 Are you excited about being outside, now that the weather is nice? Please consider turning your upcoming road trip into a Phinney's Ride Fundraiser. Phinney's is opening the Phinney's Ride season tomorrow, September 1st. You can ride your bike, come up with a dog stroller ride, a car ride, hay ride -- any ride, really -- to benefit low-income pet owners living with HIV and AIDS. The fundraising goal for Phinney's Ride is easy peasy: a minimum of $200. Just get 10 friends to donate $20. Or you could aim higher, of course. :) We'll create a fundraising page for you, so people can donate directly to your fundraiser. We'd love to post your ride pictures too and a slideshow if you are up for it! Visit phinneys.org/Ride to register!  Not up for a spin? No problem. Make a "Couch Potato"donation from the comfort of your home to cheer Phinney's Riders! Click here to donate now without so much as moving a finger. :) And a huge thank you to our Phinney's Ride sponsors, real estate agent Maureen Harmonay and Rest Design by George Restrepo. Thanks to their dedication to Phinney's cause, we can further our mission of helping low-income people keep their beloved pets.  
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 Dog parks can be a lot of fun especially if there is a local one where you and your dog can socialize with other pet parents and their furry friends. Playing at a dog park can also be a good way for your dog to get some much-needed exercise and fresh air. But dog park safety is something no pet parent should overlook.
Why It’s Important A trip to the dog park is similar to bringing kids to the playground. You need to watch your dog at all times to make sure your dog is safe and playing well with others. Don't get distracted by friends at the park! And, remember: The dynamics among dogs can change quickly. While a trip to the dog park should be enjoyable for everyone, a little preparation and a watchful eye will help to avoid a costly vet visit for an emergency. Here are a couple things to consider before heading into the dog park:
Answering questions like these up front can help you evaluate if a particular dog park is right for your dog. Check Out These Resources Visit our Care Corner web page for more tips on how to safely navigate a trip to the dog park. What You Can Do To Help Keeping your pet safe and healthy is important and can reduce emergency vet visits, which can be costly. Phinney’s believes in keeping people and their beloved pets together. We do this by extending a helping hand to pet parents in need when these emergency vet visits become too costly for some to afford. Ways you can help include donating to Phinney’s or volunteering. And, anyone in need of help in caring for their pets can visit our Get Help page for more information.  Newhouse Wildlife Rescue (Newhouse) of Chelmsford recently took in a red fox named Hawkins who was suspected of ingesting rat poison. His blood was unable to clot, and he was near death. But fortunately, Newhouse was able to nurse him back to health so he can be released back into the wild.
Hawkins' story has stolen the hearts of many — first because he’s so adorable and second because his harrowing experience has put the use of rat poison in the media (and social media) spotlight. Rodenticides are easy to obtain and may be used in residential or agricultural settings. This means they can be a danger to pets or other animals that come in direct contact with them. Also, if a pet or wildlife eats an animal that has ingested it, secondary poisoning can occur. This is likely what happened to Hawkins, who was having uncontrolled bleeding and would probably have died without treatment. Recently, Massachusetts State Rep. James Hawkins proposed Legislation HB 4206, which could help protect people, pets and wildlife by limiting the use of rat poison in the state. Newhouse named Hawkins the fox after the lawmaker in the hopes of raising awareness about this issue. Why It’s Important Hawkins’ story should be shared with pet parents everywhere because poisoning from rodenticides is one of the most common types of intoxications. Rodenticides are dangerous poisons that usually contain anticoagulants, which means they stop an animal’s blood from clotting. It can take several days for the signs of rodenticide ingestion to become apparent, making the situation very serious. According to the MSPCA, to solve “pest” problems one of the recommended approaches is to focus on integrated pest management (IPM), which involves removing nesting materials from problem areas, including boxes, books, papers and food scraps. Other IPM methods include dampening rags with peppermint and putting them under sinks, cabinets, and in cracks. Once pests have “left the building,” seal the cracks with quick-drying cement, use wire mesh, or something else to secure the area. The MSPCA also recommends Havahart live traps if needed. These types of precautionary measures can help protect your furry family member (and wildlife, too) and prevent a costly vet visit or a tragic situation where an animal dies from rat poisoning. Check Out These Resources Visit our Resources Web page for tips on how to keep your pet safe and what to do if you suspect your pet has ingested it. What You Can Do To Help Keeping your pet safe and healthy is important and can reduce emergency vet visits which can be devastating and costly. Phinney’s believes in keeping people and their beloved pets together. We do this by extending a helping hand to pet parents in need when these emergency vet visits become too costly for some to afford. Ways you can help including donating to Phinney’s: phinneys.org/donate.html or volunteering phinneys.org/volunteer.html. And, anyone in need of help in caring for their pets can visit phinneys.org/get-help for more information.  With the arrival of summer comes more traveling! If you plan to take your pet on a road trip there are some important things to consider to ensure your pet stays safe and happy.
Why It’s Important While traveling with your pet can be a lot of fun there should be some planning and preparation that goes into a trip with a pet. This will ensure your pet is safe and cared for properly while away from home. Traveling in the summer is great, but it can also come with its challenges given the heat. A little preparation can go a long way to making sure any trip is a successful one and everyone has a good time! Check Out These Resources Visit our Resources Web page for tips for how to safely travel by car or plane with your pet, stay at a hotel with them, and more. What You Can Do To Help Keeping your pet safe and healthy is important and can reduce emergency vet visits which can be costly. Phinney’s believes in keeping people and their beloved pets together. We do this by extending a helping hand to pet parents in need when these emergency vet visits become too costly for some to afford. Ways you can help including donating to Phinney’s: phinneys.org/donate.html or volunteering phinneys.org/volunteer.html. And, anyone in need of help in caring for their pets can visit phinneys.org/get-help for more information.  “Tui was the cat of my life,” said Ken Levine, longtime Phinney’s Rider and avid cyclist, and also Phinney’s foster dad who recently established a Phinney's fund to honor the memory of his beloved feline. To know Tui was a treat for all he encountered, reminisces Ken. “Tui was the people’s cat. He was a gentle, loving and very talkative shade cat who made friends with all four- and two-legged creatures who ever lived and visited with him.” In talking to Ken about Tui, this sentiment became evident as he told the story of how he came to know his neighbors in Stow, Massachusetts, a place where Ken still cycles for Bike for the Woods in support of the Stow Conservation Trust. It turned out that Tui, who Ken adopted as a stray and aptly named after the chatty Tui bird native to New Zealand, had already befriended the neighbors. And one of those neighbors was an accomplished photographer who later ended up chronicling Tui’s zest for life through a series of photographs entitled “The Secret Life of Tui.” It was only after Tui got hurt while engaged in some outdoor shenanigans that Ken learned he had been splitting his time with the neighbors (and probably getting double meals! LOL). From that point on, Tui would meow for those neighbors to join him back home with Ken every chance he got! With a gentle, adventurous and compassionate spirit, Tui’s impact during his 22 years of life were very meaningful not just to Ken but to so many others. “Over the years, he lived with other cats, dogs, and people, and made friends with everyone. Even if he had never met you, he would insist you pat him in his very vocal way, and then jump in your lap at the first opportunity,” Ken reminisced. Those 22 years weren’t without Tui’s share of hardships, though. When he was 17, Tui suffered a stroke. Fortunately, he recovered. But what would have happened if he hadn’t gotten the care he needed? Many older cats like Tui need help to survive, and they, too, may live to be 22 if given the chance. “There’s an expression that cats have nine lives. And sometimes they need our help in getting those full nine lives,” Ken said. His decision to establish the Friends of Tui Fund for Older Cats was simple. When Tui passed, Ken held a Celebration of Life and close to two-dozen people attended. “Tui thrived on the love he gave and received, which helped him survive a few health issues into his 20s,” he said. “It was only fitting that we could set up this fund so that he could continue to give from beyond.” Thank you, Tui, for the love you gave while you were here. And thank you, Ken, for letting us share what a special boy Tui was. We have no doubt that Tui’s spirit of altruism will live on through the elderly cats this Fund supports. What’s next for Ken Newly retired and full of plans, Ken will bike 80 miles in support of Phinney’s Ride on Sept. 11 and 12 in Rhode Island as a member of Roger & Russ’ Team Ride. Ken has already raised 288% of his fundraising goal, and we are certain that Tui will be cheering Ken and his fellow riders on from The Rainbow Bridge. If you would like to support Ken’s ride, click here. To sign up to participate in the Ride visit phinneys.org/ride. And remember -- this year’s ride isn’t limited to cycling (a tractor ride, a boat ride, a hayride, etc. are fair game!) And, if you would like more information about setting up a fund in honor or memory of a loved one, send us a message or call us at 617-979-8705. Another Lasting Gift from Tui to Share Check out this amazing slideshow on YouTube that Ken produced to honor the memory of his beloved Tui (and be sure to check out the scenes from “The Secret LIfe of Tui” which chronicle his heartwarming relationship with the neighbors he so adored! How Friend of Tui Fund for Older Cats Helps In their golden years, pets can develop many common health issues. For kitties like Tui, some usual ailments include chronic kidney disease, heart disease, hyperthryoidism, dental disease, diabetes, and cancer. The prognosis depends on the progression of the disease and a pet’s overall health. But intervention and treatment goes a long way toward helping to extend an older pet’s life when they are able to maintain a good quality of life. That’s why Friends of Tui Fund for Older Cats is so important. It's here to make sure that senior cats get the medical treatment, prescription food and other care they need to live their best lives. |
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Phinney's is an all-volunteer registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit that helps low-income people keep their pets. U.S. federal tax ID 94-3475924. All content on this website is the property of Phinney's Friends, Inc. unless otherwise noted. Donations are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law.
PO Box 425, Lincoln, MA 01773
Phone: 617-203-2053 Fax: 617-979-8705 |
