Pet Websites

PetFinder
I may want to adopt a pet, but where do I begin? I have searched through many websites and phonebook ads, and from word of mouth I came across a wonderfully helpful website http://www.petfinder.com/. On the Petfinder website you can:

• Search 213,800 adoptable pets with pictures and full info


• Locate shelters and rescue groups in your area


• Browse the resource library to learn more about pet care


• Post classified ads for lost or found pets, pets wanted, and pets needing homes


• Sign up to be a volunteer to help your local shelter or rescue group

This website is updated daily and identifies which type of home the pets would work best in. The animals are identified by certain characteristics: special needs, shouldn't be in a home with a cat or dog, shouldn't be in a home with small children, and declawed.

I used this website to find my special needs cat, Tipsy. This website is informative for anyone who is looking for a pet. You can do a search by breed, size, gender, age, and location of the shelters to find a pet. It is easy to navigate through and several contacts are listed for more information about a certain pet. I was able to speak with Kristina, Tipsy's foster mom, and we set up a private meeting so that I could bond with Tipsy before adopting her. Being able to speak one-on-one with the animal's temporary caregiver was extremely helpful to understand the animal. I would recommend shelter adoption over buying an animal from a store to anyone.

VeterinaryPartner
I found the website http://www.veterinarypartner.com/ to be useful to help care for the health of your pet. On the veterinary partner website you can:

• Search by behavior, health, diseases, drugs, and pet corner, or by the animals specific breed


• Research the world's first and largest online veterinary database and community


• submit your questions to "Ask a Vet"

This website is updated daily with the most recent medical information about pets and health procedures. I found the website fun to look around and useful for research. It's similar to a WebMD for animals website.

My Special-Needs Dog

A few years back I rescued a black labrador dog named Barney from abandonment. His owners tied him in the back yard, moved away, and left him to starve to death. When I found him, he was 10 years old and severely malnourished. He was still friendly and in good spirits, but he kept his tail between his back legs a lot of the time.

I was a sucker for his large brown eyes, so I adopted him. What I didn't know at the time was that he was suffering from cancer in his back hips. I had him for about 2 years when I found out. The veterinarian said that cancer in the hind quarters of labradors was common. He slowly had increasing pain and trouble standing. He was healthy up until the last few months of his 13 year long life. Standing was painful for him, but he hung in there.

The veterinarian at the Paws and Claws clinic in Florence, New Jersey helped me to keep him medicated and feeling no pain. They were grateful that I cared for Barney because without a good home and a loving owner, he wouldn't have lasted as long as he did.

Barney was a wonderful pet: full of energy and spirit, loyalty and compassion. A large dog of his medical condition and age wouldn't have been easily adopted from an animal shelter, and would have been euthanized. Ever since my Barney passed away I've had a big soft spot for extra large dogs and pets with special needs.

My Special-Needs Cat

In March of 2006 I rescued my cat Tipsy from the Trenton animal shelter in New Jersey. She was found roaming the streets with a unique medical condition. At a specialized medical facility in Valley Forge, PA she was diagnosed with Cerebellar Hypoplasia, which is a neurological abnormality causing tremors and unbalanced movements in cats.

What exactly is Cerebellar Hypoplasia?
This information was gathered from the Encyclopedia of Feline Veterinary Medical.
The cerebellum is the portion of the brain responsible for the control of motion. When a puppy or kitten is born with an underdeveloped cerebellum, the condition is known as congenital cerebellar hypoplasia. There are infectious causes of this condition in both cats (panleukopenia infection prior to birth) and dogs (herpes virus infection prior to birth). Improper development of the cerebellum may occur due to injury, poisoning or just from an accident in development in the uterus. It is generally possible to see signs of this condition almost as soon as the puppy or kitten is born. Affected animals have tremors and unusual jerky movements or may fall down when they try to move. The symptoms do not get worse as they age. As the kitten or puppy grows it will learn to compensate for its condition but there are usually lifelong signs of a decreased ability to coordinate movement. Almost all dogs and cats with congenital cerebellar hypoplasia can live happily as pets with a little special care to compensate for their disabilities.

First Troubles
When I brought my cat home I named her Tipsy because her condition makes her move like she's drunk all the time. For the first month after I brought her home, things were a bit difficult. She would sometimes use my floor as her toilet instead of her litter box, and she would spill her water every time she came near it. After a while we got into a routine together and the problems disappeared. I got a weighted water bowl so that it wouldn't tip over when she fell on it, and I purchased a corner litter box with a lower, wider opening in the front so that it was easier to get into. It was a trial and error process that took some adjusting to get used to.

Tipsy's Uniqueness
Tipsy's condition is unique. She moves differently than all other cats, but she can walk, run, climb, eat, and use a litter box well enough to have a normal life. She takes light steps when she walks and her back is always arched up. I believe it helps her keep her balance. Her behavior is normal; she loves to eat dairy and meat, and to watch the birds out of the back sliding glass door. Sometimes while Tipsy is walking around, for no apparent reason she will literally do a back flip. When she gets excited about something her head moves back and forth like a bobblehead figure. She also moves in a chicken peck motion when she eats. Everyone that sees her feels bad for her, but after a while it is comical. She thinks that she is a normal cat and has no idea that she is unique. She doesn't seem to feel any pain from her condition, and so far is living a normal healthy life.

I often think about what might have happened to Tipsy if she stayed in the shelter for much longer. She probably would have been euthanized because of her condition. She is over a year old now and is my constant companion. She will always be labeled as a 'special needs' animal, but she is so much more than that.

For more info about Cerebellar Hypoplasia: http://www.chkittyclub.com/pages/home.html