March 2011

Spring is finally here! We hope you enjoy the nice weather. Spring is also the time most associated with breeding animals. Please take the opportunity to share with your friends and family how important spaying and neutering is. For every cat or dog bred for sale a cat or dog in a shelter dies.

Screening of Ghostbusters

Don't miss out on seeing the original 1984 version of Ghostbusters with Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd, Harold Ramis and Ernie Hudson on the big screen again. All proceeds from the movie and concessions go directly toward the care of APAWS foster cats and dogs.

Ghostbusters
March 20, 2011
Preshow starts at 6:00 PM
Show starts at 7:00 PM
Location: Manship Theatre at 100 Lafayette Street, Baton Rouge, LA
Tickets are available online at http://www.manshiptheatre.org
This production is in conjunction with Manship Theatre at the Shaw Center for the Arts

The Louisiana Ghostbusters will be there and have a trivia contest before the screening. Best Buy has donated $10.00 gift certificates that we will be giving away during the contest. Also, thanks to the Louisiana Ghostbusters we have been given some autographed pictures by Ernie Hudson who was in New Orleans for the Comic Con recently. We will be doing a silent auction for the autographed pictures.

To get tickets you can go online to the Manship Theatre's website at http://www.manshiptheatre.org to buy tickets online. Select Show Schedule and on the calendar you can click on APAWS Presents Ghostbusters and it will take you to the page where you can buy your tickets. Tickets will also be on sale the night of the show.

Come out and have a great time while supporting a great cause!

Mardi Paws - Thank you

Our volunteers had a great time at the CAAWS Mystic Krewe of Mutts Mardi Gras Dog Parade. We would like to thank CAAWS for the opportunity to participate. We would also like to thank everyone who came by and enjoyed the nachos, baked good and cold drinks served by our volunteers. We were able to raise $624!

Risk of Heartworms

Heartworms are a very big problem in Southern Louisiana. Pets should be on heartworm prevention all year long, but especially during the warmer months when mosquitoes are more prevalent. Heartworms are spread from animal to animal by mosquitoes. Dogs are the heartworm's natural host, but many cats are also infected each year. If your pet is not currently on heartworm prevention please schedule a visit to your vet immediately! Heartworms attack the heart and lungs causing permanent damage. There is a treatment available for dogs but it is expensive, hard on the dog and can't be given to all dogs. There is no treatment available for cats who contract heartworms. Your vet can give you information on the best preventative for your animal.

Spring Cleaning - Here Today Gone Tomorrow

Springtime is a great time to go through your home and clean out the things you don't use or need. If you do this please consider donating the items to Here Today Gone Tomorrow on Burbank under group 635 (APAWS). APAWS will receive a portion of the sale. Your entire donation is tax deductible, the staff at Here Today Gone Tomorrow will give you a receipt.

If you have any gently used pet supplies (toys, leashes, carriers, crates, etc) we can use them! Please consider donating these items to APAWS.

Ernie

Ernie was found in pretty bad shape by one of our volunteers. He was very thin, barely more than fur and a skeleton. He had major injuries to his belly caused by his waste scalding him and eating through two layers of skin. Ernie was brought to the pet emergency clinic with regular follow ups at Old Hammond Animal Hospital. He was given antibiotics, wounds cleaned twice daily and ointment applied. He was also given as much food as he wanted. Ernie gained weight and healed very quickly! In less than a month his wounds are healed, he is a healthy weight and is acting like a kitten.

Ernie is estimated to be between three and four months old. He is absolutely gorgeous, and knows it! Even when he was starving he was very particular about his food. He only wanted to eat Pro Plan kitten flaked tuna! He definitely thinks he should be spoiled and we're doing our best to do so!

We are waiting for his scabs to all heal so he can be neutered. After he is neutered Ernie will be put up for adoption.

Annie

Annie was found by one of our volunteers in a dumpster. Our volunteer saw someone putting what looked like a puppy in the dumpster, she went to see and it was Annie. Annie was immediately brought to the vet and given a check-up, vaccinations and spayed. She came through surgery and seemed perfectly healthy for a day. She then became very ill and had to be hospitalized for several days. The vet isn't completely sure what she had, but we do know it was a very bad infection. We almost lost her, but this little fighter pulled through!

After being cleared by the vet she was put up for adoption. She was immediately adopted by a wonderful family - we always love a happy ending!