As usual I was browsing the animals that needed fostering, wishing I could save them all.  In one of the cages was a little Tibetan Spaniel.  He looked scared and lonely.  I went to bed that night and couldn't sleep knowing that he would be euthanized that Saturday.  The next morning I let FHS know that I would foster him.

Kristin picked him up for me, and it was love at first sight! He had such a precious face. He was very shy and had seemed to have lost hope.  Within hours he was cuddling up to me and getting his share of TLC.

My neighbors had recently lost their little Yorkie, and were heartbroken so after a few days I took Darby over and knocked on their door.  I knew they would be a perfect home for him - and I was right, they just loved him.  (Click on Read More for the rest of Darby's story)

Like to give Kitties some TLC?  Want to help rescued animals?  Frisco Humane is currently looking for cage cleaners for our Frisco Petsmart adoption center.  The shifts in need are Monday, Wednesday, and Friday mornings.  Cleaning cages requires you to scoop the litterbox, freshen up their food and water, and straighten out the kitty's cage.  A morning cleaner can come anytime between 7am and noon to clean.   You can volunteer for one or more days.

Please fill out a Volunteer Sign-Up Form if you would like to give some of your spare time to help out the cats and kittens.

Sharie Vance , a full-time student of film, has written and produced this short documentary entitled:  "Shelter Walkers"

The following is an email we have received from one of our adopters:

"We JUST LOVE our new little girl!!! She is so sweet and she is such everyone’s buddy and loves all. We are so lucky that she came to us; she has really lifted all our spirits… my little girl (daughter) now has a little buddy her size and plays a lot with both the dogs. It also has really helped having Bailey because now our other dog is engaged in playing with my daughter and Bailey!! As for my self I have missed the affection of a dog that follows me and sits on my lap… now both of the dogs want all my attention….I feel so loved!!!! I had a friend who said they would never adopt a dog from the “pound” or a rescue center because they are rejects… I just want you to know that this statement is so one sided thinking and untrue. I want you to pass this message along to all … every living thing deserves a second chance… the first time if it did not work out… I think it is not one or the others fault but both needing to find their true perfect match, as one is out there for everyone, whether it be animal or human.
Happy Mothers Day… from Bailey…. She thanks you for giving her a second chance!!!! "

Petvideo.com, created by the founders of Petfinder.com and Petsincredible, provides free online training clips. Just click on the button below to view informative and fun videos on such subjects as Crate Training, Introducing Your New Pet, Digging and many, many more. (Note: Clicking on the link will take you away from the Frisco Humane Society website)

Cheyenne was rescued from a local animal shelter. She has been severely neglected and was seen falling out of the back of a pick-up truck.

Click here to read her story in our Special Needs section.

I have been a rescuer of animals my whole adult life.  After moving to Frisco I met other rescuers at Frisco Humane Society.  I really loved the care they gave the pets, and how particular they were about placing the animals that came into the program.

I have been fostering cats for the past few years and  every adoption event at PetSmart I would pass the dogs and their wonderful foster moms.  Darryl kept asking me if I was ready to foster a dog.  I finally said "yes".  To my suprise, (LOL) they found one for me right away.

There was a little dog in a shelter in Abilene - he had been there for two weeks.  The owners were called and no longer wanted him.  Another rescuer drove him here to be fostered by us.  When Kristin called me, I went to pick him up.  It was love at first sight.  There stood a beautiful Lhasa-Tibetian terrier mix.  He had beautiful brown and red hair. He was a little skinny but otherwise seemed fine. I figured I would find out all of his bad habits when I got him home.  I was wrong, he didn't have any!  Rusty is a gentle, kind and special little dog.  I couldn't help but believe he was sent to us for a special reason.

So my next responsibility was to find Rusty a new home that would love and take care of him for ever so that he would never be unwanted or homeless again. 

Would you like to join a team of lifesavers?  Frisco Humane Society is in desperate need of foster homes for dogs and puppies.   There are thousands of animals in the shelters that will never have a chance at life unless we can rescue them .. and to do that we need YOUR help.  Please consider fostering .. you can read some of the frequently asked questions by clicking on Read More below.
 

If you are ready to talk to us about becoming a foster, you may complete a Foster Application Form (PC only - does not support Mac), call our voice mail 972-498-8980,or email .

THANK YOU!!

This editorial slideshow was created by the Longview News Journal. It is about life in an animal shelter.

Reality Puts a Grim Face on Pet Overpopulation

and

In Hope - An Animal Shelter Story - A film by Robert Valentine

**Warning** - contains graphic pictures of pets that were euthanized.

Please do your part - adopt from rescue groups/animal shelters and spay and neuter your own pets.

Frisco Humane Society was recently invited to visit the children of St. Philip's Preschool in Frisco.

The Truth About Declawing

1.        "Declawing is an inhumane, unnecessary procedure that has many alternatives. It is never in the cat's best interest. With declawing, we are interfering with a species' nature because of our own whims, mis-conceptions, misinformation, and sometimes, laziness." Neil Wolff, D.V.M.

2.        Dr. Nicholas Dodman, author of The cat Who Cried for Help, and director of the Animal Behavior Clinic at Tufts University School of Veterinary Medicine has the following to say about the procedure: "Declawing fits the dictionary definition of mutilation to a tee. Words such as deform, disfigure, disjoint and dismember all apply to this surgeryÉin veterinary medicine, the clinical procedure serves as a model of severe pain for the testing of analgesic drugs."

3.        Declawing is actually multiple amputations comparable to the removal of human fingertips at the first knuckle. Sensory and motor nerves are cut, damaged, and destroyed. Recovery from the surgery is a slow and painful process. This procedure can hamper the sensations and enjoyment involved in walking, running, springing, climbing, and stretching.

4.        While declawing is a popular and lucrative practice in the United States , it is not practiced in European countries. It is, in fact, against the law, in many countries including England , Germany , and Switzerland .

5.        Cat Owners who elect to have their paws declawed generally do so with the belief that they will never have to deal with fabric damage due to destructive scratching problems. However, paw sensitivity resulting from the declaw operation may result in litterbox avoidance and urine-soaked furnishings or carpeting.

6.        Without its #1 defense system many declawed cats resort to nipping or biting with very little warning. They often use oral means to express their insecurity and this may also result in destructive chewing problems.

7.        Cats, like people, react differently to physical handicaps. Some appear to be unaffected and others become nervous and defensive. When a dramatic temperament or behavior change occurs, the cat owner often decides to take the cat to a pound or shelter or have it euthanized by a veterinarian.

Destructive scratching problems are 100% correctable. Providing the cat with suitable scratching targets to satisfy this instinctive behavior and encouraging appropriate behavior is generally all that is required.

Kids and Cats

Children and cats can share a relationship that is mutually beneficial provided each is old enough to respect the other. The good-natured dog may put up with a child's playful tousling, but the dignified cat may be less tolerant. From the start the child should be taught how to properly hold the cat, providing support under the chest and under the back legs. Touching the sensitive stomach area will bring a natural reaction of "grab and bite" and the child should be alerted to this. He should also be taught some basic feline body language so that he will know to back off when he sees the ears flatten and the tail twitch. This important lesson will help to prevent some tears later on.

Helping the child see things from the cat's point of view will not only ensure a healthy relationship between child and pet, but it will help to build an empathy for all living creatures. The Golden Rule is a standard that when learned and practiced, will benefit the child for his lifetime. Nothing is more satisfying than loving and being loved--something our feline companions have known since they decided to curl up on the first lap five thousand years ago.

If you have children under 6 or 7 years of age, it is best not to adopt a kitten under four months old. An overly affectionate toddler can injure a small kitten with a well-meaning hug. A more mature kitten or cat can better withstand a young child's noise and quick movements, but even an adult cat may swat at a tail-pulling child. The key to harmonious interactions between young children and cats is adult supervision.

Parents are always looking for ways to teach children responsibility and often try to give children cat care duties. This is usually not a good idea. Children can be forgetful and easily distracted and it is the cat who will suffer if they forget to put out fresh food or water or clean the litterbox. Even if they are conscientious about their chores, having to care for the cat, midst parental reminders and scoldings, can build a resentment toward the animal. Instead, they should be given tasks that do not involve the welfare of a dependent living creature, such as emptying wastebaskets or setting the table.

Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV)

Canine heartworm infection causes disease primarily in the small pulmonary arteries and secondarily in the heart. Dirofilaria immitus adults are thin worms that reach 10 to 12 inches in length. The adult worms live in the peripheral branches of the pulmonary arteries and produce large numbers of microscopic offspring (microfilaria), which circulate throughout the bloodstream.

By Dogscouts of America

If you have a new puppy the information contained in these pages is absolutely critical for you to know. The Frisco Humane Society is an organization that seeks to teach responsible dog ownership and improve the bond between people and their dogs. We want to keep you and your puppy together, by teaching you about what kinds of behavior to expect, and how to encourage good behavior instead of allowing bad behavior and creating a dog juvenile delinquent! When you adopt a dog, it should be a commitment for the life of the dog.

by Vicky DeGruy

This article by Vicki DeGruy, originally published in Dog Owner's Guide, was the winner of a 1993 Dog Writer's Association of America Maxwell award for best article in a canine newspaper. Kids and dogs are wonderful together -- when adults use good sense and put safety first.