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The Original Zoe

November 2, 2015 by ·

Zoe, in Greek, means life.

We would like you to meet our original Zoe, an American Staffordshire, whose life became a precious part of our organization.

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We found Zoe in North Carolina in a high kill shelter, and as Pit Bulls are in the top two dogs euthanized in shelters, we knew we needed to find a way to rescue her. Zoe became our first US rescue. Although we primarily focus on Canadian rescues, we execute international rescues a couple times a year. Due to the Pit Bull ban in Ontario at the time, we had to fly Zoe to Montana, at which point Kath and Dave drove all the way from Edmonton to pick her up!

Zoe’s Animal Rescue Society began in August 2012. We began with a modest 20 volunteers, and 100 followers on Facebook. We now have more than 400 volunteers, and more enthusiastic animal lovers are constantly added to our team. Zoe’s Facebook page has over 25,000 followers, as well as an Instagram, Twitter and a YouTube channel!

Zoe’s has grown in so many great ways, and it is because of all of our hard working and dedicated volunteers, fosters, and supporters that we have achieved so much greatness. Our animals become our world, and our reason for waking up in the morning. Zoe’s Animal Rescue Society is more than a safe place for animals – it is one in which they are constantly loved and cared for.

Filed Under: Protecting Your Dog Against Ticks ·

Tips to keep your pets safe on Halloween

October 29, 2015 by ·

Halloween can be a scary time for both pets and owners: during the season, emergency vet clinics grow busy, and corner posts fill with posters of beloved cats and dogs. Maybe that’s why October is also National Animal Safety and Protection month! To keep your pets safe this Halloween, watch out for the following dangers.

With his ID tags and microchip, Franklin is ready to travel anywhere.

With his ID tags and microchip, Franklin is ready to travel anywhere.

Open Doors
It’s easy for a frightened cat or dog to dart out of an open door while you’re tending to trick-or-treaters. To prevent your pet from escaping, keep them in a separate room, or put up a gate.

A microchip and collar will also help your pet to be easily returned if they do manage to get out.

 

 

 

 

Costumes
While no one can deny that a dog dressed as a dinosaur is beyond adorable, you should always respect your pet’s stress signals. If your cat or dog begins to panic, remove the costume. You may have to downgrade to a festive collar or bandana if they’re too anxious about a full costume.

If your pet loves their suit, great! But supervise whenever they wear it, check that they can still move about freely, and avoid costumes that have easy-to-ingest ribbons and doodads.

 

 
Decorations
You know pets: eat first, ask questions later. Don’t let that ‘later’ turn into emergency exploratory surgery. Keep all decorations out of reach, and make sure that candles are kept away from precarious edges.

 

 

 

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Dogs are basically year-round trick-or-treaters, and won’t waste an opportunity to grab candy. Artificial sweeteners, chocolate, and raisins can all be toxic to pets, even in small doses, so keep treats out of reach. If you have kids, explain to them why they can’t share their loot with their furry sibling. And of course, some pet-safe treats wouldn’t go astray.

 

Trick-or-Treaters
Though we all want our pets to be door greeters, some animals just aren’t cut out for it. If your pet is stressed by meeting new people, keep them in a quiet room away from the front with some snacks or toys to keep them busy. If the sound of the doorbell is a stressor, you can turn on some light music to mask the noise.

Even if your pet initially likes greeting people, watch for signs of over-stimulation such as excessive panting, pacing, and turning a deaf ear on your commands. If you live in a busy neighborhood, you may need to alternate greeting with some quiet time.

“Ready to answer the door, greet strangers in costume, and save America.”

 
Who is this handsome dog, you ask? He’s Franklin, a proud rescue ally! Franklin isn’t up for adoption, but there are many other great dogs (and cats!) waiting for homes. Check out our adoptables page!

Photos by zoography

Filed Under: Protecting Your Dog Against Ticks, Resource · Tagged With: ,

What to Do if You Find Kittens

October 21, 2015 by ·

What should you do if you find a litter of kittens outdoors?

If you are like many of us animal-lovers, your first reaction is probably take the stray kittens home and care for them. In some cases this may be possible, but in order to make sure the kittens stay safe and sound, there are steps that must be taken first. We have put together this guide to ensure that kittens are cared for and that proper precautions are taken!

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Do not assume the kittens have been abandoned

Momma cat may just be making a quick trip to pick up food and bring back to her little ones. It’s also possible that she is in hiding because she saw you approaching. Separating the little ones from their mother while they are still so young should be avoided if at all possible, as no one is able to care for them better than she is. Keep an eye on the batch for at least a couple of hours to see if mom returns. If she does show up, and the kittens seem to be in a safe location, it is best to leave them be. You can place food and water nearby for mom, but do not force her to eat. She will sniff out the goods if she is interested!

If she returns, but shows signs of being feral, it may be best to perform a TNR. For more information about what this is, click here.

Lastly, do not pick the kittens up if they appear to be four months or older. They could be feral and won’t be the most welcoming to being handled. It is always best to approach the situation as if they are feral until you are certain otherwise.

Arrange for them to have the best possible care

The idea of having a bundle of adorable kittens at home to play with and care for is undeniably a pleasant one, but often abandoned kittens need more than just warmth, food, and water to become the healthiest they can be.

Firstly, depending on age, they may still be reliant on their mother’s milk. When taken too early, kittens have a much lower chance of survival even if they are bottle fed milk by their caretaker. Also, the kittens could have other medical conditions such as worms, parasites (Toxoplasma), rabies, and various other infectious diseases that can be spread to other animals.

It is always best to call an animal welfare agency to come rescue the cats if possible. They are experienced in caring for abandoned animals and will be able to assess the situation and make the right decisions to get the kittens the care they need. If you are unable to contact such an organization, you can call a local veterinary clinic and provide them with as much information as possible about where they were found, along with your contact information. Most animal rescue organizations have relationships with local veterinarians and will be contacted to care for the animals.

Keep them warm until help arrives

If the kittens feel cold, they need to be warmed up quickly. Tiny kittens spend most of their energy growing and meowing for food, leaving them with barely any left to raise their body temperature…never a good thing! Set a heating pad to low and wrap it in 2 towels or use a hot water bottle warmed to about 100 degrees and wrapped in a towel. Place it in half of the “nesting area”, but be sure the kittens also have room to move away if they feel a little too toasty. Being over-heated isn’t ideal either! Keep a close eye on them while you wait for assistance. Continually check for signs of chilling (kittens are listless, cold to the touch, the kittens mouth feels cold), if you think the kittens are too cold and could be in danger, try using your own body heat to warm them. Try placing the kitten close to where your body is most warm (near the armpit, close to the chest), or massaging the tiny kitten with your warm hands. It’s important NOT to feed kittens that are severely cold. Warm them first!

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If there are no local organizations that can take the kittens, you are certain their mother is not coming back, and you fear for their safety, then it is okay to take them inside. But you must understand that simply taking newborn kittens into your home won’t be enough to nurse them back to health. They will need to be bottle fed around-the-clock (requiring formula, kitten-nursing bottles, etc) , and will need an indoor nesting area (cardboard box, heating pad, water bottle, etc). Before taking on this responsibility, we urge you to do your research so that your new little friends grow to be healthy and strong!

Filed Under: Protecting Your Dog Against Ticks, Resource ·

Urgent Request for Dog Food Donations

October 18, 2015 by ·

Hey animal lovers!

I’m sure we can all agree that we stuffed ourselves to the rims with delicious food this past Thanksgiving weekend and that it was fantastic! Now we are looking to you to help us provide our pups with food too.

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We are asking for donations to help purchase dog food for our fosters. Donations as small as $5.00 can help to change a dog’s life, and help them feel as satisfied and full as we all did over the holidays.

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Thank you for your continuous support, you help give these dogs the care and love they deserve!

Donate now. 

Filed Under: Protecting Your Dog Against Ticks ·

10 Reasons that Julianne is the Cat for You!

October 9, 2015 by ·

 

Julianne  Apply to Adopt Me

1. She’s gorgeous! I mean, just look at her!

2. She’s great with kids!

3. She’s not as much work as a kitten, Julianne is low energy, so she’s pretty chill!

4. She’s a great cuddler!

5. She doesn’t mind going for walks on a harness! In fact, she enjoys it quite a lot!

6. All her babies have been adopted, and she’s still looking for her forever home! We know it’s you!

7. She’ll have conversations with you! Literally! She loves to talk!

8. She will give you unconditional love for the rest of her life! What more could you ask for?

9. She’s really low maintenance and calm! Perfect for a senior looking for a cuddle buddy!

10. Adopting a rescue animal is one of the best choices you’ll ever make! #adoptdontshop

Filed Under: Protecting Your Dog Against Ticks ·

Adoption Event – West Henday Pet Valu – 03/10/15

September 30, 2015 by ·

Zoe’s will be hosting an adoption event at the West Henday Pet Valu this Saturday 3rd October from 3-6pm.  Cute Zoe’s foster pets will be on hand with free cuddles!…

Pet Valu | 1010 Webber Greens Drive | Edmonton| T5T 4K5

Filed Under: Events, Protecting Your Dog Against Ticks ·

DIY scratching posts

August 13, 2015 by ·

by Tawyna and Amanda, professional cat ladies

Every kitty loves to flex those toe pads and mark their territory by scratching their favorite scratch posts. These favorite posts can come in the form of corrugated cardboard, a stand-alone carpet post, a sisal door hanger, or your vintage couch. As cat owners, we’ve noticed one thing that all scratch posts have in common… they’re expensive!

So here’s a little information on how to create your OWN scratch post… from scratch! (pun intended.)

What do you need?

That will depend on how crafty you want to get. Popular materials are sisal rope and carpet. And more sisal rope. Check out the photos below: an Ikea cube with a bit if sisal rope glued on, a folded length of cardboard with carpeting, a couple of wine crates with sisal rope. (If you don’t already know, sisal rope is a cheap natural twine you can get at Home Depot You can glue it in place, or tack it with small nails). It’s just that easy.

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We like this quick carpeted tunnel. And there’s a how-to video!

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marthastewartMartha Stewart makes it look easy by literally screwing a branch onto a board. Dang!

Of course, you can also build your own completely average, store-bought-looking cat post if you have a table saw. You will need some sturdy materials for the base and post, such as plywood, particle board, or PVC pipe. Depending on how many tiers you want your post to have, you’ll need one piece of wood or board for the base, and at least one chunk of wood or pipe for the tower. Hit up your local hardware, DIY, or home re-useables store for good material. For the carpeted part, check out your local carpet store for scraps and roll ends. You’ll also need a drill, carpet knife, and staple gun, as well as wood screws, heavy duty staples, and/or wood glue. Look here, here, here, and here for ideas, plans, and step-by-step guides!

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So go forth, and wrap all manner of objects in sisal rope! Make your cats happy! And send us your photos: we’d love to see (and share) what our readers come up with!

Filed Under: Protecting Your Dog Against Ticks · Tagged With: , , ,

Inside the Mind of a Satisfied House Cat

August 12, 2015 by ·

Hello everyone!

My name is Sapphire, and I’m a Zoe’s Success Story.  In fact, I’m so successful, that my actual foster mom couldn’t even let me go, and decided to keep me forever. I must be pretty special. Anyway, my life started rough. As a cat on the streets, we have to learn very quickly to be alert, protect ourselves, and survive the elements. And food comes when it comes, so as you can imagine I was a little on the slimmer side, especially once I had babies to care for. After my litter grew older, I attempted to care for some premature kittens without a mother, but they were just too young and didn’t make it. When I got to what was about to be my forever home, I was happy to just sleep for days.

Pretty soon I figured out that my foster mom goes to work every day, and some evenings and weekends she goes out with friends (but I love when they come here!).  Once I caught up on my sleep and fattened up a tiny bit (I still look really good, though, by the way. Eat your heart out, any Tom’s that see me through the window), I started exploring what there is to do around a condo. My foster mom doesn’t let me outside! She won’t even let me into the mysterious hallway beyond the door!

She sat me down and told me that it was simply too dangerous for me out there. That in a place where it gets this cold, and people aren’t always the nicest, the best place for a cat is inside a home. Not only that, but the thought of losing me made her feel very sad. I asked her, “but there’s still SO many kitties out there, aren’t there?!” She looked very sorrowful, and told me that yes, educating people on why they should keep their cats indoors is very important, as well as educating them on spaying and neutering. She dreams of a world where rescues aren’t even needed, because every animal has a loving home.

She explained further to me that outdoor cats have a risk of being hit by a car, consuming poison, encountering predators, diseases, and parasites, even though I have a license and a collar. Also, the neighbours might not like me in their gardens, and they can call to have me removed until my owner comes to rescue me. This sounds terrifying and stressful! I’ll live a much longer life if I stay inside here; however I still have a few concerns. Won’t I get bored, fat, or destructive?

Not true, said my myth-busting foster mom. Although you’ll get a rounder belly, you won’t become too overweight if your owner portion-controls your food and joins in a daily playing routine with you. Cats love schedules, so feeding us at the same time every day helps. I have a ton of options for keeping me entertained throughout the day, I’ve got a perch to watch out the balcony window, as well as crumpled up paper, boxes with holes in it (my owner can play with me using her fingers), catnip-stuffed toys and catnip bubbles, and a toy mouse dangling from a string on a stick for us to play together. Just make sure you hide strings when you aren’t home, and no plastic bags. There’s also the option of getting a playmate one day down the road. She’s might even build me a cat tower to play on. As long as I keep a good bond with my owner, we’ll always be able to keep each other entertained. Hiding treats for me to hunt, or even stuffing food inside something that I have to work to get it out, will give me a challenge. I even got to chase a moth around last night! (I’m not sure about those red laser pointers – because I never get the thrill of catching it and it makes me feel down on myself). Try to rotate my toys every so often as well, and leave some soothing music on for me during the day.

If I’m being destructive, it could be a sign of something else. Maybe I’m sick, or I don’t like a change to my routine. Either way, it can always be worked out. Even though I started my life outdoors, I am very adaptable to being indoors. Did you know even indoor cats can travel nearly 20 acres in a night? They can pick up things that make a mildly allergic owner’s allergies even worse than before, so letting them out isn’t the best solution for allergies either. And if I just keep trying to escape outside, try squirting me with water or making a loud noise – I’ll soon start to associate it negatively.

Consider this – every time you let me outside to play, it might be goodbye forever. I’m open to trying a secure harness that attaches a leash on the mid-back, or even a net enclosure. I’d love a sunroom or a closed patio to hang out in. There are certain plants I like to sniff and I love to chase bugs; and lounging in the sun is the best feeling to me. I don’t need a whole lot more, I’m tough and adaptable and am happy being an indoor kitty forever.

Check out THIS informative link for helping build stray kitties shelters outside in the winter.

And THIS ice ball is just the best idea for hot summer days!

Thank you for taking the time to read this.

Love,

Sapphire

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Check out my newly plump belly!

Filed Under: Protecting Your Dog Against Ticks ·

Roaring 20s Fundraiser

July 30, 2015 by ·

Hey all you bimbos and bearcats, get your glad rags on, fire up your hayburners, and foxtrot your way along to On The Rocks on Jasper for a swanky bash including drinks, music and dancing on an evening of nostalgic fun.  There’ll also be an auction if you’re looking to bid for some swell loot!  All proceeds go to those lovely little hepcats and dogs at Zoe’s Animal Rescue.  So dress to imress & don’t be a square – be there!

Date: Saturday 8th August – 6pm to late.

Tickets are $35, available at: zoesroaringfundraiser.myevent.com

On the Rocks
11740 Jasper Ave
Edmonton
T8H 2B4

Filed Under: Events, Protecting Your Dog Against Ticks ·

Featured Volunteer – Tracy Tingey

July 27, 2015 by ·

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Name:

Tracy Tingey and family.

Time spent with Zoe’s:

About 2 years.

Specialty (e.g., medical, behavioural, puppies):

Medical dogs/cats and cat/kitten intake.

Why did you get involved with Zoe’s?

I wanted to start fostering kittens as well as dogs, and the rescue I was with didn’t have any.  Jo-Anne Siebert recommended Zoe’s to me.

What kind of background do you have in working with animals?

I’ve always had cats of my own, but never had a dog until I started fostering. I’m an RN so that helps with the medical side of things.

Tell us a bit about your most challenging foster experience. Feel free to name names…of foster critters, that is!

Mickey was by far our most challenging experience – when he came to us he had issues with bowel and bladder incontinence, and mobility issues. It took a while to arrange our lives around that, but with time, help from Zoe’s and lots of love and care, he’s a pup we couldn’t imagine being without.

And what has been your most rewarding experience?

Being able to trap and rehome kittens and their mothers – seeing cats that would have ended up living on the streets and having short lives being cold sick and at risk of being coyote meals, to seeing them settle into forever homes and complete a family is extremely rewarding.

What have you learned from your work with rescue animals?

How to be patient, assertive, how to say no and make tough decisions and own your decisions. how to be a part of a larger entity than just yourself, and have pride in being a rescue ranger. How to teach my kids to have compassion and see the value in volunteering and being selfless.

What advice would you give to someone who’s thinking about fostering?

Do it! It’s hard, there’s no doubt about that…you get an animal and teach them to be good members of society, then you let them go…that’s tough, but I always remember that the better job I make of this, the more animals that can be saved from death or a sad and lonely life.  Being part of a “family” of rescuers is an incredible thing. It’s the best decision I ever made for my family and we can’t imagine life void of these animals.

Thank you very much for taking the time out to share your experience Tracy and and on behalf of Zoe’s, deepest thanks for volunteering.  We salute you and your family!

Filed Under: Featured Volunteer, Protecting Your Dog Against Ticks ·