How You Can Help Animals in Need

There are many shelters in Tennessee. Many are kill shelters and only a few are no-kill shelters. The statistics in Knoxville alone for the number of animals that are put to sleep in our area because of poor ownership and neglect is high.

 See below for the statistics on the # of euthanized animals at just one of our local Knoxville, TN shelters.

Statistics

Year	Incoming Animals	Adoptions	Reclaimed	Rescue/Transfer	Outgoing Total	Euthanasia
2001	11864	1500	783	1059	3342	7718
2002	12331	2326	841	789	3956	8009
2003	13835	2649	760	1080	4489	8966
2004	16033	2953	878	888	4719	10848
2005	16195	2448	960	1087	4495	11546
2006	16914	2194	1078	1200	4472	12090
2007	17213	2541	1220	669	4430	12261
2008	17685	2819	1318	472	4609	12638
2009	17830	3363	1410	562	5335	12226
2010	15750	3541	1471	616	5734	9714
2011	15030	3410	1617	588	5762	9287
2012	14355	4589	1671	639	6899	7241
2013	13921	5594	1662	455	7711	6547

Although Knoxville has seen a decline in the #'s euthanized; 6,547 needless deaths last year for one shelter is too high. Golda's Grooming of Knoxville, TN is a proud supporter of the activities at Young Williams and has raised money and pet supplies annually for the shelter by throwing a local puppy party with its clients as guests. If Knoxville would focus on making sure that it's animals were fixed, unexpected animal births would decline. If Knoxville patrons would adopt at their local shelter versus purchasing expensive puppy mill pure breeds than less perfectly good pets in need of a home would need to be put to sleep. The Young Williams shelter sees incoming puppies, kittens, and exotics such as rabbits and ferrets. It has a variety of options for the family or individual seeking the companionship of a pet. These pets are both pure breeds and mixed breeds and they all share one thing in common, the need to be loved by a human.

Even if you aren't seeking to adopt a new family member there are countless things you can do to help your local pet shelters. At Young Williams you can add them to Kroger Community Rewards, Join Amazon Smile, set your web browser for the Good Search, choose them as your charity of choice on iGive, Join the Bark Box, bring your ink cartridges to the shelter and help fill the Cartridge World promise, purchase Bissell pet products and use the code ADOPT, join Woof Trax, bring empty pet food cans to the shelter for recycle.

If those aren't enough you can try donating some of the following found on Young Williams Local Animal Shelter Wish List. These ideas are good for any pet care non-profit shelter you are local to.

You can still see our complete Wish List below!
**Current needs as of 5-20-14**

• Laminating Sheets for our Adoption Floor (http://www.staples.com/Staples-Letter-Size-Thermal-Laminating-Pouches-3-mil-50-pack/product_677045)
• 3-4 digital baby scales to weigh our incoming kittens (Here is an example of one:  http://www.amazon.com/HOMEIMAGE-Digital-Scale-Infants-Pets/dp/B005OKPSMG/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1400597461&sr=8-3&keywords=digital+baby+scale)
• Paper Towels for our Spay/Neuter Solutions (Can be delivered to either location; please specify these are for the Spay/Neuter Clinic)
• Puppy Pee Pads (Example: http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss_1?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=puppy%20pee%20pads&sprefix=puppy+pee%2Caps&rh=i%3Aaps%2Ck%3Apuppy%20pee%20pads) (Can be delivered to either location; please specify these are for the Spay/Neuter Clinic)
• Liquid HE Laundry detergent (Example:  http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_i_0_10?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=liquid+he+laundry+detergent&sprefix=liquid+HE+%2Caps%2C303&rh=i%3Aaps%2Ck%3Aliquid+he+laundry+detergent) (Can be delivered to either location; please specify these are for the Spay/Neuter Clinic)

Where to Donate
Please bring all donations to the Lost & Found/Incoming Animal entrance on the side of the building. Please do not leave donations at the front entrance, the door to animal control, or in the garage at the back of the building.
Items We CANNOT Use:

• Cat or Small Animal Carriers (we can use Medium/Large/XL carriers!)

Pet Supplies: Dog

• 3-Quart Stainless Steel Bowls
• Medium/Large/XL Airline-Approved Pet Carriers (we cannot use cat or small carriers)
• Canned Puppy and Dog Food
• Dog Treats (no rawhides or pig ears, please)
• Washable Dog Beds

• Kong or Other Durable Dog Toys (to put peanut butter in)
• Dry Dog and Puppy Food
• Stuffed Animals
• Peanut Butter

Stuffed Animals: Animal Center dogs show no mercy on their toys, but they have fun as long as the toys last. Goodwill and other shops often have one or two days each month where merchandise is 50% off. Flea markets, yard sales, and your children’s toy box are other sources of stuffed toys. If possible, please do not donate stuffed animals that contain Styrofoam, sand, or other fillers.
No-Sew Dog Beds: Use two pieces of fleece that are the same size. For a roomy dog bed we recommend that the pieces be at least 36″x36″, but larger beds are needed, too. Lay one piece on top of another. Cut fringe all the way around the fleece. Cuts should be at least 1″ apart and approximately 4″ long (into the fabric). Tie the top and bottom fringed piece to each other. That’s it!
Optional: Stuff the bed with batting from a craft store or an old pillow. Consider putting a few mattress or quilt stitches in blankets with batting. This will hold the batting in place during washing.
Pet Supplies: Cat

• Clay Cat Litter/Oil Dry
• Cardboard Trays
• Cat Toys
• Canned Kitten and Cat Food
• Washable Cat Beds
• Carpet Squares
• Children’s Socks (see catnip sock project below)

Clay Cat Litter/Oil Dry: All cats and kittens are given fresh litter every day. We use generic clay cat litter or better yet, Oil Dry. Oil Dry is relatively inexpensive and can be found in the automotive department of discount shopping centers.
Cardboard Trays: These are used as litter boxes for cats, kittens, and rabbits. They are a staff favorite. They are free (!) and very absorbent. Litter boxes can be made from:

• The lid to a box of office copy paper
• The cardboard flat that holds several cans of cola or pet food
• Any small, shallow box (larger than a shoe box top)

If you want to make a good item great, have your child decorate the cardboard tray using colorful markers.
Carpet Squares: These are used for cat and kitten cages and for enrichment in the rabbit adoption area. We prefer smaller carpet squares (24″square).
Catnip Socks: Take a child’s-sized, clean sock

• Put a pinch of catnip in the toe of the sock
• Tie a knot in the sock so the catnip can’t escape
• Optional: color the outside of the sock with cloth markers, add a cotton ball and/or jingle bell to the sock’s contents

Pet Supplies: Small Mammals

• Clean Pinecones (no glue or paint)
• Willow (unpainted, untreated) Baskets
• Toilet Paper Tube Toys
• Carrots, Dandelion Greens & Other Leafy Vegetables
• Hard Plastic Infant Toys (keys, etc.)
• Kaytee Exact Rodent Food or Other High-Quality Food
• Treats
• Purina Rabbit Food (plain pellets in the green bag)

Carrots, Dandelion Greens and Other Leafy Vegetables (no iceberg lettuce, please): These foods provide important nutrients and variety for a small mammal’s diet. A five-pound bag of carrots can last up to a week. Washed vegetables in ziplock bags are ideal, but produce straight from the grocery store is okay, too. Preferred leafy vegetables include:

• Parsley
• Cilantro
• Leaf lettuce (green, red, endive, escarole, romaine, etc.)
• Kale

Pet Supplies: Birds

• Pet Bird Food
• Millet Spray
• Toys & Dishes
• Roomy Cages
• Treat Sticks (nut, fruit, honey)

Administration

• Batteries (AA, AAA, and C)
• Postage Stamps
• Manila folders
• Sharpies
• Post-It Notes
• Pens (any kind)
• White, 8 ½” x 11″ Copy Paper

Household Items

• Wal-Mart or Other Gift Cards
• Paper Towels
• Latex Exam Gloves
• Waterless Hand Sanitizer
• Squeegees
• Long-Handled Scrub Brushes

Humane Education

• Washable Markers & Other School/Craft Supplies
• Girl Scouts Badge Requirement Handbook
• Story Books about animals (please call Amy Johnston at (865)215-6668 for titles or shop at ASPCA or HSUS)

Mobile Spay/Neuter “Spay Shuttle”

• Paper Towels
• 70% Alcohol
• Swiffer Wetjet Refills
• Towels or Rags
• Plastic Garbage Bags (at least 30 gallon size)

Veterinary Clinic

• Greenies Pill Pockets
• Lint Rollers
• Heating Pads
• Rubbing Alcohol 70% or 90%
• Bacitracin Ointment
• First Aid Kit & Supplies
• Infant socks (can be used)

Workshop

• Star Drivers
• Drill Bits
• Bolt Cutters
• Chain Saw
• 14′ Ladder
• Cordless Drill
• Shelving Units for storage
• Drain Auger/snake
• Multi-oulet power strips

There are so many more resources available on the youngwilliams.com website but this is a bit to get your wheels turning on how to improve your local pet community by supporting your local shelter and donating today at your local shelter or Young Williams Animal Shelter  via the following link:  https://37689.thankyou4caring.org/sslpage.aspx?pid=298 For more information on dog care check out the Golda's Grooming Website. Golda's Grooming  "We Care About Your Pets" 3629 Western Ave. Knoxville, TN 37931 Right off of I-40. Or Schedule an Appointment for a Pet Grooming via email here: Golda's Grooming Schedule Your Pet

Skin Problems on Cocker Spaniels: The Do's and Don'ts for Healing

 

 

At Golda’sGrooming we’ve been noticing a lot of Cocker Spaniels with skin problems. It turns out this isn’t so uncommon for Cockers. Unfortunately, after doing some research on the issue if you’re poor Cocker is one of the unlucky ones to have skin trouble it could be a variety of factors causing this issue and may take a lot of work and patience to reduce the problem. This does tend to be somewhat of a permanent issue in a lot of cases, because it is very often related to allergies. Allergies can range from environmental to internal via food and water consumption. Yes, even poorly treated water can stimulate allergies. Although, we didn’t find any studies to prove this it has been documented by pet owners that filtered water can help. Never underestimate the power of good food and water.

Looking for other ways to improve your pup’s skin? Try an all-natural food. Grain fillers can cause yeast problems and your dog may be allergic to grain. Fish and Lamb tend to be our dogs preferred meat content, no red dyes either. After trying everything for a dog with a sensitive tummy including name brand foods such as Iams, Pedigree and Science Diet, actually ended up being Ingles Lassie Lamb brand. After trying this food it was the last time our dog with severe skin allergy chewed at himself uncontrollably and his sensitive tummy handled it well. It has no fillers or dyes, is all natural and is considerably less expensive than the other name brands. The only complaint we have is that the only store we’ve been able to find it in is Ingles.  You can also try hand feeding your pet with fresh cooked chicken, fish, lamb, beef, rice or potatoes to implement an all-natural diet just remember to NEVER feed your dog pork products because pork destroys the lining of your pet’s stomach and can cause severe diarrhea.

Lastly, try humidifiers to increase the moisture in the air which may soothe skin irritation and bath your dog regularly in an anti-itch microbial shampoo. We often use Miconazole for fungal infections and to eliminate scaly itchy skin at Golda’s Grooming which has proven some effectiveness against flaky, irritated skin in Cockers. We have also used Chlorhexadine with some effectiveness against these types of problems. The trick is to let your pet sit for at least 10 minutes after applying to make sure the active agents in the shampoo have time to do their magic, then rinse, rinse, rinse. You can also apply an after rinse for itchy skin once the dog is washed. This needs to take place once a week until the skin is showing improvement. If you still feel the need for an ingested medication it's always good to try good old fashioned Benedryl first. We've given one a day to our dog for years and it has seemed to help with the scratching.

Other treatments can be provided to your dog from your local vet for allergies, but often times the all-natural treatments above if used with persistence will persevere in the end gaining back your loved one’s healthy sheen. Treatments from vets often include steroid shots, pills, and creams which can cause both short and long term effects in your pet.

Short term effects can include:

• Increased thirst and urination
• Increased hunger
• Panting
• Loss of Energy
• Development or worsening of infections
• Nausea or vomiting

Long Term Effects:

• Urinary tract infections
• Poor wound healing ability
• Obesity due to increased hunger
• Muscle weakness
• Skin spots
• Pre-disposition to diabetes

For more information on dog care check out the Golda's Grooming Website. Golda's Grooming "We Care About Your Pets" 3629 Western Ave. Knoxville, TN 37931 Right off of I-40. Or Schedule an Appointment for a Pet Grooming via email here: Golda's Grooming Schedule Your Pet

K9 Cancer Walk for Knoxville's Dogs 2014

We are placing a big huge star next to this event because it's personal. In 2007, Golda's Golden Retriever Crockett was diagnosed with a high grade (15) Sarcona Cancer and was told he'd have less than a year to live. The first option was to take his leg, but Golda opted for surgery and chemo with radiation as the alternative. 25 radiation and 5 chemo treatments were administered to Crockett over the span of 2 years. In 2009 Crockett was cleared of his cancer. The treatments took several months and Crockett went through all the normal symptoms of these types of treatments including nausea and vomiting, fur thinning, and weakness.

That is why he will be at the Dogs for cancer Walk brought to Knoxville by Gerald Boyd's Petsafe and benefiting the Morris Animal Foundation, because we know how difficult this disease is to face alone for puppy and owner.

Even if your pet hasn't been through cancer, your loved one might have. This is an excellent community effort to acknowledge that cancer is trying to win, but that we are fighting back. It is a huge event to show your support of the fight. Please attend if you can.

September 21, 2014, NOON

 www.MorrisAnimalFoundation.org/petsafewalk

 

 

As promised Golda's Grooming is becoming your source to find out where all the greatest events for dogs of Knoxville, TN are being held and when. Golda cares about the pet community and wants to make sure that we are getting involved and helping Knoxville's pets have their best chance at success. That is why we are keeping our customers and other fellow Knoxvillians informed. Check our website regularly for updates at goldasgrooming.com

How to Easily Make a Throw for Your Dog It Will Actually Love

If anyone has ever told you that dogs aren't sentimental they're lying. Dogs love to be close to the things that belong to their owners. They have strong sniffers and know from the scent of items what belongs to those they love. For dogs separation anxiety and just for lonely moments you can ease your pups sorrows by leaving behind something of yours they will love. This is a tutorial on how to make an easy t-shirt throw keepsake for your puppy. That's right, for your puppy. It will love you more for it and will miss you less when you are away and all it takes is some of your old t-shirts, some fleece, and filler to get started. The other cool thing is you can make it personalized by adding a square with your pups name stitched in the center or adding paw print and other dog themed fabric and t-shirt squares. A dog throw is also a great way of keeping fur off your pup's favorite couch cushion to lay on, or if you want to designate a specific spot on a floor or ottoman for your buddy to relax on.

Follow the Written Instructions Here to Make it A Reality

Materials and Material Costs:
1. 15-30 old t-shirts that belong to you and other family members you want your dog to feel close to when you're away ($0 because it's already in your closet and not getting used)
2. Use a coupon and go to your local hobby store for a rotary cutter and cutting mat if you don't already have one ($50)
3. Include the purchase of flannel tor batting o be used for filling:
http://www.ebay.com/sch/sis.html?_nkw=CUTE DOG BLUE FLANNEL FABRIC 100 COTTON FQ FAT QUARTER QUILTING PAW PRINTS&_itemId=161163769631

• For dogs we recommend crib size 45" x 60" ($10-20)
• You can Buy On-line Here: www.createforless.com http://www.createforless.com/The-Warm-Company-Warm-and-White-Cotton-Batting-Baby-45-x-60-in/pid51264.aspx
• Batting typically comes in white and off white colors; polyester is least expensive, followed by cotton and wool as the most expensive
• Minimum distance for stitching: polyester 2-4", Bamboo up to 8", Cotton up to 8", Wool 2-3"

4. Don't forget the scissors - you will need fabric scissors for this project ($18)
5. + You Time = Avg. 5-10 days and a little patience

Instructions:
1. Cut squares from t-shirts in 12x12, 13x13, or 14x14 blocks; you can also make larger squares from smaller ones if you really want to be creative. The bigger the squares, the less t-shirts you will have to use. You can also use front / back of each t-shirt but it's best to cut the squares from each separately.
2. 1-2  bags of batting
3. Lay the good side of t-shire flat faced down (can also use paw print flannel- idea see above link for the back side), follow by batting and finally the front of the shirt on top with good side facing out.
4. Pin each of the squares to keep it together

Sewing Tips:
Use the same thread throughout
Reverse stitch at beginning and end of X's for reinforced stitch
For larger/ more noticeable ruffle leave more fabric visible at the seams

5. Arrange sewn squares on a nice, clean, flat surface to your liking
6. Sew each row individually, then each row together (seams 1/2 inch apart)
7. Sew around the border for border ruffle
8. Cut notch every .25 to .5 inch on all the exposed seams
9. Wash in washing machine

#10 You and Your Puppy Can Finally Enjoy the Benefits of Providing this Perfect Keepsake to Your Pet

#1 Benefit to You --- Peace of Mind Knowing Your Puppy will be Home Feeling Happier that He / She is Closer to You While You're Working or at School

For more information on dog care check out the Golda's Grooming Website. Golda's Grooming "We Care About Your Pets" 3629 Western Ave. Knoxville, TN 37931 Right off of I-40. Or Schedule an Appointment for a Pet Grooming via email here: Golda's Grooming Schedule Your Pet