Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Month by Emily Hines, Guest Attendant, Fenway Bark

What is considered Cruelty to animals?

Animals without proper shelter, in need of medical attention, not receiving proper nutrition, animal fighting and animals abandoned when an owner moves away.

What are the consequences for Cruelty to animals?

In the state of Massachusetts if you are found guilty of animal cruelty you may receive up to a $1000.00 fine, seizure of your animal or up to one year imprisonment.

What can I do if I think an animal is being abused?

Contact your local law enforcement/animal control office or the MSPCA Law Enforcement Department.

The MSPCA Law Enforcement Department Administration is staffed from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Mon.-Fri. When calling after hours, leave a brief message along with your name, and the area code and phone number where you may be reached during normal business hours. MSPCA Law Enforcement Department voice mail will not be monitored during weekends, nights or holidays, and voice messages left will not be received until the next business day.  In the event of an emergency after hours, local city/town police departments may be contacted. All Calls are Confidential.

Outside Massachusetts, contact your local police department, animal control or animal protection organization.

How can I help? 

• Always make sure your pet is wearing an I.D. tag
• Prepare a Disaster plan that includes your pet
• Make sure your pet is spayed or neutered

*If you see something, say something! Animals don’t have a voice of their own, so we need to protect them.  We collectively share the responsibility to keep animals safe.

National Poison Prevention Week

National Poison Prevention Week

- by Miriam Woodruff, DVM, Fenway Bark Stay.Play.Heal.

March 20^th – 26^th marks National Poison Prevention Week.  To celebrate the importance of this week, Fenway Bark would like to remind everyone of some easy ways to keep your pets safe!  Following is a list of common things around the house and yard that can be harmful to your pet.

At the end of the list are helpful tips about what to do if you suspect your dog or cat might have gotten into something toxic, including symptoms to watch out for.

Remember to always stay calm if you suspect your pet has been poisoned!  Make sure your dog or cat is in a safe place, and call your local emergency veterinarian or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center Hotline (888) 426-4435.

Common Food Hazards

Many everyday human foods are harmful and even lethal to pets. Read this list carefully. You might be surprised!  For example, did you know that mere raisins (and grapes!) can cause acute kidney failure and even death in your dog in a matter of hours or days?  Or that macadamia nuts can cause temporary paralysis? Click on the links at the bottom of the page to learn more.

• Alcoholic beverages
• Avocado
• Bones that have been cooked (raw bones are okay)
• Chocolate (in all forms)
• Coffee (in all forms)
• Fatty foods
• Garlic
• Grapes
• Macadamia nuts
• Moldy or spoiled foods
• Onions, onion powder
• Raisins   
• Salmon that’s raw (deadly – salmon poisoning disease)
• Salt
• Tomatoes
• Wild mushrooms
• Yeast dough
• Xylitol (sweetener used in candies, sugar-free gums and mints)

Warm Weather Hazards

Keep a close eye on your pets in the warmer seasons. Be sure toxins are out of reach or safely locked up. Even seemingly harmless stuff as cocoa mulch can be extremely toxic to dogs: it contains the same chemical that’s in chocolate.  Be on the lookout for toxicity symptoms in your pet, and call your veterinarian if you have questions.

• Animals—toads, insects, spiders, snakes and scorpions
• Blue-green algae in ponds
• Citronella candles  
• Compost piles
• Fertilizers
• Flea products
• Fly baits containing methomyl
• Herbicides
• Mulch with cocoa
• Outdoor plants and plant bulbs
• Slug and snail baits containing metaldehyde
• Swimming-pool treatment supplies

Medication

Human medications can be potentially lethal to pets, even in small doses. You might be tempted to give your dog or cat some Tylenol - don’t!  Tylenol can cause death within hours in cats, and a day or two in dogs.  Don’t give your pet any medication or supplements without consulting a veterinarian. In the case of accidental ingestion, call your vet right away.

• Anti-cancer drugs
• Antidepressants
• Cold medicines
• Diet Pills
• Pain killers of ANY KIND
• Vitamins

Cold Weather Hazards

Some household products like antifreeze are sweet and tasty, increasing the likelihood that your pet could ingest some. Be sure these products are out of reach. Some products such as ice melts are now available in pet-safe forms.

• Antifreeze
• Ice melting products
• Liquid potpourri
• Rat and mouse bait

Common Household Hazards

Be sure your cleaning supplies and other household hazards on this list are safely out of reach of pets and in a secure place. 

·       Baits for rodents, snails, slugs or other pests

·       Batteries

·       Cleaning supplies, such as bleach, acids, alkalis and other detergents

·       Fabric softener sheets

·       Insecticides

·       Mothballs

·       Post-1982 pennies (due to high concentration of zinc)

·       Rat and mouse poisons of any kind

Plants and Flowers

Many house plants and outdoor plants are harmful if ingested by your pet. For instance, lilies can cause life-threatening kidney failure in cats, while sago palms can cause liver failure in dogs and cats. Keep house plants and bouquets away from your dogs and cats.  Be sure to click on the links below for more information on the variety of toxic plants that are a danger to your animals, and what they look like.

What to Do IF!

If you think your dog or cat has been poisoned:

·         Stay calm!

·         Secure your pet in a safe place

·         Do NOT give any home antidotes

·         Do NOT induce vomiting without consulting a vet or the ASPCA Poison Control Hotline

What if your pet seems normal?

If you suspect that your pet may have become exposed to something toxic, but is not showing signs of illness, contact your local veterinarian or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center hotline at (888) 426-4435.  Not all exposure situations require an immediate trip to the clinic, but your vet will know for sure.

If your pet does NOT SEEM NORMAL, call the ASPCA Poison Control Hotline or your local emergency veterinarian right away.

Here are some symptoms never to ignore:

·         drooling

·         vomiting/diarrhea

·         weakness

·         convulsions

·         difficulty breathing

·         staggering

While many things will make a dog drool, vomit, be tired or have convulsions, this combination in an otherwise healthy pet should immediately alert you to the possibility of poisoning.

As always, STAY CALM!  If your dog is showing combinations of the above symptoms, call your local emergency veterinarian or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control hotline (888)426-4435 right away.

Have the numbers ready!

You should have the number of your local veterinarian AND the number of the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center hotline conveniently located in your house and in your wallet/purse (or better yet, stored on speed-dial on your phone).

Information you will need when call your emergency vet or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center Hotline at (888) 426-4435

When you call your local veterinarian or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center hotline at (888) 426-4435, be ready with the following:

·         species, breed, age, sex, weight of your pet

·         symptoms

·         information about the exposure, including the toxic agent or poison if you know it, and the time elapsed since the time of exposure

·         save the product container or package for reference, if possible

·         collect in a sealable plastic bag any material your pet may have chewed or vomited

Some Useful Links

ASPCA Poison Control Center

http://www.aspca.org/pet-care/poison-control/

 ASPCA List of Toxic and Non-Toxic Plants

http://www.aspca.org/pet-care/poison-control/plants/

Cornell University Searchable Database of Poisonous Plants

http://www.ansci.cornell.edu/plants/index.html

How can I check to see if my pet food has been recalled?

http://www.fda.gov/oc/opacom/hottopics/petfood.html

How to make a Pet First Aid Kit

http://www.aspca.org/pet-care/poison-control/animal-poison-control-faq.aspx#GI3

Best Pricing for Thanksgiving Holiday Boarding Now Available!

February 22 is Spay Day USA

February 22: Spay Day USA by Leslie Miller, Vet Tech, Fenway Bark

Why Should You Spay / Neuter Your Pet?

Definition, please!

First, let’s look at the words themselves.

SPAY – to remove the ovaries and the uterus of a female animal.

NEUTER – to castrate or remove the testes from a male animal.

There are many benefits to having your pets spayed / neutered!

Benefits for Pet Parents

Hey you boys! Get away from there!

Females will benefit from being spayed, as they will no longer experience heat cycles. That means, no more unneutered males coming around your house trying to impregnate your little baby! It also eliminates the “messiness” associated with the heat cycle.

What is that…smell??

Males that are neutered are less likely to engage in urine marking, humping, male aggression and the urge to roam to find those females in heat.

Ahhh…peace and quiet…and money!

Female cats in heat will often be noisy, meow constantly and urinate frequently – a lot of the time outside their litter box.  Who needs that? Also, you’ll save some cash and time when your animal isn’t producing litter after litter of tiny critters starved for food and attention!

Healthier, Happier Pets!

Put the kibosh on the Big “C” and other pesky annoyances.

Pets that have been spayed and neutered are less likely to develop certain types of cancer. Spaying females prior to their first heat cycle nearly eliminates the risk of breast cancer and completely prevents uterine infections and uterine cancer. Neutering prevents testicular cancer, enlargements of the prostate gland, and greatly reduces the risk for perianal tumors.

What was all the fuss about anyway?

After spaying or neutering your animal, you may notice a chance in behavior – she / he may become more affectionate, and less nervous or aggressive.

Why should YOU spay or neuter?

My dog is so handsome / beautiful and a purebred! I want to breed!

Yep. Even purebreds end up in shelters. In fact, 25 percent of animals in shelters are purebreds. Responsible breeders have homes for their litters BEFORE they breed. In general, average litters are about 6 puppies (depending of course, on the size and breed of the dog). Are you prepared to find good homes for ALL of them? And even if you do…there are a finite number of homes available. You may have just taken a home that could have otherwise adopted a shelter animal.

The sad facts.

There are countless animals that are producing more and more unwanted litters, causing many animal shelters to reach maximum capacity.  According to the ASPCA an estimated 5 to 7 million dogs and cats enter shelters every year. Sadly, there isn’t enough room or homes for them all. This leads to approximately 3 to 4 MILLION animals being euthanized in the United States each year (60 percent of dogs, 70 percent of cats). Spaying or neutering will make a big impact on controlling the overpopulation of dogs and cats and help to stop the needless euthanasia that happens on a daily basis to those otherwise healthy animals all across the country.

Show me the money!

Don’t let cost be the reason that you don’t spay or neuter. There are many low cost options available, right here in Massachusetts!

Alliance for Animals

(617) 268-7800

http://www.AFAboston.org

Animal Advocates

(508) 991-7727

Animal Rescue League Spay Waggin’

(877) 590-7729

http://www.arlboston.org/SW

MSPCA SNAP program

(617) 522-7400

http://www.mspca.org/programs/spay-neuter/

Merrimack River Feline Rescue Society Spay Mass Van

(888) 495-7729

http://www.MRFRS.org

Merwin Memorial Clinic

(617) 782-5420

STOP Clinic

(617) 571-7151

http://www.thestopclinic.com/

Sylvan Animal Clinic

(508) 679-6122

http://www.faxonarl.org/clinic.htm

Pet Partners

(508) 672-4813

http://www.petpartnersne.org/

Second Chance Fund for Animal Welfare

(978) 779-8287

http://www.secondchancefund.org

If you don’t live in Massachusetts, contact SPAY USA for a referral in your state:

(888) 495-7729  http://www.spayusa.org

Be part of the pet population solution, not the problem!

Spay or Neuter your pet today!

American Dog: Life Happens When You Are Making Other Plans

Meet Rocky, an adorable bundle of energy who arrived to greet his new Mum and Pop last weekend.  Well, almost.

Rocky has been the dog of Geraldine's dreams and after a formidable search with her newlywed husband, Fergus, found Mr. Rocky and had him scheduled for delivery to expand their family from two to a loving group of three.

All was well with Rocky's planned arrival.  Fergus and Geraldine had purchased all the provisions they believe they needed for Rocky's arrival.  The tiny collar, the little kennel carrier, a tiny bed, healthy food, a toy or two and an instruction book for new puppy.

Geraldine, a temporary transplant from Manhattan, was scheduled for surgery at the Brigham with just a one night recovery planned so all was well timed for Rocky's arrival.  Well, until "life happens while making other plans," as they say.

Rocky was en route through friends and, well, Geraldine was not en route from the hospital.  Following surgery, Geraldine needed to stay longer in the hospital than anticipated by anyone.  Poor Fergus, a virtual puppy novice, called Fenway Bark to see if we could help.

Since Fenway Bark isn't quite open yet for general hotel and boarding, and a youngster such as Mr. Rocky would typically be too young for boarding anyway, I volunteered to take Mr. Rocky to my home to meet the Board of Directors to help Geraldine and Fergus out.

Elated, Fergus showed up with a wide eyed Rocky in his little carrier.  And, with as much hand holding as we could offer, gave Fergus our advice on Rocky's care and a plan of action for visiting and caring for Rocky while his wife was recovering from her surgery on an extended stay at the Brigham. 

Fergus was like a new father, cooing at his little boy and enjoying every moment of his time with Rocky.  Fergus even noted that Rocky was attracted to his wedding ring so he must already be committed to the family.  Rocky, realizing that he had good thing going, adopted Fergus right away, even before Fergus had finished reading the owner's manual.



We all grew to enjoy both Rocky and Fergus over the next few days and Geraldine continued to recover.

There is a great moral to this story that dovetails nicely into one of the services we offer at Fenway Bark.  Simply because life does happen while making other plans, it is important to be prepared in the event your dog or cat needs our care.

Yes, Aunt Nancy may take care of your pet most of the time but sometimes Aunt Nancy may not be available when you need her, particularly in an emergency.  Likewise, the neighborhood teenager may be a good option for pet care when your pet is healthy but when your pet's care gets more complicated with diabetes, arthritis or medicine administration, you may need a plan B like Fenway Bark.

Finally, sometime medical emergencies happen.  If your pet is registered at Fenway Bark with vaccination records on file, we will work with police to bring your pet to Fenway Bark for care so that YOU can get the care YOU need without the anxiety of wondering about the condition of your pet.

Do you know someone who lives alone who should have their pet registered at Fenway Bark because if a medical emergency happened to them, there would be no one to care for their pets?  Help them register on line for Fenway Bark so we can help that person in need when the time comes.  Ask any hospital social worker and they can share stories of people who refused treatment because of concern for their pet's care while they would be hospitalized.

Preparation reduces anxiety whether you are a road warrior, a medical emergency, or a free spirit who likes to pick up and go but needs pet care.

Register now.  You will be glad you did!  You will need your veterinary records, food information, and emergency contact information to complete the form.

Yes, our form is long but it is because we care enough to ask the questions.

As always, your recommendation and word of mouth on Fenway Bark makes a big difference to a small business like Fenway Bark.  Thank you for sharing information with your pet loving peers about our services.

Fenway Bark and Puppy Love on NBC News!

Fenway Bark and our Puppy Love event were featured on the NBC News this weekend to showcase a very successful event!  Over four hundred people and 150 dogs attended the event!

I want to thank every vendor who made a donation, met with our future clients and guests, and helped spread the word about the event.


I want to thank each of the people who came to the event and opened their heart and homes to adopt a homeless animal.  I also want to thank those who couldn't consider expanding their families but came to support the rescues and shelters who work tirelessly to support the placement of animals in good homes.

Finally, I want to thank my Fenway Bark team who worked so hard to make the event successful.  We defined the success of the event being the placement of homeless pets in their new forever homes and although the adoption process isn't immediate because of the vetting process of each charity, we are confident that dogs and cats found new forever homes last evening.

Below are the shelters and rescues that participated in the event:

Ahisma Animal Haven
Animal Protection Center of Southeastern Mass (APCSM)
The Boxer Rescue, Inc.
Dog Orphans

French Bulldog Rescue Network
North Attleboro Animal Shelter
Northeast Animal Shelter
Pittie Love Rescue
Poodle Rescue of New England
Quincy Animal Shelter

We have an incredible team who work very, very hard to make a positive difference for animals in our care whether its one dog or hundreds of dogs attending a charity event.  Thanks Team!

We look forward to having our Puppy Love guests visit us again.  If you like what you saw at Fenway Bark, please tell your friends, family and dog social/meet up groups.  If we can improve in any way or have suggestions on services or products you would like to see at Fenway Bark, please let me know by emailing me.

We look forward to continuing to support the animal rescue community.

Fenway Bark's store will be opening daily very shortly (we will post hours here when we are fully open) and our boarding/daycare will be opening in March.  We had some construction/financing closing delays but we are full steam ahead now.  Thanks to everyone who took the time to tell me how much they liked Fenway Bark and want us to open soon.  We appreciate your support.  We will open soon!  I promise!


Jane