Your Furry Godparents LLC

04/25/2024

This lovely little screech owl found in Newburyport on the border of Newbury died from rodenticide poisoning. Cape Ann Wildlife, Inc tried to save her but she had bled too much internally. This screech owl had 2 of the second generation (SGARs) and 1 of the first generation rodenticides in her liver. The SGARs are the most problematic as they build up in the tissue of predators leading to eventual death in even a large animal like a mountain lion. These are the rat poisons typically found in the ever-present black boxes outside businesses. TESTING for these poisons is necessary to prove the link between SGARs and the deaths of non-target wildlife like owls, eagles, hawks, foxes, etc. With this proof we will be more successful in restricting the indiscriminate use of these poisons. Your donations to Cape Ann Wildlife, Inc (www.caw2.org) will be life-saving!

04/04/2024

There are many alternatives to using rat poison. Join Save Newbury Wildlife on Saturday, April 6, 10 am at the Newbury Library for a presentation on managing rodents without poison. Check out www.savenewburywildlife.org or www.raptorsarethesolution.org for more information.

Send a message to learn more

03/28/2024

🐱March 28th is National Respect Your Cat Day🐱 . We think the best way to honor this day is to respect your cat's body language so that you can understand what they want and, perhaps more importantly, what they don't want. Too many times we feel caught off guard when a cat bites or scratches us. Sometimes we think this behavior is out of the blue and unprovoked, but usually there are warning signs and most behaviors can be predicted.

🐱March 28th is National Respect Your Cat Day🐱 . We think the best way to honor this day is to respect your cat’s body language so that you can understand what they want and, perhaps more impo…

03/26/2024

Speaking of puzzle feeders, Holly Lynn, has any tried these Doc and Phoebe mice feeders? I just bought them on the advice of Dr. Annie Valuska (Animal behaviorist on Tik Tok: ).

The hunting feeder for cats! We love this!

03/25/2024

Make time to play with your cats every day. Even better if you can squeeze it in before meal time (to mimic the natural rhythm of Hunt-Catch-Eat🐁). This releases pent up energy and reduces unwanted behaviors (attacking your legs, not using the litterbox, scratching everything but their scratching posts, etc)

03/13/2024

We are happy to announce that we have earned the designation
of CPPS-Certified Professional Pet Sitter. awards this credential to professional
pet sitters who have passed the CPPS Exam, successfully demonstrating their competency in the core skills and knowledge-base that professional pet sitters should possess. As a Certified Professional Pet Sitter, we are committed to ensuring
that your pets receive the best possible care.

03/09/2024

March is Poison Prevention Month and PSI has some tips and resources to help you prevent your pets 🐾 from being ☠️poisoned. Note that rat poison is high in the list for dogs. The Second Generation Anticoagulant Rodenticides (SGARs) are particularly dangerous- Save Newbury Wildlife is working to restrict their use to prevent the poisoning or our pets and wildlife.

PSI encourages pet sitters to share these tips for pet poison proofing your home with their clients during Poison Prevention Awareness Month.

01/02/2024

Why Train your dog? Because it keeps your dog SAFE!
check out Zak George and these videos from the American Kennel Club: https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/training/

11/13/2023

Support your local professional pet sitters and give yourself some peace of mind. 🐾💕

When you think about shopping local and want to support the movement, don't forget to check out your local professional pet-sitting business. Check out these three reasons your local professional pet sitter if your best pet-care option.

11/06/2023

Give some love to your local shelters this week!🥰🐾
Sweet Paws Rescue PAWS Wakefield MSPCA at Nevins Farm Merrimack River Feline Rescue Society
They are looking for volunteers, donations and foster parents!

10/30/2023

Please, PLEASE, please help a stray or feral community cat IMMEDIATELY - don't wait! There is no need to befriend a community cat before helping that cat, or you'll have more cats before you know it.

Call a low-cost clinic to make an appointment right away as many don't have appointments for weeks.

About 2 weeks before your appointment, rent or borrow a humane trap so you can trap the kitty, get it scanned for a microchip, and spayed/neutered and vaccinated as a starting point!!

If you have the means and ability to secure and help get the kitty ready for a home, do that AFTER it's been fixed. 😻

10/30/2023

🖤🐱🖤 Keep your black kitties safe during Halloween.

10/29/2023

An organization worthy of your donations. They do wildlife rehabilitation and want to build a new facility as they have run out of room.

For over five years now, I have remodeled much of my home and yard to care for injured … Jane Newhouse needs your support for Help Us Build A Wildlife Clinic

10/25/2023

Hi there! We are in need of a few supplies for the animals in our care. Can you help us out?

https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/2GAVZ6K51ZICP?ref_=wl_share

10/25/2023

Why is everyone hating on rat poison so much???

While sitting in a legislative meeting, I listened to many in the pesticide industry get up and speak about how rat poison doesn't affect our wildlife. They stated there simply was no proof.

I squirmed in my chair. It was all I could do to wait my turn to speak. Visions of so many animals I have seen, die from rat poison, flooded my mind. The argument they had was that the amount of rat poison needed to kill one mouse will not kill a larger predator, like a hawk or a fox.

They had a point. It's likely true...

But then, birds of prey and foxes don't just eat one mouse and no one buying rat poison is just trying to kill one mouse.

These predators spend almost all their time awake just hunting down rodents. They aren't eating one a day. They are eating several a day. It takes about 6 weeks for the poison to be flushed out of their liver. So, over 6 weeks, if they eat enough poisoned mice, it can absolutely overwhelm their system. They begin to die the same way the rodents do - they slowly bleed out internally.

California is studying a link between mange and rat poison. It is believed that, once compromised by rat poison, many predator species are more likely to have trouble fighting off mange. Many of the mangey foxes we receive have trouble with their blood clotting - a sign of rat poison.

These people in the pest control industry did state that they had many predators in the area tested, after being hunted. They admitted that ALL their test subject’s livers tested positive for rat poison "residue". Their argument was that the rat poison didn't kill these animals - hunters did. That seemed proof enough for them that these animals could survive just fine with the poison.

Here is my argument:

Do you think that, even though the rat poison in their system at that time wasn't enough to kill them - maybe it slowed them down enough to make them easier to hunt?

Are the hunters going to eat these animals with "only a little" poison in them? Are they going to feed these "slightly poisoned" animals to their children?

Hunters didn't have the opportunity to hunt down the ones that rat poison killed. They were already dead. A test of animals found already deceased in the wild would be more helpful.

People don't call their local pest control company when they see a wild animal suffering. They call wildlife rehabilitators or wildlife centers. That is where you should get your information about how poison is affecting these animals.

These pest control companies will tell you that the poison does not hurt these larger predators. Interestingly enough, these same people won't even touch the stuff with their bare hands, let alone eat a little of it.

Lastly, if you don't believe me, during your next visit with your primary care physician, just ask how much rat poison is safe for you to eat....

Your physician is going to think you are crazy. After all, no one in their right mind would think any amount of poison was safe to eat.

Yet here we are....

***Below, two foxes we are treating for rat poison. Lucky for these two, it looks like they are going to pull through.

10/24/2023

Koda is a good boy and loves to go for long walks!

10/20/2023

10/19/2023

Dogs teach us how to live in the moment!💕🐾

10/17/2023

A timely question for Halloween 👻

The answer depends on the type of chocolate, how much was eaten, and the size of your dog. Chocolate contains methylxanthines (caffeine and theobromine) which humans can break down into non-toxic s…

10/09/2023

DO NOT bleach your jack o’lanterns🎃 to preserve them. Many animals will eat your pumpkins and bleach is hazardous to their health. Use a vinegar bath instead: 1 part vinegar to 10 parts water. After Halloween you can smash your pumpkins and leave them in the woods for your local wildlife.

🦇 👻 Halloween Decorating Tips to Keep Wildlife Safe 🦇 👻

Owls, hummingbirds, woodpeckers, kinglets...all of these are birds that have fallen victim to fake spider web. To be bird friendly this halloween consider these easy ways to create festive decorations that won't harm our feathered friends.

1. Choose natural materials: Opt for eco-conscious options like hay, untreated wood, and natural twine instead of harmful plastics. Look for labels that ensure the materials are free of dangerous chemicals.

2. Hang decorations safely: Avoid artificial cobwebs or other decorations that can cause harm and prevent birds from getting tangled by hanging decorations at a safe height. Check for loose ribbons or twine and trim anything that could entangle birds.

3. Avoid glitter and foil: Instead, go for earthy, non-reflective materials that blend in with nature. Steer clear of confetti too, as small pieces can harm birds if swallowed.

4. Say goodbye to helium balloons: Balloons may bring joy, but they can be a serious threat to birds and other wildlife if accidentally consumed. Consider using alternatives like paper lanterns or banners.

5. Illuminate responsibly with LED lights: Choose energy-efficient LED lights over traditional bulbs or better yet, embrace the dark. Since many birds undertake their journeys at night, it's important to be mindful of minimizing outdoor light usage after sunset, especially during the fall season.

6. Keep it peaceful: Loud noises can stress and harm wildlife. Consider quieter alternatives like eerie music, spooky sound effects, or a cozy storytelling session around a campfire.

* Screech-owl caught in fake spider web image by David Strapp
* Bird friendly tips by Environment for the America's

10/01/2023

OCTOBER IS ADOPT A SHELTER DOG MONTH! 💕
There are many dogs at our local shelters waiting for a loving home- like adorable "Bisket" at Rescue Inc, a shelter that specializes in providing dogs found in the rural south a second chance. 🥰 www.rescueinc.dog

09/30/2023

The downside of rat poisons!

Efforts to control the rat population has introduced deadly chemicals into the food chain of bald eagles.

09/30/2023

Love💕 this scent, particularly around the litter box, from Holly Lynn's Hellscent.com. It is a little minty and not overpowering.