Ask the Experts
Do you have a question or comment for the experts at The SPCA? Ask here!Thank you for asking the experts! Many of the questions and answers submitted here will be posted on our website for everyone to read. Answers to...Dog Adoption Questions
Dog Behavior Questions
Dog Health Questions
Questions About Surrendering Animals
Cat Adoption Questions
Cat Behavior Questions
Cat Health questions
Wildlife Questions
Barn Animal and Exotics Questions
Humane Investigations Questions
Other SPCA Questions
A.I am so sorry to hear that you have moved into a place that won’t accept pets. You are more than welcome to bring the dogs to us. We do ask for a $50 per animal surrender fee but we can waive this fee if you are unable to pay. Please keep in mind that everything we do is made possible by donors and that we spend $600,000 every year caring for stray and surrendered pets. The small surrender fee helps us in our mission of assuring compassionate and humane treatment of all animals in our community. We also offer Pet Friendly Listings on our website to help people find rental properties that accept pets. Have you checked there? Please let us know if you have any other questions. Q.I'm sorry for my ignorance but why dogs need to have both surgeries, what it is the difference between spay and neuter? A.Hi Martha! Both spaying and neutering are sterilization surgeries in cats and dogs to prevent unwanted litters of puppies and kittens. The term "spay" refers to sterilizing a female pet while "neuter" refers to sterilizing a male pet. A.While your puppy is undergoing its initial vaccination series, it is still vulnerable to becoming infected with things such as parvovirus. There is a period when the antibodies that the puppy got from its mother are on the decline and immunity from vaccine has not been achieved, usually from around 9 to 12 weeks of age. Therefore, you should not take your puppy to public places such as parks and beaches until it has received its last vaccinations (at 4 months of age) and preferably two weeks after to allow the dog’s immune system to respond to those vaccines. Your puppy can be around dogs that you know are vaccinated and not sick and can be leash-walked around the neighborhood where you can prevent him from getting into things he shouldn’t (like feces from another unknown dog). Q. Could people (especially children) get a serious disease if there dog has been pooping and peeing in there house for several years? A. Feces can contain parasite eggs, particularly roundworm eggs, which, when ingested by people can cause diseases. Ingestion of roundworm eggs can cause diseases called visceral larval migrans where the larvae travel throughout the internal organs causing damage and ocular larval migrans where the larvae travel through the eyes causing blindness. This is particularly a problem in children who may not be as fastidious about washing their hands before eating and who may ingest fecal matter this way. Urine is not going to pose as much of a risk if it is dried into the carpet. Usually diseases such as leptospirosis are caused by drinking from urine-contaminated water bowls (pets who have outdoor bowls to which wildlife has access). It is important to have your pet dewormed regularly by your veterinarian and to teach children (and adults) the importance of frequent and thorough hand-washing, especially before eating. Q. When you adopt a pet, do you get to rename them? A. Yes, you can rename any adopted pet. Many of our puppies, kittens, and strays do not yet know their names so it will be easy for you to teach them your new name. If it is a dog that was surrendered by his owner or who graduated from our Take the Lead program, he will know his name well already. In that case, it might be helpful to keep his name or find a name that sounds similar to help him understand. Q. Is it legal, or ethical, to ride horses along paved main roads, especially with direction of traffic flow (horse cannot see what's coming up behind him)? Here in Prunedale the shoulders are usually narrow so vehicle - horse clearance is not much. The horses appear neither panicky nor calm. A. This is a good question to ask. As Prunedale has many rural areas, there are often horse owners riding along some of the paved roads. A great place to look for any law pertaining to equines on the roadway is the California Motor Vehicle Code. The California Motor Vehicle Code, Section 21050, states that it IS legal for a person to ride a horse on the roadway. What this means is that the horseback rider has the same rights and duties that a person in a vehicle has. This means that they must obey all traffic laws; including riding in the same direction as traffic (on the correct side of the road) and signaling all turns. This makes it extremely important for everyone on the roadway; drivers and riders alike, to pay attention and proceed carefully. Also, Section 21759 of the Vehicle Code states that the driver of any vehicle that is approaching a person on horseback must slow down or stop, as appropriate under the circumstances, to avoid frightening the horse or otherwise endangering the horse or rider. This would mean that it is the person in the vehicles responsibility to ensure that they pay attention to where the horse and rider are. As you stated, the horse is unable to see what may be coming up behind him which makes it very important to drive cautiously. Horses may also become spooked very easily. This means that it is very important to refrain from yelling or honking your horn when passing by a horseback rider. Section 21805 of the Vehicle Code also notes that the horse rider must use “due care not to proceed into the path of a vehicle” even at an equestrian crossing, they still have to look both ways to make sure there is no oncoming traffic before proceeding. As you can see, regardless of whether you are in a vehicle or riding a horse, it is important that we all work together to stay safe when we are out on the roadways. There are many shared responsibilities between the horseback rider and the driver of a motor vehicle. As long as we continue to follow these traffic laws and we are aware of our surroundings, we should be able to ensure that our roadways are a safe place to drive and ride. Thank you for your concern and also for helping to ensure that the public is aware of this important issue. I am sure that your question has enlightened many people in our community. Q. Hello, We recently adopted a 6-month old Beagle. Unfortunately, we are having serious problems with him and our 2-yr old. He was fine at the shelter with him, but since being at our home he has tried to and successfully bitten our 2-yr old several times. He also shows his teeth at him when he is laying down and our son comes near. I am very concerned...Yesterday the bite did break his skin in a 'scraping' like motion down the side of his fingers. We have had him looked at by a vet and there seems to be no health issues. I want to re-home him to a home that has older children (the dog is fine with us and our 5 1/5 year old). As it is now I can not take my eyes off of the dog and my 2-yr old even for 1 minute. My husband thinks this behavior can be corrected. I'm wondering if the behavior can corrected at this age? Any advice is appreciated. A. Please call me as soon as possible at 831-373-2631x222 so we can discuss the behavior and see what we can do for you. Q. We have a 1 1/2 year old terrier/husky mix. he has been whining constantly for the past 5 or so months. we can't figure out a reason for this and are getting really frustrated. we took him to the vets and they said everything is fine health wise. I thought maybe he had separation anxiety from my spouse, but now he is still whining when we are all home. He is well trained, but now he is also starting to lift his leg in the house. he has started to pee on our pillows and other items of ours. I know they cant do things on purpose, but it seems this way, like he is constantly unhappy. please help with any advice. A. Do you live in Monterey County? I think what would be best is to do an in home consultation to help understand the situation. We do offer those services here at the SPCA or there are many wonderful trainers in the Monterey County that could also assist you. It is hard to say why he has started this behavior through an email. Have there been any changes in the last 5-10 months? Is he going out for walks to help get some of that pent up energy out of him? Could sending him to doggie daycare be an option? Maybe taking him out to training classes could be helpful in giving an outlet. I would be happy to speak with you! Please feel free to call me at 831-373-2631 x222. Q. Where in Salinas can I register or license my dog? Does the local SPCA in Salinas or Monterey have spay services? A. The licensing can be done at the Salinas shelter on Hitchcock Road. We are happy to provide low-cost, donor-subsidized spay services at our clinic. Please call us for an appointment! Q. I am curious if tethering a dog in a font yard and leaving the dog unattended is against the law. The front yard is not fenced and the dog’s tether extends their property line and the dog can reach on to the sidewalk. I have had our mailman tell me that he sometimes does not deliver mail to the home because the dog charges at him. A. Amy, your question actually addresses two separate issues: (1) tethering guidelines set forth in California state laws to protect animals, and (2) potentially dangerous dogs which fall under the jurisdiction of local ordinances that protect people. In California, it is legal to leave an unattended dog tethered in the front yard for any length of time – ONLY if the dog is on a running line, trolley, or pulley system. Dogs cannot be tethered for longer than three hours in a 24-hour period if they are tied to a stationary object. If the dog in question is not legally tethered, SPCA Humane Officers can respond and ensure that the dog’s owners keep the dog untied in a fenced area, or install a trolley system so that they are in compliance with the law. This is a common complaint, and anyone who makes a report will be kept anonymous. While the dog’s tether should be long enough to provide room for exercise, it should not extend onto public areas, such as sidewalks, or onto private property without the owner’s consent. In this case when a dog is vicious, or potentially dangerous, the matter should be reported to your local animal control agency. If you live in Salinas, you should call Salinas Animal Control at 758-7285. In unincorporated areas, the agency to contact is Monterey County Animal Services at 769-8850. Amy, thank you for bringing two important issues to light. Ideally, this dog should be running free in a fenced-in area, away from public access. Please let us know if we can help resolve this matter. Q. I was visiting my brother in Monterey County. The dog across the street was roaming without a leash and climbed the front porch steps. He appeared to be friendly and my brother said he always visits him. When I got up off the lounge the dog attacked me and bit my leg. I was hysterical, my brother or his neighbor across the street would not help. My brother did go across the street to let his neighbor know what happened. He said he did have his rabies shots. Who is liable? A. Specific dog bite laws vary from state to state and from jurisdiction to jurisdiction. An excellent website providing information about dog bite laws can be found at www.dogbitelaw.com. Dog bite laws and liability issues specific to California can be found at here. In summary, California Civil Code Section 3342 provides that, absent mitigating circumstances, a dog owner is liable for damages suffered as a result of the dog bite. Dog bite victims are encouraged to seek legal counsel to fully understand their rights, responsibilities, and mitigating factors applicable to their specific circumstances. Note that, based on the fact situation you present, the owner of this dog was likely in violation of local leash laws, in addition to his or her possible civil liability to you for damages. Any dog bite must be immediately reported to the local Animal Control authority or police department. While a dog that has bitten is a concern for public safety, of equal or greater concern is the risk of rabies. A verbal assurance that a dog has had its rabies shots is not adequate to protect the bite victim. An Animal Control officer or police officer will be able to confirm (through rabies vaccination certificates, dog licenses and veterinary records) that the dog is, in fact, currently vaccinated for rabies. Q. Hello, I have a 16 month old cat named baby, she used to go in heat like any normal female kitten, two months ago our other cat who is an outdoor cat let baby out when she was coming in, baby was outside for three days and she finally came home. but after she came home she hasn't gone in heat since which has been two months now. Is she pregnant and how could I tell? A. Thanks for your question! Cats' heat cycles are tied to the length of day so cats usually are in heat from February until September (depending on where you live), cycling every 16-21 days. They only ovulate when induced (either artificially or after being bred by a male). Since the gestation of a cat is on average 63 days, if your cat were pregnant she would be getting quite round about now. If not, she may have stopped cycling for the season. To insure that your cat does not get pregnant, we recommend that you get your cat spayed. Q. Our 3 year old cat has ALWAYS gone in his litter box never one accident until about 3months ago and 2 or 3 times a week he goes poop on the carpet in a spare bedroom please HELP!!!! It's always in a different spot in the room. A. Hi Sylvia, I have a few suggestions for you. First, examine how often you scoop his litterbox. Some cats require a very clean litterbox (similar to how you and I prefer to use clean toilets in a public restroom). If his litterbox cleanliness isn’t an issue, I would get a couple more litter pans and spread through out the house. You can also try different types of litter - sometimes throwing some fresh lawn clippings or soil in the litter box can help. If your litter box has a lid, take it off or if it does not have a lid, get one for it. Little changes make a big difference for cats and a tiny change to the norm can throw them off their routine. Also examine the situation and think if anything has changed lately. Have you gone out of town, did you get new furniture, adopt a new pet, or do you have house guest? All these types of changes can be stressful to a cat. You should also consider taking your cat to vet just to rule out any health problems. Q. My female German Short Haired Pointer is three years old - suddenly "peeing" in the house. This is a very new behavior - thought she was house broken. She has peed on the sofa, our bed and now in her kennel. This is not related to excitement or submission. A. Hi Anne, have you taken your dog to a vet recently? The places you describe her peeing could point to a bladder infection. Often dogs with bladder infections “leak” uncontrollably through no fault of their own, often when they are sleeping. They simply can’t hold the urine in. And since you describe the places as her kennel, your couch, and your bed (places where a dog would most likely be sleeping) it seems like this could be the case. Of course, we can’t diagnose this problem from afar - you would have to see your vet for an examination. Only after the vet rules out any medical issues will you want to address behavioral problems. Q. I have two rabbits that are currently outdoors. We have made their cages as safe as possible but I am still VERY worried. There are many raccoons in our area. We let them out in a pen during the day and put them in a cage at night. Is it safe for them outside or should we keep them inside? We just moved and my parents say there isn't enough room in our house too keep them inside like we used to. Are there any places that you could keep a rabbit cage in most peoples homes? Thank you in advance! A. It is safe for rabbits to be outside in hutches provided the hutches are of ample size and protected against predators such as raccoons, cats and dogs. Hutches should be at least 3 to 4 feet off the ground with a tray underneath to protect against any predators from grabbing at their feet. Since rabbits are den animals, they should have a hutch that has an inside enclosure so they can get completely out the cold at night and feel safe and secure. Outside pens are great, providing they can be safe. When you leave your rabbits outside, a safe environment would be a place they can get to food and water, away from predators and out of the sun. Some rabbit owners make pen areas around the hutches with an enclosed top so rabbits can go in and out of their home and still have an area to run and play. Rabbits can also make great indoor pets as they can be easily litter box trained. Please feel free to contact us if you have any other questions. Q. I had 2 mini pins. The black male named Sammy was 16 years old. The red one is a 10 years old female named Lady. They both were together for a long time (9 years). The male died about 4 month ago. I still have lady. I am not sure if I should get another dog for Lady about the same age and size. No puppies? Since Sammy died she has been lost without him. She has developed anxiety, wanders from room to room, and is a little skittish. When we take her for a walk to the beach or the neighborhood she hears other dogs and wants to play with them (little dogs). She very friendly, lovable ,and a sweetheart, and has never bit anyone. Thanks. A. Hi Renee, thank you for your question. The loss of a pet is not only so hard on us, but we sometimes forget how hard it can be on our other critters. I think the idea of getting another pet would be a fantastic idea. It is not to take the place of the pet that passed away but to fill a void in your other animal's heart. My suggestion would be to get another dog around the same age and size as "Lady". If you were to get a dog that was bigger or too much younger (like a puppy), it might cause more stress for "Lady" and she might feel she needs to compete for affection. We always have smaller dogs of one kind or another available. Please check our website, for pictures and information on all of our animals. You may also contact us with any questions at 831-373-2631 or 422-4721. If you find a dog that might suit you and "Lady" you may come visit him/ her sevn days a week, Monday through Friday 11 A.M. to 5 P.M. and Saturday and Sunday 11A.M. to 4 P.M. Good luck on finding your new forever friend. Q. Hi there, my chihuahua is totally blind now. She is 14 yrs old now, and she still doing pretty good for being blind. My question is this ok for to live her life that way? She knows when I am there, I put my hand down by her chest and waits till I pick her up, she know all the house still. My question is what is her life span? A. Chihuahuas can live to be 16 years old or more as long as they are in good health. Being blind should not be a problem for her as long as you are careful walking around and are careful that you do not rearrange the furniture on her. Dogs and cats that lose their vision have a great capacity to remember the layout of their surroundings and can navigate quite well. Q. Hello. I was wondering if you have any advice for my 10 month german shepard, chow, lab, mix puppy. This week started off summer camp where I go to work all day 9-5 with my five kids - our dog Walter is not happy about this and will not rest at home and wait for us so he has to go in the garage because he will chew the doors and scratch and pee and poo - he is not a problem ever while we are home with him but if he thinks we are going someplace without him he is crazy and tries to get to the car first. He always been like this but we just put him in his cage when we went to church or the store since that was only a few hours but all day now I really want him to just relax at home and wait for us. Can you help? A. It sounds like your dog has separation anxiety. This is somewhat like a doggie panic attack due to not knowing what to do when you are gone. The first bit of advice is to limit the cues that you are leaving. Dogs learn that you take a shower, put on your shoes, and grab your car keys right before you leave. So if you limit those cues when are leaving that might help. You can also try doing those cues but not actually going anywhere. Another big “not to do” is say good bye to him and cuddle to try and make him feel better before you leave. You are just telling him “you are about to be left alone.” Please give me a call on our free behavior helpline at 373-2631 ext 222 so I can go into more detail. We also have a free separation anxiety handout in the behavior tips section of our website. Q. I've heard it is illegal to own a hedgehog in CA, is that true? If not, how/where can I get one? Thanks! A. You heard correctly - it is illegal to own hedgehogs in California. It is also illegal or restricted/permits required to own hedgehogs in Maine, Arizona, Hawaii, Georgia, and Pennsylvania. Q. I want a golden retriever puppy 3 weeks old by late June early July under 200$ A. Hi Jessica, Thank you for your question! A three week old puppy is very, very young – much too young, in fact, to be removed from his mother. Puppies should remain with their mothers until 8 weeks of age. It is illegal in California to sell puppies any younger than that without the express consent of a Veterinarian. At that age you would need to deal with bottle feeding issues as well as behavior and socialization problems that would pop up as a result of the puppy being removed too soon from his littermates and mother, who models good doggie behavior. While The SPCA often has puppies available for adoption, we can never predict when a new litter might arrive. If you really feel you need an eight week old or older puppy within your tight time frame and consider going to a breeder, please be sure to ask many questions of the breeder to ensure that you are purchasing a healthy, well-bred puppy and not supporting an illegal operation. Questions to ask include what health problems they screen for (ill-bred Goldens can have many health issues), how often their mothers have litters, if you can meet the mother and father and see their facility (if they say no – do not purchase a puppy from them!), and more. Most reputable breeders have wait lists and do not breed until all the future puppies in a litter have homes already. Keep in mind that The SPCA always has great puppies and adult dogs waiting for new, loving homes. Q. Hello, I have two dogs. One of them I had neutered because of behavioral problems. The other dog seems fine. Is it ok for one dog to be neutered and the other to not be? Or will this create emotional problems for the dogs? Please let me know. Thanks for the info. A. The unneutered dog will tend to be the dominant dog of the two. Having one neutered and one unneutered can cause problems with the unneutered dog having behavioral issues due to the presence of another male (neutered or not) such as urine marking, interdog aggression (and possible redirected aggression should you get between the dogs) and other dominance behaviors. Our recommendation would be to have both dogs neutered. Neutering a dog will also prevent prostate problems as the dog ages and prevent testicular cancer and perianal tumors. Q. Our hound mix female (which we got from the SPCA in Monterey two months ago) really does not like other dogs. She snarls, barks, and tries to bite them for all of her worth. She has no problems with humans, even children. We have taken a Good Manners class and she does well with basic commands. But if there is another dog nearby she loses it. I would appreciate any help or advice you can give. A. Hi Casey, I would strongly recommend you setting up a behavior consult with a professional. That type of behavior really needs to be observed in order to give a correct, permanent solution. If you would like you can give me a call at 373-2631x222 and I would be more than happy to set up a consultation and help you and your dog through this problem. Our behavior consultation fees for a dog adopted from us is $40 if you come here for the consult and $50 if I go to your home. For your dog's problem, I would suggest coming here to The SPCA since I have up to 80 other dogs that we can use to help figure out exactly what it is about other dogs that is setting your dog off. From there, we can lay out a plan to permanently correct the situation. Q. Is there a place to get a list of all RECALLED pet food? A. The US Food and Drug Administration has a thorough list on their website at http://www.fda.gov/oc/opacom/hottopics/petfood.html. I hope this information helps you. Please be sure to contact your Veterinarian if your pet starts to show any symptoms of distress. Q. Are there any lab puppies there? A. We often have Labrador mix puppies available for adoption in our shelter. We currently have two Lab mix puppies available - one neutered male and one spayed female. They are 3 months old and are black with spots of white on their chests. They came to us as an unwanted litter and spent time being fostered by one of our loving Foster Friends volunteers. I'm sure they will be adopted soon! Q. Hi, I was wondering what would be required to get my cat neutered. He has never been to the doctor at all. I found him on the streets once he was probably 1 month old so he is not really trustworthy of people. So I was wondering if it was still possible to get him neutered even though he is still somewhat still afraid of people? Thank you. A. Since your cat does not sound like it is handleable, to be neutered here at The SPCA you would need to bring him in a humane trap. That way we could administer an anesthetic without having to handle him. Unfortunately, we would not be able to do a pre-anesthetic examination either, but he would be less stressed being handled in this manner and the staff is less at risk for getting injured by a panicked cat. If you choose to have him neutered at a regular veterinary practice, you would need to contact them as to what they would require. If you would like to schedule an appointment at The SPCA, call 373-2631 extension 218 and speak to Tracie, the clinic coordinator. Q. I am ill and was recently denied a disability claim. I have not been able to work for more than 3 years. As a result, my credit has gone bad, and I cannot find an affordable place to house myself and my 2 cocker-poos. I love them very much; although I am getting weaker every day due to an undiagnosed stroke that happened years ago when I lived in Florida. Therefore, I must go back to Florida with my 2 dogs. I cannot drive, they don't fit in the passenger cabin, I am very anxious about checking them in the cargo area. It breaks my heart to think about it. But I see no alternative; I am taking them to the vet tomorrow. But I would like any info. You an provide about how safe it is to put my dogs in with airline cargo. I am booking a direct flight from SFO to Miami airport. 5 hours, God willing they will be. O.k. please tell me what you know about this issue. Thank you. A. I'm so sorry to hear about your troubles. Flying your pets with you shouldn't be a problem as long as you thoroughly research the airlines and choose one that fits your needs. Questions you might want to ask include: are your cargo areas temperature controlled? How do you transfer the pets to and from the planes and is that temperature controlled? Where and when do I drop off my dogs? Where do I pick them up in Miami? Where are the dogs kept if there is a delay or if I miss my flight? You should expect to pay extra for each of your dogs to fly and plan to arrive significantly earlier than your flight time to drop them off. Do not drug or sedate your dogs for the flight. The airline will be able to give you the other requirements in terms of the type of crate they need, health certificate requirements, and water and food needs. Good luck with your move back to Florida! Q. We just a kitten from the SPCA about 3 weeks ago and we have a problem with the cat urinating every where in the house. She will use the the litter box once in a while. What can we do to stop her from doing that. We got her personal litter box, clean it every day and it is in the center of the house. A. Hi Mark, The first thing to do is to keep the kitten in one room with the litter box. Sometimes the kitten is actually litter box trained but their bladder control isn't good enough to make all the way back to the litter box. Once you have gone a while without any accidents, then the kitten can have more room. Another option is to get a couple more litter boxes and put them in different areas of the house. If this still isn't helping contact your vet to rule out any medical problems. Also try changing to a different litter and cleaning multiple times a day - some cats can be very picky about their potty choices. Q. My husband and I are interested in becoming foster "parents", but we have an 11 month old son. I have been told in the past by some rescue organizations that we wouldn't be considered because of our child. Is this the case with you? We have some experience with dogs, and would be interested in fostering older (not puppy) dogs. Please let me know. Thank you for your time. A. Good Morning! Thank you for your question. I am sure this question is on the minds of many our potential fosters. We do not discriminate against people that have children. You know your life style and what you are capable of handling better then we would. We do, however, require that you have an extra area, such as an extra bedroom for your foster animal(s). We do not recommend a garage, because there is generally no insulation and we want them to be in the house for socialization and to be a part of the family. If you decide that you do indeed want to be a foster friend you may go online and fill out an application at or you may come to the shelter and fill one out as well. We will review your application and when any animals come in that are in need of foster we will call you at that time. The majority of our animals in need of fostering are underage or orphaned puppies and kittens. We do occasionally receive adult animals in need. I hope that this information is helpful to you. If you have any further questions you may contact us directly seven days a week at 373-2631 or 422-4721. Have a great day! Q. Hi I was wondering if you had any german shepherd puppies I would like to adopt one for my house its got to be a full blooded one if you do have one please contact me by either phone or emailing me. Thank You. A. Thank you for your interest in our animals. We do have a few German Shepherds, but we can not guarantee that they are purebreds. Even if a dog looks purebred to us, we do not label it as a purebred unless we receive paper work. If you definitely need a purebred, my suggestion to you is to look into German Shepherd rescue groups. It is as easy as putting in German Shepherd rescue in the search engine on the internet. Make sure when picking a rescue that you visit their facilities or request pictures and ask about what they provide for the animals regarding care and vaccinations. I would also suggest coming in and visiting with our German Shepherd mixes. You never know what animal might steal your heart. We are open seven days a week, Monday through Friday 11 A.M. to 5 P.M. and Saturday and Sunday 11 A.M. to 4 P.M. I hope this information is helpful to you. If you have any further questions or would like help finding a rescue organization you may contact us at 373-2631 or 422-4721. Have a great day! Q. I would like to ask a question about cat being left in fields. I live in a area that just got taken over by new management and she came to my door saying I can't feed the stray cats anymore and she said she set a trap to catch them. I said are you killing them she said no she said she was taking them to corn fields with streams so they have something to drink and they would help the farmers at the same time. so I still would feed them one day I was away she came to my house stole my dish for feeding them so I went to the office to get it she said if I did not stop feeding them she would charge me 45.00 dollars and if I fed them without a bowl she would charge me to clean that up so I told her dropping them off in corn fields is against the law then she said she was giving them to farmers she changed her story after that I need a phone number or email to have her investigated because I don't know what she is really doing with them there are very few cats left they are very good cats that just been left by other people they don't deserve to be left in the middle of nowhere they always got fed by me now they have to kill mice or anything to eat. A. Hi Elizabeth. Unfortunately, we are unable to help you directly with your problem as we are based across the country in California. I would suggest contacting the Ohio SPCA at 740-420-2984. You can also contact one of the feral cat rescues found here http://www.columbusdogconnection.com/othersvcs.htm. I hope this helps! Q. Hello there. I just moved to Carmel and let my cat out too early. We moved from Portland Oregon where he had the run of the whole downtown - not used to being cooped up! I had kept him inside for a while because I wanted him to get used to the smell and surroundings of his new home but I think I let him out for a look around too soon. We went out one day together, he jumped from roof to roof and came back in. Then I had him outside with me, he went exploring and now it has been 2 days. I am worried sick. I have traveled all neighborhoods, walking miles each night, and calling for him. Do you have a list of animals that have been found? Anyone at SPCA seen a grey cat with no tail roaming around? Very much a hunter but also a socialite that will make friends with anyone. Please help me find him! Any further suggestions than that which is posted on your website would be helpful - Thank you. A. I am so sorry to hear about your cat. I always suggest coming in yourself to see if your cat is at The SPCA We receive many cats that look very similar to each other and sometimes my interpretation of your description may be different then what your cat actually looks like. We also have a list of questions that we ask everyone that has a lost pet so that we can better try to identify your cat if he does come here.
I strongly suggest you come in here and see for yourself whether or not your cat is here. Our physical address is 1002 Highway 68 Monterey, Ca 93942. You say your cat went missing in Carmel and generally cats that stray there are brought to the Monterey County Shelter in Salinas. You will want to go there as well since it is more likely that your cat will end up there. You may also call them at 769-8850 extension 3. Their physical address is 160 Hitchcock Road Salinas, CA 93908. I would suggest giving them the same information that I have requested above. I hope this information is helpful to you. If you have any further questions you may contact us at 373-2631. We are open 7 days a week, Monday through Friday 11 A.M to 5 P.M. and Saturday and Sunday 11 A.M. to 4 P.M. Have a wonderful day. Q. What are the requirements to fly a feline from MO into CA. What are the requirements upon reaching CA. What documents are needed? What needs to be accomplished to proceed from legal to medical needs? A. Hi Peggy! All animals being transported by air are required to have a health certificate from a licensed veterinarian within ten days of transport. Your airline will be able to tell you all the flight requirements, such as type and sizing of kennels, health certificate information, etc. Upon arrival in California, you will want to check with your local jurisdiction about licensing and vaccination requirements. I wish you safe travels! Q. When it's time for my dog to go "potty" he has a fenced in area where he does most of his business. There is a horrible urine smell that assaults me anytime I go near that side of my house. Is there something I can do to alleviate that smell? Thanks for any help you can give me. A. When an area becomes saturated with urine it will, of course, smell like urine. Whether the area is concrete or grass, it should be hosed down with water on a regular basis to dilute out the urine present. You might want to have your dog's urine checked out as urinary tract infections or the presence of bladder stones can cause the urine to have a stronger than normal odor. Q. I have puppy, 15 weeks old (got him at 11 weeks) and I am having a difficult time pad training him. I leave him in a little caged area with the pads and even spray it with the enhancement spray when I am gone aka at work. He plays with the paper and maybe if I pray he urinates on it. However, when I let him out of his area he urinates and "poops" on my carpet even when the door to his area is wide open. I try to catch him doing it but he is such a small pup that he's done before I can get NO out of mouth and/or show him to his pad. I have tried to play with him outside and stay outside with him so he can go outside but he won't go outside, he'll wait till he comes back in the house and go. Please help. I have been able to command him to sit and follow my voice when needed so why is this so hard for him. A. Hi Coleen, well this can be a very tricky problem to fix. The first thing you want to do is make sure you have eliminated the entire odor from the spots that accidents have happened. Next limit your dog's space; only allow him in the room that you are in so that he can be watched. I sometimes tell people to use the leash and attach it to your waist so the dog is constantly right there in front of you. Now be extremely proactive and as often as possible take your dog outside and while you have him outside repeat the command "go potty". You want the word to be said the second your dog's brain is saying ok I'm going potty. In no time at all your dog will have a cue that means potty time. Any time your dog does go potty outside praise him. If your dog refuses to go potty outside, take him out for 10-15 minutes if he does not go bring him in and put him in a dog crate for about 5 minutes. Then pick him up and take him outside again. You will repeat this until he can't help but go outside, then praise him greatly. Remember to not punish him for going potty in the house because you can cause him to fear peeing in front of you which will make this process unlikely to work. If you catch in peeing in the house instantly pick him up and take him outside and go through the steps. If you would like to talk to get more details please call me on our free behavior helpline at 373-2631 ext 222. Q. I will be getting my new female puppy in a few weeks and I want to know if after I get the puppy spayed, will she still bleed when in heat or whenever. I am so new at this. A. Once your puppy is spayed she will no longer go into heat and will, therefore, no longer bleed or become swollen. If these should still happen after she is spayed you should consult your veterinarian. Some causes of signs of heat after spaying could be a part of an ovary was left in at the time of surgery, there is ectopic (not in the usual place) ovarian tissue that was not seen at time of spay (not common), or a foreign body in the vagina/vulva causing bleeding and swelling. Q. Do you have specific microchips that need to be inserted so that your particular scanners will be able to read them, or can I buy bulk microchips on ebay for my animals. Do you sell chips, or insert them? If so, is there also a fee for registering for scanning purposes? A. All microchips have a fee for registering your pet's information in a database that can reunite you and your pet should your pet become lost. Microchips must be inserted in a standardized area to insure that when an animal is scanned the microchip will be picked up by the scanner. Microchips come with a registration form, a tag for your pet's collar, contact information for the microchip company and usually a form with the microchip information that can be given to the pet's veterinarian to put in the pet's medical record. Microchips are registered to the purchaser by the company for tracking purposes. Microchips are packed sterilely so I would be wary of purchasing chips on e-bay. As with all items that are purchased from a non-standard source, you run the risk of having improperly handled medications, items that were not meant to be sold in the United States and are not approved by the FDA or EPA, etc. The needle to insert the chip is quite large and can be painful to insert if one does not know what they are doing. An easier, more reliable option would be coming to The SPCA. The SPCA sells microchips for only $25, which includes a lifetime registration. Q. Does the SPCA accept motor vehicles in running condition as a donation? A. Thanks for the question. The SPCA for Monterey County does accept donations of running automobiles. When we receive a donated vehicle we will typically sell it and use the dollars received to directly support our animal programs. Donating a vehicle is a great way to support the SPCA for Monterey County! For more information on donating a vehicle please feel free to contact me directly at (831) 373-2631 ext. 244. Q. If no one adopts after a certain time, does SPCA put the animals to sleep? A. Hi Diana, The SPCA is an open admission shelter, meaning our doors are never closed to any animal in need and we never turn any animal away to an uncertain fate when are kennels are full. Unfortunately, we do sometimes have to humanely euthanize animals. We do not put time limits on any of our animals - as long as they are healthy and happy we will keep them until they find their new, lifelong family. Dogs and cats are social animals and it can be hard on some to not be with their families, especially since they don't understand why their family left them behind. Some dogs and cats do very well in a shelter environment while others can become stressed or aggressive. Other animals might be great with their families but were never properly socialized and when surrendered to a shelter, act fearful around strangers. The majority of our euthanasia decisions are based on healthy and safety concerns. We have a responsibility to not let animals suffer and we also have a big responsibility to our community to not adopt out an animal that might cause injury or harm. But the answer to your question is no, we do not put time limits on our animals. We want to give all animals the very best chance possible at adoption. For the older dogs and cats, who might be fully trained and wonderful canine and feline citizens, adoptions often take significantly longer as they are passed over time and time again for playful and adorable puppies and kittens. And we want to give them all the time they need to find their home. Q. I have a 3 month old son and we were interested in bringing home a pet that would catch his interest. We were thinking of maybe two birds because we live in an apartment where animals such as cats or dogs are allowed. We thought the birds would catch his interest because they make noise and move around, and would not bite or scratch him. We were wanting to know if you had any opinions on this idea, or if there is a better bird to go with? Also, if you had birds up for adoption at your facility? I haven't been there in about 10 years or so and I don't recall. My parents have adopted their "babies" from there and were always pleased with their results, and we did not want to just get a bird from a store, but where we will know the history and know that we contributed in giving a deserving "pet" a good home. Thank You for your time. A. Thank you for your question, Jennifer! At your son's age, it is best to think about a pet that you personally would want that would assimilate into your young family the best. A bird might be a very good choice as long as you are getting it for yourself and not for your son, who won't truly understand that it is a living animal for quite some time. We often have birds available for adoption at The SPCA. I would recommend a pair of parakeets or lovebirds - they are vocal and usually brightly colored but with a 10-15 year lifespan, they don't have the lengthy lifetime commitment of a larger parrot. Please feel free to contact us and we can put you on an adoption list and contact you the next time we receive some exotic birds! Q. How many times do dogs get their rabies shots? A. In the state of California, the first rabies vaccination is given at 4 months of age or older. This vaccine is then boosted a year later. After that, subsequent rabies vaccines are given every 3 years. Q. Seeking a parrot almost any breed of parrot (Large 15-23inches approx) when full grown. Will adopt a baby parrot as well. I used to have a 25in yellow crested cockatoo and he died but I still have the cage and a place in my heart and house for another feathered friend. PLEASE LET ME KNOW IF SUCH AN ANIMAL BECOMES AVAIL. PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH! A. Hi George! We don't currently have any large parrots available for adoption but we often receive them as strays or owner surrenders. Please call us at 373-2631 or 422-4721 x227 and we will put you on our breed request list. Thank you for your interest in adopting a bird in need. Q. I have a one year old male cat with lots of energy to burn. He is the first cat I've ever kept entirely indoors. I am considering getting a second cat. Do you have advice on sex, age, size of new cat...My boy is 15 lbs and big (not just overweight). Also is there a way to test before adoption if 2 cats will get along... A. Thank you for your wonderful question. Cats are very particular animals and to add another animal into the mix can sometimes be tricky, but it can be done. Since you have a male who is older and larger you will more then likely want to get a cat of the opposite sex no younger than 5 or 6 years of age and that is not extremely petite. The reason I say not to get a kitten is due to their unruliness. Although you say your cat has a lot of energy, a kitten might annoy your cat and in turn your cat may start having behavior issues, such as spraying or clawing the furniture. You are also going to want the opposite sex because cats, even if neutered or spayed, are still territorial just like their counterparts in the wild. Again, we don't want to promote behavior issues. Also opposite sex cats tend to bond a lot faster then same sex cats. I say not to get a cat that is extremely petite because your current cat is already going to be stressed at first by having a new animal in the house we don't him to feel as though he can be dominant over her. We want them to feel equal. As for introducing a new cat in to your home you will want to keep them separate for a while. The best thing to do is to put the new cat in a room with its own litter pan, food and water. This way your cat does not feel like he is being replaced. This also sees that they get used to each other's smells by sniffing each other under the door. After a couple of weeks you can start letting the new cat out when you are home to supervise for a couple of week. As you feel they are getting comfortable you may let them out more and more and before you know it they will be good friends. I hope this information is helpful to you in aiding your decision to get another cat. If you have any further questions you may contact us at 373-2631 or 422-4721. Please feel free to come by to visit our many cats 7 days a week, Monday through Friday 11 A.M. to 5 P.M and Saturday and Sunday 11 A.M to 4 P.M. Have a great day. Q. I think our 16 year old dog is going to die soon. He's not suffering right now, but I know his time is short, so I'm not ready to put him to sleep yet. He has had a large tumor removed from his skin within the last six months, and for a couple of weeks he has been gagging a bit and it seems to be getting more frequent. If he passes other than during business hours, can I still bring him there or how do I handle it if it's the middle of the night? Thanks for your help. A. Dave, I am terribly sorry to hear about your dog. We all understand how difficult this time is for you. Deciding on the time for humane euthanasia is the most difficult decision a loving pet owner must make. There are many factors that must be taken into consideration, the primary one being an honest assessment of the overall quality of the animal’s life and the degree to which the animal is suffering pain. We strongly recommend talking with your veterinarian about your dog's quality of life and deciding in advance what changes in his health and attitude might help you make that decision and avoid any middle of the night crisis. The SPCA is open to the public from 8-5 every day of the week except holidays for humane euthanasia. You can either leave your dog with us or stay with him through the procedure. Should your dog's health and comfort change suddenly overnight, there is a local emergency clinic in Ryan Ranch that can help you. Please feel free to contact us if you have any additional questions. Our thoughts are with you during this difficult time. Q. Hello. A friend who lives on Ford Road in Carmel Valley has been surprised repeatedly by a bobcat in her back yard. She has a chicken coop there, and has so far lost a rooster and at least one hen to the cat. She also has two dogs and a housecat who frequent the yard. The bobcat seems to have lost its natural wariness of human beings. My friend has on two or three occasions been only a few feet from the bobcat before noticing it, and I fear for her safety if she surprises it somewhere that it can't easily escape. She is hesitant to contact the authorities because she doesn't want to be responsible for its death. My question -- can the cat be humanely caught and relocated to a place better suited to it, like the National Forest? Does the SPCA provide such a service? If not, is there a government agency that does? Thank you A. Hi Tony, thanks for your question! It is against the Californian Department of Fish and Game regulations to trap and relocate wildlife of any sort. The one thing about bobcats is that their "natural wariness of human beings" is not very strong. Bobcats are very brazen and do their own thing around humans. Living in Carmel Valley, your friend needs to consider not only bobcats, but the potential of mountain lions too. You mentioned relocating the bobcat to "a place better suited for it", not realizing that Carmel Valley is and has been prime wildlife habitat for a very long time. Most likely it is the rural setting that attracted your friend to the area - and area filled with raccoons, wild turkeys, wild boar, bobcats, mountain lions, and many other animals. My advice is to beef up her chicken coop, making sure that the chicken wire goes into the dirt at least 6" so the cat may not dig it up, keep her pets inside at night, and enjoy the beauty of nature. Q. I found 2 Red Ear Sliders and I have been trying to take care of them. However, when I took them in I didn't realize how much care they really needed. I don't know if you take those in or if there is a rescue that you can refer me to. Thank you in advance for all your help. A. Hi Jennifer - The SPCA for Monterey County operates a Wildlife Rescue and Rehabilitation Center than shelters and cares for exotic animals as well as wild animals. You can bring your red ear sliders in to us and we will adopt them into a loving, new home. Please contact us at 373-2631 x227 to let us know when you will be bringing in the animals. Thank you for taking such good care of them! Q. I have a chihuahua mix he is about 3 years old and no matter how much I put him outside he still uses the bathroom inside. (the people that gave him to us had him lock in the bathroom during the day.) What do I do?? A. The first thing you want to do is make sure you have eliminated the entire odor from the spots that accidents have happened. Next limit your dog's space; only allow him in the room that you are in, so that he can be watched. I sometimes tell people to use the leash and attach it to your waist so the dog is constantly right there in front of you. Now be extremely pro active - as often as possible take your dog outside and while you have him outside repeat "go potty". You want the word to be said the second the brain is saying ok I'm going potty. In no time at all your dog will have a cue that means potty time. Any time your dog does go potty outside praise him. If your dog refuses to go potty outside, take him out for 10-15 minutes if he does not go bring him in and put him in a dog crate for about 5 minutes. Then pick him up and take him outside again. You will repeat this until he can't help but go outside, then praise him greatly. Remember to not punish him for going potty in the house because you can cause him to fear peeing in front of you which will make this process unlikely to work. If you catch in peeing in the house instantly pick him up and take him out side and go through the steps. If you would like to talk to get more details please call me at 422-4721 or 373-2631 ext 222. Q. Do you pick up alley cats that go into people yards, that the owners of the house do not want them there? If you do do you charge for those services? A. Our organization does not pick up stray animals. If you are looking to have some stray cats picked up my suggestion would be to call your local pet supply stores to see if they rent humane traps. If you trap the cats your animal control will generally pick them up and bring them to us or the appropriate shelter. They do not charge anything to pick up stray cats because it is a city service. Since you live in Gonzales, to contact your animal control you would call 675-5010. I hope this information is helpful to you. If you have any further questions you may contact us at 373-2631. Have a great day! Q. Do you publish a pet calendar? How could we submit photos of our cat? Thanks! A. The SPCA's annual calendar contest is starting up again now - and we would love to see your photo of your cat! You can send in potential calendar photos via regular mail to: SPCA Calendar Contest, PO Box 3058, Monterey CA 93942. You can also submit entries online. All entries are $25 and every photo will be featured in the calendar. Good luck, I hope your cat is our big winner! Q. I found a ferret and cannot care for her. I would like your assistance in finding her a nice home rather then having her put to sleep. Can you help??? A. From your question, it sounds like you know that ferrets are illegal to own in California. We suggest starting with contacting your local veterinarians who work with ferrets to see if they know of anyone who is missing one. It's also possible that the ferret may be microchipped and the vet can scan for that. If you have no luck finding a local vet that works with ferrets, you can also try contacting the "Ferret Underground Railroad" (FURR) in your area. Q. My dog 'loves' other dogs but cannot walk pass one without wanting to meet and greet the dog. If she is not allowed to approach the strange dog (not all dogs are friendly or want to play), she will bark, twist and turn, and try everything possible to reach the other dog. Even while riding in the car, she becomes frantic (barking and clawing at the car windows) when she sees another dog. She goes to the dog beach, goes once a week to doggie daycare, plays with friends' dogs...but still wants to approach EVERY dog we see. Her behavior is so bad, people walking their dogs think she is aggressive and try to avoid getting close to us. HELP! A. Hi Becky, this is a problem I run into a lot. What I suggest is working a lot on attention. Start making your dog give you eye contact - you have to teach your dog that no matter what the situation might be, when you say "look" it means focus on Mom. Gentle leaders can also help with this problem. What you will do is start at home having your dog look at you when you say it's name. Then you want to try and build up the time your dog will hold eye contact. Next you will have your dog give you eye contact before the leash goes on and before you go out the door. When you go to the beach get at a distance far enough away from other dogs that your dog does not start barking. Now have him give you eye contact. If he will, go in a little closer and try again. Once he is doing this well you can start rewarding him by letting him off the leash once he gives you eye contact. Please feel free to call me at 373-2631 ext 222 so I can go into more detail. Q. My friends have a small dog I think is really old or something, every time he goes to do his business or number 2 I see blood in it, so what is wrong with him. A. It is difficult if not impossible to diagnose your dog without seeing him in person. We strongly recommend that your friends contact their veterinarian with this question. Their veterinarian has history with the dog and should be able to advise on if an appointment if necessary. I hope he feels better soon! Q. Hello. I have a question about a cat in our neighborhood abandoned by a family who previously lived here. He/she is friendly, and we've been feeding him/her, she wants to come in and be with our cat, but we are unsure as we don't know if she is healthy, she is shy, but chatty and very interested in humans and our cat. We think she would make a loving pet but cant take her in. Its so sad as cold now outside and getting rainier by the day. If we trap her, can you take her on to find her a home? Thanks for any help. A. Thank you for taking such good care of an animal in need. If you have been feeding the cat for 30 days or more, the abandoned cat is considered yours regardless of whether or not the cat is in your house. In that case it would be your responsibility to provide vet care and bring the cat to us if you would like us to place him or her up for adoption. If the cat has not been on your property for 30 days or more, then you can rent a trap and Seaside Animal Control would pick the cat up and bring him or her to us. We are here seven days a week, Monday through Friday 11 A.M to 5 P.M. and Saturday and Sunday 11 A.M. to 4 P.M. If he or she is friendly then we can place the cat up for adoption. We can also provide you with low-cost spay neuter and vaccination services if you want to keep the cat as your own. I hope this information is helpful to you. If you have any further questions you may contact us at 373-2631. Q. How do you get rid of an infestation of ticks on horses? A. There is a topical spray available called "hot spot" which controls ticks. Remember that it is important to keep your horses current on all vaccines. You might want to contact your local equine veterinarian who might know your area more intimately and be able to share with you what works best in your part of the state to control ticks. Thank you for your question! Q. Would like to submit my photo of fifilaroo (half yorkie/half westie 3yr old girl) running on the lawn at Pebble Beach Lodge. all four feet off the ground as she rolls into a perfect furry ball. A. What a great sounding photo! The SPCA's annual calendar contest is starting up again and this photo sounds like an excellent submission. You can send in potential calendar photos via regular mail to: SPCA Calendar Contest, PO Box 3058, Monterey CA 93942. You can also submit entries online. All entries are $25 and every photo will be featured in the calendar. We look forward to seeing your photo of fifilaroo! Q. Do you put in chips for non-shelter dogs and, if so, what is the fee? Thank you. A. The SPCA for Monterey County offers microchipping services to the public for only $25, including lifetime registration. Microchips are small transponders about the size of a grain of rice. They are injected under the skin between the shoulder blades and are a permanent form of identification for your pet that can provide a free ticket home in the event your pet is lost or stolen. The SPCA is offering low-cost microchips to our community in an effort to reduce the number of lost pets coming in to shelters. Our staff is available to perform these services Monday through Thursday, 9:00 A.m. to 11:30 A.m. or 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. Thank you for your question! Q. I would like to know if it is recommended that felines get the leukemia shot along with the boosters. My four cats are indoors at the moment but will be going outdoors soon. And what hours do you have for the vaccine clinic or would I need to make an appointment? A. We recommend feline leukemia vaccinations if your cats are going to be outdoors and around other cats. You would need to discuss with your veterinarian your cats' risk of exposure to other cats where you live. If your veterinarian recommends that your cats be vaccinated for feline leukemia, they would need to have a blood test first followed by a series of two vaccinations 3-4 weeks apart and then yearly. If your cats remain indoor-only cats then they would, theoretically, have no exposure to other cats and would not need to be vaccinated for feline leukemia. The cost for a feline leukemia/FIV test at The SPCA is $30 and the vaccines are $18 each. Vaccinations are on a walk-in basis Monday through Thursday 9-11:30 A.m. and 1-3 p.m. We recommend you call ahead to make sure the veterinarian is on premise and allow 30-45 minutes to have the test performed and vaccinations administered. Q. If I get caught fighting cocks and have nothing else on my record, what would be the consequences? A. Your question, as far as consequences pertaining to you, can best be answered by what is written in the California statues regarding cockfighting. Causing one bird to fight another is a crime, regardless of whether or not you have a pre-existing record. A conviction on a first offense would be charged as a misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment in a county jail for a period of up to one year, or by a fine up to $5,000, or by both imprisonment and fine. You can also be charged with a misdemeanor if you possess or train birds to fight, attend a cockfight as a spectator, or possess implements used in cockfighting, such as gaffs and slashers. A second conviction for cockfighting, since you would now have a record, could be charged as a felony. You would then be facing incarceration, possibly in a state prison, for up to three years and a fine of up to $25,000, or both imprisonment and fine. Now, let’s take a look at the consequences suffered by the animal victims. Cockfighting is a gruesome, extremely inhumane form of “entertainment.” After enduring hours of conditioning exercises, the birds are forced to fight to the point of severe injury or death. Following the fight, wounds and gashes on the winning birds are crudely stitched, usually without anesthesia, and the “lucky” birds get to recuperate until their next fight. The losers, sometimes still alive and suffering, are thrown aside if they are no longer deemed valuable as qualified fighters. During the last year, the cruelty of blood sports has gained national attention. There is currently a bill awaiting Senate approval that, if passed, will increase the penalties for both dog and cockfighting. The “Animal Fighting Prohibition Enforcement Act of 2007” would strengthen current animal fighting laws by including a provision that would punish violators by up to two years in federal prison. It would also make it a felony to move animals across state lines for fighting purposes. By taking the time to “Ask the Expert” about the consequences of cockfighting, you seem like a responsible person who wants to make an informed decision. Therefore, I strongly urge you to carefully consider the high risk of tougher criminal penalties for cockfighting, as well as the tortured lives of the birds involved. Whichever consequences you find most compelling, staying on the right side of the law will keep your clean record intact and prevent needless animal suffering. You may even become a role model for others who are struggling with the same decision. Thank you for writing – I am confident that you will make the right choice. Q. With the new law for chaining dogs … I have 2 dogs, a basset and a larger mixed around 9 months. The young dog jumps like you wouldn’t believe, so he is on a 30 ft. cable in the very large dog pen. They are let out whenever I am home. Apparently this is now illegal. Now will I have to put him in a much smaller kennel with a roof where he will not be able to play with the basset, run and play? He seems much happier in this area, which has a hot wire and is 6 ft. high, but he can jump to the top and climbs up and over. The basset also loves the company of another dog when there are no humans available. The young dog is a wonderful animal full of energy but I will not be able to keep him if he can’t be tied. Does anyone out there have a place to keep one high strung dog like this? I would hate to bring him to the shelter! A. You have raised a very interesting and appropriate question! Even though your current set-up seems to be working for you and your dogs, you want to stay within the law on the new chaining requirements and are open to suggestions for change. You sound like a very responsible pet owner with everyone’s best interest at heart. As a Humane Officer, I have seen countless animals improperly tethered on short chains that don’t allow for exercise, or in some cases, access to food, water or shelter. This is not the case in your situation. Your method of restraining your animals was completely acceptable under the old law, but now needs some modifications to conform to revisions in the laws effective January 2007. First of all, let me commend you on wanting your dogs to be able to interact and play with each other. Not only do they need attention from their “humans,” dogs that have the opportunity to socialize with other dogs are happier and better behaved that dogs that live their lives in isolation. Even though your dogs have quite different personalities and energy levels, you have made it possible for them to play together. Fortunately, there are a couple of options that will not only allow you to keep your younger dog, but will enable him to play with the older one when they are outside. The ideal situation would be a large fenced in area where both dogs could run freely. Since your younger dog can “high jump” and it’s not feasible to put a roof over a large area, one option would be a trolley system for the younger dog. With this method, you would attach his leash to a long line – such as a clothesline or a manufactured device known as a pulley run – and he can exercise over a larger area than if he were tethered to a stationary object. A system like this is acceptable under the new law as long as the dog is not wearing a prong collar or choke chain. And, unlike the 30-foot cable you are now using, your dog is less like to get entangled. Another option is a system called “The Coyote Roller.” It was invented to keep coyotes out of urban developments, but works just as well for dogs on the other side of the fence! The device is constructed of aluminum tubing and is suitable for fences at least 6 feet high – like yours. When installed, it makes it difficult for animals to gain the “foothold” they need to pull themselves up and over the top of an enclosure. More information on this product, as well as a video demonstration, is available online at www.coyoteroller.com There is also a wealth of information available on the SPCA website regarding the new animal laws, alternatives to tethering, and free behavior counseling. Just go to our website for information on this and many other animal related issues. I hope this information will help you choose the best option for keeping you and your dogs together and happy! The new laws were designed to improve the lives of our pets - thanks for being proactive and asking for advice on how to make it work for you! Q. What happens to cats when they are surrendered to the SPCA? Do you euthanize them if they are not adopted within a certain period of time? A. Thank you for your question. We do not put time limits on our animals at The SPCA. When it comes to euthanasia we primarily base the decision on health and behavior. It is about quality of life. If they are deteriorating mentally and becoming depressed or aggressive, we will consider euthanasia for the well being of the pet. It is not humane to keep an animal for weeks or months on end if our community doesn't consider them to be desirable or adoptable. If an animal is ill and we have tried various medication options and none of them have worked or if the pet is suffering physically we would also consider euthanasia. In this instance our Veterinarian would make the decision. Unfortunately, there is still a large pet overpopulation problem in Monterey County (you can view Monterey County and The SPCA's 2005 statistics here). We would like to find a home for all animals but we rely on our community to support our spay/neuter efforts and not continue to breed unwanted animals either intentionally or unintentionally. Euthanasia is never an ending we want nor is it an easy decision for anyone. We always put the dog or cat's well being first and foremost. If you have any further questions you may contact us at 373-2631 or 422-4721. Thank you for your concern. Q. I just moved here from out of state. I live in Carmel Valley; do my dogs need to be licensed or registered? A. Good Afternoon! Thank you for your question. I am sure a lot of people have this question on their minds even if they just moved here from another county. The answer is yes. By law your dog needs to be licensed. The fee is generally $10.00, but this depends on whether or not your animal has been spayed or neutered. If your animal has not been altered the fee will be higher. You can usually get a license at your local city hall. In your case, you would go to the Monterey County Shelter. You may contact them and get their fees by calling 769-8850 extension 2. I hope this information is helpful to you. If you have any further questions you may contact us at 373-2631. Q. My dog will urinate in my son's bed or in carpeted areas. She doesn't do it everyday. It is deliberate and I am ready to take her to the dog pound. Any suggestions or help will be appreciated. A. Hi Diane, thank you for contacting us about your problem. In order to help, we would need some more details. For example, when is your dog urinating in the house and how often does she do it? Is it usually when the dog is left home alone, when the sheets have just been washed, or when she has been inside for a specific amount of time? How old is the dog and how long have you had her? Did this behavior start suddenly or has she always urinated in the house? If it started suddenly, did it coincide with a specific event such as a new baby, a move, or a new family pet? Your dog is not urinating in your house out of revenge or anger - dogs just don't work that way. The dog more than likely has some form of separation anxiety or a medical condition that makes it hard for her to hold her urine. Sometimes dogs, especially females, become incontinent or suffer from bladder infections that cause them to leak urine unintentionally, usually while lying down. You will need to take your dog to the vet to make sure it is not a health problem. Please give me a call (877-477-2262 x222) or email again so we can talk about more details in order to give you some solutions. We are here to help! Q. I am on disability and live with my 88 year old mother. Just few weeks ago had my sheltie candy girl put to sleep. It broke my heart. Now I need a new miniature dog, maybe a lap dog. A. We're terribly sorry to hear about the loss of your beloved Sheltie. A pet provides a sense of security, a dependable source of unconditional love, and offers many other benefits of which most owners are completely unaware including lowered cholesterol and blood pressure, increased one-year survival rates for heart attack victims, reduced mental stress, and a lowered heart rate. We recommend going to your local animal shelter in Aiken to find a new pet that fits into your lifestyle. I'm sure they have counselors available to help advise you during your search. If you are looking for a lap dog, consider looking at small adult dogs. You will already know their personality and temperament and you will avoid the high energy and curiosity of a young puppy that may often get underfoot and could possibly cause a dangerous fall. You can search for local shelters online at Petfinder.com. We wish you luck as you look for your new, lifelong four-footed friend. Q. I took my ferret to the vet yesterday and she didn't get to see a doctor because she had died as soon as I got there. She was pooping out black stuff and she was having difficulty breathing she would not eat or drink anything, and she was very weak she could barely lift her head up. Do you know what she had please email me as soon as you can thank you so much for your time. A. Jamie, we are sorry to hear about the loss of your beloved ferret. Unfortunately, it is almost impossible to know what happened to your ferret from the description you sent. We would need to know your ferret's history (diet and exercise, age, ect.) and even then it would be extremely difficult to diagnose from afar. The black stool tells us that the ferret could have been bleeding into its upper GI system (stomach or small intestine). The breathing could have been due to anemia due to blood loss into the GI. Anemia could also explain the weakness. However, we cannot tell from the e-mail how long the ferret had black stool (if it was an acute bleed it is unlikely that there was time for anemia to develop). These symptoms are not typical of the usual problems we think of in ferrets. Your vet would be the best person to ask to understand what happened to your ferret. Vets also will do necropsies if you want to know what caused your ferret's death. Our thoughts are with you on the loss of your pet. Q. We have a turtle that we are no longer able to take care of and will be moving back across country (military move) to NC and will not be able to take her with us. Does the SPCA take turtles? If so, what is the process? If not, can you give us guidance on how to act in our situation? Thank you! A. Hi Sarah, yes, The SPCA takes in and adopts turtles. If you are sure that you are unable to take your pet turtle with you on your move, please come to the SPCA during regular business hours to surrender your turtle. We ask for a surrender fee of $20 to cover any medical bills as well as care and feeding however we may waive that fee if you are unable to pay. We wish you a safe cross-country move! Q. About three months ago I turned in cat I had for four years. I greatly regret doing this. I've since adopted another cat and she is a real joy but now I wish I had my other cat too. She was 11 and the cat I have now is 7. Is there any way to find out if she ended up at a good home and if it's possible to re-adopt her? A. Good morning! I was able to find your cat's record via your telephone number. Your cat, Chile, was indeed adopted into her forever home back in April of this year. I am sorry that you were unable to keep her as she was a great cat! Please contact us if we can be of any further assistance - we are always here to help with any questions or problems you might have with your new cat. Q. I have a child with autism, he loves dogs, but we want a dog that is very active and loving and that is not too big. can you recommend a breed? A. The breeds that are commonly known for being active and good with kids are Golden Retrievers and Labs. Mixed breeds can also be wonderful companions for your child. But whatever the breed, we strongly recommend getting as much information on the dog as possible before adopting, especially with a special-needs child in the house. You might want to consider an adult dog who is already past the puppy stage (I'm sure you don't want to deal with housetraining and chewing shoes for the next few months!) and whose temperament is already established. If you get an older dog, be sure to find out as much about its history as you can (has it been around kids, does it have training, has it ever snapped or bitten). You are going to want a dog that has a rock solid temperament. I would really spend a good amount of time with the dog and if he/she appears timid or uncomfortable at all find another dog. I would also contact a therapy dog facility to see if they have any tips or resources. Please feel free to call or visit us and we can try to help you find the best dog for your family. Q. Hey, I was wondering if you guys had any chinchillas? A. Ally, currently The SPCA does not have any chinchillas available for adoption. Chinchillas sometimes become available but are usually adopted very quickly. Please check back or consider adopting one of our many other wonderful smaller animals like a rabbit, hamster, or guinea pig! Q. I heard on the radio (commercial) that "as of January 1st" a new dog law states that "dogs will not be allowed to be tied up for longer than 3 months at a time" The commercial was advertising some large cage for animals (dogs. It did not specify a year. I was wondering if this is true and if so, where can I get more information? Thank YOU! A. Hi Sandra! You were close - the new law restricts tethering a dog to a “reasonable period of time” but not to exceed three hours (not three months). You can read more about it here. Chaining a dog is akin to putting it in solitary confinement and often produces dangerous levels of aggression, and a disproportionate amount of dog bites, as a byproduct. If you have a dog that you usually keep tethered, The SPCA is here to help. Please contact our Animal and Behavior Training Supervisor at 831-373-2631 or 422-4721 x222 for advise on how to make your dog a happy, untethered member of your family. Q. I have a miniature dachshund (she weighs 11 pounds). She used to love the dog park and have no fear of larger dogs, until one day, while playing with a doberman pup, the play got a little rambunctious for her. It wasn't the doberman's fault: he just didn't know how big he was, but it hurt/scared my dog, and now she doesn't want to go to the park. On the way to the dog park, she will just stop and not move unless I pick her up (I HATE hauling at her leash to make her move). Once there, if any dog approaches her suddenly, she runs away screaming. I'm trying to tempt her to walk with treats, but I'm scared I'm just reinforcing the behavior. What should I do? Thank you! A. You are on the right track with the treats. The key, like you said, is to know when to treat and when not to. I suggest that you look into clicker training. Clicker training allows you to communicate with your dog in a mutual language and with precise timing. You will also want to find a friend with a very mellow dog that will not rush in on her or try to play roughly who is willing to help work with you. She needs to learn that not all dogs will hurt or scare her. The most important thing is not to rush it, baby steps are the key so work with whatever distance she is comfortable with and try to move closer at her pace. Don't expect miracles overnight - consider it a small victory if you can get her to willingly take just a few steps closer to another dog, even if that dog is still many yards away. If you would like to talk to me directly about this problem or clicker training please call me at 831-373-2631 ext 222. Thank you for your question! Q. Do you neuter female cats for five dollars, too? A. Currently our Neutermania progam is limited to male cats because of the fact that male cats roam and can impregnate multiple females. With limited money available to fund this program we had to decide how to get the most impact for our donations. The surgery for males is minimally invasive (two small incisions on the scrotum) whereas spaying a female requires going into the abdomen to remove the uterus and ovaries. On average, a male neuter takes about 1-2 minutes whereas a female can take anywhere from 10-15 minutes. We are able to schedule up to 40 males cats on our Neutermania Thursdays (although the surgeries are not limited to Thursday). If we did females we might be able to schedule 15 or 20 at the most. If you have a limited income please call the spay/neuter clinic at 373-2631 or 422-4721 extension 218 and we can see what we can do to get your cat spayed. Thank you! Q. I was wondering if the price of adopting kittens is more expensive or cheaper than adopting an older cat. Thank you! A. Hi Tyler, thanks for your interest in adopting a cat or kitten from The SPCA! You can see our adoptions fees here. Adoption costs for cats and kittens range from $35.00 to $95.00. The fee includes spay or neuter surgery, microchip identification, rabies vaccination, other vaccinations as appropriate to age and species, SPCA identification tag, cardboard pet carrier, and health evaluation. As you can see, it's a great deal! Kittens usually fall in the $95 range due to their high level of adoptability and community demand for young, playful kittens. Their higher adoption fee helps subsidize the stay of an older cat, as it generally a bit longer for the senior felines to find new, loving, lifelong homes. Q. About a day and a half ago my cup chihuahua woke up kind of weak. She vomited some yellow substance and didn't want to play or eat. Yesterday she seemed fine. I took her to the park and she ran, barked, and was her normal self. Yet at night she again vomited the same yellow substance, although she did have some water and a bit of food. Today she woke up the same as the first day she was not acting like her hyper self. I was wondering if this could be a serious problem? A. Vomiting is a non-specific sign (meaning it does not indicate a specific problem). Vomiting can be caused by a wide variety of problems including viral and bacterial infections, foreign bodies in the GI tract, and neoplasia. There is no way to tell what is causing the vomiting in your dog's case just from your description. The yellow fluid is likely bile which comes from the beginning of the intestinal tract so the likely source is intestinal rather than stomach. Persistent vomiting can cause electrolyte abnormalities and dehydration. These problems are greatly compounded in a small animal such as yours. Another concern with vomiting and not eating would be low blood sugar. If you have not done so already, I would highly recommend a visit to your regular veterinarian for a complete physical exam and possibly blood work and radiographs. Q. Do you have any workshops or support groups for pet parents that have lost their animals? A. Hi Jeanette! We hope to start a quarterly workshop for pet loss very soon. The SPCA is here for our community for all things related to animals, from birth through death. Being able to provide grief counseling is an important part of that. Please stay tuned for more information - we hope to hold our first workshop in the late Winter. Q. Hi --I'm just curious...a long time ago I used to see your ads on TV. They were using Foreigner's heartbreaking "I Want to Know What Love Is" as the theme song to promote adoptions. Do you still use this song? I've moved out of the area over the years so don't get TV reception for the Monterey area. Thank you. A. Hi Candi! I was born and raised in Monterey and remember those heartbreakingly sad ads, too, from long before I started working for The SPCA. The images certainly stuck with you. For a long time I could hardly listen to Foreigner without the song bringing a tear to my eye. These days, we feature a much happier song and focus on the joys of adoptions instead of the sadness of an animal not having a home. In our video, we use an upbeat version of the song "Lean on Me." Our current Public Service Announcement (PSA) actually has no recognizable song but I think it is equally as powerful as the "I Want to Know What Love Is" PSA. You can view the PSA here - I'd love to know what you think. Q. We are moving to a place that won't take any animals and we can't find anybody to take them. They are still puppies they will be a year in January. We want them to go to a good home. We just want to know how much and what can we do. A. Hi Stephanie! "Moving" is one of the most common reasons animals are surrendered to shelters across the nation. This is one reason that The SPCA offers our pet friendly listings page so we can help people find homes that allow them to keep their pets with them. If you haven't yet settled on a lease, consider creating a resume for your dogs that lists their training courses and good behaviors. Include references from former landlords and other professionals who know your dog well. Arrange a meeting with your future landlord so they can meet your pets and see how wonderful they are. You can also try offering a larger damage deposit to put your landlord's mind at ease about any potential damager your dogs might cause to the apartment. There are some wonderful apartments in Monterey County that accept pets - it just takes a little time and effort to find the right one for you. Being able to keep your beloved dogs with you is worth taking the time to find a home that accepts pets. If you feel you definitely cannot take your pets with you, you can surrender the to The SPCA where we will try to find them new, loving homes. We are open 7 days a week, Monday through Friday 11 A.M. to 5 P.M. and Saturday and Sunday 11 A.M. to 4 P.M. You may contact us on our website again or you may contact us at 831-373-2631 ext. 233. Have a great day! Q. Can an 11 or 12 year old volunteer with permission from an adult? How can I get an application to volunteer? A. Hello Linda, thank you so much for asking about The SPCA Volunteer Program. I will be glad to e-mail an application and information about our program to you right away! Applications can also be found at The SPCA Shelter lobby on the Volunteer Information Table or at any of our off-site adoptions locations. Please let me know if you should have any questions. The SPCA accepts Jr. Volunteer applications from those who are 12 years of age and up. We require that Jr. Volunteers are accompanied by an adult and together work as a volunteer team. Parents, siblings or friends who are 18 years or older and would like to team up with you as a volunteer must also submit an application and attend volunteer trainings along with you. Please let me know if you have any questions or would like to schedule a time to meet with me. I can be reached at (831) 373-2631 or 422-4721 ext. 223 or gryland@SPCAmc.org Q. Hi, my name is Valeria and I am 15 years old. I am interested in being a volunteer at your shelter. I was wondering where I should go or how I could receive more information on your junior programs. If you could please contact me by phone or email with this information I would really appreciate it. Thank You. A. Hello Valeria, The SPCA for Monterey County appreciates your interest in our Jr. Volunteer Program. I will e-mail the volunteer information and applications to you today! Because we require that Jr. Volunteers are accompanied by an adult, I will include an application for your adult partner as well. Please send your completed applications to: The SPCA Volunteer Coordinator Once your applications are received, you will be contacted to schedule a meeting to discuss your interests, trainings, program policies, and to schedule your volunteer shift. We hope to see you soon. Thanks! Q. We adopted a dog and we are moving to a house were the landlord does not accept dogs, so my question is, is there a fee for me to pay? A. Good Afternoon! Thank you for your question. This question is frequently asked. We do ask that you pay $25.00 at the time of surrendering your animal. This is to help with the care of that animal. This fee is not required, but is greatly appreciated if you are able to pay it. It sounds as though you are already all set to move, but for your future housing plan there are quit a few places in our area that do allow pets. We have many of them listed on our pet friendly listings page. Though many of them do ask for a deposit in advance, sometimes places only charge a small amount while others will allow you to break it up in payments. It is definitely worth asking about if it keeps you animal in your home where it belongs.. I hope this information is helpful to you. If you have any further questions we are here 7 days a week, Monday through Friday 11 A.M. to 5 P.M. and Saturday and Sunday 11 A.M. to 4 P.M. You may contact us on our website again or you may contact us at 1(831)373-2631 ext. 200. Have a great day! Q. My four week old kittens have fleas from the mother; what do I do? Is it safe to handle kittens that old? A. Thank you for your questions, Denise. It is important to take care of flea problems on pets, especially very young kittens (or puppies) as soon as you notice the problem. Fleas will bite and extract blood as they feed on the “host” animal which can cause life threatening anemia if not controlled quickly. Fleas can also transmit diseases and other parasites. To help control fleas on the mother cat we recommend that you contact your veterinarian about a product named “Advantage,” or a similar liquid product that is applied to the back of the mother’s head. It is important that the kittens be removed from the mother for about two hours or until the applied product dries. For the health and safety of your cat, please be sure to follow all label directions. Regarding the kittens, yes, they can be safely handled at four weeks of age if done so carefully. Young children should always be supervised around puppies and kittens. A flea comb can be used on the kittens to help remove fleas and their eggs. This comb is made especially for this purpose, is very inexpensive, and is readily available at most pet supply stores. When you contact your veterinarian about flea control you also might want to discuss the health advantages of spaying & neutering for the mom and her kittens. He or she can provide a lot of valuable information about this surgery as well as annual vaccinations that will protect you and your family and help your cat and her kittens live long and healthy lives. Q. I currently have two cats and would like to give them to a loving and happy home. They are indoor cats that I've had since they were kittens. I've had them since March of this year and sadly must find them another home. Please let me know who I can contact to help find them a happy home. I don't want them caged up and would be happy to keep them until I find them a suitable home. A. Good Afternoon! Thank you for your question. There are few different options for you. The first is you can always bring them here and we will do out very best to get them homes. If you did decide upon that we do ask for $25.00 per cat for their care while they are here, though this fee is not required. Another option is if you think they might be "pure bred" you can always try breed-specific rescues. You can look them up on line or you can give us a call and we can help you. Breed-specific rescues generally charge upwards of $100.00 to take animals, because they are always so full. If you decide to call rescues please be sure to ask if they are licensed and if you can come in and take a tour of their facility to make sure that your cats will be getting the best care possible. May we ask why you feel you can no longer keep your cats? The SPCA offers pet-friendly housing options on our website as well as free behavior sheets to help with any potential behavioral issues such as furniture scratching and litter box problems. I hope this information is helpful to you. If you have any further questions we are available seven days a week, Monday through Friday 11 A.M. to 5 P.M. and Saturday and Sunday 11 A.M. to 4 P.M. Have a great day. Q. We have a cocker spaniel he is 1 years old and I have to find somewhere to take him this morning! He bit my son last night in the face and lip. Not to sure what to do with him. He is a really good dog I just think that he needs a home without little kids. He is neutered. Microchipped. and up to date on all of his shots. Please call me and tell me what you think that I should do about this! A. Good Afternoon! I am sorry that you are in such a predicament. When a dog bites someone the first question we ask is whether or not the bite broke the skin. If it did not then we would say at that point it is up to you whether or not you wanted to keep the dog as part of your family or if it was to much of a risk. To help you determine that, look at the circumstances leading up to the bite. Was the bite unprovoked or not? You had said that your child was involved, was he or she harassing the dog or did the dog go after the child for no reason? These are all things to consider, especially when children are involved. If you need help with these questions, please feel free to contact our free behavior helpline at 373-2631 or 422-4721 x222. If the dog did break skin there is more that needs to be done. First, you need to immediately contact your local animal control agency about quarantine. Any animal that bites and breaks skin, by county and state law, has to be quarantined for ten days and on the tenth day be signed off by a veterinarian or someone deemed appropriate to do so. You may either request to quarantine the animal at your home or have the dog quarantined at the local shelter in your area (in your situation, I would suggest this option). They will ask you for any and all shot records including rabies, so be sure that you have them readily available. They will also ask about licensing as well. I hope this information is of some help to you and your situation. If you have any further questions please give us a call at (831) 373-2631 or 422-4721. We are open seven days a week, Monday through Friday 11 am to 5 pm and Saturday and Sunday 11 am to 4 pm. Q. Hello, I heard from a friend that you are having some type of fund raiser that involves taking pictures of people's dogs, for a cost of $10 each per dog entered, and then are going to make a calendar. Is this correct? If so can you give me the information? Thank you! A. Hi Michelle - Yes, the City of Carmel held a Carmel Dog Calendar contest with proceeds benefiting the animals at The SPCA. The contest already took place (you can see a brief review in the question just below this one) and the winners have already been selected. The contest was only for residents of Carmel. You can view details here! The SPCA also holds our own calendar contest every year. Those winners have already been chosen and the SPCA calendar should be available for purchase in November. Between both of these calendars, we can't wait to see all the adorable pet photos displayed on walls throughout Monterey County in 2007! Q. When will the calendar be available to view and/or purchase? I think that was a GREAT event. It was so much fun seeing all the different dogs and families. I hope it makes a lot of money. It should. Thanks so much. A. We're glad you enjoyed the event! The winners have already been announced - their photos are available on the Carmel Dog Calendar website. The calendar release party will take place at Carmel Plaza on Wednesday, December 6th from 6:00 to 8:00 pm. Here's the description of the release party events: "Be one of the first to purchase the Official 2007 Carmel Dog Calendar! Plus, Casting Call t-shirts worn by volunteers at the event will be available for sale! Come enjoy food and beverages while mingling with Carmel’s celebrity dogs and their proud owners. Think of it as the Academy Awards after party for ALL the canines who participated in the first annual Carmel Dog Calendar Casting Call!" Calendars will also be available for purchase on the Carmel Dog Calendar website. Q. I need a barn cat or two. Do you adopt cats out to homes where they will be kept outside the house? A. That is an excellent question! For the majority of our cats, we prefer them to be indoors or at the very least indoor/outdoor cats with the cats kept inside in the evenings. We do occasionally get in cats that would not make a good indoor cat - they are either semi-feral to feral or possibly a domestic cat that doesn't care to be handled by people, etc. Generally speaking, customers request these types of cats to be "barn cats" or "mousers". Our requirements for adopting this type of cat is still to provide food, water, warm shelter that protects them from the elements, safety and love and veterinary care (even from afar). It is also important to note that we can't guarantee that any cat will be a mouser. These cats would come fully vaccinated as well as spayed or neutered. If you are interested in one of these outdoor cats, or should you have additional questions, please contact us by telephone or e-mail and we will be glad to assist you! Thank you for your question! Q. Just wanted to see if you had any info about dogs barking. My dog only barks when alerted by someone walking by. My neighbor hates my dogs and is now taking me to court since Animal Control has been called and they never gave me a citation so since they have been called a few times now their only option is to take us to court. I just want to know what to expect when we go or if they will take my dogs away. I feel my neighbor is exaggerating and my dogs do bark but like I said only when alerted. I live on a corner lot so everybody passes by on the sidewalk also the mailbox to everybody is near my fence so what else can I do. My dogs do not bark for more than 45 seconds. In one day they may bark a full three minutes. Please let me know what to expect or what my happen or what should I do? A. Hi Venus, I have a few possible solutions for you. First, is there any reason you couldn't keep the dogs in the house during the day? Even if you keep them in the garage with dogs beds or blankets it will better for them mentally than trying to get your dogs to fight their instinct to protect their property. if you give them some really good toys to keep them busy, most grown dogs do just fine in a house during the day (I recommend a Kong stuffed with treats for each dog to keep them occupied). Limit what rooms they have access to and doggie proof the rest of the rooms. Removing them from the yard will limit their boredom and should provide some peace and quiet for your neighbors. If there is no possible way for them to stay in the house I would suggest getting some Citronella collars. These collars spray a mist of citronella every time the dog barks. Most dogs do not like the way it smells and learn that barking causes the smell to happen. Most pet stores carry them and you can also get them online. I hope this helps and please feel free to call me at the SPCA at 373-2631 or 422-4721 ext 222. Thank you! Q. I was wondering what the law is on how many dogs you are allowed to have in your home in Prunedale. I own my own home! A. This question is a perfect example of being proactive! By taking the time now to research local animal laws and ordinances, you can avoid problems that could arise later after you’ve already committed to more animals than you should have. Although very important, legal restrictions are not the only reason to control your personal “pet population.” Here’s why. As a Humane Officer, I have investigated numerous reports of “too many animals.” In most cases, the owners are well-intentioned people who think they are giving their animals a good home. Even though they may be within the legal limit in number, they don’t realize the more animals they acquire, the less individual attention each animal gets. All domestic pets want to be played with, talked to, and treated like the special creatures they are. This important part of their life is lost, if not compromised, by too many animals vying for their owner’s attention. Another important consideration when acquiring animals is the financial responsibility of pet ownership. State law requires that domestic animals receive veterinary care when needed. Aside from unexpected health problems, even routine check-ups and vaccinations could put a strain on your budget if you have more animals than you can afford. Add to that the cost of food, licensing, spay/neuter fees, grooming, and pet accessories, and one dog can cost from $780 to $1,500 per year depending on its size. So, when deciding on how many animals you want, it is more important to look at your own ability to provide adequate care than it is to acquire as many as your local ordinance allows. You are very wise, however, to ask about animal laws and gather all the facts before making your decision. Animal ordinances in Prunedale, and all unincorporated areas of Monterey County, fall under the jurisdiction of Monterey County Animal Services. You can obtain most of the information you need on their website at www.co.monterey.CA.us. From the Animal Services Page, under Field Services, you will find many helpful animal related codes. If you need further information than what is accessible online, call 769-8850. Or you can visit their facility located at 160 Hitchcock Road in Salinas. Great job in doing your homework before expanding your family -- I’m sure the animals you choose will be in good hands! Q. Where can I find any leash laws in effect for Monterey County and or Carmel Valley? A. Great question --your inquiry shows that you want to be a responsible pet owner! By obeying the local ordinances governing animals running at large, you’ll avoid problems with neighbors who don’t want your animals on their property. In addition, you’ll be protecting the public and preventing legal troubles that could result if your pet bites someone while running free. Most importantly for your pets, you’ll be helping them stay happy, healthy, and out of harm’s way. Leash laws in the unincorporated areas of Monterey County, including Carmel Valley, fall under the jurisdiction of Monterey County Animal Services (MCAS). The code relating to animals running at large states “Dogs are not permitted to run at large within the unincorporated territory of Monterey County at any time (MCC 8.20.010).” You may also be interested to know that all animal control codes are accessible on the MCAS website, including those relating to licensing, noise violations, animals “in season,” feeding of wildlife, etc. To access this information online, go to www.co.monterey.CA.us. From the Animal Services page, you can click on “Field Services” and pull up all animal related codes pertaining to Monterey County. You can also call 769-8850 for information, or visit their facility at 160 Hitchcock Road in Salinas. If you’re also interested in state animal laws, visit our website. California state laws are accessible from the Humane Investigations page. Thank you for bringing this important question to light! Q. Do you have a list available of plants and people food that are toxic to dogs and cats? If so, how could I get a copy? If not can you tell me where could I find this information? Thank you! A. Hi Melodie, thanks for your question! Do you have a particular plant in mind? We have found this website and this website very helpful with plant questions and often use them as a reference during holiday times. As far as people food, it's generally best to stick to pet food for your cats and dogs. A steady, unchanging diet helps control digestive issues and feeding "people food" tends to promote weight gain and begging behavior. Of course, the biggest "people foods" to stay away from are chocolate, chicken bones or other bones that splinter easily, Tylenol, Advil, and other over the counter or prescription medication not specifically recommended by your veterinarian. Please let us know if you have any additional questions or concerns. Q. How do I get my older male dog (7years) to accept and quit being aggressive towards a new puppy (female, 5 weeks old). Thank you. A. This can be a difficult problem to work with. Younger dogs can be very annoying to an older dog because they always want to play. And just like people, some dogs hit a certain age and don't want to play as often. But if your older dog is just being aggressive without a reason you should definitely give me a call on our behavior helpline. It is free for anything over the phone and it would give me more details to pin point what is setting off your older dog. Feel free to call 373-2631 ext. 222 and ask for Justin if you call the front desk. Thank you for your question - I hope we can help make things work between your pets. Q. Hello, I have a question about sick cats in my neighborhood. A woman that lives down the street from my house has many sick cats around her house. It appears that she feeds them but doesn't have them treated for their illnesses or bathe them. It smells like dirty cats whenever we walk by her house, and the majority of the cats look sick. Is this something that I should report to The SPCA? If so, could you give me the contact info. Thank you very much. A. Your question indicates your concern for animals and provides a wonderful opportunity for education. Unfortunately, an over-abundance of cats is quite common in residential as well as rural areas. In the case you report, it sounds as though the woman in your neighborhood is feeding the cats because they are coming into her yard looking for food. She doesn’t want them to starve, yet she doesn’t want to take responsibility for them either. One of the requirements of pet ownership is providing veterinary care when necessary. Many times, when someone is “just feeding” stray or feral cats, they don’t regard them as their own personal pets and therefore don’t feel obligated to provide vet care. In the meantime, the cat colony increases, unwanted litters are born, and diseases spread from one cat to another. The cats become more and more dependent on this person for food, and the cycle continues. Yes, this is definitely a problem that should be reported to The SPCA. We have Humane Officers on duty 7 days a week to investigate reports of animal neglect. If this is a situation in which the woman wants to keep the cats, then our Officers will work with her to determine a manageable number and her ability to provide responsible care. We can also assist her in getting the animals treated for disease and spayed or neutered. If she does not want them, we can set traps to humanely catch the animals and transport them to The SPCA for care. You should be commended for wanting to improve the lives of the animals in your neighborhood. Anytime you suspect an act of animal cruelty or neglect, please call The SPCA Humane Investigations Department at 373-2631 or 422-4721, Ext. 213. Or you can go to our website and file an online complaint. All reports are confidential. Q. If my family and I are leaving on a vacations, is there any was we can leave our pets in the care of the SPCA? A. Hi Erica - at this time, The SPCA does not provide boarding services to owned animals in our community. All of our sheltering efforts are geared towards housing abandoned, surrendered, or stray animals and either reuniting them with their families or finding them new, loving homes. There are many options for pet sitters or boarding facilities. We strongly recommend asking your potential sitter or boarding facility the following questions to help you decide if they are right for your family, pets and lifestyle. For a boarding kennel, how long have they been in business? Can they provide references? What vaccinations do they require? How often will they walk or exercise your pets? How often will they clean your pet's kennel? Will they feed your pet the food that you feed at home? Will they give your pet any necessary medications? How much human interaction will your pet receive while in their care? Pet sitters are another option. They will come to your home and take care of your pets in the environment they are used to. Many will also house sit. Questions for pet sitters include: how long have they been pet sitting? Do they perform in-home pet sitting services where they stay overnight with your pets or do they visit your home at set times? What services to they provide for your pets (feeding, walking, grooming, playing, etc)? What quantity and type of quality time will they spend with your pet? Are they insured and bonded? Can they provide references from other clients? What other services to the offer (bringing the the mail and newspaper, watering plants, etc.)? Be sure to give them a description of your pet's routine and feeding schedule, your itinerary, your emergency contact information, your veterinarian's information, and the contact information for someone who can make emergency decisions for your pet should you be out of reach. We wish you a wonderful vacation! Q. I have 4 kittens about three months old but I don't want to keep them any more. Where can I take them that I know they will be safe? Can I take them to the SPCA? A. Good Morning! I am sorry to hear that you do not want your kittens any longer. You may always bring your kittens to The SPCA. We ask for a $25.00 surrender fee to help with the care of your animals, but it can be waived if necessary. We always try our best to get every animal adopted into a new, loving, lifelong home. If you decide to place them yourself, make sure that you screen people to the best of your ability. There are a few questions that you might want to ask. One of the most important questions is if they plan to keep up on their vaccinations. All cats need yearly vaccinations, and kittens need a series of vaccinations before they are a year old. Another good question to ask is if they are planning on keeping the kittens outdoors. By keeping a cat outside they will be exposing it to FIV/FELV, infections, upper respiratory infection, dangers with vehicles, and more. You will also want to make sure they spay or neuter the kitten to prevent future unwanted litters. You may want to ask how many animals they have currently. Every city has a maximum number of animals that every household is allowed to have. If you would like to surrender your kittens to The SPCA, we are here 7 days a week. Before adopting your kittens into a new family, we would provide spay/neuter services, vaccinations, health evaluations, and microchip your kittens. I hope this information is helpful to you. If there is anything else that we can help you with please feel free to give us a call at (831) 373-2631 or 422-4721. Have a wonderful day. Q. Is there a website where the Dogs of Carmel calendars can be viewed/purchased? Or, are they only sold locally? I'd like to see one but can't find them on the web. A. Hi there – this will be the first annual Dogs of Carmel calendar and it is not yet available to purchase online. Auditions take place Saturday, October 14th from 2-4 pm on Carmel beach. For more information you can visit http://www.carmeldogcalendar.com/. Hope to see you at the auditions! Q. I am a high school student currently at San Benito High School and I was interested in pursing a career in your organization. I previously volunteered at Pet Friends a non-profit organization that saves lives and maintains them. I volunteered for about 2 1/2 years and I loved it! I was wondering if you could fill me in on information on job opportunities. Thank you for your time. A. Thank you for your question Wendy. The SPCA for Monterey County posts all open and available career opportunities on our SPCA website, under "Employment". Our Employment postings change approximately every two weeks and include a brief duties, responsibilities, experience and education summary. There are many different types of jobs at The SPCA, including working directly with the dogs and cats, rehabilitating native wildlife, caring for the barn animals, and administrative positions. In addition, we have numerous volunteer opportunities. We hope to see you one day soon! Q. We took our cockatiel to the vets for what we thought was either an abscess or cyst, when the vet syringed the lump, all it contained was air! The vet said she had never seen anything like it in all her career and was unable to explain what it was or what caused it can you help? A. Hi Anna - Do you know if your cockatiel suffered a trauma such as hitting a window? From your description, it sounds like a ruptured air sack. This commonly occurs in wild birds that have encountered some kind of trauma. The vet did the right thing by deflating it, although sometimes the air sack will fill with air again and will need to be deflated again. We usually put the birds on antibiotics just in case. I hope this answers your question, but let me know if you need further information. Q. Hi, at my place of business we have 2 new additions - a 10 week old King Charles Cavalier and an 8 week old Alaskan Malamute. The mal is on large breed puppy food and the charles is on small breed puppy food, but the charles is continually stealing the mals food! Will it do her harm to eat a little large breed food? She doesn't seem to be getting the runs or anything. Thanks! A. As long as the smaller puppy is eating mostly its food, it probably won't hurt it to occasionally eat some of the larger puppy's food; however, the large breed puppy food is specifically formulated for optimum growth and development of a large breed puppy so the formulation is different from that for the smaller dog. A better way to feed is to meal feed rather than leave food down all the time. This will prevent the puppies from eating each other's food, it will keep them from gaining too much weight from overeating (it is not necessarily true that a dog will only eat until it is full), and it will alert the owner as to whether or not the puppy is eating, a possible indicator that the puppy might not be feeling well. Having regular mealtimes will also help with housebreaking. At this age the puppies should be fed 3 times a day. Of course, water should be available at all times. Q. My pup is 2 months old and has had his first set of shots. When can he attend puppy school? Thank you. A. We ask that all dogs have at least two sets of shots before attending class. So if your puppy is scheduled to receive his second shots before September 30th, you can bring your pup to our special "Trick and Treat" puppy class. Just give me a call or register online! Q. Does the SPCA have a low cost healthcare service for pets in need? A. The SPCA for Monterey County provides low-cost spay & neuter services, vaccinations, leukemia tests and microchips for dogs and cats in our community. In addition, we often offer lower cost spay/neuter surgeries for feral cats upon appointment. Our hours of operation are Monday through Thursday 6:00 A.M. to Noon & 1:00 P.M. to 4:00 P.M. (closed on holidays). Starting in October, we will again offer our popular "Neutermania" program, which provides cat and kitten neuters (males only) for only $5. Q. I am very interested in adopting but I would like to know the process? Because it will be my first time. Thank you. A. The adoption process starts one of two ways: The first is to look at our website to see if one of our adoptables catches your heart. You may also come in and take a look at adoptable animals in person. Our hours are weekdays 11am - 5pm and weekends 11am - 4pm. After you see an animal that you would like to spend some more time with, you can fill out one of our pre-adoption applications. At that point you will be able to take the dog or cat out of the kennel and spend time with him walking on your grounds or visiting in the "get acquainted" rooms. If you find that the pet is the right one for you and the animal is already spayed/neutered, you could take him home the same day. We ask that everybody who lives in the household must come in to see the animal; we want to make sure the family and the animal are compatible. Also, if you rent we do require approval from your landlord. If you are interested in another dog and you own a dog currently, we ask you to bring your dog out to our shelter to do a meet and greet. We want to make sure they get along before they go home. The adoption fee for dogs ranges from $65 - $150 dollars and $35 - $95 dollars for cats. The fee includes spay/neuter, a microchip (permanent identification), first set of shots including rabies, health evaluation, and SPCA ID tag. If you have any other questions you can email us back or call a customer service representative at 373-2631 or 422-4721. Thank you! Q. How do you become an animal control officer? Is there part-time? A. Hi Shelly -- The requirements for becoming an Animal Control Officer (ACO) can vary from state to state, and from jurisdiction to jurisdiction. Click here for specific requirements for ACO’s in the state of California as outlined in Penal Code Section 830.9 et seq. In general, ACO's are employed to enforce local ordinances (specifically animal control laws) that relate to animals vs. human health & safety, (such as dogs running at large, required rabies vaccinations, licensing, dangerous dog abatement, etc.). Due to the focus on human health & safety ACO's are often employed by local police departments or local health departments, although they can also be employed by local humane societies by contract with the jurisdiction. Part-time employment as an ACO is often available, again depending on the jurisdiction. Click here for a listing of local animal control departments that you can contact directly for specific requirements related to ACO employment. Some jurisdictions, in order to enhance training for their ACO's, will also send their officers to Humane Officer training academies. Humane Officers (in the state of California) are employed exclusively by humane societies and have police officer powers limited to the investigation of state anti-cruelty and neglect laws designed to protect animals. Humane Officers are required to complete specialized training in animal crimes at the Humane Officer's Academy (such as cruelty & neglect, cockfighting, dog fighting, evidence collection, preparation of cases for prosecution by the District Attorney, etc.). Click here for specific training requirements for Humane Officers in the state of California as outlined in Corporations Code Section 14502. Thanks, Shelly, for your question and your interest in helping animals as a profession. Best of luck as you pursue your career goals! Q. Hello, where can I get my rabbit neutered for cheaper than my vet will be doing it ($200)? A. Dear Tania, good for you for wanting to get your rabbit sterilized! Rabbit surgery is more complex than your average dog or cat surgery. Rabbits are much more fragile animals and they do not handle stress well. Therefore, as a rule, different drugs must be used and the rabbits require more monitoring than a dog or cat would, both during and after surgery. The surgery itself is also more delicate as the tissues in a rabbit are much more fragile than those in a dog or cat. The SPCA for Monterey County Spay/Neuter Clinic does not do rabbit surgeries for the public so I recommend that you call around (not all private practitioners do rabbit surgery) and see if you can find another vet who will do the surgery for a lower fee. Q. We recently visited Monterey and would love to return with our dog but would like info on doggy daycare in the area. A. Betsey, thanks for your question! This is a fairly popular question for us - part of the joy of living in such a wonderfully pet-friendly area. The SPCA is not able to give recommendations about specific pet sitters or day care centers. If you are staying at a pet-friendly hotel, it is highly likely that they have specific pet sitters they work with often (and perhaps even some they prefer not to work with on property). We strongly recommend asking your potential sitter the following questions to help you decide if they are right for your pets. How long have they been pet sitting? What services to they provide for your pets (feeding, walking, grooming, playing, etc)? What quantity and type of quality time will they spend with your pet? Are they insured and bonded? Can they provide references from other clients? How long have they been working with this specific hotel? What would they do in the event of an emergency? After you choose a pet sitter that fits your needs, be sure to give them a description of your pet's routine and feeding schedule, your emergency contact information, and the contact information for someone who can make emergency decisions for your pet should you be out of reach. We hope to see you on your next visit to the Monterey Peninsula! Q. I have a five month old German Shepherd puppy that I adopted from your shelter. Her energy level is so high we are not sure she is the right dog for us. I had two puppies before and their energy level is nothing like hers. She has become obsessive over chasing and biting at bugs, even when they are not there. We take her for daily one mile walks and it does not help. We mostly hang around the house but she seems like she needs a job. She has no interest in the ball either. We don't want to give her up but I don't want to keep her if she should be in a home where she can be more active or have something "to do". Thank you for your time. A. With a puppy like yours, you will need to experiment and find something that actually does interest her. She might not be intrigued by a tennis ball, but it's very likely that another toy might peak her curiosity. Try going to a pet store with her and looking for something that might catch her attention. With my puppies in the past I have attached a lure (like an old canvas bag) to a long stick and get them to chase the lure like a cat. If you make big figure eights your dog should be able to run without getting dizzy. This is a good example of one way to tire your puppy out quickly without too much exertion on your part. Remember - a tired dog is a good dog. A one mile walk is typically not enough for most young dogs. Puppies get bursts of energy throughout the day and need things to do when awake. You might try giving her a Kong or a puzzle ball full of goodies: the time and energy she spends figuring out how to get food from the new toy should provide mental stimulation and take the edge off. If none of these ideas help please call me at 373-2631 or 422-4721 ext. 222. I can give you some more help over the phone or we can schedule a low-cost private behavior consultation. Thanks for giving your puppy a great home - I'm sure we can work through your current issue together. Q. I Want To Adopt A Hamster. Do You Have Hamsters At The SPCA? If You Do Please Call!!! A. Hi Cathy, currently we do not have any hamsters available for adoption. We do have rats, guinea pigs and rabbits available, though! The SPCA receives many hamsters throughout the year, so it's likely we'll have more available in the near future. Please feel free to visit our website often to look for adoptable hamsters or come by the shelter - you never know what type of small animal might steal your heart. Q. Hi, I am currently looking to adopt a white german shepard female and was wondering if there was a way I could be notified if/when you got a dog matching this description at the Monterey SPCA?? Thank you. A. Good Afternoon! Thank you for your interest in our animals. The best thing to do if you are interested in a specific breed of dog is to keep checking our website, set up an automatic search on our website or call us periodically. We get so many animals in everyday that it would be difficult to call everyone that asks us about a specific pet. We post photographs of all animals on our website, so if you see an animal that meets your criteria you can call us directly or e-mail us again and we will give you more information about that specific pet at that time. Thank you again for your interest in our animals. Have a great day. Q. I have trouble finding Salinas animal shelter on the web. Please advise if a web page exists. I loved the doxie named Dutch. Still available? A. Good Afternoon! Thank you for your interest in our animals. “Dutch” was at our shelter and has been adopted into a new, loving family. If you want to see the Salinas City Shelter’s adoptable animals you can click here. I hope this information is of help to you. If there is anything else that I can help you with you may respond to this e-mail or you may contact me directly at 373-2631 or 422-4721. I hope you have a wonderful day. Q. I was wondering, my cat has been sick with a runny nose and I can't really afford to take her to a vet but I need to. Are there any low cost vets in the Monterey-Seaside area you could point me in the direction of? A. We would highly recommend that you take your cat to a vet. From your description, your cat most likely will need an antibiotic. Your best bet would be to call several local veterinarians to inquire about fees as they can vary from vet to vet. A normal office visit can run anywhere from $35 to $45 plus the cost of the antibiotic. In the meantime you need to make sure that your cat is still eating and drinking water regularly, and eliminating in the litter box. A complete Veterinarian listing can be found in the yellow pages of the phone book or you can contact us directly at (831) 373-2631 ext 233 and we will give you contact info for offices in your immediate area. Thank you for your e-mail! Q. Do you offer low cost rabies clinics or vaccinations? A. We sure do, Christine! We offer low-cost vaccinations and microchips at The SPCA's Spay/Neuter Clinic. Our expert staff is available to perform these services Monday through Thursday, 9:00 A.M. to 11:30 A.M. or 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. Please call ahead to confirm the availability of our veterinarian. Vaccinations cost $14.00 each and there is no additional office visit fee. Thank you for choosing to vaccinate your pets! Q. I have a mother and some of her puppies that we can't afford any more how can I find them a new home or get them somewhere else? A. Dear Joe, we absolutely can help you with your dog and puppies! You can bring all of them to The SPCA, located at 1002 Monterey-Salinas Highway (directly across from Laguna Seca Raceway). We are open seven days a week from 8 am - 5 pm. We will evaluate their health and adoptability and do our very best to find them good homes. If any of the dogs and pups have been vaccinated, please bring the records with you....if not, that's okay too, we will vaccinate them here. Thanks for your question! Q. I have three kittens in my yard. What can I do with them? They are very pretty. A. Thank you for your question. If the kittens in your yard do not belong to you or your neighbors, you will need to contact Animal Control for your area and they will pick them up directly from your home. If you live in the city limits of Salinas, please call Salinas Animal Control at # 758-7285. If you live in the 93907 or 93908 zip code area of Salinas, you will need to call County Animal Control at #769-8850 ext 3 for pick-up. You can click here for more contact information. Of course, we are always here for any animal in need. Please contact us directly at (831) 422-4721 if we can be of any further assistance. Q. How do I go about putting my dog to sleep? He is very old and it is just time. Thanks. A. John, the compassionate decision to put a beloved pet to sleep is always a difficult one. The SPCA provides humane euthanasia for owned animals between 9:00 am and 5:00 pm daily. You are welcome to either leave your pet with us or stay to be with your pet during the process. No appointment is necessary unless you want to be present. The euthanasia fee varies from $40 to $75 dollars, depending on the size of the pet, and includes cremation services. In addition, we offer private cremation services as well as a variety of special urns. SPCA staff understands how difficult this decision is and treats all pets with dignity and respect. Please contact us if you have any additional questions or concerns. Q. I would like to know more about the Humane Investigations position. Required Education, Salary, Area Covered, etc. If you could please get back to me via e-mail, I would really appreciate it. Thank you so much!! A. Anna, our Humane Investigation Officers play a key role in promoting a humane and caring attitude toward all animals through education, investigating cases of animal cruelty and neglect. Qualifications include:
The salary depends on experience. SPCA Humane Officers are trained and sworn to exercise the powers of a peace officer to prevent acts of neglect and cruelty to animals by enforcing all State laws and applicable local ordinances. Our Humane Officers are responsible for investigating, preparing cases for prosecution and educating the public regarding animal cruelty and neglect and how to properly care for all animals. SPCA Humane Officers get their powers from the California Corporations Code 14502, and can exercise the powers of a peace officer while investigating any crimes involving animals. Q. I have several families of swallows nesting in the eaves of my house (which is fine). I need to have my house painted. When can I expect that they will be gone? Thank you! A. Thank you for your question, Maggie. Nesting barn swallows are present from about late March to early September. In general, they begin to migrate south in late August through September, but it's not uncommon for some birds to migrate later into October and even November. If you know when the chicks were born, they will fledge out between 17-30 days, so painting the house could happen safely sometime in mid - late September. Q. I have a 3 month old puppy, who had a cold and she still has a cough in the mornings, with mucus in the cough. I am unsure if I should need to take her back to the vet. I only hesitate due to the cost of a vet visit. A. Dear Jennifer, based on the description of your puppy's symptoms, we would definitely recommend that you take her to a veterinarian. Though fees can vary from vet to vet, generally the cost of an office visit can run you $35.00 to $45.00 for the exam plus the cost of medication. You can find a list of veterinary offices by looking in the phone book or you can contact us for a listing of offices in your immediate area. It is always important to establish a veterinarian relationship for your animal. A three month old puppy needs vaccinations, booster shots and spaying along with yearly check-ups in order to prevent life threatening diseases and to live a long and healthy life. Please contact us directly at (831) 373-2631 if we can be of further assistance. Q. Dear SPCA experts, I would like to adopt a ferret but I heard that it is against the law. Is that true and if it is why? A. Yes, it is illegal to own or import ferrets in California. According to the California Department of Fish and Game, California has long maintained strong laws on animal importations to protect agricultural interests, public health and safety, wild populations of the imported species, the welfare of imported animals themselves, and the natural resource wealth of the State. Importation and possession of domestic ferrets have been restricted in California since 1933, when the first State law restricting the importing of animals into California was passed. For more information, please visit the ferret section of the California Department of Fish and Game's website. Q. Hi I have 2 cockatiels and I was told that you could help me sell the birdies. Also I have a puppy that I need to neuter, how much!? Thank you. A. Thanks for thinking of us, Belinda! We can't help you sell your cockatiels, but if you are unable to keep them you are welcome to surrender them to The SPCA and we will try to find new, lifelong, adoptive homes for them. Please call 373-2631 for more information about surrendering your birds. Our low-cost Spay/Neuter clinic provides dog neuters for only $95. Please visit our website or call 373-2631 x218 for more information or to schedule an appointment for your puppy. Q. What to do if you run over an animal not knowing it? A. Unfortunately, as much as we all try to drive safely, hitting an animal with your vehicle is sometimes unavoidable. According to Monterey County Ordinance, Title 8, Section 8.44.050, "if any driver hits a deer, other large wildlife, livestock or a domestic animal of any size with a motorized vehicle, and the driver becomes aware of the fact of hitting such animal, such driver shall stop to render assistance if it is safe to do so and shall report the incident as soon as possible to County Communications at 9-1-1. Failure to assist when it is safe to do so or to report the incident is a violation of this Ordinance." The SPCA responds to injured wildlife calls 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Many of these calls involve animals being hit by vehicles. We encourage everyone in our community to drive safely and stay aware of their surroundings, especially in the Fall breeding season. Q. A doe has gone after son and his large (140 lb) dog twice while buck and fawns hung back almost out of sight. Was in a neighborhood on Pacific Grove/Monterey border. If deer come after someone walking a dog with a child in a stroller, what can one legally do to defend pet/child/self. They do not back off and follow! Are they after dog or people as a threat to fawns? A. When a deer feels that her fawns are threatened, she will usually charge and try to frighten the perceived predator away from the area. Since you saw her fawns, it seems likely that this is what she was attempting to do. However, you also mention that she follows you, which is unusual for a doe trying to protect her young and sounds more like a tamed deer looking for a free handout. Some more clarification on her body language would help us determine exactly what she is trying to do. If she was trying to protect her fawns, she is perceiving your son (or, most likely, his dog) as a potential threat. And dogs are indeed threats to fawns. Even though your dog is likely well behaved and would never harm the fawns, the mother does not know this and is simply doing her job to protect her family. Sadly, The SPCA often receives calls about fawns mauled by dogs. Depending on where exactly your son was walking, leash laws could be in effect and the dog would need to be on a leash or under verbal control to prevent him from running after local wildlife. If this deer is acting aggressive and charging, you certainly should protect yourself, your family or your pets as necessary. When walking in a remote, wooded area, carry a walking stick and consider wearing a whistle. If the deer does charge, you can make yourself look large and yell (or blow the whistle) which should cause the deer to retreat. Then leave the area immediately. If your son has seen the same deer more than once, we recommend not walking in that area until the fawns are larger and the mother is less protective. Q. I would like a service dog, I had a stroke and more recently hip surgery, how do I go about getting a dog? A. Dogs can provide many vital services to people, from simple companionship to alerting authorities when their person is in distress. There are a few organizations that train and provide service dogs to people in need. One of those is Canine Companions for Independence (CCI), which is a national organization that provides highly trained assistance dogs and ongoing support to ensure quality partnerships. The closest regional center is in Santa Rosa. They can be reached at 707-577-1700. In the past, people have adopted animals from The SPCA and trained them to become exceptional service dogs. One SPCA volunteer was looking for a service dog after she was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis. There was two year waiting list at the time to adopt a trained assistance dog, so she began looking for the right dog at The SPCA that she could train as her assistance dog and companion. One day, in our kennels, she came across a medium sized dog that was surrendered by her owners because “the dog kept running away” from the backyard that it was confined in full-time. Given the fact that the dog did not have a tail (which could accidentally be hurt by a person in a wheel chair), and it was the right size, Terri chose "Sunny" to train as her assistance dog. Terri began her own intensive training program with this special SPCA dog that was unwanted by her owners. The story goes far beyond your basic “sit, stay” training. Terri taught Sunny to do everything from turning on the light switch on the wall, to putting a tape in the VCR, to helping Terri put her socks on, to delivering items upstairs to her parents. Sunny was taught a vocabulary of over 80 words and she is nothing short of remarkable, especially considering the fact that she started out her life as nothing more than a backyard dog. Their story illustrates that every dog, with proper care, love and training has the potential and the desire to be so much more than many people realize. Q. I want to know if you have any doves up for adoption? A. Stevie, The SPCA often has exotic birds available for adoption. We currently have two Ring-necked Turtle Doves looking for a lifelong, loving home. One was found in Monterey and the other in Pacific Grove. Unfortunately, one had been injured by a local cat but has now made a full recovery. If you are interested in adopting one or both of these doves or would like more information on adoptable exotics such as parrots, iguanas, etc., please call our Wildlife Center at 373-2631 or 422-4721 x227 or email info@spcamc.org. Q. I have a small Chihuahua and we want to spay her. Do we need to make an appointment? A. Thank you for your question, Teresa! Our Spay and Neuter Clinic provides low-cost spay and neuter services, vaccinations, leukemia tests and microchips for dogs and cats in our community. Our hours of operation are Monday through Thursday 6:00 A.M. to Noon & 1:00 P.M. to 4:00 P.M. (closed on holidays). Appointments are required for spays and neuters. To make an appointment, simply call us at 373-2631 x218. Thank you for taking the time to spay your Chihuahua - you'll be glad you did. Q. A mountain lion was spotted behind my house last night. Other neighbors have also reported seeing an animal in the vicinity. How do we best protect ourselves? A. Humans can co-exist easily with mountain lions if we learn to respect the animal and its habitat. Keep in mind that mountain lions can cover home ranges as large as 200 square miles, so if you see one in your area chances are good you might not see it again. To reduce the risk of potential problems, we recommend the following precautions. Closely supervise children and pets when they are outside and be sure to bring them inside before dusk. Mountain lions are most active between dusk and dawn. Keep your yard landscaped to avoid offering habitat where a large animal can hide and seal off open spaces below decks that might offer them (or other native wildlife) a hiding space. Most importantly, do not feed wildlife, especially deer. Also, do not feed your pets outside or leave food out for neighborhood animals. This attracts smaller animals such as raccoons. Remember that where prey is, predators tend to follow. Encourage your neighbors to take these precautions as well. If you encounter a mountain lion at close range, stop and stay calm. Immediately pick up all small children and encourage them to stay quiet. Do not run. Face the animal. Stay in an upright position and look as large as possible. Back away slowly, talking in a calm voice. If the animal does approach you, throw rocks or sticks and speak more firmly. In the very rare instance a mountain lion does attack, fight back. Part of the reason we live in this area is the natural beauty that Monterey County offers. With this beauty comes the responsibility of living with native wildlife. We thank you for your question and encourage you to contact us if you have any additional questions or concerns. Q. I have an eight year old and ten year old cats that need a good home due to my mother, who is sick, coming to live with us. Since they are older pets, do they still have a good chance at being adopted? Also, when do you take surrender pets? A. Hi Stacey, I’m sorry to hear about your cats and your mom’s allergies. We can certainly take them here to try and find them a home together. Since they have been together all of their lives, they shouldn’t be separated now. Actually 10 and 8 years old aren’t too old at all. We do very well in placing older animals. We also have a senior adoption program called "Whiskers and Wisdom" where we place animals that are six and over into senior homes for an adoption fee of only $10.00! Animals can be surrendered to The SPCA any day between 8 am and 5 pm. Stacey, please feel free to call me directly and we can discuss any of your concerns in re-homing your babies. I can be reached at (831) 373-2631 ext. 228. Q. Would it be possible to find a dog that was given up because the owner was leaving the country? A. Dear Felipe, if you know the name or the address of the person who would have surrendered the dog, we can look up the information to see if the dog was brought to us or another shelter. An approximate date of surrender and the name and type of dog would be helpful as well. Please contact me directly with that information and I will try and help you. I can be reached at (831) 373-2631 ext. 228 Tuesday through Saturday. Q. What if you what to volunteer, but can't make a commitment for six months three hours a day for one day at least once a week? What if you can only volunteer about once a month over the summer? A. Hello Skye, your question regarding The SPCA Volunteer Program service requirements is greatly appreciated! Although volunteers who would like to work directly with the animals are asked to make a minimum commitment of six months, we do offer opportunities that are available for those who are unable to make a long term commitment. These opportunities include assisting our Shelter or Wildlife staff with tasks that help to keep our facilities running smoothly. Because The SPCA makes every effort to ensure the comfort of the animals in our care, a clean facility (which includes the laundering of blankets and cleaning food bowls) is a must on a daily basis. Although we prefer a regular volunteer shift each week, our staff will graciously accept your help at any time with such tasks. In addition, The SPCA offers special programs, projects and events that require volunteer support. An example of a program that is always open to drop-in volunteers is "Paws for Recycling". This program generates funds for adoptable animals with serious health conditions that are in need of major medical treatment. If you are interested in any of the above mentioned opportunities or would like information on how to become a volunteer, please contact me for more details at (831) 373-2631 ext. 223 or gryland@SPCAmc.org Q. I am new to Carmel & need a qualified vet for my dog. Besides personal references, how do I find the best vet? A. The best way to find a veterinarian is through personal reference, especially if one name is recommended by more than one person. You would certainly want to interview a veterinarian to see if that person would be able to fulfill your needs. I commend you for locating a vet before you need one for an emergency. Q. I am trying to find a pet that would be appropriate for a classroom setting with two year olds. I am hoping for something other than fish. I know turtles are out because of salmonella. Any suggestions? A. Monica, thank you for your question. We do not recommend that animals be kept in a classroom setting for several reasons. The first is that there is no one caring for the animals after school and on the weekends. If an emergency were to occur like choking on food, classroom fire, or earthquake, no one would be around to help the animal. The second reason is the amount of noise in the classroom can be very stressful on an animal. Animals have very sensitive ears; some even hear a pitch three times higher then what humans hear. There is also the factor of two year olds not being able to properly handle the animals. If they were to wiggle out of the kids' arms they could hit the ground and be injured. If you want the children to experience animals we have a great option. You may call us and set up a tour and presentation with our shelter. This way the kids get to meet animals of all different shapes and sizes. They will even get to pet a few, including a dog, cat, and maybe a horse. Then the children will get to learn proper etiquette when handling animals, approaching animals, and all about our organization and all that we do for the animals. If you would like to do so you may contact out Director of Community Outreach, Beth Brookhouser, at (831)373-2631 ext. 269. Thank for your interest in our animals. Have wonderful day. Q. Do you have any horses available for adoption? We are looking for an age 5+ gelding. A. Hi Stacy, we have just recently adopted out several of our horses and currently do not have any available for adoption. However, we often receive horses and we expect to have horses available for adoption in the near future. We will keep your inquiry on file and will notify you by e-mail should we get in a gelding that is five years or older. Thank you for your interest! Q. How much are the cost of the vaccinations and what are the effects in the dog's health? You guys are the best for helping poor, innocent creatures in need who can't really tell you what they need but by their actions and expressions you find the answer in your heart. Thanks! A. Vaccinations at The SPCA are $14 each. Vaccinations are important to protect your dog from a variety of infectious diseases (canine distemper, infectious hepatitis, parvovirus, and rabies, to name a few). Most animals tolerate vaccinations without any problem but some animals will have reactions of varying degrees (from excessive lethargy to a true life-threatening anaphylactic reaction). If your animal has reactions to vaccines you should discuss with your veterinarian appropriate preventive measures or a modified vaccination schedule to minimize risk and maximize protection for your pet. Our staff is available to perform these services Monday through Thursday, 9:00 A.M. to 11:30 A.M. or 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. Please call ahead to confirm the availability of our veterinarian. Q. I have a 6 month old "olde english bulldogge" that needs to be spayed. Curious, what dates do you have available? Also think that she may have gotten a foxtail up her nose, is there anyway to check that out when she comes in for the spay? A. Currently the wait at the spay/neuter clinic for a dog spay is approximately 2 weeks. I encourage you to check with your veterinarian before this time if you suspect your dog has inhaled a foxtail. While an inhaled foxtail usually gets entrapped in the folds of the nasal passages, it is a source of irritation and infection. Looking up a dog’s nose (rhinoscopy) does require a general anesthetic and you might want to have your veterinarian perform the spay surgery at the same time so your dog does not have to undergo two separate anesthetic procedures. As a rule, our clinic only performs spays and neuters and a select few other common procedures that can easily be done while the animal is under anesthesia. Please let us know if you have any additional questions! Q. What are the leash laws for Prunedale? I live in a gated community where people own a lot of land (1-2 acres) and therefore don't build fences and have guard dogs to protect their property. My neighbor's UNLEASHED dog ran out to the edge of her UNFENCED property, stood menacingly, and barked viciously at me while I was taking a walk around the neighborhood. Is it legal for her to have a dog that can potentially run off her property to attack? A. This is an excellent question, but one that does not have a simple answer. In the case you describe, the dog is not technically “running at large” if he stays within his property boundaries. On the other hand, he does pose a potential risk to passers-by if he decides to cross the line. If this is an ongoing occurrence, and the dog never leaves the property, he may be trained to guard the property lines while staying within their boundaries. Or, the owners may have installed an “invisible fence,” an underground pet containment system in lieu of traditional fencing. Laws that govern animals “running at large” are local ordinances and can vary from place to place. The Prunedale area falls under the jurisdiction of Monterey County Animal Services (MCAS). I would suggest, however, that you check first with your local homeowner’s association to see if there are any animal laws specific to your community. You could also report the situation to MCAS. They will have a record of any animal related problems at the address in question, as well as up-to-date licensing and vaccination information. For more information on animal laws in Monterey County, go to www.co.monterey.CA.us/health/animalservices. From Field Services, you can access a complete listing of Animal County Codes, Title 8. As for your own protection, you would be wise to exercise caution around this dog even if he has never left his property. If you know the dog’s owner, you might suggest a meeting at which time you could be “introduced” to the dog so you wouldn’t be a stranger to him. In the meantime, walk on the opposite side of the street and avoid direct eye contact with the dog. You may also consider carrying a small air horn or “Direct Stop” should you need to try and scare the dog away from you. You are to be commended for seeking advice on a potential problem before it occurs. Thank you for bringing this important matter to light for everyone. Q. I rescued a 3 week old kitten and her mother. The mother was tested and was negative for any diseases. Is it ok to let my older cat interact with the kitten or is there still a risk? A. If the queen was examined by a veterinarian, tested for feline leukemia, feline immunodeficiency virus, and had her feces checked for internal parasites and all came out clear then it is unlikely that anything of significance would be transmitted to your older cat (especially if your cat is current on its vaccinations). However, whenever you introduce new animals to the household it is a good idea to put them in a “quarantine” (kept separate from your pets) for about 2 weeks to make sure that nothing shows up. If the animals are eating, drinking, and have no signs of illness after this quarantine period then they are probably fine to introduce to your cat. Thank you for your question! Q. Do dogs have to be neutered? A. No, dogs do not have to be neutered, but they should be. Besides the obvious problem of pet overpopulation, there are many reasons why dogs should be neutered. Intact male dogs have a tendency to roam (or break out of the yard) whenever they sense there are females nearby in heat. There is a higher incidence of intermale aggression as well as objectionable dominance and sexual behavior. A neutered dog has a much decreased incidence of prostate problems and is no longer at risk for testicular cancer. There is also a decreased risk of developing perianal tumors which in male dogs is associated with the presence of testosterone. The SPCA offers low-cost sterilization at our Spay/Neuter clinic. You can learn about the costs here and call or email for an appointment. Q. Do you have any boxer puppies for adoption? A. Thank you for your interest in our animals. We unfortunately do not have any Boxer puppies available at this time. It is a rarity that we get a litter of purebred boxer puppies, although we sometimes receive boxer mix puppies. If you are searching for a specific breed, we can put you on our breed request list. We need just a little information from you first. Are you looking for a particular sex? What age range would you prefer? Does the dog have to be a purebred or can it be mixed? Are there any other characteristics that you are looking for, such as being housetrained, leash trained, etc.? I also need your first and last name and the best phone number at which to reach you. Letting us know as soon as possible would be the best idea because we never know when we will receive a specific dog. We also recommend coming down to our shelter and visiting all the dogs - you never know who you might make an unexpected connection with. Thank you again for your interest in our dogs. Have a wonderful day! Q. Michele was wonderful in helping us with our adoption process. A. Thank you so much for sharing your adoption experience with us! We passed your note on to Michele and to our Shelter Manager and Executive Director. It's always good to hear feedback on our Customer Service team. When you get a chance, please send us photos of your new adoption to share on our successful adoptions page! Q. Owner & dog live on Bay Farms Road in Watsonville, Monterey County. Off of Salinas Road. Elderly owner thinks application for dog license should be put with city of Watsonville not county of Monterey, please advise. A. Thank you for inquiring about a license. Bay Farms Road is in the jurisdiction of Monterey County Animal Services. You can telephone them for an application 769-8850. If anyone else should have a question about where they should license their dog, please don't hesitate to contact us or your local animal control. Q. Where do you find information on how many dogs you can keep in each county "zone"? A. Thank you for writing to us. The number of animals a person is allowed to possess in Monterey County will vary widely between the many jurisdictions or "zones" as you referenced them in your question. Specifically, pet owners living in the unincorporated areas of Monterey County (i.e. not within city limits) can contact Monterey County Animal Control at 769-8845 for information on the numbers of animals allowed per home. In addition, they can provide information on required vaccinations, required license fees, locations where they can be purchased, etc. Pet owners living within city limits can contact their local animal control officers through their respective police departments for information specific to their own jurisdictions. Click here for a complete listing of city animal control phone numbers. Thanks, again for writing to us. Please do not hesitate to contact us if you need further information. Q. Can I get a picture of a adopt me "coat" dogs wear when being walked? A. No problem, Al! Just for you, we took pictures of one of our adoptable dogs as she was getting ready to go to Carmel for today's adoption event. A photo is posted below. One of our wonderful volunteers make these vests by hand for us and is currently busy making some brand-new vests for our lovable adoptables. For those of you reading this from a bit closer than Niagra Falls, we invite you to visit our adoptables at various SPCA offsite adoption events throughout the area. You can see the schedule here! Q. In today's S.F. Chronicle there is an article regarding the S.F. SPCA's program to facilitate adoptions on the death of a pet's owner. It sounds like a great idea. Do we have a similar program in Monterey? A. Thanks for asking, Andrew! We do have a program like the one in the article. We call it the "Guardian Angel Future Care Program". Each year, hundreds of beloved pets in Monterey County are left homeless when their human companions die or become incapacitated. Often a pet will get lost or arrive at The SPCA from a neighbor with no background information to help staff place the animal. Whether you choose a friend, family member, or The SPCA as your pet’s future caretaker, the Guardian Angel Future Care Program will help you make provisions for your animal companions in the event of your death or severe illness. If you email or call, we can send you Guardian Angel information in the mail. You can also download the information at our website. Thank you for thinking of your pet's future care - The SPCA is honored to provide you the peace of mind that your pet will receive lifelong love and care. Q. I am coming down to Carmel for a wedding. Need to find a doggy hotel or day care for one day. Sat. July 8th, from 9 -6, any suggestions would help. Thanks. A. Terri, we are not able to give you recommendations about specific pet sitters or doggie day cares. There are many options in our area that can be found through checking the phone book or searching online. We strongly recommend asking your potential sitter many of the same questions as the "Can you recommend a pet sitter?" question below to help you decide if they are right for your dog. If you are spending the night in Carmel, our website lists many pet-friendly hotels in the area, some of which offer walking or sitting services for guests. Please visit our website to learn more. We hope you have a wonderful visit to our area - don't forget to visit dog-friendly Carmel beach! Q. I have a golden retriever that was attacked during a puppy training class 5 yrs ago and now I can not bring around other dogs because he gets aggressive. How can I help him so that he can be around other dogs? A. Diana, thank you for contacting us about your problem. We have a few questions that would help us answer your question. Does your dog have any basic training? Has he ever actually bitten another dog? If so, was there damage? After assessing the level of his training and aggressiveness, we would most likely begin desensitizing by finding his comfort area with other dogs. We would then working on shrinking that boundary down to the point that he could stay calm around other dogs. Please note that you definitely need to have a professional trainer or behaviorist help you with this process and it will not happen overnight. Please feel free to call me at 831-373-2631 ext 222 and we can set up a appointment and see what game plan would work for your dog. We offer everything from behavior consultations to private training and they are set at very reasonable rates. I hope to hear from you soon so that we can get your dog behaving the way you would like. Q. I would like to obtain information about cockfighting. A. Cockfighting is a violation of state law in all states with the exception of Louisiana and New Mexico. In California it is illegal to possess fighting cocks, to be present at a cockfight, and/or to possess the implements used for cockfighting (defined as the sharp instruments commonly known as gaffs, knives or slashers designed to attach to the natural spur of the rooster). If you witness a cockfight in progress, call The SPCA at 373-2631 or 422-4721, or dial 9-1-1. To report suspected cockfighting activity you can click here. This will take you to a page where you can click on a report animal cruelty or neglect. Another option is to call our Humane Investigations line at 373-2631 or 422-4721 ext. 213 where you can leave an anonymous voice mail message. Specifically, the California Penal Code states the following regarding cockfighting: 597b. (a) Except as provided in subdivision (b), any person who, for amusement or gain, causes any bull, bear, or other animal, not including any dog, to fight with like kind of animal or creature, or causes any animal, including any dog, to fight with a different kind of animal or creature, or with any human being; or who, for amusement or gain, worries or injures any bull, bear, dog, or other animal, or causes any bull, bear, or other animal, not including any dog, to worry or injure each other; and any person who permits the same to be done on any premises under his or her charge or control; and any person who aids, abets, or is present at the fighting or worrying of an animal or creature, as a spectator, is guilty of a misdemeanor. (b) Notwithstanding subdivision (a), any person who, for amusement or gain, causes any cock to fight with another cock or with a different kind of animal or creature or with any human being; or who, for amusement or gain, worries or injures any cock, or causes any cock to worry or injure another animal; and any person who permits the same to be done on any premises under his or her charge or control, and any person who aids or abets the fighting or worrying of any cock is guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment in a county jail for a period not to exceed one year, by a fine not to exceed five thousand dollars ($5,000), or by both that imprisonment and fine. (c) A second or subsequent conviction of this section, Section 597c, or Section 597j is a misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment in a county jail for a period not to exceed one year, by a fine not to exceed twenty-five thousand dollars ($25,000), or by both that imprisonment and fine, except in unusual circumstances where the interests of justice would be better served by the imposition of a lesser sentence. (d) For the purposes of this section, aiding and abetting a violation of this section shall consist of something more than merely being present or a spectator at a place where a violation is occurring. 597c. (a) Except as provided in subdivision (b), whoever owns, possesses, keeps, or trains any animal with the intent that the animal shall be engaged in an exhibition of fighting; or is present at any place, building, or tenement where preparations are being made for an exhibition of the fighting of animals with the intent to be present at that exhibition; or is present at that exhibition, is guilty of a misdemeanor. (b) Notwithstanding subdivision (a), whoever owns, possesses, keeps, or trains any cock or other bird with the intent that the cock or other bird shall be engaged in an exhibition of fighting is guilty of a crime punishable by imprisonment in a county jail for a period not to exceed one year, by a fine not to exceed five thousand dollars ($5,000), or by both that imprisonment and fine. (c) A second or subsequent conviction of this section, Section 597b, or Section 597j is a misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment in a county jail for a period not to exceed one year, by a fine not to exceed twenty-five thousand dollars ($25,000), or by both that imprisonment and fine, except in unusual circumstances where the interests of justice would be better served by the imposition of a lesser sentence. (d) This section shall not apply to an exhibition of fighting of a dog with another dog. 597i. (a) It shall be unlawful for anyone to manufacture, buy, sell, barter, exchange, or have in his or her possession any of the implements commonly known as gaffs or slashers, or any other sharp implement designed to be attached in place of the natural spur of a gamecock or other fighting bird. (b) Any person who violates any of the provisions of this section is guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment in a county jail for a period not to exceed one year, by a fine not to exceed five thousand dollars ($5,000), or by both that imprisonment and fine and upon conviction thereof shall, in addition to any judgment or sentence imposed by the court, forfeit possession or ownership of those implements. 597j. (a) Any person who owns, possesses, keeps, or trains any bird or animal with the intent that it be used or engaged by himself or herself, by his or her vendee, or by any other person in an exhibition of fighting is guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment in a county jail for a period not to exceed one year, by a fine not to exceed five thousand dollars ($5,000), or by both that imprisonment and fine. (b) This section shall not apply to an exhibition of fighting of a dog with another dog. (c) A second or subsequent conviction of this section, Section 597b, or Section 597c is a misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment in a county jail for a period not to exceed one year, by a fine not to exceed twenty-five thousand dollars ($25,000), or by both that imprisonment and fine, except in unusual circumstances where the interests of justice would be better served by the imposition of a lesser sentence. Q. I have 2 budgies and I don't think I can take care of them anymore. Can I put them up for adoption at the SPCA? A. Hi Sarah. You can definitely surrender your birds to The SPCA so that they can be adopted into another family. Our doors are open to all animals. The SPCA accepts surrendered animals everyday between 9am and 5pm. If you have veterinary records for your budgies, please bring those with you. Please also bring your own identification. We also ask for a $25 dollar surrender fee, but also can waive that fee if necessary. For those interested in adopting exotic animals like budgies, iguanas, parrots, etc., please contact us! Q. I have located a heartbreaking situation. A lost cat with a flea collar and collar with a bell who is starving to death in a place teeming with wild rodents. I sympathize with the obviously caring owner, who bought the collars and apparently lost the cat. It was weak and extremely thin but too afraid to let me touch it. It would seem to me to be a simple thing for the SPCA to at least allow descriptions of lost pets to be posted by their owners somewhere. When I lived back in Solano County I located an owner for a lost dog my neighbors had taken in. The neighbors had no phone but I called the pound and left a description of the dog and was given the phone number of the desperate owners. If a person pays for a license for their animals why can't there be a simple list of descriptions of lost pets? Why must cats be taken to your shelter where they are destroyed if their owners don't claim them within four days? It's as though you won't deal with needy animals at all unless they can incur the expense of passing through your portals. This is a waste of funds and a disservice to animals and their owners. Not all lost animals need to go though the shelter itself to be reunited with their owners. There is no way you can justify this. A. Thank you for taking an interest in a collared but apparently abandoned or lost pet cat. I’m sorry that you have been told that we don’t accept lost or found reports and that we euthanize lost pets after four days. Neither statement is true. The SPCA takes lost and found reports and our staff works diligently to match up found pets or pets brought into our shelter with their owners. That is core to our animal protection mission. I hope you will file a found report regarding the cat you have seen so we can try to make a match with an owner’s lost report. In addition, you should check the neighborhood for lost posters (also available in printable form on the SPCA web site) and local newspapers for lost pet ads. If a lost pet is brought to the SPCA and appears to be owned and cared for it is held for as long as our space constraints allow, generally well past the statutorily mandated four days. If the pet is determined to be adoptable, it will be placed up for adoption on the sixth day here so that he or she can have a second chance at a home. The SPCA has no fixed maximum time limit for keeping lost pets and we certainly do not automatically euthanize that pet if the owner does not reclaim it. We accept all animals in need of care and shelter irrespective of any payment that may be made to us for sheltering services. Q. Saw the ad in the paper about the Greenfield dogs and would like more info on them. Please email details! A. Thank you for your interest in the five neglected dogs rescued from Greenfield by The SPCA's Humane Investigations team. The dogs are responding well to treatment under the care of our shelter veterinarian and staff, and we are hopeful that they will make a full recovery. Because the case is an open investigation, the dogs are not available for adoption at this time. However, there are a number of ways that the public can assist us in helping these wonderful animals. We are seeking the public's help, and asking that anyone with information about these dogs immediately call our Humane Investigations Department at (831) 373-2631 ext. 213. All reports are confidential, and any information that you can provide to us may help with our investigation. If you are interested in making a donation to help with the dogs' care, please call us at 831-373-2631 x231 or donate online. If you would like to be placed on a callback list to be notified when the dogs become available for foster care or adoption, please contact our Customer Service Department at (831) 373-2631 ext. 200. Our Humane Investigations team responds to hundreds of reports every year of animals being neglected, abused, or abandoned. We rely on reports from caring individuals like you, who are our eyes and ears in the community. If you suspect animal cruelty, please call our Humane Investigations Department at (831) 373-2631 ext. 213, or fill out our online report form. All reports are confidential, and together we can make a difference in the lives of animals throughout Monterey County. Q. Where can I get info on rights to prevent wrongful separation from a family pet due to disputes over Guardianship of a companion dog whose care and custody have been shared between two relatives? A. The legal standing of animals is an evolving area of law. While most jurisdictions today hold the traditional view of animals as property, with rights to their ownership and possession being determined by the application of property law, some jurisdictions are redefining the relationship as a guardianship under which the human is the guardian and the pet the ward thereby creating a relationship under which, depending on the specific applicable law, there can be a legal obligation to act in the “best interests” of the pet independent of the interests of the guardian. There are many other possible changes that are beyond the scope or your questions. As you can see, determining the right to possession or the appropriate placement of a pet in your specific case can be a complicated matter. Our best advice is to secure legal counsel in your jurisdiction so that you can plan a course of action consistent with your legal rights and the pet’s legal rights if any. Q. I am moving to Hawaii in two months. I just found out that there is a massive quarantine process to get my dog into Hawaii and am hoping you can give me some information/help to prevent my dog from being quarantined for 120 days. Thanks! A. Hi Sharon, as you may know, the State of Hawaii is rabies-free. To help maintain their rabies-free status they require that incoming pets complete a 120-day confinement in the State Animal Quarantine Station before being admitted to the state. However, as of June 30, 2003 if specific pre-arrival and post-arrival requirements are met, animals may qualify for a 30-day quarantine or a new 5-day-or-less quarantine. The Department of Agriculture for the state of Hawaii has a very informative website that explains in detail which animals qualify for the shorter quarantine periods. You can access this information at http://www.hawaiiag.org/hdoa/ai_aqs_info.htm Thanks, Sharon, for your question. We hope this information is useful for you and your dog. Q. My girlfriend is not well. Her dog just died. We need another dog. Please help us. A. Verna, we are all very sorry to hear about your girlfriend's loss. I am sure we can help you out in your search for a new four-footed companion. We always have a wide variety of wonderful, adoptable dogs. There are two ways you can view available animals. The first way is our website, where you can see a picture and get a brief description about each pet. You are also welcome to come visit the animals here at the shelter. We are open weekdays 11am – 5pm and weekends 11am – 4pm. This is probably the best alternative because then you can meet the dogs in person and get to know their individual personalities. We hope to see you soon. Q. I would like to send you a picture of Chico (the blue & gold Macaw) and his owner. Give you a brief on how wonderful it's working out so you can post it on the web and newsletter. Please email me with an email address to send the pic and info to. Thank You! A. We would love to have adopters send us photos and share stories of their happy adoptions! You can forward stories and pictures to info@spcamc.org and we will place them on our Successful Adoptions page. Thank you so much for giving Chico a new, loving home. He looks great! Q. Could you email me as soon as you have kittens (male) for adoption? Thank you. A. Hi Lynn, we are just at the start of kitten season, so the kittens coming in are still too young to be adopted. In the next month or two, we should have a lot of kittens available for adoption. The best thing for you to do would be to call us in about a month and check on our kitten availability at that time. We are open 7 days a week for adoptions, 11-5 pm Monday through Friday and 11 - 4 pm on Saturdays and Sundays. Thank you for your inquiry and we hope to see you soon! Q. A group of feral cats have taken over my yard, fighting with my outdoor cat, eating her food, using her shelter. Is there a program where I can trap and turn in these animals? A. Nancy, your local Animal Control Agency should be able to assist you with the trapping and removal of the feral cats on your property. However, this will only be a temporary solution to your problem. As long as there is food and a shelter source available outside, you will continue to attract stray animals; cats - domestic and feral, raccoons, opossums, and other wild animals that may be life threatening to your outside cat. The best solution would be to bring your outdoor cat indoors - especially at night. Should you need additional assistance, and/or the telephone number for your local Animal Control agency, please contact us directly at (831) 373-2631 ext 233. Thank you for your question! Q. Hi. I am head of the Community Service Committee at my school and I would like to know what ways high schoolers can help besides just donating money. I know most of us would love to volunteer our time, but our long days and then nights full of homework prohibits this. In what ways can we help besides money and time? Thank you. A. Hello Kendall, we truly appreciate your concern and desire to know how high-school students with little time to spare, can be of help to The SPCA for Monterey County. Because you and your classmates have the ability to influence others, your actions can have an important impact on the lives of animals. I have compiled a list of simple ways that you and your peers can make a difference:
Whatever you choose to do, you can be sure that your efforts will lead to a brighter future for the animals of Monterey County! Please contact me directly for more information and other ways one can work on behalf of animals at (831) 373-2631 ext. 223 or e-mail: gryland@SPCAmc.org. Thanks so much! Q. What's a better pet to have, a hamster or a small dog? A. What a wonderful question. They are both great pets to have. Neither one is necessarily better then the other, because they are so different. Both dogs and hamsters have pro's and con's. For example, dogs live longer then hamsters, whereas a hamster is smaller then a dog and can be kept confined more easily. Then there is the "mess factor". While dogs need to be walked regularly, hamsters need their cages cleaned quite often. A dog needs more attention and training than a hamster, which could be a pro or a con depending on your point of view. It all depends on your lifestyle and how much time and energy you have to care for an animal. As long as you have a big heart and a happy home to open up, any animal would be good. Make sure to do your research and to check with other adults in the home to find out what is best for you. Have a wonderful day. Q. My dog weighs 50 lbs. and I give her freedom to pull on her 16 ft leash and this can result in hard yanking on her neck and collar. Would a harness be necessary and the best for her neck. She is very strong and only 4 year old. Thank you for having this service available. A. A harness would definitely put less stress on your dogs neck, however a harness will allow your dog to pull even harder than before. I suggest you teach your dog some loose leash manners so that your dog may have the full length of the leash but will not pull you all over the place. Products such as a gentle leader or a halti really help with the problem. These are head harnesses that, when used correctly, prevent your dog from pulling. There are also two training techniques that can help correct the behavioral problem of pulling on a leash. The first training technique is to play "red light-green light" with your dog. Start off walking and once the leash goes tight, stop immediately and stay there until the dog gives slack on the leash. This take some time and on your first walks, you won't make it very far, but it will teach your dog that she does not get to walk unless there is slack on the leash. Next try change of direction. Start the same as before but instead of stopping when the leash goes tight, turn immediately and walk the other way. It is easiest to work on this in front of your house or in your backyard and then venture out into the world once your dog is doing well at home. If you need any more information please call our behavior helpline # 373-2631ext 222. Q. My dog on occasion will eat grass and then throw it up with a yellow liquid. She shows no sign of illness. Why does she do this? Thanks. A. While the common belief is that dogs will eat grass to make themselves vomit when they have an upset stomach, this is not always the case. Some animals will eat grass to make themselves vomit, but others will eat grass because they do not have enough fiber in their diet, and some just like the taste. If you were to look at most grass under a microscope, the blades have many small hairs which irritate the throat and GI system of an animal ingesting them. Therefore, most dogs that eat grass, no matter what their reason, will vomit after doing so. The fact that your dog also vomits bile (the yellow fluid) tells me that the vomiting is originating in the small intestine rather than the stomach (the fluid would be clear). If your dog is fine otherwise and does not vomit under any other circumstances, then she is probably fine. However, you might want to discuss this with your veterinarian. Depending on her age, your veterinarian might want to run some blood work to rule out any other causes of vomiting. Q. The dog search and links to all pages after 1st page of dog search do not function. I am searching for a chinese crested dog, any recommendations? A. Thank you for thinking of The SPCA in your search for a new pet! The reason your search is not working is that we currently do not have any Chinese Crested dogs available for adoption. While The SPCA often has purebred animals available, accounting for approximately 25% of animals adopted, we rarely receive Chinese Crested dogs in our shelter. You will have more luck finding an adorable adoptable simply by clicking "View All Dogs and Puppies Available for Adoption" on the adoptions page. We are currently in the process of completely revamping our adoptions website. Potential adopters should be happy with the changes, including larger pictures of each animal, more personalized information on each animal, easier search options, and the ability to email a pet's profile to friends and family. Please stay tuned! Q. Cat 7297, listed as a Persian, is actually a Chartreux. Listing him as such may help with adoption. He is very beautiful. A. Thank you for the information on "Curly Sue." Curly Sue is one of 132 cats that were rescued from a cat hoarder in Pacific Grove. There were many different breeds represented in the group and we worked hard to identify them correctly. We will make the change on the cat's record with the correct breed. Thank you for the information! Q. I was wondering if anyone knew a great pet sitter. I have three dogs at home, and I am going on vacation in April. I would like someone to come keep the pooches company. Any information helps! Thank you. A. We are not able to give you recommendations about specific pet sitters. There are many options in our area that can be found through asking friends or even checking the phone book. We strongly recommend asking your potential sitter the following questions to help you decide if they are right for your family, pets and lifestyle. How long have they been pet sitting? Do they perform in-home pet sitting services where they stay overnight with your pets or do they visit your home at set times? What services to they provide for your pets (feeding, walking, grooming, playing, etc)? What quantity and type of quality time will they spend with your pet? Are they insured and bonded? Can they provide references from other clients? What other services to the offer (bringing the the mail and newspaper, watering plants, etc.)? After you choose a pet sitter that fits your needs, be sure to give them a description of your pet's routine and feeding schedule, your itinerary, your emergency contact information, your veterinarian's information, and the contact information for someone who can make emergency decisions for your pet should you be out of reach. We wish you a wonderful vacation! Q. Do you have kittens and puppies available to buy or have for free? A. The SPCA for Monterey County has a wide selection of animals available for adoption from kittens and puppies to older and wiser canine and feline citizens. Adoption fees for dogs range from $65.00 to $150.00. Adoption fees for cats range from $35.00 to $95.00. Puppies and kittens generally fall in the higher adoption categories and tend to be adopted very quickly, so if your heart is set on a puppy or kitten please check in often. The SPCA's adoption fees include the pet's spay or neuter surgery, microchip, rabies vaccinations and other vaccinations as appropriate to age and species, SPCA identification tag, cardboard pet carrier (for cats) and a health evaluation. Not to mention a lifetime of unconditional love from your new furry friend! Q. How does one go about turning in a pet dog? Is there a fee? A. The SPCA accepts surrendered animals everyday between 9am and 5pm. If you have vaccination and veterinary records for your dog, please bring those with you. Please also bring your own identification. We also ask for a $25 dollar surrender fee, but also can waive that fee if necessary. When the animal arrives at our shelter, our shelter staff will request that you bring your dog in so we can evaluate his or her temperament. After your dog is put in our receiving area, we will ask you to fill out a profile sheet to give us information about your pet. This will take a few minutes and it is very helpful information to provide to future adopters. After an animal is surrendered to us we give a thorough temperament evaluation. If the animal is deemed adoptable we will place it up for adoption. If you have any questions about the temperament test, please feel free to contact us. If you would like to call in after surrender you are more than welcome to do so. If you are considering surrendering your dog due to behavior issues such as barking, housetraining, etc. please keep in mind that we have a behaviorist on staff who is available to help you. We also have many behavior and training tips available for free online at our website and a free behavior helpline (373-2631 or 422-4721 ext. 222). Our goal is to keep animals in their homes and we are here to help with anything you might need, regardless of if the dog came from us, another shelter, a breeder, or by any other means. Q. My cat was hit by someone he came in with a bloody mouth, bumps on his head, both eyes bleeding in side and out, jaw stuck back. I don't have any money where can I take him? Is there any programs that will help me pay for his bill? A. This email arrived after midnight on a Sunday night. We responded to the owner first thing on Monday morning and were able to give her advice about veterinary care. We would like to remind everyone to please not email The SPCA with an animal medical emergency. We will be happy to help in any way that we can, but it is very important that your animal receive immediate medical attention when injured or gravely ill. After hours, it is always best to contact an emergency veterinarian directly or, in the case of a wildlife emergency, call The SPCA's after hours line at 831-646-5534. Q. What does it take to be a volunteer at the SPCA? Is it hard? What benefits do you get and how much do you get paid? A. Thank you so very much for your interest in The SPCA Volunteer Program! We have many valuable opportunities available for ages 12 years and older. To become a volunteer one must first complete an application and meet with the Volunteer Coordinator to discuss the program policies. A General Volunteer Orientation is scheduled quarterly that we ask that all new volunteers to attend. In addition, those who are interested in working directly with the animals are required to attend Animal Handling Workshops in advance of their volunteer service. Volunteers are asked to commit to a regular 3 hour shift on one day per week for at least 6 months. All volunteers contribute their valuable time to The SPCA with out monetary compensation. However, what they do receive is the personal gratification derived from their important work on behalf of animals. Our program has many benefits for both volunteers and the animals! Jan Chomko, a Shelter Greeter for over 5 years has this to say about her volunteer service: "Because of the warm staff and very special animals, my service at The SPCA has become my favorite volunteer activity." Shelter cat volunteer, Shari Roehl says "one of the greatest rewards of volunteering is in knowing that you made a difference in a cat getting adopted". Shari also adds "an unexpected reward comes from the interesting people I meet". You asked if volunteering is hard. The difficulty of the work will vary depending on the position. For example, a Shelter animal handling or a barn position will be more physically demanding whereas, a Shelter Greeter requires the ability to work well with people and have excellent communication skills. During "baby bird season" our Wildlife Center volunteers are extremely busy continuously feeding dozens of baby birds. However, releasing those birds back into the wild makes it all worth while. No matter what volunteer position you choose at The SPCA, you can be certain that your time and efforts will translate in to a better future for the animals of Monterey County. Thank you again for your questions Chris and please do not hesitate to contact me directly if you should have any other questions. Q. I have a rabbit that needs to go to a better home. He is with me for the time being but I am moving and cannot bring him with me. I love him to death but would prefer him to have a better home. His name is Beezly he's about a year old and he's medium sized and brown, potty trained but not neutered yet, he's very nice and skittish as all rabbits are. Please help me find him a home. Thank you. A. We can certainly take your rabbit, Beezly, and try to find him a new home! While The SPCA places no time limit for adoptions on any of the animals in our shelter, please be aware that there is a severe overpopulation problem with rabbits in our community. You can bring him to the SPCA anytime between the hours of 8:30 am and 4:30 pm, seven days a week. We are located at 1002 Monterey/Salinas Highway in Monterey, across from Laguna Seca Raceway. We ask for a $25.00 donation to surrender but will waive the fee if needed. Please contact us directly at (831) 373-2631 ext 233 should you need further assistance. Q. Volunteer work - how old do you have to be? A. Thank you so much for your interest in The SPCA Volunteer Program. We are delighted to answer your question regarding the age requirements for volunteers. We encourage those who are at least 12 years of age to submit an application to become an SPCA Volunteer! Our Junior Volunteer Program is designed for youth who are between the ages of 12 – 17 years and offers many rewarding opportunities to work on behalf of animals. Currently, we require Junior Volunteers to be paired up with an adult who is 18 years or older to work together as a "volunteer team." Starting March 1st, we will implement an exciting new program which will allow Junior Volunteers to work alone if they meet very specific eligibility requirements. This program will be open to high-school students that qualify. More details on the program will be available very soon. Please contact me if directly should you have any additional questions in regards to becoming an SPCA Volunteer! Q. What we need to do to adopt a dog? A. Thank you for your inquiry on how to adopt a dog. The first thing you would want to do is to take a look at your home life. Are there children residing in or frequently visiting your house? Do you have other animals? How often are you away from home? These are all important things to consider when bringing a new animal into your home. When you do decide that you are ready to add a new addition to your family here is what you will need to do when you come to our shelter. When you first come in to our shelter you will be directed to our dog adoption area. You will want to look at all of our available dogs so that you can make the appropriate choice for you and your family. Our customer service staff is always available to help you make an informed decision. If you find a dog that you think you might be interested in, come up to our customer service area and one our representatives will assist you with filling out a “pre-adoption” form. This will help us ensure that this is the perfect dog for your lifestyle. Once you are finished filling out the “pre- adoption” form our representative will ask for your license in exchange for a leash. Then you can either take the dog in to one of our "get acquainted rooms" or take him/her on a walk around the property, or you can do both. If you choose to adopt the dog after spending time with it, a representative will review your application. If you are renting your home it will be necessary to contact your landlord for approval and if you have a dog currently at home, you will be asked to bring it in for a dog introduction. This is done to assure the compatibility between your dog and our shelter dog. Upon approval it will take approximately 20 minutes to complete the adoption. If the dog is not currently altered he/she will stay at the shelter to have surgery. We will set up the surgery on the next available date, which is generally less than 2 to 3 days. When the adoption process is completed, you will receive your copies of all the paper work, licensing information, and brochures to help your new companion adjust to your home. Our pricing varies from dog to dog based on our community standard of adoptability. Our pricing ranges from $65.00 for senior dogs and dogs with minor medical issues, up to $150.00 for the most extraordinary, highly adoptable dogs and puppies. All of these prices include the following: spay/ neuter, microchip, rabies vaccination, other vaccinations as needed, SPCA identification tag, and temperament and health evaluation. Thank you again for thinking of us when you are planning on adding to your family Q. I saw a chihuahua - terrier mix on this web site. The # on her was 10764. Is there a way to adopt this dog. I just lost my dog who was a very similar breed. I need to fill an empty space in my life. So how can I go about getting that dog? A. Thank you for your interest in this wonderful dog! She is one of the 31 "Orphans of the Storm" we took in from the Gulf Coast following Hurricane Katrina. Because our ultimate goal is to reunite all these dogs with their owners, they are not yet available for adoption. We have already found the families for 16 of the 31 dogs and we still receive inquiries daily from folks looking for their lost animals. It is heartbreaking to hear from people who have lost so much and are still unable to locate their pets, but the joyful reunions that we have facilitated make everything worth it. Starting in March, we will begin offering the remaining Katrina dogs as "fosters to adopt." Please stay tuned to our website for more information. Q. My mixed-breed dog Mango is 19 months. Her training is progressing well in most fields. She knows sit, down, come, and stay to some extent. The problem is that I have difficulty with some of here behaviors. Sometimes when we are on a walk and we happen upon another person she will charge them barking. She won't get really close and she would never bite, but the behavior is aggressive and something that worries me. I try to keep her n a leash when around other people and am working on her socialization, but being off-leash is an important part of her and my own happiness. Do you have any recommendations for a way to modify this behavior, or someone else I could talk to about it? Thanks. A. With Mango’s issues with strangers, the first thing to do is to get a behavior consultation. There could be a number of things that cause this problem, from fear to territory issues. The trick is to find a way to keep her attention on you and not the strangers. Have her do a sit when strangers approach and make her keep eye contact with you, since you should be the most important thing in her life. Work on the name game with her at home while doing your training. It is a easy and fun game to play with your dog. Simply say her name and when she looks at you give her a treat. You will advance this to having her sit then look at you and hold eye contact. If you are having trouble getting her to hold the eye contact you can say her name and hold one of her favorite treats up by your face. You will stretch out the time that she has to keep eye contact in the same way you build up a stay. Since leash aggression is not acceptable behavior, it should be corrected quickly, with the help of a qualified behaviorist. The SPCA can provide consultations to assist with this and other behavior related issues. Please call our behavior helpline at 373-2631 or 422-4721, ext. 236. Q. Say if I were to move into an apartment that does not allow dogs, but I still wanted to keep my dog, how could I be able to still keep the dog and live in the apartments? A. The best way to ensure you can keep your dog in a new apartment is to visit our Pet Friendly Listings, which list rentals in our area that accept pets. However, if you are set on moving into a particular place that does not generally take pets, here are some tips that might help. Create a resume for your dog that lists his training courses and good behaviors. Include references from former landlords and other professionals who know your dog well. Arrange a meeting with your future landlord so they can meet your pet and see how wonderful he is. You can also try offering a larger damage deposit to put your landlord's mind at ease about any potential damager your dog might cause to the apartment. There are some wonderful apartments in Monterey County that accept pets - it just takes a little time and effort to find the right one for you. "Moving" is one of the most commonly cited reasons that people surrender their pets to The SPCA, but it is also one of the most avoidable with a little research and time. Being able to keep your beloved dog with you is worth taking the time to find a home that accepts pets. Q. I found an injured bunny with a head tilt do u know where i can take him to live? A. Thank you so much for your interest in helping wildlife in distress. In Monterey County, the SPCA Wildlife Center is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week to rescue wildlife that is orphaned, sick or injured. Our emergency number is (831) 646-5534. Please don't hesitate to contact us if you find an animal in distress. To locate wildlife rehabilitation groups in other areas of California, go to the California Council for Wildlife Rehabilitators website at www.ccwr.org. They will be able to help locate a rehabilitator in your area. Q. Where do I get a dog license for Monterey County? A. Thank you for writing to us. Fee structures, requirements and locations for purchasing pet licenses vary widely between the many jurisdictions in Monterey County. Specifically, pet owners living in the unincorporated areas of Monterey County (i.e. not within city limits) can contact Monterey County Animal Control at 769-8845 for information on fees, requirements, and locations where licenses can be purchased. Pet owners living within city limits can contact their local animal control officers through their respective police departments for information specific to their own jurisdictions. Thanks, again for writing to us, Gere. Please do not hesitate to contact us if you need further information. Q. My dog popcorn is 14yrs old. He has trouble seeing and hearing. He also has arthritis and has trouble going outside to the bathroom and also really bad skin. Is there a point that he should be put to sleep or what can I do to help him we really can't afford a vet visit. Thank you. A. Thank you, Lizzette, for your thoughtful and very important question. Deciding when euthanasia or “putting an animal to sleep” is the most humane alternative you can provide for your pet is the most difficult decision a loving pet owner must make. There are many factors that must be taken into consideration, the primary one being an honest assessment of the overall quality of the animal’s life and, in particular, the degree to which the animal is suffering pain. The conditions that you feel “Popcorn” is exhibiting are consistent with advancing age but his symptoms, particularly the pain of arthritis, may be alleviated by medication that a veterinarian can prescribe after an examination. We encourage you to call a number of veterinary offices in your area to explain your predicament and inquire about payment plans or reduced fees for services. If a veterinary visit for purposes of diagnosis and treatment is absolutely not possible, you and your family will need to assess “Popcorn’s” quality of life. The following points may help you in this difficult task. Dogs can often cope well with the loss of sight that can accompany old age so long as their surroundings are not altered. It is remarkable how well they remember the placement of furniture and other objects both inside and outside the home. Hearing loss accompanying old age is another disability that dogs can cope well with. They may, however, become more sensitive to being approached from behind and may startle more easily. If “Popcorn’s” difficulty in going outside is pain related, making “Popcorn” comfortable with a soft bed may help alleviate some pain but the best outcome will come from a trip to the veterinarian for diagnosis and treatment. Skin problems can cause discomfort. Since “Popcorn” can’t talk to you, you will have to assess how he is acting now compared to how he was acting while he was healthier. Each of the symptoms described may have underlying treatable causes not related to old age that only a veterinarian can diagnose. These conditions when taken together, absent treatment by a veterinarian, will only worsen with time. The bullet points above are offered to help you walk through what will be a very difficult and subjective process of evaluating current quality of life against “Popcorn’s” earlier healthy life in an atmosphere of high emotion. We wish you and “Popcorn” the very best. Each of us at The SPCA knows what a difficult task you face. Q. I really want a dog, but since my parents are separated, my parents and I don't know how we would take care of the dog if say I were to be away at a friends house. What I'm asking is how do I make sure that the dog stays my responsibility without my parents having to do a lot? A. What a great question! By asking for advice now, before you get a dog, you have taken the first step in being a responsible pet owner. To make sure a dog is the right pet for you, I suggest you start by asking both of your parents how much of the responsibility they are willing to share with you. Would they feed your dog and take it out for a walk if you want to spend the night at a friend’s house? Will they help out with the expenses that come with dog ownership – food, vaccinations, flea treatments, vet care, etc? It might be helpful to draw up a “pet contract” so that you will have a written record of the agreements you have made. Once you know exactly what will be required of you, you will need to weigh that against the time you have available to care for your dog. For instance, puppies require a lot more time and effort than adult dogs. Dogs with long coats need to be brushed every day – some even require professional grooming. Also, dogs vary by breed in regards to energy, temperament, and general personality traits. A large, high energy dog (like a Labrador Retriever) is going to require more attention and a larger exercise area than a small lap dog. The SPCA also recommends that you keep your dog indoors, unless you’re present to supervise its outside time. Would you have the time to walk your dog twice a day? Leaving a dog isolated in a back yard, or tied up all day outside, is not a substitute for the exercise, mental stimulation and close bonding enjoyment he will get from a nice walk with you. If you and your parents decide that a dog is the right pet for you, The SPCA can help you with crate training, housebreaking, destructive behaviors, barking, and other issues that may arise. We have excellent obedience training classes and written information that will be of help you. We also have many wonderful dogs up for adoption that are waiting for good homes. You are to be commended for doing your research on the responsibilities of pet ownership. If you do adopt a dog, I’m sure it will be lucky to be part of your family. Good luck to you! Q. I like the way you guys help the animals when I grow up I want to be like you guys to help animals and I am twelve years old no one is like me every one thinks I am weird and I will show them how great you guys are! A. Thanks for your wonderful comments, Lupe! Wanting to help animals is never "weird." There are lots of kids like you that come to The SPCA for Animal Camp or volunteer as part of our Junior Volunteer Program. We are always available to give presentations to your school about animal care, treating animals humanely, dog bite prevention, and more. We can also give you information or an interview if you ever do a school project on The SPCA and the animals that we help every day. There are many career opportunities available if you want to work with animals when you grow up. Just a few of the jobs we do everyday at The SPCA include helping people find their perfect new pet, grooming and caring for a wide variety of barn animals, rescuing injured and orphaned wildlife, and feeding all the animals in our care. Some other careers that help animals are Veterinarians, Veterinary Technicians, Dog Trainers, Humane Investigators, Animal Control Officers, taking care of horses, owning or managing a pet store, scientific work researching animal habitats...the list goes on! Also, keep in mind that there are many other careers that indirectly benefit the animals. Organizations that help animals also need accountants, development directors, data entry professionals, and administrative assistants to keep everything running smoothly. Please email or call us if we can answer any other questions. It was great to hear from you, Lupe! Keep up the good work! Q. I am doing a project on the SPCA and I was wondering.. what is the SPCA's biggest accomplishment? A. The identity of the SPCA’s biggest accomplishment is in the eyes of the beholder. For pet owners evacuating from Katrina who were found and reunited with their dog who had been sheltered at the SPCA for Monterey County, our biggest accomplishment is finding them and letting them know we have their dog—and in some cases providing medical treatment for serious illnesses at not cost. For the pet that gets a second chance at life in a new home, our greatest accomplishment is sheltering and finding them a new home to live in. In the global sense, the SPCA’s greatest recent accomplishment lies in initiating the process that has resulted in animal groups in Monterey County cooperating to end the euthanasia of healthy, treatable companion animals or animals with manageable conditions and establishing a standardized measurement system that will allow us to accurately measure our progress toward that goal. We were a lead agency in developing the Asilomar Accords, a set of goals and a measurement standard that is sweeping the country. But because The SPCA has served Monterey County for 100 years, I can’t say that it was our greatest all time biggest accomplishment. Feel free to give me a call at (831) 373-2631 extension 220 if you would like to discuss this question further. Q. I was wondering how you look up a missing cat on your website? A. Like many animal rescue organizations, we do not place photos of pets online until they are available for adoption. We find that many times a lost pet photo service is actually used by people looking for a new pet and can lead to trouble, especially when a particularly desirable pet is placed online. If your cat has become lost, please don't hesitate to start looking for her. Your first step is calling your local animal control and visiting or calling your local shelter (see list below). Bring current photos and vet records with you to help identify your pet. If you are unable to visit our shelter immediately, you may also email us a photo of your cat. If your cat is not at the shelter, contact nearby veterinary hospitals to see if they received an unidentified, injured cat. Check the "found" ads in your local paper and consider placing a lost cat ad. Click here to print out a "Lost Cat" poster and post copies throughout your town. Also be sure to search around your neighborhood, especially in small hiding places, and shake a container of your cat's favorite food or treat. Local Animal Agencies that can help: We wish you all the best of luck finding your cat. When you are reunited, be sure to get your cat a well-fitting collar with tags and a microchip so that she can more easily find her way home if she ever becomes lost again. Q. A stray white cat I have been feeding has a grey hard growth on one eartip. I fear it may be squamus carcinoma instead of a bite wound. May I email you a photo of it? If it were a cancer, how much for surgical amputation of the eartip? A. White cats with pink skin are very prone to developing solar dermatitis (sunburn) of the ear margins and around the eyelids and face. Early signs on the ear flaps would be redness and scaling, progressing to crusting, curling, and ulceration. Solar dermatitis can progress to actinic keratosis which results in a proliferation of the keratinous layer of the skin appearing as a firm circumscribed (well-defined) raised area on the skin. The development of this type of lesion is uncommon. The more common progression would be to squamous cell carcinoma, commonly known as skin cancer. Squamous cell carcinoma appears as an erosive ulcerative lesion with bleeding and crusting. The only way to know for sure if the growth you are seeing is cancerous is to have the lesion biopsied by a veterinarian. When squamous cell carcinoma involves a large portion of the pinna (the ear flap), amputation (either partial or total) is indicated. Small lesions on the nose have been treated successfully with cryosurgery (freezing of the lesion). Cost of surgery would depend on how extensive an amputation is required. You should check with your veterinarian for an evaluation of the ear and an estimate for surgery if indicated Q. How can I order the 2006 SPCA calendar? A. Thanks for your interest in our Pet Calendar (and for entering the contest this year as well)! Your entry included one calendar which you should have received in the mail just prior to Thanksgiving. Additional calendars can be purchased for $10 at The SPCA on Highway 68, The SPCA Annex at the Del Monte Center in Monterey, and The SPCA Benefit Shops at Carmel and Pacific Grove. You can also order by phone by calling 831-373-2631 ext 231. We'll drop one in the mail for you for $12 which includes the postage. Each of the photos in the calendar was taken by an amateur photographer and every single photograph that was entered is published in this unique and heartwarming calendar. The winners are showcased as the premiere photo for each month with the overall winner appearing on the cover. It's not too early to be thinking about the photo you'll enter for the 2007 Pet Calendar! Each entry and calendar purchase directly supports the animal protection work of The SPCA for Monterey County. Highlights of our key programs and the services we provide for the animals and our community is included inside the calendar. Many of our programs are unique to The SPCA and we are very grateful for your donations that allow us to continue our important work in Monterey County. Q. My cat Cuddles is very sweet, but he urinates on our chairs. He is neutered and it seems unusual. What could get him to stop? A. Thank you for your question, Marie! Before trying any of the recommended deterrents, you will want to take Cuddles to the vet to rule out any medical issues that could be causing this issue. The most common problems are urinary tract infections or blockages. Be sure to thoroughly clean the marked area. Products such as Nature's Miracle or Urine Gone are available at all the local pet stores or online at stores such as PetSmart or Petco. After your vet has given Cuddles a clear bill of health and the chair has been thoroughly cleaned, there are quite a few ways to help change your cat's behavior. One thing to try is a whistle, a few coins in a soft drink can, a spray bottle filled with water, or banging pots together to startle the cat when he attempts to urinate on the chair. This startle effect will help change his behavior. When you see Cuddles getting up on the chair, blow the whistle, rattle the coins in the can, or squirt the water from a distance. Sometimes it will only take one try and the cat will never go on that chair again. You can also try putting a texture on the chair that the cat does not like. Shelf paper (sticky side up), heavy foil, and double sided tape can all work well as deterrents. Sometimes certain smells will keep animals away from furniture. You can soak cotton balls, rags, or wash cloths with citronella, colognes with a citric odor, or lemon juice concentrate. When using any chemical substance, be sure to read the label to ensure that it won't harm your pet and always put something under it so that it doesn't stain the chair. If you find this does not work for Cuddles, please contact our behavior helpline at 831-373-2631 or 422-4721 x236 for more information. |
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