Animal Talk thet h e magazinem a g a z i n e Winter/Spring 2007 VOLUME 41 NO. 4 The Best Medicine VIP ClubHelping Very Important Pets Get Out of the Shelter and On With Their Lives Message from the President he Society for the Prevention T of Cruelty to Animals of Texas To call 2006 a year of tremendous growth and change is a private, non-profit, reservation for the SPCA of Texas would be an understatement. This required organization dedicated to organization has a long and rich history of not only saving the lives of countless animals in crisis and fi nding them improving the welfare of all animals. wonderful homes, but also of knowing how and when The SPCA of Texas is the leading to adapt to the changing needs of those animals and the animal welfare agency in North Texas community at large. We have certainly made great strides in with two shelters and three spay/ adapting to those needs this past year more than ever before. neuter clinics located in Dallas and Collin County, and serves as an active From our new clinic on Village Fair Drive in Oak Cliff and resource center providing an array our new Reservation Required policy to our capital campaign of programs and services that bring and subsequent purchase of a new property, which will in people and animals together to enrich a few short years become home to animals currently being each others’ lives. cared for at our Dealey Animal Care Center on Industrial Blvd., we have forged ahead. MISSION STATEMENT From the move of our administrative staff to the new building on Lone Star Drive and the The SPCA of Texas is a charitable addition of a beautiful new sculpture at our Perry Animal Care Center in McKinney to the new organization dedicated to improving the fi eld turf at the Dealey Animal Care Center in Dallas, I’m proud of the people who have made welfare of all animals. everything we’ve accomplished this year possible: the hard-working and dedicated employees and volunteers, the enthusiastic and devoted Board of Directors and, most importantly, the LOCATIONS incredibly generous and infi nitely caring people who all combine to give so many animals a SPCA of Texas/Headquarters second and sometimes third and fourth chance at life. 2400 Lone Star Drive Dallas, Texas 75212 Everything we’ve done this past year has been designed to take us into the future as a focused, hard-working, streamlined, forward-looking and state-of-the-art organization committed to SPCA of Texas/Dallas improving the welfare of all animals and being the go-to community resource for north Texas and beyond. 362 S. Industrial Blvd. Dallas, Texas 75207 The magazine you are holding is yet another way we have stepped up our commitment to people and pets. And yet, because of competitive pricing, improved technology and the generosity of SPCA of Texas/McKinney Alpha Graphics at Market Center, it is not costing us any more than the previous newsletter 8411 Stacy Road (formerly FM720) format did. After all, the animals are our fi rst and most important focus. McKinney, Texas 75070 Speaking for everyone at the SPCA of Texas, I’d like to wish you all a happy and wonderful SPCA of Texas/ 2007. We’re going great places together! Village Fair Spay/Neuter and Animal Wellness Clinic As always, thank you for your continued support of the SPCA of Texas. It is because of friends 4830 Village Fair Drive like you that we are able to continue and expand our ability to make a difference in the lives of thousands of animals in need of our help. Dallas, TX 75224 Thank you for your compassion and commitment, New SPCA phone number: 214.742.SPCA Animal Talk is a magazine published by the SPCA of Texas and distributed to our contributors and friends. James Bias, CAWA SPCA OF TEXAS President BOARD OF DIRECTORS SPCA of Texas Board Chair: Rugger Burke Vice Chair: David C. Hudson ANIMAL TALK CREDITS Treasurer: Lee Dinkel Secretary: Amy Honey The publication of Animal Editor: Maura Davies Talk in full color was Copy Editor: Alicia Brown President: James Bias made possible through the Graphic Design & Layout: Kent Gilliam Barbara Butler generosity of Stories and Photos: SPCA staff, unless otherwise noted Bert Childers, DVM Bill Driscoll Would your prefer to receive Animal Talk electronically Tricia Linderman via e-mail? By doing so, you will help the SPCA of Texas Sam Price Mary Prothro direct more of its funds toward the care of the animals. at Market Center Mary Spencer Please go online to www.spca.org/newsletter and provide Kirk Thor your contact information. You will then begin receiving Denise Wallace 214.631.5678 an electronic version of Animal Talk. 1 Reuniting Families on Ever the Lost and Found e-Pole Heard of a The SPCA has taken the task of posting pictures and information about lost and found pets on neighborhood Barking Telephone? signs and telephone poles and put it on the web. Called the Lost and Found e-Pole, this online resource allows Be the envy of all your friends as you proudly the community to post photos and descriptions of lost play the SPCA of Texas’ “Adopt a Big Dog” ring and found pets in the hopes of reuniting them with their tone, written and performed by Edie Brickell. owners. We ask that people posting information about a lost Your $2.49 purchase will support the SPCA in our or found pet include a detailed description of the pet, efforts to protect and care for homeless and the area or neighborhood where the animal was lost or abused animals. found, a picture if available and contact information. The post will stay on the SPCA’s e-Pole for one month, after which the person may again submit their Download your ringtone information. at www.spca.org If a person posts an animal to the e-Pole and wants to do more, the SPCA invites them to also place an ad in their local paper, post actual signs around their neighborhood, go door to door and utilize other online services. To post a lost or found pet, visit www.spca.org/lostfound. Shop! Save! Support! New, convenient online Shop online at www.spca.org for spay/neuter appointment you and your furry friends and support the SPCA animals. Every booking purchase you make will provide for the animals in our care while Does your pet still need to be spayed or neutered? Are they await their forever home. you looking for an easy way to make an appointment? Now you can make your pets’ spay/neuter appointment online in less time than it takes to make a cup of tea or coffee. Lending a Helping Paw: Simply go to www.spca.org/appointment and complete SPCA Offers Behavior Help Line, the online form. Remember that it is imperative to have your pet spayed or neutered as soon as Online Help possible. This simple surgery will save What do you do when your beloved kitty cat starts thinking outside thousands of animal lives. of the box? How about when little Lucky takes a shine to a pair of Now it’s easier than your shoes? Help is just a phone call or a click away! its ever to help the B SPCA help the The SPCA is proud to offer its Animal Behavior Help Line and animals. & Animal Behavior Help Pages Online. If you need advice on how to solve your pet’s behavior issue or whether s you should contact your veterinarian for help, our staff will walk you through a possible solution. le Animal Behavior Help Line For Dogs or Cats: 214.461.1819 b Animal Behavior Help Pages Online b For Dogs: www.spca.org/doghelp For Cats: www.spca.org/cathelp i K 2 5 7 9 For All of Your Pet-Related Information and More! 4 11 15 17 SPCA of Texas/McKinney Will No Longer Euthanize for Space 5 18 21 23 Feature Story Love Stories 11 13 The Best Medicine SPCA of Texas Rescues 23 Cruelly Confined Dogs from Paris, TX Property 17 Events to watch for! VIP Club StrutStrut YourYour Helping Very Mutt 2006 Important Pets Get ResultsResults Out of the Shelter and On With Their Lives 16 7 19 For All of Your Pet-Related Information and More! It has never been easier to support the SPCA of Texas’ programs and Donate services online at www.spca.org/donate. Find your new best friend online and learn where our animals will be available for adoption at www.spca.org/fi ndapet. Adopt Whether you’re looking for the perfect gift for the pet-lover in your life or shopping for yourself or your pets, check out our online store at Shop www.spca.org/shop. Discover the wide variety of programs, services and volunteer opportunities that the SPCA offers at www.spca.org/volunteer, www.spca.org/education and www.spca.org/rescue. Programs The SPCA provides quality spay/neuter surgeries and out-patient wellness veterinary care for pets. Find locations, hours and contact info on www.spca.org/locations or make your spay/neuter appointment Clinic online today at www.spca.org/appointment. Learn all about the SPCA of Texas and fi nd the locations, hours of operation and policies in one convenient spot at www.spca.org/about. About Us Have a question about pet behavior? Look no further than our pet info page at www.spca.org/dogbehavior and www.spca.org/catbehavior.