4th of July Pet Safety - From DAWG at the Mission Viejo Animal Shelter

More dogs go missing or are injured on July 4th than any other day of the year. By following some simple tips, you can help keep your pets safe this 4th of July, and they will love you for it.
DO NOT take animals to any fireworks displays, as the noise can be be frightening and disorienting. Some dogs have also been known to try and attack fireworks or firecrackers, eat them, catch them or try to play with them, resulting in horrible injuries or even death.
Secure your pet by keeping doors closed so there's no escape route. If possible, close all the windows, too, and cover them (close blinds or curtains) so that your pet is insulated, thus creating a home sanctuary. Play soothing music or turn on the T.V. to help muffle loud noises.
NEVER leave pets outside or unattended.
If your pet doesn't have a microchip, make sure s/he is wearing current identification.
Never leave pets in cars unattended. On a sunny day, the temperature inside a car can skyrocket to 140 degrees in less than 30 minutes.
Make the grilling area off limits during parties and BBQs. Scraps can be tempting, but can make animals sick. Always keep fresh, clean water available for animals.
If you do go out, when returning home drive slowly and be aware of animals that may be lost and roaming.

The best thing you can do for Fido or Fluffy this 4th of July? Stay home. Just having mom or dad there while the fireworks are going off has the best calming effect on scared pets.


 About DAWG

Dedicated Animal Welfare Group (DAWG) provides medical care and helping hands in order to comfort sick, injured, neglected, and frightened animals that come into the Mission Viejo Animal Shelter. We provide these services until the animal can be reunited with his or her family or, if they have been abandoned, they can be placed with a new family.

We are a volunteer organization without any paid staff. We are able to help so many animals only because of  the donations we receive from our wonderful members and supporters. If you're not a member of DAWG, please join today. It's just $25.00/yr ($15.00/yr for seniors & students). If you're already a member, please encourage your friends and family to join! Or, make a donation to help save an animal's life. We can't do what we do without your help!

 

Shelter Me - Second Chances Premiers on PBS!

The PBS Documentary, Shelter Me – Second Chances, premiered in February on stations across the US.  For those of you that are not familiar, this documentary follows shelter dogs selected from OC Animal Care through their training journey with the PAW (Pups and Wards) Program at Juvenile Hall.

The documentary highlights OC Animal Care staff and dogs, PAW Program trainers, Juvenile Hall staff and the youth trainers. It is a touching and uplifting documentary and something that they are very proud of. The documentary will be airing through this weekend and hopefully beyond. Please take some time to watch it and learn about this life-saving program


ANIMAL RESCUE GROUPS Needing Assistance
1-28-14 - Fur-Ever Home Animal Rescue Needs Foster Home for an Abandoned Cat with Newborn kittens and homes for 4 1/2 mo. old kittens. 
Contact:  
www.fur-ever-home.org  
info@fur-ever-home.org  
949-444-9154


*** SPECIAL PET EVENTS COMING SOON TO SOUTH ORANGE COUNTY


LAGUNA WOODS VILLAGE CAT CLUB SPRING BOUTIQUE
SATURDAY, MAR. 15, 9:30 A.M. - 3:00 P.M
Directions: CLUBHOUSE  7, 24111 Moulton Pkwy.  North of El Toro Rd., left at signal top of hill.  Information: 949-951-2760.

* Open to the Public, No Passes Needed. 

All proceeds benefit our Rescue/Foster Programs. Visit adoptable kitties online @ www.lagunawoodscatclub.com

Unique gift items for you and your pets, arts & crafts, hand-made jewelry, slightly-used and upscale clothing, gourmet foods, scarves, handbags, cards, dolls and so much more!!!  Plus OUR POPULAR BAKE SALE AND SNACKS WIN PRIZES donated by local businesses!!!!!!!


UNIQUE SWAPMEET EXPERIENCE
SPRING PET DAYS - ORANGE COUNTY
April 5 and 6, 2014 - 9 am to 3 pm
Family Fun and Free Admission to Pet Days and the OC Market Place Swap Meet with  donation of 2 cans or 1 bag of unopened and unexpired dog or cat food.
** Food donations help care for abandoned and mistreated pets.

SPRING PET DAYS Features:
Pet Wellness Information
Spay and Neuter Information
Training Tips
Animal welfare Education
Non-profit Pet Organizations
Specialty Related Groups
Pet Adoptions
Guest Speakers and Demonstrations
Pet Related Vendors
Free Face Painting
** Birds and other personal Pets are not permitted at the OC Market Place or Fairgrounds.

Annual Pet Days are held in Conjunction with the weekend Swap Meet at the OC Fair & Event Center.   
For More Information or to become a vendor contact 949-241-9625 or e-mail OCPetDays@yahoo.com


Operation Blankets of Love (OBOL) needs volunteers and donations.  It is an award-winning non-profit 501(c)3 public charity. They collect, transport and distribute recycled and new pet-related items to comfort stray, sick, neglected and abused homeless animals in shelters, rescue groups, sanctuaries and foster groups. In addition, as an Emergency Response Team, they partner with those organizations to provide relief and comfort to animals that are displaced or endangered by catastrophe.  See the OBOL web site at:http://www.operationblanketsoflove.com/

Homeless animals need (recycled or new)
Blankets and Comforters
Bath size towels
Pet Beds
Pet Toys
Crated and Carriers
Dog Igloos
Pet Treats
Pet Clothes
Leashes, Collars and Harnesses

(RUFF) Rescuing Unwanted Furry Friends'

2013 ANNUAL THANKSGIVING DAY FEAST 

    Held at Tivoli Terrace in Laguna Beach.
       Thanksgiving Day, Thursday,
Nov. 28, 2013  

Sociable pets are welcome!
          Featuring turkey dinner plus all of the
          trimmings and live entertainment.
          * vegetarian dinners are available. 

          For reservations and information, please call (949) 494-9650

This is always great food and great company including entertainment!  Hope to see you there!!


THANKSGIVING DINNER BUT NO BONES ABOUT IT FOR PETS!!!

Los Angeles Animal Services reminds pet owners that although Thanksgiving is a time for sharing, but it's unhealthy to share holiday meal leftovers with companion animals. “Veterinarians experience an increased number of office calls due to digestive problems after the holidays because humans invite their animals to celebrate with high fat meals (ham, gravy, turkey skin), chocolates, bones, etc.,” warned Casandria Smith, L.A. Animal Services chief veterinarian. “Turkey bones are hollow and can easily break and splinter into sharp pieces, causing blockage and perforation of the intestinal tract. A pet who has a turkey bone lodged in the digestive system may not exhibit any symptoms for one or two days. However, when they do occur, symptoms include loss of appetite, depression, vomiting or diarrhea,” Dr. Smith added.

 

Dr. Lila Miller of the ASPCA adds: “Know your pet’s temperament. If lots of people are coming over and your pet is not used to parties and lots of noise or is food aggressive, consider placing, them in a quiet part of the house until the guests leave. Conversely, if your pet is a party animal and loves to mix and mingle, be sure to ask your guests not to slip them table scraps or treats without permission.”

 

Companion animals who are given leftover turkey to eat can also suffer from salmonella food poisoning. Salmonella is an organism that lives in the turkey’s intestinal tract. Meat that sits out at room temperature for too long can cause salmonella organisms to multiply and cause contamination. Symptoms of salmonella poisoning include gastrointestinal upset, vomiting, diarrhea, depression, a high temperature, loss of appetite and listlessness.

 

Consult a veterinarian immediately should a companion animal exhibit any symptoms for salmonella poisoning or turkey bone ingestion.  It is also important for animal caregivers who will be out of town for the holidays to make arrangements for the care of their companion animals by providing food, water, appropriate care and a secure environment. “In providing for our companion animals, it is equally important to make sure they wear proper identification. Licensing our dogs greatly increases the chances of reuniting a lost pet with its owner,” reminds L.A. Animal Services General Manager Dan Knapp. **Thank you to Tom Epperson, who rescues Samoyeds and writes "The Recycled Sam" for the turkey advice. 

The PET RESCUE CENTER
is having a
HOLIDAY OPEN HOUSE
on Sunday, December 1, 2013
Noon to 4 pm at
25800 Jeronimo Rd., Ste. 100
Mission Viejo, CA. 92691
For more information about this event please visit:
www.mypetsdr.com or
www.thepetrescuecenter.org

http://thepetrescuecenter.org/  in Mission Viejo has their wish list Posted on their web site at http://thepetrescuecenter.org/give/wish-list.html
Be sure to take a look at their Wish List if you have any pet equipment you want to donate. 

Dog Tales from History

 

BATTLESHIP USS IOWA SEA TAILS
 

 Long Beach, Calif. November 29, 1945: USS Iowa's "Dog
Mascot Goes A.W.O.L. Again"

Search parties looked all over the Long Beach environs for the small brown and white canine named "Victory" or "Vicky/Vickie" for short, with no initial luck. The Times reported that Vicky had been with the Iowa since its commissioning, had substituted for President Roosevelt's dog Fala when the the commander-in-chief went to the Tehran conference aboard the ship in 1943, and "was the first American dog in Japan" after the Japanese surrender. Vicky, who was said to have a "number of decorations on his white collar," had gone "absent without leave" before (in San Francisco & on an island in the Carolines), but had always returned before the Iowa left port. The Iowa crew's calls for help from Long Beach and Los Angeles residents apparently worked. A report a couple of weeks later states that Vicky was aboard the ship in Long Beach Harbor playing with Times newspaper carriers who were visiting. It was also noted that Vicky's "201,778-mile voyage aboard the Iowa has earned him the reputation of the most-traveled dog in the Navy."  Want to know more about Vicky and the Iowa? Go to www.pacificbattleship.com and click on Ship’s History and see a photo of Vicky.
**Thank you again to Tom Epperson, who rescues Samoyeds, writes "The Recycled Sam" and is on the Board of Directors restoring the USS IOWA for this story!!
   

 

 

 

Animals for Armed Forces

Please join Animals for Armed Forces® and OC Animal Care for FREE pet adoptions for our dedicated service men and women during Veteran’s Day weekend. This event will take place Saturday & Sunday, November 9 & 10, from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM at OC Animal Care, 561 The City Drive, Orange, CA 92868.


The free adoption does not include licensing or microchip. Discount applies to the first 50 animal adoptions. Limit one animal per household.
The adoption discount applies to active duty, Reserve and Veterans of the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Coast Guard and National Guard, and/or immediate family members. Please bring your photo ID and one of the following to receive the adoption discount: A copy of your Military ID; A copy of your DD-214 and Driver’s License; or a copy of your NGB Form 22.