Quotations to share

Ask the experimenters why they experiment on animals, and the answer is: "Because the animals are like us." Ask the experimenters why it is morally okay to experiment on animals, and the answer is: "Because the animals are not like us." Animal experimentation rests on a logical contradiction. ~Charles R. Magel

God loved the birds and invented trees. Man loved the birds and invented cages. ~Jacques Deval

The question is not, "Can they reason?" nor, "Can they talk?" but rather, "Can they suffer?" ~Jeremy Bentham

I care not much for a man's religion whose dog and cat are not the better for it. ~Abraham Lincoln

Winfred

Grand Forks Humane Society's featured pet is Winfred.

Here's some information on Winfred from petfinder.com:
Domestic Short Hair-black
Size: Medium
Age: Young
Sex: Male
Winfred is a 4-5 month old male kitten. ~Pet Tips~ Cats vary in how demanding they are as pets, so let yours guide you to the level of attention he wants, whether it's your hand for petting or your lap for sitting. Provide him with the necessary creature comforts, give him the companionship he seeks, and he will be content.

Holiday Pet Photos

Tis the season for holiday photos of your pet! Some humane societies work with local pet stores to have a holiday pet photo event. The humane societies get all or part of the money raised. I know for sure that there were events in Fargo and Bismarck. Check with your local humane societies and pet supply stores to find out if there 's such an event in your area!

Photos

I don't have anything to report. Just thought I'd share some pet photos I found on aspca's website.

Bird Safety Around the Holidays

WHAT’S COOKING? KITCHEN SAFETY FOR PET BIRD OWNERS

Is there a companion avian in your house? Your may already know that your feathered friend is very sensitive to inhalant fumes, but did you know that any type of cookware can be harmful to your bird if left unattended and allowed to overheat? Cooking fumes, smoke and odors that have little or no effect on people can seriously sicken birds, as can aerosol sprays, self-cleaning ovens and cooking gas.

To increase awareness among pet bird owners, the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (APCC) has endorsed a brochure entitled “Breathing Easy: Safeguarding Your Pet Bird from Dangers in the Kitchen.” Sponsored by DuPont and the Cookware Manufacturers Association, the educational pamphlet includes safety tips from the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine that can save your pet’s life.

“We’re very excited about this new brochure,” says the APCC’s Dana Farbman, CVT, “as it can help bird owners safeguard their feathered companions against common household hazards.” The pamphlet offers four key safety tips to keep in mind this holiday season:- Always keep pet birds out of the kitchen while you are cooking.- Never leave heated cookware unattended.- Never preheat your cookware on high heat.- Always keep your kitchen well-ventilated.

To download the complete Breathing Easy brochure, and for more bird safety tips, please visit ASPCA online.

Article found here.

Cold Weather Pet Tips

Cold Weather Pet Tips from Mondak Humane Society :


If temperatures are dropping and snow is on the way, here are a some safety tips to keep your pets safe during the winter months.

When the temperature drops the best place for a pet is INDOORS! If this is not possible than you must provide proper shelter from the elements. A dog house should be large enough for your dog to sit and lie down in, but small enough to keep in body heat. The floor should be raised a few inches off the ground and covered with cedar shavings or straw. The house should be faced away from the wind and the doorway should be covered with a waterproof material like heavy plastic or rubber. And remember, outdoor pets will need to be fed extra food during the cold. It is best to feed a high protein food, your Veterinarian can recommend one to you. You will also have to provide water and make sure it's not freezing. Do not use metal pans for food or water as they can cause pets tongues to stick and freeze to them. CATS SHOULD NEVER BE ALLOWED OUT DURING THE COLD!!!

Never let your dog of his/her leash in the snow, especially during a snowstorm. Dogs can lose their scent in winter weather and become lost. In fact, more dogs are reported lost during the winter than any other season.

Wipe off your dogs legs and belly when they come back into the house after a "potty break" or a walk. This will remove any salt, anti-freeze or other chemicals that can be harmful to pets.

Short haired dogs or dogs that are groomed during the winter should have a sweater or coat. While you may consider this a luxery, it is a neccessity for many dogs.
And NEVER SHAVE OUR PET DOWN TO THE SKIN DURING THE WINTER! And make sure your dog is completely dry after a bath before you take it outdoors.

It may be a good idea to papertrain puppies during the cold, as they will not want to go out and this can cause a lot of problems during housebreaking.

ANTIFREEZE IS A LETHAL POISON FOR DOGS AND CATS!!! Be sure to clean up any spills or leaks from your vehicle and consider using products that contain Propylene Glycol rather than Ethylene Glycol. Ethylene Glycol has a sweet taste that pets like and it is deadly.

Indoor pets should be provided a nice warm place to sleep that is away from drafts and off the floor, such as a pet bed with a warm blanket or pillow in it.

And if you think you pet has frost bite or hypothermia, please contact your Veterinarian promptly for advice.

Keep Your Cat Safe at Home

Article from MonDak Humane Society:

Keep Your Cat Safe at Home
HSUS's Safe Cats Campaign:

Cats are America's most popular pets, but they are also the pets most likely to die prematurely from diseases, poisons, attacks by other animals, abuse by humans, or speeding vehicles. The reason is simple: Owners often don't realize that allowing their cat to roam outdoors can be a one-way ticket to trouble.

For rest of the article click here.

Highway

This is "Highway" from the humane society in Minot.


Here are his specs:


Name: Highway

Breed: Domestic Short Hair

Age: 6 Months - 1 Year


Introducing Highway! This poor fellow has used up at least one of his 9 lives and he's now looking for a place to call home for good. Highway was found along the highway and had been hit by a car. He has been checked out by Vets and is doing excellent! He loves to purr, loves to cuddle and is a very mild tempered cat. Highway appears to be about 8 months old and he is being fostered in Williston.

4-legged Hurricane Katrina victims at CDHS

This is Hank. He's one of the animals acquired by Central Dakota Humane Society.

Central Dakota Humane Society in Mandan has acquired some of the abandoned animals who faced Hurricane Katrina. I just talked to one of the animal attendants there. She said that the animals are not yet ready for adoption but to keep checking their web site for updates. When the animals are available for adoption their bios will posted on the site with the other adoptees. Sue Bucholz, director of CDHS, wrote about their trip south to rescue the animals. Hats off to all who helped with this effort. We should be proud of the wonderful and caring humane societies in our area.


To read Sue's article click here.


Check on animals available for adoption at CDLN here.

Adopting a Pet

Thinking about getting a dog or cat? Pet Project Inc. in Dickinson has a great section on their web site about this. Please consider reading it, as well as other articles and materials, on getting a pet.

Here are some excerpts I particularly like:

"Getting a new pet can be an overwhelming decision, and should not be taken lightly."

"Hurried decisions often lead to homeless and abandoned pets."

"Adopting pets that need homes is a wonderful experience."

"Pets sold through newspapers and petstores are often the results of back yard breeders or puppy mills."

"The last place you should go for a new puppy or kitten is to a petstore."

"A young pet that is exposed to other people, car rides, other pets, loud noises, and new situations will grow up to be a well adjusted pet."

You can read the entire article by clicking here.

Duke

This is Duke. He's living with me temporarily because he needed a break from the hustle and bustle of the humane society. He's such a nice guy, very lovable, kind, quiet and gentle. His family had him for 12 years, up until just recently, when they decided to move somewhere that doesn't allow dogs. How sad! And how awful of those people to part with Duke after 12 years!

Here's his info:

Breed: Labrador Retriever/Doberman

Born: 7/1/1993

Gender: Male

I think Duke would be a great fit in any family, but after living with him for a couple weeks, I think he'd be most happy in a setting where someone is home during the day to spend time with him. He just loves being around people and other dogs. His other love is to go on car rides. He sits so nice in the car and doesn't bark or anything. He sits back and takes in the sights along the ride! If you know anyone who might be interested in Duke contact Pet Connection Humane Society in Bismarck at 701-222-2719.