BCSP Report – Week 4
January 20-26, 2014 (written by Marilyn Neville)
Surely we all have enjoyed licking an ice cream cone. The yummy cream is somewhat soft and if it is a hot day, you best lick quick. Lick that same cone outside when it is 20 degrees. It is not as enjoyable, at least not to me, and it is harder to lick.
Have you ever licked a 2-cup stick of ice to quench your thirst? Just like the ice cream, on a hot day it will melt but not quickly enough for you to quench a thirst. This is an exercise I would like to ask all of the pet and livestock owners to do who think that a pail, trough, or pond of ice is good enough for their dogs, cats, or livestock to thrive.
Several years ago I called a family who had poultry for sale. I was given directions and an appointment was made for noon. As I drove down into the yard I saw dead sheep, goats and their babies lying about. There was a pond that was grayish in color like a cesspool of frozen filth. I wondered if the owner thought the death was normal, that they didn’t see the tragedy for what it was.
The yard was full of exotics and poultry. Possibly the dead animals were because they were old or had gotten sick, however, the cattle, calves, hogs, and the baby lambs were shelly thin. Did this family think it was normal for their animals to look like that?
One of their dogs was chained and had no pail for water within its reach, not even in eye-shot.
I paid for the geese and asked for the dog thinking he did not want it since he was not caring for it. Then I offered to purchase the dog to no avail.
That yard’s memory continues to haunt me…
So let’s get back to that 2-cup stick of ice you are licking. Have you made a dent in it yet? I suspect your tongue is uncomfortably cold. Keep licking while you finish reading today’s Stray Report.
Pets and livestock need plenty of food to maintain their body temp. Your pets and livestock eat dry kibble or hay and grain. Those dry foods require water for transportation, proper digestion, and to move the food down the intestine.
Water enables a chemical reaction to occur which results in proteins and carbohydrates to become absorbed and usable by the body.
If they haven’t been de- wormed they especially need lots of liquid and food because besides feeding themselves they are feeding their parasite hosts. If pregnant or nursing they need double to triple their normal food and water intake.
They need water to help regulate the body’s temperature. About 70% of the body is liquid. That liquid holds body heat to keep you warm. It also cools you on a hot day by perspiring.
Water serves as a lubricant such as saliva. It also is a component of the fluid surrounding joints. Water is in the brain, spinal cord, and in the eyes for proper function. The layers of water also provide protection and a cushion in those vulnerable areas to protect from shock and trauma.
A dehydrated person can suffer from delusions and now you know why.
I have seen the sunken and dry eyes of many dehydrated dogs and cats. Generally it takes two days for a pet to rejuvenate, to get its energy back after severe dehydration.
A body gets colder in winter when dehydrated. Water is an important agent in regulating body temperature. It helps the body store heat and it is a nutrient used in the process of perspiration even in winter, which is a way to help cool a cattle dog working cattle or a hound chasing a rabbit.
A good supply of water helps every function of the body from breathing, muscle movement, digestion, and even elimination.
We are experiencing another cold streak and pails of water will freeze to a solid block. Your kenneled or tethered dogs totally depend on you to give them liquid water and sufficient food and shelter.
So did licking that stick satisfy you? How much energy did it take to finish the 2-cup block? Was it enjoyable like that ice cream cone in the summer?
Those who want their pets and livestock to maintain life on a block of ice keep playing this game. No hot coffee, cold soda, no nothing but frozen blocks of ice 24/7, and to be fair, you must lick it outside where it is as cold as the ice.
I bet when you give that pet a drink of liquid water they will drink with appreciation for your kindness.
Accepted strays and relinquished dogs:
… Border Collie / Lab male, 10 months to a yr old, long black coat with white legs and chest: 17 yr old Zalma boy brought him home from the Border Collie mother’s owner, without asking his family if it was ok to add another dog. Dog grew up and there really was no place to keep him.
… Black / white tuxedo male kitten: was going to be shot. Licks your hand, a lover boy.
Adoptions, return to owner or placed in other rescues:
… Blue Eyed Dandy Dane, Aussie mixed with a giant breed: went to Memphis home who has a 9-month old purebred Great Dane.
… Dr. Ruth: red Weimaraner and Lab type mix female pup: Central Iowa family adopted her as a surprise for his wife. He is in car sales.
… Lori Teller: Maltese and Poodle mix 8-wk old puppy, went to repeat adopter from St. Louis, works in a hospital.
… Four kittens: Zalma foster fell in love with the kittens who are now about 8 months of age.
Cat calls:
… FREE, ten cats: age 1 year, all spayed or neutered house cats, litter trained. Well cared for, call 573-495-2033
… Three long hair tabby kittens: one dark tabby semi long, a white with tabby, and a black tabby with white, age 6 months, spayed. Call 573-495-2033
Calls requesting assistance for dogs we did not admit:
… We are fostering three dogs from the Patton area whose disabled owner’s home burnt down. Still waiting for them to contact me if they want to relinquish or when they can take them back. Owner: please call me at 573-722-3035.
… FOUND 1/6/14, 4 miles on 72 towards Patton: Chocolate type Brindle, Lab type coat, possible Catahoula, 60 pound area, intact male, taken to the Humane Society in Cape.
Miscellaneous and contact info:
We had 45 dogs at our home 1/27/14.
Please give your pet shelter with 4 sides and a roof, liquid water and food to maintain body weight and heat in this cold. Shelter needs proper bedding to keep pets warm.
Please do the following when you pets are expecting or caring for a litter: offer any pregnant dog small-breed-puppy-food the final 1-2 weeks before delivery and while the pups are nursing. Give those mothers all the food they want: bowls full all day and lots of fresh water available all day. Cats need kitten food. Free feed the higher calorie food during the nursing stage to help mom make milk and maintain her own body mass. Babies need to be dewormed as young as 1-2 weeks, then every 7-10 days until age 10-weeks or older if in a confined environment with re-infestation concerns.
Please report animal abuse and discourage anyone from dumping dogs or puppies.
Offer strays water on day one and food day two or three. Call if missing a dog or you have a stray.
If you suspect an animal is being neglected or abused, call the Humane Society of Missouri Animal Cruelty Hotline, 314-647-4400 or 800-383-9835 or you can make a confidential report on line at Humane Society of Missouri.
To understand when an animal is being abused or neglected in the state of Missouri read the following link:http://asci.uvm.edu/equine/law/cruelty/mo_cruel.htm
We LOVE Buchheits! Donate a buck or more at the Jackson store for dog food and supplies when you shop. Also, Second Time Around in Marble Hill is taking donations for the Stray Project. Monetary donations are accepted at the Bollinger County Veterinary Service, Marble Hill Coop, Buchheits, and the MH Town and Country.
Thank you to the County Residents who have continued to support the Bollinger County Stray Project.
Check out our available pets at Petfinder. Call 573-722-3035 about our adoptable pets.
