Mark your calendars! DaisyCares is hosting our 2nd annual Daisy’s Paws for a Cause 5K on September 8th. This year’s event is a fun 60′s inspired race for the WHOLE family, including your pets! CLICK HERE to register for the run!

Pet overpopulation is not only sad, but it is tragic as well. That is why it is important for pet owners to spay and neuter their pets. Counties across the U.S. have low-cost spay and neuter programs, and the ASPCA website has a comprehensive Provider Database so you can easily locate a participating veterinary close to you.

There are other reasons, other than pet overpopulation, to spay/neuter your dog or cat, and they have to do with your pet’s health and safety.

Let’s start with safety.

When a dog or cat goes into heat, they naturally desire a partner, or an unaltered partner desires them. Often, one or the other will try to escape their home to seek out the other … and sometimes they succeed! Unfortunately, that means the dog or cat is on the loose and susceptible to being hit by a car, stolen, poisoned or abused in some other way. Spayed and neutered pets stick closer to home.

Okay, now we can move onto the health benefits that accompany spaying or neutering.

Did you know that unaltered pets tend to develop far more urinary tract infections and that those infections can actually be fatal to cats? That’s as good as any reason to schedule surgery, don’t you think?

Spaying/neutering reduces the risk of certain kinds of cancers in your pet, such as mammary, ovarian, uterine, and testicular. A reduced cancer risk also means a potentially reduced vet bill in the long run!

While it’s never too late to spay your pet, doing so before her first heat greatly reduces the chance that she will develop uterine infections or breast cancer.

Of course, spaying/neutering has benefits for you as well.

• As mentioned, it could save you money, considering the cost of ongoing care for a sick pet.
• It will save your carpeting and furniture – no more menstrual bleeding every six months and no more spraying to mark territories.
• Your pets will be well-behaved … or at least better-behaved. There will be less howling/yowling, efforts to escape, and physiological frustration which can lead to chewing, digging, grooming and aggression issues.
• There will be no litters of kittens or puppies to try to find homes for, so they don’t end up in a shelter.

Spaying and neutering. It’s not only a responsible thing to do, but it’s sensible, too! Click here to find a low-cost spay/neuter provider near you.

We’re proud to announce that DaisyCares will be launching our new Los Angeles program at the Best Friends Animal Society Super Pet Adoption event on Saturday, April 28 and Sunday, April 29 in Los Angeles, California, and we need your help!

Please sign up to volunteer for the event on our Contact Form and/or bring a bag of pet food to the super adoption to help needy pets! Thanks in advance for your help!!

 
She’s been traveling around her community hanging up posters, going door-to-door to collect pet food and selling DaisyCares bracelets for $1.00.  She’s halfway to her goal of raising 100 cans of pet food and would love it if you could support her efforts by donating to her drive.

We can’t thank Jenna enough for setting such a great example by caring for the animals in our community!!! CLICK HERE if you or your organization would like to hold a pet food drive for DaisyCares.

If you’re in the Los Angeles area, come join us this Saturday (March 31, 2012) from 12:00pm to 3:00pm for a DaisyCares Pet Food Drive at this week’s pet adoption hosted by Kinder4rescue! Look for us in front of the CVS Pharmacy located at 12143 Venture Blvd., Studio City, CA 91604. Thanks in advance for your donations!

United Gymnastics Academy
11634 Rainbow Ridge
Helotes, Texas 78023
(Near O’Connor High School)

All of the food and supplies collected will go to DaisyCares Pet Food Program to help needy animals in the community, and we’re extremely grateful for Lauren and Alyssa’s generosity!!

When Coonhound Companions found out that TRIXIE, a beautiful redbone coonhound, was on death row at a shelter in Fort Worth, they posted her story on the Pilots N Paws website.

Pilots N Paws is an online meeting place for those who rescue, shelter or foster animals, and pilots and plane owners willing to assist with the transportation of animals. Although they don’t coordinate or arrange those providing these valuable services, they provide the environment in which those involved can come together in a common place and arrange or schedule rescue flights, overnight foster care or shelter and all other related activities.

With the help of DaisyCares‘ Board Member and pilot, Dr. Scott Henslee, TRIXIE was rescued from Fort Worth and flown to a no-kill shelter in Pipe Creek so she could be adopted by a loving family. Trixie was a super sweet dog, was very well mannered and didn’t make a peep the entire flight. If Scott had not rescued her, she would have been euthanized the next day, but now she thankfully has a second chance at life!

When you can barely stand to be in the same room with your cat and dog because his breath could knock you out, it’s time to get him to the vet! Actually, it is past time. When a dog’s breath smells like he got into the garbage can one time too many or your kitty smells like she was eating week-old road kill, it is quite possible he or she is suffering from periodontal disease and needs to be seen by the vet promptly. This is the most commonly diagnosed problem in both dogs and cats.

Left alone, periodontal disease can progress from plaque to tartar to gingivitis and worse. As the situation worsens, the infection can eventually erode the bony tooth socket as the tissues surrounding the teeth are destroyed. This can lead to damage to internal organs and possibly death. Additionally, it is very painful for your pet and can be quite costly to you.

Dr. Larry Corry, President of the American Veterinary Medical Association, recognizes that many people don’t even realize that dental health is important to their pets. That’s why setting aside February as Pet Dental Health Month is such a good idea.

The key is prevention and there are a few things you, as a pet owner, can do.

1. Diet – avoid feeding your pet soft foods. Ask your vet for recommendations for foods specifically formulated for dental health.
2. Tooth-conditioning treats and chew toys. Make sure to stick to rawhide, nylon and rubber chew toys that are toxic-free. You don’t want to avoid one problem by introducing your pet to another one!
3. Brushing. It is important to brush your dog’s and/or cat’s teeth at least 2 – 3 times a week.
4. Regular dental checkups and cleanings. Your veterinarian will tell you if plaque or tartar is starting to form and may advise dental cleaning. This is done under general anesthesia and is costly, so it’s best to focus on the above 3 points to avoid this.

It is always easiest to acclimate your pet to having his teeth brushed when you start when he is young. But even if you missed that opportunity, there are ways to introduce him to the process, and even look forward to it, if done correctly. By making it an enjoyable experience for your pet, you’ll set the stage for a lifetime of healthy teeth and gums. Ask your vet to instruct you on ways of easing your pet into the teeth-brushing routine.

Choose a brush that is the right size for your pet. Finger brushes slip over the tip of your finger and have pliable rubber bumps that work well for cats, puppies and small dogs. If you prefer a handled toothbrush, the C.E.T. Dual-Ended Toothbrush for dogs and cats features a long handle with different sized brushes on each end suitable for large and small surfaces. You can also clean your pet’s teeth and gums simply by using a piece of gauze wrapped around your finger.

Do not use toothpaste designed for humans! Since they will not spit out the toothpaste, as people do, it is important to use toothpaste that is safe to swallow. Besides, your cat or dog is going to prefer chicken-flavored to peppermint! Oral gels and sprays are also available to help maintain your pet’s oral health.

By doing you can to prevent periodontal disease in your pet, you will reap the benefits of having your dog or cat live a longer and healthier life. Isn’t a little inconvenience worth that extra tail wag and purring head butt?

We were incredibly honored and grateful that actress, producer, and animal activist Jenna Dewan-Tatum chose DaisyCares as one of her featured charities on her new Ebay Celebrity profile!!

We want to thank all of our supporters, Jenna, and her husband Channing Tatum for helping DaisyCares through Jenna’s Ebay charity auction! Your generous donations and support raised over $2100 for our organization in just 4 days, and we’re EXTREMELY grateful!!