To view a TON of professional pictures from the March For The Animals just click the link below. You’ll see all kinds of dogs and other animals as well!
My Visit To The MD SPCA Sunday, Jul 30 2006
MD SPCA Info 2:25 am
My dad & I stopped by the MD SPCA one day. I wanted to pick up an application. It would be my dream job to work there. Anyway, the place was so clean and everyone there was beyond nice. People were in the waiting area filling out paper work to start the adoptiong process, people were picking up their new family members. It was great to see. There was a cart filled with various donated products like toys, treats, collars and other things new pet owners would be.
My dad of course wanted to sneak out but since I was there I wanted to see the animals. I was expected to see depressed dogs just laying around in their runs but hell no. These dogs were the most friendly critters! They had dogs of all ages as well. They had an adorable black lab puppy and a beagle that looked to be around 9 years old. The beagle was there because his owner was older and couldn’t care for him anymore.
The dogs would come up and greet you. They hardly barked though! You could tell the people at the MD SPCA were working with them on different types of training. All the cages and runs were cleaned, they had toys to play with and blankets to lay on.
When it was time to leave, I was a bit depressed. I would take care of every animal if I could. I’m sure by now you can tell I’m more of an animal person than a people person. Even if you can’t adopt, it doesn’t hurt to stop by and show some love to an animal for an hour or two.
Some Tips On House Breaking Saturday, Jul 29 2006
MD SPCA Info 11:00 pm
Having trouble getting your dog or puppy house broken? See if these tips from the MD SPCA help at all.Having trouble teaching Fido where to use the bathroom? Don’t fret! Housebreaking can be as easy as 1-2-3!
A very important factor in housebreaking is ROUTINE. Feeding the dog at the same time and the same amount everyday is important. Once you get to know your dog’s system, you will be able to anticipate when potty breaks are necessary. Stick with the same high quality diet. Switching his food suddenly or using a low quality dog food can give him loose stools and make it harder for him to hold it while you are gone.
PICK ONE WORD that the dog can associate with bathroom breaks to help the dog understand what you want him to do. For example, while you are outside, tell him to “GO POTTY.” When he goes, begin to praise him using the word “Good potty Fido!” Be consistent with the word you use so the dog does not become confused. Take the dog to the same spot every time and keep him on leash. This way he will become familiar with what you want him to do when you go to this spot. REMEMBER TO PRAISE HIM WHEN HE GOES OUTSIDE!
CRATE TRAINING is a great tool in helping housebreak Fido. Dogs do not like to mess in their crate. A crate is an indoor kennel that provides the dog with a den when you are not home to supervise him. He should have enough room to stand up, turn around, and lay down comfortably. If there is more room than that, he may use the bathroom in the crate. If you have a puppy, you can block some of the crate off and move the divider as the dog grows. You will want to exercise him before and after leaving to give him ample time to use the bathroom. When you leave, put him in his crate with a favorite toy. Do not put food or water in the crate.
It is important to SUPERVISE your dog closely while housebreaking. Keeping him in the same room with you will help keep him from being able to use the bathroom without you seeing it. If he does have an accident, make a loud noise to get his attention (hopefully he will stop going to the bathroom) and then quickly take him outside and praise him for going there. Clean the mess up with a product made specifically for animal elimination such as Nature’s Miracle. DO NOT rub his nose in it or hit him – that will only confuse the dog and make him scared of you! Instead, try to head off the problem in the first place by becoming familiar with signs your dog may give you before he has to go to the bathroom so you may start to take him outside before he goes. Positive reinforcement is the best way to communicate with your dog.
Barking Advice Saturday, Jul 29 2006
MD SPCA Info 4:58 pm
I was looking around the MD SPCA website and noticed that have some useful information on various pet-related topics. I know many people complain about barking dogs. Sometimes it’s their dog, sometimes it’s the neighbors. I thought this could be useful to someone out there and keep the comments coming people!
Barking
Excessive barking typically occurs in dogs that are left unsupervised for extended periods of time. They bark because they are bored, lonely, or frustrated. Barking is difficult to control because it is a normal and natural behavior for dogs. For many it becomes an enjoyable way to pass the time.
A simple way to help stop barking is to spend more time with your dog and supervise him when he’s outside. Adequate exercise can make a big difference in a dog that barks. A tired dog that has burned off much of his energy is less likely to have the energy to do a lot of barking.
It’s also important to reward your dog with attention and praise when he is lying quietly. Remember, if you pay attention to the dog every time he’s barking, he will quickly figure out that he gets attention every time he’s barking. To your dog even negative attention is better than none!
Teaching your dog the “quiet” command can also be effective. After the first couple of woofs, tell him “quiet.” If he quiets down for a few seconds, praise him. Gradually increase the length of quiet time. You should be able to get to one to two minutes of quiet time in the first training session. If he barks during the quiet time, immediately give him a correction. A correction can be a gentle tug on the collar and a repeat of the quiet command, in a deep, no-nonsense tone of voice. Often, owners complain that their dog can’t hear the initial command over the barking. In these cases, you should give the “QUIET!” command in a very loud, surprising voice. If the dog ceases barking for even a brief moment, give PRAISE just as enthusiastically. It’s very important to be consistent in this training. The dog must always be given the command QUIET after the first couple of barks and then MUST be given a correction or praise following his response.
There are also many anti-barking training tools out on the market. These should be used only under the supervision of an experienced trainer as they can harm the dog if used improperly.
History Of The MD SPCA Saturday, Jul 29 2006
MD SPCA Info 4:29 pm
The Maryland SPCA is one of the nation’s oldest animal welfare organizations, founded in 1869 by a group of Baltimore citizens who were concerned about the welfare of the City’s work horses. For years the SPCA provided water, emergency care, and investigated complaints about horses who were used to pull wagons in daily commerce.In the 20th century, as the use of horses in commerce declined, the SPCA began to aid the City’s homeless dogs. In the 1950s it expanded its services to aid cats. The SPCA also discontinued its contract with Baltimore City Animal control.
In the early 1970s, the SPCA built a new kennel facility on the property, providing additional space and better facilities for the dogs and cats. In the mid-1990s the SPCA began interviewing prospective adopters to make the best possible match between animal and home. In 1997 the SPCA renovated its kennels and added office space for adoptions.
In 2000 The Maryland SPCA launched the Neuter Scooter, which provided free spay/neuter to over 11,000 pets before its suspension in 2005.
2006 March For The Animals Saturday, Jul 29 2006
MD SPCA Info 2:59 pm
Earlier this year I took part in the March For The Animals. It’s an annual fundraiser the MD SPCA holds every year. I signed up with only about 2 months to go. I still managed to raise a little over $600. I had support from co-workers, family & friends and of course other bloggers! The weather was perfect as was the location. The walk was held at Druid Hill Park which is located near the Baltimore Zoo. The turn out was huge! Over 4,000 people showed and over $250,000 was raised for the Maryland SPCA! I plan on taking part in the walk every year since I had such a great time this year. Below are some of the pictures I took during the walk.
Let The Games Begin! Saturday, Jul 29 2006
Blogathon and MD SPCA Info 9:00 am
The Blogathon is finally here! I was too excited last night and hardly got any sleep but have no fear! I will make it 24 hours somehow! The first thing I want to do is give everyone some information on my charity. Instead of picking a nationwide charity, I picked one that’s local. I picked a charity that I know needs the money and would put it to a good use.
The Maryland SPCA is a local animal charity here in Maryland. They are located in Baltimore City but they help out state wide. Not only do they adopt out animals, but they give classes as well and help educate people.
This information cam from the MD SPCA website:
Mission
The Maryland SPCA (Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals) mission is to prevent cruelty and neglect of animals through fostering the humane relationship between animals and people. It is a private, non-profit, independent organization. It operates primarily in the Greater Baltimore Metropolitan area. The mission is to be accomplished through education, advocacy, active direct care, pet population control, and screened adoptions.
Our Philosophy as An Open Admission Shelter
The Maryland SPCA helps all pets – including elderly, sick, feral, or aggressive ones. We believe that every pet deserves our compassion and help, especially the pets who have serious health or behavior problems. These pets are the ones who need us the most, and it is our mission to do our best for them, just as we help the very adoptable pets that any shelter would welcome.
Because we accept all pets, we must euthanize animals who are a danger to people, cannot live in a home, or who are very sick or elderly. Euthanasia is a heart-breaking task that is necessary for pets who cannot be placed in homes.
We work hard to prevent euthanasia and to keep animals in homes. We offer a variety of educational programs to help people learn the best way to care for their pets. And, we help pet owners by telephone or email with questions and problems with their pets to prevent people from giving up their pets.
Animals who are placed up for adoption at the SPCA remain in the program as long as they remain healthy and friendly. While most pets are adopted within a few days, some stay with us for a few weeks before finding a new home. The staff at the SPCA works hard to find loving, new homes for all the animals, including giving some of the pets basic training and enrichment to ensure a smooth transition in their new homes.
