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HOUSTON
May 2014
geT A fRee fiRST exAM!* It’s a risk-free way for you to see the care and special attention we give to each pet at VCA Animal Hospitals.
fRee fiRST exAM inCluDeS: Status check on weight, nutrition and general health Early detection of heart and/or arthritic conditions Dental check VCA Supports Animal Shelters Vaccination overview nationwide
Pet Healthcare Certificate
* For new clients only. Not to be combined with any other offer. Not good for emergency examinations. Up to 2 pets per household. Expires 12-31-2014
VCA Animal Hospitals is committed to providing exceptional healthcare. We are dedicated to helping you and your pet have a long and happy life together. Cypress VCA Telge RoAD AniMAl HoSPiTAl 11430 Telge Road Cypress, TX 77429
Houston VCA SPRing BRAnCH AniMAl HoSPiTAl 10109 Long Point Road Houston, TX 77043
Lake Jackson VCA lAKe JACKSon AniMAl HoSPiTAl 210 That Way Lake Jackson, TX 77566
(281) 571-7606
(713) 489-3997
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Houston VCA ASHfoRD AniMAl HoSPiTAl 12633 Whittington Houston, TX 77077
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Pasadena VCA AniMAl MeDiCAl CenTeR of PASADenA 5018A Fairmont Parkway Pasadena, TX 77505
(281) 402-8599
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Houston VCA CounTRySiDe AniMAl HoSPiTAl 2211 FM 1960 East Houston, TX 77073
Kingwood VCA KingwooD AniMAl HoSPiTAl 2526 Green Oak Drive Kingwood, TX 77339
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(281) 377-4425
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(281) 542-3477
Spring VCA SPRing AniMAl HoSPiTAl 1811 Spring Cypress Spring, TX 77388
Texas City VCA MAinlAnD AniMAl HoSPiTAl 3015 Palmer Highway Texas City, TX 77590
(281) 601-1420
(409) 229-4452
Free First E
We VCAspring.com hope that with each visit you and your pet feel like part of o VCAmainland.com
Spring/The Woodlands Tomball Free first exam includes: VCA wooDlAnDS VCA ToMBAll StatusHoSPiTAl check on weight, nutrition general heal AniMAl VeTeRinARyand HoSPiTAl 428 Rayford Road 28800 Tomball Pkwy Dental check Spring, TX 77386 Tomball, TX 77375 Vaccination overview (281) 377-3447 (281) 377-1211 Review the latest local pet health threats VCAwoodlands.com VCAtomball.com Pet Owner Empowerment:
facebook.com/VCAAnimalHospitals
Celebrate and Showcase
pinterest.com/VCAHospitals
(281) For377-3343 (281) 402-8602 new clients only. Not to be combined with any other offer. Not good toward boarding, grooming, prescription and non-prescription medication, and retail items.
Not good toward emergency and/or specialty veterinary services. Good for up to 2 pets (dogs/cats) per household. For pet owners aged 18 and older. Ref code: 700.750 VCAkingwood.com VCAswfreeway.com Administratve Service Provided by VCA Animal Hospitals.
Management Services Provided by VCA Animal Hospitals. • Animal Healthcare of Texas, PC. - Rocky McKelvey, DVM - owner.
RCF
{contents}
COVER BY SHANNAN PARKER
16 4
18
06
Your Pet 06 Having Spayed/Neutered
08 Cancer Awarenetss 12 Puppy 101 Permission
This An 14 IsEmergency?
16 Centerstage Faith & Stella
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PUBLISHER Shannan Parker Tel: 281.781.4727 info@texascatsanddogs.com
EDITOR Tiffany Robinson tiffanyrobinson99@gmail.com
DESIGNER Fran Sherman 314.275.2208 fran@shermanstudios.com
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS
14 20
18 Pet Food Sensitivities Importance Of 20 The Identification By 22 Spotted The Pupperazzi
Tricia Fagan Monica Schmidt Texas A&M Nadine Joli- Coeur Connie Geodecke Dr. Holly Pappas, VCA Animal Hospital Petcurean Pet Food Dr. Lina Aziz
PHOTOGRAPHER Shannan Parker
28
Happenings 24 Humane This Summer
28
Marketplace
{May 2014}
ADVERTISE WITH US!
281.781.4727 • Houston@TexasDogsAndCats.com Next Issue: June 2014 Advertiser’s Deadline: May 15th 2014
5
BY DR. HOLLY PAPPAS
the importance of having your pet
spayed/neutered 6
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A
spay or neuter surgery done for your pet is an extremely important decision that affects you, your pet and your community for the better. Spaying (ovariectomy or ovariohysterectomy) is a major surgical procedure in which both ovaries alone or the ovaries and the uterus are completely removed from your pet while under general anesthesia. Upon completion, the incision is closed with sutures, skin-bonding material or skin staples, and it takes 10 to 14 days to heal. After the first heat, the incidence of developing mammary cancer climbs to about 7% and after the second heat, the risk increases to nearly 25%. Spaying before the first heat cycle (around 6 months of age) reduces the chance of breast cancer occurring later in life by 95%. Spaying also eliminates the possibility of uterine infection, which can be fatal, as well as ovarian or uterine cancer. Neutering (castration) is a minor surgical procedure that involves the removal of both testicles from your pet while under general anesthesia. Upon completion, the incision is closed with sutures or skin-bonding material and it takes 10 to 14 days to heal. Removing the testicles helps prevent certain infectious diseases as well as enlargement of the prostate gland, an age-related problem that can make urination painful or difficult. It also eliminates the possibility of testicular cancer. Both spaying and neutering decreases the influence {May 2014}
Spayed/neutered pets are less likely to urine mark, they are not as prone to mounting behavior and they tend to be less aggressive to other dogs and people. of hormones on behavior, so your pet will be less likely to roam or be aggressive. Spayed/neutered pets are less likely to urine mark, they are not as prone to mounting behavior and they tend to be less aggressive to other dogs and people. Male cat urine has a very unpleasant odor if the cat is not neutered. Also, when dealing with an intact female dog, when it comes into heat, it will have a bloody vaginal discharge that can stain fabrics and carpets. Another important reason to considering spaying/neutering pets is related to the severe overpopulation problems involving pets in shelters. Unfortunately, one of the biggest killers of dogs and cats in the United States is shelter
euthanasia. Every time an owner gets a pet spayed/ neutered, they are making a conscious choice to help eliminate pet overpopulation. That choice helps everyone in the community, even people that are not pet owners. If the number of animals in shelters decreases, more pets are finding loving homes. Pet owners will sometimes comment that they want to breed their pet and they are being responsible because they have homes for all of the puppies and kittens. In this situation, please remember the millions of pets waiting in shelters for a good home and consider instead telling people that want a puppy/kitten to visit the shelter first before pursuing breeding. 7
REPRINTED WITH PERMISSION FROM TEXAS A&M
pet cancer awareness month
helps teach owners about leading cause of pet deaths
A 88
s the month of May gets underway, so does Pet Cancer Awareness Month. This month is designed to bring awareness to pet owners about the leading cause of death in pets, cancer.
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advertisehere
281.781.4727 • sales@TexasCatsAndDogs.com
Certified Professional Training “The Best Your Dog Can Be”
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“Certain breeds, such as Golden Retrievers, Rottweilers, and German Shepherds are considered at-risk breeds and have a higher risk of getting cancer. Wilson-Robles said these breeds can have up to a 70-80 percent chance of getting cancer in their lifetime”.
Dr. Heather Wilson-Robles, assistant professor for Small Animal Clinical Sciences at the Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences (CVM) said cancer accounts for nearly 50 percent of all disease-related pet deaths each year. “50 percent of all dogs over the age of 10 will die from cancer, and 25 percent of all dogs get cancer,” Wilson-Robles said. Certain breeds, such as Golden Retrievers, Rottweilers, and German Shepherds are considered at-risk breeds and have a higher risk of getting cancer. Wilson-Robles said these breeds can have up to a 7080 percent chance of getting cancer in their lifetime. Wilson-Robles added that the number one type of cancer in dogs is Lymphoma, accounting for 24 percent. One goal of Pet Cancer Awareness Month is to inform pet owners of symptoms to look for in their pet. Wilson-Robles said to pay attention to bigger lymph nodes or, for oral cancer, bad breath and blood on a toy. Sometimes, the owner may notice the dog’s activity to be lower or a decrease in food consumption, Wilson-Robles said. A lot of times, she said, the dogs feel fine so the owners do not notice a change in the pet. “Once [the dogs] start treatment and . . . start feeling better, [the owners] did not realize how much [the cancer] was affecting [the dogs],” Wilson-Robles said. Wilson-Robles stressed that wellness checks every year or six months are key to cancer prevention. “Sometimes, in many cases, by the time [the animals] are already effected and sick it may be too late [for treatment],” Wilson-Robles said. To ensure the cancer is detected in time, she urged pet owners to take a 10
dog to the veterinarian if cancer is suspected and let them do blood work and biopsies. If cancer is spotted, Wilson-Robles said there are various treatment options for most types of cancer. “Once you know what it is you’re fighting then we can talk about various treatment options . . . there is usually something we can do,” she said. Cancer treatment in dogs is similar to that of humans. Wilson-Robles said different treatment options for different cancers include chemotherapy, radiation, surgery, and therapy. There is also different experimental research such as clinical trials. The CVM, for example, has eight different clinical trials currently ongoing and various options using the new Diagnostic and Imaging Cancer Treatment Center or oncology services, Wilson-Robles said. Although frequent wellness checks allow for a better chance to detect the cancer, there are not many ways to actually prevent the disease. Wilson-Robles recommended a few tips that may help reduce the risk of cancer. She said that, as with humans, cancer in dogs has been tied with obesity. For this, she suggested keeping dogs fit. She added to avoid chemicals such as yard sprays and limit the UV exposure of dogs and cats with light-colored skin by using sunscreen, UV shields on windows or T-shirts.
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Doggie Daycare, Boarding, Grooming and Obedience Training 6434 Washington Avenue Houston, TX 77007 713-868-7555 deogi@deogidogspa.com
DOG DAYCARE & BAKERY • Cage-Free Boarding • Open 7 Days Per Week
www.houstondogdaycare.com • Don’t forget to visit our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/jacksons.place
{puppy101} BY TRICIA FAGAN 12
permission W
ould you like your puppy to sit quietly at the door when you open it? Would you like your puppy to wait patiently for his dinner while you prepare it? Before you teach your puppy “stay” or ‘wait”, you should teach him a release word. A release word is permission.
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Many people use a release word, but you must teach your puppy what the release word means. If your dog almost always moves when he hears his release word, he understands. For example, permission for puppy to get up from a stay or permission for puppy to go through the door. Many people use “ok” for a release word. “Okay” is not a great choice. It is a very common word, frequently used in every day language. You might accidentally release your pooch when you did not intend to do so. Each of my dogs’ has a different release word. Frolic, my border collie, uses a word I borrowed from world champion agility competitor Susan Garrett. Frolic’s release word is “break”. Taz’s release word is “pop”. Many German shepherd owners train their dogs using conventional German words. The release word they often use is “free”. Have you picked out your dog’s release word? Many people use a release word, but you must teach your puppy what the release word means. If your dog almost always moves when he hears his release word, he understands. To teach your puppy a release word, you will need some treats. Ask your puppy to sit or lie down. Give the cue only once (“sit” or “down”), and wait for puppy to comply. Give your brilliant pooch a treat while they are sitting or lying down. It is time for the release word. If you are moving the treat, even a little bit, puppy will not be able to concentrate on your words. Be very still, and say your release word. Of course, puppy has no idea what that noise means. That’s ok. Wait one brief second while you are still, and then toss a treat. Throwing a treat on the ground will be a surprise and your puppy may be unprepared. Show the puppy the treat, then slowly, very slowly, toss the treat on the ground. Puppy will jump for joy as he runs to get the treat. Repeat the above exercise. Checking to make sure you are very still, say your puppy’s release word. Freeze in place for a brief moment, then, carefully showing the puppy the treat, toss the treat on the floor. Continue to practice daily. Your puppy will begin to anticipate the thrown treat, and he will move when you say his release word. Once your puppy has learned his release word, he is ready to learn to stay, or to wait for permission to go through a door. Happy Training!
Tricia Fagan, Certified Professional Dog Trainer – Knowledge Assessed DogS Gone Good www.dogSgonegood.com; trainer@dogSgonegood.com (713) 557-1949 {May 2014}
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is this an
emergency?
I
s this an emergency or can it wait till tomorrow? This is a question we veterinarians get all the time. The truth is that every situation needs to be evaluated individually along with a physical exam of your loved one to tell you what constitutes an emergency. However there are a few examples of emergencies, how to recognize them, and prevent delay of potentially life saving treatment. The most important thing to remember is that if you are concerned about your pet it probably means there is something wrong and at the very least you need to call a veterinarian to discuss your pet’s condition and get professional advice.
BY LINA AZIZ, DVM
TOXINS AND TRAUMA: These two emergencies require immediate evaluation and possibly intervention. For toxicities getting your pet into your veterinarian immediately can help prevent life threatening organ failure and secondary complications. The ASPCA website (http:// www.aspca.org/pet-care/animalpoison-control) lists some common household and environmental toxins and even offers a 1800 hotline to toxicologists 24/7 who can help provide you professional advice 14
regarding the severity of your pet’s exposure. Common toxins include: any non prescribed medication, rat bait, chocolate, grapes and raisins, lily ingestion, sago palm ingestion, and antifreeze. Please do not give over the counter human medications to your pets without consulting your vet as they can delay more appropriate therapy due to drug interactions and also can cause life threatening toxicities as well. If there are any doubts just call your nearest vet, emergency facility, or animal poison control hotline.
Trauma includes dog (animal) attacks, being hit by a car, head trauma, any hard impact, and other wounds of unknown origin. There is a golden period in which we as veterinarians can treat open wounds without serious risk of life threatening infections; it’s only a few hours after the incident. Keep in mind that just because you do not see any open wounds doesn’t mean there isn’t serious internal trauma such as internal bleeding, brain trauma, and/or lung damage. It is extremely important to take your pet to a
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veterinarian immediately following any trauma for evaluation. SEIZURES There are many possible reasons for your pet to be having a seizure and the majority require intervention. Please stay calm, keep your hands away from your pet’s mouth and seek veterinary attention immediately. Sometimes you may wait until the actual seizure stops; however this is not always the case. If your pet continues to have a seizure you will need to get them to a veterinary immediately. Sometimes using a blanket as a sling/gurney can help get your pet into a vehicle so that you can drive safely to your nearest veterinarian. REPRODUCTIVE EMERGENCIES It is important for any expecting mother to have regular medical check ups. This includes our canine and feline friends. You can avoid many life threatening emergencies in your pregnant pet by simply visiting your veterinarian for advice on how to help maintain appropriate nutrition, signs to look for in a difficult birth, and other health protocols to ensure a safe and healthy delivery. However sometimes even after all the precautions have been taken, pregnancy can come with complications. Signs that your pet is having a birthing emergency and needs immediate evaluation are abdominal contractions with no birth in 30 minutes, more than 3 hours between delivery of babies, or vaginal discharge that is either green, black, or bloody. These are not the only considerations, in fact there are many more things to look for in a pet who is having babies that may indicate an emergency. Please call a veterinarian with any questions or concerns if you are unsure. RESPIRATORY EMERGENCIES Difficulty breathing can be difficult to assess in our furry friends {May 2014}
because of their fur coats. Clues that your pet is having trouble breathing and needs to be seen immediately are excessive coughing, blue/purple tongue or gums, using their abdomen to help them breathe, stretching their neck out, or inability to get comfortable. If there is any doubt we recommend you call your nearest veterinarian as pets who are having difficulty breathing are in a very critical life threatening state. MALE CATS URINARY BLOCKAGE Every male cat owner should know about this condition. Male cats can sometimes have a blockage in their penile urethra that can prevent them from urinating and cause life threatening complications within a few hours. This is something that can not wait under any circumstances. Signs that your male cat is blocked: No urine production: No urine for more than 10 hrs is considered an emergency. Many people have indoor and outdoor cats so this can be challenging to monitor in those pets and another good reason to keep your felines indoors. Vocalizing a lot more than usual: if your cat is making more noise than usual he is probably trying to tell you something, having him checked out as soon as possible. Blood in the urine: urinary tract infections in young, adult, male cats are uncommon (<5% are true infections), if you see blood have them checked out immediately. Inappropriate urination: if your cat is urinating in unusual places, or he is squatting and no urine or only a small amount comes out, seek veterinary attention immediately If you note any of the above clinical signs it is important that your pet be evaluated immediately. However keep in mind that you may see all or none of these signs with an obstructed male cat as felines tend to hide their illness’. We
recommend discussing this condition with your veterinarian further on how to best monitor your pet’s urinary health. VOMITING AND DIARRHEA Vomiting and diarrhea are the most common symptoms of illness. There are many causes of these two clinical signs, some of which are emergencies and some of which are not. Vomiting and Diarrhea in puppies and kittens is always an emergency because they can become hypoglycemic (low blood sugar) and dehydrated extremely quickly. Blood in the vomit or stool: It is always recommended to be evaluated immediately. Trying to vomit but nothing is coming out: Dry heaving, non productive vomit can be a life threatening emergency. Any large breed dog for example: German Shepard, Doberman, Great Dane, or Rottweiler is at risk for “Bloat” or Gastric torsion. Please speak with your regular veterinarian about this condition and what to look for. This condition has occasionally been seen in other smaller breeds as well. If you see your pet trying to vomit and nothing is coming up, seek veterinary attention immediately. Vomiting for more than a few hours. If your adult pet is having multiple bouts of vomiting seek veterinary attention as soon as possible, do not wait multiple days as this can cause life threatening dehydration and make treatment more complicated and expensive. None of the above symptoms are hard and fast rules but rather they are guidelines to help you avoid delaying life saving treatment in pets who are in critical need. We always say if there is any doubt or concern just call and speak to someone at a veterinary facility to help guide you to make the best decision for your pet. 15
{centerstage} 16
FAITH 15 MONTHS OLD 26 IN 68 LBS LOVES HER DEER ANTLERS! ADOPTED FROM BARC
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bestbuds faith & stella STELLA 5YRS OLD 20 IN 55LBS WOULD LOVE TO HAVE HER BELLY RUBBED ALL DAY! ADOPTED FROM CAP
{May 2014}
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{pawz-itivelynatural} BY GUEST WRITER PETCUREAN PET FOODS NUTRITIONAL TEAM
pet food
sensitivities
M
any of us pay more attention these days to what weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re putting into our bodies, and so naturally we are more aware of what our dogs and cats eat. Pet sensitivities are on the rise, yet many pet owners may be unaware of what is specifically impacting their four-legged family members. With a host of potential allergens and irritants, it is crucial to understand the source so you can mitigate the negative effect it may be having on your animalâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s health and overall well-being.
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Foods with a single novel protein can help determine if your pet is sensitive to meat proteins or grains.
high quality ingredients can be tremendous in minimizing pet allergies.
FOOD ALLERGY? Food is one common source that can cause sensitivities in pets. Pet health and nutrition specialist Michele Dixon agrees. “Food sensitivities are increasingly prevalent in pets such as cats and dogs,” she says. “If you suspect your pet may be suffering from a foodrelated intolerance, try replacing their food with one that is geared towards pets with food sensitivities and specific dietary needs. For instance, a diet that is designed with this in mind and made with
{May 2014}
ARE GRAINS A PROBLEM? There are some very good reasons to feed a grain free diet, among them pets who have a sensitivity or even an allergy to grains, which can manifest as itchy skin or ear infections. It is important to remember that grains themselves are not a source of allergies; rather each grain must be treated as its own potential allergen. In addition, pet parents should be aware that what might be perceived as an allergy to a grain-based protein, is often a meat sourced protein sensitivity that is causing the reaction. TRY A NOVEL PROTEIN New pet food are now using ‘novel’ proteins like venison, duck and turkey Foods with a single novel protein can help determine if your pet is sensitive to meat proteins or grains. If you feed a recipe which has a single novel protein source, but is not grain free, and your pet’s condition improves, then you can be reasonably certain that your pet’s sensitivity was to a
meat protein and not a grain. If, on the other hand, your pet’s sensitivity symptoms persists when she or he eats the novel protein food with grains (and if environmental factors are ruled out), then it’s time to consider a grain free product. P.S. make sure that enough time is allowed after any new food is introduced, usually 6 to 8 weeks, before you can expect to see results. TAKE YOUR TIME CHOOSING A FOOD Choosing a pet food that’s ideal for your valued fourlegged family member is an important part of ensuring their long term health, happiness and vitality. It can take time to find just the right food.. Petcurean produces several novel protein foods in the GO! SENSITIVITY + SHINE¬¬™ product line, which feature unique proteins like turkey, duck and salmon (the GO! SENSITIVITY + SHINE™ Turkey recipe is also grain and potato free.). Come out to Natural Pawz and learn more about how our nutritional consultants can help you. 19
REPRINTED WITH PERMISSION FROM TEXAS A&M
the importance of
IDENTIFICATION
W 20
hile we do our very best to keep a close eye on Fido, he tends to let curiosity get the best of him when engaging in an unsupervised stroll around the neighborhood. When this happens, youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll be thankful that you just invested in that slightly-overpriced-but-irresistibly-cute dog collar, personalized ID tags, and microchip.
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“ID tags can help with identification in case they get lost or run away,” said Dr. Stacy Eckman, a lecturer at the Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences. “It lets people know that the dog is owned and is very helpful when trying to reunite the animal with the owner.” In addition to decorating your pets with ID tags, microchips have become an increasingly popular way to keep track of your pets in the case they go missing. “Unlike a tag or a collar, it cannot come off and is placed under the skin with a small needle,” said Eckman. “It is not painful to the pet and they will not notice it, and neither will the owner in most instances.” Many people have the misconception that microchips are a GPS tracker and can locate a lost pet, but really, it just holds the pet and owner information. “Once a pet is scanned, the information can be looked up to try and reunite the owner and pet,” said Eckman. “An important thing to keep in mind about microchips is that the infor-
{May 2014}
“An important thing to keep in mind about microchips is that the information has to be updated if you move— it is not automatic.” mation has to be updated if you move—it is not automatic.” They are very beneficial because most shelters and facilities scan for microchips when an animal comes in, which makes it much easier to reunite an owner with their pet. However, it is important to keep in mind that microchips do not replace the need for ID tags, but merely supplement them. “Some shelters do not have microchip scanners or the one they have may not read your pet’s particular microchip (though there are a handful of manufacturers on the market and the scanners are getting better at picking up all the different kinds),” said Eckman. “If a Good Samaritan finds your pet, having visible tags will let them know it is owned.” This way, they can quickly contact the owner without having
to hassle with posting “found pet” signs around the neighborhood, which some may find to be too much trouble. Even if Fido and Fluffy spend their time indoors, having both ID tags and microchips are recommended. “There are instances when they can run out the door, slip through their leash or collar and get away,” said Eckman. “Identification will help them find their way home.” Both of these painless precautions can save you and your pet a lot of heartache in the long run. As important as our pets are to us, having them go missing is a feeling we hope never to experience. By investing in both a microchip and detailed ID tags, Fido has a much greater chance of returning back from his sporadic squirrel-chase safe and sound.
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{spotted by the pupperazzi} 22
F
may urr-tastic or flea infested! The Pupperazzi is on the scene and has your tail covered!
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BY MONICA SCHMIDT – HOUSTON HUMANE SOCIETY
humane
H
this summer
ouston Humane Society has an exciting summer full of fun activities and events planned. We’ll be taking on the ASPCA $100K Challenge, we’re 1 of 50 shelters across the country that will be competing for tons of prize money, including a grand prize of $100,000! Our annual summer camp for kids is filling up fast. It’s always a favorite, so register your kids before it’s too late. And mega adoption specials, because that’s really what it’s all about! Companion Camp is a wonderful opportunity for children ages 7-13 (or ages 12 - 15 during teen week) to work hands-on with animals cared for by Houston Humane Society. Campers learn valuable life lessons concerning the welfare of all animals. During a typical
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day, campers receive humane education, workshops from animal experts, games, crafts, and hands on animal activities. This camp is a must for all kids! Cost is $275 per session, with an early bird discount for those that register before June 1st. Camp includes daily snacks and drinks,
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t-shirt, crafts, and all activities. Lunch will not be provided; please bring a sack lunch. Camp hours are from 9:30-3:00 with an option to add early dropoff. Available weeks include: June 16th – 20th, June 23rd – 27th, June 30th – July 3rd, July 7th – 11th, July 14th – 18th (teen week), July 21st – 25th, July 28th – August 1st, August 4th – August 8th, and August 11th – August 15th.
select pets for all police, military and fire personnel during the 2 day event.
ANIMAL CRUELTY OFFICERS VISIT HHS KIDS CAMP
Challenge Kick-off Party on Sunday, June 1st from 10am – 2pm. We’re offering free adoptions on select pets, a free kids zone with animal meet and greet area, bounce house, face painting, opportunity for kids to listen to an animal’s heartbeat and more, plus free dog training tips. Bow Wow Bar-B-Que and Mobile Adoption event on Saturday, June 21st. Bar-B-Que fundraiser is sponsored by HHS PupPals, and plates can be purchased day of the event or pre ordered online at HoustonHumane.org. Check online for finalized event location, cook-off team info and bake sale sign up. Houston Humane Society is honoring our local heroes July 5th and 6th. We’re offering free pet adoptions on
{May 2014}
On Sunday, July 20th join local Houston mascots for the 2nd Annual Meet the Mascots event at Houston Humane Society. Area mascots join together to rally around pet adoption.
Super Heroes and Side Kicks event at Houston Humane Society on August 30th and 31st. Adopt your own sidekick at this 2 day event and take advantage of free pet adoptions on select pets. Weekdays just got better at Houston Humane Society! During June, July and August, every Monday will feature $55 pet adoptions for seniors over 55, plus any senior dog will have a special $55 adoption rate; enjoy ½ off all regular priced adoption rates each Wednesday; and take advantage of $15 felines every Friday! To find out more info about upcoming events and adoptions specials at Houston Humane Society, visit us online at HoustonHumane.org or on Facebook at facebook. com/houstonhumanesociety.
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{marketplace}
marvel Nina Ottosson Dog Casino Dog Puzzle Toy will have your dog placing bets on where his favorite doggie treat is! Cats love it too!
Stuff dry treats into the center and watch the fun! The flexible center makes this toy very easy for your pup to shake treats out. Available at The Pawty Palace
Superfood for Superdogs is a veterinarian-developed, highlyconcentrated blend of nutrientrich fruits and vegetables, known as “superfoods”, geared towards your dogs needs! Available at Natural Pawz
The Lickety Stik’s rollerball dispenses natural liver flavor with only 1 calorie in every 10 licks, making it a great alternative to high-calorie highheels dogs often chew when their owners are away at work! Great for on the go treats!
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lsofmay The Kibble Nibble mixes food and exercise for a fun dog toy that keeps your pet in shape!
The Tug A Jug stimulates your petâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s sense of sight, smell, hearing, touch and taste. Ask your favorite pet store about this!
Herbsmith Clear AllerQi naturally cools skin and supports relief of seasonal allergies all without negative side effects. Available at Natural Pawz
The Natural Chemistry line kills fleas on contact without the use of harmful pyrethrin based pesticides. Available at Natural Pawz!
{May 2014}
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petpuzzlers Spring Time Fun!
Jokes
Q: Why did the dachsund bite the woman’s ankle? A: Because he was short and couldn’t reach any higher! Q: When is the most likely time that a stray dog will walk into your house? A.: When the door is open! Q: How did the little Scottish dog feel when he saw a monster? A: Terrier-fied! Q: Why do you need a license for a dog and not for a cat? A: Cats can’t drive! Q: What dog loves to take bubble baths? A: A shampoodle!
APRIL BASKET BUNNIES EASTER EGGHUNT
FLOWERS KITES LAMB LION MARCH MAY
PICNIC RAIN SPRING SUNSHINE WIND
Q: How do you know that cats are sensitive creatures? A: They never cry over spilt milk! Q: What did the cat do when he swallowed some cheese? A: He waited by the mouse hole with baited breath!
Name These Baby Animals ACROSS
3. Baby Deer 7. Baby Owl 8. Baby Frog 11. Baby Duck 13. Baby Rabbit 15. Baby Fish 16. Baby Pig
DOWN
1. Baby Fly 2. Baby Horse 4. Baby Turtle 5. Baby Goose 6. Baby Goat 9. Baby Bear 10. Baby Grasshopper 12. Baby Monkey 14. Baby Kangaroo
Sunset Boulevard ANIMAL CLINIC
Always open Vet On-Site 24/7 Emergency Services Routine Visits Walk-ins Welcome 2525 sunset blvd | houston, tx 77005
713-574-6377
sunsetblvdanimalclinic.com
complimentary doctorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s exam
free night of boarding
New Hospital Clients Only. Please present coupon upon visit. Limit one per family. Not valid with any other offer. Does not include products and food. Not redeemable for cash. #DC0813 Expires Nov. 1, 2013
New Boarding Clients Only. Please present coupon upon visit. Limit one per family. Not valid with any other offer. Does not include products and food. Not redeemable for cash. #DC0813 Expires Nov. 1, 2013
Sunday: 9am - 9 pm