Anyone who has lost a cat can tell you that it happens so quick- ly. The door is left cracked open for just a split second too long and the curious kitty darts outside. Even if you notice right away, the cat moves so quickly through the bushes that you may not be able to snatch him up and take him back inside to safety. What was a fun adventure quickly turns scary for the poor kitty, as he realizes that he’s hopelessly lost with no way to find his home again. An inside cat is often very ill equipped to handle the dangers of being outside alone, but thankfully most are found by a good samaritan and taken in. Often times, these individuals turn the pet over to their local animal shelter, where the shaken up kitty waits for his family to reunite. Sometimes though people don’t realize that their housecat might be a little living room tiger, but out in the real world, he’s scared and alone. They believe that their kitty might come home on his own and some don’t even realize that their local shelter picks up cats at all. Big Louie came into the shelter back in November of 2013. He’d spent a month out on his own, scared and fending for himself. He was grateful for the warmth and safety that the shelter provided. An affectionate ball of orange fluff, he quickly adjusted to the shelter life but deep down, he knew that there was more. He wanted a home to call his own; but not just any home … he wanted the home; the one he’d so mistakenly escaped from in Octo- ber. Meanwhile, his poor mama had spent weeks searching for him to no avail. She didn’t realize that the VBAC&AC picked up missing kitties, but she searched their neighborhood and talked to all of the neighbors. As the days turned to weeks and the weeks turned to months, she began to give up hope for ever snuggling up on the couch with Big Louie again. Finally, one day seven months after she and Louie had seen one another for the last time, she felt like she was ready to try to open up her heart to another missing kitty. She may not have been able to find Louie, but maybe she had room in her heart for another kitty too. Louie’s people came to the shelter, searching each cage to try to find a kitty that caught their eye. It was a shock for both cat and human when they came face to face after nearly a full year apart. All along, Big Louie had been biding his time, sleeping lazily in the windowsill beds of the cat colony and making all sorts of new friends. Louie’s mom was ecstatic! She immediately adopted him back and the two went back to the home that Louie knew and loved. Louie’s adventure lasted a little longer than most stray kitties do but we know he won’t be forgetting it any time soon. Now safe and sound at home, Louie is a little bit more of a homebody … though it helps that he’s now outfitted with his very own micro- chip just in case the urge to adventure out ever strikes again. Big Louie July 1, 2014 Volume 15, Issue 15 Pet Tails Inside this issue: Bear Talk! 2 Ah Sweet Summertime! 3 Fostering Hospice Animals 4 Fostering Hospice Animals (cont.) 5 Facebook/Twitter 5 Animal Spotlight 6 Some Animal Facts 6 Get to Know Your Breed 7 Ask the Behavior Guy 8 THANK YOU “Work Experi- ence” Students 9 Effective Counseling 9 Meet the Staff 10 Meet the Officers 10 Meet the Volunteers 11 Volunteer Opportunities and Miscellaneous 12 Virginia Beach Animal Care & Adoption Center
12
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Transcript
Anyone who has lost a cat can tell you that it happens so quick-
ly. The door is left cracked open for just a split second too long
and the curious kitty darts outside. Even if you notice right away,
the cat moves so quickly through the bushes that you may not
be able to snatch him up and take him back inside to safety.
What was a fun adventure quickly turns scary for the poor kitty,
as he realizes that he’s hopelessly lost with no way to find his
home again. An inside cat is often very ill equipped to handle the
dangers of being outside alone, but thankfully most are found by
a good samaritan and taken in. Often times, these individuals
turn the pet over to their local animal shelter, where the shaken
up kitty waits for his family to reunite. Sometimes though people
don’t realize that their housecat might be a little living room tiger,
but out in the real world, he’s scared and alone. They believe
that their kitty might come home on his own and some don’t even realize that their local
shelter picks up cats at all.
Big Louie came into the shelter back in November of 2013. He’d spent a month out on his
own, scared and fending for himself. He was grateful for the warmth and safety that the
shelter provided. An affectionate ball of orange fluff, he quickly adjusted to the shelter life
but deep down, he knew that there was more. He wanted a home to call his own; but not
just any home … he wanted the home; the one he’d so mistakenly escaped from in Octo-
ber. Meanwhile, his poor mama had spent weeks searching for him to no avail. She didn’t
realize that the VBAC&AC picked up missing kitties, but she searched their neighborhood
and talked to all of the neighbors. As the days turned to weeks and the weeks turned to
months, she began to give up hope for ever snuggling up on the couch with Big Louie
again. Finally, one day seven months after she and Louie had seen one another for the last
time, she felt like she was ready to try to open up her heart to another missing kitty. She
may not have been able to find Louie, but maybe she had room in her heart for another
kitty too. Louie’s people came to the shelter, searching each cage to try to find a kitty that
caught their eye. It was a shock for both cat and human when they came face to face after
nearly a full year apart. All along, Big Louie had been biding his time, sleeping lazily in the
windowsill beds of the cat colony and making all sorts of new friends. Louie’s mom was
ecstatic! She immediately adopted him back and the two went back to the home that Louie
knew and loved. Louie’s adventure lasted a little longer than most stray kitties do but we
know he won’t be forgetting it any time soon. Now safe and sound at home, Louie is a little
bit more of a homebody … though it helps that he’s now outfitted with his very own micro-
chip just in case the urge to adventure out ever strikes again.
Big Louie
July 1, 2014
Volume 15, Issue 15
Pet Tails
Inside this issue:
Bear Talk! 2
Ah Sweet Summertime! 3
Fostering Hospice Animals 4
Fostering Hospice Animals
(cont.)
5
Facebook/Twitter 5
Animal Spotlight 6
Some Animal Facts 6
Get to Know Your Breed 7
Ask the Behavior Guy 8
THANK YOU “Work Experi-
ence” Students
9
Effective Counseling 9
Meet the Staff 10
Meet the Officers 10
Meet the Volunteers 11
Volunteer Opportunities
and Miscellaneous
12
Virginia Beach Animal
Care & Adoption Center
Volume 15, Issue 15 Page 2
Bear Talk
With all the increased bear activity we have been seeing this year, this month we decided to talk
about just that, bear. So far this year, in the month of June we have had two bear captures. When-
ever we have bear activity we always receive a lot of questions. Probably the most common questions
are how did they get here and what are they doing here?
The two bears that were captured this month were both male bears and both yearlings. According
to the Department of Game and Inland Fisheries whenever they receive a call to assist with a bear
that has wandered out of its comfort zone it is almost always male yearling bears. The reason for
this is because at around the age of a year and a half the mother bears kick their cubs out of the
nest. This being the first summer the bears are out on their own they have to hunt for themselves,
and most importantly, find new territory. This can be tough for young bears and they often have to
travel long distances, and branch out to find unoccupied areas.
From what our state biologist has told us, bears usually travel along a body of water. If you take a
look at a map you can see how feasible it is for a bear to travel along our inner coastal waterways all
the way from the dismal swamp. The waterways eventually lead the bear to the ocean, where it sud-
denly comes in contact with people, and quickly becomes panicked and confused. At this point it is
very easy for them to become lost and turned around in their attempt to flea civilization.
Here are some things we would like you to be mindful of during this bear “busy season.” The chanc-
es of seeing a bear in this area are slim, but possible. These bears are far more terrified of us than
we are of them. Seeing a bear is truly an awesome sight, but we ask that you be respectful of their
space. Although these animals are not outwardly aggressive towards people, they are a wild animal
and do have the “fight or flight” instinct. If you see a bear in a highly people populated area of the
city please report it to animal control so the situation can be monitored. As always we ask that you
secure your trash can lids at night, and pick up any food outside. This will deter a bear from linger-
ing in your area if there is not an available food source.
Both of our bears this year were safely captured, with the help of the state biologist. Both bears
were found to be healthy and were successfully relocated to an area much better suited for a bear.
If you have any additional questions or
concerns please feel free to contact
Animal Control at 757-385-4444 or you
can call the Department of Game and
Inland Fisheries helpline at 855-571-
9003.
Ah Sweet Summertime! ...
Long days full of cookouts, beach time and much needed vacations! But while we're enjoying the wonderful hot
weather, we need to stop and think about the fur covered members of our family. The hot weather can be hard
on them and they obviously can't handle it as well as we can. Listed below are some tips from the American
Kennel Association for the summer regarding your pets. Please make sure to keep everyone in your family safe
and able to enjoy summer!
Always provide fresh, clean water and a shady spot for your pet to lay in, especially if they go outdoors a
lot.
Doghouses aren't a great option since they can trap heat. A good idea is to fill a child sized wading pool with
water so they have a place to cool off.
Dogs, especially those with short hair, white fur, and pink skin, can sunburn. Limit your dog's exposure dur-
ing the day and apply sunblock to his ears and nose 30 minutes before going outside.
Do not let your dog drink seawater; the salt will make him sick. Saltwater can also damage your dog's coat
so make sure to rinse him off at the end of the day.
Dogs that are brachycephalic (short-faced), such as Bulldogs, Boxers, Japanese Chins, and Pekingese, have
an especially hard time in the heat because they do not pant as efficiently as longer-faced dogs. Keep your
brachycephalic dog inside with air-conditioning.
If your dog begins to exhibit signs of heatstroke, you should immediately try to cool the dog down:
Apply rubbing alcohol to the dog's paw pads.
Apply ice packs to the groin area.
Hose down with water.
Allow the dog to lick ice chips or drink a small amount of water.
Offer Pedialyte to restore electrolytes.
Check your dog's temperature regularly during this process. Once the dog's temperature has stabilized at be-
tween 100 to 102 degrees, you can stop the cool-down process.
If you cannot get the dog cooled down and you begin to see signs of advanced heatstroke, take the dog to the
veterinarian immediately.
For more tips, visit the following link … https://www.akc.org/public_education/summer_safety.cf
Have a safe, fun and happy summer!
And also be sure to be on the lookout for heatstroke. The signs to watch for include:
Early Stages: Advanced Stages:
Heavy panting. White or blue gums.
Rapid breathing. Lethargy, unwillingness to move.
Excessive drooling. Uncontrollable urination or defecation.
Bright red gums and tongue. Labored, noisy breathing.
Standing 4-square, posting or spreading out in Shock.
Snapping turtles are an amazing member of the alligator family.
It is said to be endangered in North America as it is hunted for its meat.
It is difficult to catch these turtles without causing damage. They have flexible necks and can bite even when laying on their back. They also have delicate vertebrae that may break when picked up by the tail often causing death.
They are usually found in shallow fresh water such as lakes, streams, and ponds.
“Princess Peach”- Long hair Persian1406-0335
Princess is a sweet 4 year old pug faced Per-cian. Because of her long coat she must be kept inside and needs daily brushing. She is at the Pet Smart on Plaza Trail.
“Lola”- America Short coat 1406-1729
Lola is a beautiful fashion bunny who likes to cuddle, eat carrots and according to her for-mer owner, she likes to walk on a leash. That makes her one cool bunn bunn!
“Clips”- Pit Bull Terrier Mix 1404-0328
Clips is a 5 year old 60 lb boy who loves to ride in the car, chase balls and gets along well with other dogs and children. He loves a leash and Frisbees.
Page 6 Pet Tails
Roosters, male chickens, are also called cocks, and cockerels. The term rooster origi-nated in the United States.
Roosters are territorial and protect all hens and their nests within his roost. Most often from a perch 3—5 feet above the ground to see all that moves within his domain.
Roosters are known for crowing in the morn-ing when in reality they crow whenever they feel like it. Some crow all day long others on-ly a few times a day.
Since antiquity roosters are considered sa-cred in some cultures.
Pygmy Goat ‘This breed originated in
Cameroon Valley in South Africa.
A pygmy is a small domestic goat
that is kept mainly as pets.
They enjoy jumping on items,
often choosing small vehicles.
They are affectionate if treated
with respect.
They require fresh water and
will not drink it if it is not.
They need to be protected from
predators.
Males (bucks) weigh in at 60-86
lbs. with females (does) weighing
53-75 lbs.
They are happy with shelter and
open area. They are very hardy
and live through cold weather
with lukewarm water and
lukewarm food.
American Foxhound This breed is a cousin to the
English Foxhound.
They are gentle, easy going, and
get along with children and oth-
er animals. They are often shy
around strangers.
Foxhounds are active with high
energy. If fenced in during the
day, they will require several
walks followed by a game of
fetch.
Obedience training is necessary
as they will ignore commands
when following a scent.
They are known for their musi-
cal bark when hunting that can
be heard for miles. They make
“voice” when hunting but do not
make good watchdogs.
Pet Tails Page 7
Ask the Behavior Guy
On Training Seals …
Recently, several VBACAC
staff got the opportunity to
participate in the Seal
Splash program at the VA
Aquarium here in Virginia
Beach. We learned about
harbor seals and their typi-
cal life experiences, the
challenges of keeping them at the Aquarium, and finally got to participate in a training session
with the Aquarium’s seal trainers. It was a great deal of fun to assist them work with their an-
imals!
Most of the behavior they teach their seals revolve around animal husbandry, or behaviors
that are crucial to providing effective long-term health maintenance and veterinary care (such
as safe feeding practices, moving to/from enclosures, body handling by humans). One challenge
facing marine mammal trainers is how to manipulate the location of an animal that is much big-
ger & stronger than you (a typical harbor seal can weigh 250lbs). As a result, these trainers
rely extensively on positive reinforcement training techniques which are designed to reward
the animal for choosing behaviors that the trainer is seeking. Think about it…if your 250lb.
seal decides that he really doesn’t want to move onto an out-of-water platform so that your
veterinarian can draw blood, it’s not like you can physically drag him out of the pool!
During the training session, it was interesting to think about how VBACAC shares similar chal-
lenges with our animals here at the shelter. Seal trainers use a target stick to get the seal to
move to specific locations or swim in a specific pattern. Dog walkers use hand targeting
(teaching the dog to nose it’s nose to your hand) or floor targets (visual targets on the floor,
often baited with a treat) to move dogs in and around the shelter. Seal trainers condition their
seals to anticipate being physically touched by a person when the seal hears a specific verbal
cue. Dog walkers are taught to let their dog lick/eat a dog treat and then connect their leash
to the dog’s collar while the dog is eating—this is to condition the dog so that it associates col-lar touching by strangers as a positive experience. These are just a few examples but they
demonstrate the importance and viability of using science-based training methods for any ani-
mals. The science works, we just have to use those principles to guide our decision-making
about training our animals.
If you ever have an opportunity to participate in the Seal Splash program, go for it!!! It was
well worth it!
Got a question you would like addressed in a future newsletter? Email the Behavior Guy at lca-