To the rescue: cats and dogs : Feline URI

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To the rescue: cats and dogs

Carol Hawn-Miller and Cindy Liggett are local animal advocates who work to save the lives of homeless cats and dogs. In 2001 they founded Kitty and K-9 Connection, a non-profit rescue/foster/adoption program. In this blog, they will discuss the issues around the numerous homeless cats and dogs in Anchorage, and the process of placement, including animal and human behaviors that lead to success or failure. They are pictured here with Gladys on Carol's knee, Cherri in the middle, and Ambrosia the cat on Cindy's lap.

Contributors

Cindy Liggett

Because she's a "cat person," Cindy concentrates on cat rescues, fosters and adoptions. She faces daily attitudes towards cats as "throw-away pets" and deals with issues regarding "unwanted" cats due to over-population. She has advocated on their behalf for over 20 years and enjoys sharing her knowledge and insights so cats can enjoy their nine lives in the manner they truly deserveas an important member of the family.

Carol Hawn-Miller

Carol loves being the "dog mom" to all kinds and varieties -- small to large; mutts or purebreds. At home she deals with an ever transitional pack as she rescues, fosters and adopts dogs that would not otherwise have a "new leash on life." She has been doing pet rescue for more than 14 years. While loaded with a lap full of dogs, covered in dog hair or accepting K-9 kisses, Carol advocates for permanent, lifetime homes and responsible ownership so rescue will no longer be a necessity.

Sue Wirth

Sue is the other cat mom who takes in fosters and gets them ready for adoption. She has been doing cat rescue since 1998. To help control reproduction of unwanted pets, Sue advocates with a local veterinarian to spay/neuter cats as young as 8 weeks old before they go to their forever homes. She would like to see an end to full Animal Shelters, euthanasia and a home for every pet.

Emily Brand

Emily joins us as a guest blogger from the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) to raise awareness about issues affecting companion animals in Anchorage and the surrounding area. She shares the ASPCA�s mission to prevent animal cruelty and provide positive outcomes for at-risk animals across the country. Emily hopes to encourage people to be a voice for animals by doing something to help people understand the importance of treating animals with the love and respect they deserve.

Multimedia

VIDEO

First Aid for pets

Robin Newby of the American Red Cross of Alaska teaches pet first aid. In this video of a recent class, she describes the focus and some of the techniques. Find schedules of ongoing classes at "The Red Cross"

Resources

ALASKA LOCAL

Alaska Dog News

Feline URI

Posted by Emily Brand/ASPCA

Posted: November 25, 2009 - 9:11 am

I recently read about 33 cats that were euthanized by the Mat-Su Borough animal shelter last month after an outbreak of feline upper respiratory infections, commonly known as URI. The ASPCA states that URI is probably the most commonly encountered disease for cats in animal shelters.

“One of the most important contributory factors to disease outbreaks is crowding,” said Dr. Lila Miller, Vice President of ASPCA Veterinary Outreach. “Isolation is essential if cats with URI are to be treated in the shelter, but placing infected animals in foster care is a better management strategy.”

Signs of URI are sneezing, runny eyes, nasal discharge and loss of appetite. URI is spread mainly through direct contact of sick cats with susceptible ones, through environmental contamination, and by contact with cats that continue to harbor and shed the virus after they have been infected and recovered from clinical signs.

While URI is not a deadly disease, epidemics in shelters can be very serious. Shelters may temporarily suspend adoptions and in the worst cases they may be forced to euthanize infected animals. Dr. Miller adds, “In many cases, elimination of the virus is impossible so shelters should determine what measures are needed to minimize the impact of the disease on the shelter's feline population.”