Cat Resource Guide

Homeless Cat Management Clinic Schedule July through Decemeber

Our clinic is located at 207 Allegheny Street, Tarentum, PA 15084. At this time, we treat only cats at our clinics. You must call to register prior to any clinic. CLINIC REGISTRATION BY PHONE: call 412-321-4060 and leave a message. Please include your name and phone number in your message. Someone will return your call and complete your pre-registration. HCMT is all volunteer and this may take some time. Clinics fill up quickly and it’s best to call at least two weeks in advance of the clinic you want to attend. BY EMAIL: Email cathomeless@gmail.com with your name, number of spots you need and which date you are registering for. You will receive a confirmation email ONLY if you are registered. NOTE: dates may be added and are subject to change. FREE CLINICS (ferals only)

Sept 18 In loving memory of Tia’s dad Pat Tiani Jr., Oct 16 In loving memory of Art Stina, Nov 13 open for sponsorship, Dec 11 open for sponsorship FAST TRACK CLINICS ($30 PER FERAL - See website for other costs) Sep 4, Oct 2, Oct 30, Nov 27 Pet/Freiendly cats includes rabies vaccine and flea treatment: Female $55, Males $40

More dates may be announced and dates are subject to change. Check www.homelesscat.org/ clinic-info for the most up to date information.

Low-cost spay/neuter and animal services in and around Allegheny County

This is an ever-changing list of resources for pet owners in Pittsburgh and beyond including low-cost spay and neuter programs for pets as well as TNR for community cats, after-hours emergency care, help with veterinary bills, pet-friendly rentals in Pittsburgh and across the US and links to shelters for adoption and other services. This information is provided for reference only and subject to change without notice. Please contact the organization or agency before using their services. Low-cost Spay and Neuter Organizations and Programs

TNR AND LOW-COST SPAY/NEUTER PITTSBURGH AREA Homeless Cat Management Team 207 Allegheny St., PO Box 100203, Tarentum, PA 15084, 412-321-4060 http://www.homelesscat.org/ Feral Cats and Rescued Cats. Feral cats must arrive in a humane trap. Check the website for clinic dates. All appointments must be made by calling the phone number. No walk-ins. Ferals: $30.00 Fast Track, no-charge at free clinics. Rescued Cats: Females $55.00, Males $40.00 Both include rabies, earmite and flea treatments. Other services available. City of Pittsburgh Free Spay and Neuter for City Residents City of Pittsburgh offers five free spays/neuters to all city residents http://www.pittsburghpa.gov/publicsafety/animal-control/spay-neuter.html Low-Cost Spay/Neuter Programs at Shelters in Allegheny and surrounding counties

SHELTER PROGRAMS Animal Friends https://www.thinkingoutsidethecage.org/pet-care/spay-neuter/ Pet/friendly cats: $65 spay or neuter, includes pain medication – vaccines require are an additional fee. Feral/Outdoor Package: $50, includes pain medication, rabies, FVRCP, ear tip and flea treatment. Cats must be feral and in a humane trap to receive this service. Humane Animal Rescue https://humaneanimalrescue.org/veterinary-care/spay-and-neuter-services/ East End: 66209 Hamilton Ave., Pittsburgh, PA 15206, 412-661-6452 North Shore: 1101 Western Ave., Pittsburgh PA 15233, 412-321-4625 Pet/friendly cats: $70 spay/neuter, rabies, FVRCP (distemper), microchip Feral/Outdoor Package: $50, includes pain medication, rabies, FVRCP, ear tip and flea treatment. Cats must be feral and in a humane trap to receive this service. Beaver County Humane Society 3394 Brodhead Road, Center Township, PA 15001, 724-775-5801 https://beavercountyhumanesociety.org/tnr-and-owned-cat-surgery-prices Friendly cats: begin at $75. Feral cats: begin at $35 Visit website for more information. Clarion Paws (Serves Clarion, Forest and Jefferson County) Mailing address: P.O. Box 804, Clarion, PA 16214 Current Location: 11348 Route 322, Shippenville, PA (Clarion River Hill, between Kronospan and Clarion Electric) http://www.clarionpaws.org/programs/spay-neuter/ Monthly clinics listed on website, submit an application. Pets or ferals: $65 spay, $45 neuter. Includes rabies vaccine, ear mite check and treatment and flea treatment. Optional services at an upcharge. Trapping and financial assistance through Spay Neuter program may be available to Clarion, Forest and Jefferson County feral/stray cat caregivers on a case by case basis. Butler County Humane Society 1015 Evans City Road, Renfrew, PA 16053 https://butlercountyhs.org/clinic/ For current pricing and schedule information please give us a call at 724-789-1150. Washington Area Humane Society 1527 Route 136, Eighty Four, PA 15330 http://washingtonpashelter.org/ Currently moving into new building. Low-cost Spay/Neuter Organizations in Allegheny and surrounding counties (alphabetical)

https://catnip-acres.com/ To schedule a spay/neuter, please call 724-833-0954 and leave a message. Fix ‘Ur Cat Spay & Neuter Clinic Low Cost Spay Neuter Washington County, Inc., DBA Fix ‘Ur Cat 18 West Pike Street, Canonsburg, PA 1531 Call 724-405-7FIX (7349) for an appointment. Spay/neuter clinics are by appointment only. Pets: $60 for females, $50 for males Ferals: $50 Download and complete application, mail in for appointment. https://www.fixurcat.org/spay-and-neuter/ Fluffy Jean Fund (Washington County) Packages at $65 and $85 Call Faith for Available Dates and Appointments (724) 941-5683 press 1 E-Mail: faith.b2@verizon.net http://fluffyjeanfund.weebly.com/ Fund for Feral Cats of Pittsburgh Reimburses partial funds to help spay/neuter feral cats (funds not always available) Po Box 55135, Pittsburgh, PA 15207-0135 Lawrence County Animal Relief Fund (LCARF) PO Box 8514, New Castle, PA 16107, 724-510-4952 http://www.lcarf.com/ Monthly clinics: $70 Spay/Neuter for Cats and Kittens! Includes a rabies vaccine, FVRCP vaccine, (distemper) and flea and earmite treatment Operation Spay/Neuter Butler, PA (for Butler County residents only) Income-based spays and neuters for dogs and cats. Call 724-287-SPAY (7729) or you can email for details http://operationspayneuter.com/ Pet Search P.O. Box 1653, Washington, PA 15301 Call 724-228-7335 for clinic information. http://www.petsearchpa.org/ SNIPP: Spay and Neuter Indiana PA Pets Westmoreland/Indiana Counties, Alle-Kiski Valley (Leechburg) Monthly low cost clinics, check website for dates and availability. http://www.snippindianapa.org/ Low-cost Spay/Neuter and Veterinary Clinics

Fix’N Wag’N Spay/neuter: $70. Visit the website for upcoming dates and places. https://fixnwagn.com/ THESE ARE INDEPENDENT CLINICS THAT OFFER SERVICES ON SITE DURING REGULAR BUSINESS HOURS. Frankie’s Friends 730 5th Avenue, New Kensington, PA 15068, 724-889-7011 Spay/neuter for pet/feral cats: Neuter $40, Spay $55, includes Rabies, Ear mite treatment, Flea Treatment. Also offers low cost vaccinations and basic medical treatments. Surgeries temporarily discontinued please call for info. http://www.frankies-friends.org/ Penn Hills Spay/Neuter Clinic 11644 Frankstown Rd, Pittsburgh, PA 15235, 412-244-1202 Open Monday-Friday. No longer offering walk-in services for ferals. Pet/TNR: Spay $56, Neuter $37, visit website for details and scheduling. Also offers low cost vaccinations and basic medical treatments. http://www.spayaz.com/Pittsburgh.html North Hills Spay/Neuter Clinic 3967 William Flinn Hwy, Allison Park, PA 15101, 412-213-7353 Open Monday-Friday. No longer offering walk-in services for ferals. Pet/TNR: Spay $56, Neuter $37, visit website for details and scheduling. Also offers low cost vaccinations and basic medical treatments. https://spayaz.com/locations/pittsburgh-north-hills/ Find Local Low-cost Spay, Neuter and Veterinary Care on the Internet

Low-cost Neuter and Spay (search by zip) http://neuterspay.org/ Love That Cat (online search) http://www.lovethatcat.com/spayneuter.html Spay USA http://www.spayusa.org/search.php Spay and Neuter Early, a Humane Alliance Campaign http://www.whentospay.org/get-your-pet-fixed Get Your Fix.org http://getyourfix.org/ ASPCA searchable map of low-cost clinics in US & Canada https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/general-pet-care/ low-cost-spayneuter-programs EMERGENCY AND AFTER-HOURS CARE Pittsburgh Veterinary Specialty and Emergency Center (PVSEC) http://www.pvs-ec.com/ Rivers Veterinary Urgent Care Walk-in, urgent, emergency care as well as surgeries and regular wellness appointments during daytime hours. 560 McNeilly Rd., Pittsburgh PA 15226, Phone: 412-998-9030, Fax: 412-998-9034 https://riversvet.com/ VCA Castle Shannon Animal Hospital http://www.vcahospitals.com/castle-shannon VCA Northview Animal Hospital Specialty Referral Center http://www.vcahospitals.com/northview A-VETS, http://www.avets.us/ PET-FRIENDLY RENTALS In the Pittsburgh area, visit this list on the FosterCat website: http://www.fostercat.org/friendly.html Nationwide (United States only) http://www.rent.com/pet-friendly-apartments SHELTERS AND SHELTER SERVICES Adoption, surrender, low-cost clinics, pet food pantries, referrals, etc. Humane Animal Rescue, North Shore (Western PA Humane Society) www.wpahumane.org Humane Animal Rescue, East Liberty (Animal Rescue League) www.animalrescue.org Animal Friends (AFI), www.thinkingoutsidethecage.org Animal Advocates, animaladvocates.net Washington Area Humane Society, www.washingtonpashelter.org Butler County Humane Society, www.butlercountyhs.org Beaver County Humane Society, www.beavercountyhumanesociety.org ANIMAL CRUELTY LAWS BY STATE (UNITED STATES) Animal Legal & Historical Center www.animallaw.info/articles/armpstatecruelty.htm

“On the Bit,” a nuance of dressage!

By Kristin Hermann

A horse on the vertical and working over its back differentiates dressage from other forms of riding. The horse’s nose is on the vertical when the horse flexes at the poll or atlas joint, and its nose is tucked in. And if the horse is tracking up, or taking a full stride under the seat of the rider, the horse is ‘coming through’ into the contact and “connecting back to front.” The horse connects over its back from the hind legs to the bit!

A trainer assisting the rider to get the horse round and on the bit.

Equine Affairs

Asking a horse to be on the vertical or on the bit requires a lot of skill. Riders often try to pull the horse’s head in, which can block the hind legs from coming through the horse’s whole body. Certainly, pulling a horse’s head in is not correct. To ride correctly on the bit or the vertical, the horse needs to track up and step under to lift its back. But at the same time, the rider needs to flex or ask the horse to give at the poll. It is not easy asking the horse to move forward and flex at the poll, it does require riding skill.

Horse is taking a full stride, stepping under the rider and literally stretching into the contact. Not only does asking for a forward rhythm and flexing at the poll require skill, but at the same time, the rider needs to allow the horse to stretch into the contact. As I often say, “who invented this stuff?” 26 Pittsburgh PetConnections | Fall 2021 So, how does one get the horse to take a full stride to use its back, flex at the poll, and then allow the horse to stretch into the contact? Well, that’s where the art of riding comes in. First, I teach riders how to “chew the reins out of the hands” at a halt to develop the feel of the horse giving and flexing at the poll. Then they learn how to do it at the trot or in motion on circles and straightlines. Once they can keep the horse on the vertical at the trot, they then learn how to flex a horse at the poll and put it on the bit at the canter. Teaching riders to feel for flexion or giving to the bit at the halt and trot teaches them what to feel for to repeat the feeling continuously. The classical masters called the trot the foundation gait of training. Most of the training is done at the trot.

Longer stride, can equal a longer neck, if rider allows with elastic elbows. Horse accepting contact by flexing at poll. Now that this horse is “down and round” it needs to learn to go “under and up.”

Undertracking but flexed at the poll and a smidge behind the vettical. Horse needs to “come more through,” or take a longer stride to lift the back. It is certainly easier to feel for flexion or putting the horse on the bit at the trot because it is an up and down gait instead of the walk and canter’s continuous forward and back motion. Keeping a horse on the vertical or the bit at the walk and canter is more complicated than the trot because the horse gets longer and shorter each stride. Every stride at the walk and canter, the horse’s back and neck move forward and back, or what is called longitudinal motion. So now the rider has to not only keep the horse rhythmically moving at the walk or canter, they need to ask for flexion at the poll plus allow the elbows to follow the forward and back longitudinal motion of the horse’s back and neck! So the rider is asking the horse to move forward with the leg, feeling the rhythm with the seat, asking for flexion at the poll with the hands, controlling direction by steering the shoulders, and now moving the elbows forward and back in timing with the horse’s rhythm. Phew, is there anything else? Since dressage riders ride on contact, the elastic elbows have to follow; otherwise, the horse’s gaits may become constrained. I often say, how can I follow, ask, give, allow and listen to the horse simultaneously? It is so convoluted; it is like telling an artist how much red to add to white paint to make it pink. There are many thoughts about how to put a horse on the bit or vertical. Most people are taught that the horse has to go forward. Ahhh, yes, the horse has to go forward ( to lift the back), but you could go forward for the next three years, and if you don’t know how to ask the horse to flex at the poll and soften the jaw, you will likely be hardpressed to get the horse on the bit. Getting the horse on the bit is not just forward, it is not just flexion at the poll, and it is not just seat. Getting the horse to accept contact to be on the bit is the combination of all the rider’s aids working in unison or, as on the bit is also called, “on the aids.” Yes, all three-rider aids: legs, seat, and hands! Once we have the horse on the bit and coming through to accept contact with flexion at the poll, then there are discrepancies about whether the horse is above the bit, on the vertical, behind the bit, deep, and or in front of the leg or behind the leg… Yes, it is a complicated world we live in! Unfortunately, training horses is no different.