Help your favorite rescue this holiday season!

During this time of year, remember your favorite rescue groups!  There are many things that rescues can use that likely won't cost you much.  A few ideas are below.

1. Getting your pet a new bed this year?  Donate his old one!  As long as the beds are still in usable condition, they can be used by rescues and shelters!  At TCDR, I buy zippered pillowcases and just "recover" the beds with a new pillowcase.  Please machine wash the item and donate it!  Rescues will put it to good use!
2. When you are at your local store, consider purchasing a small item for rescue.  Even a small bag of rawhide chews (make sure they are made in the USA!), pet food, shampoo, collar, etc. can help a rescue!  So while you are shopping those holiday sales, consider picking up a small item to help out some pets that are still looking for their forever home.
3. Got some old dog/cat dishes?  Rescue can use them!  As long as they don't have holes in them and are still in decent condition, shelters and rescues will put them to good use. 
4. Have a crate you don't use?  Again - these are things rescues and shelters use a LOT!!  Do you have all the parts except the screws that hold it together?  Zip ties work great for that!  Rescues and shelters need crates for foster homes, to transport pets, and sometimes just to use for recovery from surgery.  Drop off used crates at your favorite rescue or local shelter.  They will appreciate it!
5. Did your dog outgrow his heartworm prevention or flea medications?  Rescues will take it!  We go through a LOT of this type of stuff in Texas - and I'm sure most other rescues, like ours, appreciate even one or two extra doses.
6. Got old blankets or sheets?  Local rescues and shelters can use them!  With the weather cooling down, it becomes more difficult to help our rescues stay warm.  Many pets shelters and rescues take in are malnourished - and without much body fat, staying warm is more difficult.  Your old bedspread or throw could help keep a rescued pet warm this winter.
7. Doing some "winter cleaning" getting ready for family and friends for the holidays?  Consider auctioning off your unwanted items and donate to your favorite charity.  eBay now offers an option where if you donate 100% of your auction to a charity on their list (TCDR is on their list!), they refund all listing and sales fees.  A few dollars from your unwanted items will provide a heartworm pill...  $40 will provide vaccines...  $80 will neuter or spay a dog... 
8. Have some spare time to help during the holidays?  Shelters can always use help walking dogs, cleaning kennels, washing bowls, etc.  Even a few hours of your time is a LOT of help!
9. Have a particular skill that might be useful to rescue?  Maybe you are a webmaster, a graphic design guru, a design master...  Rescues always need ideas to help draw attention to their cause.  If you have ideas, send an email and offer your services!  Shelters and rescues are grateful for a fresh suggestion on how to become more visible.
10. And last but never least... Got a few spare pennies?  Reputable rescues use every cent donated to vet and care for the pets they rescue.  A few bucks from several people adds up really quickly.  Rescue is really only limited by number of foster homes and funding.  Can't foster but want to help another way?  Sponsor a pet.  Each shelter or rescue has an idea of what it costs to maintain a rescued animal for one month.  You can sponsor one or more pets until adopted.  Make a one time flat donation or donate monthly.  Every donation counts.  Donate to your favorite rescue or shelter and help save animals - it's that simple.  (If TCDR happens to be your rescue of choice - you can donate to us via paypal at donate@texascattledogrescue.com.  We also have 2012 calendars for sale as a fundraiser!  Find them here - http://www.ebay.com/itm/200681287333?ssPageName=STRK:MESOX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1559.l2649).

Have a happy and safe holiday season!

Your friends at TCDR

Things to Remember this Holiday Season

It's that time of year again... The holidays are upon us.  Here are a few things to keep in mind this holiday season.

Pets are NOT a good gift.  Please don't give a dog as a gift. Our intake requests increase by ten fold in January and February because people get animals as gifts that they are not prepared to care for.  People need to research the breed that they think would be best for their family.  They need to consider the amount of time that will be required to train and attend to the new dog.  A dog is also a financial commitment for 10 to 15 years.  While that puppy might look really cute with a ribbon around his neck, pets are a huge, life-long responsibility.  It's not fair to assume that someone wants that responsibility or to assume that you know what they want in a dog.  Choosing a pet is best left to the person who will be responsible for it.

Your dog doesn't need your leftovers!  When your dog is giving you those sad eyes, just begging for what you didn't finish, give him a treat made for dogs rather than your leftovers.  The foods we eat are much more rich, salty, and fatty than your dog's system can handle.  Allowing your dog to have cooked bones from your turkey or ham is also risky. Cooked bones are more likely to splinter and tear through the intestine than raw ones.  As a former veterinary technician, I remember the clinic scheduling extra staff during the holidays to cover the increased number of sick dogs we would see.  By giving your dog too much "human" food, you are increasing the risk of an upset stomach.  It could be mild and only cause some vomiting and diarrhea or it could be severe and serious - like pancreatitis - which could mean hospitalization or even death.  Some foods are worse than others - and some breeds can handle things that others can't.  To be safe, err on the side of caution and don't give your pooch table scraps.

Chocolate can be deadly for dogs.  It's not likely that your dog will get sick from stealing one hershey's kiss, but many people use bakers chocolate for holiday treats.  This can seriously harm your dog if he eats it.  Please make sure that you keep chocolates well out of your pets reach.  If your pet does ingest chocolate, call your veterinarian immediately.

Tinsel is pretty, but is a potential hazard for your pet.  You know how when tinsel sparkles, you just want to reach out and touch it?  So does your pet.  Cats are most likely to gnaw on these silvery strands, but some dogs will as well.  Tinsel can get "stuck" in your pet's gut, causing the intestine to twist around itself.  If this isn't addressed promptly by a vet, it can cause portions of your pet's gut to die, leading to sepsis and possibly death.  If you have to use tinsel, place it well out of the reach of your pets.  In my home, we use the colored beads on our tree rather than risk the tinsel.

I hope these tips will help you to have a happy, safe holiday season with your pets!

Happy Holidays from TCDR!