Welcome to the Barkingham Mews, the Greater Birmingham Humane Society's monthly on-line newsletter. We hope to keep you informed about upcoming events, some of our adoption success stories, and other exciting opportunities available here at the GBHS! Your input is important to us, tell us what you would like to see in upcoming editions!

Between January 1 and May 25, 2009, the Greater Birmingham Humane Society has already received 1,369 cats and kittens. In comparison, the GBHS has rehomed 252 cats and kittens. Our community, like many others, has an overwhelming cat overpopulation problem. There are simply far more kittens born, than there are responsible homes.

Despite the statistics and the horrifying facts, you can make the difference in the life of a homeless cat or kitten. When you adopt, you are taking one simple step to ensure that a precious pet is loved, respected, and given a forever home. To that pet, you will be his or her world. You will have saved a life, but not just one life. When you adopt, you give another pet the opportunity to find a loving home by freeing kennel space for him or her.

June is Adopt-A-Cat-Month. Help the Greater Birmingham Humane Society raise awareness about the wonders of sharing your life with a feline. Share your adoption stories and photos with us through our website. If you are a fan of the Greater Birmingham Humane Society on Facebook, share your story on our wall! If you have been longing to share your life with a feline, young or old, purr-crastinate no more! Come adopt your purr-fect feline from the Greater Birmingham Humane Society today!

During the month of June, in celebration of the special cats and kittens in our care, we are reducing adoption fees to: $50 for cats over 6 months and $100 for kittens under 6 months. All adoptable cats and kittens have been spayed or neutered, microchipped, vaccinated, and those over 6 months have been FELV tested. No value can be placed on the pet you will be adopting, only on the services we have provided for him or her. The average cost of services rendered to our adoptable cats and kittens is $240. Adopting your next pet from the Greater Birmingham Humane Society will save a life, save YOU money, and provide both you and your new feline friend years of love and joy!

Take the first step and meet some of our adoptable cats and kittens today!  

Did you know that three simple steps can save lives? That you can help reduce the number of unwanted pets in your community? That you have the power to help end animal cruelty? And that you can help the GBHS continue our 126-year mission to serve the pets and people in our community. By participating in the Greater Birmingham Humane Society's “Pledge, Promote, Provide” campaign you can make all of these things possible.

We are asking everyone in and around Jefferson County to commit to doing three little things that will make a BIG difference.

The GBHS has secured a very special Pet Care Package for one lucky participant! Eligibility is based on the completion of all three steps on or before July 1st.

Get started today! It’s as easy as 1-2-3!

Does your child LOVE animals??? If so, they will LOVE Critter Camp 2009! Participating children get to meet dogs, cats, and rabbits during their week at camp! They will also learn how to be safe with animals and much much more!

Camp is limited to 15 children between the ages of 8-12 years. Learn more and register today!

Did you know that in 2005 the average vet clinic in north-central Alabama reported 6-25 cases of heartworm disease in dogs? In south Alabama, more than 50 cases per clinic were reported for the same time span.

Heartworms are spread to dogs and cats through mosquito bites. Tiny heartworm larvae are taken in by mosquitoes from infected hosts. Over the next two to three weeks the heartworm larvae develops inside the mosquito until it reaches the infective stage. Once at this stage, when the mosquito feeds it can transmit the infective larvae to a new host usually a dog or cat. Heartworm disease is potentially fatal. However, it is also easily prevented.

Your veterinarian can test your dog with a simple blood test to confirm that it does not have heartworms. Once confirmed, your veterinarian may prescribe one of several different preventative medications for your pet. Most preventative medications are typically given on a monthly basis, and in states like Alabama, they are given year-round.

Testing for heartworms in cats is much more challenging. If your cat must be outdoors, talk to your vet about available heartworm preventatives. Although most people only think of heartworms as a “dog disease”, cats that get heartworms usually die much faster than infected dogs. There are four FDA approved preventative medications.

While prevention is the best option, many pets in our community are unprotected from heartworms, as is demonstrated by the statistics noted above. Pets that are infected with heartworms offer suffer in silent pain for months, or even years, before showing signs of illness, which are presented when the disease is severe. At that stage, symptoms may include:

• difficulty breathing
• coughing
• tiredness
• reduced appetite and weight loss
• vomiting and gagging (usually only in cats)
• lung, liver, kidney, or heart failure, leading to death

Once a pet is showing signs of possible heartworm infection, depending on the overall health of the pet and severity of the disease, your vet may be able to treat your pet for heartworms. However, there is a real possibility that the disease may have been allowed to progress to the point that euthanasia is the only humane option for the pet.

If a heartworm infection is diagnosed early enough in a dog, the treatment is costly. It is also a very uncomfortable process for the dog. While being treated the dog is placed on a limited exercise routine and prohibited from running and playing. For a day or two after each treatment, the dog will often show signs of severe discomfort and your veterinarian may prescribe pain medication to help alleviate some of these side effects. Once the heartworms have been eradicated, it will then be imperative that the pet remain on heartworm preventative for the rest of its life to prevent a reinfection.

If a cat is diagnosed with a heartworm infection, there is little that can be done. Most cats will only live one to two years post-infection. While there is no FDA approved treatment at this time, there are medications that may help manage the symptoms.

Additional information may be found at:

• http://www.fda.gov/consumer/updates/heartworm061908.html
• http://www.avma.org/careforanimals/animatedjourneys/pethealth/canine.asp#2
• http://www.heartwormsociety.org/article_1141.html

Sophie Finds the Lap of Luxury

Sophie, formerly known as White Sox, was surrendered to the GBHS on February 10, 2009. Like so many, Sophie was surrendered because her family moved to a home where no pets are allowed. Yet, she did not let her family's inability to care for her damper her vibrant love for life. Even at her worst, she held on to the hope that her forever home was out there somewhere.

On April 17, 2009 Sophie's life changed when she met her new forever mom, Ms. Blanks. Sophie is so pleased with her new home that she sent us a brief update with some photos of her lounging around the house.

"Hi Everyone!!

My name is Sophie (AKA White Socks). I was adopted about 3 weeks ago. My mama changed my name. I like my new name because it sounds more "girlie". I also like my new house. I have lots of birds and chipmunks to watch and lots of room to run and run. It's very exciting. At night, after I've had a busy day, I chill out on my own little sofa. When my mama goes to bed, I sleep with her all night and wake her up every morning. Thank you for keeping me until I found a new home.

Much love, Sophie Blanks"

Do you have a success story to share? If so, we would love to hear from you!