HeHelp American Humane Care for Homeless, Starving Dogs in Haiti

The tragic loss of life and destruction of Haiti’s infrastructure have been overwhelming. But in the aftermath, American Humane is determined to help.

Our Animal Emergency Services program manager, Tracy Reis, landed in Port-au-Prince today. She has joined our colleagues from the Animal Relief Coalition for Haiti (ARCH) -- a group of professional animal welfare organizations, including American Humane, that is collaborating to help suffering animals in the region. The coalition is led by the World Society for the Protection of Animals and the International Fund for Animal Welfare.

After consulting with Haiti’s minister of environment, Jean Marie Claude Germain, ARCH is helping injured, starving dogs in the city. Tracy and the team are setting up animal feeding stations and providing emergency veterinary care as you read this email.

If you have already made a gift to support American Humane and ARCH, thank you! If you haven’t acted yet, or would like to do more to help Tracy and the other brave ARCH workers in Haiti, please donate now!

Animal Relief: Critical for Public Health and Haiti’s Recovery

Helping Haiti’s people is obviously everyone’s chief priority. But the goals of helping people and helping animals are more connected than you might realize.

ARCH’s rescue and recovery efforts have been -- and will continue to be -- authorized by and coordinated with local government and international relief agencies. Everyone working in Haiti recognizes that, as with any disaster, addressing animal issues is essential.

Why? Families in Haiti will depend more than ever on their backyard farms for survival, and ARCH expects that livestock relief will be a significant part of our work in the weeks and months ahead. Plus, we expect to be helping stop the spread of disease by vaccinating pets and other animals.

It will be a long and difficult relief effort with multiple goals and phases. But we are committed to doing our part.

Please do your part by supporting our work with ARCH in Haiti, or by providing funds for future disasters!

Stay up-to-date on Tracy’s progress in Haiti and our role in ARCH.

Ten Most Common Pet Poisons of 2009

1. Ten Most Common Pet Poisons of 2009

Is your pooch mad for people food? Does your kitty like to self-medicate? Sadly, not everything we love is good for us. In fact, many common household goods that we take for granted as harmless can poison our furry friends. In 2009, the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center in Urbana, IL, handled more than 140,000 cases of pets exposed to toxic household substances, including insecticides, cleaning supplies and prescription medications.

To help you keep your pet safe and sound in 2010, our experts have created a list of the 10 common poisons that most affected our furry friends last year. Here’s a sneak peek at their advice:

• Top dishonors—once again—go to human medications, which accounted for the most calls to the ASPCA’s 24-hour poison control hotline in 2009. Pets often snatch pill vials from counters and nightstands or gobble up meds accidentally dropped on the floor. Remember to keep all medications, including pain remedies, antidepressants and decongestants, in a cabinet far away from pets’ prying paws.
  
• Cats and dogs are often the unwitting victims of our efforts to battle flea infestations. The misapplication of spot-on flea and tick products can be especially problematic for our feline friends. Talk to your vet about choosing the right, species-specific flea treatment for your pet and never use products made for dogs on cats, and vice versa.
  
• Some of the most delicious people food—including citrus, avocado and raisins—can be poisonous to pets. Chocolate ingestion accounted for nearly half of all people food-related cases in 2009, so be sure to keep cocoa hidden from your resourceful cat or dog.
  
• Pet parents also need to remember to protect their cats and dogs from common household cleaners such as bleaches, detergents and disinfectants. These products, when inhaled by our furry friends, can cause serious gastrointestinal distress and irritation to the respiratory tract.
  
• Household plants may keep your house green and your air clean, but some can cause serious gastrointestinal problems for companion animals who nibble on them. Check out our toxic plant list before your next visit to the nursery.

As always, if you suspect your pet has ingested something toxic, please call your vet or the ASPCA’s 24-hour hotline at (888) 426-4435. To read our complete list of the 10 most common pet poisons of 2009, visit APCC online.

Does this Collar Make Me Look Fat?

Does this Collar Make Me Look Fat?

Submitted by Allen Codding, DVM Anderson Mill Animal Clinic

Just like people, animals have individual metabolic rates that help regulate

whether they maintain average weight, or become overweight. Some breeds also have

a natural propensity for either a svelte, or heftier shape. As a group, however,

pets face the same problems of weight gain that their owners do. Overeating,

snacks and not getting enough exercise are usually to blame. Dogs and cats are by nature hunters, not grazers. In the same way the human body does, your pet's body is designed to store energy as fat as precaution against lean times. If allowed to eat as much as they want, many pets will consume food as if they were out in the wild hunting, eating as much for as possible, when all
they're actually doing is lying around all day. When we feed them the proper amount of food and exercise them regularly, pets tend not to put on weight.

Editor's Note: Bow Wow Workouts is a great way for you and your dog to get fit.

Does This Collar Make Me Look Fat? (See the full article)

Training Tip of the Month

Training Tip of the Month

by Sandra England Nelson, CPDT

Did you know that we indirectly teach our dogs to pull on the leash? When we are out for a walk we often start to cinch up on the leash for more control. Well, that cinch causes pressure on the neck and when pressure is applied to the neck the dog gets endorphins. The more endorphins a dog has, the more it will actually feel good to pull towards an object it wants. The same happens with sled dogs when the harness pulls against the sled.

When your dog pulls towards an object, change directions and that will release the pressure on the neck briefly, once the pressure is released, reward with a cookie at you side, but only if the leash is loose.

Editor's Note: For practice and more tips about leash walking, join Sandra on January 11 and 18 at 7:45 for Leash Walking 101.

Getting Fit in the New Year -- Bow Wow Workouts

Getting Fit in the New Year -- Announcing Bow Wow Workouts
Austin Dog Alliance and Green Feet Fitness are pleased to announce an innovative way for you and your dog to be healthy in the new year - working out with your DOG!
Our Bow Wow Workout program pairs certified personal fitness trainer Jen Andrew, who teaches Boot Camp style exercise programs, with our team of dog trainers. Jen's unique organization focuses on the whole person and promotes volunteering as a means of achieving inner health.
Workouts are tailored to a variety of fitness levels. Dogs are on leash and must be dog and people friendly. We are offering FREE trial classes on January 5, 7, 9, 12 and 14 at 10AM. On nice days, classes are held outside. Packages for training start at $149 for 9 classes. Class size is limited. Register Now!

Read our Press Release about Bow Wow Workouts