Remember Mom; Remember Abused Animals Mother's Day Gifts that Help Animals Shop at the Humane Society of Missouri this Mother's Day for all your pet-themed gifts. Visit our Gift Shops for jewelry, apparel, photo frames and more! We're near you- in St. Louis City, the Westport area and Chesterfield Valley. Want something unique? Honor your mom with a Barn Buddy sponsorship in her name! Maybe she has been thinking about adopting a companion. We have wonderful pets waiting for a new forever home. See our special pets we have selected especially for Mother's Day. Click here for great gift ideas for mom!
		Come, Walk, Stay, Play Bark in the Park -May 17 Mark your calendar, grab the kids and load up the dogs! Bark in the Park, sponsored by Purina®, is just days away. Register today and get ready for a dog-gone good time! It’s a fun time for a good cause at an awesome value. Kids 12 and under are only $5 (kids under 3 are free) and adults are only $25. For your registration fee, you’ll get a Bark in the Park bone-shaped key charm. You’ll also have access to all family activities including: Your dog's paw print on a huge Purina® Paws for Hope canvas Performances by the Purina® Incredible Dog Team Family Fun-games, inflatables and interactive activities sponsored by Build-A-Bear Workshop Foundation and Heartgard/Frontline Enjoy interactive games, win prizes and learn dance moves from the Disney Channel’s High School Musical Exotic animal ambassadors from SeaWorld®/Busch Gardens® Live bluegrass music by local bands Click here for more information about day of event activities.   Raise Money, Win Prizes! Raising money for the animals could qualify you for prizes like a digital camera or a trip for two! More info. A Big, Wet, Sloppy Thank You to our Title Sponsor:
		Save the Date - June 26 Purses for Pooches & Pals Designer Purses - Networking - Adorable Animals Thursday, June 26, 2008 6-8 pm Enjoy wine and hors d'oeuvres from St. Louis' best restaurants Help homeless animals |Network with professional women Win fabulous designer purses! Get Details and Register Today!
		Summer Fun with the Animals Register Now! Kids for Critters Camp Pet Etc. Horse Camps at the Ranch PAC Classes for Teens The dog days of summer are right around the corner, so what do you do with your kids?  Give them the ‘real’ dog (or cat, horse, cow..you name it!) days of summer!  Sign up for some of the fun, interesting and interactive classes offered for students at the Humane Society of Missouri and Longmeadow Rescue Ranch.  Have a lot of fun and discover great things about animals!  Learn responsible pet care, safety around animals and the interdependence of animals with humans and the environment.  Develop empathy for the plight of animals. Learn the roles that animals play in our lives.  Behind-the-scene look at surgery in our veterinary medical center. Explore careers with animals. Experience the unconditional love of the special animals waiting for homes in our adoption center.  At our Horse Camps, meet the current guests at Longmeadow Rescue Ranch—up close and personal!  All of this and a lot of fun too! Summer fun for kids ages 6—19.  For a full list and description of our summer classes, visit our website. Register online or call us at 314-951-1568 to request a registration form.  Register early….our classes fill up fast! We’re Accepting Critter Camp Counselor Applications We’re looking for teens who will paws for a good cause this summer! Are you a compassionate, enthusiastic animal-loving teenager age 15-18 who would like to work with a bunch of kids and animals? We need camp counselors to help engage the campers in a variety of fun, animal-related activities during our week-long Kids for Critters Camps and our one-day Pet Etc. classes!  Orientation: Thursday, June 12th, 10am-noon. Register and fill out an application to attend.  Call 951-1572 or email us at education@hsmo.org.  Counselor spaces are limited. Call now!
		Don't Forget About Mom Humane Society of Missouri Gift Shops These items and many more can be found at our Humane Society of Missouri gift shops. Click here for HSMO gift shop locations.   Remember: Each time you shop, you are helping homeless animals find new, forever, loving homes!
		Trailnet and HSMO Team Up Walking the Dog Benefits Health Benefits of Exercise for People and Pets "Tails on Trails" is a joint promotional campaign of the Humane Society of Missouri and Trailnet. Through this campaign we hope to raise awareness of the benefits of regular exercise for people and dogs. Read about the many health benefits of walking your dog!
		Kind Kids Can Make a Difference! Ways to Help the Animals Kids can make a difference in the lives of animals. Below are just a few activities that can help animals. Conduct a Collection Drive Items to collect that help animals include: Used towels, sheets, comforters and blankets Toys and treats for puppies, kittens, dogs, cats, gerbils/hamsters, mice, rabbits, rats and guinea pigs Clean stuffed animals Collars, leashes and Gentle Leaders Make a video Create a video showing how to responsibly care for animals. Share the importance of spaying and neutering. Voice the importance of adopting pets from a local animal shelter. Share your talents by showing the video to your class or school. See examples of Kind Kids in the St. Louis area! Click here for great ways to kids involved in helping homeless animals!
		Twister's First Birthday A Miracle Delivered at the Ranch One year ago, on April 18, a new colt arrived at Longmeadow Rescue Ranch. Mama, a Thoroughbred mare, was pregnant when she was rescued in September 2006 from the horrible trailer wreck on I-44. Amazingly she survived and she gave birth to a healthy colt named Twist of Fate or "Twister" for short. The miracle colt was born with long legs and full of spunky spirit.   Watch Twister LIVE at the Ranch   Read updates on all the horses from the I-44 wreck.
		Sneezing in Cats What Causes This to Happen?   Dr. Suzanne Saueressig, DVM
		My cat recently started sneezing a lot. What's going on?    A lot of things could cause a cat to start sneezing. Here are a few possibilities: Dust, pollen, or other airborne particles: These can cause sinus irritation in cats, just like they can in people. Sometimes we can unintentionally put a lot of irritating particles in the air by doing things like lighting a candle, turning on the heat or air conditioner after not using it for a season, keeping windows open, dusting, or lighting a fire in the fireplace. Allergies: Though allergies often cause skin problems in cats, they can also cause a runny nose, itchy eyes, and sneezing. Your cat may be allergic to something new in his diet, a new cleaning product, or something as simple as pollen. Cigarette smoke: This is actually the most common cause of respiratory problems in cats. Infection: Has your kitty been boarded or groomed or around new cats lately? She may have picked up an upper respiratory viral or bacterial infection from another cat. Respiratory infections can have effects much like human colds and sinus infections. Dental problems: The sinuses are closely connected to the roots of the teeth. If a tooth root is infected or inflamed, it can easily cause drainage into the sinuses and lead to sneezing. This is an incomplete list - there are other things that could be making your cat sneeze as well. If he doesn't seem better in the next few days, you can take him to your veterinarian for a thorough examination.   “Cat Sneezes" Healthypet.com. American Animal Hospital Association. <http://www.healthypet.com/faq_view.aspx?ID=162&sid=2>.
		Vocalizing in Cats Understanding What it Means Your Talkative Cat    Vocalizing is one way for your cat to communicate with you and with other animals. Some cats "talk" more than others, but most cats do make noise some of the time. We're all familiar with the meaning of hissing and growling, but there are also many other sounds that your cat is capable of, and a variety of reasons for vocalizing. If your cat is hissing or growling, please read "Understanding Cat Aggression Towards People." Medical Reasons If your cat's behavior changes suddenly, the first thing you should do is take her to your veterinarian for a thorough health examination. Cats often hide symptoms of illness until they're seriously ill. Any change in behavior may be an early indication of a medical problem. A new vocalizing behavior, in particular, may indicate physical discomfort stemming from an urgent need for medical attention. Breed Tendency Oriental breeds, such as the Siamese, are known to be very vocal. If your cat has a pointed face and a long, lean body, chances are she has some oriental heritage, so "talking" may be a part of her character. Avoid giving her any attention when she is vocal because this will only encourage the vocal behavior. Instead, give her attention when she is quiet. Attention-Seeking Behavior Some cats "talk" because they know they'll get a reaction. People may talk back, feed her, yell at her, pick her up and lock her in another room, or pick her up and soothe her. All of these responses will encourage an attention-seeking cat. To discourage this behavior, simply ignore your cat when she does this, and when she is quiet, pour on the love, feed her or give her some treats. This will teach your cat which behaviors you would like her to continue. Your Cat Wants To Go Outside If your cat was previously an outdoor cat and you plan to keep her inside, then good for you! Following are some suggestions to help make the transition easier on both of you. Spay or Neuter: Spaying or neutering will rid your cat of hormonal urges to go out and seek a mate. This will result in a calmer, friendlier cat. Play Schedule: Schedule play times during the times your cat would normally be outside. This will distract her from her normal routine and establish another, safer routine. Window Seat:Be sure your cat has a view of the outdoors and a sunny place to lie. Cats like to watch birds, so putting a bird feeder outside this window is likely to make it a favorite spot for your cat. Scavenger Hunt: Give your cat a game to play by hiding bits of dry food around the house. Hide the food in paper bags, boxes and behind open doors. This will give her exercise and keep her busy so she doesn't think of going outside. This is especially good to do right before the family leaves the house for the day. Attention: Try to give your cat extra love and attention during this difficult transition. Deterrents: If your cat still won't give up meowing by the door, try an aversive. Leave strong citrus scents by the door or hide behind a wall and shake a pop can filled with coins to interrupt the behavior. When she is quiet, walk out and give her a food treat and encourage her to play or cuddle. Grief Sometimes after the death or departure of a person or animal in your cat's life, she will vocalize to express her grief. This can be a normal part of the grieving process. The best thing you can do for her is keep her schedule the same (or as close as possible) and spend some extra cuddle and playtime with her. With time, this problem should take care of itself. Transition If your cat is new to your home or has just gone through a change (move, new person/animal in the household, person moved out) and has just started her talkative behavior, be patient. This may be happening due to the transition and will stop on its own if the behavior is not encouraged. Remember, even scolding can be perceived by your cat as attention, and thus encourage the behavior. Copyright Denver Dumb Friends League and Humane Society of the United States. All rights reserved. If you have questions about talkative cats or other behavior-related issues, contact the Humane Society of Missouri Behavior Helpline at (314) 951-1540 or e-mail our behavior department.