9-5-11 Volunteer & Community News Foster Info!
Some Animal Facts Fun Cat Facts: A cat can jump as much as seven times its height. A cat can spend five or more hours a day grooming himself. A cat cannot see directly under its nose. This is why the cat cannot seem to find tidbits on the floor. A cat has four rows of whiskers. Fun Dog Facts: A dog's whiskers are touch-sensitive hairs called vibrissae. They are found on the muzzle, above the eyes and below the jaws, and can actually sense tiny changes in airflow. Contrary to popular belief, dogs do not sweat by salivating. They sweat through the pads of their feet. Dogs can hear sounds that are too faint for us to hear, and also can hear noises at a much higher frequency than we can. Their hearing is so good that they probably rely more on sound than on sight to navigate their world. Dogs' eyes have large pupils and a wide field of vision, making them really good at following moving objects. Dogs also see well in fairly low light. VBAC & VBACAC Upcoming Events Every 1 st Sat of the month (July, August and September) The Friends of VBACAC sponsor offsite adoption events from 10am to 4pm Every 3 rd Saturday of the month we have an adoption event here at VBACAC shelter Sept 10-11 Super AdoptAThon, Greenbriar Petsmart 10am 4pm Sept 13 Strawbridge Open Gold Tourn. Herron Ridge Golf Club 1pm Sept 24 VA Beach Farmers Market, Dam Neck & P. Anne Rd 10am-3pm Sept 30 Oct 1 Neptune Fest. 10am-5pm Adoption Success! Soloman, a lucky cat adopted by an owner 700 miles away in Tennessee. They never met, and his new owner flew him to her!
Harry the Pekingese Foster Information More fosters are needed to help other animals in the shelter that need extra care like Harry. There are many reasons an animal might need foster care, for example- puppies and kittens who are too young to be put up for adoption, those with health issues (my latest foster is being treated fpr heartworms), those who need a little more socialization, and those who just need a little extra TLC. When you foster you will fall in love a thousand times, and there will be a hole in your heart whenever one leaves your care, but the rewards are immense. Seeing them go to loving families and knowing that you have helped them on their road to a better life is an amazing feeling. There will always be a new animal who needs you and who will fill that hole in your heart! If you would like to become a foster for VBAC&AC please contact Tammy Patol, foster coordinator, at tpatol@vbgov.com or 207-409-8237. Virginia Beach Animal Care and Adoption Center's foster program was started in September 2009. I have been fostering dogs for the shelter since then, and while they all have a place in my heart I have decided to tell Harry's story because of his amazing transformation from the time he entered the shelter to the time he was adopted. Harry was picked up as a stray in October 2009. He hardly had any hair and no one even knew for sure what kind of dog he was! He is a very sweet boy but potential adopters overlooked him because of his appearance. Because he needed to be treated for his skin condition he was the perfect candidate for foster care. He came home with me on Nov.18,2009 and he was with us until he was adopted almost two months later. During that time he was on oral medication for fungal/bacterial infections and I bathed him twice a week with medicated shampoo. He was also put on thyroid pills and and we fed him good quality food with added supplements to help promote the growth of a good coat. After two months he looked like a totally different dog. His looks were finally as cute as his personality! A nice young woman adopted him and they moved to Chicago!
Basic Rules of a New Pet Owner 1. Choose the right pet for your family. This can be a hard decision and should never be made in haste. Something to consider is your lifestyle. If you are an active person who likes the outdoors, a dog with lots of energy to burn would be perfect for you. If you are elderly and rarely go for long walks outside an adult cat may be right for you. If you are a family with children then a sturdy well tempered cat or dog would be good. If you live in an apartment or small house, a large dog may not be the best choice. Do research before attempting to adopt a pet of any type. 2. Visit a shelter. Whatever you do, do not adopt a pet because they are cute. 3. Have a quiet place in your home that your animal can be alone and content. For example, use a baby gate in a laundry room. When the animal gets too excited or needs a timeout, it can go to this area and not feel abandoned. 4. Give your animal its own bed. If your pet sleeps with you as a puppy or kitten they will sleep with you as an adult also. It seems alright in the beginning but the animal is like your baby and if you don t teach them right from wrong you may have to re-train your pet later. Sleeping with a puppy in bed is no big deal but sleeping with a full sized dog is another. This goes especially for the single pet owner whom may acquire a family later on in life and the pet may no longer be welcome in the bed anymore. If this was allowed to happen the animal may get confused and act out in many ways. 5. Always have a fresh bowl of water for your pet at all times. If you travel a lot this is important because the animal can t ask for a drink. Even if you are a homebody you must remember to refill the bowl every day. Do not let your animal drink out of the toilet. Make sure that your pet does not have access to poisonous things such as plants and cleaning products. A good rule is if you wouldn t let a human baby have something don t let your pet have it either. 6. Nutritious food is a very important pet basic. The main thing for pet owners to know about their pet s food is whether it meets the requirements of the pet s nutritional needs and the cost effectiveness. Never switch your pet s food without doing so gradually. This can be bad for the digestive system. Some cats are very susceptible to this because of sensitive urinary tracts and the results can be painful for the pet and costly for the owner at the vet. 7. Last but not least you should never get a pet of any kind if you can t take care of it physically or have the monetary ability to give the animal all of the requirements and vet checks that they need. You as the pet owner are the main source of life and well being for this animal. You have to be able to take necessary responsibility of scheduled shots, checkups and physical requirements that the pet may have. Never leave your pet alone for an extended period of time. Cats and dogs require a lot of maintenance and love. Depending on the pet, its breed and many other individual needs, depicts your pet s routine and maintenance. Remember your animal is your responsibility and by adopting a pet, you agree to its basic care and needs.
Volunteer Information Volunteer Opportunity: We are working to identify persons willing and able to assist with the set-up and maintenance of an off-site animal shelter for the community during times of disaster. We are in the beginning stages of the planning. Imagine a human shelter established by the City for persons to evacuate, but exclusively for pets. Human shelters do not allow pets and many owners will not evacuate without them so this will fill the gap and provide additional safety opportunities to the community. Persons who may be interested in helping in this capacity are encouraged to email Shelter Manager Juleen Ballance at jballanc@vbgov.com. Responses of interest will be accepted via email by through 7-1-11. Thanks so much! Pictures of the new VBACAC building! Virginia Beach Animal Care and Adoption Center 2665 Leroy Rd Virginia Beach, VA 757-385-4444 Mon, Wed, Fri: 11am 6pm Tues: 11am 3pm (reclaims only) Thurs: 12pm 7pm Created by Domonique Owens