Saturday, October 25, 2008

Todays Outer Banks Pet Events

Outer Banks SPCA Dare County Animal Shelter
"Dare County Animal Control Rabies Clinic"
10am - 12 noon Manns Harbor Fire Department on Hwy 64 in Manns Harbor, NC $5.00 = 1 year shot 


Friends of Pooh Foundation

"Waggin Tailgate Party" 
is Today 10:30am - 12 noon Outer Barks located in Duck, NC This Outer Banks Family Fun Pet Event is scheduled to benefit the Friends of Pooh Canine & Feline Cancer Fund.



Coastal Humane Society

"9th Annual Howl-oween Costume Pawrade & Pawty" is Today 2pm - 4pm Salty Paws Homemade Biscuits Kitty Hawk, NC Backdrop for photos, games, treats, special gift just for attending. Fundraiser raffle to benefit the Coastal Humane Society 



"Pit Bull Awareness Day" because responsibility matters October 25th 2008  

Friday, October 24, 2008

Basenji Rescue/Adoption Therapy Dog “Dora Jean”

Dora Jean, aka Virginia Tech Cheerleader, is a brindle Basenji that my husband and I adopted almost a year ago. She lives with us in Midlothian, Virginia, and resides on the Outer Banks of NC several times a year. 

 Dora Jean was found by an animal rescue group outside Richmond, Virginia, in September of 2007. She was thin but friendly. Being a Basenji, the bark less dog, she was very unhappy in the kennel of the group that found her.

 The veterinarian who checked her out identified her as a Basenji, so the rescue group contacted BRAT (Basenji Rescue and Transport) for help. A foster home was found for Dora Jean and her new "family" nursed her back to health.

I saw her picture in the local paper and fell in love with that face. The rest is history and Dora Jean came to live with us on November 4, 2007. We still visit her foster family and met another Basenji who was in foster care.

Zoe, another brindle, came to live with us three months ago. The "Girls" are great friends! Once Dora Jean settled in with us, I took her to training classes. She earned her Canine Good Citizen certificate, passed the Therapy Dog, Inc. test and joined Caring Canines, a local volunteer therapy dog group.

She visits hospitals, nursing homes and assisted living facilities. All during October of each year, the therapy dogs dress in costume for Halloween.

The residents love it and so do we! M. Gregory Please visit BRAT (Basenji Rescue and Transport) at A special thank you goes out to, Michele at Karichele Realty who invited the Gregory Family to share Dora Jean’s story with the Pampered Pets Guide. 

Blog photograph by Seaside Photography  

Please see the Pampered Pets Club page

Thursday, October 23, 2008

"Pit Bull Awareness Day" Oct. 25th 2008


"Pit Bull Awareness Day" because responsibility matters..... Oct. 25th 2008 There are 101 Events scheduled in 40 States, Canada & Russia for Pit Bull Rescue & Education.

The Albemarle area of North Carolina does have a Pit Bull Rescue. "Little Empire Rescue" is a Pit Bull Rescue located in Edenton, NC. Little Empire Rescue also services the Outer Banks of NC and Eastern Virginia.

Founded in 2004, there are current plans to expand kennels in North Carolina for Little Empire Rescue. Rescued Pit Bulls at Little Empire Rescue are listed online for adoption through Pet Finder online.

You can search using the zip code of 27932 for Little Empire Rescue listings. "Mica" a one year old Male is currently listed. Rescued this week is a 10 month old spayed Female that is located in Kill Devil Hills, NC and will be listed on petfinder.com soon.

 Kierra, “Ki Ki” is an Outer Banks Pit Bull Success Adoption story. She was rescued at 7 months old & was trained by Steve Canady. Ki Ki also received assistance with spaying from Stephen Samson, DVM of Coastal Animal Hospital. Ki Ki stayed at the Holistic Pet Shop in Kill Devil Hills, for people to visit & go through the adoption screening process.

Ki Ki now happily lives in Southern Shores, NC with her new family & her big brother “D” who is a Boxer. Little Empire Rescue also works closely with Animal Shelters.

Pit Bulls have been rescued from the Outer Banks SPCA and the Dare County Animal Shelter as well as the Animal Lovers Assistance League, Inc. operators of the Currituck County Animal Shelter. Pit Bulls have also been taken in from areas as far away as New York.

Steve Canady who runs Little Empire Rescue is also a dog trainer and plans to attend the Pitt Bull Awareness Day in Burlington, NC at the Cedarock Park, hosted by the Animal Protection Society of Orange County.

Steve will be taking his 3 Pit Bulls and is scheduled to provide demonstrations. If you are interested in adopting a Pit Bull, from Little Empire Rescue, please contact Steve at 252-337-4669. Please be prepared for adoption forms, a home inspection, a contract and follow up visit(s).

Wednesday, October 22, 2008

The 2nd Annual "Bark in Maple Park" was a HUGE SUCCESS

Bark in Maple Park

The Animal Lovers Assistance League, Inc. operators of the Currituck County Animal Shelter, sponsored the 2nd Annual "Bark in Maple Park" Saturday, October 11th, 2008.

This Family Fun Pet Event was geared at having FUN and boy did they. According to Ginger Sikes, President of the Animal Lovers Assistance League, Inc., 350 people brought more than 125 dogs to have some fun.

 Five of those dogs were Ginger's own, who had their own little wire cage to allow them to be the enthusiastic Official Greeters. We are pretty sure they told everyone that entered how happy they were to see them. The Fun Dog Show sure was fun, with prizes for the neatest things, like the "Most Wrinkles" or the "Happiest Tail Wagger" and the list goes on.

Those too late to enter the show this year vowed to be on time for next year. They couldn't believe all of the great categories and prizes. Everyone was a winner! 

Most People recognized Outer Banks Pet Celebrities "Onyx" & "Co Co" from DogNutz, who attended and helped their Mom & Dad, Laura & Steve, put together & hand out the prizes for the small dogs who entered the Fun Dog show. "Onyx" & "Co Co" were so proud to be able to donate their paw print cookies!

There were also doggies in costumes! Like "Superman" and a very proper Chihuahua couple in a "Tuxedo" & "Wedding Dress", and those are just a few.

The event also included demonstrations by The Currituck County Sheriff's Department K-9 Unit as well as the Chesapeake Family Dog Club Agility Group. Grave Digger had their Monster Mutt truck there with autograph cards by Dennis Anderson.

There was a great bake sale with lots of wonderful treats, a silent auction, and who can forget a raffle with a grand prize of a helicopter ride! 

Pet Portrait Photographer Laurie Stuart reported a great turn out with lots of beautiful dogs photographed and lots of card orders featuring the owner’s dogs to benefit the Currituck County Animal Shelter. 

Tuesday, October 21, 2008

9th Annual "Howl-oween Costume Pawrade & Pawty" Oct. 25th

Coastal Human Society
The 9th Annual "Howl-oween Costume Pawrade & Pawty" is Saturday, Oct. 25th 

The 9th Annual "Howl-oween Costume Pawrade & Pawty" sponsored by Salty Paws Biscuits in Kitty Hawk, NC will be held on Saturday, October 25th 2008 from 2pm -4pm. This family fun Outer Banks Pet Event is scheduled to benefit the Coastal Humane Society.

 Some of the highlights of this year’s Howl-oween Pawrade & Pawty are: A Halloween backdrop with Jack-O-Lanterns, Yellow Stars and "BOO" so you can photograph your pampered pet & show the true Howl-oween Spirit, there will be games, such as musical Hula Hoops, which is played much like musical chairs, except your Pet sits inside a Hula Hoop when the music stops.

 A variety of Salty Paws Biscuits Gourmet Doggie Treats will be available for your pet to sample. Just for attending the Howl-oween Costume Pawrade & Pawty your Pampered Pet will receive a special gift. There will be a raffle to benefit the Coastal Humane Society.

The Coastal Humane Society is a private, all-volunteer, non-profit organization working on the Outer Banks of NC to ensure all animals are cared for and no owner or caretaker is forced to give up a pet because of (medical) financial hardship. 

The Society helps pay for low-cost pet spay & neuter, vaccinations & emergency medical bills. The Coastal Humane Society has helped more than 3,500 animals, owners & caregivers, in Dare County & Lower Currituck County since 1997.


Monday, October 20, 2008

Halloween: And Chocolate Can Kill Your Pet

Roanoke Island Animal Clinic
It’s Halloween time! And with it come lots and lots of chocolate. All kinds of chocolate from milk to baking chocolate are available for our pets to consume. And if enough is consumed it can kill your pet. 

As we all know, when children eat too much chocolate they can get kind of hyper. That is because chocolate contains two drugs of the methylxanthine family. One is caffeine and the other is theobromine. Both, in small amounts cause the little jolt we get from eating chocolate or drinking some coffee.
 
But if an overzealous dog or cat gets hold of too much chocolate, it can cause lethal effects such as seizures and cardiac arrest. The signs usually occur within 6-12 hrs. post ingestion. Initially the pet can vomit and get really thirsty then become restless. They can progress to hyperactivity, ataxia (drunkenness), tremors and seizures.

 As the poisoning progresses, death occurs from heart arrhythmias and respiratory failure. Less then 2 ounces per kilogram of body weight of milk chocolate and 10% of this of baking chocolate can prove lethal. Remember, even less then this may not kill the pet but can cause severe illness.

Don’t panic if your pet eats a piece of chocolate. Remember, a 90 pound Labrador eating a milk chocolate bar is much different then a 4 pound Yorkie doing the same thing. Any consumption of dark chocolate should be taken more seriously since it contains much more of the toxins. If you know your dog or cat got into chocolate call your veterinarian. They will help determine if the exposure was significant and take the proper steps to avoid any problems.

Mark Grossman, DVM, MS
"Roanoke Island Animal Clinic"


Outer Banks SPCA 2009 Calendar Cover "Floyd"

Floyd was professionally photographed by Walter V. Gresham lll Photography to grace the cover of the 2009 Outer Banks Pet Calendar.

Floyd is a 6 year old neutered male Bassett Hound that happily lives on his couch and king size bed in Manteo. He was adopted from the Dare County Animal Shelter-Outer Banks SPCA. He is on his 3rd and final home.

Floyd has recently been diagnosed with Lymph sarcoma (cancer of the lymphatic system). He is a special needs dog that had never been house trained, has separation anxiety and loves the garbage can and loaves of bread (he snarfs them off of the kitchen counter and kitchen table if left too close to the edge).

 Floyd was chosen by the Outer Banks SPCA as a representation of their dedication to place pets in loving homes no matter how long it takes. Since January 2008 the Dare County Animal Shelter, Outer Banks SPCA has found loving homes for 151 dogs 90 cats 1 Iguana and 1 rabbit The Dare County Animal Shelter, Outer Banks SPCA currently has 17 dogs and 21 cats waiting for adoption.

Sunday, October 19, 2008

Pig Pickin to Benefit the Outer Banks SPCA Today

Today is the day to pig-out on some BBQ with friends at the Jolly Roger Restaurant.

Today's scheduled Pig Pickin Party will benefit the Outer Banks SPCA and the homeless animals of the Dare County Animal Shelter. In addition to the Pig Pickin, Carol Ann, owner of the Jolly Roger Restaurant, has arranged for a band, the "Island Boy Band", will be preforming live.

The Pig Pickin Party is scheduled from 2:30pm to 6:30pm and all net proceeds will be going to the Outer Banks SPCA operators of the Dare County Animal Shelter.