Animal shelter offers gratis cat sterilization

Pueblo Animal Services, a division of the Humane Society of the Pikes Peak province, is now offering free spay and neuter surgeries to income-qualified cat owners. Appointments are available on a first-come, first-served basis and space is limited. “Southern Colorado Community Foundation has generously given us a grant to sterilize cats for those who are in financial need," said Julie Justman, associate director of Pueblo Animal Services. “We hope this event will kick off our normal subsidized spay and spay program that we offer year around."

The subsidized spay-neuter program, which was launched in 2008, offers surgeries for dogs and cats at reduced costs for all persons and families. “Our ultimate goal is to reduce the pet overpopulation by offering a cost-effective alternative to pet guardians,” said Jan Mchugh-Smith, president and CEO of HSPPR. "Normally, clients are responsible for covering a co-pay for the service and it depends on income qualification, pet species, sex and weight. All co-pays are being waived for the free cat spay-neuter for those who are income-qualified." Spaying or neutering pets prevents unwanted litters and reduces behavioral issues; the practice creates a better lifestyle for pets animals in the community and reduces stress on owners.

Rescued animals are frequently great pets

The myth – an adopting family does not know what they're getting when they rescue a homeless dog or cat. Every now and then I'll hear or read comments stating that this is the case. Actually, however, by talking with the people running or volunteering with the Pets adoption agency or shelter, you can learn about your potential pet's habits and character. As far as young puppies go, no one can guarantee what the cat or dog's personality will become. We have some really great salvage groups in Southeastern North Carolina, and the volunteers who work with homeless dogs and cats can help people match their lifestyles with the right pet.

Maybe you want a more lively dog that might enjoy jogging or long walks in the neighborhood. Or maybe your choice is for a more laid back companion (or companions) who would be better suited for snuggling on the sofa to watch movies or reruns of "Timmy and Lassie" or "Wild Kingdom." The volunteers can inform adopters about how the pets animal might get along with other furry members of the family or how they might relate to small children. For pets in general, there are a number of factors that could have an impact on temperament, including heredity and environmental experiences.

North Clwyd Animal Salvage to microchip pets in Flint

NORTH Clwyd Animal Rescue (NCAR) needs owners to get their Pets microchipped at an event in Flint. The Trelogan-based charity will be outside Jollyes Pet Superstore on Flintshire Retail Park on Saturday (January 29) and will charge £10 for pets to be microchipped.

The organisation will also be appealing for volunteers to help the contributions in a number of ways over the coming year. Animal lovers are needed to walk the dogs, groom the Pets animals and care for cats, kittens and rabbits. Other opportunities include helping at NCAR fundraising events, holding your own event or lottery and helping in the charity’s shops.

Letting pets sleep in your bed makes you sick

Scientists in California claimed that letting pets into the bed increases the chances of constricting the more than 100 diseases which are known to be transmitted from domestic pets to humans. Serious diseases which can be caught from animals include chagas disease, which can cause life-threatening heart and digestive system disorders, and cat-scratch disease, which can also come from being licked by infected felines, and can cause lethal damage to the liver, kidney or spleen. Recently a nine-year-old boy in Arizona caught the plague because he slept with his flea-infested cat, according to the report published in the US Centre for Disease Control and Prevention journal "Emerging communicable Diseases."

Bruno Chomel, a professor at the University of California School of veterinary medicine, and who co-authored the study, said: "In many countries, pets have become substitutes for childbearing and child care, sometimes leading to extreme pet care."There are private places in the household, and I think our pets should not go beyond next to the bed. Having an overfed animal in your bed is fine, not a real one." "We wanted to raise the attention of people, as sleeping with a pet is becoming quite common, and there are risks associated with it, even if it is not very frequent," he added. In a recent study up to 62 per cent of  Dog owners said their pets slept either on or in their beds.

Animal salvage centre warns over micro pigs

Micro pigs were in exact after they became "the celebrity pet", but experts have warned it is difficult to predict how big they will actually grow. Brinsley Animal Rescue Centre has been giving new homes to some of the pigs. John Beresford said: "its rescue centres that pick up the pieces of people buying pets animals on a fad and then giving them up on an impulse."

The centre's website states that there is "no such thing as a micro pig" and explains that all pigs are large, powerful and possibly critical. Micro pigs are usually a cross between pot-bellied or Kune pigs and were made popular after different Hollywood stars and the Beckhams bought one. One of the pigs Brinsley Animal Rescue Centre has re-homed came from Bolsover.

Animals suffer upset

Having survived the floods many will face the challenge of trade with their traumatised pets, according to experts from the Australian Veterinary Association. Veterinarians are expecting to deal with large numbers of traumatised pets over the coming weeks and months.

“The human disaster has been huge, but many survivors of the floods who are relying on their pets for emotional support may not realise that the animals have also been emotionally scarred by events,” said pets animal behavior specialist, Dr Kersti Seksel. “Dogs and cats that survive disasters can suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder in the same way as humans. “Pets that temporarily lost their owners and/or homes during the flooding may be suffering from division anxiety-related problems.”

Roadshow was no sphere for small pets

I was at Parkway procession on Saturday and chanced upon a Pet Lovers Centre (PLC) road show. Apart from selling pet products, a hamster race was going on, where kids placed their hamsters in plastic balls and "raced" them. Surrounded by screaming kids who were shaking the plastic balls, loud blasting music and crowds, the hamsters were clearly stressed and panicky. Chinchillas and rabbits were placed at the road show as well, amid the loud music and crowds. I understand that PLC is a business and is riding on the Rabbit year to increase profits, but small pet animals should not be subjected to this amount of pressure. PLC should have known better.