking for their new four-legged friend. Why do you think
this is, and what can be done to turn that around?

A: Many people who want to get a pet just are not aware of how many great pets are available at
shelters. They might also have the misconception that pets in shelters might be there because there was
a problem with the animal. In fact, most pets end up in shelters not because of any problem with pet
behavior, but because an owner died, moved, or simply didn't have the time or money to care for the
animal. In some cases animals are lost and never found by their owners. These animals are healthy and
very eager to please. Rescued pets are wonderful- just ask anyone who has one.

Some people are seeking purebred animals or puppies and think these animals are not available in
shelters. In fact, nearly a quarter of all animals in shelters are purebred. Often someone buys an
expensive purebred animal and then attempts to breed that animal to recoup their money. Often these
animals are not placed in homes, and end up in the shelter. Puppies and kittens often up in shelters
as well, but it is important to note that puppies require a lot of work and training and can be quite
destructive (peeing on the carpet or chewing shoes). Puppies are great, but often people are much
happier getting a dog who is older, and whose size and temperament is a known quantity.

Through Adopt-a-Pet.com and without even leaving their home, people can search all their local shelters
and see pictures and descriptions of the pets available for adoption. This way, they can find the exact
pet they want, call the animal shelter or rescue group, and get information on how to adopt that specific
animal.

Q: What are the 5 most important things a potential adopter should consider when choosing their new

A: We actually have a blog post on this highlighting the top 10 things we believe are important when

adopting. Here are five, the rest can be located by visiting this page http://www.adoptapet.com/public/
guides/permanentpets.html.
1. You need to make a real commitment to care for your pet for its entire life.
2. Verify in advance that you’re allowed to keep a pet where you live.
3. Never adopt a pet on a whim or because you feel it’s love-at-first-sight
4. Provide sufficient exercise and stimulation during the first few weeks, this will help the pet adjust.

A:

1. When you adopt an adult animal, you can see his/her size and temperament. This helps ensure that
the pet is right for you and your family.
2. It feels great to know you have saved an animal’s life and everyone you meet will give you kudos for
that for years to come.
3. Adopted pets are very loyal and know they have been given a new home.
4. Adopting a pet can be an important lesson to teach your children-- both about the value of life, and
also about civic responsibility and even recycling- in this case recycling a living and loving animal into a
new home.
5. Choosing a mixed breed animal can help avoid many of the genetic health problems that have
developed in purebred animals due overbreeding and inbreeding.

Q:

If someone reading this isn’t in a position to adopt a pet right at this time, but still wants to help
homeless pets, what are 5 things they can do to get involved?

A:

1. People can do Social PETworking and Twitter Critter! They can run a search on Adopt-a-Pet.com, find
a pet they want to help get exposure for, and use the share tools on our site to post the pet link on their
Facebook, Twitter, MySpace or other social network page. Or, they can email the link of a pet in need
from our site to their friends.
2. They can place a link/graphic or even a search widget for Adopt-a-Pet.com on their personal website
to encourage their users to see pets in need at local shelters.  http://www.adoptapet.com/public/searchtools/
3. People can add their info to our volunteer database  http://www.adoptapet.com/volunteer/
signup so shelters who need volunteers can find them.
4. People can search Adopt-a-Pet.com to find a local shelter, and make a cash donation to that shelter to
help them with the costs of housing, feeding and medical care of shelter animals.
5. People can encourage other pet owners to spay or neuter their pet
http://www.adoptapet.com/public/spay_and_neuter/index.html) to help prevent unwanted births.

My Adoption Story!

Are you looking for a new best friend? Far too often, many of us overlook the fact that there are countless cats and dogs available for rescue throughout the city. In all my years dealing with animals, I can honestly say that there is no greater joy than hearing from someone who has acquired a pet from an adoption or rescue group. Many people have a fear that these pets come with behavioral issues such as aggression, or poor potty habits. Truth be told, this can indeed be the case, but with the right amount of love and attention, it is quite easy to overcome these obstacles. In fact, you will be putting in the same amount of hours that you would be in training a new puppy! In many instances, there are pets who are already fully trained, but have been abandoned due to unforeseen circumstances. Take for instance Nelly (pictured), whose elderly owner went to an assisted living facility that does not allow dogs. As a result, Nelly, a very loving, fully trained and housebroken seven year old terrier mix, was placed in the care of the Toronto Humane Society. Happily, Nelly has found a new home (mine!), and is getting along great with his new brother! Within Toronto there are several rescue groups such as North Toronto Cat Rescue and Adopt-A-Dog/Save-A-Life who can help you find a new furry friend! Please keep in mind that many of these groups require an adoption application and thorough interview which, in my mind, is integral in "matching up" these needy animals with prospective owners. So next time you are considering an addition to your family, remember that there are so many abandoned and rescued pets who are just waiting to fill your home with love, and in return get the love they so richly deserve.

Give It A Bit Of Thought

While of course any new pet can make a terrific present for a loved one, try not to impulse buy!! Remember that getting an animal is quite a commitment, so make sure you do your research and keep in mind what lies ahead. That being said, there are so many animals needing families in this city, so don't forget to consider adopting!!! In many cases, there is an adoption fee, but the animals come vaccinated and fixed.

Top Ten Reasons To Adopt An Older Cat

1. What you see is what you get. When you adopt an adult cat, you know what you are getting. Sure, kittens are cute, but you never know what the future holds. An adorable kitten could grow up to be a really ugly puss. This is a big risk. Go for the sure thing. Take a sweet-faced old Tabby.

2. High mileage cats still run great. Used cats aren’t like used cars. They aren’t at a shelter because they are defective or worn out. They may have simply outlived their former owners or been unable to join them at a hospital, nursing home, or new apartment. Some cats get lost and end up at a shelter. And many are brought to a shelter after a family member develops allergies, or an aversion to the family cat. (In those cases, it is the previous owner that is defective, not the cat.)

3. Adult cats aren’t as “chewsy”. Kittens are like human children: everything goes in their mouths. Whether teething or just exploring bits of the world around them, kittens can be very destructive little bundles of fur. Kittens chew on shoes, the corners of books, ear lobes, carpet tassels, electrical cords, drapery strings, plants, and much, much more. Adult cats typically chew less, if at all. They tend to save their energy for more important activities, like tormenting the neighbour’s Terrier.

4. Kittens stumble in blindly, where adult cats fear to tread. Two well-known clichés about cats are: “curiosity killed the cat” and “cats have nine lives.” And curiosity usually leads to the loss of about eight of a kitten’s lives in its first year. Kittens tend to get into much more trouble resulting in accidents and injuries (see, for example, the reference to “chewing electrical cords” above). Kittens eat things they shouldn’t, fall from high places, unsuccessfully attempt to make friends with the neighbor’s tormented Terrier, and generally worry you half to death.

5. Kittens are lacking when it comes to licking. Few kittens have mastered the fine art of self-grooming. While adult cats may spend up to half their waking hours licking fur, kittens are just too busy enjoying life to clean themselves properly. When you consider that kittens are really just dust-mops with legs, and that they generally display marginal litter box etiquette, you might want to master the somewhat dangerous art of cat-bathing.

6. Einstein knew the truth about cats. The genius scientist Albert Einstein discovered an important relationship between mass and energy. He described it using the mathematical equation E=(MC) 2. This equation means that your Energy level (E) is proportional to the Mass (M) of your Cat ©, twice over. The equation basically shows that if you adopt a cat with more Mass, like an adult cat, your Energy level will be much higher than if you adopt a cat with a low Mass, such as a kitten. This is true because adult cats sleep more, play less, require less supervision, break fewer lamps, and don’t try to bite your toes through the blankets in the middle of the night. With an adult cat, you will sleep better, relax more, make fewer claims on your homeowner’s policy, and enjoy more Energy. There you have it. Are you going to argue with Albert Einstein?

7. Kittens and children don’t mix. Children can be rough on both cats and kittens, even when they mean no real harm. It can’t be helped. It’s just how kids are. When you tell a child that “cats always land on their feet,” the first thing the child will do is drop one from your rooftop to see if it’s true. Adult cats are better equipped to deal with pesky kids. They can generally escape from them, hide, and then contemplate revenge by moonlight.

8. You don’t need to teach an old cat new tricks. Actually, you don’t need to teach a kitten tricks either, because the truth is that neither cats nor kittens allow you to teach them anything anyway. But new parents usually feel the need to try. Inevitably, they end up feeling guilt or failure when the kitten disregards them, jumps on the counters, unrolls the toilet paper, and engages in other acts of feline mayhem. If you adopt an older cat, you avoid all this emotional turmoil. Since you didn’t raise the cat, you don’t have to take responsibility for the cat’s shortcomings. Instead, you can blame the former owner and play the role of victim and saint for tolerating it all.

9. Adult cats don’t “litter” as much. Kittens play, sunbathe, build sandcastles, and even sleep in their litter boxes. And then there’s a game called “poo-hockey,” where a piece of dried waste is removed from the box and batted around the floor until it disappears under a major appliance or piece of furniture. People who adopt older cats happily miss this stage of feline development. Adult cats understand the purpose of a litter box and will usually cooperate with your efforts to keep theirs tidy. But the most important reason to adopt an older cat is:

10. It might be their last chance. Many adult cats end up in shelters due to no fault of their own. Separated from their loved ones, surrounded by other strange cats, confined, confused, and sometimes frightened, many are emotionally devastated by their misfortune. Sadly for adult cats, most people who adopt gravitate toward the adorable, bouncy, big-eyed kittens. Older cats sit by and watch, as one loving family after another passes them over for a cute kitten from this season’s litter.

Kittens will always be popular, and most have no trouble attracting admirers. But for the abandoned, forgotten, and heartbroken adult cats, you just might be their last chance to have the love and warmth of a home where they can live out their years in comfort. Please consider adopting an older cat. When cared for properly, cats can live well into their late teens, and sometimes into their early twenties. Typically, they will remain active and playful throughout most of their lives. Some may need a little extra patience while adjusting to a new home, but once they feel safe and secure again, most will give you years of faithful companionship and unconditional love.

***Taken from www.catsontheweb.org.

Top 10 Things To Do Before Bringing A New Dog Home

Congratulations, you’re getting a new dog! Your first job as a new pet parent is to prep your home and your family—and yourself, too—for the furry bundle of fun who’s about to come barreling into your life. After all, you do want to get this relationship off on the right paw!

1. You Better Shop Around
Stock up on supplies before Fido arrives! Your new pal won’t need much—the Burberry overcoat and crystal tiara are optional—but essentials include food and water bowls, safe chew toys, grooming tools, a collar and leash, an identification tag and a crate with bedding (towels will do if you don’t want to spend money on a fancy crate pad).

When it comes to food, try to buy the same brand he’s already eating. If you want to change foods, make the switch gradually, mixing old food with new, over a period of a few weeks.

2. Divvy Up Responsibilities
To avoid conflict when Princess has to go out at 1:00 A.M., powwow with members of your household about who is going to be responsible for what. Who will walk the dog at various times of times of day? Who will feed the dog, and at what times? Who will take the dog to the vet? And if it’s you who winds up walking her in the middle of a rainy night, slap on a smile and remember—pet parenting is a privilege, not a chore!

3. My House, My Rules
Establish house rules for the dog that everyone will stick to. Before poochie comes home, decide things such as: Is she allowed on the furniture? Will we ever give her “people” food? What behaviors are encouraged, and which are forbidden? Consistency is the key to training dogs.

4. Lost In Translation
Dogs can get confused when one human says “down” and another says “off” when, for example, they jump on visitors. Then there’s “down” versus “lie down,” and “paw” versus “shake”—surely you see how this is perplexing to another species! Do Fido a favor and select the terms that you plan to associate with various commands. It’ll help to write out a vocabulary list of the words that everyone will use.

5. Safety First
Dog-proof your pup’s environment. Tuck electrical cords out of the way, install safety latches in lower kitchen cabinets, etc. Make sure anything dangerous to ingest—like small decorative items, children’s toys and chemicals—is off floor level. Some people find it helps to get down on the floor for a dog’s-eye view of every room to see what might tempt a curious canine.

6. Pardon Me, Where Is Your Restroom?
If your new pooch is not yet housetrained, determine where his indoor “potty spot” will be. Figure out your plan to train him, and coordinate with the entire household.

7. Hit the Floor
It’s a good idea to mop your floors with odor-neutralizing solution shortly before bring home a new dog. Even dogs who are trained sometimes are compelled, either through territorial instincts or plain old nerves, to let loose in a new home. Be sure that you don’t mop with cleaners containing ammonia—these are believed to encourage peeing.

8. Make It Official
Find out about your community’s dog licensing rules and apply for a license. This information can usually be found by visiting your state’s department of agriculture website. You can also ask your local shelter for the straight dope.

9. Set the Date
If you don’t already have one, find a good veterinarian—and bring your new canine to a caring veterinarian for a wellness exam within one week after adoption. Make this appointment even before you bring home your new pup.

10. Sibling Rivalry
This one’s for folks who already have a dog in the home. Before you introduce the new hound into the pack, pick up anything your resident dog might guard, such as food bowls, bones, toys and beds. Even if your dog has never exhibited possessive tendencies, it is best to exercise caution. This may be an intense experience for your resident canine, so do be patient with her.

(Original Article on www.ASPCA.org)