Visit www.sheltercare.com for additional details!

Humane Society of Greater Kingsport

Our Pet List

FOR MORE INFORMATION PLEASE CALL 423-247-1671.

There May Be An Additional $10.00 Fee If Shelter Has Had Animal Rabies Vaccine

For your friends or family members who have everything --

You can help the animals at the shelter now and in the future. Donations can be made at the shelter in Memory or Honor of your Human or Animal Friends. The entire proceeds are used to operate the shelter and care for the animals. Memorial Bricks are also still available for purchase. Thank You cards are sent to the recipients of these thoughtful donations. Please stop by or call the shelter at 423-247-1671 for additional information about Gifts of Donations for the Animals.

If you are interested in Volunteering with us while we are at PetSmart please contact Chris Owens at cabo1948@yahoo.com or leave a message at the shelter (423-247-1671) and we will call you back. Volunteers are also always welcome with us at the PetSmart in Kingsport & Johnson City.

T-SHIRTS, LEASHES & COLLARS Available at the Animal Shelter now. Get yours today while supplies last. Kingsport Animal Shelter. Please call 423) 247-1671 for details.

Two is Company: Introduce New Pets with Care!

With today’s busy lifestyles, many pet owners find that their loyal dog or adorable kitty is left alone at home at great deal. And, many have found that a second (or third) pet helps alleviate some of the stress associated with the alone-at-home scenario.

If you’ve decided to add a new pet to your household, here are some tips for smoothing the introduction. In all cases, your first step with your new pet should be the veterinarian. Have the new comer screened for possible parasites, vaccinated and have nails (or dew claws) trimmed. You may also want to make an appointment for spaying or neutering. Spaying and neutering results in a healthier pet, but more importantly, reduces territorial behavior.

CATS

Put your new cat or kitten in a closed room. Provide him/her with food, water and a litter box. Allow your resident cat and the new family member to “meet” from either side of a closed door. After a day or two, open the door and supervise the first meeting. Remember that a certain amount of hissing and growling is normal. This is their way of establishing who is the dominant cat. They will work it out without your help. Screaming and violet behavior is not normal. The two should be separated and given more time to adjust through the closed door. Don’t put your hands, or any other body parts, between two fighting cats. Under those circumstances, they won’t recognize you as a non-involved bystander.

During the entire “getting-to know-you” period, shower your resident cat with lots of attention and affection. Reassurance is the name of the game. It has even been suggested that you may want to have someone else carry the new cat (in her carrier) into the house and place her in the designated room. This may reduce your resident pet’s jealousy.

If you’re introducing a new cat to a resident dog, the dog can see you bring the cat (in a carrier) into the house. Dogs are pack animals and you are the leader of the pack. They’ll be more likely to accept your decisions. Do be certain to lavish your dog with affection during the acceptance period.

One word of caution concerning dogs and cats, be certain that your dog does not regard cats as prey. If you’re not sure of his attitude, coordinate a visit to your vet’s office. With your dog safely leashed, you and the veterinarian can supervise your pet’s exposure to cats and monitor his reactions.

DOGS

As with cats, keep the new dog or puppy confined in an area away from existing pets. In a day or two, with the newcomer placed in his crate (or “den”), allow the resident into the area. Monitor the meeting and repeat the encounter over a few more days. Finally, when you sense there is some acceptance between the two, allow the meeting to take place with the newcomer out of his crate. In all cases, you should behave in a reassuring manner. Your confidence in the situation will be communicated to your pets.

If you are introducing a new dog or puppy into a home where there are existing canine pets, remember that you are the “alpha” dog. It is important that you set the tone for the newcomer. For instance, allow your resident dog to eat first. This sets dominance order and helps establish respect levels. Another helpful “ordering” activity is to have every family member give the newcomer a tummy rub every day. The newcomer is assuming a submissive position during this enjoyable bonding activity.

Following these introduction guidelines and exercising patience helps assure a successful pairing of your new pet with your old pet. And, once their friendship solidifies, you’ll find both pets and owner, too, will enjoy the new living arrangements and the companionship.

OUTSIDE DOGS
Written by: Dennis Fetko, Ph.D.
Reprinted from August 1995 issue of Whiskers & Wags,
Halifax Humane Society Newsletter
I'm familiar with hundreds of dog breeds, but what's an outside dog? Unless
you're medically intolerant of the dog (and therefore can't take care of him in
a medical emergency, so you shouldn't have the dog anyway), making a dog stay
outside is a costly waste. If he's for protection, what do you think I want to
steal - your lawn? When you leave, do you put your valuables and your kids out
in your yard? Just what is the dog protecting out there? Most dogs kept
outside cause far more nuisance complaints from barking and escaping than any
deterrent to intrusion. Such complaints cause teasing, antagonism, release and
poisoning. With your dog a helpless victim, it's no laughing matter.

If I'm a crook and your dog is out, your fence protects ME, not your
possessions or your dog. If I just open the gate, 9 out of 10 dogs will run
off! I can safely shoot, stab, spear, poison, snare, strangle them, or dart
through the fence and you just lost your dog AND everything I steal!

If he's tied up and I keep out of reach, he's useless. He'll bark, but outside
dogs bark so much, they're usually ignored. But let a dog hit the other side of
a door or window I'm breaking into, and I'm GONE! I can't hurt the dog until he
can hurt me, and nothing you own is worth my arm. Deterrence is effective
protection.

Protection and aggression are not the same. Protection is defensive, reactive,
often passive, and threatens or injures no one. Aggression is active, harmful
and offensive, threatens all and benefits none. Yard dogs often develop far
more aggression than protectively because everyone who passes by or enters has
already violated the territory that dog has marked dozens of times a day for
years. That's not protection, it's not desirable and it overlooks two facts of
life today:

First, property owners have implied social contracts with others in the
community. Letter carriers, paper boys, delivery people, law enforcement,
emergency medical personnel, meter readers and others are allowed near and
at times on your property without your specific permission. And sure that
ten-year-old was not supposed to jump your fence after his Frisbee; but neither
you nor your dog are allowed to cause him injury if he does. Imagine this: A
neighbor looks into your yard or window and sees you, your wife or child laying
on the floor in a pool of blood. They call 9-1-1 and your dog prevents
paramedics from assisting! Should they shoot your dog or just let you die?

Great choice.

Second, even if the intruder is a criminal, few places allow you or your dog to
cause physical injury to prevent property loss. Convicted felons have sued the
dog's owner from jail and won more in the suit than they ever could
have stolen!

Appalling? True.

And don't be foolish enough to believe your homeowner's insurance will cover
the loss. Now you see why many feel that an outside dog is a no-brainer.

The more a dog is outdoors, the less behavioral control you have. It's easier
to solve four or five indoor problems than one outdoor problem. The reason is
valid and simple: The more you control the stimuli that reaches your dog, the
more you control the responses. You've got a lot more control over your living
room than you do over your entire county! When your dog is bored, but teased by
every dog, cat, bird, squirrel, motorcycle, paperboy, airplane, firecracker and
backfiring truck in the county, OF COURSE he'll dig, chew, and bark.

Would you sit still all day everyday? Do you want unnecessary medical and
parasite fees, especially as the dog ages?

When a dog is alone indoors, you are still 30% there because your scent and
things he associates with you, constantly remind the dog of you and your
training. When he's out, your dog is alone whether you're home or not. Do you
really expect him to keep YOU in mind while the entire world teases, distracts
and stimulates him?

The media is full of stories about the family dog saving everyone's life during
a fire. How many people, including children, would be dead today if those dogs
were kept outside? SURE - you ALWAYS get up to investigate every time your yard
dog barks.

An outdoor dog has an address, not a home. Dogs offer real value as companion
animals. Stop behavior problems and start enjoying real protection and
companionship. Bring your dogs inside.

Dennis Fetko, Ph.D.