iety ne S o c ty H um a l l C o un ro O f C ar

2nd Quarter 2012 Newsletter

HS of CC Fast Facts:

Paw & Print

Wanna go for a ride?!

President: Kay Davis Vice President: Barb Lueders Treasurer: Anne Haliotis Board Members at Large:: Karen Bazilewich, Erika Tubbs, Mary Green Web Master: Rose Kirwan Newsletter: Barb Lueders Meetings are Held the 2nd Wednesday of Each Month 7:00pm in the City Hall Building, across from the Courthouse on Clay St. in Mount Carroll Visitors are always welcome! Need assistance feeding and/or spaying / neutering your pet? We may be able to help...

Voice Mail: 815-273-5331

(Checked daily M-F, at some point weekends.)

Helpers Wanted !
Pet Hoardi ng

E-mail:

[email protected]

Facts 4 Humane Society and Heartland members are looking for people to Hoarding monitor live traps, transport the cats Signs of set and 4 to/ fromAnimal Control and other odd jobs associated with local vets C Co 5 our ZPG/TNR Program. (Admin Page) 6

Inside:
2. Spring Cleaning 3. Membership App. 4. Feral cats 6. Carroll Co Animal Control 7. Pets & Travel 8. Breed Basics 9. Our Sponsor
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Call Heartland at 815-244-6543 or HSCC at 815-273-5331

Our website:

llcounty.org www.humanesocietyofcarro

Spring Cleaning for Pet Owners

HomeAgain.com

Discover the best ways to combat shedding, odors, and tracked-in dirt from pets in order to keep your home looking good and smelling clean. Spring arrives, and theres something in the air. Is it the scent of flowers and freshly mown grass that has you sniffing or is it pet hair and dander that has you sniffling? If its the latter, open the windows wide, let in the fresh air, and start spring cleaning. What You Need To begin, assemble your spring cleaning toolkit. Chances are you already have some of animalfriendly cleaning materials at hand: Paper towels Old bath towels Disinfectant wipes Spray stain removers Enzyme cleaner Liquid floor cleaner Mop Vacuum cleaner A number of companies have developed specialty brooms, vacuums, and steam cleaners that can make pet owners cleaning process easier. While everyones home can benefit from clearing out winter debris, pet owners have particular challenges. These tips to combat shedding, odors, and tracked-in dirt are worth the effort. For All Pets Shedding. Animals tend to grow a heavier coat in winter to stay warm, which is why springtime often leads to copious shedding. Do you regularly brush your pet? In spring, do it outdoors if possible. For indoor cleaning, start at the top & work your way down to the floors. Clean pet hair from hard indoor surfaces, including window blinds and sills, ledges, electric cords, and elsewhere it may have settled. Remember to remove stray hairs from upholstery. Various cleaning items can be used, so choose your weapon: a handheld vacuum, lint roller, masking tape, even moist rubber gloves will pick up fur and hair. The last steps, in order, are to vacuum the carpet, sweep or vacuum hard floors, and finally mop. Sanitation. Wash, clean, and disinfect your pets food and water bowls as well as the surfaces they rest upon. Plush toys can be tossed in the laundry. Especially for Cat Owners Spring may be the time for a new litter box or simply a good reason to empty, wash, and disinfect the one your cat uses. If you keep the box in a bathroom with a tile floor, you may want to bleach the grout under and surrounding the box and then mop it with clean water. Be sure to rinse the floor thoroughly before allowing the cat back in. Especially for Dog Owners If your dog hasnt had a bath in a while, choose a warm day to wash away winters grime. Also hose down and disinfect any outdoor housing the dog regularly uses. Since spring rains lead to muddy paws, keep pet wipes by the front door to use after a walk, or simply let paw prints dry; it may be easier to vacuum later than to scrub now. The heavy work of spring cleaning comes once a season, but when you have pets, vigilance can help ensure that your home looks good, stays clean, keeps irritants to a minimum, and remains smelling fresh. Happy spring cleaning!

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The Humane Society of Carroll County helps many in the community, please join us!
Mission Statement & Philosophy

The mission of our society shall be to promote responsible pet ownership through public education, to support spay/ neuter services to reduce pet overpopulation, as well as placement assistance for homeless companion animals. We are dedicated to protecting animals by ensuring that their needs are recognized and that they are safeguarded against cruelty, neglect, abuse and exploitation. We believe that companion animals deserve the opportunity to be adopted into a caring and loving home. Our society is committed to a No Kill philosophy whereby animal euthanasia shall not be performed except in those cases of terminal illness, suffering, serious injury, and/or dangerous or irreversible behavior problems subject to the policies adopted by the society or by the order of any court.

Use this handy form to join up or make a donation today!

Remember, all contributions are tax-deductible.

Mail To: Humane Society of Carroll County PO Box 93 Mt Carroll IL 61053
_____________ $5 _____________ $10 _____________ $20 _____________ OTHER ADDRESS:____________________________________________________________ NAME:______________________________________________________________

___$15___ Individual Membership ___$25____ Family Membership

CITY:_______________________________________________________________

E-MAIL:_____________________________________________________________

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Big help for Feral Cats !

Heartland Pet Welfare and the Humane Society of Carroll County Receive $15,600 Grant from PetSmart Charities to Sterilize 348 Free-roaming Cats
Heartland Pet Welfare and the Humane Society of Carroll County have jointly received a $15,600 grant from PetSmart Charities in support of a high-impact cat sterilization project. The two-year project, entitled the Zero-Population-Growth/Trap-Neuter-Return Project (ZPG-TNR) will finance spay/neuter surgeries for 348 free-roaming cats in the Savanna/Mt. Carroll area. The grant will fund the sterilization of 174 free-roaming cats during the first year of the project. By the end of the second year of operation, an additional 174 cats will be spayed or neutered, resulting in a total of 348 surgeries paid for through the PetSmart Charities grant. Heartland and the Humane Society hope to attract additional funding from local donations and other grants in order to finance another 31 surgeries to bring the total project goal to 379 altered cats. This number has been calculated to be 48% of the estimated total stray and feral cat populations of Savanna and Mt. Carroll. If this goal is achieved, the project will dramatically reduce the unwanted births of thousands of these animals. The cat overpopulation crisis in our area has caused too many animals to face a life of homelessness, starvation, cruelty, disease and unimaginable suffering, said Sue Gerlach, president of Heartland Pet Welfare. The success of the ZPG project will greatly impact this needless tragedy. The project will be managed by volunteers from both Heartland and the Humane Society. The organizations will combine resources, manpower, funding, live-traps and transportation in order to insure the projects success. Their collaboration is a proactive effort to reduce cat overpopulation and the problems it causes in both communities. The project will simultaneously provide humane care for existing feral cat colonies. To initiate the ZPG-TNR process, Heartland and Humane society volunteers will target locations where residents, farmers or officials have reported the existence of large numbers of homeless cats. After receiving permission from property owners, volunteers will determine the number of cats living in the area, and attempt to mass-trap the entire colony at one time. They will set live-traps that will be monitored by participating residents or volunteers. The trapped cats will then be transferred to a veterinary clinic for a pre-set appointmnt to be spayed or neutered. The cats are then altered and vaccinated, and given a wellness examination. After surgery, vol-unteers will transport the cats from the clinic to temporary cages where they will be held for the proper recovery period. After recovery, the cats are transported back to their home territory and released. Re-sidents or volunteers will continue to provide food and water for the returned cats, and will supervise the colonies in order to report to Heartland or the Humane Society if any cat is in need of future medical treat-ment or rescue. Food for cats is provided by Heartland and donated by Nestle-Purina Co. of Clinton, Ia. One of the most important aspects of the Trap-Neuter-Return process is the return of the cats to their home territory, Gerlach said. Some people may object to the return of stray cats to their neighborhoods, but its important that residents understand that this is the only way to effectively reduce the number of these animals. If we sterilize and remove the cats from their home territory, other unaltered cats will simply move in and repopulate the area. Cats are extremely territorial in nature. If we return the altered animals, they protect the territory from un-neutered intruders; and in the meantime, their own numbers diminish over time
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due to their altered state. Our volunteers will then target other nearby colonies in rder to prevent any possible, future mating opportunities. We ask that the communities of Savanna and Mt. Carroll be patient as this TNR process plays out, Gerlach said. It may take more than a year or two to see its full impact on our cat population. Some people have suggested the use of lethal elimination or relocation for homeless cats; however, these methods are not only cruel, but highly ineffective. TNR has been proven to be the only successful and humane method of cat population control. This fact has been verified by animal experts, and supported through research done by organizations like PetSmart Charities. It may take a little more time to see the affect of NR, but it is the only permanent and humane solution. Gerlach described the ZPG-TNR project as a big hands-on task that will require the assistance of many volunteers. Anyone interested in taking part in this important community project may contact Gerlach at 815-244-6543, or the Humane Society at 815-273-5331. ZPG volunteers are needed to help set the live-traps, monitor the set traps, transport the trapped cats to and from the veterinary clinics, and return the altered cats to their home territories. Volunteers will also be needed to supervise and care for the altered colonies. The Heartland and some of the Humane Society board members will be happy to train anyone interested in participating. Savanna and Mt. Carroll residents who know the location of feral cat colonies, or any homeless cats in need, may also contact Heartland or the Humane Society at the above phone numbers. Both organizations will also gladly accept monetary donations earmarked for the ZPG-TNR project. Both Heartland Pet Welfare, Inc. and the Humane Society of Carroll County are IRS recognized 501(c)(3) nonprofit, no-kill animal welfare organizations. Heartland was established in 1999 in Savanna, and currently operates a small cat shelter on Wacker Road. Heartlands mission is to enhance the wellbeing of companion animals and feral cats. Heartlands volunteers rescue, rehabilitate, and find loving homes for abandoned, injured or abused cats and kittens. Heartland also offers financial assistance to lowincome pet owners to help them pay for their pets spay or neuter surgery. The mission of the Humane Society of Carroll County is to promote the wellbeing of companion animals by providing spay/neuter assistance, encouraging responsible pet ownership, and advancing all activities that alleviate animal abuse or neglect. The HSCC was established in 1982 as an auxiliary group of the Humane Society of Rock Island County in Milan, IL. The group functionally separated from the Milan shelter in 1999 and broke away completely in 2002 to form their own Humane Society, serving all of Carroll County, IL. Heartland and the Humane Society are dedicated to improving the lives of homeless cats in Savanna and Mt. Carroll, said Susana Della Maddalena, vice president and executive director at PetSmart Charities By creating projects like this one, they are making strides toward ending homelesspet overpopulation and improving life for people and pets alike.
Established in 1994, PetSmart Charities, Inc. is an independent, nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization that creates and supports programs that save the lives of homeless pets, raise awareness of companion animal welfare issues, and promote healthy relationships between people and pets. The largest funder of animal welfare efforts in North America, PetSmart Charities has provided more than $134 million in grants and programs benefitting animal welfare organizations and has helped save the lives of more than 4.5 million pets through its in-store adoption program. To learn more about how PetSmart Charities is working toward its vision of a lifelong, loving home for every pet, visit www.petsmartcharitiesorg or call 1-800-423-PETS (7387).

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Carroll County Animal Control

If you are looking for a dog to adopt the Carroll County Animal Control is a good place to start! You can see many of the available dogs including Our SPOTLIGHT PETS at 10735 Mill Road, Mt Carroll (Behind the Hwy Dept off Rte 59/64 & Mill Road) Call (815) 244-9705 ask for Joe. We list our adoptable dogs on Pet Finder so they get national exposure! If Joe doesnt have any dogs available, he might know of someone looking to find a home for their dog. Pet Finders web address is: Http://www.petfinder.com/shelters/IL365.html

Our SPOTLIGHT PETS...

Oreo
Male, Boxer/ Husky Mix
Oreo is a 10 mth old black and white male, he seems to do well with other dogs here. Oreo seems to have had some training. Oreo's mother is a lab/boxer mix and his dad is a Husky/collie mix. Adoption Fee is $35.00

Pet Finder Help

If you need to find a new home for your pet, the Humane Society of Carroll County can list them on Pet Finder for you! Up to 3 pictures and your pets bio will be listed, and you will have the opportunity to get to know prospective adopters and find the best home for your pet. E-mail Barb at [email protected] or call 815-590-4748

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Dogs, Cats, and Traveling

People are on the go, and increasingly, they are taking their pets along for the ride. While some pets seem born to ride, for others the loud noises and strange motions involved in traveling can be a real problem. Dr. Kelly Ballantyne, a veterinarian at the University of Illinois Chicago Center for Veterinary Medicine, advises owners on issues related to animal behavior. She offers these tips on how to make traveling a safe and pleasant experience for your pets. "The first step is to watch for signs that your pet is stressed," advises Dr. Ballantyne. That is easier said than done, because not all animals express distress in the same ways. Some animals that are very anxious show obvious signs, such as pacing and vocalizing, whereas other, equally stressed pets may give much more subtle indications. "For dogs, you should watch for excessive salivation, panting, a furrowed brow, holding their ears back, and frequent lip-licking or yawning," says Dr. Ballantyne. "Cats may crou ch or try to hide when stressed," she says. "They may also twitch their tails and pull their ears back. These all can be signs that your pet is anxious and not enjoying the trip." Your veterinarian will be an important partner in finding a way to manage your pet's anxiety while traveling. There are many options, and you may need to try several approaches to discover what works best for your pet. Dr. Ballantyne recommends experimenting with different approaches when taking your pet on short trips so you can find out what works before taking your pet on a long road trip. One option available for both dogs and cats is a synthetic equivalent of a natural pheromone with stress-relieving qualities. Feliway is a pheromone product for cats that comes as a spray or in a diffuser. A similar product for dogs is a DAP (dog appeasement pheromone) collar or spray. For dogs, specially made clothing that applies gentle, constant pressure on the torso is marketed to produce a soothing effect on stressed dogs. Lavender aroma therapy has also been found to help calm anxious dogs. For some pets, prescription anti-anxiety medications or sedatives may be the best alternative. In addition to addressing your pet's stress level, you should ensure that your pet will be safe while traveling, according to Dr. Ballantyne. "Cats should always be in a carrier," she says. "You can't predict how your pet will react while traveling. A carrier will keep her safe and ensure that she can't accidentally get away from you." Dogs should also be secured in a carrier or harness when riding in a car. Special harnesses and seats that attach to seat belts are marketed to ensure safe car travel for your dog. If your car has airbags, your dogs should not be placed in the front seat, just as small children should never ride in front. Nausea is another problem that plagues pets that travel. In dogs, drooling and looking sick to their stomach are likely signs of carsickness. Owners of pets prone to carsickness wonder whether or not to feed their pet. "It probably isn't a good idea to feed your pet a large meal before a trip, especially before a plane flight," says Dr. Bal lantyne. "When going on a long car trip, try feeding small meals during rest stops and feed the biggest meal at the end of the day. If your pet has been carsick on a trip before, talk with your veterinarian about anti-nausea medicine." Your veterinarian can also advise you on how to handle a long trip if your pet has a special medical condition that requires controlled feeding times, such as diabetes or inflammatory bowel disease. A final piece of advice from Dr. Ballantyne is for people on the go who are getting a puppy or kitten: "Start when your pet is young. Let him get used to traveling and learn that it is a positive experience." So get going, and bring your pet with you! Just be sure to work with your veterinarian to find safe and low-stress strategies that will make the experience enjoyable for you and your pet. Happy travels! Ms. Andrea Lin, Veterinary Extension/Office of Public Engagement University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine

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Breed Basics

Learn a little bit about our pets...

PLYMOUTH ROCK CHICKENS

Origin: The Plymouth Rock was developed in New England in the middle of the 19th century and was first exhibited
as a breed in 1869. Several individuals claimed its invention, using crosses of Dominiques, Black Javas, Cochins, and possibly Malays and Dorkings. Plymouth Rocks were bred as a dual-purpose fowl, meaning that they were valued both for their meat and for the hens' egg-laying ability. The first Plymouth Rock was barred and other varieties were developed later. The breed became popular very rapidly, and in fact, until World War II, no breed was ever kept and bred as extensively in the United States as the Barred Plymouth Rock. Its popularity came from its qualities as an outstanding farm chicken: hardiness, docility, broodiness, and excellent production of both eggs and meat. The Barred Plymouth Rock was one of the foundation breeds for the broiler industry in the 1920s, and the White Rock continues to be used as the female side of the commercial broiler cross. The Barred Plymouth Rock is also raised for genetic hackle used extensively as a material in artificial construction.

Characteristics: Plymouth Rocks are large, long-lived chickens. Some varieties are good
layers while others are bred principally for meat. They possess a long, broad back; a moderately deep, full breast; and yellow skin and legs. The hens have a deep, full abdomen, which is a sign of a good layer. The face of a Plymouth Rock is red with red ear lobes, a bright yellow beak, bay-colored eyes, and a single comb of moderate size. Their feathers are fairly loosely held but not so long as to easily tangle. The chicken's bottom feathers are soft and downy, like baby chicks feathers. In terms of temperament, both roosters and hens are calm and will get along well with people and other animals such as pets. The hens often will go broody if in the right environment, and are good mothers. Colours: There are eight colours of Plymouth Rocks recognized in most of the world: Barred, White, Buff, Partridge, Silver Penciled, Blue, Columbian, and Black. (excerpted from Wikipedia.com)

AKC MEET THE BREEDS: Pekingese

The Pekingese is a well-balanced, compact dog of Chinese origin with a heavy front and lighter hindquarters. They are small dogs but are not to be considered delicate or dainty. Their image is lion-like, implying courage, dignity, boldness and self-esteem. They can be any color. A Look Back Chinese art throughout the ages, starting with the Tang dynasty of the 8th century, abounds with images of the Pekingese, who gets his name from the ancient city of Peking, now called Beijing. Pekingese were held sacred in ancient China and could only be owned by royalty. At that time, the punishment for stealing a Pekingese was death. Pekingese came to Europe as a result of war. When the British overtook the Chinese Imperial Palace in 1860, they returned home with several of the dogs. Right Breed for You? Pekingese possess a regal dignity, intelligence and self-importance, making them good natured, opinionated and affectionate family companions. Their small size makes them a good choice for apartment life, but they are sometimes difficult to housebreak. They are relatively inactive indoors and do not need a yard, but enjoy walks. Because of their long undercoats, Pekes need at least an hourly brushing session per week. Toy Group; AKC recognized in 1906. Weigh less than 14 pounds. Watchdog, canine companion. The American Kennel Club, Inc.

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MOUNT CARROLL VETERINARY CLINIC

PROVIDING LARGE AND SMALL AMINAL CARE FOR OVER EIGHTY YEARS. PLEASE CALL FOR AN APPOINTMENT. 24-HOUR EMERGENCY CARE AVAILABLE. BOARDING AVAILABLE FOR CATS AND DOGS. WE RECOMMEND HILLS SCIENCE DIET PET NUTRITION AND PROVIDE IT FOR OUR PATIENTS, OUR BOARDERS, AND OUR OWN PETS. FIND US AT (815) 244-2382 405 NORTH MAIN STREET MOUNT CARROLL, ILLINOIS 61053

WE ARE PROUD TO SUPPORT THE HUMANE SOCIETY OF CARROLL COUNTY BY SPONSORING THIS ISSUE OF THE NEWSLETTER.

Humane Society of Carroll County P O Box 93 Mount Carroll IL 61053 815-273-5331

[email protected]