What Is A Puppy Mill?

A puppy mill is the inhumane, breeding of dogs. Often on a large scale, where mother dogs spend their days confined to cages in unsanitary conditions. Endlessly bred to turn a profit. These mothers and puppies often suffer from numerous untreated health issues, and know nothing beyond the confines of their pen. In many cases, this physical and emotional trauma is not disclosed to unknowing families. And the uninformed adopters do not realize the potential medical and behavioral challenges that they will face with their new puppy.

According to the Humane Society of the United States, there are an estimated 10,000 puppy mills in the US. Shipping their pets off to pet stores and auction houses, and continuing the cycle of cruelty.

How You Can Help

It can be confusing to figure out how to ethically find your new furry friend. But you’re in luck! Animal shelter across the country have tens of thousands of pets waiting for their forever homes. By choosing not to purchase from a breeder, and adopting your new pet, you are ending the cycle AND saving life. Many shelters have purebred dogs available for adoption, and there are breed specific rescues if the type of dog is important to your family. At Great Plains SPCA, all pets have received their vaccinations, spay/neuter, and are microchipped before they set foot outside of the shelter. Setting your family up for success.

If you are not ready to adopt, volunteering your time and donating to your local animal shelter are all great options. However you are able to contribute, you are making a massive difference in the lives of countless animals who need your help.

Just this weekend, GPSPCA has taken in 14 animals from a puppy mill that has now been shut down by local authorities. By supporting during our Lend A Paw Donation Drive, you are allowing us to continue saving lives, just like theirs,every single day. Please DONATE TODAY.

The post The Truth About Puppy Mills appeared first on Great Plains SPCA.

Animal Cruelty Defined

The definition of animal cruelty varies depending on local laws and should be enforced by the appropriate authorities. Nonetheless, here are some key indicators to watch for in your area:

How You Can Assist

Extend a Helping Hand

• Many cases of neglect result from limited resources, and offering assistance can transform a suffering pet’s life. Approach the owner with your concerns in a nonjudgmental manner and, if possible, contribute to the solution to help them get back on track.

Document Your Observations

• Note dates, locations, and specific incidents—all of which could be helpful for Animal Control Officers when investigating.

Report to Local Authorities

• If the situation isn’t an emergency but neglect is suspected, contact local animal control or law enforcement, as appropriate. You can also reach out to our HERO Outreach Team at hero@greatplainsspca.org. In emergencies, call 911.

Support Your Local Animal Shelter

• Once a neglected animal is rescued from the situation, they often require extensive medical care or behavioral rehabilitation to recover from their trauma. If you reside in Overland Park, Leawood, Lenexa, Prairie Village, Shawnee, Bonner Springs or Lake Quivira, Great Plains SPCA is your local hometown shelter. You can support us through monetary donations or by purchasing items from our Wish List.

The post Recognizing Animal Cruelty & How To Help appeared first on Great Plains SPCA.

Great Plains SPCA offers community outreach initiatives to help homeless pets find loving homes through adoption, reunite missing pets with their owners, facilitate classes that educate pets and owners, and more. We hope that our donation of pens can show the respect and appreciation we hold for those who are vital to the Great Plains SPCA’s work.

Located in Virginia Beach, Dayspring Pens specializes in crafting one of a kind, luxury gift pens made unique with custom engraving. Each of the engraved pens donated features the logo of the Great Plains SPCA. It is our great wish that the pens will do some good to help this incredible charity as they work to shelter lost and homeless animals in the Great Plains area, uniting them with their forever homes, new and old.

The post Spring into action with Dayspring Pens appeared first on Great Plains SPCA.

So why don’t we build fences for every tethered dog we find? The main factor is cost. The communities our HERO Team serve often do not have the resources to provide appropriate tie-outs, let alone install a fence on their property. The goal is to replace chains with tie-outs and eventually replace tie-outs with a fence.

Benefits of having a fenced yard

1. Safety: Fences help to keep your dog safely contained within your property and prevent them from running into the street or getting lost.
2. Exercise: Dogs need regular exercise to stay healthy, and a fence allows them to have a safe and secure area to play and run around.
3. Privacy: Fences can offer some privacy and can help block out distractions that may cause your dog to bark excessively.
4. Security: A fence can serve as a deterrent to potential intruders and can help protect your home and your dog from theft or harm.
5. Peace of mind: Knowing that your dog is safe and secure in your yard can give you peace of mind and reduce stress and worry.

The HERO Team works with dog owners to find the best immediate solution for the animal. Over time, we may find that fencing may be the best solution for both pet and owner. That’s where we need your help! To remove chains or tethering from the community pets that so desperately need it, we are asking for your support to help us purchase supplies to build fences in the communities we serve. By building fences in the communities we serve, we can help prevent dogs from getting loose, attacked in their own yard, provide them with a safe space to roam and help create peace of mind for the animal and owner.

The post HERO Team Community Fence Project appeared first on Great Plains SPCA.

I recently got a dog from a family member that could no longer take care of him. I am a first-time dog owner and I need some help. I have been reading information online and there is a lot of contradictory content out there. What do you recommend? – Ally Stephenson

There are a lot of misleading websites with inaccurate information. My first recommendation is to sign up for basic obedience training and get established with a trainer nearby. If you are near Great Plains SPCA, we would love to have you in class. You can sign up on our website. A good website with lots of resources that I recommend is HEARTLand Positive Dog Training Alliance at https://www.trainerswithheart.com/Resources-All. There you will find many website and book recommendations–all from phenomenal trainers.   – Ashley Flores, CPDT-KA

When I go on walks with my dog, she always wants to walk in front of me and will randomly stop and sometimes I trip over her. Is she trying to tell me something? I also heard that giving treats to dogs is considered bribery. Is that true? – George Marvin Simmons

She walks in front of you because she has not yet learned to walk to your side. She will continue this behavior until she learns differently. Train her by taking a step back and luring her around and to your side by using a treat. Continue to do this until she learns the new pattern. Lure rewarding with treats can be very effective in training and is not at all considered bribery. – Ashley Flores, CPDT-KA

I have a dog that will not stop jumping on people when they visit the house. I am worried that she might hurt my grandmother when she comes over. Please help. – Rachel Barnett

Dogs jump on us to get our attention, so the best thing to do when your dog is jumping on you is to not give her that attention. Dogs are less likely to jump when you greet them in a calm and quiet manner. If she jumps on you, turn around and ignore the behavior. Sometimes your dog will run around you and jump again. If this happens, turn around again and make sure you are not facing her. Keep doing this until she gets bored of what she believes is a game and goes into a sit. Once she sits, praise her for the behavior and repeat until she stops jumping on you and your visitors. You can also try giving your visitors a treat and having them ask her to sit when they first come into the home.  – Ashley Flores, CPDT-KA

The post Ask Ashley | KC Parent appeared first on Great Plains SPCA.

Shelter life is not easy for any animal, but we do our best to make them all feel like part of the family. Unfortunately, there are some animals that, despite having wonderful personalities, have had zero adoption meet and greets since arriving. It’s hard enough to be at a shelter, but to have not one person want to meet you, is truly heartbreaking.

We currently have five animals with zero meet and greets and 10 animals with only one meet and greet. Some of these pets have been with us for a few weeks; some for a few months. While our staff works with these animals day in and day out, we cannot imagine what it must be like to be overlooked for so long. These are pets that are full of character and affection, but often do not get their opportunity to shine while in a kennel.

These dogs have had NO meet and greets

Pam & Big Boy – 72 Days
Hello we are Pam and Big Boy! We are adorable twin rat terriers that have been through thick and thin together! Now, we are looking for a forever home where we can spend our retirement years together.

Learn more about Pam | Learn more about Big Boy

Lennon – 54 Days
I am devastatingly handsome, and extremely loving to those who take the time to know me. I love to play outside, so I would love to join a family with a big yard for me to run around in!

Learn more about me!

Tucker – 36 Days
The definition of a distinguished gentleman, I’m much better than some of these young whipper snappers around here. Some of these pups can hardly sit! But I can Sit, Shake, Lay Down, and I’m super smart to boot. Not to mention I’m treated motivated.

Learn more about me!

Link – 17 Days
I’m a smart pup and learning new commands might be just what I need to boost my confidence. I really enjoy getting to know other pups, too! In fact, one of my best friends in the whole world is a dog!

I’m currently looking for a foster home, but would love to meet you!

The longer these animals remain in the shelter, the easier it is for their brilliant personalities to deteriorate. Even the best care cannot replace the feeling of belonging and purpose. We never give up on these diamonds in the rough and know there are perfect families out there for every single one of them. If you are interested in meeting any of these pets, please contact our Pet Adoption Center to schedule a meet and greet at (913) 831-7722 or email us at adoptions@greatplainsspca.org.

The post Only the Lonely for these shelter pets appeared first on Great Plains SPCA.

This past week, a good Samaritan found Rye, a six-week-old kitten, outside on his own and brought him to Great Plains SPCA. Little Rye needed immediate medical attention. His tail had been “degloved.” This is when an extensive amount of skin is torn away from the underlying tissue. Poor Rye was in an incredible amount of pain. Our Shelter Medicine team made the difficult decision to almost completely amputate his tail.

The surgery went perfectly, thanks to our team of skilled veterinarians. We knew his recovery wouldn’t be easy and wanted to give him a safe space to heal. That’s when one of our staff members stepped up and offered to take him home and foster him during his recovery. 

Emergency surgeries like this not only affect us emotionally, they can be quite costly, but if it ends an animal’s suffering, it is worth it. If you would like to help us on our mission to continue to help innocent animals like Rye, please consider making a donation where your impact will be MATCHED up to $150,000 during our Lend A Paw Match Campaign.

The post Kitten in pain saved by good Samaritan appeared first on Great Plains SPCA.

Common Heartworm Myths

Myth #1: Indoor pets don’t need heartworm prevention.  

FALSE! It only takes one infected mosquito flying into your home to infect your indoor pets with heartworms. In the United States, around 27% of infected cats are indoor only, which leads us to our next myth…

Myth #2: Cats can’t get heartworms.  

FALSE! While cats are considered atypical hosts for heartworms, they can still be infected. Infected cats often only have one to three adult heartworms, but this doesn’t mean the disease is any less serious! Symptoms in cats can include intermittent vomiting, coughing, asthma-like episodes, fainting, seizures and even sudden death. Cats can develop a severe and potentially fatal pulmonary reaction to the death of immature or mature heartworms. 10-20% of heartworm positive cats will die from their disease, making prevention important for our feline friends too!

Myth #3: There is NO realistic treatment for heartworm disease in cats.  

TRUE! There is no approved medical treatment for killing adult heartworms in cats. Dogs can receive a very expensive and painful injection called melarsomine that kills adult heartworms. However, due to the cat’s tendency to have an extreme inflammatory reaction to adult worms dying, this is not an option for cats. We can use steroids to reduce inflammation, but the best we can do is manage symptoms while we hope that the pet self-cures without too many complications. Your best bet is to prevent your cat from getting infected in the first place!  

Myth #4: Heartworms are only an issue in the warm months.  

FALSE! Mosquito season varies from area to area and year to year. Some mosquitoes are active when the temperature is in the 40s, and some hibernating mosquitoes emerge during abnormal warm spells in the winter. 

Myth #5: Heartworms aren’t an issue in our area.  

FALSE! Heartworms have been found in all 50 states. There are areas that have higher incidence of heartworms, mostly along the Atlantic and Gulf Coasts and along rivers, and some states have “hot spots” where incidence is higher than in other areas of the state. In 2019, the Companion Animal Parasite Council reported that Overland Park, Kansas was the top city for the highest increase in heartworm incidence! 

Myth #6: If my pet is on heartworm prevention, they don’t need flea and tick prevention.  

BOTH TRUE AND FALSE! This depends on the specific product that you are using. Some preventatives, such as Advantage Multi, can prevent heartworms and fleas but do not prevent ticks. Simparica Trio can prevent heartworms, flea, and ticks. There are many options, and we recommend working with your veterinarian to find the best product or combination of products for you and your pet.  

Myth #7: My pet doesn’t have heartworms because I can’t see the heartworms in their feces. 

FALSE! You will not see heartworms in a positive pet’s stools. Adult heartworms live in the heart and lungs, so they will not come out in the feces. If you are seeing worms in your pet’s stool, they may have a different parasite such as a roundworm or tapeworm. Most heartworm cases are confirmed through a blood test. We recommend you contact your veterinarian for further evaluation.

What does this all mean for my pet?  

We recommend year-round heartworm prevention for all dogs and cats. Before more mosquitoes emerge this spring, let’s get ahead of the tide and get our pets on prevention! Heartworm prevention can only be purchased with a prescription, and most veterinarians will require a negative heartworm test prior to beginning heartworm prevention. We recommend visiting your veterinarian to get your pet started on heartworm prevention and to maintain preventative care year-round. At Great Plains SPCA, we sell flea and tick prevention in our retail store, some of which do not require a prescription. Feel free to stop by and chat with us about the options we have for your pets!   

The post Spring Forward with Heartworm Prevention   appeared first on Great Plains SPCA.

• Prince has been at the shelter for 155 days. His cost of care totals over $4,340.
• Carrot has been at the shelter for 126 days. His cost of care totals over $3,520.
• Hendrix has been at the shelter for 122 days. His cost of care totals over $3,400.
• Harlow has been at the shelter for 118 days. Her cost of care totals over $3,300.
• Fiona has been at the shelter for 104 days. Her cost of care totals over $2,910.
• Pooh Bear has been at the shelter for 93 days. His cost of care totals over $2,600.
• Sheba has been at the shelter for 76 days. Her cost of care totals over $2,120.
• Lance has been at the shelter for 67 days. His cost of care totals over $1,870.

While these costs drastically increase the longer a dog is with us, our commitment to them never waivers due to donations that make our work possible. Donate today towards the care of long-term pets like these.

The post Increased cost of care for long term shelter dogs appeared first on Great Plains SPCA.