ROAR NEWS
April 2019
Edition
 

April is Prevention of Lyme Disease
in Dogs Month

Lyme disease in dogs is one of the most common tick-transmitted diseases in the world, but it only causes symptoms in 10 percent of affected dogs. The dominant symptom is recurrent lameness due to inflammation of the joints, and a general feeling of malaise. There may also be depression and a lack of appetite. More serious complications include damage to the kidneys, and rarely, heart or nervous system disease.
 
The bacterium that causes Lyme disease - a worm-like, spiral-shaped bacterium called Borrelia burgdorferi - is carried and transmitted primarily by the tiny, black-legged deer tick. Infection typically occurs after the tick has been attached to a dog for at least 48 hours.
 
Named after numerous cases were identified in Lyme, Connecticut, in 1975, the disease appears in the U.S. primarily in southern New England states; eastern Mid-Atlantic states; the upper Midwest; and on the West Coast. The CDC maintains a  map  detailing confirmed cases.
 
Six preventive measures you can take to protect your dog:
  1. Use reliable tick-preventive products.  Talk to your vet about what product is right for your dog.
  2. Work with your vet to decide whether to vaccinate your dog against Lyme disease. This may depend on where you live, your pet's lifestyle and overall health, and other factors.
  3. When possible, avoid areas where ticks might be found. These include tall grasses, marshes and wooded areas.
  4. Check for ticks on yourself and your animals once indoors. Run your hands carefully over your dog every time he or she comes inside. Check inside and around the ears, head and feet.
  5. Clear shrubbery next to your home.
  6. Maintain your yard. Mow your lawn regularly and remove tall weeds. 

The ASCPA offers these best practices to remove a tick from your dog:   
  1. Prepare  -- Wear latex or rubber gloves so you never have direct contact with the tick or your pet's bite area. Don't flush a tick down the toilet or throw it in the trash. It won't kill it. Use a screw-top jar containing rubbing alcohol to put a tick in after removal. 
  2. Remove  -- Use tweezers to grasp the tick as close to your dog's skin as possible. Pull straight upwards with steady, even pressure and place the tick in your jar. Don't twist or jerk the tick. This may leave the mouth-parts embedded in your pet, or cause the tick to regurgitate infective fluids. Also, don't squeeze or crush the tick.
  3. Disinfect and Monitor -- Disinfect the bite area. Wash your hands with soap and water. Sterilize your tweezers with alcohol or run them over a flame. Monitor the bite area for a few weeks. If you see infection (i.e., redness or inflammation), bring your pet and jarred tick to your vet for evaluation.
In This Issue
Volunteer Appreciation Week is April 7-13th

Thank you to our ROAR volunteers for all that you do for our adoptable dogs and cats!!!

There are many organizations in Ridgefield and our surrounding communities that have volunteers.   Please remember to help thank them!

ROAR Therapy Dogs 
Classes Start Soon!

I n May, ROAR will start its spring ROAR Therapy Dogs classes. Screening and evaluations are required.
 
For more information, 
please contact  Kerry Dobson at director.roar@gmail.com
ROAR Gala 2019 -- Top Hat, Tails and Purrls
Left to right: ROAR Board Members  Brad Marcus, Janet Sommer,  Susan Richter, Pamela Rybarczyk, Andrea Leone-Bay, Donna Donigi Gale, Jeremy Stein, Tom Zuber, Sandy Sullivan and Joseph Loonan. 

Our ROAR 2019 Gala - Top Hat, Tails and Purrls - was a wonderful success thanks to so many of you! 

We would like to express our gratitude to our guests, local businesses, annual sponsors, and volunteers for their contributions and participation. 

Held at Le Chateau, our event celebrated recent accomplishments in finding forever homes for rescue cats and dogs, and helped raise funds that will allow ROAR to provide animals in need with the same love, care and compassion we show our own family pets.


Pet Profiles!
Meet Doug & Blanca!


Doug


Doug is a two-year old, Black Lab mix who is an all-around amazing dog! He is a very loving and sweet! He LOVES people and other dogs, and is eagerly waiting to find his forever companion.
 
Doug loves humans so much that he just can't bare to be without them. As a result, he's suffering from some separation anxiety. This may go away once he's in a home and feels comfortable. However, as of right now, he needs a human that can be there for him.
 
When Doug came to ROAR, we noticed that he was limping. After further examination, we discovered that this poor boy needed ACL surgery on both of his hind legs. Our friends at Wags and Menace Make a Difference Program Foundation made a generous donation that will help make all of this happen for Doug. We are so thankful and grateful!
 
After Doug gets this much needed care, he will be available for adoption to a loving home that he deserves.

He would do best in a house without cats.
 
Doug is up-to-date on vaccinations,  micro-chipped and neutered.


Blanca

Blanca is a beautiful, all-white domestic short hair cat who is three-years old. This poor girl is in need of some patient love. She was very bonded with her previous owner who unfortunately passed away. Blanca is shy, but for the right person, we know she will be a loving and sweet companion.
 
Blanca is spayed, micro-chipped and up-to-date on vaccinations.


To help rescue more amazing animals like Doug and Blanca, please click here:
Happy Tails!
From Left to Right -- Lulu & Lemon
 Lemon

When it comes to the dogs and cats at ROAR, sweetness comes in all sizes and ages! While puppies and kittens have always been super popular adoptions at the shelter, there is so much to be said of our adult and senior pets. Many have already learned a fair amount of training, and most are housebroken (a huge plus!).

So often a potential adopter comes to us looking for a puppy or kitten, only to find out once they are here that they have fallen for or are better suited for one of our adult animals. That was the case with this family who recently dropped us a note on their newest addition. Read their story below and see why it was a great choice for them. Thank you, "M Family," for adding Lemon to your pack, and many thanks to our friends at Blue Buffalo for making Happy Tails like this one possible .
 
"Hi ROAR & Homeward Bound -
 
Just wanted to drop you a quick note.
 
Lemon (formerly Sugar) has been here less than four days. She seamlessly fit in to our family. We went into ROAR thinking that we wanted a puppy but she is just what we needed and is already so well mannered. Just one accident when she arrived, she heels, fetches, eagerly takes naps in her crate, comes when called, greets people politely -- hopefully, her big sister Lulu, also from ROAR, learns a few things from Lemon.
 
Thank you for taking such good care of her.
 
~The M Family"
Upcoming Events

Please Join ROAR for a 
Kitten Shower at  Ridgefield Supply's  2nd Annual Outdoor Living BBQ Event!!!

Saturday, April 27, 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
 
Kitten Shower activities and games will include Cat Bingo with prizes. Attendees can also help make cat blankets for our shelter cats and kittens.
 
ROAR will also be collecting donations to prepare for our kitten foster season. In addition, we will be collecting much needed items to "Stuff a Van" for our Pet Food Pantry.

Wish list for donations (kitten season): kitty litter; disposable kitty litter trays with shallow lips; kitten/cat toys; blankets; box of disposable gloves; baby wipes (unscented); hand sanitizer; portable pet play pens; scratch pads; scratch posts; infant pet bottles; shallow food dishes; pet warmer heat pads; and empty spray bottles.
 
Wish list for pet food pantry (for cats and dogs): dry dog food; wet dog food; dry cat food; wet cat food; cat litter; dog treats; and cat treats.



Save-the-Date!

May 18 - Redding Hive, 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. 
(rain date is May 19)
Topstone Park, 72 Topstone Rd., Redding, CT

May 19 -- Bikers and Barks
Harley Davidson, Danbury, CT

May 28 - Ridgefield Memorial Day Parade (come wave to us!)