It's Raining Cats and MORE Cats!
The Good Shepherd Animal Shelter is over-run with cats due to last year's bumper crop of kittens. Another kitten season is on its way. These cats need homes. If you've been considering adopting a pet, now's the time. All cat adoption fees are half price, just $25, through the end of April. Fee includes shots and spay/neuter. That's a small price for a lifetime of love and entertainment.
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No Kill Nation
There's an effort afoot started by the Pet Rescue Foundation folks at Maddiesfund.org to save all healthy and treatable dogs and cats by the end of 2015, putting an end to euthanasia die to overcrowding. Today, US shelters kill approximately 3.7 million animals per year. To reach the No Kill Nation Goal, that number needs to be reduced to 700,000.
Roughly 14 million people in the US are pro-adoption. There are 41 million on the fence. Of that undecided 41 million, 17 million of them will adopt pets this year. It's up to us to lure them off the fence and into the shelters to adopt their new pet. The goal could be met if only 3 million of these people opted for a shelter adoption.
What's that? You don't know 3 million people in the market for a new pet? Well, perhaps you do know one or two. We can all help by talking up shelter adoption. Sometimes it's just a matter of education. Another way you can help is to join the Shelter Pet Project online at theshelterpetproject.org. Click on Pet Stuff, then Get Involved. It's basically about spreading the word. This goal is reachable if everyone helps. Please take a moment to become part of the effort.
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Shelter Van Gets New Tires
The GSHS animal transport van is now cruising on four new tires thanks to Mike and Debbie Ball of Ball and Prier Tire Co. in Golden, Missouri. Pictured are Mandy McNeill and David Underwood who serviced the work. A high four goes out to Mike and Debbie from all the animals at the shelter!
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Will You Foster An Animal?
Sadly, many animals arrive at the shelter in need of immediate foster care before they can be made available for adoption. Fostering can be anything from bottle-feeding kittens or puppies who've lost a mother to providing rehab for an injured animal, or simply caring for an animal until there's room for it at the shelter. Some animals are so shy and frightened from abuse and neglect that adoption is unlikely. All they need is socialization, but that takes time, something the Good Shepherd staff is short on. Frequently, socialization is all that's standing between an animal and a permanent home.
Fostering is temporary. It's a means to get a cat or a dog ready for adoption. If you love animals, but can't care for one on a permanent basis, fostering is an excellent way to help. It can literally mean the difference between life and death for an animal.
If this story sounds familiar, it's because it bears repeating. The need for foster homes is immediate and ongoing. The more foster parents we have, the more animals we can save. If you'd care to help, please call the shelter at 253-9188.
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Looking For A Great Tax Write-Off?
A Good Samaritan is needed to sponsor the Good Shepherd billboard on Highway 62 East for the upcoming year. The fee is $100 per month and begins in May. The gift comes with a boost to your self-esteem and a tax donation receipt. if you're interested, please call Tracellen Kelly at 479-981-2886 or email her at doggiethriftstorees@yahoo.com.
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Memorials
In memory of Betty Maffei
Charlotte Halford
In memory of Brad Thuss' Harley
Jim & Elaine Sanborn
In memory of the Tyler Family (Ruth, Gerald & Virginia)
Pat & Al Walden
In memory of Roxy
Chad & Kathy Manus
In memory of Tracellen & Paul Kelly's dogs, Snickers and Tinker Bell
Bill & Jene Welter, Willow & Sunny
In memory of Dave & Kerry Marry's Lucy
Suzanne & Sandy Sand
In memory of Lily Kai Lily, beloved feline companion of Donna & Scott
Thompson Donna Woods
In memory of Mrs. Mamaugh
Jene Welter
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Good Shepherd Wish List
Washer - Dryer - Toys - Blankets - Towels - Bedspreads - Treats - Dog Bowls -
Paper Towels - Office File Folders - Cat Litter - KMR Kitten Replacement Milk -
Cat Climbing Poles, Tunnels, etc. - Dog Crates of All Sizes - Panels for Portable Pens - Camera and Monitor (for watching the Lighthouse at the ft desk area) - Plastic Cat Littler Containers (for storage) - Dry Erase Board ( 2 x 3 or 3 x 4) - Bleach - Laundry Detergent
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Thrift Store Wish List
White Copy Paper - Brightly Colored Copy Paper - Ink for Printer (HP# 74XL and #75XL - 33 Gallon Trash Bags - Toilet Paper - Awning for Front Store Window (to reduce energy bills) - Cash Register (Used is fine as long as it has the designation keys) - Volunteer to clean parking lot edges - Volunteer to paint-stripe parking lot
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Recyling 'R Us
Ever on the alert for ways to generate more money for the care of the animals, the Doggie Shops are now taking in the following recyclables: Cell Phones, Ink Cartridges and Aluminum Cans. When it comes to helping the environment and the animals, every little bit counts. Recycling these items allows you to do both with very little effort. So, if you have any old cell phones, ink cartridges or aluminum cans, please drop the at a Doogie Shop soon.
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Bobcat Fever
The following article was submitted by Good Shepherd volunteer, Darlene Simmons, who lost a cat to Bobcat Fever last year. An informal club is alive and well in the Eureka Springs area, one whose membership is constantly increasing, despite the fact that no one wants to join.
This "club" consists of those unfortunate cat owners like Mark Wilson, Cynthia Kresse and Victoria Marshall, who've lost a dear pet to Bobcat Fever, or Cytauxzoonosis. My husband, Jim, and I avoided membership by the skin of our teeth, when our cat Brody became gravely ill with it. Brody recovered fully, but with Dory, our second cat to become infected, we weren't so lucky. These are only a few of the heartbroken cat owners around town. The losses of pet cats from Bobcat Fever are high and the disease is brutal. Bobcat Fever is caused by the blood parasite Cyauxzoon Felis, an organism that lies dormant in bobcats. When spread to domestic cats via tick bite, the disease is almost always fatal.
The onset is rapid and symptoms dramatic. One day a cat may be fine, then the next, ne without energy, reluctant to eat or drink, have a high fever and difficulty breathing. There may also be signs of jaundice. The disease infects cats only; dogs and humans aren't susceptible. Bobcat Fever must be diagnosed by blood test, and sometimes the cat dies before the lab work returns. A savvy vet can be fairly certain of the diagnosis by the presence of the above symptoms in an outdoor cat.
Seen most often during the months of May through September, treatment options are few and 90 - 95% of infected cats die. The good news is that recent research conducted by the University of Missouri has lead to the identification of a genome for the disease. Such a breakthrough could lead to the development of a medication for effective treatment and eventually the production of a vaccine. Several years ago, Dr. Anthony Pike (Animal Hospital of Eureka Springs) participated in research testing the effectiveness of Atovaquone. When combined with a broad spectrum antibiotic and subcutaneous fluids, this drug can sometimes increase survival rates from 10 % to 50 or 60%.
What can be done to protect your cat from Bobcat Fever? Dr. Pike knows of no tick product that will repel the offending parasite. He encourages cat owners to keep their pets indoors. If your cat must go out, access should be restricted to the fall and winter months. Finally, should you cat demonstrate any of the symptoms described above, seek veterinary treatment immediately.
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Calling All Volunteers!
Due to the recent simultaneous departure of several volunteers, the Doogie Shops are in dire need of a few new people to work one shift per week. No previous retail experience is necessary, as on-the-job training will be provided. You will be trained in the following areas and may be called on to do any of the duties listed below:
Cashier:
Greeting Customers
Ringing up purchases on the cash register and bagging them
Closing out the register and locking up (afternoon shift only
Sorting/Pricing:
Sort through donations
Price them based on out guidelines
Hang/place priced donations in the store to be sold
Days needing shift workers are Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday, with morning and afternoon shifts available at both stores. Shift hours differ at each location. Call for specifics. If you can help with any of these shifts or know of someone who might be interested, please email Tracellen Kelly at doggiethriftstorees@yahoo.com or give her a call at 479-981-2886.
Shelter:
The shelter needs volunteers to walk dogs and cuddle cats. Spring is the time to shed the old fur coat, so the animals need lots of brushing and the occasional bath. Training will be provided as needed. If you have a little time to spare for the animals, please call the shelter at 479-253-9188 to discuss your options.
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Tails From The Shelter
Hey, it's me, Pookie! Any of you guys out there ever hear of the Facebook? Some sort of social network thingy. I do all my social networking with squirrels out the back window, so what do I know? My new pal, Rudee, gave me a clue. He's the Good Shepherd spokesmutt on the Facebook. And what a great lookin' spokesmutt he is! You can't tell from his picture, but he's also freakin' HUGE! I bet he could get a whole cat in that mouth. Yikes! How about I just let him tell his story...
Pookie: So, Rudee... I love those spots! I've never seen a Dalmatian your size before. You on steroids or what?
Rudee: No, Pookie. I'm not a Dalmatian. I'm a Great Dane. I'm supposed to be this big, but I wasn't always this way.
Pookie: How's that?
Rudee: When my humans, Cheryl and Brendan Johnson, rescued me, I was 50 pounds underweight.
Pookie: Jenny Craig?
Rudee: Nope. Starvation. The people I lived with before the Johnsons couldn't afford to feed me properly.
Pookie: My bad. Didn't mean to dredge up hard times.
Rudee: That's okay. They did the best they could, but it was very hard not having enough to eat and living outside in the cold in that old Barbie house.
Pookie: I'm tearin' up here.
Rudee: Not to worry, Pook. My story has a happy ending. Cheryl and Brendan heard about me at a Christmas gathering back in '09 and offered to take me in. They named me Rudee - short for Rudolph...
Pookie: 'Cause you're big as a reindeer?
Rudee: No...because it was so near Christmas. I've been in paradise ever since.
Pookie: Now that's what I like to hear.
Rudee: I wanted to give back, so I decided I could reach a lot of people through Facebook and draw attention to the shelter... You know, be a best buddy to the animals there.
Pookie: Now you're talkin'. What kinda stuff do you so on the Facebook?
Rudee: Oh, I introduce some of the new animals a the shelter...tell about specials and events...remind people to vote for the shelter when contests are going on...just whatever comes up.
Pookie: Well, Rudee, you sound very purrsuasive. I'm sure you'll do a lot of good.
Rudee: Thanks. There's pictures of me posted on Facebook, too, so people can see my sincerity.
Pookie: Good to know, big boy. Maybe I'll have to check it out, even though my only previous laptop experience involved napping.
Rudee: Please do.
Pookie: Whatever you say, Rudee. That blue eye gets me every time. So, folks...got a minute? Then check out my pa,l Rudee, on the Good Shepherd Humane Society Wall in the Facebook. Become a fan! He'd like that.
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Upcoming Events
April:
Cat-stravaganza at the Shelter
All cat adoption fees are 1/2 price for the month of April. $25 fee includes shots and spay\neuter.
May:
Annual Membership Meeting
Thursday, May 19; 6:00 p.m.
Inn of the Ozarks, Pine Room
All members urged to attend
Ongoing Monthly Events:
$5 Bag Day at the Thrift Stores
All the clothes (with color tags from previous months) you can stuff into a Walmart bag
First & Third Tuesday of every month
Senior Day at the Thrift Stores
30% off total purchase on regular items for people 55 and over
Second & Fourth Tuesday of every month
Weekly Thrift Store Specials
Special change every Monday, so be sure to ask.
GSHS Board Meetings
Third Tuesday of every month, 6:00 p.m.
Inn of the Ozarks, Pine Room
Community invited
Fundraiser Meetings
Monday, April 18; 8:30 a.m. - Mud St. Cafe
Monday, May 16; 8:30 a.m. - Lovin' Oven
Monday, June 20; 8:30 a.m. - Forest Hill
