Successfully Adopted Pet!
Successfully Adopted Pet!
The only working Animal Control pager is: 978-217-2681
Key in your call-back number then press the # key!
Alternate ways to reach me:
via telephone 978-544-5218
or new Email exclusively for ACO business:
animalcontrol@town.warwick.ma.us
Address: 203 Orange Road
Town Hall: ACO/Animal Inspector Mailboxp
Anyone who has a pet that needs to be spayed or neutered, please contact me. Grant funds still remain, which must be spent in order for me to apply for the next grant cycle.
Recently a senior golden retriever ran off, and was missing for an entire day. Turns out several people saw the dog, but declined to call Animal Control because they did not want someone to have to pay a loose dog fee. This dog did come home safely, but what if he had not? There have been dogs - and cats - killed by motor vehicles or predators. Please think about this -- wouldn't you rather pay a $25 fee for the safe return of your dog instead of you or someone else having to discover the pet injured or killed?
Saturday, April 3 from 12 pm - 2 pm at the Fire Station.
Please see the full page ad for complete details.
This is a daily vote contest where Warwick could win money for stray animal veterinary care.
Please vote EVERY day from every computer to which you have access at the link below, and forward this Email, so others can vote too!
Vote for Town of WARWICK Animal Control & Care:
http://www.theanimalrescuesite.com/clickToGive/shelterchallenge.faces?siteId=3Thank you to those kind souls who sent donations to YELP FOR HELP in memory of Thelma Maynard. Even under such sad circumstances, animals will be helped, which would have meant a great deal to Thelma. I am deeply grateful for these donations, despite a heavy heart at the passing of this wonderful woman. A few years ago, Thelma sent me the most touching letter about animal care and my role in protecting companion animals -- a letter which I still treasure and will keep forever.
After years of constant companionship, however, you may not see the first subtle signs of decline. No matter how close you are, your dog does not know how to communicate little aches and pains, and even some bigger discomforts to you. She doesn't understand what's happening to her when she can't run as fast or jump as high. Most vets recommend that your dog be screened for the symptoms of aging and then come for twice-yearly visits when she is a senior. To determine when it's time for the first screening, you have to understand how your dog's medical history and breed might hasten or stave off her senior symptoms. Recommendations for senior wellness screenings and check-ups include: for dogs over 80 pounds, begin between ages 4 and 6; dogs 51 to 80 pounds, between 6 and 8; dogs 16 to 50 pounds, between 7 and 9; dogs 15 pounds or less, between 9 and 11. It is your responsibility to maintain your dog's health and sense of security so that she'will able to enjoy her natural athletic ability as long as possible. You must be perceptive, noticing changes in your dog's moods and habits. It takes love and commitment to help your dog navigate old age, but it will be returned with unconditional love.
Don't be tempted to share rich holiday treats with your pet, as a serious illness - such as pancreatitis - can occur. Turkey skin, cooked bones, gravy, rich/butter-laden side dishesor desserts, and chocolate are not to be fed to your pets. Also be aware that holiday plants including poinsettias, holly berries, mistletoe and Cedar Christmas trees are toxic to dogs. Keep seasonal decorations, especially candles and tinsel, and all kitchen trash out of reach of your four-footed friends. Don't be afraid to gently but firmly remind your holiday guests that you want them to resist those pleading canine eyes and not feed any holiday fare to your dog. An ill pet and costly visits to the veterinarian do not make for happy holidays.
As you well know, YELP FOR HELP is the sole funding source for veterinary care for stray and abandoned animals in ACO custody. The expense budget voted at each Annual Town Meeting would not cover all the necessary vet care for even one animal, especially since most strays have several medical issues requiring treatment. If YELP goes broke, no more animals will be saved. Please donate this Holiday season. Every dollar matters, so even a $1.00 donation will help. Craft fairs and the bottle and can drive is all the fundraising I have, so individual donations outside of those activities are sorely needed. Please call Rosa at 978-544-5218 or Email animalcontrol@town.warwick.ma.us. Give a gift that helps an animal that cannot help itself. Thank you.
Home for the Holidays: "Jessie" is a gorgeous, young strong and healthy female yellow lab available for immediate adoption. Also available:"Shilo", "Annie", and "Holly", female beagles. All these precious girls need new homes for the Holidays and beyond. Please call 544-5218 to meet them. Cats in need of new homes are here, too.
CAN You Help?: Please be sure to put only returnables in the trailer at the Transfer Station. Entire bags and cases of non-returnables keep being placed in the trailer. Please recycle your own bottles and cans that cannot be redeemed for nickels. This fundraising drive continues to raise money that Pay for Strays, and its continued success depends on your generosity. Just please be mindful of the non-returnables and simply recycle them. Thanks!
PAWS to give Thanks: For the unconditional love and companionship of our pets.
The "CAN You Help?" bottle and can drive continues to be a great success. Please remember to place only MA 5 cent returnables in the trailer at the Transfer Station. Without your continued support, the vet bills cannot be paid.
SPAY/NEUTER GRANT for FY 10:
Warwick Animal Control & Care has once again been awarded a grant
from Massachusetts Animal Coalition's "I'm Animal Friendly" license plate program! A $1,500.00 grant, in
large part for spaying and neutering owned dogs and cats, begins July 1st and goes until June 30, 2010, or until
funds are expended, whichever comes first. Lauralyn J. Brown, DVM, will continue to provide the veterinary
service for the Spay/Neuter program. For further information, please contact me: 544-5218 or
wardendoggiejail2004@yahoo.com
Did You Hear the One About the Pit Bull?:
Recently, there was an incident involving a resident being
terrorized on her own property late one evening by a neighbor's pit bull. This dog has been removed from
Warwick, at the insistence of the landlord and under threat of a nuisance dog hearing which the Selectboard
voted to hold if the dog remained in Town.
When You Need Help, You Need to Yelp!:
When you have an issue with a dog, you must report it. If you wish
to remain anonymous, leave a message on the ACO voicemail. I cannot act to solve a problem if I remain
uninformed about the situation. I do not have a psychic connection to all the dogs in Warwick, and therefore do
not know where they are or what they are doing! I can be reached in the following ways -- Phone: 978-544-
5218; Pager: 888-679-6831; Email wardendoggiejail2004@yahoo.com . Please note that sometimes pages do
not come through and sometimes I do not hear the telephone because I am sleeping, but I always follow up on
an issue about which I have been informed.
This year's Rabies Clinic was a stunning success; a record 141 pets were vaccinated!
Dr. Hurley was especially pleased, noting that more people came to the Warwick Rabies Clinic than had attended the one in Fitchburg the week before. Thanks to Gunnar Lambert and members of the Fire Department, and a very special Thank You to Mary Thomas for her assistance at the Clinic.
Next year's clinic is confirmed for Saturday, April 3rd.
There has been a rash of reports about feral or abandoned cats in two specific areas of Town: Pine Street and Northfield Road.
In both areas, intact cats are continuing to breed. In one case, the owner died and relatives have claimed responsibility for feeding the cats, but are not addressing the breeding problem. In the other case, there are reports of former house cats abandoned by the owner who moved out of state, along with cats belonging to a home whose owners allow them to roam and breed at will.
Without a shelter, and with only one humane trap, it is beyond the resources of this ACO to realistically or effectively tackle a problem of this magnitude. Therefore, I am currently seeking assistance from other agencies to remedy the problems.
Anyone who finds litters of kittens please contact me immediately at 978-544-5218 or page 888-679-6831. Animal Control from a nearby town will help by getting moms and babies into foster homes.
In 2008 Warwick received a $2,000.00 Spay/Neuter Grant from Massachusetts Animal Coalition's "I'm Animal Friendly" License Plate program!
Funds for this grant period have been expended.
Anyone wishing to get their dog or cat spayed or neutered, please contact me at 978-544-5218 or email me here. A waiting list for 2009 is now being compiled.
Dr. Lauralyn Brown provides the spay and neuter services for our Town. Her office telephone number is 413-863-0025.
The sale of the "I'm Animal Friendly" license plates is what makes the Spay/Neuter grants possible.
Massachusetts Animal Coalition grants have helped Warwick residents obtain low or no cost spay and neuter surgeries for their pets since 2006.
To obtain an "I'm Animal Friendly" license plate, please visit your local RMV branch or go online to: http://www.mass.gov/rmv/express/plates.htm. and choose the Massachusetts Animal Coalition plate.
PLEASE LET YOUR CAR TELL THE WORLD HOW YOU FEEL ABOUT ANIMALS
The Massachusetts Animal Friendly license plate will tell your community that you care about animals! By purchasing this license plate, you will be contributing to a statewide program that will directly benefit Massachusetts animals.
The initial cost of this Animal Friendly license plate is $40, $28 of which will be used to help fund this statewide spay/neuter program. The remaining $12 is a one-time only cost to cover the manufacturing of the plate.
Upon renewal, the entire $40 will go to this spay/neuter program. (The standard registration fee is due every two years upon renewal in addition to the Animal Friendly license plate fee.)
Until further notice, the Animal Control Officer will NOT take into her custody or into her home, any stray cats or kittens.
The ACO will assist those who find stray cats or kittens in obtaining placement for these animals, if available. If an individual agrees to foster the stray, YELP FOR HELP will pay for necessary veterinary care (vaccinations, tests, treatment for parasites, spay/neuter).
Shelters put a freeze on taking in new cats; shelters in this region have told me, knowing that I am an ACO, that they anticipate the current freeze will extend until at least February of 2009. These facilities, whether municipal or non-profit, enjoy the benefit of a full staff plus volunteers, along with the appropriate cages to house cats individually or in quarantine when necessary. Your ACO's private home serves as a shelter for the Town of Warwick, without benefit of additional staff or volunteers, and without cages or a quarantine area. Seventeen cats are currently in the home. Once the number of cats has dropped to a more reasonable and manageable number, through adoption or other placement, this policy will be rescinded.
While it is heart wrenching to admit -- and I have shed many tears over this fact -- I cannot save them all. I am but one person doing all this rescue work from my own home. To remain at my most effective at rescuing and placing homeless animals, limits must be set.
Please be on the lookout for any unusual activity, as more kittens may be dumped out to die if not rescued by Animal Control or concerned, kind citizens. Special thanks go to Adam Holloway, Barbara and Tom Millunzi, Mary Ellen Hatch, Deanna Thompson and Tia Albert for their assistance in the ongoing rescue/foster operations.
Field Driver Appointed: The Selectboard appointed Gerry Whitney as Field Driver, so he will be assisting in calls involving loose livestock.
What if YELP FOR HELP earned a penny every time you searched the Internet? Or how about if a percentage of every purchase you made online went to support the stray animals in need? Well, now it can!
GoodSearch.com is a new Yahoo-powered search engine that donates half its advertising revenue, about a penny per search, to the organizations its users designate. Use it just as you would any search engine, get quality search results from Yahoo, and watch the donations add up!
GoodShop.com is a new online shopping mall which donates up to 37 percent of each purchase to your favorite cause! Hundreds of great stores including Amazon, Target, Gap, Best Buy, ebay, Macy's and Barnes & Noble have teamed up with GoodShop and every time you place an order, you'll be supporting your favorite cause.
Just go here and be sure to enter
Town of Warwick Animal Control and Care
as the organization you want to support. And, be sure to spread the word!
Another way to benefit YELP FOR HELP with no additional cost to you is iGivecom. Shop as you normally would online, with almost 700 merchants to choose from, and those merchants will donate a percentage to "Yelp".
Just go here to register and designate YELP FOR HELP as your organization. Each time you shop, go to iGive.com first, then select the website at which you wish to shop. You pay nothing extra, registration and use of iGive.com is free, and YELP FOR HELP will still benefit!
Your Animal Control Officer and the homeless strays thank you!
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