Humane Education Column


20
Nov 2024
Safe Thanksgiving For Your Pets

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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13
Nov 2024
Black Cat Bad Luck Myth

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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23
Oct 2024
Heartfelt Thanks

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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18
Oct 2024
It’s Pumpkin Time for Dogs

By: Judy Lore, AVHS Volunteer columnist I’m beginning with a tasty pumpkin recipe for your pups and then later will explain the benefits of pumpkins for dogs. Pumpkin Treat Recipe: 2 ½ cups of whole wheat flour, 2 tablespoon peanut butter (not with birch sugar or xylitol), 2 eggs, ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon, ½ cup canned pumpkin (NOT pumpkin pie mix). 350-degree oven, Combine dry ingredients, whisk together eggs, pumpkin, and peanut butter in a large bowl, stir in the dry flour mix – dough will be a bit dry and crumbly.......

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09
Oct 2024
Do a Senior Pet a Favor

By: Judy Lore, AVHS Volunteer columnist When you glance through the dogs and cats up for adoption, do you ever give serious thought to actually going to visit some of the senior pets and possibly adopting them? Or fostering them until they find a forever home? Ark-Valley Humane Society has several older dogs and cats who need new homes or time away from the shelter. The reason some older animals are there varies, but each had a previous home and for whatever reason ended up at the shelter. They are loving and......

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25
Sep 2024
A Dog’s Intelligent Nose

By: Judy Lore, AVHS Volunteer columnist Dogs think through their noses. Humans use sight and are visual learners while dogs use their scent receptors in that amazing nose to learn of the past, the present, and the future. We make use of their scent abilities that far outweigh our scent level to find things we cannot see or have difficulty finding. What are they sniffing for when trained to do so? So many things: cancer, bombs, invasive plants, drugs, gas leaks, epilepsy, Covid-19, human remains, diabetes to name some. Their nose is......

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19
Sep 2024
Happy “Tails”

By: Judy Hamontre, AVHS Vice Chair Recently, friends of mine witnessed for their first time, a dog being reunited with his owner. They describe it as a moment of pure joy, with “lots of tail-wagging, wiggles, and tears.” This couple, who are not themselves pet owners, helped make that reunion happen. When a scared, stray dog appeared on their back porch, they put out water and food. Realizing the dog did not want to be approached, they took a photo of him and contacted the local authorities and the Ark-Valley Humane Society.......

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11
Sep 2024
September Is Animal Pain Awareness Month

By: Judy Hamontre, AVHS Vice Chair “Daisy, you’re pacing nonstop. Why? What is going on?” “Penelope, you’re hiding this morning. That is not normal for you. Are you ok?” “Scottie, you did not eat your breakfast. Is something wrong?” Many pet owners have asked similar questions of their cats and dogs when they exhibit behaviors that are not ordinary. We fear they might be sick or in pain and wish they could talk to us to tell us how they feel. According to Dr. Dana Varble, Chief Veterinary Officer of The North......

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04
Sep 2024
Cats, the ‘Purrfect’ Pet

By: Judy Hamontre, AVHS Vice Chair I often hear from my cat-loving friends when they believe I have been writing more articles about dogs than cats. They enjoy giving me a playful nudge to remind me that cats are “purrfect” pets. Granted, I have never owned a cat because all my dogs have needed to be the only pet in my home, but I have had the pleasure to cat-sit for several of my friends, delighting in their cats’ playful antics and being soothed by their purring when nestled on my lap.......

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28
Aug 2024
Suggested Books

By: Judy Lore, AVHS Volunteer Columnist Days are getting shorter with more time spent inside. It’s a great time to check out some wonderful books about dogs and cats. I’ve recently come across several that bear a serious reason to dwell within their pages. David Rosenfelt has a new book titled, Dog Day Afternoon that is another of his entertaining crime novels. This one surprised me with a crime of ingenuity and a storyline that I’d not read about before. Lawyer Andy Carpenter uses his golden retriever, Tara, as his sounding board......

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