Courtesy of Pet Talk

Hot, humid days are rapidly approaching as summer slowly begins. The season means finally diving into the neighborhood swimming pool, children on summer vacation running through the streets and grass lawns growing at seemingly breakneck speeds. But summer could also mean painful ear infections for your pet. Heat, moisture and even grass clippings could cause serious problems for your furry friend’s ear canals.

The causes range from a variety of factors, but one fact seems to remain the same. Our pets often contract ear infections on a regular
basis.

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Danae is a 1-year-old pit bull. She is good with other dogs, very sweet and would be good in any home. She is available for adoption at the San Martin Animal Shelter. If you are interested in adopting this or any other animal at the shelter, please call (408) 686-3900.

By Colleen Grzan, werc@werc-ca.org

This time of year is “baby season.” You’re hearing cheeping and chirping in the trees and seeing lots of avian activity as parent birds fly back and forth searching for food and feeding their nestlings. It’s also a time when people are outside enjoying the pleasant weather and finding little critters that may appear to be in need of help.

Most people will call WERC or other licensed rehabilitation facility to ask for advice on what to do. Advice can vary from “leave it alone” when it’s a fledgling that is still being cared for by its parents to “bring it in” when it’s injured or obviously orphaned.

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Notice: Due to the general economic downturn and low ticket sales, W.E.R.C.’s BBQ-Auction Fundraiser on May 30 has been postponed until this Fall.

Until then, please keep in mind that W.E.R.C. continues to need your help to keep its doors open and perform its lifesaving work to rehabilitate orphaned and injured native wildlife. All donations will be gratefully appreciated.

For stories and videos of some of these animals at W.E.R.C., go to www.werc-ca.org. And watch for updates posted regularly on this blog.

Courtesy of Pet Talk

The recent emergence and spread of the Swine Flu virus, also known as
H1N1, has affected people throughout the world. From school closings to cancelled vacations, the Swine Flu has caused a lot of concern. These
concerns have led many to take extended precautions for themselves,
their spouses and their children.  But what, if any, precautions should
be taken for the furry members of our families?  The H1N1 strain may not affect our animals in the way that it does humans, but similar type A flu viruses can affect our pets.
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By Colleen Grzan, werc@werc-ca.org
Two bobcat kittens - seen above with their surrogate mom (and another kitten arriving soon) - 3 barn owls, 1 great horned owl, 1 screech owl, 5 black phoebes, 8 opossums and 1 red-shouldered hawk are the orphans currently being cared for at W.E.R.C. Then there are the injured adult birds in rehab: 2 turkey vultures, a red-tailed hawk and a barn owl. And let’s not forget the educational animals: A red-tailed hawk, great horned owl, screech owl, peregrine falcon, acorn woodpecker, merlin, opossum and gopher. Whew! It’s a day-in day-out job feeding, cleaning and sometimes medicating all these animals but we do it out of our love for wildlife and the joy of eventually seeing the rehab animals released back to their native habitats, healthy and wild.

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Khayl is a 3-year-old tabby. He is sweet, independent, loves to be pet and gets along well with other cats. He has also been neutered. He has been at the San Martin Animal Shelter since October 2008 and is ready to be adopted. Call (408) 686-3900.

Leo and Sheeba are 10-year-old chows. They’ve been together since birth and are very mellow and friendly. They are available for adoption at the San Martin Animal Shelter. If you are interested in this pair or any other animal, please call (408) 686-3900.