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April 25th: Pet Parents Day!

For all the poop they’ve scooped and the treats they’ve given, Pet Parent’s Day on Sunday, April 25, celebrates those who lovingly consider their pets part of the family. Veterinary Pet Insurance Co. (VPI), the nation’s oldest and largest provider of pet health insurance, commemorates the occasion by offering free customizable Pet Parent’s Day e-cards on its Facebook page, and donating up to $10,000 to One Dog Rescue, a non-profit organization dedicated to rescuing old, sick and forgotten pets who are looking for pet parents of their own.

Throughout the month of April, visitors to VPI’s Facebook page can customize a free Pet Parent’s Day e-card to send to their pet loving friends. Visitors can select among creative and fun dog, cat, bird and exotic pet illustrations, or upload a photo of their favorite furry friend. Senders will also be able to compose a personalized message on each e-card to pet parent recipients. Both senders and recipients can share the finished Pet Parent’s Day e-card with family and friends on Facebook.

Additionally, VPI will donate $5 (up to $10,000) to One Dog Rescue for every pet insurance quote generated at PetParentsDay.com during the month of April. One Dog Rescue is a non-profit organization dedicated to rescuing old, sick, injured and forgotten pets, many of whom are on the short list to be euthanized.

“For many people, pets are part of the family,” said Curtis Steinhoff, director of corporate communications for VPI. “Over the years, pets have gone from the backyard, to the living room, to many times getting their own space in the bedroom with us. The human-animal bond has never been stronger, and we feel it is important to set aside a day to recognize the special commitment made by pet parents.”

About Veterinary Pet Insurance
With more than 485,000 pets insured nationwide, Veterinary Pet Insurance Co./DVM Insurance Agency is the No. 1 veterinarian-recommended pet health insurance company and is a member of the Nationwide Insurance family of companies. Providing pet owners with peace of mind since 1982, the company is committed to being the trusted choice of America’s pet lovers and an advocate of pet health education. VPI Pet Insurance plans cover dogs, cats, birds and exotic pets for multiple medical problems and conditions relating to accidents, illnesses and injuries. Optional CareGuard® coverage is available for routine care. Medical plans are available in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. More than 2,700 companies nationwide offer VPI Pet Insurance as an employee benefit. Policies are underwritten by Veterinary Pet Insurance Company in California and in all other states by National Casualty Company, an A+15 rated company in Madison, Wisconsin. Pet owners can find VPI Pet Insurance on Facebook or follow @VPI on Twitter. For more information about VPI Pet Insurance, call 800-USA-PETS (800-872-7387) or visit petinsurance.com.


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No-Kill Manatee – November Update

By Jean Peelen

Some great news!  State Senator Michael Bennett of Bradenton is introducing a bill to have the entire State of Florida become no-kill.  He is basing his effort and the legislation on Manatee County’s commitment to no-kill.  We can be so proud of ourselves.  We are the leaders in the State of Florida. Hurray Manatee County!

And here at home, no-kill Manatee is rolling on.  We have both progressed and stumbled along the way, but we keep moving forward.  In September, 55% of the dogs and cats that came into Animal Services were either adopted, turned over to rescue groups, or kept alive at Animal Services.  Our goal, by December 2012, is to have a 90% saved rate.

In October, our saved rate went up to 68%.  That’s an amazing improvement and well beyond the 2% per month we were expecting.  We don’t imagine that the rate of keep ‘em alive will continue so dramatically.  Adoptions are up, particularly by Animal Services directly, and up a little by other rescues and shelters.  Partly the jump in the numbers is due to holding more animals – not killing them.  Of course we can’t continue to do that.

To keep our numbers moving positively:

  • We have to help the rescue groups and shelters to take more Animal Services dogs and cats.  We can do this by enrolling more and more people in fostering animals until they can be adopted.
  • We have to increase the number of rescue groups that pull dogs and cats from Animal Services, and particularly ones that will take large dogs and pit mixes.  .This basically is a research project.
  • We have to have volunteers who will contact rescue groups to take particular dogs and cats.  We haven’t quite figured out the logistics of this task yet.

A very exciting new part of marketing our dogs more effectively is that a group of about 14 professional photographers are going to Animals Services regularly to take attractive photos of our dogs.  I’ve seen the first pictures and they are great!  Just imagine a grinning put bull on a pink velvet chair with pearls on her neck.  Very wonderful.  These photos will be posted on the Manatee County Animals Services Web site, but also on www.petfinder.com, and on BradentonDog.com.

We are doing a lot of thinking about how to deal with what we call “community cats.”  These are cats that are not feral, but also don’t seem to belong any more to a particular home.  When someone complains, and these cats are brought in, it is extremely rare that their owners come to get them.  They have been being killed at a high rate.  Right now, our program for so-called feral cats is to trap them, neuter them, return them to their colonies, and feed them.  In time, the colonies get smaller because the cats are neutered.  We are thinking about the possibility of doing something similar with non-feral cats. It would seem to me that almost anything would be preferable to death.  It’s going to take some considering.

And one more thing.  On Nov. 5, I attended the grand opening of Honor Sanctuary’s Dog Ranch.  You must come see it for yourself.  It is located at 5401 Lorraine Road, Bradenton.  Honor rescues and shelters dogs (and a few cats) there.  They have built (and are continuing to build) absolutely adorable cottages for their animals.  The dogs are housed five or six to a cottage, each with a separate wire run with a comfy bed in it – sometimes with quilts.  Each run has a doggie door to private outside runs.

The dogs living in these conditions are calm, non-stressed, even happy.  They are friendly and quiet – no hysterical barking.  As you might guess, this also makes them much more attractive for adoption.  I was so impressed by the vision involved in creating this shelter that is so totally different than any I’ve ever visited.  Kudos to Honor Animal Rescue for the wonderful place they have created.

So that’s the report for October.  Come aboard.  Adopt a pet or foster a pet.  We love snow bird fostering, so don’t let that stop you.  If you are interested in fostering, call me, Jean Peelen, at 941-896-5827, or write to me at [email protected].

And come meet me and talk about fostering.  I will be at Canine Christmas, November 19, at Bishop Animal Shelter on 51st St. W across from Blake Hospital.  I’ll be staffing the no-kill booth!  Come by and say hello.

 

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Progress on the LongBoat Key Dog Beach

On Thursday last week, a full house at LongBoat Key Town Hall prompted Commissioners to take a serious look at the need to designate a portion of the beach as dog-friendly.  A committee has been formed to study the possibilities pro and con and suggest possible solutions.  Two of the seven Commissioners will serve on the Committee providing insight to local ordinances and protocol.

According to PetTravel.com, more than 30 million people traveled with their pet last year.  One must make the assumption that when those people are planning their vacations they are looking for dog friendly communities.  Yes, these are mostly people traveling with dogs, only 2% of cat lovers travel with their kitties and a the number is slightly smaller for bird and reptile fans.

Sarasota and Bradenton dog lovers must now drive to Venice’s Brohard Park to enjoy the beach with their pup.  A LBK option would provide a nice alternative and an infusion of new customers to dog friendly businesses on LongBoat Key.

The prospect of a dog-friendly destination beach on LongBoat Key is now a real possibility, but it is far from done.  Your support is still needed.  You can stay tuned to this web site for more information,  and you may send your letters of support to [email protected].

If you are on LongBoat Key right now, and looking for a dog-friendly park, check out the Joan M. Durant Park at 5550 Gulf of Mexico Drive.  There is no beach access but it’s a gorgeous walk and dogs are welcome.

 

 

 

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Dogs on LongBoat Key Beach

ON THURSDAY OCTOBER 20, 2011 AT 1:00 PM. THE LONGBOAT KEY COMMISSION WILL HEAR AND DISCUSS A REQUEST FROM A GROUP OF CITIZENS FOR THE DESIGNATION OF A SMALL PORTION OF OUR BEACH TO BE DOG FRIENDLY. LBK TOWN HALL IS LOCATED AT 501 BAY ISLAND ROAD ON LONGBOAT.

IT IS IMPORTANT FOR THE COMMISSION TO SEE THAT THERE IS COMMUNITY SUPPORT FOR THIS INITIATIVE AND YOUR PRESENCE WILL GREATLY INCREASE OUR CHANCES OF SUCCESS.

THE REQUEST TO THE TOWN WILL INCLUDE:

* A PORTION OF THE BEACH TO BE DESIGNATED DOG FRIENDLY
* ALL DOGS SHOULD BE UNDER TOTAL CONTROL OF THEIR OWNERS AT ALL TIMES
* ALL PET WASTE TO BE PICKED UP AND DISPOSED OF IN PROPER CONTAINERS
* DOGS PROHIBITED FROM BEACH USE BETWEEN THE HOURS OF 9 A.M. AND 6 P.M.
* ALL WILDLIFE, BIRDS AND TURTLES MUST BE PROTECTED AT ALL TIMES
* ALL OTHER TOWN ORDINANCES GOVERNING BEACHES REMAIN IN EFFECT.

ALSO UP FOR DISCUSSION IS CITIZEN’S WATCHDOG GROUP WHICH WILL HELP TO KEEP THE AREA CLEAN AND HELP BOTH RESIDENTS AND VISITORS TO UNDERSTAND THE RULES. ALSO, WE MIGHT OFFER A CITIZENS GROUP TO HELP FUND SIGNAGE, A RULES AND REGULATION BROCHURE, AND ANIMAL RESIDUE STATIONS. WE NEED PEOPLE TO ATTEND TO SHOW THAT THE PUBLIC SUPPORTS THIS INITIATIVE! IF YOU’VE EVER THOUGHT – WOULDN’T IT BE GREAT IF WE COULD BRING OUR DOGS TO LONGBOAT, NOW IS THE TIME TO LET THE COMMISSIONERS KNOW!

CAN MAKE IT? YOU CAN STILL LET YOUR VOICE BE HEARD BY SENDING AN EMAIL TO
[email protected].

QUESTIONS? EMAIL – [email protected]

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The Natural Wag!

Just in case you’ve not heard about it. . .there’s a party tomorrow – Saturday October 15th for dogs and their people at 665 South Orange Ave in Sarasota . . .The Natural Wag!

Come out and join us for a day of food, fun, giveaways, mini-seminars, doggie massage and The Dog Trick and Talent Show!

From 9am to 2pm. All you have to do is wag naturally!

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Manatee Animal Services offers specials in September

Manatee County Animal Services offers ‘long overdue’ special for pet adoptions throughout September.

Throughout September Manatee County Animal Services will offer adoption specials on all dogs and cats that have been at the shelter 30 days or longer.

Dogs that have been at the shelter a month or more can be adopted for $30, a $50 savings off the regular adoption fee of $80. Cats can be adopted for $10, normally priced at $60.

“We have a large selection of dogs and cats,” said Animal Services Chief Kris Weiskopf. “Help us help the animals by adopting today. ”

This adoption special is another step in the County’s plan to become a no-kill community.

The special is available at both Animal Services locations: in Palmetto, 305 25th St. W. (open Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.) and in Bradenton, 1002 B., Manatee Ave. W., (open Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.). Preview available animals by visiting www.mymanatee.org/pets
For more information, call (941) 742-5933.