Year in review: Taking care of furry friends

A group of puppies recently brought in to the SPCA suffering from frost bite. The tails will have to be partially removed due to the frost bite. (Submitted photo/Prince Albert SPCA)

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Kathleen Howell, operations manager with the Prince Albert SPCA, said it’s important for pet owners to remember not all species and breeds are equipped to deal with cold temperatures, something her team is dealing with after finding stray puppies suffering from frost bite.

“Pet owners absolutely need to be taking precautions. Obviously different animals are suited better for the weather that we’ve been having lately,” Howell said. “In weather like this, small breeds and short haired breeds like a boxer or a Pitbull, shouldn’t even really be out exercising. They should be out for bathroom breaks and maybe a short walk.”

Howell noted that, not unlike humans, dogs and other animals may suffer from difficult breathing in extreme cold temperatures, and owners should be mindful of their pet’s behaviour when they have been exposed to very cold conditions.

Pet prep for emergencies

In May paNOW talked to the province and the SPCA about a 72-hour emergency kit for animals.

Don’t forget about your pets when putting together preparations for any emergency.

Having a 72-hour emergency kit is just as important for that other member of your family, your pet. (submitted photo/Government of Saskatchewan)

That was the key message from the province and SPCA on this Emergency Preparedness Week who are working together to promote a 72-hour self-sufficiency kit for animals.

“We’ve seen evacuations from many communities over the years and pets, if they’re not prepared for, sometimes have to be left behind,” Commissioner of Emergency Management and Fire Safety Duane McKay, told paNOW. “That adds stress, not only to the humans who are leaving these family members behind, but also to the animals.”

McKay added there’s a knock-on effect when pets and their owners are separated.

“It also puts a burden on the community that has to go around and feed them. It might be a change in the types of food, or some medication the animal may need and this all adds stress to an already stressful situation,” McKay said.

To this end, the province and SPCA asked the public to ensure they have some basic points covered.

This includes having a 72-hour emergency kit for pets that contains non-perishable food, water, bowls, a pet carrier, toys and leash/harness, pet first-aid kit, and a familiar blanket or bedding.

Prince Albert’s stray cat crisis growing

In May, Prince Albert experienced a stray cat crisis.

Sixty-four kittens were waiting homes at the SPCA and more were coming in each day according to the local animal control and animal protection worker.

(Prince Albert SPCA/Facebook)

Ashlee Bober said Prince Albert’s stray cat population was ‘out of control’ and said a mother cat and her litter of kittens rescued from a midtown garage were recently added to that tally.

“We are getting anywhere from one to two litters coming in each day,” Bober said.

Bober explained a major contributor to the issue is people getting kittens and then abandoning them once they get older. She said getting a cat requires a serious commitment.

SPCA adopt-a-thon helps over-capacity

In August, the SPCA held an adopt-a-thon to help lower numbers but had more unexpected guests arrive in the process.

(File Photo/ paNOW Staff)

Over half of the cats initially housed at the Prince Albert SPCA found new digs following the three-day adopt-a-thon that ran Thursday through Saturday. But even while celebrating that success, the SPCA was faced with another deluge of newcomers.

With over 70 cats and eight several dogs available for adoption, SPCA manager Ashlee Bober told paNOW the event helped them find homes for 49 of them: 10 dogs ( two extra came in during the event), 15 cats, and 24 kittens.

“It was amazing,” Bober said.

The response from the public helped clear out space for more animals, which was just as well because during the adoption event they had five litters of kittens brought to the shelter, totalling more than 70 additional animals.

“We adopt out quite a bit, but we did have a lot of kitties come in at that time,” Bober said.

So, the SPCA is now back to maximum capacity despite the adoption blitz.

Parvovirus prevalent in Prince Albert

(Ron Quaroni/paNOW Staff)

In October, canine parvovirus was a rising concern in Prince Albert according to a local veterinarian.

It is a highly contagious virus that affects dogs and can be fatal if not handled the proper way.

“We’re seeing a huge increase in the number of cases in parvovirus,” said Dr. Peter Surkan, a veterinarian at Park Range Veterinary Services. “And being close to the north and so many litters of puppies being brought in through different rescue organizations it’s a really fatal preventable viral disease.”

He said it affects the digestive track of the immune system or the bone marrow of young developing puppies.

“It is something that anybody who’s got their owns pups to make darn sure that they’re vaccinating properly because it is totally preventable,” he said. “For whatever reason this last month here we’ve seen probably between five and 10 new cases every week, which is really disheartening.”

He also advised anyone who has a new canine friend to refrain from going to public parks or having any contact with other animals until the dog is vaccinated. They should have three sets of shots within the first year at eight weeks, 12 weeks, and 16 weeks of age.

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Ian.gustafson@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @iangustafson12

by Ian Gustafson

Year in review: Taking care of furry friends

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