Summer 2011 Newsletter

ALLEY CAT ALLIES

By Mariah Forster Olson

Wag Street Journal

Inside this issue:

Dog and Cats of the Season 2

Calendar of Events, Wish List,

Happy Tails

Volunteer of the Season

3

4

Happy Tails—Jake,

General Information

5

Rainbow Bridge, Amazing

Pet Cures

6

Happy Tails—Casey,

Zeus’ Story

7

Zeus Story—Conclusion,

Feline Separation Anxiety

8

Tips for Caring for Orphan

Kittens, Donation Form

9

La Crescent Animal Rescue

President

David Fanning: [email protected]

—————————————————————————-

Board of Directors

Lina Fanning: [email protected]

Robin Miller: [email protected]

Jane Mrozek: [email protected]

Mariah Forster Olson: [email protected]

Terry Schleifer: [email protected]

A Qua r t e r ly News le t t e r f r om La C r e s cen t An ima l Rescue

Summer Issue 2011

Volume 2, Issue 2

Mission Statement: To provide consis-

tent and compassionate care to stray

and homeless dogs and cats in the La

Crescent area.

Primary Goal: To provide care for stray

and homeless cats and dogs, spay and

neuter them, and find suitable foster

and permanent homes for them.

Alley Cat Allies is an organization that advocates for cats, especially feral and stray cats, and

it was created by Becky Robinson in 1991 to help and protect cats. One way that this organi-

zation helps cats is by promoting the “Trap-Neuter-Return” approach for stabilizing feral

colonies. Generally, Animal Control will use the “catch and kill” method, and although this

has been the traditional method, it is inhumane and cruel. Also, it is not effective because it

creates a “vacuum effect,” which is when “other cats move into that same area, and they

start using all of the available resources.” Then, they breed and form a new colony. There-

fore, the “catch and kill” approach is a never-ending, costly cycle, and it is more beneficial to

use the “Trap-Neuter-Return” approach with the feral cat population. The kittens and the

cats that are socialized are brought to Shelters for adoption, and the healthy feral cats are

spayed/neutered and vaccinated before they are returned to the colony. Many organiza-

tions will provide some long-term care for these colonies, such as delivering food, providing

vet care if needed, and by vaccinating the feral cats. The “Trap-Neuter-Return” approach

improves the lives of the cats in the colonies, kittens are no longer born, and the population

will stabilize. Furthermore, the very noisy yowling and fighting that takes place when the

cats are mating will no longer occur!

Alley Cat Allies promotes five easy tips for living with feral cats and colonies:

- Talk to your neighbors to determine if a cat is a pet, a stray, or if it is feral.

Also, check to see if the animal has been neutered or spayed. If they are

not, get it done!

- Apply non-toxic deterrents around your yard.

- Put a tight lid on your trash can.

- Block gaps in the foundations of all sheds and outbuildings.

- Use a car cover.

**Information is from the organization, Alley Cat Allies. Visit www.alleycat.org for more information.

DOG OF THE SEASON—BEAR


Bear is the Dog of the Season for the Summer issue of the newsletter, and if you

would like a “gentle giant” to join your family, he is the dog for you! This beautiful dog

came to us as a stray, and he was in very rough shape because he was strictly kept out-

doors. Furthermore, he had hardly any socialization or human contact, so Bear was

fearful at first, but he never was anything but gentle and sweet. As a result of his for-

mer life living outdoors, Bear contracted Lyme Disease, so the Shelter is currently treat-

ing him for it.

This dog is a 6-7 year old Rottweiler and Husky mix, and even though he is a larger

dog, Bear is very sweet and laid back. Bear enjoys long walks, but he is also happy to

just sit or lay by you and rest. Bear responds very well to training and correction, and

he is an extremely intelligent dog that would love to be assigned a job or something that he can regularly do for you

in his new home! The ideal home for Bear would be a moderately active home, and we prefer that he be the only pet

in the home because he gets a bit moody, standoffish, and annoyed with other animals. However, his current foster

home does have a cat, and the two animals respect one another’s space and tolerate each other. Therefore, if some-

one is willing to work with Bear closely and regularly, it may be possible for him to be in a home with additional pets.

Please consider making this gorgeous, sweet, and gentle dog a member of your home. Contact the Shelter at 507-

895-2066 to schedule an appointment to meet Bear!!

We need a very special owner for two amazing cats that have recently been

through an incredible tragedy. Josie, a female tortie, and Beau, an orange and

white male, are short-haired cats who are 7 years old, and they have been

declawed, spayed and neutered, and very well taken care of by their previous

owner. However, their owner recently had a stroke and had to be moved into a nursing home, so this poor owner

had to give up Josie and Beau. Additionally, these poor cats were uprooted from their only home and owner, and

they were brought to La Crescent Animal Rescue.

Josie and Beau are kind, sweet, loving and cuddly, but they are having a difficult time adjusting to life at the

Shelter with so many other cats, so we need to get them adopted soon! Josie has adjusted quite a bit better than

Beau. When you enter the enclosure, Josie is sure to greet you and tell you her

life story! She does enjoy being pet, and may follow you around and continue

to “talk.” However, her brother, Beau, is having a more difficult time adjusting.

If you want to locate him in the enclosure, he is usually sleeping and “hiding”

under a crate cover. He will let you pet him, but he seems unhappy being in

the Shelter with so many other cats!

LAR is insistent that Josie and Beau be adopted together because we cannot

separate them! These two cats have been with each other since birth, and

spent 7 years together in a home with a loving owner. They have been

through a terrible tragedy when they lost their owner, and then they had to

acclimate to the Shelter with so many other cats. That is a shock to the system, and we think that they need one

another to get through this transitional period, as well as another one when they get adopted and go to their new

home. Remember, we do have a “buy one cat, get one cat for free” special that can be used to adopt Josie and

Beau – only $50 will get you both Josie AND Beau! So, please visit the Shelter today and consider opening up your

hearts to Josie and Beau, who are really in need of a loving owner to help them through their recent tragedy and

heartbreak.

BEAU

JOSIE

BEAR

CATS OF THE SEASON—JOSIE and BEAU


Page 2

Page 3

Saturday, June 4, 11, 18 Adoptions Event at Petco from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

(1231 Crossing Meadows Drive in Onalaska, WI)

Tuesday, June 7 Monthly LAR Meeting at 6:30, La Crescent Public Library

Conference Room

Saturday, July 2, 16, 30 Adoptions Event at Petco from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

Tuesday, July 5 Monthly LAR Meeting at 6:30, La Crescent Public Library

Conference Room

Tuesday, August 2 Monthly LAR Meeting at 6:30, La Crescent Public Library

Conference Room

Saturday, August 6, 13, 27 Adoptions Event at Petco from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

Saturday, September 3, 10, 24 Adoptions Event at Petco from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

Tuesday, September 6 Monthly LAR Meeting at 6:30, La Crescent Public Library

Conference Room

Thank you to those who adopted the following animals—We wish you the best of luck!!!

Cats: Amani ~ Apache ~ BJ ~ Bojangles ~ Checkers and Forest ~ Churchill ~ Cinders ~ Clouds and Annabel ~

Dewey ~ Elmer ~ Emmy ~ Fang (Now Oscar) ~ Han Solo ~ Huey ~ Ice Cream Sandwich (Now Isabelle) ~

Jamaica ~ Maci ~ Magic ~ Mara and Cheetah ~ Marble and Bella ~ Mary Jane ~ Moose ~ Morgan ~ Nala ~

Nelson ~ Oliver and Aaron ~ Pandora ~ Paws ~ Phantom ~ Princess Leia ~ Reeses and Colby ~ Reggie and

Triscuit ~ Sammy ~ Sonic ~ Sophie ~ Turkey Anne (Now Lucy) ~ Twinkie ~ Wayne ~ Zorra

Dogs: Casey ~ Chance ~ Dodger ~ Ebony ~ Frankie ~ Jake ~ Marley ~ Murphy ~ Sadie ~ Willie ~ Zeus

La Crescent Animal Rescue is solely operated through fundraisers, donations, and volunteers. Below is a list of items that the

organization needs, and any donations from this list would be greatly appreciated! If you have any questions, please feel

free to call us at 507-895-2066, or e-mail us at: [email protected]. Please send or drop off donations to: La

Crescent Animal Rescue, 523 South Chestnut Street in La Crescent, MN 55947. In addition, please include your name, ad-

dress, e-mail address, and telephone number with your donation. If you include this information, we will send you a receipt

and a thank you for your kind donation!

**Monetary donations ~ Gift cards to Petco, PetSmart, Woodman’s, and Farm & Fleet ~ “Yesterday’s News” cat

litter and scoopable cat litter ~ Stainless steel bowls (all sizes) ~ KRM—Kitten Replacement Milk and kitten bottles ~ Cat

treats/catnip ~ Dog treats—knuckle beef bones, nyla bones, pigs ears, Kongs (large and extra large), Kong Fillers ~ Cat toys

and dog toys (no stuffing for dog toys) ~ Dog leashes (regular only) and dog collars (small to extra-large) ~ Cat beds and large

dog beds ~ Heating pads ~ Natural/Organic cat and dog food, both dry and canned ~ Dish soap ~ Laundry detergent and fab-

ric softener sheets ~ Bleach ~ Mops ~ Rubber gloves (latex-free) ~ Paper towels ~ Plastic trash bags ~ Printer paper ~ Kodak

printer ink (10b and 10c) ~ 6-Foot Ladder ~ Maytag or Kenmore Top-Loading Commercial Grade Washing Machine and Dryer

~ FOSTER FAMILIES ~ VOLUNTEERS!!!

WISH LIST

VOLUNTEER OF THE SEASON—MARIAH FORSTER OLSON

By Gavin Ree

The true strength of a volunteer is found not within their hardened muscles, but within their softened heart.

Volunteers are a special group of people with an unsurpassed passion for giving. They are

unyielding in their selflessness, and are driven by a sincere and deep love for their cause. To

truly witness the depth of these statements, we simply need to turn our attention to this is-

sue’s Volunteer of the Season: Mariah Forster Olson.

You might recognize Mariah’s name. In addition to her other responsibilities with La Cres-

cent Animal Rescue (LAR), Mariah writes for, compiles, edits, and publishes this very docu-

ment in which we honor her and share her story! When several of Mariah’s peers requested

(actually, insisted) that her story be told, it was quite comical that our ever so humble Mariah

responded with “I can’t write that!” (No worries, Mariah – we’ve got this covered.)

Mariah is not new to loving and caring deeply for homeless animals. In 2007 and 2008,

Mariah volunteered for the Winona Area Humane Society. After moving to La Crosse, she

came to LAR where she pampers our animals with affection, works with our cats, compiles

our Wag Street Journal, is finalizing our policies and procedures, composes the Pet of the

Week articles, and serves on the LAR Board of Directors. Mariah received both her B.S. and

Master’s degrees from the University of Wisconsin - La Crosse, and she also attended a semester of law school. In her

role as a Director, Mariah brings forth numerous ideas for improving the operation of our shelter. It is her desire that

she can apply her education, as well as her passion, to the betterment of the shelter’s operations, the care of our ani-

mals, and our interaction with the public. While she has many ideas, both in progress and for the future, Mariah is

firmly committed to the success of the shelter and its mission of consistent, compassionate care for all animals.

Volunteering is difficult work even for the most able bodied person. For Mariah, her work at the shelter is an even

greater challenge. At the age of one, Mariah was diagnosed with a Neuroblastoma (a cancer of the nervous system).

Having endured two long years of experimental treatments, thankfully, Mariah remains cancer-free today. The treat-

ments, however, have left her with multiple secondary medical effects. Among other devastating effects, Mariah suf-

fers from chronic and severe upper and lower back pain. You won’t hear her complain about it, though. She’ll endure

excruciating pain and exhaustion to put other’s needs first. While it would be understandable for one to harden their

heart to such a fate, what you see in Mariah is something quite the opposite.

Mariah’s strength lies undeniably within her softened heart. Her love for all animals is eternal and immeasurable.

You can see it in her eyes, as tears fall for an animal that has been abused. You can notice it in her touch, as she gently

strokes a seriously ill animal. You can hear it in her voice, as she comforts an animal that is timid or frightened. Many

of us have witnessed this multiple times. Mariah can feel their pain as strongly as she can feel her own. It is quite

natural for Mariah to seek out animals that are struggling and need the endless supply of love that she offers. Her re-

ward is seeing animals adopted into a loving family and witnessing the bonds that are formed when animal and human

connect. Her favorite adoption story is a heart warming tale of a small boy, his very own money, and a cat named Tur-

key Ann (now Lucy) who fell in love with this boy, and him with her. The bond was immediate and extraordinary, and a

touching reminder of why we do what we do.

With such a deep love, comes deep emotional pain. Not long ago, Mariah’s cat of 17 years, Dolce, was laid to rest.

This was quite literally the worst day of Mariah’s life. Shortly after, Mariah adopted a small kitten, Dante, who suddenly

became ill and subsequently passed within a mere week’s time. There will always be two large pieces of Mariah’s heart

missing, but there is plenty of that enormous heart left! Mariah’s life is full, happy and complete as you read this. In

addition to the love and support from her family and friends, her own home is filled with the love and understanding of

her amazing husband, Troy, and her adorable feline children. Isaac is Mariah’s exceedingly handsome and playful Sia-

mese, and Holly is her very sweet, shy, and beautiful long-haired Maine Coon. Both were adopted from LAR, and with

the touch only a real mother can provide, they have been nurtured into the most amazing cats. They are her babies!

Just ask her who the cutest cats in the world are. I’m pretty sure she knows!

Mariah, we raise our Pepsi cans to yours with a toast: The work you do is not often easy, and there is much to be

done. You are the epitome of selfless giving from a pure heart. On behalf of the animals and your LAR family, from our

hearts - touched by yours, our sincere appreciation goes out to you for all you do. It is with honor we choose you as

our Volunteer of the Season! (Now, please sit down and take a break, will ya?)

Page 4

Jake has a heartbreaking story and has had a difficult journey in his life so far, but there is also a beautiful ending.

Originally, Jake came to our Shelter as a 6-month old puppy because his owner was going to euthanize him. A family

did adopt Jake, but a tragic accident occurred. (It seems like Jake may have some “cat” in him because he certainly

seems to have 9 lives!) Jake had been riding in a truck with his family when he accidentally opened an electric win-

dow and fell out of it! As if falling out of the window was not bad enough, he then got ran over by the truck! Jake

suffered some minor injuries, but the most devastating injury was to his front leg. The veterinarian said that Jake had

severe nerve damage and he would be unable to use that leg. Thus, the veterinarian determined that Jake would

need to have the leg amputated, which would be a very expensive and extensive surgery. However, these dogs usu-

ally adjust beautifully to having three legs! His owners were unable to pay for the surgery, so Jake was returned to

the Shelter. Prior to his surgery, Jake was in such severe pain with his leg that it was not uncommon for him to cry

out in pain. However, the fundraising efforts were highly successful, and we are so grateful to the public for their

generous donations. We actually received financial help from people throughout the United States, and one of the

cutest donations came from a pre-school class who was studying the letter “D” for dog! Luckily for Jake, we received

the money needed for the surgery so swiftly that we were able to schedule it immediately so that we could relieve

Jake’s pain! Jake had his operation, and the veterinarian had to remove Jake’s front leg all the way up to the shoul-

der! However, the surgery was a success with no complications!

Jake is an incredible and inspirational animal, and he is also a very happy dog who loves everyone and everything!!

He loves to cuddle, but he also is highly energetic, bouncy, and just simply happy to be alive. These characteristics

helped Jake to recover amazingly well from the amputation, and his foster mother said that he has done beautifully

adjusting to not having a front leg. He even is able to go up stairs, and turn around on the stairs to go in the opposite

direction! Also, the best possible news is that Jake has a new forever home – his foster family has decided to keep

him! We are thrilled that Jake has been adopted by the people that nurtured him back to health, and Jake continues

improving and is simply a normal dog…well, a normal dog that has three legs!

Page 5

La Crescent Animal Rescue-General Information

Address: 523 South Chestnut Street, La Crescent, MN 55947

(Across the Highway from Leidel’s Apple Stand)

Phone Number: 507-895-2066

Email: [email protected]

Website: www.LaCrescentAnimalRescue.blogspot.com

Shelter Hours

Monday/Wednesday/Friday 12:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.

Saturday 10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.

Sunday 12:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.

**All other days and times by appointment only.**

HAPPY TAILS – JAKE


I received a “teaser” in the mail for a book called “Amazing Pet Cures” by Joey Green, and the book consists of 1,130

“wacky pet cures that actually work!” Below are some of the ideas from the book, but you will need to purchase it

for even more ideas!

Common Pet Ailments:

Soothe back pain with Uncle Ben’s Rice and a sock - the heating pad boosts circulation and speeds up the healing

process

Stop itching with SueBee Honey - it absorbs moisture, smothers mites, and relieves reddened skin.

Spritz paws with Pam Cooking Spray to keep snow off the dog’s pads, and to keep the carpet from getting wet.

Speed up the healing of cuts and scratches with Bag Balm.

Stop Bad Behavior

Stop your pet from chewing furniture with Old Spice – pets dislike the smell!

Keep your cat from digging up houseplants with Maxwell House Coffee – they dislike the smell!

Dealing with Smells

Eliminate urine odors on your carpet with Smirnoff Vodka

Deodorize your dog with Arm & Hammer Baking Soda.

Carpet stains vanish with Pampers - the diaper’s superabsorbent polymer flakes will suck the stain up.

Grooming Tricks

If your pet is shedding, wipe them down with a Huggies Baby Wipe.

Brush your pets’ teeth using McCormick Garlic Powder with the toothpaste because dog and cats love garlic.

Also, Uncle Ben’s Whole Grain Brown Rice aids in digestion and keeps breath fresher.

Johnson’s Baby Shampoo provides a gentle bath that will not hurt their eyes. Also, add Mrs. Stewart’s Liquid

Bluing to the rinse water to brighten white pet fur.

Give your pet’s coat a stunning shine with Lewis Labs Brewer’s Yeast.

Detangle a cat’s matted hair with Kingsford’s Corn Starch.

Add Orville Redenbacher’s Original Popcorn or Post Grape-Nuts Flakes to your dog’s diet for a low-calorie snack

with a high fiber intake that will improve digestion and facilitate weight loss.

Page 6

OVER THE RAINBOW BRIDGE

Author Unknown

Just this side of heaven is a place called Rainbow Bridge. When an animal dies that has been especially close to some-

one here, that pet goes to Rainbow Bridge… and when you and your special friend finally meet, you cling together in

joyous reunion, never to be parted again. The happy kisses rain upon your face; your hands again caress the beloved

head, and you look once more into the trusting eyes of your pet, so long gone from your life, but never absent from

your heart. Then you cross the Rainbow Bridge together…

We fondly remember…

Lightning * Lily * Molly * Tigger * Ursula

“AMAZING PET CURES”


During the winter of 2011, a call came in about a dog living in unhealthy conditions on a farm. Members of

LAR found a very thin, but a very handsome white and gray husky that was tied to a tree in the backyard of a

house. He was whimpering and starving for attention, and he was wagging his tail in excitement. All that Zeus

wanted was food, water, and some love and attention. The dog house and living conditions where Zeus re-

sided was not up to code, there was no food or water, and the dog was painfully thin. Zeus’ owner admitted

that she did not feed Zeus regularly, she never walked or provided exercise for him, and he was rarely allowed

inside the house. His owner said that she loved Zeus, and she signed him over to LAR.

Zeus was set up in a kennel at the Shelter, and he was further examined. In addition to being incredibly underweight and having

some oral health problems, Zeus was amazingly in good health. We soon learned, however, that Zeus was not too keen on Shelter life

in an indoor kennel, which made sense since he had spent the first eight years of his life outdoors. Over the few months that Zeus was

at the Shelter, he injured himself trying to break out of the kennel, he chewed on the wood trim, and he even damaged a few door

knobs. (Huskies are notorious for their escape skills!) A kind of volunteer, who is a Husky-lover, fostered Zeus a few times a week, and

he learned from many new experiences.

Zeus was adopted after three months of being at the Shelter, and his new forever home had another dog for him to play with and

have as a companion! Karla got a progress report from Zeus’ new mother about how well he was doing. The two dogs were getting

along fantastically, and Zeus had finally stopped pacing and being so nervous indoors. He was growing fond of his new, luxurious life-

style and things could not get any better! Then, not long after the progress report, Karla received a devastating telephone call…

Zeus was outside enjoying a nice day in his electronically fenced-in yard when his instincts kicked in. As stated earlier, Huskies are

natural escape artists, but they also tend to have a prey drive, and both of these traits contributed to what happened next. Zeus some-

how escaped from his yard and ran onto the neighbor’s property toward some chickens that resided there. Unfortunately, the owner

was home and he was very upset about Zeus being near his livestock. In the county that Zeus’ family lived in, it is legal to shoot any

animal, domestic or wild, if it comes onto your property and kills your livestock. So, the neighbor did just that – he saw Zeus, grabbed

his gun, and he shot and killed Zeus with a single bullet. (Zeus was found with feathers in his mouth, but it is unknown to us if he actu-

ally killed a chicken.) The neighbor then proceeded to call Zeus’ owner and he informed her that she needed to come get her dog be-

cause he had shot him and did not want the dead body in his yard. Naturally, Zeus’ owner was in shock and she felt absolutely

devastated and extremely guilty. Zeus was killed for following his breed’s instincts. (Continued on Page 8)

HAPPY TAILS – CASEY By Mariah Forster Olson

Page 7

Found on a road in Houston with her two puppies and a male companion, Casey,

a purebred English Springer Spaniel around 3 years old, stole the hearts of volun-

teers with her brown, puppy dog eyes and quiet, sweet demeanor! The owner of

these dogs chose to surrender all of them to the Shelter because the two adult dogs

tested positive for heartworms, and he could not afford to pay for the treatments.

Sadly, Cody, the male dog, suffered tremendously from severe heartworm disease,

as well as multiple tick-borne diseases, so he had to be humanely euthanized. Casey, however, had a treatable form of

heartworm disease, but the treatments are very expensive and can be extremely difficult for the dog to go through them!

Thanks to the generosity of the public, we were able to treat Casey and create “Casey’s Fund,” which was developed to not

only raise money to treat her heartworm disease, but also to raise money for future medical expenses for any animal at

LAR.

Casey was put into a foster home with one of our volunteers, so that she could get her treatments and live in a quiet

home to help with her recovery. Although heartworm treatments are typically difficult for a dog, Casey has been a pillar of

strength and has responded tremendously to the treatments! There were times when you could hardly tell that she was

going through these difficult treatments! The vet clinic kept on top of her pain with the use of pain pills so well, that at

times it was difficult to keep Casey still and calm! There have been a few setbacks, such as vomiting and diarrhea. Addi-

tionally, into the 5th

week of her treatment, lines were found on Casey’s lungs, which could indicate the presence of heart-

worms. She was put back on medication to prevent any further problems! Casey will not be completely out of the woods

until she has a blood test in six months to check for heartworms, but she continues to improve daily with her good-

natured, calm, and gentle attitude. The fact that this dog had been so sick and is now doing so much better is such a relief

to the Shelter volunteers who fell in love with her. Casey enjoys car rides, short walks, and looking out the window, and

her energy level is steadily increasing! We also received some wonderful news – Casey has been adopted and now has a

forever home and a new name – Annie. So, this truly is a “Happy Tails” story.

ZEUS’ STORY By Amber Cordes and Mariah Forster Olson

It is generally common knowledge that dogs can have separation anxiety, but few people

know that this can also occur with cats because they are social creatures and can form

strong bonds. According to Cat World1, separation anxiety “occurs in some cats when they

have a particularly close bond with their owner. It may be the result of genetics and breed

disposition, or their individual personality, or as a result of being hand-reared from an early

age.” There are a few signs to look for if you suspect that your cat is suffering from separa-

tion anxiety. For example, your cat may follow you from room to room when you are home.

If you are leaving, a cat with separation anxiety may either sulk or hide, or will put itself be-

tween you and the door. When you are gone, a cat with separation anxiety may not eat if

they are alone, they may vomit, or they could excessively groom. There are also additional behaviors that are a bit

more severe, and this would include: vocalizing after the owner leaves, inappropriate urination or defecation, and de-

struction by either chewing or scratching. If you suspect a more severe form of separation anxiety, you should take

your cat to the veterinarian.

Drs. Foster and Smith suggest the following tips on dealing with feline separation anxiety: 2

Make the time as low key as possible when you are planning on leaving

Leave a distracting or a favorite toy for your cat when you leave.

Make the cat’s environment as stimulating as possible, by providing, for example: climbing ledges, carpeted

towers with attached toys, or a window perch.

Anti-anxiety medications can be used in more extreme cases.

Drs. Foster and Smith suggest the Feliway Comfort Zone Plug-In, which releases harmless chemicals called

friendly pheromones, and some cats naturally calm down around them.

Non-Prescription, oral products can also help, such as Rescue Remedy or Serene-Um, which are natural herbal

formulas that can calm a cat with separation anxiety for 1-2 hours. However, with these products, as

well as the other ideas, you may have to experiment to see what works for your cat!

Due to my medical issues, I am home a LOT with my cats, but when I do have to leave, I get the look that says,

“Please don’t leave us!” One of my cats will try to leave with me, and there are some other qualities that they will ex-

hibit. I think that my cats have a mild form of separation anxiety, but their mommy also has separation anxiety and

feels horrible about leaving! I miss them when I am gone, but it is a wonderful feeling when I come home and both of

them are waiting for me, and they are so excited to see me! So, not only dog and cats suffer from separation anxiety,

but their human owners may as well!

References:

1 Cat World. http://www.cat-world.com.au/separation-anxiety-in-cats Accessed on May 29, 2011.

2 Foster, Dr. Race. “Dealing with Your Cats Separation Anxiety.” Drs. Foster and Smith Catalogue.

...Continued from Page 7…

To make this incident even worse is the fact that this type of incident occurs every day. Additionally, the man that shot and

killed Zeus cannot even be punished because the law is on his side! We can only hope that with enough support, love, and atten-

tion, this is a law that can be changed. There are so many other alternatives to try before going to the extreme of death. For ex-

ample, the neighbor could have talked to Zeus’ owner and told her that he had come over and bothered his livestock. The owner

then could have taken more precautions so that Zeus could not leave the property. Also, why did the neighbor “shoot to kill”? He

could have slightly injured Zeus instead, and that certainly would have deterred him in the future.

Zeus was an incredible dog with an unbelievable gift of forgiveness. He did not hold a grudge toward humans for how terrible

his life was before coming to LAR, and he showed nothing but love and gratitude toward anyone who gave him attention. Zeus’

story will be one that we will remember and if there is a silver lining, it is that Zeus got at least three fantastic months where he

was fed, played with, cared for, and loved. Remember that LAR can make a difference in the life of an animal, and those animals

possess an amazing ability to forgive and forget. Any act of kindness toward an animal is important. Most importantly, though,

remember Zeus and his life, but also remember his death and the part of the law that allowed it. Hopefully, Zeus did not die in

vain, and maybe someday we could work toward repealing or amending the law that contributed to Zeus’ death.

FELINE SEPARATION ANXIETY


Page 8

La Crescent Animal Rescue (LAR) is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization. The group consists of a small number of volunteers, who

take in and care for stray and abandoned animals. The organization pays for all the veterinary care, food, and supplies for these

animals. To date, LAR has rescued and placed over 500 dogs and cats into permanent homes. Now that the organization has an

actual shelter, they have received even more animals needing basic care and medical attention. Therefore, La Crescent Animal

Rescue is in need of financial support to help pay for the cost of caring for the animals. If you are able to help with a monetary

donation, you can choose the desired amount or fill in your own. We greatly appreciate any help!

Please circle or fill in your monetary donation.

$20 $50 $75 $100 $250 $500 $1,000 $____________

Name: _______________________________________________

Address: _______________________________________________

City: _____________________________

State: _____________________________ Zip Code: ______________

Phone: _____________________________

E-Mail: _____________________________

Would you like a receipt sent to you? Yes No (circle one)

Would you like our quarterly newsletter e-mailed to you? Yes No (circle one)

Thank you for your support! Page 9

How do you keep them warm: Your first priority is to keep the kittens warm, says Carrie Johnston, a

Doctor of Veterinary Medicine or DVM, who has 16 years of experience in bottle-feeding kitten or-

phans. She stresses that because kittens cannot shiver for the first seven to 10 days of life, warmth is a

kitten's most immediate need, and it is even more critical than food. You can make a warm nursery by

placing a box halfway on a heating pad. Cover the nesting area with a towel or a light blanket, which

should maintain kittens' body temperatures at 101° F to 102° F. If you put the pad inside the box, make

sure the kittens cannot come into direct contact with the pad. The box should be large enough for the

kittens to crawl off the pad if they become too warm. Monitor the heat closely!

How do you feed kittens?: Orphan kittens need to be bottle fed every two to three hours, both day and night. The kittens should

eat a “kitten milk replacement,” which you can buy at a pet store, and you will need at least one small bottle. The product comes

in either powder form that you mix with water, or you can buy the liquid form in a can, which is only good for 24 hours after it has

been opened. Thus, the powder form is more economical. Never give kittens regular "cow milk" because it makes them sick and it

is not rich enough. To feed the kitten, always rest him or her on the stomach (never on the back!), and insert the nipple into the

mouth. Slowly pull up and forward on the bottle so that the kitten will nurse with his head extended and slightly elevated. Watch

the level of the formula - if the level remains constant, either the nipple is blocked or the hole is too small. Make sure that the

neck of the bottle remains filled with milk so that the kitten is not sucking air. Formula spewing out of the kitten's nose means the

hole is too big. If this happens, hold the kitten upside down until he stops coughing. When their eyes open, which is around two

weeks of age, you can start offering canned kitten food mixed with the milk replacer. They may not eat it right away, but they will

start to play in the milk, lick it off each other, and learn that it is food. Keep nursing them through this period of learning. When

the kittens are about three and one-half weeks old, I stop feeding them at night, but I do feed them before bed and when they first

wake up. When the kittens are five to six weeks old, they should be eating regular kitten food, so the babies should be weaned

from milk by this age.

How do you help the kitten go to the bathroom?: You have to act like the mama cat, and babies need to be stimulated to go to

the bathroom. So, you will need to moisten a cotton ball with warm water and gently stroke the anal and genital areas after feed-

ing. Once they have gone to the bathroom, clean the anal and genital areas. A kitten that is younger than 14 days generally cannot

go to the bathroom unless they are stimulated, so you will have to provide this unpleasant, but absolutely necessary, function until

you notice that the kittens are going to the bathroom on their own.

Overall, the whole process of feeding and caring for orphaned kittens will certainly be very rewarding, and by using these tips, you

will be able to comfortably and successfully care for orphaned kittens. 1http://www.acfacat.com/orphan_kittens.htm

2http://www.acfacat.com/orphan_kittens.htm

3http://www.suite101.com/content/howtoraiseorphankittens-a953

TIPS ON CARING FOR ORPHANED KITTENS By Heather Sayers

Documents

Summer 2011 Newsletter