FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS: PET CARE

The biggest reason dogs and cats die in the U.S. is because of pet overpopulation (there are simply too many animals and not enough homes for them). At our shelter last year, over 1,000 dogs and cats were killed. The vast majorty because there just was no more room to house them. Spaying and neutering also reduces the risk of reproductive cancers and other serious medical issues like pyometra.

Fill out our Aid Application online or at the shelter.

Fill out our Aid Application online or at the shelter. We'll give you more details when you submit the form.

Bring the vaccine records so the technicians on the Assisi Van can confirm them and mark them on your paperwork. If your animal has any booster vaccines due on the day of their spay/neuter, the techs will be happy to administer them.

Animals scheduled for surgery are the only pets that can receive vaccinations.

Only rabies vaccinations are required by law, and they are required of both cats and dogs beginning at four months of age. Rabies vaccinations administered by an owner are not recognized as valid. Only licensed veterinarians may vaccinate an animal against rabies. You should keep all rabies vaccination records (given to you by your vet at the time of the shot) with your other important records. If your pet bites someone, these records will prove it was protected. Without them, your animal could be confiscated or euthanized.
Other vaccinations are important for your animal's health. Many preventative vaccinations are life-saving, such as those given to prevent distemper and parvo. Preventative heartworm treatment is also imperative for dogs. Consult you veterinarian for more information on the right vaccination schedule for your pet.

Because we're charged a base rate for a certain number of animals on the van, we do not "reschedule" unless prior notification was given.

Living outside leaves your animal open to dangers they wouldn't have to face if they lived in your home - things like wild animals, moving vehicles, poisons, diseases, a nd cruel people who would hurt or steal your pet. All animals need food, shelter, and water to survive, and cats or tied-out dogs may have trouble obtaining these things. Unaltered animals will not only produce litters that will further the overpopulation problem, but they also tend to get in more fights that can lead to infection or death. Finally, keeping an animal outside never really allows you to bond with your pet. How will you form a relationship with an animal you hardly ever see or interact with? Many outdoor dogs become territorial and aggressive due to boredom and poor socialization, making them more likely to attack neighbors and children.
Simply bringing your pet inside to share your home will help him or her live a longer, happier life and allow both of you to develop a life-long friendship!

Cats CAN live indoors! They'll need toys and scratching posts, but a nice window seat and some love and attention from you will help them live a longer and healthier life. Indoor living can increase a cat's life expectancy by over 10 years!

Declawing is equivalent to removing the first bone in each of your fingers. It's a painful procedure that takes a long time to heal and is not always 100% effective (sometimes the nails will continue to grow if they have not been removed completely). Declawing can sometimes lead to behavioral problems like biting and refusal to use the litterbox.
There may be times when declawing is appropriate (example: some polydactyl cats may need to be declawed to prevent the nails on their extra toes from growing into their paw pads), but declawing should NOT be a preventative measure to keep your cat or kitten from scratching your possessions. Having a cat that draws blood by scratching itself or its owners is one thing, but declawing a cat before you even know if it will have a scratching problem is unneccessary and cruel.
Scratching is a natural and healthy behavior that allows the cat to stretch the muscles in its back and shoulders and also sharpen its claws (cat nails have layers they can shed to reveal a newer, sharper surface). This behavior should not be prevented, but rather, redirected. If you have a kitten, get him/her used to scratching on good surfaces like scratching posts. If an undesirable surface is being targeted, try some double-sided tape or a quick squirt from a spray bottle or squirt gun. Let kitty know that it's okay to scratch some things, just not your furniture!
Trimming your cat's nails is easy if you introduce the process to them when they're kittens. Handle your kitten's feet regularly and try trimming cat/kitten nails when kitty is in a lazy, sleepy mood instead of an excited, playful mood. If you're not sure where to cut, be sure to ask your vet - there are blood vessels in cat and dog nails that can be bleed heavily and cause pain if you cut them.

When you microchip a pet, you put a tiny capsule under its skin (about the size of a grain of rice) that can be read by a special electronic scanner. When the chip is scanned, it reveals a unique number that can be traced back to the pet's owner, breeder, or the shelter it came from - like carrying a permanent ID tag. Microchipping is easier than tatooing and can be done anytime.
You can get your animal microchipped at your local vet's office or on the Assisi Mobile Shuttle that visits our shelter. The procedure is quick and inexpensive (under $20 on the shuttle). contact us for more details.