Unchain Nebraska!
Have you heard of Dogs Deserve better? They do things like: offering dog food to those in need, straw for dog houses, and asking owners to take their dogs off their chains and bring them into the home and make them part of the family. They try to identify dogs in need of serious vet care and grooming, and those who have been neglected. They provide handouts on potty training, heartworm prevention, and flea and tick control.

If you would like to join them in this campaign, please visit their website! Or you can support them financially. The ongoing need in Nebraska is great. Dogs Deserve Better is a national non-profit organization that works to educate, legislate, rescue and rehabilitate formerly chained and penned dogs.

Gayla Hausman, Area Representative, Beatrice , Nebraska , 402-239-5106
Visit our Nebraska website at: http://www.dogsdeservebetterne.org

Dogs Deserve Better, http://www.dogsdeservebetter.org/

We really wanted to repost this article from the ASPCA since the flu is such a hot topic. Hopefully everyone will be staying well this holiday season! If you do get sick and don’t want to expose your cats- how about booking them a mini vacation at Cat’s Pajamas Luxury suites here in Lincoln? They are pampered and safe while you recover. Email us- frontdesk@catspajamaslincoln.com - for more information.

Ever since the news broke earlier this month that an American cat caught the swine flu, rumors about how pets can catch this disease have been spreading—but we’re here to set the record straight
“On November 2, test results confirmed that a pet cat in Iowa was infected by the H1N1 (swine flu) virus, which was most likely transmitted by human family members,” reports Dr. Louise Murray, Director of Medicine at the ASPCA. “All family members, including the cat, have now recovered. In unrelated incidents in other states, a few pet ferrets also recently tested positive for H1N1, and one of them has died.” Although we already knew that infected humans could transmit H1N1 to both pigs and turkeys, these are the first reported cases of the virus affecting cats and ferrets.

According to Dr. Murray, there are no known instances of a dog catching H1N1 (but remember, it is flu season, and your dogs are still susceptible to catching other flu bugs). In addition, there is currently no evidence that H1N1 can be passed from pet to human—it seems to be going only the other way, with people transmitting the illness to their pets.

A little common sense will go a long way in decreasing the likelihood of passing the illness on to your pets. If members of your household are exhibiting flu-like symptoms, the ASPCA recommends protecting your pets by:

• washing hands thoroughly,
• covering coughs and sneezes and
• avoiding close contact with pets during the course of the illness.

In fact, if you’re sick, it’s a good idea to give your pets a place other than your bedroom to sleep at night until you get better.

If any pet displays symptoms such as lethargy, loss of appetite, coughing, sneezing or difficulty breathing—especially if a human family member has recently suffered from influenza—please contact your veterinarian.

We know that flu has been spreading quite quickly lately.  A lot of people have become concerned for the smaller members of their family- their dogs and cats.

There have been several articles published recently on dog flu and even if pets can get the h1n1.  A point all of these articles make is to lesson chances of your dog or cat catching the flu- keep them home!

Fox News posted, “Exposure to H3N8 is highest in kennels, shelters, pet stores, dog shows and other communal settings. Although dogs of any age, breed and health status are susceptible, puppies, old dogs, and dogs with pre-existing health issues are especially at risk. Veterinarians say that virtually all dogs that are exposed to the virus become infected. About 80 percent of them can show symptoms such as cough, sneezing, nasal discharge, and some ocular discharge. Coughs typically last two to three weeks. Twenty percent of dogs can become seriously ill, developing bronchopneumonia and secondary bacterial infections. Dogs with pneumonia have high fever, respiratory distress and in some cases severe hypoxia. If untreated, such conditions may lead to death.”

and on the ASPCA website, “CIV is easily transmitted between dogs through a combination of aerosols, droplets and direct contact with respiratory secretions. The virus does not survive for a long time in the environment, so dogs usually get CIV when they are in close proximity to other infectious dogs.
Any dog who interacts with large numbers of dogs is at increased risk for exposure. Dogs are most infectious before symptoms are apparent, and can continue shedding the virus for around 10 days. This means that by the time symptoms are seen, other dogs may have already been exposed.”

While the flu is very treatable in companion animals, we know it’s better, of course, that they don’t get it at all.  If you need pet care or entertainment for your animals, why not hire a petsitter instead of increasing their exposure risk at a kennel, doggy daycare or vet?”

Are you a first-time dog owner?

An experienced dog owner looking for puppy training and socialization?

Wondering how to integrate the puppy and the kids, or the puppy and the cat?

Puppies are cute, but they can present some special behavioral challenges.  Kindergarten Puppy Training (KPT) can help your puppy happily learn to:

• Tolerate other dogs and people Come when called
• Be quiet on command Be safe around children
• Permit handling and grooming Sit and lie down
• Walk politely on a loose leash Stop biting and chewing
• Kindergarten Puppy Training introduces all the fundamental obedience commands, as well as puppy ownership basics including socialization, handling, and problem-solving for chewing, playbiting, barking, digging, stealing, pulling on the lead and jumping up. Instructor: Dr. Jill Morstad
• Do you have a puppy, age 10 weeks to six months?
• Call us at 483-7403 to learn more.

Kindergarten puppy classes are offered at three Lincoln locations:

• Capital Humane Society 441-4488 (ask for Liz)

• Antelope Creek Veterinary Health Care Center 488-0993 (ask for Rachel)

• Yankee Hill Veterinary Hospital 421-8111 (ask for Amy)

Prairie Skies, CHS and our veterinary colleagues promote community awareness of the human-animal bond through wellness education and behavior services.

Presents 4 Pets

The National Association of Professional Pet Sitters in conjunction with the Humane Society of the United States’ National Animal Shelter Appreciation Week is proud to announce our annual collection drive to benefit shelter and rescue pets!

National Animal Shelter Appreciation Week
November 1 – 7, 2009

Presents 4 Pets is a nationwide program designed to help support local shelters and rescue groups and the animals they serve.

These abandoned pets need your help! You can provide for their comfort by donating:

Toys – Treats – Blankets – Towels – Rugs – Bleach
Beds – Leashes – Collars – Coupons – Newspapers
…and more!

For donation pick-up or a drop-off location near you,
please call Jessy at: 416-0203

A Pause for Paws  402-420-PETS (7387)

All donations will go to the Capital Humane Society and The Cat House

The dog flu, which started with just greyhounds has now spread to domestic dogs. It is very contagious and those at highest risk are dogs who go to doggy daycares, kennels, group settings with other dogs. Why risk getting your dog sick when loving in-home pet care is available as an option! A Pause for Paws is happy to come to YOUR home to care for your pup!

Learn More Key Facts about Canine Influenza (Dog Flu)

I have frequently received emails from clients and students who ask me questions, share concerns and register complaints about how best to work collaboratively with their veterinarian and the clinic staff.

It takes an involved, conscientious and attentive owner who knows well what’s normal and abnormal for their own dogs both physically and behaviorally; as with our own health care, we must be thoughtful and pro-active. The care your veterinary team can provide is often directly proportionate to the owner’s level of involvement and understanding.

Here’s a veterinarian who’s just written a book on how to be your veterinarian’s favorite client *and* your dog’s best advocate, and how do so confidently and effectively.

Click here:
http://www.speakingforspot.com/

Dr. Kay’s book is enjoyable and comprehensive; a GREAT resource for anyone who is a dog owner and veterinary client.

Happy Training!

Jill Morstad PhD
www.prairiek9.com

Get involved where you can!
The Advocacy Committee has been working on a couple projects in the past two months.

The first project was to get letters off to the new and existing City of Lincoln council people. A letter was sent to each one with a follow-up email. As of today, we have received a response from four of the seven council people: Councilman John Spatz, Councilman Gene Carroll, Councilman Jon Camp and Councilwoman Jane Synder. Meetings will be set up with each one in the very near future. We will discuss with the council people how to improve the lives of homeless animals in Lincoln and get their suggestions for how to do this.

The organizational process for the newly formed group, Nebraska Voters for Companion Animals, is moving right along. A logo has been selected and a mission statement was agreed upon. The mission statement is “To become a unified voice for promoting the humane treatment of companion animals through legislation, education and advocacy.”

In an effort to have statistics to provide facts to use when testifying before legislative committees, Nebraska Voters for Companion Animals is working on a project to document companion animals as they arrive at the various rescue groups and shelters from Nebraska breeders. Included in the documentation will be the geographic area of Nebraska the animal was rescued from, health condition, age, and breed to list a few. A database is being set up so data can be entered, sorted and reports produced.

A second database is being set up of Nebraskan voters to alert them of upcoming legislative bills, city ordinances, etc., which will be up for vote. Notifying voters of candidates who are interested in improving the welfare of companion animals in Nebraska is another function this database will be used for.

If you would like to join the Advocacy Committee, please email Pauline Balta at pebalta[at]aol.com

What’s going on with Lincoln Animal Ambassadors? Great things! Won’t you join them?

Trap-Neuter-Release Ordinance: We had discussed our proposed TNR city ordinance with Bruce Dart, Director of the Lancaster County Health Dept. He has read our proposed ordinance and that they would prefer to ask the City Attorney to submit the ordinance that the Animal Control office had submitted several years ago to the City Counsel, along with a dangerous dog ordinance. Bruce indicated that the City Counsel is focused on a dangerous dog ordinance now with recent events and he feels they will be wanting to pass something soon regarding that matter, and they hope to slip the TNR ordinance into that same issue with the City Counsel They see that happening this fall sometime, once budget matters are taken care of with the City.

Pet Food Bank: I have also been in contact with Hill Pet Foods asking for some donations for our proposed Pet Food Bank. They declined but suggested we talk with local merchants to fund that bank. I have had a verbal conversation with someone at Super Saver about getting their broken bags of food, and will soon be writing a letter to the home office of B&R stores.

Spay/Neuter Challenge: We are proposing a letter campaign to challenge city leaders and prominent people in the community to donate to a spay/neuter project for low cost spay/neuter. In conjunction with this we will also be promoting a letter campaign to all the veterinarians in the Lincoln community to donate or discount spay/neuters for this project.