Animals of all sorts at State Museum; 2 homeless dogs

Common loon  

How did turtles’ skeletons move from inside to outside, becoming part of their protective shell, or carapace?  Do you know the two animals in our world who go way back to the Ice Age?  (Hint: they’re both “long in the tooth.”)  What bird is known to use tools and recognize individual humans? 

Answers to these questions and zillions more are easy to find at the New Jersey State Museum, Trenton. What’s more, the place is spacious; its exhibits are interestingly varied; it has great informative signage in the galleries I visited recently; and it’s open for more days and hours than might be expected. (Tuesday-Sunday: 9 am-4:45 pm; some galleries start closing by 4:30 pm) 

a Jersey dino

Yes, this is an undisguised pitch for visiting the State Museum, especially on a Sunday, when there’s free street parking in front of the main museum building (205 W. State St.).  A few weeks ago with a friend, I found far more things to look at, read and think about than there was time.  Return visits are a certainty!

Although the museum includes a planetarium, our visit was about overviewing the collection after some-time away -- but we could only make a stab at that goal via (1) "Written in the Rocks/Paleo Lab/Discovery Den," (2) the exhibition on "Fine Feathered Friends: Birds as Mainstay and Muse," featuring 200 rarely-seen artifacts & specimens," and (3) the Fine Art Collection. 

There’s also a gift shop that, uncharacteristically, we had to pass up that day for lack of time.

For details and news, the place to go is the museum’s comprehensive website, https://nj.gov/state/museum/index.shtml.  And after that, maybe I’ll see you at the State Museum, looking for answers to the questions posed above.

2 shelter dogs who need loving homes

Meet Bishop, now a resident at Easel’s animal shelter, but soon (we hope) a happy dog in a loving home.  It doesn't seem that he’s been kenneled before, so the shelter’s hustle and bustle are both stimulating and confusing for him.  He can appear to be depressed, which is why he’ll be much happier in a home – asap!

A strong, energetic dog, Bishop’s very affectionate and has had some training.  He likes other dogs and is friendly with people.  He has been around young children, but is too energetic for them.  He enjoys going for walks and being outside in the fresh air. And he loves to go to adoption events and meeting new people.  (Maybe that’s how he’ll find his new family.)

In the home, Bishop is relatively calm with enough exercise; he appears to be housebroken; and he would make an excellent companion.  He enjoys loading up in the car and going for rides, especially if those trips  include a stop at the drive-thru for a special treat.  

We think Bishop would be happiest in a home with a calm other dog.  He enjoys playing with puppies and less dominant dogs at the shelter.  In his new home, Bishop would appreciate a couch to curl up on or a dog bed to snuggle in. 

Meet Dozer, a friendly, four-year-old Pointer-Lab-Staffordshire Terrier mix searching for his forever home.  He was transferred to Easel from a high-volume shelter where he was overlooked, so now he has a better chance of finding his new family.  

Energetic and active, Dozer would be a perfect fit for a home where hiking trips and other outdoor activities are frequent pastimes.  He likes going to the park and adoption events.  Although he enjoys playing with other dogs, he can be overwhelming if they can’t match his energy and play style.  

Structure is good for this handsome boy, who can occasionally get antsy when he needs exercise. That’s why an active home is so important.  Not a candidate for a home with young children, he’s still learning manners and not to jump.  Dozer knows his basic commands and has mastered the agility course at the shelter.  

As a resident there for several months now, Dozer is ready for the loving home that all dogs deserve to have.

 

--Info on Bishop and Dozer courtesy of a spokesperson for Easel Animal Rescue League (easelnj.org). 

 

 

Your comments are welcome at 1moreonce.blogspot.com.

At least animals don’t have to endure winter holiday rush

Manatee mom & baby

We’re in the thick of winter holiday season, frantically rushing around shopping, baking, wrapping . . . while in the non-human animal world, life goes on pretty much as usual, for good or ill.  

Relief is coming for starving Florida manatees; bat moms continue teaching their young how to navigate; and an Asian sea eagle has flown far, far off course.  In Ewing township’s animal shelter (as in shelters everywhere), homeless animals wait to be adopted into loving homes.

Food aid soon: People aren’t the only ones who sometimes need food assistance.  Florida’s manatees, already threatened with extinction, are dying of starvation: a record high of more than 1,000 manatees have already died this year.

Sea grass is their main food, but it has gradually been killed by algae blooms fueled by human waste and fertilizer runoff.  As human populations have kept growing, the problem has worsened.  Now officials plan to provide food in hopes of cutting the high manatee death rate.  Feeding will occur at a place on Florida’s east coast where manatees gather in winter, seeking warmer water.

The plan to help the manatees this way required deciding which outcome was the least of two evils: let them continue to die off from starvation or feed them and carefully study the results.  https://tinyurl.com/26chmudp

Bat mom, fruit in mouth & pup below

Outre, but it works:  Some baby bats learn how to get around in the air in an unexpected way: a mom carries her pup to a tree near their cave and leaves him/her there while she forages for food.  On her return, she carries the pup back to their cave.  Repeat. 

Somehow, the babies – Egyptian fruit bat babies, anyway -- learn directions this way, despite being carried upside down and never flying the route themselves.  When they start flying on their own, pups head right to the last tree where mom had left them.  That becomes their starting place for future trips. https://tinyurl.com/ycktm597

Go east, young eagle:  A traveling Asian sea eagle is either a great explorer or very lost.  This bird,  whose native range is China, Japan, Korea and east-coast Russia, turned up in eastern Canada last

Steller's sea eagle

month – nearly 5,000 miles from home.

A rare arctic bird with a bright orange beak, the Steller’s sea eagle displays a 6-8-foot wingspan and can outsize the bald eagle.  The latest report on his whereabouts has him possibly in Texas.

The wandering eagle is considered an “avian vagrant,” or one who veered off course, then kept roving in search of others of his kind.  So far, apparently, no luck.   https://tinyurl.com/2p8a9eym

 

Meet Bessy, a 4-year old Staffordshire Terrier mix who’s an 80-pound bundle of love. This big girl has an even bigger heart, but unfortunately, she’s been overlooked for the 10 months she’s been here.

While in foster homes, Bessy was described as calm, affectionate and easy to manage. Because foster homes aren’t permanent, she was shuffled around a bit, but responded well to each move. She must be the only pet in her adoptive home and would be happiest with children at least 12 years old.  As a strong gal, she needs an owner who could physically handle her.  

Bessy loves to go for walks and roll over for belly rubs.  She has become a shelter favorite, and every volunteer who walks her enjoys spending time with her.  She’s housetrained and very neat in both foster homes and her kennel.  She’s accepting of the crate, is not a big fan of the vacuum, and loves stuffed toys.

          She has been so patient day after day,                waiting for her forever family.  We                      know they're out there somewhere, but              they just haven't met Bessy yet.  We                    don't want to see her at the shelter in a                few months because that would make                her homeless time exactly a year.  Please            adopt this big sweet girl! 

          --an Easel Animal Rescue League                      (easelnj.org) spokesperson. 

 

 

Your comments are welcome at 1moreonce.blogspot.com.

Happy: a dog-in-waiting for his person & his home

 

The sign was irresistible.  Once we saw it on a fence along the canal in Lambertville, the next step was easy.  I texted the number and connected with a woman who is a giant advocate for “Happy,” a happy (yes!), and lovable hound mix puppy who needs a home.

Young Happy

Then I met Happy himself, and he lived up to his billing.  He’s a handsome young guy now nearly a year old, and he weighs about 45 pounds.  With his siblings, he came to Animal Alliance some months ago.  They were all adopted.

But Happy is still waiting for his person and his home.

He’s special: he was born with an underdeveloped cerebellum, so his vision and motion are both impaired.  Not that this upbeat boy behaves as if anything like that holds him back!  

Happy is an animated walker – partly puppy energy, partly free from his AA crate and loving being outside, partly his impairment.  His walk can be more of a prance or a dance than a typical dog walk.

When I took a walk with him and 2 of his biggest fans (one, the creator of the sign about him), his manner was frolicsome: while covering ground, he throws out his front legs to the side and front, and -- maybe because we gave him occasional treats -- he’s an enthusiastic grass-sniffer at the same time.  

Happy isn’t in pain, nor will his condition shorten his life span.  As far as he knows, this is life – and he appears to love it.

But Happy is still hoping for his person and his home.

A dog who shows no trace of aggression, but just joie de vivre, Happy seems always to be smiling and ready to go, to play, to . . . drink water.  That’s right: at the mere mention of that possibility, Happy got excited.  So, out came the water bottle and portable bowl, which he would have dived into if possible.  He settled for a looooooong slurpy drink.

All that enthusiasm for the simplest things, and yet when he relaxes, it’s easy to believe he could cuddle with his friends forever.

But Happy still needs a person and a home.

“Super sweet” is one descriptor used for this dear dog, who “wants to be everyone’s friend.”  Imagine how ecstatic Happy would be in a loving home with someone taking the time to work with him, savoring how smart and how quickly he learns. 

Who among us can made this claim about ourselves or people we know: What stands out about Happy is “his amazing personality and its effect on the mood of everyone who comes in contact with him.  He is so full of joy, you can’t help but be happy around him.”

But Happy still needs, and deserves, his person and his home.

Visit Animal Alliance (animalalliancenj.org) to learn about adopting from the Lambertville-area facility.  Start with the “About” section for an overview of its history, services and regulations.  Here's AA's link to Happy on Petfinder:    https://www.petfinder.com/dog/happy-50540490/nj/lambertville/animal-alliance-nj290/

Happy & friends

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Please comment: Animal heroes are all around us, and they should be recognized.  For instance, Francine,” who organized a group of women to walk Happy and help enrich his life while he’s still at Animal Alliance.  Then she made the sign I saw (and hope many others did too), and invited me to a get-acquainted walk last week.

Readers, maybe you're animal heroes too.  I’m inviting you to name I or 2 others in a comment here: who do you regard as an animal hero and briefly what does s/he do for animals?    

Thank you.

 

Mature feline beauties seek loving homes

           Suki                     Easel pic

Time is running out.  Your chance to adopt an older female cat during “Adopt a senior pet month” ends this Tuesday, Nov. 30.  That grown-up female feline of your dreams has already missed celebrating Thanksgiving with you, but you can still bring her home in time for the other fall-winter holidays and then many happy new years.

Just imagine a mature beauty who already knows the ropes moving in with you.  She’ll be in cat heaven, grateful to be in a warm, loving home once more, and she’s likely to treat you like the hero she believes you are.

All you have to do is decide to adopt a senior cat, then go find her and invite her home with you.  The first place to look might be EASEL Animal Rescue League, in Ewing, Mercer County.  There, among others, you can consider these three beautiful felines “of a certain age”:  Dora, Momo and Suki.

Here’s how EASEL staffers describe each one:

Dora is a 6-year who was transferred from Philly.  She's a friendly medium-size dilute torti looking for her forever family.  She loves to be petted and get love from all our volunteers.  Dora’s a girl you could snuggle with all night long!

               Dora                       Easel pic

Next come Momo and Suki, 14-year-old sisters who were surrendered to the shelter because a family member with allergies was moving into their home.  Both darling long-haired cats (Momo’s gray, while Suki’s a tabby), they’re ready to enjoy their golden years in a loving home.  

As with other senior cats, you might regard these 3 lovely felines as “not older, but better.”  After all, adult cats are simply kittens who came into their own and now show what they’re made of, so there’s no mystery: what you see is what you get.  Often, these veterans are already used to domesticity and the rules of the game, and they’re delighted and grateful to be back in that comfortable setting.  

EASEL’s attractive website details virtually everything you’d need to know about the organization and the animals in its care, including adoption/foster specs and adoption center hours.  For cats 1-7 years old, the adoption fee is $100, and for cats 8 or older, it’s $50 -- tiny outlays for giant returns. https://www.easelnj.org/adopt/#eadopt.

For cats and people alike, one saying has it right: “We’re never too old to love and be loved.”  In fact, older people and felines are sometimes thought to need that love more than anyone else.  

                           Suki & Momo            Easel pic               

Mature people might adopt mature animals because they’re older too, and both need love and a reason for being.  Further, grown-up cats could be just right for those who work during the day or enjoy retirement at home.

However they got to the shelter or rescue group, older pets who are adopted often seem to be exceptionally affectionate and extremely loyal companions.  But first you have to adopt one!

(EASEL Animal Rescue League is located at 4 Jake Garzio Drive, Ewing, NJ 08628.  It’s behind the township municipal building.)  

 Mystery (dog) story

Walking along a canal path up-river from here, a friend and I noticed a sign attached to a backyard fence facing the waterway.  We read it, of course, then looked around the backyard and listened for barking.  No sight or sound of the dog that the sign was all about.

So we sent a text message to the number on the sign and continued walking.  On our return trip, we re-read the sign, looked and listened.  There was nothing new – and no dog.  

With a name like “Happy Boy,” he had to be investigated . . . and he was.    

His story: next time.

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In fact, all animal issues are ‘mega’ to advocates

So “mega” means big.  OK.  But just how big would a “megalodon shark” be?  Try about 50-60 feet long, with teeth that won’t quit.  Those teeth explain the origin of this creature’s full name: “big tooth shark.”

Last alive some 3.6 million years ago, this biggest predator fish of all time could eat a whale.  The blue whale’s current reputation as the largest creature in the world suffers when compared with that of the megalodon shark.

That giant makes today’s great white shark look like a pygmy fish.  Its jaw size would allow a human to stand inside it with ceiling height to spare.

All my superlatives about a long-gone fish are occasioned by an exhibition opening next month at New York’s American Museum of Natural History: “Sharks!”  A partial replica of the megalodon will join replicas of other sharks, including great whites and hammerheads. 

Because the intended gallery can’t fit an entire megalodon, its front end is all that’s now being fabricated in the museum’s workshop.    https://tinyurl.com/p78xzcpt

But megalodons were long ago and far away.  Now let’s turn our attention to some tiny but crucial things: cats’ whiskers.

Besides aesthetic appeal, those whiskers serve as very useful tools for cats – which is why when, years ago now, a cat with cropped whiskers turned up in a shelter where I volunteered, everyone who saw him was aghast. 

Billy

They must have known at least some of the ways cats depend on their whiskers – and could literally be lost without them:

·        as cats’ sensory organs, whiskers can sense vibrations in the air, alerting felines to nearby predators

·        because cats can’t see too well up close, whiskers help them navigate their surroundings by sensing what’s around them

·        the position of their whiskers shows how felines are feeling

·        whiskers protect cats’ eyes, acting like eye lashes

Now take a look at this article to learn how chubby cats have a “whisker advantage.”  

https://tinyurl.com/cmj5y5db

The clock’s ticking

There’s still time for you to adopt a senior cat, this being “adopt a senior pet month,” which I’ve altered to be senior cat month since cats are in far more jeopardy than dogs in animal shelters.  And bringing an older cat home now allows both you and your new feline to really enjoy the holidays (and long beyond).

Suggestion: visit your nearest animal shelter or contact an area rescue group to find out whether they’re caring for older felines.  If so, visit and meet them.  Then, if you’re inclined to help a homeless cat to begin with, you may just bring one home.  (Please do!)

Lab animals rejoice

Earlier this month, Governor Murphy signed New Jersey’s Humane Cosmetics Act into law.  This action capped intense effort by members and supporters of the Animal Protection League of NJ, who phoned, tweeted and emailed the governor about the importance of this legislation.

Laurie Perla, APL’s legislative liaison, was a driving force behind passing this bill, anticipated to become a forerunner of a federal law banning the manufacture and sale of animal-tested cosmetics in the US.  

“Untold numbers of rabbits, rats, mice, guinea pigs and hamsters suffer and die each year” in now-needless cosmetic safety tests, according to the Humane Society of the US.  You can find a list of companies that are certified cruelty-free by Leaping Bunny at leapingbunny.org.  

Oh, deer!

What can you do with leftover pumpkins?  Why do deer have good reason for eating quickly?  What are a few reasons for why deer-vehicle crashes spike in November?  Why should you leash your dog in wildlife areas?

You’ll find answers to many such questions in “The Bleat,” November’s newsletter from Save New Jersey Deer.  Here’s the link:  https://conta.cc/3DbmJR9  

 

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For 2-way joy, adopt a senior cat this month

  Ringo        HAWC image

Animal shelters are simply not for cats – which is one reason why organizations that advocate for cats promote fostering felines instead of consigning stray, surrendered or abandoned cats to shelters, where far more cats than dogs are euthanized.

Cramped and unhealthful shelter facilities for felines are bad enough for kittens and young cats, some of whom never knew anything better.  But senior cats confined in shelters have often known real homes and people who loved them.  To find themselves in an animal shelter at that stage in life, when they deserve to ride out their time in comfort, health and affection, must be devastating.  

For very good reason, November is “adopt a senior pet month.”  (I hate the name “senior” in describing people or animals, and I’m using it here only because that’s how this month is publicized.)  Further, I’m focusing on senior cats here because last month was adopt a shelter dog month, and as indicated, cats are in more jeopardy in shelters than dogs are.

Fluffy

To make it easier for us to see the importance of happy homes for senior cats, this comparison: toward the end of their lives, both senior cats and senior people deserve comfort, respect and caring – not being institutionalized, too often in sub-standard settings with sub-standard care.  Repeatedly, older shelter animals are described as the hardest to re-home.   

In contrast to kittens and younger felines, senior cats offer myriad advantages when adopted.  For starters, mature cats make great companions.  Often they’ve “been there before” and know about domestic life, whether with a family or one loving person.

Senior cats are beyond all the “vetting” and training that babies will need, so they can settle in and appreciate.  Often overlooked in shelters, mature felines most need the homes that compassionate people can provide, ultimately to their own delight as well.  

               Tigger               TCR image      

Adult cats already show what they’re made of, unlike kittens who will grow up into who knows what. Adopters who work during the day or work or enjoy retirement at home would appreciate the reality of “ready-to-go” cats, whose transition from shelter to home can be very smooth.

It’s worth remembering (for cats and people alike!) that age is not a disease.  Older cats can live full, active lives or experience health issues while aging.  At the same time, though, thanks to better veterinarian and dietary care, pets are living longer these days, according to the American Veterinary Medical Assn.   

Sure, adopting a senior cat will probably mean less overall time together.  But that glass is still half full of valuable time to enjoy life at home together, with a happier ending than otherwise would have been likely.  As for vet bills, they’ll happen regardless of the animal’s age, sometimes occurring with a kitten as well as a senior.

                          Melody        TCR image

A comfortable, happy senior cat in a loving home could well surprise everyone and live longer than expected.  And whatever time there is can be high quality best-friends time, invaluable for both sides.  

(Note: I welcome word from shelter and rescue group reps about senior cats in residence who most need adoption into loving homes.  Please send a JPG image and biographical information for each cat, along with your contact info, to me: pmsummers@msn.com.  Thank you!)

 

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The bugs who came in from the cold & other animals

It started with a very visible spotted red ladybug, who somehow found her way into my bathroom and hid whenever I tried to catch her and take her back outside.  This went on for a few days till I could gently capture her and place her on a nice bush in front.

She and her kin – some 5,000 “lady beetle” or “ladybird” species in the world -- eat aphids and other plant-eating pests during their lifespan of 2-3 years in the wild.  (I hope she’s hard at work right now!)

Then, 3 identical unidentifiable beetles hung out between screen and window till we could reach and carry them outside.  And finally, various spiders who seem never to tire of visiting.

Take a dog home!

Buster

It’s still Adopt a Shelter Dog (ASDM) month – so please do!  Help the shelter of your choice free up more space by freeing a dog now waiting there for you.  S/he will love you for that, and in doing a merciful thing, you’ll make a friend for life.  You can’t have too many of them.

‘Bleat’ time 

The October issue of ‘Bleat,’ the newsletter all about deer, is out, so you can once again learn more about one of this state’s most threatened animals: our white-tailed deer.

If you don’t know why acorns are the food of choice for deer and other animals; or how to save wildlife from being trapped by soccer nets; or why you should “leave  the leaf litter” when you clean up your garden; or how to decorate pumpkins a la deer . . . and much more, use this link to reach “Bleat," and then, if necessary, scroll for this month's

issue.  (Btw, “bleat” is the sound a baby deer makes to call mom.)  https://conta.cc/3zN8Abg. 

Animal departures

Two sad deaths – one, the last of a species -- were reported in recent news.

·       Ndakasi, a beloved mountain gorilla orphaned at 2 months of age, died at 14 last month in the Democratic republic of Congo.  She was rescued after massacres of gorilla families that killed her mother, and she grew up with Andre Bauma as her caretaker and keeper.  “We shared the same bed, I played with her, I fed her,” he said.  “I can say I am her mother.”  Ndakasi died in his arms.     https://tinyurl.com/rcbame6b

The ivory-billed woodpecker, last seen in 1944, has been officially declared extinct.  It happened after a flurry of worldwide excitement over a 2005 report of a sighting that ultimately proved to be a false alarm. 

This was an example of “existence value,” an “economic term for the satisfaction that people feel from knowing that something important to them continues to exist.”

Ivory-billed woodpecker

But that’s not all: numerous other species have also already been lost in this Anthropocene era, considered to be the Earth’s sixth major extinction. “According to the Fish and Wildlife Service, we are losing plants, birds, fish, crustaceans, mollusks and mammals.”

The question is whether humans will resolve to save disappearing species through much more concerted action than has occurred till now. https://tinyurl.com/z3tb3z8x

Friend past the end

There’s one more story to tell about Maggie, the African elephant who died last August at 41.  Yes, she died peacefully “underneath her favorite shady oak tree and near her best loved mudholes” at PAWS, the California sanctuary.

But the most touching part of Maggie’s story is about her closest elephant friend, Lulu.  The 2 refused to be apart; everywhere one went, the other did too.  “In fact,” PAWS reported, “Lulu stayed at Maggie’s side long after she had passed, unwilling to leave her friend until she was ready.”

Lulu & Maggie

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Giving voice to homeless dogs’ need: adopt!

Trenton Animal Shelter

October is “Adopt a Shelter Dog Month” —and if Betsy, Marley and Serena could, they would say the same thing.  Shelters are not homes, no matter how good they may be.  They are way stations for homeless animals who need homes . . . like the 3 dogs mentioned above – and about 30 others, all living in the Trenton Animal Shelter (TAS) or under its purview with fosters.

                                                       Betsy                                                   

Dogs in shelters have food and water, and medical attention, toys and walks if they’re lucky.  Staff, volunteers and visitors may even lavish love on them, but that love isn’t permanent.  Shelter dogs simply don’t have the security and comfort of a loving home where they’re part of a caring family.  

“Home is where the heart is” may be a cliché, but at its best, it’s also true.  A stable home gives a dog the chance to be all s/he can be: healthy, playful, energetic, loving, trusting.  Shelter dogs often experience positive personality and behavioral changes once they’re out of the shelter.

Now managed by Trenton Animals Rock, the Trenton Animal Shelter is open to the public by appointment Monday-Friday 11-7 and Saturday 11-3.  Adoptable dogs in shelter and foster can be seen on Petfinder, along with pictures of each one, and info like age, breed, back story, temperament, health, adoption fee.

Marley

Here’s how to reach the Trenton Animals Rock (TAR) gallery of adoptable dogs: Go to tarnj.org, which takes you to Petfinder.  In the top-right corner, click on “View Our Pets,” then click on the image of any dog for additional images.  Finally, scroll down to read about the dog.  

Thanks to a TAR volunteer, here are descriptions of the 3 dogs mentioned above.  

Betsy -- She has had a tough time adjusting to the shelter.  Surrendered by her owner, she’s scared and confused, and cries in her kennel all day.  She had mange when she was surrendered and she has had at least one litter of puppies.  When out of her kennel, Betsy’s whole demeanor changes.  She becomes very playful and even has a favorite ball she likes to chase after!  She’s a very sweet dog who loves to be petted and cuddled.  She loves people and has been gentle with all the volunteers.  Betsy knows basic commands, is housebroken and walks nicely on a leash.  She’s 3 years old, about 45 pounds and dog-friendly.  She’d be fine to be in a home with children and also a great dog for a first-time pet owner. 

Marley -- This poor 8-year old guy lost his home when his owner became ill.  For months, he has been living with the coolest foster parents who adore him, but there is a small problem: CATS!  He likes them just a little too much!  Marley needs a home without cats so he can just be the big loving guy he wants to be.  He has a pretty funny personality -- he LOVES wearing his raincoat on walks!  He’s low-energy and happy with a few short walks a day.  He has moments of playfulness when his foster dad comes home from work, then it's right back to his favorite spot on the couch.  Due to Marley’s size and limited history, we recommend a home with children over 12. 

           Serena                             TAR images

Serena -- This beautiful girl came to the shelter in bad condition.  She was skinny, weak and covered with a skin disease.  After being hospitalized for a few days, she went to a foster home to start a feeding schedule to gain weight.  Now, Serena’s coming out of her shell: she loves cuddles and kisses and TREATS!  She is also just figuring out that she can bark and it's adorable; she’s pretty much learning to be a dog again!  Serena should keep gaining weight till about 50-60 pounds.  We believe she's about 2-5 years old.  In good health now, she’s up to date on all shots, housebroken and spayed. 

Just think: in adopting a shelter dog, you become an animal rescuer, you gain a new best friend and you make room in the shelter for another dog needing a home.  And, adopting this month gives your new family member time to adjust and enjoy being home for the holidays!  

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      The Trenton Animal Shelter is on Escher St. next to the Trenton Area Soup Kitchen (TASK). 

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Please comment at 1moreonce.blogspot.com – and tell us if you’ve adopted a dog this month, or plan to!