Summer came in hot and it is hear to stay. We have lots of information we want to share to keep your pets safe and cool as well as two great dogs to feature this weekend. If you are unable to make it over to the Eastside shelter to meet our featured pets there is a Mega-Adoption event in the PetSmart parking lot located at 10248 Coors Bypass NW.
First ,tiny little Micki was adopted, yay! Sweet little Penny and her tiny kennelmate Cornelius are still hopeful that true love and their forever home is right around the corner so please come to the Eastside shelter to meet them.
Missy (ID# A 1718797) is a 4 year old, female tan Smooth Coated Chihuahua mix. She is quite the cute little girl weighing 14 pounds. Her parents divorced and when the home was separated her parent said the pet deposit at the new rental home was just too much. What a loss not to have this bright sunny disposition in your life. Our small dog play group ladies describe Missy as “a sweet calm dear dog”. She loves to take walks and is excellent on leash. She loves people, attention and affection. She will shower her new person with kisses too. Little dog play group is not as wild and crazy as the big dogs. Although they do play a bit it is more like a social hour where they flit around greeting and mingling with each other. Missy enjoyed her social time with the other small dogs. Missy really likes her food and is a little possessive of her food bowl. Really, who wants to share their food bowl? Keeping your canine family happy is much easier if they each have their own bowl and a location that is theirs alone. Missy would be happy in a mature home and should do fine with children over 8. Missy is move in ready so head over to the Eastside shelter to meet this little sweetie.
Grover (ID# A 1718516) is a 2 year old, male cream colored Smooth Coated Chihuahua and Italian Greyhound mix. His long legs and tail are definitely from the Italian Greyhound genes. He weighs 12 pounds. Grover came to us a stray and boy was he scared wandering the streets of Albuquerque and then he found himself in a loud place with unfamiliar faces. As you might imagine he was very scared. He hid outside away from the other dogs and was not to sure about the people trying to get to know him. He still is nervous in the kennel and prefers a quieter area. Grover has made fast friends with several of our staff and volunteers. When we step inside his kennel it seems to comfort him and he quickly comes inside and hops into a lap for his leash to be put on. Once he is out of the building, he walks well on leash and enjoys taking walks. Grover is a perfect example of why we always say, please take the dog out of the kennel and spend several minutes with them to get a true picture of what their personality is really like. Grover loves to give kisses and get belly rubs in return. When I’ve taken Grover out and we sit in a chair he likes to roll over like a baby in my arms for his belly rub and he will fall asleep. He loves to be a lap dog. Grover gets along well with his buddies in small dog play group. Since loud areas can make Grover nervous he would prefer a home with children over 15 or adults. He would also do well in a mature home. If this boy might be your perfect match come meet him at our Eastside shelter and give our staff or volunteers a couple moments to get Grover out for you.
PetSmart Mega Pet Adoption Weekend Coming Up This Weekend!
Albuquerque – The City of Albuquerque Animal Welfare Department and Watermelon Mountain Ranch, in cooperation with PetSmart Stores and PetSmart Charities, will participate in the Mega Pet Adoption Weekend, a nationwide pet adoption event. Animals will be shown for adoption for three consecutive days this coming weekend, June 26-28.
Come and sign up your dog for the Hottest Dog Bikini & Sundress contest held on Saturday, June 27, at 1 p.m. Paneled judges will pick 1st place, 2nd place and 3rd place. Gifts will be provided for all paid registrants. There is a $5 registration fee for all dog contestants. The contest will take place by the big tent in the PetSmart parking lot located on 10248 Coors Bypass NW. For more information visit the Watermelon Mountain Ranch web site www.wmranch.org.
Date: June 26, 27, and 28
Place: PetSmart 10248 Coors Bypass NW
Time: Friday, noon – 7 p.m.,
Saturday, 10 a.m. – 7 p.m.,
Sunday, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Heat Can Kill Pets
Albuquerque Animal Welfare wants to remind pet owners to be extra careful with pets during hot temperature months. With unseasonably high temperatures hitting or topping 100 degrees through August, the extreme heat can pose a danger to pets. Here are reminders from the Humane Society of the United States.
Never leave your pets in a parked car. On a warm day, temperatures inside a vehicle can rise rapidly to dangerous levels. On an 85 degree day, for example, the temperature inside a car with the windows opened slightly can reach 102 degrees within ten minutes. After 30 minutes, the temperature will reach 120 degrees.
Shade and water are musts. Anytime your pet is outside, make sure he or she has protection from heat and sun (a doghouse alone does not provide relief from heat) and plenty of fresh, cool water. Heat stroke can be fatal for pets as well as people.
Limit exercise on hot days. Take care when exercising your pet. Adjust the intensity and duration of exercise in accordance with the temperature. On very hot days, limit exercise to early morning or evening hours. Be especially careful with pets with white-colored ears that are more susceptible to skin cancer, and short-nosed pets. Asphalt gets very hot and can burn your pet’s paws.
Recognize the signs of heatstroke. In case of an emergency, it’s important to be able to identify the symptoms of heat stress caused by exposure to extreme temperatures. When in doubt, contact your veterinarian immediately. Some signs of heatstroke are: heavy panting, glazed eyes, a rapid heartbeat, restlessness, excessive thirst, lethargy, fever dizziness, lack of coordination, profuse salivation, vomiting, a deep red or purple tongue, and unconsciousness. If your pet shows symptoms of heatstroke, take steps immediately to gradually lower his or her body temperature and contact your veterinarian as soon as possible. Follow these tips, and it could save your pet’s life:
- Move your pet into the shade or an air-conditioned area.
- Apply ice packs or cold towels to your pet’s head, neck and chest or run cool (not cold) water over your pet.
- Let your pet drink small amounts of cool water or lick ice cubes.
- Take your pet directly to a veterinarian.
