Petfinder.com forums :: View topic - Adopting Less-Adoptable-Pets!! Sept. 19th-25th! [ ]

Join us and help celebrate Adopt-A-Less-Adoptable week!! We have Jonathan Rosenberg, Founder of Tabby's Place and Karen Belfi, President of Blind Dog Rescue Alliance here to answer your questions!

Jonathan Rosenberg is the Founder and Executive Director of “Tabby’s Place: a Cat Sanctuary,” a cage-free sanctuary that provides refuge to cats from hopeless situations. Jonathan graduated with a BS in Computer Science (Summa --I have a Potty Mouth-- Laude, with High Honors) from the University of Maryland in 1977, followed by a PhD in Computer Science in 1983 from Carnegie Mellon. He was an early employee of a successful internet startup. After losing his beloved cat Tabby to cancer, Jonathan quit this job and his real life's work began. He and his wife opened Tabby’s Place in Ringoes, NJ in 2003 and since have devoted their lives to saving homeless cats. Since its inception, Tabby’s Place has adopted over 450 cats, many aging, sick, diseased or handicapped.

Karen Belfi currently serves as President for Blind Dog Rescue Alliance, a group spread out throughout the United States and portions of Canada dedicated to helping blind and visually impaired dogs by rescuing dogs in shelters, assisting blind dog owners, and educating the public about these wonderful dogs.

Welcome Jonathan and Karen!!!

Posted: Sun Sep 19, 2010 2:57 pm Post subject:

Welcome Jonathan and Karen!

The last three years my husband and I have discovered the joy of adopting older special needs pets - they have blended in well with our younger healthy dogs. In the past three years we have adopted dogs ranging in age from 13-16 with various special needs (blind, deaf, heart problems, senility, and have experience with Dogs with Cushings and Addisons). We also foster but prefer to foster older special needs animals.

We have been asked to consider taking in a dog that is wheelchair bound. We have ramps for the old dogs anyway so we can make the house accessible but what other things do we need to consider when taking in a younger dog that is wheelchair bound? Thanks.

Karen's Answer:

Major issues with wheelchair dogs are incontinence and bladder infections. Sometimes they cannot fully empty their bladder and will need you to squeeze the bladder to help empty it. You need to consider if your schedule allows you to get him in and out of the wheelchair several times a day for daily exercise. Also, consider your ability to lift him in and out of the car when needed for vet visits, etc.

They need to be bathed frequently, as they cannot groom themselves and urine can irritate the skin. You need to watch for bedsores on pressure points, as well as scrapes from the dog dragging their hind legs.
Orthopedic beds can help prevent pressure sores.

Karen Belfi, President
Blind Dog Rescue Alliance, Inc.
www.blinddogrescue.com

Posted: Tue Sep 21, 2010 11:50 pm Post subject:

Hi Jonathan and Karen!

My partner and I are considering adopting a 4 year old blind lab mix and we currently have a 6 year old black lab. I was wondering when we all go to meet him, what is the best way to do the introduction? If we do adopt, what can I do to make our house as comfortable and the transition easier for him?

Karen's Answer:

First, I would put something noisy on your dog's collar, either metal tags that jingle or a bell. That way the blind dog knows where he is. Other than that, I tend to do meetings the same as any other dog-on neutral territory, let them sniff. Just be sure your dog doesn't startle the blind one.

As for the house, just don't leave things in the way. Teach him "watch" for when something is in his way, and "step" for a curb or step. You can use baby gates to block steps until he learns the house better. You can also put textured rugs by the steps. The change in texture under his feet will let him know where he is, and mark the steps for him.

If there are things he bumps into you can spray them with a scented oil or perfume. A lot of these things you won't need to do once he figures out the layout of your house.

If you move furniture, just show him by tapping on it. Some people bubble wrap things like deck supports and large things that are in the way that they can bump into.

Karen Belfi, President
Blind Dog Rescue Alliance, Inc.
www.blinddogrescue.com

Posted: Wed Sep 22, 2010 9:20 am Post subject:

I have a kitty who is missing a front leg. Are there any supplements or anything I can do to help keep her joint healthy? I worry about arthritis when she gets older.

Jonathan's Answer:

Isn’t it amazing how well cats with disabilities handle life? A missing limb doesn’t even slow down most cats. I’ve even seen a 3-legged cat climb a tree.

I’m assuming that your concern is for the joints in the remaining legs (though you used the singular, ‘joint,’ in your question).

We most often use a supplement known as Cosequin®, manufactured by Nutramax Labs, for joint health. This supplement is similar to the glucosaminse-based supplements that people often use, but formulated specifically for cats (there are also versions for dogs).

Cosequin comes in capsules than can be easily opened & mixed with food. The substance appears to be tasteless, as we don’t find cats refusing to eat food spiked with this. (We don’t advise pilling by mouth, as the capsules are a little too large for comfort.)

Of course, helping your cat maintain a healthy weight is also important, to reduce stress on the joints.

I hope this helpful. And, please give your girl a kiss from me Smile

Jonathan Rosenberg
Founder & Executive Director, Tabby's Place
http://www.tabbysplace.org/

Posted: Wed Sep 22, 2010 10:39 am Post subject:

Great question!

Being that I share my home with a furry three legged companion as well, I'll pose the same joint question for a dog.

Karen's Answer:

The most important thing for joint health is keeping your dog healthy. Ensure your dog maintains a healthy weight, is not overweight, and exercise your dog regularly. Feed a quality food, one with meats comprising most of the first few ingredients, instead of things like corn and rice. Grain free foods may be better, as grains can cause inflammation in joints.

Glucosamine and chondroitin may be useful. Some studies found that glucosamine may stimulate the body to produce cartilage building proteins, and chondroitin may decrease levels of cartilage destroying enzymes. Fish oil also would not be a bad idea as they have omega 3 fatty acids which can reduce inflammation.

However, there is not a lot of proof that supplements will prevent joint injury or breakdown. It surely won't hurt, though.
Thank you to everyone who shares their lives with a special needs pet. So many people want the "perfect" pet, and can't see the wonderful animal behind the disability.

Karen Belfi, President
Blind Dog Rescue Alliance, Inc.
www.blinddogrescue.com

Please visit http://funtimedogshop.com/ and choose BDRA as your cause upon checkout. We will then receive a portion of the proceeds from your purchase! Lots of dog toys, treats and more!

Posted: Fri Sep 24, 2010 4:53 am Post subject:

I love senior dogs and have adopted and fostered many. Most of the time they are in good health, just a little silver on the fringes. They usually spend a long time here in foster care. Is there some way to encourage people to give these more mature dogs a chance? Everyone that has adopted one has been thrilled with them, it's just hard to get them to try. I mostly foster dachshunds and mixes.

Karen's Answer:

I think the best way is to show people how great they are. Ask your adopters of seniors to send stories that you can post on your website. Post videos of them, as people love to see videos. Get them out as much as possible to rescue events, pet stores, anywhere you can. I bring my foster dogs as many places as I can.

If someone applies to adopt, and you bring them the dog they want to meet, bring a senior along too. Never know who they'll fall in love with! I have had people apply for puppies. We brought them the puppy they wanted to meet, and a senior dog. Once they saw the energy of the puppy, and how nicely the senior settled in, they ended up adopting the senior!

Good luck! I also have a soft spot for seniors, and just adopted one of my foster dogs who is old and blind.

Karen Belfi, President
Blind Dog Rescue Alliance, Inc.
www.blinddogrescue.com

Please visit http://funtimedogshop.com/ and choose BDRA as your cause upon checkout. We will then receive a portion of the proceeds from your purchase! Lots of dog toys, treats and more!

Posted: Sat Sep 25, 2010 4:58 pm Post subject:

I see that some cats have FIV. I think that it is something similar to the human disease, but what does that mean for the cat exactly? If adopted, what do I need to know?

Jonathan's Answer:

Dear Sonja,

Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV) is, indeed, similar to HIV. The viruses are biologically related and infection suppresses the host's immune system. In addition, just as HIV is specific to humans (and some primates), FIV can only be acquired by cats (domestic and wild).

Furthermore, like its human counterpart, FIV can not be transmitted by casual contact. Cats cannot transmit FIV by grooming or sharing food bowls and you cannot transmit the disease after petting an FIV+ cat. Instead, FIV is transmitted primarily by deep bite wounds (and, rarely, at birth).

There is, fortunately, an important difference in practice between the viruses, as FIV only rarely leads to the equivalent of full-blown AIDS (where the immune system collapses completely, leading to death). In fact, the latest study I've seen shows that no significant reduction in expected lifespan for owned FIV+ cats.

Most vets recommend adopting an FIV+ cat as an only cat or with other FIV+ cats. (There ARE many people that mix FIV+ and FIV- cats, but that is a controversial topic and beyond the scope of this answer.) If you adopt an FIV+ cat, be extra-vigilant in terms of possible symptoms of infection (e.g., sneezing, urinary difficulty), as the compromised immune system can make it harder to fight infections. You should also reduce exposure to harmful agents, by keeping an FIV+ cat strictly indoors.

Juts like other cats, FIV+ cats make great pets.

Jonathan Rosenberg
Founder & Executive Director
Tabby's Place
http://www.tabbysplace.org

Posted: Sun Sep 26, 2010 11:44 am Post subject:

Hello and thank you for answering our questions. I recently adopted a CH kitty and seem to be having some trouble getting him to consistently use the litter box. He does use it sometimes, but other times he just sort of goes to the bathroom near it Smile

Is this normal for a CH cat or is there a special type of litter box I can get?

Also Karen, I love your idea about bringing senior dogs with when doing introductions for puppies. I don't currently have any dogs of my own but at the shelter were I volunteer we have a very shy (but sweet) shepherd mix that has been with us for sometime now. Any tips on helping very shy dogs find a home?

Jonathan's Answer:

Dear ResqMom,

I am sorry to hear about your cats' litter box problems. I know well how frustrating they are.

We have had quite a few CH* cats at Tabby's Place and their afflictions have run the gamut from very mild to one who was completely unable to walk. However, they all used their litter boxes religiously, if sometimes awkwardly.

This makes me wonder whether your cat is having difficulty navigating the box. Is there a chance that the sides are too high? or might it be tipping over when he enters? Maybe he is having difficulty getting out and that discourages him from using it.

I would experiment with the some changes to the box. Try cutting out a side, or buy a box with lower sides. Also, make sure there is is some stable, non-slippery material under the box.

I hope this is helpful.

==
* Cerebellar Hypoplasia (CH) is a disease seen almost exclusively in cats in which a kitten is born with an underdeveloped cerebellum. The cerebellum is a region of the brain that is important to motor control, and "CH cats" have difficulty walking, often appearing drunk.

Fortunately, CH is not progressive and does not affect a cat's mental health in other ways. CH cats have normal lifespans and make wonderful companions.
--
Jonathan Rosenberg
Founder & Executive Director
Tabby's Place
http://www.tabbysplace.org

Karen's Answer:

It's harder in a shelter, I think, because it's harder for a shy dog to be socialized and come out of their shell. But I would just try to get her around as many people as possible.

How about asking people who are coming to adopt if they would meet her? Tell them you just want to get her out with people because she's a little shy at the shelter. Maybe someone will fall in love with her. Smile

Also, if the dogs get yard time, pairing her with a confident but friendly and non-aggressive dog could help her.

Good luck!

Karen Belfi, President
Blind Dog Rescue Alliance, Inc.
www.blinddogrescue.com

Please visit http://funtimedogshop.com/ and choose BDRA as your cause upon checkout. We will then receive a portion of the proceeds from your purchase! Lots of dog toys, treats and more!

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