There are many ways to donate money to the Santa Cruz SPCA, which is desperately needed for food, shelter and spay/neuter.  If you work at a company that has a giving program, your company might match your donation.  Sahweet.  Maybe you want to share in a significant event in your life by making a one time donation or maybe you want to spread it out a little every week.  It’s all good. You can even leave something to the SPCA in your will.  If you do it now and let them know, they can add it to their plan for the future.  Check out the Santa Cruz SPCA page for all the details. 

Did you know that the SPCA can take donated cars?  And through Annie’s Blankets, even old blankets and towels can have a new life providing warmth and comfort to a cold and frightened animal?

In many parts of the country, people participate in team events by running, walking or cycling.  You can join one of those events, go online to support an athlete or even get together with friends and neighbors in Santa Cruz to start a fundraiser.  Click here to get more information. 

Basically, whatever you have that loves animals is needed and will be put to use.  So what are you waiting for?

Too often, these beloved family pets who have provided so much love and loyalty to our enlisted end up at the shelter, only to be euthanized.  This is where you may come in.  Did you know that there are programs where you can actually foster the pet of a soldier while they are on a tour of duty so that they will be waiting when they return?

That is so cool.  If this is something that you have the space and the heart to do, check out this American Humane Society link with all the info you need.

Shelters do what they can to find homes for animals and rely heavily on the good work of rescues to keep animals alive and adoptable.  Unfortunately, Rescues generally don’t have infinite capacity for keeping pets.  More likely they are a network of committed homes where people open their hearts to a pet or two until they find their forever home.  Many times, these guys need some extra attention and patience.  They may need some help with their manners and may even need to be housebroken.  Some may have medical concerns that require care and attention.  And they may need help finding their home, whether it is networking for the pet or taking them to pet adoption fairs.  This is not a slack assignment but it is one that saves lives.  Are you up for it?

If the answer is yes, the next question becomes if you are a good fit.  Check out this great web page on the foster program at the Santa Cruz County Animal Shelter site to learn more about how to sign up and what the needs are.

Santa Cruz Animal Shelter has many volunteer opportunities that range from helping in the office to helping out with the animals.  And talk about making a difference.  These are animals who are living under very stressful circumstances and are most likely lonely and scared.  The contact with them might be the connection that gives them hope and brings them success in their forever home.

Do you love taking pictures?  Working with the shelter to do “glamour photos” instead of the mug shots that are more commonly known with shelter animals may very well be the thing that catches the eye of their new family.

Maybe you are new to town or looking to meet new people.  And you love animals.  What better way to meet people who share your interests than to volunteer with them at the animal shelter?  Think you might want to have a pet of your own but want to check it out first?  What better way to do something to help and learn more about yourself at the same time?

Okay, so you are allergic to animals but you love them and want to help.  There is a lot of administrative help that is needed.  And if you are helping in the office, you are freeing others to be available to the animals.  You might be that cheery voice who helps out with phones or the computer whiz who helps with the website.

Now that you are all excited about this, the good news is that it is easy to become a volunteer.  Just check out the Santa Cruz Animal Shelter page at http://www.scanimalshelter.org/ to learn more and fill out the application.

The thing is that there are lots of things we can do help animals that cost little to no money and may require nothing more than a little time, a little passion or a little influence.  In the coming weeks, we will be looking at a few ideas for helping animals, particularly dogs and cats who are being subject to euthanasia or animal cruelty.

Do you engage in social media?  To some, Facebook and other social media are a senseless waste of time.  To others, these are powerful mediums for spreading important messages from one sphere of influence to another.

What if you were to devote your status update from time to time to spreading the word about an animal in need of a good home?  Or to make others in your community aware of injustices to animals, whether globally or locally?  Whether you generate a story or simply share a link, you are generating awareness.

Recently, the owner of It’s A Girl Thing, a small shop in the Willow Glen neighborhood of San Jose, went onto Facebook.  She posted a picture and short description of a dog that through tragic circumstances was about to end up at the shelter.  Her customers and friends simply clicked to share the post.  A few days later, she reported back that the dog had been adopted into a home in Capitola.  Can you imagine if each of us were to generate a story or even click share that dogs and cats could find good homes and never see the shelter?

When you think about it, there is so much we can do.

For more ideas on how to use social media to advocate for animals, visit the ASCPA page at http://www.aspca.org/Blog/lets-help-animals-with-facebook.aspx

A good and general rule of thumb is that the more fresh, local and natural a food is, the better chance that it is not going to cause harm to your pets.

The best thing you can do for your pet is to be informed.  At Westside, that is what we have built our practice on.  So, read on and please call immediately if you have any questions or concerns!

Do you love to cook?  Does it make sense to personally prepare your pet’s food?  This is a possible alternative but requires strict adherence to portions and recipes to be sure that your beloved pet is receiving a healthy and balanced diet in light of their age, activity and medical status.  Please check with your veterinarian here at Westside before becoming your pet’s personal chef!  If you would like a few ideas for recipes, check out http://www.simplypets.com/pet-recipes/Dog/Meal

It is also a good idea to check in on the FDA page often to see if there have been any recalls that you need to be aware of.  The URL for that site is http://www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/default.htm#Link_to_Animal_Health  From this site, you can sign up to receive email or text alerts of any product recalls, withdrawals and safety alerts as they occur.

As always, we continue to preach the importance of awareness of changes in your pet’s symptoms or behavior that might indicate that something is wrong.  They cannot tell us when they something is up so we need to keep watch.

Keep an eye out for and call Westside immediately if you see signs including loss of appetite, lethargy, vomiting, diarrhea, changes in water consumption or changes in urination.  And if you have any reason to believe that you may have been feeding your pet a recalled or withdrawn pet food, call us at once.

What are some things that you wish your pet would do?  What are some things that you could do to be the person your pets wish you were?

And more important, what are the things you can do to take care of your pets even better than before?  For a start, make sure that you both exercise at least several times a week.  You’ll both live healthier and bond more.

As this is a popular subject, there were a number of articles on the topic.  We picked a few that we especially liked and shared the links!

Celebs Share New Years Resolutions for Their Pets:  http://www.mercurynews.com/pets-animals/ci_19611294

Pet Parents Share Their New Years Resolutions:  http://freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2828675/posts

New Years Resolutions for Pet Owners:  http://www.oregonlive.com/pets/index.ssf/2012/01/new_years_resolutions_for_pet.html

From all of the staff at Westside Animal Hospital in Santa Cruz, we wish you and your pets a very happy and healthy new year.

With the downturn in the economy, there are a lot of beautiful dogs and cats out there who have come from loving homes but due to sad circumstances, their owners can no longer keep them.  These pets offer a great opportunity for families to be matched with a dog or cat who is used to being part of a family.  Especially when there are young children around, this opens new options where a pet from the shelter may not have always been the best match.

Each rescue is run a little differently, but generally, dogs and cats have gone from their home into a foster home where they are being cared for until the right match can be found.  The pets are observed carefully for their traits and then through an application process, matched up with the family that fits the characteristics of the pet.

Animal Friends Rescue is run out of Monterey with a number of foster families in the Santa Cruz area.  They foster both dogs and cats.  Each of their foster “kids” has a profile on their website and a link to their application at the end of each profile.  This is more of a “general” rescue.  Learn more about them at http://www.animalfriendsrescue.org/

In addition to Animal Friends, there are a number of rescue organizations throughout the Bay Area.  Among them are specific rescues:  there are even rescues that specialize in dogs that have been used for racing, fighting and other inhumane practices and rescues that match purebred dogs and cats that have been used by puppy mills to “manufacture” inventory for pet stores.  These pets have high and special needs and are not likely to be the best fit for a family with kids.  Fortunately, these organizations have application processes that really help individuals and families find the right fit for themselves and the pets.  For further information about specific breeds and rescue organizations, Google searches are a treasure trove of information.

The other great thing about getting a pet from a rescue is that they are generally house broken and their habits are fairly evident.  You will know if they are a runner, a biter, a digger or a chewer.  There is truly a fit for every pet and a pet for every loving home.

And once you find that pet, be sure to bring them in to Westside Animal Hospital!  We’d love to meet them and want to be sure that they are healthy as you start your journey together.

From the desk of the ridiculous to the sublime, here are a few that belong nowhere but the white elephant party!

Grabbing First Place in the “That Poor Animal” category is the Snuggie for Pets.  Yes, folks, the snuggie for pets. I know you can’t resist looking so check out the link at http://www.mysnuggiestore.com/c-102-dogs.aspx Unlike the snuggie for humans that is for snuggling on the couch with the TV remote or a good book, the snuggie for dogs is actually intended for a wearing outdoors.  What self respecting dog or cat wants to walk around in something that looks like a robe on backwards?

And the first place in the “Most Ridiculous Overpriced” Category is that great outdoor outfitter, Orvis.  The preppie dog bed people now have a ski parka for your dog.  And for a cool hundred bucks, give or take a few, this parka can be on your pet.  Unless you are going to the Canadian Rockies for Christmas, pick up a chew toy or cat nip for your pet and make a donation to an animal rescue organization that can help lots of animals come in from the cold!  All shopoholics, click here If you really want to see the exhaustive selection of all things dog warmth, be sure to check out REI’s website at http://www.rei.com/search?search=dog  Interestingly, neither of these stores had items for cats.

As cynical as I am, even I must admit that the “Make your pet a dog sweater from your old sweater” idea  at eHow looks cool on screen.  If you really must have an article of clothing for your pet, recycle something you already have.    http://www.ehow.com/how_5180286_make-dog-sweater.html  If you must have it, reclaim, reuse, recycle!

On the other hand, if you are alone and in search of some companionship during the holiday season, this may be the best possible time to bring a new pet into your home.  Pets provide so much love and companionship!

Remember the Norman Rockwell moments of the pet under the Christmas tree?  Well that is where that idea belongs– on a painting, not in real life.  Pets are a very personal thing and should be selected by their owner.  If you know that someone wants a pet, consider wrapping up a few pet supplies, like a leash, a collar, a dog bowl and some food.  Then give them a “gift certificate” to pick out their own dog.  This selection is very personal and far too often, the good intention turns into another dog or cat at the pound.  Don’t do it!

If a new pet is in your plans this month, remember to bring them in to see your veterinarian at Westside right away to be checked out.

Pets are wonderful companions if their owners invest the time and energy up front to bond and train up front.  But if there needs are not met at the beginning, they can become lonely and insecure, leading to all those behaviors you don’t want.  Timing is everything.