Category: Newsletter 3
Join the Fun! TASP Events Now till 2018
Tag Sales, Photo Clinics, Adoption Clinics and MORE! There are SO many TASP events going on throughout the year! All are for raising the funds needed to continue our mission of helping companion animals stay safe and healthy. Want to help? Visit/volunteer/donate/shop! Bring your friends and family and have a blast while you help local animals! CLICK HERE for a fast connection to the TASP Events Page.
Local Low Cost Pet Care
Low-cost Clinics
In each newsletter we will list various shelters and organizations that provide low-cost veterinary services, such as vaccines, microchipping, and spay/neuter to individuals who may need financial assistance affording vet care for their companion animal(s).
Animal Protective Foundation (APF) – Located at 53 Maple Avenue in Scotia, the APF provides lower-cost spay/neuter clinics. Appointments must be made in advance by calling 374-3944, ext. 121 or 125 (please leave a message) or email: afpclinic@animalprotective.org. For more details go to: www.animalprotective.org
Battenkill Veterinary – Rabies Vaccination Clinics held Monday through Friday from 2-3PM on a walk-in basis. For more details: http://battenkillveterinary.com/
Mohawk Hudson Humane Society – Lower-fee spay and neuter for individuals with limited income. Appointments must be made in advance by calling the Menands shelter at 434-8128 or the Saratoga shelter at 886-9645. For more details go to: www.mohawkhumane.org/spayneuter.html
Low Cost Spay-Neuter Services in the Utica Area: http://lite987.com/low-cost-spay-and-neuter-programs-in-the-utica-area/
Capital Region PETCO Stores – Low cost vaccinations through VETCO, with convenient hours. Click here to check availability at Capital District stores.
Pet Supplies Plus – VIP PetCare Community Veterinary Clinic offering: low cost vaccines, heartworm testing and prevention, and other preventative veterinary services including canine Rabies vaccines and micro-chipping. No appointment necessary, first-come, first-served. For more information, visit www.VipPetCare.com or contact the store. Click here to check availability at Capital District stores.
Tractor Supply Company (TSC) – Offers monthly preventative vet care visits at many of their locations in the Capital District, Washington County, and Bennington County, Vermont. The clinics are operated by VIP Petcare Mobile Clinics with a licensed vet on staff. No appointment is needed and there is only a charge for the vaccinations. Contact your local TSC for dates and times. Click here to reach the Tractor Supply website.
In Case You Don’t Live in NY’s Capital District, you can find low cost spay-neuter clinics at this cool ASPCA site: Click Here to check it out.
Testimonials – In Their Words
I want to say thank you so much for all your help that you have been doing for my cat Lucy it means a lot to me. Thanks again….. Jean
Thank you for all you did for Raymond’s “Pups.” …..Pat
I don’t know what we would have done without your compassion and support. Your organization is truly a Godsend and I would be proud to say I am affiliated with it…….Although Smoaky most definitely had a better “vacation” than I did, I am recovering well……I’m sure my peace of mind and not having to worry about Smoaky contributed greatly to my recovery. At a (very rare) loss for words for thanks, I’ll just say a million and one thanks for all your help!…….Sincerely, Pam
Thank you for talking to me last night. I appreciate your advice and look forward to having you over …..Alice
I was just filling my cats’ food bowl and I was just thinking how wonderful you were to help me both times and I just want to let you know that I really appreciate it, especially the litter cuz I really would be in a pickle right now if it wasn’t for you…because I literally have no income. So I just want to thank you again, I really, really, really appreciate it. I’m hoping if I do get my Social Security maybe I can help someone else and pass it forward. Just had to say it again, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you so much!……..Tina
High Fives – Thanks to our Business Partners!
High Fives…..to the wonderful businesses in the Capital Region who prove they care by partnering with TASP:
Animal House Dog Grooming
Aquaduct Veterinary Hospital
Benson’s Pet Centers
Bloomingrove Veterinary Hospital
Borador Animal Hospital
Brunswick Agway
Brunswick Animal Hospital
Campbell Supply
Canoe Associates Insurance Agency
Catskill Animal Hospital
Cobleskill Vet Hospital
Conceptual Images
Crawmer’s Animal Training
CourierTronics
Fane Construction
General Electric
Healthy Pet Center
Hoof n’ Paw Vet Services
Hoosic Veterinary Hospital
Infinity Pet Services
In The Comfort of Home
Karen L. Marbot, Attorney at Law
Kat’s Bed n’ Biskit
LaFave, Wein and Frament, PLLC
Latham Animal Hospital
Lydall
Oakwood Veterinary Clinic
Out of the Basement
Pet Supplies Plus
Quest Plumbing
Regeneron
Riverside Vet Hospital
Schoharie Vet Hospital
Schopf Law
Shamrock Grooming and Dog Day Care
Stewarts
The Animal Hospital
Tub 64 Pet Grooming
Union Street Veterinary Hospital
Upstate Veterinary Specialties
VCA Brown Animal Hospital
West Mountain Animal Hospital
Whalen Tent
Wiley Brothers Hardware & Building Supply
WLR Embroidery
Please consider giving them your business in return for their commitment to TASP’s mission.
This Quarter’s Featured Project – Keepin’ It Together
Best Friends for Life: Gail and Puppy
Thanks to all of you from Puppy!
My name’s, “Puppy.” I’m a 13 year old Yorkie & Chihuahua mix. Everyone is surprised to find out how old I am when they hear my name and meet me….frisky and lively and full of energy, I guess I’ll always look and act like a pup, and that’s just fine with me! When I was younger, Mom, Dad, Bro and I all lived on a modest little farm in the country. We raised dairy goats; Nubians and LaManchas were our specialty. I really liked the way they smelled and I enjoyed going to the barn each day with the folks to help with milking and caring for my caprine “cousins.” My favorite thing to do was to steal a piece of the trimmings when the goats had their hooves clipped…..have you ever tasted goat hoof? It’s the caviar of doggie cuisine, y’know.
About two years ago, things all of a sudden changed ALOT! First, Bro got really sick…… the kind of sick that means hospital trips, chemo, and weeks and weeks of pain medicine. After that, Bro never really looked the same; and soon, he just completely disappeared. Mom and Dad walked around like zombies after Bro left. They looked scared.
We moved to a smaller place because Mom’s health wasn’t very good anymore. She has a lot of trouble breathing. Soon, she was wearing a leash attached to her nose (she called it her oxygen) and she was never able to walk off-leash again. That seemed bad enough, but then, all of a sudden, Dad got sick like Bro. And less than a year after Bro disappeared, Dad disappeared, too. Mom says both of them went to live in heaven. I can’t understand why they left Mom and me here alone, but Mom says they got invited and we didn’t. But she says we will be invited to heaven soon enough. She says Dad and Bro are not coming back, either. So now, it’s just Mom and me scraping by on her Social Security check.
With things going so badly in Mom’s life, I didn’t want to tell her that my mouth hurt. But as time went on, it REALLY got sore and I couldn’t chew my food. She noticed and started calling around to see if a vet would fix my mouth on credit…….but none of the vets agreed to let Mom pay on time; not even the one we’ve been going to all these years!
But ya know what? Mom didn’t give up. She kept asking around and eventually she found out about TASP: The Animal Support Project. She talked with a volunteer there and they hooked us up with a vet named Dr. Nicole, who actually fixed my mouth for FREE! Dr. Nicole had a grant from the ASPCA to help animals belonging to poor people…..and since nobody’s poorer than Mom and me, I was able to get the care I needed. But that’s not the end of the story!
The vets also said I needed medicine to help my heart work better. So TASP took me to a specialist and got me the tests I needed to get the right medicine. Now, a TASP volunteer visits Mom and me twice a month to count out pills into my trays. The trays have little compartments in them and each morning and evening, Mom takes the pills from a compartment and folds them into some tasty canned dogfood that I find just irresistible. TASP even found me a sponsor who donates my pills so Mom doesn’t have to use food money to buy them.
The volunteer says Mom and TASP have “joint custody” of me so I can remain at home and still get the special care I need. They say I will be happier at home with the Mom I’ve known all my 13 years than to be uprooted and sent somewhere else. They know I am only at peace when I’m on Mom’s lap, watching the cooking shows on cable. And Mom is SO HAPPY to know she doesn’t have to spend the rest of her life alone! Mom and I sometimes look at each other and wonder which of us will be the next one to disappear. But at least now Mom knows that if SHE gets invited to heaven first, then I still have my friends at TASP to care for me until my invitation arrives.
CLICK HERE to watch Puppy & Gail’s video
The Next Chapter – Project Outcome Followup
Update on Bria
If you follow our facebook page, you know Bria returned home to live with her family back around January. As soon as she went home, Bria was enrolled with her family in Basic Obedience training through Crawmer’s Animal Training, courtesy of TASP, just to give her a leg up on moving back to home life. With three active kids, Dad recovering from major surgery and Mom adapting to her new job, it was extremely gratifying to know that the whole family was so devoted and committed to bringing Bria back into their lives.
The nicest update about Bria just came from her Mom!
“It’s been a whirlwind of a year but this is us and we got this… we are settling in and as I write Bria is laying by my bed. I would take a pic but she is a girl always in motion! Allana graduated yesterday and she will be off to St. John’s University in the fall to study Bio with a concentration in pre-med. We will never forget your kindness and would love to visit before she leaves! You are so special to our family!”
This family is still struggling to make ends meet since the fire took their home nearly two years ago. They are STILL waiting for the insurance companies to settle. But they’re a family of survivors and they’re all working hard to move on with life. They are an inspiration to everyone who knows them and it has been a joy to play a part in their recovery.
Update on Copper and Charlie:
Who says two giant old dogs can’t find a home together? Well, if this happy ending doesn’t make you believe in Santa Claus, I don’t know what will. You met Charlie and Copper in our last newsletter. On their way to the euthanasia room, these two bonded senior dogs made a detour to TASP foster care with Kat. And not long after that, just in time for Christmas, BOTH of these old guys hit the lottery and were adopted by Allison and her wonderful family. Used to giant breed dogs, the family’s home was ideal for our old buddies. And what a great way to start the new year: loved and safe with folks who treasure them for the gems they are!
At their ripe old ages, there is no telling how many Christmases Copper and Charlie will see. But knowing they will spend the rest of their lives being loved and spoiled is enough to make anyone want to celebrate. Thanks to everyone who had a part in this miracle!
Update on Bucky:
Three dentals, two leg surgeries and TWO YEARS in foster care! That’s what it took for Bucky to find the home he was meant to have. Although the little cowpoke was always a hit at adoption clinics and events, he never seemed to get the followthrough from potential adopters, and those who DID apply to adopt him had other animals who didn’t care to have Bucky in the family portrait. But that all changed in July when JT came into the picture. With a circle of friends who all own dogs, JT was looking for a little compadre who would work out well in her apartment and who would get along with the rest of her friends’ dogs. Circle Bucky for that! Living in Boston near a wonderful network of parks, trails and dog-friendly businesses, JT and Bucky now are seen frequenting all the best spots for reading and posting p-mail. And since JT works from home, the Buckmeister has his very own full-time relationship; the kind of lifestyle we think he always dreamed of and deserved. From a discarded, crooked-legged waif to a healthy, beloved companion with a real live bedfella and a social life to rival that of any Boston bachelor, this little Urban Cowboy is finally home!
Vet Sci 101 – How to Advocate for Your Pet After Surgery
In the January-February 2017 issue of Veterinary Team Brief magazine, Teresa Ann Raffel-Kleist, CVT, VTS, provided her top 5 tips for a Veterinary Team to communicate to pet owners, to use in monitoring their animal at home after surgery. We’re turning the pronouns around and sharing these simple tips with you in order to spread the word and bring awareness about how we can best collect data and communicate with the Veterinary Staff during our pet’s period of vulnerability.
- Understand the medications you’ll be giving your pet. Make sure you know how much and when to give, and understand how it is to be administered. Don’t be afraid to ask your Vet or Vet Tech to demonstrate how best to apply meds like ointments or drops. Also be sure to ask how to recognize side effects. If your pet also has a chronic health condition for which they are already taking a medication, it doesn’t hurt to ask your Vet Team if you should expect any potential drug interactions.
- Understand your pet’s surgical site. In other words, discuss any incision with your Vet Team; how many and what kind of stitches? Will they need to be pulled in 7-10 days or will they dissolve on their own? Should the incision be kept dry or should damp compress be applied in case of swelling, discharge or discomfort? What kind of discharge is normal and what kind is not? Will an e-collar be needed to keep the pet from chewing or licking the incision? Take photos of the incision every day or so in case you need to show them to the Vet.
- Ask your Vet Team how they want you to care for the bandage. How often should it be changed? What if it slips out of position? How to readjust it without damaging the tissue below? Smell the bandage each day…..What kinds of smells should we expect from the bandage as time goes on and what do they mean? If it’s a limb that’s bandaged, learn how to check your pet’s foot for warmth, color and swelling.
- Discuss exercise restrictions. For instance, stomach incisions take about 2 weeks to heal internally, so a pet with such an incision should not be allowed to jump for at least 2 weeks. If walking will be permitted, ask for specific instructions about leash length and recommended duration for walks. Are there any exercises we can engage our pets in that will aid with the pet’s rehabilitation? Ask for a demonstration if you aren’t absolutely clear on any exercises recommended.
- Discuss dietary restrictions with your Vet or Vet Tech. Controlling weight gain during the idle healing period will make it easier for your pet to rise from recumbancy while they’re convalescing. Issues with urinary blockages, kidney or liver dysfunction may require special or prescription food.
Understanding our pets’ post-surgical requirements will streamline the recovery process and offers our pet the best possible outcome. It also gives us the opportunity to advocate most effectively with our Veterinary Team on behalf of our pet. Vets and Vet Techs are more than happy to explain any of these care tips with their clients. They know a pet owner who is well informed is a valuable extension of their team .
Legislative Corner – Service and Emotional Support Animals
There is significant controversy and misunderstanding about the laws governing service and emotional support animals. This article will attempt to clear up some of the confusion and offer credible links to internet sites where readers can research the topic more deeply.
Essentially, the Federal Government says even in places where animals are prohibited, a person with a disability may not be excluded from any place people without disabilities are allowed, even if the disabled person is accompanied by a service animal. Further, the law says a service animal is NOT A PET. It’s an animal with a job to do. Here’s the link to the American Disabilities Act, the federal law governing access by people with disabilities and their service animals:
https://www.ada.gov/service_animals_2010.htm
There are also State and Local laws pertaining to service animals. Here’s the link to the New York City Bar Association’s internet site pertaining to use of service animals in NY State:
http://documents.nycbar.org/files/guide-to-the-use-of-service-animals-in-new-york-state.html
The following link explains in some detail the difference between a psychiatric service animal and an emotional support animal. You should note, the laws pertaining to service animals don’t automatically apply to emotional support animals. The link will explain the difference between the two:
http://servicedogcentral.org/content/node/76
To reiterate, an emotional support animal is not automatically covered by the ADA or the Human Rights Act of NY State, the way a psychiatric service animal would be. So if an emotional support animal issue erupts, the people involved may end up going to court to decide how the animal will be treated. In such a case, the court will refer to the individual case’s details in the light of prior cases (precedent) in the state legal archives. CLICK HERE for a link offering a number of cases where emotional support animal disagreements had to be settled by a New York court.
Bottom line is, if you are disabled and require a service animal, that animal will be trained to do a specific task to help you get through life. You and your service animal will have certain rights that other pet owners will not. If you have an emotional support animal, you will need to research in advance the policies of the places where you intend to go with that animal in order to be sure emotional support animals are allowed there.
If you love your pet and you do not truly have a disability, please be considerate and don’t just purchase a service pet harness or vest to gain your pet’s access to places where only service animals are allowed. Each time this is done, it risks public safety and it steps on the rights of people who truly need a trained animal’s help to get through life.
Grrrrreat Reads – Not about Dogs and Cats
This issue, we’re bringing you some books that are a departure from the subject of dogs and cats. After all, TASP is an All Species intervention group, so it’s only fair that we give some attention to some of the less commonly owned species. It can help us grow our knowledge of animal husbandry and maybe even tempt some of you to venture out and begin a relationship with some of these fascinating members of the animal kingdom.
Part of the True Horse Stories series, Gunner – Hurricane Horse by Judy Andrekson introduces us to a rude, unwanted colt who evolves into a treasured family member. The story follows this southern farm family before, during and after Hurricane Katrina and the subsequent circumstances that change all their lives forever. Inspiring, insightful and difficult to put down, the book can be enjoyed by youthful and young-at-heart readers who appreciate the value animals bring to our lives.
.
With “A Chicken in Every Yard,” Robert and Hannah Litt provide a helpful guide to backyard chicken husbandry geared toward urban and suburban dwellers, yet helpful even to those who live in the country. After posing and answering the question, “Why raise chickens,” this book offers a comprehensive collection of advice covering things like planning the financial side of chicken-ownership, proactively researching legal restrictions, selecting breeds, coop design and building, chicken health and feeding, and even a collection of recipes for dishes based on home-grown eggs. Plenty of great photos, tips and a list of resources to use as a launch pad for turning oneself into a responsible and successful chicken aficionado!
Karen Patry has written a very useful collection of information about raising rabbits in “The Rabbit Raising Problem Solver.” It’s mostly organized in question & answer format and really helps people who have been thinking about owning rabbits determine whether this is the right commitment for them. So different from other species in their physical and nutritional requirements, rabbits and their peculiarities can be baffling to those new to rabbit husbandry. The Rabbit Raising Problem Solver does a good job of unwinding the mysteries surrounding rabbit care, feeding, health, and management. With more and more apartment dwellers recognizing the value of keeping rabbits as pets, Patry’s book can educate and entertain, with the hope of encouraging successful bunny ownership for even the beginner.
-
UPCOMING EVENTS
May4Sat12:00 pm Saratoga Mother’s Day, Memorial ... @ Benson's Pet CenterSaratoga Mother’s Day, Memorial ... @ Benson's Pet CenterMay 4 @ 12:00 pm – 3:00 pm
You say you’ve never been to a TASP Fantasy Photo Fund Raiser before? Well, you don’t know what you and your best friend have been missing! Just a $10 donation yields a 4″x6″ framed keepsake[...]May5Sun12:00 pm Colonie Mother’s Day, Memorial D... @ Benson's Pet CenterColonie Mother’s Day, Memorial D... @ Benson's Pet CenterMay 5 @ 12:00 pm – 3:00 pm
You say you’ve never been to a TASP Fantasy Photo Fund Raiser before? Well, you don’t know what you and your best friend have been missing! Just a $10 donation yields a 4″x6″ framed keepsake[...]May11Sat12:00 pm Troy Mother’s Day, Memorial Day ... @ Pet Supplies PlusTroy Mother’s Day, Memorial Day ... @ Pet Supplies PlusMay 11 @ 12:00 pm – 3:00 pmYou say you’ve never been to a TASP Fantasy Photo Fund Raiser before? Well, you don’t know what you and your best friend have been missing! Just a $10 donation yields a 4″x6″ framed keepsake[...] -
