NO-KILL SHELTER DESPERATELY
NEEDS YOUR DONATIONS
TO REMAIN OPEN

RUFF, also known as Rescued Unwanted Furry Friends, has been open since 2004 and has adopted out over 2,300 dogs. But since the oil spill, donations have declined drastically. The no-kill shelter is quickly running out of money but currently has about 50 dogs in need of daily food, shelter and ultimately forever homes. All are spayed or neutered, up to date on shots, microchipped and healthy. Your donations are needed now more than ever. For more information on how to help please visit www.911ruff.org. Donated items to the RUFF Thrift Store are also gladly accepted at 127 Miracle Strip Parkway SW in Ft. Walton Beach.

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People value what they pay for. Pets obtained for free are less likely to be spayed or neutered by their new owners and more likely to be abused or discarded. So-called "Bunchers" gather free pets until they have enough for a trip to a Class B Dealer who is licensed to sell animals for research. If you are trying to find a home for a pet, here's important information you need to know.  More

Local Animal Rescue Group Seeking Volunteers

The Escambia shelter is now only keeping strays for three days before putting them down. In an attempt to save at least some of these cats and dogs, PetComeHome is setting up a rescue program designed to find loving, forever homes for local animals in other parts of the country where adoptable pets are needed. We need the following volunteers:

• People who can research the internet and/or call other rescues to find places where our animals can be taken.

• People who are good at organizing and can schedule animals, foster homes, and transportation together to cut down on confusion.

• People who could foster a cat or dog for a couple of weeks, if necessary, before the transport.

• People who could occasionally ferry animals to some central point (Dallas, St Louis, Memphis, etc.) where perhaps you have relatives and could meet with people from the receiving center.

• People who would cat or dog sit for the transporters.

If you would like to help in this local rescue effort, send an email to rusti99@gmail.com or for more information visit the local PetComeHome website at pensacola.petcomehome.com

Regular meetings are being held the second Thursday of every month at the Downtown Library at the corner of Spring and Garden Streets. All cat and dog lovers are invited to attend.

A local animal lover and rescuer, Barbara Grice has passed away. The Humane Society of Pensacola's Director Liz Ohlhorst told us, "She was an incredible woman. Her dedication to the Humane Society and to ALL animals was amazing. She personally helped so many kitties find their forever homes. She will be missed by so many including the puppies and kitties. And her passing leaves a huge hole in my heart." Her sister Mary has set up a Memorial fund to try and make Barbara's dream of having a spay and neuter clinic in Pensacola a reality. Due to her rapid decline, the fund does not yet have 501(c)3 status and donations are not tax deductible at this time. If that is a concern, please consider making a donation to the Humane Society in Barbara's memory where gifts are tax deductible.

Barbara Grice Memorial Fund
Attention: Rusty Smith
Sun Trust Bank
11 Hoffman Drive
Gulf Breeze, FL 32561

Humane Society of Pensacola, Inc
5 North Q Street
Pensacola, FL 32505
Tax ID SC-02477, 59-6002691

Protect Your Pets from Coolant Poisoning

Ethylene glycol is the ingredient that gives antifreeze its sweet, enticing taste, and less than a teaspoon can be life threatening for your pet. Always take these precautions:

• Keep pets inside when flushing your radiator, and never drain it into gutters or onto the ground.

• Fix all radiator leaks, even if no antifreeze is dripping onto the ground. Cats can (and often will) crawl up into car engines to lick drops of antifreeze from leaky radiator caps.

• Store new and used antifreeze in a leakproof container.

• Promptly clean all spills.

• Don't let your cat freely roam in your garage or outdoors. One stroll through a puddle of antifreeze, followed by paw licking, can result in death.

• Buy antifreeze with the bitter-tasting and less toxic propylene glycol instead of the sweet-tasting ethylene glycol. (All brands of antifreeze should be handled with the same precautions listed above.)

If you suspect your dog or cat has ingested antifreeze, get to the vet immediately. Irreversible kidney damage can occur within hours of ingestion. Lethargy, depression, and staggering are a few of the symptoms of ingestion, but some dogs or cats show no symptoms at all.

Gulf Coast Residents Urged to Include Animals in Disaster Plans

The failure to plan for your pets’ safety can lead to tragedy. During Hurricane Katrina residents were forced to abandon dogs, cats and other animals by the tens of thousands. Fortunately, you can take simple steps to ensure that your pets will not be left in a dangerous situation.

A  pet disaster kit should include:

• A three-day supply of food and drinking water, as well as bowls, cat litter and a container to be used as a litter box.
• Current photos and descriptions of pets.
• Up-to-date identification, including an additional tag with the phone number of someone out of the area in the event the pet becomes lost.
• Medications, medical records and a first aid kit stored in a waterproof container.
• Sturdy leashes, harnesses and carriers to transport pets safely as well as blankets or towels for bedding and warmth. Carriers should be large enough to comfortably house your pet for several hours or even days.

For more information about disaster preparedness visit www.humanesociety.org/disaster