Special to the Star-Herald
Have you ordered your plates yet? Are you concerned about where your money will go and who it will help? A press conference is going to be held on Thursday, Oct.1, at 10 a.m. at Portland BMV, 125 Presumpscot St., Unit 4. The money raised from the sale of the new ‘Adopt’ specialty license plates will be divided equally between the Animal Welfare Auxiliary Fund and the Companion Animal Sterilization Fund. The new plate costs $20 in addition to the regular registration fee. Vanity plates are available subject to availability, and may be ordered online at www.maine.gov/sos/bmv. You can purchase the new plates starting Oct. 1. People who have pre-purchased plates will receive a voucher during the last week of September.
The list of speakers at this press conference are: Secretary of State Matt Dunlap; Senator John Nutting, Adopt plate sponsor; Norma Wormley, AWP director (on behalf of the AGR Commissioner’s Office); Dr. Anne Delborgo, DVM (on behalf of the Maine Veterinary Medical Assoc.); and Catherine Frost (MALT and Planet Dog). For more information contact Katie LeBel, Planet Friendly Public Relations, 563-7695 or katie@planetfriendlypr.com.
The weather is changing, it is time to think about winterizing for your dogs. By that I mean do you have plenty of straw and a draft-free doghouse for your dog if he/she is to stay outside for any period of time. Straw is the best insulator for a doghouse; fill the house to the brim and your dog will burrow in and make a nest to keep warm. Blankets are better than nothing, but can get wet and cold. If you have an outside dog, please take the extra time to be sure he is warm. You may think that because your dog has long fur or is a husky that he has ample protection from the elements, but even dogs with thick fur need protection from the wind and from being wet. Also, be sure that your dog has plenty of fresh water to drink, even when the snow is here; it isn’t enough to leave your dog to eat snow, they need fresh water every day. Planning ahead can make the transition into winter a smooth one for both you and your dog. Remember, people will notice those dogs left in the cold, so if there is no other alternative than to have your dog outside, be sure your dog has a nice, warm shelter, fresh water and plenty of good food.
You may also want to take the time to consider your dog’s nutrition. What is in your dog’s food? What you should be looking for is meat (beef, pork, chicken, duck) as the first or second ingredient. This means that your dog’s food isn’t full of “filler grains.” In my opinion, there are plenty of brands out there that do an adequate job without breaking the bank. It is very important that your dog’s diet consists mostly of dry food, using wet as a treat or secondary food, it does contain a lot of fat. Your dog needs a crunchy diet to keep his teeth in good shape. I find that when I use too much wet food, my dogs tend to have loose stool. I have researched and supplement my dog’s diet with things like yogurt, cottage cheese and scrambled eggs. Talk to your veterinarian about your dog’s diet and how you can best meet their needs. Do your own research because a good healthy diet can add years to your dog’s life.
It is also very important to keep your dogs healthy with exercise. I found that last spring, my dogs had gained way too much weight over the winter. My boy Rusty was huge and having a hard time getting around. So we started off slowly adding more exercise into our routine. I believe that he is at a good, healthy weight now for his breed and size. Too much weight on a dog can affect them just like people carrying too much weight. It can lead to diabetes, stress on the heart and limbs and other health issues. If you are not sure if your dog is overweight or not, again, check with your veterinarian. Follow this link to body score your dog: www.peteducation.com and under ‘search articles’ type in “is my dog overweight.” There are many good articles there to help you determine and maintain a healthy weight. Some advice I once got from my vet was to feed my dog all of the fruits and vegetables she would eat. I believe that finding a happy balance between diet and exercise is the key to success for all of us, so get out there and walk your dog! What is that? You don’t have a dog! Then come to the shelter and volunteer to walk one of ours. Dogs need exercise, even in the fall and winter.
There are so many wonderful animals available for adoption at the Central Aroostook Humane Society. Please visit us often. You can visit us online at www.centralaroostookhumanesociety.org. We will do our very best to match you up with the cat or dog of your dreams!
Please have your pets spayed and neutered.
