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To begin your family’s disaster preparations visit our website and the National Preparedness Month website. 
 

The Humane Society of Missouri's Chesterfield Valley Center is now hosting birthday parties!

Birthday party includes: tour of the center meet Chester, our mascot treat bags for the kids pizza and birthday cake

Humane Education Education Resources Fair

Attention Teachers, Parents and Youth Group Leaders!

Clip this in your notebook and join
the Humane Society of Missouri Education Department
at the...

18th ANNUAL EDUCATION RESOURCES FAIR
Sponsored by the Resource Center Network

September 24, 2008
Drop-in between 4 p.m. 6:00 p.m.
St. Louis Zoo
The Living World, Lower Rotunda

Free parking on the zoo’s north parking lot for this event.
Be sure to stop by the booth sponsored by The Humane Society of Missouri Education Department. Over 20 local organizations and museums will showcase their on-site and out-reach programs, teaching resources, and free education materials.

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!
 

On Sept. 2 the Humane Society of Missouri received custody of all of the animals rescued in Polk County on August 12.  Most of them -- dogs, cats, donkeys, rabbits, chickens, ducks and goats -- have been recovering at our Macklind Ave. headquarters and at our Longmeadow Rescue Ranch in Union, MO. We are very saddened that despite our best efforts since the rescue, two dogs and a guinea pig have died as a result of severe malnutrition and past lack of veterinary care.

Cypress was found on the property with a painfully large growth near her right eye that looked to have been there for some time. Once Cypress was brought back to Longmeadow Rescue Ranch steps to remove the growth began.

Growth near eye found on Cypress at the scene
during Polk County Rescue

Immediately after surgery	10 days post surgery

Cypress is now completely healed from her surgery and receiving top notch care from the staff at Longmeadow. Amanda Hirshberg, assistant director, describes Cypress as the easiest to lead out of all of the mini donkeys rescued from Polk County. She is receiving deworming treatments and slowly gaining weight and in a few more weeks Cypress will be ready for adoption at Longmeadow Rescue Ranch.

Pica: When your pet eats things that aren't food
 
Does your cat nibble your wool sweaters down to fuzzy nubs? If he does, you're not alone. Enough animals eat nonfood materials that the behavior has been given a name—pica. While pica generally isn't dangerous, it can cause intestinal obstructions if your cat eats too much. It also can mean the destruction of blankets, clothing, furniture, and more if it's not controlled.

Pica is defined as an abnormal compulsion to eat things that aren't usually eaten. It occurs rarely in humans, usually kids who eat the occasional handful of dirt. It's also a relatively rare phenomenon in dogs. Some cats, however—particularly Oriental breeds like Siamese and Burmese—will repeatedly chow on everything from phone cords to shower curtains, though their most common snack is wool and other fabrics.

Why?
There are several theories on why cats like to chew on wool and other materials. Some behaviorists and veterinarians believe that it starts when kittens are weaned too early or too abruptly. The kittens then suck on fabric to soothe themselves; the sucking gradually turns into chewing. Other veterinary specialists think that dietary deficiencies, such as a lack of fat or insoluble fiber, drive cats to seek the missing nutrients in strange foods. Eating inappropriate things may also be a result of stress, anxiety, or boredom. Neurological disorders and illnesses such as pancreatitis can also cause this behavior. Pica may even be caused by a combination of two or more of these factors.

How to save your sweaters
Though you may never know exactly why your cat snacks on your favorite blazer, there are ways you can discourage him.

• Deter him. You can make chewed objects unattractive by spraying them with vinegar, hot-pepper sauce, or bitter apple, a bitter-tasting liquid you can buy at most pet stores. You can dab a certain brand of cologne or air freshener on everything you spray; soon your cat will associate the smell of the cologne with the bad taste and will avoid chewing any object you've put cologne on. The bad news is that deterring your cat from chewing one kind of material—your wool sweaters for example—may simply drive him to find a new favorite food—such as your leather shoes or your cotton sheets. You may also need to try one of the ideas below to help end the behavior itself.
  
• Keep your cat occupied. A bored cat is much more likely to start gnawing than a busy one. Make sure he has plenty to play with, both when you're home and when you're not. Try leaving him a toy on a string that hangs from a doorknob, or a ball that dispenses treats or food when it's played with. Cat trees—tall, carpeted structures with lots of shelves and arms for your cat to climb—are another good option. Also, give your cat a long play session (20 minutes or more) in the evening and another in the morning, if possible. If he's tired he's less likely to chew.
  
• Help him relax. Stressed-out kitties will engage in strange behaviors just to calm themselves. If a recent move or a new member or the household—human or nonhuman—has stirred things up at home, try to keep things as quiet and familiar as possible. Make sure your cat has plenty of his favorite toys and blankets around and that he has a small, comfortable refuge to retreat to when he gets nervous. His cat carrier, placed in a corner in a closet, may work well.
  
• Supplement his diet. Some cat owners have been able to stop wool chewing by adding lanolin—an oil found in wool—to their cat's food. Others have had success mixing a little fiber into the food. Consult your veterinarian before you change your pet's food, however, as some dietary changes can cause an upset stomach or other health problems.
  
• Give him healthy things to chew. Try giving your cat smaller, more frequent feedings, so he'll have something in his bowl when he wants something to nibble. You might want to try a timed food dispenser, which you could set to release a small amount of food every few hours. You can also grow a cat garden so he'll have grass to chew. You can buy preplanted gardens at some pet stores, or you can grow one yourself by planting a pot of rye or wheat, with a little catnip mixed in.

Submissive and Excitement Urination
Copyright Denver Dumb Friends League and Humane Society of the United States. All rights reserved.
 
Submissive Urination
Submissive urination occurs when a dog feels threatened. It may occur when he's being punished or verbally scolded, or when he's approached by someone he perceives to be threatening to him. It's important to remember that this response is based on the dog's perception of a threat, not the person's actual intention. Submissive urination may resolve as your dog gains confidence. You can help to build his confidence by teaching him commands and rewarding him for obeying. You should also gradually expose him to new people and new situations and try to make sure all of his new experiences are positive and happy.

Your Dog May Be Submissively Urinating If:

• Urination occurs when he's being scolded.
• Urination occurs when he's being greeted.
• Urination occurs when someone approaches him.
• He is a somewhat shy, anxious or timid dog.
• He has a history of rough treatment or punishment after the fact.
• The urination is accompanied by submissive postures, such as crouching or rolling over and exposing his belly.
  

What To Do If Your Dog Has A Submissive Urination Problem:

• Take your dog to the vet to rule out medical reasons for the behavior.
• Keep greetings low-key.
• Encourage and reward confident postures from him.
• Give him an alternative to behaving submissively. For example, if he knows a few commands, have him "sit" or "shake" as you approach, and reward him for obeying.
• Avoid approaching him with postures that he reads as dominant, for example:
  
• Avoid direct eye contact - look at his back or tail instead.
• Get down on his level by bending at the knees rather than leaning over from the waist and ask others to approach him in the same way.
• Pet him under the chin rather than on top of the head.
• Approach him from the side, rather than from the front, and/or present the side of your body to him, rather than your full front.
• Don't punish or scold him - this will only make the problem worse.

• Keep greetings low-key.
• Don't punish or scold him.
• To avoid accidents, play outdoors until the problem is resolved.
• Take your dog to the veterinarian to rule out medical reasons for the behavior.
• Ignore him until he's calm.

A full-service Pet Training Program is offered by the Humane Society of Missouri with flexible class schedules. Visit our website for more information.