THURSDAY AUGUST 6, 2020 GLOUCESTER-MATHEWS GAZETTE-JOURNAL 1C C M Y K All About Pets Section C Thursday, August 6, 2020 First runner up Spot the cat shows off her relaxation skills in this photo by Julie Shields of Hayes. The photo was named first runner up in the contest. Contest winner Boomer, whose shown here peeking out of some shrubbery, was the overall winner of the 2020 Gloucester-Mathews Gazette-Journal All About Pets photo contest. Nan Crawford of Unionville, Va sent in this winning photo of her canine friend. John and Suzanne Holt, owners of Sandy Creek Pet Resort, were this year’s photo contest judges. Pet photo contest: Here are the winners rom every corner test, 77 in all this year. in many charming poses. always with us, cheering they came, photos of We present the winners On sunny days, rainy us up with their loving Second runner up Fcats, dogs and even here and show you in- days, beach days, snowy companionship. a rooster and a lizard, side all the beautiful, be- days, frigid days, sad We are lucky to have Martha Traband of Mathews captured this cute photo of Aidan, who seemed to entered in the Gazette- loved pets whose own- days, happy days and them. Where would we enjoy cooling off in this old-fashioned crock. The photo was chosen second runner Journal’s pet photo con- ers entered photographs scalding days, pets are be without them? up in the contest. Y M C K 2C GLOUCESTER-MATHEWS GAZETTE-JOURNAL THURSDAY AUGUST 6, 2020 Meet the wonderful friends of our readers Abbey Boo Boo Kitty Flynn Gus Henry Hunter by Jim and Patti Boughman, Hayes by Christy Brown, Mathews by Cody Brown, Hayes by Robin Sterling, Dutton by Danny Hogge, Gloucester by Sheila Armistead, Cobbs Creek Anna Cleo Cocoa Cocoa Dixie Lacey by Tenna Safrit, Gwynn by Sharon Carleton, Gloucester by Tanya Carr, Gloucester by Wade Carr, Gloucester by Tina Minor, Hudgins by Melanie Hamilton, Gloucester Humane Society answers most commonly asked questions BY THE GLOUCESTER-MATHEWS HUMANE SOCIETY nary staff, and space to properly vet GMHS neither employs a full-time their mother as a mother’s milk the lives of feral cats: access to low- and humanely house homeless pets. veterinarian nor is permitted by law helps protect kittens from illness. and no-cost spay/neuter surgery at For Gloucester-Mathews Humane It is also one of the main reasons why to provide medical care for stray Avoid touching or moving them as Fixin’ to Save Spay & Neuter Clinic Society, the summer months are GMHS is able to honor the pledge to pets. GMHS does not euthanize their mother is most likely nearby (804-694-0349); access to pet food when the number of stray and own- the communities and pets served stray pets in need of medical care or hunting or scared by the presence through the Pet Pantry; and the er-surrendered pets increases. With to neither euthanize for space nor provide euthanasia as a public ser- of people. Kittens separated from Backyard Buddies program, which this increased demand for services length of stay. Without managed vice. If you find a stray pet in need of their mother too early experience finds homes for cats (often called come frequently asked questions. intake, GMHS would be forced to medical care, please call your local an incredible amount of avoidable barn cats) who prefer to live out- Below are answers to four of the euthanize healthy, adoptable pets. Animal Control office immediately. stress. They have a more positive doors. most commonly asked questions Instead, widespread support of man- Whether the pet is injured or suf- start to life when they remain with GMHS averages one or two fe- GMHS. aged intake makes GMHS a lifesaving fering from neglect, Animal Control their mother and are brought to the ral cat adoptions per month and 1) What is managed intake? shelter, with 97 percent (2019) of all officers are trusted community part- shelter to be prepped for adoption receives dozens of requests to ac- Managed intake is the practice of pets in GMHS’s care finding place- ners empowered to respond. after they have reached a minimum cept feral cats into the shelter, so scheduling appointments to receive ment with a forever family or adop- 3) What should you do if you find age of six weeks. the Backyard Buddies program was pets, including non-emergency own- tion-guaranteed partner shelter. one or more kittens without their 4) How can the lives of feral cats er-surrenders. This practice ensures 2) What do you do if you find a mother? be saved? SEE ANSWERS FROM GMHS, PAGE 3C GMHS has the staff, including veteri- stray pet in need of medical care? The safest place for kittens is with GMHS offers three services to save Come see our New Color Wall from LifeGuard Carpet Technology Truly amazing new technology guarantees that no liquid will ever come into contact with the carpet backing, pad or subfloor. We have the display to prove it! Come in to compare ours versus theirs! Because... 804-693-2372 Route 17, Gloucester across from Ollie’s Financing Available • Free Estimates Monday-Friday 8 a.m.-6 p.m www.LockwoodsCarpets.com Saturdays 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Y M C K THURSDAY AUGUST 6, 2020 GLOUCESTER-MATHEWS GAZETTE-JOURNAL 3C Meet the wonderful friends of our readers Max Barley and Bayley Bitsy Cody Keeper Jody by Wendy Hogge, Hayes by Dee Russell, Hudgins by Chris Bridge, Moon by Rob and Cindy Parker, Hayes by Davida Hall, Gloucester by Delta Quiger, Port Haywood Ikie Jamie Boots Boswell Lily, Stella and Dream Lulu Honey Cocoa by Ida Ewell, Dutton by David Justice, Wicomico by David Machen, Cardinal by Crystal Freiermuth, Gloucester by Dee Dee Wike, Gloucester by Carolyn Cheeseman, Gloucester GLOUCESTERMATHEWS ANSWERS FROM GMHS: To most frequent questions See us on Facebook (CONTINUED FROM PAGE 2C) created. Backyard Buddies live outdoors, are fully vet- ted (including spay/neuter 4 Check out our new APP and vaccinations), and their $80 adoption fee is waived. 4 Curbside Pickup Adopters must agree to pro- vide consistent access to 4 Mobile Checkout food, fresh water, and ade- quate outdoor shelter. Email animalplacement@gmhu- 6499 Market Drive, Gloucester, VA 23061 • 804-695-2712 manesociety.org to adopt one of GMHS’s Backyard Buddies. GMHS is grateful for com- munity members’ active en- gagement and enduring sup- port of the shelter’s lifesaving mission, for they ensure pets have the chance to lead lives filled with love, dignity and respect. They make GMHS a life-saving shelter and a bea- con of hope and safe harbor for homeless pets. GMHS PHOTO The Gloucester-Mathews Humane Society’s Backyard Buddies program was created to find outdoor homes for feral (or barn) cats. 15 facts about fascinating horses (Metro) Dogs may be man’s size of a dog or baby lamb are around 60 million horses best friend, but horses have that was called a hyracoth- in the world. been companion and assis- erium. 13. Early civilizations used tance animals for millenia. In 8. Hooves are made from horses as a form of food. But fact, archaeological evidence the same protein that com- in 732 A.D., Pope Gregory III indicates that humans formed prises human fingernails and said the ritual consumption intermingled relationships hair. of horse meat was a pagan with horses nearly 5,500 years 9. The Przewalski’s horse is practice and had to be abol- ago. the only truly wild horse spe- ished. Islamic and Jewish Horses provided people cies still in existence. The last communities also advocated with much of the essentials remaining wild population is toward avoiding horse meat. they required for group sur- in Mongolia. Today there is no specific vival. Khan Academy indi- 10. A male horse is called a law in the U.S. banning horse cates that the domestication stallion, while a young male meat, but most people still of the horse ushered in an era horse is a colt. A female horse steer clear of it. of innovation in transport and is a mare, while a young fe- 14. An adult horse’s brain communication. Horses also male is a filly. weighs 22 ounces, or about were invaluable animals on 11. Ponies are not immature half the weight of a human the farm or in early villages. horses. They are a small vari- brain. tempt them with sweet treats Horses still serve many ety of horse. 15. Horses like sweet fla- like apples and sugar cubes. practical functions, but 12. Estimates suggest there vors, which is why you can they’re more often than not companion animals or relied on for riding hobbies and sport. These 15 interesting facts show just how incred- ible these beautiful animals are. FAMILY-OWNED LOCAL PET STORE 1. Horses can sleep both ly- ing down and standing up. 2. Horses have the largest eyes of any mammal that lives on land. 3. Horses can see colors, but are better at detecting yel- lows and greens than purples and violets. 4. A horse’s body contains 205 bones. 5. Because a horse’s eyes are on the side of its head, it is capable of seeing nearly 360 degrees at one time. 6. The fastest sprinting speed ever recorded for a horse is 55 miles per hour, though they generally trot at 804-699-3500 • 6555 Market Dr., Gloucester, Virginia 23061 around four miles per hour. 7. Horses evolved from a 757-877-8084 • 4324 George Washington Mem.