Recent News - September 2007

Past News:

Ask America's major sports leagues to help in the fight against dog fighting - sign the petition.

Nevada Elected Officials who voted AGAINST SB239 - Nevada Officials, Maggie Carlton and Bob Coffin voted against SB329.  We need representatives who support what's right for animals!

COLD WEATHER PET TIPS

The chilling temperatures have hit Las Vegas. This can leave us AND our pets scrambling to stay warm. Take a few minutes to ensure your pets are warm and safe in the colder weather. ….

Hypothermia
-Hypothermia results from exposure to cold temperatures beyond what the pet can tolerate.
-Hypothermia will result in a body temperature less than 99.5 degrees. (normal dog/cat temperature is 101-102.)
-Pets outside in very cold temperatures are at risk even if they are acclimated to cold temperatures.
-Senior pets, young animals, or those with poor health, heart conditions, etc will have a heightened risk for developing hypothermia.
-Signs of hypothermia include: shivering, sluggishness, depressed mental state, slow heart rate.

Frostbite
-Can occur with cold Las Vegas temperatures especially at higher altitudes.
-Commonly affected areas include the ear tips, tail, and footpads.
-Signs of frostbite include: pale to darkly colored skin, painful when touched in affected areas.
-After several days shrinking and discoloration of the tissues occurs as it becomes necrotic (tissue death).

Cat Engine Injury
-Outdoor cats will seek the heat of a car engine to stay warm.
-Injuries result from fan belt causing lacerations, burns from engine, and other trauma.
-To prevent injury to cats knock on hood of car before turning on car.

Cold Weather Safety Tips
1. Keep pets indoors during cold weather.
2. Take extra measures for pets when outdoors.
       a. For pets that must be outdoors, provide shelter from wind and elements.
       b. Provide ample bedding.
       c. Increase food rations for pets housed in colder weather.
3. Monitor water bowls
       a. Water will freeze and pets become dehydrated without drinkable water.
       b. Consider heated water bowls.
4. Beware of heating sources
       a. Pets may get TOO close to space heaters or fireplaces and can burn    themselves or knock over heat source causing a fire potential.
5. See your veterinarian with cold weather concerns.
       a. If you suspect hypothermia/frostbite remove pet to a warm room and  apply heating pads until you can get to the veterinarian.

Nathan Adelson Hospice Pet Therapy

One of the complementary therapies offered by Nathan Adelson Hospice's Bonnie Schreck Memorial Comfort Care Program is pet therapy.  The owners go through our Volunteer Training program.  The dog must be at least a year old, pass the Canine Good Citizen test and have up-to-date shots.  Once the team completes three probationary visits to Nathan Adelson, they are free to interact with our terminally ill patients and their families.

Pet Therapy, largely due to the unconditional love and non-judgmental attitude of the dogs, has been shown to relieve stress, increase awareness, lessen depression and anxiety, and lower blood pressure and respiratory and heart rates.

Nathan Adelson Hospice has two locations in Las Vegas:
4141 Swenson Street - (702) 733-0320
3391 N. Buffalo Road - (702) 938-3902

Our web site:

www.nah.org

For more information on pet therapy or other volunteering opportunities, contact:

Lisa Browder
Comfort Care Coordinator
(702) 938-3961
lbrowder@nah.org

RUDNER HONORED FOR ANIMAL CHARITY WORK BY HEAVEN CAN WAIT

LAS VEGAS, November 15, 2005 Comedienne Rita Rudner's love for animals hit home on Saturday (Nov. 12) when she was honored by Las Vegas' Heaven Can Wait Sanctuary for her long-time charitable work on behalf of our four-footed friends. Rudner, whose own dog, Bonkers, was adopted from a Las Vegas shelter years ago and is now famous for appearing on stage with her, was the special guest at Heaven Can Wait's fourth annual Jewelry, Wine and Gift fund raising luncheon at the Stirling Club in Turnberry Place. The event netted over $30,000 for the organization's adoption and shelter programs for dogs and cats. "I was a little nervous about getting a dog off the streets of Las Vegas. But, he's really like any other dog out there, except he wears a toupee and he smokes," Rudner quipped in accepting the special award from Nicole Dutt-Roberts, president and co-founder of HCWS. Rudner, who now calls Las Vegas home, is the comic headliner at New York New York Hotel & Casino on the The Strip. "We have saved the lives of over 4,200 animals since HCWS started in 2000 with everyone's help." Dutt-Roberts announced. Another local celeb and animal lover, meteorologist John Fredericks from KVBC-TV, Channel 3, also pitched in by offering "A Day With John Fredericks" as an item for the auction portion of the program. The winner will appear live with Fredericks on a future KVBC-TV weather report. "There is no organization whose heart is in a better place than Heaven Can Wait," Fredericks said. (more) Ruder Honored for Animal Charity ­ add one Some of the Las Vegas companies and individuals that supported the event included New York Diamond Exchange, Rita Rudner, Kitchen Fancy, Wynn Las Vegas, Stirling Club, Bone-A-Petite and Vasari. The Stirling Club wait staff also donated all tips received during the luncheon. Live auction items were donated by the Rainbow Bar & Grill, Stirling Club, Fletcher Jones Mercedes-Benz and John Fredericks. Heaven Can Wait Sanctuary is a Las Vegas non-profit rescue organization dedicated to preventing the needless killing of homeless animals in Southern Nevada. Each year, more than 24,000 cats and dogs are euthanized. For the past five years, Heaven Can Wait has saved thousands of animals through its innovative adoption programs through PETsMART and Pups On Parole. Pups On Parole utilizes the inmates at two local prisons to train HCWS's homeless dogs in basic obedience and housebreaking. War Against Reproduction, W.A.R., is its ongoing spay and neuter program for cats and dogs. Since its inception, Heaven Can Wait Sanctuary has placed over 4,200 cats and dogs and spayed and neutered close to 12,000. For more information, visit www.hcws.org, or call (702) 227-5555.