Do It For Love

Hi Friends,
Mark your calendars! On February 27, pet lovers from all across the country are promoting Spay Day 2007. This event is a national campaign that promotes spaying and neutering as the most humane and effective way to help end the plight of millions of homeless cats and dogs.

Activities are currently taking place all across the country right now. Click on the link above to see how you can get involved.

I asked my mom to make a donation to a local organization called Volunteer Services for Animals (VSA). They help make low cost spay and neutering possible in RI. You can contact them any time of the year to offer financial assistance. If you want to make a donation in honor of Spay Day 2007, call VSA at 401-433-1946.

Did you know?
In Rhode Island, a law has been passed requiring animal guardians to spay or neuter their cats if they are six months of age or older. Violators can be fined $75 for each month of noncompliance. Some guardians may choose to pay $100 for a breeder's license, but everyone knows that my first choice is always adoption!

Thousands of kittens and puppies are born every hour in the U.S. For millions, their fate is tragic and many are forced to suffer a miserable life, homeless and alone on the streets or locked away in a shelter until they are eventually euthanized through no fault of their own.

By spaying your cats and dogs, and helping to fund the spaying and neutering of other pets, you will not only take action to control pet overpopulation, but you will also help your furry family members live a longer life. Spaying your female pets helps prevent breast cancer and diseases of the uterus. Neutering your male pets, especially before 6 months of age, prevents testicular cancer. If your pets spend time outdoors, neutering them will help curb their desire to roam around the neighborhood in search of a mate. It will also prevent them from marking indoors and doing embarrassing things to the legs of your house guests!!

And, for those of you who think that an unneutered dog is incapable of guarding a home as well as a neutered dog can, I am here to dispel that myth. Just try to enter my home without permission! (Of course, I get a little extra confidence knowing that I have my sister, Keesha, as back-up!)

If you, or anyone you know, experiences financial difficulty paying for the full cost spay or neuter procedure, please know that help is available. Below are a few programs in the Ocean State that are tailored to help people with low incomes properly care for their pets’ wellbeing.

• R.I. Veterinary Medical Association 401-751-0944. For low income pet owners in Rhode Island and nearby Massachusetts. Go to www.rivma.org to print the application, which must be sent via U.S. Mail.



• Volunteer Services for Animals Providence, RI 401-433-1946 Offers very low cost programs for pets and feral cats.



• Defenders of Animals P.O. Box 5634 Weybosset Hill Station Providence, RI 02903 401-738-3710 Email: dennis@defendersofanimals.org www.defendersofanimals.org Statewide low cost spay/neuter program.
  

Diet Pills for Fido?

On Jan. 5, the FDA approved a new diet pill for dogs called Slentrol.

I always knew something like this was bound to be developed. In fact, my sister Keesha had been secretly hoping for a magic bullet that would help slim down her rather corpulent physique. : ) Little did she know that all she needed was more exercise and less food! I once overheard my mom having a heart-to-heart talk with Keesha about the dangers of canine obesity. When a mild knee and hip joint disorder started to affect Keesha at such a young age, she and my mom knew that it was time to take things seriously. Keesha has since trimmed down her waistline and settled in at 77 pounds - - eight pound lighter than her heaviest weight. Keesha acheived her goals through diet and exercise - - the way most people do if they want long term results. Going on walks and hikes with mom and me, as well as eating V-Dogfood and fresh veggies as snacks, definitely did wonders for Keesha!

There are some instances when diet and exercise alone won't help one's weight loss efforts. I have heard about this happening with humans, so naturally it could happen with dogs! In instances such as this, I would agree that Slentrol is useful.

Below is an article about Slentrol that was just published today by the ASPCA. I hope you enjoy!

P.S. If your dog needs a little extra help and motivation to get out and get moving, I highly suggest signing up for a regular dog walking program. It did wonders for Keesha and will do wonders for your dog(s) too!


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ASPCA WEIGHS IN ON NEW DOGGY DIET DRUG

The ASPCA celebrates advances in veterinary science that have led to the creation of Slentrol, a “diet drug” for dogs approved January 5 by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and expected to be available with a vet’s prescription this spring. Of course, we’d like to remind pet parents that no drug should replace regular diet and exercise programs, and that it is important to work closely with your veterinarian to determine if your pet would be an appropriate candidate for this treatment.

“Slentrol works by reducing a dog’s appetite and fat absorption,” says Dr. Steven Hansen, veterinary toxicologist and senior vice president of the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center, the premier animal poison control center in North America. “As with any weight reduction program, Slentrol should be used as part of an overall weight loss and exercise program monitored by your veterinarian. Slentrol will typically be prescribed for three months, and dogs should be re-examined at that point.”

Dogs are defined as obese if they are 20 percent over their ideal weight. Surveys estimate that five percent of American dogs are obese, and another 20 to 30 percent are overweight. Just as in humans, obesity in dogs can lead to health problems, including joint disorders and diabetes.
“Pet obesity is a growing problem that needs to be addressed,” says ASPCA President, Ed Sayres. “However, we want to make it clear that the ASPCA does not consider medication a substitute for proper diet and exercise. This treatment should be considered only for seriously obese dogs, and only if diet and exercise programs have failed and a pet’s weight is endangering its life.”

Pet parents should be fully informed of Slentrol’s potential side effects and work closely with their vets when administering this medicine. Pet parents should also resist the temptation to pop a few Slentrol themselves, as the drug has been deemed dangerous for humans.