By: Judy Lore, AVHS Volunteer columnist I have noticed many lost dogs – and some cats – and some not reunited with their people. Why? The answer is often simple. No collar. Collar, but no ID tag with name and phone number. Not microchipped with a rice sized microchip containing up to date owner’s information on it to be easily scanned at a shelter or vet’s office. It is immensely beneficial to, at the very least, have a collar with an ID tag attached. A collar by itself might help when leash......

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By: Judy Hamontre, AVHS Vice Chair To sleep with your pet or not? That is the question! According to a psychologist who wished to remain anonymous, “Sharing a bed with your furry friend may not be a good idea, except when it is, or worded another way, it is a good idea until it is not.” Research results provide answers and points of view that are no more definitive than the advice of this psychologist. Most recent surveys show that about half of our country’s cats and dogs sleep in bed with......

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By: Judy Hamontre, AVHS Vice Chair Today, after feeding my 8 year-old, sweet Gracie and going for a short walk, I reminded her that 2024 has nearly come to an end. She looked up at me, tilted her head to the right, perked up her Boxador ears, and I know she was thinking, “You are not about to begin making resolutions for 2025 are you?” “I told you last year that I am quite happy to: play more and stress less, take naps each afternoon, go for walks to enjoy nature, smile......

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By: Judy Lore, AVHS Volunteer columnist The topic of what and why we name our dogs the way we do started as I was reading Alexandra Horowitz’s 2019 book Our Dogs, Ourselves in which she devotes an entire early chapter to this little examined process of naming our dogs. In the interest of full disclosure, I’m sure the same process plays out when naming your newly adopted kitty. Horowitz is the Senior Research Fellow at Barnard College, Columbia University, and head of the Dog Cognition Lab there. (FYI: she studies the intelligence......

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By: Judy Hamontre, AVHS Vice Chair A moment I will never forget is a woman, a complete stranger, who upon seeing me outside the post office in my AVHS volunteer shirt, stopped me to share her story. She began with, “The Ark-Valley Humane Society helped me keep my cat, Annie, when times became tough for me. They gave me cat food and supplies. They were so kind and understanding.” Then the woman began to cry as she added, “Annie was my only family. I could not imagine life without her. Thanks to......

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By: Judy Lore, Volunteer columnist Need some good ideas for special things to do with your pet during the Holidays?  Here are some ideas: shower them with some gifts, enjoy extra time outdoors with them – my dogs love rolling in snow – an extra long walk is fun for them, take your pet with you to view holiday lights (they just love car rides and being with you), let your cat enjoy all the empty boxes after gifts are opened, cuddle on the couch and watch holiday movies together, make a......

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By: Judy Lore, Volunteer columnist A delightful book recently found its way to my pile of unread books. The History of the World in Fifty Dogs by Mackenzi Lee. Putting down my unfinished Louise Penney new book, I opened it and was transported to a fascinating history of man’s or woman’s best friend starting in 3100 BCE through 2013 with the first mutt to climb to Mt. Everest’s base camp. I certainly can’t go into many of these short stories, but I have selected a few to share. First Recorded Dog With......

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By: Judy Hamontre, AVHS Vice Chair Thanksgiving is a family time to gather together, celebrate and feast. Unfortunately, many foods and decorations are poison to your pets. Turkey and its skin can cause pancreatitis. Bones damage the digestive tract. Turkey brine can cause vomiting, diarrhea and in large quantities, brain swelling. The onions, raisins, currants and grapes in several dishes are toxic to your pets. Desserts can also be a danger. Chocolate is harmful. A small amount will make your pet sick. A large amount can be life-threatening, causing seizures, internal bleeding......

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By: Judy Hamontre, AVHS Vice Chair Trick or treaters interrupt me as I write this article on Halloween, the night of ghosts, goblins, witches and black cats, the supposed bearers of bad luck. My friend, Sue, who recently adopted two black kittens would disagree that black cats are evil. Sue, who teaches medieval history, believes black cats often receive a bad reputation due to their association with Halloween, superstitions of the Middle Ages, witches and bad luck. She and others feel this wicked outlook of black cats is unfair and delight in......

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By: Judy Hamontre, AVHS Vice Chair According to an African proverb, “It takes a village to raise a child.” In our Arkansas river valley, it is the community who helps provide the much needed care for the precious companion animals who arrive at the Ark-Valley Humane Society (AVHS). You, the wonderful humans of our community, go above and beyond to support our shelter. You constantly surpass our expectations with your generosity. We, the AVHS Board of Directors, extend our heartfelt thanks to all of you. AVHS just completed the fun Feline and......

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