The journey of rescuing a pet, especially a  newborn, is extremely gratifying, educational and character building.Raising bottle babies is perfect for people who work from home, have a flexible schedule or have a cool “”pet friendly”" employer. You would be the most popular person in the office with bottle babies and you would be an ambassador for pet rescue. This is also a wonderful experience for a family or roommates to work together an share the responsibility and rewards.There are several ways to be involved. We need volunteers to help us in the neonatal nursery onsite where people come in for one or more shifts a week to bottle feed and care for the kittens. For those who prefer to work  in the comfort of their home, we have a training program and lots of support tools to teach you to care for kittens and puppies on your own. We also provide pet milk and supplies if you are on a budget.If you aren’t available every few hours to feed, we have mama dogs and cats with little families to raise. They would be much happier in a loving home with their babies than our busy public kennels, which can be stressful to the sweet mamas.  She does all the work and just needs TLC and a secluded safe place like a bathroom, warm washroom or extra bedroom and we provide training and have a support system.”

GUEST POST: SA PETS ALIVE ANNOUNCES BLACK FRIDAYS

 “All you need is love.” – John Lennon

            At the first annual Bark in the Park, at Woodlawn Lake in March 2012, a special dog named “Brad Pitt” was up for adoption. A quick glance of Mr. Pitt had many on lookers shaking their heads while saying “Awwww,” as Mr. Pitts sat, looking fearful, and a little sickly, and far from what some consider ‘adoptable’.  San Antonio Pets Alive! (SAPA!) saves dogs from euthanasia to the degree they can – it requires a place for the dogs to go: fosters and adopters. We named the dog Brad Pitt – they saw the potential of his beauty, but truthfully at that time he was far from a looker. Mr. Pitt was malnourished, traumatized from abuse and had hair falling out from a bad case of very treatable mange.

             When Kathleen Finck and her son saw Mr. Pitt, Kathleen told her son “no” to having another pet in the house, they already had three cats she argued.  They left without Brad Pitt. Brad continued to get a lot of stares,  some fearful. However, Mr. Pitt stayed on Kathleen’s and her son’s mind. Kathleen began to feel pulled by the image of Brad, she had an ongoing feeling that he belonged with her and her family. She couldn’t let go of the image of Brad and began to feel a strong feeling that fate had connected them – she met Brad, on that day, for a reason. She emailed SAPA! and discovered he had not yet been adopted. That day Kathleen came to SAPA! and adopted Brad Pitt.

            According to Kathleen, from the moment Brad, now re-named Fenton, entered her house, he became a part of the family. Unfortunately, he was in terrible health, Fenton had kennel cough and caught pneumonia shortly after arriving to her home. There was a very real concern that he might not make it. He was in such bad shape that he had to visit the veterinarian, Dr. Kirby, every day for a week due to his pneumonia. Lucky for Fenton, Dr. Kirby is a dedicated veterinarian and even came into to his office on Easter Sunday to provide Fenton his medication. Fenton also had treatment for his mange and he slowly began his road to recovery. The Finck family took special care of Fenton, making sure he received all the love and attention that every pet deserves and, needless to say Fenton got better! Three months later, he showed major progress and started to look like his breed which turned out to be Cockapoo, a mix of Cocker Spaniel and Poodle. His hair began to return, thick, curly, and brownish – who would have thought judging from his original physical state?

                   It is now almost one year later and Fenton is a changed dog. Super healthy, happy, and sporting a thick healthy curly coat, he loves to play with the Finck family and their three cats Kit Fisto, Fluffy and Sherlock. No one would have guessed how well Fenton would have done if he had never been given some special attention and a chance at life! Thankfully, SAPA! was able to save Fenton and introduced him to his angels – the Finck family. Thank you Kathleen for reminding us that every pet deserves a chance to be restored to health and experience love. 

 – Jenny Castillo, Renee Nank

Have a funny picture? Email marketing@sanantoniopetsalive.org and you may see yours in our next issue!

• Acetaminophen, which is found in Tylenol and other medications, can cause liver damage in dogs. Cats are even more sensitive: Ingestion of a single 325 mg tablet by a 10-pound cat can cause anemia and even be fatal. Toxicity Ranking: moderate to severe.
• Batteries can be toxic to both dogs and cats, leading to ulcers in the mouth, esophagus and stomach. Toxicity Ranking: moderate to severe.
• Chocolate can cause seizures and death in dogs and cats. Darker chocolate, such as unsweetened baker’s chocolate, is more toxic than milk or white chocolate. Even cocoa bean mulch, when eaten in large quantities, can be a problem. Toxicity Ranking: moderate to severe.
• Detergents and fabric softener sheets can cause ulcers in the mouth, esophagus and stomach in dogs and cats. Toxicity Ranking: mild to moderate.
• Ethylene glycol is found in antifreeze, windshield de-icing agents and motor oils. Dogs and cats are attracted to its sweet taste, but as little as a teaspoon in cats or a tablespoon in dogs can cause kidney failure. Recently, antifreeze and engine coolant manufacturers have agreed to voluntarily add bittering agents to reduce the products’ appeal to pets and children. Toxicity Ranking: severe to fatal.
• Fertilizers can contain poisonous amounts of nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, iron, zinc, herbicides and pesticides. Keep dogs and cats away from treated lawns until they are dry. Check the product packaging, though, since some products must be rinsed into the lawn before it is safe to walk on. Toxicity Ranking: mild to moderate.
• Grapes, raisins and currants – even grape juice – in small amounts can cause kidney failure in dogs. Toxicity Ranking: moderate to severe.
• Household cleaners, such as bleach, drain cleaners, ammonia and toilet bowl cleaners, can cause gastrointestinal ulcers and other problems in dogs and cats. Toxicity Ranking: varies.
• Insecticides in flea and tick products can cause problems if not used according to labels. Insecticides that are meant for dogs can cause severe toxicity in cats, leading to signs such asvomiting, seizures and difficulty breathing. Products intended for treating the yard or house should not be used on pets. Toxicity Ranking: mild to severe.
• Jimson weed, also known as devil’s trumpet, can cause restlessness, drunken walking and respiratory failure in dogs and cats. Toxicity Ranking: moderate.
• Kerosene, gasoline and tiki torch fluids can cause drooling, drunken walking and difficulty breathing in dogs and cats. If these products contain antifreeze, they are even more problematic. Toxicity Ranking: moderate to severe (potentially life threatening).
• Lilies - Easter, day, tiger, Japanese and Asiatic varieties – can cause kidney failure in cats. Lilies of the valley can cause heart rhythm problems and death in dogs and cats. Toxicity Ranking:moderate to severe.
• Mothballs, especially if they contain naphthalene, can be toxic to dogs and cats, resulting invomiting, diarrhea, increased drinking and urination, and seizures. Toxicity Ranking: moderate to severe (potentially life threatening).
• Nonprescription medications, such as ibuprofen, can lead to severe ulcers and anemia, as well as liver and kidney failure in pets. Toxicity Ranking: moderate to severe (potentially life threatening).
• Onions, garlic, leeks and chives can be toxic in dogs and cats. When chewed or swallowed, these ingredients can cause anemia and gastrointestinal upset. Toxicity Ranking: mild to moderate.
• Prescription medications, such as antidepressants and ADHD and cardiac drugs, are commonly ingested by pets when pills are dropped on the floor or left on counters. Even a small dose can cause problems. Toxicity Ranking: varies.
• Queensland nuts, also known as macadamia nuts, can cause lethargy, vomiting and difficulty walking in dogs. Toxicity Ranking: mild to moderate.
• Rodenticides, such as mouse and rat poisons, can contain a number of different toxins, which have different effects on dogs and cats. Several common ingredients, like warfarin and coumarin, can cause blood clotting problems and hemorrhaging. Toxicity Ranking: mild to severe.
• Sago palms are one of a number of toxic plants for dogs and cats. Ingestion can lead to vomiting, diarrhea and seizures, as well as liver failure in dogs. Toxicity Ranking: severe.
• Tobacco can be toxic to both dogs and cats. Ingestion of nicotine in the tobacco plant or in cigarettes or patches can lead to vomiting, tremors, collapse and death. Toxicity Ranking: moderate to severe.
• Unbaked bread dough can expand in the stomach. If the stomach twists, cutting off the blood supply, emergency surgery is needed. The yeast in the dough can also produce alcohol, leading to seizures and respiratory failure. Toxicity Ranking: mild to severe.
• Veterinary prescriptions, such as arthritis medications, are often meat-flavored, which can be enticing to dogs. Ingestion of large quantities can result in stomach ulcers, liver failure or kidney failure. Toxicity Ranking: moderate to severe.
• Windshield wiper fluid can contain methanol or ethylene glycol. Ingestion of methanol can cause low blood sugar and drunken walking in dogs and cats. Toxicity Ranking: mild to moderate.
• Xylitol is a sugar-free sweetener commonly found in chewing gum, breath mints and toothpaste. In dogs, it can lead to dangerous drops in blood sugar and liver failure. Toxicity Ranking: mild to severe.
• Yard products, including snail and slug bait, herbicides and fertilizers, are never good for pets. Signs will vary by the ingredient. Toxicity Ranking: varies.
• Zinc toxicity can happen when dogs and cats eat metal or coins. Ingestion of even a single zinc penny can be fatal. Zinc can cause anemia, as well as liver, kidney or heart failure. Toxicity Ranking: moderate to severe.

If your pet does find its way into any of these household items, contact your vet immediately.

Source: 26 Household Items Poisonous to Cats & Dogs by: vetstreet.com

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GUEST POST: SAN ANTONIO PETS ALIVE

Location 2: The SAPA! Cattery
9107 Marbach Rd. Ste. 109 San Antonio, TX 78245
Hours: Friday-Sunday: 10:00am-6:00pm
Adoption Fee: Cats & Kittens $25

San Antonio Pets Alive! has kennels FULL of loving and extremely adoptable dogs and cats of all breeds, ages, shapes and sizes. These wonderful animals’ only crime is being homeless or having irresponsible owners. We were able to save them from euthanasia through the generosity of the community. Now these pets are spayed, neutered, vaccinated and are ready for their “New Beginning”. Join us this weekend to meet these lovely four legged family members who want nothing more than a “New Beginning” with a loving foster or forever family!