WINTER TIME INFORMATION Its Holiday time and the SQDA asks that you do not choose an animal as a Christmas gift, an animal is not a toy !! Do not buy a child an animal as a Christmas gift (or for any other occasion), unless you know that the child and his/her parent(s) have the know how, the will and the responsibility to care for one. Did you know that a strong proportion of Quebec residents keep a pet for less than two years? What happens to the pet afterwards! It is no wonder that the SPCA, the Berger Blanc, the private shelters, the urban streets, the rural areas, etc. abound with unwanted animals. Give up the idea of having an animal if you are not sure that you can take care of one, in this way you will help the creature to avoid unnecessary neglect and maybe pain and the strong chance of being eventually euthanized! If you have given a great deal of thought to the concept of having an animal and you feel that you are ready to assume the responsibility, then please go to a Pound or a Shelter first. There are many advantages to getting an older animal, plus you will be saving a life! If you want a puppy or a kitten, (don’t forget your local Pound or neighborhood Shelter have them too) please then seek out a reputable breeder. Buying a pet anywhere else could be an unsure thing. If you would like to have tips on how to choose a pet and the questions to ask when making your purchase (in order to ensure the health and the provenance of the pet) you can look up information on the net:www.nopuppymills.com has lots of information available for all to consult FREE OF CHARGE. Ok so now you have your pet. Have you had it spayed or neutered ? It does not make them unhappy. Depending on what age it is done, their personality nor their weight should change very much, if at all! And in this way you will actively contribute to help control the pet population. Here are some Christmas gift giving ideas from the SQDA suitable for all budgets. Offer a loved one a membership to the SQDA ($20.00) Volunteer your time to a local pound or shelter over the holidays, they are especially busy at this time of the year. In the name of the animals the SQDA thanks you for the gift of your time. Do you know somebody who likes to go to Restaurants, Movies, Theater, or maybe the sports type who likes skiing or golfing? Offer him/her the Entertainment Guide of the Greater Montreal area, discount coupons and two for ones for all kinds of activities, now available through the SQDA for the price of $ 27.00. This is an SQDA fundraising project. Do you have extra or leftover animal accessories such as: collars, leashes, baskets, blankets, toys, food, litter, chew toys, etc. Donate them to a pet Shelter or to a Pound (The SQDA lists a few Shelters and Pounds on our home page, but please note this list is just an indication of a few of the Shelters and Pounds out there, donate where you will, but please give!) How about making a donation to an animal welfare cause, group, Pound or Shelter in the name of a loved one? Did you know that you can act as a sponsor to foster an exotic animal? For yourself or for a loved one. Sort-a-kinda like the sponsor of a foster child living in a foreign country program. Just to name one, the Quebec Fauna Foundation has an « adopt a chimp » program. Please look up their web site for details: http://www.faunafoundation.org/ Do you know somebody who has a cat, which is not neutered or spayed and lets the feline roam freely outside? If this person can’t afford to pay for a spay or neuter, how about offering this as a Christmas present to them? Please get their authorization first before you do anything to their companion animal!! You will also be saving lives with this gesture! Do you know someone who has a dog and they have trouble getting out, either because of a handicap or because of age restrictions? How about offering to walk their dog occasionally. Not only will the person be thankful to you, but you will get some exercise and the dog will adore you for it!!! Please remember to keep the dog on a leash and to pick up its deposits, in this way the neighborhood will also be thankful to you!! The SQDA wishes you the merriest of times and the best of health and much serenity over the holiday season.   A MESSAGE FROM ROSIE ANIMAL ADOPTIONS:
	HOLIDAY SEASON PET HAZARDS Holiday season adornments are attractive to all creatures. The ornaments, foods, gifts, wrappings, ribbons, lights and plants are all curiosities for pets. Pets will investigate new items by sniffing, tossing, chasing and finally by having a taste. A few precautions will help you avoid the holiday crowds at the animal hospital. The number one problem seen by veterinarians this time of year is stomach or intestinal disturbances caused by pets eating the holiday feast or other novelties. Scraps from the table can cause gastrointestinal upset and even predispose pets to life-threatening pancreatitis. Bones can get stuck in the mouth or perforate the intestinal tract and should be avoided. Chocolate is poisonous to cats, dogs, and birds. Plastic wrap and aluminium foil coated with good-tasting juices are enticing but can cause intestinal obstruction and damage if eaten by the pet. Be sure leftovers and wrappers are properly disposed of. Keep pets on their usual diet. Treats formulated similarly to the pet's regular diet are healthy and safe. Also keep in mind while cooking that pets may not know about hot stoves or to stay out from underfoot. Keep pets away so they don't get burned or get hot foods spilled on them. Several decorative plants are poisonous. Mistletoe and holly can cause stomach upset with vomiting and diarrhea. The berries of these plants are attractive, easily swallowed and potentially fatal if consumed. Poinsettias, like the leaves of most any plant, can also cause stomach upset. Use artificial mistletoe and holly; keep other plants out of your pet's reach. Be sure Christmas trees are secured so that pets cannot pull them over. Omit preservatives from the tree-stand water and cover it so pets don't drink it. Don't spray snow on the tree unless it is labeled for pet consumption. Angel hair is spun glass and is irritating to both the inside and outside of your pet. Even glass ornaments and ornament hooks have been chewed and swallowed. These objects can cause problems from stomach upset to damaged intestines. Low-hanging ornaments are a real temptation, as are tinsel and electric lights. Decorative lights and electrical wiring can cause shock or burns when chewed on, so remember to unplug holiday lights when pets are unattended. Holidays have lots of activity going on. Be sure doors are not left open as guests come and go. Indoor pets inadvertently left outside could be injured by frostbite, cars or other animals. Ice-melting chemicals and salt on sidewalks and roads can severely burn foot pads and should be washed off right away. Also, watch that guests don't leave interesting objects, such as chocolate, ribbons, stocking stuffers or other illicit treats within your pet's reach. Sometimes it's best to put your pet in a separate area, both to relieve the pet of the stress of new people and to prevent accidents. Don't leave wrapped gifts under the tree with an unsupervised pet; the wrapping, ribbon and enclosed gift are probably not compatible with your pet's digestive system. Ask Santa to put gifts out of your pet's reach so your pet won't beat you to them on Christmas morning. When choosing a gift for your pet, consider the pet as an individual. Cats enjoy lightweight toys they can bat around, catnip toys, scratching posts and kitty perches. Dogs like balls, chew toys and things they can carry around. However, beware of toys with parts, such as bells, buttons, string, yarn or squeaky parts, which can be detached and swallowed. Watch how your pet handles a new toy until you are sure it is safe. Some dogs treat a stuffed toy like a friend and carry it around and sleep with it. Others will tear them up and eat the stuffing and get into trouble. Also, if there is more than one pet in the household; consider all the pets before buying for any one of them. A one-inch diameter toy for a cat is fine, but a puppy in the household may swallow it and possibly require surgery to remove it. If your pet does get sick, consult your veterinarian before giving any medications. Many of the over-the-counter drugs, such as Tylenol, are toxic for animals even though they are safe for us. Don't wait to see if your pet gets better. If your pet is acting sick, consult your veterinarian! Rosie animal adoptions has lots of pet tips on their Web site To see more visit their web site: http://www.rosieanimaladoption.ca/
	Help Animals Cheat Chilly Weather This message was taken textually from PETA`s Web site: http://www.peta-online.org/feat/coldog/unchain.html The SQDA would like to thank PETA for making such very useful information available. When the mercury plummets, animals need extra protection from the elements. Take the following precautions to ensure animals' safety: • Bring animals inside, particularly puppies and kittens, elderly animals, small animals, and dogs with short hair, including pointers, beagles, Rottweilers, pit bulls, and Dobermans. Short-haired animals will also benefit from a cozy sweater or coat. • Provide dogs with proper shelter. Doghouses should be made of wood or plastic (metal conducts cold) and positioned in a sunny location during cold weather. Raise the house off the ground several inches and put a flap over the door to keep out cold drafts. Use straw for bedding—rugs and blankets can get wet and freeze. • Don't allow your cat or dog to roam freely outdoors. During winter, cats sometimes climb up under the hoods of cars to be near warm engines and are killed or badly injured when the car is started. (To help prevent this, bang loudly on the hood of your car before starting the engine.) Animals can also become disoriented when there is snow or ice on the ground. More animals are lost during the winter than during any other season. • Increase animals' food rations during winter (they are burning more calories to keep warm). Also, be sure animals are free of internal parasites, which can rob them of vital nutrients. • Buy antifreeze made with propylene glycol (brands include Sierra and Prestone Lowtox) instead of ethylene glycol, which is a deadly poison even in small doses. Animals are attracted to antifreeze because of its sweet taste, so be sure to promptly clean up spills. • Clean off your dog's or cat's legs, feet, and stomach after coming in from the snow. Salt and other chemicals can make an animal sick if they are ingested while the animal grooms him- or herself. • Provide a source of water for outdoor animals and wildlife (break the ice at least twice a day). Put water in a heavy bucket or bowl to prevent tipping. • Keep an eye out for strays. Bring unidentified animals inside until you can find their guardian or take them to the animal shelter. If strays are wild or unapproachable, provide food, water, and shelter (stray cats will appreciate a small doghouse filled with warm bedding), and call the local humane society for assistance in humanely trapping them and getting them safely indoors. • Call the humane society or animal control to report neglect. If possible, take pictures and write down dates and times the dog goes without food, water, or shelter. "Complain" about barking. Barking dogs are often lonely, neglected dogs. A common translation of "Arf, arf, arf" is "Hey, I'm lonely and bored and COLD out here!" Provide food, water, and toys for "forgotten" dogs and offer to donate a sturdy doghouse. Volunteer to take dogs for walks and bring them into your own house on cold nights. How to Host Your Own Straw Giveaway Buy bales of straw from your local "feed and seed" store. They will often give discounts on bulk orders. Take along the "cold-weather tips" listed above and post them. Borrow or rent a large truck. (We rent a 14-footer.) Approach a local supermarket or discount department store and ask for permission to set aside a section of its parking lot for your straw giveaway. Send a media advisory to newspapers, radio and TV stations alerting them to the time, place, and date of the giveaway. Bring along a tarpaulin to cover any leftover straw and leave it with a sign reading: "Free straw. Great bedding for dogs!" Breaking the Chains Did you know that continuously chaining dogs is illegal in Germany? Closer to home, Maumelle, Ark. and Camden, N.J., prohibit chaining dogs to doghouses or other stationary objects. Tucson, Ariz., has banned the use of ropes and chains to confine animals. In Washington, D.C., the Washington Humane Society considers chaining "unnecessary cruelty" and refuses to allow it. Contact PETA for a supply of informative leaflets to distribute to owners of neglected dogs. ********************************

SUMMER TIME INFORMATION

 

Important message from the SQDA during heatwaves: During a heat wave please don’t forget that animals suffer too. They can be subject to many of the similar discomforts and ailments that humans are prone to when the mercury rises. Please ensure that your pet has access to plenty of fresh water and if your pet is outside that he or she also has access to a shady and ventilated area. DO NOT LEAVE YOUR PET IN A CLOSED CAR FOR ANY PERIOD OF TIME, NOT EVEN TO PICK UP YOUR DRY CLEANING. THE TEMPERATURE IN A CLOSED CAR DURING THIS KIND OF WEATHER CAN RISE TO FATAL LEVELS WITHIN MINUTES. DURING A HEATWAVE, LEAVING YOUR PET AT HOME EITHER INSIDE OR OUTSIDE IS THE BEST IDEA RATHER THAN HAVING THEM ACCOMPANY ON YOU CAR TRIPS. Notice to owners of long haired pets, don’t forget that your animals fur coat could also be insulating him or her from the heat so please ask your local veterinarian for their opinion before shaving your pet, your well intentioned action could actually be doing more harm than good. With thanks from our furry friends.