Potter League Blog

Home for the Holidays

Mon, 12 Dec 2011 15:25:00 GMT

This time of year, having a place to call “Home” holds special significance. That is why our staff and volunteers work so hard to place all our adoptable animals during the month of December. We would love to have each and everyone in a home this holiday season.

More...

Why do we have so many Cats?

Tue, 16 Aug 2011 16:48:00 GMT

There are 113 cats in our building today* and another 22 out in our foster care program. One of the reasons why we have so many is because most stray cats go unclaimed.

More...

The Search for a Missing Pet

Mon, 08 Aug 2011 14:54:00 GMT

We are very happy to report that Nomar, the little white Maltese mix, who went missing on Bellevue Avenue has been found and reunited with his owner.More...

A 12 Year-Old Fetching Friend Starts Life Anew on a Maine Island

Thu, 14 Jul 2011 16:55:00 GMT

Rooster, a twelve year old Jack Russell terrier came to us recently from our sister shelter in North Carolina as part of the Potter League’s Fetching Friends program. His 96 year-old owner had to surrender him to the Mitchell County Animal Rescue League.
More...

Fourth Can be Frightening

Thu, 30 Jun 2011 19:21:00 GMT

Fourth of July is a festive time but it is important for pet owners to realize that fireworks and pets are not a good mix. Whether it is your neighbor lighting off fireworks or the community display, it can be a traumatic holiday for your dogs and cats.

Now that it is lawful for persons 16 years or older to purchase certain types of hand-held and ground-based fireworks in Rhode Island, it is common to hear nightly explosions in our local neighborhoods. This time of year make sure your pets are indoors when neighborhood fireworks start poppin’. Curious animals can be seriously injured and burned if they come into contact with an exploding firecracker. There is also a risk that the dog who will chew anything might ingest a firecracker and become very sick.

Animals that have noise phobias suffer when exposed to the deafening noises of community firework displays. Keep your pets confined indoors in a quiet, familiar area during this scheduled activity. Some animals can become destructive when frightened, so remove any items that he or she could destroy or that would be harmful if chewed. Leave a television or radio playing at normal volume to keep your pet company and help drown out noise during the fireworks.

If your pet has been seriously distressed in the past by loud noises such as thunder, consult your veterinarian before the Fourth of July. Ask for ways to help alleviate the fear and anxiety he will experience during fireworks displays.

Resist with all your might, the urge to take your pet to fireworks displays. It’s just a bad idea, the exploding light shows and boisterous crowds can cause major anxiety in many dogs.

Make sure that your dogs and cats are always wearing identification tags. Animal shelters across the country customarily receive numbers of "July 4th Dogs” - dogs who run off during fireworks celebrations and family gatherings. If your pet becomes lost contact your animal control officer and local animal shelter.

June is Adopt-A-Cat Month

Wed, 01 Jun 2011 14:57:00 GMT

After 372 days in our care, Hazel, a gorgeous tortoise shell cat with lots of cati-tude was placed into a new home. Marge has been at the Potter League since August of 2010. We are hoping you will help us clear the cat rooms and kitty condos during June, Adopt-a-Cat Month by either adopting a cat or spreading the word about our fabulous felines.

In the busy summer months, our shelter fills up with cats and kittens. We often care for 100 cats on a daily basis and have dozens more in our foster care system. Summer is great time to save a life and add a cat to your family. Here is how adopting a cat will benefit you:

Top ten reasons to adopt a shelter cat:
1) Cats make great subjects for your U Tube videos
2) It will give you something to “Tweet” about
3) Cats don’t need to be walked three times a day
4) Cats teach us about patience, curiosity and perseverance
5) Purrrfect sleeping buddies – you can catnap together
6) Cats are self-cleaning pets – they bathe themselves
7) Potter Cats are ready to go pets – they are spayed & neutered, vaccinated and have no fleas!
8) You’re sweating now but remember those high heating bills last winter? Cats are energy-efficient lap-warmers, foot-warmers and sometimes even head-warmers.
9) Cats will make you laugh and lower your blood pressure – Laughter is the best medicine and petting your cat will make you a calmer person.
10) You’ll be our hero!

During the month of June come out to the Potter League and visit with our fabulous felines – you are sure to fall in love. Adopt a cat and receive a special gift package this month. Also check out our Facebook page each day to view a picture of one of our adoptable cats.

Unless You Can Commit, Make Yours Chocolate

Mon, 11 Apr 2011 19:08:00 GMT

When Easter shopping this year, please don’t buy live rabbits, chicks or ducks as gifts for the children in your lives. Each year thousands of baby animals are purchased. Those that manage to survive beyond a few days, weeks or months are often abandoned in the woods or given up to shelters.

Many people think that rabbits are low maintenance pets with short life spans that make great pets for children. Nothing can be further from reality. Rabbits have a life expectancy of 8 to 10 years. They are high maintenance pets which require as much care as dog or cat – if not more. This responsibility should ultimately rest with an adult not a child. Rabbits are fragile creatures who do not enjoy being picked up or cuddled; they are easily frightened by loud noises or sudden movements.

For the family that is willing to make a long term commitment of 10 years with active parental supervision and participation in the ongoing care of the rabbit, consider adopting an adult rabbit from a shelter or a rabbit rescue. Otherwise, go with a chocolate bunny!

Here are some pointers from the House Rabbit Society for those who are serious about making a rabbit a part of the family:

Housing: Bunnies need a roomy indoor cage that is approximately four times the size of the adult rabbit. The cage should not have a wire bottom, as the wire can cause sores on the rabbit's feet. There should be room for a litterbox, toys, food and water bowls.

Playtime: Rabbits need plenty of exercise and should be allowed at least 30 hours out-of-cage running time in a rabbit-proofed area of the home per week.

Outdoors: Rabbits should never be left outdoors unsupervised. They can , literally, be frightened to death when approached by predators such as dogs, cats, raccoons and owls. They can also dig under fences to escape.

Litter Box: Rabbits, once spayed or neutered, will readily use litterboxes that are place in one corner of the rabbit's cage; the rabbit's running space should contain at least one additional box. Use dust-free litter--not the clumping kind, and no softwood shavings.

Diet: Bunnies need fresh water, unlimited fresh, grass hay, 1-2 cups of fresh vegetables, and a small serving (1/4 c per 5 lb. rabbit) of plain rabbit pellets each day.

Health: Like dogs and cats, rabbits should be spayed or neutered. The risk of uterine cancer in unspayed female rabbits is alarmingly high., and unneutered males are likely to spray. ……By the way, the Potter League spays or neuters all our rabbits prior to adoption.

Grooming: Rabbits shed their coat 3-4 times per year; use a flea comb and brush away excess fur.

A person who chooses a baby rabbit as a pet must:

Have lots of time, and a household that can withstand some chewing, and a stable residence.
Expect an unneutered/unspayed baby will spray urine on the walls. Know that neutering/spaying (at four to six months) will stop the problem.
Expect accidents when baby forgets the location of the litterbox.
Allow the energetic young rabbit at least 30 hours a week of free time outside her cage.
Know the cute baby will soon be an adult rabbit and may have a different personality.

Stray animals most at risk in the winter

Wed, 19 Jan 2011 19:30:00 GMT

Oh, the weather outside is frightful…especially if you are a stray cat or dog. Winter weather can take its toll on homeless animals. There are so many more hazards when the weather is inclement.

Outdoor domesticated animals need a higher caloric intake in the winter time to maintain the correct body temperature. So they are at risk for malnutrition or even starvation if they have limited or no food source. When their water sources freeze, strays can easily become dehydrated.

Stay animals are truly at risk for frostbite. When the temperature or wind-chill deeps into the freezing or subfreezing zone, their paws, toes, ears, tail and scrotum are areas of the body commonly affected. Hypothermia is another danger and can be fatal for strays. Very old and very young dogs and cats are most at risk as are short furred dogs.

Cats are known to seek out warm places in cold weather and will often climb inside of a car which still has a warm engine. If the cat is still there when the car start up again, severe injury or death will result.

Animals can become ill when they ingest the chemicals used to treat icy roads and sidewalks. Paw pads can become encrusted with snow and become injured. Without intervention, these injuries and illnesses can cause real harm. Animals also are attracted to the smell and taste of antifreeze which is highly toxic. If they happen upon an antifreeze spill, it could be deadly.

If you spot a stray dog or cat in your neighborhood, contact your animal control officer by calling your local police department. Animal control will check it out and all strays from Newport, Middletown and Portsmouth are brought to the Potter League. The Potter League is a warm, safe haven for stray dogs and cats who otherwise might not make it through the winter months.

P.S. Never let your dog off the leash during the winter months especially in a snowstorm. They can easily lose their scent and become lost. More dogs are lost in the winter months than any other time of the year.

Meant To Be

Wed, 08 Dec 2010 21:56:00 GMT

During the holiday season, we thought we would share a story about one of our special adoptions…..

I believe things happen for a reason. I thought about adopting a puppy since the beginning of the year. It had been about one year since we said goodbye to our sweet Molly of 16 years. Each month I would say to my husband Kevin, "Let's get a puppy, it's lonely around here." Our kids were grown and on their own and I was feeling a bit of the empty nest. Kevin would smile and just say not yet, maybe at the end of the summer.

So, in my usual way I would ask him weekly and he would give the same answer. I even went and visited puppies, brought home their photos to entice him but still he said, “Not yet.” As July came, I decided August was right around the corner and I thought I'd pay a visit to the Potter League.

When I walked in, I asked Nicole, a sweet and friendly employee, if the League ever gets puppies. She said “Yes we do. Just fill out an application and we'll contact you.” So I did! As I completed the form I chatted with Nicole and told her that I was looking for a small pup, friendly, and sweet.

Soon after, I received a call from Nicole, “I have a puppy who is on hold, if they don't pick him up, would you be interested?”. "Of course!” I answered. Well, wouldn't you know, 24 hours later the call came, "The puppy is available"! Surprisingly Kevin was on board.

As we waited in the lobby, around the corner came our new friend, a cute, big-eared, Yorkie-Chihuahua mix. He is a southern boy rescued from North Carolina who we named Remy. Now this story doesn't end here...like I said, things happen for a reason. Remy came into our lives at the perfect time.

Two days after adopting Remy my husband Kevin got very sick with an autoimmune disease that effected his joints and caused a terrible rash. Kevin could barely walk, and was limited to the bed and couch for 3 weeks. Remy was the best medicine for Kevin. He became his companion, distraction, and entertainment. The two were inseparable!

Remy is the perfect dog, adaptable, loving, and playful...a sweet little friendly boy. He has brought us so much happiness! As a matter of fact, Kevin just recently said to me... “You know we didn't rescue Remy...he rescued us!” Thank you Potter League.

Perhaps, there’s a special someone waiting here at the Potter League that is just meant to be a part of your family and would love to be in your home for the holidays.

October is Adopt a Dog Month - Consider a Pit Bull

Tue, 12 Oct 2010 22:09:00 GMT

October is Adopt a Dog Month…and what better time to consider adopting one of our most misunderstood breeds of dog – the Pit Bull. This breed is inherently sweet, affectionate, and highly intelligent with an eager-to-please personality.

Too often, pit bulls and their owners have gotten a bad rap and have been stereotyped because of the actions of a few. The Potter League adopts out pit bulls but, as with all our dogs, we carefully evaluate their temperament before placing them up for adoption. We take extra care to make sure that they become ambassadors for their breed by providing obedience training prior to adoption.

Currently we have several pit bulls for adoption. Carmel is a beautiful, two year old pit bull who is very soft and sweet. She gets along with other dogs. Isabel is a 6 year old pit who lived with cats and dogs and Romeo is a strong, handsome 10 month old who has been learning many obedience commands here at the shelter.

We know owning a pit bull isn’t for everyone. Pit bull owners often deal with public scrutiny and breed discrimination. But if you are a committed advocate for this breed, having a well-mannered dog is so important. Once you show off your well-trained bully –you will do so much to turn their image around. Responsi-Bull owners make a big difference.

All Potter League dogs are spayed or neutered prior to adoption. It is especially important for pit bulls. The Rhode Island Community Spay/Neuter Clinic has a special package available for pit bull owners (mixes too) to sterilize your dog at a low fee and also provides vaccinations. For more information go to www.RICSNC.org

Celebrate Adopt a Dog month by Adopting a Bull! Visit today and speak with our expert staff to learn more about how rewarding it can be to live with a loving and loyal bully.