By: Brent Honcharenko
Nature’s summertime glory also brings danger in the form of blue-green algae.
As a pet owner, few things are more satisfying than having time to get outside with your dog during the summer. Taking your best friend and trekking onto your favorite hiking trail can be just the relaxing medicine one needs in these uncertain and ever-changing times. Watching a dog in nature’s elements, simply enjoying life, can bring a few moments of serenity and pure joy to your, otherwise, busy day. But beware what lurks in the ponds and lakes behind the trees of those wooded pathways. That peaceful and joyous time with your favorite furry companion could end quickly if one important summertime precaution isn’t taken. Before allowing your dog to run up to that open body of water for a drink or to jump in for a quick swim, look to see if the surface is plagued with a thick, smelly, scum. If so, it could be blue-green algae and that is toxic to dogs.
Warnings about the dangers of blue-green algae, to dogs in particular, have increased tremendously over the past few years, and those warnings should not be ignored. The algae blooms are often found in non-flowing bodies of water and it can have a thick, pea soup appearance or it can be multi-colored (green, blue, red, and/or brown) and look like paint poured on the water surface. Alternatively, the algae can be in the form of foamy scum layers with blobs. Blue-green algae can be fatal to dogs if ingested in high concentrations. Dogs are more susceptible to ingesting the toxic substance because of their tendency to play or swim in water infested with it.
If your dog does become exposed to the algae, rinse him/her off immediately with clean water, before it has a chance to lick itself, and call your veterinarian. Dogs become ill when they ingest the toxins. If caught early enough, your veterinarian may be able to flush the toxins out before your dog becomes completely affected. If not treated immediately, the toxic algae can be fatal anytime from 15 minutes up to a couple of days after ingestion.
Take care of your pets. Always have your dog(s) leashed when around non-familiar bodies of water and watch where they go when they do run freely. Share the dangers of blue-green algae with all of your dog-loving family and friends. Taking a few simple precautions will help ensure a wonderful summer with your family’s best friend.
Posted: July 11, 2023 by Kelli Hanson
The Story of Mags
Posted: July 7, 2023 by Kelli Hanson
Need for Cat and Kitten Food is Urgent
The reality is that we just can’t keep up, and our shelves are almost bare. We provide our fosters with all supplies necessary while they care for the dogs, cats, and critters under the rescue’s care, but we need your help to keep up with feeding everyone. We never want the cost of food to be a deterrent to life-saving and refuse to let it be. We know there are animal lovers out there, just like us, who will help.
If you’re in a place to donate, it would immediately impact the puppies and kittens in our care and be so appreciated. (We luckily have a good supply of adult food).
You can also donate cash to this fundraiser, send a check directly to our PO Box 129, Princeton, MN 55371 or donate on our website or even drop off supplies or a monetary donation right at our office in Princeton – 12526 319th Ave, Princeton, MN 55371.
Posted: July 6, 2023 by Kelli Hanson
The Story of Bella
Posted: June 26, 2023 by Kelli Hanson
Need for Cat and Kitten Food is Urgent
By: Brent Honcharenko
Ruff Start Rescue is in desperate need of kitten food and the organization is asking the public for help. There are currently 200+ kittens in the Ruff Start Rescue system that need daily feeding and the food supply is critically low.
Azure Davis, Founder & Executive Director at Ruff Start Rescue, said it takes roughly 16 cases of food per day to feed all of the cats and kittens that are being cared for throughout the organization. The cats are fostered by Ruff Start Rescue volunteers until they’re adopted.
“We go through about 400 cans per day right now and with stores not having a lot leftover to donate, we’re in a tough spot,” Azure Davis said.
Ruff Start Rescue depends on donations of food and supplies for the pets that are in foster care waiting to be adopted. When those donations run short, the funds to provide those necessities come out of the organization’s budget. But this shortage goes above and beyond expectations.
“This is an additional expense we didn’t expect,” Davis added.
This local shortage that Ruff Start Rescue and other shelters and rescue organizations are experiencing can be attributed to a larger pet food supply shortage, which can be traced to an aluminum material shortage. The nation-wide aluminum shortage is a result of the COVID-19 pandemic aftermath and a decrease of aluminum imports from China and Russia.
According to an article posted by Industrial Metal Service, like so many other things since the pandemic, the issue now is simply supply vs. demand. Manufacturers in America are still dealing with post-pandemic factory production labor shortages and material supply chain issues. Additionally, materials from foreign countries are harder to obtain with trade frictions occurring between power countries and higher imposed tariffs on imports.
According to Dana Brooks, president and CEO of the Pet Food Institute, who was quoted in The Times-Tribune (Scranton, PA) in January of this year, there has been a shortage of cat food, predominately wet (canned) food, since the pandemic in 2020.
Brooks said pet food makers are working their way out of a major backlog and attributes the shortage mostly to an inadequate supply of packaging materials, particularly aluminum.
While pet supply stores and grocery stores are experiencing a shortage in all canned pet foods, cat and kitten food seems to be taking the biggest hit. According to The Times-Tribune article, aluminum suppliers are giving higher priority to human food manufacturers than to pet food manufacturers.
Compounding the supply challenge, the meat and fish used in pet food has also been harder to obtain due to labor shortages, cost increases and restricted imports, particularly for fish and salmon.
The bottom line is, pet food is just not as plentiful as it was three years ago and pet owners and organizations like Ruff Start Rescue are feeling it. There are inconsistent peaks and valleys in the current supply chain and it’s going to take pet food companies some time to catch back up and then produce consistently.
In the meantime, any kitten food the public can find and willingly donate is appreciated more than you know. Please consider donating directly to RSR through their Amazon or Chewy wishlists, monetary donations can be made on their website, or contact donations@ruffstartrescue.org for more information about donating.
Thank you for your consideration and contribution.
Posted: June 16, 2023 by Kelli Hanson
The Story of The Dumped Bunnies
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Posted: June 16, 2023 by Kayla Knudsen
Dangers of Blue-green Algae
By: Brent Honcharenko
Nature’s summertime glory also brings danger in the form of blue-green algae.
As a pet owner, few things are more satisfying than having time to get outside with your dog during the summer. Taking your best friend and trekking onto your favorite hiking trail can be just the relaxing medicine one needs in these uncertain and ever-changing times. Watching a dog in nature’s elements, simply enjoying life, can bring a few moments of serenity and pure joy to your, otherwise, busy day. But beware what lurks in the ponds and lakes behind the trees of those wooded pathways. That peaceful and joyous time with your favorite furry companion could end quickly if one important summertime precaution isn’t taken. Before allowing your dog to run up to that open body of water for a drink or to jump in for a quick swim, look to see if the surface is plagued with a thick, smelly, scum. If so, it could be blue-green algae and that is toxic to dogs.
Warnings about the dangers of blue-green algae, to dogs in particular, have increased tremendously over the past few years, and those warnings should not be ignored. The algae blooms are often found in non-flowing bodies of water and it can have a thick, pea soup appearance or it can be multi-colored (green, blue, red, and/or brown) and look like paint poured on the water surface. Alternatively, the algae can be in the form of foamy scum layers with blobs. Blue-green algae can be fatal to dogs if ingested in high concentrations. Dogs are more susceptible to ingesting the toxic substance because of their tendency to play or swim in water infested with it.
If your dog does become exposed to the algae, rinse him/her off immediately with clean water, before it has a chance to lick itself, and call your veterinarian. Dogs become ill when they ingest the toxins. If caught early enough, your veterinarian may be able to flush the toxins out before your dog becomes completely affected. If not treated immediately, the toxic algae can be fatal anytime from 15 minutes up to a couple of days after ingestion.
Here are a few common signs and symptoms your dog may have ingested toxic blue-green algae:
Take care of your pets. Always have your dog(s) leashed when around non-familiar bodies of water and watch where they go when they do run freely. Share the dangers of blue-green algae with all of your dog-loving family and friends. Taking a few simple precautions will help ensure a wonderful summer with your family’s best friend.
Posted: June 15, 2023 by Kelli Hanson
The Story of Travis
Posted: June 14, 2023 by Kelli Hanson
Xylitol Toxicity
By: Hailee Ekeren
Xylitol Toxicity
What you need to know to keep your pets safe!
WHAT IS XYLITOL?
Xylitol is a sweetener, sugar substitute or sugar alcohol that is found in a wide variety of products. Xylitol is extremely toxic to pets even in small amounts.
WHAT PRODUCTS CONTAIN XYLITOL?
When reading labels look for the following:
XYLITOL POISONING SIGNS:
Seek veterinary help immediately if you believe your pet may have eaten a product containing Xylitol or experiencing the above symptoms.
Posted: June 13, 2023 by Kelli Hanson
The Story of The Abandoned Bunnies
Posted: June 9, 2023 by Kelli Hanson
June is National Microchip Month!
By: Danielle Bardwell
June is National Microchip Month!
Summer has arrived! You know what that means, with all this beautiful weather our furry family members are bound to spend more time outdoors with us. Unfortunately, this means the chance of them wandering a little too far is also heightened. If your loving pet were to escape, it can be one of the most traumatic experiences for a pet owner. All you want is for them to be safe and to be found and reunited with you as soon as possible.
Microchipping is an important, inexpensive, and easy way to improve your chances of being reunited with your pet should they go missing. The entire process can be done in minutes! Bring your dog or cat to your vet to get your pet microchipped. The procedure can be done during a routine visit, or it can be done while your pet is undergoing another procedure. This relatively painless process is comparable to any other injection your pet receives. A hypodermic needle will insert a small rice-sized chip under the skin. The next step is to register your pet’s microchip ID number along with your contact information in the manufacturers database. The chip can be read by scanners that most vets and rescue organizations have access to. They can then look into the database and use your information entered to contact you and reunite you with your pet. Just remember to keep this data updated at all times if any of your contact information changes!
Did you know that by adopting an animal from Ruff Start Rescue, they will already have a microchip implanted before adoption, so no need to worry about it once you bring them home! Ruff Start Rescue quickly and easily transfers the contact information over to you once your pet has been adopted and brought home. This is a sure-fire way to keep your pet safe, and give you peace of mind.