Welfare For Animals

16/01/2025

Introducing a rescue dog to new animals- slowly decrease distance.

In Part 2 of our series- here’s why it is important to decrease distance over time and don’t rush introductions to other animals.
WHY should you slowly decrease distance over time?

🤺When introducing your new rescue dog to other dogs, you don’t know how either dog will react! For each dog’s safety and to prevent dog fights, it is imperative to introduce dogs at a distance. If the introduction to another dog is too fast, it can put either dog into a fight or flight response and lead to a dog fight as the new rescue dog feels scared or threatened by the other dog’s behaviour.

HOW could this happen?

🤷🏻‍♀️ The rescue that you adopted your dog from, and you, don’t know your new dog’s experiences with other dogs before they were rescued. They might be easily triggered by dogs barking, dogs of certain coat colours, sizes, and ear shapes due to unknown past traumatic experiences!

WHAT is too fast?

🏡 Letting dogs off-leash who’ve never met to “just deal with it” in a backyard, outdoor area, or in a home. Or bringing an adopted dog to the dog park (BIG NO) where they’re scared and getting bullied or chased nonstop by other lots of other dogs.

🐕 Dog-to-dog introductions that are too much and too fast might be very overwhelming and scary for your new rescue dog - leaving your dog with a negative one-time experience and lifelong fearful associations with other dogs.

Next week we will talk about the importance of parallel walks!

11/01/2025

Our hearts go out to all those affected my the wildfires in California.

To all the helpers- the firefighters, pilots, first responders, farm, wild, and companion animal rescues and shelters, and organizations- thank you 🧡.

Stay safe.

10/01/2025

Be ready for disasters 🔥

All it takes is a second for a natural disaster to strike! Our FREE “Emergency Disaster Checklist for People with Pets” will help you make sure your animal family members have are prepared for if you need to quickly evacuate.

Download here 👉 https://www.welfare4animals.org/resources-and-ebooks

09/01/2025

If you are looking to help people with pets affected by the wildfires in California, give Pasadena Humane a follow and a lot of love.

Update on Eaton Fire Emergency:
We have taken in over 300 animals due to evacuations and have staff and volunteers working nonstop to help with their care. We are starting to see many animals coming in with burns and injuries. These animals are being treated in our ICU. We are providing them with pain medications, wound care, fluid, and oxygen as needed.

We’re working with shelters across the state who have offered to take in the animals that were already in our care so that we can focus on providing resources to the displaced animals. A huge thank you to the shelters throughout California who are offering assistance, as well as all people in our community reaching out to volunteer or donate. Our biggest need right now is for monetary donations to help provide emergency resources to animals affected by the wildfires.

If you are being evacuated and can go somewhere with your pets–such as a friend or family member’s home–that is ideal. If you are evacuating, please take your animals with you. We are very thankful that the Pasadena Civic Center has allowed people to stay with their pets. We are helping in any way that we can–providing them with resources such as food and leashes for the displaced families. We also have pet food available at the shelter for those who need it. If you cannot go somewhere that allows your pet to stay with you, you can bring your animals to the shelter where we are offering emergency boarding.

Our Animal Control Officers have been on the ground helping animals in the community. While they are not going into the active fire areas, we are preparing to get in many injured animals that will need our help in those areas once the fires are cleared. If you find injured wildlife, please text our wildlife helpline at 626.344.1129. If you find any other animal, including dogs and cats, please call Animal Control at 626.792.7151 ext. 970.

We anticipate getting in even more animals who are in need of emergency medical care as the fires continue. If you are able to donate, please visit https://give.pasadenahumane.org/give/654134/ #!/donation/checkout

08/01/2025

Bringing a rescue dog home- slow, steady, and content steps into new environments.

In Part 1 of our series- here’s why it is critical to take those slow steps.

To quote Aladdin, you want to show your new rescue dog the world, “shining, shimmering, splendid”- but is your dog comfortable? Are they content or scared?

After your dog has gotten comfortable with their new neighbourhood, longer car rides, and new walk areas it is time to expand their horizons to exciting new adventures such as hikes, beach time, parks, and the mountains!

So, what does steady and content steps into new environments looks like?

Always checking in with your dog’s body language. See if their tail is tucked, back cowered, easily startled, ears back, if they’re hesitant to continue, hypervigilant, or acting “off”- meaning they’re overwhelmed.

If your dog shows any of these signs, you’ve push too much too fast and need to go back to the car and go to less stimulating environments and slowly build up.

Never flooding (full-force of negative stimuli) your dog such as suddenly bringing them into large crowds, forcing them to say hello to other dogs, having them in loud areas, or dragging them across bridges or near something they’re scared of.

Your goal is that your new is content, with a loose and wiggly body and tail.

That they’re happily investigating the new environment such as sniffing, tracking smells, digging, or manipulating items like sticks, twigs, or rocks with their paws.

Next week, we will discuss what to avoid when doing new introductions with your new rescue dog.

Do you need help introducing your dog(s) and cats? DM us for a virtual consultation!

03/01/2025

What are our resolutions for 2025?

🌟 More free resources made for and with our partners and colleagues.

🌟 Feature even more organizations doing amazing work for the vulnerable, marginalized, and unhoused people with pets for our .

🌟 Increase online and in-person presentations!

🌟 Train more dogs and cats!

What are your 2025 resolutions? We'd love to know!

01/01/2025

You might love fireworks 🎇, but your animals don’t!

The random loud noises and flashing noises often triggers a fight or flight response in animals. This is why so many animals flee in a panicked state during fireworks. If they can’t flee, animals will hide, frozen in fear, pacing, drooling, trembling, and crying until the fireworks are over for some time.

How can you help your animals at home?

🚶🏻‍♀️Take them for walks before the fireworks begin,

🏷️ Doublecheck that they’re wearing all their ID tags in case they flee,

🏡 Create a safe room or space in your home for them,

🪟 Close all windows, doors, and curtains,

🧡 Only touch your animals if they choose to interact with you,

🎶 And play calming music to down out the noise!

Wishing you and your animals a safe and a very happy .

27/12/2024

that you can reuse your holiday wrapping paper cardboard tubes as dog and cat enrichment ideas?

Swipe right 👉 through our latest post to see 3️⃣ DIY ways to reduce, reuse, and recycle ♻️ your cardboard tubes into fun games for your dog or cat to bat about, shred, and obsess over!

These are also great ideas that can be used at shelters or by foster parents to reduce the stress of shelter and rescue dogs. 🧡

Do you have any other fun enrichment games for dogs and cats using holiday wrapping paper cardboard tubes? Let us know in the comments!

25/12/2024

The greatest gift is all of you and your animals!

Wishing everyone the happiest of holidays.

20/12/2024

Our Friday Feature is Boyle Street's Pet Food Bank! 🙌🏼

Boyle’s Street Pet Food Bank, run by Boyle Street Community Services, helps over 100 pets with pet food and services weekly, such as dry and wet pet food, treats, blankets, beds, toys, leashes, coats, and nail trims. They also have professional photography sessions during Halloween and Christmas to provide beautiful photographs for the people and their pets who they help.

All of their services are coordinated through their location at:
📍 Boyle Street Community Services (10527 96 St., Bissell Centre East Building, Alberta)

Every other Friday, WFA’s Feature Fridays will feature the following across Canada:

🍴 A pet food bank
🏡 Shelters that accept pets
🧡 Domestic violence shelters that accept pets
🐕🐈 Low-cost spay and neuter clinics

DM us if you want to be featured.

18/12/2024

It’s so cold outside!! 🥶 Do you know the signs of hypothermia in dogs and cats?

Swipe and see 👀 if you know the signs of hypothermia:

🐕 In dogs,
🐈 In cats,
🩺 And what to do if you suspect your dog or cat has hypothermia.

How many signs of hypothermia did you know?

When the temperature drops to below -20C your dog can develop frostbite on their paws in under 5 minutes. Continued exposure can lead to hypothermia, which can be fatal.

Stay warm everyone!

17/12/2024

It is such a busy and chaotic time of the year. 😵‍💫

Along with completing all of your end-of-year work tasks, you’re also grocery shopping for family dinners, finishing holiday baking, doing last minute gift wrapping or shopping, or completing handmade gifts like knitting 🧶.

It’s a lot.

In between all this chaos- take a moment to PAUSE and reflect how far you’ve come this year.

Whether that is:

🐕 Setting up management around your home for your dog to reduce their stress during holiday events

🐈 Arranging vet visits for your cat with your vet

💰Fundraising for your/a rescue or shelter

💻 Improving your business or non-profit marketing to better reflect your brand needs

🛟 Helping your rescue dog or cat feel safe

🥅 Starting dog training and meeting your goals

❤️ Just making it through the year

What are your glimmers from 2024? Share your glimmers and let’s cheer each other on 🌟

* Post inspired by Trailblazing Tails - give her follow to see her amazing work 🧡.

14/12/2024

that puppies are baby sharks 🦈??

Puppies mouth, nip, and bite. WHY? Because they’re teething, tired, and overstimulated.

But when your puppy chews on you or your clothes, those baby shark-like teeth hurt!!!

So, for all the new puppy guardians out there- we now have a “Puppy Biting Worksheet” to help!

What’s in the worksheet?

🐕 8 pages
🐕 4 infographics
🐕 3 tables
🐕 Real-life examples and solutions
🐕 Different that you can prepare and prevent puppy biting!

From now until December 31- this worksheet will be on sale for only $5!!

Check out the link here https://welfareforanimals.thinkific.com/courses/puppy-biting-workshet to get your resource- to help you and your puppy ❤️.

12/12/2024

Bringing a rescue dog home- quiet and slow introductions. 🤫

In Part 1 of our series- here’s why it is important to slowly introduce your dog to new and stimulating environments.

Once your new rescue dog has become comfortable on slow and predictable walks around your neighbourhood, it’s time to slowly introduce them to new environments.

What do slow introductions to new and stimulating environments look like?

⛰️Starting small- go for longer walks in your neighbourhood so you can assess your dog’s body language in a neutral environment.

🐾Going to quiet new walk areas- driving to or walking to quiet new walk areas that your dog has never been to and letting them sniff.

🚗 Going for long car rides- let your dog sniff the air and get a pup cup from the comfort of the car

☎️ Phone the vet for quiet times- ask your vet when quiet times visits and bring your dog there for victory vet visits when no other dogs are around so they can sniff and feel safe.

Next week, we will cover- how to increase environmental introductions!

👉🏼 Do you want to learn how to introduce dogs and cats? DM us for a virtual consultation or watch our webinar at the link below!

https://welfareforanimals.thinkific.com/courses/bringing-a-rescue-dog-home-webinar

09/12/2024

Are you thinking of getting a new cat during the holidays? 🎄

Or will you bring your cat to your family’s home or vice versa, or to a cat sitter’s during the holidays? 🐈

Or are you a shelter/rescue and are anticipating an increase in cat adoptions over the holidays? 🐈‍⬛

If YES, then what are your 3 biggest concerns when introducing cats? Let us know in the comments below 👇

07/12/2024

ends in 4 days. But… how to help survivors of gender-based violence who have pets? 🐕🐈

Around 77% of Canadian households have at least 1 pet. An estimated 71% of these households consider pets as their family members. 🧡

For many individuals living in abusive relationships, the fear of what will happen to their pet, their beloved family member, is often a barrier that prevents them from leaving. Often the abuser will leverage the pets as coercive control over survivors of gender-based violence. Such as threatening to or actually harming the pet, and in some cases, killing the pet.

If you or someone you know are in an abusive relationship and have a pet, we have a free guideline to help - the “Safety Plan for People and Pets Fleeing Dometic Violence”.

Click the link to access our free guideline https://www.welfare4animals.org/resources-and-ebooks

30/11/2024

5️⃣ ways to help your dog and cat decompress after a holiday get-together.

Whether you're celebrating Thanksgiving in America or gearing up for the upcoming holidays at your home, family and friend get-togethers can be very stressful for your pets. 😖

Why?
🧑‍🧑‍🧒‍🧒Lots of new or known people in small spaces;
🐕 People who might not understand that your dog or cat get easily stressed if approached, handled or touched in a certain manner;
👃 New smells;
🥘 New foods;
🎶Loud noises;
🗣️ People yelling;
👧🏻 Little kids running around and playing;
🚶🏻‍♀️Changes in their daily routine;
👩🏻‍🍳 Changes in your daily routine;
🏡 Changes in the home environment;
🪤 And sense of feeling trapped-with nowhere to go and hide!

So, how to help your pet decompress after all the overwhelm of a holiday party or get-together at yours? Swipe through our 5 points to learn how!

25/11/2024

📣Our 2nd Annual raised $375 for Funda Nenja!

This money was raised with 50% of all ticket sales from our yearly virtual workshop + some of the Speakers who donated their fees to this amazing charity! 🙌

A huge thank you to this year’s Speakers:
🐕 Ilse Ilse Fourie
🐈‍⬛ Tom of Simplifying Shelter Behaviour
🧡 Noortje of Wag Wise Dog Coaching and Education
✨ Melissa of A Canine Affinity
🙌 Kassie of the Ontario SPCA

Funda Nenja uses dog training as a vehicle to promote animal welfare and social work services, helping both dogs and children (and their families) using a approach in the township of Mpophomeni, South Africa. If you haven't yet, give them a follow to see their life-changing and inspiring work.

And keep following us to learn more about next year's !