Molly came to us in August of 2011, she

was just 5 months old. We thought we

had found her a forever home but it was

not meant to be. Now 6 months later

Molly is with us again asking for a

miracle; to find a new family that will

keep her and share their love and home

for as long as you both shall live!

Yes, in a way it is like a marriage, it’s an

agreement to love and protect each

other everyday of every year of your

lives together. Come and visit Molly at

the SPCA Campus today.

Female

11 months old

Shetland Sheepdog Mix

Orphaned Since

January 2, 2012

24 Pounds

Visit us at the SPCA

5850 Brannen Rd S

LakelandCall 863/646-7722

www.lovemyspca.com

blog.lovemyspca.com

Adoption Center Hours: Mon – Thurs, 11 a.m. – 7 p.m.; Fri – Sat, 11 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Medical Center Hours: Mon – Sun, 8 a.m. – 7 p.m.  Now open 7 days a week!

To have your Tweener spayed or neutered:

1. Call (863) 646-7722 to set up a Tweener appointment.
2. 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.

• 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!

Name: Pollito

Gender: Male

Age: 4 years

Species: Cat

Breed: Domestic Shorthair tabby

Orphaned Since: December 16

His name translates in Spanish to “pretty boy” and as you can see the name fits!  His favorite past time is watching the lizards, butterflies and birds outside.  He loves to hunt for just about anything but spend his nights inside with you.

Visit us at the SPCA

5850 Brannen Rd S

LakelandCall 863/646-7722

www.lovemyspca.com

blog.lovemyspca.com

Adoption Center Hours: Mon – Thurs, 11 a.m. – 7 p.m.; Fri – Sat, 11 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Medical Center Hours: Mon – Sun, 8 a.m. – 7 p.m.  Now open 7 days a week!

Two years ago this sweet dog came to the SPCA with fractures in both hind legs and the only way he could walk was by hopping using his front legs.  Thanks to Veterinary Health Care Associates in Winter Haven, Lemondrop had corrective surgery and was adopted. 

His owner of two years had to give him up but that did not break his spirit.  If ever there was a dog that everyone would love it is Lemondrop.  He will be by your side always looking to you for your approval and love.  He gives unconditionally and completely his love to you asking for the same in return.  Is your heart empty?  Lemondrop will fill your heart.

Male

2 years old, 46 pounds

Labrador Retriever Mix

Orphaned Since:1/7/12

Visit us at the SPCA

5850 Brannen Rd S

LakelandCall 863/646-7722

www.lovemyspca.com

blog.lovemyspca.com

Adoption Center Hours: Mon – Thurs, 11 a.m. – 7 p.m.; Fri – Sat, 11 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Medical Center Hours: Mon – Sun, 8 a.m. – 7 p.m.  Now open 7 days a week!

We all know bad breath, aka halitosis, when we smell it. Bad breath is the result of a build-up of odor-producing bacteria in your pet’s mouth, lungs or gut. For the most part, it is caused by dental or gum disease.  However, persistent bad breath can indicate larger medical problems and should be investigated, and your veterinarian is the best person to pinpoint the cause. A physical examination and laboratory work may be performed. Be ready to answer questions about your pet’s diet, oral hygiene, exercise habits and general behavior.

If plaque or diet is the culprit, a professional cleaning or a change in food might do the trick.  If the cause is gastrointestinal or an abnormality in your pet’s liver kidneys or lungs, your vet will advise you about steps you should take.

Prevention: It’s a common belief that bad breath in pets, especially at a certain age, is a given, but that’s not the case. In fact, being proactive about your kitty or pup’s oral health will not only make your life together more pleasant, it’s smart preventive medicine.  Feed your pet a high-quality, easy-to-digest food.  If you have a dog, brush his teeth frequently – every day is ideal, and be sure to use toothpaste formulated for dogs.  The fluoride found in human toothpaste can upset a canine’s stomach, and, more importantly, it’s dangerous when swallowed.  Give your dog well–researched treats formulated to improve breath odor.  Provide hard, safe chew toys that allow your dog’s teeth to be cleaned by the natural process of chewing. Cats benefit from hard, crunchy kibble and treats as well. Discuss home-use oral health products with your veterinarian to see if there’s a type he or she recommends.

• While the SPCA encourages pet owners to keep their cats and dogs inside at all times for their safety and health, if you or anyone you know has an outdoor pet, ensure they are brought inside during cold nights.
• If you are one of the many in the area who care for feral and/or barn cats, be sure to provide plenty of straw.  It traps the heat from the animals’ bodies and keeps them insulated and warm in the cold weather.
• During the winter, outdoor cats sometimes sleep under the hoods of cars. When the motor is started, the cat can be injured or killed by the fan belt. If there are outdoor cats in your area, check under and/or bang loudly on the car hood before starting the engine to give the cat a chance to escape.
• More dogs are lost during the winter than during any other season, so make sure yours always wears ID tags.
• Do not shave your dog down to the skin in winter, as a longer coat will provide more warmth. When bathing your dog in the colder months, be sure he or she is completely dry before going for a walk. Own a short-haired breed? Consider getting a coat or sweater with a high collar or turtleneck with coverage from the base of the tail to the belly. For many dogs, this is everyday winter wear.
• Never leave your dog or cat alone in a car during cold weather. A car can act as a refrigerator in the winter, holding in the cold and causing the animal to freeze to death.
• Puppies do not tolerate the cold as well as adult dogs and may be difficult to housebreak during the winter. If your puppy appears to be sensitive to the cold, you may opt to paper-train him indoors. If your dog is sensitive to the cold due to age, illness or breed, take him outdoors only to relieve himself.
• Does your dog spend a lot of time engaged in outdoor activities? Increase her supply of food, particularly protein, to keep her, and her fur, in tip-top shape.
• Like coolant, antifreeze is a lethal poison for dogs and cats. Be sure to thoroughly clean up any spills from your vehicle, and consider using products that contain propylene glycol rather than ethylene glycol. Visit the Pet Poison Helpline  more information.
• Make sure your companion animal has a warm place to sleep, off the floor and away from all drafts. A cozy dog or cat bed with a warm blanket or pillow is perfect.

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!

Can you make my Christmas wish come true?

I need to know someone loves me