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FIV (feline immunodeficiency virus) is a cat disease. It is often confused with Felv (Feline Leukemia Virus). However, they are quite different. FIV cannot be spread to humans or dogs. Cats can live normal, healthy lives by doing for them what a good pet owner would do with their other feline companions. They need high quality food, L-lysine supplements (used by humans for fever blister control) , indoor only homes and yearly vet visits.FIV is spread by deep bite wounds when cats fight, most often unfixed, outside, free roaming cats. Cats once fixed, tend not to fight and their personalities become much calmer.
There was not a test developed for FIV until the mid-1980’s. Up to that point, many FIV cats were placed in homes with the disease, unknown to pet owners. FIV cats get terribly short changed because most people do not even know what FIV is or how it is spread.
St. Louis Pet Rescue fosters and adopts out FIV positive cats. In most cases they are housed with non-FIV cats and co-exist wonderfully. There is a lot of information regarding FIV and veterinarians that feel FIV and non-FIC cats can live together. See below for resources:
http://www.fivcats.com/FIV/fiv_mixed_households.html
http://www.vetstreet.com/our-pet-experts/why-this-vet-thinks-fiv-positive-cats-make-great-adoptees
Post by Nicole M.
In the excitement of adopting a new furry member of the family, many first-time pet owners (and even second-time pet owners) forget the most basic procedures for keeping their homes fur-friendly. Most of the safety hazards for pets are things you didn’t have to worry about prior to their arrival.
Every pet deserves a habitat that he or she will feel comfortable in, in addition to all of the care and love they can get. Here are a few tips for pet-proofing the house before you bring your companion home for the first time:
Pet proofing your home
Many pets have a tremendous amount of energy and natural curiosity, and they love to explore the world around them. This is part of what makes them so much fun, but it can also lead them into harmful situations. Before you bring your new pet home, make sure you survey your home for potential dangers. In many ways, making your home safe for a pet is similar to making your home safe for a toddler. The following tips are designed to help you keep your pet safe.
Indoors hazards
Living Room/Dining Room
Whether you’re bringing home an older pet or a younger pet, some accidents are bound to happen! Purchase non-chemical, enzymatic cleaners. Chemical cleaners contain ammonia, which can make the accident area more appealing for pets to eliminate.
Bathroom
Kitchen
Backyard
MANY plants are toxic to pets; including some very common flowers Azalea, oleander, and cyclamen can kill a pet if they are consumed. Other plants to look out for: juniper, carnation, hyacinth, tulip, and morning glory
Product safety recalls and alerts
Many of you have requested that I post the Pee Pee Potion:
16 ounces peroxide
1 tablespoon baking soda
1 teaspoon of dish soap
Spray this on the offender’s mark and allow to air dry. There will be a powdery residue, which you can vacuum up or dust off with a cloth. I personally have not tried this on colored fabric, but many say they have not had issues with the solution taking out color – I’d just be cautious!
This solution worked on even a pee spot I had been working on for nearly 3 years. I tried vinegar, plain soap and water, rubbing alcohol, a certain expensive ‘miracle’, peroxide by itself – nothing worked. It was either replace the foam in the chair or throw it out. I priced foam and it was $130 for one cushion!
I decided to give the Internet one last try because while I love the chair, I just can’t spend $130 on foam! I found this recipe and decided to give it a go. I removed the cover, mixed up 2 batches of the recipe to soak the cushion then set it up in front of a fan in the basement. After 3 days, it was dry and pee free! I can’t smell any pee and none of the kitties sniff the cushion like they used to!
St. Louis Pet Rescue would like to kindly remind you of the benefit of supporting local non-profit organizations and charities. Not only do you help do good in your own community, but you probably know some family and friends who volunteer for that group or have been touched by that organization.
Every day all the volunteers with St. Louis Pet Rescue work to bring people and pets together. Sadly, not all pets get to have a loving home from birth, but the ones we, and other organizations like us, are able to help, well, those are the lucky ones. Without the support of our community and volunteers, we could not do what we do every day.
Rescued is our favorite breed. Our volunteers and adopters know it best: rescued pets know they were rescued. They have been lost, scared, and perhaps even cold and hungry with no one to care for them. They are the most appreciative and caring pets. Sure, they still do chew your shoes (or chair!), but they adore their people who rescued them from the alternative.
This holiday season, please remember to hold your pets close, spread the good word about pet adoption, and ask all of your family, friends, and co-workers (and you, too), to consider St. Louis Pet Rescue when planning your end of year contributions.
Thank you!
Jackie K.
In December 2011, St. Louis Pet Rescue joined Schnucks’ eScrip program. This program allows customers to basically get “rebates” on their purchases and donate that rebate to a local charity. The rebate ranges between 1-3% – spend $100, STLPR could get $3 and all just for you doing your normal grocery shopping!
In just one year, St. Louis Pet Rescue has gone from receiving $ .18 in December 2011, to receiving $21.83 in December 2012, through the Schnucks eScrip Community Card Program. We started off with only one transaction from an eScrip card-carrier for STLPR in December, 2011, and one year later, in December, 2012, there were 44 transactions, and now STLPR has 74 people registered!
From that same time period, STLPR received a total of $162.99 through the Schnucks eScrip Community Card Program. The donations from the program go directly into the STLPR bank account each month to help us pay for pet supplies and veterinary care.
So, how can you help? First, if you aren’t signed up, please get signed up. Second, if you’re already in our program and carry a card for STLPR, just keep doing what you’re doing. Third, if you know of friends, neighbors, co-workers, family, etc., who shop at Schnucks regularly or even infrequently — and ask people if you’re not sure where they shop — tell them about how it would benefit our group IF they signed up to support us, and be sure to tell them that it won’t cost them even a penny. It’s completely free for them to be able to help us help the animals. All they have to do is shop at Schnucks and show their registered card at the check-out. Most animal-lovers will gladly do this!
The more families who join us in the ongoing fundraiser, the more donations we’ll be getting from Schnucks. There are non-profit groups enrolled in this program who are getting donations of $5,000+ per year just by signing up people they come in contact with to support them. How amazing if we could do that, too!
To get a card or to get someone you know signed up for a card, please e-mail Carol to get started.
Can’t foster, but you want to help out? Wonderful! Go check out the new volunteer form on our Volunteer page.
There are some great flyers on there too to hang at your local coffee shop, favorite deli, gym, office, etc.! – choose either a flyer with small dog Edith or one with a foster kitty crew!
What a population explosion we are experiencing in the St. Louis area! Due to this mild winter, kitten season started early. We have been getting calls non-stop from the community, local animal controls and fellow rescues about kittens or pregnant mamas needing placement.
While the little fuzzy kittens are adorable, we would love to see less of them during kitten season. Please encourage spay and neuter of pets. Here are some resources for you or those you might know that offer low cost spay/neuter programs!
Below are some great reasons from metroanimal.org regarding spay/neuter:
In order to help the current kitten population get adopted so we can continue to help more, beginning Memorial Day Weekend 2012 through Labor Day 2012, we will run a kitten special! Adopt a kitten, get a cloth carrier (while supplies last).
Interested in a pair, we’ll adopt a second kitten to you for only $100 – that’s $25 off the normal adoption fee.
Brooks – 6 month-old Fox Terrier mix puppy. Needs work on housebreaking and basic training.
Mack – 5 y/o Mastiff mix. Needs to be with submissive dog as he is dominant. He is great with kids.
Spencer – 8 month-old Lab/Terrier mix. Need to be in a positive foster home who can help him with his fear.
Taz – 3 y/o Cattle Dog mix. Loves everyone – cats, dogs and kids!