HELPING THE INVISIBLE DOGS<br /> IN TOWN POUNDS

HELPING THE INVISIBLE DOGS
IN TOWN POUNDS

WELCOME TO THE 
 POUNDHOUNDS WEBSITE! Join us in helping the invisible dogs
 in town pounds.

BARKTOBERFEST 2009
September 20

Barktoberfest

Barktoberfest is back and better than ever! Join us at this family- and dog-friendly event to raise funds to help the invisible dogs in town pounds. Watch the championship Weston Whirlwinds Flyball Team demonstrations, ask your questions of the training and vet experts, treat your canine companion to a massage or reiki session, enjoy great food (for people too!) and more! Walk Fur Dogs individually or form a team - all proceeds go to help the dogs in town pounds. Click here to download a walk form now or sign up online and start lining up those sponsors! Enjoy a great day outside with your dog and family! Barktoberfest is at the Westford 4-H Fairgrounds, Westford, MA from 11 am - 3 pm.

Attention Animal Welfare Groups!
Raise funds for your group at our Walk Fur Dogs! Keep 70% of what you raise! Click here to download a walk form now or sign up online.

Layla, the Wrong Dog
A Memorial to a PoundHounds Legend

What was wrong with you Layla? You were abandoned by your owners. Was it because you were part Greyhound and your owners thought you might chase cats? You had a square head and a brindle coat, did your owners think you were a Pit Bull and just assumed you would be aggressive?

When Marcia took you in as a foster, you were her first dog. She didn't know what to expect. But guess what? You lived with cats and got along fine. In fact, those cats thought you were the most wonderful playmate in the world. You played with every dog you met and you loved people. You had a marvelous temperament and became a PetPals volunteer, working with Alzheimer's patients in nursing homes. You went to every fundraiser for PoundHounds to work the crowd and raise money for other dogs in town pounds.

You were energetic and calm, enthusiastic and dignified. You loved travel and adventure, and hearth and home. In fact, you always seemed happy being where you were, doing whatever you were doing. As long as Marcia was there, of course.

Maybe it was everyone's ideas about 'dogs like you' that were wrong. In fact, the only thing wrong with you Layla, was the cancer that took you too soon. We will miss your beautiful face forever.

Layla

PoundHounds board member Marcia and her family are broken hearted at the recent loss of their beloved Layla. Only nine and a half, Layla passed to Rainbow Bridge due to an aggressive tumor in her chest.

They're back...TICKS!

Along with the warmer weather comes a most unwanted visitor - ticks! Each year, thousands of dogs contract lyme disease and other tick-borne illnesses. As in humans, lyme disease in dogs can be difficult to detect because the symptoms often come and go and may not even appear until months after infection. Common symptoms include recurrent arthritis/lameness that lasts 3-4 days; stiff, painful gait; swollen joints that may be warm to the touch; pain in legs or body; fever, fatigue, or swollen lymph nodes.

Follow these simple steps to keep your canine companion free of lyme disease: Check your dog every day for ticks. Use a tick preventative product (start now!). And have your vet check for lyme disease at your dog's annual exam. Visit dogsandticks.com for more information.

If you order from 1800PetMeds.com and use the referral code "PoundHounds", PoundHounds will receive a portion of the sale from 1800PetMeds! Use code INQ906 to receive $5 off your order.

Peanut butter Recall Impacts Dog Food & Treats

Many manufacturers include peanut butter in their pet food. Visit the FDA website to make sure you are not feeding your dog a brand of pet food or treats that were involved in the peanut butter recall. Click on the link and scroll down to find "Pet Food Product Recalls" under "Topics".

Foreclosure Resources

Home foreclosures are on the rise in Massachusetts and many pets are losing their homes as well as their families. Pets have been among the voiceless victims of the current economic downturn. Shelters are reporting increases in animal surrenders due to financial difficulties and foreclosures as families struggle to keep and feed pets. If foreclosure looks possible, plan ahead by looking for pet-friendly housing, locating a temporary home for your pet, or adopting your pet out yourself to well-screened homes. If all else fails, bring your pet to your local humane shelter or animal control facility. But never abandon your pet. Resources are available. Click here to read more and to find out what you can do to help.

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Lost Dog Alert
Help Find Keeyne!

Keeyne (pronounced "Keen-eye") is a 5 year old, white and gray large husky about 85 lbs. She is probably pretty dirty by now. She is wearing a blue collar with a name tag and a Gardner, MA rabies tag and possibly town license tag. Although friendly, she is skiddish and won't come towards people.

Keeyne was adopted from Gardner, MA May 18th and went to live with her new family in North Attleboro, MA. Sadly, she escaped while being walked on May 21. She was seen in Wrentham that night and seems to be heading North, probably back toward Gardner. If you have any information regarding Keeyne, please contact Michelle at 781-864-6556. Her family is very worried about her.

Ask the Trainer

PoundHounds has partnered with Sonia Mullen of Canine Techniques, in Chester, NH, to answer your questions about your dog's behavior!

This month, Sonia answers the question, "How do I "go green" when caring for my animals?"

Sonia responds, "As we become more and more modern, so does what we put into our bodies – and into the bodies of our animal companions. There are chemicals in foods, treats, sprays, vaccines, medication and even in the home (e.g., bleach and Lysol.) Many of us want to limit the foreign additives and chemicals in exchange for a healthier, more natural home. There are many ways to do this." Read more to learn about what you can do to care for your dog in a more natural, healthier way.

Click here to read past questions and find out how to submit your own questions.

2008 Review - How did PoundHounds help town dogs in 2008?

Here are just a few facts and figures to demonstrate how PoundHounds helped dogs in town pounds this past year. In 2008, PoundHounds worked with over 20 towns to make a difference in the lives of over 200 dogs! Veterinary care sponsored by PoundHounds for these dogs include:

154 dogs spayed or neutered

85 dogs vaccinated

32 dogs received additional medical care

Additionally, PoundHounds cross-posted 27 dogs available for adoption, sponsored training for 4 dogs, delivered 8 Kuranda Beds to 5 town pounds and, most recently, delivered over 100 Kong toys to 12 pounds. It was a great year for helping the dogs!

Health Check

Over the last few weeks, a series of forwarded e-mails about the dangers of using cocoa mulch have been floating around. Subsequently, there were e-mails claiming the dangers were a hoax.

The ASPCA advises pet owners to avoid using cocoa bean mulch in landscaping around dogs with indiscriminate eating habits.

Please read the ASPCA's article on cocoa mulch to learn the facts.

ACO Resources: Shelter Population Index Underway ACOs and Shelter Staff Take Note!

The National Council on Pet Population Study and Policy has launched Phase II of its Shelter Population Index (SPI). The results of this study will link animal shelter population data to a specific region's human population. It's the first index that reflects the combined impact shelters and their communities have in addressing pet homelessness.

Information is needed from shelters nationwide by April 30th to complete Phase II. Answering the one-page questionnaire for 2007 and 2008 takes less than 10 minutes. Or shelters can submit existing data in any format (e.g., Maddie's Fund report) that includes the needed information.

Log onto www.surveymk.com/SPIQuestionnaire for more info. Every agency's participation is vitally important.

Help create an index our communities can use!

Dog Toy Recall

Four Paws announced in August that they were concerned about reports of injuries to dogs playing with their Rough & Rugged Pimple Ball with Bell. Apparently a vacuum can be created with some dogs suffering severe injuries. To read more about it as well as to find out how to return the ball, go to www.snopes.com.