Facts About Heartworms Heartworms cause a common and life-threatening disease in dogs native to all 50 states. However, the highest infection rates in dogs are found within 150 miles of the Atlantic and Gulf coasts and along the Mississippi River and its major tributaries. That’s us! Heartworm larvae are transmitted from one animal to another only by the bite of a mosquito carrying the infective stage of the larvae. As scary as that is, heartworm disease is completely preventable. As pet owners, we are responsible for the protection of our pets from this potentially deadly disease. Although there are no natural preventatives, see your veterinarian to choose from daily and monthly tablets and chewables, and monthly topicals, by prescription. All are effective and when administered properly on a timely schedule can prevent the disease. A bonus, heartworm preventives often have activity against intestinal parasites, which inadvertently infect 3-6 million people every year! If your dog tests positive for heartworm disease, your veterinarian will discuss with you your dog’s prognosis and treatment choices. For more information contact the American Heartworm Society at www.heartwormsociety.org Please remember: Heartworms are NEVER visible in your dog’s stools, only a heartworm test can detect their presence Heartworm prevention CANNOT be purchased from Wal-Mart or any other convenience store. Skipping heartworm prevention can kill your dog. …………………………………………… Katie Parker, 8 years old, collects $102! Katie Parker is a 4.0 student, soon to start 3d grade, who collected $102 for the St. Martin Humane Society. How? The old fashioned way: by setting up a lemonade and cup cakes stand and spending 6 hours tending to generous customers. Katie enlisted the help of 6 year old Brianna Malhorin, going into second grade this year. The girls played music at their stand and educated people about the homeless dogs and cats who need help. Thanks Katie and Brianna! …………………………………………………….. Our next project: targeted spay/neuter We are working on targeting one low income neighborhood at a time, where intact free roaming and abandoned pets are particularly numerous and keep reproducing. We will be offering free spay/neuter to the residents and a phone card as an incentive. We hope to see a dramatic reduction of the pet overpopulation locally, and based on the results, we would like to reproduce this operation in other needy neighborhoods. The problem? Funding. Without money it can’t be done… Please make a donation. Hopefully you will see the difference too!

Helping the pets at the St. Martin Parish Animal Control Facility Don’t forget the pets at the St. Martin Parish Animal Control Facility, in St. Martinville. There are numerous cats and dogs at all time who will be euthanized if nobody adopts them. A list is available at: http://www.petfinder.com/shelters/LA168.html * * * * * * * *  Another way to help them is to donate towards the purchase of dewormers and vaccines that will protect the younger ones and increase their chance of survival. * * * * * * * *  Last May, Midwest Animal Rescue Services (MARS) a rescue group from Minneapolis, MN offered to take some of these pets. A transport coordinator located in VA raised donations and organized two trips made of different legs with volunteer drivers. A total of 16 dogs were saved this way, including a blind and deaf puppy and an older heartworm positive German Shepherd. It was a loooong journey! Five states, 1300 miles, 3 days and 2 nights, about 20 different volunteer drivers each time – before they reached the welcoming arms of the MN rescue volunteers! A big thank you to all these volunteers, to MARS and in particular to Sheri Jackson, the brain of this operation!  * * * * * * * *  In June, another group from PA offered to take 17 dogs and 2 cats. This time, the pets were first all fostered by a very dedicated member of the St. Martin Humane Society, and then transported by truck in one trip. Another member donated some of the fee associated with the transport. Some members of the St. Martin Humane Society spent a lot of time working out the details and SMHS provided food and other items needed by the foster home. A big thank you to all these people and in particular to the foster home: fostering 19 pets and caring for them was quite an accomplishment! * * * * * * * *  You can see pictures of these lucky pets on our website. A group effort to save lives is very rewarding but it is a lot of work and it can’t happen without volunteers like you! Contact us if you would like to help in future similar efforts! ………………………………………………………… Want to Report a Cruelty Case? At some time or another we are faced with the knowledge of an animal being abused. It is important to follow proper steps to insure our efforts will generate results. The following guidelines may assist and encourage us to take action if we suspect a cruelty case: First, it is very important that you document the location, what you observe, and dates, etc. You may ask somebody else to witness the facts. Pictures are also very important but make sure you stay on public property and that you respect the right to privacy. Next, contact the proper authorities. For St. Martin Parish, the Animal Control Center is (337) 394-1220. Last, be certain you follow up the situation to be sure the problem was handled. You will have to leave your name, phone number, and your address when you make your report in case further contact is needed.

FREE SPAY/NEUTER TO ST. MARTIN PARISH LOW INCOME HOUSEHOLDS THAT QUALIFY

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Help stop unwanted pets in your community! Your tax-deductible donation entitles you to $30.00 discounts on your pets’ spay/neutering

from St. Martin Parish veterinarians or any other veterinarians who accept our certificate.