SECOND GLANCES

Quarterly Newsletter Summer 2004 Issue Number 10 Second Chance Animal Sanctuaries PO Box 293 Wellsboro, PA 16901 570-724-7919 570-724-4077

Unemployment May Reach 60%

    Our issue is not from the Toothpick Growers Association or the Lobbyists for Higher Petroleum Costs for Consumers. The issue is the number one social problem for dogs. Case in point...look at your dog, any neighbor's dog, or better yet, let's look at mine. Lily and Autumn do not have to work for food unless you consider soulful eye expressions work. I feed them the "proper amounts" of good quality food, then give in to their eyes and share my treats, snacks and main courses with them. They still consider any moveable bag or kitchen door an invitation for more dining. 
    They are, to twist a phrase, unemployed. In nature they would be predatory meat eaters, physically and intellectually challenged workers and if successfully employed... consumers. This same employment, catching and chewing the meat would satisfy their hunger, exercise their jaws, clean their teeth and gums, and release tons of energy and anxieties.
    The unemployment we foster with our pets can result in serious behavior issues that include excessive barking, destructive chewing, boredom, soiling, digging, and separation anxieties. Hmmmm. These issues are the same ones that result in over half of the dogs being placed in shelters! Coincidence....probably not.
    Before running to the Better Employment Bureau closest to you, consider the following. What can you do to provide mental and physical stimulation for your friend? After all, you are their best friend too! Could you and your pet enroll in a training class together? Although hiring someone to become the "prey" for an afternoon is not advisable, placing the food in places more challenging, such as in a tube or under a bowl is more engaging. Commercial toys such as a Kong Blue which can be filled with goodies such as peanut butter, canned food, etc. also employ the mind, spirit and body.
    Whichever combination you employ to end your dog's unemployment I would not recommend preparing an enticing treat, placing it on the floor, and planting your body above it. I tried this with Lily and Autumn and found they were employed for thirty-six minutes. They licked, pawed, pushed, collapsed their weight on me and eventually shoved until the treat popped from underneath. I in turn was employed showering, adding muscle ointment and nearly taping my sides from a severe case of chronic laughing due to their combined antics.

A Dog's Bill of Rights  1.  I want one fresh bone each day for dessert. I       promise not to bury it in the flowerbed.  2.  I want clean water in a clean dish twice a day.  3.  I want a draftless place to sleep.  4.  I want a collar that doesn't choke me and         isn't too loose to catch my ears.  5.  I want a quiet place in the basement on the       Fourth of July.  6.  I want everybody to softly reprimand those         who throw stones at me or twist my ears.  7.  I want folks to believe in my wagging tail and        pleading eyes.   8.  I want folks to remember that I do with my       mouth what most folks do with their hands.  9.  I want to be treated kindly just as I treat       children and those in distress. 10. I want to be considered as one of the family,       for I will give up my life to protect them.

Glancing Back ... Looking Ahead

    As summer is once again upon us, we feel blessed at the support that continues to grow as people renew their faith in our mission and join in our cause. We have been very busy receiving calls from numerous people who for one reason or another need to relinquish a pet, or have found themselves the caretakers of a *dropped off* litter of kittens, a stray dog, or an expectant feline mother. As these calls come in our hearts are saddened, but we continue to make every attempt to find homes. The local SPCA and Four Paws Rescue continue to be our allies in our goal. They refer people to us and we call upon them for guidance and references. At times it seems like an endless journey, but each time we successfully place a wonderful animal into a nurturing home, the heartaches, stress and endless hours of making contacts makes it all worthwhile. Some of our recent heartening tales are included in this issue of our newsletter.
    Our fundraising festival season is upon us, and our immediate plans are to appear at the Mansfield July 4th celebration as well as the Bluegrass Festival on July 10th. At these festivals we sell homemade pet-related crafts, dog and cat biscuits, as well as provide educational materials, gather more memberships, and network with people who are interested in fostering, adopting, or volunteering in any way to assist us in our cause. 
    The elementary schools in Wellsboro have become very generous supporters of animal welfare. In May the kindergarten classes at Charlotte Lappla Elementary School participated in a major project where each child created an original book about animals and sold them to parents and friends. The generous proceeds from this fundraiser will assist us in caring for animals currently in foster care. The Don Gill Elementary School faculty donated several months* worth of proceeds from their *Dress Down Days* to us as well. These monies are earmarked for use in our humane education program for children, which will be initiated in the schools in the fall. 
    Our Grandpaws and Coins for Critters programs continue to assist those who need transportation or financial assistance with veterinary costs. More information on these programs can be found on our website. The feral cat colony that we are assisting has yielded numerous spayed/neutered cats as well as several adoptions the past few months. This project, though labor intensive for the woman maintaining the colony, has been a big success in eliminating the growth in numbers of homeless animals. 
    We are always open to suggestions, advice and any other tidbits that would assist us in operating efficiently and successfully. Please feel free to Email us or call me at (570) 724-7919 if you are willing to donate crafts, bake biscuits, foster an animal in need, offer suggestions or sponsor a future newsletter. It is through our communication with others that we more successfully achieve our goals. 

Sue Cook, President

With our Sincerest Appreciation

Everybody's Buddy Is Rewarded With A Great Family

    When a family became homeless it sent out a distress signal trying to find a home for a wonderful black lab named Buddy. After contacting "Perfect Match" the family was forced to leave Buddy with two wonderful campground owners who watched over him until a permanent caring home could be located. 

    Sue Cook, who spearheads the Perfect Match program and does much of the phone and legwork for the program, after exhausting her contact lists, shared Buddy's plight with a coworker. Despite already having a family pet, her family discussed Buddy and immediately said they would open their doors to him. Soon the family drove the distance to the campground and met Buddy.

    A week later we met Buddy at the Pennsylvania Laurel Festival. He was being hugged by the two children and was showered with praise from the parents. He already had his spot in the family car, a bed with the young boy and a very secure place in their hearts.

Divorce Isn't Final

    A lady, following a recent divorce, discovered that she couldn't care for her Jack Russell Terrier. She called Perfect Match pleading for a home for her terrier. By chance another woman from a nearby town was looking for a smaller companion dog. The phone matches were arranged and the two women met. Much to the delight of both, the terrier has a new secure caring home and possibly the two women have found new friendships.

Five Feral Kittens Now "Not Homeless"

A member of Second Chance Animal Sanctuaries and her husband are dedicated to the humane yet consuming responsibility for caring for a feral cat colony. Cats have been trapped and treated, spayed and neutered, housed in their "wild zones" and fed. Recently a female had five kittens, which were soon offered increased human companionship. The five kittens have now been adopted to good homes...hopefully far away from the perils of the feral colony lives given their parents. Five cheers to the kittens and five cheers to the wonderful work being done by Kasey and her husband.

Note: This feral colony is being sponsored by Second Chance Animal Sanctuaries and your support. We assist in the feeding and medical care. The journals that are kept will help us learn more and more on assisting feral animals in their plights.

Second Chances'  Perfect Matches program and its network of caring people would like to share some recent wonderful stories that enlighten the mind and warm the soul.  If you would like to join their efforts as a foster friend, contact or matchmaker, we invite you to contact us at 570-724-7919, visit us at http://secondchancesas.tripod.com or  E-mail us at secondchanceas@yahoo.com

Some Summer Tips

( An excerpt from our July Paw Prints Column published monthly  in The Wellsboro Gazette)

    This month we would like to mention a few simple remedies to beat this summer's heat.
    Water of course is one of your pet*s basic necessities for summer comfort. When leaving your pet outdoors it is recommended that you place at least two bowls of water within his/her reach in case one bowl gets upset. A real treat for your pet is to have dripping water from a spigot. This keeps the water cool and fresh. To really pamper your dog fill a small wading pool with several inches of water and let your dog take a cool dip.
    If you have an outdoor dog with a doghouse you should use a thermometer to check the temperature inside the doghouse during the hottest part of the day or when the sun strikes it the most. If the temperature rises above what would feel comfortable to you then you should move it to a more sheltered, cooler spot during the summer months.
    Another summertime consideration is to schedule walking your dog at cooler times of the day (not a bad idea for yourself either). Also, when exercising you dog in the heat of summer slow the pace down, especially when you see your pet beginning to pant. Pets sometimes don't know their limits when playing in the sun.
    Haircuts sometimes hurt more than help to keep your pet cool. You pet*s fur insulates it from the heat so just give it a trim.
    Don't be alarmed if your dog or cat eats less on hot summer days. During long, hot and uncomfortable periods you night try feeding it during the cooler parts of the day. Don't leave the food out long enough to spoil. If your pet has a good water supply this is a good time to feed it only dry food that it can eat anytime it*s hungry.
    One last thing---yes, even your dog or cat can get sunburned, and repeated sunburns can cause skin cancer, especially white or fair-skinned pets. Applying sunscreens of SPF 15 or higher on your pet's ears, nose and other pink surfaces will help. They do make sunscreens for your pet but usually 'people' ones work just as well. However, be careful of applying anything than contains zinc or PABA. If your pet licks off the sunscreen these ingredients may be toxic!
    Following the above tips should help your pet enjoy the summertime.

Needed .....  caring homes for these two young gentlemen !