Dear Lord, Please make me the person, that my dog thinks I am....

We are committed to fighting animal cruelty. Many animals in our community need your help. You can help save a life today. Learn how you can prevent cruelty by understanding the facts behind animal cruelty, what constitutes cruelty and neglect, and how you can report animal cruelty in your neighborhood. Know your state's animal cruelty laws and get involved in helping us lobby for animal welfare. Together, we can make a difference for all animals.

Saratoga County Animal Shelter
check here for free rabies clinics dates

The Capital District Humane Association(CDHA) is in need of temporary foster and adoptive homes for dogs & cats. Food & Medical Care paid by CDHA.
Help Save A Life.

For more information call 518-664-1237 or go to our website at
www.cdha.net

Why Pets Shed and How to Keep Fur From Flying

Shedding may be a big hairy deal, but it is normal. Floating fur increases the challenge of keeping just-washed apparel a Fido-free zone. Unless you're a passionate pet lover who considers pet hair to be a condiment, understanding how to tame the hairy mess will keep your pet's coat and skin healthy and simplify housecleaning.

Why Pets Shed
It's not the temperature that prompts shedding. Light exposure, either to sun or artificial light, determines the amount and timing. More hair is shed during the greatest exposure to light. Outdoor cats and dogs living in the northeastern United States shed with the seasons, with the most fur flying in late spring for the several weeks during which daylight increases. But house pets under constant exposure to artificial light shed all year long.

Hair grows in cycles beginning with a period of rapid growth in the spring, followed by slower growth, and then ending in a winter resting stage. Mature hairs loosen in the follicles over the winter. In the spring, another cycle of hair growth begins, and new hair pushes the old loose ones out, resulting in an all-over shed.

Furry Offenders
All cats and dogs shed -- even shorthair pets -- but some breeds prompt more aggravation. The so-called "non-shedding" curly coated dogs like poodles just have much longer fur-growing seasons in which hair continuously grows for years at a time. They tend not to lose huge amounts of hair all at once. Shed hairs get caught and held in curly coats so shedding isn't as obviously left on the furniture.

Shorthair pets shed just as much, but the tiny hairs don't create furry drifts. "Double coated" shedding German shepherds, chows, and Persian cats may look moth-eaten when they shed clumps of fur at a time.

Mats, Hairballs & Hotspots
Thickly furred pets develop mats when fur is trapped and tangled next to the skin. Mats are terrific flea habitat and create bruises. Dogs also can develop painful hot spots -- a moist bacterial skin infection -- from mats. Hairballs develop when the dog or cat swallows shed fur during self-grooming.

6 Tips for Controlling The Shed
You can't stop shedding, but you can reduce the aggravation to yourself and health risks to your pet.

Groom every day. Religious fur care prevents problems and keeps skin and coats healthy. Make sure you groom outside or in an area easy to clean, or you'll deal with a furry tornado inside the house.

Choose good tools. EZ-Groomer is a cheap, light weight, claw-shaped tool that works well to break up established mats and to pull off shed fur. The pricier Furminator won't work on mats, but the close-fitting teeth pull off 80 percent of loose fur. A standard comb, or curry or pin brush also works.

Pet away fur. For shorthaired pets that hate grooming but love petting, try rubber-nubbed grooming "gloves." Or slip the foot-end of old pantyhose over your hand and pet to pull off shed fuzz.

Target problem areas. Pay particular attention to mat-prone areas behind the pet's ears, beneath his tail, and in the "arm pits" and groin regions. Longhair cats also develop tummy mats.

Take your time. There is no rule that says you must comb or brush the entire pet at one setting. Space it out over several hours or days. Most dogs and cats have "sweet spots" they love to have scratched, so finish on the cat's cheeks or the dog's chest. End each session with a favorite treat or game so your cat or dog identifies grooming with good things.

Ask a pro. If you aren't able to manage grooming yourself, have it professionally done by a groomer or veterinarian. "Lion cuts" that shave wooly pets for the summer can prevent problem mats or hotspots.

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Shelters: Join our National Shelter Directory! Submit and/or edit your information here.

Organizations listed in this database are not accredited, inspected or endorsed by the ASPCA; they are provided to you simply as an informational resource.
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Pet Emergencies
click here

Luv My Pet
Low cost vaccination
518-453-9025

Bark Avenue Pet Grooming
772 State Rt. 50
Burnt Hills, New York
518-399-7387
WE HAVE WARM HEARTS FOR COLD NOSES
WWW.BARKAVENUEFORPETS.COM

TheShaggyDogParlour
1 Lake Hill Road,
Ballston Spa, NY 12019
518-399-2307
A Fish is a fish. A bird is a bird.
A dog is a PERSON!

Snip 'N' Drip
Pet Salon & Spa
Traditional Grooming* Specialized Baths to Suit Your Pet's Needs* Spa Treatments & Hot Oil Treatments* Nails Clipped & Filed* Premium Pet Food & Supplies*
24 Vley Road, Scotia
518-374019

Mid-Atlantic Great Dane Rescue League
A non-profit organization dedicated to helping Great Danes find loving homes they deserve.
For more info go to www.magdrl.org or call
518-875-6816

Listing of Protective Shelters:
Animal Protective Foundation at
53 Maple Ave. in Scotia or meet pets online at www.animalprotective.org call 374-3944 for more info.
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Hope Animal Rescue 428-2994 or visit us online at www.hopeanimalrescue.org pets are featured at The Pampered Pooch, 3136 Rt. 50 Ballston Spa
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Peppertree Rescue Inc. P O Box 2396 Albany, NY 12020-0396 518-435-7425 For more info on available dogs and adoption clinics visit www.peppertree.org
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Saratoga County Animal Shelter
6010 Country Farm Road
Ballston Spa, NY 12020 www.saratogacountyshelter.org
885-4113
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Whiskers Animals
Benevolent League
www.ewhiskers.com
448-9565

Flea Activity

No matter how hard you may try to avoid them, fleas are an inevitable part of owning a dog or cat. You can, however, take precautions to protect your pet from these pesky parasites by knowing when flea season begins for your area.

The map below shows typical nationwide activity, based on weather conditions in which fleas are known to thrive. Remember: fleas can survive indoors during colder months, so it's important for you to consult your veterinarian about treatment.

ASPCA

(Click on the ASPCA icon below for more info)

The ASPCA provides national programs in animal welfare information, education and advocacy. Independent community animal shelters are not affiliated with the ASPCA, but often provide local services such as rescue, cruelty investigations and adoptions. Please use our searchable database of nearly 5,000 community SPCAs, humane societies and animal control organizations to find an animal shelter in your area.

PET POISON ...

Based on Pet Poison Helplines , here are the top 10 most common toxins of 2010 that Pet Poison Helpline gets called about. Now keep in mind that some of these listed are very toxic, while some are minimally toxic (like ant baits and silica packs). When in doubt, call your vet or Pet Poison Helpline to make sure there won't be a problem. Now that you've seen this list, take special care to keep these out of your pet's reach and pet-proof your house!

DOGS:
1 Chocolate
2 Insect bait stations
3 Rodenticides (i.e., mouse and rat poison)
4 Fertilizers
5 Xylitol-containing products (i.e., sugar-free gums and candies)
6 Ibuprofen (Advil® or Motrin® in brand name or generic form)
7 Acetaminophen (Tyleno®l in brand name or generic form)
8 Silica gel packs
9 Amphetamines, such as ADD/ADHD drugs
10 Household cleaners

CATS:
1 Lilies
2 Canine permethrin insecticides (topical flea and tick medicine designed for dogs but
erroneously placed on cats)
3 Household cleaners
4 Rodenticides
5 Paints and varnishes
6 Veterinary non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications (Rimadyl®, Deramaxx®)
7 Glow sticks/glow jewelry
8 Amphetamines (such as ADD/ADHD drugs)
9 Acetaminophen (Tylenol® in brand name or generic form)
10 Ibuprofen (Advil or Motrin® in brand name or generic form)

If you suspect your pet has ingested any of these items or any other questionable substance, call a poison Helpline or your veterinarian for assistance. Accurate and timely identification of the suspected substance is very important. Having the container, package, or label in hand will save valuable time and may save the life of your pet. ...

Keeping Our Pets Safe
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During natural disasters like hurricanes, fires, floods, tornadoes, etc., people are often asked to evacuate from their homes. A few years ago when parts of Long Island, NY were threatened by a hurricane, many residents refused to evacuate without their pets because Red Cross disaster shelters do not accept pets (except service animals) because of health and safety regulations.

Pet Safe will help keep families and their companion animals together by assisting with sheltering, feeding and identifying pets.

Please sign this petition

Pet Petition