Pet of The Week! Bear

Fast & Furriest
Pet of the Week, dog, puppy, Katrina,

This week, FYNTV says hello to Bear! A brand new Pet of the Week, Bear is between seven and eight weeks old, but much of his history and details are not so certain.

Bear may have honey in his heart, but his tale isn’t so sweet. Rena tells us that they are having to guess a lot with the dog as he was picked up from another county after being found in a garbage can. Despite the sad beginnings, Rena says that this is exactly why they are around. People should always find a humane society or animal shelter of some kind, never dump a pet like this.

Now, Bear lives at the Humane Society of Blue Ridge where he has found better conditions. Bear likes to sit in the cool of the shade, constantly avoiding the sun. He is still skittish against loud noises and needs a little more attention for training as most puppies do.

However, Bear likes cats!

We also have finally gotten BKP to get a cat. A long time Dog-enthusiast, even he is branching out to provide a better home for animals in the area.

You can schedule a time to meet with Bear this week. So, start the process online at the Humane Society of Blue Ridge or call them at 706-632-4357 to set up a time to meet with him, or schedule a meet and greet for your pets to see how they get along.

Sponsored by Blue Ridge Humane Society, you can follow more on Pet of the Week through the dedicated playlist on FYNTV and check out a wider variety of shows there as well.

https://youtu.be/VQ-h46TFDPQ

 

 

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Protect your family, pets and yourself against rabies

Fast & Furriest, Lifestyle
rabies

GAINESVILLE, GA – Although the occurrence of rabies among humans has declined noticeably over the years, the disease continues among wild animals. Encounters between wild animals and domestic pets, including some that involve people, sometimes occur in our area. These incidents of exposure are common but can be prevented if residents take precautions to protect themselves and their pets.  People should always avoid contact with unfamiliar dogs, cats, and wild animals. This includes feeding or attempting to help an animal that appears injured. Maintaining current rabies vaccinations for your pets and keeping them away from wild animals is the best way to protect them.  If you feed your pets outside, pick up any uneaten food so wild animals, including feral cats, will not be attracted to your property. Feral cats, unlike stray domesticated cats, are born in the wild and should be treated as wild animals.  Do not attempt to capture or feed feral or stray cats. Leave them and other wild animals alone.

The Georgia Department of Natural Resources has rigid regulations that prohibit the keeping of wild and wild/domestic hybrid animals as pets. Some animals identified by these regulations are raccoons, skunks, coyotes, foxes, and bats; which also are common carriers of rabies. More information is available about wild animals on the DNR website http://www.georgiawildlife.com.  If you see a wild animal acting strangely, avoid the animal and contact the DNR Ranger Hotline at 1-800-241-4113.

Rabies is a viral infection transmitted in the saliva of infected mammals. The virus enters the central nervous system of the host causing an inflammation of the brain that is almost always fatal. The most common virus carriers in the United States are raccoons, skunks, coyotes, foxes, and bats. Wildlife remains the most likely potential source of infection for both humans and domestic animals in the United States. Rabies is transmitted only when the virus is introduced into bite wounds, open cuts in the skin, or onto mucous membranes, such as the eyes or mouth.  Rabies in humans can be prevented by eliminating exposures to rabid animals or by providing exposed persons prompt medical treatment. Post-exposure rabies treatment includes a series of vaccine injections.  The treatment can be costly; however, it is extremely important because rabies is almost always fatal without it.  Post-exposure vaccine can be found at all the major hospitals within District 2 and information about vaccine assistance programs can be obtained from your local Environmental Health Office.

Public health officials become involved in animal cases where exposure or potential exposure to rabies occurs. The role of public health is to ensure that domestic animals are vaccinated against rabies and to ensure the public is informed about rabies risks and the need to seek medical treatment.

There is no better time than now to ensure that all your pets are currently vaccinated.  For more information about rabies, ask your veterinarian, local health department or go to http://dph.georgia.gov/rabies.

World Rabies Day is September 28 for more information visit the CDC. Feature image from the CDC.

North Georgia Senior Living: Community Cat!

Lifestyle
ready, quality

This week Jessie Barton discusses the newest member of Cameron Hall, Hunter Binks the community cat. They also touch on the other creatures coming to visit the residents.

Sponsored by Cameron Hall in Ellijay, you can follow more of North Georgia Senior Living through the dedicated playlist on FYNTV’s Youtube channel and check out a wider variety of shows there as well.

https://youtu.be/EFx4vh7VX8k

Pet of the Week – The “H” kittens

Fast & Furriest
Pet of the Week, dog, puppy, Katrina,

When BKP is away, the kittens will play… with RICK! This feline Pet of the Week episode features Rena returning with our first feline feature on the show. What makes cats different and good for time stretched owners? Rena breaks down the kittens for adoption and shows you how to get your own from the Blue Ridge Humane Society.

Sponsored by Blue Ridge Humane Society, you can follow more on Pet of the Week through the dedicated playlist on FYNTV’s Youtube channel and check out a wider variety of shows there as well.

https://youtu.be/XiXl6d7Qc4I

Fetching Features: National Adopt a Shelter Pet Day

Fetching Featured
pet

April 30 is not a well known day. It passes by like so many, people unaware of the significance. Even I was unaware until this year. One of the fun parts of the Sunday Edition is learning things from the weekly “Are you Aware” column, and as it is, sort of, Pet Month, let me share a little love for our pets.

Animal shelters require dedicated volunteers and staff. Aid and adoption is a part of that system. Animals come in daily but shelters don’t always see adoptions daily. Caring for those animals is a temporary arrangement, but it is all in service to finding a “forever home.”

Hosting this special day is an attempt to raise awareness, but it also encourages you to visit a shelter and find your new “fur baby.” Owning a pet is a major deal. Maybe your mom or dad explained this when you were younger and you got the whole, “You’re going to have to clean up after it, feed it, bathe it, etc.” Maybe you didn’t get that. That could have been just me.

Let’s examine this phrase, “Fur-babies.” It’s a fun little title that adds a little light-heartedness to owning a pet. But for some, it’s so much more telling about their answer to a highly personal issue.

petSpeaking with a certain family, the very touchy subject arises and a truth is shared that they cannot have kids. This is a very serious issue that more people than you think deal with. Some may go through medical treatments, adjustments, adoption, foster homes. There is a myriad of choices and alternatives, though some may not get results from many of those options. This particular family decided not to even try them. Instead, they focus their attention on a substitute, a dog. A “fur-baby.”

It’s great to see a family share their life with an animal. It’s not the exact same thing as a child, but they make it work. Their dog is not only there to be playful and be a companion. But it fills a gap in their life, addresses a need to nurture something. They share their love and connect deeply with this animal in such a meaningful relationship that they have. Lines start to blur and the parent-child relationship with an animal growing deeper across years, on to a decade seems not only feasible but healthy in this environment.

My personal family, we have a dog and two cats. I love my dog, she is high energy and requires a lot of attention and maintenance. Just like that family, I get and give so much in this connection. Teaching her tricks and commands gives me a sense of accomplishment and goals in her training. Each time she learns and grows, it rebounds back that I have grown a bit. Teaching something to anyone or anything is a marvelous feeling.

petLike hunters who rely on their dogs in the hunt, travelers in the snow using sled-dogs for transportation, or emergency services utilize search and rescue dogs, there is a connection between a person and the pet they put time and effort into training. Don’t believe me? Then ask police who work alongside k-9 units, ask military who use sniffer dogs and similar activities.

Am I at their level? No. But, I use the example because I have felt something in my relationship with my dog that I can’t quite describe. Is it simply pride? Something different? I can only point to popular examples and say, “It’s sort of similar.”

Also, my dog provides a service to me. It’s not just about taking care of something small, teaching it, raising it, helping it to grow. It’s also about what I get in return.

I have had bad days just as you have. Those absolutely horrible, anger-fueled days that reach beyond irritated and go full-blown explosive rage. We all know them.

Let’s play to the stereotypes a moment and think about a six-foot-tall 280-pound, muscle-bound action hero in the movies. From the more recent movie “My Spy” all the way back to Arnold Schwarzenegger’s “Kindergarten Cop,” the hard-nosed guy meets a young girl who teaches him that there is a soft spot in all of us. Makes for great action-comedy movies, or at least popular ones.

That is exactly what I get on these days from 15 pounds of chaos. Amid these awful days, my dog provides a service. She is a creature that doesn’t care what happened, doesn’t care how angry I am. She doesn’t care that I am cursing about one thing or another.

The only thing she seems to care about is when I finally sit down so she can get in my lap. Yeah, I’m a pushover. What of it?

Only 15 pounds, that’s the entire difference between an awful day and a good night.

For some, it’s the only difference between managing and failing, depression and coping, or even life and death. Support animals are an amazing partnership from guide-dogs to emotional support animals, it seems like I’m constantly reading articles online about an animal who helps there person through a panic attack, or a trained support animal sensing seizures and warning their owner about an oncoming attack. The medical applications of an animal partnership are astounding. Even those with medical needs benefit physically from animal companions.

According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), they can increase opportunities to exercise, get outside, and socialize. Regular walking or playing with pets can decrease blood pressure, cholesterol levels, and triglyceride levels. All of that on top of managing loneliness and depression by giving us companionship.

Studies have shown that the bond between people and their pets can increase fitness, lower stress, and bring happiness to their owners. Some of the health benefits of having a pet include decreased blood pressure, decreased cholesterol levels, decreased triglyceride levels, decreased feelings of loneliness, increased opportunities for exercise and outdoor activities, increased opportunities for socialization.

petIt’s not all dogs either. As I said, my family has two cats. Far more independent than the dog, these pets need just as much responsibility and care, but for someone who has to work a lot, or has work hours that change frequently, these animals are the perfect blend of attention while you’re there, and independence and self-care when you’re not.

On some of the lazy days, just sitting with family, watching tv, or relaxing on the couch, a little repetitive petting immediately sets me into a calming mode.

Ultimately, a pet is more than just an animal. Getting a pet is more than just a commitment. Building that relationship is more than just a friend you visit with. The daily bonding, exchange, and growth is an experience all its own. Celebrating a small day like this is no big event, but taking a moment to think about animals who don’t have that home they seek, or even just offering to help those who help them seek it, could be enough to make it worth the day of awareness. It’s all in how you, specifically, respond.

 

(All photos were provided by the Humane Society of Blue Ridge.)

Towns County Animal Rescue adoptable pet of the week- Sweetheart

Fast & Furriest
Sweetheart

Towns County Animal Rescue is looking for a loving home for a beautiful long-haired, gray, female kitten whose name is Sweetheart, because that’s what she is.  She absolutely loves people and wants to be with them.  She comes to you when call her or enter her room, and she sits beside you waiting to be petted.  She goes nose to nose with you and lays her head on your hand.  She also loves to play with toys.  She is spayed and has had a rabies vaccination.  The perfect owner would keep her inside, because there are too many dangers in these mountains for cats.  She is currently in a cat colony, but she is too adoptable to leave out in the wild.   The preferred owner would be a mature and responsible adult 65 years old or younger rather than young children who could accidentally let her outside.  If you are wanting an adorable and lovable fur friend or know someone who is, please contact Sue at 706-435-0526.

 

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