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Fire engine red and furless due a severe case of Demodex, a non-contagious type of mange, Lil Ruffy was in pitiful shape when he arrived as a stray from Bartow in October of 2011. Beyond the persistent, painfully itchy Demodex, the five-month old Chihuahua also had a secondary bacterial infection, superficial staff infection, oozing open wounds, worms, as well as ear and upper respiratory infections. Lil Ruffy’s hopes for survival were slim due to his dire condition, from which he probably suffered all of his young life given its severity.
Thankfully, the SPCA’s Guardian Angel Fund, which aids in providing medical treatment for disadvantaged, adoptable animals like Lil Ruffy, was there to help. The fund’s financial assistance combined with the Adoption Center’s caring staff members—including Foster Mom and Adoption Counselor Melissa Hunt—provide the hope and the intense rehabilitation these extreme cases demand. Diligent in every sense of the word, Melissa would wake up extra early in order to administer Lil Ruffy’s multiple medications. She also bathed him daily alternating between a benzoyl peroxide wash and a soothing oatmeal shampoo.
“He was really good, even with the daily baths and at one point, four different medications every day,” said Melissa.
Five months later, Lil Ruffy doesn’t even look like the same dog. In place of his red, wrinkled skin, a soft coat of cream fur is slowly appearing. A complete sweetheart, he loves giving puppy kisses and cozying up to Melissa’s other dog, Izz. While Lil Ruffy continues to recover in Melissa’s trusted foster care, he is getting closer to returning to the SPCA for adoption. If you’re interested in helping other deserving animals like Lil Ruffy, please donate to our Guardian Angel Fund.
Volunteers are an indispensable asset to the SPCA. We would not be able to accomplish all we do on campus or in the community without these dedicated individuals. As such, we are improving our volunteer program to focus more on training, especially in the areas of proper animal handling, customer service, SPCA program knowledge and offsite merchandise sales, a key revenue source for the SPCA’s many outreach programs. Investing in volunteer training ensures the delivery of consistent messaging and high levels of customer service, as well as providing volunteers with essential skills transferable to jobs and other leadership positions.
As a result of the collaborative effort of Volunteer Manager Randa Richter and Advisory Board Member Brenda Joyce-Shrom, the SPCA’s improved volunteer plan is more structured with achievement levels and added responsibility based on performance, skills gained and overall SPCA knowledge. Depending on the volunteer’s desire, he or she can meet the levels of Animal Care Assistant I and II, Animal Ambassador I – Adoption Center, Community Outreach Animal Ambassador I and II, and Volunteer Adoption Counselor. The mandatory training sessions and levels make sure all volunteers representing the SPCA are confident, skilled at handling animals, and well versed in our mission and programs.
Another major component of this revision is our junior volunteer program, offering training and service opportunities for young people ages 12 to 15.
The program is under development and expected to launch in the summer of 2012. While these junior volunteer opportunities are not currently available, applications to the program are being accepted.
The SPCA is excited to offer these training opportunities to our prized volunteers who unselfishly donate so much of their time, talent and resources to further our mission and improve the lives of the pets and people in our community. For more information on the volunteer program improvements or opportunities, contact Randa Richter at rrichter@lovemyspca.com or 863/646-7722 ext. 112.
Fetch your sneakers and your furry friend and join us for the 20th anniversary Walk for the Animals on Saturday, April 21 at Lake Hollingsworth in Lakeland.
This dog-friendly event is tons of fun for the whole family! Activities include a 5K Run at 8:00 a.m., the Walkathon at 9:00 a.m., a hot dog eating contest, canine costume contest, kid-friendly activities, demonstrations, exhibits, a flea-free market, a bow wow buffet of great food and fantastic prizes.
By collecting donations from friends and family to sponsor your walk around the lake, you can help meet this year’s goal of $100,000 to help 6,000 homeless animals. Walk individually or with your dog. Invite a friend or form a team to make an even bigger impact. The more money you raise, the more animals we can help. If you cannot walk, please make a donation to help at least one. Register or donate today – the animals are counting on YOU!
For more information about participating as a walker, runner, donor, sponsor, or vendor, contact Walk for the Animals Chairman Mary Stephens at (863) 646-6403 or maryspca@tampabay.rr.com
Thanks to two recent grant awards–one from the Community Foundation of Greater Lakeland–the SPCA is now offering free spay and neuter surgeries for Tweener felines. Tweeners are free-roaming cats that fall in between feral and owned. They are generally cared for by a few neighbors and will eagerly let neighbors pick them up. By offering free spay and neuter for this specific cat category the SPCA is helping to control pet overpopulation in our community.
To have your Tweener spayed or neutered:
- Call (863) 646-7722 to set up a Tweener appointment.
- Bring friendly Tweener cat in a carrier to the SPCA for appointment.
Additional Information:
- The Tweener program is based on the honor system, and we encourage people to abide by it in order to help the neighborhood Tweener cats. If people need to spay/neuter their owned pets, our McClurg Animal Medical Center offers discounted services ranging from $32-$38 for neuter and $55-$73 for spay per feline.
- The grant money is for spay and neuters only and does not provide vaccinations, medical treatment or food.
- Since the program started in November 2011, we have completed over 100 Tweener spays and neuters. In just the first four days of January we did 26 Tweener spays and neuters. The program is obviously gaining momentum with additional awareness.
- We will do as many sterilization surgeries as the $60,000 combined grant money allows.
Should you have any questions, please call the SPCA McClurg Animal Medical Center at (863) 646-7722.
Thanks to our dedicated staff and volunteers, as well as our generous donors and business partners, the SPCA is able to positively impact thousands of animals and people in our community. We are very proud of everyone’s hard work and would like to share just a few of the many accomplishments in 2011:
- Surrenders have declined from a high of 10,824 in 2006 to 6,279 pets in 2011, which we attribute, in part, to the success of the SPCA spay/neuter initiatives.
Thanks to generous donors Daisy and lots of other deserving pets are able to live happy, healthy lives.
- Guardian Angel Fund donations made life-saving treatments possible for 231 surrendered pets. Close to $45,000 was spent treating diseases and injuries, making these pets healthy and adoptable.
- The SPCA McClurg Animal Medical Center provided 16,684 animals with affordable, skilled veterinary care and 6,050 owned animals were spayed or neutered, helping to control pet overpopulation. Overall, our talented medical staff helped over 10,500 pet owners throughout the year.
- The SPCA’s Wellness Wagon provided vaccinations, heartworm testing, and preventive products to 1,916 pets belonging to 1,701 human clients.
- Over 30 animals received treatments funded though the Mend-a-Friend Fund, which enables Medical Center clients who demonstrate a history of providing for their pet and who otherwise, would not be able to afford a major medical expense to receive financial aid.
Deserving pets like Gilligan received necessary medical treatment through our Mend-a-Friend Fund.
- A $36,000 grant from PetSmart Charities enabled the SPCA to control PolkCounty’s feral cat population by sterilizing 740 cats in the Kathleen area.
- 700 active volunteers donated over 31,000 hours by lending a paw on our Campus of Kindness or at our various offsite outreach programs and events.
- One hundred senior pet owners on limited incomes receive bi-monthly donations of pet food and supplies. The items are collected from 25 SPCA donation boxes at local businesses and are bagged by SPCA volunteers for distribution by Elder Point Ministries, Polk County Elderly Services and Meals on Wheels.
- Through Paws to Read 255 children gained confidence and improved their reading abilities while enriching the lives of our homeless pets.
Critter Campers got hands-on experience grooming animals at our Adoption Center during their week-long summer camp.
- Critter Camp offered 60 youth in grades three through eight hands-on experience with its week-long immersion in kindness and compassion, responsible pet ownership, pet safety and SPCA behind the scenes operations. Critter Campers also enjoyed humane education guest speakers from Natural Encounters and Feral Fanciers.
On behalf of all the animals and people you helped us serve last year, and all the ones you will help us care for this year, thank you!
While New Year’s Eve may be a blast for party-goers and families celebrating together, the festive evening can cause stress and anxiety in your pets. From noise makers to the persistent booming of fireworks, loud noises, flashing lights, and the stench of sulfur can cause excessive fear in pets, resulting in nervous behaviors such as trembling, whimpering, and panting.
A distressed animal’s natural response to flee from what he or she interprets as a threatening situation may result in serious injury. Canines have been known to become so frightened by fireworks that they actually run through glass windows or escape from the yard.
To ensure your pet rings in 2012 safely, before your evening festivities begin, give your pets what they need most: security. The SPCA’s McClurg Animal Medical Center Director Boyd Harrell, DVM strongly discourages owners from closing the pet in a room or cage he or she doesn’t normally spend time in. “This only adds to the anxiety and insecurity. Provide your animal with a familiar place that offers some degree of ‘hiding’,” said Dr. Harrell. In anxious situations, pets want to blend into the surroundings and disappear.
Dr. Harrell indicated most pets prefer to have their owners at their side or at least nearby; however, if you’re going out to celebrate New Year’s Eve, leave on familiar background noises such as radio, TV or music to reduce the loudness of fireworks.
Wishing you and your family, including the four-legged members, a safe and happy 2012!
Thanks to the SPCA, Chubz has made a full recovery.
With protruding ribs and only patches of hair left on his slight, five-pound frame, a three-month old Labrador/Retriever mix arrived at the SPCA severely malnourished and dehydrated. The veterinarian’s diagnosis for the stray puppy was bleak—he may not make it through the night—and there was nothing the SPCA staff could do other than hope.
Hope is exactly what SPCA Adoption Staff and Foster Mom Michelle did.
“I wanted to give him the chance he deserved,” said Michelle.
Even though the puppy was full of internal parasites and incredibly anemic due to an infestation of fleas, Michelle took the pup, now lovingly named “Chubz” home to love, nurture and monitor. She limited his food consumption to prevent him from gorging. After two nights of sluggishness, Chubz began to improve, bouncing around a bit. Michelle “saw a little puppy emerge from this sick, emancipated, hairless little body.”
Despite his recovery from the parasites and starvation, Chubz still battled his skin and hair condition. A return visit to the SPCA Adoption Center Exam Room revealed on top of everything else, Chubz had a bacterial skin infection.
“It was a rough process for him,” remarked Michelle. “At times I felt like we were going backwards because during treatment he began to look worse.” Luckily the treatment worked though, transforming Chubz into a beautiful, healthy puppy full of life and energy.
Now that little bundle of energy is the delight of his adoptive family. Michelle’s diligent effort as an SPCA Foster Mom paid off, giving Chubz a second chance at a happy, health life. Find out how you can become a foster or help other animals like Chubz.
Before checking off your Christmas list at your favorite pet store, check out these safe present ideas for your favorite four-legged companion.
Interactive toys like balls, discs or tugging rope are excellent choices for quality time together, but given how quickly Fido can chew, destroy and swallow small parts, ensure your pet isn’t left alone with these fun toys. Any objects the dog is catching like a disc or ball should be safe to catch at high speeds without injuring the canine’s teeth or mouth.
Many pet stores offer engaging, partially or fully covered ball games that will keep your feline friend engaged for hours. If you do opt for a stringy toy for Fluffy to bat around, make certain you watch her as cats are also keen on swallowing strings, ribbons and other items they should not.
Other pet gift ideas include:
- comfortable walking or running harnesses, which are ideal for active owners and animals;
- pet beds and sweaters to keep them warm (make sure clothing fits correctly and does not restrict movement or breathing);
- healthy treats that are delicious and clean their teeth as well;
- holiday-themed collars and leashes;
- bowls and placemats; and
- grooming supplies like a lovely oatmeal shampoo that will keep their skin from itching, too!
When to “Toss” the Toy
Though your pet may become quite attached to a favorite toy, it is important to know when to replace it in order to keep him or her safe (besides it gives you an excuse to buy a new toy). When fabric toys tear or become quite soiled, they should be tossed in the trash. Think of how slobbery toys get and remember to wash them often to prevent the spread of bacteria. Nylon bones should be replaced as soon as they become small enough for Fido to fit the whole bone into his mouth, or if he is able to chew off large pieces.
Celebrating the Season Safely
It may be tempting to pick up that precious stuffed children’s toy for your fur baby, but try to stick with pet toys only as they are made with sharp teeth and pet wear & tear in mind. Enjoy the excitement of Fido and Fluffy tearing into their Christmas gifts, but be sure to quickly pick up and throw away wrapping paper and ribbons, a tempting but dangerous treat.
Cannon Subaru Owner Danny Cannon Filming Local TV Ad for Share the Love Event
As part of its Share the Love event, Cannon Subaru is donating $25 to the SPCA for each test drive during the month of December. Our goal is 100 test drives (that’s $2,500 for the SPCA animals!). What an easy way to donate money to our four-legged friends! Cannon Subaru is located at 5210 S. Florida Avenue in Lakeland.
On December 17, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., SPCA will be at the dealership with Clicker Training demonstrations, adoptable animals and lots of great pet merchandise for your four-legged friends and the animal lovers in your life. That Saturday Cannon Subaru will offer pet pictures with Santa Paws as well as free BBQ and sodas. Help us make Share the Love a success for our homeless animals–test drive a Subaru today!
Blue joined Lee and Dan Rodden’s family when he was just eight weeks old. At the time they were visiting schools and libraries to teach children about kindness and compassion. For years the loving Standard Poodle interacted with hundreds of children, bringing lots of smiles to their faces and joy to their hearts.
Now retired and relying on Social Security, the Roddens faced a heart-breaking decision—surrender Blue so that he could receive the necessary medical treatment he needed and they could not afford. Despite their attempt to treat it, cleaning and dressing the wound two to three times a day, a cyst on Blue’s back had grown into an infected sore spot .
“Since we could not afford surgery, we had to surrender him with the prayer that he could have treatment to remove the infection and hopefully find another good home,” said Dan.
Recognizing and understanding the Roddens’ heartache at surrendering their cherished, seven-year-old pet, the Adoption Center staff stepped in and asked if the family would like to keep him if he could have the surgery.
“Of course, we said yes! Thanks to the SPCA’s wonderful Guardian Angel Fund donations, we will be able to celebrate Blue’s eighth birthday together this month,” said Dan.
You can make a difference in the life of a deserving pet like Blue. Our Guardian Angel Fund always needs caring donors to provide life-saving treatment to the adoptable animals we serve. Make a difference today, donate now.
