Good Dental Care, Don’t Brush it Off!

In honor of National Pet Oral Health Care Month read about Buddy Boy’s dental journey:

In December, Buddy Boy, an eight-year-old Miniature Dachshund, came to Homeward Pet after his original owner passed away. Like we do for every new arrival, our veterinary team gave Buddy Boy a complete health examination, and found his mouth to be in extremely poor condition. Years of tartar build-up had caused this older guy to develop an infection beneath his gums which had spread to the top of his mouth and rotted away a significant amount of bone.

Buddy Boy was left with a large hole between his mouth and sinus cavity, which was filled with pine needles, hair, pus and food. Without immediate medical attention, it would continue to grow, leaving Buddy Boy susceptible to further infection and discomfort. It took three surgeries to close the fistula and rebuild the roof of his mouth. While Buddy Boy only retained 17 of his 42 teeth, he is now in good health and is living the life of luxury in his forever home.

Buddy Boy’s story is a common one for older pets who do not receive routine dental care.  Last year, Homeward Pet’s veterinary team, Dr. Tina, Dr. Jenny and Melinda, our Licensed Vet Tech, performed over 160 dental surgeries and cleanings. February is National Pet Dental Health Month, and a good reminder of just how important it is for owners to take care of their pet’s teeth.  If it’s time to take your furry friend in for a dental exam, Homeward Pet has an amazing network of partner clinics that we rely on throughout the year to provide quality care to our animals and adopters. Check out a list of our partners here.

Buddy’s photograph by Karen Ducey Photography & Multimedia.

2016 Fur Ball Sneak Peek #2

Chateau Ste. Michelle Winemaker Emeritus Ray Einberger hand selected twelve of his favorite wines for our special event. All the wines selected received scores of 90-95 in The Wine Spectator, Wine Enthusiast, and Robert Parker’s reviews. Read about each of the wines included.

Join us for the 2016 Fur Ball Auction & Dinner for a chance to bid on this and many more amazing experiences and items.

Learn more here.

It’s a Bird!

Sasha had a great time today playing with a feather toy in one our Meet ‘n’ Greet rooms.  Cats love toys that simulate chasing birds – like a feather or Da Bird, another cat toy that we use a lot!   The more you can make your movements look like a bird in flight…or like a bird resting but moving ever-so-slightly …the more exciting for many indoor cats!  When you’re looking for toys for your cat, we recommend avoiding toys like the glove pictured here.  While it looks fun and festive, what it really teaches your cat is that people’s hands are toys.  Ouch!

Happy Tail(s) – Chili and Mo!

We’ve been having a great time with Sister and Brother- now named Chili and Mo. They are lots of fun. I’ve never met such affectionate cats!  I’m sending along one of my favorite photos from this week. In addition to being super cuddly, Mo is also hilariously awkward 🙂  -Jess

Happy Tail – Willow!

Hello and Happy New Year!  Willow is doing great 🙂  We love her dearly and she has adjusted well.  We believe she is happy and has found her forever home.  Thanks again Homeward Pet!

Blessings,
The Jackson Family & Willow

Anniversary Adoption Event!

Homeward Pet’s 26th Anniversary Adoption Event is Saturday, February 27th, Noon – 6pm!  ALL ADOPTIONS JUST $26! Join in the celebration – and give a deserving animal a loving home!  Matches Made. Lives Saved.  For 26 Years!

Our Anniversary Adoption Event has become a very popular and very busy day at Homeward Pet.  All of the cats and dogs that will be available for adoption that day will be posted on our website by Friday evening (2/26), with information about their history, temperament, whether they get along with dogs and/or cats, and our child age recommendation.  If you’re considering adopting that day, please review our Adoption Guidelines, plan on bringing everyone who’ll be living with an adopted animal to meet (including any resident dogs), and understand that we are unable to place animals on hold.

Fergus Settles In

Here’s a great blog post from a recent adopter!  At the end of January, Carol stopped in to make a donation…and adopted Fergus!  She spent the next 10+ days slowly introducing Fergus (now Archer) to the rest of her furry family. Carol did everything just right, chronicling every step online.

“Just thought you might want to read the blog post I wrote on introducing a new cat to an existing menagerie.  So far, so good. Thanks for the words of wisdom! Archer’s a love!  Cheers, Carol”

There’s a lifetime of benefit to providing your new pet a slow introduction to their new home and family – two-legged and four-legged.  Our Adoption Counselors are glad to give you some tips for helping everyone adjust.

PetPros promotion benefits the HPAC animals!

Homeward Pet was visited by the north end PetPros store managers who presented a check for a portion of the proceeds they raised through their holiday ‘For the Love of Pets’ promotion.  What an awesome, fun group of animal lovers!  Thank you!

On Cloud 9 This Valentine’s Day

Animals bring abundant joy and love to our lives each day – this is just one reason why we cherish, adore, and can’t imagine our lives without them. In addition to daily adoration, Valentine’s Day is a time to not only celebrate and honor our two-legged loved ones who enrich our lives, but also our special, four-legged friends for being our constant, beloved companions and a valued part of the family.

Here are some creative ways to show love to your animals this Valentine’s Day:

• Make some delicious, homemade treats! Fido-friendly cookies can satisfy a doggy sweet tooth, and tasty tuna is quite the kitty favorite, like these yummy catnip tuna morsels  or these delectable peanut butter pumpkin dog bones Visiting a local doggy eatery is another great option to “treat” your fur baby – our canines recommend The Dining Dog!
• An adventurous hike or surprise dog park visit can do a doggy good! Check out some dog-friendly activities that are something to woof about here.
• Make a tribute gift in honor or in memory of a special, four-legged friend and help homeless animals at the same time! Learn more here.
• Include your pet in a relaxing day/night in – put on an animal-themed movie and watch it while lounging on the couch together.
• Is your furry companion in need of a Spring accessory or maybe a new ID tag? Take this opportunity to present your cat or dog with a new bandana, ID charm, Kong or catnip toy. Playing together is another great way to share some quality time with your star-studded feline or canine.
• Clean animals (and their accessories) mean more snuggly moments for fur baby parents. The next time you do laundry, add your pet’s bed to the load. Such a (relatively) small thing that makes a cozy, clean difference! If your cuddly companion loves bath time as well, this is a great chance to humor him or her with some splash time in the tub!
• Spread the love you have for your best fur friend by sharing a photo on social media. Visit the Homeward Pet Facebook and Twitter pages – We love seeing the amazing relationships our furry alumni and their adoptive families have developed!
• Have a busy kitty on your hands? Get a (new) scratching post for him or her as an outlet to release tension and extra energy, as well as a daily manicure of sorts!
• Microchip miracle home-comings happen every day. Make sure your beloved companion will be returned to you in case he or she gets lost. Having your pet microchipped is easy, low-cost and the most effective form of identification! Details and more information here. L

Have fun on February 14 and congratulations on being lucky in love this Holiday!

12th Cat

Wilson is in foster care with one of our staff members, and Homeward Pet’s biggest Seahawks fan, Melissa.  She hasn’t told Wilson that they aren’t playing today.  Go Hawks!

Murphy Gets the Full Treatment!

Murphy, an 11-year old Siberian Husky mix, was getting a dental procedure today and several members of our staff thought that would make a good time to brush him and work on his undercoat.  It takes a village!

Tracking Animal Cruelty: FBI Collecting Data on Crimes Against Animals

Acts of cruelty against animals are now counted alongside felony crimes like arson, burglary, assault, and homicide in the FBI’s expansive criminal database.

On January 1, the Bureau’s National Incident-Based Reporting System (NIBRS) began collecting detailed data from participating law enforcement agencies on acts of animal cruelty, including gross neglect, torture, organized abuse, and sexual abuse. By adding animal cruelty offenses to NIBRS, law enforcement agencies and the advocacy groups that pushed for the inclusion in the FBI database are hoping the results will reveal a more complete picture of the nature of cruelty to animals.

A first look at the FBI’s animal cruelty statistics will be available next year, but it will take three to five years for the data to begin showing helpful patterns.

Read the full story here.

In honor of #mancrushmonday meet Brody!

This handsome hunk is a three-year-old Pit Bull mix who would love to join your family. Lively and sweet, Brody enjoys romping around, playing with squeaky toys and greeting people with tail wags and kisses. Brody is a big and rambunctious boy who would do best in a home with adults and teens who can fill his days with vigorous exercise and routine training.… Stop by Homeward Pet and meet this stellar and goofy guy today!