Animal shelter intended in case of evacuation

A special crisis animal shelter will be set up at the Red River Valley Fairgrounds in West Fargo to shelter animals if a residential evacuation is implemented in the Fargo-Moorhead area. The Red River Regional Disaster Animal Response team will open and operate the shelter. Team members comprise city and county emergency managers and representatives from the FM Humane Society, Adopt-A-Pet and the Red River Zoo.

The Cass-Clay County Emergency Animal Shelter will be activated only in the event of a deluge evacuation advisory. Under Federal Emergency Management Agency guidelines, the shelter will accept only household pets, including cats and dogs. Exotic animals and birds will be accepted by the Red River Zoo. The Cass and Clay County Extension offices are working on plans to help large animals and livestock. All area residents are being urged to make arrangements for their Pets animals now by asking for the assistance of friends and family who can help house pets in the event of a mass departure.

South Dakota reports fall in animal rabies cases in 2010

The Department of Health's Lon Kightlinger says South Dakota had 32 rabid Pets animal cases in 2010, down from 53 the previous year. Nine of those cases were domestic animals. Kightlinger says it's important for people to keep their pets vaccinated because rabies is always a possibility. He says the skunk population is the main tank of the disease.

Seven animal rabies cases have been reported so distant in 2011. Infected wild animals can pass rabies to pets or livestock, which can in turn expose humans. Officials say wild animals that appear tame can be rabid, so it's important that people don't attempt to catch or handle wildlife.

One more motive to spay or neuter your pets

A starving, frightened young hoary tabby cat was found alone in the snow. Someone rescued her and gave her to me. She was in horrible shape, skinny, bleeding and with low body temperature. Thanks to Dr. Spence Mobile Vet Clinic, who attempted to make her better, but in the end, she had to be euthanized. It was the kindest thing to do. This is only one story out of thousands of animals that are deserted each year. There is a way to help.
Have your pets spayed or neutered to help remove many unwanted pets. There are many services in the area that provide low cost spay and neuter, such as the Spay/Neuter Clinic in Auburn. Such a small thing that you can do to prevent the needless suffering of blameless animals.
Please also support your local shelter, the California Spay/Neuter License Plate and donate to local animal groups. Cats and dogs are domesticated Pets animals and cannot be dumped into the outdoors to live on their own.
They need human intervention to thrive. Kitten season is approaching, please have your cats spayed or neutered and don't let the death of this small tabby kitten go ignored.

Discounts presented for adoption of pets

The Animal House Adoption Center, a pet center at 3516 Newburg Road operated by Metro Animal Services, is celebrating St. Patrick's Day by leasing adopters determine their own discount with the roll of a die. Discounts apply to animals 5 months old and older. Regular adoption fees for cats, dogs, puppies and kittens variety from $50 to $175. 

Discounts will differ from 10 percent to 60 percent, depending on the number rolled on the die. For example, a one will earn a 10 percent discount, a two a 20 percent discount. The promotion begins today and ends March 20. All Pets animals come with a full adoption package, which includes spaying or neutering, rabies vaccination and license, preventive vaccinations, deworming, heartworm or slinky leukemia test, a microchip and $100 in coupons.

Animal regulation a failure

The intent of the animal control bylaw concerning cats, as I recall, was to control the perceived growth of the population of cats in Saskatoon. It has turned out to be an ineffective set of regulations that only swelled the number of abandoned animals. The bylaw encourages people to abandon their unlicensed pets when faced with the high fines and pound fees. Running a red light will cost you about as much in fines ( $250) as for having an unlicensed pet. The result is that the Saskatoon SPCA and other Animal rescue programs are overloaded with untaken animals.

A more reasonable solution to the cat population problem would be a subsidized spay and neuter program, and a public education program to encourage responsible pet ownership. Yes, there's an income tested spay and neuter program offered by the SPCA, but information about it is scant. A more effective program would not be as showy as the River Landing project, but some changes need to be made if the city is serious about Animal welfare. The licensing fees that are currently being collected are simply a tax on pet ownership and an added managerial burden on our civic employees.

Justin Bieber Auctions Slash Hair for Animals

If you are/know a tween girl, you may have heard that teen pop feeling Justin Bieber cut his signature swooping locks. But did you know the hair he cut off will benefit animals? Bieber auctioned off his former hair, kept in a clear glass box autographed by the singer, and the proceeds will benefit The Gentle Barn, a nonprofit Animal refuge home to more than 100 farm animals rescued from abuse and neglect.

You might think some tufts of hair wouldn't score big bread, but not when that hair comes from the Bieb's golden head! The winning bid, 100% of which goes the The Gentle Barn, was more than $40,000! No word on who the lucky (and generous) winner is. In the past, Bieber used his fame to help animals in a Peta2 ad encouraging people to adopt pets from shelters. It seems Bieber is a friend to both shelter pets and ranch animals -- will his advocacy work turn you into a "Belieber"?

Memorial garden for pets to be shaped at RSPCA centre in Landing Lane

A NEW memorial garden for pets is being shaped at the RSPCA’s animal home in York – and a group of teachers got digging to help prepare the site. The charity’s York and District branch said animal owners will be able to pay a fee to plant a rose bush and install a plaque in the garden to remember their pet. Branch manager Angela Hunter said the garden, which is being created near the entrance to the home in Landing Lane, would help to raise funds for the contributions, although the fee had not yet been decided.

She said there would be room for two to three dozen scrubs to be planted in the garden, which is set to open in late spring. She said many animal owners were very upset when their pet died, and would appreciate the opportunity to remember them in their own memorial garden while also helping to raise vital funds for the charity’s York branch. She said the bushes could commemorate any kind of pet, but stressed that no Pets animals would be buried in the garden. Eleven teachers and other members of staff from Manor CE School were given spades to turn over the ground yesterday during a day used up at the home, before later helping with the animals.