Green Acres Kennel Shop

We Love Puppies!

Green Acres is proud to have joined the ranks of the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) Puppy Friendly Pet Stores initiative. Participating pet stores pledge to refuse to sell puppies, but instead suggest that people obtain a puppy from a humane society, animal shelter or reputable breeder. The sad fact is that most puppies that are sold at pet stores come from puppy mills and large scale production facilities where the conditions are often inhumane. This mass production of puppies is one of the direct causes of pet overpopulation which results in shelters humanly euthanizing approximately four million cats and dogs—about one every eight seconds—each year. There are simply not enough homes for all of these pets, nor do “No-Kill” shelters have the capacity and resources to care for these dogs and cats until homes become available. For help on finding a reputable breeder, checkout the article Finding the Right Dog and Breeder on our web site at: http://bit.ly/bvDVHG

Spring's almost here and with warmer weather comes the chance that a pet might wander off, get lost, or break loose from a yard. While we never hope that our pets will get lost, it's important to know what to do if they do go missing. On Saturday, March 20, from 8 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., pet guardians will have an opportunity to make their pet a star while also gaining tools to help them in case Fido goes missing. Debra Bell from Bell Imaging & Design will be on hand to provide a mini-pet portrait session for $25. Included in the cost of the mini-session is a free 5x7 print, a specially designed pet passport with spaces for information about the pet, and an online gallery of the images available for up to 6 months. Pre-registration for this event is highly encouraged. To register, sign up at Green Acres Kennel Shop prior to March 20. Snow date is March 21. Payment may be made the day of the event to Debra Bell.

Green Acres is glad to be able to help the Bangor Humane Society by sponsoring a dog kennel and a cat condo every month. This is Pumpkin, the dog currently residing in our sponsored dog kennel. Pumpkin is a one year old black and tan Coonhound mix. She was surrendered because her former owners had too many animals to properly care for. It is recommended that she live with older children as she is still learning manners – especially avoiding the temptation to jump on people when excited. A dog training class would be a definite plus for this energetic, sweet girl. She is a beautiful, loving dog who deserves a second chance and a forever home.

Daily brushing, with the appropriate pet toothpaste and brush, is one way that you can keep plaque and tartar from building up on your pet's teeth. If you do not prevent this build-up you will inevitably be making an appointment with your veterinarian for a teeth cleaning, which can be a costly procedure. While nothing beats the benefits of daily brushing, Wysong DentaTreat^TM can be a supplement or an alternative to the regular brushing of your pet's teeth. Composed of a special blend of dental-active natural cheeses, minerals, apple polyphenols, and many other ingredients that help to maintain oral health, DentaTreat^TM can be sprinkled directly onto food, or it can also be used with a toothbrush as a tooth cleaning powder. Paula and I have been using DentaTreat^TM with our pets, sprinkled on each meal, for years and have definitely noticed a reduction in the need for annual dentals since we began its use. We're not good about the daily brushing so it is practically all we do and we love the simplicity of use and the results. There is a coupon at the bottom of this post to encourage you to give DentaTreat^TM a try with your pet. The best time to start its use is when your pet's teeth are already in prime condition, like after a veterinary dental procedure. If you would like to learn more about appropriate dental care for your pet, talk to your veterinarian or checkout our podcast at: http://woofmeowshow.podbean.com/2010/02/07/

Last week the Bangor Humane Society, with the cooperation and assistance of Dr. David Cloutier (Veazie Veterinary Clinic), Dr. Drew Benson (Broadway Veterinary Clinic), Dr. Mark Hanks (Kindred Spirits Veterinary Clinic) and Dr. Don Volk (Timberland Animal Hospital) conducted their first spay/neuter clinic for low income cat owners. A total of 90 cats (38 neuters and 52 spays) were altered in one and a half days. This event is one small step in addressing the pet over-population issue, especially with cats. In seven years, if left unaltered, one female cat and her offspring can theoretically produce 420,000 cats. As a result the Bangor Humane Society hopes to see a reduction in the number of kittens dropped off at the shelter this Spring and Summer. A big thank you to the 26+ volunteers that made this possible. Staff from area veterinary clinics donated their time as did students from University College Bangor's Veterinary Technician program, Bangor Humane Society staff, volunteers and Board of Directors. You folks rock!