The Home News 2016 Pet Supplement

2016 Pet Events- A Look Ahead STRUTT YOUR MUTT AT LEVITT “PAW-VILLION” June 30 5:30-7 p.m.

Levitt Pavillion SteelStacks, Bethlehem ROCKIN’ RESCUE 6 July 9 10 a.m. – 8 p.m. *New location* The Grove, S. 17th & Iron Sts., Lehighton WOOFSTOCK Sept. 10 12-5 p.m.

Cedar Creek Parkway/Cedar Beach, Allentown BARKTOBERFEST PET FAIR October 1 11 a.m. – 3 p.m.

Macungie Memorial Park, 50 N. Poplar St., Macungie LEHIGH VALLEY PET EXPO January 27-29, 2017 Ag Hall at the Allentown Fairgrounds

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EDWARD A. SHELLY, VMD CAROL T. FILCHNER, DVM JODIE SANTORE, VMD General Medicine General Surgery On Site Blood Testing Rabbits & Other Pocket Pals Dentistry Orthopedic Surgery Radiology Laser Therapy BLUE RIDGE VET CLINIC 610-767-4896 1124 Myrtle Rd., Walnutport

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The Home News 2016 Pet Supplement || JUNE 23, 2016

T

o adopt any of the cats on our front cover, contact Forgotten Felines and Fidos at 610-760-9009. Forgotten Felines and Fidos is located at 6022 Mountain Rd., Germansville, 18053.

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HanoverView Animal Hospital The Home News Office Location: 255E S. Best Ave. (Rt. 145) Walnutport, PA 18088 Phone: 610-923-0382 Fax: 610-923-0383 E-mail: News@HomeNewsPA.com Paul & Lisa Prass - Publishers William J. Halbfoerster, Jr. - Editor Emeritus Catherine Stroh - Account Executive Tony Pisco - Graphic Designer Deby Beuscher and Jenna Miller - Delivery Drivers

JUNE 23, 2016 || homenewspa.com

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Meet our pet photo contest winner- Frosty submitted by CANDACE LYNN

Frosty’s journey in life began on March 26, 2007, a product of an “oopsy” litter. Frosty and her littermates found themselves in a shelter. To their rescue came Mid-Atlantic English Springer Spaniel Rescue’s wings of love.

Frosty, while in foster care, made her mind up that she was never leaving, hence her adoption.

Throughout her years, Frosty attended several MAESSR events and picnics.

So thankful for being rescued and finding her own forever home, Frosty wanted to “pay it forward” to the rescues and shelters by collecting donations to assist those who care for the homeless animals.

In 2009, Frosty’s Christmas Donation Drive for Rescues & Shelters was founded (Frosty is also on Facebook). Frosty has traveled to several shelters 4

and rescues to deliver her donated items.

Outside of collecting donations, Frosty enjoys spending time with her family, going on walks, car rides and snuggling with her mom. Swimming is Frosty’s utmost favorite activity to do, so she takes advantage of the river whenever she can.

Frosty knows many commands and hand signals.

She will utilize what she knows when it comes to getting a tasty treat. Frosty is a friendly, lovable springer; a joy to her family with her antics and simply one great dog.

Frosty believes all the homeless dogs and cats deserve a loving home. She will continue her mission in collecting donations, promoting adoption and spay and neutering by sharing her love far and wide. All is done ~ for the love of the dog!

The Home News 2016 Pet Supplement || JUNE 23, 2016

Second chance for Dobermans fureverhomesdobermanrescue.org

Fureverhomes Doberman Rescue, Inc. ("FDR, Inc.") is a Pennsylvania registered, incorporated, 501(c)3 nonprofit, charitable organization whose primary mission is to give abandoned and surrendered Dobermans a second chance at finding a loving, safe and suitable forever home.

Our organization networks and partners with many other rescues and shelters, we will always assist other organizations whenever possible. We also educate potential adopters, as well as the general public, about the Doberman breed, Doberman myths, the importance of spaying/ neutering, puppy mill awareness and the benefits of training and socialization. We do this in an attempt to decrease the amount of Dobermans in need.

Our Dobermans come to us from shelters, other rescues, strays or are turned over to us by their owners who are no longer able or willing to care for them. Prior to placement, each Doberman’s temperament is evaluated, they are examined, micro-chipped, spayed/neutered, vaccinated, tested for heartworm and Lyme, worms, and parasites, and von Willebrand’s disease if an intact purebred.

All dogs coming into our program are tested and treated if we discover any other additional health concerns, and begin their monthly heartworm and flea/tick preventatives. All dogs are taught basic obedience, leash skills and manners while in their foster home.

Every adoption application is processed verifying employment, acquiring your veterinary history and references are checked, all applicants must consent to a home visit to obtain approval to adopt from FDR, Inc. We strive to find the very best match for each Doberman's temperament and specific needs along with the adoptive home based on our evaluations, the potential adopters home environment and lifestyle. Our contract requires yearly veterinarian visits, additional if an issue

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arises, a minimum of one certificate, group obedience class with a positive reinforcement trainer, the dog must be housed indoors, no outdoor tie outs or dog coops, there must be shade available to the dog in their fenced in yard and prong, shock or choker collars are strickly prohibited. FDR, Inc. requires every home prior to adoption to complete a two or four week In-Home Trial, we follow up with our potential adopters, helping the family to acclimate the new dog to make certain the dog and family are bonding happy as a unit.

The Dobermans coming into the program here at FDR are family members, we will continue to watch them grow and blossom in their “Fureverhome,” sharing photos and updates with our followers, we make a life long commitment to the Doberman and our adopters.

For more information please visit fureverhomesdobermanrescue.org or call 484-9295052.

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When Should You Get A Dog? The right and wrong reasons Adapted from ASPCA’s Complete Guide to Dogs

THE WRONG REASON Because you are lonely-The decision to adopt a dog should not be based on your immediate emotional needs. If you are going through a difficult emotional time, you cannot expect a pet to resolve the problem or to act as a temporary buffer.

THE RIGHT REASON When you want a companion to share your lifeDogs are wonderful companions, but adding a dog to your life means making a long-term commitment to the animal, even through the normal short-term

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changes that occur in life, such as moving. Adopting a new friend will work best if you already have a stable home.

THE WRONG REASON To teach a child how to be responsible- Taking care of a dog can be a lot of work. It is unrealistic for adults to expect a child to take on all the responsibilities that dog ownership demands, nor should adults use the animal strictly as a teaching tool.

THE RIGHT REASON When everyone in your household wants a dogBefore bringing a new dog home, household members should be in favor of the adopting and agree to share in the responsibilities of a dog ownership. Although parents should be the main caretakers, children can learn pet responsibility without becoming overwhelmed if they are given specific jobs, such as walking or feeding the pet.

THE WRONG REASON Because you feel sorry for a dog in a pet shop- Pity is a poor reason for getting a dog. A pity-based decision is not based on realistic expectations, commitment, or a thorough understanding of what your pet’s needs are.

THE RIGHT REASON When you understand what pet responsibility means- You should not adopt a dog based on an emotional impulse or whim. Before bringing a dog home, educate yourself about pet responsibility and the kind of dog that would be best for your lifestyle. Careful research, honest reflection, and education are the keys to keeping a dog and avoiding the tragedy of having to give the animal up.

THE WRONG REASON You think your home needs protection- If you only want to adopt a dog to guard your home, you’re better off getting an alarm system. Reliable protection dogs often require more extensive The Home News 2016 Pet Supplement || JUNE 23, 2016

training, socialization and exercise than other dogs.

They are often not appropriate family pets.

THE RIGHT REASON When you think of your dog as a family pet Unless trained by professionals for special jobs or situations, dogs should be considered companion pets and should be given daily attention, care and basic behavior training to make them welcome in society and your home. Training your dog will not only help you communicate better with your pet, it will help ensure that the relationship will last.

THE WRONG REASON As a surprise gift- Dogs, or any animal for that matter, should be considered for family members and not as objects or “gifts.” Never buy a dog for someone as a surprise. Getting a dog for someone that is not prepared or in agreement with the adoption may cause the animal to end up in a shelter or in a home where he or she is not wanted.

THE RIGHT REASON When you know animals are not disposableRemember that animals are not disposable. They bond deeply with those they can love, and should be treated as family members, not as articles of clothing that can easily be exchanged or returned.

If you give an animal as a gift, make sure the recipient meets the dog and understands and agrees to the responsibility of dog ownership.

JUNE 23, 2016 || homenewspa.com

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Choosing a reptile as a pet Which is right for you? pets.petsmart.com/content/reptile/choosing-your-reptile.shtml

Bringing a reptile into the family? PetSmart can help you explore the right species for your needs.

Size, maintenance level, personality and proper handling are just a few of the important factors to consider when choosing a reptile pet.

Anole- The lively anole can be a great reptile for a beginner pet parent. They can live more than five years and grow up to eight inches long. Anoles thrive in a tropical environment and love to eat crickets and worms.

Bearded Dragon- The docile bearded dragon can be an excellent beginner lizard for novice pet parents. Bearded dragons allow regular handling and eat a variety of foods like crickets, worms and veggies. They can grow up to 24 inches long and live for more than 10 years.

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Leopard Gecko- Leopard geckos are fantastic for beginning pet parents because of their friendly personalities, easy maintenance and manageable size (approximately 8-11 inches long fully-grown). “Leos” can live 15-20 years when cared for properly.

Snake- Snakes are popular pet reptiles. They can be easy to care for and are actually quite docile, especially with proper handling. Snakes can live 15 to 35 years depending on the species . These fascinating pets also enjoy a diet of frozen mice or rats.

Tortoise- As distant relatives of the dinosaur, tortoises are land-dwellers with round, stumpy feet like an elephant's. These herbivores love fruits and veggies and can grow up to one foot. With the right care, these shelled reptiles can live more than 50 years.

Water Dragon- The water dragon’s appearance ranges in shades of green and it has a crest from head to tail. They may require more maintenance than some beginner reptiles and like tropical environments.

Growing two to three feet long, water dragons like to eat crickets and worms.

Turtle- Turtles spend much of their time in the water, tend to have webbed feet and are omnivores. The diet of a turtle can include crickets, worms, goldfish, veggies and pellets. Turtles can grow up to 11 inches long and can live for more than 30 years.

The Home News 2016 Pet Supplement || JUNE 23, 2016

We’re celebrating our 10 year anniversary!

Join us for our special anniversary raffle: Anyone who visits in July receives one free raffle ticket per visit Additional tickets available for purchase: 5 for $5 or 15 for $10

Prizes include: • Fit Bit • Gift cards • Dog treat basket • Gas grill • & many more!

Proceeds benefit Pibbles Paws Safe Haven Pit Bull Rescue and Fureverhomes Doberman Rescue Stop by in July for your raffle tickets and free goodies

Drawing July 30- need not be present to win 2550 Community Dr., Bath 610-837-5888 Check us out www.communityveterinarypractice.com on Facebook!

Mon,Tues,Thurs- 9 am -7 pm Wed & Fri- 9 am -5 pm • Sat- 9 am-noon Arthur R. Hulshizer, MS, VMD Kelli Carpenter, DVM

We are a full-service veterinary medical facility JUNE 23, 2016 || homenewspa.com

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Top Ten Reasons to Neuter Your Dog Or Cat www.adoptapet.com

1. Your pet will be happier. If you care about your pet’s happiness, spaying or neutering is one of the kindest things you can do for them.

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50% of dogs and 90% of cats. Females spayed before their first heat (4-5 months old) are the healthiest, but it helps at any age. For males, especially if done before six months of age, it prevents testicular cancer and prostate problems.

3. Your pet will live longer. Because they are healthier (see #2), spayed and neutered pets have a significantly longer average lifespan. Also, neutered pets are also less likely to roam or fight (see #5), lengthening their lifespan.

4. Your spayed female won’t go into heat.

This means you don’t have to deal with blood staining, yowling, and the more frequent urination – which can be all over your house! Female felines usually go into heat four to five days every three weeks during breeding season. That’s a lot of mess and noise!

5. Your male pet is less likely to roam. An un-neutered male pet is driven by strong hormones to mate, and will often turn into a Houdini escape artist to get out of their home or yard, especially if there is a female in heat close by, or sometimes even miles away!

6. Your male pet will be friendlier. A fixed male is less likely to want to fight with other pets, even females, who may not appreciate his annoying ongoing advances.

7. Your female pet will be friendlier. When a female pet goes into heat, the hormones can make her behavior become erratic. A usually friendly pet who goes into heat can suddenly become aggressive with both people and other pets in the home.

8. Marking and humping will be reduced or eliminated. This is true for both dogs and cats, and especially for males. Also, male dogs will be much less likely to “hump” other dogs… or people’s legs or your couch cushions!

9. It will save you money. Fixed pets have fewer health problems so vet bills are lower. They are less likely to bite, avoiding potential costly lawsuits (80% of dog bites to humans are from intact male dogs). They are less likely to try to escape and do damage to your home or yard, or cause a car accident.

10. You are saving pets lives. You may say your pet will never get out or run away, but that’s what almost every pet owner thinks – accidents happen! Pet overpopulation is a problem everywhere. For every human born, 15 dogs and 45 cats are born. There simply aren’t enough homes for all these animals.

The Home News 2016 Pet Supplement || JUNE 23, 2016

Mid-Atlantic English Springer Spaniel Rescue submitted by Victoria Phillips

Mid-Atlantic English Springer Spaniel Rescue (MAESSR) is a non-profit volunteer organization devoted to the rescue and placement of stray, abandoned, relinquished or impounded purebred English Springer Spaniels. MAESSR provides foster care and medical treatment to these Springers while screening potential homes interested in adopting.

Our primary goals are to protect English Springer Spaniels, promote spay/neuter programs, and educate the public about the joys of English Springers Spaniels.

MAESSR was formed in May of 1998 by three admirers of the English Springer Spaniel breed.

There have been many, many successes, and our share of loss and disappointment, fortunately, with the help of our wonderful volunteers, other rescue organizations and those who have generously donated funds, we have grown and continue to thrive.

Our primary focus is on the mid-Atlantic region of the continental United States, including: New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Washington, D.C., Virginia, West Virginia, New York and North Carolina.

It's basic, we love the breed. We all own Springers and several of us have our own rescue Springers.

We want to do our part to ensure that abandoned and surrendered Springers are united with new loving homes. We welcome new volunteers, who can help us in many ways. Donations to help defray the cost of vet bills, food, and care of foster dogs, are also appreciated. While we do have an adoption fee, the dogs listed in these pages are not for sale.

JUNE 23, 2016 || homenewspa.com

Prospective owners must complete an application and be interviewed by a MAESSR volunteer, before being considered for adoption.

If you know of a Springer in need of a home, or are looking to add a Springer to your family, or are interested in volunteering with MAESSR, please contact one of the volunteers listed below.

If at any point you find that you are no longer in need of our help in finding a dog or placing a dog, please let us know. We are a volunteer organization with limited time and resources. Our time is best spent focusing on people and dogs who truly need our help. Please, help us to help others by taking just a few minutes to email or call if you no longer need our help.

For regular information on what MAESSR is doing, to learn more about English Springer Spaniels and Rescue, or ask questions about MAESSR specifically, join our mailing list by sending an email to: maessr-subscribe@ yahoogroups.com. If you have limited e-mail access, or if you know of a Springer in need, you can contact MAESSR by telephone at 301-362-0423 or you can always email us at info@maessr.org.

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Did You Know? www.petsintheclassroom.org

• For male betta fish, the richer the color, the healthier they are.

• Chinchillas can jump up to five feet in the air.

• The chinchilla has the softest fur in the world, about thirty times softer than human hair.

• Tarantulas are able to throw needle-like, barbed hairs at their attackers.

• The shell of a turtle is made up of 60 different bones all connected together.

• Tarantulas can regenerate lost legs.

• Aquatic turtles have to be in water to eat.

• Male bearded dragons bob their head quickly to show other dragons that they’re dominant.

• The bearded dragon uses its beard to make it look larger to potential attackers.

• Bearded dragons can excrete ‘dry’ urine to conserve fluids in their native desert habitat.

• When your bunny nudges your ankles or shakes its head for a bit, it could mean it wants you to chase it playfully.

• Did you know that rabbits jump for joy when they are happy? This jump is called a “binky.”

• There are more than 25 colors of Betta Fish, including red, blue, green, yellow, orange, pastel, purple, transparent, black, white and many more.

• Did you know that hermit crabs, or “hermies” prefer the company of others? In the wild, hermit crabs travel in packs of up to 100 crabs.

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• After shedding, leopard geckos actually eat their own skin in order to keep potential predators unaware of their presence.

• Mice are highly curious and can fit their bodies through any space their heads can fit into. Adult mice have gotten through holes the size of a dime.

The Home News 2016 Pet Supplement || JUNE 23, 2016

Blue Mountain’s Best: Carbon County Animal Response Team

By Danielle S. Tepper

When Hurricane Floyd hit coastal North Carolina in 1999, it claimed the lives of 35 humans … but it also had a catastrophic effect on the state’s animals.

Millions of farm animals drowned, thousands of pets were separated from their families, and the aftereffects of that tragedy sent ripples across the country.

It triggered the third largest evacuation in U.S. history—2.6 million residents in five coastal states were ordered to leave their homes. Many refused upon the realization that they would not be able to take their animals with them and thus died right along with their animals. The exorbitant loss of life could have been avoided with some form of organized response plan. This is what Diane Sharpless, Coordinator of the Carbon County Animal Response Team (CART), says prompted the launch of emergency animal services.

Pennsylvania State Animal Response Team (PASART) began in 2004 as a preventative measure against what happened in the south. Eventually, each county developed its own 100% volunteer-driven

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chapter. While not an obvious target for natural disasters, the state has its fair share of misfortunes: fire, snow, and flooding are the most common.

“If you get heavy snowfall in an area and the roof of a housing complex caves in, if those people have pets, that’s a disaster,” explained Frank Beckett, Carbon CART Co-Coordinator.

“So is an overturned tractor-trailer,”added Michele Beckett, who acts as Fundraising Co-Chair for Carbon CART. In such a heavy farming area, they said it can be heart-breaking to witness cows and pigs suffer through a large-scale traffic accident.

So what is an animal response team and how does it differ from animal rescue? Turns out the two work quite closely, but their capabilities vary widely.

“People don’t know what a response team is, that’s part of our problem as far as getting the word out,” said Sharpless.

HOW CAN YOU USE CART? Example scenario: You’re driving down a highway and you witness a car accident. You see that there Continued on Page 14

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Contact us for more information about our clinic and services: 610-262-6986 or go to www.stangleinvetclinic.com JUNE 23, 2016 || homenewspa.com

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Blue Mountain’s Best Continued from Page 13

were dogs riding in the backseat of one of the cars.

When you call 911 for the police and an ambulance, you should also mention that you need the local CART. Someone will arrive on the scene to specifically care for those dogs.

“All first responders’ first responsibility is human life and it’s not until after the fact that animals receive the attention they might need. We can assist, and we can do it faster,” said Sharpless.

The only thing that stands in their way of helping animals in need is people’s unawareness of what they can do.“We’re not allowed to activate ourselves; we have to be requested. If we witness something ourselves, we can’t just go in and get to work.”

Luckily they’ve never found themselves in that type of situation, but Sharpless explained that the way they would handle it would be to approach the authorities on the scene and explain who they were and that a call would need to be put in for them.

They would wait until it was no longer a safety hazard for them to be on the scene, meaning they often find themselves waiting until ambulances have left.

“You have to wait for the chain of command so you don’t get in the way. Patience—it’s a virtue,”said

14

Frank. Michele added, “We can’t be everywhere, that’s the hard part, but we certainly do try. We help do what we know we can do immediately.”

Through their demonstrations and fundraisers, Michele said they’ve started to be recognized more and more.“It used to be that no one really knew who we were; that’s starting to change now. We project that in the next five years, we’ll be known in every township in the county—for all good reasons.”

Their most memorable rescue was that of a horse named Avalon who fell into a four-foot-deep ditch.

Over the past five years, there have been three scenarios of horses in need in Carbon County. Three too many, according to Sharpless. “If we weren’t there and trained, those animals would have died,” she said. CART members go through a series of training courses depending on how deep they’d like to go. On the most basic level, it takes at least four classes.

“But there’s nobody that isn’t qualified to be a CART member,”said Michele.“We always need help with something.”

Unfortunately, even in the midst of doing so much good, they have had their share of heartache on the job.

Some past incidents have included a house fire in which five young kittens died and a kennel fire that cost the lives of 17 dogs.“That’s some of the toughest stuff we deal with, when the animals don’t survive,” said Sharpless. “Those are the most horrific.”

“Not all successes are a happy ending,” added Michele.

Together with local animal shelters and rescues, they’ve also teamed up with national organizations such as the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) and the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) to help in situations where it’s more than either one can handle independently, such as hoarding or puppy mills.

Working together with the common goal of helping The Home News 2016 Pet Supplement || JUNE 23, 2016

animals has brought a sense of purpose and camaraderie to the job.

“You have to be confident in your group. We’re getting to see our goals of working with different organizations in the county come true, with our fire and police and rescues. It’s just starting to happen for all of us,” said Michele. “Part of helping people and their animals is having the confidence of knowing what we’re doing, otherwise it’s just chaos. We work to serve. You have to work with people if you work with animals.”

The biggest part of working with people is working with new ones. Like any nonprofit trying to serve the community, Carbon CART needs more volunteers and more equipment, which they hope to purchase with their fundraising.

“We have a wish list,” laughed Michele. They’re saving up for a bipod system to help with large animals, which runs around $5,000.

No matter how much the equipment costs or the toll the job can sometimes take emotionally, all three say they’re in it for all the right reasons.

Sharpless joined in 2007. “I saw the need and I want to do whatever I can to help,” she said.

“Originally, my husband and I just wanted to be boots-on-the-ground helpers … that didn’t work out.”

Frank entered in late 2010. “It’s like any game; you’re not going to win every one of them, but you still have to play,” he said. “I thought I was going to be a grunt and now I find myself the co-coordinator.

I really do love it.”

Michele, who also joined in late 2010, said,“I found a lot to it that I like. I did not believe I could still study and take classes. The last four years have given me such a boost. It keeps me moving and thinking. It’s very easy to stop and sit, but I like being involved.

And it gives back.” And of course, as Frank noted,“I think it’s safe to say for all of us that it’s all about the animals.”To learn more about PASART, visit www. pasart.us or find them on Facebook at www.facebook. com/Pennsylvaniasart. For more info on volunteering for Carbon CART, join their Facebook group at www. facebook.com/groups/123929584351.

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