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March 2024 www.surfacecreekveterinarycenter.com 970-856-4474
SCVC Pawprint
RESCUE AND ADOPT A FELINE FRIEND A Purr-fect Match?
The idea of adopting a rescue cat can seem daunting to a busy pet owner. In honor of International Cat Rescue Day on March 2, this is a good time to take note of some worthwhile reasons to rescue animals, get them off the streets, and give them a home. An estimated 30–40 million feral cats live in communities throughout the United States. Living outdoors with no clear owner leaves these animals exposed to all kinds of risks and suffering. Also, stray felines are rising in number, leading to a 9% increase in the number of cats turned over to shelters in 2023, compared with 2021. These pet shelters are more overcrowded than they have been in years, leaving homeless cats at greater risk of catching diseases or being euthanized.
Then, switch it up. Put the rescue cat alone in a room where the other pets have been, and let the other animals enter and sniff around the room where the rescue cat has been. (Clean the litter box first, so your dogs aren’t tempted to snack on it!) Familiarity with each other’s odors will help your pets get used to each other. Expect Some Hissing. The payoff for all that effort is that your pets are more likely to get along when you finally introduce them face-to-face. There is going to be some hissing. There always is. It may take days or weeks for your furry friends to accept each other. It just depends on the animals’ personalities — just as it does with people. It’s true that some pets take years to figure out that they have to live with this interloper. But eventually, they will probably get along. Meanwhile, just try to keep an eye on them and make sure there’s no fighting. Aiding Feral Cats. If adoption isn’t practical for you, consider arranging to have feral cats in your neighborhood spayed and neutered. Look into one of the many Trap, Neuter, and Return (TNR) programs throughout the country that spay or neuter and vaccinate feral cats and then
If you are considering adopting a rescue cat, here are some tips for making the process go smoothly.
Avoiding Battles. One of the obstacles pet parents face in adopting a rescue cat is the fear that their current pets will fight with the newcomer when introduced. The best way to avoid that: Don’t introduce them right away! Instead, try a gradual, step-by-step approach.
return them to the community. Feral cats produce about 80% of the kittens born in the U.S. every year, so taking advantage of a TNR program can really help reduce the number of cats that need to be rescued. Also, spaying and neutering reduce many of the mating behaviors that get feral cats into trouble, including yowling, fighting, and roaming into traffic in search of a mate. Even if you aren’t able to provide a home for a rescue cat, you can still do alot to lower the number of poor cats living on the street!
The first thing to do is to give the rescue animal a room to themselves with a clean litter box, food, water, and a
warm bed. This gives your other cats and dogs a chance to get acquainted with the newcomer’s smells. Let them sniff under the door without visual contact while the new cat settles in for a week or two.
–Dr. Jeff
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The Best Companion
A SPRING GARDENING GUIDE 3 FURRY HEROES Grow Your Green Thumb This Spring
Sometimes, heroes come sans cape but with fur, paws, and a keen sense of smell. We’ve heard the stories of police dogs, bomb-sniffing dogs, and the German shepherd Trakr, who found the last survivor on 9/11. But even untrained pets and strays can be heroic. Meet Jack, a stray dog in New York City known for scavenging through dumpsters. One early morning, his routine search for food took a life-saving turn. Behind one of these dumpsters was a baby, wrapped in a blanket, vulnerable and alone. Instinctively and with remarkable gentleness, Jack picked up the baby in the blanket with his teeth. Whether guided by fate, an extraordinary sense of purpose, or just because it was the closest open business, Jack took the baby to the hospital. The nurses tried to shoo him away when he first ran through the sliding doors. One nurse, noticing the bundle in the dog’s mouth, was able to get close enough to retrieve the baby. Thanks to Jack, the baby received life-saving medical attention. In the 1920s, the remote town of Nome, Alaska, grappled with a deadly diphtheria epidemic. Children were dying, and the icebound city was inaccessible by plane or boat in the winter. The only way to deliver the needed antitoxins was by dog sled on the Iditarod Trail. Balto, a Siberian husky, received most of the fame, but Togo, another husky, led the team across the most treacherous part of the journey. These dogs delivered life-saving medicine in time and saved many of Nome’s children. Cats can be heroes, too, as proved by a calico cat who lived up to his name in the most unexpected way. One night in Mississippi, intruders were trying to break into a home. The house cat, Bandit, Jack, Togo, and Bandit Went Above and Beyond
Spring is in the air; the chirping birds and warm air call you outdoors. It’s the perfect time to start your garden. Even as a beginning gardener, you can find plants and flowers to bring you joy throughout the summer.
Carrots and radishes are quick, easy, and grow well in most areas. Carrots are versatile veggies great for snacking and cooking; even your dogs will love
them! They need to be planted early, though, as they take about three months to germinate. Radishes are cool-season vegetables you can start indoors and plant outside after the last frost.
Other vegetables can also be started from seed indoors in late February to early March. Try cabbage, kale, broccoli, cauliflower, onions, leeks, endive, and lettuce. Later, in mid to late March, you can start peppers, tomatoes, eggplant, Swiss chard, and tomatillos indoors. Wait to plant your seeds and seedlings in the ground until two weeks after the last frost. Some early cold-tolerant vegetables, like cabbage, broccoli, and head lettuce, can go in the ground early to mid-March. Heat-loving plants like peppers, okra, and eggplant that grow slowly can also be planted in March. Tomatoes are the stars of many gardens. It is best to wait until early April to plant them, though. They are like Goldilocks and prefer everything just right — not too cold or hot. We can’t talk about gardening without giving a few helpful tips for adding color. Plant hydrangea, aster, pansy, sweet peas, garden mums, and Oriental lilies in the spring to invite pollinators and provide blooming color throughout the summer. Spring bulbs, like crocus and daffodils, are the first to bloom. Sometimes, they will even bloom when there is a bit of snow on the ground. But it is best to plant bulbs in the fall so they have time to settle in their roots.
sensed the danger and sprang into action. The cat’s relentless scratching and tugging at its owner’s
blanket finally woke him. Then Bandit led his human downstairs to discover the attempted break-in, which also scared away the intruders. Bandit proved that size and species don’t matter in heroism.
In moments of crisis, these four-legged heroes rose to the occasion, not for glory or reward but out of pure love and loyalty. They are potent reminders of the courage and selflessness that animals are capable of.
A gardener’s best friend is the USDA Hardiness Zone Map. Since most states include three different growing zones, it is a handy resource to choose the best plants for your area. The website at PlantHardiness.ars.usda.gov has a wealth of information, including tips for easy maintenance. So, grab your gloves, get your seeds, and enjoy watching your garden grow!
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CANINE CONNECTIONS Dogs Dream, Just Like We Do The age-old question of whether animals dream has intrigued pet owners and scientists alike. While it’s impossible to directly ask our furry friend about their nocturnal adventures, there is evidence to suggest that dogs do experience dreams. Brain Structure
movements are proof that dogs are immersed in a
dream. These behavioral similarities between dogs and humans suggest that they also have a unique subconscious full of thoughts, memories, and images. Dreams and Nightmares
One key factor supporting the idea that dogs dream is their brain structure. It’s incredibly similar to humans! Like us, dogs have a well-developed cerebral cortex. This outer layer of the brain is responsible for conscious thought, sensory perception, and dreaming. In fact, the brain activity of sleeping dogs, as observed in studies using electroencephalogram (EEG) recordings, bears a strong resemblance to the patterns seen in humans during R.E.M. This phase is where we experience vivid dreaming produced by heightened brain activity and rapid movement of the eyes. Dogs experience R.E.M. after about 20 minutes of sleep. Small dogs cycle through dreams incredibly quickly, with 60-second-long dreams every 10 minutes, while large dogs have dreams that last up to five minutes with an hour of dreamless sleep in between. Sleeping Behavior Outside of the more scientific side, simply observing a dog can offer clues. Have you ever noticed your furry friend twitching, whimpering, shaking their tail, or even paddling their paws in their sleep? These physical
While many believe that what dogs dream about is a mystery, evidence strongly suggests that they do in fact dream about their usual doggy days. The next time you catch your fur baby in the midst of a particularly lively dream sequence, remember that they’re probably just dreaming about chasing after their favorite toy, enjoying their favorite walking route, or even playing fetch in a park their subconscious has built. But just as humans have nightmares, unfortunately, so do dogs. If your dog is aggressively behaving through their sleep, they may be having a nightmare, but don’t shake them awake. They may nip you in confusion. Softly call their name until they awaken, then wait until they settle themselves. They’ll be alright after a cuddle. Understanding that your dog dreams through the night can help you worry less about their movement in their sleep and otherwise appreciate how similar they are to you. Man’s best friend is just as big of a dreamer as we are.
New SCVC Policies • At the time of scheduling a dental or surgery appointment, a $250 deposit will be required. This deposit will be applied to the procedure bill. If you need to cancel the appointment, and you give us at least 24-hour notice, the deposit will be refunded. • Due to the increasing cost of credit card processing, there is now a 3% service charge added to all clinic services and products. If paying with cash, check, or PIN debit, there is no charge.
Clien th ts e SWpr o e r a d ding
Sally Hernandez Stacey Person Wendy Olson Kent Clampitt Paul Bauer Leisa Wood Judy Weaver Cordell Futrell
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Saving Lives, One Meow at a Time inside this issue
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3 Pet Hero Stories
Bring Color and Joy to Your Garden
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Question Corner: Do Dogs Dream?
Thanks for the Referrals!
New SCVC Policies
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The Basic Element of Survival: A Campfire
HOW TO BUILD THIS SURVIVAL ESSENTIAL The Art of the Campfire
Few things are better than sitting in the warm glow of a campfire. Besides creating incredible memories, campfires can be necessary for survival situations. A campfire can be life-saving if you’re stranded or just camping in a snowy winter forest. Everyone needs to know how to create a fire, especially if you’re regularly outdoors. Pick the Spot You’ve got your spot if you’re at a campsite with a fire pit. Otherwise, make sure the area isn’t too dry. Look for cracks in the soil, dried-up riverbeds, and shriveled foliage. Ensure no shrubs, tents, or anything flammable is within 15 feet of your chosen spot. Gather the Materials It’s time to build the fire. For safety, always have a bucket of water or sand and a shovel if things get out of hand. You’ll need a match, a lighter, and different materials to start the burn and keep the fire going. While you could chop wood with a hatchet, we assume you’re collecting your fire materials from the surrounding area. There are three types of material you’ll need.
Make sure all of your wood is fairly dry, or it won’t light properly and will throw smoke everywhere. Light the Fire There are many ways to create a fire, but we’ll use the “crisscross” method.
1. Form a base of tinder. 2. Build and form the kindling across the tinder in an X pattern. 3. Use your match or lighter to ignite the tinder. 4. Blow on the base of the fire to keep the tinder burning. 5. Once it starts, add more kindling to grow the fire. 6. Add more kindling, then arrange your larger pieces of wood in a pyramid shape. When you’re no longer using the fire, put it out. Use water to cool every ember, as even one can start a wildfire. If you don’t have water to spare water, cover it with dirt or sand. Congratulations, now you know how to light a campfire. The next steps are learning to create pits or experimenting with other stacking styles. You can even make delicious campfire dishes using foil packets. Your options are endless.
• Tinder : Dry leaves, grass, or pine needles. • Kindling: Small sticks less than 1 inch in diameter. • Fuel: Large and thick pieces of wood.
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