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Being Prepared
There is just so much going on in the month of September, it is hard to focus on any one thing. Of course our annual fundraising event, Barktoberfest, is right around the corner, and the entire PoundHounds team of volunteers are working diligently to prepare. Having a plan makes all the difference. I mention this because the hurricane season is upon us, and for those of us with pets, we need to remind ourselves how important it is to have a preparedness plan to help avoid tragedy. In the spirit of being prepared and avoiding unnecessary tragedy, I want to take this opportunity to remind Animal Control Officers to keep PoundHounds in mind for help when an adoptable dog with a medical or behavioral issue arrives at the shelter. This is what we are here for, and with the help of our supporters in the community, we can continue to provide help for needy dogs in town pounds.
Seana Dowling
President, PoundHounds, Inc. |
 See Billy and Buddy at Barktoberfest
 We featured Billy and Buddy in our August newsletter because they urgently need homes. They have been at the Taunton pound for many months. They are both excellent dogs and are in great health. Unfortunately, they have been passed over by potential adoptors and now their time is running out. If you are considering adoption, please consider Billy and Buddy. The Taunton pound cannot care for them indefinitely and they will be euthanized soon if they don't find homes.
PoundHounds volunteers will have both of these beautiful dogs on parade for everyone to see at Barktoberfest, September 20th (see Barktoberfest details in article, below).
If you are interested in learning more about these dogs, contact the Taunton Animal Shelter at 508.822.1463. | |
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Don't Forget:
Barktoberfest September 20th
Join this family fun and dog-friendly event at the 4-H Fairgrounds in Westford, MA to help us raise funds to support the invisible dogs in town pounds. The event kicks off at 11:00AM and runs until 3:00PM. Admission is free, and leashed dogs of all sizes and varieties are welcome.
This is the ONLY event in Massachusetts that raises money for veterinary care, food, medicine, supplies and provides adoption assistance for the forgotten dogs in town pounds. To learn more about Barktoberfest, please go to www.poundhounds.org and visit the Barktoberfest page. |
Anna with the Glamorous Eyes
Cherry-Eye Repair
Anna, a bull dog mix, arrived at the Brockton town pound with cherry eye, an often painful condition caused by prolapse of the gland of the third eye-lid. Without treatment, the eye will become infected and likely develop an ulcer.
The pound didn't have the funds to provide the surgery necessary, and Anna's time was up at the pound; she had been there a while and was slated for euthanasia.
Luckily for Anna, Cathy Bernard, a Brockton ACO at the time, took Anna under her wing. Not only did Cathy contact PoundHounds to sponsor the surgery, she worked diligently to find a shelter that could take Anna during her recovery. Anna was transferred to Milton Animal League, where she was eventually re-homed. |
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Hurricane Season Preparedness
Heading Off the Storm
Everyone thinks preparing for a weather emergency is a good idea. But how many people actually do it? Odds are, not too many. Now that hurricane season is in full throttle, don't be one of those people left scrambling and wishing you had a plan. It doesn't take that long to put together a preparedness plan for your family that includes your pets.
When faced with a home evacuation, which happens frequently to home owners along the coast during hurricane season, do you have a place you can go that will accept pets? Make arrangements with a friend or family member well in advance so there are no surprises. Also, maintain a list of hotels that accept pets, and make sure they are located well in-land in the event of a hurricane.
To learn more about what you can do to ensure you are prepared, visit the ASPCA website for the key information and tools you need to create your plan. |
Health Check
Leptospirosis
Heavy rainfall, like we have had here in Massachusetts all summer, means that the Leptospira family of bacteria is thriving in stagnant or slow-moving water. Incidents of dogs presenting with leptospirosis, a bacterial infection, crops up periodically all over the country, according to Dr. Louise Murray, Director of Medicine at the ASPCA Bergh Memorial Animal Hospital in New York City.
Dog owners need to be vigilant about preventing their pets from drinking out of puddles, ponds and any other places stagnant water might be present. Consider the less obvious places too, like the big watering can you leave in the back yard and the water fountain on your deck. When it comes to quenching their thirst, a dog typically doesn't discriminate between the water bowl set out just for him and the muddy puddle from a drippy hose in the corner of the flower bed.
There is a leptospirosis vaccine available. Your vet will be able to advise you if vaccinating your dog against leptospirosis is a good idea. Like many vaccines, there have been reports of adverse reactions, particularly in smaller-breed dogs. The best way to prevent leptospirosis is to always ensure your dog has fresh drinking water available. If you and your dog are always on-the-go, carry a bottle of fresh water and collapsable bowl with you. |
ACO Resources
New Pet Adoption Portal Available
A free pet adoption portal service is now available. Launched by the non-profit www.RescueGroups.org, posting to this portal spreads a single posting to all major adoption websites--like Pets911.com, Petsmart.com, Pedigree.com and MarthaStewart.com. It is easy to use and has no requirements to sell or advertise.
To get started using the portal, sign up here:
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We are pleased to pass along the great news that Jo-Jo was adopted. We posted this purebred cocker spaniel on the PoundHounds website to give him some extra publicity, and it worked! His new owner saw him and fell in love.
Jo-Jo was in excellent hands with Suzie Kowaleski, ACO in Fitchburg, MA. Suzie has worked with PoundHounds in the past and immediately contacted us when Jo-Jo came into her care. PoundHounds provided the funds to cover his neuter procedure and helped by posting him online for adoption.
When Jo-Jo met his new owner--wow, was he excited. He bonded with her in a matter of minutes, rolling over for belly scratches and quite literally falling all over her feet. Congratulations Jo-Jo! |
More Happy Tails!
Molly, a senior mix breed tog, needed a loving home where she could recover from surgery. Mary, a senior citizen who lives alone, heard Molly's story and thought it would be nice to foster her.
When Molly was surrendered to Animal Control in Templeton, MA, she had tumors on her nipples. Animal Control Officer Deb Giordano realized she had a sweet dog in her care who would be highly adoptable, but what to do about the tumors? Deb was naturally concerned the tumors were cancerous and brought Molly to the vet for an exam and a tumor biopsy. The good news was that the tumors were not malignant; however they could turn cancerous and spread through her body. Deb called PoundHounds to sponsor the surgery to remove them.
Once Mary had Molly in her home, Molly decided to take over a spot on the couch. Mary quickly realized how wonderful it was to have a companion and decided to keep Molly permanently. The two give each other not only companionship, but comfort as well. Mary is frightened of thunderstorms, and so is Molly! When there is a storm, Mary and Molly take comfort in one another. As Mary says, calming Molly takes her mind off her own fear of storms; concentrating on soothing Molly does the trick.
Deb Giordano wrote to PoundHounds and said "Thank you so much for giving Molly a chance to live longer and spend the last few years of her life with someone who loves her very much. Without your financial support, we would not have been able to put these two seniors together."
Thanks to donations to PoundHounds, Molly's tumors were removed and she was spayed with the support of a spay/neuter grant from Massachusetts Animal Coalition (see article below). |
Leashes by the Pound
Thank you Lowell Human Society!
One morning in late August, a PoundHounds board member stepped onto her front porch to find a large Rubbermaid tub full of new leashes and collars. The Lowell Humane Society had collected them and graciously donated them to PoundHounds for distribution to town pounds throughout Massachusetts.
Thank you Lowell Humane from all the 'invisible' dogs in town pounds! |
Campaign of the Month
2010 'For the Love of Rescues' Calendar
PoundHounds sponsored a dog featured in the national 'For the Love of Rescues' 2010 calendar. Each calendar costs $15 and can be ordered online by clicking the link below. Select PoundHounds from the drop down menu and $10 of your purchase will be contributed directly to the PoundHounds.
Calendars are always well-received holiday gifts, and this is a charitable way to kick off the 2010 holiday shopping season.
To order, please choose PoundHounds from the drop down menu on the site:
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Dog Quote of the Month
"If dogs could talk, it would take a lot of the fun out of owning one."
--Andy Rooney | |
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About MAC
Spay/Neuter License Plates
 The Massachusetts Animal Coalition (MAC) disburses grants to non-profit humane organizations and municipal animal control agencies. The grants are funded by the sale of the Massachusetts Spay/Neuter License Plate Program.
MAC has provided funds for PoundHounds to pay for spay/neuter procedures for PoundHounds sponsored dogs. In 2008, funding from MAC allowed PoundHounds to spay or neuter 42 dogs in 10 different town pounds across Massachusetts. Those procedures represent over $7,500 in MAC support.
Please show your dedication to animals and help control over-population. Register your new car or swap your existing plates for spay/neuter plates.
The cost for a license plate is $40. Of that, $28 funds this statewide program; the remaining $12 is a one-time only cost to cover the manufacturing of the plate. Two-year renewal fees of $40 go directly to the program.
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Thank you for your continued interest and support of the invisible dogs in town pounds. We can't do it without you! Please visit the PoundHounds website at: www.poundhounds.org for more information. Or, contact us directly:
Message Center: 508.435.5029
Address: PoundHounds, Inc. - P.O. Box 454 - Hopkinton, MA 01748
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