All across the country, animal shelters and rescues  are taking in record numbers of dogs and cats, as well as other animals, from horses to rabbits.  It seems shelters are always at maximum capacity and are still having animals dumped on their doorsteps.  We hear stories on tv about animals simply left to starve inside foreclosed homes.  These recent events cause municipal animal shelters to have to euthanize even more animals than they normally do.  According to the Humane Society of the United States, 5 million animals are euthinzed in shelters across the US each year.  Will that number increase in the slumping economy?

The economy is affecting all types of businesses, even breeders. Commercial breeders have reported not being able to “sell” as many puppies in recent times.  We hope that public education about the adopting rather than purchasing is playing a factor.  Nevertheless, breeders are releasing more of their dogs to rescues.   Furry Kids has taken in quite a few small breed dogs from commercial breeders this year, both adults and pups.  They receive the veterinary care they so desperately need and luckily we have had very good luck adopting them into loving forever homes.

Although Furry Kids has had very good luck finding homes for smaller dogs this year, we are seeing a decrease in the number of large dog adoptions. We believe the economy may be playing a role in this because it is more expensive to care for a large dog in the long run with the cost of heartworm and flea/tick prevention and dog food.  We rely on our adoption fees and donations to cover the cost of our veterinary expenses, which have risen. We realize that most people don’t have the spare funds they have in the past, but please remember that charities rely on public support in order to keep going.  The number of adoptions we do in turn affects the numbers of animals we can take in and the donations we receive affect how much we can do for animals in need.

2ND ANNUAL FURRY KIDS FALL RUMMAGE SALE IS QUICKLY APPROACHING

Furry Kids Rummage Sales are our biggest fundraisers of the year.

The first weekend in October is quickly approaching and we are starting to take donations for us to sell at the event. Got Stuff you'd like to donate? Please call us and we will make arrangements to pick up OR you can stop by the VFW Post in Lee's Summit on Friday, October 4th after 6pm. Please call 816-853-9360 for more information.

Donations are tax deductible for you, just be sure to keep a list of the things you are donating to keep along with your tax receipt from us. We will take just about anything! From clothes to tea cups...we've got it all. We always get such great donations so if you like to shop - please come by the sale and shop till you drop!

We will have things like furniture, housewares, clothes, tools and electronics - and even a couple sets of great snow skis with poles! We will also have great homemade snacks, cookies and breads for you to take home! Please help us make this another great fundraiser. This will help us get through the slow winter months which are coming upon us soon. We really appreciate your support!

Though fun and exciting for human animals, as responsible pet owners we need to pay close attention to animal safety during Halloween!

Ding-Dong!
Your dog or cat may be oblivious to ghosts and goblins running around the neighborhood, or may choose to hide in a closet or under the bed until the evening is over. On the other hand, some dogs and cats may be so overwhelmed that they run out the door, or even exhibit aggressive behavior that frightens or hurts a child.  If Halloween may be overwhelming to your animal, consider a safe, secure area like an enclosed, quiet room or even overnight boarding.  Consult your vet if you anticipate panicky, aggressive, or otherwise unpleasant behavior (destroying household belongings, urinating or defecating indoors, etc.).  In some cases, your vet may even recommend a mild sedative for your furry family member.

Black Cats
Unfortunately, animal cruelty risks increase on Halloween, particularly for black cats.  Even in the nicest, safest of neighborhoods, it is strongly advised that cats be kept indoors.  If your cat spends a lot of time outside, on the morning of Halloween bring the cat in for breakfast and keep indoors until the following morning.  By providing catnip toys or other extra entertainment or treats, you may keep kitty’s mind off of his or her temporary restrictions.

Treats
If left within reach, dogs and even some cats may eat Halloween candy, wrappers and all! Chocolate can be toxic to animals due to theobromine (a chemical present in chocolate, cocoa beans, cocoa bean hulls, cola and tea)  which acts as a cardiac stimulant and diuretic.  Humans can metabolize theobromine effectively, but dogs, cats, and other household pets cannot.  Pets that eat chocolate may appear okay at first, but within hours may develop signs of toxicity, including hyperactivity, vomiting, or overreacting to lights, noises, or touch.  Even if the candy wasn’t chocolate, it’s still possible that other complications may occur such as severe (and potentially very messy) indigestion or even an intestinal blockage.   Keep any and all candy (including junior’s Trick or Treat bucket) out of reach.  But accidents happen, so if you know that your pet has consumed candy, immediately call your vet.  While the “wait and watch” approach may be best, your vet may determine that immediate treatment is necessary.

Costumes and Decorations
Maybe your animal loves to participate in holiday functions.  Great!  If you decide to decorate your home or dress your pet in a costume, take the same precautions you would with a young child.  Keep breakable items, open flames, or items that resemble chew toys (like plastic or resin skeletons) well out of reach.  If your pet is dressing for the occasion, consider a costume that is light colored or reflective for safe trick or treating.  Avoid complicated, overly constricting costumes, or those with strings or small bits and pieces that   might be swallowed.  If you are not confident in your costume design abilities, most pet stores sell costumes in a variety of sizes to accommodate all different breeds and builds.  And if costumes cause your animal to become upset, stop. Some dogs will tolerate costumes pretty well.  Cats…not so much!  So if you dare to costume your cat, you may want to sleep with one eye open!

Being realistic about your pet’s temperament and taking a few simple safety precautions can ensure that everyone has a Happy Halloween!

submitted by:Janet M. Barber & Carolyn Morrill, DVM, Diplomate ABVP

THIS IS THE BEST LAB IN THE WORLD! Hank Junior is a ball of energy and full of people love. Hank Jr. loves to play in the yard with balls or anything he can pick up in his mouth and play keep-away with. He lights up when people come around and just wants his belly scratched. Hank Jr actually sleeps on his back like a person - we think just in case someone would happen to want to scratch his tummy!! He is a loverboy and he is housetrained. The only catch is that Hank Jr. should go to a family who doesn't have any other dogs or cats, he wants to be an only dog. He really needs a 6' privacy fence because this ornry boy can jump a 4' fence. Please don't let these things deter you because he is really a great dog, he just needs a chance to show you that! And, Furry Kids volunteers will spend time with you giving you some pointers on how to walk him without having him pull you around the neighborhood :) Hank Jr was rescued from the Independence shelter quite some time ago where he was out of time. Such a great furry kid could not be lost so we rescued him and he is looking for a family to call his own. Please give Hank Jr a chance in your search for a new companion - you'd be giving a dog a home who has been searching for a very long time....

Read more about Hank Jr. on his Petfinder page!

Talulah is such a sweet heart! She needs a loving home. If you'll notice, both our featured dog and cat have black coats. So many times, black dogs and cats are overlooked because their coats don't stand out. We hope you'll notice these two wonderful animals, though! Talulah will make a wonderful companion - she just needs to be noticed by that special person who will fall in love with her! She's just a few years old, uses her litter box and loves attention! She has gorgeous eyes and a sleek black coat. If you'd like to know more about Talulah, please email us or fill out an application from our website (click on "Adopt A Cat") today!

Call us or come by an adoption event and we would be happy to microchip your pet with a 24PetWatch™ microchip for just $20. 

Registration is free and easy and easy to update from the internet!

$54,676.74 Spent on Veterinary Expenses Alone!

Thank you to all our loyal supporters for coming out to donate food Saturday, August 30th. We really enjoyed seeing so many of our adopted Furry Kids - we love it when you come visit! We had tons of great food donated which is so appreciated. We were really running low on food supplies, the food drive will help keep bellies full!

PAWS IN THE PARK

September 20th starting at 9am. This event supports The Friends Of Parkville Animal Shelter and is a really fun event! Furry Kids will have a booth there and a few foster dogs. Come join the fun and help support fellow rescuers!

2ND ANNUAL FURRY KIDS FALL RUMMAGE SALE!

October 4th and 5th at the Lee's Summit VFW Post (329 SE Douglas Street)! Got Stuff? Please call us to arrange a pick up OR come by the VFW Post on Friday evening after 6pm! Donations are tax-deductible! Please call 816-853-9360 for more information

DOGTOBERFEST!

Sunday, October 19th at the Kemper Outdoor Education Center in the Blue Springs Park. Bring your family, including the 4 legged members, to the funnest event of the year! More details to follow....

Saturdays from noon - 5pm at the Petco in Lee's Summit. Visit our website for up to date information!

Please visit our website and send us your story and pictures if you can and we’ll post them on our Happy Furry Kids Page!

Thank you to all who have sent their stories – it is so heartwarming to see our Furry Kids in their forever homes!

INTERESTED IN ADDING A FURRY KID TO YOUR FAMILY?

What if Furry Kids earned a penny every time you searched the Internet? Well, now we can! GoodSearch.com is a new search engine that donates half its revenue, about a penny per search, to the charities its users designate. You use it just as you would any search engine, and it's powered by Yahoo!, so you get great results.Just go to goodsearch.com and be sure to enter Furry Kids Refuge as the charity you want to support.