6 in 10 cats need this intervention—does yours?...3) ooperative rescue efforts 4) animal welfare...
TRANSCRIPT
SPRING 2019 NO. 32
Fat cats may be cute, but there's nothing cute
about being at a higher risk for life-threatening condi-
tions like diabetes and heart disease. The heavier
your cat is and the longer he is overweight, the great-
er the risks to his health.
The truth is most cats become overweight from
being offered way too much food and not enough ex-
ercise. Many pet parents still believe that they need to
give their kitties the all-you-can-eat buffet. Not only
is this an unnatural feeding plan for cats, but it is a
great way for them to consistently gain weight. Cats
are true carnivores that evolved as hunting ma-
chines! They are not grazers. They are built to eat
small amounts of protein followed by a fast, then an-
other meal and more fasting.
A cat's metabolism determines how well his body
uses the calories he consumes. The daily activity of
an obese cat might consist of going from the couch
to the food bowl and back with an occasional trip to
the litter box. These couch potatoes need very few
calories, because they're not burning what they're
consuming. Putting a cat on a weight loss plan needs
to be approached very carefully and should be dis-
cussed with your vet before you begin, to make sure
there's nothing else going on with his health. Keep in
mind that your kitty didn't get fat overnight—it took
months or years.
Gradual weight loss lets his body adjust to the
changes and puts less stress on his internal or-
gans. Never put a cat on a starvation diet. Rapid
weight loss can trigger a fatal liver disease called he-
patic lipidosis. Feed a diet consistent with the nature
of a true carnivore, which is a meat based diet with a
moderate fat content and a low percentage of carbo-
hydrates. Protein is the key nutrient.
As sensitive and caring humans, we always want to
reward our kitties by providing treats. Most treats
have high levels of carbohydrates and lots of flavor
enhancers to entice the cat to eat when it isn't hun-
gry. Stop feeding treats to overweight cats. If you
must reward your kitty, give it cooked chicken or fish
as a natural protein.
Weight loss alone often isn't enough. Increasing
exercise, although challenging in some cats, can be
very rewarding. Cats tend to have short attention
spans, so plan activities that usually don't last more
than a few minutes at a time. Rotating through differ-
ent toys that stimulate multiple senses and the preda-
tory drive of cats can be very beneficial. As little as
15 to 20 minutes a day can help with weight loss.
If your kitty's weight loss program doesn't seem to
be working after several weeks, you should definitely
call your vet for advice. ~Karen Crowe & Jackie Allison
This article is excerpted from Dr. Karen Becker’s video and
full transcript, which can be viewed at https://
h e a l t h y p e t s . m e r c o l a . c o m / s i t e s / h e a l t h y p e t s /
archive/2010/03/03/weight-loss-for-fat-cats.aspx, along with
www.petmd.com. Dr. Becker is a well known holistic veteri-
narian, author, wildlife rehabilitator and more.
6 in 10 Cats Need This Intervention—Does Yours?
This is Bronson. See his weight loss story at https://people.com/pets/iambronsoncat-33-pound-cat-weight-loss-journey/
This is Doughnut. See his weight loss story at https://people.com/pets/fat-cat-doughnut-florida-adopted/
Lady Bug’s Lessons Senior Cats Rule! Older cats are frequently overlooked for
adoption. Some people regard these cats like they are old
cars with little mileage left. Not so! During their "golden
years" they are still inquisitive, affectionate and a real delight
to be around.
So when are cats considered seniors? Most vets consider
age 10 to be the start of the senior years. Keep in mind, a
healthy spayed or neutered indoor cat can live to 20 years
and beyond. Senior cats are fully developed. They have ma-
tured bodies and established personalities.
Caring for an older cat is easy since they are pretty laid-
back. Keeping them happy is a cinch—a cozy bed, scratching
post, clean litter box, regular meals, a few toys, and lots of
gentle petting should do the trick. Like fine wine, cats get
better with age. Those who were feisty in their youth tend to
turn mellow as they mature. The once shy ones gain confidence and become friendlier
while an aloof kitty now seeks companionship and tends to be more tolerant of children.
Once the cat settles in with you, they quickly adjust to your lifestyle. They can better
manage your absences and varying household activities. Through pet care, you will see
improvements in your physical, emotional, and mental well-being. Above all, you have the
lasting joy of saving a homeless cat with so much love to give. I hope this will influence
your decision in favor of adopting a senior cat.
Page 2 Spring 2019
1517 Meadow Street
Littleton, NH 03561
603-259-3244
www.secondchancear.org
email: [email protected]
Follow & Tag Us:
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SHELTER HOURS Monday through Saturday
Noon to 3pm or by appointment
BOARD OF DIRECTORS Jackie Allison, President Karen Gordon, Secretary Carolyn Murro, Treasurer
Judy Abbott Alicia Prater Michael Bettencourt Kim Randall Jan Nadeau Carl Schafer Mark Secord
Veterinary Advisors Whitefield Animal Hospital
Whitefield, NH Companion Pet Care
Littleton, NH
Professional Advisors Mark Secord CPA, PLLC
OUR MISSION To provide homeless animals
with a second chance at life and
companionship in a no-kill shelter.
Our organization goes beyond
shelter walls and is committed to:
1) Positive people and animal
relationships and placements
2) Offering affordable spay,
neuter and vaccination clinics
3) Cooperative rescue efforts
4) Animal welfare education
Second Chance Animal Rescue is a
501(c)(3) charitable organization
and our EIN is 27-2815668.
SCAR receives no federal, state or
local tax money; nor portions
of donations made to national
humane organizations.
Cat Tails: Noel “We adopted Noel in December and
wanted to let you know how she is doing. It
took about a week but she came out of hid-
ing and is now a part of the family. She
loves our little dog and they play and sleep
together. She also loves her cat tree and
begging for food. I am looking into an en-
closure for her to go outside when the
weather is nice. No need to worry about
Noel (Gracie) she is pretty spoiled. Thank
you for giving us our little Noel. Ronda T.”
Your Shelter REALLY ROCKS! In 2018, SCAR handled more cats than ever in the history of our shelter. We placed 238
cats in forever homes and returned 9 cats to their owners. With the help of our friends at
Animal Rescue League of New Hampshire, another 70 cats were given a second chance.
In addition to our intake of surrenders and rescues, we had approximately 30 kittens
born at our shelter from unwanted or unexpected litters. Based on Maddie’s Fund and the
veterinary literature, even in a caring shelter environment, most kittens have only a 60-85%
chance of survival—in our shelter their chances are 92%. We owe this high survival rate to
the dedication of our shelter manager Jan Nadeau, who ensures illness is recognized and
treated as soon as it appears and vaccinates all of the animals using the ASPCA schedule;
and to our great volunteers who care for the cats everyday.
Part of our mission is to prevent unwanted litters, and in 2018, we spayed and neutered
58 dogs and 447 cats at our low-cost clinics. Thank you to Alicia Prater for these figures.
She is our volunteer keeper of cat records, our computer guru, Petfinder pro, board member
and so much more.
TH
E S
CO
OP
Low Cost Spay & Neuter Clinics Call us at 603-259-3244
to schedule your cat or dog Mar 11, Apr 22, May 20, June 17
Low Cost Vaccination Clinics $15 each, 1:30—3:30 pm
March 23 Bethlehem Fire Dept April 13, Lisbon Town Hall
April 27, SCAR Shelter
ShoeBox Recycling Drop off your gently used shoes
Dining for a Cause Wednesday, June 19, 5-8 pm
99 Restaurant, Littleton 15% of your bill goes to SCAR
5th Annual Tony Ilacqua Chicken BBQ
Saturday, July 13, 5-7 pm Live Music
VFW Pavilion, Littleton
Annual Gigantic Tent Sale Saturday, August 10, 9am-3pm
Home Depot parking lot, Littleton
Page 3 Spring 2019
Cat Tails: Prince “Prince (or I'm naming him Flynn),
is settling in so well to his new home
in Concord! Yesterday he showed us
that he likes tummy scratches and to
fall asleep in my lap watching TV. He's
really enjoying the big sunny windows
where he can watch cars go by. And he
loves wet food! Emily M.”
Mary’s Cat Chats Choose one—or two—of our senior cats highlighted here and
be rewarded with huge helpings of love and devotion!
Joe and Jack—When the
owner of these two old-
er gents became very
ill, the difficult decision
was made to bring
them to the shelter.
This bonded pair has
been together from
kittenhood and they are
now 14. They are black and white with medium long fur, and
Jack has only one eye. They are laid back and sweet and will be
wonderful companions.
Lucky—Here’s a fellow that knows what life
is all about – and that’s sitting in the lap of
your favorite human. Sadly, his person was
recently transitioned to a care facility after
being fortunate enough to share his life for
15 years with this big, beautiful boy. Lucky
is white and black with one ear that is bent
and crinkly, giving him a bit of a jaunty ap-
pearance. Since he was an only cat for so
many years, we feel he would do best con-
tinuing that lifestyle.
Sweet Pea—
This amazing
survivor was
found in a dumpster at the High-
land Center in Crawford Notch in
the middle of the winter three
years ago, and is now a chunky
calico who is between 6 and 7
years old. She is missing part of
an ear, probably having suffered
from frostbite during her time in the wild. She is a shy girl but
with a warm and caring family to love her, we believe a pleasing
and unique personality will emerge. ~Mary Northrop
Finding Her Wings "I love you, I'll help you all
the way through, but to take
the first step, my dear, is up to
you." I can only imagine Ra-
chel Tamulonis' mother saying
this to the youngest of her four
children. Rachel's hero and
mentor has always been her
mom, a hardworking and kind
woman for whom nothing was
impossible.
Life in North Woodstock,
NH was simple for this family
with Lithuanian roots. They
always had a "petting zoo" of
rabbits, chickens, and a tuxedo
cat named Gonzo. Vacations
were spent renewing family
connections, taking advantage
of the local swimming hole and
making new memories on old
hiking trails.
From an early age, Rachel
had always dreamed of going
to college to study Marine Biol-
ogy, Wildlife Conservation, or
Forensic Science. Such ambition would require working part-
time jobs and doing well in school. Her dream came true at
the University of New England, graduating with a degree in
Environmental Science. Today she works with a successful
girl-powered group of environmental consultants that clean
up hazardous sites.
Just as the calendar was about to say "summer" a couple of
years ago, Rachel received an exciting offer. It didn't take her
long to pack her duffel bag with a pair of binoculars, note-
books and pens, and a lot of enthusiasm. She left for Indiana
to spend three months doing avian research. It was a price-
less gift this ornithologist couldn't pass up. It was the great-
est adventure!
This ambitious lady has many layers to her life. For stress
relief, she faithfully comes to the shelter to do cat care on
Saturday mornings. For fun, she loves to cook and bake. For
pride and pleasure, she is a leather craftsman that makes
knife rolls for chefs, in addition to crafting belts and guitar
straps.
We don't have an eternity to realize our dreams, only the
time we are here. Rachel hopes to embark on a journey to
Lithuania to uncover her family history. Lastly, she would like
to travel to South America to view exotic birds and wildlife in
the jungle rain forests. Enjoy life because you cannot depend
on getting a second chance to be in the same place or to do
the same things again. Carpe Diem, Rachel! ~Jackie Allison
Cat Tails: Misty “Misty is doing great,
very friendly and loves
to play. We adopted her
one year ago and love
her very much. Jackie B.”
Join Our Gang
Volunteers make everything we do possible!
Cat Tails: Mittens “We can’t thank you enough for
our big, lovable, crazy nut of a cat.
Mittens is now 18 months old and
weighing in at a hefty 14 pounds!
Looking forward to many years
with our love bug. Megan C.”
1517 Meadow Street Littleton, NH 03561 603-259-3244 www.secondchancear.org
Pre Sorted Standard U.S. Postage
PAID Littleton, NH 03561
Permit No. 39
RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED
MONETARY DONATIONS SCAR relies entirely on private donations to fund our shelter, rescue and adoption
operations, and community programs. Your donation is 100% tax deductible. Please mail your check today, large or small or
donate securely online at www.secondchancear.org
TRIBUTE GIFTS Tribute gifts can be made in memory of
or in honor of a pet or loved one. A card will be sent upon request.
IN-KIND DONATIONS Help keep our supply closet stocked up year round. See our wish list above, at
secondchancear.org and smile.amazon.com
GIFTS OF STOCK & ANNUITIES Stocks, bonds, mutual fund shares and other
securities, along with transferring of real estate offer alternative ways to donate that
can benefit both you, your heirs and SCAR.
EBAY SELLABLES Donate jewelry, antiques and other estate
valuables and we’ll sell them on EBay. All donations are 100% tax deductible.
WORKPLACE GIVING CAMPAIGNS Many workplaces coordinate charitable giving campaigns for their employees. These campaigns allow employees to
donate through one-time gifts and regular payroll deductions.
VEHICLE DONATION Donating your unwanted car is simple, easy,
and free. We convert your car into cash, which becomes a much-needed donation to SCAR! You are entitled to a tax deduction and you avoid the cost and hassle of repair-ing or selling a car that you no longer want.
DONATE WHILE SHOPPING You shop online, SCAR gets money! For free, with no cost to you! Through either
iGive.com or smile.amazon.com
ESTATE GIFTS Include SCAR in your will, trust or
with a beneficiary designation.
CORPORATE PARTNERSHIPS There are many ways for your company
to increase its visibility in the community and build positive brand
presences while helping Second Chance.
VOLUNTEER Join us and help the cats and kittens who can’t help themselves. You’ll also make
new friends and have fun! Fill out a Volun-teer Application today.
FOSTER Can you open your home occasionally
to house a mom and her kittens until they’re old enough to be adopted; or house a needy cat on a short term basis when the shelter is full? Call the shelter for more information.
Postage Stamps
Gift Cards
Purina Cat &
Kitten Chow
White Unscented
Clay Cat Litter
Copy Paper
Paper Towels
Wish List
You Can Help We know that you’re swamped with requests for donations. While you support the big national organizations
that help animals, we ask that you first consider giving to your local shelter. You can visit us any time and see
your gift at work, giving the local area’s abandoned and abused cats and kittens a “Second Chance”!
Tag Us! Follow and tag us on
Facebook, Twitter, and
Instagram when you
post photos of your
adopted cats or SCAR
events. The links are on
page 2 and our website.