This week we will be discussing kids and pets living together harmoniously.  Our admissions office has received many pets from families who decided to surrender their dogs and cats simply because they were expecting a baby or just had a baby.  In an effort to keep families and their pets happily united – even during tough transitions in life – we’d like to share some tips that can make introducing a baby into your household easier for you and your four-legged friend.

I am going to write about it from a personal standpoint because 11 months ago my son Sam was born.  At the time our home already included Parker, our Border Collie.  I know that the books tell you to “prepare the dog or cat” with sounds of baby cries, baby-like dolls and articles of clothing and blankets from the hospital.  We were concerned about how Parker would interact with the baby, especially when Sam began to grab at things.  So, before Sam was born, I decided to take Parker through basic obedience class so that I knew he would listen to me if I needed him to do something like “drop it,” “go lay down” or “move away from the baby.”  The only other thing we did was bring home a blanket from the hospital – but honestly, the dog couldn’t care less and it really didn’t make much of a difference. 

Once the baby came home, we made sure Parker smelled him, and we would pet Parker, interacting with him in a very positive way when the baby was around.  I wanted to make sure Parker had a positive association with the baby.  We had no problems with managing the two, but I will prepare all those pregnant mothers out there – the dog will lack attention sometimes because you are so tired and fatigued, but this is only temporary.  Do not make any re-homing moves because you feel the pet isn’t receiving enough attention in the early months. I promise this is short lived.  We would put Parker outside to go to the bathroom and many a night forgot him and went up to bed only to have to get up in a moment of panic because we remembered he was still outside.  I can’t count the number of times I said, “Where is Parker? Is he inside or out?”

Now Sam is 11 months old and very mobile.  He is weeks away from walking, and we now use baby gates to keep Parker and Sam separated unless we are able to monitor the interactions.  Their interactions have become better and better every day, and Sam is quickly learning not to hit or grab Parker because we stop him when he tries.  Parker has grown to love licking Sam’s face to hear him giggle, which is the best sound in the world.  Sam knows to say DAW (dog) when he sees Parker, which I might add was before Mama, and the two are living very happily together.  It isn’t easy at times to shuffle the two around but honestly, my dog is another child to me and I would never want to raise Sam without a pet in the household.

Today’s blog author is Makena Yarbrough. In addition to being mom to Sam and Parker, Makena is the director of operations at the Richmond SPCA.

We know how fortunate we are at the Richmond SPCA to have a dedicated veterinary staff who ensure that our animals receive the medical care that they need on-site at our facility. This includes their spay/neuter procedures, which we provide before adoption. 

As part of our partnership with Richmond Animal Care and Control, we assist with their need for spay and neuter procedures. This service is also extended to the counties of Hanover and Henrico as well as numerous private humane groups to have adopted pets sterilized before they are placed in new homes. Animal Control officers or volunteers transport the pets to our clinic the morning of surgery, and their new family can pick them up the same afternoon after the procedure is complete.

These surgeries can easily be performed by our veterinary team as pediatric spay or neuter on puppies or kittens as young as eight weeks old and weighing at least two pounds. This benefits the pet overpopulation problem because these pets cannot reproduce, but it also is a huge help to the new adopters since they will not have to schedule this service elsewhere. 

Cooperative relationships formed between the various humane groups benefit all of us as well as the animals.  Animal Control Officers out in the field know of the services available at the Richmond SPCA and may refer pets to us for spay or neuter.  They keep us abreast of owners who need our transport services, or communities needing help with feral cats.  We are able to take many pets from other shelters into our system and provide medical treatment, foster care or adoption.  As more groups work together for our common goals, even more animals have the opportunity to find loving homes.

Today’s blog was written by Dr. Angela Ivey, director of veterinary medicine at the Richmond SPCA. Dr. Ivey spent many years in private veterinary practice before joining the medical staff at the Richmond SPCA in 2004.

What is project safety net? Think of it as a safeguard for pets at risk of being surrendered to a shelter. 

This program is designed to be a resource for pet owners to give them assistance to keep their pets out of the shelter system.  In a sense we want to be a safety net to keep pets from entering any shelter in our community, even ours.  Remember, a shelter is a stressful environment for any animal.  Through this program, we have given much-needed assistance to pet owners enabling them to keep their pets or find homes for their pets themselves.  The program is administered from our admissions department. Last year alone, with our help, 1,400 dogs and cats avoided entering a shelter. This means they either stayed in their homes or their owners found new homes for them with friends, family members, co-workers or neighbors, etc. 

The program is made up of components to help pet owners. If you are having a problem with your pet, before you come to your wits end, come to us. You can speak to our trainer about behavior issues. We can educate you about feral cats. We can fix your cat or dog for free. We can even help you find an apartment that allows pets. If you’re still unable to live with your furry friend any longer, you can find a new home for your pet by posting a photo and description on our Web site. In all these ways, we are here to help you with the problem you might be experiencing with your pet.

It can be pretty hard to know who you should call and where you should go with an animal welfare issue.  Unfortunately, those of us in this field have done a pretty good job of confusing everyone else!

The Richmond SPCA is a private humane society.  We receive no government funding.  We concentrate our efforts on offering the services to our community that will reduce the number of dogs and cats that are homeless.  Our purpose is to lower the number of homeless pets to the point that there will be enough homes for the ones who need them.  That means that we adopt dogs and cats out to good and responsible homes, we offer low cost and no cost spaying and neutering services, we provide professional behavioral consultations with trainers for folks who have pets with behavior problems, and we provide humane education for both adults and children.

Every city and county in Virginia has a government operated pound or shelter for the housing of animals who are strays – meaning they were found roaming on their own – and animals seized in legal actions.  City and county animal control operations provide a very important service that is quite different from the one we provide.  They hold stray animals for the required period of time under law so that an owner has the chance to find a lost pet.  They also investigate and assist in the prosecution of animal abuse and neglect cases.  They have trained officers who enforce the laws related to animal care and animal issues.

It is very important that public animal control agencies and private humane societies, like the Richmond SPCA, work together cooperatively but do not overlap their services so that the most can be done for homeless animals with the available resources.  We work closely with the local city and county shelters and visit them on a weekly basis to take animals whose stray period has expired back to our Robins-Starr Humane Center where we will care for them until we are able to find them good homes where they will be loved.  We value our fine working relationship with them and are grateful for the wonderful support of our community in helping to save the lives of homeless animals every day.

Today’s blog author is Robin Robertson Starr. Robin is the chief executive officer of the Richmond SPCA.

The Richmond SPCA has many wonderful volunteers who can be seen at the Robins-Starr Humane Center giving love and attention to our animals that do not yet have homes. There are also many unseen volunteers; they are out in the community caring for the animals that will never have homes.  These are the feral cat caretakers. 

Feral cats may have once been pets who were abandoned and have reverted to a wild state in order to survive on their own.  Others were born in the wild. Much like a squirrel or a deer; they are fearful of humans and do not make suitable pets.  Sally Mackler of the Feral Cat Coalition in San Diego says of feral cats, “They’re not wildlife, and they’re not pets, so they don’t get the advantages of either group.” 

The Richmond SPCA works with many dedicated feral cat caretakers who strive from day to day to make sure these wild cats also have advantages.  They dedicate their valuable free time to feeding these cats and providing them with shelter.  They work diligently to humanely trap feral cats and get them spayed or neutered to stop the population from continuing to grow and to halt the spread of disease among the cat colonies.  This work saves the existing cats from the sad fate of euthanasia, while still addressing the problem of cat overpopulation.  Feral caretakers do this important work out of the goodness of their hearts and pay a great deal of the expenses out of their own pockets. 

It is due to their efforts and the dedication of their time that we have been able to spay and neuter over 2,600 feral cats since 2003.  That may not sound like a lot at face value, but when you consider that about half of those cats were female and each female can produce an average of 10 kittens a year that will one day produce their own kittens, thousands of litters have been prevented. 

While many people see feral cats as a nuisance to be rid of, the work of the feral cat caretaker embodies the Richmond SPCA’s belief that every life is precious and we thank them for each life they have saved.

Today’s blog author is Crys Knight. Crys is the clinic coordinator at the Richmond SPCA. If you are interested in learning how you can help feral cats in your community, please call 521-1300.

According to Jonathan Swift, “every dog must have his day.”  I think of that quote sometimes when I’m walking through the Richmond SPCA kennels, noting which dogs haven’t yet found homes.  Some of them, though appealing in their runs, prove to be “too much dog” up close.  These incorrigible canines greet unsuspecting potential adopters by launching enthusiastically at them, barely able to contain themselves, ricocheting off of legs or pouncing into laps—just plain overjoyed to get some attention.  If only these exuberant beasts knew that engaging in “polite” doggy behaviors would score them new homes…. 

Luckily, the Green Team, a group of volunteers taught to help train our shelter dogs, comes to the rescue.  Their dedication is truly inspiring—and it’s obvious that their attention has an enormous impact on the lives of our dogs.  There’s Chase the shepherd mix, who has learned to do much more sitting and much less jumping up on folks – as well as a dramatic “play dead” trick.  There’s Jimmy the pit bull mix, who used to spend his time anxiously bouncing up and down in his kennel.  Thanks to the Green Team, he now excitedly shows off his new tricks instead – sit, down and roll over.  There’s Louise, a timid hound mix, who eventually gained the confidence to greet visitors, one of whom decided to take her home. 

I know that all of these dogs – and many more – would certainly thank the Green Team if they could.  Through the efforts of this amazing group of volunteers, countless dogs have learned what they needed to know to find homes, and countless others will in the future.  Perhaps some of our current canine residents will be here a bit longer than others, but I firmly believe that Mr. Swift was right.  Their days will come.  Thanks to the Green Team, they won’t have to wait too long.

Today’s blog author is Kristen Collins. Kristen is the trainer for the Richmond SPCA. To learn more about volunteering at the Richmond SPCA, including joining the Green Team, click here.

We all live busy lives these days. Sometimes it feels like we aren’t viable members of our society unless we are enthusiastically multi-tasking our way to bedtime each evening. “Me time” is highly valuable in our culture, which is why I am so impressed by the selfless contribution of free time that our volunteers give to the animals here at the Richmond SPCA.

One of the primary challenges in the field of animal welfare is the disproportionate volume of animals versus manpower. We have approximately 80 experienced staff members who care for approximately 300 animals daily. We count on volunteers to fill in the gaps.

There are roughly 160 active volunteers helping us with everything from laundering animals’ bedding to working with the shyest, most under-socialized dogs and cats. Volunteers ensure the dogs get at least one of their daily walks, help out in the spay/neuter clinic, help me keep up with my paperwork (You know who you are, and I owe you a few chocolate chip cookies!!) and perform a plethora of other tasks.

It is gratifying to know that our homeless animals have 160 advocates helping to give them another chance. Their efforts help to ensure that these animals are well socialized and groomed, which in turn helps the dogs and cats find their forever homes more quickly. Our volunteers make a profound impact on the innocents in our care, thus making a positive difference in our community. Naturalist Jane Goodall put it well: “Every individual makes an impact on the world around us…what sort of difference do you want to make? Do you want to make the world around us a better place? Or not?”

If you would like to make a homeless animal’s world a better place, I encourage you to contact me!

Today’s blog author is Susan Armstrong. Susan is volunteer coordinator at the Richmond SPCA. To contact her, call 521-1329, or her.

I have to be honest.  I have only raised one puppy in my entire life.  I have also raised one kitten, but they are so easy; I don’t think that even counts.  I adopted my one and only puppy while I was in vet school.  That was long before working full time, having a husband and children and having a generally busy life.  I don’t have the patience for a puppy although they are great training for a life with children and a spouse.  My vote would always be for adopting the mature, adult pet. As other blogs on this topic have said, you pretty much get what you see and fall in love with when you adopt an older dog or cat.
Adult pets sometimes come to us with some type of medical issue, but this should not deter you from adding an adult pet to your family.  We have wonderful programs in place to address those issues. Every single animal gets a complete physical exam to assess what, if any, medical issues he may have.  We address everything from dental disease, potential thyroid problems, allergies, lumps and bumps, skin problems, limping, obesity, vision, etc.  We make every effort to bring any of these medical concerns under control before the pet is made available for adoption. There are times that we diagnose a problem that is not curable but which can be controlled with special food or medication. This is where our Angel Pet Program comes into play.  In cooperation with your new pet’s regular veterinarian, we will let the new adopter purchase from us, at cost, for the life of the pet, the foods or medications that are needed to control the condition. This program is fabulous because at times adopters with a heart big enough to fall in love with an imperfect pet don’t have pockets deep enough to manage the condition.
 
So please do not overlook that senior pet. With advances in veterinary medicine, our pets live much longer, healthier lives. But they do age nonetheless, and geriatric medicine has allowed us to control some of those aging processes. The Richmond SPCA is a wonderful place to check out all your options and feel assured that you are getting the healthiest, happiest pet that we can provide. If you really want that cute little puppy or kitten, I completely understand, and I am grateful that many people do, but also take a look at the new adult friends.  You may just take home the best pet you have ever had.  And that would be no surprise to me.

Today’s blog was written by Dr. Angela Ivey, director of veterinary medicine at the Richmond SPCA. Dr. Ivey spent many years in private veterinary practice before joining the medical staff at the Richmond SPCA in 2004.

By now we are all largely aware of the therapeutic benefits of sharing your life with a dog or cat. In fact, the benefits have been so widely documented, that there are entire programs dedicated to bringing pets into the lives of individuals in need whether they are differently abled, elderly, or simply lonesome. Specially trained people and their pets may now visit people in hospitals, senior citizen homes and children’s recovery wards with approval from the facilities and therapy organizations. 

You may think cute little wiggly puppies are the best candidates for these visits.  Actually, the more stellar therapy dogs are mature in attitude and years.  The dog who stays calm when people stumble, who lays his head in a lonely lap, or even leans in for a long hug is the dog who makes eyes light up in the facilities we visit.  The Richmond SPCA hosts a program called Paws for Health. This group of volunteers takes their loving pets to visit people who might be in need of companionship and separated from their own pets due to illness or other circumstances.  One of our most frequent visitors is a little Yorkshire terrier who is lame in one leg and getting up there in years. 

If your dog or cat is one who can stay calm in a crowd, loves to be petted and is comfortable in new surroundings, perhaps he or she would like to spend his or her mature years doing therapy work. No, you don’t have to give your pet up for therapy work.  You accompany them on every visit and you get to share the joy with others that your pet has brought to you. 

To get more information about Paws for Health and other volunteer visitation programs, click here, or e-mail volunteer coordinator, . 

Today’s blog author is Marie Tripton. Marie is the manager of the Richmond SPCA’s Behavior Helpline. Call the helpline at 643-SPCA or e-mail .

You’ve talked it over and have finally decided it’s time to adopt a dog. Within that decision-making process did you ask, “Do we get an adult dog or a puppy?” 

Depending on your household and lifestyle, this could be a weightier decision than you think. Many people who come in looking for a dog stop to see the puppies before moving on to the older dogs. The soft faces and fuzzy little bodies hook them every time. Before you know it, they have a small new addition to their family. Don’t get me wrong, this is a wonderful thing! But I encourage lots of folks to consider visiting adult dogs as well when walking through a shelter because there are numerous benefits to adopting an older dog.  In addition, not everyone’s home and lifestyle is set up to care for puppy

What you see is what you get
One of the many beautiful things about adopting an adult dog is that what you see is what you get. This applies to both personality and size. Provided you don’t over feed him, he’ll stay roughly the same size as the day you took him home! When it comes to personality, you will know from the moment you meet whether Rover is a couch potato or an active pooch, whether he has lots of energy or is a more laid back fella.

Those personality traits are important considerations when integrating a new pet into your family. How will the new dog take to the kids? How will your older dog accept the new addition? To get a picture of how everyone will get along, bring both your children and any canine member of the family to visit with an adult dog before adopting.

Want puppy personality without the puppy hassles?
An adult dog can still be playful, and his stamina makes him better suited to keep up with the kids or to go along on your morning jog. Like puppies, dogs like to chew, yet adult dogs can be taught to chew on the rawhide and not the chair leg. I’ve never seen a puppy that didn’t need housebreaking. Some of our older dogs are already known to be housebroken, and others surprise us. Adult dogs may even come with basic obedience skills taught by a previous owner or by our staff and volunteers.

Young puppies’ inoculations begin at the Richmond SPCA, but they must continue their vaccine schedule by getting additional shots from your vet. A more mature dog leaves us fully vaccinated for the coming year.

Most adult dogs can be left alone for the common workday or for an evening out. If you don’t want any unexpected surprises, lengthy excursions are probably not the best of ideas with a new puppy at home.

Every life is precious
If you are debating dog versus puppy and plan to adopt from the Richmond SPCA, also think about our mission. In order to save the lives of homeless animals, we need the space in which to house them. Puppies and their littermates are housed together in our facility. Adult dogs each need their own kennel space. We want every one of these guys to get a home; however, when an adult dog gets a home, it gives us space to save another life.

Whether you adopt an adult or a puppy, you’ll bring much joy and love into your life. I’m just asking you to think about the differences between the two, and find out which one suits you best.

Today’s blog author is Gerry Strong. Gerry is the adoption coordinator at the Richmond SPCA.

Before joining the SPCA in 2004 I had only seen a small but fascinating article about the Robins-Starr Humane Center in an issue of “Southern Living” magazine.  I was intrigued and although we only lived about 30 miles away I never actually made it up here to visit.  What a wealth of opportunity I was missing as part of the veterinary community.  The resources at the Richmond SPCA are limitless in regards to education, spay/neuter, training and community involvement.  Yet even as an insider now, it amazes me how little people know about us as an organization and resource.

Speaking solely from the veterinary aspect of the Richmond SPCA, I do not think you can comprehend the level of care and expertise that go into each animal’s stay with us before adoption until you visit the facility. We performed over 11,000 sterilizations last year with all the current techniques, pain management, monitoring and skill that you find in a private veterinary practice.  We provide low-cost spay/neuter services with the same full-price standards.  And this is where getting the word out is so important.  We set a goal of 27,000 sterilizations over a three-year period, knowing that would be a key component in dealing with the problem of unwanted and homeless pets.  We are in the early part of our third year, and the numbers of animals still needing our services are seemingly endless.

You may not be in need of our services yourself. Yet who does not pass by a box of puppies or kittens – free to a good home – on a Saturday morning of errand running?  Those cute little balls of fuzz likely have a mother at home who has not been spayed.  Think how many times you cross paths with other pet-loving individuals.  So come and take advantage of one of our programs, or just visit us with your family.  You can take a tour and see Smoky’s Spay/Neuter Clinic in action.  Then we are sure you will not hesitate to recommend us when the topics of homeless pets and solutions to the problem come up in conversation.  Just like me, you will never know what is here until you stop by and see for yourself.

Today’s blog was written by Dr. Angela Ivey, director of veterinary medicine at the Richmond SPCA. Dr. Ivey spent many years in private veterinary practice before joining the medical staff at the Richmond SPCA in 2004.

I wanted to ask the blog readers where the off-leash dog parks are in Richmond. I’m moving to the area next week, and my two dogs love to socialize!

Thanks!
Jenny

Response from Tabitha Hanes, Richmond SPCA community relations manager:

Welcome to Richmond, Jenny! I think that you’ll find that you’re moving to a very dog-friendly city. There are two off-leash dog parks in the city: Barker Field is located in Byrd Park near the Carillon and Phideaux Field is at 4401 Forest Hill Avenue. In nearby Hanover County, there is Hanover Dog Park in the Taylor Complex off of Route 54.

Dogs are allowed on-leash at a number of other area parks. Check out our online guide to pet-friendly places, which also includes a pet-friendly housing guide for the greater Richmond metro area. You’re also welcome to come visit the Robins-Starr Humane Center at 2519 Hermitage Road and pick up a copy of our brochure, “Richmond: From a Pet’s Point of View.”

Humane Education at the Richmond SPCA is one small thing that makes a big difference. We provided about 9000 hours of education for children during the last year through outbound visits to schools, inbound visits by groups of children to the Robins-Starr Humane Center, and by encouraging youth participation in work around the shelter – through service projects or our junior volunteer group, the Animal Brigade. Our humane education programs are geared toward helping children understand that the needs of animals are very similar to their own needs. We talk about pet care, dog bite safety, reasons to spay and neuter their pets, the importance of animal shelters, and how dogs and cats learn best. We offer many different programs for kids of all ages, and many of our programs are free!
Some of the more valuable lessons we teach are related to dog bite safety. Children are often the victims of dog bites because they simply do not understand how to behave around a dog they do not know. During tours and visits, we teach children to “Be like a tree” or “Be like a rock” if a strange dog comes up to them.  This translates to being quiet and motionless while either standing or curling up into a ball—- and is almost always the safest thing for anyone to do when around an unknown dog.  “Stay still??”- you ask. Exactly, my point!  How many times have you seen a stray dog roaming in your neighborhood or by your child’s school?  It happens a lot more than it should.  And most children and adults immediately want to flee (move away) or help (move forward) when a stray dog approaches them. Both of these can lead to an aggressive or unsafe encounter. The best thing to do is to blend in and be unobtrusive.  Practicing these skills is important too!  It is one thing to say it, but it is another to try to be still and quiet.  Not only is practicing with safe dogs at the Richmond SPCA a fun activity, but it is memorable.
What an impact!  If we visit or meet with 40-100 kids in a week, think about how many animals and other people are affected. Children are excellent teachers for their peers and family.  If they come home knowing that Sparky is digging so much because he is bored, (and nobody likes to be bored!), maybe that will encourage his family to spend more time with him.  If they come home encouraging the family to put ID tags on all their pets, even Eva the indoor cat, that may mean one more pet that finds her way home and one fewer pet entering a shelter or worse, being injured. We are giving children the tools and the chance to be teachers, big brothers, and big sisters.  If they can understand a little better that Sparky is lonely and needs to go to dog school, or that Fluffy needs toys and a clean litter box, that will inevitably change the course of that pet’s life and the lives of future pets that the child may own one day.  One child at a time, we are educating the next generation of animal lovers in Richmond—- and that should make an enormous difference.

Today’s blog author is Erin Van Vleet. Erin is education coordinator at the Richmond SPCA. To contact Erin about scheduling a tour or visit, call 521-1329, e-mail or visit www.richmondspca.org/kids.

We work everyday to spread the word about all the great programs and services of the Richmond SPCA.  One of those great services is adoption. We promote our pets on radio and TV and in print.  We also have a wonderful Web site

with lots of helpful information and sample photos and descriptions of adoptable dogs and cats.  Recently, we conducted a survey among new and previous visitors to our center – folks looking to adopt.  We were surprised to learn that the majority - 51 percent – said they heard about us from a friend who had previously adopted from the Richmond SPCA.

This reinforced for us just how important it is for people who interact with us to have a great experience.  We recognize how everyone has an opportunity to make a difference in the life of a homeless pet.  You can make a difference just by telling a friend about where you united with your pet and how wonderful the experience was because for each person you tell, that could mean another person visiting our center to fall in love with a pet.  Other ways to spread the word are to post your alumni story to our Web site or send out adoption announcements to friends and family. 

So help us spread the word and contribute to the saving of even more orphaned pet lives.  It’s like those old Breck commercials, “I told two friends, and they told two friends, and so on, and so on, and…“  Let us know about a great pet you’ve adopted!

Today’s blog author is Makena Yarbrough.  Makena is the director of operations at the Richmond SPCA.

I think that grooming can be like those car commercials with the disclaimer that says “Do not try this at home. Professional driver on a closed course.” 

I have seen far too many grooming mishaps to not stress that professional groomers make a very difficult task look easy.  They are well worth their fees, especially when you consider the cost of fixing your blunders at your veterinarian’s office.  For example, the professional grooming fee would have cost less than: 
• The sutures needed for the laceration caused by your attempt to remove a matt from behind your dog’s ear with a pair of scissors.
• The corneal ulcer in your cat’s eye from the shampoo he wouldn’t let you rinse out after he freaked out in the tub.
• The hot spot on your shaggy dog who air dries outside after her bath on a typically humid August day in Virginia.
• The medical attention you need after you hurt your back putting your 100 lbs. dog in the bath tub when he doesn’t want to get in.
• The carpet cleaning you need after you clip a toe nail too short and the dog runs all over the house bleeding.
These are just a few that come to mind.  You and your pets will benefit from preventative grooming just as much as preventative medicine. Teach your puppies and kittens to tolerate handling, holding and messing with their feet, and you may have an adult pet who will let you trim his or her toenails.  Brush your pets’ hair before they get matted and keep up with it after they are groomed or the mats just come back. 

There are medical reasons that your dog has itchy feet, a greasy coat, hair loss, smelly ears or thickened skin.  Don’t try to treat these kinds of issues with over the counter remedies.  There are so many shampoos, conditioners, grooming products and tools on the market that your veterinarian or professional groomer will gladly walk you through the maze based on your skills and your pet’s individual needs.  There is nothing more frustrating than having a fun and rewarding interaction like basic grooming become a dreaded and stressful experience. 

Today’s blog was written by Dr. Angela Ivey, director of veterinary medicine at the Richmond SPCA. Dr. Ivey spent many years in private veterinary practice before joining the medical staff at the Richmond SPCA in 2004. 

Before there can be grooming, there needs to be gentle handling.  And you would probably be surprised how many dogs and cats do not actively like being handled.  “What!?,” you say, “My dog rolls over for belly rubs.” Or, “That’s not true.  My cat loves to be scratched under her chin.”  Yes, most pets do like to be stroked, but some pets avoid a nice pat on the head, or they may pull their paw away when you move to hold it, or they may suddenly have to shake their head when you hold their ear.  Don’t take it personally.  It’s just not in the canine or feline repertoire to pat each other with their paws.  And most pets can learn to appreciate a good rub down or a long brushing if you help them.  My best advice is to start young.  If you have a puppy or kitten, you should get her accustomed to handling and grooming early in order to make it less stressful on both of you in the future.

Mainly, you just need to move slowly and gently.  If your cat’s hind end is matted, start at the front end.  And start with just a dry or damp baby’s wash cloth.  Start by rubbing his chin with the cloth, then move slowly down the neck and up around the back of the ears to the top of the head.  That’s enough for one session.  Later that day, you can repeat and add a quick swipe over the inside of the ears.  And before he goes to bed you can repeat and add a couple extra swipes to his scruff.  If at any point your cat hisses, growls or flattens his ears, you’ve just moved too fast.  Go back to his comfort zone a little longer and try extending it later.  Eventually, you can dampen the cloth with a coat conditioner/detangler.  This will help days, weeks or months from now when you move to the actual brush. 

If you dive right in and yank out those mats the moment you see them, your pet may learn to run from you when you reach for her.  If you move slowly and gently, your pet may actually learn to approach you for a complete brushing.  And remember with a young pet, you’ve got a good 12 – 20 years of grooming ahead of you.  Find a way to make it a pleasant experience.  Have a pet who loves to be groomed?  We’d love to hear your stories.

Today’s blog author is Marie Tripton. Marie is the manager of the Richmond SPCA’s Behavior Helpline. Call the helpline at 643-SPCA or e-mail .

If you have ever had a long-coated dog or a long-haired cat, then you know how important grooming is when considering what type of pet to adopt. Maintaining the beautiful coat that attracted you to the cute, little Shih-Tzu or poodle mix will require work. When adding a long-haired dog of any size to your family, you should be aware of the extra costs you are likely to incur every few weeks or months to have their hair kept short and matt-free. The same goes for our feline friends.  Long-haired cats’ locks require more attention because if left unkempt, mats build up, and your cat’s coat can quickly become one big matt that is very painful and pulls on the skin. Picking a short-haired variety won’t exempt you from the grooming routine. Keeping any length coat healthy will require some degree of effort.

I must admit that I hate all aspects of grooming.  I hated it when I had a poodle mix and had to drop her off at the groomer regularly to have her hair cut. I hate it now when I have to bathe or brush my collie mix.  You don’t even want to get me started on having to trim his nails.  Luckily, I married someone who enjoys all of the above – so he takes care of it! 

Before you decide to adopt that beautiful Himalayan, the Maltese mix or the spaniel, consider whether you are going to be willing to do the essential grooming that the pet will need.  If you are not, make sure another member of your family or your roommate will be keen on such tasks.  Once this is established, adopt away and enjoy those beautiful locks of love because the most important part of uniting with a companion pet is the bond you share, not the type of hair he has.

Have any funny grooming stories you’d like to share? We’re all ears!

Today’s blog author is Makena Yarbrough.  Makena is the director of operations at the Richmond SPCA.

If you have ever had a long-coated dog or a long-haired cat, then you know how important grooming is when considering what type of pet to adopt. Maintaining the beautiful coat that attracted you to the cute, little Shih-Tzu or poodle mix will require work. When adding a long-haired dog of any size to your family, you should be aware of the extra costs you are likely to incur every few weeks or months to have their hair kept short and matt-free. The same goes for our feline friends.  Long-haired cats’ locks require more attention because if left unkempt, mats build up, and your cat’s coat can quickly become one big matt that is very painful and pulls on the skin. Picking a short-haired variety won’t exempt you from the grooming routine. Keeping any length coat healthy will require some degree of effort.

I must admit that I hate all aspects of grooming.  I hated it when I had a poodle mix and had to drop her off at the groomer regularly to have her hair cut. I hate it now when I have to bathe or brush my collie mix.  You don’t even want to get me started on having to trim his nails.  Luckily, I married someone who enjoys all of the above – so he takes care of it! 

Before you decide to adopt that beautiful Himalayan, the Maltese mix or the spaniel, consider whether you are going to be willing to do the essential grooming that the pet will need.  If you are not, make sure another member of your family or your roommate will be keen on such tasks.  Once this is established, adopt away and enjoy those beautiful locks of love because the most important part of uniting with a companion pet is the bond you share, not the type of hair he has.

Have any funny grooming stories you’d like to share? We’re all ears!

Today’s blog author is Makena Yarbrough.  Makena is the director of operations at the Richmond SPCA.

Veterinarians often see the first-time client who visits us with a complaint about his or her new pet that the doctor cannot begin to resolve.  I’ll never forget the new Bloodhound owner who came to see me. His complaint was that his new dog drooled a lot and had a weird odor.  My first thought was that any book on dog breeds and their characteristics would have offered clues to the fact that a Bloodhound will probably always drool and not smell like a poodle. 

Many purebred pets have genetic predispositions to certain medical conditions and should undergo screenings. For example, are you ready for the Doberman that will need to be screened for a certain bleeding disorder? The Labrador retriever that should have his hips radiographed for Hip Dysplasia? The Dalmatian that may need prescription food for bladder stones? Or the Persian that may need eye medication for the nasal fold hair that irritates her corneas?

Mixed breeds have the advantage of a more diverse genetic background. In mixed breeds of dogs or cats in which the dominant breed is apparent, those genetic predispositions should also be ruled out. All pets adopted from the Richmond SPCA have already received a veterinarian exam, but we also include a certificate for a free exam from your own vet. Adopters should have their new pet seen by their vet as soon as possible.

There are a huge number of books, breed-specific magazines and publications that go into the primary characteristics of dog or cat breeds.  At the Richmond SPCA we may not be certain of the heritage making up our mixed-breed dogs and cats, but we always make an effort to assign a breed designation to each animal. By evaluating behavior, observing our animals while they are in our care and matching prospective adopters as well as their existing pets we can claim an extremely low return rate.

Before bringing home a pet, you should consider the medical issues, behavior training recommendations, exercise requirements, grooming needs, your disposable time as well as your financial situation.  Our lives are so enriched by our pets, and I believe they give far more to us than we receive; however, it is heartbreaking to see the animals that end up in our shelters or on the streets.  Many of these pets came from homes that weren’t fully prepared for a pet’s needs. A little preplanning may have changed their fate.

Today’s blog was written by Dr. Angela Ivey, director of veterinary medicine at the Richmond SPCA. Dr. Ivey spent many years in private veterinary practice before joining the medical staff at the Richmond SPCA in 2004.

Not many people call me to report their dog will simply not get off the sofa, ever!  I almost never hear, “Every time I pick up the leash, my dog just lies down and goes to sleep.”  More often, the complaint is, “My dog won’t settle down.  He knocks me down to get out the door, and he drags me down the street when I try to take him for a walk.” 

Dogs are genetically wired and physically structured for movement.  Yes, the little ones, too.  Dogs in the wild, feral dogs, even domestic dogs need exercise – mental and physical exercise.  The good news is, if we work out an effective plan, we stand to benefit from exercise also.  I lament for the owner who just lets his dog out in the yard to exercise.  That owner may be missing out on a daily opportunity to add a smile to his or her own face.  Dogs oftentimes love the simplest forms of exercise – chasing a ball, rolling in a pile of leaves, searching for hidden Kongs, or digging in a sandbox.  For the more adventurous, there’s jogging, roller-blading, agility, tracking, herding or even dancing with your dog. 

Having a dog gives you permission to roll on the ground.  He gives you permission to don your grubbies and take a walk in the sun.  He gives you permission to throw a ball endlessly at the park.  And dogs can make great tennis partners.  If you are having a hard time finding a fun, comfortable way to exercise with your dog, ask for help. You’ll have a much easier time teaching your dog behavioral skills if your dog enjoys spending time with you in the first place. 

Dog aficionados are a creative bunch. Use this space to share your favorite ways to exercise your dog (and get a workout for yourself)!

Today’s blog author is Marie Tripton. Marie is the manager of the Richmond SPCA’s Behavior Helpline. Call the helpline at 643-SPCA or e-mail .

Adopting a pet is such an exciting experience for you and your family.  We are fortunate at the Richmond SPCA to witness this excitement on a daily basis, and over the years, our experienced staff has helped unite thousands of pets with new parents.  This helps us assist adopters at our center with finding the perfect pet to match their lifestyles, and we’d love to share some of our tips to making sure this happens for you, too!

The biggest thing to consider is your expectation for a new pet in your home.  For example, my expectations for a new dog are that he gets along well with my other dog, loves my baby, is calm, is not destructive when left unattended and can lie down on his bed and be still while the family rests or relaxes.  In other words, interrupting “Survivor” or “American Idol” has consequences in my household!  A pet’s being housebroken or possessing basic obedience skills is not as important to me because I am confident I can train him in those areas on my own. 

Other sample expectations might include being able to be left alone during a normal work day and not being destructive in the house, being an active dog that goes running with you and your kids, or being able to play fetch in the backyard for hours on end.  These are all things you should consider before adopting a pet and meeting with one of our adoption counselors, who can help find that perfect match. As we discussed last week, the same applies when looking for a new feline friend.  Do you want a cuddly cat who won’t leave you alone, or a more independent kitty?  Paying attention to your own lifestyle when selecting a pet is far more important than focusing on a specific breed of dog or cat. Our Web site is a great place to start your search. Check out the photos and descriptions of a sample of the dogs and cats awaiting your visit to the Robins-Starr Humane Center.

We’d love to hear what some of your own expectations were before acquiring your last furry friend!

Today’s blog author is Makena Yarbrough.  Makena is the director of operations at the Richmond SPCA.