Blog Dog - Elvis

This week's blog dog is none other than Elvis. This senior king will capture your heart. He gets along well with children and other dogs, but prefers not to have any felines sharing his new home. He also appreciates a fun ride in the car as well as a game of fetch or chase the squirrel. Senior dogs make wonderful companions and can bring a lot of love into your home. Please consider Elvis, our senior sweetheart and blog dog of the week!

New Year's Project: Assemble a Pet First Aid Kit

Chances are, you have an area of your home where you keep first aid supplies like bandages and antiseptic spray. But what about your supplies for pets? Do you have the tools to help if Fido gets hurt? Not only should all homes have fire extinguishers, flashlights and candles for emergencies, they should also have a kit to take care of pets in the event of an emergency.

Pet first aid kits are fairly easy to assemble because items can be found in the first aid section of most stores and a few items from the pet aisles as well. Here are a few ideas to get you started:

• Gauze - For wrapping wounds or making a makeshift muzzle for wounded pets do not muzzle a pet that is vomiting). Even the most well-trained pet can bite when wounded or in shock.
• Non-stick bandages and tape - never use Band-Aids or self-stick bandages on pets.
• Vetrap or self adhesive wrap - place gauze or non-stick bandage on the wound and use Vetrap to hold it in place.
• Milk of magnesia and activated charcoal for poison control - ALWAYS consult your veterinarian or Animal Poison Control if you believe your pet has ingested a poisonous or toxic substance.
• Leash and Collar - for transportation, it's good to have a backup. 
• Scissors
• Sterile Eye Wash
• Tweezers
• Tick Removal Tool - A popular brand is called Tick Twister (click here to watch the tool in action). Also, save the tick to take to the vet, there are many types and seeing the tick can help your vet treat your pet's condition with more accuracy.
• Cornstarch - helps stop bleeds on toe nails.
• Antiseptic Wash or Wipes - try to use a non-sting version and avoid alcohol based items. Another item to research is Vetericyn, a one-step wound and infection treatment.
• Disposable gloves
• Thermometer and Lubricating Jelly - Know the normal temperature ranges for both dogs and cats because they are different from humans. 
• Hot and Cold Packs - Heat for hypothermia or cold for a burn. Always wrap the pack in cloth before applying to the pet. 
• Extra Towels, Blankets and Wash Cloths
• Benadryl (generic name diphenhydramine) for allergic reactions and insect stings - ALWAYS consult a vet for proper dosage. 
• Lastly, make sure you include a list of important phone numbers like your veterinarian, emergency pet hospital and animal poison control inside your kit so you don't have to hunt them down in a crisis.

Want to go high tech? There are now apps available for your smartphone that will keep you in the know wherever you go. One is Jive Media's Pet First Aid App and another is Pet Saver by Pet Tech. While they both are available for a small fee (under $5), it can be worth it to have help when your fur-kid is down for the count.

Lastly, if you want to make more of an investment in being prepared for pet emergencies, your local Red Cross chapter offers pet first aid courses that go over many different possible situations.

With the internet, we can access articles, websites and apps, but they are no substitute for proper veterinary medical care for your pet. If you're not sure, it's always best to consult your vet.

Blog Dog - Nina

Meet Nina, our first Blog Dog for 2012!

This sweet & petite little girl is only 5 months old with a really pretty silver toned coat. She jumped into the GSROC lifeboat and is looking for an energetic and active person to give her a fur-ever home! Are you that person? Check out her web page for more information. 

So, You Think You Want A German Shepherd?

German Shepherds have been described many different ways; loyal, obedient, beautiful and intelligent are a few that immediately come to mind. But, when it comes to making a selection about a pet for yourself or your family, it's time to do your homework. 

The main issues to consider and research are size, energy level, grooming requirements, health issues, environment, training and the fact that you are committing to care for the dog for the duration of  its life.

Thanks to the folks at Animal Planet, you can get some of your questions answered by watching these video clips about the German Shepherd breed. 

The first video is from the show Breed All About it:

The second is from the show Dogs 101:

The breed of dog you choose should not only be based on its personality and characteristics, but your personality and lifestyle as well. While dogs and puppies may be cute and cuddly, it is still a living creature that needs food, water, shelter, love and sometimes medical care.

If you think the German Shepherd Dog is right for you, please visit our website and check out the available dogs. Our adoption counselors will help you find one whose style matches yours.