Go to BeyondFleas.com!
They cover everything you could possible want to know including:
So stop scratching — and visit BeyondFleas.com!
I found the No Kill Advocacy Center as I usually find such things, by browsing the Internet. OK, I feel a visit to my soap box coming up….
Their online “tour” of shelters is a chilling reminder of how publicly funded shelters can be deceiving us into thinking they are killing adoptable pets to make room for others. Yes, irresponsible members of the public who do not spay/neuter are part of the problem. But so is the attitude of county officials, jaded shelter workers, and the unwillingness of the many to change the rules for the few.
The challenge as the No Kill Advocacy sees it:
“…From entrenched bureaucrats who are content with the status quo, to uncaring shelter directors hostile to calls for reform; from agencies mired in the failed philosophies of the past to those who have internalized a culture of defeatism—the roadblocks to No Kill are substantial, but not insurmountable. We have a choice. We can fully, completely and without reservation embrace No Kill as our future. Or we can continue to legitimize the two-prong strategy of failure: adopt a few and kill the rest. It is a choice which history has thrown upon us. And a challenge that the No Kill Advocacy Center is ready to take on. The No Kill Advocacy Center is the nation’s first organization dedicated solely to the promotion of a No Kill nation. And it is the only national animal welfare agency that is staffed by people who have actually worked in and created a No Kill community.
The power to change the status quo is in our hands.“
If you want to become proactive in your community they offer numerous free .pdf files detailing every step to take to help change the status quo. They have a free enewsletter and listserv signup. They accept donations and offer a paying membership which includes a magazine.
Just to show you how detailed and well thought out their program is, with the Philadelphia Animal Welfare Society, they created a “matrix” of injuries, illnesses and other conditions (like being an adult cat or dog versus a kitten or puppy, or having fleas) for shelters to use in order to determine adoptability of the pet. The ultimate goal being to stop the killing.
They have information for educators, students, shelter advocates, dog owners whose dog faces a “dangerous dog” hearing, grants, and how to start your own no kill shelter.
Go forth, learn and become proactive!
I was in the family room to see what my younger son was watching on TV this Saturday morning. The usual run of commercials showed up. One was pleasantly surprising: a veterinary hospital play set! I remember the LEGO zoo and farm play sets we bought when the boys were younger. Not much else was available, except for stuffed animals of varying quality.
I was intrigued. We like toys that stimulate the imagination and allow for role playing, while teaching our children to think. So I went on a short hunt for other pet-related play sets and toys. These toys can also be used to stimulate family discussions about nurturing, being responsible for a pet’s life, etc. Or just for fun.
Fisher Price has Sonya Lee and Her Pet Salon and Chutes and Ladders with a pet twist: Rescue Hero’s Pet Rescue
FurReal Friends: Jungle Cat (Leopard Cub) or the tamer Calico or Marmalade
A few of Hasbro’s Pet Shop play set and add-ons:
Littlest Pet Shop Little Lovin’ Pet Playhouse
Cat & Dog
Persian Cat with Carrier
Even the venerable toy icon Barbie has Barbie Pet Doctor Kit with Cat
Then there are these imagination prompting play sets, too:
Deluxe Complete Little Kitten Care Set for Children
Learning Resources: Pretend and Play Animal Hospital
Parents’ Animal Hospital
Step2′s Village Veterinarian Accessory Set
Our cats are indoors only. We have outside bird feeders and bird baths to stimulate their hunting instinct. The scampering lizards, flying moths and frogs that stick to the glass doors at night also keep our cats happily “chattering”. And there are cat toys everywhere.
For those that let their cats outside there are hazards. Just a few: lethal plants they might eat, pesticides or rat poison applied by neighbors, fights with other cats (during which certain diseases can be transmitted) resulting in injuries, ticks, fleas, wildlife including cat-eating coyotes and mountain lions, vehicles, dogs and evil people.
If you have a secure patio, that they cannot fall or jump from, that might be a safer option.
There are more permanent structures such as a type of bay window box you install in a regular window for your cat to sit in and safely sunbathe while watching the outdoors. Another company came up with a variety of outdoor enclosures that attach to your home allowing your cat access through a cat flap or other device.
Other options that keep your cat in one location include enclosed kitty playgrounds, curved tunnels, straight tunnels, instant set up tunnels, “cabanas“, and even a cage-like playpen for kittens.
If you want to take your cat for a walk you can use one of many cat-safe strollers. Or with time and patience, and a willing cat 
you can teach Kitty to walk on a harness and leash. This article gives step-by-step instructions. We prefer the nylon figure 8 or H harnesses, as they are easier to configure to a cat’s girth. They are made in several colors to coordinate with your cat’s fur. There are even harness/leash sets with reflective strips woven into the nylon.
While not the easiest to navigate, Pets Welcome.com is a great place to visit. They present detailed information on pet friendly Hotels and Motels in the U.S. and Canada, describing their site as having over 25,000 pet friendly hotels, motels, bed and breakfasts, ski resorts, campgrounds, and beaches listed.
Search under Country, then by state or province, then by city. Many hotels/motels charge fees for pets ranging from $10 to $100 (not exactly pet-friendly). Some say dogs only, or that no pet must be left alone, or crated only. Once you find a hotel you like, you can click through for more information. Pets Welcome says they even have negotiated rates with some of these places.
I am amazed at how many hotel/motel chains accept pets these days!
They also list pet sitters and lots of other useful information for those who won’t leave home without their furry friends.
Enjoy exploring…and vacationing!
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