This cute dog, Rodie, knows what he likes and he’s not changing his mind! Watch as he gives his opinion on green bean casserole, pumpkin pie, and so much more. We all have our favorite and not so favorite Thanksgiving dishes, watch to see if you agree with Rodie's Thanksgiving dinner decisions!
Author: SPCAI Staff
Staff Pick Pet Gifts
Your holiday shopping list just got easier! Check out these great pet and pet parent gift ideas, tried and tested by SPCAI staff!
Thermal Cat Mat
For folks with a senior cat – a self-heating cat bed keeps kitties warm and their aching bodies comfortable. This bed is reversible, washable, and doesn’t use electricity, so kitties stay safe. It even comes with a bonus toy!
Top Paw® Travel Bowl
Collapsible bowl for pets on the go! Whether we’re heading to the mountains to hike or the beach to relax, our dog and his bowl come along. This bowl is durable, light, and flattens out for easy packing. It even comes with a carabiner for hooking it to the outside of a daypack.
Orvis Memory Foam Bolster
Kuma is incredibly spoiled and his current giant dog bed is in need of a replacement. This year we’re getting him the Orvis Memory Foam Bolster Dog Bed. We pet sat for people who had this bed and Kuma fell in love with it, it’s so comfy I wish we could get it in a queen-sized mattress!
Double Dog Leash with 360° Swivel
This 2-in-1 leash for dogs is great for families with twice the bundle of joy! It works great for small or big dogs and does not tangle! Shock absorbing and reflective for safety, this double leash will let you keep one hand free.
Friendship Collar and Bracelet
Celebrate special pet bonds with matching accessories. Whether you’re looking for something trendy or classic, you’ll be able to find the right style in these matching collar bracelet combos. And they’re even vegan leather!
Shark Mouth Cat Bed
Any cat will look tough relaxing in the mouth of this playful shark-shaped cat bed. They’ll entertain guests and have a cozy hidey-hole to feel safe in. With multiple features and a removable, washable cushion this bed is the perfect gift for your meow monster. (Okay, maybe small dogs would like this too, but my cat doesn’t want me to admit it.) Offered in grey, pink and blue you can pick a style to fit any decor.
R. Nichols: Cat Lover & Dog Lover Collections
These stationary products make great gifts for animal lovers! Or pick some beautiful thank you cards to send to others after all the wrapping paper has been recycled. An Orlando, Florida, based artist, R. Nichols transforms ordinary paper into delightful collages featuring energetic silhouetted figures, playful animals and delicate foliage. His products are all made in the USA and will bring joy to your heart all year long. They have special collections for cat lovers and dog lovers.
PawTracker
As much as we try to keep our pets safe, sometimes they are little escape artists! The PawTracker is one of the smallest and lightest GPS tracking devices with a mobile app, putting your pet’s location right at your fingertips – allowing you to locate your fur-child and track their activity history on your phone or tablet. The PawTracker relays location information to your mobile device no matter how far your pet has traveled. There is no distance restriction!
Holiday Pet Safety Tips
by SPCA International
Thanksgiving time is upon us and whether you're having tofurkey or free-range turkey, your dog or cat will likely be begging for a sample or two. Even though it may be tempting to give in to those pleading eyes and wagging tail, there are a few things you should know before doing so. Traditional holiday foods can be dangerous and potentially deadly to pets, but if you follow this short safety guide, both you and your pet will be more than thankful this year.
Bones - Small cooked bones from turkey or other meat sources can become lodged in the throat, stomach, or intestinal tract or break into splinters, causing extensive damage to the stomach and gastrointestinal tract if swallowed, even puncturing the small intestine.
Raw or undercooked turkey - may contain deadly salmonella bacteria, even if your dog or cat is used to a raw diet.
Batter – When raw bread dough combines with the body heat of your pet, it can cause the dough to rise inside the stomach, producing severe abdominal pain and bloating leading to more serious complications requiring surgery. Moreover, the batter used in cakes and pies usually contains raw eggs, which may have salmonella bacteria as well.
Fatty foods - Rich, fatty foods such as turkey skin, gravy and dark turkey meat are often difficult to digest which can cause vomiting and diarrhea in your dog, and in extreme cases, pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas). If you notice your dog or cat showing signs of vomiting, loss of appetite, fever, diarrhea or lethargy, please do not wait to contact your veterinarian.
Onions and Garlic - These ingredients contain sulfides, which are very toxic to animals and can cause the destruction of red blood cells, especially in cats.
Sage - Commonly used as flavoring during this holiday, this well-known herb as well as many other herbs, contain essential oils and resins that can cause gastrointestinal upset and central nervous system depression to pets, especially in cats.
Raisins and Grapes - They are not only a choking hazard to smaller animals, but ingestion of either can cause significant kidney damage.
Walnuts and Macadamia Nuts - These can cause weakness, depression, incoordination, and tremors. In addition, the high fat levels of these nuts may cause pancreatitis in dogs, resulting in severe vomiting and diarrhea.
Chocolate - In general, the darker and more bitter the chocolate, the more poisonous it is. The chemicals in chocolate that are dangerous or even fatal are methylxanthines, which are similar to caffeine and more heavily concentrated in the darker varieties we often see as being advertised with a high percentage of cocoa.
Mushrooms - These can produce damage to a number of internal organs, including kidneys, liver, and the central nervous system, which can result in seizure, coma and sometimes death.
Candy - Many contain Xylitol, an artificial sweetener that can cause a severe drop in blood glucose in dogs; in fact, 30 minutes after ingestion dogs could exhibit signs of depression, loss of coordination and seizures. Xylitol may also lead to delayed onset damage to the liver occurring days to weeks after ingestion. Xylitol toxicity in pets may be fatal and requires immediate medical attention.
Beer and alcohol - Alcohol, especially the hops in beer, can be particularly harmful to dogs, causing intoxication, panting, fever, racing heart, liver damage, even coma, seizures, and death.
When planning your holiday feast, it’s also a good idea to make sure that you properly dispose of any wrappings such as aluminum foil and plastic wrap that your dog may find rummaging through the yummy smelling trash. If you know that your furry four-legged friend is a scavenger, distract him with a safe made-for-pet chew bone or indulge him with a few cooked pieces of meat and safe vegetables inside a Kong toy. After all, pets are part of the family; they deserve a Thanksgiving treat too!
Daisy’s Recovery Is Fully Funded
SPCA International's executive director, Meredith Ayan, shares video we recently received from Daisy's rescuers and caretakers. Thank you to everyone who chipped in to help her recover from the terrible cruelty she endured! We couldn't do this life-saving work without your support.
If you are interested in adopting Daisy, please email us at [email protected] with the subject line "Daisy Adoption Inquiry" and we will send you more information about the process. Thank you!
From Abandonment to Stardom – NYC Adoption Alert
Molly Mae and Trixie were scared, cold, alone, and lost, when they were found by a good Samaritan and brought to a local shelter. These sweet Dachshund mix pups have blossomed into hilarious adventure seeking characters who deserve to grow up with a loving family. They’re also training for the 2019 Puppy Bowl! They’re three months old and weigh less than 10 pounds. They will be available for adoption in the New York City area after October 16th, email [email protected] if you are interested. And don’t forget to tune into the 2019 Puppy Bowl to see these two in act
Dog + Soldier Reunited
Break out the tissues – you’re going to love this video. It hasn’t gone viral yet, but we’re hoping you can help us with that! SPCAI ran a “Super Mission” to rescue 25 soldiers’ dogs from the Middle East earlier this year. In this video you’ll meet one of these rescues and her favorite Army Corporal, Danny.
SPCA International Grant to Stop Dog Meat Trade
In September 2018, we reached out to the generous SPCA International community with a request to raise funds for our international partners who are working to put a stop to the dog meat trade and rescue its innocent victims. This is one of the most heartbreaking realities; community dogs are being rounded up, tortured and slaughtered because people believe their meat has special properties such as the ability to increase virility. Worst of all, this myth also perpetuates a belief that if a dog suffers before death, the meat will be more powerful. Dogs are being tortured through beating, electrocution, stabbing, and even being boiled or skinned alive.
Despite public outcry from many citizens where people consume dog meat, the practice continues. China, for example, can be a perilous place for dogs, but thanks to SPCA International supporters, more help and support is on the way. A $20,000 grant will be made to Bo Ai Animal Center where founder Du Yufeng along with staff and volunteers work tirelessly to rescue dogs from the meat trade and work toward a ban on all dog meat consumption.
The Bo Ai Animal Center is home to hundreds of dogs, and it would be impossible for the staff and volunteers to care for these animals without financial support from organizations like SPCAI and supporters like you.
Noah (above) is one of the Bo Ai’s more recent rescue dogs. He was lucky to be saved from the meat trade by Du and her team. Once he was healthy and vetted, Noah traveled to Amsterdam to meet his new forever family. They welcomed him with open hearts and warm hugs and today he is settling in nicely. He is experiencing a lot of firsts in Amsterdam – a new dog bed all his own, long walks, life with a housecat, and he even met a horse.
Many dogs like Noah that have been rescued from the dog meat trade and other perilous situations, are still available for adoption on by Bo Ai Animal Center’s website. We hope you will consider opening your heart and home to one of them.
Mission Accomplished: All 13 Pet Rescues Are Funded!
Tested But Not Torn Apart: The Aviles
Mason the Goldendoodle was almost left behind in Seattle. Thanks to SPCA International supporters and a grant from the Operation Military Pets program, Mason moved to Hawaii with the family he loves.
Like many newly married couples, Kristyna and Luis Aviles added a dog to their family shortly after their wedding. Both active duty military, the Aviles say that Mason, a Goldendoodle, was their first baby. Kristyna says, “he doesn’t even know he is a dog!”
When a human baby, Troy, came along the connection with Mason was instant. Like most new parents, Luis and Kristyna were a bit worried about their dog’s response to a new baby, but Mason was immediately dedicated to the new member of his family. This dog-baby duo is so bonded, they even share toys!
With a new baby, Kristyna made the decision to not re-enlist in the military, and the family tightened their belts to accommodate the loss of a paycheck. When Luis’s orders came for a change of duty station to Hawaii, they immediately started making plans and soon found out that Mason was too big to travel checked in the cargo hold – they would have to use an expensive pet moving company. The couple worried they wouldn’t be able to afford the costly move and would have to find a new home for Mason. They were heartbroken.
They turned to SPCA International for help, through the Operation Military Pets program we were able to help defray the high cost of the pet moving company. The Aviles are so grateful for the support from SPCA International, saying “it is a great organization that kept our family together.”
SPCA International is honored to serve military families, like the Aviles, and their beloved pets. We are grateful for the support of our many donors who make programs like Operation Military Pets possible. Thank you!
Emotional Support Animal Debate
Emotional support animals are controversial. Let’s talk about the difference between service animals and emotional support animals, why emotional support animals are increasing in popularity, and why they are so controversial.
Both service animals and emotional support animals serve a distinct purpose in their owner’s lives, but there are some key differences.
Service Animals:
Are trained to complete specific tasks to support a person with a disability such as blindness, limited mobility, or diabetes. Service animals’ access to all businesses and public spaces is protected by the Americans with Disabilities Act. Service animals usually receive extensive training before becoming a “working” dog.
Emotional Support Animals:
Provide companionship to a person with an emotional or phycological disability such as PTSD, anxiety or depression. These animals do not typically require special training. In most states emotional support animals do not have access to all businesses and public places, instead they are limited to being allowed to accompany their owner in no-pet housing, and to fly on an airplane with their owner if they are needed in-flight or at the owner’s destination.
Increase in popularity:
Anyone with a pet reaps positive emotional benefits from interaction with their animal. As humans, we adopt pets and treat them as valued members of our families. So, when furry family members are prohibited from housing or people fear having to leave a pet behind because of flight restrictions, they often turn to the option of an emotional support animal.
You might wonder why don’t people just find other housing or travel with their animal as checked baggage? There are many reasons: unavailability of housing, safety, cost, and restrictions for animals traveling as checked baggage, to name a few.
The controversy:
Service animals and emotional support animals are not required to be registered as such with any entity. That’s right, there are numerous voluntary registries, but no requirement. Because housing and airline documentation pertains to the person and not the animal, animals can often be untrained and even sometimes lack basic obedience. All that is needed is a letter from a mental health provider or physician stating that the person has a health requirement for the animal.
While the majority of service and emotional support animals are well-behaved, there have been instances of poor behavior, including accidents, barking, and even aggression- which has led the housing and airline industries to seek better controls for emotional support animals.
Here at SPCA International, we’re closely monitoring the debate. We know that both service animals and emotional support animals provide an extraordinary benefit to their owners, and we hope that any regulations are developed carefully and with the interest of the animals in mind, as well as humans.