Another day, another lost pet. While our area may not be unique, it sure seems like there are a lot of lost and found pets. When we get a stray at our shelter, we first scan them for a microchip and check to see if they have a tag. More often than not, our found pet posts include this phrase: “no chip, no collar, and no tag”. This makes it difficult to facilitate a happy reunion if the pet is loved and the family wants to be reunited. Although we reunited 47 pets with their people in 2023, that was only 25% of the stray cats and dogs we received.

When you think of things you love about your dog, it’s probably the companionship, the playtimes, the snuggles, and those loving eyes. Wet dog smell, not so much. 

The term “feral cat” is one of the most misunderstood terms in animal welfare. Some people believe that a feral cat is a wild and dangerous creature that needs to be feared or even shot. Others use the term to describe any homeless outdoor cat. For example, we get calls like this: “There’s a litter of feral kittens under my porch. My kids have been playing with them, and they’re super friendly.” In this case, the kittens are not feral but are stray, homeless, abandoned, or community cats.

The holiday season can be lonely for shelter pets. Everyone is busy shopping, decorating, baking, and getting ready for Santa. In the winter months, we don’t have as many visitors to the shelter. 

Cats are usually comfortable, secure, and happy in their familiar spaces. Some cats are up for an adventure and travel well, but most cats do not. A cat who doesn’t travel well will likely become stressed out which means fear, digestive issues, and even attempts to escape from the car, the hotel, or grandma’s house.

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.

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.

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. 

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.

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.

So here is something that doesn’t make a lot of sense to me, that as humans enter their “senior” years, when pets are more important than ever in providing companionship, love, and a long list of health benefits, that they are often separated from their beloved pets. It is heart-breaking for the senior and all involved in the senior’s life, including the pets. So let’s take a few moments of preparation so we can prevent this from happening to you.