tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34545264228321195802024-02-18T23:34:03.518-08:00dog.cat.blogMarilyn Litthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05557633582043608297noreply@blogger.comBlogger32125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3454526422832119580.post-34530304403703047982015-12-06T21:12:00.000-08:002015-12-06T21:32:32.484-08:00Terrific new book about an animal rescue by Ellen Emerson White<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdQkJC7XBXXt4XOo3Vz67bVwK6qLBs5obXxXsNOMJS3-J-BI2s2rl4D6_x5nBKhSD5e1DP4hZKrSINrUDy97iMsFPqMI5ikPH06Ya1s6W039e7PmnMuvmwwZr06BotNdB11E2NTERrhN8/s1600/webster.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdQkJC7XBXXt4XOo3Vz67bVwK6qLBs5obXxXsNOMJS3-J-BI2s2rl4D6_x5nBKhSD5e1DP4hZKrSINrUDy97iMsFPqMI5ikPH06Ya1s6W039e7PmnMuvmwwZr06BotNdB11E2NTERrhN8/s320/webster.jpg" width="315" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">It is not often I review books, but then it is not
often I read a novel about a rescue dog. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“</span><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Webster-Outlaw-Ellen-Emerson-White/dp/1481422014/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1447049621&sr=1-1&keywords=webster+tale+of+an+outlaw"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Webster,
Tale of an Outlaw</span></a><span style="font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">” is a new book by popular “Young Adult” (YA)
writer, Ellen Emerson White. (YA books are not just for kids; two popular YA series are Harry Potter and the Hunger Games.)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The book opens with Webster, a Lab mix, being left at a
rescue by his adoptive family. That is a good thing, even if Webster can’t
accept it. He has landed in a tub of butter. As soon as he figures out he is in
a shelter, he decides to break out, despite the fleecy dog bed, homemade
biscuits, and kind attention from the rescuers.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">One of the fun things about this book is the story is
told from Webster’s perspective. The rescuers, as in real life, are in the
background working away for him and he rarely notices them, or if he does, he
can’t figure them out. Webster, unused to kindness, is suspicious of everyone.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The other dogs hold lively conversations with him (this
is a novel) telling him adoption is good and he needs to stay at the rescue. Webster
is having none of it, a self-styled “bad hat,” he wants to be “the dog who
walks by himself.” He leaves his safe haven to find adventures and the life of
a loner. But life on the run has a set of problems too. How can you get dinner
if you don’t have a bowl?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">This is a humorous look at life from the perspective of
a dog who has given up on people, but that is as dark as the story gets. No
animals die in this book and although Webster had a family who mistreated him,
he lands in the good hands of many who care. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Here he gets caught up in a game of fetch:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“The Bad Hat wasn’t about
to interact with any more people, but he <i>loved
</i>to play with balls.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Webster is very entertaining and not predictable. I am
not giving away anything to say he becomes an Internet darling. In fact, he
has his own </span><a href="https://www.facebook.com/TheBadHat/?fref=ts"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">FaceBook
page</span></a><span style="font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">
which shows some of the real animals who inspired the writer. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
Marilyn Litthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05557633582043608297noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3454526422832119580.post-81144840486765779792015-11-29T09:56:00.000-08:002015-12-01T08:40:27.141-08:00Vet staff tries to change chip info on lost dog in their possession<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG-uZMz565fAiOKH5G3-N86kbsZ-PsHMWFcCwKTWUWx_d4XdiWOatimeVMY__4SV455zrs5DvGfqXLM65ajcmiLZm2327DZUUqhEIjUhS224VeLz4r3wjEXMIbnLPEmv-94-jcUdKLw_g/s1600/teddy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG-uZMz565fAiOKH5G3-N86kbsZ-PsHMWFcCwKTWUWx_d4XdiWOatimeVMY__4SV455zrs5DvGfqXLM65ajcmiLZm2327DZUUqhEIjUhS224VeLz4r3wjEXMIbnLPEmv-94-jcUdKLw_g/s200/teddy.jpg" width="193" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Courtesy Vanessa Ferrino</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Teddy is a Shih Tzu/Bichon Frise mix. He is just as
cute as can be. Teddy got out on Oct. 28th and became lost. Teddy would be home
today except the woman who found him, let’s call her Jane Doe (although Cruella
de Vil would also fit), wanted to keep Teddy. The woman who found him
failed Teddy and veterinary practice also failed him.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Correction: A previous version of this article stated Teddy was taken to Haltom City Shelter for scanning. This information was provided by PetWatch. However, a staff member at Haltom City Animal Hospital says Teddy was scanned there and not at the city shelter.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Teddy had a wonderful life and a family who loved him
and who registered his microchip. When Jane Doe took Teddy to <span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 18.4px;">Haltom City Animal Hospital</span> for scanning, Teddy’s microchip was detected. A staff member called the
chip company and got contact information. The staff member then handed the dog
back to Jane Doe. No one called the owner. (The animal hospital claims they did call and leave a message, the owner disputes this.)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Next stop for Jane Doe, and unhappily for Teddy, was
her veterinary clinic. She sent a friend with Teddy to the clinic. Clinic staff
also scanned for the chip. A staff member called the chip company and was told
Teddy had an owner. What was the response by the vet staff? Did they contact
the owner? No, vet staff called and tried to get the chip company to change
Teddy’s ownership information to the woman who walked in with Teddy. At this
point the chip company realized Teddy was being stolen. The company called
Teddy’s owner, Vanessa Ferrino, and told her someone had found her dog and was
trying to keep him. The chip company gave her the name of the veterinary
practice, but not Jane Doe's information.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Ferrino called the vet and they would not disclose any
information. Ferrino was able to find out Jane Doe’s contact information by
filing a police report. Even though Jane Doe’s address is known, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/returnteddynow/?fref=ts" target="_blank">Teddy is still missing</a>. Why? Teddy supposedly ran away from Doe’s friend. How convenient.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">If Doe had Ferrino’s Rolex watch, would she escape
charges because she found and gave the watch to a friend? What about Doe's
friend who took and then lost the watch?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Per the police, no crime was committed. They did not
visit any of the people seen with Teddy.</span><span style="line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
Marilyn Litthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05557633582043608297noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3454526422832119580.post-31845335110053480332015-10-30T20:50:00.002-07:002015-10-30T20:50:41.910-07:00Tylertown Destroyed by Fire<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrTY-t3Y9oAKK0j99tBiWVgR2UfHHYEcgVFpxGwmEWSr6q3IGpssIiqRu5XyzoQXZJPdjnn5FLokVpa5Uy81rjU_xhJ_sFXyKu8Lz9U9rUc5tms3LLXgRgSEVazH5jskrWhvK-2dv7c4g/s1600/hla.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrTY-t3Y9oAKK0j99tBiWVgR2UfHHYEcgVFpxGwmEWSr6q3IGpssIiqRu5XyzoQXZJPdjnn5FLokVpa5Uy81rjU_xhJ_sFXyKu8Lz9U9rUc5tms3LLXgRgSEVazH5jskrWhvK-2dv7c4g/s320/hla.jpg" width="314" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Recovering Victim - Photo Courtesy Humane Society Louisiana</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Many animal rescuers are familiar with Camp Katrina,
also known as Tylertown, in the small town of Tylertown, Mississippi. The
Humane Society of Louisiana (HSL) ran their operation from a building there
which burned to the ground on October 26. They had remained there after Katrina
to run a shelter.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Thanks to staff members who risked their lives, almost
all of the animals were saved. <a href="http://www.msnewsnow.com/story/30367782/animals-injured-and-killed-after-shelter-fire-in-tylertown">Per
one staff member</a> who lived on the property, </span><span style="background: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">“I was scared, but adrenaline kicked
in. I was throwing my birds out the backroom and throwing the cats out,
just anything I can get out.” </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">A ferret and at least two cats died. Some cats
are missing, but presumed to have survived. The staff is attempting to recover
these cats as the commotion subsides. There were two staff members living in the
building. They lost their home and all their possessions.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Over a dozen cats are being treated for smoke
inhalation and will have a long recovery. HSL is in need of donations to cover
veterinary care. They also need donations to replace what has been lost. Here
is <a href="https://www.facebook.com/HumaneLA/photos/a.10151346332995537.811411.280239690536/10156120713760537/?type=3&theater">their
wish list</a>. They had a long term plan to move to a newly purchased property
and now the fire has sped up that timeline and donations are needed for that
endeavor as well.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">This is a group with a good reputation who did hard
work during and after Katrina and now many local rescuers in Mississippi and
Louisiana are coming to their aid. A <a href="https://www.facebook.com/events/820308991401444/">FaceBook event</a> has
been set up to help raise funds. (They have no connection with and receive no
donations from the Humane Society of the United States.)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Marilyn Litthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05557633582043608297noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3454526422832119580.post-6276834919372222022015-09-17T11:11:00.002-07:002015-09-17T11:11:22.632-07:00Montana families forced to evacuate without pets<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr2gewlT1Kkcg8fybzXIwwkJousMdIudBJqY6MIg4V1q3ZDzbAyW_MxW6dKripnfUYgkmEJArMzNmeTRupM63D0-zBEn1RCNRPMP1rHV2aeCJTE1D5Dta0w3hURUX2X6bUnvd3-LeJOLo/s1600/kiss.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="277" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr2gewlT1Kkcg8fybzXIwwkJousMdIudBJqY6MIg4V1q3ZDzbAyW_MxW6dKripnfUYgkmEJArMzNmeTRupM63D0-zBEn1RCNRPMP1rHV2aeCJTE1D5Dta0w3hURUX2X6bUnvd3-LeJOLo/s320/kiss.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
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Lewis & Clark Humane Society, Director of Animal Welfare, Christine Stipich welcomes a tiny evacuee to safety</div>
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Tabitha Stephenson</div>
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On this anniversary of Katrina, many of us are certain that if nothing else came out of the flooding of New Orleans, evacuees will never again be forced to leave without their animals. Now it turns out this is not true.</div>
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Last weekend, as animal rescuers gathered in New Orleans to commemorate the tenth anniversary of Katrina, the people of the Blackfeet Reservation in Heart Butte, Montana were forced to leave their animals behind when fleeing a <a class="inline_link omniture-click-processed" href="http://www.examiner.com/topic/wildfire" style="background: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #4489e3; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;">wildfire</a>. They were under a mandatory evacuation because their small town was threatened by the Spotted Eagle Fire.</div>
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The fire started August 28 from a lightning strike and the mandatory evacuation of the tinder dry area started the same day. When the evacuation busses arrived, people were not allowed to board with animals. (If you think these people just don’t care about their animals, take a look at this <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Lewis-and-Clark-Humane-Society/133338250044131?fref=photo" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #4489e3; cursor: pointer; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">cute video</a>pinned to the top of the Lewis & Clark Humane Society FaceBook page of an evacuated dog who was taught to pray before getting a treat.)</div>
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How could this be possible after passage of the Pets Evacuation and Transportation Standards Act of 2006, the federal law commonly called the Pets Act? The Blackfeet reservation is a law unto itself, so those in charge have the authority to prevent people from evacuating with animals. If you have no car, and you have children, you have no choice but to get on the evacuation bus provided and take your children out of danger, no matter how much it breaks your heart to leave your dog or cat behind in danger.</div>
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However, the Blackfeet people are not without their resources, and one of their own made the three hour drive from Helena, Montana to help the animals left behind. Gina Wiest is the Director of Helana, Montana’s “<a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Lewis-and-Clark-Humane-Society/133338250044131?fref=ts" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #4489e3; cursor: pointer; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Lewis and Clark Humane Society</a>.” She is a Blackfeet and she has family near Heart Butte, the reservation town under evacuation order. Wiest collected supplies, drove to the area, checked in with local animal rescuers and learned that no evacuating residents were allowed to take their animals and no animals were permitted in the Red Cross shelter. Of course those with vehicles could take animals, but many were dependent on reservation busses for transportation to safety.</div>
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Wiest did not hesitate. She called state level authorities of the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) and asked for help. (She also authorized a <a href="https://www.youcaring.com/lewis-clark-humane-society-422271" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #4489e3; cursor: pointer; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">GoFundMe</a>.) HSUS immediately approved funds and people to start setting up an animal shelter that day at the 4-H fairgrounds. <a href="https://www.facebook.com/animeals" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #4489e3; cursor: pointer; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Animeals</a> in Missoula sent 1,000 pounds of food and is now out after helping out with other wildfires. <a href="https://www.facebook.com/PadforPawsFoundation?fref=ts" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #4489e3; cursor: pointer; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">The Pad For Paws Foundation</a> also donated $1,000 worth of cat and dog food. It was a statewide effort to help.</div>
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Gina Wiest partnered with Kim Wippert of the reservation’s <a href="https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=961453907228095&id=168172159889611" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #4489e3; cursor: pointer; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Pets For Life</a> program and with Denise Salois of the Kaawa'pomaaka Rescue Society of Browning. They got her access to the Red Cross shelter and the fire zone and accompanied her.</div>
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As a result of their efforts, the trio was granted access to the fire zone to collect animals. At the Red Cross shelter, they found people sheltering in their cars with their dogs and cats because the Red Cross would not allow animals inside the shelter. All those people welcomed the news that an animal shelter would be provided.</div>
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When evacuees arrived at the Red Cross shelter, some found people with cars who offered a ride back to pick up the animals they left behind. Those evacuees, who wanted to retrieve their pets, were told if they left to get animals, they would not be permitted back into the Red Cross shelter. However, the animal rescuers were given access to talk to the evacuees. When an announcement was made that animal rescuers would be picking up animals, people came forward with their house keys and instructions.</div>
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It was late afternoon, the rescuers and a few other volunteers took two trucks and fifteen sets of house keys and left for the wildfire area. Wiest says she felt safe. They checked in at the fire hall. The fire officials knew she was permitted to rescue animals and they knew where she would be with her team. Wippert had a walkie talkie and as they went from house to house, emergency responders were driving up and down telling people to leave. Some people were refusing to leave their animals and those holdouts were threatened with fines if they stayed.</div>
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It was a desperate situation. For every animal she had permission to pick up and room to take, there were many more animals who were roaming. Wiest was disheartened at not being able to take them all. She thought the street dogs, whom she fondly terms “rez dogs” had the resources to flee and she did not have the resources to gather them up. But they did rescue a dog trapped and howling in an open dumpster. The dog may have gotten stuck looking for food, but perhaps someone put her in the dumpster.</div>
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The <a class="inline_link omniture-click-processed" href="http://www.examiner.com/topic/animal-rescue" style="background: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #4489e3; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;">animal rescue</a> crew had all their animals for this trip when they got the word to go immediately. Wiest admits driving out along a road that was on fire was “a little scary.”</div>
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They were able to go back in much later that night and once again the next day. They ultimately rescued eighty animals left behind, including two rats, a vole, a rabbit, and the dog in the dumpster, now named Dumpsy.</div>
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The fire did not reach the town and, as of this writing, the evacuation order for most, but not all, of Heart Butte is lifted. No homes were destroyed and all the street dogs are safe. Most people are back in their homes, but the emergency animal shelter will remain active until at least the weekend, as some people are still under the mandatory evacuation order.</div>
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But the sad reminder of Katrina still lingers. If there has to be another evacuation, people will not be allowed to take animals on the evacuation busses. Had the fire reached the town, people and animals would have perished due to these restrictions.</div>
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<a href="https://www.youcaring.com/lewis-clark-humane-society-422271" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #4489e3; cursor: pointer; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Here is an online fund raiser</a> to help with the expense of the animal evacuation and to help the animals on the reservation. Every cent donated to the “Lewis & Clark Humane Society <a href="https://www.youcaring.com/lewis-clark-humane-society-422271" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #4489e3; cursor: pointer; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">GoFundMe</a>will go to helping reservation animals.” Kim Wippert is running a pet retention program, Pets for Life, to help people on the reservation with limited means keep their animals. She is now implementing a pet food bank and extra donations will help get that started.</div>
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Gina Wiest has great respect for the “rez dogs.” One evacuated Malmute named Ghost is a veritable Houdini. Each morning, no matter their efforts to secure him, he meets the volunteers opening up at the door to the animal evacuation building. Ghost spends the day hanging out with staff and helping himself to treats in closed containers. After all, if you can get out, you can get in! But even a Houdini dog like Ghost would have a hard time locked in a house with a wildfire approaching.</div>
Marilyn Litthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05557633582043608297noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3454526422832119580.post-68041928171071783432015-09-01T11:16:00.007-07:002015-09-01T11:16:58.397-07:00Pet friendly motels for evacuees<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4QApnO2y7davdCsTG3tTlv6w7dUqjNYo9oyXVcZSMoew4hQ5VzGVBqqsCd2nyf6xM-cIlfrJ7zfn9ObsAa1ySuMdPalmbVrRvGRz1OSoS-aGLLhR03wkBwdvoHu8-VWFJlilxTRitA54/s1600/trunk.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4QApnO2y7davdCsTG3tTlv6w7dUqjNYo9oyXVcZSMoew4hQ5VzGVBqqsCd2nyf6xM-cIlfrJ7zfn9ObsAa1ySuMdPalmbVrRvGRz1OSoS-aGLLhR03wkBwdvoHu8-VWFJlilxTRitA54/s320/trunk.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Sometimes a disaster, such as the current wildfires, allows people time to evacuate and reserve at a motel. Finding accommodations can be a problem if you have animals.<br /></div>
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Here is a quick guide to where your whole family is welcome.<br /><br /><strong style="box-sizing: border-box;"><em style="box-sizing: border-box;">Be aware that </em><em style="box-sizing: border-box;">motels</em> <em style="box-sizing: border-box;">with a “no </em>animal<em style="box-sizing: border-box;">” restriction may suspend that during a local emergency.</em></strong> Fees at pet friendly motels may also be suspended if you ask.<br /></div>
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Whenever you intend to travel with an animal, even when you know animals are welcome at a motel, you must tell the reservation clerk in advance. (Service dogs should be allowed at any motel.)</div>
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<li style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.5rem; list-style: none; margin: 0px 0px 16px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 20px;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box;"><a href="http://www.lq.com/en/findandbook.html" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #4489e3; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">La Quinta</a></strong>. During an emergency, this is the chain that will fill up first because they are widely known for accepting animals without charging extra. Call <strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">1-800-753-3757 </strong>and let the Reservation Sales Agent or front desk Sales Representative know that you are traveling with a pet.</li>
<li style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.5rem; list-style: none; margin: 0px 0px 16px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 20px;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box;"><a href="https://www.motel6.com/#/home" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #4489e3; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Motel 6</a></strong> allows animals with a $10.00 charge per day, capped at $50. Call <strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">1-800-899-9841</strong>.</li>
<li style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.5rem; list-style: none; margin: 0px 0px 16px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 20px;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box;"><a href="http://www.bestwestern.com/tripplanner/travelwithpetstips.asp" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #4489e3; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Best Western</a></strong> allows animals with some restrictions. Fees vary, and there may be no fee, but are capped at $20 per day and $100 per week. Again, any of this could change to accommodate evacuees and negotiation may be possible. Call <strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">1-800-780-7234</strong>.</li>
<li style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.5rem; list-style: none; margin: 0px 0px 16px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 20px;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box;"><a href="http://www.super8.com/" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #4489e3; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Super 8</a></strong> will probably accept your dog or cat, but may charge a fee. It depends on the individual motel policy. Call <strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">1-800-454-3213</strong>.</li>
<li style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.5rem; list-style: none; margin: 0px 0px 16px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 20px;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box;"><a href="http://www.choicehotels.com/en/pet-friendly-hotels?" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #4489e3; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Choice Hotels</a></strong> include the well known motels: Comfort chain, Quality, Clarion and several others. Their website says many of their locations will allow animals. However, the fees and deposits may be prohibitive. You will just need to inquire at the individual motel. Reserve at <strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">877-424-6423</strong> for any of the motels in this chain.</li>
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<strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">Of course there are many independent motels that also accept people with animals. There are even motels that accommodate horses! The key is to book early before the pet friendly inexpensive motels are completely booked.</strong></div>
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Marilyn Litthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05557633582043608297noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3454526422832119580.post-31651914546784602882015-04-18T20:12:00.001-07:002015-04-18T20:12:51.704-07:00Chicago in crisis: Where will dog flu spread?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Bark in the Park Chicago attracts thousands of dogs every May. But, it will not take place this year. Bark in the Park is cancelled because the canine influenza epidemic shows no sign of abating.</div>
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With at least five dogs dead and over 1,000 dogs diagnosed with the H3N8 flu, Chicago’s dog businesses are reeling. At the very worst time, three weeks of Spring Break and the holidays, many boarding kennels had to shut down. Some are doing a deep cleaning before re-opening and some will require proof of vaccination. It takes at least three weeks for the vaccination to be effective as it requires a booster two weeks after the initial subcutaneous shot. (Now another strain of the flu has been detected, but per Cornell and the University of Illinois, they both share the same hemagluttanin and protein, so there should be cross protection and the same vaccination protocol is to be followed.)</div>
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Some dog training establishments in municipal Chicago have suspended their classes, waiting for dogs to be fully vaccinated, per Stacey Hawk of <a href="https://www.facebook.com/hawkcityk9?ref=br_rs" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #4489e3; cursor: pointer; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Hawk City K-9</a>. She speaks for many when she says, "It's hitting all of us hard, financially and emotionally, for all of the dogs we know going through this."</div>
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Right now the flu is primarily affecting Chicago, but there are signs it could spread and when it does, veterinarians and pet owners may not be prepared. Symptoms are <a href="http://abcnews.go.com/Health/canine-flu-outbreak-hits-chicago-sickens-1000-dogs/story?id=30124599" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #4489e3; cursor: pointer; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">fever, cough, nasal discharge and lack of energy</a>. Per Hawk, “What people don't realize is <em style="box-sizing: border-box;">how</em> contagious this is, and because it's airborne, dogs don't have to be in the proximity of other dogs to get this. It can last on hard surfaces for up to 48 hours and on soft surfaces (clothes, shoes) 24 hours. Healthy, young dogs who are not social, who don't do group activities, and who don't go to dog parks or daycare have gotten this. Dogs have caught the flu in their building's elevator."</div>
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Cases of the flu have now been reported in CA, MI, WI, IN and MO. Vets in the Chicago suburbs are reporting an uptick in cases. Vets in South Bend are calling their clients to suggest vaccination, even though <a href="http://www.abc57.com/story/28744287/local-animal-health-clinic-looks-to-prevent-a-dog-flu-outbreak#.VSWjo6Cuaxk.facebook" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #4489e3; cursor: pointer; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">no cases have been reported</a> there. A dog in Madison, WI recently visited Chicago and now has the flu. So many dog owners in Madison have asked for the vaccine, that it is in <a href="http://www.nbc15.com/home/headlines/Shortage-of-dog-flu-vaccine-after-local-dog-comes-down-with-illness-299385221.html" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #4489e3; cursor: pointer; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">short supply</a>. This is not a vaccine which is ordinarily stocked. This writer called her vet in San Antonio and was told the vaccine would have to be ordered if requested.</div>
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Dog owners in Chicago are being asked to avoid dog parks. (See sign at the top of this article.) Some pet stores are not permitting dogs. Dog owners are no longer congregating and letting their dogs go nose to nose, as this could transmit the flu and not all infected dogs show symptoms. With dogs traveling, like the spread of Heartworm after Katrina, it is only a matter of time before other areas experience outbreaks. So, in answer to the question, “Where will the <a class="inline_link omniture-click-processed" href="http://www.examiner.com/topic/dog-flu" style="background: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #4489e3; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;">dog flu</a> spread?” The answer seems to be, “Everywhere.”</div>
Marilyn Litthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05557633582043608297noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3454526422832119580.post-50956840077019941602015-04-18T20:10:00.000-07:002015-04-18T20:10:02.970-07:00Chicago man drives his Jeep off of a tow truck to save his dog<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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A Chicago man became a folk hero recently when he was filmed driving his Jeep off a tow truck hook while the back bumper was being lifted in the air. It now turns out he had no choice. His Bulldog was in the car.<br />
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Victor Jaime left his Jeep running in Walgreen's parking lot as he ran across the street for a sandwich. He left his Bulldog, George, in the passenger seat. (Yes, it is unwise to leave your dog in the car, for any reason, even to run into Portillo's to pick up an Italian Beef, dipped, with hot giardiniera.)<br />
Jaime saw the Lincoln tow truck driver circling his Jeep and he ran back and jumped in the driver's seat and said he was moving the car. This did not deter the tow truck driver. Jaime yelled at the tow truck driver to stop, but his Jeep was lifted in the air. Jaime opened the window, and yelled, "Hey buddy, watch this!" That is when he drove right off the tow hook and into Chicago history, slamming the back of his new Jeep on to the pavement.<br />
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"It was a huge drop," <a data-cke-saved-href="http://www.dnainfo.com/chicago/20150407/river-north/i-did-it-save-my-dog-says-man-who-drove-off-tow-truck-river-north" href="http://www.dnainfo.com/chicago/20150407/river-north/i-did-it-save-my-dog-says-man-who-drove-off-tow-truck-river-north" target="_blank">Jaime said</a>. "Once I landed, I checked George, and that's when I took off."<br />
<a data-cke-saved-href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/04/07/jeep-drives-off-tow-truck_n_7018542.html?cps=gravity_2445_7539967077065768629" href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/04/07/jeep-drives-off-tow-truck_n_7018542.html?cps=gravity_2445_7539967077065768629" target="_blank">Jaime was adamant</a> that he was not going to allow his vehicle to be towed. "He thinks he’s gonna take my car with my bulldog in it? Hell no!"<br />
<br />
Apparently Jaime is in the right and his car should not have been towed with a person in it. He dismisses his folk hero status,<br />
<blockquote>
"I'm no hero," he said. "I'm a dog lover."</blockquote>
Lincoln Towing had no comment, but Jaime had one thing wrong. He called the tow company "sharks." Everyone in Chicago should know the tow truck drivers are "pirates." Enjoy listening to the late great Steve Goodman sing his classic, "<a data-cke-saved-href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=389Rk1jzPMk" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=389Rk1jzPMk" target="_blank">Lincoln Park Pirates</a>."<br />
<blockquote>
To me, way, hey, tow them away,<br />The Lincoln Park Pirates are we,<br />From Wilmette to Gary, there's nothin' so hairy<br />And we always collect our fee!<br />So it's way, hey, tow 'em away,<br />We plunder the streets of your town,<br />Be it Edsel or Chevy, there's no car too heavy,<br />And no one can make us shut down.</blockquote>
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<br />Marilyn Litthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05557633582043608297noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3454526422832119580.post-3115550509798679412015-04-18T20:04:00.002-07:002015-04-18T20:04:17.991-07:00Injured dog takes himself to his vet<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRiUPv3AfnrbNMjT_eel61cETDHy0B68VJwSDuT59vTqd7tumEXaRI7O7ufKgNMUbQmEAm4SwLPN4qRQ3xf5CI0jl4iFmg0y-Y9yVdzisNr7Xt3DTL8kBpbw-tKilXHdk2G-90QawX320/s1600/cletus.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRiUPv3AfnrbNMjT_eel61cETDHy0B68VJwSDuT59vTqd7tumEXaRI7O7ufKgNMUbQmEAm4SwLPN4qRQ3xf5CI0jl4iFmg0y-Y9yVdzisNr7Xt3DTL8kBpbw-tKilXHdk2G-90QawX320/s1600/cletus.jpg" height="282" width="320" /></a><br /></div>
There was an incredible story today out of Wylie, Texas. Cletus is a Coonhound who busted through a fence on Saturday. The Ross Family has been frantically posting flyers, visiting the shelter, contacting local vets and using social media to find their missing dog.<br />
<br />
This morning, four days later, Cletus was waiting outside his vet, Parker Road Veterinary Hospital when staff arrived to open for the day. He had a bad gash on his leg. The staff were astonished to find a dog they knew waiting to come in.<br />
<br />
The family couldn’t believe it when the call came from the animal hospital, “We have Cletus!” One staff member said, “Never have I ever seen a dog just walk up here.”<br />
<br />
His family often walks him to the vet, because the location is within a mile of their house. That must be how Cletus knew where to go. Vets everywhere can take heart that dogs must understand veterinarians are there to help them.<br />
<br />
Cletus got his gash cleaned up, was fitted with a conehead and went home for a long snooze.<br />
Cletus’ astonished owner said, “We were going to take him to the vet when we found him, but he beat us to it.”<br />
<blockquote>
This writer recently wrote an article, “<a data-cke-saved-href="http://www.examiner.com/article/the-25-dog-breeds-most-likely-to-get-lost" href="http://www.examiner.com/article/the-25-dog-breeds-most-likely-to-get-lost">The 25 dog breeds most likely to get lost</a>.” Is your dog one of the top 25?</blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt;"> </span>Marilyn Litthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05557633582043608297noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3454526422832119580.post-12151895925202371532015-04-18T20:02:00.000-07:002015-04-18T20:02:09.571-07:00The 25 dog breeds most likely to get lost<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2Z556wbXUlj2Mfg5qD3AuYGERV_ZGIymkmj-AikmUgZbDP8UEnIcpernruWiNkR9DYVvtuuTmk_03n7h2kzVLEYZ8RP_jQXXomy0dZ1j3G9T6wWdumkQHEv3AlFveI80UZy-UOItLDUU/s1600/ldot.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2Z556wbXUlj2Mfg5qD3AuYGERV_ZGIymkmj-AikmUgZbDP8UEnIcpernruWiNkR9DYVvtuuTmk_03n7h2kzVLEYZ8RP_jQXXomy0dZ1j3G9T6wWdumkQHEv3AlFveI80UZy-UOItLDUU/s1600/ldot.jpg" height="294" width="320" /></a></div>
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April 23 is the second annual National Lost Dog Awareness Day, created to remind us that not all stray dogs are homeless. In honor of that occasion, this writer decided to explore what breeds are most likely to get lost.<br />
<br />
HelpingLostPets.com is the premier online source for free lost dog flyers. This writer asked <a data-cke-saved-href="http://helpinglostpets.com/" href="http://helpinglostpets.com/">Helping Lost Pet’s</a> founder, Rob Goddard, for data on lost dogs to determine which breeds were most likely to go missing. Goddard compiled a list from over 14,000 lost dog reports. <br />
Here are the 25 dog breeds most likely to be lost:<br />
<br />
1. Chihuahua<br />
2. Labrador Retriever<br />
3. Pit Bull<br />
4. Yorkshire Terrier<br />
5. German Shepherd<br />
6. Shih Tzu<br />
7. Boxer<br />
8. Siberian Husky<br />
9. Beagle<br />
10. Pomeranian<br />
11. Australian Shepherd<br />
12. Jack Russell Terrier<br />
13. Maltese<br />
14. Schnauzer Miniature<br />
15. Boston Terrier<br />
16. Husky<br />
17. Dachshund<br />
18. Chihuahua Long Haired<br />
19. Pug<br />
20. Border Collie<br />
21. Dachshund-Miniature<br />
22. Poodle<br />
23. Pinscher-Miniature<br />
24. Golden Retriever<br />
25. Rat Terrier<br />
<br />
You might assume that the lost breed list is the same as the most popular breed list. They are similar, but the breeds are not in the same order. Chihuahuas are the 24<sup>th</sup> most popular breed, according to the <a data-cke-saved-href="http://www.akc.org/news/the-most-popular-dog-breeds-in-america/" href="http://www.akc.org/news/the-most-popular-dog-breeds-in-america/">American Kennel Club</a>, but the most likely breed to go missing. The Lab is the most popular breed in the US and number two on the lost breed list. The Golden Retriever is the 3<sup>rd</sup> most popular breed, but this faithful canine comes in 24<sup>th</sup> on the lost dog breed list.<br />
<br />
Left off these lists is the most likely dog to be lost, a mixed breed dog. Perhaps you have seen the popular bumper sticker, “My Favorite Breed is Rescue.”<br />
<br />
Should your dog have the misfortune to be lost, here are some proven tips to help you find him:<br />
1. Immediately put out food, water and your dog's bed or an article of your clothing at the location where your dog was last seen. There is a good chance that your dog may return.<br /><br />2. Get the word out by using flyers and signs (like yard sale signs) with a picture of your dog and your phone number, and then check your phone often! Go door to door with your flyers in the neighborhood where your dog was last seen.<br /><br />3. Contact your local animal shelters and animal control facilities, vet clinics and police departments to report your dog missing. Fax or email them a photo of your dog and your contact information.<br /><br />4. Instruct everyone who is helping you to NOT call or chase your dog. This will prolong your search. If you see your dog, sit or lay down (no eye contact) and gently toss out tasty treats to lure your dog in.<br /><br />5. Post your dog on the lost and found section of Craigslist, in your local paper, and on lost and found Internet/FaceBook sites, both local and state level.<br />
<br />
These tips are courtesy of <a data-cke-saved-href="http://lostdogsofamerica.org/" href="http://lostdogsofamerica.org/">Lost Dogs of America</a>, an outstanding resource for anyone who has lost or found a dog. <br />
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Marilyn Litthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05557633582043608297noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3454526422832119580.post-33230506410345937262015-04-18T19:57:00.001-07:002015-04-18T19:57:39.204-07:00Lost your dog? Make sock soup!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe width="320" height="266" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/QgXKH1Ck53c/0.jpg" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/QgXKH1Ck53c?feature=player_embedded" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>
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A new video for Skype features a Russian detective who has a neat trick for finding a lost dog. He cooks a pair of the owner's socks in water and puts the liquid in a spray bottle. The spray bottle lets him mark places where the dog has been seen or where he wants the dog to go. If your dog is missing, it is key to keep him in one place. It is also helpful to show a lost dog the way home. The spray bottle approach is useful for both.<br />
<br />
It is also a good idea to take a cheap tee shirt and wear it for a day or use it as a pillow case. Cut it into pieces so it goes further and so no one will want it. Place the pieces where you want your dog to stay or to help him find his way home.<br />
<br />
This is just one of many tips to finding a lost dog. <a data-cke-saved-href="http://lostdogsofamerica.org/" href="http://lostdogsofamerica.org/">Lost Dogs of America</a> has developed many tried and true tactics over the years. Here are their top five:<br />
<ul>
<li>Immediately put out food, water and your dog's bed or an article of your clothing at the location where your dog was last seen. There is a good chance that your dog may return.<br /></li>
<li> Get the word out by using flyers and signs (like yard sale signs) with a picture of your dog and your phone number, and then check your phone often! Go door-to-door with your flyers in the neighborhood where your dog was last seen. Get a free quality flyer from <a data-cke-saved-href="http://www.helpinglostpets.com/" href="http://www.helpinglostpets.com/">HelpingLostPets.com</a> The site partners with Lost Dogs of America. If your state is part of their coalition, your flyer or your dog’s photo will appear on the FaceBook page for your state.<br /></li>
<li>Contact your local animal shelters and animal control facilities, vet clinics and police department to report your dog missing. Fax or e-mail them a photo of your dog and your contact information.<br /></li>
<li> Instruct everyone that is helping you to NOT call or chase your dog. This will prolong your search. If they see your dog, tell them to sit or lay down (no eye contact) and gently toss out tasty treats to lure your dog in.<br /></li>
<li>Post your dog on your local craigslist under lost & found, NextDoor.com, in your local newspaper or on other lost and found Facebook sites, especially neighborhood and county level sites as well as the state level.</li>
</ul>
And make sock soup!<br />
<br />Marilyn Litthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05557633582043608297noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3454526422832119580.post-21571441598107447492015-04-18T19:46:00.002-07:002016-01-05T16:26:41.347-08:00A Scammer is preying on people who have lost pets<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5jqHn2aa1B7qp65wCEHksbBSHuKUo1lvLwuJY6SejBv2JcXpp6tMmiLlNJYq2dkQ27skaODHChSd9JRD_H5MYQhYTRKb9ow5jG_3fX33p6_iwn6YyZgPEgBIaS973lpAP3dkip9CASog/s1600/scam.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="492" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5jqHn2aa1B7qp65wCEHksbBSHuKUo1lvLwuJY6SejBv2JcXpp6tMmiLlNJYq2dkQ27skaODHChSd9JRD_H5MYQhYTRKb9ow5jG_3fX33p6_iwn6YyZgPEgBIaS973lpAP3dkip9CASog/s1600/scam.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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If you have ever posted online trying to find your lost animal, you have probably spoken with “The Pet Rescue,” (also known as The Lost Pets Finder.) This online company has been in business for many years calling people who have lost animals to sell them search services. They have been the subject of several news investigations.</div>
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The stories from lost animal owners are all similar. If you post your phone number on Craig’s List or on FaceBook, which you <em style="box-sizing: border-box;">must</em> do to find your lost animal, you may get a call from someone with a foreign accent who offers to find your dog for a price. Sometimes the caller says “The Pet Rescue” is calling, but recently the caller has started falsely claiming to represent specific FaceBook pages where people post lost dogs. (They call people who have lost any animal, not only dogs.) The call is often bewildering to someone who lost a dog and who cannot understand why someone is calling from a FaceBook page asking for money – because FaceBook pages <em style="box-sizing: border-box;">are</em> all free services. The response by “The Pet Rescue” is something like, “It is free, but you <em style="box-sizing: border-box;">have to pay</em> if you want your animal back.”</div>
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The calls come from all over the country. “The Pet Rescue,” is run by an Italian who is living in Brazil, but who has ties to Las Vegas, and who uses dozens of phone numbers from different area codes, all of which have connections to an older scam where people got calls telling them they had a computer virus. The scammer also spoofs phone numbers, so the number which appears on your display is not a complete phone number. For example, one number they use is 87581. If you call your phone company, they can tell you the actual number which called you. So if you see a number on your caller ID that is not a regulation length number, it is someone concealing their real phone number.</div>
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The company claims to contact all the rescues, shelters and veterinarians in your area for a fee. But “The Pet Rescue” can never provide you with a list of who was called. If you call around yourself to check, you will find no one was called.</div>
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For an additional amount, they claim to provide dozens of local rescuers to physically look for your dog. Setting aside the fact that this is a bad idea, because it could chase a lost dog further away, do you know any rescuers who have done this? Of course not! Your local rescuers will have never even heard of “The Pet Rescue.” There are <em style="box-sizing: border-box;">no</em> crews of local rescuers. But it appeals to people who do not understand how rescue works. They think they are paying to get animal lovers who will walk around until the dog is found. To make the deal more enticing, you are promised the return of your dog in four days or your money back! You will get neither.</div>
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One person got their dog back from their local shelter and tried to get a refund. That person was told that the shelter was supposed to the call “The Pet Rescue” when they picked up the dog, so no refund was due. “The Pet Rescue” representative went on to say they have agreements with every municipal shelter in the country. Afterall, they say on their site: “The Pet Rescue, since 2003 with its largest network of Veterinarians, Shelters, Rescue Groups, pet lovers, neighbourhood watch programs, over 65,000 participants, is providing unique nationwide support for lost pets families: the combined effort, is making the difference.” <strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">People in pet rescue, <em style="box-sizing: border-box;">real rescuers</em>, have never heard of this company which is supposedly a leader in rescue.</strong></div>
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Like some other scammers, “The Pet Rescue” tries to shame people into paying. They tell distraught owners things like, “We only work with people who really want their animal back.” They are bullies who keep calling even when asked not to call again.</div>
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One person who did not want to pay was told his lost dog would be “barbecued.” The dog was missing, so it was not a real threat, but it was a cruel thing to say.</div>
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The owner was so angry he made a graphic (see above) and posted it on Craig’s List.</div>
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Scammers may never stop calling people who have lost animals trying to make money from their grief, but being forewarned makes it easier to hang up. If someone you know loses an animal, warn them to expect a call from this scammer.</div>
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If you were scammed, please contact me below. Federal and state officials are taking an interest.</div>
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If you have been contacted, I invite you to comment below. You can read more about “The Pet Rescue” scam here:<br />
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<li style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: 'Proximo Nova', 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5rem; list-style: none; margin: 0px 0px 16px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 20px;"><a href="http://www.kmov.com/news/just-posted/Company-uses-Craigslist-to-swindle-local-owners-searching-for-lost-pets-243437181.html" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #4489e3; cursor: pointer; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Company uses Craigslist to swindle local people searching for lost pets</a></li>
<li style="box-sizing: border-box; list-style: none; margin: 0px 0px 16px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 20px;"><span style="font-family: Proximo Nova, Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 24px;"><a color:="" e3="" href="http://www.nbcchicago.com/investigations/Predators-Preying-on-Panicked-Owners-of-Lost-Pets-292319941.html" target="_blank">Rescue Service Accused of Targeting Owners of Lost Pets</a></span></span></li>
<li style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.5rem; list-style: none; margin: 0px 0px 16px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 20px;"><a href="http://fox4kc.com/2014/05/01/problem-solvers-investigation-will-the-pet-rescue-bring-your-lost-pet-home/" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #4489e3; cursor: pointer; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Problem Solvers’ Investigation: Will “The Pet Rescue” bring your lost pet home?</a></li>
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<li style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.5rem; list-style: none; margin: 0px 0px 16px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 20px;"><a href="http://www.13abc.com/story/26155450/lost-pet-scam" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #4489e3; cursor: pointer; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Craigslist scam targets owners of missing pets</a></li>
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Marilyn Litthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05557633582043608297noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3454526422832119580.post-81395735617759125642015-04-18T19:43:00.000-07:002015-04-18T19:43:01.791-07:00Rescue refuses to return elderly dog to owner<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB_ubFWYaR9KpjT8coLGmsMEQpCczbmmZbJSsN98w95m2O-H7-OR4IzW1BJJF81VZysqKzKTRcnIShtXyJdcX_lzmUhj9i5BEmQ-qeJBgw4ScV7qXrJ-RJSDMEME_2jf6c-I6p0uaMx1I/s1600/soda.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB_ubFWYaR9KpjT8coLGmsMEQpCczbmmZbJSsN98w95m2O-H7-OR4IzW1BJJF81VZysqKzKTRcnIShtXyJdcX_lzmUhj9i5BEmQ-qeJBgw4ScV7qXrJ-RJSDMEME_2jf6c-I6p0uaMx1I/s1600/soda.jpg" height="200" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: 'Proximo Nova', 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 16px; text-align: left;">Soda's "Badge of Honor"</span></td></tr>
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<a class="inline_link omniture-click-processed" href="http://www.examiner.com/topic/soda" style="background: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #4489e3; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;">Soda</a> only got out one time in fourteen years, but it was one time too many. Soda belongs to Joyce Cooper and her daughter Imani, who live in Dallas. You might say Joyce is her mother, because Cooper says Soda is “her child.” Soda escaped because the child latch was left undone by a yard worker. That is right, the gate was usually double-latched to protect Soda. Cooper did not routinely leave Soda in the yard, but she still took that extra precaution.</div>
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Cooper speculates that Soda might have been looking for Imani. They slept in the same bed for fourteen years and Imani had just started college. Imani said her goodbyes for the week and had just left the family home that night to return to school. Soda may have pushed through the gate trying to follow her.</div>
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You may wonder about Soda’s appearance. Soda suffered a horrible injury three years ago which left her without a nose or an upper lip. A neighbor’s aggressive dog broke through the fence while the family was in the back yard and Soda rushed to their defense. Some might think a dog without a nose is hard to look at, but Cooper says the injury is a “badge of honor.” “Isn’t that what a dog is supposed to do? Protect her family.” Although she has no nose or upper lip, Soda has thrived for years despite the injury.</div>
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No, the injury is not the worst tragedy that has happened to Soda, that was when she lost her family.</div>
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Let’s go back before that awful day in September to a happier time fourteen years before, when Soda picked out her family. Cooper explains, “I wanted her and she wanted me.” Soda got her name because she is so bubbly and full of life. As a puppy she went everywhere in her owner’s pocket. Always tiny, when she got older, Soda graduated to purses. This allowed her to accompany Cooper shopping, to the lake, to the park, everywhere. Now her owner does not want to go shopping because she has to shop alone.</div>
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Soda has a loving mom and sister, but she also has grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins. She has beds all over Arkansas as Cooper’s relatives vied to be Soda’s favorite. When Cooper traveled, she only had to take Soda’s food. Everywhere she stayed, Soda had toys, bowls and everything a dog needs.</div>
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It has been a tough Fall for Cooper. She has been to three funerals in Arkansas since Soda got out the gate and each time she gets the same question, “Why won’t they give you your dog back?” Because you see, Soda isn’t lost.</div>
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Soda was picked up by <a href="https://www.facebook.com/dallasanimalservices" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #4489e3; cursor: pointer; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Dallas Animal Services</a> three days after she went out the gate. Cooper took a flyer there the day after Soda got lost and called every day to see if they had a Pomeranian without a nose. The answer was always no. Yet the day Soda arrived, <a class="inline_link omniture-click-processed" href="http://www.examiner.com/topic/dallas-animal-services" style="background: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #4489e3; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;">Dallas Animal Services</a>, called “<a href="https://www.facebook.com/RecycledPoms" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #4489e3; cursor: pointer; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Recycled Pomeranians and Schipperkes Rescue of Dallas</a>” to tell them they had received a Pomerarnian with a facial injury. Dallas Animal Services never posted her picture on their website and never called the owner.</div>
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Here is the timeline. Soda was lost September 1st. She arrived at Dallas Animal Services on September 4th and was picked up by the <a class="inline_link omniture-click-processed" href="http://www.examiner.com/topic/rescue" style="background: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #4489e3; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;">rescue</a> by Noon on September 7th. September 8th Cooper found out the rescue had Soda, but the rescue refused to return her. Cheri Fults, speaking for “Recycled Pomeranians and Schipperkes Rescue” <a href="http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fdfw.cbslocal.com%2Fvideo%2F10580136-owner-rescue-group-in-doggie-adoption-dilemma%2F%23.VBa3giAmCOg.facebook&h=qAQEzjk4L" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #4489e3; cursor: pointer; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">explained to the local CBS news</a>, “I hate that she has lost her dog, but it is too late.” A foster fell in love after one day and adopted Cooper’s dog of fourteen years. The rescue raised thousands of dollars for reconstructive surgery.</div>
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Cooper says the rescue is welcome to keep the donations. Her vet does not think a dog that old with a heart murmur should undergo surgery. Joyce Cooper and Imani just want Soda home for Christmas.</div>
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If you have information on
evacuations and animal rescue efforts during a disaster, e-mail <a href="mailto:marilyn@marilynlitt.com">marilyn@marilynlitt.com</a>, National Disaster Animal Reporter for the Examiner. You
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Marilyn Litthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05557633582043608297noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3454526422832119580.post-73272574232163011352015-04-18T19:27:00.004-07:002015-04-18T19:27:52.641-07:00Dog lost in the Netherlands found in Texas<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZfsjd9f0EungpI5GoJlZTrfuT2xbEJJUe5tSLU7WN49k1isUUgG-wdEnQyYwa2ct1VZcv9AY7Hqc35RVJ47aNsI0YmjfD_u_HWgBC7db6kLxJQBDLW5hJcXkqOUtGjg3u1GbqM2NcZrg/s1600/amy4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZfsjd9f0EungpI5GoJlZTrfuT2xbEJJUe5tSLU7WN49k1isUUgG-wdEnQyYwa2ct1VZcv9AY7Hqc35RVJ47aNsI0YmjfD_u_HWgBC7db6kLxJQBDLW5hJcXkqOUtGjg3u1GbqM2NcZrg/s1600/amy4.jpg" height="230" width="320" /></a></div>
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Amy the German Shepherd probably just set a distance record for being reunited by microchip. In fact they can probably retire the record now! Amy belongs to a woman named Linda Pool, who lives in the <a class="inline_link omniture-click-processed" href="http://www.examiner.com/topic/netherlands" style="background: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #4489e3; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;">Netherlands</a> and Amy was just found in Houston, Texas.</div>
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It is complicated, but a year ago, Pool had a family emergency and had to rehome Amy. Pool returned Amy to the breeder with the understanding that Amy would be held for a few weeks to see if something could be worked out to keep Amy in the family.</div>
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However, Amy was immediately rehomed. It turned out that Pool was able to take Amy back, but it was too late. Her only recourse was to keep the chip information up-to-date and hope that someday the chip would bring her dog back to her.</div>
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Today her FaceBook page proclaims in Dutch under Amy’s photo:</div>
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“Na een jaar eindelijk gevonden! <br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />[After a year, finally found!]”</div>
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Incredibly enough, Amy was discovered walking along a road in Houston and the chip company contacted Pool. Unfortunately, Amy is skin and bones. The Good Samaritan who found her is not able to care for her, so she is now with an administrator of the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/SearchForSassy" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #4489e3; cursor: pointer; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Search for Sassy</a> FaceBook page, which helps people who are searching for lost animals.</div>
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A <a href="http://www.geef.nl/actie/repatriering-herder-amy#.VHqV-zHF9yW" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #4489e3; cursor: pointer; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">fundraising effort</a> is underway in the Netherlands by the <a href="http://dehereniging.wordpress.com/" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #4489e3; cursor: pointer; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Reunification Project</a>,a non-profit, to raise money for Linda to <a href="http://dehereniging.wordpress.com/2014/11/27/herder-amy-teruggevonden-in-houston-texas/" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #4489e3; cursor: pointer; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">travel to Texas</a> on December 17 to pick up Amy and take her home in time for Christmas. Almost half of the goal of $2,250 (€ 1800 Euros) has been met. Pool is sure to get some good Texas weather and hospitality, but the real prize will be reuniting with her beloved dog.</div>
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[Please note that some links in this story are in Dutch, but if you page down you will see a translation and others let you translate by clicking in the upper right-hand corner.]</div>
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Here is an <a href="http://www.examiner.com/article/update-and-video-of-dog-lost-the-netherlands-and-found-texas" style="background: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #4489e3; cursor: pointer; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;">update with video</a>!</div>
Marilyn Litthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05557633582043608297noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3454526422832119580.post-67643355418623936382015-04-18T18:39:00.000-07:002015-04-18T18:39:24.201-07:00Great reunion video of Texas dog being returned from McHenry County Illinois<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Last night one very lost dog got her own fairy tale ending in <a class="inline_link omniture-click-processed" href="http://www.examiner.com/topic/austin" style="background: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #4489e3; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;">Austin</a>, Texas when she was flown home from <a class="inline_link omniture-click-processed" href="http://www.examiner.com/topic/mchenry-county" style="background: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #4489e3; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;">McHenry County</a>, Illinois. Philia is a year old Siberian Husky and she disappeared from her Austin home in July. Barely two weeks later she was scanned at McHenry County Animal Control and was discovered to have a Home Again microchip registered to her owner, Jodi, in Austin.</div>
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Now came the problem, how to get Philia back to Jodi? Jodi put posters up when Philia disappeared, but she was bewildered to hear her dog was in <a class="inline_link omniture-click-processed" href="http://www.examiner.com/topic/chicago" style="background: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #4489e3; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;">Chicago</a>. The dog could not have walked there! Luckily for everyone, Philia was at <a href="https://www.co.mchenry.il.us/county-government/departments-a-i/health-department/animal-control" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #4489e3; cursor: pointer; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">McHenry County’s municipal shelter</a>, which has one of the highest “<a href="http://www.nathanwinograd.com/linked/marblog.pdf" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #4489e3; cursor: pointer; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">return to owner</a>” rates in the country. Over half of the dogs that end up there, end up back home again. There are maybe a dozen shelters which can boast that. So, McHenry staff saw having a dog that belonged across the country as a problem to be solved.</div>
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The veterinarian on staff, Dr. Lisa Lembke, contacted Susan Taney, Director of <a href="https://www.facebook.com/LostDogsIllinois" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #4489e3; cursor: pointer; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Lost Dogs Illinois</a>(LDI.) LDI is an all volunteer website which helps reunite lost dogs by providing assistance to people who have lost and found dogs. In turn, Ms. Taney contacted <a href="https://www.facebook.com/findtexasdogs" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #4489e3; cursor: pointer; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Lost Dogs of Texas</a> (LDOT), which performs the same service for Texas residents. (Disclosure, this writer is the Director of LDOT.) There were some communication issues because Philia’s owner Jodi is deaf. LDOT just made sure everyone stayed in touch and knew what was happening.</div>
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McHenry County staff kept Philia happy and healthy for over five weeks while trying to figure out how she could get home. Transporting a dog is expensive and could not be covered by a municipal shelter. Philia’s owner was between jobs and here is where Philia found a second champion. Home Again microchip company heard Philia’s story and offered to pay for her to fly home.</div>
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Yet again Philia got lucky. Dogs can’t usually fly cargo when it is summer in Texas. However, Delta has a “Summer Live Animal” program which allows animals to fly into some cities, including Austin. Dogs fly cargo, but are put on the plane last and taken off first. They stay in air conditioned vans during any layovers, which Philia did in Atlanta.</div>
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When she arrived in Austin last night, Philia walked tentatively out of her crate into the arms of her family. Jodi brought her son and a friend and that dog went crazy dashing from one to the other and licking their faces. It was a perfect happy ending. Even the Delta agent wanted to see it and stayed after her shift.</div>
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How did Philia get from Austin to Chicago? We will never know, and truthfully, that is not near as interesting as how she got home.</div>
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<em>Please help make this a better resource by sharing the information via social media. </em><br />
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<em>If you have information on evacuations and animal rescue efforts during a disaster, e-mail </em><em><a data-cke-saved-href="mailto:marilyn@marilynlitt.com" href="mailto:marilyn@marilynlitt.com">marilyn@marilynlitt.com</a>, National Disaster Animal Reporter for the Examiner. You can also follow the National Disaster Animal News on <a data-cke-saved-href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/National-Disaster-Animal-Examiner/348558091892816" href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/National-Disaster-Animal-Examiner/348558091892816">Facebook</a>, <a data-cke-saved-href="https://twitter.com/mklitt" href="https://twitter.com/mklitt">Twitter</a>, and <a data-cke-saved-href="http://www.pinterest.com/marilynlitt/national-disaster-animal-reporter/" href="http://www.pinterest.com/marilynlitt/national-disaster-animal-reporter/">Pinterest</a>.</em><br />
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<em>Follow these stories and writing by other Texas writers on "<a data-cke-saved-href="https://www.facebook.com/txanimals?skip_nax_wizard=true" href="https://www.facebook.com/txanimals?skip_nax_wizard=true">Texas Animal Writers</a>" on FaceBook.</em>Marilyn Litthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05557633582043608297noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3454526422832119580.post-15044832856124168402015-04-18T18:32:00.000-07:002015-04-18T18:32:00.098-07:00Yorkie back from dog flipper after daring rescue<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Preston is safe at home today, June 12, in Houston after a narrow escape from someone who sells dogs on Craig's List. The little Yorkie is 15, but has the heart of a puppy. He wiggled under a fence on Friday night to go exploring and was immediately missed and just as quickly picked up by a passerby. His frantic family began putting up flyers, searching the neighborhood and consoling their children.</div>
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The finder posted Preston on Houston Craig's List and on the statewide FaceBook page, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/findtexasdogs" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #4489e3; cursor: pointer; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Lost Dogs of Texas</a>, where she got a free flyer courtesy of <a href="https://www.helpinglostpets.com/" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #4489e3; cursor: pointer; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">HelpingLostPets.com</a>. Social media began to work its magic as a cross poster copied the Craig's List ad onto a local FaceBook page,<a href="https://www.facebook.com/HoustonLostandFoundPets" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #4489e3; cursor: pointer; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Houston Lost and Found Pets</a>. From there the FaceBook post was shared to the local Home Owner's Association site and the anxious family began to receive helpful phone calls.</div>
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There the story took a dark turn when the dog somehow ended up with <a href="http://blogs.houstonpress.com/hairballs/2012/12/tavarius_williams_dog_flipper.php" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #4489e3; cursor: pointer; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">a person who calls herself Cindy</a>. Cindy is well known in Houston by her phone number. That number is connected today to over <a href="http://houston.craigslist.org/search/ccc?query=832-418-5683&sort=rel" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #4489e3; cursor: pointer; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">30 ads selling dogs</a> on Houston's Craig's List. It is worth stating here that most lost dogs go home. An ASPCA study showed that <a href="https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=540960176000069&set=a.482360618526692.1073741911.295727757189980&type=3&theater" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #4489e3; cursor: pointer; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">93% of all lost dogs do get home</a> as did Preston.</div>
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It is not known whether the finder thought Cindy was the owner or if she just gave Cindy the dog. Preston got loose on June 6. By June 10th, the 15 year old dog was being offered for $150 as a 4 year old dog. The ads are still online, although Preston went home last night.</div>
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Preston's owner, Jeffrey, got Cindy's number from the finder and called to ask for Preston back. Cindy hesitated and then told him she was hoping to keep the dog because her elderly Yorkie had died. This is a tactic she has been known to employ to get sympathetic people to give her dogs. She then sells the dogs on Craig's List. However, she relented and agreed to return the dog. What Jeffrey did not know was Preston was already listed for sale online. He did not believe her story but agreed it was reasonable of her to wish to keep his elderly dog. Jeffrey's cool handling of the situation is why Preston is home today.</div>
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Although she lived a couple of hours away in a bad neighborhood and he would arrive after midnight, Jeffrey was eager to retrieve Preston and agreed to meet her. He was familiar with the area, so he was cautious about leaving the car. On the way there, he got a text that did not surprise him. Cindy claimed to have spent $200 on shampoo for Preston. Jeffrey texted back, "Thank you." He had been careful to be polite in his dealings and to promise nothing.</div>
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Now it was midnight and he could see no one waiting. Calling Cindy, he was told to meet her between two parked semi-trailers parked a short distance away. It was not Jeffrey's first rodeo. He got out of the car, but called out that he was not comfortable walking over there and that Preston needed to be brought to him. Cindy came toward him and placed Preston on the ground. When Jeffrey called, Preston dashed to him. Dog safely in hand, he was again told about the hundreds of dollars spent on Preston's care and shampoo. He said, "All I have is a hundred." He handed the money to Cindy and immediately got in the car and drove away as protesting voices called out behind him. The dog flippers did not know, but a buddy sat in the car the whole time poised to dial 911.</div>
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First thing Jeffrey did when he got Preston home? Despite the hundreds that had supposedly been spent to bathe Preston, Jeffrey gave him a bath.</div>
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Dog flippers, for all the publicity, are quite rare. The Houston area clearly has a problem with one individual, but that does not mean the practice is epidemic. Far more prevalent are <a href="http://www.kmov.com/news/just-posted/Company-uses-Craigslist-to-swindle-local-owners-searching-for-lost-pets-243437181.html" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #4489e3; cursor: pointer; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">scammers</a> who try to get you to pay them to find your lost dog. They call everyone who posts on Craig's List to offer to find your dog "or your money back." You are far more likely to find your dog than get your money. It bears repeating, 93 percent of all lost dogs are recovered. Following the tips below will help you find your dog.</div>
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Things to Do if Your Dog is Lost:</div>
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<li><span style="line-height: 1.5rem;">Immediately put out food, water and your dog's bed</span></li>
<li><span style="line-height: 1.5rem;">Get the word out by using</span><span style="line-height: 1.5rem;"> </span><a href="https://www.helpinglostpets.com/" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #4489e3; cursor: pointer; font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.5rem; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">flyers</a><span style="line-height: 1.5rem;"> </span><span style="line-height: 1.5rem;">and signs</span></li>
<li><span style="line-height: 1.5rem;">Contact your local pound, animal control, rescues and vet clinics</span></li>
<li><span style="line-height: 1.5rem;">Do NOT call or chase your dog. If you see your dog, sit and let the dog come to you.</span></li>
<li><span style="line-height: 1.5rem;">Post flyers all over your neighborhood. Go door to door with flyers and talk to neighbors. </span></li>
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<span style="line-height: 1.5rem;">Check the posted flyers every day to make sure they are still up. If you notice they are being taken down, put out more. Take flyers to area vets, groomers, and pet supply stores. Ask area convenience stores and fast food places if you can put flyers in their windows. Give flyers to the mail carrier, and any UPS or FedEx or delivery truck you see. Ask the schools in your area if they will put flyers on the school buses. Children are good at looking for and remembering dogs. Take flyers to hair and nail salons and ask if you can put them in the windows. Give flyers to trash pickup drivers, Newspaper delivery people, and Pizza delivery people. Put a sign in your front yard... like a garage sale sign or a for sale sign that says Lost Dog.</span></div>
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You will find this and other helpful tips on <a href="http://lostdogsofamerica.org/" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #4489e3; cursor: pointer; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Lost Dogs of America</a>.</div>
Marilyn Litthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05557633582043608297noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3454526422832119580.post-42662624971157784482015-04-18T18:21:00.000-07:002015-04-18T18:21:10.426-07:00How to trap a lost dog<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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It takes a community to trap a dog. A dog in flight mode may not be able to be stopped without a humane trap. The public needs to report sightings, but also has to know not to call, chase or whistle at the lost dog. You may even want to leave the name of the dog off the flyer to make calling the dog more difficult. This writer spoke with Diane Weissert, who is an expert on trapping. She has made a hobby of it and has trapped about three dozen lost dogs. She shares her expertise in this article.<br />
Weissert says the average time to trap a dog is a week. Of course these are dogs whose location is known. She maps the sightings and learns the dog's habits to know where to set the trap. Knowing when and where to set the trap is part of the puzzle.<br />
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Recently she set out to trap a dog named Gretel who had been lost in Texas during transport to her home in New Mexico. Dogs often go in a circle with a one to three mile radius. Gretel confined her circle to one quarter mile, but that small area was unfamiliar to Gretel and to her family from New Mexico. Luckily for the family, Diane heard about Gretel and volunteered her services.<br />
People think sometimes that dogs move in a straight line or follow a road or creek. Of course that can be true and you need to anticipate where a dog may be heading to leave flyers in advance of his arrival, but <a data-cke-saved-href="http://lostdogsofamerica.org/tips-for-dogs-that-are-lost-from-somewhere-other-than-home/" href="http://lostdogsofamerica.org/tips-for-dogs-that-are-lost-from-somewhere-other-than-home/">dogs who are lost away from their home</a> do tend to circle back to where they escaped as Gretel did.<br />
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Weissert says you have to spy on the dog and map his habits. Gretel had been sighted at 5 a.m. going down an alley near a school. She walked confidently and with a purpose. The next day, she was sighted at the same location at the same time.<br />
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There are common pitfalls to retrieving a lost dog. Should you see your dog, Diane advises being completely quiet and still. She says it is a hard lesson that all owners seem fated to learn through experience; even when they have been explicitly told what not to do. The typical person makes the mistake of screaming with joy upon seeing their dog. Of course the dog runs. Gretel ran when her grieving owners saw her and could not resist shouting. Instead of calling, try going face down in the dirt and only glance at your dog with your peripheral vision. You want to try and make yourself as small and non-threatening as possible. From this uncomfortable position, toss a few treats to lure your dog closer. If the dog does not come to the treats, it is not going to happen. Your dog is making the rules. Now you know you must go with Plan B: <a data-cke-saved-href="https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=514076338688453&set=a.482360618526692.1073741911.295727757189980&type=3&theater" href="https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=514076338688453&set=a.482360618526692.1073741911.295727757189980&type=3&theater">the humane trap</a>.<br />
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Another pitfall is calling animal control. Animal Control chases dogs. If the dog is fine and safe, you do not want the dog chased. Gretel was chased from the area where she was comfortable and into a creek. After this "help" by animal control, she was not sighted for two days. (Please note this happened in Texas. Some states do have animal control staff who are trained in trapping.)<br />
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Four more sightings came in for Gretel and Diane picked the sighting in the middle as the place to set a trap. It was baited with rotisserie chicken, along with some smelly cat food, and covered with a wildlife cam. You need to film the trap to find out if the dog is approaching the trap, but not entering. In Gretel's case, rotisserie chicken was exactly what she was wanting and she went in the trap the first night. Her family was on their way back to New Mexico from near Austin where Gretel was lost, but they turned right around. Gretel was moved, still in the trap, into Diane's house to an interior room, where she could settle down and relax and not get outside. You can see her reunion in the video above. You will notice her tucked tail indicates how nervous Gretel is. Some dogs are transformed when they see their family and others take time to adjust. Gretel obviously knew her family, but do not count on that if you find a dog. A dog's recognition makes poor proof of ownership. Some dogs will appear to know anyone. These are the dogs who run up to strangers and do not need to be trapped. Other dogs are in a state of shock and will recover after a day or two with their family.<br />
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In this case it was a lucky thing that Gretel was caught when she was. The next day there was much rainfall in the area and the creek that Gretel dashed into became a river. There was property damage and animals were lost. There is no telling what might have happened if Gretel had been caught in <a data-cke-saved-href="http://www.cnn.com/2013/10/14/us/texas-floods/" href="http://www.cnn.com/2013/10/14/us/texas-floods/" target="_blank">the storm and flash flood</a>.<br />
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The joy of the family is the only reward Diane will accept and as you can see from the brief film, she was well paid for restoring Gretel to her loving family.<br />
<ul>
<li>Trapping dogs is a complex topic. To be successful, you need to have thorough knowledge of what you are doing. Here are a <a data-cke-saved-href="http://http://lostdogsofamerica.org/categories/humane-trapping/" href="http://http//lostdogsofamerica.org/categories/humane-trapping/" target="_blank">series of articles</a> explaining some of the risks and how to set a successful trap</li>
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<em><a data-cke-saved-href="http://www.examiner.com/dog-rescue-in-national/marilyn-litt" href="http://www.examiner.com/dog-rescue-in-national/marilyn-litt">Subscribe here</a> (by clicking the link under my biography) to have my new articles e-mailed to you or to sign up for my RSS feed. Stay on top of the current news as it relates to animals in stateside disasters! </em><br />
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<em>If you have information on evacuations and animal rescue efforts during a disaster, e-mail </em><em><a data-cke-saved-href="mailto:marilyn@marilynlitt.com" href="mailto:marilyn@marilynlitt.com">marilyn@marilynlitt.com</a>, National Disaster Animal Reporter for the Examiner. You can also follow the National Disaster Animal News on <a data-cke-saved-href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/National-Disaster-Animal-Examiner/348558091892816" href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/National-Disaster-Animal-Examiner/348558091892816">Facebook</a>, <a data-cke-saved-href="https://twitter.com/mklitt" href="https://twitter.com/mklitt">Twitter</a>, and <a data-cke-saved-href="http://www.pinterest.com/marilynlitt/national-disaster-animal-reporter/" href="http://www.pinterest.com/marilynlitt/national-disaster-animal-reporter/">Pinterest</a>.</em><br />
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<em>Follow these stories and writing by other Texas writers on "<a data-cke-saved-href="https://www.facebook.com/txanimals?skip_nax_wizard=true" href="https://www.facebook.com/txanimals?skip_nax_wizard=true">Texas Animal Writers</a>" on FaceBook.</em>Marilyn Litthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05557633582043608297noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3454526422832119580.post-72620869575533819992015-04-18T17:06:00.002-07:002015-04-18T18:03:17.180-07:00Finding and trapping cats after a natural disaster<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtL9u8VOy2KcyGsExgG7W5axybv5BlR3Yr47F96viTfxrewadHSQODYHNB_IgQGwY1PVrq66CFuPE1lEHYIVL-YhWiSCAWzZjH7z4hEcW7hqiR6MPpVUVdcDLOLnJE-PU-H9EtlQ0Jg0U/s1600/cats.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtL9u8VOy2KcyGsExgG7W5axybv5BlR3Yr47F96viTfxrewadHSQODYHNB_IgQGwY1PVrq66CFuPE1lEHYIVL-YhWiSCAWzZjH7z4hEcW7hqiR6MPpVUVdcDLOLnJE-PU-H9EtlQ0Jg0U/s1600/cats.jpg" height="317" width="320" /></a></div>
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After a natural disaster where homes are destroyed, many people assume their cats perished. But cats are very resourceful. They stay safe and they hide, usually within six blocks of where they went missing. Sometimes they live in the debris of your home. Cats have been found hiding in bedsprings or sofas <a href="http://www.examiner.com/article/your-cat-may-have-survived-the-wildfire" style="background: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #4489e3; cursor: pointer; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;">in destroyed houses</a>. They are just waiting for their people to return.</div>
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When a lost <a class="inline_link omniture-click-processed" href="http://www.examiner.com/topic/cat" style="background: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #4489e3; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;">cat</a> does venture out, he is likely to be very wary. Friendly cats may appear feral and talky cats may keep quiet. They will revert back to their normal behavior after readjusting to being safe. If you are trying to catch a cat, you will want to wear gloves to handle <em style="box-sizing: border-box;">any</em> cat, even friendly ones to prevent even an accidental scratch.</div>
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Animal rescuers in Joplin, <a href="http://www.examiner.com/article/staten-island-your-cats-are-waiting-for-you" style="background: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #4489e3; cursor: pointer; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;">whose team perfected cat trapping</a>, have shown that trapping cats after a disaster works best if several blocks of neighbors band together to work as a group. The idea is to trap <em style="box-sizing: border-box;">identified</em> cats whose families are searching for them, while taking notes and photos but leaving friendly cats whose families have not come forward.</div>
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April Brill, one of the cat trappers from Joplin shared these detailed instructions:</div>
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<li style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.5rem; list-style: none; margin: 0px 0px 16px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 20px;">Make sure the team is far enough back that animals are not spooked. (I usually drive around for a while). Periodically check the opening of the trap by using a flashlight/spotlight. If door is still up then drive around checking other trapping locations. If you leave a trap, you have to chain it to prevent loss. You should never leave a trap unattended for more than a brief period.</li>
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<li style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.5rem; list-style: none; margin: 0px 0px 16px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 20px;">Place traps near the site of the feeding station in late afternoon or early evening. Night trapping is most successful. Place newspaper inside, without covering the trip plate. Place a paper plate or saucer, with a few spoonfuls of tuna, on the trip plate. You may need a "grabber-type" tool, used to take items down from a high shelf, to slide the plate into the trap. Dribble tuna juice outside the trap in a trail for a few feet.</li>
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<li style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.5rem; list-style: none; margin: 0px 0px 16px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 20px;">Take pictures/ use wildlife cameras for descriptions and to see which animals eat after it is too dark to see.</li>
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<li style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.5rem; list-style: none; margin: 0px 0px 16px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 20px;">"In order to trap the animals, you must know where they are and who they may belong to. Trapping is only one single part of a multi-faceted plan. If you trap an animal, how do you know who the animal belongs to without a list and description of the missing ones? Here is a quick rundown:</li>
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<li style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.5rem; margin: 0px 0px 16px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 20px;">Set up feeding stations which are carefully monitored so you know who is eating there.</li>
<li style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.5rem; margin: 0px 0px 16px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 20px;">Once you have a good idea of which pets are there (trapping ferals is not recommended) remove food for a day or two.</li>
<li style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.5rem; margin: 0px 0px 16px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 20px;">Get together a team of people to trap, using live traps. Be sure to test the traps for sensitivity. It doesn't do any good to use a trap designed for 15 lb animals if you aim to get smaller animals.</li>
<li style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.5rem; margin: 0px 0px 16px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 20px;">Place a light weight cover over the trap, such as dark colored sheet or light blanket. Be careful to not weigh down the area that springs the trap, and leave the opening free.</li>
<li style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.5rem; margin: 0px 0px 16px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 20px;">When traps are tripped, take the animal to a location you have previously picked. This place needs to be secure and quiet, and it is a good idea to have animal crates available. Have the potential owner look at the cat as soon as it is in a safe, contained room.. The goal is not to remove all the cats, but to get cats home who have homes. If you trap friendly cats who are the "wrong" cat, put them into the shelter system set up for disaster animals so they may be photographed, advertised and identified and claimed by their family.</li>
<li style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.5rem; margin: 0px 0px 16px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 20px;">Take pictures of each animal, and note a thorough description. If animal allows touching remove from trap and place in crate with a small amount of food and water, and a blanket for comfort."</li>
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Successfully reuniting means knowing what cats are out there. You can do this by spotlighting. Brill has really turned herself into an expert on this subject.</div>
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"In order to spotlight effectively, you need to know where the cats are feeding/gathering/bedding down.. Spotlighting discreetly is an art. You don't want to make the animals scatter and you especially don't want to draw attention to your activity.</div>
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I typically carry a small LED flashlight. Spotlighting needs to be done at night, but I start at dusk watching the designated area for activity. I drive slowly with the windows down, and quickly shine the light along the level of the ground. When I see the bright reflections of the cats eyes I stop the car and grab my million candle, hand-held spotlight.</div>
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I tend to spotlight a few nights in a row to establish the cat's patterns. Then I try to go back to that area during the day to see if I can catch another glimpse. You'd be amazed how one nighttime look can differ from the cats appearance in the daytime.</div>
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I quickly shine the light on the cat, making a mental note of every detail I can get such as size, breed/coloring, tail, etc. Most times you only have a few seconds before the cat runs off, so speed is important.</div>
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I then write down the location, date and time, and description of the cat. I compare this to our spreadsheet of lost animals. If there is a cat from the spreadsheet that matches the description of a cat I spotlighted, I will call the owner and request permission to trap. In Joplin there are laws regarding trapping. If you plan on trapping you need to research the trapping laws for your area, or you could be in violation and receive a hefty fine."</div>
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Now that you know how to locate and trap a cat, where do you find a trap? Tomahawk Traps has a <a href="http://www.livetrap.com/index.php?dispatch=categories.view&category_id=590" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #4489e3; cursor: pointer; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">page of humane cat traps</a>. You may also fine a local feral cat initiative that will loan you a trap.</div>
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How long should you look? <a href="http://mousebreath.com/2012/10/joplin-tornado-cat-found-18-mos-later/" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #4489e3; cursor: pointer; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Read about this cat</a> found 18 months after the Joplin tornado.</div>
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Marilyn Litthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05557633582043608297noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3454526422832119580.post-7556527344802811102015-04-18T16:57:00.003-07:002015-04-18T16:57:20.851-07:00What to expect at an animal evacuation shelter<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK1U_B5iMwLMiSSomEl0mfA5Y-faBGQW5MnglmXZrgQ4EyKrpdTlqyQFTz0c8caWMofdg6l5zDBkbW4L5-4DYN2LVAOcb4Y-Ebi9ORiDcXdr4KzVUbOt_FKpiWH4BV03oZMnbMvwrlN0c/s1600/twixtwiz.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK1U_B5iMwLMiSSomEl0mfA5Y-faBGQW5MnglmXZrgQ4EyKrpdTlqyQFTz0c8caWMofdg6l5zDBkbW4L5-4DYN2LVAOcb4Y-Ebi9ORiDcXdr4KzVUbOt_FKpiWH4BV03oZMnbMvwrlN0c/s1600/twixtwiz.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #999999; font-family: 'Proximo Nova', 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-style: italic; line-height: 16px; text-align: right;">2012 "Twix & Twiz by Alice Sillavan Bertelson</span></td></tr>
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During a disaster, information is available online on how to prepare to evacuate with your animals. You may have to do research, but you should be able to find where you take your animals. But what can you expect at the <a class="inline_link omniture-click-processed" href="http://www.examiner.com/topic/animal-evacuation" style="background: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #4489e3; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;">animal evacuation</a> shelter? Your experience may vary, but these are things to anticipate.</div>
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You will be asked to complete paperwork for each of your animals. This is when you want to use your best handwriting and put down not just your phone numbers, but the numbers of family members out of state. If you cannot be reached, maybe these family members can be contacted. Read the paperwork carefully. Some forms say that animals left with the shelter will become shelter property after ten days. Not ten days after the shelter closes, but ten days after you sign the paperwork! So read all the fine print.</div>
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Tell the truth about your animal's temperament. This is to protect the staff, your animal and other animals. If you have a <a class="inline_link omniture-click-processed" href="http://www.examiner.com/topic/dog" style="background: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #4489e3; cursor: pointer; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none;">dog</a> who must be isolated, or can't stand to have his collar grabbed, or hates cats or dogs or people, put it on the paperwork and tell the staff.</div>
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If you did not bring vaccination records, your dog or <a class="inline_link omniture-click-processed" href="http://www.examiner.com/topic/cat" style="background: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #4489e3; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;">cat</a> may be re-vaccinated.</div>
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Write your animal's name and contact information on the crate, but chances are you may not get the same crate back. It is just not possible to keep everything you bring together with your animal. Don't expect the food you packed to be the food served your animals. They will likely get potluck, but do bring the food. It will be needed. Discuss an medication with the staff.</div>
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It is a good idea to keep your dog leash. You will need that when you pick your dog up. Ask what the policy is on collars. Sometimes they are removed because a collar can get hung up on the inside of an enclosure. If the collar is not needed, you need to keep it.</div>
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Ask what the policy is for visiting. Most animals adapt better to a shelter with visits from family. The animal is reassured that his people know where he is. Vet hospitals now encourage family to visit because it aids in recovery. The same principle is at work here. If you have the time and inclination, ask if you can volunteer. They may need help and you may want a distraction.</div>
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Before turning your animals over, make sure you have a photo of them on your phone. A photo with you is even better, but be careful! This needs to be done in a closed room. Dogs and cats are even more of a flight risk during an evacuation.</div>
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At the animal evacuation shelter, you will be helped by local animal control staff not getting paid overtime and unpaid volunteers. Some of them may be evacuees too and all of them probably have been working long hours to set up the shelter for your animals. These are the people who will be walking your dog and cleaning your cat's litter. Show them the kindness they will be showing your loved ones.</div>
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(If you are hoping to keep your animal with you, see a previous article: <a href="http://www.examiner.com/article/motels-that-accept-animals-are-welcome-stop-for-evacuees-with-pets" style="background: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #4489e3; cursor: pointer; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;">Motels that accept animals are welcome stop for evacuees with pets</a>)</div>
Marilyn Litthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05557633582043608297noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3454526422832119580.post-83964545645397949342015-04-18T15:51:00.000-07:002015-04-18T15:51:32.300-07:00Motels that accept animals are welcome stop for evacuees with pets<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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(Written 2012) Sometimes a disaster allows people time to evacuate and go to a motel. Finding accommodations can be a problem if you have <a class="inline_link omniture-click-processed" href="http://www.examiner.com/topic/animals" style="background: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #4489e3; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;">animals</a>.</div>
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Here is a quick guide to where your whole family is welcome. <em style="box-sizing: border-box;">Be aware that even <a class="inline_link omniture-click-processed" href="http://www.examiner.com/topic/motels" style="background: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #4489e3; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;">motels</a> with no <a class="inline_link omniture-click-processed" href="http://www.examiner.com/topic/dog" style="background: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #4489e3; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;">dog</a>policies may suspend that during a local emergency.</em> (Service dogs should be allowed at any motel.)</div>
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One place you are always welcome is <strong style="box-sizing: border-box;"><a href="http://www.lq.com/lq/" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #4489e3; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">La Quinta</a></strong>. The San Antonio based chain is well known for its pet friendly policy with no surcharge. During an emergency, this is the chain that is likely to be booked up first because they are widely known for accepting animals. Call 1-800-753-3757.</div>
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<strong style="box-sizing: border-box;"><a href="http://www.motel6.com/promotions/pets.aspx" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #4489e3; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Motel 6</a></strong> allows animals with no surcharge. <strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">Studio 6</strong> does charge $10.00 per day. Call 1-800-466-8356.</div>
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The <strong style="box-sizing: border-box;"><a href="http://www.bestwestern.com/tripplanner/travelwithpetstips.asp" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #4489e3; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Best Western</a></strong> chain is also an option, although they may charge extra and they do have restrictions. Again, any of this could change to accommodate evacuees and negotiation may be possible. Call 1-800-780-7234.</div>
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Best Western pet friendly properties will allow up to two domestic dogs in a rented room, with a maximum size of 80 lbs per animal. Other pet types such as cats, birds, monkeys, snakes, or other animals are allowed at the discretion of each property and require prior approval from the property.</div>
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There may be a maximum $20 per day charge for each room with a pet or multiple pets or a maximum per week charge of $100. A refundable damage deposit of up to $50 per stay may be required of all guests with a pet.</div>
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<strong style="box-sizing: border-box;"><a href="http://www.super8.com/" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #4489e3; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Super 8</a></strong> will probably accept your dog or cat, but may charge a fee. It depends on the individual motel policy. Call 1-800-454-3213.</div>
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The <strong style="box-sizing: border-box;"><a href="http://www.choicehotels.com/en/pet-friendly-hotels?" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #4489e3; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Choice Hotels</a> </strong>include the well known Comfort chain, Quality, Clarion and several others. There website says many of their locations will allow animals. However, the fees and deposits may be prohibitive. You will just need to inquire at the individual motel.</div>
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Of course there are independent motels and hotel chains that also accept people with animals. There are even motels in Texas that accommodate horses! The key is to book early before those places fill up which are the least expensive and the most friendly to your entire family.</div>
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Here is hoping that you only need this information to plan a short stay.</div>
Marilyn Litthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05557633582043608297noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3454526422832119580.post-1421961595253661982015-04-18T15:23:00.000-07:002015-04-18T15:23:02.794-07:00Your cat may have survived the wildfire<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIIdMwRZl_sx1G42P28pe4wSGWIDjSFS0mGn2SS1sdcv1RAJGnow13mOka26O6NCv2ei3Qtxxiczbl56dPyA-Z1JO_6IJeiKG7O5DejAgXEal95wKEQATTMP1RMz4G28O3_9NFH_uvr8s/s1600/cat.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIIdMwRZl_sx1G42P28pe4wSGWIDjSFS0mGn2SS1sdcv1RAJGnow13mOka26O6NCv2ei3Qtxxiczbl56dPyA-Z1JO_6IJeiKG7O5DejAgXEal95wKEQATTMP1RMz4G28O3_9NFH_uvr8s/s1600/cat.jpg" height="320" width="307" /></a></div>
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When a homeowner loses their house in a wildfire, they assume their <a class="inline_link omniture-click-processed" href="http://www.examiner.com/topic/cat" style="background: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #4489e3; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;">cat</a> has perished. That may be the case, but unless you find the sad evidence your cat did not make it, you should assume your cat has survived.</div>
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After the Bastrop, Texas wildfires last year there were anecdotal stories about pets who were locked in homes, and who were thought to have died, but who were later found in shelters. Speculation was that when the <a class="inline_link omniture-click-processed" href="http://www.examiner.com/topic/fire" style="background: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #4489e3; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;">fire</a> was inevitable, firemen broke windows on homes in case there were animals inside. In any event, heat can break glass. Of course cats are notorious for hiding during fires, but sometimes that hiding place will save the cat. Here is <a href="http://www.itchmo.com/cat-survives-fire-by-hiding-in-couch-2220" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #4489e3; cursor: pointer; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">a story of a cat</a> who hid in a couch and survived a house fire.</div>
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Then there is <a href="http://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/11/24/16936/801/223/665930" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #4489e3; cursor: pointer; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">the remarkable story</a> of two cats who survived a wildfire:</div>
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He and the firemen discovered that one of our cats, Abe, was in there and alive. He had been trapped under a table by the collapsed roof and other debris. They got him out and he seemed basically okay. [Abe in fact had lung damage and was treated in an oxygen chamber and recovered.]</div>
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Another cat, Adam, survived [this was an apartment complex burned in a California wildfire]</div>
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They went up to the apartment, broke down the door, and rescued him. He was soaking wet, covered in dirt, ash, and debris, without food and water . . . They took him down to the shelter where he was checked out by the vet, treated for smoke inhalation but was otherwise ok. He was released back to the shelter. The shelter had identified him as a 3 year old female (he is an 8.5 year old male). So when [the family] went looking for him on the web site, he was not there. [The family] did see this 3 year old female that looked a lot like Adam, but because the cat was listed a female . . . skipped over "her."</div>
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NEVER trust a FOUND listing as to sex/age/breed or spay/neuter status. If the animal pictured may be your animal, go check. Better yet, go to look at the animals that have been rescued. Take a "LOST" poster to leave there and talk to shelter staff and raise awareness about the animal you are looking for.</div>
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These are not the only instances of cats found to have survived a fire:</div>
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<li style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.5rem; list-style: none; margin: 0px 0px 16px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 20px;"><a href="http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/32775849/ns/today-today_pets_and_animals/t/smoka-cat-survives-days-fire-debris/" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #4489e3; cursor: pointer; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Cat survived under debris</a> of a house fire for 28 days</li>
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<li style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.5rem; list-style: none; margin: 0px 0px 16px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 20px;"><a href="http://network.bestfriends.org/groups/sanantonio/forum/t/18074.aspx" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #4489e3; cursor: pointer; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Cat found in a storm drain</a> after a wildfire</li>
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Then <a href="http://www.dailycamera.com/fourmile-canyon-fire/ci_16133427" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #4489e3; cursor: pointer; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">there is the lost cat</a> who was rescued after a wildfire which was miles away from the safe home where he went missing.</div>
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This is not to give grieving families false hope, but you should look for evidence that your cat may have survived. If you see that a cat is in the area, contact local rescues for help in trapping the cat. The cat you save just might be your baby!</div>
Marilyn Litthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05557633582043608297noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3454526422832119580.post-88260341140316483282015-01-08T11:56:00.002-08:002015-01-08T11:56:10.323-08:00Amazing animal survival stories from wildfires <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbdHv2OkAA1V5pJzvqh1bzd4FJir_7nPJVzxSREKZiqtgg-uoZjWZdc5cc8qgFpOlQnJbUr3Vwo-5zgIBlcNRtyG9nnVeDAXk3J4qY_ISVj_r0Tr2hD6BHbkdSqmcBF_61NubIs8OnHGM/s1600/dog1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbdHv2OkAA1V5pJzvqh1bzd4FJir_7nPJVzxSREKZiqtgg-uoZjWZdc5cc8qgFpOlQnJbUr3Vwo-5zgIBlcNRtyG9nnVeDAXk3J4qY_ISVj_r0Tr2hD6BHbkdSqmcBF_61NubIs8OnHGM/s1600/dog1.jpg" height="251" width="320" /></a></div>
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Of course you should never leave your <a class="inline_link omniture-click-processed" href="http://www.examiner.com/topic/animals" style="background: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #4489e3; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;">animals</a> behind in a disaster zone, but sometimes there really is no choice. For example, what if you are away from home when there is a wildfire and you are not allowed back in? That is a good reason to have a key hidden and maybe arrangements with a neighbor to <a class="inline_link omniture-click-processed" href="http://www.examiner.com/topic/rescue" style="background: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #4489e3; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;">rescue</a> your babies if a fire is approaching. But this is not an article about how to cover every contingency. This is about remarkable animals who survived on their own.</div>
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For example, a horse <a href="http://www.9news.com/news/article/272225/222/Lost-horse-wanders-up-to-High-Park-firefighter" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #4489e3; cursor: pointer; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">flagged down a fire engine</a> during the High Park wildfire. You can see a snippet from a newscast with a photo of the horse.</div>
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A Colorado State University <a href="http://www.news.colostate.edu/Release/6274" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #4489e3; cursor: pointer; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">news release</a> on students caring for <a class="inline_link omniture-click-processed" href="http://www.examiner.com/topic/high-park-fire" style="background: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #4489e3; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;">High Park fire</a> evacuees at the Ranch details a remarkable story about a donkey:</div>
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“Two companion donkeys came in, and after talking to a neighbor who knows them, he is convinced the one dominant donkey kept the group of two donkeys and four draft horses safe,” [a veterinary staff person] said. “One of the volunteer haulers who brought this group in told me this herd was standing in a lush green meadow, and when they arrived, the lead donkey with singed whiskers walked up to him and laid his head into his chest."</div>
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It is wonderful to hear these stories out of High Park after so much has been lost. A lesson after Katrina was many found the number one thing they cared about was the safety of their family and animals. After that came homes, possessions and jobs.</div>
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Shelter workers in New Mexico (Little Bear fire) <a href="http://www.krqe.com/dpp/weather/wildfires/little-bear-fire-evacuates-hundreds-of-pets" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #4489e3; cursor: pointer; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">report</a> "We found a hunting dog in midtown that they think had run 20 miles .”</div>
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Then there was the case of a <a class="inline_link omniture-click-processed" href="http://www.examiner.com/topic/cat" style="background: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #4489e3; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;">cat</a> discovered burned, but alive, under a rock after the 2010 Boulder fire. In <a href="http://www.dailycamera.com/fourmile-canyon-fire/ci_16133427?source=rss" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #4489e3; cursor: pointer; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">a stunning coincidence</a>, a Denver woman considering adopting the cat discovered "Sizzles" was her missing cat!</div>
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Cats in particular have a special ability to survive what would seem to be an inescapable fire. If your home burns, you should look for evidence that your cat may have escaped. Of course sometimes cats hide and do not live, but other times they escape through a broken window or somehow access the crawlspace. Do not give up hope on your animal until you know there is no hope. Maybe your hound ran 20 miles and is safe and sound!</div>
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Marilyn Litthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05557633582043608297noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3454526422832119580.post-77019569577889930602015-01-08T11:54:00.001-08:002015-01-08T11:54:16.230-08:00Most states are unprepared to help animals in a disaster<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw67rI8nJS8G5Y-SUL3dsPamsPf47n_N19Kf9ciRQylJzHFXS9Z3QMtHfVnsZcxWZqtG6utJPPmmAUEu2ZlD1qJU4_tyTldYXq7ngqM3fvQdBixIS-D8GfVc9DDvuH74U36zY2q4ZCeiM/s1600/dog3_140.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw67rI8nJS8G5Y-SUL3dsPamsPf47n_N19Kf9ciRQylJzHFXS9Z3QMtHfVnsZcxWZqtG6utJPPmmAUEu2ZlD1qJU4_tyTldYXq7ngqM3fvQdBixIS-D8GfVc9DDvuH74U36zY2q4ZCeiM/s1600/dog3_140.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
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<b>JUNE 3, 2012</b> How confident are you that your <a class="inline_link omniture-click-processed" href="http://www.examiner.com/topic/state" style="background: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #4489e3; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;">state</a> will step up to help with animal rescue and animal evacuation in case of a disaster? Well, unless you live in one of 14 states, chances are your state government is not even thinking about it.</div>
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Those 14 states have formed teams to help out with animals during a disaster. The teams often use the naming convention "State Animal Response <a class="inline_link omniture-click-processed" href="http://www.examiner.com/topic/team" style="background: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #4489e3; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;">Team</a>" (SART). A SART sometimes includes a smaller unit called a "Community or County Animal Response Team" (CART).</div>
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Many SARTs are coalitions. Their state has partnered with non-profits who have experience in animal rescue. In some cases these may not be robust fully functioning units, but at least the outline of a structure is in place. (The exception is Louisiana's SART which is by far the best in the country.)</div>
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Other states have either not thought about what happens to animals during a disaster or they have disbanded their animal response team. What happened to the Texas State Animal Response Team (TXSART)? When I checked the TXSART website, it now supports Texas art!</div>
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In some cases, there may be an animal organization in the state that has nominated itself the SART. That organization may be able to step up and function well in an emergency. But if the state does not acknowledge the partnership on their website, they are not listed below. No mention by the state would indicate, at a minimum, a lack of communication with their "SART."</div>
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Following is a list of the only states who have official "State Animal Response Teams." This list was compiled by researching the official state website and finding if they linked to any organization as their SART. This is the only list of SARTs on the Internet, which may be taken as an indication of how lightly they are regarded. If your state is not listed below, write your state legislator. A team needs to be in place and easily found on the state website before a disaster shows how badly an animal response team is needed.</div>
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<li><span style="line-height: 1.5rem;">Connecticut CTSART (Coalition) Connecticut State Animal Response Team</span></li>
<li><span style="line-height: 1.5rem;">Florida FL-SARC (Coalition) Florida State Animal Response Coalition</span></li>
<li><span style="line-height: 1.5rem;">Indiana SAVE (estab. 1995) State Annex for Veterinary Emergencies</span></li>
<li><span style="line-height: 1.5rem;">Louisiana LSART Louisiana State Animal Response Team</span></li>
<li><span style="line-height: 1.5rem;">Michigan MISART (Coalition) Michigan State Animal Response Team</span></li>
<li><span style="line-height: 1.5rem;">Mississippi MART Mississippi Animal Response Team</span></li>
<li><span style="line-height: 1.5rem;">New Jersey AEWG (Coalition) Animal Emergency Working Group</span></li>
<li><span style="line-height: 1.5rem;">New York ESART Empire State Animal Response Team</span></li>
<li><span style="line-height: 1.5rem;">North Carolina NCSART (Coalition) North Carolina Animal Response Team</span></li>
<li><span style="line-height: 1.5rem;">Pennsylvania PASART (Coalition) Pennsylvania Animal Response Team</span></li>
<li><span style="line-height: 1.5rem;">Rhode Island RIDART Rhode Island Animal Response Team</span></li>
<li><span style="line-height: 1.5rem;">Tennessee DART (Coalition) Disaster Animal Response Team</span></li>
<li><span style="line-height: 1.5rem;">Virginia VASART (Coalition) Virginia State Animal Response Team</span></li>
<li><span style="line-height: 1.5rem;">Washington WASART Washington State Animal Response Team</span></li>
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Here <a href="http://www.illyria.com/petsit/sart.html" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #4489e3; cursor: pointer; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">is a list with links</a> to the SART websites.</div>
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This is the place to find out information on animal evacuations and disaster animal relief in the US. You can subscribe and have articles e-mailed to you immediately on publication by clicking <a href="http://www.examiner.com/user/3240261/1707091/subscribe?render=overlay&destination=node/44707126" style="background: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #4489e3; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;">here</a>.</div>
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Please help make this a better resource by sharing the information via FaceBook, Twitter,Pinterest and other social media. There are convenient links to the left of the article. <a href="mailto:marilyn@marilynlitt.com" style="background: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #4489e3; cursor: pointer; font-size: 1.5rem; line-height: 1.875rem; text-decoration: none;">marilyn@marilynlitt.com</a></div>
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Marilyn Litthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05557633582043608297noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3454526422832119580.post-3748875858464461872015-01-08T11:47:00.005-08:002015-01-08T11:47:57.611-08:00You can buy animal evacuation kits already assembled<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilf1ARuG9eLIkO7YNex_tH0h-ne-SKTHrryQDOsYlLSHFXjlP8BXS-7cmptM3sQ_HZEE7srmF6Zsgg75jikXjLG7IPbs_5oY6jHRUBGqec1C2vXuvpoOmGOfl92LpW7NtipijXI19s2RM/s1600/kitty.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilf1ARuG9eLIkO7YNex_tH0h-ne-SKTHrryQDOsYlLSHFXjlP8BXS-7cmptM3sQ_HZEE7srmF6Zsgg75jikXjLG7IPbs_5oY6jHRUBGqec1C2vXuvpoOmGOfl92LpW7NtipijXI19s2RM/s1600/kitty.jpg" height="260" width="320" /></a></div>
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With the national trend to evacuate with your dogs and cats (<a href="http://www.examiner.com/article/national-animal-disaster-preparedness-day-1" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; box-sizing: border-box; color: #4489e3; cursor: pointer; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;">National Animal Disaster Preparedness Day is May 12</a>), companies are trying to make it easier by selling pre-packaged kits that include what you need to grab and go with your <a class="inline_link omniture-click-processed" href="http://www.examiner.com/topic/dog" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; box-sizing: border-box; color: #4489e3; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;">dog</a> or <a class="inline_link omniture-click-processed" href="http://www.examiner.com/topic/cat" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; box-sizing: border-box; color: #4489e3; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;">cat</a>. </div>
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There are several different models and companies.</div>
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Ready America sells a <a href="http://store.shopreadyamerica.com/smdogevkit.html" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #4489e3; cursor: pointer; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">dog kit</a> and a<a href="http://store.shopreadyamerica.com/catevkit.html" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #4489e3; cursor: pointer; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"> cat kit</a>. Both kits are soft crates filled with a variety of supplies. You put your small dog or your cat in the crate and take the supplies with you. In this kit, you get food and some first aid supplies along with other items.</div>
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<a href="http://www.saveyourpetpack.com/products/index.html" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #4489e3; cursor: pointer; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Save Your Pet</a> has dog or cat backpacks for people to wear which include a long list of items (a flea comb for example) and a well stocked first aid kit. Of course you would have to provide a crate. Their site also lists how to customize the kit if you are preparing for a specific emergency such as an earthquake.</div>
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Lastly, <a href="http://www.quakekare.com/pet-survival-kits-c-1_6.html" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #4489e3; cursor: pointer; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">QuakeKare</a> has complete kits in bags for dogs, cats and even multiple dogs.</div>
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These grab and go <a class="inline_link omniture-click-processed" href="http://www.examiner.com/topic/disaster" style="background: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #4489e3; cursor: pointer; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none;">disaster</a> kits are not listed in any particular order. Each is different enough that they fit different needs. If you have crates or have a big dog, chances are you don't need a soft crate. If you are carrying your own backpack, you won't want a separate pack for your cat!</div>
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Whether you are a "prepper" (some kits have water purification tablets) or just someone looking for the perfect welcome gift for a new kitten or puppy, buying a pre-packed kit is the simplest way to start your animal <a class="inline_link omniture-click-processed" href="http://www.examiner.com/topic/evacuation" style="background: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #4489e3; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;">evacuation</a> preparations.</div>
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<div style="box-sizing: border-box; font-style: italic; font-weight: 700; line-height: 1.875rem; margin-left: 40px; margin-right: 40px;">
This is the place to find out information on animal evacuations and disaster animal relief in the US. You can subscribe and have articles e-mailed to you immediately on publication by <a href="http://www.examiner.com/user/3240261/1707091/subscribe?render=overlay&destination=node/44707126" style="background: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #4489e3; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;">clicking here</a>.</div>
<div style="box-sizing: border-box; font-style: italic; font-weight: 700; line-height: 1.875rem; margin-left: 40px; margin-right: 40px;">
Please help make this a better resource by sharing the information via FaceBook, Twitter, Pinterest and other social media. <span style="line-height: 1.875rem;"> </span><a href="mailto:marilyn@marilynlitt.com" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; box-sizing: border-box; color: #4489e3; cursor: pointer; line-height: 1.875rem; text-decoration: none;">marilyn@marilynlitt.com</a></div>
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Marilyn Litthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05557633582043608297noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3454526422832119580.post-59837919209102391762015-01-08T11:42:00.003-08:002015-01-08T11:44:21.123-08:00How to use FaceBook to help people and animals in a disaster<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: 'Proximo Nova', 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.5rem;">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiowXzOwLxdmRJhc3lXYrRKw6lmTU3UOIAnaqndOAOoxtjSscwpBvuc7BlWqTwiJ5C6XVQ5JPpFpMQ0C3gh-3nchQ66c7Rtq55WuBxxAXZ1BLLourhvI88Avif6CPoYH4HOl5lDvQwUJbk/s1600/home.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiowXzOwLxdmRJhc3lXYrRKw6lmTU3UOIAnaqndOAOoxtjSscwpBvuc7BlWqTwiJ5C6XVQ5JPpFpMQ0C3gh-3nchQ66c7Rtq55WuBxxAXZ1BLLourhvI88Avif6CPoYH4HOl5lDvQwUJbk/s1600/home.jpg" height="260" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Cathi Petterson</span></td></tr>
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<li><span style="line-height: 1.5rem;">Look for or create a FaceBook page to help your area recover.</span></li>
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<li><span style="line-height: 1.5rem;">This FaceBook page should be a “Community page,” which means that an unlimited number of people may participate after “liking” the page. Although a “group page” may sound more like what is needed, group pages are private pages and members must be approved. (A group page could work in tandem with a large community page, letting the admins talk in private.)</span></li>
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<li><span style="line-height: 1.5rem;">The best name for the page will include -in this order - the community name, the disaster, and then something about animals, for example: "Smallville</span><span style="line-height: 1.5rem;"> </span><a class="inline_link omniture-click-processed" href="http://www.examiner.com/topic/tornado" style="background: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #4489e3; cursor: pointer; line-height: 1.5rem; text-decoration: none;">Tornado</a><span style="line-height: 1.5rem;"> </span><span style="line-height: 1.5rem;">Animal Relief" or Smallville Tornado Animal Lost & Found." This allows people who are not in animal rescue to easily find your page when searching on the Smallville Tornado.</span></li>
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<li><span style="line-height: 1.5rem;">Volunteers should identify other FaceBook pages helping with all aspects of the relief effort and post your FaceBook page on them as well as adding your FaceBook address to the comments pages on online newspaper articles and blogs about animals in the disaster and social media and the disaster.</span></li>
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<li><span style="line-height: 1.5rem;">FaceBook is ideal for networking animal rescue groups, authorities and those who have lost and found animals. However it is not very good for keeping lost and found animals in view, because the FaceBook Wall is constantly renewed, pushing the latest information to the top. The photo album feature is not very robust and cannot be accessed from a smart phone.</span></li>
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<li style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.5rem; list-style: none; margin: 0px 0px 16px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 20px;">setting up a weekend event for people who have lost and found animals to meet with local animal rescue</li>
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<li style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.5rem; list-style: none; margin: 0px 0px 16px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 20px;">coordinate keeping animals in the area and tracking their locations - this is key to doing reunions</li>
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<li style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.5rem; list-style: none; margin: 0px 0px 16px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 20px;">recruiting volunteers to do leaflets and posters for people shelters in the first few days after the disaster -before people disperse- so those who have lost their housing will know who to tell about their missing animals</li>
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<li style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.5rem; list-style: none; margin: 0px 0px 16px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 20px;">facilitate the collection and delivery of crates and food to people who lost their homes</li>
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<li style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.5rem; list-style: none; margin: 0px 0px 16px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 20px;">identify areas where strays can be fed and trapped.</li>
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After a <a class="inline_link omniture-click-processed" href="http://www.examiner.com/topic/disaster" style="background: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #4489e3; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;">disaster</a>, people turn to the social media <em style="box-sizing: border-box;">to</em> help. This is a way for people who are not in the area to lend aid to their “neighbors.”</div>
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Because <a class="inline_link omniture-click-processed" href="http://www.examiner.com/topic/facebook" style="background: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #4489e3; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;">FaceBook</a> and Twitter and the other online media are relatively new, the best way they can be used after a disaster is still under construction; but here are some observations on how FaceBook can be used to help <a class="inline_link omniture-click-processed" href="http://www.examiner.com/topic/animals" style="background: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #4489e3; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;">animals</a> and their families.</div>
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A way to get around this is to use Flickr in tandem with a FaceBook page or pages (cooperation rather than competition among various pages is ideal.) Flickr is a very good way to keep photos of animals available for viewing. It has a robust tagging system that allows searching on combinations of breed and color. Here is an <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ms_tornado_pets_2011/sets/72157626792680506/" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #4489e3; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">example of a Flickr page</a> from the Joplin tornado.</div>
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<a class="inline_link omniture-click-processed" href="http://www.examiner.com/topic/pinterest" style="background: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #4489e3; cursor: pointer; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none;">Pinterest</a> is becoming very popular very fast. Because it is graphics based, it might be good for this purpose. The only problem is Pinterest does not work with FaceBook. Any animal photos would have to be uploaded, rather than "pinned" through a URL. Nevertheless, it is a task you can probably find eager volunteers to do. Here is a <a href="http://pinterest.com/marilynlitt/lost-or-stolen-yorkies/" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #4489e3; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">lost dog page</a> on Pinterest.)</div>
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FaceBook pages work best when there are not a lot of restrictions on posting. They are more likely to be lively and useful when policing is only used to keep people on topic, but not to tell them how to post. It is very important to allow links! FaceBook has robust spam filters these days and if people are posting inappropriate photos or comments, the best way to handle that is delete without comment. If you react by shutting down your page or cutting down posting privelages, they win. Having said that, if a page gets too popular, it may have to be shut down during hours when there is no admin available because many so many spammers post that some get past the filter. This usually is a problem at the 100K user mark and you should not aspire for some many users. There is such a thing as <em style="box-sizing: border-box;">too much</em> traffic!</div>
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You may see a page with many thousand members, but very few posters. These pages do not encourage networking. The volume of posts and the variety of people posting tells you more about the effectiveness of the page than the number of “Likes.”</div>
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Ideally a page covers a single affected community, which is not too large an area. Because communications are disrupted after a disaster, at least one person with admin privileges should be from outside the area - preferably a former resident. It is also necessary to have an admin who is boots on the ground and who works in animal rescue.</div>
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A successful page is very much a team effort. (For some reason a number of pages have had problems with rogue admins, so do not give admin privileges to someone you just met. It is OK to accept help, just make it on a volunteer basis without access to edit the page.)</div>
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Some ideas on how to use your page beyond reporting lost and found animals are:</div>
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Another great resource, which stresses the amount of time you will expend in your volunteer effort, is an <a href="http://extension.missouri.edu/greene/documents/PlansReports/using%20social%20media%20in%20disasters.pdf" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #4489e3; cursor: pointer; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">article by an expert in social media</a> who created a very useful FaceBook page to help Joplin residents after their tornado. Although the article is about a page geared toward helping people, it is valuable reading for anyone wanting to help through social media.</div>
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It is a daunting task to run a FaceBook page while helping out with animal rescue in the midst of a disaster – but it is so necessary. After Katrina, many people stated the most important things to them were there family and their animals. Possessions came third; so if you are helping animals, you are helping people heal.</div>
Marilyn Litthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05557633582043608297noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3454526422832119580.post-61244257503641705372014-07-26T14:30:00.000-07:002014-07-26T14:30:39.855-07:00Update: Immune mediated meningitis in my dog, Cisco<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="color: #999999; font-size: 17.77777862548828px; line-height: 25px;">January 15, 2012</span><br /><br />This is personal. On Examiner.com, we write in the third person and adopt a reporter’s attitude toward the subject. But this is about Cisco -- not my dog, but a dog I live with; and he is an irascible and idiosyncratic being who demands I drop into first person when telling his story.</div>
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Cisco is like a piece of balky software. He has “workarounds.” When I moved in and Cisco decided I did not need to be on his couch –and backed that up by breaking the bracelet on my wrist– it was up to me to become indispensable.</div>
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. I took over his feeding, so he would not “bite the hand who feeds him.”</div>
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Cisco comes by his personality naturally. He was adopted from what I believe is the best rescue in the country, “<a href="http://www.pawschicago.org/" rel="nofollow" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #0088cc; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Paws Chicago</a>.” They had an innovative storefront adoption center on a busy street – years before this was common – and one day a man walked in to drop off Cisco. The staff politely explained that this was not an intake center. “Then I will let him go outside.” He meant it and the staff relented. He said the dog had no name.</div>
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Cisco is a rat terrier, a Jack Russell mix perhaps, with beautiful markings. His age was estimated to be a year, but his back teeth showed an unusual pattern of severe wear. This wear was consistent with his having been kept in a crate full-time and spending his first year trying to chew his way out. That is a horrible fate for any dog, but particularly for a high energy breed like a “Jack.” He never kicked the chewing habit.</div>
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My housemate adopted him and adapted to him. She saw he would not stop chewing and it soothed him, so she made sure he always had something to chew. He guarded his chewies and at times seemed to enjoy the guarding as much as chewing. If I passed by his bed, he would raise his head and growl over whatever he was protecting. He put holes in socks, but he guarded shoes and a missing shoe would always be in his bed – usually undamaged, unlike the bed. Stuffed toys immediately came unstuffed when he took them from the other dogs, which he always did to ruin their fun; and toys had to be kept in a drawer and brought out for supervised playtime for those dogs who knew how to play with toys.</div>
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Cisco was one of those special dogs whose personality always makes him a presence. When my housemate’s husband developed Alzheimer’s; Cisco was the only one in their household who could respond to her. He helped her survive her husband’s decline and death.</div>
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Cisco enjoyed the usual good health of a small mixed breed dog, and he acted and looked younger than his thirteen years, with good weight and muscle tone and attitude to spare. We thought he had many good years to come.</div>
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How horrible then to discover recently that overnight something terrible had happened to Cisco. He was whimpering –something that was <em style="box-sizing: border-box;">never</em> in his vocabulary-- and his head was cocked to the right. He never stopped trembling. That morning, a Friday, Cisco went to the vet for X-rays and blood work. The vet did not know what to think. Cisco showed no elevated white count and only one slightly elevated liver enzyme (ALT). X-rays were negative.</div>
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Over the weekend his symptoms progressed. He was turning smaller circles, always to the right. This caused him to get stuck in corners and cry. The dog who bullied everyone and who would not let you touch <em style="box-sizing: border-box;">his</em> collar, now submitted to being picked up. The dog who ran out the back door barking aggressively multiple times a day had to be carried to a patch of grass where he circled and circled. I called the vet at home and arrangements were made to do an ultrasound on Monday to ensure the liver was OK, so Prednisone could be given. In the meantime Cisco was prescribed Valium.</div>
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Cisco’s appetite was good, but he had to be fed with a measuring cup, because he could only eat from the right side of the dish and not even from the bottom, but an inch up. In fact he seemed to perceive everything an inch above and to the right of its actual location. He seemed to be seeing out of the right side of each eye and only smelling from the right side of his nose. His left front leg was weak and his whole left side was . . . off in some way. No wonder he howled.</div>
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It looked like a stroke.</div>
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But my vet said that vets argue whether dogs get <a href="http://www.petwave.com/Dogs/Dog-Health-Center/Brain-Spinal-Cord-Nerve-Disorders/Stroke/Living.aspx" rel="nofollow" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #0088cc; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">strokes</a>. I had initially Googled the symptoms and was excited to find “<a href="http://www.petwave.com/Dogs/Dog-Health-Center/Ear-and-Eye-Disorders/Idiopathic-Vestibular-Disease.aspx" rel="nofollow" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #0088cc; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">idiopathic vestibular disorder</a>” – an inner ear disorder which was treatable, but further reading revealed a symptom of rapid eye movement which Cisco did not have. We wanted something that could be fixed!</div>
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The ultrasound showed a good liver and no heart abnormalities. The vet suggested <a href="http://www.helium.com/items/1913121-aseptic-meningitis-in-dogs-cervical-rigidity" rel="nofollow" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #0088cc; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">immune mediated meningitis</a> or <a href="http://www.medicinenet.com/pets/dog-health/brain_diseases_in_dogs.htm" rel="nofollow" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #0088cc; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">encephalitis</a> as unlikely possibilities. The only certainty was Cisco had a problem with brain function. That could also be caused by a brain lesion or broken blood vessels in the brain. An MRI of the brain might confirm that diagnosis – but it was not a cure nor could it lead to any treatment, and it was expensive.</div>
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So Cisco came home with a “shotgun” approach of antibiotics and a steroid. My friend felt this was palliative for her, rather than for Cisco -- to buy her time to say good-bye, but with Cisco’s distress – she might not even have that. It is not right to keep a dog in pain, just to keep the dog.</div>
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Luckily the Valium was effective and he spent much of his time sleeping. His whimpering ceased unless he was stuck in a corner. His one unaffected sense was hearing. If he got stuck and cried out, we had only to call out "Cisco!" for him to orient and free himself. We checked on his whereabouts every few minutes when he was not sleeping and crated him if we left the house. But even though his suffering was minimized, Cisco still was not there. We would not keep the body alive if his spirit had fled. This just gave us a week to see if any of the meds worked.</div>
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We had blankets on the floor in the hope he would cease pacing and lie down. We turned circles with him trying to coax him to lie down. We had to ease him down and straighten his left front leg and hope he would stay put. He could not get into a dog bed and had trouble getting out. I stayed up each night until he collapsed in the crate and stopped crying. If he was left out, he would get stuck in a corner. He would fall off a couch or a bed if not held. If he was held, you could feel the faint vibration of a residual growl. Cisco would not turn touchy-feely at the end. This was no life.</div>
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I wanted back the not quite friendly dog who took everything out of purses left within his reach and who chewed his way through chew-proof dog beds and who, long past his prime, was still alpha to the pack. The younger dogs who should have taken charge years ago (and who have given up somewhat as Prince Charles has), did not know what to make of Cisco’s illness and paid him a wary deference. The entire household was on a death watch.</div>
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The Valium kept Cisco calm enough that we could go through the motions of seeing if the medicine worked. Every time he got his food, it was wet with someone’s tears. We had no hope.</div>
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Then came the miracle.</div>
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His circles got bigger and he started to unwind them. He would walk straight for a few feet before turning. At times his head was not cocked. He drank out of the water dish unassisted. He was getting better! He turned left!</div>
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It was and is unbelievable. He had a follow-up vet appointment that was fairly routine, rather than the final appointment we were dreading. The vet said Cisco has Immune Mediated Meningitis which is often caused by a vaccination. That was not the case with Cisco, but it is likely he had some sort of allergic reaction to something. Because this condition is often caused by a vaccination, he can never have another one. This makes boarding impossible except at the vet's. Cisco will be on a low maintenance dose of Prednisone forever.</div>
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Not ten days ago we were saying good-bye to a stranger – his personality gone overnight and a broken dog left in his place. Now Cisco walks straight with his head and tail up and he still doesn't like me much.</div>
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It is not a 100% recovery. There is a timidity or hesitation that was not there before – but you cannot argue Cisco is not himself again. Tonight, as I write this, he sleeps in his bed with a shoe which he warned me not to take. Enjoy, dear boy! You can have my sock too if you want it.</div>
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UPDATE: This story was written 18 months ago in January 2012. It is now July, 2013. Cisco is snoozing on a rug by the front door, but he put his head up just now hoping I had a treat. He walks haltingly much of the time due to a degenerative disc.</div>
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It is not treatable. He can never go under anesthesia due to his other condition. He is given Tramadol twice a day to manage the pain and we see his tale wagging, so know that he still finds quality in his life. He occasionally shows flashes of anger at other dogs in the household, but generally accepts he is no longer alpha.</div>
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Cisco receives the tiniest possible dose of Prednisone which manages brain swelling, or whatever caused the symptoms that made him walk in circles. This drug increases appetite. He gets a managed diet, but we err on the side of feeding too much. His time is limited and we do not want him to suffer from hunger. At the same time all he eats is low calorie as increased weight will be painful with his spine.</div>
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Cisco also started suffering from Sundowner's Syndrome in Dogs after his initial episode of circling. At night he would begin to cry and we could not seem to provide what he wanted. Outside? Water? Treat? Bed? Nothing satisfied him. I would say he was upset at some confusion in his mind. Selegeline has reduced this behavior to the point where if Cisco gets restless in the evening and whines a little, I can immediately offer choices and when I get it right, he trots off satisfied and stops crying. It is a miracle drug, but prohibitively expensive. Some creative Googling found a Canadian pharmacy that sends the drug directly from India at a price that allows Cisco to be on this expensive medication. There is no question that without one of these three drugs, Cisco would no longer be with us. When I see him rolling on his back, grinding down my Habiturf lawn, sun shining on his white haired tummy, I know I am watching a happy old dog.</div>
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Here's to you, Cisco! Long may your demons be vanquished by sunlight or a treat!</div>
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Marilyn Litthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05557633582043608297noreply@blogger.com