The Richmond Animal League has an urgent mission: to save cats and dogs facing imminent death at two county shelters and find them loving homes.

How close to euthanasia are some of these homeless animals? “Sometimes it’s that day,” says Susan Kelly of the Richmond Animal League (RAL). “We will go into animal control and ask ‘Who do you have?’ We need to save as many as we can.”

Unfortunately, RAL, the oldest no-kill shelter in the Richmond area, can’t take all those who face death. “It’s not an easy job to pull animals,” says Kelly. “It’s not an easy decision. When I first started working here, I was astonished.”

But for those who get to live, life becomes good. Many of RAL’s 65 cats — as long as they get along with others — get to live in the equivalent of a feline playground, a newly-built, large and cage-free room filled with ramps and cat trees, and even a flat-screen TV. Some have been at the facility for years. RAL’s 35 dogs live in runs that lead to an outdoor play area, much like a doggy park. Most are mixed breeds.

The rescue also sponsors two free spay and neuter days a year, to help curb the area’s huge homeless pet problem. “So many people still don’t spay and neuter, so there are animals that people throw away, leave outside, abandon,” says Kelly. “What always gets me, they’ll day, ‘Well, I might want to breed them.’”

When Halo found out about RAL’s good works, it donated 100 cases  dog Spot’s Stew and 300 cases of cat Spot’s Stew, worth $10,932 retail.

“We’ve never received such a large donation,” says Kelly, RAL’s development director. “It means so much to us. Easily hundreds benefited. ”

RAL shared the gift with Southside SPCA, in Meherrin, Virgina, and the local Meals on Wheels, which delivers monthly supplies of cat and dog food to home-bound people who need help feeding their pets. In just weeks, the donation was gobbled up. Says Kelly: “There is such a big need for it in this area.”

The dogs and cats with sensitive stomachs particularly benefitted from Spot’s Stew, she says, noting that the usual fare at RAL for its 17 adults dogs and several litters of puppies, and the 65 cats, is dry food. “The Halo food is of exceptional quality,” says Kelly. “Our animals have responsed very well to it, they really liked it.”

Although there is a plethora of information available about people and swine flu what about our beloved pets? Many concerned pet owners want to know if their dog or cat is at risk and what they can do to protect them.

The good news is that there have been no documented influenza (flu) transmissions between people and their pets. While dogs and cats both have contagious influenza viruses that are capable of causing illness, these viruses are very species specific and do not pose a risk to humans. Similarly, the influenza viruses of people are very specific and up to this point have been unable to infect and cause illness in pets.

If you are an owner of a pot-bellied pig, these pets should be considered at risk for contracting the swine flu virus. Signs to look for include coughing, sneezing, discharge from the nose and eyes, fever, decreased energy and appetite. The good news is that swine flu is usually mild in pigs and most will recover without incident. If you suspect your pig is ill, CALL your veterinarian for medical advice. Do not take your pig into the vet as they may serve as source of infection for people. Visit the CDC website about taking proper precautions for yourself.

Influenza viruses are very formidable bugs…they are capable of changing their structure (by mutating through a process called “antigenic drift”) to enable them to survive and spread in an environment. While there have never been reported cases of flu spreading from humans to dogs and cats, the nature of these viruses are ever-changing. If you are suspicious your dog or cat seems ill, contact you veterinarian for advice.

For more information about swine flu, visit:
http://www.cdc.gov/swineflu/
For more information about dog flu, visit:
http://www.cdc.gov/flu/canine/
For more information about cat flu, visit:
http://www.cdc.gov/eid/content/13/4/662.htm

Ellen DeGeneres recently had Best Friends Animals Society’s John Garcia — a star of National Geographic’s DogTown — on her show.

Garcia, a dog trainer, brought along one of the rescued animals he has worked with at Best Friends, a dog named Aristotle.

Poor Aristotle’s prior owner treated the pooch’s mange with a chemical that scarred him very badly and left him almost bald. But the care at Best Friends enabled Aristotle’s fur to grow back and his personality to shine.

Click here to see the segment.

“It’s amazing, you have fur everywhere,” says Ellen as she leans in to Aristotle, sitting on Garcia’s lap.

“You need a Liv-a-Little, that’s my pet food company, do you like it?” she says as she leans in to Aristotle and give him a treat, which of course he quickly gobbled.

Halo recently donated $130,000 worth (retail) of canned natural dog food and cat food to Best Friends, a sanctuary that is a refuge for up to 1,700 homeless dogs, cats, horses, rabbits, birds, and other orphan animals, who come from shelters and rescue groups all over the country.

The key to helping pet’s live longer and healthier lives is early recognition of problems that come naturally with aging. Follow these guidelines to help your pet make the most of their Golden Years.

1 – Become informed about the common aging changes and medical conditions affecting older pets and the options for therapy. Notify your vet of any concerning symptoms in your pet.

2 – Find an excellent veterinarian. It is advisable for older pets to visit the vet every six months in order to detect problems early and start the best treatment plan.

3 – Provide your older pet the healthiest and most nutritious food you can. Select a natural pet food that does not contain synthetic chemicals or other inferior ingredients which may be more difficult for your older pet to digest.

4 – Don’t overfeed your pet. As many pet’s age, their metabolism and activity levels decline which decreases their need for calories. Food portions must be cut back to avoid weight gain.

5 – Provide your pet adequate exercise. Exercise is imperative in order to avoid obesity and keep your pets muscles strong in order to support aging or arthritic joints

6 – Consider the usage of supplements to counter degenerative organ changes that occur during the aging process.

7 – Continue attending to basic health maintenance such as flea and tick control, dental health, and vaccination to insure your pet is well protected against preventable diseases.

8 – Recognize that older pets often experience hearing loss and failing eyesight. Making simple adjustments around your home can help avoid dangerous situations for your pet.

9 – Avoid stressful situations for your older pet. Recognize what constitutes stress for your pet (crowds, noise, children, etc) and avoid exposure to keep them happy and comfortable.

10 – Provide your pet a constant source of unconditional love, patience and respect.

Click on the title to read the entire article, “Top Ten Secrets to Aging Gracefully“.

Our own Dr. Donna Spector just appeared on the popular My Buddy Butch radio show to discuss your pet’s health!

Thought you’d enjoy hearing it. Dr. Spector’s segment is near the beginning of the hour. Enjoy!

Click here for entire story.