ROAR NEWS
January 2020
Edition
 

It's Time to Teach  Your Dog
Some  New Tricks!

Whether you have a new dog or puppy who recently joined your family or an adult dog who is a long-time member of your pack, teaching your canine companion good behavior and some new tricks are a great way to kick off 2020!
 
The Association of Professional Dog Trainers (APDT) created National Train Your Dog Month in 2010 to raise awareness about the importance of socialization and training, and it can be easy and fun.  There are too many dogs who are turned into animal shelters each year due to behavior and training issues that could be easily solved with proper socialization and positive, science-based methods of training.
 
After all, canines are smart. They are as intelligent as a two- or three-year-old child and can understand about 150-200 words, including signals and hand movements with the same meaning as words. Also, despite the myth, you can train an old dog new tricks. Older dogs can be easier to train than puppies since they possess longer attention spans.
 
Benefits of training your dog include it p rovides you and your dog with a common language and teaches your dog how to navigate our world. It also i mproves your bond with your pet, and builds trust and mutual respect. In addition, it e liminates issues, such as barking, digging, chewing, jumping on guests and territorial marking. It can also e nhance your dog's safety to make sure he or she responds to your calls to return when off leash. Your dog can enjoy more experiences with you t too like joining you on walks in town, hikes,  visiting local pet stores and going with you on trips to visit family and friends.
 
To help train your dog, you can take a class, hire a trainer for private training at your house or train your dog yourself. Whichever option you chose, remember to reinforce good behavior from your dog during the regular course of your daily life. Some helpful tips from the APD T:
 
  • Take your dog on car rides and to "dog friendly stores" when you go shopping.
  • Practice sitting politely when guests come over to your house.
  • Practice sit and down stays while you are watching TV, on the phone, cooking, eating dinner, working on your computer, or while your children are doing their homework.
  • Practice stays when you go to pick your children up from school or from extracurricular activities.
  • Use the recall command when you want your dog to come eat dinner, or when your dog runs to the front door or a window to bark at a squirrel or the mailman.

For additional tips and information on training your dog, visit the APDT's special website on National Train Your Dog Month   here .
In This Issue
Please Help Us Restock Our  Pet Food Pantry


ROAR needs your help.  Our Pet Food Pantry offers free, life-saving pet food and supplies to pet owners in need so no dog or cat goes hungry.

We continue to be in need of dog and cat food  (dry or canned food) and kitty litter. Items can be dropped off at the shelter at 45 South Street, Ridgefield, CT and left inside the front entrance (Mon.-Sat., 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.; and Sun., 12:00 to 2:00 p.m.).
 
If you are a pet owner who can use assistance, or know someone who does, please stop by ROAR during open hours to pick up some pet food.



Pet Profiles!
Come Meet  RAYNE  and HARLEY ...
 
   These sweet girls are  ready to find their forever families!  
 
   
RAYNE


Rayne is a gorgeous, four-year old, black-and-white Tuxedo cat. This sweetheart was found when she was pregnant by a high school. After her kittens were born, not only did she nurse them, she also nursed another litter of kittens after her own were weaned.
 
After being an amazing and caring Mom, Rayne is ready to find her forever home. She would love to join a family who will give her lots of pets and love, and who wants a snuggle buddy.
 
Rayne is spayed, micro-chipped and up-to-date on vaccinations.


***Please remember to keep your cats indoors, especially during this time of year, as predators are active preparing for the harsh weather ahead.***


HARLEY

Do you feel like you were Born To Be Wild? Need a buddy to go camping, hiking or swimming with or just have some good old fun with? Meet Harley!
 
He's no Road Hog or 409, but a happy-go-lucky, full of life, four-year old male Chocolate Flat-coated Lab Mix who is "Living in the USA," actually Mississippi, who found his way to ROAR looking for someone to be his Leader of the Pack.
 
When Harley first arrived at ROAR's shelter, it was thought that he had heartworm. Thankfully, it turned out to be microfilaria, a minor medical condition requiring some ongoing treatment. ROAR will help with any future cost-related treatments for this.

Harley is up-to-date on vaccinations, micro-chipped and neutered.
 
Come in and meet this wonderful boy. Movin' Out of the Shelter and into a loving home real soon is Harley's hope for 2020.
 

To help rescue more amazing animals like Rayne and Harley, please...
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Happy Tails!
A Miracle on South Street:  Callie & 
Her Puppies!
  
Do you believe in miracles? The staff and volunteers at ROAR's shelter do. A miracle is exactly what took place at our shelter in November.

Callie, a sweet little hound dog mix who arrived at ROAR from Florida two months ago, instantly stole everyone's hearts. Although Callie had already received her vaccinations, she needed to be spayed, because the animals ROAR makes available for adoption can't go to their forever homes until they are spayed or neutered.

Callie arrived at her spay appointment, was put under anesthesia and, low and behold, the veterinarian promptly discovered this little girl was pregnant. An ultrasound confirmed it - she was carrying six vital, active pups. The trauma of the near spaying plus exposure to vaccines put the unborn puppies in dire risk of survival. Callie was taken into ROAR's maternity facility where she received daily loving, prenatal care by the staff and many prayerful thoughts from everyone.

On a Saturday morning in mid-November, a staff member checked in on Callie and found her nursing six adorable newborn pups which she gave birth to on her own overnight. The vet arrived shortly after and determined everyone was in good health. As you can see, week-by-week these puppies have grown and thrived.




This was by any measure a miracle on South Street. In mid-January, the puppies will be available for adoption and will be welcomed into loving homes.

If you are someone who is hoping to adopt a puppy this holiday season, stop by the ROAR Donofrio Family Animal Shelter located at 45 South Street, Ridgefield, CT.

A special thank you to our long-time volunteer and board member Pam R. for her help with this story. Additional thanks to our staff and veterinarians who have been taking extra special care of these incredible dogs. And as always, many thanks to our friends at Blue Buffalo, Canine Company, Adam Broderick Salon & Spa, Tito's Handmade Vodka, Cornell University Veterinary Specialists, BMW of Ridgefield and 
Fairfield County Bank for making Happy Tales like this one possible.
Did You Know?

Volunteering Can be Good for Your Health!

According to the  Mayo Clinic, research shows that volunteering offers many health benefits. It can lower stress, build self-confidence and help lower rates of depression, especially for people who are 65 and older. Volunteering can also increase social interaction and help build a support system based on common interests. In addition, it can provide a sense of purpose, teach valuable skills and help people stay physically and mentally active.

Volunteering may also help you live longer. Research from the Longitudinal Study of Aging found that individuals who volunteer have lower mortality rates than those who do not.

At ROAR, our volunteers are our heart and soul. We would not exist without them. From 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., rain or shine, 365 days a year, our 100-plus volunteers are continually in and out of the shelter to feed, clean, walk, play, wash and groom our dogs and cats. Our volunteers also support our special events by lending a helping hand. They are vital to ROAR and are also our animals' best friends.

For additional information about volunteer opportunities at ROAR, 

You can also read more about the benefits of volunteering with animals  here and 
an inspiring story about a senior citizen who knitted 450 blankets and dog coats 
for puppies at a shelter by clicking the following  link.
Why Do You Do What You Do?
black_paw_prints.jpg

" For 15 wonderful years, nothing gives me greater joy than to be a volunteer at a shelter so committed to animal rescue. Everyday the dedicated staff and volunteers embrace and promote the unconditional love and healing power pets can give to others.These rescued dogs and cats then find loving homes in our communities.  Who saved who?"
 
- Pam R., Board Director Emeritus and Volunteer

Upcoming Events



on
your calendar!

Saturday, March 7, 2020

Stay tuned for more details.





Happy New Year from ROAR!!!
To learn more about sponsorship opportunities with ROAR, 
please contact us at shelter@roar-ridgefield.org.