Monday, January 18, 2010

Spay Day 2010

SPAY DAY APPOINTMENT LINE OPENS SATURDAY, JANUARY 23

On Sunday, February 28, the Sacramento Area Animal Coalition (SAAC) will present the 11th annual Spay Day Sacramento, providing up to 1,000 spay/neuter surgeries for families in need.

Who is eligible?
Households in Sacramento, Yolo and Placer Counties earning $35,000 a year or less. Spay Day is for owned pets only. No rescue animals please.

What does each animal receive?

* Spay/neuter surgery 

* Core vaccinations 

* Microchip with registration

* Dose of flea preventative

How much does it cost? Just $15/cat and $20/dog

To Make an Appointment
Eligible pet owners can call (916) 808-SPAY [7729] beginning Saturday, January 23 and leave a message with the required information. Surgeries take place on Spay Day - Sunday, February 28 -at various clinics and shelters throughout the area. An advance appointment is required.

Messages left before January 23 will not be returned.

Help Spread the Word

Old Cat Mahone




I've spent the last couple of months worried about Mahone. He is doing well for an 18 year old cat, however his body has started to deteriorate.

He has started to sleep more than usual. At times he seems disoriented and he seems to be losing his hearing. He has gone from a robust 20 lbs to about 12 lbs. He is having a difficult time grooming parts of his coat. He has also become extremely clingy; he constantly wants to be in my lap.

I'm having a difficult time knowing he might not make it to the end of the year. I've started to feed him wet food (which he loves but never ate on a regular basis), he gets brushed every evening and I've spent more time doing nothing but cuddling my senior cat.

I simply can not imagine my life with out him. Marley is incredibly gentle around Mahone and spends a lot of time cuddling with him.

I may continue to post sporadically in order to spend more time with Mahone.


Saturday, January 9, 2010

Bonding with Marley

I've just finished reading Bonding with Your Dog by Victoria Schade and I found it fascinating.

She indicates there is a difference between a dog that loves you, listens to you and is bonded with you. A bonded dog will find you interesting and look towards you for fun.

One of the suggestions I've incorporated into our life is spontaneity. All meal times and potty breaks have not changed, I want this to be fun not stressful. We are taking random walks during the day and I'll point out fun stuff for Marley to check out. Frogs are her new favorite even though I will not let her paw at them or lick them.

I've stopped asking her to play fetch (which she dislikes) and I've started keeping bubbles and my laser light handy. She loves chasing bubbles and the crazy little red bug from my pocket drives her crazy.

So far I feel great about how this has changed how we interact. While at the park she keeps an eye on me and comes the minute she feels I'm taking something out of my pockets. Our walks are so rewarding and fun. She has never really pulled on the leash but she used to forget where we were going and tend to walk behind me. I can now put my hands in my pockets and she walks along my side and I feel like we are in sync.