Furrever Friends Rescue and Volunteers, Inc.

Nestle Purina PetCare Company (NPPC) is voluntarily recalling select bags of its Purina ONE Vibrant Maturity 7+ Dry Cat Food due to possible Salmonella contamination, the FDA announced on Friday.

The products affected by this recall include bags with a “Best by” date of May 2012:

• 3.5-pound bags, with production codes of 03341084 and 03351084 and UPC codes of 17800 01885.
• 7-pound bags with production codes of 03341084 and 03351084 and UPC codes of 17800 01887

These products were primarily distributed and sold in the Midwestern US, but may have been shipped to other areas.

Official Purina press release here.  FDA statement here.

Across the US, temperatures are soaring into the 90s and higher, and many regions are seeing record highs.  Pets — especially dogs and cats — can overheat easily, largely because they don’t perspire like people.

To keep your pets cool during heat waves, follow these tips:

• Follow your local weather forecasts so you will know when hot weather is expected in your area, and plan accordingly.
• Make sure your pets have access to plenty of cool, fresh water.  Don’t allow water to sit outside in the sun, as it can get hot quickly… and drinking hot water is bad for animals.  You can also give your pets  ice.
• Keep your pets indoors as much as possible.  Walk your dog(s) early in the morning or later in the evening, when temperatures are lower.  Be aware of hot surfaces, which can burn animals’ paws.
• Prevent your pets from over-exercising or overexerting themselves.
• Provide your pets with access to cool parts of your home, such as the basement or air-conditioned rooms (if you don’t have central air).
• Some dogs enjoy splashing around in “kiddie” swimming pools, which can be purchased at toy stores and even at some pet stores.
• Purchase hammock-style or “cooling” beds for your pets that can keep them cool when sleeping.
• Even if your pet is outside for brief periods, provide a shaded area if one doesn’t exist, and make sure it stays consistently shady throughout the day.
• Never, ever leave a pet alone in a closed vehicle! On a summer day, a vehicle with the AC off and the windows up can reach deadly temperatures in as little as 15 minutes.  To learn more about the dangers of leaving animals in hot cars, visit MyDogIsCool.com
• If you are away from home for more than a few hours, ask a friend or hire a pet-sitter to check up on your pets once or twice during the day (obviously, this is essential if you plan to be away for overnight or longer).
• It’s always good to check in on elderly friends, relatives and neighbors in the hot weather, but be especially mindful of seniors who have pets.  If an elderly pet owner needs help, make sure that their pets are kept cool and watered.
• Dogs and cats with long, thick fur should be groomed to remove excess fur that can make them hot.  At home, you can use de-shedding tools such as the Furminator to comb away excess fur.
• Be alert to any changes in your pet’s behavior, which could indicate heatstroke. Symptoms include excessive panting, drooling, vomiting and lethargy.  If your dog or cat has been exposed to the heat and appears to be behaving strangely, contact your veterinarian immediately.  In the meantime, you can bathe your pet in cool water to help lower its body temperature.  Give overheated animals small amounts of water, as drinking too much at once can make them sick.
• If your pet has a chronic health condition, is pregnant or is on medication, consult your vet on how to care for it during hot weather.
• If you see an animal that appears to be in suffering from neglect in the heat, contact your local animal control or police.  In New Jersey, you can report animal abuse and neglect by calling the NJ SPCA at (800) 582-5979.

The ASPCA also recommends taking your pets for a vet checkup that includes a heartworm test.  Your vet can also recommend a flea and tick prevention regimen if necessary.

For more information, see the ASPCA’s Hot Weather Tips.  Also, those who care for feral cats can read this article to learn about special needs of feral colonies during the summer months.

UPDATE (6/22/11): In Arizona, animal rescues and shelters are overwhelmed with displaced pets due to the recent wildfires.  Read more…

=================================

UPDATE (6/17/11): Nearly a month after the May 22 tornado that devastated the city of Joplin, Missouri, about 900 pets remain homeless at the Joplin Humane Society.  Read more…

=================================

This spring has brought an unprecedented number of natural disasters to the U.S., particularly to the Midwest and South.  As a result, animal shelters and rescue groups throughout the country are strained as they work to help animals who have been stranded, injured, or separated from their families.

The following video tells the story of a dog injured in a recent tornado who crawled home on two broken legs:

Groups such as the ASPCA, the Humane Association of the United States and the American Humane Association are responding to help local shelters and rescue groups in affected areas.  Such groups will welcome your donations… though any group that works to support animals can use your support at this time, as resources across the board become depleted.  Ways you can help include:

• Donating cash instead of material items.  Many shelters and rescues are overwhelmed with items they cannot use, yet need cash to purchase the supplies and services they need.  If you wish to donate items, check with the rescue/shelter to see exactly what items they can use.  Gift cards to discount stores (Wal-Mart, Target, K-Mart), grocery stores, gas stations, office supply stores and pet supply stores are always welcome.
• Volunteer.  All animal organizations can use volunteer help, so ask how you can do the most good with your services.  Even if you are nowhere near a disaster area, helping your local shelter or rescue group will contribute to the common goal of rescuing animals as demand for services increases.  Shelters and rescue groups are always in need of volunteers to help care for animals in shelters and adoption centers, provide foster homes for animals, provide transportation and participate in fundraising events.
• Beware of scams. Sadly, there are always those willing to take advantage of people’s kindness and compassion during times like these, collecting money in the name of disaster relief when in fact merely attempting to enrich themselves.  Donate only to organizations that you know and trust, and use trusted avenues (official websites and mailing addresses) to send your money.  Any organization you donate money to should be a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit as designated by the IRS.
• For your own family, create a family disaster plan, and consider how you would help your pet(s) in the event of a disaster in your area.  The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has a policy of supporting the admission of pets to emergency shelters, so plan on taking your pet(s) in the event you are evacuated.  Also, consider microchipping your pet(s) in case they are ever separated from you.  For more information, see the Community Pet Preparedness Toolkit at Ready.gov.

 

What condition carries negative and ignorant thinking and has led to the euthanasia of thousands of cats each year? The highly misunderstood, Feline Immunodeficiency Virus.

 

Furrever Friends has 6 beautiful, healthy cats that tested positive for FIV (a feline version of HIV, not AIDS).

Due to FEAR, not facts, about this condition, these cats are rarely adopted and are often the first in shelters to face euthanasia, even though they are healthy.

• FIV cats CAN live among non-FIV cats
• FIV is NOT contagious to humans or other non-feline species
• Most FIV cats live long, healthy lives

 

 

 
 

---

 

 

Save the life of one of these cats TODAY and become a savior to a special kitty! Application Required with References. You can pre-apply here on our web site, or call 856-845-8554.

---

 

FIV Facts from the Best Friends Animal Sanctuary in Utah

 

(1) The Feline Immuno-deficiency Virus is a slow virus that affects a cat’s immune system over a period of years.

(2) FIV is a cat-only disease and cannot be spread to humans or other non-felines.

(3) FIV cats most often live long, healthy, and relatively normal lives with no symptoms at all.

(4) FIV is not easily passed between cats. It cannot be spread casually – like in litter boxes, water and food bowls, or when snuggling and playing. It is rarely spread from a mother to her kittens.

(5) The virus can be spread through blood transfusions, badly infected gums, or serious, penetrating bite wounds. (Bite wounds of this kind are extremely rare, except in free-roaming, unneutered tomcats.)

(6) A neutered cat, in a home, is extremely unlikely to infect other cats, if properly introduced.

(7) Many vets are not educated about FIV since the virus was only discovered 15 years ago.

(8) FIV-positive cats should be kept as healthy as possible. Keep them indoors and free from stress, feed them a high-quality diet, keep and treat any secondary problems as soon as they arise.

 

What is FIV?

FIV stands for Feline Immunodeficiency Virus. It’s a lentivirus, meaning that it progresses very slowly, gradually affecting a cat’s immune system. It is passed through blood transfusions and through serious, penetrating bite wounds – mainly by stray, intact tom cats. The most well-known lentivirus in humans is HIV. But the two are not at all the same, and you can’t get FIV from a cat. In fact, the only thing about FIV that you can catch is a bad case of the rumors.
  

FIV is highly misunderstood – Please FORWARD this email to anyone and everyone to spread the word! Let’s get these special kitties in furrever homes NOW.
  

THANK YOU for your support!

Furrever Friends Rescue Volunteers, Inc.

“Saving the lives of homeless animals in southern New Jersey”

www.furreverfriends.org