Pet Pals Online Newsletter

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November 2006
Greetings and thanks for reading!

THANKS!
I want to thank everyone who supported the RVSPCA and Pet Pals in this years, Walk for the Animals. It was a huge success and the SPCA raised over $11,000. This will go to all of the animals in need of food and medical care while waiting to be adopted. For you that participated – thanks for coming out – it was a beautiful day for it and we had lots of fun!

FOR THE HOLIDAYS…….
Can you believe it’s that time of year already? Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years all around the corner! So many things to do and so little time! There are several things that you as a pet owner need to keep in mind during this holiday season to keep your pets safe and happy.
 

THANKSGIVING
	Turkey, ham and all the fixings can be very unhealthy for your pet. Remove the temptation and discard the scraps of your holiday dinner so the pet can not retrieve them later. Not only can eating spoiled food harm your pet, but eating bones can also cause many potentially life-threatening problems. Spoiling your pet with rich, fatty human food can also cause your pet not want the food you regularly feed it.
CHRISTMAS
	Holiday dangers to your pet exist all around a live Christmas tree – above and on the tree as well as below it. Pine tree water can be poisonous to your pets, so use an enclosed tree stand or stand base.
	Secure your tree to the wall with strong wire or twine if you have a tall tree. Many cats and dogs have been seriously injured by trees toppling over on them.
	Decorating your tree with tinsel and glass ornaments, ornament hooks and electrical wiring all pose significant danger to your pets by ingestion or contact. Twinkling lights are more likely to attract your pet’s attention and are more dangerous than non-flashing lights.
	Unplug lights and decorations when you are not at home.
	Don’t put presents that have food items in them under the tree.
	Holiday plants that are poisonous to your pets include the berries of the mistletoe, holly, hibiscus, Christmas roses and poinsettia.
NEW YEARS
	New Year’s festivities require special planning for your pets. If you are going to have a party at your home, secure your pets in a quiet area away from boisterous party activities. The sound of noisemakers and fireworks can greatly distress your pets and/or cause them to panic and try to run away.
	Inform your guests not to give any food or scraps to your pets. Imagine if every guest gave just one little morsel of food how much your pets would end up eating.
	Party decorations and novelties can also become deadly to your pets if eaten.

Don’t let a preventable accident harm your beloved pets and spoil your holidays. But always be prepared to deal with a medical emergency. Have the phone number for Poison Control Center on hand. And know where the nearest Emergency Veterinary Clinic is located.

INFORMATION
We still have many Pet Pal t-shirts available for purchase. They are $20 in which $15 will go directly to the RVSPCA. I would like to continually contribute to them for doing such a great job of caring for our sweet homeless pets while they’re waiting for a good home. If you are interested, please contact your pet sitter and we’ll see that you get one.

FUN TID-BITS
I get to meet so many pets and I know the most popular pet names out of the Pet Pal family, but I was wondering what the most popular pet names where of all the pet owners out there so here is what I found out:

The top 10 most popular names for male dogs:
1. Max
2. Buddy
3. Jake
4. Rocky
5. Baily
6. Buster
7. Cody
8. Charlie
9. Bear
10. Jack

The top 10 most popular names for female dogs:
1. Molly
2. Maggie
3. Daisy
4. Lucy
5. Sadie
6. Ginger
7. Chloe
8. Baily
9. Sophie
10. Zoe

The top 10 most popular names for a cat:
1. Max
2. Tigger
3. Tiger
4. Smokey
5. Oliver
6. Simba
7. Shadow
8. Buddy
9. Sam
10. Sammy

The top 5 most popular names at Pet Pals
1. Max
2. Lucy
3. Mocha
4. Katie
5. Daisy

ANGELS IN HEAVEN
Pet Pals had a very sad few months. We had to say a very sad goodbye to 4 pets. I want to take this time to let people know what wonderful pets they were and how much we’ll miss them!

Brandy – our Boykin Spaniel who was one of the best turkey hunters in the state of Virginia passed away on September 21, 2006. She was almost 14 years old and had lived a full and very fruitful life thanks to her wonderful owners. She had hip surgery in 2005 and had to retire from hunting. This left her in a wheel chair, but believe me when I say she didn’t skip a beat. I, personally, had the opportunity to pet sit her several times when her owners would go on vacation. They hired me for a Bed & Biscuit every time and Brandy and I became very close. We’ll miss you!

Ande – He was a Bischon mix and was a perfect little boy. I had the opportunity to pet sit him a few times and he loved walks and looked forward to cuddling on the couch. He was adopted by his owner from a friend who couldn’t keep him. They grew very attached and she once said, “I couldn’t imagine being without him”. His life was tragically taken on September 25, 2006. You’ll be missed!

Molly – our pudgy Beagle left this world on October 7, 2006. She was adopted from the SPCA then re-adopted by the neighbor who fell in love with her. She followed him to his retirement home where she was one of 2 dogs there. I was hired to give her daily walks in the winter and continued through for 2 years. She loved her owner so that she would get upset when I’d come because she wanted him to walk her like old times. We ended up all 3 walking most days. Very fond memories! I’m happy to say that Molly lived a very spoiled life for what we think was 12-13 years. We’ll see you again someday Molly!

Chester – was the cat we lost in October. He was up there in age and had battled an intestinal sickness for some time. I pet sit him for many years and when he couldn’t fight anymore – we had to let him go. He was a very sweet cat and will be remembered fondly!

Someday we’ll see you all at the Rainbow Bridge! Thanks for so many wonderful memories!

SO LONG……..
Thanks for taking the time to read our news letter! This is a bi-monthly treat that we bring to you with joy! Please be sure to send us an e-mail if you’d like to automatically receive it.

Welcome to colder weather! It’s that time of year. Take care of those pets that are outdoors and remember they get cold too! Stay tuned for our next addition where we’ll give you all the information you’ll need for keeping those furry friends safe and happy through the upcoming colder months.

From one pet lover to another,

Jessica R. Mather
Owner and Professional Pet Lover