Rocket City Pets Spring 2014 by Rocket City Pets

SPRING 14

Volume 2 | Issue 2

inside: Grooming from head to toe

Rocket City Pets magazine is a free quarterly publication for the Greater Huntsville region. It is supported by advertising from local pet related businesses and services.

Publisher & Editor Tia Wheeler Graphic Design & Layout Kalico Design www.kalicodesign.com Contributing Writers Maya Ballard, Betty Boyd, Huntsville Friends of Animals, Madison Animal Rescue Foundation, Robyn Warner, Tia Wheeler

… r e v o c e h t n o

Bailey is a one year old purebred Persian. She was bought from a breeder at 10 weeks old and turned in to Huntsville Animal Services at 5 months old because she was “too playful”. Brittany Clark took her in to foster for Forgotten Felines and fell in love! Bailey loves jingle bells and laser lights. She’s a wonderful, goofy, clueless little cat that EVERYONE falls in love with! Cover photo by Liss Sterling

Facebook.com/RocketCityPets VECTORBUTTONS.COM A published advertisement does not constitute an endorsement of products or services. Rocket City Pets reserves the right to refuse advertising at any time and for any reason. In particular, we do not accept advertising relating to the sale of animals; this is an affirmation of our commitment to pet adoption.

All content in Rocket City Pets is intended for informative and entertainment purposes. For issues relating to animal health and wellbeing, please consult your veterinarian. Information provided in this issue was obtained from sources deemed reliable, and should be considered accurate at time of publication.

Rocket City Pets P.O. Box 22254 | Huntsville AL 35814 256-6828362 | info@rocketcitypets.com RocketCityPets.com

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Commit to forever. When you adopt a pet, they become your responsibility for the rest of their life. That means you cannot return them because they are too hyper or you lost your job. There are many resources available to help humans who commit to their pets! When an animal is having behavioral problems, maybe the human is the one at fault, or is not listening to what the animal is trying to communicate. Possible solutions include trainers, interactive toys, and good old fashion reading — like this publication. When finances are tight, you can get pet food from organizations such as Manna House in Huntsville. Finally, countless dogs and cats end up in shelters after the death of their human, so please make arrangements for your pets in the event of your death. Provide for your pet. Ensure pets get proper nutrition, exercise, and socialization. When needed, seek medical care (including spaying and neuter-

ing), and behavioral training. Don’t forget to regularly groom your pet (see page 12). Make your pet legal. Local laws require that pet owners obtain an annual license for all pets. Always have a tag on your pet with your contact information, and when applicable, include medical alerts. By having a tag, license, and microchip, your pet is much more likely to be returned if it goes missing. Be Considerate. Don’t forget to scoop the poop — not only is it polite, it is the law! Prevent your dog from greeting people and other dogs who may not want to greet them. I know it is hard to believe that everyone does not love animals as much as we do, but it is true. When at a dog park, please follow the rules. If your dog is misbehaving, remove it from the park. Just imagine how much nicer the world would be if all dogs and cats were loved, cared for, and well adjusted. I know firsthand how difficult it can be when you have a rescue animal come into your home, but I also know the unconditional love they give. Happy Tails, Tia

Community Spotlight Meet the Breed: Persian Cats DIY For Your Pet: Laser Etched Memorial Tile Pet Adoptions A Friend of Rabbits Grooming…Head to Toe Reader Photos Directory Listings Events Calendar Sage & Nutmeg

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|contents |

Adopting an animal should never be a spur of the moment decision. I have heard too many stories of ‘returned’ animals for inexcusable reasons. When you decide to adopt an animal, you must commit to being a responsible pet owner.

editor’s note

Editor’s Note

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community Spotlight

|Betty Boyd |

Manna House Manna House is a 501(c)(3) non-profit that was started by Director Fran Fluhler in December 2004. Manna House originally started with just giving out food to people. But a man came in one day and asked if they had any pet food. So Sarah Nicely, a volunteer, purchased the right food to help this man in need. Since then, they have been providing both dog and cat food for people’s pet. Food distribution occurs Mondays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays from 2–7 pm. The pet food is distributed on Thursdays from 4–6:30 pm.

This is an organization totally staffed by volunteers, including the director. Volunteers sign up for available shifts. Manna House partners with local animal shelters, no kill shelters, and rescue groups to “keep a true gift” alive of providing this much needed resource. They partner with pet food rescue banks, as well as churches, civic organizations, and colleges.

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All funds donated to Manna House go toward the food distributions for both people and pets. For more information about volunteering, and what Manna House does for the community you may visit their web site: www.mannahouse.us, or contact Manna House at 256-503-4848; 256-653-7883.

spotlight

Manna House 2110 South Memorial Parkway, Huntsville AL 35801 256-503-4848 • 256-653-7883 • www.mannahouse.us

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Meet the Breed: Persian Cats With their round faces and expressive eyes, Persian cats are the most popular cat breed in America. Contrary to their name and popular belief, they are not from Persia (modern day Iran), but instead were bred in 19th century England to resemble the cats found in Persia and the Himalayan Mountains. Thanks to their calm demeanor and low activity level, Persians are great cats for apartment living. They rarely climb atop furniture and prefer living indoors. Another reason Persians are better indoor pets is due to their high maintenance coat, and intolerance of heat, which is caused by their short muzzle. The Persian breed standards are: §§ A rounded head with large wide spaced eyes, and the vertical alignment of the forehead, nose and chin §§ The top of the nose is no lower than the bottom of the eyes §§ A short and stocky body with short legs

§§ A long, thick coat in a variety of colors. There are seven color divisions found at competitions—Solid, Tabby, Silver and Golden, Shaded and Smoked, Particolor, Bicolor, and Himalayan (a cross of Persians and Siamese). Persians require daily grooming. They also need regular bathing, as well as occasional shaving to remove matted fur. If they are shaved that will reduce the need to groom, and makes the cat cooler. The popular lion cut shaves the body, but leaves the hair on the head, legs, and tip of the tail. Aside from grooming, good veterinary care is needed. As with many popular pure breeds, Persians are susceptible to several hereditary diseases and conditions. Their shortened muzzles make Persians and other brachycephalic cats and dogs prone to respiratory and eye problems. Because of these conditions the median life span for Persian cats is 12.5 years, but with good preventive medical care and responsible pet ownership, these dignified beauties can live more than 20 years.

u know… did yoPersian cats are the most popular cat breed in America.

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Two amazing dogs in Madison, AL are in need of a loving, forever home. Meet Daisy, a sweet ten year-old australian shepherd who is blind. And meet Holly, an eight year-old golden retreiver mix who helps Daisy get around and even play fetch! It’s amazing to see! If you throw the ball, both dogs run to go and get it, with Daisy sticking close to Holly. Holly will get the ball and bring it about half way back and then drop it for Daily to pick up and bring back to you! It’s just amazing! When walking around the house, Daisy touches Holly slightly in order to get where they are going. Holly stays close to Daisy at all times, and they are both lost without each other. It’s so sweet to watch them. They came to Madison Animal Rescue Foundation after their owner passed away

adoptions

Blind Dog and Her Seeing Eye Dog in Need of a Home and are now looking for a home together. Even though they are ages ten and eight, they are both in good health and are expected to have several great years left. We know there is a special person out there who can open their heart to these two girls. MARF is offering a reduced adoption fee to the perfect forever home.

You can see Daisy and Holly, along with other adoptable animals, at the Madison, AL Petco on Saturdays from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. or by contacting MARF at info@madisonarf.org or visiting www.madisonarf.org.

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Rabbits Huntsville Friends of Rabbits is a small group of rabbit lovers in Madison County that help rabbits surrendered to the local shelters and work to educate the public about rabbit behavior and care. They are one of only two rabbit rescues in the state of Alabama. All of their foster bunnies have one thing in common; they were all unwanted by their previous owners. Rabbits are the third most surrendered animal to shelters. What would cause someone to give up their bunny? Rabbits are often purchased on impulse, particularly at Easter time. The popular conception is that they are easy pets that can be left in a cage for long periods of time, that they are good first pets for children, and that they only live for a year or two. The reality is that rabbits are complex animals that require as much care and socialization as a cat or dog. Not to mention that a rabbit can live for 10 to 12 years! Â

So if you are considering getting a rabbit, what do you need to know?

Food Rabbits cannot live solely on rabbit pellets. They require a more complex diet, with timothy hay as their primary food, and fresh green vegetables. When it comes to finding rabbit food, do not buy the ones that have nuts, seeds, corn, or other additives, as those ingredients are not good for rabbit intestines. Instead, buy a good timothy hay based pellet. Rabbits should be freely fed hay at all times to keep their intestines healthy.

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Box Training Most rabbits will pick a spot where they like to do their business. Litter training is as easy as putting a box with newspapers in the bottom and hay on the top in the spot that the bunny has picked. Once the rabbit gets comfortable using the box it can be slowly moved to spot of your choosing. The advantages of a litter-trained rabbit are great. It is much easier to clean a litter box than a cage, and a litter-trained bunny can be allowed loose in a bunny-proofed room.

Spaying and Neutering There are many benefits to spaying or neutering your bunny. Rabbits are prone to reproductive cancers. It is estimated that 85% of unspayed females and 70% of unneutered males will get these cancers. Getting your bunny fixed completely eradicates this risk. Spaying and neutering also ends hormonal behaviors such as spraying, lunging, biting, cage possessiveness, and mounting. For bunnies that will be around small children, it is a must, as these hormonal behaviors can cause injury to a child. After surgery, these behaviors typically disappear after just a few weeks. Rabbits are extremely social animals and do best in pairs. However, they reproduceâ&#x20AC;Śwell, like rabbits! A female bunny can get pregnant at 3 months of age, have up to 12 babies, and get

Rabbits should not be kept outside. The temperatures during summer and winter are very hard on them. In addition, they are prey animals, and just the sight of a predator can cause them to die of fright. Outdoor rabbits may also fall prey to tinier predators—mites, fleas, ticks, and intestinal parasites.

Housing

For those who are willing to give them the care they need, rabbits can be the most awesome pets! They dance when they are happy, can be taught to do tricks much like a dog, and can be just as loving as other pets. When properly cared for, rabbits can be wonderful additions to the family.

When choosing housing remember that rabbits need a lot of room! Their home should be at least four times the length of the bunny, and tall enough so that they can stand up without their ears touching the ceiling. There should be solid floors as wire floors can be hard on their feet, causing a condition known as “sore hocks”.

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pregnant the same day she gives birth. Unfortunately it is difficult to sex young bunnies, and there have been many stories of people thinking they had gotten two bunnies of the same sex only to be surprised by an unwanted litter. Spaying and neutering makes sure that this won’t happen to you!

With proper bunny-proofing, you can also have a free range rabbit. Rabbits like to chew electrical cords, so make sure those are covered. Check that your houseplants are not poisonous and are out of reach. Some rabbits will chew on baseboards or dig at carpeting. Giving the bunny toys, such as wooden chew toys or cardboard boxes to dig in, can help alleviate these behaviors.

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Groomingâ&#x20AC;Ś Head to Toe! Caring for your pet should be as routine as caring for yourself. Establishing a daily pet care ritual is not only good for the animalâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s physical health, but can also help to strengthen the bond between human and animal by building trust. So get started today by implementing this easy to follow five-part daily checklist.

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DAILY: 1. EARS

4. SKIN & HAIR

o Check and clean if needed. There are many different brands of wipes specific to cleaning ears. Wrap the wipe around your finger and gently clean the inside of the ear.

o Run your hand along the body and legs to check for lumps and bumps. Not only does this help you to check the head, body, and legs for fleas and ticks, but can also be a step towards preventive medicine.

o If your dog or cat frequently rubs their ears, then you need to clean them more thoroughly. If the rubbing continues, take the animal to a vet, as they may have an ear infection.

2. EYES o Check and clean if needed. Animals with light colored facial hair may have more visible brown staining around their eyes. While tearing is common, you can prevent this staining by wiping the eye area with a damp cloth daily. When buying eye wipes, check the ingredients; many of them contain chemicals, which may only further irritate the animal’s eyes, causing increased staining. There are several specialty products available to prevent or remove staining, such as Angel Eyes.

3. MOUTH o Clean the teeth and freshen breath. You can accomplish this through a variety of methods. In order of effectiveness, but also difficulty, there is brushing, application of oral gels or sprays, additives to water or food, and teeth cleaning treats.

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Grooming Checklist –

o Brush hair to reduce shedding and prevent matting. Be sure to select the right tool for the animal’s coat. For a short hair and heavy shedder, a Furminator will remove the undercoat. Long and thick hair coats require a wire comb. Older dogs that are light shedders with thinning hair will probably love the massaging effect of a Kong Zoom Groom brush. o You can freshen up the smell of your pet’s body with sprays or dry shampoos; this is an easy way to keep your dog from smelling like, well … a dog, in between baths.

5. PAWS o Remove burrs and thorns in paws. o Clean and disinfect feet before going to bed, especially if your dog sleeps in bed with you. There are wipes to speed up this process, but many have chemicals and bitter tastes. Otherwise, paws can be cleaned with a wet rag or a specialty paw washing bucket.

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WEEKLY/MONTHLY: In addition to the daily cleaning routine, other grooming is required weekly or monthly, depending on the animalâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s coat and activity level.

BATH

NAILS

o Whether you do this at home, or at a groomerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s, once a month is the minimum for both dogs and cats.

o Most pet owners opt out of this chore and let a groomer or vet do it. But it can be done at home by filing or clipping. A new product on the market is the Beckky Board, a nail-filing mat that will help keep dogs nails more manageable by simply having them walk over it throughout the day.

HAIRCUT o This can range from a quick trim with scissors, to a full body shave. Keeping hair at a shorter length will make daily grooming more manageable.

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The alarm sounds, you sit on the edge of your bed, and begin to lick your hands. You run your hands through your hair, over your face, and down your chest to your belly. You sigh, stand up, and begin to put on your work clothes as the new day awaits your arrival. After a week of this, you begin to notice your friends don’t call you anymore… When our cats show this behavior we praise them for how well they groom themselves. What we fail to see is that they are actually just spreading the bacteria from their mouths all over their little bodies. Even when educated about the need to clean cats, most people live in fear of giving a cat a bath. Though, in my experience as a cat groomer I have groomed over a hundred cats, and have only met four cats with aggression so severe that grooming without sedation was not possible. We like cats because they are selfsufficient. They are quiet, they don’t have to be walked, they feed themselves, they entertain us with little to no effort from us, and they keep our laps warm as we lounge about our home. But just like dogs and humans they need their bodies cleaned to maintain good health and longevity.

TOP 5 REASONS FOR GROOMING A CAT: §§ To prevent matting: When cats are not bathed their skin can get very greasy. This causes the shedding hair to stick to the skin, eventually causing it to harden and become impossible for the cat to remove. If your cat is matting that indicates a bath is in order. By bathing cats we degrease their skin, allowing them to remain mat and pain free. §§ To decrease hairballs: Drying and the combing out of loose fur after a bath, also helps prevent matting. A metal

greyhound comb is the best tool for combing through cat fur. The use of a de-shedding blade is especially helpful on shorthaired cats, which are also susceptible to matting.

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Why Groom the Little Tigers §§ To decrease the spread of bacteria: Many cats have tuffs on the bottom of their paw pads. It becomes a litter trap every time they go in and out of their box. Shaving the pads helps keep a handle on the litter trap and the spread of bacteria around the house. Sanitary clips around their private areas also help to keep the unwanted debris away. §§ To decrease shedding: There is more to cat grooming than the shave down or “lion cut”. It is possible to take a longhaired cat down to a shorter hair cat without them getting the lion cut. A trained cat groomer will offer this option. §§ To prevent scratching: Declawing cats leaves them a knuckle short, can cause long term pain, and behavior problems. An alternative is the use of nail caps. These are rubber caps are glued onto the claws of your cat to prevent scratching. They can last up to 12 weeks, and come in an array of fun colors. Good cat groomers handle cats without fear, and with an understanding of the necessary steps to ensure a happy, healthy cat is living a clean and wonderful life with the one he loves.

This article by Robyn Warner, co-owner of Goin’ to the Dogs & Cats Pet Supply and Certified Feline Master Groomer, National Cat Groomers Institute of America

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reader

… s o t o ph “Oscar” “Rocky”

Contributed by: Bryan and Cathy Williams Our first rescue, Rocky, was a tiny puppy who was dumped at the rock quarry in north Huntsville on a figid night in November 2006. We found him shivering and scared and starving. Our vet says he is pure mutt, and he has been the best dog we could ever love. Our second rescue is a 3 year old shiz-tzu/malti mix whose owner died and the family took him to the dog pound in Athens. He was pulled by Madison Small Pups Rescue & Adoption and we adopted him from that agency. We named him Oscar because he resembles Oscar the Grouch. He wants to be held and cuddled all the time—he is definately spoiled and pampered at our house.

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reader photos “Tassie”

“Queen”

Contributed by: Tracy Blomqvist This is Tassie (named after Tasmania Australia).

Contributed by: J. McCormick ‘“Queen CoCo-Puff Wondermutt”

“Lulu” Contributed by: Eduardo Cabanillas Lulu taking one of her favorite naps.

see youinr poetur magazine!

Send a high resolution photo of your pet including its name and yours, and you may see it featured in an upcoming issue of Rocket City Pets.

Email the photo and information to info@rocketcitypets.com www.rocketcitypets.com | Spring 2014 17