The Animal Care and Control Team is still celebrating the advent of 2013 with Bark in the Mew Year: 13 days of 13 adoption specials. Today is all about the fat content. All chubby cats and skinny dogs are free to adopt all day long. There are plenty of both to choose from, and they equally need to get out of the shelter to get healthy in a home. So, get down to ACCT and check out the plump cats and bony dogs to find which one of the many would do best with your family. See the slideshow for a preview of just some of the dogs and cats who are free to good homes today.
An overweight cat might be cute and cuddly, but to get healthy and live a long life, they will need to be fed a healthy, lower calorie food and enticed into daily exercise. Toys and super bonding play time with their new family members will go a long way toward helping them shed the extra LBs. A few mice, bouncy balls, fishing poles or something that hooks on a doorway or wall and is available 24 hours a day (for the night-owl kitties) will keep most cats on the go and burning calories.
Many times, the best way to keep a cat moving is another cat. Of course, the new fat cat has to be amenable to other felines and proper introductions have to be made all around. Some cats do well with a dog friend to keep them playing too. It all depends on the cat's personality and needs and what works for the family and the plump new addition. The only necessity is a dedication toward having a healthy cat and seeing what works best for everyone.
Underweight dogs are very common in shelters (for today, that means a huge selection of free pups!). Dogs that have been on the street can tend to be skinny from lack of nutrients combined with all of the aimless wandering they've done trying to find safety. Some dogs also get too nervous to really eat in the shelter, with all of the scary new sounds and smells. To be healthy, they need to put that weight back on. (First, make sure no worms or parasites are involved. Check with the shelter about what they have tested for and/or treated so you know how to proceed.)
Fattening up a skinny dog is usually great fun for the pup. A diet rich in nutrients and high quality food and treats in a safe home environment will usually do the trick. Some recommend using higher calorie puppy food or mixing it with regular food for a fat boost. Others suggest adding healthy human food, like ground beef, eggs, yogurt, cottage cheese and certain oils to help get the dog back to its desirable weight. There are even recipes specifically to make combination treats to get the weight back on in a healthy but efficient way. It's best to clear any dietary alterations or additions with a veterinarian to be safe.
To save one of these cats or dogs in need, go right to the shelter at 111 W.Hunting Park Avenue. Adoption hours are 1 p.m. to 8 p.m. Bring the family and the family dog if you have one, to make sure everyone is good with the new addition. Adoption details can be found on the ACCT website along with an adoption application. If you need help or have questions, call 267.385.3800 or email adopt@acctphilly.org for more information. Map and directions are here.
Go to ACCT's site to see all of January's great adoption fee specials. And check back tomorrow to see the featured potential pets over 5 years old that will be free for January 10.
Try these links for more information or to see upcoming January specials:
- Bark in the Mew Year: 13 days of 13 adoption specials
- January adoption specials at ACCT
- ACCT's website, with adoption information and questionnaire/application
- ACCT foster program details, online application and printable application
- Map and directions to ACCT
- Vetinfo's What to feed an underweight dog
- Food.com recipe for Satin Balls for underweight dogs
- Overweight cats: Diet, Exercise, Toys and Play Ideas on WebMD
- Introducing a New Cat: Cat Health 101 from Animal Planet
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