The Brazos Animal Shelter is celebrating Adopt-A-Cat Month with $50 adoption costs for all adult cats (6 months and older). Come celebrate with us!

Brought to you in June by American Humane Association

Spring … season of tulips, lilies, daffodils – and cat adoptions!

Each spring during “kitten season,” thousands of newborn kittens join the millions of cats already in shelters across the country. That means your local shelter has tons of cute, cuddly newborns, in addition to all the mellow, older cats and everything in between. And the shelter staff are ready to help you adopt your very first cat — or to bring home a friend for another beloved cat!

“TOP TEN” CHECKLIST FOR ADOPTING A CAT

1. If you’re thinking about adopting a cat, consider taking home two.
2. Find a cat whose personality meches with yours.
3. Pick out a veterinarian ahead of time and schedule a visit within the first few days following the adoption.
4. Make sure everyone in the house is prepared to have a cat before it comes home.
5. Budget for the short- and long-term costs of a cat.
6. Stock up on supplies before the cat arrives.
7. Cat-proof your home.
8. Go slowly when introducing your cat to new friends and family.
9. Be sure to include your new pet in your family’s emergency plan.
10. If you’re considering giving a cat as a gift, make sure the recipient is an active participant in the adoption process.

After browsing the web for tips, facts and more I stumbled onto a great article with links to posters, videos and more from “Bark Magazine.”  Take time this week and read some of the information on dog bite prevention, you might learn something you never knew before.     -Krystle

Did You Know?

The highest rate of dog bites is among children because, unfortunately, children are always more susceptible to dangers. The following general tips are important for parents and children to know:

• Children should not approach, touch, or play with any dog who is sleeping, eating, or caring for puppies.
• Children should not pet unfamiliar dogs without first asking permission from the dog’s guardian. If the guardian says it is okay, the child should begin by letting the dog sniff his or her closed hand.
• If a child sees a dog off-leash, he or she should tell an adult immediately.
• If a loose dog comes near a child, he or she should not run or scream. Instead, avoid eye contact with the animal and stand very still, “like a tree,” until the animal moves away.

In an effort to further educate adults and children about basic safety around dogs, many national humane organizations offer booklets and other materials. For example, theHumane Society of the United States (HSUS) provides materials such as Avoiding Dog Bites, Questions and Answers about Dog Bites, and Teaching Your Child to Avoid Dog Bites.

To view or download materials regarding children and dogs, you may go to the Association for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) and HSUS, which provide very valuable information about avoiding dog bites and acting safely around dogs:

ASPCA: Dog Bite Prevention Information

ASPCA: Dog bite prevention facts and figures
(includes children’s activity sheet download)

HSUS: Resources for children to help reduce dog bite injuries
(includes children’s coloring page)

We would like to take the time to Thank the donors and groups that made this possible.

Our Half Price Adoption Sponsors: Jackson & Fuzzy, Booneville Animal Clinic, Charming Charlie, Aggie Pet Zone, U Paint It, Good Paws!, Van Stavern Small Hospital, Southwood Valley, Wilton’s, along with 4 individuals that sponsored $400 (8 adoptions.)

Our fabulous planning committee: Volunteers: Laura, Lauren, Lori, Alexandra, Joshua, Kyle, Jean, Amber, April and Rebecca.

The BVVMA for assisting and donating to the Vaccination Clinic.

The Aggie Wranglers for great entertainment.

All of the IN KIND donations:Absolute CS Music, Rudy’s BBQ, Cotton Patch College Station, Sonic Drive-In, Village Cafe, Aggie Pet Zone, Brazos Valley Bombers, Freebirds, U Paint It, Bounce-A-Lot and SOO many more!

Our awesome celebrity judges: Bob French, Niblett, Meredith and Devan.

Our fantastic Rescue Groups: Impact Animal Foundation, God’s Little Creatures, Brazos Feral Cat Allies, Second Chance Veterinary Medical Rescue / Long Way Home and Great Pyrenees Rescue.

And local pet therapy group: Aggieland Pets With A Purpose

And… Thank You to all of our supporters. It was a great day. 45 pets from the Brazos Animal Shelter found their forever homes and four pets from local rescues found their homes too!!

MORE PICTURES — HERE on our Facebook Page

My name is Megan and I adopted Diesel on 12/08/10. He was almost 2 months old. He is now 6 months old. He is an amazing kid and I am so lucky to have found him. He is definitely my life!

Below I included pictures of Diesel.

This is Kellsie after she first met Buddy at the Brazos Animal Shelter. She was very excited to get her new puppy at the Pawsitively Spring event the following day.

We have loved every minute with him! He is such a baby and loves to be held and snuggle! Watching him hop around (like a rabbit) cracks us up! And he is trying desperately to be buddies with our 8 year old Lab!

Thanks for all you do to help the animals. My dad was a vet and I know he is smiling down on our family and the animal shelter because of Buddy

Here are some pics I took (love the one from behind, Kellsie walking to the car to take Buddy home…you can see the “Support the BAS” shirt AND Buddy’s cute tail…it might make a good ad!) :) Thanks again for all you do!

- Wendy

(Click the picture to enlarge it)