Rescued, My Favorite Breed

By Christa Stout

After adoption: What’s next?

It is 5 a.m. and I am sitting shots, heartworm preventive and this is part of what makes up the down to write this col- flea and tick meds for cats. If you adoption fee. And all animals umn, with only a half cup have both a cat and a dog, please have their age-appropriate shots of coffee in me and eyes do not share these medicines, and preventive medicines before that don’t want to stay open. Polly because it could be fatal for the adoption. That makes the adophas kept me semi awake since 3 animal as they require very differ- tion fee much more palatable a.m., thinking she should be fed ent ingredients. because you don’t have to have already, Coco is grumpy because And if you have a new puppy, additional expense right away. Polly is bumping into her and Rudi don’t forget the puppy shots. When adopting a cat, I would like is the only happy go lucky one Parvo and other puppy diseases to include “please do not declaw – he just came in from having a are still prevalent and it tears at your cat.” It is extremely painful blast, rolling in the snow! your heart watching a puppy suf- to the cat and leaves them totally And speaking of snow, I love fer through any of these diseases helpless should they manage to the snow, but this year, where is and most likely die from them. sneak out of your house (beSPRING? I can’t wait for sunshine Kittens have their own illnesses, lieve me, it happens). Get them a and flowers and seeing all of my such as feline parvovirus and scratching post and train them to dogs snoozing in the sun. There is feline panleukopenia. All of these use that instead of your furniture, a reason for my attitude change, are preventable with puppy/kitten and you will both be much hapPolly, my blind lab, has a much shots. pier. easier time going outside, smelling everything and making her way back when the sun is shining REMINDER: and the ground is dry. But, this Just because there is snow on the ground and it is freezing outside, too shall pass, so on with writing doesn’t mean there aren’t some persistent fleas and ticks still out about New Year’s Resolutions! I there, please continue flea and tick preventive throughout the sure hope you will join me in this. winter months. I would like all of us dog and cat owners to make a resolution to improve the lives of our pets. That And the most important thing is I know this sounds like a lot of exmeans annual vet visits, it means spaying and neutering our ani- penses but fortunately, keeping a rabies shots, heartworm preven- mals. Most pets, when you get pet healthy is much cheaper than tive and flea and tick meds for them from reputable shelters and treating a sick dog and I know this the dogs. It also means the kitties rescues are spayed and neutered is something most pet owners do should get annual vet visits, rabies before they are adoptable, so not want to experience.

Thankfully, there are periodic shot clinics, spay and neuter clinics, etc. that are put on by the Joplin Humane Society, Stray Animals Matter (for cats) and other shelters and rescues.

These clinics are discounted dramatically and should be affordable for all pet owners. Remember, if you live in a town or city, there may be ordinances that require you to provide some of these preventives as well as spay/neuter for your pet. Facebook is a good place to look for some of these discounted services, the Monett Animal Control Officer and I as well as many rescues, usually share any upcoming clinics that we become aware of. CALLIE, a wonderful female hound mix, is fun loving, loves kids, dogs and cats. Callie is a very active girl who would love to have an active family.

It’s been a busy month for me and I didn’t make it to any area rescues, so here are some sweet dogs that are available at the Monett Pound:

LOLA, a lovely female Walker hound, is very sweet and looking for a large yard. Lola loves kids and other dogs and is great with cats. A terrific addition to any

family. BEE, a male pitbull mix, is very active and would love to go hiking or running. He loves other dogs and a buddy is a must. Bee is too large for small kids, but big kids watch out, he loves to snuggle after a run!