Holiday Hazards For Pets

The holidays are fast approaching, faster than I want them to any way. And with all the cheer and joy comes many dangers to pets.

Decorations

In that one picture are many hazards to dogs. First of all, the tinsel can easily cause an intestinal blockage, or cause your pet to choke. Puppies and kittens will be especially entralled with the glittery wonder of tinsels and garland. Don't use it unless you know, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that your pet will leave it alone.

The shiny ornaments we all like to hang look like fancy balls to our pets. These are dangerous because some are made from glass and if an unsuspecting pup chomps it could cut his gums, lips and throat. Anyone who has ever accidentally dropped one of those suckers knows just how many tiny shards of glass they make, and how they will find their way into your foot months later. Your best bet? Get the shatterproof bulbs. But, beware of the hooks because those too can damage an innocent pet.

If you opt for a live christmas tree remembr that the pin needles can cause irritation to your dog, and some dogs may even be allergic to them!

The lights you hang on your tree means dangling cords....and a risk of electrical shock. Make every attempt to reduce the amount of slack in your cords and unplug them when not in use to reduce the chance of your dog deciding to find out what they might taste like. 

Poinsettias, Holly, and Mistletoe are also dangerous to our pets, if you keep one of these in the house make sure it is well out of reach of your dog or cat. 

Food

Holiday foods are in abundance from the end of November through the beginning of January. Let's face it, Christmas is not just a day, it's an entire month and basically Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New years should all just be lumped into one holiday. Our homes are full of goodies, including baked goods, chocolates, turkey and ham dinners and so much more.

The bones from your meals are not good for dogs. Once cooked, bones splinter and can get lodged in a dog's throat.

We all know that chocolate is not good for dogs, and can even be deadly. Be extra careful when baking to keep the bakers chocolate and cocoa out of reach of your pets.  After the cookies and goodies are done keep those away from your dog too.  

With the holidays always comes a nip of some alcohol. Beer, whiskey, egg nog, whatever your choice is, keep it away from your dog.  Dogs may age faster than humans, but there is no legal drinking age for canines.

What does it mean to be a dog owner?

I am an avid aquarist (fancy word for "I like to have fish tanks") and I met some great people through that hobby. One of those people once said that in this hobby there are "fish havers" and "fish keepers" A "fish haver" throws water in a tank, puts some fish in, feeds them when they remember, never changes the water etc. A "fish keeper" changes their water dilegently, feeds their fish the best they are able to, and really makes sure that those fish are healthy.

What do fish have to do with dogs, you ask? Well, I think the same applies for dogs. There are people who have dogs. They live in their homes, or in the back yard. They get tossed some kibble, and on a lucky day...they get a pat on the head or get to hear "good boy/girl".  Then there are people like us, people who look at our dogs and can translate a tail wag, a bar, a stare, into a language. We can see our dog's feelings, we do everything we can to make sure we have happy, healthy dogs. We take them to the vet for check ups, we worry about them when they arent well, and we cry when they finally cross over the rainbow bridge.

Dog havers.....those dogs are lucky if they ever see a vet, if they ever get the simple joy of laying in their owners laps, or on the couch watching tv.

So what does it mean to be a dog owner? A whole lot more than ownership, that's for sure.  A dog is not a belonging, it's not a possession, and it's not disposable. A dog is a life time decision to care for another living being and to treat them right.  We may not all be able to afford top of the line kibble, but our dogs don't care much as long as they are fed and loved.  As dog keepers, we are doing the best we possibly can with what we have available. And, if ever a time comes that resources are no longer available, then we must make the decision to forfeit our companion before any harm comes to them.

I haven't been with the rescue very long. Maybe 4-5 months now, but I don't think I'll ever look back. I've always been a dog lover, and my dogs have always been my "kids" it hurts me to see any dog in pain, suffering, unloved....and through the rescue I've been lucky enough to meet many people who feel the same way.  I'm just saying, I'm glad to be surrounded by a community of dog keepers rather than dog havers.

Where Are They Now??: Ora

ORA

Have you ever followed one of our dogs and wondered.....what happens after the happy ending? What are they doing, where did they go? Every week I'd like to feature one of the prior dogs that we've had and give you an update on them.

Today, we're going back to June, 2012. A Darrah was new to the scene and spotted a beautiful girl on the NYACC euthanasia list. Her name, then, was Sarah.  The A Darrah girls decided to pull her off the list and save her life. 

Sara/Ora's Shelter photo

Upon doing so, she was examined by a veterinarian who discovered the poor girl had a severe upper respiratory infection, and was not doing well at all. After some vigorous treatment, and two months in a veterinary hospital, sarah began to feel better. 

Ora during her 2 month stay in the hospital with a respiratory infection

It was later discovered that Ora was pregnant, and would later deliver 8 beautiful puppies. Ora made a complete recovery from her infection as well. 

xray showin ora's pups in utero

Ora and her babies

At this point this was as a completely happy tail as any, but  8 weeks later the story takes a heartbreaking turn. As A Darrah Bull was jumping in head first into the rescue scene they also decided to advocate for the breed by hosting a pit bull awareness walk in Holidaysburg, pa.  During the event Ora's puppies were intentionally poisioned, resulting in the untimely death of two of them.  The culprit was never discovered, and remains a mystery.   

After Ora recovered from birth, she was then fostered by Breanne, who was heavily involved with the rescue at the time.  Breanne states that she pretty much knew from the get go that she was going to be a foster fail with Ora, but when an application from an older couple came in she went ahead and approved Ora's adoption. It didnt even last a full day before Ora was crying and attempting to escape due to missing her true owner, Breanne. So Breanne adopted Ora, and has never looked back. She said that Ora hasnt left her side since. 

I think she meant that in the literal sense, as here is a great photo of an amazing tattoo she had done to commemorate Miss Ora.

Breanne also stated that "[ora] is the coolest dog, ever".

If you would like to experience the same bond from a rescue dog, we encourage you to check our list of adoptables and see if someone may be your new best friend. If you arent sure about keeping a dog, but would like to help there is always the option to foster. No matter how you get involved, rescuing is extremely rewarding and worth every moment.  

Did you adopt a dog from A Darrah? Would you like to be our next featured "where are they now?" story? Shoot us an email at adarrahbullbullyrescue@gmail.com and let us know!

Feature Adoptable! CHICO

Chico was a rescue from NYACC who was surrendered a few weeks after one of our other dogs, Lilly. Chico was believed to be the father of the litter of puppies that she had.  Chico's start with us was a bit of a gamble as his intake evaluation wasnt the greatest, but much to our liking and surprise, Chico turned out to be a very sweet, gentle boy.

Here  he is just a few hours after arrival showing that everything that had been said about him prior, was wrong.

Chico just completed a training course at Independent K9 LLC in West Virginia, where he learned basic obedience, as well as learning how to just be a dog. Prior to coming to A Darrah, Chico did not know how to play ball, or be loved. Now he does, and the final piece of the puzzle for him is a home to call his own.

Chico is good with kids, and other dogs. He is a very confident boy who loves to be around people. With his recent training, he will make an amazing companion for someone. Could it be you? Chico hopes so. If you are interested in adopting please visit our website at adarrahbullbullyrescue.webs.com and apply.