July 4 The Dogs

Fireworks and BBQ on July 4th are the pinnacle celebration of the summer (unless you have a summer birthday) and one of the busiest days for animal shelters.  Shelters across the country take in normal, calm loving dogs who instantaneously become furry Houdini and crazed canines when the lights and sounds from the fireworks begin.  I'm sure they can't understand the fascination humans have wiht explosions and loud nioses after stuffing ourselves full of grilled meat, corn, watermelon and potato salad.  Most likely they wonder why we are not napping or chewing on the bones.

Giving our dogs a happy july 4th is important if we want to have a safe and happy 4th and I discovered two parts to that happiness.














First, prepare yourself and your dog for the festivities.





Are you visiting a park or party and are dogs welcome at these places? Are our dogs nervous around fireworks or large crowds? If the answer is yes or maybe then consider leaving them at home. The combination could be enough to make a mildly anxious dog an overdone bundle of nerves.

Will there be shade, water and a cool place for them? It's going to be hot and while we get shorts they are in a fur coat.  If the answer to these questions isn't a resounding yes then a pet sitter or overnight boarding might be a better choice.

Second if you bring you dog to the festivities plan and prepare. Make sure that our dog's ID tag is up to date in case he runs off during the party. Give dogs time inside and outside, keeping their leash on them and supervised so they don't jump a fence or get loose while guests are coming in and out.







If your dog is inside, give them a chew toy and have music or TV on to keep them occupied.  There will be a lot of human food out so place bowls or dog treats around for our canine friends. People food such as grapes or onions can be toxic  and bones may splinter and injure them.  Exercise them before the party to avoid over stimulation and make it a pleasant experience for everyone.

Summer is here and the temperature is great for being outside, but while we humans can cool off in the pool, shade or AC, our furry friends can't always do the same.  It's up to us to look out for them.

Clyde the Quiet

Meet Clyde! The friendly and fun boy that was found as a stray in Onslow county, NC. After spending a bit of time in the shelter, Clyde's medical issues were brought to the attention of CCBTR by their volunteers.

Let's go for a swim.

It looks like C;lyde had a rough time in the past. He came to CCBTR heart-worm positive, irritated skin and a bad right eye. (He doesn't know abotuthe right eye part.)  He doesn't have sight in the eye but that doesn't slow him down at all.









Weighing in at 26 pounds Clyde is a gentle giant, we occasionally see resource guarding with food and toys no doubt due to his previous lifestyle. Clyde is a perfect match for a home with children or other quiet pets.

Clyde is crate and house trained and practices for the BT500 every chance he gets now that he is recovered from the heart worm treatment.

We hope that you can look past Clyde's eye injury as he does and see the lovely personality of this guy. He is waiting on that forever home where he can be the puppy he didn't get the chance to be.

Is your home the right one for this guy?
Contact CCBTR and find out.

Lazy Days At The Beach

Mandie is a engaging  little Boston Terrier that loves to run in the yard and chase squirrels up the fence. Once she has successfully scared them off she lays in the sun, rolls on her back in the grass and tries to get as many tummy rubs as she can.  In the evenings she will lay on the couch between her foster mom and dad and chewing a Nyla bone until she falls asleep.  When she sees her old friends she will jump up on her crate nd do a happy dance to greet them , and ask to be picked up.  She likes her bird’s eye view of the world.

Mandie came to us in March, found by a kind spirit who believed she was being starved. After a few visits to the vet, we found out that she has Protein Loosing Enteropathy (PLE).  She was given some meds and put on a low fat high protein diet and gained weight like a champ.  What we thought may be a long and tough battle turned out to be something rather simple in this pretty girl’s case.  The right diet and a periodic trips to see doc gives her a normal life.

Mandie loves going for walks on the beach and hanging out listening to the music, if you’re not careful she may steal your dance partner.

Dock Dogs to the Rescue

While driving around Virginia Beach I heard the Dock Dogs ad and thought it would be a good way to waste a day to dreary and cold for the beach.  For the uninitiated dock dogs is a competition of three events to se how far and high pet pooches can jump.  Some of these dogs get high enough to duck hunt all by themselves.

All I need is the cape.

The events judge distance, height and speed plus there is the “Iron Dog”, that’s the dog who scores the highest in all three events. 

 “Big Air” is the long jump where the dog starts on the dock and leaps as far as they can to reach the toy bobbing in the water. I think the dogs must imagine it sitting out there moving as if to say “nah nah you can’t get me”.   

  For extreme vertical, a toy is hung eight feet out  over the water , the height starts at four and a half feet and goes up in two inch increments .  Last is speed retrieve which is just a the name suggests, how quick can poochie get to the toy and pull it from the bracket hanging at the far end of the pool.

Good thing grace is not scored. 

Off to the side was a bright colored tent with a twenty foot inflated dog sitting by it.

Max The Magnificent



Looking to his furever home



Max is the crazy fun playful boy who loves to run and romp with his people and other dogs.  He is great with all the but prefers ones closer to his size. 

 After playing, Max really enjoys chewing on his bones and lying on the couch watching a movie, action movies are his favorite.  He’s crate trained and enjoys his private crate time at night to dream of chasing balls and wrestling with his friends.

Max would be a great companion on a road trip and would love exploring the mountains and canyons.

Max wants to take basic obedience training with his family so that he can learn to channel his enthusiasm!

Max's medical history shows some idiopathic seizures - meaning that no cause has ever been identified for them.  These could be caused by environmental factors he no longer has in his life.  Max isn’t being treated for this and hasn’t had seizures while in foster care. If you’d like to read more go to Canine Epilepsy Resources.

Max would love to find a home where he can run, play, hike, and have an active life, he’s no couch potato.  If you are looking for a dog to live your life with you, Max is your boy!

A Dog's Last Will

I think this is so beautiful because no person or animal should ever feel unloved or unwanted.

These are some of the dogs we have fostered in the past three years, dogs who woudl not have had a chance at love again or at all if people did nto step forward to help. 
To all the people who have adopted shelter/rescue dogs,
Thank You.

Sloppy Kisses, Walks in the Rain and Laughter

Number four in our list of lesson is of the mistakes in improper care.  I researched a little more and found that there is much work for the new dog to do.  

 Dogs, I know you will want to keep floor clear of food scraps so your owners don’t slip and hurt themselves, Don’t.  Some foods can really upset your tummy.  The bushes and grass outside are more than just a place for the birds to taunt you from, use them.  Protect the house and yard from predators like birds and rabbits and people in ski masks.

You have pent-up energy that needs to be unleashed through and you can keep your owner healthy with regular exercise, but a steeplechase after the neighborhood cat is not necessary.  Lack of exercise can turn into excessive barking, jumping or even hostile behavior.

  Ask for something to do, like hunt for food.  Your owner can place a meal or treats in spots around the house for you to sniff out, or use a food-dispensing puzzle toy instead of a bowl.  Don’t forget that your owner needs play dates at the local dog park for proper socialization.  Pets that aren't exposed to a variety of animals and people at a very young age can develop fears and aggressive behavior.

Parents, providing food, shelter and medical for your furry kids are easier than you think.  Make sure dogs have regular checkups to prevent infectious diseases and other icky things so you can go out to play.

SPECIAL THANKS

Dr. Wright at Ideal Pet Care in Richlands, Drs Wyatt, Hayes and Denmark at Tenth Street Animal Hospital in Greenville, and Dr. Ward at 70 West Veterinary Hospital in Havelock.  These clinics offer us the best and most advanced animal care available in ENC.  We count on them to treat our foster dogs like their own.  Whether it's for a routine examination, serious health issues, or for the treatment of an injury, we know we are in good hands and that our foster dogs will be soon on their way to good health.  Our foster dogs deserve the best care and these staffs know how important our foster dogs are to us. 

Veterinarians and vet staffs- thank you from the CCBTR volunteers and foster dogs.

Last is insurance.  Insurance is not mandatory for pets but is can help offset the cost if you decide to fight with a porcupine or you break your leg chasing that bunny.  Pet insurance is not the same from every company so compare coverage, talk to your friends and veterinarian before deciding.

Like people, dogs need food, exercise and shelter. It’s the least we can give them for all the sloppy kisses, walks in the rain and laughter they give us.