Maximus and Leonidas

“Oh my goodness …” a woman muttered to herself. She was driving on the South Side and came across Maximus and Leonidus sitting in the middle of the road. She stopped her car and scooped them up. She was in disbelief. How could anyone abandon these sweet pups?! Lucky for them, she turned to Animal Friends ...

But they weren't in the clear just yet. Upon admission, they tested positive for a very serious and sometimes deadly virus and were rushed to an emergency vet. After weeks of supportive care and continuous monitoring, they were bouncy and playful – they were going to make it! And, once they were strong enough, they were both neutered and cleared for their second chance.

All pets admitted to Animal Friends are altered before they can be adopted. Spaying/neutering is not only necessary for their health and well-being but it also compassionately and proactively combats pet overpopulation.

And, we won't stop with the animals in our care. Animal Friends is committed to creating a gender neutral pet community where every pet is spayed or neutered. It's critical that our spay/neuter services remain affordable and accessible to all pet owners so unwanted pets are not abandoned, abused … or worse.

But we can’t do this without you. You can keep our pet community gender neutral. Support spay/neuter today.

Poison Ivy

The Blight of the Lower St. John River Valley

Poison Ivy 

In the lower St. John River Valley,  Poison Ivy  (Toxicodendron rydbergii) is common.  It prefers habitats that are rich, alluvial soil, rocky, sandy shores, and sometimes swampy woods and thickets.  In my area it is rich and lush.  Its leaves are always in 3s and often shiny.  The green can be anything from a light yellow green to a dark blue green.  It can be a low plant to a metre high.  It has very small whitish  or greenish flowers which grow in leaf axils in branching clusters.  The berries are yellowish green when unripe but turn whitish or grayish when dried.

Poison Ivy Showing Fruit

There are two species of poison ivy in New Brunswick, Toxicodendron rydbergii shown above and Toxicodendron radicans which is less common. T. radicans prefers more rocky, sandy shores.  It differs from T. rydgergii by its leaves being less toothed and it has aerial rootlets and likes to climb.  I have seen it climbing up trees and telephone poles.  Both species turn red in the fall.

Poison Ivy Berries

Poison Ivy is a seriously toxic plant.  It causes a severe skin irritation on contact.  It causes redness, itching, blistering and serum often oozes from the blisters.  I have had it a few times and can attest to the severe itching and irritation.  It is not uncommon for people to have to seek medical attention for treatment.  If the berries are eaten they can cause severe irritation to the digestive tract!  

In order to become affected by poison ivy, one's skin must actually come in contact with the plant.  If you are protected by clothing, you are probably not affected.  However, if your clothing has been in contact and then secondarily your skin comes in contact with the clothing, then you will also become affected.  The same goes for your dog or cat.  It they have walked through the poison ivy patch and then you pat them or brush against the affected fur, you will get the irritation.  

What do you do if you accidentally come in contact?  Washing thoroughly immediately after will usually prevent the irritation.  What if you are out on a hike and you have come in contact and there is no soap and water available?  I have heard that if you pick the touch-me-not plant (jewelweed) and rub the crushed plant on the affected skin, that will prevent the irritation.  I have tried this and it worked.  However, a thorough washing is a better preventative measure.

Beat the Heat, Keep Your Pet Safe and Healthy

Summer is the perfect time to experience the outdoors and enjoy the beautiful weather, but the heat can take a serious toll on your four-legged companion. Animal Friends has a few helpful tips to help you beat the heat and keep your furry friend safe, healthy and cool during the dog (and cat and rabbit!) days of summer.

Practice vehicle safety.

Your pet should never be left in a parked car. Even with the windows slightly open, a car can quickly reach an internal temperature in excess of 120 degrees. This is enough to cause animals to suffer severe heat stroke or even death. Your pet is much safer at home on warm days, especially if your destination is not a pet-friendly one. If you see an animal in distress in a parked car, call 9-1-1 immediately.

Drink up.

As the temperature rises, animals need to drink much more water to stay hydrated. Be sure your pet has plenty of cool, clean water to drink, especially if they’re spending time outside on warm days. Check water dishes frequently and be sure they are placed out of the sun’s reach in shady areas. Drinking dishes should be secured to avoid accidental spills.

Protect outdoor animals.

While we encourage all pet owners to bring their pets indoors to live, we understand that’s not always feasible. Animals that live or spend long periods of time outdoors must have shelter from the sun. A doghouse should be placed in an area of your yard that is shaded by trees or other buildings. Just like a vehicle, the interior of a doghouse can reach unsafe temperatures if it is in direct sunlight.

Pennsylvania state law requires a doghouse be made from materials other than metal and have four sturdy walls, a roof and a floor. The area around your doghouse should be kept clean and sanitary. Remove waste daily to reduce odor and flies.

Beat the heat.

Heat stress and heat stroke pose serious summer threats to pets, in particular those that are very young, elderly or overweight. Animals can have trouble maintaining their normal body heat, especially when outdoor temperatures and humidity levels are higher than normal.

Signs of severe heat stress include heavy panting, increased heart rate, glassy eyes, staggering, vomiting and diarrhea. If your pet is overheated, move them out of the sun immediately and immerse them in cool water. Apply ice packs to the head, neck and chest and provide cool water for them to drink. If you are concerned about your pet’s health, contact your veterinarian immediately.

And, if it's simply too hot to safely enjoy the weather together, click here for some great enrichment activities you can do indoors with your pets. And, most of the games include items you already have laying around your house.

Eastern Bluebird

Our Colourful Thrush 

Eastern Bluebird

The Thrush Family (Turdidae) is well represented in New Brunswick.  We have about 8 members who are summer residents.  One, the American Robin, is our most common and a favourite of everybody.  Its smaller cousin, the Eastern Bluebird, is the topic for this post.

The Eastern Bluebird Sialia sialis is a small thrush preferring fields and open areas.  It is seen near orchards, parks, farms, clearcuts, and golf courses.  It prefers to perch low on fence posts or bushes, often in small groups.  It feeds on insects and fruit.  It readily accepts nest boxes.   

Eastern Bluebird

The bluebird population took a sharp decline from the 1950s to the 1970s.  Fortunately they have made a comeback since then although a slow one, especially in the southern part of the province.  The decline was probably related to insecticide spraying and loss of habitat.  The recovery has been helped by milder winters and the establishment of nest box trails and campaigns in the US and Canada.  They are a migratory species arriving in May and leaving in late fall.

The bluebird is 17.5 cm (7 in) long and has an overall stubby appearance due to its stubby bill and stocky build.  It is polytypic (male and female look different).  Both genders have a wonderful bright blue on their wings and tail.  The female is, of course, much subdued.  The male has bright blue on head, back, wings and tail, and an orange throat, chest and sides, and a white belly.  The blue is so deep it sometimes looks iridescent!  The female looks much grayer.  The photos above show the male bluebird in breeding plumage.

The bluebird has an interesting song.  Sibley describes it as a 'mellow series of warbled phrases'.  It is a pleasant sound and one you won't forget when you identify its origin.  If you do hear it, look around and you will probably find a bluebird sitting on a post watching for an insect.  Then, look further.  There are likely one or more bluebirds with it.  

Meet Doc Watson!

Meet Doc Watson! He came to us as a stray through one of our community clinics to be altered. But, our veterinarian quickly realized he was in need of much more than that.

Doc Watson had two badly injured eyes and a severe infection setting in – he made it to us just in time. Not only was he neutered and vaccinated but both of his eyes were removed. Our compassionate team saved Doc Watson's life. And now he's happily and healthily living out his days ... in a loving home!

Animal Friends has been committed to creating a safe and inclusive environment for the pets of our region – starting with a gender neutral pet community where every pet is spayed or neutered.

But there are still so many pets out there that need these lifesaving services ...

Now is the time to help keep Animal Friends gender neutral by supporting spay/neuter! An anonymous donor will match your gift 50 cents on the dollar, but only if you act now!

Two Rare Plants

S1 Means Extremely Rare

Small Round-leaved Orchid

A field trip to Shea Lake near Plaster Rock revealed many interesting plants.  Among them were many rare ones but two species were especially rare.  We found two S1 species, species that are listed as extremely rare.  

Shown above is the Small Round-leaved Orchid, Amerorchis rotundifolia.  This plant is only known from 7 places in the province.  It is a small plant, 20 to 25 cm tall.  It has one large basal leaf which is oval or round and 3 to 7 cm long.  The flowers are white or purplish with magenta or purple spots on the lip.  The flowers are usually in a raceme (spike).  It grows in conifer swamps, bogs, spruce forests and peaty soil.  It is distributed from Northern Canada south to Northern Wisconsin, Michigan, New York, Vermont and Maine.  It blooms in June and July.

Small Round-leaved Orchid

The Lapland Buttercup Ranunculus lapponicus is the other S1 species we found.  It has only been found in 3 other places in the province.  It was first found by Erwin Landauer at Shea Lake in 1980.  We searched the site carefully and eventually found it.  It has a distinctive leaf which rests tight to the peat moss.  The flower is inconspicuous.  Shown below are the leaves and the flower.

Lapland Buttercup

Lapland Buttercup

The Lapland Buttercup grows in cedar swamps and bogs in areas with calcareous soils.  It is about 25 cm tall and the leaves are shamrock-shaped and bluish green.  The flower is about 1-2 cm in diameter and very inconspicuous in the bog environment.  Its range is from Alaska to Labrador, south to British Columbia and Maine.  It also is found in Northern Europe and Greenland.  

Palm Warbler

 A New Brunswick Breeding Bird

Palm Warbler (Breeding Plumage)

The Palm Warbler is a colourful wood warbler that calls New Brunswick home.  It is an early spring migrant that helps brighten up the drab landscape of late April and early May.  Its bright yellow throat, breast and under-tail coverts contrast with its greenish back and chestnut crown.  Some stay to breed here while others continue on to breed further north in Newfoundland,  central and southern Labrador and Quebec east of James Bay.  

The Palm Warbler has a western race which is a much grayer bird.  It generally remains west of central North America.  Our eastern race winters in the southeastern US, mainly the Carolinas to Texas.  Some fly on to the Caribbean islands.

Palm Warbler (Non-breeding Plumage)

 The Palm Warbler is a hardy warbler.  It is able to come here early in the season because it can survive on seeds and dried fruit as well as its usual diet of insects.  It is one of the few warbler species which wag their tails.  That makes it easy to identify.  It often arrives in the spring about the same time as Hermit Thrushes and Ruby-crowned Kinglets.  

It breeds in sphagnum bogs and fens and open barrens.  It builds its nest on or close to the ground usually in a low bush or clump of tall grass.  The nest is made of strips pulled off weed stalks, fine grass, bark and feathers.  Four or five eggs are laid and incubation is about 12 days.  The eggs are whitish with chestnut speckles.  Two broods are often produced.  

Palm Warbler Nest

The nest shown above was found in a sphagnum fen.  The adult made a litany of loud chirps before it reluctantly left the nest.  It ran off across the moss like a mouse before it took flight.  A short distance away it performed an interesting broken wing display.  The nest appeared to have 4 hatchlings and one remaining egg.  The last egg was probably still to hatch.  We moved away quickly allowing the female to return to the nest.  

It is always interesting to be given the rare opportunity to see into the private lives of wild species.  

Fourth of July Pet Safety Tips

Many of us are looking forward to Fourth of July weekend this year. Families will be gathering for outdoor barbeques, friends will be enjoying the warm summer weather by the pool and what Independence Day celebration would be complete without fireworks?
 
Unfortunately, in the flurry of patriotic parties that are planned for the long holiday weekend, pets can unintentionally be put at risk. Many of the activities that humans see as fun and games can be dangerous and frightening for our pets. Knowing how to keep your pets safe and happy during the festivities could quite literally save their life.

Proper Identification

Be sure that your pet is wearing a collar with legible and up-to-date contact information at all times. In the event that your furry friend escapes from the safety of your home, proper identification will allow neighbors, animal control and law enforcement agencies to contact you if your pet is found. Microchipping your pet is an easy and inexpensive way to implant them with a permanent form of identification. Most animal shelters, police departments and veterinarians are equipped with scanners that can read microchips and access the contact information they contain.

Prevent Escape Artists

In all the commotion of a family picnic, your pet could easily slip through an open door or window unnoticed. By the time your family becomes aware of its missing member, they could be miles away, lost and disoriented. To prevent any curious escape artists, ensure that your pets are contained to areas where they will be safe and unable to wander out of your home or yard unsupervised. Your guests should also be aware of the presence of pets and will help you to keep an eye out for their security. In situations when your guests may not be pet-savvy, it may be best to board your pet or keep them separated in another room for the evening.

Food Safety

A favorite part of any holiday celebration is the delicious food. Our pets share this sentiment and would happily rummage through a wastebasket to sample the chargrilled goodness. Styrofoam trays, aluminum foil, paper products, plastic bags and other food containers can pose a safety hazard if consumed by a hungry pet. It is also essential to keep in mind that certain foods that are safe for humans can be harmful to pets. Ribs, chicken and other meats on the bone, corn on the cob, hot dogs, fruit salad and desserts are among the barbecue foods that could be potentially dangerous for pets.

Action Plan

In the event that your pet becomes lost, it is important to have a plan. Be familiar with animal care facilities in your area and have your local law enforcement’s contact information handy. If your pet does run away, enlist the help of your family, friends and neighbors to hang fliers and post photos and information on online message boards. Social media is a particularly powerful tool to reach a large number of people and quickly locate a lost pet. Be sure to send a photo of your pet along with your contact information to local animal shelters so that you can be notified if your pet is brought in.

Fireworks

Humans love the booming, crackling and pretty colors of fireworks in the night sky. Pets, however don’t share our love of pyrotechnics. The loud bangs, potent smell and bright flashes can cause pets to panic and flee in search of a quiet place. While you’ll want to end the holiday surrounded by your loved ones enjoying a firework display, do your pet a favor and leave them in a calm place where they won’t be exposed to the fear and anxiety that come with a pyrotechnic presentation.

Although it may be difficult to feel as though you are excluding your pets from all the fun this holiday weekend, the most important thing is their security and well-being. You will be at ease knowing that your their safety has been carefully considered and your pets will certainly thank you for keeping them well-protected!

In the event that your pet becomes lost or if you have found a lost pet, visit Animal Friends online for valuable tips and resources at ThinkingOutsideTheCage.org/LostAndFound.