Did You Know...

Did you  know why you should not DECLAW your cat...see below 

Did You Know That All Dogs Are Individuals!  Why looks don't equal behavior.  

The Animal Shelter Manager software system (ASM) that Almost Home uses  to keep track of its animals requires that we choose a predominant breed or breed mix. Visual breed identification in dogs and cats is unreliable thus when selecting a breed we are only guessing.  We encourage you to select your new family member by considering each animal's ndividual personality and qualities instead of relying on a breed label that is only a guess. 

Poster below courtesy of Animal Farm Foundation Organization...read there "Breed Labels: When Guesses Turn Into Predictions" article. 

Do You Know how to identify Cat colors, points and patterns?

Check out this Cat Identification Poster Click here.

Did You Know dogs are social animals and they deserve more than life on a chain...



Hints on How to Catch A Dog Running Free - excerpt from "Petfinder's Monthly Ask the Experts Q&A" on Facebook...

The Missing Pet Partnership specializes in capturing skittish, hard-to-catch dogs (and cats). The problem with panicked dogs is that most rescuers call the dog to try and get the dog to come to them … big mistake! Never call a stray dog. Don’t look at it, don’t pat your leg, and don’t walk towards the dog. If the dog has a skittish temperament, typically he is in “fight or flight” mode and will be running in fear. The moment that the first would-be rescuer pats your leg, moves towards the dog, and is saying “Come here, come here,” the dog often will associate that body language with the fear and adrenaline.

So, what happens is the dog is running because people are looking at him, going towards him, calling him, and he is getting more and more afraid. When you add into the mix the owner (or a rescuer) who is panicked (and conveys that in their voice) it just freaks the dog out even more (like if it is running towards traffic). What you want to do instead is use calming signals and try to do something to calm and attract the dog. Lip licking, yawning, feigning like you’re eating food off the ground are such signals.

Some other things you can try:

• Have a crinkly bag like a potato chip bag with treats inside it (keep it in your car, it just needs to make noise when you crinkle it)
• When you see a stray dog, get out of your car and watch the dog out of the corner of your eye
• Start crinkling the bag and start saying very loudly “NUMMY, NUMMY, NUMMY!” as you feign like you are dropping the food onto the ground
• Kneel down and start acting like you’re picking up pieces that you dropped on the ground
• In many cases, the dog will have stopped and will be watching you because you are no longer using that “Come here!” voice. You are using the universal language (nummy, nummy) of food, and you are kneeling down and not a threat. Also, you are not going to the dog, but many times, the dog will come to you!

Did you know that … Nelson County is 1 of 7 counties in Virginia to have an 87%+ animal save rate?

A recent study done by the Charlottesville-Albemarle SPCA listed Nelson County as one of seven Virginia communities that are already no kill or very close to becoming a no-kill community.  Calculations showed that the HS/SPCA (aka Almost Home Pet Adoption Center) and the Nelson County Animal Control facility, working closely together in 2010, saved 87% of the animals.  Our goal is to extend Almost Home Pet Adoption Center’s no-kill policy to all of Nelson County - we are getting closer but we are not there yet.  Please help us to make this goal a reality.

For more details visit Charlottesville-Albemarle SPCA’s article at: caspca.blogspot.com/2011/05/can-virginia-be-no-kill-state.html

Did you know that … the Almost Home Pet Adoption Center is funded entirely by donations and fundraisers?

Almost Home Pet Adoption Center receives no funding from Nelson County and is funded entirely by donations and fundraisers.   We also have dedicated volunteers who help out at our shelter thus helping us save more animals.

For more details on how you can help, visit the Events, Donation Info or Volunteering Info sections of this website.

Did you know that … the mandatory hold for stray animals at Nelson County Animal Control is five days?

The mandatory hold time for stray animals at Nelson County Animal Control is just 5 days.  This can be increased to 10 days for pets wearing a collar…hence the importance of your pet wearing a collar.  After the mandatory hold period is over, the animals are available for adoption through Animal Control or can be transferred to the Nelson County Humane Society/Almost Home Pet Adoption Center if there is room for the animal or a foster is available. If not, the animals can legally be put down.  Fortunately, this currently only happens when the animal is very sick or dangerous.    

Please help your animal get back home as soon as possible by providing identification as follows: collar & tags and/or microchip.  If your animal is missing, contact Nelson County Animal Control as soon as possible at 434-263-7047.  If no one answers, please leave a message.  If Animal Control has picked up your dog, there is a nominal fee to reclaim it…a $5 charge for each day the animal was at Animal Control.  In addition, the owner must show proof of rabies vaccination, or they will be required to get the animal vaccinated upon release

Also please call the Nelson County Humane Society/Almost Home Pet Adoption Center at 434-263-7722.  The Humane Society keeps a log of lost and found dogs.  Someone may have already found your dog and has contacted the Humane Society.  Our goal at the Humane Society is to reunite you with your beloved pet.

For more details on how you can help save the lives of these stray animals, visit the Foster An Animal or Volunteering Info sections of this website or just browse through our Animals section…you just may find an animal you want to adopt.

Did you know that…by law, an “owner surrender” at Nelson County Animal Control can be euthanized the day it is surrendered? 

The Nelson County Humane Society/Almost Home Pet Adoption Center at 434-263-7722 has an animal behaviorist on its staff that may be able to help you with a problem you might be having with your pet thus negating the need to surrender it. 

Check out our News & Articles link on this website for some interesting articles on such things as ‘House Training’...one of the major causes of pet surrenders.  

Did you know that … you can spay/neuter your pet for $42 - $66?

Spay/neuter clinics are provided throughout the year (typically twice a month).  The clinic is a low cost solution to preventing unwanted puppies and kittens.  Also, financial assistance is available when necessary…

Did you know that … dogs and cats as young as six months can get pregnant?

Dogs and cats as young as six months can get pregnant, and with a gestation period of about two months there are a lot of momma dogs / cats that aren’t even a year old.  It is very important to spay / neuter your pet when they are 6 months old to prevent unwanted litters.  Many of these kittens and puppies will end up with no homes and may suffer starvation. 

For more details visit the Spay And Neuter section of this website.

Did you know that … about 25% of shelter dogs are purebred?

Many of our animals are purebred.  Also, if you are looking for a purebred dog you can search Petfinder (www.petfinder.com).  Or search for a breed specific rescue, some of which are listed at: www.dogrescuelist.com/groups.html.  Many breed specific rescues will also provide courtesy listings of purebreds (and half purebreds) for other rescues or individuals needing to re-home their dogs.

Check out our Animals link on this website to view our purebred dogs.  Refer to the animals profile for breed information.

Did you know that … several local shelters participate in weekly dog transports to New Jersey?

Almost Home Pet Adopton Center, along with other local shelters and rescues, participate in weekly dog transports to several no kill shelters in New Jersey.  In addition to New Jersey, dogs are periodically transferred to no-kill shelters in Massachusetts, Maryland, Delaware, Pennsylvania and Northern Virginia. In 2011 more dogs were adopted after being transferred to other shelters than were adopted directly from Almost Home Pet Adoption Center.

Check out our Donation Info section of this website.

Did you know that … puppies are transferred to Massachusetts once a month?

Almost Home Pet Adoption Center transfers litters of puppies to Massachusetts once a month.  Puppies must be wormed, up-to-date on shots and have health certificates before they can go out of state.

Check out our Spay And Neuter section of this website.

Did you know that … there are some clinics available to spay/neuter feral cats for free?

Want to help feral cats?  Instead of taking them to Animal Control, where they will be euthanized as “unadoptable”, call (434-263-7722) about our Trap-Neuter-Release program.  We can help you trap them, get them spayed/neutered and vaccinated, and even provide “shelters”.  You just have to be willing to feed them thereafter.  The ear of feral cats that have been spayed/neutered is clipped to easily identify the animals as already having been spayed/neutered.

For more information, visit the Spay and Neuter section of this website.

Additionally, Voices for Animals, a Charlottesville based non-profit provides several free spay/neuter clinics for feral cats in our area.  Clinic space fills up quickly, and reservations are required.  They provide humane traps and training sessions on how to trap feral cats.  For more information visit the Voices for Animals website at:   www.voicesforanimals.org

Did you know that … some of our cats are available for adoption at Pet Supplies Plus in Charlottesville?

Pet Supplies Plus on Greenbrier Drive in Charlottesville has some of Almost Home’s cats and kittens available for adoption.  Please stop in and visit with the cats in the enclosures at the front of the store near the cashiers.  Hours of operation are Monday thru Saturday 9 am - 9 pm and Sunday 10 am – 8 pm.  On our website, the animals with "(PSP)" after their names indicate they are currently located at Pets Supplies Plus. 

To see which animals are located at Pets Supplies Plus, go to Our Animals – List Animals and look for the (PSP) after the animal’s name.

Did you know that … the only thing you need to provide to foster an animal is a good home?

Please consider sharing your home with a litter of kittens or puppies for 4 to 8 weeks.  We’ll provide the bedding, food and litter, and you will get the unbounded joy of watching the kittens and puppies learn, grow and be pretty darn cute! 

Also, Almost Home is in desperate need of foster families who are able to house, socialize and train foster dogs and cats, and then help to place them in loving, forever homes.  Fostering is a great way to get your cat or dog fix, without having to commit to having a full time pet.  Foster homes  are needed for dogs, cats, kittens and puppies.  The many homeless dogs and cats of Nelson County could sure use your help.

For more details about applying for our foster care program, please visit the Foster An Animal section of this website.

Did you know that … animals can be adopted directly from Nelson County Animal Control?

Please call 434-263-7047 to make an appointment to see the many nice dogs and cats urgently in need of homes.  When you adopt or foster an animal for them, it makes room for others.  You will be saving a life! 

For more details visit Nelson County Animal Control’s website: nelsoncounty.com/animalcontrol

Did you know that … Heartworm is very common in this region?

Monthly heartworm prevention is recommended throughout the year.   Once an animal contracts heartworm, it can be painful and the treatment is expensive.  The animal must be kept quiet for 30 days after being treated.  In cases where the animal is not treated, heartworm can be fatal. 

Check out our Donation Info section of this website.

Did you know that … 3 Millions Cats and Dogs are put down each year

Three Millions Cats and Dogs are put down each year in the United States because they don't have a home? 

For more details on how you can help save the lives of these stray animals, visit the Foster An Animal or Volunteering Info sections of this website or just browse through our Animals section…you just may find an animal you want to adopt.

Did you know that - about half of all dogs are still purchased? 

About half of all dogs in the United States are still purchased even though there are many wonderful dogs and cats…some even purebreds…at Animal Shelters throughout the country just waiting to be adopted.  Some people believe as I do that pets from Animal Shelters make better pets because they appreciate finding a home where they know where their next meal is coming from, they receive love and attention, and a warm bed to sleep at night.

Some Tips For Dealing With  Feral Kittens ... By Melonie Vest

Some or all of you may already know this information but just thought I’d share (from petful.com).  I don’t believe this applies only to kittens as I’ve seen adult ferals turn domesticated with patience.  I believe that it is impossible to judge a cat feral until it is in a quiet environment and given time to evaluate.  A cat that won’t interact with you in its outdoor or colony environment or acts aggressive in a trap means nothing to me.  Some will turn domesticated and some will not.  Hell, even some domesticated cats don’t like being picked up but will rub on your legs.  So, don’t be too quick to say a feral is a feral is a feral.  I have encountered and interacted with a few truly feral cats and have learned to respect them just as I do wildlife that don’t want to be my friend.  

1. Ignore them. If you try to get the feral kittens to come to you before they’re ready, the only result will be hands and arms covered with scratches. When you first start working with them, the best approach is no approach: Ignore them until they’re ready to investigate you. Unfortunately, it could take days or weeks for them to start coming around, but your patience will pay off eventually.
2. Read to them. My favorite way to get feral kittens accustomed to being around humans is to sit in the room with them and read aloud from a book. The book serves two purposes: It keeps you from getting bored — of course — and it allows the kittens to get used to the sound of human voices. Visit them for about 15 minutes at a time, as many times a day as your schedule allows.
3. Introduce them to play. With enough time and patience, you’ll find that the kittens will start investigating you — let’s hope sooner rather than later. Don’t grab at them or make sudden moves, which can set you back days. Instead, arm yourself with a couple of string toys, the kind that have a feathery mouse dangling off a short pole — or a laser pointer —  and tease them into pouncing on it. You’ll be able to engage with them without having to get too close.
4. Handle with care! Once the kittens begin to respond to your presence and play with toys, take things a step further by initiating physical contact. Go slow and let them come to you. Don’t grab them, and don’t pressure them into doing anything they aren’t ready for yet. When you are able to handle them regularly, do so as often as possible. Your primary goal at this point is to acclimate them to human touch.

Did you know that…if you adopt from a “No Kill” Shelter, like Almost Home, you are saving TWO animals…the one you bring home and the one you made room for at the Shelter.