Perhaps due to Olive’s unique appearance, her story gained speed immediately and began circulating throughout the social media world. Her bio explained not only that she was born with the facial deformity, but also that she was a little shy at first, loves to cuddle, enjoyed the company of other dogs and that she was looking for a nice family. Her birth defect didn’t hold her back from life’s simple pleasures like enjoying a nice meal, going for walks or playing with her foster family. Her appearance didn’t hold her back either, as her sweet little face made its way not only all over California, but across the country as well.

In less than 24 hours, our Foster Care Coordinator Sarah Varanini was receiving countless inquiries, both local and national, about the sweet little dog whose story was featured on Facebook. A potential adopter, Cynthia Moeller-Pascarella, sent an email saying that she was willing to make the eight-hour drive from San Diego to meet Olive.

After an extensive phone-interview Pascarella booked an appointment with Varanini and made the trek with her two other rescue dogs.

It was love at first sight. On March 2, Moeller- Pascarella signed the paperwork and Olive was en route to sunny San Diego where she would enjoy her days with two new canine siblings.

Olive’s story shows us the potential for social media and the impact it can have on animal rescue and outreach. In addition to the cute pet photos or hilarious videos that circulate the social media waves, it’s important to remember what a powerful tool social media can be.

After Olive’s new family photo was posted on the Facebook wall following her adoption, Moeller-Pascarella commented “I am over the moon in love with her and grateful that I was chosen!”

Do you think she’ll tell people “they met online?” We hope so.

Find the Sacramento SPCA on Facebook, “like” us and help us make a difference in the lives of animals like little Olive.

Want to really make a difference? Start a team and help us reach our fundraising goal! Teams are an essential part to the $250,000 fundraising goal we set each year for the Doggy Dash. Camaraderie and goal-setting are what help to make the Doggy Dash so successful. Keep reading for more information on how you can create a team of friends, co-workers and/or family members to join you for an unforgettable day.

Team Specifics:

• $40 per person
• Teams of 10 or more people will receive a signature WOOF hat along with a customized high-tech performance t-shirt with team color and name (must be signed up by May 10)

Team Perks:

• If your team raises $2,500 by May 20, 2013, we will provide your company with a free 10’ x 10’ booth at the Doggy Dash ($150 value). The tent can be used as a vendor booth for your company or as a gathering space for teammates.
• There will be a special team registration area and packet pick-up at our pre-registration location, as well as on the day of the event. The Dash will also feature a team photo area from 7am until 1pm, to help you commemorate your achievement!
• For all fundraising teams raising $2,500 or above, are invited to a special appreciation lunch at the Sacramento SPCA in late June.

Click here to sign up as an individual or a team: http://sspca.convio.net/site/TR?fr_id=1090&pg=entry

Questions? Please contact the Events department at 916-504-2802 or 916-504-2868

What
The Sacramento SPCA will hold its Annual Spring Book Sale featuring thousands of new and used books at dog-gone great prices!

The sale, one of the largest book sales in Northern California, will include thousands of bargain books in 40 categories, including fine and collectible books, religion, literature, humor, history, military, animals, mystery, romance, children’s, westerns and many more.

All proceeds benefit the Sacramento SPCA, a local, independent non-profit organization caring for more than 11,000 homeless animals annually.

When
Saturday, April 20 – Sunday, April 28, 2013
Hours: 10AM to 6PM on Saturdays and Weekdays; 11AM to 5PM Sundays

Where
2310 Watt Avenue, inside the Country Club Plaza Shopping Center (southeast corner of Watt and El Camino, near the former Gottschalk’s)

Book Donations
If you have books to donate, please bring them to the Sacramento SPCA at 6201 Florin Perkins Road, Sacramento, CA 95828 Tuesday through Sunday between 11:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m.

For more information
Call the Sacramento SPCA at (916) 504-2842, email vmasters@sspca.org or visit www.sspca.org

If you’re in the market for a new best friend and are trying to decide what pet is best for you…have you considered a rabbit?

Here are a few questions to ask yourself if you are considering adopting a rabbit:

1. Depending on the age of the rabbit, are you willing to invest up to a 10 year commitment, for the span of his or her life? 2. Rabbits, though small, need a fair amount of space. Do you have an area in your home that the rabbit can move around, get some exercise, and stretch his/her legs? 3. Do you have small children? Some rabbits love kids! But it’s important to remember that they are ground dwellers. They prefer to sit in your lap if they aren’t on the ground, and it’s important to teach children how to properly handle a rabbit. 4. What other animals do you have in your home? Some are frightened by large animals, while some do great with (rabbit-friendly) dogs/cats. It’s important to know what the dynamics will be like in your home. 5. Are you willing to spend time socializing your rabbit? This means petting them daily and offering a comfortable amount of human interaction. This keeps them well-adjusted and used to your family. A social rabbit is a happy rabbit!

Rabbits may be quiet, but their body language says a lot! They are curious and inquisitive, but also affectionate once they get used to you. Opening up your home to a bunny can be a really positive experience for the right household.

We hope you’ll visit the Sacramento SPCA during our “Some BUNNY to love” adoption event going on NOW through February 28th. All rabbits are spayed/neutered and microchipped and just $20 till the end of the promotion!

www.sspca.org

One of the best things we can do for our dogs is train them.  In addition to the basics, (sit, stay, wait, come and walking politely on leash), training our dogs also includes teaching them good manners, being fair and consistent in what we expect, and setting boundaries so that our dogs will be enjoyable companions in our homes. 

The Sacramento SPCA Behavior Department helps hundreds of pet owners every year!  We offer a free behavior helpline, group dog training classes, behavior handouts on our website, and private behavior consultations. These services have been offered to the public for 10 years, and our offerings will continue to expand.  In 2012, we received 2,272 behavior help line calls, held 262 private behavior consultations, assisted more than 600 people and their dogs through our dog training classes, and provided a variety of information to thousands of people who visited our website to get help for their pets’ behavior issues.

Start with a Solid Foundation

When we bring a dog into our home, they do not know what the rules are.  It is up to us to teach them.  Your relationship with your new dog starts forming the moment you first meet.  As much as you may want to hug him to pieces, it’s best to let him set the tone.  Canine social behavior is very different from ours.  The things we do naturally – approaching head-on, making direct eye contact, reaching out and hugging, patting on the head – can be very intimidating and off-putting to dogs.  Canines approach in a curving path, averting their eyes, and sniffing flanks before deciding to offer and accept more intimate body contact.    A great resource to help us understand more about our dogs is “The Other End of the Leash,” by Patricia McConnell, Ph.D.

Even after your initial introduction, you can learn a lot about who your dog is by watching his body language.  Does your dog stand tall and forward, taking everything in stride?  If so, he’s likely an assertive, confident dog.  Does your dog’s tail wag gently at half-mast and his expression stay soft regardless of what – or who – is going on around him?  Then he’s probably an easy-going, friendly dog.  Does your dog tend to hang back, looking a little worried, letting someone else take the lead?  That means he’s probably more timid, and lacking in confidence.

Consistency is key.  It is important that everyone in the family agree on what the house rules are, and that these rules take effect as soon as a new dog arrives (or should start immediately if you already have a dog in your home).  Dogs do best when their world is predictable.  Let’s say you allow your new dog on the sofa the first week, then Mom yells at him for getting on the sofa when his paws are muddy. The next day Sally invites him back up to watch television next to her.  His world is unpredictable.  Unpredictability causes stress, and stress causes behavior problems.  I suggest everyone in the family sit down and agree on important questions, such as:  (1) Is the dog allowed on the furniture?  All furniture, or just some?  If just some, which pieces?  (2) Who will feed the dog?  When, where and what?  (3)  Who will walk/exercise the dog?  When and where? (4) Who is supervising and potty training?  (5) Where will the dog sleep?  (6) Who is the primary trainer (everyone should participate in training) and what methods and cues will everyone use? (7) What other behaviors are going to be reinforced, and which ones are not?

Part of training also includes making sure that “good stuff” happens when your dog performs behaviors that are desirable.  Conversely, unwanted behaviors make good stuff go away, or the dog is ignored or refocused to do something you do desire.  See our behavior handout “How Do I Get My Dog to Behave” on our website.

In addition to setting the tone and structuring things in your household for the best possible success for living with your dog, it is also extremely important that your dog is exercised – both physically and mentally – every day.  How much and what type of exercise depends on your individual dog’s needs, but it is important that your dog is exercised until he is tired – every day.  Please contact us at behavior@sspca.org to get more information and ideas for exercising your dog’s mind and body!

Dog Training Classes

Every dog should be taken through basic dog training classes, where the dog will learn good manners such as sit, down, stay, come, walk politely on leash, and wait at the door.  The Sacramento SPCA offers basic, intermediate, and tricks classes for you and your dog.  We recommend trainers that utilize positive reinforcement training methods.  For more information about our classes, please visit our website.

Beyond Basic Training and Behavior Issues

Unfortunately, a number of dogs miss out on important socialization lessons, while others just have hard-wired behaviors that require more than teaching and working on the basics.  When dogs are not well socialized, or not properly socialized, it may result in reactive behavior (barking, lunging, whining), timidness/shyness, fearfulness, or possibly aggressive behavior (which may be exhibited toward novel items, certain people, some dogs, cats, or other environmental stimuli).  If your dog has adverse reactions to novel stimuli, it is important to see a behavior specialist to help you help your dog to change these negative associations to positive associations with situations/people/dogs.  The Sacramento SPCA offers private behavior consultations to help you address any of these concerns with your dog.

Whether you are looking for resources to help you with your pet’s behavior issues, want to take a group class, need one-on-one assistance, or just want to know more about why your dog does what he does, the Sacramento SPCA can help!

Visit the Behavior & Training section of our website for more information.

Yum!

The holiday season is a time for family, friends, festivities… and perhaps, a new furry friend! What better way to open up your hearts and homes this time of year, than by adopting a pet? Sacramento SPCA’s “Home for the Holidays” adoption promotion is going on now through December 30 and all adoption fees are 75% off! Check us out online at www.sspca.org or come pay us a visit at the shelter:  6201 Florin Perkins Road, Sacramento.  The SPCA is open Tuesday- Sunday from 11AM- 6PM.

Whether you’re looking to adopt this time of year, or just celebrate the pets in your life, we have a special treat for you and your dog!

Cleo’s Pumpkin Dog Biscuits

2 eggs

1/2 cup canned pumpkin

2 tablespoons dry milk

1/4 teaspoon sea salt

2 1/2 cups brown rice flour * (better for dogs with wheat allergies)

1 teaspoon dried parsley (optional)

Preheat oven to 350.

In large bowl, whisk together eggs and pumpkin to smooth. Stir in dry milk, sea salt, and dried parsley (if using, optional). Add brown rice flour gradually, combining with spatula or hands to form a stiff, dry dough. Turn out onto lightly floured surface (can use the brown rice flour) and if dough is still rough, briefly knead and press to combine.

Roll dough between 1/4 – 1/2″ – depending on your dog’s chew preferences, ask first – and use biscuit or other shape cutter to punch shapes, gathering and re-rolling scraps as you go. Place shapes on cookie sheet, no greasing or paper necessary. If desired, press fork pattern on biscuits before baking, a quick up-and-down movement with fork, lightly pressing down halfway through dough. Bake 20 minutes. Remove from oven and carefully turn biscuits over, then bake additional 20 minutes. Allow to cool completely on rack before feeding to dog.

Makes 75 small (or 50 medium) sized biscuits.

From the blog “Simmer Till Done,” featuring a must-have, dog cookie recipe!

http://simmertilldone.com/2009/10/07/retriever-retriever-pumpkin-eater/

(Sacramento, CA) – The Sacramento SPCA, City of Sacramento Animal Care Services, Sacramento County Animal Care & Regulation, and Happy Tails Pet Sanctuary are holding a joint Home for the Holidays pet adoption special which will run through December 30.  The goal of the holiday adoption promotion is to increase adoptions community-wide and to ultimately find new homes for 1,000 homeless animals by the end of 2012.  During Home for the Holidays, adoption fees for all animals will be reduced by 75%.

The four participating shelters will take in more than 35,000 homeless animals this year alone.  Sacramento animal shelters are overburdened with hundreds of animals seeking permanent homes.  Through Home for the Holidays, the shelters will work together to boost adoptions, and will strive to facilitate 1,000 additional adoptions before the end of the year.

“We’re hoping that when people are thinking of adding a furry family member to their household this holiday season, that they will visit their local animal shelters first, and give an animal a Home for the Holidays,” said Rick Johnson, Sacramento SPCA Chief Executive Officer.

For more information on Home for the Holidays visit the Sacramento SPCA or www.happytails.org, www.sacpetsearch.com, or www.SacCountyShelter.net.

(Sacramento, CA) – Add a little HOPPINESS to your holidays with the Sacramento SPCA’s HOPPY Thanksgiving rabbit adoption special.  Adopt a bunny from the Sacramento SPCA through November 21 for just $20 (that’s more than half-off the regular adoption fee).  Oh, HOPPY DAY!

Rabbits are bright, inquisitive, social and affectionate animals that enjoy the company of people and other gentle animals.  With just a little training and attention, rabbits can make wonderful indoor companions.  Rabbits are clean animals, making them reasonably easy to litter box train.

The HOPPY THANKSGIVING rabbit adoption special will take place at the Sacramento SPCA, 6201 Florin-Perkins Road, during normal shelter hours.  For additional information and to view some of the currently adoptable rabbits, visit www.sspca.org

1. Candy is a no-no! A lot of people know that chocolate is bad for pets, but it’s important to remember that ALL candy should be kept out of reach from cats and dogs. Save it for the trick-or-treaters and your pet will thank you for it!

2. Keep pets in a safe, comfortable area if you plan to be opening/closing your door a lot for trick-or-treaters. For pets that are somewhat timid, holidays can be a little stressful. Knowing ahead of time if your dog or cat will bolt or hide when the doorbell rings, will save you a lot of trouble. Find a place or room in your home where they will be the most comfortable and create a ‘safe space’ for them there.

3. It’s important to have your pets’ ID tags intact and up-to-date…just in case! Every year pets manage to sneak out of their homes once a door is opened. It’s your job to keep them safe and ensure that in a worst case scenario…they’ll make it home!

4. If you decide to dress up your pet, remember that while they make look cute, they may feel miserable. Check the costume and make sure that is 100% safe! This includes making sure they have ample room to breathe, move around and there aren’t any choking hazards.

The Sacramento SPCA is proud to announce that Sacramento Magazine readers have voted the organization the Best Place to Volunteer for the fifth year.

The SPCA is fortunate to have more than 2,200 dedicated volunteers who provide over 34,000 hours of service to the shelter annually.  SPCA volunteers assist in nearly every area of the shelter including dog walking, cat socialization, clerical assistance, and special event support.

To learn more about volunteering at the Sacramento SPCA, call (916) 383-7387, extension 9133 or visit the SPCA’s website at www.sspca.org