Pet Tips & Info

Please visit our PHS Info Library for New Pet Behavior Tips (PDF Format)
Courtesy of the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS)

Your Dollars at Work

Here are just a few examples of how your dollars impact the lives of animals in our community:

$10 will . . . give the gift of a potentially life-saving ID tag to both a cat and a dog when they are adopted from the Peoria Animal Welfare Shelter.

$15 will . . . help a qualifying senior citizen to be able to feed their pet nutritious pet food through our "Critter Meals on Wheels" program o r . . . add a book to our Resource Library - with the goal of teaching compassion, respect, and responsibility toward animals.

$25 will . . . spay or neuter a dog or cat through our Low-Cost Spay/Neuter program for low income pet owners - our best option to help control the problem of pet overpopulation or . . . provide the award-winning children's newsletter Kind News, to a classroom of kids in your community. Kind News teaches kids compassion and respect for animals.

$50 will . . . pay for the spay or neuter of a shelter dog in order to place it with a breed rescue group.

$100 will . . .provide dental work and other needed veterinary care for a "senior" dog or cat who would make a wonderful new pet for a senior pet owner.

$200 will . . .provide life saving emergency veterinary care when a qualifying pet owner is faced with unexpected medical expenses due to an injury or illness of their pet.

A donation of any amount helps to fund the programs the Peoria Humane Society operates to benefit animals, including numerous education, community awareness, and adoption outreach programs.

Thank you for helping to make a difference with your generous support!

SHOULD I BREED MY DOG??

Almost everyone who owns a dog thinks about breeding it at least once. Raising a litter sounds easy and fun -- but having puppies isn’t all its cracked up to be. Breeding dogs involves much more work and responsibility than most people are prepared for. Before you breed your dog, there are some important things to consider:

Will all your puppies find good, permanent homes?

According to the Humane Society of the United States and the government Census Bureau, 2,000 puppies and 450 humans are born every hour in our country. Right from the start, only 1 out of 4 puppies has a chance at a home. Finding a permanent home is even harder - only 1 out of 10 dogs will stay with its original buyer for its whole life. 5 out of 10 will change owners before they’re a year old. The remainder of these dogs will end up in animal shelters, abandoned and unwanted. Even if your dog is an expensive purebred, your puppies are subject to the same statistics. At least 3 million dogs will be killed in animal shelters this year alone because there just aren’t enough homes for all of them There are so many unwanted pets that cities all over the country are considering passing laws that will ban all breeding.

Your responsibilities as a breeder:

As a breeder you’re personally responsible for each and every puppy for the rest of its life. Your responsibility doesn’t end with selling the puppy - it only starts there! It will be up to you to know where those puppies are six months, a year, five years from now and whether or not they’re being taken care of. It will be up to you to keep any unsold puppies or to take back puppies you’ve sold after they’re grown if their owners can’t keep them anymore. Since only 1 out of 10 puppies stays with its original buyer for life, you can expect to have to take back most of your litter sooner or later. The time to prepare for this is now - before you bring puppies into the world, not after. Will you have facilities to house these dogs? Will you have time to care for them? If you’re offering your dog for stud service, you have as much responsibility for the welfare of his puppies as do the owners of the bitches bred to him.

As a breeder,you have the responsibility of controlling the reproductive future of the puppies you sell. It might seem like having just one litter doesn’t add much to the dog population but - if your dog or bitch produces just one litter of four pups who in turn each produce just one litter themselves and so forth, in only 7 years your dog will have 4000 descendants! “Just one litter" has serious consequences! You’ll need to learn how to write and enforce a contract requiring the new owners to spay or neuter their puppies.

You have a responsibility to your puppies and their buyers to produce the healthiest and most mentally sound dogs possible. All breeds have genetic health and temperament problems that can be passed on to their puppies. It takes experience and knowledge to learn how to recognize these problems. Many inherited defects are “hidden” - although your dog may not seem to have a problem, it could be genetically programmed to pass trouble along to its pups. Without expensive medical testing and a thorough understanding of genetics and pedigrees, you could easily produce puppies that will be a heartache to their owners and a financial burden to you. Reputable breeders check their adult stock for evidence of hip and elbow dysplasia, eye diseases, thyroid and hormone trouble, skin problems and allergies, bleeding disorders and other problems before even thinking of breeding.

As a breeder, you must be prepared to guarantee your puppies against inherited health problems that may not appear until adulthood. This can mean refunding money or replacing a dog years later. Many states are now passing “puppy lemon laws” that would require a breeder to refund up to three times the purchase price of a defective puppy or pay for its medical bills. Temperament is also subject to guarantees. You could be sued if a dog you produce bites someone! You need to be there to give buyers advice on training, behavioral and medical problems. You’re the “on-line” support for your puppies’ owners for the next 10-15 years!

Having a litter is expensive

Raising a litter involves a considerable investment in time and money - money that you aren’t likely to get back in profit. By the time your bitch is old enough to have puppies, you’ll already have more than $1000 invested in her purchase price, food & upkeep, vaccinations and the medical tests & certification to prove her suitability for breeding. In order to produce quality puppies, you’ll need to use a stud dog that’s as good or better than she is. Good stud dogs require a hefty fee. Most professional breeders won’t be interested in taking a puppy in exchange nor are they interested in breeding to just any bitch.

There’ll be pre-whelping exams and x-rays, post-whelping exams and shots, dewclaw removal and/or tail docking, puppy shots (two sets for each pup before they’re sold), worming medication, extra food for dam & pups, equipment like whelping boxes, heating pads, puppy playpens, crates, etc. Problem pregnancies are common. A cesarian section can cost up to $500.

You’ll be taking time off work to help whelp the litter and make sure all is well the first few days. especially if this is your bitch’s first litter. Dogs don’t always know what to do and can accidentally kill their puppies. A problem during whelping can cost your bitch her life if you’re not there to tend her. You can depend on a 25% mortality rate for newborn puppies no matter how well you care for them. Birth defects like cleft palettes are also common. Then there will be advertising costs to help sell your puppies. Depending on your breed and part of the country, it can take up to 4 months to find proper homes for your whole litter. Even breeders of top quality show dogs rarely break even on their expenses.

AKC registration requirements

If you plan to register your litter with the AKC, you need to become familiar with their rules and recordkeeping requirements. You should be aware that they have the right to inspect your premises and breeding records at any time. If your recordkeepng doesn’t meet their standards, they can refuse to register your puppies, impose a fine and suspend you from registration privileges for life.

Learning how to breed responsibly

If you sincerely feel that you have exceptionally good reasons for breeding your dog and can live up to the great responsibility involved, your work is just beginning!

Your first step is to call the American Kennel Club for a referral to the national and local clubs for your breed. Join the club to meet and learn from other serious breeders. Subscribe to dog magazines, especially the national magazine for your breed and the AKC GAZETTE. Read everything you can find pertaining not only to your breed, but all breeds. You’ll need an education in all canine subjects, medical concerns, anatomy and structure, behavior, training and even some psychology for working with the owners of your new puppies. Go to dog shows where you can see and touch other examples of your breed and learn what makes them better than average.

One of the most important parts of your education is learning what the “breed standard” means. Each AKC-recognized breed has a written standard of perfection. It describes what that breed should look, move and act like. Serious breeders constantly measure, test and compare against this standard before deciding whether their chosen dog is good enough to breed. They show their dogs in order to compare them with others of high quality. Standards aren’t easily understood in one reading. It takes study and exposure to hundreds of dogs before you can really see why certain characteristics are important and whether or not your dog has them to such a degree that breeding it would improve the overall quality of the entire breed. That’s the real goal of serious dog breeding and the ONLY reason to breed any dog - to produce animals that are exceptional in appearance, health, temperament and trainability.

It can take years to gain this kind of knowledge and along the way, you might learn that the dog you have is a fine pet, but not good breeding stock. If so, you’re in good company. Some of today’s most successful breeders began by finding out the same thing. They discovered that getting a dog of suitable quality meant a serious financial commitment and a lifetime of dedication to do their very best even though there would be no real monetary reward for their effort.

Breeding dogs today is a serious matter. Before going any further, visit your local pound or animal shelter to see what happens to the dogs that were raised by people who thought it would be “fun” to have a litter. “The miracle of death” by euthanasia is just as educational as the “miracle of birth”! If you intend to breed your dog, then you should be fully aware of what the consequences may be.

Will it be worth it? Most of the time, the answer is no. The decision NOT to breed your pet is one of the most intelligent, educated and loving decisions you can make.

For more information on your breed, registration requirements, or to find the dog clubs closest to you, call:

American Kennel Club
200 Madison Avenue
New York, NY 10010
(212) 696-8200 8:30a.m.- 4:15pm
Eastern time, Monday thru Friday

Facts about Cat & Dog Overpopulation

	Two unaltered cats and all their descendants can theoretically number 420,000 in just seven short years
	Two unaltered dogs and all their offspring can theoretically number 67,000 in just six short years
	No homes for littermates is one of the top 10 reasons people relinquish their cats and dogs to shelters
	The top reason both cat and dog guardians give for not having their pet altered is that they simply have not bothered to do it yet.
	Twenty percent of cat guardians think their cat is too young to be altered, and 18% say they are not able to afford spay/neuter surgery
	Twenty-one percent of dog guardians want to breed their dog, and 13% think their dog is too young to be altered
	An estimated three to four million cats and dogs are killed in shelters each year. That's one every eight seconds
	Tens of millions of stray and feral cats struggle to survive on their own outdoors. Although some are altered and live in managed colonies, most are not altered and receive no health care. They reproduce at will and many suffer from illness or injury before dying
	Over half (56%) of dog guardians and nearly two thirds (63%) of cat guardians rank pet overpopulation as the most important pet issue
	In a study of relinquishment of cats and dogs in 12 U.S. animal shelters, 30% of the surrendered dogs were purebreds
	The same study indicated that 55% of the surrendered dogs and 47% of the surrendered cats were unaltered
	It costs U.S. taxpayers an estimated $2 billion each year to round up, house, kill, and dispose of homeless animals
	Over 56% of dogs and puppies and approximately 71% of cats and kittens entering shelters are killed, based on reports from over 1,055 facilities across America.

Large Black Dogs Hard to Place

New information has come out about the plight of big black dogs languishing in shelters. These ordinary looking dogs are often overlooked by potential adopters in favor of lighter colored dogs. Often people are apprehensive about a black dog's disposition because of the color alone. There are now many adoption groups in the United States working with local shelters to place large black dogs. These dogs often have sweet dispositions and are deserving of a home. For more information about the plight of black dogs, you can visit the website: www.blackpearldogs.com.

Pet Bird Adoption

Many pet birds need new adoptive homes each year in the Peoria area. Finches, parakeets, cockatiels and the occasional parrot are in need of a second chance in loving, attentive homes. If you have the time and attention to give to a new bird, and have a non-smoking, cat-free household, please call Betsy Christison at (309)231-7198.

Here are a few of the birds taken from the Peoria Animal Welfare Shelter

Tori is a 6 year old male cockatiel whose owners relinquished him to PAWS when a new baby joined the family. (Tori wasn't fond of the baby and the baby was afraid of Tori!) He was adopted by a wonderful family from Danville, IL, who had a parrot already and felt they wanted to give Tori a second chance. Although initially nippy and fearful, he is adjusting wonderfully, and likes to hang out with Jake, the oldest boy in the family, sitting on his knee when he does his homework. Here is Tori watching out the window at his foster home for his new adoptive family to come get him with his spruced up new cage and window perch!

Tori is just one of the many birds taken from PAWS. Betsy has parakeets, cockatiels and other birds available for adoption. Please contact her at 309-231-7198 for information.

Beauregard is a hybrid amazon (blue front and orange winged) who was taken to PAWS by Peoria police after his owner's emergency hospital admission left the parrot alone in his home for several days. He was in a small, rusty, very dirty cage with little food and only dirty water. PAWS staff and bird rescue volunteers attended to his needs until he became available for permanent placement following his owner's death. Beauregard had numerous psychological problems, including excessive swearing and vulgar language as well as aggression issues. He has found a new home with an experienced parrot owner in Clinton, IA, where he will join an umbrella cockatoo and a lovebird named CeCe, (also a PAWS rescue) and he has been renamed Navo. He is in a new large cage with a playtop, tons of new toys, and becomes very excited when he gets clean water in his bowl! He is trying new foods and is slowly learning to trust. It will take many months to retrain him to use appropriate language and stop lunging and biting, a real challenge for his new owner. Fortunately, she is up to the task and isn't afraid to pet him in spite of his unpredictability.

Grapes Can Be Deadly to Dogs

Grapes may seem like a healthy snack for humans, but they can be deadly to your dog. The Animal Poison Control Center researched the effects of grape consumption in dogs and cats and the findings are scary. Do not offer your dogs grapes or raisins. The toxic level remains unknown. It is not known whether quality or quantity is the cause for canine deaths. The safest measure you can practice is simply not to offer grapes or raisins to your pets at all.

LOCAL AND STATE FAIRS CAN BE CRUEL TO ANIMALS

Summer fairs bring communities together to celebrate summer and demonstrate skills of local people, but they can also mean cruelty to animals. Unfortunately, attractions that exploit animals are still a major part of many state and local fairs. The events listed below are just a few of the animal related attractions you may see at a fair.

RODEO

Many animals in rodeos experience inhumane treatment. Horses and cows used in rodeos are abused with electric prods, sharp spurs, and bucking straps that pinch the animal. During bucking events horses and bulls may suffer broken legs or accidents that cause the animal to die. Calf roping is an event in which a calf may reach a running speed of 30 miles per hour before being jerked by the neck to an abrupt stop by a rope. Calves often suffer broken necks.

HORSE RACING

Race horses are bred to make money for their owners. They are often pushed beyond their physical limits and suffer from conditions from tendon problems to broken bones to bleeding lungs. These debilitating conditions cause great suffering in race horses. Many ex-racers are often sold to slaughter for horsemeat in Europe.

EXOTIC ANIMAL PHOTO-OPS

Many fairs display exotic animals to offer paying customers the opportunity to pet or have their picture taken with a wild animal. Wild animals used for photo ops or petting create a dangerous situation for the public. Placing an animal in an unnatural environment and interacting with the public is a recipe for disaster. Also the future for these baby animals is grim. They are often sold to game ranches or kept in filthy basements or worse.

PETTING ZOOS

Petting zoos can be stressful to the animals especially is they are not provided an opportunity to escape unwanted contact and if children are not closely supervised. When the farm animals outgrow their usefulness they are sent to slaughter. Racing pigs are a good example of animals that will be killed after they have been exploited.

CIRCUSES

Circuses that use animals are extremely inhumane. Circus animals live the majority of their life confined in small enclosures and are forced to perform unnatural stunts for an audience. Training methods are often brutal and the animals work from intimidation not rewards.

What you can do: Refuse to patronize exotic animal exhibits, horse races, rodeos, petting zoos, when you attend your local or state fair and encourage your local or state fair to prohibit such exhibits and activities.

ASPCA National Animal Poison Control Center
Warns Cat Owners of Lily Dangers

As spring approaches, lilies will become more common in households as potted plants or in bouquets. According to Michigan State University Extension's Grower Guide, Easter lilies are the third most important flowering pot-plant grown in the United States, with l0 to 11 million plants produced annually. Unfortunately, several types of lilies can be deadly to cats. Easter lily, tiger lily, rubrum, Japanese show lily, some species of day lily, and certain other members of the Liliaceae family can cause kidney failure in cats. Within only a few hours of ingestion of the plant material, the cat may vomit, become lethargic, or develop a lack of appetite. These signs continue and worsen as kidney damage progresses. Without prompt and proper treatment by a veterinarian, the cat will develop kidney failure in approximately 36-72 hours. All parts of these lilies are considered toxic to cats and consuming even small amounts can cause severe poisoning. If there is a lily in your home, there is always the chance that your cat could be accidentally exposed. For this reason, cat owners should avoid exposing their cats to plants of the Liliaceae and Hemerocallis family. Lilies that have been shown to cause kidney failure in cats include:

COMMON NAMES SCIENTIFIC NAMES

Easter Lily	Lilium longiflorum
Tiger Lily	Lilium tigrinum
Rubrum	Lilium speciosum
Japanese Show Lily	Lilium lancifolium
Day Lily	Hemerocallis species

Please note: This list is not all inclusive.

Cushing's Disease in Older Dogs

A common and very treatable disease among older dogs is Cushing's Disease.

Cushing's disease is an overproduction of a chemical called cortisol. Cortisol is a natural steroid that is necessary for a number of life functions. If a dog's body produces too much cortisol the result is a hormonal imbalance that affects the dog's health and appearance. Dog's with Cushing's Disease can also develop diabetes, liver disease, and other serious complications.

Early detection is the key to a prolonged and happy life for your pet. The disease's onset is very gradual. Below is a checklist of common signs to look for in an older dog.

	Increased Water Consumption
	Increased Urination
	Potbellied appearance
	Overeating
	Skin and hair/coat changes
	Change in activity level
	Excessive Panting
	Muscle weakness
	Changes in sleeping patterns
	Decreased responsiveness
	Decreased enthusiasm
	Decreased interaction with family members

Our Legislation Coordinator's Labrador was recently diagnosed with this disease and she was showing very few signs of Cushing's Disease. Early detection is the key. The disease was detected when when she had her annual blood panel pulled. Her liver values were increased. Then veterinarian then tested specifically for Cushing's so that he could rule out liver disease. This can be a fatal disease if left untreated!

The Sad Statistics of Companion Animal Overpopulation

	One female cat and her offspring can produce 420,000 cats in 7 years.
	One female dog and her offspring can produce 67,000 dogs in 6 years.
	"No homes for littermates" is one of the top ten reasons people relinquish their cats and dogs to shelters.
	An estimated 4 to 6 million cats and dogs are euthanized in shelters each year. Millions more are abandoned, only to suffer from illness or injury before dying.
	In a study of relinquishment of cats and dogs in 12 U.S. animal shelters, 30% of the surrendered dogs were purebreds.
	The same study indicated that 55% of the surrendered dogs and 47% of the surrendered cats were unaltered.
	In 1999 it cost Peoria County residents $616,497 to round up, house, euthanize, and dispose of homeless animals.
	In 1999 3,491 cats entered the Peoria Animal Welfare Shelter
	In 1999 3,803 dogs entered the Peoria Animal Welfare Shelter
	In 1999 PAWS euthanized 5,364 animals
	Over 56% of dogs and puppies entering shelters are euthanized, based on reports from over 1,055 facilities across America.
	Approximately 71% of cats and kittens entering shelters are euthanized, based on reports from 1,055 facilities across America.