Adopt a PAL

Do you have room in your heart and home for a homeless pet? How about one of these sweethearts?


Harley     

You may remember Harley from our last newsletter. (Both of these pictures are of him.) Incredibly, this BIG, handsome guy is still waiting for someone to adopt him. He's a 5-year-old, long-haired white cat with brown spots. He's VERY friendly and VERY sweet, and hopes to find someone that he can lavish lots of love on. His gorgeous long hair is easy to maintain, too.

Jack and Jill had been abandoned behind a restaurant. Because they were feral, we had them altered, vaccinated, got rid of their parasites, and provided daily food and housing. The place was safe and the restaurant didn't mind having them there. Recently, though, we noticed that they were becoming more and more friendly so they are now in foster care. Both are VERY affectionate and love being around people and even like other animals. They seem so happy to be inside now that they purr all the time. They can be adopted together or separately.

Sparkle is a wonderful, young-adult Tortoiseshell calico who is very vocal and loves to talk. She's fine with dogs and other cats, but would prefer a home without small children. She's a sweet girl with a great purrsonality! She was rescued the day before she gave birth. She and her kittens are hoping really nice people will adopt them.

Lewis, also a rescued boy, is a 10-month-old black beauty! He's a sweetie pie who likes people and gets along with other cats. This friendly, nice kitty is going to be BIG.

We have kittens, too! Like all the other cats on this page, they are spayed, neutered, vaccinated, tested for diseases, are free of parasites, and are raring to go to their new homes. They range in age from 8 weeks to 4 months. They are VERY cute and lovable! 

Consider adopting a pet in need. They are so grateful to be rescued and loved. Go to our website: www.pal.nccn.net to see other cats and dogs who are waiting to be adopted. Also check out www.petfinder.com, www.pets911.com, and www.1-800-save-a-pet.com. Your true love is waiting for you at one of these sites. 

Good Pet Food

A good diet should contain human-grade and natural ingredients, with no by-products, fillers or additives (artificial flavors and colorings). 

Your pets' diets don't need to include all of the following ingredients, in fact you don't want to overload their systems. But some ingredients may be appropriate for certain stages of their lives. And if you see these ingredients in your pets' food, that's OK. Some of these items don't appear in pet food but can be supplemented if appropriate. Always check with a pet health professional before making changes in your pets' diet. 

Beta-carotene -- Antioxidants such as beta-carotene neutralize free radicals and protect against certain cancers, cataracts and heart disease. Carrots and sweet potatoes are good sources of beta-carotene. 

Brown rice -- Contains a generous supply of B vitamins, plus calcium, phosphorus, and iron. A source of complex carbohydrates, provides quick energy and is higher in protein than milled white rice. 

Chelated minerals -- Amino acid (protein) bound chelated minerals are digestible forms of minerals which are easily absorbed by the body three to ten times greater than common minerals. 

Chicken -- Edible portion of deboned chicken meat. Certified by the USDA as fit for human consumption. Highly digestible, excellent source of good quality protein. 

Chicken fat -- Source of Omega-6 essential fatty acids. Human-grade fat naturally preserved with mixed tocopherols and ascorbic acid. 

Chondroitin Sulfate -- The fluid in the joints is depleted in older pets. Chondroitin Sulfate attracts fluids to the joint's cartilage, making it more resilient and mobile. Numerous studies point to chondroitin sulfate as being helpful to inflammatory conditions, like arthritis. 

Digestive enzymes -- Aid in digestion and absorption of nutrients. 

Filtered water -- Water which is filtered to remove impurities such as asbestos, chlorine, pesticides, heavy metals such as lead and a variety of chemicals that are known carcinogens. 

Glucosamine -- Substance made by the body's cartilage cells. Naturally occurring amino sugars found in all tissues of the body and are the integral part of the "glue" which holds tissue cells together. It also helps prevent osteoarthritis by slowing degeneration and/or rebuilding cartilage. Along with chondroitin sulfate, glucosamine helps in the treatment of osteoarthritis and the development of bones, cartilage and skin tissues. 

Kelp -- Rich in vitamins and contains 30 minerals. Said to help control the thyroid and regulate metabolism, which aids in the digestion of foods and the burning of calories, also with brain and nerve function. 

Peas -- Dogs and cats love the flavor and taste of garden peas. Peas are high in magnesium and soluble fiber and promote digestion of food. 

Pumpkin -- A natural source of beta-carotene. An antioxidant, essential for interacting with free radicals caused by environmental pollution. It is believed to minimize hypersensitivity, allergies and cancer. 

Lactobacillus, Acidophilus -- They act to prevent harmful bacteria from colonizing and creating digestive upsets, help to prevent sickness and stress. 

Lamb -- Finest American lamb, hormone free, antibiotic free and ethoxyquin free. Human-quality meat. 

Minerals -- Complete balanced minerals containing amino acid chelated minerals. 

Nutritional yeast -- A rich source of B vitamins, contains 16 amino acids, 14 minerals and 17 vitamins.

Organic eggs -- An excellent source of protein and contains all the essential amino acids. 

Probiotics -- Natural micro-flora containing enzymes and friendly bacteria that help the digestion process, thus providing more efficient utilization of food and eliminates some gas problems and bloating after meals. 

Sweet potatoes -- Excellent source of complex carbohydrates, vitamins, minerals and beta-carotene. The starch in sweet potatoes converts to sugar easily and provides quick energy. Sweet potatoes are not part of the "Night Shade" family. 

Vitamins -- Complete vitamins including antioxidants, vitamin A, beta-carotene, vitamin C, vitamin E, alpha-tocopherols.

Bad Pet Food

For good health in your pets, avoid these ingredients in pet food:

Animal digest -- A cooked-down broth made from unspecified parts of unspecified animals. Any kind of animal can be included: goats, pigs, horses, rats, etc. The animals can be obtained from any source, so there is no control over quality or contamination. 

Animal or poultry fat -- Obtained from the tissues of mammals and/or poultry in the commercial process of rendering or extracting. The origin of the animals is often not known. Animal fat is a byproduct of meat meal processing. The source can be any mammal or fowl and the resulting oil is very low in linoleic acid -- an essential fatty acid that is important for skin and coat health.

Artificial flavors and colors -- Humanly contrived additives, used to enhance a product and to appeal to the human eye. Use of these ingredients can conceal damage or inferiority, or make the product appear better than it actually is. 

BHA/BHT -- Short for Butylated Hydroxyanisole (BHA) and Butylated Hydroxytoluene (BHT), both of which are chemical preservatives. BHA and BHT have been banned from human use in many countries. In the US, they are still permitted in pet foods. 

Beet pulp -- The residue from sugar beets which has been cleaned, freed from crowns, leaves, and sand, and extracted in the process of manufacturing sugar. Beet pulp is added to some pet foods to act as a fibrous stool hardener. 

Chicken by-products (also: lamb or "poultry" by-products) -- By-products are an inconsistent ingredient because of the multiple organs used, their constantly changing proportions and their questionable nutritional value. By-products are much less expensive and less digestible. 

Chicken digest (also: lamb or "poultry" digest) -- Digest is a taste enhancer made by cooking down meat and fat into a concentrated liquid or dry product. 

Ethoxyquin -- A chemical preservative that is not approved for human use. 

Meat by-products -- Derived from slaughtered mammals, including, but is not limited to, lungs, spleen, kidneys, brain, livers, blood, bone, partially defatted low- temperature fatty tissue, and stomachs and intestines freed of their contents. May include hair, horns, teeth and hoofs. Meat by-products are not meat. They can include almost any part of the animal other than meat. Because any mammal can be used, cheaper meats like horse, pig, or goat are often included. 

Poultry -- Poultry is an unpredictable ingredient, which can contain any type of fowl, including buzzards, geese, and other birds. May contain birds unsuitable for human consumption. 

Wheat gluten -- Wheat gluten is a cheap by-product of human food processing, the result of washing wheat and letting the starchy liquid dry. It offers almost no nutritional value, and serves mostly to bind the food together. 

These are just a few. If you'd like the complete list, let us know: 530-273-7958 or palmailbox@yahoo.com.

A Home, Not a House

The safest place for your pet is in your home with you. That is where they want to be, too. As nights grow colder this is especially true. PAL realizes that there are exceptions when a pet cannot stay indoors all the time. Please provide your pet with adequate shelter! 

Our "Woof Over My Head" program provides cat and dog houses to hundreds of pets each year. These houses are built by volunteers, or are clean "recycled" houses donated when they are no longer needed.

To get build-it-yourself plans visit our website: www.pal.nccn.net. To volunteer to build or donate a house, call 530-273-7958 or email palmailbox@yahoo.com. PAL supplies the materials, and pickup and delivery is available. 

Most importantly, remember that these are "houses." Your pet's "home" is inside with you -- after all, they are part of your family.

Well-Groomed, NOT Well-Done

Americans spent over $2.5 billion on pet grooming and boarding services in 2005. Grooming services are loosely regulated and recent proposals here in California failed to pass. While accidents are rare, here are some ways to help ensure your pet's grooming experience is a safe one.

• Ask to stay with your pet during grooming, or have the
  grooming done at home.

• Look for a groomer who has graduated from a training
  program or is a member of a trade organization such
  as the National Dog Groomers Association of
  America.

• Ask if an animal has ever been injured or died at the
  salon.

• Ask for references from other clients, or better still,
  ask friends for referrals.

• Avoid the use of cage dryers (they can overheat and
  may not be appropriate for all dogs).

• Make your groomer aware of any health problems
  specific to your pet.

Source: Wall Street Journal & PETA, August 2, 2006.

Purrfect Musical Therapy

A purrfect blend of soothing music and purring cats can be found on new CDs from Purrfect Symphony. They are designed by Jack Stewart and Jeff Moran, two British therapists who combined the sounds of nature, purring cats and relaxing music. Cats love "Relax with Cats," and the music is calming to humans, too. If you have trouble getting to sleep at night, this is excellent music to listen to to help you fall sleep.

To purchase the CDs and/or to listen to samples of the music, visit www.purrfectsymphony.com. 

You can also call 219-805-9131 to order.

I Remember 

I stood by your bed last night, 
I came to have a peep. 
I could see that you were crying. 
You found it hard to sleep. 

I whined to you softly 
As you brushed away a tear, 
"It's me, I haven't left you, 
I'm well, I'm fine, I'm here." 

I was close to you at breakfast, 
I watched you pour the tea, 
You were thinking of the many times 
Your hands reached down to me. 

I was with you at the shops today. 
Your arms were getting sore. 
I longed to take your parcels, 
I wish I could do more. 

I was with you at my grave today, 
You tend it with such care. 
I want to re-assure you, 
That I'm not lying there. 

I walked with you towards the house, 
As you fumbled for your key. 
I gently put my paw on you, 
I smiled and said, "It's me." 

You looked so very tired, 
And sank into a chair. 
I tried so hard to let you know, 
That I was standing there. 

It's possible for me to be 
So near you everyday. 
To say to you with certainty, 
"I never went away." 

You sat there very quietly, 
Then smiled, I think you knew . . . 
In the stillness of that evening, 
I was very close to you. 

The day is over . . . 
I smile and watch you yawning 
And say "Good-night, God bless, 
I'll see you in the morning." 

And when the time is right 
For you to cross the brief divide, 
I'll rush across to greet you 
And we'll stand, side by side. 

I have so many things to show you, 
There is so much for you to see. 
Be patient, live your journey out . . . 
Then come home to be with me. 

Author unknown 

If it should be . . .

If it should be that I grow frail and weak, 
And pain should keep me from my sleep, 
Then you must do what must be done, 
For we know this last battle can't be won. 

You will be sad, I understand, 
But don't let grief then stay your hand, 
For this day, more than the rest, 
Your love and friendship must stand the test. 

We've had so many happy years, 
What is to come can hold no fears. 
Would you want me to suffer? So, 
When the time comes, please let me go. 

Take me where my needs they'll tend, 
Only stay with me until the end, 
And hold me firm and speak to me, 
Until my eyes no longer see. 

It is a kindness that you do to me, 
Although my tail it's last has waved, 
From pain and suffering I have been saved. 

Do not grieve, it should be you, 
Who must decide this thing to do. 
We've been so close, we two these years, 
Don't let your heart hold any tears. 

Author unknown 

PALs for Adoption - click dogs, cats for current pets available

In Memory of . . . 

Jitters Allan, from Catherine Busch-Johnston
Moon Babao, "Dog nanny to all types of animals," from Donna Babao
Jackson & Max Bateman, from Dawn & Bob Bateman
Alice Beedy, from Tish Sandos
Telos Bergen, a wonderful kitty, from Grace Bergen
Sheba Bigler, from Fredi Van Pelt
Kaya Cooper, from Ursula Rabe
Kenji Dierkes, from Katherine and Soji Dierkes
Gina Droitcour, We miss you! from Mike & Anna Drummond
Gina Droitcour, from Arlene Lundtoft
Honey, Juno, Sassy & Misty Egger, from Diane Egger
Poncho Fiedler, from Herman & Eleonore Fiedler
Monique FragelBlume, from June Fragel & Pat Blume
McDuff Frank, "beloved cocker spaniel," from Susan Frank
Dottie Gale, from Virginia Kroenlein
Mitzi Mo Gorman, from Catherine Busch-Johnston
Bear Grace, "He had a warm little heart -- always the comic," from Patricia Grace
Bob Head, from Jack & Gay Conner
My Mom, June Jackson, from Lynn Wolfe
Oprah F. B. Knott, from Max & Rip Kellerson
Blackjack Lindblad, from Peter Fulton Foss
Spot Meyer, from Ellen Meyer
Kelly Griffiths Nunez, from Marilyn & Bob Rixon
Woggles Palmerton, from Sandy Palmerton
Nicolaas Pansegrouw, from Shirley Beedy
Madeline Parrish, from Kit & Ken Britt
Kahlua Paul, from Anne Wright
Tess (Blinky) Pilcher, "our very special kitty adopted from PAL in 1991. We miss you so much." from Steve & Georgeana Pilcher
Spirit Pilcher, "our shy girl rescued in 1993. We miss you very much." from Steve & Georgeana Pilcher
Twinkle Quinlan, from Ross & Elaine Quinlan
Twinkle Quinlan, from Bill Skaer
Twinkle Quinlan, from Fleta Stefan
Bill & Mac Renz, from Lee Renz
Misty & Muffin Rumble, from Tom Rumble
Kacie Runcie, from Diane Offutt
Dakota Shumway, from Catherine Busch-Johnston
Flower Sowell, from Maryalyce, Karsten & Dolly Hansen 
P. J. Torres, from Karen & Ridge Eagan
Herb Vanderbent, from Kit & Ken Britt
Lydia Vanderbent, from Kit & Ken Britt
Sami & Smokey Wood, from Vivian Wood
Sly Yordan, from Tina Heliotes
Sly Yordan, from Fran Yordan

In Honor of . . .

The incredible PAL staff! from Flo & Garry Montierth
Tessa Barnes, "who got lost and luckily got found again," from Barbara Pixley
Mike & Anna Drummond, from Helen Avery
Jean & Ron Edler, from Sandy Truman
Garfield Scotten, "13 years old on June 15th. Love him dearly!" from Midge Scotten

Tax Law Change Favors Pets

IRA accounts are wonderful, but there can be tax problems when money is withdrawn. Things get even more complicated if you leave your IRA to your heirs. Financial planners often suggest that folks who plan to make bequests to charities (like PAL) should use IRA funds so their other heirs can avoid the tax problems. This is easily done with a simple beneficiary designation form.

Believe it or not, there are some folks over age 70 who are "forced" to take money they don't need out of their IRA and pay tax on it! We should all be so lucky!

Now congress has passed a bill that allows such folks to donate all or part of these mandatory taxable distributions to a charity, tax free.

The bad news: charitable deductions may no longer be allowed for donations of clothing and/or household items. Check with your tax advisor for details.

Source: Wall Street Journal, August 9 & 16, 2006. www.wsj.com. 

Shredders Are Dangerous

Worries about identity theft have motivated millions to buy document shredders for their homes. These devices are not toys and should never be left on unsupervised. 

Many lacerations and even amputations have occurred in children and pets. In one case a dog's tongue was caught in the machine and badly lacerated. He was attracted to the machine oil. Luckily he was quickly freed, although he suffered permanent, but minor injury. Others have not been so lucky. The stories are grizzly.

Please unplug your shredder when not in use to prevent accidental activation by curious children or pets. 

Emergency Pet Care Seminar

Happy Tails, A Sanctuary for Homeless Pets, will be holding an Emergency Pet Care Seminar on Saturday, September 16, 2006, 10 a.m. to noon, at the Central United Methodist Church, which is located at 53rd and H Streets in Sacramento. The cost is $10 in advance, $15 at the door (all proceeds benefit Happy Tails). To get tickets, contact Happy Tails at 916-383-0261 or at happytailsevents@yahoo.com.

You'll learn how to act fast if your beloved cat or dog is hit by a car, has a seizure, gets a ball stuck in his or her throat, eats poison, or numerous other incidents that could mean life or death if you don't react quickly.

The seminar is presented by a registered veterinary technician and will include hands-on demonstrations (including CPR), prevention tips, how to establish an emergency plan, and more.

Attendees will take home a Pet Emergency Care Booklet, CPR Certificate and other great gifts.

Happy Tails is Sacramento's first no-kill pet sanctuary, founded in 1993 by volunteers committed to a common goal: To create a safe haven for abandoned and abused animals. Visit their website: www.happytails.org.

New Orleans Update

A year after Hurricane Katrina hit, people are still in New Orleans and surrounding areas trying to help the animals there. While many animals were reunited with their people and many more were sent to other parts of the nation to be adopted (when no one came forward to claim them), many remained in the gulf coast area. 

These are/were mostly feral cats and extremely frightened animals who wouldn't let people get near them. Animal Rescue New Orleans (ARNO) was formed to continue to help these animals by feeding them; socializing them (so they could be adopted out); getting them spayed, neutered, vaccinated, and providing them with whatever other medical care they needed; and continuing to look for the animals' guardians.

Most recently, ARNO joined forces with Alley Cat Allies to sterilize over 1,000 cats.

Jack, a Katrina Rescue

No doubt you remember that most of the Katrina animals were not spayed and neutered and about 80% of the dogs were heartworm positive. Other groups have also stepped forward to help with heartworm treatment and altering these animals. 

And perhaps it will surprise you to hear that people are still coming forward to reclaim their animals.

To learn more about ARNO, please go to their website: www.AnimalRescueNewOrleans.com. They are always in need of out-of-town volunteers (perhaps spend your vacation there and help the animals at the same time?) and donations. Please see how you can help at their website or by calling 504-571-1900.

Lebanon Update

Like the situation after Katrina, many animals were left behind in Lebanon when people left. The French were the only ones who allowed their nationals to take their pets with them when they were evacuated.

Needless to say, the chaos and destruction, as well as nothing to eat, took its toll.

The animal shelter in Beirut was hit at one point. The constant shelling and bombing had a huge effect on the animals who didn't perish. 
To learn more about how the animals are faring, and how you can help, go to http://beta.beirut.com.

Best Friends Society, here in the U. S., is also keeping track of rescue efforts. You can read about them at http://network.bestfriends.org/middleeast.

An Awakening

 The unceremonious moment occurred in my living room as I watched HBO's "To Love Or Kill: Man Versus Animal." During the "kill" part of the documentary, my world stopped. I clung to my dog, Stanley, and my orange tabby, Tikvah. For some reason, I looked into Stanley's eyes for an answer. What I found was a soul, endless and deep. All the tumult, pain, joy, courage and stamina of the animal kingdom spoke to me through this little creature's eyes. That night, long forgotten cries crushed my indifference. Billions of nameless deaths walked through my apartment. I was awake. I was alive. And my life would never be the same.

Walk a Dog

Walking a dog can help you lose weight and will make you (and the dog) feel better. Haven't you noticed that when you go for a walk you always feel cheerier about things? Walking with a dog is even more fun!

Results of a study at the University of Missouri in Columbia found that participants in the study who agreed to walk dogs lost 14 pounds over the course of a year. At first the volunteers walked only 10 minutes a day three days a week. Over time, they worked up to 20 minutes a day five days a week. When it rained, they walked an inside route. 

The task was rated as a positive experience, and two of the participants decided to adopt dogs of their own, while several others decided to walk dogs at a shelter.

Some of the volunteers said they didn't participate because walking was good for their own health, but because they knew it was good for the dogs.

Source: Active.com, October 3, 2005

 Dogs Preferred Please!

Heart-failure patients fare much better -- with lower anxiety and stress-hormone scores -- when visited in the hospital by dogs rather than people.

Source: Time Magazine, November 28, 2005

Sleep With Your Pet

It's not only comforting, but sleeping with your pet can reduce stress and put you in a relaxed frame of mind for a more restful sleep. 

Just being with our pets helps lower blood pressure and cholesterol. If you want relief from mental distress, anxiety, and imbalance, "Pets are like emotional sponges that soak up our issues," says Roger Valentine, DVM.

If you'd like to read the complete article, just let us know: 530-273-7958 or palmailbox@yahoo.com and we'll mail it to you.

Source: Natural Health, December/January 2006