Dog Park Updates…

Summer is a time of frivolity and fun for your canine friends. Always looking for a new adventure and to increase their network of friends, they look to you to be their director of dog whimsy. Here is an update on some dog parks to take your furry buddy to in the Northern Lower Michigan area as well as those that are in the works.

Traverse City Dog Park

The Traverse City Dog Park, Wages West, opened in August of 2012 and is located at the intersections of Division, Bay and Cypress Streets in Traverse City. Rules and guidelines are at this website here.

Fireworks and Pets Don’t Mix

This time of the year — the summertime — sends shivers down canine spines. Not only do they have to suffer the wrath of Thor in the form of lightning bolts and booming thunder, they also have to endure the sometimes juvenile, dubiously patriotic displays of fireworks put on haphazardly by friends and neighbors. For more on the story, please click here.

For a list of the fireworks ordinances in Grand Traverse County, click here.

Cesar’s Top Summer Tips for Dogs

With record temperatures around the country, it is important to keep your dogs in mind when it comes to keeping cool. Here are Cesar’s Top 10 Tips for beating the summer heat!

1.) Exercise your dog early in the morning or late at night.

Since these are the cooler parts of the day, this will make the walk more comfortable for both you and your dog. I’m a believer in vigorous exercise for healthy dogs, but this is the time of year to back off on exercise intensity. Click here for the rest of the story.

Summer Weather Tips for Feral Cats

Warmer weather means special considerations for feral cat colony care. Here are some tips to keep your feline friends cool and eating right. When feeding feral cats in the summer, bugs can certainly pose a problem. Make sure you continue to follow the 30-minute “rule” for removing uneaten food. (Some cats may be slow to arrive at their meal so you may want to wait 45 or 60 minutes.) Also, maintain clean and neat feeding locations, and keep the food dishes in one place to facilitate cleanup by using a feeding station. Click here for the rest of the article. 

Puppy Mill Rescue in Livingston County

On May 14, 2014, The HSUS and local veterinarians assisted Livingston County Animal Control and the Livingston County Sheriff’s Office with the rescue and removal of more than 90 dogs and puppies from a suspected puppy mill in Fowlerville. The HSUS Puppy Mill Response team covered the majority of this expenses in the case. On June 3, the owner of the breeding facility pleaded guilty to animal cruelty charges and relinquished custody of the dogs to Livingston County Animal Control. For more information about adoption of the dogs, visit www.livingstondaily.com/article/20140603/NEWS01/140603005/Details-Where-adopt-dogs-rescued-from-Howell-Township-puppy-mill.

The HSUS has established a reward program to offer up to $5,000 to anyone who provides information leading to the arrest and conviction of a puppy mill operator for animal cruelty. Persons wishing to report a valid tip are encouraged to call 1-877-MILL-TIP and will remain anonymous. For more information about what you can do to help stop puppy mills, visit stoppuppymills.org.

Boyne City and Munising MPAW Workshops Post Big Success

More than 30 representatives of animal shelters from across the Upper Peninsula gathered on June 13, 2014 in Munising to network and learn together.

They traveled from as far away as Ironwood at the far western tip of the U.P. to attend the 2014 MPAW Workshop, and found friends and colleagues from eight other animal shelters with whom to network and share. The Delta Animal Shelter closed its facility in order to allow all staff members to attend! Two new shelter directors from Quinnesec and Houghton came for the latest techniques and information. 

Report a Puppy Mill

Are you concerned about a possible puppy mill in your area? Are you a law enforcement official or animal control officer who needs assistance with a puppy mill cruelty case? You can call the Humane Society of the United States at 877-MILL-TIP (645-5847) or contact them through their form by clicking here.

Court: Foster Pet Deductions Allowed

The IRS and accountants have a history of rolling their eyes at such claims, but a court judgment may change that. A woman named Jan Elizabeth Van Dusen sued the Commissioner of the IRS over “unreimbursed volunteer expenses while caring for foster cats in her private residence.” These expenses primarily included “payments for veterinary services, pet supplies, cleaning supplies and household.” Apparently the IRS nailed her for a $12,068 charitable-contribution that she made on her taxes, but she fought back and largely won. “Largely,” because the court allowed that she could take most of the deduction, minus some expenses that were hard to link solely to pet care. For the rest of the story, click here.

Senior Cat Adoption Weekend in Traverse City

Reduced Adoption Fees for Cats Over Seven Year Old

AC PAW is holding a special Senior Adoption Weekend this Saturday and Sunday, June 28th & 29th for their “senior” cats who are seven years and older. They have many wonderful seniors who are in need of loving homes. AC PAW will be reducing their adoption fee for their senior cats to $50. Please join them this weekend and meet these special kitties who may not be “brand new” but still have many quality years left and so much love to give if just given a second chance. Adoption hours are noon to 4 pm on Saturday and 1 to 4 pm on Sunday at the Petsmart in Traverse City.

You can visit their website here: http://www.acpaw.org/