July Newsletter: Fourth of July Safety and more...

Pets of the Month

Jetson is a one-and-a-half-year-old shepherd mix who needs a fresh start at life. Jetson was transferred from animal control where he was held for several months, and had little socialization and worldly experience. Jetson can be shy and takes a little time to warm up to new people, but once he knows you, he becomes excited and playful, and turns into quite the character!  He needs a patient adopter that will work with him to build his confidence and help him feel comfortable. We do not think he would do well in a home with small children as he is timid and has not built up a social tolerance. Jetson is neutered, microchipped, up to date on vaccinations, heartworm negative, and ready to go into his forever home. Come spend some time with him and get to know his unique, sweet personality.

Berlioz is an eight-week-old kitten with a joyful presence and zest for life. Berlioz has characteristic winged “eyeliner” that marks him as being unique and unmistakable. And just look at that stylish brown tail that matches his “hat!” Like the composer, Berlioz, he is quite a snappy dresser. He enjoys his time in the kitten suite hanging out with his two sisters, playing and sleeping like any other healthy kitty. Berlioz can go into a home very soon to continue his kitten life, as he is ready for our Foster to Adopt program. Berlioz is FEV/FeLV negative, current on vaccinations, and scheduled to be neutered. Ask us how you can begin the adoption process for Berlioz!

View all of our adoptable pets

Who Rescued Whom? -- From Rescued to Rescuer

We often use the catchy phrase, “Who rescued whom?” when describing the emotional attachment and bond we have with our rescued pets. In the case of Kelsoand David Stines, David’s rescue dogreally did rescue him!   Kelso is a ten-year-old Animal Harbor alumnus and a true hero. During the early morning hours of March 24th, adopter David Stines’ Cowan garage caught fire. Kelso was outside and ran to David’s bedroom window, barking frantically and repeatedly until David was awakened to escape and take action. He reports that this situation could have turned deadly had he not been alerted by Kelso, given that his home was only feet away from the flame-engulfed garage. Unfortunately, Mr. Stines lost two garages and a host of valuables that early morning, but thanks to Kelso’s courage, no one was hurt.   Following the fire, David and Kelso moved into a new home. David was afraid that Kelso (whose only home since Animal Harbor was the one in Cowan) would have a hard time adjusting, but he adapted easily and is enjoying his new digs. David says as long as Kelso is with him, he seems to be content, not to mention that he has made friends and plays with the woodland foxes at his new home in Decherd!   This gentle giant is a testament to the excellence of all senior dogs waiting for loving homes. Their capacity for love and faithfulness does not diminish with age. The saying, “Who rescued whom?” certainly rang true for David that early morning when loyal Kelso became his companion’s protector.

Help us decorate the July 4th Float!

Every year Joseph's Remodeling Solutionsgenerously creates a 4th of July float for Animal Harbor to enter in the Sewanee parade. He and his crew donate their time and skills to highlight our mission, and we need volunteers to help them decorate this year's float. When:  Wednesday, July 3rd (rain date,Tuesday, July 2nd*) Where: Joseph's Remodeling Solutions 1244 West Main Street, Monteagle Time:   9:00-12:00, and 1:00 until finished (usually around 4:30) Phone: 598-5565 office Decorators may come and go as their time allows. Please join us to make our float a winner, and bring a staple gun if you have one! *Joseph will make a determination from the weather forecast. If rain looks likely, he will decorate on Tuesday. Call the number above to confirm.

Click Here to view and print the 2019 Bone Drop Form

HAPPY 243rd BIRTHDAY AMERICA!   MAKE IT SAFE FOR EVERYONE!

Approximately one quarter of all pets gone missing in the US each year are lost on the 4th of July. The confusion and noise from parades and parties are responsible in some cases, but the biggest factor is fireworks. Dogs, and especially cats, are extremely sensitive to loud noises, and even horses and other livestock can bolt. Keep your pets in a safe place - preferably inside - when fireworks are scheduled. It is also a good idea to keep them in a day or two before and after the 4th to avoid harm from deliberate injuries committed by those who think it is fun to set off fireworks by attaching them to captured animals. Pets who are not afraid of strangers are at a particular risk of being lured by food. And don’t be one of the 12,000 plus adults and children admitted to hospitals every year for injuries from fireworks!  If you are planning fireworks at home, here is a handy link for using fireworks safely: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T6h_Z57I8Ok

HEALTH ALERT FOR CATS IN SOUTHERN STATES

Veterinarians in Middle Tennessee are seeing more of a little-known but deadly illness called Cytauxzoon felis, commonly known as Bobcat Fever. It has been found in 16 states including Tennessee, and is a blood parasite carried by the Lone Star tick on Bobcats. When a domestic cat is bitten, the parasite enters the bloodstream, the cat becomes lethargic, dehydrated, refuses to eat, organs shut down, and death occurs within 2-3 days, if left untreated. Even when treated aggressively, the mortality rate can be as high as 60%. The best way to avoid Bobcat Fever is to keep your cats inside. The Seresto collar is advertised as a preventative for ticks, but in Nashville last year, one family lost two cats to the disease even though they had used those collars. If your cat does go outside, do a finger check in their fur and over their bodies each day for telltale lumps. Go to your veterinarian immediately if symptoms appear. 

HONORING A PET:  NATIONAL PET REMEMBRANCE DAY ON JULY 5TH

Grieving the loss of a pet is difficult. Sometimes we feel that we can’t express our sorrow for fear of being accused of valuing pets over people, or being too sentimental. Those attitudes are changing as we acknowledge how our companion animals give comfort and friendship, cheer us up in difficult times with their antics, and love us without judgment.  On July 5th there are many ways to honor your pets that have passed over the Rainbow Bridge: Share your memories at #PetRemembranceDay on Twitter.Plant a living memorial you will see each day such as a flowering perennial or tree.Donate a memorial gift to the Harbor and invite friends to contribute as well in honor of their furry friends. A gift insures that other wonderful animals will be saved and given a chance to be loved.Adopt again. Of course you will never replace a companion animal, but what better way to truly honor your friend than by saving, cherishing, and loving another homeless pet? Open your heart again. Take a chance on loving a pet that might not have a chance without you.

PET FIRE SAFETY DAY, JULY 15

July 15 has been declared Pet Fire Safety Day in an effort to educate pet owners on the importance of fire safety. The National Fire Protection Association estimates nearly 500,000 pets are affected by fires each year, 40,000 die in house fires, and 1,000 fires are actually caused by a pet. Not many pet owners know that their pet can actually be the cause of the fire. Many times taking simple precautions, such as these, can mean the difference between life and death for your four-legged friend.   Replace wick burning candles with flameless candles.Remove stove knobs when pet is in the home unsupervised, for pets playing with stove top knobs is the number one cause of house fires. Avoid using glass bowls on wooden decks. The sun rays can penetrate through the water and glass igniting a fire.   Ways to Protect Your Pet When away from home, keep your pets near an entrance where a firefighter could easily find them. Have collars and leashes visible so your pet can be rescued. Keep young dogs contained and away from fire starting hazards.  Install monitored smoke detectors so emergency personnel can be dispatched to your home quickly.  Affix a Pet Alert Window Cling to a visible window and clearly document each pet in the home. Sign up for a free Pet Safety Pack from the ASPCA at: https://secure.aspca.org/take-action/order-your-pet-safety-pack It includes a pet rescue window decal to alert rescue personnel that pets are inside, and an ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (APCC) magnet should you need advice. Animal Harbor will provide free Window Clings as well. Stop by to pick up yours!

JULY 21st -- NO PET STORE PUPPIES DAY!

The ASPCA urges us all to avoid puppy mill puppies. Learn why in these excerpts adapted from "BARRED FROM LOVE, THE HALLMARKS OF CRUEL BREEDING." Full article at: https://www.aspca.org/barred-from-love/puppy-mills-101/hallmarks-cruel-breeding When you purchase from a pet store, online seller, flea market or Amish “dog farmer” you are usually getting a dog from a puppy mill. Here’s how they do it: Tiny Cages: Breeders maximize space by keeping mother and father dogs tightly contained in ramshackle outdoor pens, exposed to the elements, or in tiny, filthy cages for their entire lives, where they develop lesions and sores from constantly standing on wire flooring, and can get cut on the wire’s sharp points. When cages are stacked vertically, urine and feces rain down onto the dogs below. Dogs of all ages and sizes may be crammed in together, which can lead to stress, aggression and fighting. They aren’t taken on walks, and don’t get to play with toys or run around. They eat, sleep, relieve themselves and give birth in these cages. It’s the only reality they’ll ever know. Poor Veterinary Care and Hygiene: Dogs in cruel breeding facilities aren’t typically cared for by a veterinarian (no vaccines, checkups, teeth cleanings, no care when they’re sick. Breeding dogs aren’t seen by the public, so they aren’t bathed and their hair is not brushed or cut. They are left to suffer through painful injuries, broken bones, rotting teeth, dangerous levels of filth, festering mats, and nails so long that they curl back into and pierce their paw pads. Filthy conditions encourage the spread of diseases, especially among puppies with immature immune systems. Puppies often arrive in pet stores with health issues ranging from parasites to parvo to pneumonia. Puppies removed from their littermates and mothers at a very young age can suffer from fear, anxiety and other lasting behavioral problems. Sometimes these issues don’t show up until people bring the puppy home, only to be confronted with unpredictable, expensive and oftentimes chronic medical problems. Nonstop Breeding: Female dogs become like puppy-making machines—bred at every opportunity, without any rest time between litters, and when their bodies are so depleted that they can no longer produce puppies, they’re often abandoned or killed. The puppies are the lucky ones—they usually leave these horrible conditions by the time they’re eight weeks old. The parents of these puppies, however, are unlikely to make it out alive. Their only job is to produce puppies for as long as they live. Disregard for Genetics: All puppies are cute, but unfortunately, serious medical and behavioral problems don’t reveal themselves until a puppy grows up. Because quality is not a priority, cruel breeders don’t bother to remove medically compromised dogs from their breeding stock, resulting in generation after generation of dogs with unchecked hereditary defects. These frequently include heart disease, deafness, bone disorders like hip dysplasia, and blood and respiratory disorders. ANIMAL HARBOR IS A NO-KILL SHELTER. ADOPT WHERE IT MATTERS.

LOOKS AREN’T EVERYTHING. JULY 31ST IS NATIONAL MUTT DAY!

Remember that scruffy little dog that followed you around devotedly? That shared in all the joys and sorrows of your young life? That sat in the corner with you? No doubt “Muggs” or “Molly” would play until dead tired, and still be ready for another adventure. How many more doggie favorites throughout your life were members of that distinctive and honored breed called “mutts” who have so enriched the lives of millions of people around the world? “Mutt” has become a badge of distinction lately since disasters with designer pets have increased over the years, and researchers have determined that mixed breed dogs are every bit as good as a purebreds, if not better.  Here’s why shelter mutts are top dogs: No two dogs look the same -- each is a unique creation. They are flexible -- they have not been bred for a specific skill set.They have had interactions with many people.If they are adults, size and temperament are evident.They are hardy and not subject to breed specific conditions.They are already spayed or neutered, have shots, and are microchipped.You are saving a life and getting a faithful companion!

ALL CREATURES GREAT AND SMALL Holidays that celebrate our animal friends. July 2019 National Lost Pet Prevention Month 07/01/19  ID Your Pet Day 07/01/19  Animal Sanctuary Day 07/04/19  4th of July Animal Harbor Float - Sewanee 07/05/19  Pet Remembrance Day 07/15/19  National Pet Fire Safety Day 07/21/19  National Craft for Your Local Shelters Day 07/21/19  No Pet Store Puppies Day 07/31/19  National Mutt Day

Animal Harbor | (931) 962-4472 | www.animalharbor.org Location: 56 Nor-Nan Road, Winchester, TN Shelter hours: Tues-Fri 12-5; Sat 10-4 Mailing address: PO Box 187 Winchester, TN 37398

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