May is here, ushering in warm weather and the beginning of tick and flea season. Please remember to protect your pets from these pests, as ticks can transmit diseases to both dogs and cats. Puppies and kittens can develop anemia from blood loss due to tick and flea infestations. Over-the-counter treatments can be purchased from feed stores, pet stores, big box stores or online. You may consult with your veterinarian to choose a treatment that best suits your pet and your pocketbook.
There has been a huge turnover in dogs and cats at the Shelter. Many animals found their forever homes last month. Seven dogs are leaving this week to go to Massachusetts, where they have already been pre-adopted. New dogs are coming into the shelter next weekend, so please check our website, Petfinder, Petango, Adopt-a-Pet or Pet Harbor to see the new faces. As the Governor issues guidelines regarding reopening businesses, the Shelter and Thrift Store will once again welcome the community with regular operating hours. We will abide by the Governor’s recommendations regarding masks, distancing, number of patrons allowed on premises, etc. Until then, we continue to adopt by appointment, so call or e-mail if you see a pet you would like to meet.
Our featured dog this week is a 5-month-old Catahoula/Shepherd mix named Coco. This playful pup was brought to the shelter along with her brother by her owner who had too many dogs. Coco was adopted briefly but was returned to the Shelter because she chases chickens and cats. As with all puppies, this girl needs training and would get into less trouble if she were in a home without chickens or other small animals.
This week we are featuring kittens – twelve 8-week-old kittens from 3 litters! The mothers of these kittens were brought in for spay and returned to their owner. There are males and females of assorted colors, and they can be fostered until they are spayed and neutered, at which time we would complete the adoption. If you are interested in adopting, please call the shelter to set up an appointment to come in.
We anticipate that our Thrift Store will be opening soon, and we plan to hold a big outdoor yard sale to celebrate our re-opening. We appreciate all donations (except for clothing or shoes), and 100% of the proceeds of the sales are used to care for our shelter animals. We ask that donations be placed in the marked bins outside of our building. Our volunteers will retrieve the donations daily. The temporary closing of the Thrift Store has greatly reduced the financial support received for covering the costs of veterinary care and the overhead necessary to maintain the building. As we do not receive public taxes or funding, we appreciate any contributions you are able to make. Contributions may be made via PayPal or by mail to P.O. Box 1030, Yellville, AR 72687. Have a Heart is located at 657 Highway 202 in Yellville. Phone 870-449-7387.