June 2015 Issue

Head to http://ruv.me/BarkShop4Good and enter our code at checkout: KINBBX1Proceeds benefit Kingwood Barkfest.

Issue 5: Volume 9

PHOTO BY PAW PRINTS BY JAMIE PET PHOTOGRAPHY

contentsPublisherJennifer Kitchens-Street

(281) [email protected]

Advertising(281) 384.5431

[email protected]

Contributing WritersPaul Mann

Bob WilliamsJennifer Gretson

Staff PhotographerJamie Fincher

www.pawprintsbyjamie.com

Urban Paws MagazinePO Box 1556

Spring, TX 77383www.urbanpawsmagazine.com

© Copyright 2015. No part of thispublication may be reprinted orotherwise reproduced without thepublisher’s written permission.Urban Paws magazine assumes noresponsibility for unsolicited manu-scripts, feature and idea submis-sions, or photographs, and suchmaterial will not be returned. UrbanPaws magazine assumes no liabilityfor the contents herein and has theright to refuse advertising for anyreason. Urban Paws magazine doesnot endorse any specific product orservice contained herein; we doencourage you to support ouradvertisers whenever possible.

Find us online! Website:

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Printed in the U.S.A.

ON THE COVER

4 www.urbanpawsmagazine.com

EVENT CALENDAR 6June 2015

THE SCOOP 7Canine News and Happenings

PET SAFETY 10Disaster Prep for Pets

TRAINING & BEHAVIOR 14Enjoy the Outdoors With Your Dog

PET HEALTH 18Common Dog Skin Problems

NEWS BITE 20Montgomery County Animal Shelter NamesOperation Pets Alive! as 501(c)3 Non-Profit Partner

ADOPTION 24Pup Squad Animal Rescue

BE A PART OFOUR DOG LOVING

COMMUNITY!

ON THE WEBurbanpawsmagazine.com

FIND US ONFACEBOOK

FOLLOW US ONTWITTER

ARTICLES, EVENTS, CONTESTS & MORE!

juneCANINE CALENDAR

JUNE 5

Registration Deadline for Strut Your Mutt

Abandoned Animal Rescue is seeking 30 par-

ticipants for the Best Friends Strut Your Mutt

event to be held on October 17th. To regis-

ter, visit http://support.bestfriends.org.

JUNE 6

Emancipet Houston Grand Opening Event

This free, family and pet friendly event will

celebrate the new Emancipet clinic, opening

in Houston's East End. Emancipet offers low

cost spay/neuter and preventive veterinary

services including vaccinations, microchip-

ping, and heartworm medications from its

48-foot customized trailer. 4410 Navigation

Boulevard. 11:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.

JUNE 13

Bank for Paws Pet Adoption 2015 Fort Bend

Pets Alive! & First Community Bank team up

to host the first annual event to raise aware-

ness and respect for companion animals in

Fort Bend County. First Community Bank,

24310 Southwest Freeway in Rosenberg. 9:00

- 11:30 a.m. For more information, visit

www.fcbresource.com/home.aspx.

JUNE 13

Second Saturday at Winter Street Studios

Local artist, April Murphy (AEM Gallery) will

sponsor Greyhound Pets of America -

Houston at Winter Street Studios, 2101

Winter Street from 2:00 - 5:00 p.m. For every

print sold at April's studio during this event,

April will donate a print to GPAH for future

auctions or events. For more information,

visit www.gpahouston.org.

JUNE 15

Lone Star Animal Welfare League’s Mutts &

Putts Open: Bettering the Lives of our Best

Friends at The Woodlands Country Club -

Palmer Course. Spend the day playing golf

and enjoying a great lunch and dinner. 10:30

a.m. check-in.

JUNE 26

17th Annual Take Your Dog To Work Day

Created by Pet Sitters International (PSI) to

celebrate the great companions dogs make

and promote their adoptions, this event

encourages employers to experience the joys

of pets in the workplace for one day to sup-

port their local pet community. To learn

more or to participate, visit www.takeyour-

dog.com.

Follow us on FACEBOOK & TWITTER for the mostup-to-date information, news and events!


Local Pet Business Recognized WithBetter Business Bureau’s PinnacleAward

Rover Oaks Pet Resort was one of 314 compa-

nies recognized at the annual Better Business

Bureau Awards of Excellence on May 13, 2015,

which honored businesses and non-profits for

their achievements and commitment to quality

in the workplace. Rover Oaks Pet Resort was

selected as the recipient of the BBB's 2015

Pinnacle Winner of the Awards for Excellence

in the Pet Care category. This award is the BBB's

highest honor. This marks the fifth year in a row

that the BBB has recognized Rover Oaks Pet

Resort for superior commitment to ethics,

excellence and quality in the workplace. Rover

Oaks was honored with the Pinnacle Award in

2014 and 2011, followed by the Winner of

Distinction award in 2012 and 2013.

When asked what it means to Rover Oaks Pet

Resort to receive this recognition, Steve Smith,

President, states “It is truly an honor to be rec-

ognized by the Better Business Bureau for our

efforts. We work very hard to provide superior

service to both our clients and their pets."

“As a Houston-based company, we are proud

Urban Paws Magazine 7

to be affiliated with an organization that pro-

motes high ethical standards in the Greater

Houston area,” said Joy Lee, Co-Owner of

Rover Oaks Pet Resort in Katy. “Through

organizations like the BBB, the Houston and

Katy areas continue to thrive. We’re proud to be

recognized with the leaders in other industries

that have the same high ethical standards that

we do.”

New Low-Cost Pet Clinic Opens inHouston’s East End

Emancipet is expanding to Houston, its first

location outside Central Texas, thanks to a new

partnership with the City of Houston. The ini-

tiative was spearheaded by Council Member

Robert Gallegos and made possible with the

support of Mayor Annise Parker, Mayor Pro-

Tem Ed Gonzalez, and Council Member Oliver

Pennington. The City is investing $260,000 in

Emancipet’s new clinic in Houston.

Emancipet will offer low-cost spay/neuter and

preventive veterinary services in their cus-

tomized 48-foot gooseneck trailer which will be

THE SCOOP


located at the nonprofit Neighborhood Centers

Inc.- Ripley House, 4410 Navigation Boulevard

in Houston’s East End, a low-income neighbor-

hood where the stray animal problem is the

most dire. The clinic will be able to spay/neuter

7,000-8,000 animals per year, and provide

approximately 10,000 preventive care visits.

After six to nine months of operation,

Emancipet will move into a brick-and-mortar

space in the same neighborhood, and move the

semi-permanent trailer to a new location. By

2017, depending on the success of fundraising

efforts, Emancipet plans to have three perma-

nent locations in underserved areas of Houston,

which currently has an estimated 800,000 to

1,200,000 stray animals.

Emancipet Houston is in the process of hir-

ing up to 18 local people to staff the clinic. They

will also form a local advisory board. For hours,

location and appointments, visit

www.emancipet.org.

Houston Humane Society to OfferMicrochip and Vaccines Every Sunday inJuneHouston Humane Society is hosting a hurri-

cane/disaster prep event every Sunday in June.

You can get your dogs and cats prepared for just

$45. The package includes a microchip, rabies,

DA2PPC (distemper vaccine for dogs) or

FVRCP (vaccine for cats), and bordatella (for

dogs only).

There is no office visit fee unless additional

services are added. The full package must be

THE SCOOP

purchased.

For dates and times, visit www.houstonhu-

mane.org.

June is Adopt-A-Shelter-Cat MonthAnimal shelters across the nation celebrate

Adopt-a-Shelter-Cat Month during the month

of June.

Each spring during “kitten season,” thousands

of newborn kittens join the millions of cats

already in shelters across the country. That

means your local shelter has tons of cute, cud-

dly newborns, in addition to all the mellow,

older cats and everything in between. And the

shelter staff are ready to help you adopt your

very first cat — or to bring home a friend for

another beloved cat!


hen a natural dis-

aster threatens,

or actually occurs, the ensuing chaos

and confusion can make it difficult to

make sure pets are aptly safeguarded for

the event both physically and emotion-

ally, and that a pet owner’s home duly

equipped for the crisis at hand. In

fact, when pets are involved, the

gamut of related crisis manage-

ment concerns can aggravate an

already worri-

some situa-

tion.

While pet

owners want

to make sure

their pets do

not experi-

ence any bodi-

ly harm when

a natural dis-

aster presents,

it’s also impor-

tant to

r e m e m b e r

that many

PET SAFETY

domestic pets are very

much in tune with the

environment and their

immediate surroundings

and can become unusually

stressed under circumstances sur-

rounding a natural disaster. As

such, it’s imperative that pet own-

ers are prepared to mitigate

physical danger to a pet as

well as psychologi-

cal distress

like nervous-

ness, fear, and

anxiety—and

how these

e m o t i o n s

may be out-

w a r d l y

e x p r e s s e d

(even when

contrary to a

pet’s normal

pe r sona l i t y

and behav-

ior), which

may include

h i d i n g ,

W

Disaster Prep for PetsBaseline Emergency Preparedness How-To’s

scratching, biting, noise-making, attempts to flee

and disregarding commands.

To help keep pets safe, and their homes duly

supplied, for an impending—or in the real event

of a—natural disaster, here’s a spotlight of fun-

damental yet crucial pet emergency prepared-

ness tips offered by the Federal Emergency

Management Agency (FEMA):

1. Get a kit of pet emergency supplies. Just asyou do with your family’s emergency supply kit,

think first about the basics for survival, particu-

larly food and water.

Food: Keep at least three days of food in an air-tight, waterproof container.

Water: Store at least three days of water, specif-ically for your pets, as well as water you need for

yourself and your family.

Medicines and medical records: Keep an extrasupply of medicines your pet takes on a regular

basis in a waterproof container.

First aid kit: Talk to your veterinarian aboutwhat is most appropriate for your pet’s emer-

gency medical needs. Most kits should include

cotton bandage rolls, bandage tape and scissors;

antibiotic ointment; flea and tick prevention;

latex gloves, isopropyl alcohol and saline solu-

tion. Include a pet first aid reference book.

Collar with ID tag, harness or leash: Your petshould always wear a collar with its rabies tag

and identification. Include a backup leash, collar

and ID tag in your pet’s emergency supply kit.

Important documents: Place copies of yourpet’s registration information, adoption papers,

vaccination documents and medical records in a

clean plastic bag or waterproof container and

add them to your kit.

Crate or other pet carrier: If you need to evac-uate in an emergency take your pets and animals

with you, provided that it is practical to do so.

Sanitation: Include pet litter and litter box ifproper, newspapers, paper towels, plastic trash

bags and household chlorine bleach to provide

for your pet’s sanitation needs. You can use

bleach as a disinfectant (dilute nine parts water

to one part bleach), or in an emergency you can

also use it to purify water. Use 8 drops of regu-

lar household liquid bleach per gallon of water,

stir well and let it stand for 30 minutes before

use. Do not use scented or color safe bleaches

or those with added cleaners.

A picture of you and your pet together: If youbecome separated from your pet during an

emergency, a picture of you and your pet

together will help you document ownership and

allow others to help you in identifying your pet.

Include detailed information about species,


PAUL MANN

PET SAFETY

breed, age, sex, color and distinguishing charac-

teristics.

Familiar items: Put favorite toys, treats or bed-ding in your kit. Familiar items can help reduce

stress for your pet.

Consider two kits. In one, put everything your

pets will need to stay where you are and make it

on your own. The other should be a lightweight,

smaller version you can take with you if you and

your pets have to get away.

2. Make a plan for what you will do in an emer-gency. Plan in advance what you will do in an

emergency. Be ready to assess the situation. Use

common sense and whatever you have on hand

to take care of yourself and ensure your pet’s

safety during an emergency.

Evacuate. Plan how you will assemble your petsand anticipate where you will go. If you must

evacuate, take your pets with you, if practical. If

you go to a public shelter, keep in mind your

pets may not be allowed inside.

Develop a buddy system. Plan with neighbors,friends or relatives to make sure that someone is

available to care for or evacuate your pets if you

are unable to do so. Talk with your pet care

buddy about your evacuation plans and show

them where you keep your pet’s emergency sup-

ply kit. Also designate specific locations, one in

your immediate neighborhood and other farther

away, where you will meet in an emergency.

Talk to your pet’s veterinarian about emergencyplanning. Discuss the types of things youshould include in your pet’s emergency first aid

kit. Get the names of vets or veterinary hospi-

tals in other cities where you might need to seek

temporary shelter. Also talk with your veterinar-

ian about microchipping. If you and your pet are

separated, this permanent implant for your pet

and corresponding enrollment in a recovery

database can help a veterinarian or shelter iden-

tify your animal. If your pet is microchipped,

keeping your emergency contact information up

to date and listed with a reliable recovery data-

base is essential to you and your pet being

reunited.

Gather contact information for emergency ani-mal treatment. Make a list of contact informa-tion and addresses of area animal control agen-

cies including the Humane Society or ASPCA

and emergency veterinary hospitals. Keep one

copy of these phone numbers with you, and one

in your pet’s emergency supply kit. Obtain “Pets

Inside” stickers and place them on your doors

or windows, including information on the num-

ber and types of pets in your home to alert fire-

fighters and rescue workers. Consider putting a

phone number on the sticker where you could

be reached in an emergency. And, if time per-

mits, remember to write the words “Evacuated



with Pets” across the stickers, should you evac-

uate your home with your pets.

3. Be prepared for what might happen. Some ofthe things you can do to prepare for the unex-

pected, such as assembling an emergency supply

kit for yourself, your family and your pets, is the

same regardless of the type of emergency.

However, it’s important to stay informed about

what might happen and know what types of

emergencies are likely to affect your region. Be

ready to adapt this information to your person-

al circumstances and make every effort to follow

instructions received from authorities on the

scene. With these simple preparations, you can

be ready for the unexpected. Those who take

the time to prepare themselves and their pets

will likely encounter less difficulty, stress and

worry. Take the time now to get yourself and

your pet ready.

Sometimes help is needed to care for a pet when

emergencies present, like during an evacuation

when a shelter or lodging facility does not allow

pets. In such instances, it’s prudent to have a

backup plan in place to make sure you can

secure proper care for your pet. As FEMA

notes, one option is to “consider family or

friends outside your immediate area who would

be willing to take in you and your pets in an

emergency.” However, when you don’t want to

burden or impose on family members or

friends, or subject a beloved pet to kennel

PET SAFETY

boarding to avoid what can be serious health

concerns, highly trained and reliable profession-

al pet sitters to visit or board a pet can be pre-

arranged or are available on-call to ensure a pet

receives protection as well as love, attention and

skilled treatment while apart from the family.

That kind of peace of mind is priceless.

Paul Mann is the Founder and CEO of Fetch! Pet Care—thenation’s largest and most trusted franchisor for professionalpet sitting, dog walking, and pet fitness/exercise services—serving thousands of pets and pet parents throughout theUnited States from coast to coast. He may be reached onlineat: www.FetchPetCare.com.


TRAINING

our dog loves fresh air and sunshine as

much as you do. Try some of these out-

side games and activities to keep your dog

healthy and happy. In addition, playing with

your dog, like training him, enhances the bond

you share and helps keep his focus on you.

FREESTYLE OBEDIENCETake your dog to a large open area or yard and

have him follow you around as you deliver com-

mands: sit, down, stay, come, etc. Give lots of

praise when your dog completes the correct

action. You can then move on to more advanced

commands, teaching your dog to back up, jump

over something, circle around, etc.

OBSTACLE COURSETry setting up a tube (such as an agility tunnel,

available at most pet retailers) for your dog to

run through, a pause table, a ladder, weaving

sticks, poles to jump over, etc. Start with your

dog on a leash, and walk him through the course

in the order you want him to complete the

obstacles. Give him lots of praise when he gets

it right, and recruit friends, family and neighbors

to serve as judges–or to bring their own dogs to

compete.

BATTING PRACTICEFor a twist on traditional fetch, grab a Wiffle bat

and a dog-safe ball to hit across the yard or a

park and have your dog play outfielder. Try not

to hit another ball until your dog has returned

the first back to you so that he learns he must

return the item for the game to continue.

WET FETCHIf you have access to a body of water that your

Y

Enjoy theOutdoors WithYour Dog

safe shampoo to combine playtime and a bath.

HIDDEN TREASUREStart with your dog in a sit/stay, allowing him to

smell a treat, then hide it in the yard. Release

your dog from the sit and let him find it. Add a

degree of difficulty by hiding a number of treats

in advance. You can also try scatter feeding your

dog his kibble at mealtimes (throwing in all

around the yard. Many dogs will spend hours

enthusiastically hunting for every last bit.

WALK THIS WAYIn addition to being great exercise for you and

your dog, walking is an activity almost anyone

can take part in and a great way to get to know

your neighbors. Organize a walking group for

your neighborhood or apartment building. Pick

different destinations, or up the intensity by

choosing portions to pick up the pace.

Remember that basic obedience is the founda-

tion for having fun with your dog–games and

activities should be a fun and rewarding bonding

experience, not a stressful time for you and your

dog.

Bob Williams is a Master Dog Trainer at Bark Busters. Forover ten years, Bob has successfully trained more than 3,000dogs throughout Houston Northwest, including Cypress,Katy, Champions, Spring, Tomball and The Woodlands. Toschedule an appointment, visit www.barkbusters.com.

dog is allowed to play in, take a couple of balls

or toys that will float to the water’s edge and

throw them in for your dog to swim after. If

your dog hasn’t had much experience in the

water, start by tossing the object just at the edge.

Make sure to first teach him where he can safe-

ly exit the water.

HOMEMADE PUP-SICLESYou can use a popsicle mold or just an ice-cube

tray to freeze yummy, refreshing treats for your

dog. Get creative by tossing ingredients such as

yogurt, bananas, peanut butter and carrots into a

blender with a little water or chicken or beef

broth (all-natural or low sodium versions are

best).

TRACKINGWhile not all dogs will take to tracking, it’s fun

to try. Go somewhere that your scent isn’t

already scattered–or use a strong and unique

scented piece of leather–and shuffle your feet

or rub the leather in a distinct but straightfor-

ward pattern. Have someone else stay with your

dog out of sight. Then, have your dog sniff you

and your feet (or the leather) and lead him along

the path that you created.

WET & WILDFill up a kiddie pool with water and urge your

dog to splash around. For even more fun, grab

a hose and have your dog chase the stream fo

water in and out of the pool. Add some dog-


BOB WILLIAMS


HEALTH

healthy animal will also have healthy

skin. If dog skin problems occur, it gen-

erally indicates that the dog has an underlying

condition. These conditions can be caused by

multiple factors, including infections, pests, and

allergies. Stress or metabolic disorders can also

create problems. When a pets external appear-

ance noticeably worsens in any way, medical

help should be sought. Letting conditions

become chronic can cause further damage to the

health of a pet. In addition, some untreated

conditions are contagious and can infest

other animals. Some can even be passed

to humans.

The symptoms of problems are

very diverse. Key behaviors

such as frantic scratching, fre-

quent licking, or even chewing

should not be ignored. Pets

might also signal discomfort by

rubbing up against furniture or car-

pets. When these behaviors are recog-

nized, a closer look should be taken at

the fur and skin of the animal.

If there are any scabs, scaly patch-

es, bald spots, rashes or lesions,

a veterinarian should be noti-

fied. Other reasons for con-

cern include redness, blood,

pus, swelling, lumps or discoloration. There are

many conditions that can cause these symptoms

and they are best detected by a professional.

Pests may be the source of problems. The bites

and droppings of fleas can create lingering irri-

tation. Some pets may even be allergic to the

saliva in a flea bite, making matters worse. In

addition to this, certain

A

Common Dog Skin Problems



flea control methods readily available on the

market can be aggravating.

Different infections can plague the skin’s sur-

face. These include fungal, bacterial or yeast

type infections. Fungal infections can include

ringworm. Ringworm can result in scaly patch-

es, baldness and irritation. Ringworm is particu-

larly troublesome as it can be passed to other

animals as well as people if left untreated.

Bacterial or yeast infections normally occur only

after the skin is compromised, further exacer-

bating the original problem.

Allergies can affect skin as well. These may be

aggravated by naturally occurring irritants from

the outdoors or allergies to food. Outdoor aller-

gies improve or worsen with the seasons, and

depend on the circulating amounts of dust,

pollen, grass, or mold. Foods that typically cause

reactions contain chicken, beef, soy, corn or

wheat based ingredients. Food additives, such as

colorings, can also be aggravating.

Problems may also have a behavioral compo-

nent. A dog living in a very loud environment

may experience heightened levels of stress. As a

result, it may lick and gnaw at itself. It can also

perform the same behaviors simply if it is

bored. This is one reason daily exercise and

attention are very important for pets.

Most of these issues are preventable. One

JENNIFER GRETSON

COMING IN JULY:Anniversary Issue

COMING IN AUGUST:Pet Nutrition Issue

Contact us forspecial advertising

opportunities at 281.384.5431

method of prevention is to use appropriate

products on a dog. A hypoallergenic diet

ensures that pets receive a nutritious and

healthy meal without any artificial or unneces-

sary ingredients. Dogs should live in a calm,

clean and quiet environment to limit stress lev-

els and discourage the proliferation of pests. A

veterinarian can offer suggestions on how to

further prevent parasite infestation.

NEWS BITE

Montgomery County AnimalShelter (MCAS) Has Named Operation Pets Alive! (OPA) As Its 501(c)3 Non-ProfitPartner

ontgomery County Animal Shelter

(MCAS) has named Operation Pets

Alive (OPA) as its 501(c)3 non-profit partner.

OPA is an attractive partner due to the breadth

of life-saving programs the group already has in

place. Based on the premise of a “no-kill” com-

munity, OPA’s current focus is on the following

programs:

• Transports: Through OPA’s Flight for Lifeand Pups on Trucks transports local at-risk dogs

and cats are moved from MCAS to NE shelters,

where family-friendly pets are adopted rapidly.

OPA has transported over 2,300 dogs and cats

since 2011, with the number increasing each

year.

• Trap, Neuter, Return (TNR): Feral, or roam-ing cats, taken to a shelter are typically killed.

With TNR, feral cats are trapped, sterilized, vac-

cinated then returned to their colonies or placed

for adoption if necessary. A feral cat’s cropped

left ear signifies it has been altered and vaccinat-

ed. With proper monitoring, feral cats can live

long, happy lives and avoid crowding shelters.

• Adoption Events: Since OPA does not have aphysical shelter, they rely on offsite adoption

events held at retailers such as Petco and

PetSmart to place animals with local families.

The partnership with MCAS will enable shelter

dogs and cats to attend OPA off-site events.

• Fostering: OPA’s robust fostering programincludes long-term fosters who keep pets

through medical treatment until they are ready

for adoption and also includes short-term fos-

ters who typically keep pets for roughly two

weeks while they wait to be transported to other

shelters. OPA provides the veterinary services

for foster animals in their program through the

use of community veterinary clinics. Through

the partnership, OPA will also assist MCAS fos-

ter families when the shelter’s veterinary clinic is

not able to provide the services themselves. For

instance, the shelter does not have an X-Ray

machine, so when a pet has a suspected injury in

which an X-Ray is needed, OPA will cover that

cost at an outside veterinary clinic.

• Targeted Spay/Neuter: Reducing the intake

M


of unplanned puppy litters is a crucial step to

improving live-release rates. OPA has partnered

with other groups and with veterinarians to pro-

vide low-cost spay/neuter for the County’s

lower-income residents. OPA supports the

County’s efforts to provide better access to low-

cost spay/neuter services.

Montgomery County has contracted with a

company called C.A.R.E. (Caring for Animals

Reducing Euthanasia) Corporation, owned by

veterinarians Dr. Aubrey Ross II and Dr. Diarra

Blue, to manage shelter operations. The county,

nor C.A.R.E., can distribute tax-deductible

receipts for donations. The partnership with

OPA will assure that donations are tax-

deductible and support life-saving programs for

animals at MCAS and in Montgomery County at

large. OPA is governed by a board of directors,

led by President and Founder Marcia Piotter.

For Piotter, the partnership should open the

door for implementation of new programs that

will increase live release and will strengthen

those already in place. “Our partnering trans-

port shelters in the Northeast are requesting

more of our local MCAS dogs (called “Dixie”

dogs) than we have been able to afford to send

and each one we send in turn funds the spay or

neuter of a dog here at home. Programs like

this one serves to maximize live release while

also reducing shelter intake. Minimizing intake

and maximizing live release must go hand-in-

hand with caring for the animals while in the

shelter.”

C.A.R.E. is striving to move toward a no-kill

community and hopes that the addition of OPA

will serve to further that mission. Dr. Ross

knows that building a no-kill shelter will be an

uphill battle, but feels it is one worth fighting.

“What we want to do is save lives. Period. The

only way to do that is through innovative pro-

grams – programs such as transports and TNR

– things that OPA is already doing.” Through

their partnership, OPA and MCAS hope to put

in place the programs that have demonstrated

success in achieving the goal of a no-kill com-

munity. Generally, a shelter is considered to be a

no-kill shelter when they are saving over 90% of

homeless pets. Euthanasia is reserved for those

animals with a grave prognosis for recovery or

those considered dangerous to public safety.

MCAS and OPA will continue work with other

rescue groups, volunteers and business leaders

in our community to maximize the impact on

saving animals.

For more information on OPA please visit

www.operationpetsalive.org and for information

on MCAS please visit www.mcaspets.org.


MUTT MUGS

“Ever wonder where you’d end up if youtook your dog for a walk and never once

pulled back on the leash?”

- Robert Brault


Join us in helping our four-legged friends

find loving homes. Adopt a dog today!

Pup Squad Animal Rescuewww.pupsquad.org

Pup Squad is an all-volunteer, foster-based rescue group focused on pregnant moms, nursing littersand young puppies and matching them with permanent adoptive homes. We work with area sheltersand the community to rescue pups before they are exposed to dangerous diseases and we pledgenever to leave a momma dog behind. They work so hard to protect their pups, no matter how toughof a situation they are in, and they deserve our love and care every bit as much as their sweet babies.

Emi

Emi is a Pit Bull/Boxer mix. She was rescuednot once, but three times. First, a kind man tookher in off the streets, pregnant and hungry.Then, after his neighbors reported him forbeing over the city’s household dog limit andanimal control took her to a shelter, she had herpuppies, saving her from “the list”, finally, a PupSquad foster volunteered to take Emi and her 13

ADOPTION

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new babies home. Her puppies have all foundtheir forever families, now Emi is healthy andready for a family of her own.

Knuckles is a five-year-old Staffordshire Terriermix with a big heart. He loves to give hugs and isdevoted to people. He also is a champion atfetch, never tiring of chasing the ball.

Buster and his siblings were rescued from a ditchthat was rapidly filling with water. TheseLabrador/Border Collie mixes are smart, silly,fun-loving puppies. Most of the pups have beenadopted, but Buster and his sister, Molly are still

waiting for their forever families.

Benny and his sister Lily are the last two“fudge” puppies still waiting for their families.The fudge designation comes from their gor-geous coats that look like fudge in the sun-shine. Both of these Labrador/Pit mixes areloving and adventurous.


Knuckles

Lily

BusterShipley

Shipley was born January 27, 2015 at a Pup Squadfoster’s home. Shipley and his sister Cashew, whois also available for adoption, is a Labrador/Pitmix who adores people and will do anything fora treat.

Veterinarians

Clara Scott, DVMMy Family Vet20120 Kuykendahl RoadSpring, Texas 77379(p): 281.288.0500(w): www.myfamilyvet.com

Sunset Blvd Animal Clinic 2525 Sunset Blvd.Houston, Texas 77005(p): 713.526.5881(w): www.sunsetblvdanimalclinic.com

Four Seasons Veterinary Hospital3730 FM 2920, Suite 110Spring, Texas 77388(p): 281.825.4994(w): www.fourseasonsvet.com

Veterinary Specialists

Laurie Nocake, DVM, DACVIMVERGI8921 Katy FreewayHouston, Texas 77024(p): 713.932.9589(w): www.vergi247.com

Nicholas J. Millichamp, BVetMed, PhD,DVOphthal, DipECVO, MRCVSEye Care for Animals17395 Tomball Parkway #3-HHouston, Texas 77064(p): 281.890.3937(w): www.eyecareforanimals.com

North Houston Vet Specialists 1646 Spring Cypress Road #100Spring, Texas 77388(p): 832.616.5000(w): www.nhvetspecialists.com

If you are interested in having your veterinary practice featured in our Vet Directory,please contact us at 281.384.5431 or [email protected].


VET DIRECTORY

Documents

June 2015 Issue