Newsletter 4 | Dog Shelter News
SOCIALISING DOGS
I can’t help feeling that in some ways this is the most important element that volunteers can add to the shelter, but it remains the least well developed. While we have had a few new people coming and going and helping out over the winter, there are few people going regularly to the shelter to actually work with the dogs. I think it is an essential part of helping to get a dog re-homed. The dog who doesn’t run and hide when approached by new people, and who knows how to walk on a lead and looks presentable, is definitely the dog most likely to be taken home Please contact me if you want to visit the shelter or have any ideas about how we can encourage more people to visit regularly. The more people going in and out to help, the better for all.
FUNDRAISING
I am pleased to say we have had a number of small donations that has enabled us to improve the shelter fencing as planned. We have also had several donations of dog food – gratefully eaten by the dogs! A special thanks to Tierfhilfe Montenegro for a whopping 320 kg of dried food, and to Garfield Pet Shop in Tivat for their helpful prices.
Our priorities for this year are:
We plan to hold at least 4 fundraising events in 2015, kicked off on 24th February by a great quiz night hosted by the ClubHouse bar in Porto Montenegro. Many thanks to Jane Murphy and Knightsbridge school for helping to organize and promote the event, which raised an amazing total of 695 euros that will go towards further shelter improvements
Watch out for news of the next event – a spring fun run being organised by pupils at Knightsbridge school.
SHELTER IMPROVEMENTS
We are doing incredibly well with the new improvements, having been able to complete all that we planned in 2014. Since the last newsletter we have completed a new fenced corridor
though the middle, and a new double gate at the back entrance. We have also set up two heat lamps so that small or sick dogs can be placed under a warm cozy glow, essential in the winter. Many thanks to Carrie for donating them, and Michael for helping to set these up, as well as for his regular help with routine maintenance over the winter. However – there is still much to do!
Our plans for 2015 include:
A new fence to split the large compound into two, to allow more dogs to run outside for longer periods of time
Providing more sheltered/shaded areas outside
Improved quarantine area
On a grander scale we are hoping to produce a concept design for a much improved facility overall, including new kennel and quarantine blocks, and to bid for funds to build this. If any architects among you would like to help, please get in touch!!
HAPPY ENDINGS & NIKKI'S TIPS
by Nikki Steele
Wee Sandy
Wee sandy was a skinny bag of bones when taken from the shelter by Nikki and Kevin. It took them a few visits to decide on a companion, but wee sandy is now settling well into her new home and adapting to new routines of regular food, grooming, walking, playing and
loving as clearly shown in the picture. Is it Kevin who wore Sandy out I
wonder, or vice versa??!!
Having brought home our gorgeous Sandy from the dog shelter in January 2015, I decided to do some research to ensure we gave her the best care possible, and
I found some tips that I would like to share. We are currently using these methods with no adverse reactions and with the co-operation of our vet (these
guys did not study all those years for nothing!).On Sandy’s first visit to the vet, two days after bringing her home, the vet found that she had fleas, he also suspected worms based on her skinny frame and weight of 5.2 kilos. He administered the appropriate treatments. These ailments are very common when taking a dog from a shelter. Since then we have implemented the following tips into Sandy’s daily routine:
PUMPKIN SEEDS (sjemenke bundeve). Every morning I sprinkle 1 teaspoon of ground raw pumpkin seed onto Sandy’s food. Ensure you use the green, raw seeds, not the salted ones available in the supermarkets. These seeds are known to work as an effective deworming tool against many intestinal parasites. They also contain many beneficial nutrients.
APPLE CIDER VINEGAR. Again, every morning I add a few drops of ACV to Sandy’s drinking water. This is beneficial to her skin, coat, teeth and also helps prevent fleas (they do not like the odour or the taste). I also make up a spray bottle with one quarter ACV to three quarters water. This can be sprayed onto the dog, avoiding the face, then brushed through, this is good to improve shine on the coat and believe it or not it deodorizes the dog!
LEMON WATER. Every week I take two lemons, thinly slice then cover with boiling water. Cover and leave overnight then sieve into a spray bottle in the morning. This can be used if you suspect your dog has fleas, spray, again avoiding the face, brush through paying attention to behind the ears and any other areas that fleas like to hide. I also sprayed rugs and other soft furnishings lightly, allow
to dry, then vacuum. The lemon should kill the fleas.
For further information I found the following websites to be informative:
www.wikihow.com
www.earthclinic.com
www.dogsnaturallymagazine.com
FACTS ABOUT….. INFECTIOUS DISEASES
Make sure you protect your pets and keep them safe by keeping up to date with their vaccinations. If the number of pets protected by vaccines drops our animal companions could be at risk from
an outbreak of infectious diseases, some of which can be transmitted to humans.
When to Vaccinate
All dogs need regular vaccinations from an early age. Puppies are typically vaccinated at 8 and 10 weeks, with an initial course of two injections. Your pet should be given a booster annually after their first vaccination. Consult your vet for details. If you feed a local street dog, you should also try to get it vaccinated to prevent the spread of dangerous diseases. If you can afford to feed or keep a dog, you can afford to vaccinate it.
All dogs should be routinely vaccinated against:
Canine parvovirus
Canine distemper virus
Leptospirosis
Infectious canine hepatitis
Rabies
Canine parvovirus is caught by contact with faeces from infected dogs. The most common symptoms are severe vomiting and diarrhoea. Affected puppies often become dehydrated. The virus also causes the white blood cell count to drop, leaving the puppy susceptible to other infections. There is no specific treatment; however an infected dog may be put on a drip, given antibiotics, and given medication to try to prevent vomiting. Without any treatment about 80% of dogs with parvovirus will die. With treatment about 85% will survive.
Canine distemper virus is spread by all bodily secretions (e.g. saliva), usually via direct contact with an infected animal. Symptoms vary from fever and depression, to coughing, vomiting and diarrhoea, or discharge from eyes and mouth. Dogs with very severe symptoms often die. Mildly affected dogs will recover, but some will go on to have neurological problems in later life, causing muscle tics, difficulty walking walking in circles and seizures. There is no specific treatment; however with the saliva, urine, faeces, blood or nasal discharge of infected dogs. The disease can cause a “kennel cough” type infection, or hepatitis (an infection of the liver). Symptoms include lethargy, coughing, fever, vomiting and diarrhoea, jaundice and abdominal pain. There is no specific treatment; however the symptoms themselves can be treated. Deaths can occur but most dogs will recover.
Leptospirosis (lepto) is a disease caused by a bacterium, usually from infected urine, or by contaminated water, so dogs are at risk if they swim or drink from stagnant water, especially in areas with high numbers of rats. The bacteria can also cause Weil’s disease in humans. Symptoms include fever, lethargy, increased thirst, vomiting, bloody diarrhoea and jaundice. Treatment involves antibiotics, intravenous fluids and supportive treatment. Less severely affected dogs can recover, but can carry the bacteria for months afterwards, and their urine is an infection risk both to other animals and to humans. Leptospirosis in humans can be fatal.
Rabies is a virus that affects the brain and spinal cord of all mammals and is always fatal if not treated in dogs and humans. It is a legal requirement to vaccinate your dog against rabies. Rabies is usually transmitted via a bite from an infected animal, or through a scratch or a lick on an open, fresh wound. Symptoms include extreme behavioral changes such as restlessness, apprehension, or aggression, strange and unusual behaviour, foaming at the mouth, disorientation, and staggering. Friendly dogs may become irritable, while normally excitable animals may become more docile. Other classic signs of rabies include loss of appetite, weakness, seizures and sudden death. Transmission of the virus can happen before symptoms appear. There is no treatment or cure for rabies once symptoms appear.Since rabies presents a serious public health threat, dogs who are suspected of having the virus are most often euthanized. If your dog has been bitten by any wild animal or another street dog, you should take it to the vet immediately. You should also contact the police or Azil staff if the animal who bit your pet is still at large; or if any animal in your area is showing signs of rabies. NEVER attempt to handle or capture a wild animal if it is acting strangely. If you think you have been bitten by a dog who could have rabies you MUST contact a doctor immediately, as it is a serious, life threatening condition.
