heartworms

It can't be said enough, heartworms is preventable and anyone who doesn't give their dog the preventative medication should not have a dog and is likely killing their pet they profess to love. If you can't afford it, ask your vet for another way. With so many dogs and foster dogs, we use Ivomec, which is the same chemical (ivermectin) as in Heartgard. It is, in fact, made by the same company Merial. We calculate the dose for each dog and give it to them once a month, all with our vet's approval. There are many different formulas online and many of them are wrong. Heartgard for a 100 lb dog is 0.272 mg ivermectin. Purchase 1% Ivomec (10 mg/ml), make a small volume 10x dilution (0.1 ml into 1 ml) and give it at 0.1 ml per 40 lbs. That calculates to 0.25 mg ivermectin for 100 lbs, nearly the same as Heartgard and is an effective dose according to my vet. This way is much cheaper than buying the biscuit. However, if you are mathematically challenged or won't measure it right, then buy the friggin biscuit and save your dog from a horrible death. There is no excuse for not providing proper preventative care for your pet. If you can't afford it, you can't afford a pet.

Lab strays update and a new foster

The two lab strays have been transported to Maryland to a rescue there who will find them a home. The rescue there reports good things about them. Such sweet boys...

So, now we are back to fostering GSDs. Our latest is a HW+ boy from a high kill shelter. He was there for over a month. He is so friendly and loving. I can't understand what he was doing there. It is obvious that he was once someone's pet. He has no fear of people, is very friendly, and doesn't appear to have been mistreated. He is an absolutely gorgeous, classic looking GSD. He knows to whine at the door to go out and has not had an accident in his crate in the 1.5 weeks we've had him. He isn't destructive, loves his toys, gives kisses, is friendly with other dogs....all the things people want. He may be a fence escaper, which could be how he got lost, since he seems to know what gates are and tries to open them. He won't be left alone in the yard at our house! He'll undergo heartworm treatment, which he will hopefully survive, and then be ready for adoption into a loving family who will always keep him safe.

spay/neuter your pet!!!

Wonderful organizations make it cheaper and easier to prevent unwanted dogs and cats (and even bunnies). Spay/neuter your pet!

http://www.spayusa.org/

http://www.spayalabama.org/LowCostOptions.htm

http://www.spaygeorgia.org/

Alabama Spay Neuter Clinic, Irondale

205 956-0012

www.alabamaspayneuterclinic.com

help after you adopt a dog

www.petfinder.com
This website has alot of useful information for you AFTER you bring home a new family member.

Lab strays

We have two stray Labs living in our garage. They are beautiful, sweet boys that someone just didn't want anymore. They came onto our property to visit our dogs and were obviously malnourished. No collars or ID of any sort. One has a bit of his ear missing and some old scars, probably from fighting over food. Since the two of them get along well, I'm assuming they've been together for a while. We have, with the help of a wonderful rescue TTRA, vetted them and found a Lab rescue in Maryland to take them and find them wonderful homes. Since one of the dogs is black, it would be nearly impossible to place him down here in the south. They call it "black dog syndrome". It's weird that people won't adopt black dogs. I don't get it but then one of our own dogs is a black lab. These two are lucky that they wandered onto our property. They ran around our neighborhood for a week and no one else tried to help them. We put out food, but it took a few days for us to gain their trust and catch them. If animal control had caught them, I have no doubt they would be dead by now. Luckily, they will get to be someone's new best friend up in Maryland. If you see dogs in need, please help them. Many rescues will help you if you will foster the dog until they can find it a home.

New Book!

http://www.harpercollins.com/books/9780061435591/Petfindercom_The_Adopted_Dog_Bible/index.aspx

The Adopted Dog Bible