Kitty is a very adventurous cat.  She is the beloved pet of American travelers, Peter and Marcia Simmons, who are hiking from Miami , Florida to Ushuaia in Argentina .  They are currently in Colombia . Kitty is often seen resting in Peters backpack as they travel.  They have set up a little umbrella on the backpack to shade Kitty from the sun.

Kitty is enjoying the trip as much as her owners. She often climbs on Peters shoulder to get a better view of the new scenery.  She is not at all shy about meeting new people.  If there was an award for the most adventurous cat, Kitty would be the purr-fect candidate.

To the world you are just one more rescue person.

To a rescued pet, you are the world.

“Until  one has loved an animal, part of their soul remains  unawakened.”

Melanie,

Well, Squirts introduction was a huge success.  He was a real Santa surprise, and Henry has declared that this was the best Christmas ever!  Here is a picture of Henry and Spot (that is his new name) relaxing on the couch on Christmas afternoon.  As I write this, they are snuggled up together again.  Our dog Jack is very happy too, he loves cats and Spot isn’t the least bit afraid of him.  It is funny to watch a 100+ pound dog wanting to love this tiny kitty.  We will be off to Dr. Goza’s this week for a shot and check-up.  Thanks again for helping us to find the perfect kitty for our family.

Best Wishes,
Leslie Garvin

The greatest way to start the year: Save A Life!   New Year’s Eve, 11am – 3pm at the Shelter.

All the shelter dogs and cats want for Christmas is your love

A lot of us probably remember the old song “All I want for Christmas is my two front teeth”. Well, most of our shelter critters have their front teeth, but for a lot of them, the thing they haven’t had for far too long is a home of their own and someone to love them.

Some of them, especially the adult kitties, have lingered at the shelter literally for months. Black cats and tabby cats always have a harder time getting adopted, as do the larger black dogs. In shelters that euthanize, these unfortunate dogs and cats are on the “short list” all too often. In our no kill shelter, they just bide their time, hoping the right person will come along.

We have some wonderful adult cats and kittens available, all at much reduced adoption prices. There is even a little family of nine week old kittens- truly “Christmas kittens”.  Also a great group of dogs, both big and small, also at low adoption prices- including some very cute terrier mixes!

There is still time to bring your family to the shelter and find just the perfect pet- one that will fill your life with love for the holidays and for years to come.

Shelter Wish List

We are very grateful to have received the wonderful donations throughout the past year from our loyal supporters. In a hard economy, you have still faithfully  arrived at the shelter with dog and cat food, and other items to help us care for the critters, and have given much-needed cash donations.

Thank you and happy holidays to everyone- we hope to see you in the year ahead.

Please join us for our Annual Meeting on January 12th!  6:00 pm at the Breakers.

Read our Annual Report for 2010:
http://beachpets.com/wrdpr/about-spchs/annual-report-2010

701 total adoptions so far in 2010!  This is the first year we’ve broken 700.

Help us make it to 745, which would mean every pet in our Shelter today has a home for the holidays!

Hi everyone who loved our cat & kitten before we did…

The flame point and tabby kitten are doing great! My daughter and I did
some shopping today and bought a little “wavy condo w/ scratching pad” and
the kitten loves to tuck inside.

The silly flame point (we haven’t decided on names yet) keeps getting into
the pet carrier we bought! And we know from the ride home that he really
doesn’t like to travel, so not sure what’s up with that! =)

We just couldn’t resist the velvety soft Petmate bed, and the flame point
is cuddled up in it right now. He keeps hinting that he wants to go
outside, but we keep saying sorry fella… you’re an indoor cat. He was
very pleased today when we brought the outside indoors with a cut
Christmas tree.

The two get along famously… the little guy was cuddled up to and
cleaning big guy’s face earlier… They even share the moist food, trading
back & forth on each side of the double dish.

We are giving and receiving love from these two critters, and we look
forward to a long and loving relationship.

Thank you for all you do for the pets on the peninsula!

Linda Lee

The Daily Astorian  is warning residents of an outbreak in raccoons of what appears to be distemper. Because raccoons and dogs are genetically related, this is the same distemper seen in dogs, and can in fact be spread from dogs to raccoons and vice-versa. They are seeing raccoons dying already, and this can be a deadly disease in dogs, also. Dogs up to date on vaccinations will get some protection, but unvaccinated dogs, as we know, are all too common in our area. This disease can be passed to the dog population through residences where people feed raccoons outside- the raccoons contaminate feeding and water bowls with their saliva; a dog sniffs or drinks from the same dishes, and is thus exposed. Those of us who have been at the shelter for a while undoubtedly remember the few cases of canine distemper we have had- it is a horrible disease; the animals suffer a lot, and even if they survive, can have permanent neurological problems. So, bottom line- everyone tell the people you know who feed raccoons to stop! It is just a matter of time before this disease might cross the river into our area. Also, it is a good time to get dogs current on vaccines, and to keep distemper in our thoughts when presented with sick dogs or dogs from this affected area.

I can’t find my Mom … so, would it be okay if I hung around with you guys for a while???

NOT SCARED OF THE “BIG GUYS” AT ALL … VERY INQUISITIVE.

AND THE HORSES  DON’T SEEM TO MIND.

THE FAWN LOOKS SO SMALL.

After the horses moved on, the doe came for her fawn.

[So, all is well, in case you were wondering.]

It all started in early July on the grounds of a palatial Dallas-area wedding chapel. On the sprawling lawn lounged a goat and a Great Dane, who were taken to the nearby East Lake Pet Orphanage.

This was no usual couple. At the orphanage, Judy the Great Dane, and Minnelli the goat, were inseparable.

“This is definitely the most unusual inter-species match-up of pets I’ve ever seen,” says Dr. Karen Fling, the veterinarian who founded the orphanage and owns the East Lake Pet Hospital that services — for free — the orphanage.

“They acted like a married couple, Judy and Minnelli are bonded at the hip. They eat together, sleep together, huddle around in a little ball and sleep together. It is very sweet.”

Media coverage of the cuddling couple caught the attention of the Dallas County sheriff’s office. In Texas, Fling soon learned, it is illegal for someone to harbor stray livestock. “This is all news to me,” Fling says. “I had no idea this law was on the books.”

Fling tried to work something out with the deputy sheriff overseeing the case. But there was nothing Fling could do as Minnelli was taken to the city animal impoundment facility, locked up with other homeless goats.

If Minnelli remained unclaimed by her owners, she’d be transferred to a town called Mexia, sold at a livestock auction for about $25, and end up as someone’s dinner. “It was heartbreaking for us,” Fling says, “to think a pet that walks on a leash, goes for walks like a dog and is a house pet could be sold to be eaten.”

However, this was no ordinary goat. Thanks to media coverage of Minnelli’s plight and the subsequent public outcry, the Dallas County Commissioner declared at a press conference: “It’s not going to be auctioned off. I’ll guarantee that.”

Soon after, Minnelli and Judy’s owners surfaced, and handed ownership of the pair to Fling. They also gave her their three-legged retriever, Lucky. “He was pining away at home,” says Fling, “missing the other two.”

Finally reunited, over 200 families inquired about adopting them. But first, the ten veterinarians at the hospital (in the same building as the orphanage) donated their time to spay, neuter, and de-worm the dogs.

After the dogs healed, Norman and Sandra Williams of Ennis, Texas adopted the trio on November 27. The “three amigos” as Sandra calls them, join her cats, dogs, horse, llama, birds, chickens, geese, and ducks on 3 acres. “They’re doing great and they’ll be happy here for the rest of their lives,” says Sandra. “They walk around like a little troop; where one goes, the others go. They just capture your heart.”

For more information on this unique pet hospital and orphanage, go to www.elpo.org or www.welovepets.net.

I wanted to send you some photos of Montana (Sophie).  She is a wonderful
dog.  She enjoys her walks and loves attention.  She spent the day at school
with me, and my fourth graders loved her.  Her sister Rubie is getting used
to her.  (Rubie is rather jealous)  They are both starting obedience classes
after Christmas.
God bless
Anne

Our Pet Pics with Santa event raised over $1,000 for SPCHS!

Some of our volunteers with Santa

This year we had two events, a “Quick Pic” event sponsored by Dennis Company and a “Portrait” event with photographic services donated by Ed Streit Images held at the Breakers.  Sondra and Jim Eaton of Divots Cafe provided a great assortment of treats for the Portrait event as participants waited for their sitting.

Pets and owners alike had a great time while supporting our local no-kill Shelter.

A big WOOF! of appreciation to all the staff, volunteers and sponsors who made this event happen, and most especially to participants who took time out of their busy holiday preparations to come and share in the fun!

To see all the photos from both events click here!