A WS MAY NEWSLETTER

Meet Finn This buff pit bull mix was found alone, tied to a parking meter, and painfully gaunt. But that was then. Today, thanks to plenty of caring and kibble, this waif has blossomed into a filled-out, rambunctious, happy, and muscular hunk. Our veterinarian estimates he’s around 8 years old. If so, Finn is the youngest 8-year-old you will ever meet, almost as if he’s forgiven the neglect of the last 8 years and decided to start over as a puppy. Finn was recently neutered, which will make him more able to focus on the leash training and basic commands this assertive boy needs. To learn more about Finn, call the shelter at 860.354.1350

New Adoption Hours Tuesday evenings until 6pm starting May 5th. Appointments only with a pre-approved pre-adopt form completed.

May 20th is National Rescue Dog Day

May 30th is International Hug Your Cat Day

Stressed pets: How to stop it now and when you go back to work Happy dogs chasing balls on their fourth walk of the day. Purring puffs of fluff who can't wait to snuggle with pet parents miraculously home all day. These are the images we may have of sheltering with our pets during the age of coronavirus. For some pets, that may well be true. For others used to more regular routines and serious alone time, the sudden reality of 24/7 intimacy could be nerve-racking, even catastrophic, especially if there are small children in the home. To make matters worse, many of us humans are incredibly stressed right now. We're worried about our health and that of our loved ones during the pandemic. We're working long hours from home or fretting over the loss of a job. We're going stir crazy from social isolation or tense from being with the same people without a break. While we may think we're handling all that well, our pets will recognize our tension and anxiety -- and may make it their own. "You might think you're internalizing everything, but what we know from studies on both humans and animals is that we are not. There's physical manifestations that are probably even more obvious to our dogs and cats than ourselves," said Dr. Dana Varble, the chief veterinary officer for the North American Veterinary Community.

Help your dog and cat calm down It's all about routine. For both species, the main solution is to stick to a regular regimen, just as you would do with a young child, experts said. "They love to have the same routine," Howe said. "Getting up at the same time, eating at the same time, playing at the same time. That's the key." Getting your pet ready for your return to work Again, routine is king. "Try and maintain some sort of typical work schedule as best you can right now," said Varble. "The more that we stick to typical work schedule and routine, the better our pets are going to adapt when we go back to work." That includes feeding, exercising, playing and grooming at about the same times each day, experts said. But if you've fallen off schedule while sheltering (and who hasn't), don't fret. "If you know you're going to go back to work in 10 days or so, start getting yourself and your animal on a more typical schedule," Montgomery said. "Focus on doing things that you have been doing, like taking them for a short walk, and make sure you're still fitting in those activities after your return to work...." Read the full article from CNN HERE

Animal Welfare Society | www.aws-shelter.org | 860.354.1350

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