News Room - 2008

Becky Enneking, Animal Care Services Manager, (916) 808-7433
Rhea Serran, Public Information Officer, (916) 402-5091 (mobile)

October 29, 2008

For Sacramento Pets, Halloween Can be a Real Fright Night
Simple Practices Can Keep Your Pets Healthy and Safe

With all the goblins and ghouls wandering local neighborhoods for treats, Halloween can be a frightening time for pets. As the holiday approaches, the City of Sacramento's Animal Care Services urges pet owners to take a few simple precautions to keep their pets healthy and safe on Halloween.

“Halloween is a festive time to be enjoyed by humans, not our pets,” Animal Care Services Manager Becky Enneking reminds pet owners. “The noise and activities that occur during this time can cause a lot of stress on an animal, so it is best to keep them indoors and away from Halloween activities.”

Additional tips for keeping pets safe include:

• Keep pets indoors, away from trick-or-treaters and other Halloween activities. This will ensure that pets won't become frightened or feel threatened at the sight of noisy costumed children.
• It's a good idea to keep pets in another area of the house or enclosed safely in a room away from the Halloween festivities. Frequently opened doors provide a good escape opportunity. Be sure your pets are wearing collars with ID tags and are microchipped in case of accidental escape.
• Keep candy out of your pet's reach. Candy is harmful to pets and chocolate is particularly toxic to cats and dogs.

Simple Practices for Keeping Pets Safe This Halloween

• Also keep pets away from Halloween decorations. Flames in jack-o-lanterns and candles can quickly singe, burn or set fire to a pet's fur. Pets can also become tangled in hanging decorations like streamers and can choke on some decorations.
• Avoid dressing your pets in costumes. Pets dislike the confinement of costumes and masks, and some costumes can obstruct their vision or constrict their movement. If you still plan to dress your pet in a costume, be sure to pay attention to whether your pet seems agitated or stressed by the costume and remove it if necessary.
• Don't bring your dog along for trick-or-treating. They may become agitated and difficult to handle during the noise and confusion of the festivities.
• People with black cats should be extra careful about keeping their pets safe during Halloween as they tend to be the target of pranksters.

For more information about the City of Sacramento Animal Care Services, please visit www.SacPetSearch.com or call 916-808-PETS (7387). For additional tips on how to keep your pets safe during Halloween, visit the Humane Society of United States' web site at www.hsus.org.

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Hector Cazares, Animal Care Services Manager, (916) 808-7433
Rhea Serran, Public Information Officer, (916) 402-5091 (mobile)

July 9, 2008

Parked Cars Cook Dogs

Running into the store for “just a minute” can be fatal for a dog left in a car

The “dog days” of summer can be dangerous for dogs - especially those dogs left inside hot cars. Every year, countless dogs die after being locked in cars while their guardians work, visit, shop, or run other errands. These tragic deaths are entirely preventable.

The City of Sacramento, Animal Care Services reminds pet owners to keep their pets safe this summer. Prevent more pets from dying by not leaving your dog in the car when it is hot outside. Even with the windows cracked, if it is 84 degrees outside, the car can easily reach 100 degrees inside and continue to climb. It is against the law to leave a pet unattended in a parked vehicle in a manner than endangers the health or safety of the animal.

If you plan on having your pet tag along with you while running errands or during your family vacation, follow these tips:

• Keep your pets at home during the summer months if they'll be going anywhere pets are not allowed.
• The dangerous five minute wait. During the summer, the weather is outrageously hot; the car can reach a temperature of 120°, even in the shade. Animals cannot perspire, but expel heat through the pads on their feet or by panting. Pets left in the car even for a few minutes are prone to heat exhaustion, heat stroke, brain damage, or even death.
• Give your pet its space. Keeping your cat in a carrier with blankets or placing your dog in a crate or seatbelt harness can prevent any on the road accidents. If the animals are free to wander around the car, they are more liable to distract the driver or be thrown around if the driver swerves or suddenly brakes.
• Always be prepared on long trips. Keep dry foods and always have an extra jug of water. Be sure to make both accessible to your pet and feed it during its regular schedule.
• Take pit stops. When taking a trip with your pet, stop every two to three hours to allow your pet to stretch and go to the bathroom. If the drive is two hours, coax your pet by taking it out or placing fresh litter in the litter box before you leave.
• Get involved. If you see a pet in a parked car during a summer day, enlist the help of an Animal Control Officer, call the City of Sacramento Animal Care Services at 916/264-5011(from any phone) or dial 311 (within City limits). Share this information with others and keep a look out for pets that are in parked cars. For more information, please log on to www.SacPetSearch.com.

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Claudia Schlachter, Volunteer and Special Events Coordinator, (916) 808-7387
Rhea Serran, Public Information Officer, (916) 402-5091 (mobile)

May 1, 2008

City Animal Shelter Celebrates the Talents of Our
Four-legged Friends

“Dogs on Parade” Kicks-off National Be Kind to Animals Week
Saturday, May 3, 2008

WHO:	The City of Sacramento, Animal Care Services will hold its first annual "Dogs On Parade" event to celebrate the talents of our canine friends in conjunction with "Be Kind to Animals" week.
WHAT:	This FREE event includes an array of demonstrations from the Sacramento Police Department's Canine Unit, agility demonstrations, Herding and Carting demonstration, Service Dogs, a parade of the City animal shelter’s “Good Manners” dog class graduates and more! More than 15 booths will feature dog rescue groups, grooming demos, area animal related businesses, “Kids Corner” interactive booth and lunch provided by donation.
WHY:	The City Animal Shelter is hosting “Dogs on Parade” to kick-off National Be Kind to Animals Week, May 4-10, marking the 94th annual observance of the oldest event in the nation celebrating the companionship, friendship and love that animals bring into people’s lives. The City’s animal shelter is currently impacted with adoptable dogs, puppies, kittens and cats that are in need of loving homes. Adopting shelter animals directly helps reduce the suffering caused by pet overpopulation and unnecessary euthanasia of healthy, adoptable animals. Over 24,000 animals are euthanized each year in the Sacramento region – help save a life and meet a forever friend! To learn more about adopting an animal, please visit the City’s Animal Care Services Center at 2127 Front Street, call 916-808-7387 (PETS) or log on to www.SacPetSearch.com.
WHEN:	Saturday, May 3, 2008 10 a.m. - 3 p.m.
WHERE:	Pioneer Park Broadway and Front Street (next to the Towe Auto Museum) Sacramento, CA

EVENT VISUALS: Fantastic array of talented dogs including the City Police K9 unit, service animals, agility demonstrations, Animal Care Services staff, shelter volunteers, pet owners, plenty of adoptable cats and dogs and the general public.

Tentative Schedule of Events:

10:00-10:45:	AVALON ROTTWEILERS AND FUN FIRST AGILITY: Agility and Carting Demo
11:00-11:45:	SACRAMENTO POLICE DEPT. CANINE UNIT: Police dog demo
12:00-12:30:	4 THE DOGS: Search, scent, obedience
12:45-1:00:	"GOOD MANNERS" Parade of dogs: Volunteers show trained adoptable dogs
1:15-1:40:	St. FRANCIS PET EDUCATION AND TRAINING CENTER: Service dog demo
2:00-2:45:	Herding Dog demo: Dogs demo herding ducks

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Rhea Serran, City Animal Shelter Contact, (916) 402-5091 (mobile)
Chris Andis, County Contact, (916) 875-4047

April 2, 2008

County and City Animal Shelters Host Tour for Life Adoption Event

World’s Largest No-Kill Animal Rescue Organization to Stop in Sacramento
April 4, 2008

Sacramento, CA – The City of Sacramento, Department of General Services, Animal Care Services Division and the County of Sacramento, Department of Animal Care and Regulation, will host the North Shore Animal League’s (NSAL) mobile adoption unit in Sacramento during its nationwide “Tour for Life” campaign.

In partnership with Nestle Purina PetCare Company, Bayer Animal Health, Fort Dodge Animal Health and ProMeris, the agencies are sponsoring this event to help find homes for shelter animals across the nation.

“The North Shore Animal League travels to 300 shelters across the United States, United Kingdom and Canada to promote the adoption of shelter animals,” said Hector Cazares, Animal Care Services Manager for the City of Sacramento. “This will be an exciting event featuring a great selection of adoptable dogs and cats. In addition, rescue organizations will be showing and adopting rabbits, reptiles and pet rats.”

“We will bring a selection of highly adoptable animals to the event - a great opportunity for the community to see the variety and quality of animals that come to the shelter and need good homes,” said Pat Claerbout, director of County Animal Care and Regulation.

Volunteers will provide pet care tips for dogs, cats and rabbits as well as the special care needed for reptiles and rats. Anyone interested in adopting a new animal friend should plan to attend. For more information about the event please call 916/875-5848 (County) or 916/808-8166 (City) or to view the North Shore Animal League’s mobile adoption unit visit www.nsalamerica.org.

When:	April 4, 2008
Where:	Cesar Chavez Park - 9101 I Street, Sacramento
Time:	11 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Visual:	Colorful Adoption Bus, staff and volunteers with dogs, cats, and rabbits, topic experts on nutrition, health and training

City Animal Care Services at (916) 808-8166 or email Claudia Schlachter
County Animal Shelter at (916) 875-5848 or email ACR-Temp@saccounty.net.

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Hector Cazares, Animal Care Services Manager, (916) 808-7433
Rhea Serran, Public Information Officer, (916) 402-5091 (mobile)

March 19, 2008

City's Animal Care Services Encourages Public to Resist
Buying or Adopting Bunnies as An Easter Gift

With the Easter holiday this weekend, the City of Sacramento’s Animal Care Services, urges the public to resist the impulse to purchase or adopt bunnies as Easter gifts. Rabbits, like all other domestic pets, require daily sustenance, care, and also have some special needs. Cute little bunnies grow up to be adult-sized rabbits and may not appeal to the children any longer, possibly resulting in the rabbit being dumped in the wild or turned in to your local animal shelter.

This can be avoided if the decision to acquire a new rabbit for the family is well thought out. Below are helpful tips to consider before bringing a rabbit into your home:

• Rabbits grow up quickly and may lose their appeal to the recipient.
• Rabbits require exercise, food, water, shelter, and frequent cleaning of their living quarters.
• They are delicate creatures, susceptible to heat; living arrangements should be cool and comfortable.
• Rabbits can live 10 years or longer; prospective owners should be prepared to provide a quality home for that time period.

If any of the considerations listed above may cause concern, the City’s Animal Care Services suggests substituting a real bunny for a stuffed animal or perhaps a chocolate bunny this Easter season.

To learn more about the City’s animal shelter and wonderful animals waiting to be adopted, please visit the Animal Care Services Center at 2127 Front Street, call (916) 808-PETS(7387), or view the animals on-line at www.SacPetSearch.com.

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Hector Cazares, Animal Care Services Manager, (916) 808-7433
Rhea Serran, Public Information Officer, (916) 402-5091 (mobile)

February 3, 2008

City's Animal Care Services Pet Adoption Event

WHO:	The City of Sacramento, Animal Care Services with Councilmember Rob Fong, is hosting a Pet Adoption Event.
WHAT:	The Pet Adoption Event will feature a mobile adoption trailer full of adorable cats and dogs. Information will be available on a variety of pet-related issues including low-cost pet alterations and licensing.
WHEN:	Sunday, February 3, 2008 9 a.m. - noon
WHERE:	R5 Records (formerly Tower Records) Corner of Land Park Drive and Broadway Sacramento, CA
WHY:	The City’s animal shelter is currently impacted with adoptable cats, kittens, dogs and puppies that are in need of a loving home.

The City’s animal adoption fees are $85 for dogs and $65 for cats. This fee includes alterations (spay or neuter), heartworm disease testing, vaccinations (DHPP, Bordetella and Rabies), a one-year City of Sacramento animal license, microchip identification, a collar and a leash. Adopting shelter animals directly helps reduce the suffering caused by pet overpopulation and unnecessary euthanasia of healthy, adoptable animals.

To learn more about adopting an animal, please visit the City’s Animal Care Services Center at 2127 Front Street, call (916) 808-PETS(7387) or log onto www.SacPetSearch.com.

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