Unleashed – PAWsitive Stories from Salt Lake County Animal Services
So You Got a Puppy: What's Next?
January 30, 2023
So You Got A Puppy:
Bringing home a puppy or any new dog is a special and exciting time, but it can also be overwhelming (and not just because of their overwhelming cuteness). They can interrupt your sleep, have accidents, or destroy household items. The good news? One look at your pup’s adorable face and you’ll forgive almost anything, and with proper training and equipment, those behaviors will be easily managed.
Where To Start:
Start by getting to know your puppy’s personality, temperament, and breed-specific needs. This information will help you understand your pup’s ideal diet, exercise routine, grooming, and more. Your puppy’s vet and reputable websites such as American Kennel Club will be very helpful in providing this information.
Necessary Puppy Supplies:
- bed
- brush
- cleaners (paper towels, disinfecting spray, lint rollers)
- collar
- crate
- food
- food/water bowl and stand
- harness
- leash
- identification tags
- nail trimmer
- poop bags
- shampoo
- tooth brush/paste
- toys
Helpful Puppy Supplies:
- blankets
- calming supplement
- chews
- clicker for training
- hip/joint supplement
- multivitamin
- pet first aid kit
- pet gate
- pet hammock for car
- pet stairs
- puzzle toys/kongs
- sweaters/coats/boots for winter
- travel carrier
- towels
- treats
Puppy-Proofing Your Home:
Puppy-proofing your home is a necessary step in keeping your puppy safe and protecting your valuable possessions.
- use doors and puppy gates to section off the part of your home you feel comfortable giving your puppy access to
- put their crate, food/water bowls, and toys in that safe space
- cover outlets
- relocate electrical cords
- remove any breakable or sentimental items
- relocate all human food to an out-of-reach cupboard
- remove toxic house plants, cleaning products, fragrances, weed killers, ect.
- check your yard for possible escape routes
Mental and Physical Exercise:
A good puppy is a tired puppy! All dogs need both physical and mental exercise but exact exercise needs can vary greatly from breed to breed.
- Physical Exercise:
- walking
- running
- playing fetch
- playing with other dogs
Note: Be careful not to over-exercise young puppies because that can lead to joint issues later in life. The general rule for exercising a puppy is to provide five minutes of exercise for each month of their age two times a day. So a four month old puppy would need twenty minutes of exercise twice a day while a six month old puppy would need thirty minutes of exercise twice a day.
- Mental Exercise:
- training/learning new tricks
- sniffing out treats
- playing with puzzle toys or kongs
Leaving Your Puppy At Home:
Although leaving so much cuteness at home is incredibly difficult, there will be times you’ll have to part with your precious pup. Creating a safe and relaxing environment for your puppy will make the experience less stressful for both of you.
- use a crate to keep your dog safe and out of trouble
- fill their space with exciting distractions like toys, a Kong filled with peanut butter, or an up-beat tv show
- give them a calming supplement to ease separation anxiety and decrease destructive behavior
- take them on a walk before leaving them alone
- give them an extra long potty break before leaving them alone
- leave them with fresh drinking water
Note: DO NOT leave a dog unsupervised with a hard chew or a toy that could be a choking hazard (AKA toys that can break off into small bits of rubber, scraps of cloth, or have plastic squeakers).
Preventative Healthcare:
The best resource on preventive healthcare is your pup’s veterinarian, so it’s important to get your new puppy in for a visit as soon as possible. It’s important to consult your vet before giving your dog vitamins, supplements, or over-the-counter medication. Learning about your puppy's breed can also help you protect against disorders/diseases that are more common for their breed.
- Vaccinate:
- helps protect against dangerous diseases such as parvovirus, distemper, rabies, heartworms and more
- Spaying/Neutering:
- prevents homeless pets
- helps protect your dog against specific types of cancers, behavioral issues, infections, and more
- Multivitamin:
- helps protect their joints as they age
- aids in fighting off illnesses
- improves coat quality and shine
- Deworming:
- consult veterinarian on how often to deworm
- can help prevent a build up of parasites
- Dental Care:
- brushing your dog’s teeth helps prevent tooth/gum infections
- regular dental check-ups remove built-up plaque and prevent tooth/gum infections
- providing safe chews naturally prevents plaque build-up
- Harnesses
- use on walks to protect your dog’s neck and trachea
Healthy Digestion:
No one wants a stinky puppy. Helping your pup’s digestion can prevent smelly gas and stool, keep them healthy and active, and improve their quality of life.
- find a high-quality food brand
- use a puppy-specific food for small dogs under 7-12 months and large dogs under 1-2 years
- use a slow-feeder
- feed your pup on an elevated surface
- use their meals as a training reward to slow food intake
- don’t give them too many treats
- introduce over-the-counter probiotics
Note: Some chews such as rawhides or bones can be very difficult for dogs of any age to digest, so it’s best to avoid these treats as they could cause intestinal blockage.
Start Training:
Training sets important boundaries for how your puppy interacts with their environment which includes you, your family/friends, and other dogs. Training also helps you build a relationship with your dog and teaches them to trust and respect you.
- Basic Commands:
- sit (redirects action when your pup wants to jump, chase, or pull)
- laydown (redirects action when your pup wants to jump, chase, or pull)
- stay (teaches impulse control)
- come back (teaches recall and allows dog to play off-leash)
- break (teaches to resume play on your command)
- heal (teaches to not pull on the leash)
- leave it (teaches impulse control)
- Negative vs. Positive Reinforcement:
- Positive reinforcement: treats, praise, rewarding with food/toys (proven to be effective, builds your relationship with your dog, leads to positive behaviors)
- negative reinforcement: yelling, hitting, taking away food/toys (ineffective, destroys your relationship with your dog, leads to negative/aggressive behaviors)
- Where To Learn How To Train Your Dog:
- schools/programs in your area
- online coaches/programs
- local library
- Youtube
Note: Information you find online can vary in credibility, so it’s important to cross reference the information with a trusted source.
Socializing Your Dog:
Socializing a young puppy is important for their development, builds their confidence, and helps prevent reactive behavior. The key to proper socialization is providing your puppy with positive experiences outside their everyday environment.
- Generally Positive Ways to Socialize Your Pup:
- introducing them to new people who respect the dog’s boundaries
- letting them play with older dogs whom you trust to be play appropriately
- putting them in a puppy training program
- taking them to dog friendly stores, markets, and restaurants
- Potentially Negative Way to Socialize Your Pup:
- taking them to a dog park where there’s too many dogs
- letting them play with a reactive dog
Are We Done Yet:
Yes! Well no…learning to care for another living creature is a never-ending process which is part of why it’s so rewarding. In this incredible journey with your new pup, you’ll learn even more about how to better your pup’s life and, of course, how that pup will better yours.
Home for the HOWLidays Shindig
December 01, 2022
For a suggested donation of $5, have your pet sit with Santa, and you (or we) can snap a quick photo with your phone.
Giving Tuesday 2022
November 01, 2022
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We're Hiring
October 17, 2022
We're looking for individuals that are passionate about animal care and welfare to join our team at Salt Lake County Animal Services. You can see all jobs currently available on the main county job site. Or email kcarpenter@slco.org for more information.
Current Openings Include
Full-Time Veterinarian
Temporary Veterinarian
Veterinary Technicians (FT & PT)
Animal Care Associates
Front Counter Associates
Animal Control Officers
Join Our Strut Your Mutt Team
October 03, 2022
October Adoption Special
October 03, 2022
Adopt a shelter pet this month! Did you know October is Adopt a Shelter Dog month?
$10 Cat/Kitten/Rabbit Adoption Fees. All pets are spayed/neutered, vaccinated and microchipped.
$31 Large Dog Adoption Fees. All dogs are spayed/neutered, vaccinated and microchipped. Excludes: small dogs, puppies, and VIP's. Questions? Email adoptions@slco.org.
See our adoptable pets online.
Find out more about adoption fees and the process.
Bingo Night
October 03, 2022
Outcome to Dog Set on Fire
July 15, 2022
Salt Lake City, UT – Salt Lake County Animal Services is satisfied with the sentencing of Michael Paul Busico, 41, who tortured a companion pet in the spring of 2021. Busico admitted guilt to setting Dixie, a 4 year-old Red Heeler, on fire after taking her from her yard in an effort to intimidate her family. The dog suffered from extensive 2nd and 3rd degree burns to most of her body and was euthanized because of her injuries. Busico was charged with felony Animal Cruelty for the torture of a companion animal, as well as other charges. Dixie was a victim of domestic violence.
This week, a judge sentenced Busico to one to 15 years in the Utah State Prison for the arson conviction, and up to five years for the animal cruelty conviction. The judge also ordered the sentences to run consecutively, meaning Busico could serve up to 20 years in prison if he serves his full time. (Credit: Jed Boal/KSL)
“The outcome of this case is a huge win for pets in Utah. This is a step in the right direction and emphasizes that animals cannot be tortured to manipulate and hurt other humans. Salt Lake County Animal Services hopes that these strict penalties will deter future animal and domestic abuse cases.” Talia Butler, Salt Lake County Animal Services Division Director.
“Our Animal Control Officers and staff are still devastated by what happened to Dixie,” said Butler. “No pet should suffer at the hands of a human. Throughout the years, our team has seen mistreated, and abused animals but this was not only horrific, but it was also an intentional attack against a companion animal.”
Salt Lake County Animal Services is grateful for the efforts of our Salt Lake County Animal Control officers, veterinary staff, the attorney’s assigned to the case, and everyone involved, including the community, that helped lead to this fair and just sentence.
“Our staff has never forgotten Dixie and the pain and suffering both she and her family went through. We’re hopeful this resolution can give Dixie’s family peace. Dixie’s legacy will live on in our community, and in our efforts to stop animal abuse universally,” says Butler.
Animal Services would like to remind pet owners, that violence against their pets by a loved one is a serious offense and asks that these cases be reported. To report an animal abuse or cruelty case call 801-840-4000 or email animalcontrol@slco.org.
Kuranda Bed Fundraiser
June 06, 2022
Every pet at the shelter deserves a comfy bed to rest their head every night. At Salt Lake County Animal Services, providing a comfortable living situation for our dogs and cats is a priority. Help us make this happen!
A kennel can be a very scary environment for our animals so we want to ensure their bed can be a welcoming safe haven for them. Our goal for June is a new bed for every dog and cat kennel, so nearly 100 beds!
Kuranda offers a discount when purchasing for shelters. Our dog beds are looking rough and a couple kennels have the cheap ones that do not last long. They also offer cat options to be used in their kennels plus some other cozy comfy pads to add to the beds. You can find our list of needs on their site.
You can help make a world of difference in a homeless pets life by donating one of the Kuranda products to the shelter at a discounted price, the beds are then shipped directly to Salt Lake County Animal Services. You can donate directly to us on the Kuranda page or send us a monetary donation online and put "beds" in the notes section during checkout.
What's great about these beds is they are extremely durable and can be sanitized.
Thank you so much! Our animals appreciate it!
Petco Love Invests in Lifesaving Work of Salt Lake County Animal Services.
Grant of ten thousand dollars will help save more pet lives in Salt Lake County.
Salt Lake City, UT (May 9, 2022) – Salt Lake County Animal Services announced today a $5,000 grant investment from, Petco Love, to support their lifesaving work for animals in Salt Lake County.
Petco Love is a nonprofit leading change for pets nationally by harnessing the power of love to make communities and pet families closer, stronger, and healthier. Since their founding in 1999 as the Petco Foundation, they’ve empowered organizations with $300 million invested to date in adoption and other lifesaving efforts. And, they’ve helped find loving homes for more than 6.5 million pets in partnership with Petco and more than 4,000 organizations, like ours, nationwide.
“Today Petco Love announces an investment in Salt Lake County Animal Services and hundreds of other organizations as part of our commitment to create a future in which no pet is unnecessarily euthanized,” said Susanne Kogut, President of Petco Love. “Our local investments are only one component. This month, we will also launch the first of our national tools to empower all animal lovers to drive lifesaving change right alongside us.”
“Salt Lake County Animal Services is proud to be recognized by Petco Love for the work done within the community to help prevent unwanted pets from entering the shelter. This grant will help us sustain low-income spay/neuters for the 1200+ pets sterilized in our clinic each year,” said Talia Butler, Division Director.
Salt Lake County Animal Services is committed to serving the animals and citizens in the cities we service with compassion and respect. With over 40 years of experience, Salt Lake County Animal Services is dedicated to a no-kill philosophy. The No-kill philosophy is based on the idea that all healthy and/or treatable animals can be saved and not euthanized. The national industry standards to determine a shelter’s no-kill status is 90% live release rate.
Animal Services began this commitment at the end of 2009. In 2013, the shelter achieved official no-kill status for the entire year, reaching 92% for the year. As of 2021, we continued that trend with a live release rate of over 94% for the entire year. Live release means that of all the animals that come to the shelter, they are either returned home, placed with a loving family through adoption, or transferred to a qualified animal rescue organization.
For more information about Salt Lake County Animal Services, visit adoptutahpets.org. To learn more about Petco Love, visit petcolove.org.
Contact: Callista Pearson, Salt Lake County Animal Services, ctpearson@slco.org Jennifer Perez, Petco Love, foundationmedia@petcofoundation.org
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About Salt Lake County Animal Services.
Salt Lake County Animal Services is always looking for innovative ways to provide better service to the citizens and animals we serve. We are largest “No Kill” municipal shelter in Utah and a flagship shelter for the Best Friends Animal Society’s “No Kill 2025” mission. Shelter staff from across the world visit Salt Lake County Animal Services to learn from the progress we have made here in our community. We are constantly making strides in the community because of the progressive programming we have implemented. Our goal is to create responsible pet ownership, help reduce the pet over-population problem and engage our community of adopters and pet owners. We are dedicated to providing superior support, education, protection, and advocacy for all animals and members of the community.
About Petco Love (Formerly Petco Foundation)
Petco Love is a nonprofit changing lives by making communities and pet families closer, stronger, and healthier. Since our founding in 1999 as the Petco Foundation, we’ve empowered animal welfare organizations by investing nearly $300 million in adoption and other lifesaving efforts. We’ve helped find loving homes for more than 6.5 million pets in partnership with Petco and organizations nationwide.
Today, our love for pets drives us to lead with innovation, creating tools animal lovers need to reunite lost pets, and lead with passion, inspiring and mobilizing communities and our more than 4,000 animal welfare partners to drive lifesaving change alongside us. Is love calling you? Visit petcolove.org or follow at Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and LinkedInto be part of the lifesaving work we’re leading every day.
Salt Lake County Animal Services Named Best of State
April 14, 2022
Salt Lake County Animal Services has been named Best of State – Utah for the services the agency provides to the community. Salt Lake County Animal Services is the largest No-Kill municipal shelter in Utah, proudly possessing over 40 years of experience providing sheltering, animal control, emergency response, community resources, and educational programming. Salt Lake County Animal Services is a leader in its industry and has been nationally recognized as one of the top performing animal welfare agencies in the United States.
This year’s nomination was focused on Hounds Around Town, a new volunteer program. The program allows volunteers and fosters to take shelter dogs out on field trips. Field trips can include activities like hiking, walks, car rides, getting puppaccinos, grooming, shopping, or going out to lunch. This program is bringing in community members who cannot commit to taking care of a dog long term, but still want to work with dogs and help get them adopted. More than 50% of the volunteers signing up for Hounds Around Town are people who have never been to Animal Services before. Taking a shelter dog on a walk or hiking is a great way to improve mental health for both the human and the dog.
Hounds Around Town officially started in 2020, however due to Covid-19 the program was put on hold, and access to volunteers was limited. Starting in the fall of 2021, Hounds Around Town rebounded, and is back and running at its full potential. Multiple volunteers are trained each week, and multiple dogs have gone on field trips.
For more information about this program or for our other innovative programs that have contributed to our 14 Best of State awards, visit our Get Involved page or email fosters@slco.org.
Pet Encounters: Dog or Cat Bites
February 22, 2022
You’re on a walk in the neighborhood with your dog, and they unexpectedly bite someone walking by. Or vice versa, you get bit by a dog walking by, what do you do? First, stay calm. Call Dispatch at 801-840-4000, and an Animal Control Officer will come help you both. If you’re both in a rush, exchange information so you can get in touch with the other person. Second, remain civil. This is a very upsetting situation for both sides, the bite victim, and the pet owner.
Why do I have to report the bite?
There are two reasons why bite reports must be filed. The first is rabies control. Our local public health authorities need to investigate if rabies could have been transmitted to the victim. Secondly, the health authorities track the data and trends in animal bites to people within the community.
If my pet bites me, do I still have to report it?
Yes, ALL BITES that break the skin must be reported.
If you have any other questions about Animal Control issues, please email Animal Control.
Explore the Breed: Golden Retrievers
December 10, 2021
The Golden Retriever is one of the most popular dog breeds in the United States. They make good family pets, they are kind, friendly, confident, exceptionally patient, and very intelligent and have an eagerness to please. They are active, and love to work and have a keen ability to focus on a given task.
View adoptable pets on our website. Questions email: adoptions@slco.org
The Golden Retriever is a medium-large Scottish gun dog that was bred to retrieve shot upland game birds. The name “retriever” refers to the breeds ability to retrieve shot game undamaged due to their soft mouths. They have a dense, water-repellant outer coat with a thick undercoat. Some coats are wavy, some are straight. Golden Retrievers come in all shades of gold from light to dark. Some regional variations have emerged in the breed creating 3 subtypes.
British type Golden Retrievers which are prevalent in Australia and Europe. They have a broader skull and forequarters and are more muscular than other types. Their eyes are round and dark, and they can have a coat color of any shade of gold or cream.
American Golden Retrievers are lankier and less muscular than other types. Their coats are darker in color and various shades of gold.
Canadian Golden Retrievers have a thinner, darker coat and stand taller than other types.
They can be slow to mature and retain the silly and playful personality of a puppy until they are 3-4 years of age. Many will keep their puppyish traits into old age.
Golden Retrievers are often very social and do well with other dogs, cats and even livestock.
Explore the Breed
Golden Retrievers need daily exercise and would benefit from 2 hours of exercise daily. They thrive on obedience training, love the water and do best when given a job to do. They are family dogs and want to be a part of their family’s activities.
Golden Retrievers topcoat is water-resistant and slightly wavy and sheds in small amounts all year. The undercoat is soft and keeps them cool in the summer and warm in the winter. They shed most in the spring and fall. Daily brushing and occasional baths will help remove some of loose hair from the coat but if you live with a Golden you will have to get use to dog hair. They also need to have their ears cleaned regularly to avoid ear infections.
Golden Retrievers love to eat and can quickly become overweight if overfed. Make sure to limit treats and measure your dog’s daily kibble. It is better to feed regular meals than to have their food out all the time.
Golden Retrievers excel at retrieving game for hunters, tracking, sniffing out contraband for law enforcement, and as therapy and service dogs, often they are guide dogs for the blind and hearing dogs for the deaf. They're also natural athletes and do well in dog sports such as agility and competitive obedience.
Males are typically 22-24 inches in height and weigh 65-75 pounds
Females are typically 20-22 inches in height and weigh 55-65 pounds.
Their average life span is 10-12 years
Goldens are generally healthy but like all breeds, they are prone to certain health conditions. Hip Dysplasia, Elbow Dysplasia, Cataracts,progressive Retinal Atrophy, Subvalvular Aortic Stenosis, Osteochondrosis Dessecans, Allergies, Von Willebrand’s Disease, Gastric Dilatation (Bloat),Epilepsy, Hyperthyroidism, Hemangiosarcoma, Osteosarcoma.
Not all Goldens will get any or all these diseases, but it is important to be aware of.
The Golden Retriever was bred in Scotland in the mid- 19th century. At that time, wildfowl hunting was a popular sport, but retriever breeds were inadequate for retrieving downed game form the water and land. Retrieving from both the water and land was necessary because hunting grounds at the time were pocketed with marshy ponds and rivers. The best water spaniels were crossed with the existing retrievers, resulting in what is now known as the Golden Retriever.
The original cross was of a yellow-colored retriever “Nous” with a Tweed Water Spaniel named “Belle”. In 1868 this cross produced a litter that included 4 pups, these 4 became the basis of a breeding program which included an Irish Setter, the sandy colored Bloodhound, and the St. Johns Water dog. The ancestry of the Golden Retriever is all sporting dogs. The Tweed Water Spaniel is now extinct.
Golden Retrievers were first accepted by The Kennel Club in the UK in 1903, as Flat Coats-Golden and in 1911 recognized as a breed referred to as a Retriever (Golden and Yellow). The breed was first registered in Canada in 1927. It was not until 1925 that the breed was recognized in America by The American Kennel Club.
FUN FACT: Golden Retrievers have webbed toes! The toes on their paws are joined together by thin webs of skin.
FUN FACT: Golden Retrievers are known for their smarts and according to one study are the 4th most intelligent breed of dog, with just the Border Collie, Poodle and German Shepherd beating them to the top spots
FUN FACT: A Golden holds the record for the loudest bark. 113.1 decibels, the loudest dog in the canine world is Charlie the Australian Golden Retriever.
FUN FACT: A Golden Retriever broke the ground for Instagram. The first image ever uploaded to Instagram was a picture of a Golden Retriever in 2010.
Credit: Wikipedia, AKC (American Kennel Club), dogbreedinfo.com, the happy puppy site.
December Adoption Specials
December 03, 2021
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This December, we want to CLEAR the Shelter by Christmas. Every pet here deserves to be in a home for the holidays! Check out the following adoption specials valid thru Dec 31, 2021.
Pick Your Price Adoption Fees for *All Pets in the Building.
*Excludes puppies and VIP's
Do you need a crate, collar & leash for your new dog? Ask us for supplies while they last this December. We may be able to help you out!
Unsure about adopting? Foster to Adopt. This gives you an opportunity if to see if your new furry friend is just perfect for your home. Email fosters@slco.org for more info.
All December, Cat and Dog adoptions, will be entered into win a gift basket that's meant just for them! The Cat basket will include toys and a new cat tower. The Dog basket will include toys and a new dog bed "couch". The winners will be drawn Jan 3, 2022.
See our adoptable pets online. For questions or to make an appointment email adoptions@slco.org for all dog appointments. For cat/rabbit/guinea pig adoptions you can book online.
PAWliday Crafts
November 30, 2021
Celebrate the PAWlidays with Salt Lake County Animal Services! Join our Humane Educator for free, virtual workshops, there will be 8 in all. Make toys or treats for the cat/dog in your life, or donate your final project to your local animal shelter! Sign your child, or yourself up, for one or for all of them. We will be using odds and ends you most likely have around the house for each activity, so no need to shop.
Dec 20: Book Buddies - Sign Up
Dec 21: Holiday in-person Book Buddies - Sign Up
Dec 22: Paw Ornaments- Sign Up
Dec 23: Cat Wands - Sign Up
Dec 27: Book Buddies - Sign Up
Dec 28: Recycled Inventions - Sign Up
Dec 29: Cat House - Sign Up
Dec 30: Pupsicles - Sign Up
Please check our Facebook Events for more details or online Calendar. Questions? Email hblack@slco.org.
Below are instructions for each craft activity.
PAWliday Craft Instructions
2021 Pawliday Crafts For Kids: Day 1
SALT DOUGH PAW ORNAMENT INGREDIENTS:
1 cup salt
1 cup all-purpose flour
½ cup water
Parchment paper or aluminum foil
Baking sheet
Straw/pen for punching a hole
Yarn, string, ribbon or twine for hanging ornament
Optional for personalizing:
Acrylic paint
Mod Podge and glitter
Directions:
Step 1: Mix the salt, flour, and water in a bowl until it becomes firm. Knead the dough for 30 seconds. Use a rolling pin if you want a flatter ornament and then cut individual circles with a cup or cookie cutters.
Step 2: Press your dog’s or cat’s paw into the salt dough and use a straw/pen cap to make a small hole at the top.
Step 3: Bake at 200 degrees in the oven for 2-3 hours or until completely dry.
Step 4: Once it is cooled, you can grab some acrylic paint or mod podge and some glitter to decorate! Finish it off with a pretty ribbon to hang on the tree!
SAFETY: Make sure to hang ornaments out of reach of pets as these are toxic due to the large amount of salt in salt dough ornaments.
2021 PAWLIDAY CRAFT FOR KIDS: DAY 2
Being indoors doesn’t mean your cat shouldn’t stay active and have fun. Here’s a crafty way to enhance your cat’s day by playing on her hunting instincts and see the world through your cat’s eyes within the comfort of your own home. Don’t have a cat? Donate your wand to the animal shelter!
You can get the whole family to join the fun, and these toys will help keep everyone busy, including your furry friend. You can make each wand as unique as you!
Benefits of a DIY Wand Cat Toy:
How can these toys enrich your cat’s day? You can wave, twitch, flutter and circle the wand around randomly so that the ribbon moves enticingly like an insect or bird or other prey. A key added benefit of the wand toy is that it lets you keep some distance between your cat's claws and your skin.
Before you get started, here are a couple things to consider:
When enjoying your creation, be mindful that these cat toys are made of small parts. Please supervise your furry friend while playing and collect the pieces when done to help ensure safety. Put wand and toys away when not in use.
Supplies you will need:
One sturdy stick or dowel, around 12 inches long
Ribbon, shoe laces, thin craft rope, yarn or other kind of string. Approx. 18-24 inches long. (will need at least one length of 'string', but can have additional strings for a fuller wand.)
Bells, small cat toys, feathers or fabric scraps
Optional supplies:
1/2 inch sturdy wood dowel instead of stick
Multiple strings and toys
Steps:
Take your stick and string and tie a knot in the string around the end of you stick. Take your toy/bell/fabric/feather that you chose and tie a knot around that with the other end of the string. You can do this as many times as you want to make a fuller wand, alternating empty strings with strings with fun things on the end! Now you can wave, twitch, flutter and circle the wand around randomly so that the ribbon moves enticingly like an insect or bird or other prey.
2021 Pawliday Crafts for Kids: Day 3
Recycled Inventions
Supplies needed: Whatever you have in your recycle bin! Such as:
Cardboard boxes of different sizes but at least one large box to act as the base
Toilet rolls/paper towel rolls, empty wrapping paper rolls.
Packing paper, newspaper, wrapping paper
Plastic bottles and jugs (caps and labels removed)
Cardboard egg cartons
Plus:
Kibble or treats
Tape
Ribbon or string
Instructions:
Deconstruct one large cardboard box and lay it flat on the floor. This will be the base of our project.
Time to get creative! We will be creating food puzzles for our cat or dog using all of the items we have gathered. See photo below for inspiration.
photo credit: Kari Breed, a member of the Canine Enrichment group on Facebook
2021 Pawliday Crafts for Kids: Day 4
Cardboard Cat House
Supplies:
Cardboard Box – approx 20-24″ cube (or large enough to comfortably fit your cat!)
Scissors (to cut openings in box)
Embellishments – Craft Paint, Markers, Colored Pencils, Colored Paper, Ribbon, Stickers Etc.
Blanket, pillow, towel or cat bed
Instructions:
Flip Box upside down, flaps out to stabilize box (or you can tape flaps closed)
Cut round hole in the side for a door, large enough for your cat to fit through.
Cut smaller windows on sides of box
Now for the fun part – painting and decorating! There are SO many different ways that you can be creative with it!
Put blanket/pillow inside the box
Now your cat can enjoy their new hideaway house! Place some of your cat’s favorite treats inside to help encourage them to go in.
You can also donate your cat house to the shelter for our cats waiting for forever homes!
2021 Pawliday Crafts for Kids: Day 5
Pupsicles
Supplies needed:
Plastic cups or muffin tin (mini muffin tins or ice cube trays for cats or small dogs)
Can of 100% pumpkin puree
Dry kibble
Canned dog or cat food
Peanut Butter or Plain Greek Yogurt
Milk bones, bully sticks or other long treat for the “handle”
Low sodium chicken or beef broth
Water
*feel free to get creative and use other ingredients your pet likes! Canned tuna or salmon, dehydrated pet food-reconstituted, etc also make good options.
Instructions:
Layer the ingredients in the cup, muffin tin or ice cube tray
Add the handle treat
Add a splash of broth and fill the rest of the cup with water
Place in freezer and freeze
To thaw and pull popsicle out of cup, run some warm water on the outside of the cup and then tip cup over and pull on handle. Or set muffin tin in a shallow try of warm water if they don’t pop out easily on their own.
Giving Tree for Homeless Pets
November 18, 2021
Grab an ornament from the Giving Tree and help the thousands of homeless pets that stay at Salt Lake County Animal Services throughout the year. Their giving tree is set up in the South Building of the Salt Lake County Government Center, located at 2001 S State Street in Salt Lake City.
Feel free to grab an ornament and then drop the donation off back in the bin by the tree or leave it at Salt Lake County Animal Services, 511 W 3900 S, in Salt Lake City.
Can't make it down and want to donate? You can purchase items from any of our Amazon Wishlists:
Cat Treat & Food Wishlist
Cat Toy Wishlist
Dog Toys & Leashes Wishlist
Dog Treat & Food Wishlist
Or you can purchase any of the following items and drop them off.
DOG ITEMS
canned dog food
soft treats / large milk bones
canned pumpkin
applesauce
large dog leashes
peanut butter
CAT ITEMS
canned cat food pate
soft treats
scratching pads
microwave safe heating pads
cat toys/cat wands
Email jjohanson@slco.org for help or questions.
Explore the Breed: Boxers
November 08, 2021
The Boxer is a medium to large breed of dog with a short, shiny coat that requires very little grooming and tends to be a clean dog. The colors of their coat are fawn, red fawn, brindled, reverse brindle or white with and without markings. 20-25% of all Boxers are born white. White Boxers have a higher risk of sunburn and associated skin cancers and the piebald gene, which is responsible for the white markings in Boxers, is linked to congenital sensorineural deafness in dogs. It is estimated that 18% of white Boxers are deaf in one or both ears. Boxers have a square muzzle, and a very strong jaw with an underbite.
Boxers are known for their loyalty, intelligence, affection, and work ethic. They are smart, curious, energetic, courageous, playful, and sometimes silly. They have a protective nature and take the role of family guardian seriously and have been known to do well with children. but can be distrustful of strangers. They are known to be headstrong if they are not trained properly and can be patient with smaller dogs and puppies but can have difficulties with larger adult dogs, especially those of the same sex if not properly socialized in puppyhood. They are very patient and are great to adopt as family dogs.
Credit: Wikipedia, AKC (American Kennel Club), dogbreedinfo.com
View adoptable pets on our website.
Questions email: adoptions@slco.org
More About Boxers
Boxers are playful, high-energy dogs that need ample exercise daily. They are very intelligent and can become bored with repetition. Boxers excel in canine sports such as agility, herding, flyball and obedience training and would do best with an active home that will provide adequate exercise to prevent boredom-associated behaviors like chewing or digging. Like all dogs it is important to expose them to lots of people and other animals early on.
Boxers can do well in an apartment if they are adequately exercised. They are temperature sensitive and can easily get overheated or cold very quickly.
Because of their need for plenty of exercise their diet should be high in quality calories, and they would do well with a high-quality food. However, some dogs are prone to becoming overweight, so watch their calorie consumption and weight level. While treats can be very helpful as a training aid giving to many could lead to obesity. Owners should be mindful of the food to treat ratio consumed.
The Boxers shorthaired and smooth coat is easy to groom. Bathe them when necessary and brush with a firm bristle type brush. They are average shedders.
Males are typically 22-25 inches in height and will weigh between 65-75 lbs.
Females are typically 21-24 inches in height and will weigh between 55-70 lbs.
Their life span is between 9-15 years of age
Boxers are prone to cancer (specifically mast cell tumors), Arthritis, hip dysplasia, back and knee issues, cardiomyopathy, and other heart problems and sometimes prone to epilepsy.
The Boxer is a hunting mastiff developed in Germany in the late 19th century. The Boxers ancestors were two German mastiff type dogs, the Bullenbeisser and the Barenbeizer. The Bullenbeisser had been a hunting dog for centuries and would hunt bear, wild boar and deer, its job was to catch the prey and hold it until the hunters arrived. In later years, faster dogs became favored, so a smaller Bullenbeisser was bred and the Brabanter Bullenbeisser now an extinct breed is generally accepted as being the direct ancestor of today’s Boxer.
In 1894, three Germans decided to stabilize the breed and put on an exhibition dog show, this was done in 1896 and the year before they founded the first Boxer Club, called the Deutsher Boxer Club. This club published the first breed standard in 1904.
The Boxer was introduced to other parts of Europe in the late 19th century and the United States at the turn of the 20th century. The AKC (American Kennel Club) registered the first Boxer in 1904. During World War I, the Boxer was used for military work as a messenger dog, pack carrier, attack dog and a guard dog. They did not become popular until after World War II when returning soldiers began taking them home and they became introduced to a wider audience.
Since that time, they have been used as service dogs, guide dogs for the blind, therapy dogs, police dogs in K9 units and occasionally herding cattle or sheep.
Because of their origins as a hunting dog, they can have a high prey drive for smaller animals if not properly socialized.
The Boxer is thought to have been given its name supposedly from the breeds tendency to play by standing on its hind legs and “boxing” with its front paws.
Fun Fact: The Boxer does not carry the gene for a solid black coat color, so purebred black Boxers do not exist
Fun Fact: Boxers have excelled in dog shows and won Best in Show at Westminster 4 times.
Fun Fact: Brandy the Boxer is a Guinness World Record Holder for the longest tongue on a dog. Her tongue was a record length of 17 inches (43 -cm)
Fun Fact: Macabee is the oldest known Boxer to have ever lived. He was just a few months short of his birthday when he passed. He was 16 year and 9 months.
Credit: Wikipedia, AKC (American Kennel Club), dogbreedinfo.com
Cats Vs Dogs Challenge
November 04, 2021
Salt Lake County Animal Services will be participating in Giving Tuesday on November 30th but starting November 7, we will begin a friendly challenge to see who can raise more money for our Injured Animal Fund, CAT people or DOG people? We are excited to announce your donation will be matched by the generosity of Bjorn’s Brew (up to $5000!). We have a goal of $15,000!
During this year’s Giving Tuesday, help support the many injured animals that enter Salt Lake County Animal Services every year. Our on-site veterinary clinic treats everything from colds, abscesses, minor surgeries, and amputations, and we bring in outside orthopedic surgeons to help us with other major surgeries. In 2020, we spent over $20,000 to help these animals either return home or be adopted out to new families.
Visit our DONATIONS page to give quickly! In the comment section enter “cats” or “dogs”.
Share your donation with your friends and family and encourage them to donate. Follow Salt Lake County Animal Services Facebook page in November to find out more about the animals our Injured Animal Fund has helped.
Check out our upcoming events, where you can donate and win prizes!
November 29, 9 AM - 12 PM @Bjorn's Brew
2165 S State St, SLC
Donate over $20 while we're there and get a FREE GIFT for your pet!
(*DAY OF OFFER)
November 30, 5:30 PM - 8:30 PM @Big Willies Bar & Grill
1717 S Main Street, SLC (MUST BE 21 & OLDER)
Come out to Big Willies to celebrate GivingTuesday! There will be BINGO, drinks, food and opportunity drawings.
Questions? Email jjohanson@slco.org.
Big Willies, a Giving Tuesday sponsor, has generously donated this brand new Makers Mark cruiser bike for our Cats vs Dogs Challenge! For every $20 donation to the challenge, you can be entered to win the cruiser bike. You MUST put in the notes section ”Cat Bike” or “Dog Bike” in order for us to enter your name. Remember this is a friendly challenge to see who can raise more money for our Injured Animal Fund, CAT people or DOG people?
We will be drawing the winner of the bike at Big Willies on November 30 between 5:30 PM - 8:30 PM. There will be BINGO, drinks, food, and other opportunity drawings. During the event at Big Willies, we will be giving DOUBLE entry tickets for the bike drawing for any donation over $20 that night only. Must be present for additional entry tickets. Big Willies is located at 1717 S Main Street, SLC (MUST BE 21 & OLDER). You do not need to be present to win. Local Pick-Up or Delivery available within Salt Lake County. For shipping & handling, arrangements must be made by the winner.
November Adoption Fee Specials
November 01, 2021
Find your new BEST FRIEND at Salt Lake County Animal Services.
Adoption Fees for Cats, Kittens, Rabbits, and *Large Dogs are HALF Off this November! All pets are spayed/neutered, vaccinated, & microchipped upon adoption.
Other Adoption Specials:
Senior Pets 5 & Older, Adoption Fee waived if adopter is over 55 Years old.
Veterans & Active Duty: Adoption Fees waived. *Please see exclusions below.
*Excludes: Puppies, Small Dogs, VIP's
See our adoptable pets online. Questions email adoptions@slco.org
VOTE for Your PAWlitical Mayor
October 18, 2021
It's time to VOTE in the PAWlitical Election! Remember this is the only election where it's legal to BUY votes. Voters can live anywhere!
Here is how you vote:
2. Register your info on ClickBid (this site)
View candidate profiles.
3. Choose a candidate(s) and pick the donation amounts, or enter in your own desired amount.
4. Complete checkout by clicking the button and putting in your credit card information. If you don't complete checkout with your card, your votes will not be tallied.
5. Feel free to vote again later during the election! Remember this is the only election where it's legal to BUY votes!
6. Once your card info is in, it's easy to vote again, and again, and again...
Things To Know
1. THE CURRENT RUNNING TOTAL IS NOT A LIVE TOTAL. THIS IS MANUALLY UPDATED MONDAY-FRIDAY AT 10AM AND 5PM.
2. Voting will be open to the public beginning October 18th at 10AM and will close November 5th at 5PM.