As the temperature drops outside and the days get shorter, the needs of our pets change.  Pets that spend time outside have different requirements, as do those that spend most of the day in front of the fire.  If your dog or cat spends any significant amount of time outside, it is imperative that they have adequate shelter.  An example of an appropriate shelter would be a wind-proof structure that is just large enough for the animal to turn around in.  This helps them maintain their body heat inside the shelter.  Extra insulation in the form of blankets, cedar chips or straw is also an important tool to help keep them warm.  Fresh, unfrozen water should always be available.  If you are ever in doubt of it being too cold outside for your dog or cat, bring them inside!

Nutrition requirements can also change over the winter.  Outside animals may need more food because they burn calories to stay warm.  Animals that are strictly inside may need less food as their daily routines become more sedentary.  That being said, winter is not an excuse to forgo your dog’s walks or trips to the dog park.  Just bundle up (you and your dog) and stay active! 

Today’s blog was written by Kate Hamilton, medical coordinator at the Richmond SPCA.

True or False

Question #2. 
My dog urinated on my bed just to get back at me for not taking him to the park. 

Question #3
My dog chewed up my shoes just to get back at me for not taking him to the park.

Question #4
My dog is barking at my other dog to irritate her because she got to go to the park and he didn’t.

Answers: False, False, and False.  Revenge is a human word and a human concept.  Your dog may urinate on your bed frequently if he doesn’t get to the park, but it won’t be because he’s out for revenge.  It will be more likely because he didn’t get outside when he needed to relieve himself.  Ditto for chewing things and barking.  Getting outside or exercise helps alleviate a dog’s need to chew, bark and urinate at inappropriate times.  If your dog doesn’t get enough exercise, he will most assuredly be urinating, chewing and barking at inappropriate places and times quite frequently.  Help your dog build well-patterned behaviors.  Make sure he gets plenty of exercise and socialization. 

Today’s blog author is Marie Tripton. Marie is the senior behavior/training specialist at the Richmond SPCA. Call the Behavior Helpline at (804) 643-SPCA.

When we step outside during the winter, it is second nature for us to bundle up with coat, hat, scarf and mittens.  Many of our furry friends have the luxury of a built-in winter coat, with heavy fur and undercoat that insulates them and protects them from the chill.  But not all dogs and cats are equipped to withstand the cold weather.  To compensate for that, there are many ideas and innovations that we can use to help keep them toasty-warm.

Most dogs grow thicker coats during the winter (which is all too apparent when they begin to shed them in the spring.) However, for some animals, their built-in winter jacket is not enough.  Warm jackets and sweaters are good for thin, thin-coated breeds like Greyhounds.  Older dogs and small breeds like Chihuahuas also benefit from the added protection.  In the wet, snowy weather, overcoats are available for the long-haired breeds to help keep them dry.  There are many available resources to purchase a coat for your dog, including online, at pet supply stores and in the Lora Robins Gift Shop. 

Winter weather is also tough on your dog’s paws.  Booties are made to protect the pads from exposure to winter chemicals, cuts on the ice and prevent slipping on the icy sidewalks.  These were made popular by the sled dogs of the Iditarod who wore them to protect their paw pads over the 1,150 mile race.  However, while good in theory, many dogs will not tolerate these “mittens” and quickly flick them off.

Now that you are aware of the different options of winter wear for your pets, you still have time before it gets too cold to properly outfit and protect your dog. 

Today’s blog was written by Kate Hamilton, medical coordinator at the Richmond SPCA.

I love my job.  I work as a vet assistant at the Richmond SPCA.  I recently made the decision to further my education in the veterinary field by applying to Vet Tech School and becoming a veterinary technician.  I was and am very, very excited about this prospect.  Not long after I made this decision I came to realization: there are no programs based in Richmond for me to pursue this career choice.  I was crushed.  I wondered how there were so many Techs at so many vet hospitals and none went to school here in Richmond. 

I did some research and asked around with the technicians who work with me here at the Robins-Starr Humane Center and got some great news.  There are so many options out there that my co-workers shared with me.  Many places offer distance learning that you do over the internet in comfort of your own home. Right here in Virginia, Northern Virginia Community College offers this option.  Some big-name out-of-state schools offering distance learning programs include Penn Foster College, St. Petersburg College in Florida and even Purdue University all offer distance learning programs.  Yeah, I could be a Boilermaker if I so desired. 

As part of these programs you do a kind of work-study where you work at a vet hospital which serves as your classroom and your veterinarian as your hands-on instructor in addition to the on-line coursework.  Many vet hospitals where you can be employed during the program will even offer to pay for school…pretty neat huh?

Blue Ridge Community College in Stanton, Va. has a cool program that teams up with John Tyler Community College on Midlothian Turnpike where you attend classes at Tyler and the instructor is in Stanton.  You are connected with your teacher via satellite and can have questions answered in real-time.  Again in this program you would work at the vet hospital and gain experience and knowledge in real-life situations.

I will be applying next month to one of these schools. Now, instead of being lost with no where to go I have tons of options and need to make up my mind where to go.  Wish me luck, and I’ll keep you posted!

Today’s blog author is Barclay Fink.

My cat who helped me through my college years used to love to visit my parents with me during holidays.  Gamble, who lives with me now, would prefer to visit people at our own house.  Both of them were taught to travel well in a safe cat carrier.  I even keep a cat carrier open in my office with a soft bed in it.  Gamble likes to sleep in it sometimes while I’m working. 

You may not plan on taking your cat with you on holiday visits, but it’s wise to help her acclimate to some travel – if only for those annual vet visits.  Here’s how you can help: 

1. Purchase a cat carrier.  It should be just big enough for your cat to stretch out in – the cozier the better.  Line it with a soft, non-slipping bed.  Use removable non-skid shelf liner under the bed if necessary.  Place it in a frequented room of your house – like the TV room, the office, or the bedroom.  By the way, 3-piece, hard plastic carriers with removable tops are the most convenient for vet visits, and more stable for carrying than cloth carriers.
2. Make fun things happen in the carrier.  Leave the door of the carrier open and toss treats in there; poke little string toys through the holes; or even feed your kitty in the carrier sometimes. 
3. Practice.  Every once in a while invite your kitty in the carrier, close the door and just carry her across the room.  Put the crate down gently, open the door and continue playing with her in the carrier.  Remember this is supposed to be enjoyable, so avoid “testing” long trips until you’re sure she’ll be calm for short trips.

One last tip…use a spring clamp or small bungee during travel to secure any part of the carrier that might rattle – like the door.  A quiet ride will be much more pleasant for your cat than a noisy one. 

Today’s blog author is Marie Tripton. Marie is the manager of admissions and behavior services at the Richmond SPCA. Call the Behavior Helpline at (804) 643-SPCA.

My cat who helped me through my college years used to love to visit my parents with me during holidays.  Gamble, who lives with me now, would prefer to visit people at our own house.  Both of them were taught to travel well in a safe cat carrier.  I even keep a cat carrier open in my office with a soft bed in it.  Gamble likes to sleep in it sometimes while I’m working. 

You may not plan on taking your cat with you on holiday visits, but it’s wise to help her acclimate to some travel – if only for those annual vet visits.  Here’s how you can help: 

1. Purchase a cat carrier.  It should be just big enough for your cat to stretch out in – the cozier the better.  Line it with a soft, non-slipping bed.  Use removable non-skid shelf liner under the bed if necessary.  Place it in a frequented room of your house – like the TV room, the office, or the bedroom.  By the way, 3-piece, hard plastic carriers with removable tops are the most convenient for vet visits, and more stable for carrying than cloth carriers.
2. Make fun things happen in the carrier.  Leave the door of the carrier open and toss treats in there; poke little string toys through the holes; or even feed your kitty in the carrier sometimes. 
3. Practice.  Every once in a while invite your kitty in the carrier, close the door and just carry her across the room.  Put the crate down gently, open the door and continue playing with her in the carrier.  Remember this is supposed to be enjoyable, so avoid “testing” long trips until you’re sure she’ll be calm for short trips.

One last tip…use a spring clamp or small bungee during travel to secure any part of the carrier that might rattle – like the door.  A quiet ride will be much more pleasant for your cat than a noisy one. 

Today’s blog author is Marie Tripton. Marie is the manager of admissions and behavior services at the Richmond SPCA. Call the Behavior Helpline at (804) 643-SPCA.

If you’ve ever been to a shelter to adopt a cat, then you know there are certain ones who stand out more than others. Those who reach out at you through their cages or meow desperately for your attention are, understandably, always the first to find homes. But, have you ever noticed the shy, or just plain terrified, cats who hide in cubby holes and stare at you with huge, frightened eyes? Oftentimes, these scaredy cats are the ones that take the longest to get adopted into a loving family.

I have worked at the Richmond SPCA for about 3 years now, and have always taken it upon myself to befriend the less trusting kitties who need a lot more patience and socialization than the average cat. I can very honestly tell you that it is the most rewarding experience I have here when I am able to win over a difficult cat and become her best human friend and provide her some of the comfort and love that she desperately needs. Shy cats will usually bond very closely with people who slowly take the time to get to know them, and the rewards for your patience are great – a loving, devoted companion for life, and the knowledge that you have changed that cat’s life forever by giving him the chance to show you how wonderful he is.

So, if you are considering a new kitty companion, please take the time to look in those cubby holes or underneath the blankets and notice the scaredy cats who are too timid to make themselves known. I promise you will be amazed at the fantastic cats you find there, and if you decide to take one home, you’ll never have a closer or more devoted feline friend.

Today’s blog was written by Cheryl Canfield. Cheryl is the adoption coordinator at the Richmond SPCA.

It has always astonished me how dogs and cats get along with the pain that would take us to our knees.  I remember my husband trying to pass a kidney stone the size of a grain of sand and how I reminded him that I had had two children.  Probably not the best wifely comfort I could have offered at the time.  But do you wonder if animals are more tolerant because no one has said to them, “Boy, I know that has to hurt!”

I was reminded this week just how resilient they all are.  We had a little mixed Labrador puppy transfered to the Richmond SPCA from one of our local animal control agencies.  He had likely been hit by a car sometime on Monday and was having trouble with both front legs.  He was actually trying to stand on them.  He was wagging his tail and attempting to play with another puppy in the room.  He ate what we offered him willingly and let us examine him without protest.  But when you looked at this little fellow’s radiographs he had fractures of both of his front legs between the elbow and shoulder.  Now how in the world could he even think about standing on them much less even try? He had been given pain medication at the emergency clinic on Monday night and another dose when his radiographs were done on Tuesday but not anything per se for several hours. 

When I first started practicing, pain management in veterinary medicine was fairly cutting edge.  I remember noting how much more quickly animals recovered from surgery and injury when they were able to rest comfortably.  We always knew they felt the same types of pain as human beings, but hiding their pain is a good survival tactic in the wild.  Now there are numerous choices to control every type of pain that a pet may experience.  How lucky we are that as pets have become mainstream members of our families that the pharmaceutical companies have continued to provide us with products that will safely keep them comfortable no matter what their pain level or cause.

As an added note, it is through the generosity of donations to our Cinderella Fund here at the Richmond SPCA that we were able to get this puppy the orthopedic repair that he so desperately needed.  Thanks to the generous support of this fund and our deep belief in orphaned pet rehabilitation, this little guy is one lucky puppy.

Today’s blog was written by Dr. Angela Ivey, director of veterinary medicine at the Richmond SPCA. Dr. Ivey spent many years in private veterinary practice before joining the medical staff at the Richmond SPCA in 2004. 

This week I was reminded of two of the many reasons that I chose to be a veterinarian.  One is the fact that there is never a dull moment and the second is that you can always learn something new.  I’ll start with the new things you learn.  I have been in practice for over 20 years now and we diagnosed the first case of feline Cytauxzoonsis that I have ever seen.  It is a very rare protozoal disease of cats that is caused by the bite of an infected tick.  The disease has a very rapid course that usually ends in death within days of initial signs of illness.  The signs are usually non-specific and include anorexia, fever and pale mucus membranes.  These cats are usually sick within two weeks of the tick bite.  The infection is uncommon nationwide, but quite common in certain areas of the Midwest and southern United States.  The geographic region may be expanding with cases now being reported along the Atlantic coast.  Because no therapy has been proven effective and the disease is largely fatal, prevention is the take home message to get across.  The only means of transmission seems to be via tick vector so keeping cats indoors and controlling these ectoparasites is an essential form of prevention.

The second and never dull moment concept of my profession is the fact that just as we thought we had weathered the kitten storm this year with flying colors, we were quickly reminded that there will always be a great need for our services.  At one point this year we had well over 200 kittens in all age groups at the Richmond SPCA and in our foster care programs.  We have finally caught up and gotten almost all of those little ones adopted. Thank goodness!  We still have kittens but had started to concentrate on juvenile and adult cats once again.  Then came the call from the City of Richmond Animal Control that they could use some help with their kitten population.  In just one transfer, we moved in 31 new kittens ranging in age from four to seven weeks.  So you see, there is never a boring moment to be had, and my brain will always hopefully stay fresh and challenged.  How much luckier could a gal be? 

Today’s blog was written by Dr. Angela Ivey, director of veterinary medicine at the Richmond SPCA. Dr. Ivey spent many years in private veterinary practice before joining the medical staff at the Richmond SPCA in 2004. 

In a perfect world our flowers would always bloom, our cars would always start on the first try, our children would always do what we ask, and our dogs would always look at us adoringly. In the real world our flowers deal with environmental factors, our cars age and deteriorate, our children grow and develop thoughts of their own, and our dogs don’t always want to please us.

Dogs are highly social creatures, and they thrive on the time they spend with their “families”. But they are not genetically wired to please humans. Who came up with that idea?  Hmmm. Maybe humans. This desire-to-please idea reflects a decidedly human-centered view of the world, and probably leads to unreasonable expectations for dogs.

Dogs are genetically wired to eat, drink, breathe, sleep, exercise and form social bonds with others as a means of surviving.  Given the lack of food, water, air, sleep or exercise dogs will seek a way to fill that void. If humans are paired with the things that they need (see above list), they will find a way, through humans, to acquire those resources. And they are really good at anticipating the good stuff. Why does your dog wag his tail when you put his leash on – because he wants to please you or because he wants to go on a walk? Does he fetch the ball you throw because he wants to please you or because he needs the exercise?

Don’t get me wrong. There are plenty of loving, friendly relationships between dogs and humans. We adore them and they adore us, but they don’t wake up every morning thinking of ways to make us happy. A dog who comes running when called, walks happily on leash and rests quietly on his bed is a dog with a caretaker who forged a calm, happy relationship with his dog. A human who taught him the things he needed to know and kept him safe during the process. If your relationship with your dog is on the rocks, try providing him lots of those things he needs. Then learn to dole out the really good stuff at those times he does things you really like. He’ll probably be far more inclined to please you then.

Today’s blog author is Marie Tripton. Marie is the manager of admissions and behavior services at the Richmond SPCA. Call the Behavior Helpline at (804) 643-SPCA.

Sirius is an 8-month-old Golden Retriever mix at the Robins-Starr Humane Center. We transferred him from a local government shelter in April after he’d been hit by a car. His hind legs needed splinting and surgical pins, and our medical staff helped return him to health with the assistance of a very generous local veterinary orthopedic surgeon. Stryder is another great dog who was just adopted. When he came to us, his ears were so infected (from chronic, untreated ear infections) that they had to be surgically removed to relieve the pain he had suffered for years.  our vet had to remove most of both of his ears because they were so infected.

They’re both wonderful animals, and I still can’t figure out why Sirius is still with us or why it took Stryder so long to find a forever home.  I encourage visitors to our center to check out dogs who are limping or missing a limb or who have some other special need. These wonderful animals don’t know that they walk with a goofy gait or that they aren’t like the rest of their four-legged friends. They are still happy and full of lots of love to give and are most deserving of your time and attention.

Look at Sandy, for example. We took her in this spring after she and her littermates had been thrown out of a car and abandoned. Sandy’s injuries were much worse than her brother’s and sister’s, so while Annie and Punjab walk around normally, Sandy’s hind leg stays straightened, off to her side. But Sandy doesn’t notice. Since her surgeries, she’s gotten better and better at moving around, and now she can sprint back and forth playing catch as easily and quickly as any other dog, but with a special walk all her own.

These amazing pets make just as good companions as uninjured ones, and sometimes the bonds between them and their owners will be even stronger because they’ve weathered so many troubles, and now, at last, they will finally have a permanent home. Give extra consideration to adopting an imperfect pet. The love they give you will more than make up for any missing appendages!

Today’s blog author is Patrick Hawkins. Pat is the adoption center coordinator at the Richmond SPCA.

Do you have that empty nest feeling? Do you miss getting up in the middle of the night to bottle feed your children? Do those children that you are raising need some experience with responsibility? Do you love puppies and kittens but have enough animals at your house already? Then WE NEED you!

We do a lot of things really, really well at the Richmond SPCA. However, we also need to recognize the areas in which the involvement of the community can help us improve. Foster care, particularly for the very young, is one such area. Rather than being reactionary when the need for foster care arises, we need to anticipate the need and build a list of volunteers ready, willing and trained for the task of caring for these most vulnerable orphans.

We have decided to start the process of generating a network of people who can be called at a moments notice to help us with the task of getting puppies and kittens old enough, big enough and healthy enough for adoption while being cared for outside of our Robins-Starr Humane Center. Many times the center is not the safest environment for these little immune systems. We do not want to expose to the germs that they are not yet vaccinated against.

The task may be as simple as fostering a litter of 6-week-old puppies for a mere two weeks until they have had vaccinations and can come in to be spayed or neutered and be immediately available for adoption. It could also mean the need arises on Saturday afternoon for someone to be able to bottle feed a litter of kittens for three or four weeks because their mother was just hit by a car. Even though we have a wonderful staff of employees who might be well-prepared to take them home for a night, it defeats the purpose to have these orphans come back into the center each day with an employee who is caring for them at night. We need them protected in a home until they are ready to be adopted.

So here is what we would like to do. We would like to start training a group of foster care providers with a class that teaches puppy and kitten care. This class would include bottle feeding, assisting with urination and defecation, tube feeding if needed, signs of failure to thrive, proper feeding when not nursing, appropriate interaction and behavior techniques as well as normal and abnormal development for this age group. We want to generate a contact list of providers who have completed the class so that we can get these youngsters off to a great start. We provide everything that is needed including veterinary care, bottles, formula, food, bedding, litter, carriers and support through our medical department.

So if you have a lot of extra time, a big heart and the mothering instinct that these babies need then please let us know by responding in the comment section or contacting us at (804) 521-1329. We can adopt out so many more healthy puppies and kittens if we can find the space outside of our own building with a well-trained, available network of providers. Please join our team and make a difference in these lives!

Today’s blog was written by Dr. Angela Ivey, director of veterinary medicine at the Richmond SPCA. Dr. Ivey spent many years in private veterinary practice before joining the medical staff at the Richmond SPCA in 2004.

BB is a sweet girl.  Weighing in at over 15lbs when she came to the shelter, she gave the impression of a roly-poly middle-aged lady, not quite obese, but could still stand to drop a few pounds.  But when BB came down with an upper respiratory infection and lost her appetite, those few extra pounds became much more significant.  Despite all of our efforts, BB refused to eat, even the most tempting baby food and tuna microwaved concoctions.  As days passed and BB whittled away, one thing became clear, I mean yellow.  The roly-poly little girl had turned into a shrunken, jaundiced shadow of her former self.  BB was suffering from hepatic lipidosis and was in a battle for her life. 

Hepatic lipidosis, or fatty liver disease, is one of the most common causes of liver failure in cats.  Cats evolved as predators, eating small meals throughout the day.  As cats were domesticated, their eating habits changed, with larger meals, free access to food and expanding feline waistlines becoming the norm.  This may not be disastrous in day-to-day life, but when an overweight cat becomes sick, lost or stressed and stops eating, the consequences are very serious.  The feline liver is unable to process the large amounts of fat that the starving body moves to the liver for processing.  The liver becomes overrun with fat and subsequently fails.

The cornerstone of treatment of hepatic lipidosis is nutritional support.  This can be done by force feeding or by the surgical placement of feeding tubes.  Survival and recovery from hepatic lipidosis nears 90% with nutritional support.  Without such aggressive treatment, most cats will not be able to overcome this disease.

These scenarios are very dire, even in the private veterinary practice.  In a shelter environment, they present even greater dangers.  The stress of moving a cat to a new environment can be enough to put him off his food.  That same stress could also make him susceptible to any number of viruses with which shelters must contend, which could in turn put him off his food.  Is anyone sensing a trend here?  While the portly kitties are snuggly and great lap-warmers (I won’t argue with that), their transition into a shelter environment is fraught with more danger than is experienced by the average 8lb cat.  Age, underlying medical conditions and lowered sociability all stack the scales against this group of kitties, too. 

Please do your cat a favor and go easy on the treats and be a little sparing at dinner time.  He (and his liver) will thank you.  As for BB, with intensive medical care, including force feedings over several weeks, she was able to overcome her fatty liver disease and is still here at the Richmond SPCA waiting for her permanent home.

Today’s blog author is Kate Hamilton. Kate is the medical coordinator at the Richmond SPCA.

So, you’ve just been told by your veterinarian that your cat needs to lose a few pounds. The tough part is “your kitty likes food,” so he’s probably going to be upset when you feed him less.  The better part is “your kitty likes food,” so he can easily learn a fun way to exercise to help burn off the calories.  We call it Kitty Recall – otherwise known as “Here, Kitty Kitty!” Here’s how it works:

Your vet will probably recommend you switch from free-feeding to a measured serving once or twice a day.  Pour part of your cat’s serving in the bowl then take out a portion of it and put it in your pocket.  This, of course, assumes you are feeding dry food.  Then, at several intervals during the day, let your cat smell a few pieces of food in your hand and head for a hallway or a large room and stand still.  When your cat comes to you to get a piece of the food say, “Good!” or “Yes!”; then immediately toss the piece of food so he can see it roll across the floor.  When he gets it and returns to you for another, repeat your word “Good!” or “Yes!” and toss another piece of food across the floor for him to get.  Keep repeating the same word and a food toss each time he comes to your side.  If he loves his food as much as you think, he’ll learn to pick the piece of food up and come running back to you for another. 

Once he’s repeating the pattern without hesitation, you can add a cue, something like “Henry!” or “Come!” or “Here!” Insert the word in the pattern just before he comes running back to you.  So the new pattern is:

1. Cat arrives at your side.
2. “Good!” immediately followed by food toss.
3. Cat gets the food, turns…
4. “Here, Henry!”
5. Repeat steps 1 – 4.

Finally, start tossing the food farther or in more challenging areas, and make this game happen spontaneously during the day.  Eventually, your cat will come running to you whenever you say “Here, Henry!” and you’ll get to play a fun game to help him shed those extra pounds.

Today’s blog author is Marie Tripton. Marie is the manager of admissions and behavior services at the Richmond SPCA. Call the Behavior Helpline at (804) 643-SPCA.

Nothing is more fun than a full-figured, roly-poly, little kid.  But that’s baby fat, hopefully.  And how cute is a pudgy little Bassett or Beagle mix who appears to have super short legs because his belly droops so low and his shoulder mass sags?  Or, better yet, that tubby tabby who can perch on her plump derrier and lick her belly? (If you’re eager to witness this sight, inquire about Helena at our center.) But just because we live in the most obese nation on the planet doesn’t mean our animals should have to suffer.

Now don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying send all the obese cats and dogs to a four-legged fat camp. Even if there is such a place, I’m sure there are more obese pets in America than any one facility could handle.  And by no means do animals sit around and measure themselves against a lean, trim, healthy canine or feline standard. If Clearly I have nothing against pudgy Poodles or a super-sized Siamese, nor do any of us at the Richmond SPCA. We love them all!

We promote all cats and dogs – large and small, mutt and purebred, black, white, brown, calico, blue-merle, gray, three legged or four, tailless or not.  However, when an animal finds a home after being worked with for so long to lose those “precious pounds” we do encourage the new family to, for the animals’ sake, help him continue to lose weight.  Consider this when you come to visit our shelter and decide to adopt a dog like Morris – a long-time resident and large-bellied Lab – animals, like people, are affected by obesity.  It affects them internally and externally, and in the end, it can be a big problem for the owner and the animal (and who wants problems?).  So when you visit us, adopt a pudgy pet, and go home to snuggle and love her, take a picture, then take away the snacks, and get that overweight pooch or kitty on a fit-n-trim diet mixed with exercise.  It’ll do you both some good.  Thanks for adopting!

Today’s blog author is Patrick Hawkins. Pat is the adoption center coordinator at the Richmond SPCA.

While standing across the surgery table yesterday from one of the many veterinary students who complete internships at the Richmond SPCA, I had one of those light bulb, aha moments.  I think they existed long before Oprah gave them a name, but I look for them more frequently than I used to.  This latest light bulb moment was the realization that a power larger than we are puts us where we need to be at certain points in our lives.

I realized while performing that cat spay in our clinic that at some point along the way, I’ve acquired a higher level of patience.  You see, after personally completing somewhere around 30,000+ surgeries over the course of my veterinary career, I can spay a cat in a very short period of time – in about three minutes – but working with our intern, we would spend about 30 minutes on this single spay procedure. (We can complete surgeries in a very short period of time because we operate a clinic that specializes in high volume – we are an exceptionally well-oiled machine of vets, vet techs, and vet assistants who have the utmost in professional care for the animals we serve). 

A group of chance circumstances, a few missed opportunities and some well-placed second tries have brought me to where I am today – giving me a second veterinary career with a new focus.

I have the patience I have in my forties that I did not have in my twenties because of the children I was blessed with in my thirties.

I have the opportunity to teach what I know about veterinary medicine today because I was too busy with my own life, career and profit margin to mentor the new graduate that worked for me when I first started my own practice.

I am at the Richmond SPCA because of a chance encounter with a fax machine and a Sharpie – yes I could be one of their “Write Out Loud” commercials.

And I always knew that there was more to life than the pursuit of money.  Do not get me wrong, I live a very comfortable life, but I also was fortunate enough after working hard to make a few good financial decisions.  I also believe that we live a life of excess a lot of the time.  So now I get the second chance of doing what I love with employees, volunteers, directors, adopters and clients that fill the void of the clients that I loved but left in private practice.  My clients adored their pets but I could not find the happy medium between helping them and the pursuit of that dollar.  Now I work on any given day with over 400 animals and a group of people so passionate that it is contagious.

Thank you to the powers that be for putting me where I am at the exact time I needed to be here and with the maturity and understanding to appreciate it.

Today’s blog was written by Dr. Angela Ivey, director of veterinary medicine at the Richmond SPCA. Dr. Ivey spent many years in private veterinary practice before joining the medical staff at the Richmond SPCA in 2004.

How was summer?  Nice vacations?  Reflect for a moment on all that time you got to spend out of the office that you call home forty hours a week with your friends, neighbors, kids and spouse.  Now take a few seconds to think about the next nine months!  That’s right, fall is upon us and that means a return to school, work, and a lot more time inside and around the home. 

Well cheer up kids, moms, and dads because the return to school and regular work schedules doesn’t have to be as bad as I just made it out to be!  For adults – parents or otherwise – who want to add a sense of fulfillment and enjoyment to their lives and who don’t want to come home to just bills and take out, we have exactly what you are looking for.  No, it’s not a cure, miracle drug, or free robot from the Jetsons.  It’s a canine companion, a feline friend; it’s an adopted animal from the Richmond SPCA who is just waiting to become a permanent member of your family. 

Right now you could complete your home and enhance your everyday life!  We have knowledgeable adoption counselors to help you find the perfect pet for your home and family.  Nothing says “welcome home!” quite like a cat snoozing on your lap or a dog licking your face to let you know you’re in the right place - and so are they. 

Throughout September we will be rewarding students from kindergarten to college for their good grades.  Bring in your or your child’s first quiz or test grade and receive a discounted adoption rate for simply striving scholastically.  Brighten up multiple lives this fall and pay our pets a visit at our Robins-Starr Humane Center.

Today’s blog author is Patrick Hawkins. Pat is the adoption center coordinator at the Richmond SPCA.

Dogs are not born understanding English, and humans, with the exception of Lassie’s family, are not born understanding dog. However, we can come to a common understanding of some terms with appropriate training and practice.

Many of us train our dogs daily. We train them to understand that reaching for the leash means we’re going for a walk. We train them to know that opening the cupboard means dinner is about to be served. We teach them that sitting on the sofa means lap time. The key method we use to train these terms is consistent, rewarding repetition. People are naturally very skilled trainers.

Unfortunately, many of us fail to use the same method when training more helpful skills such as sitting when people approach, staying inside when the door is opened, or coming when called. Instead of showing our dogs what we would like them to do, we get excited, flail our arms and raise our voices when they don’t do what we like. I can’t imagine how unintelligent we would be if this is how our public education system worked. Yet we expect our dogs to understand something after a few successful attempts, and we get upset if they make a mistake. Learning almost never happens in a straight line for people or animals. Dogs will make mistakes. Our responsibility as their educators is to ensure frequent, successful, rewardable behaviors. Frequent mistakes may indicate that you have not yet found a successful way to communicate what you want – not what you don’t want. If you find your dog responds only infrequently to your requests, talk with a reward-based trainer.

Sounding out words repeatedly and more loudly does not make your point any clearer than it would for anyone else who doesn’t speak English.

Today’s blog author is Marie Tripton. Marie is the manager of admissions and behavior services at the Richmond SPCA. Call the Behavior Helpline at (804) 643-SPCA.

Many customers will walk into the adoption center already knowing what kind of pet they’d like to get. As a result, I see people going past dogs’ runs without giving some of them a second look. It could be because the dog is larger than the customer wants; he or she might have a different breed mix in mind; it might even be because of the dog’s age or his energy level. But did you know that there are many wonderful pets here who are sometimes passed over, through no fault of their own? Simply because of the coloring of their coats; all black pets often go unnoticed.

That’s right – it seems to take the public much more time to look at all-black dogs and cats than animals with other colorings. No one has an explanation for why it happens, but almost every animal shelter sees the phenomenon. Shelter managers have to come up with ways to counteract this problem. Many humane societies have come up with promotions to raise the dogs’ visibility. Recently I heard of another humane society that advertised half-off adoptions of what they referred to as “Big Black Dogs,” or “BBD’s.” Here at the Richmond SPCA, we try to spread out the kennel spaces of our predominantly black dogs, so there’s no possibility that the public will overlook multiple animals.

The problem caused by this phenomenon is that many dogs and cats will take much longer before someone takes the time to visit with them. I own two black dogs myself: a lab/pit mix and a lab/hound mix. People approach me when I’m walking them to ask me if they’re brother and sister, and I have to break the news to them that not every all-black canine is a Black Lab. It’s clear that this is still a very misunderstood group of pets, especially since many people don’t realize that they are in a group of their own. The next time you come into our center, take a long look at one of our all-black dogs or cats. It might just be the best adoption decision you could ever make.

Today’s blog author is Patrick Hawkins. Pat is the adoption center coordinator at the Richmond SPCA.

There has been a lot of concern in the animal community as of late over the fact that veterinarians are now required in Virginia to report within 45 days of giving a rabies vaccination all of the pertinent information contained in that rabies certificate to the Treasurer of the locality in which they practice.  As of today the law only applies to dogs. In theory, it is to assure that dogs are properly licensed in individual localities.  The concern has been brought up about our right to privacy and the fact that owners of certain breeds may be reluctant to have this information known publicly for fear that certain breeds may be targeted in areas were localities would prefer they not reside.  As an animal owner, you should already be aware of the licensing requirements of the locality in which you choose to reside. Requiring dogs to have city or county tags is by no means a new concept.

My concern as a veterinarian is that the policy may lead certain dog owners to forego vaccinating their pets for rabies at all.  Rabies is a deadly disease of mammals that can be prevented with vaccination protocols. Because of improved rabies vaccination programs for pets and better treatment for people who are bitten, rabies cases among humans in this country are rare.  The best way to prevent the spread of rabies to humans is by keeping pets properly vaccinated.

As of August 11, 2007 the State of Virginia has reported 451 cases of laboratory confirmed rabies in animals.  This number includes dogs and cats as well as wild animals like raccoons, foxes and skunks.  This number is up sixteen percent over the same time last year and I have to wonder about the cases not confirmed by laboratory testing.  I would have to hope that in light of the significant number of cases in our state that pet owners would look past the inconvenience and privacy issues and continue to help prevent this deadly disease by properly vaccinating their animals against rabies

Today’s blog was written by Dr. Angela Ivey, director of veterinary medicine at the Richmond SPCA. Dr. Ivey spent many years in private veterinary practice before joining the medical staff at the Richmond SPCA in 2004.

Doesn’t it surprise you when your sweet, fluffy kitty winds lovingly around your pant leg, purring loudly, then stretches out for a nice long yawn extending at least 8 long, sharp, needle-like claws.  Sometimes it’s hard to believe that the fur ball who snoozes in your lap also comes equipped with such protective gear.  Luckily cats are largely able to take care of their claws on their own, although they’ll need some assistance from you.

The outer layer of a cat’s claws get thick and yellow if not properly maintained by their owner.  That scratching behavior cats perform is not only for exercise it also serves a very functional purpose – it removes the outer dead layers on each claw.  So be sure to provide appropriate scratchable surfaces for your cat.  Each cat may have his or her own surface preference.  Some enjoy scratching wood with bark.  Some prefer wood covered with carpet or sisal.  Still others really tear up cardboard.  Whatever surface you want to provide your kitty should be hard, but not so hard that nails cannot penetrate.  Metal and plastic, for instance, won’t do. 

Once you’ve got your cat on a good scratching regimen, you’ll need to find a way to trim those nails.  Long, “sharpened” nails can tend to unintentionally snag things like carpet, furniture and clothes; which then invites your cat to explore further.  It’s in your best interest, to gather a few nail-clipping implements to find the set that works for you and your cat.  Some find the most convenient tool for trimming nails is human nail clippers.  Set your goal for one nail a day.  Your initial goal may even be just touching one nail each day with the clippers.  If you make it part of their daily feeding, you’ll be less inclined to forget and your cat will get lots of practice.  Your veterinarian may also be able to give you some one-on-one guidance about how to get started.  Most veterinarians are happier to discuss the nail-trimming process with you than the de-clawing option.  De-clawing is a serious step and should be reserved for last resort, desperate situations. 

Contact our Behavior Helpline if you would like to discuss solutions for problems caused by those pointy little parts of your kitty. 

Today’s blog author is Marie Tripton. Marie is the manager of the Richmond SPCA’s Behavior Helpline. Call the helpline at 643-SPCA or Marie.