"Donors"
We want to give a HUGE thank you to our extra special donors who have assisted us to help animals that are left abandoned, suffer from cruelty, need surgery, post-surgery costs, medications, supplies, and so much more. Saying thank you is not nearly enough to show how much your generosity is to our cause to help the
"Companies Supporting Our Cause"
SPONSORS
SCHAWB CHARITABLE
KKC FOUNDATION
KROGER
AMAZON
UNITED WAY
PET FINDER
PAYPAL
TRACTOR SUPPLY
TARGET
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There are companies who had been supporting the SPCA of Tennessee to help more animals in need in our state.
Your Best Friend
Dogs are pack animals — they depend on you for love and protection, so keep them inside, take them for walks, and make them a part of your family.
Dogs left unattended in their own yards, even for a few minutes, have been stolen, poisoned, and beaten. They can suffer from stress and loneliness, heatstroke in the summer, and frostbite, hypothermia, and dehydration in the winter.
Because of the danger and cruelty that it poses, several communities have banned the chaining of dogs. Chained dogs kill as many children as do firearms, and they kill more than falls from trees, playground equipment, and fireworks accidents put together.
You and your dogs speak different languages. Humane, interactive training gives dogs greater freedom and a better understanding of our world. Untrained dogs are often punished for their “improper” behavior. Be the one to train your dog—you are the one who will need to know how to communicate with him or her, but get help from a humane dog trainer if you run into problems.
Compassion, clarity, and consistency are the most important elements of dog training. Training should not include any activity or device that endangers animals (e.g. electric shock collars) or puts undue stress on them. Good books on the subject include A Well-Trained Dog by Deborah A. Jones, Ph. D; The Power of Positive Dog Training by Pat Miller; and for solving dog behavioral problems, If Only They Could Speak, Dogs Behaving Badley, and The Dog Who Loved Too Much, all by Nicholas Dodman.
Puppies should be taken out at least once every two hours (or within a half hour after eating or drinking) and guided to the same spot where they can smell having relieved themselves before. Immediately after they “do their business,” they should be praised lavishly in a high-pitched, excited voice. Crate training does not speed up the housebreaking process: Puppies do not develop full bladder control before 6 months of age and are physically incapable of “holding it” for very long.
Take your adult dog out at least four times a day and allow him or her time to linger and smell the area. If you cannot go home at lunchtime, enlist the help of a neighbor or a professional dog-walker.
Crating has recently become a popular practice often used on adult dogs by people who say that they are protecting the dogs. However, the true reason is often related to protecting the dog from damaging furniture or out of convenience. This practice deprives the dog of basic necessities, such as the freedom to walk around and look out of the window, the opportunity to relieve itself, and the comfort of stretching.
Dogs are safest and most comfortable wearing a nylon harness, not a collar, when out walking. Choke and prong collars can be painful and injure your dog. For a dog who pulls too hard, try the Easy-Walk™ harness (available online), which discourages pulling without discomfort to the dog. "And recommended by www.Spots.com
Animals get depressed if deprived of adequate social interaction, so let them “chat” and play with other dogs on walks and at parks. A happy dog’s life is not one long series of commands: Let them live a little, make choices, and take their time. Animals are very sensitive and can become easily frightened, so speak softly to dogs. Don’t fight or shout in their presence, and give them their own hiding places to dash into when they want to be alone.
Sterilizing (Spay and Neuter) dogs helps stem the tide of companion-animal overpopulation. Spaying female dogs reduces the stress and discomfort endured during heat periods, eliminates the risk of uterine cancer, and greatly reduces the risk of mammary cancer. Neutering makes male dogs much less likely to roam or fight and prevents testicular cancer.
Never wait to take your dog to a veterinarian if there is any sign of illness or injury, but do not leave your dog with the vet for any longer than absolutely necessary or allow the vet to refuse you to let your to see him or her upon request. Just like your home, a pet is YOUR property and not theirs, unless they detect neglect or abuse.
If you have been feeding your dog or cat commercial pet foods, you are jeopardizing his or her health in the long-term. Cheap, supermarket pet foods are composed of ground-up, moldy, and/or diseased parts of animals deemed by Agriculture Department inspectors unfit for human consumption.