Shelter from the Storm

“I came in from the wilderness, a creature void of form

Come in, she said

I’ll give ya shelter from the storm

Try imagining a place where it’s always safe and warm

Come in, she said

I’ll give ya shelter from the storm” -Bob Dylan, 1974

Second Chance thrift shops are incredibly fortunate to have the support of our generous community. We receive multitudes of donated goods, and by reselling them we’re able to fund a significant portion of our work. Our shops allow us to rescue, educate, and serve pets and people in the counties we serve and beyond.

It’s goblin, candy, and party, time again. Halloween can be so much fun for kids and adults.

But how does this evening look to your cat or dog? They see scary, unfamiliar creatures running around screaming. You know that the monster in the scary mask is your neighbor kid, but your pet has no idea. The doorbell rings and rings, which is super confusing for the dog who thinks he needs to bark every time.

Stripes, Spots & Swirls - Tabby is the most common pattern for cats' coats. The gene for the tabby pattern can be found in all domestic cats (look at a black cat in the sun, and you may see hidden tabby markings). A tabby cat refers to a cat who has a pattern of stripes, swirls, spots, or blotches of colors.

Our dogs and cats are family. It’s difficult to think about when they’ll no longer be with us. But what if something happens to you first? Death or serious illness are often reasons why a dog or cat ends up in a shelter.

Why do dogs chase and bite their tail? It’s funny, puzzling, and sometimes frustrating when your dog catches sight of his tail and spins in circles trying to catch it. Or she bites and chews her tail for no apparent reason.

Sibling relationships can be complicated, both for humans and dogs. When adopting a new pet, people often think it’s better to get two from the same litter. With cats, that is a good strategy. Most veterinarians recommend adopting cats in pairs.

You’ve heard it: “It’s okay, my dog is friendly.” To be perfectly honest, you should not believe it. Most dogs are not always okay and not always friendly.

Second Chance Humane Society had two lost dog cases in a recent year. Both were nervous dogs who escaped from a new home or foster home. Louie was missing for nearly two weeks, while Oscar was recovered in less than a week. Why the difference? One reason is we learned from an expert who helped us with Louie.

Are dog noses emotion detectors? We know that dogs have a formidable sense of smell. It’s estimated that an average dog has 600 million smell receptors (compared to only 12 million in you). But can a dog smell things other than food, toys, and each other? Recent studies say yes. They can smell stress, depression, sadness, and grief.

We love old dogs. They’re calm, trained, loyal, and wise. Although they sometimes need a bit more care for age-related ailments, they are worth it. The physical challenges of age are easier for many families to understand and manage than the mental changes in their elderly dog.

Just as we thought summer was winding down, the temperature is again near 100 degrees. Summers are hotter and longer than they used to be, which makes me wonder- is it too hot here for furry dogs? 

Every dog does things that are cringe-worthy. Humping, licking those places, sniffing crotches, gagging (causing the mad dash to get outside), and yes… scooting our butts across the carpet or grass. Whether we choose to scoot in the middle of your dinner party or while you’re enjoying a cup of coffee- it’s something you probably wish would stop. 

Mascara. Shampoo. Perfume. Laundry Detergent. Oven Cleaner. Yes, these products might help us look and feel prettier and make our house shiny and clean. But, did you realize there is a very ugly side to some of these products? Yes, I’m talking about animal testing.

Humans have several socially acceptable ways of greeting each other… a smile, a handshake, a hug. You definitely would not be invited back if you did what many dogs do as part of social interactions. Yes, we’re talking about humping.

I saw last week’s pet column, “Why Cats are the Best Pets”, and I was confused. Why would anyone question the superiority of canine companionship? When you see all the funny, playful, adorable, loyal dogs here at Second Chance, you might want to adopt them all! Here are just a few of countless reasons why a dog is the very best pet.

When you are adding a pet to your family, you might be deciding between a dog or a cat. The choice is obvious- go feline. I have many attractive, playful, loving, and loyal friends here at Second Chance who would be perfect. Why are cats the best? Here are just a few reasons.

Cats are very colorful creatures, inside and out. Thus, it may seem hard to believe, but genetically, there are only 2 colors of cats: black and red with many combinations, dilutions, or mixtures of these.

In the human world, there are entire fields of research dedicated to making mobility and communication easier for those who have challenges. From titanium prosthetic limbs to technology that helps hearing impaired people, it’s a dynamic and ever-changing world.

Take a look at your fingernails. Now imagine what it would take to permanently remove them. Ouch. Looks like you’d have to remove part of your finger right? Yep, that is what happens when you declaw a cat. Speaking from experience it is awful.