Winston's Friends: Cares4Pets

This weeks featured “Friends of Winston” are from Cares4Pets and each of their names start with ‘B’! Cares4Pets is a “volunteer, foster-based rescue group focusing primarily on street rescue and helping reduce the population of unwanted strays in Philadelphia.” Most of their volunteers are veterinary students.

Blossom is a young tabby cat less than six months old. Blossom was rescued from a high-kill shelter after Cares4Pets was called. Blossom needed to have surgery because she had a dislocated hip. Blossom is almost recovered from her surgery and is ready to find her forever home.  She gets along well with other cats, dogs, and children. Blossom is spayed, house-trained, and up to date on shots.

Meet Bruce! Bruce is a miniature all-white purebred poodle. He is a people person and loves to do everything with you! Bruce loves to be pet, he likes to play, and enjoys going on walks. He also likes to dance and give hugs! Bruce is already neutered, housetrained, and up to date with shots.

Winston’s last friend of the day is Bonnie. Bonnie is an American Staffordshire Terrier Mix puppy that was saved by Cares4Pets from being put down at a local shelter. Bonnie is currently in foster care with her brother Clyde. Bonnie does have demodex, a non-contagious type of mange, which she is currently being treated for with medicine.  Bonnie’s favorite activity is snuggling. She desperately wants someone who wants to cuddle with. Cares4Pets has listed Bonnie as Urgent, so if you are interested in adopting her please contact them.

If interested in adopting Bruce, Bonnie, or Blossom, or interested in fostering animals contact Cares4Pets at cares4pets@hotmail.com. Their adoption fees range from $50 to $250 depending on the animal and health status. The adoption procedure requires an application, a meeting at the foster home, and a home visit as well as veterinary checks.

The Adventures of "A Dog Friendly Thanksgiving"

Thanksgiving is almost here which means the holiday season is upon us! Thanksgiving is filled with all things American’s love: football, family, and lots and lots of food! With the holidays coming up, I began to worry about what foods are safe to feed dogs. A lot of times we assume that dogs can eat just about everything humans eat, however, after reading this article, I learned that’s not the case. 

We all know that dogs should never eat chocolate, but did you know that there are several other foods that dogs should not eat? For example, grapes, raisins, onions, macadamia nuts, alcohol, fruit pits and seeds, and many more foods can be very dangerous for dogs.

According to the article, the following foods are safe for dogs to eat during the holidays:

•         Sweet potatoes without the skin
•         Raw apple slices
•          Steamed carrots, broccoli or string beans without any seasoning or salt
•         Raw carrots
•         Salt-free chicken broth
•         Yams – no brown sugar or marshmallows
•         Corn – in small amounts, provides carbs for energy
•         Cranberries – high in Vitamin C and antioxidants
•         Mashed potatoes without the gravy
•         Pumpkin, before you turn it into pie
•         Stuffing – only if you don’t use onions or garlic in the recipe
•         Wild rice without seasoning – a good source of fiber
•         Milk – good for bone strength
•         Whole, raw eggs – stick one in the blender for your dog; the shell provides calcium         while the white and yolk provide protein
•         Turkey, without the skin or bone

Other foods that are potentially harmful to dogs during the holidays include bones, turkey skin, undercooked or raw meats, garlic, sage, nutmeg, mushrooms, dough and cake batter, chewing gum, caffeine, rotten or moldy foods, and candy. If you’re wondering whether or not it is safe to feed your dog something its best to either do your research or not feed it to them at all. They will thank you for it later.

Happy Thanksgiving everyone! 

Winston's Friends: Philly PAWS

Winston’s first birthday was yesterday! I still cannot get over the fact that I found him a year ago. It seems like only yesterday. We are celebrating Winston’s birthday this weekend, so more details to come later about that.

Winston’s only birthday wish is the hope that other dogs and cats that are not so fortunate are able to find loving homes like he did. Therefore, today’s post features more of Winston’s friends in need of loving homes.

Each of these loving animals comes from Philly PAWS, a non-profit no-kill shelter.

Winston’s first friend of the day is Annie. Annie has been patiently waiting for a new home for over seven months! She was rescued by PAWS and needs a loving family that will give her lots of love. Currently, she lives in the Petco store located on Grant Avenue and Roosevelt Boulevard, which is sponsored by PAWS.  Please help Annie find her forever home. If you are interested in meeting Annie, head over to the Petco store or email petcopaws@gmail.com with any questions.

 Meet Timothy! Timothy is a 2-4 year old cocker spaniel mix. He is charismatic, loving, and sometimes a little stubborn. Due to this, he needs to go to a home with an experienced dog handler who can teach Timothy how to be his best. It would also be best if Timothy went to a home where he was an only pet because he likes to have all the attention to himself! PAWS asks that “If you are interested in meeting Timothy, please email dogs@phillypaws.org for an application. In order to meet available dogs, you must first file an application and be approved as an adopter (the process takes 24-48 hours). If you have questions, please email the above address or contact our adoption staff member at 215-298-9680, ext. 16.”

Winston’s final friend of the day has a special place in my heart. The reason for this is because we share the same name, Ali! Ali is a loving cat around 2 years old. She once had a home, but was then found abandoned on the streets. Because of this, Ali can be very shy towards people; however, with a loving and caring home, Ali could learn to love again. If interested in adopting Ali, please email her foster family Please at joerapier@gmail.com.

The Adventures of 'Dog Clothes'

We have exciting news! Thursday is Winston’s first birthday! Although we are not actually sure how old he is, he has officially been with me for one whole year! It is crazy how fast time flies.

As an early birthday present I went out and bought Winston some new sweaters. When I told some friends about this their comments sounded something like this, “Oh no. You are one of THOSE people.” While I am not exactly sure what “one of THOSE people” entails, I have a general idea.

Whether or not dressing dogs in clothes is harmful or not has become a heated debate amongst animal activists and their owners. In an article posted in The Telegraph, United Kingdom’s most popular news outlet, animal activist went so far as to declare “people who dress up their dogs could be prosecuted.” The article goes on to proclaim that people who dress their dogs are committing animal abuse. 

While I understand what their thoughts may be behind those who dress their dogs up in clothing that may be uncomfortable to the dog, I do not agree that all forms of dog clothes are harmful. In fact, Winston loves to wear clothes.

We started putting sweaters on him because when we first rescued him he was severely malnourished. His malnourishment caused him to be exceptionally cold, especially during the winter. While we worked on getting his weight back up to a healthy number, the best solution was to put him in sweaters. Unlike some dogs, he actually enjoyed wearing the sweaters and would get very excited to put one on in the morning. We have even taught him how to pick out his own sweater by wagging his tail at the one he wishes to wear. Winston even has a pair of letters for my sorority! 

I definitely support the thought that dogs that are uncomfortable wearing clothes should not be forced to do so; however, if like Winston, your dog likes to wear sweaters and other clothes, dress away! 

Winston's Friends: Philadelphia SPCA

Happy Friday Everyone! This week we will be featuring some of Winston’s friends that are in desperate need of loving homes. Winston’s friends come from the Philadelphia SPCA located in Northeast Philadelphia on Erie Avenue.

Winston’s first friend is Rocky. Rocky is a one to two year old Terrier/Pekingese male weighing in at twenty pounds. Rocky loves to play and cuddle and not just with humans! He also gets along well with other dogs and also likes cats. Rocky is neutered and available for adoption immediately.

Meet Wilma! Wilma is an extra special friend of Winston’s. She has extra toes on each foot, but they don’t hold her back! Wilma was found as a stray and is looking for a loving family to take her in. She is a brown and white tabby around 3 years old. Wilma is spayed, but not declawed. Wilma was only brought into the shelter yesterday so snatch her up before she’s gone!

Winston’s final friend of the day is Eboni. Eboni is a one to two year old Chihuahua/Dachshund mix. She is incredibly playful and loves to snuggle. Eboni is good with most children above the age of five and is great with other dogs and cats. She has a special love for women. Eboni is looking for a loving home with people who will take good care of her.  

If interested in meeting Rocky, Wilma, or Eboni please visit the Philadelphia SPCA at pspca.org. If you plan to adopt, please make sure you bring at least one form of identification and understand that there will be a fee. While this post only featured three animals, the Philadelphia SPCA shelters hundreds of animals each year. If you are unable to adopt at this time but would still like to help, please consider making a donation which helps the PSCPA care for these loving animals. 

The Adventures of 'Pet Friendly Philadelphia'

Having a dog while living in a large city such as Philadelphia can often be a challenge. Having to commute to public places in and around the city with a dog can be an even bigger challenge. For this reason, I chose to highlight certain aspects of Philadelphia and the surrounding areas that are pet friendly.

Transportation: N.J. Transit

I grew up living in Southern New Jersey just off of the Atlantic City expressway about forty-five minutes from Philadelphia. I often take N.J. Transits’ light rail home. I am very fortunate that they are dog friendly, well, to a certain extent. Dogs under twenty-five pounds are able to travel on the light rail and on buses as long as they are in a carrier. N.J. Transit buses and trains travel all over New Jersey and into Philadelphia. 

What’s the best part? They do not charge you any additional money to bring your furry friend along! I would like to point out, however, that there are no methods of public transportation that are friendly to dogs over twenty-five pounds. Please visit www.njtransit.com for more information.

Hotel: Loews Loves Pets

If your furry friend loves to stay in the lap of luxury, then look no further than the Loews Philadelphia Hotel located on 12^th and Market. Guests can brings their pets with them for a small fee of $25. Loews offers grooming services, dog walking, room service, pet beds, special treats, and so much more for your best friend. They also provide a veterinary service in case Fido gets sick while you’re away.

What’s the best part? The Loews Hotel chain has many hotels all over the country that offer the ‘Loews Loves Pets’ package including New York, Hollywood, Denver, and Atlanta. If looking for a place for you and your furry friend to stay, visit www.loewshotels.com/family/pets.

Restaurant: Bistro La Baia

In total, there are over 155 restaurants in Philadelphia that welcome guests and their dogs to eat at their outside tables. I chose to highlight one of my all-time favorite restaurants in Philadelphia, Bistro La Baia. This quaint establishment located at 17^th and Lombard serves up some of the most amazing Italian food I’ve ever eaten. If you knew my Italian family, that would be saying something.

What’s the best part? Well, besides the absolutely amazing food, the location isn’t half bad either. Bistro La Baia is located in one of the most beautiful areas of Philadelphia and is incredibly close to Rittenhouse Square. So in the spring when it gets warm again, head out, have some amazing food, and then take your furry friend on a stroll through Rittenhouse. It can’t get much better than that. For more information on Bistro La Baia visit www.bistrolabaia.com.

Looking for more information regarding pet-friendly places? Please visist http://www.bringfido.com. 

How Winston Came into My Life

It was a cold Tuesday morning in November. I was walking back from CVS after purchasing some cold medicine. As I made my way back home, I came to the corner of 34^th and Market Street in Philadelphia. For being eleven o’clock in the morning I thought it was odd that traffic was stopped in what appeared to be both directions.

As I observed my surroundings, my eyes fell upon a tiny white dog lying in the middle of the street. A man had just gotten out of his car and was approaching the little dog. Being frightened by the large man approaching him, the dog started to run away. Visibly limping, he ran in my direction and hid underneath a street cart.

Through the efforts of some other by-standers, we were able to get him out from underneath the cart. Someone provided a reusable grocery bag to place him in and held out the bag. “Who wants him?” he said. For what seemed like a very long time, there was silence between the five people who had helped to rescue the dog. Suddenly, I found myself saying, “I’ll take him!”

Ten minutes later I found myself on the side of the road, traffic moving freely again, with a dog in a bag. Holy smokes what had I just done? Before the full-on panic set in, I tried to formulate a plan. I knew the dog was injured and need medical assistance. Immediately, I called my best friend and roommate, Maddie, to come and pick me up.

We drove to University of Pennsylvania’s animal hospital. Looking back now, we must have looked incredibly foolish walking into an animal hospital, frantic and scared with a dog in a reusable grocery bag. I explained the situation to the receptionist. Her response was, “Well, we usually don’t take in stray dogs. Would you be willing to accept financial responsibility?” Oh no. That I had not thought of. I explained how much I would be willing to cover and the nurse took the dog in the bag away from me. Now the waiting game began.

After what felt like forever, the Doctor came out and told us all that she knew. The dog was a boy! She explained to us that he had three fractures in his pelvis. For being hit by a car, this was very good. If he had any fractures in his legs, he would have needed thousands of dollars in surgery. Other than the injuries to his pelvis and a few cuts and scrapes, he seemed to be in pretty good condition. He would have to be on crate rest for the next eight weeks.

Six hours after arriving at the hospital, we were sent home with a new dog!