Get up & Give!

 

It's North Texas Giving Day!

This is the day your donation of $25 or more made to Operation Kindness will be multiplied with funds from the Communities Foundation Texas to go even further to help more homeless, neglected and abused animals have a second chance at life. Your donation today means more dogs and cats will be provided life-saving food, shelter and medical care!

Last year $65,000 was raised for Operation Kindness on this one day! This was enough to:

• Spay and neuter 1,300 animals
• Treat 260 dogs suffering from heartworm disease
• Vaccinate and microchip 4,000 animals
• Provide 100 days of medicine and medical care for every animal in our on-site hospital

Please consider making a donation to Operation Kindness here today from 6:00 a.m. to midnight to make your dollars go even further to help more homeless animals!

 

North Texas Giving Day is Tomorrow!

Please join us tomorrow, September 18 for North Texas Giving Day!

Donate to Operation Kindness here between 6:00 a.m. and midnight and your gift will be multiplied to create more healthy, happy tomorrows for homeless animals in our community.

Operation Kindness is the original no-kill shelter where homeless, neglected and abused animals have a second chance thanks to life-saving medical care in our on-site hospital, shelter, food and lots of love. We receive no government funding and rely on generous donations and adoption fees to help us save more than 4,000 dogs and cats each year. Please donate here tomorrow. Your gift will make a difference.

Talk to the Paw: Summer Foot Care Tips for your Pooch

 

Blistering 90 to 100 degree temperatures not only put people at risk, but also our animal companions. Be extra mindful of your pets’ changing needs during these dog days of summer days, especially their paws. The potential for paw pad injuries and burns is commonly overlooked. Use these simple tips to keep your dog enjoying walks this summer!
 

Know the Common Culprits: Asphalt, metal boat docks, beach sand, leather seats, and car and truck surfaces can often be too hot for your dog's paws.

Easy Tip #1: Remember the 7-second rule! Place the back of your hand on the surface for 7 seconds. If it is too hot for you, it is too hot for your dog.

Easy Tip #2: Walk your dog in the shade or on grass. Consider walking in the mornings or evenings when it is cooler.

Easy Tip #3: Use a towel or blanket, preferably wet, for your dog to sit on while loading your car or enjoying the outdoors on hot days. 

Know the Signs: Darkened skin, refusal to walk, licking and chewing, reddened skin, blisters, and limping are all indications that your dog's paws are burned or injured See your veternarian for treatment as soon as possible. 

And Remember... Never put booties on your dog during hot weather months. Dogs cool themselves down by panting and my cooling down their paws. Booties keep the heat in!

Pet Travel Tips

Gearing up for a Summer vacation? Make it more fun for everyone and bring your dog along! Here are a few pet travel tips to keep everyone safe and happy.

• When planning your trip, check to see if there are pet-friendly hotels at your destination. Also, keep in mind that many state and national parks do not allow dogs in cabins, some campsites, or on trails. Do your research to make sure that your dog will be allowed where you are going!
• Before your trip, make sure your pet is healthy and up for the journey. Make a trip to your vet to get a clean bill of health and get them updated on necessary vaccinations, heartworm preventative, and flea and tick preventative.
• Take precautions that will help you should your pet get lost during your trip. Make sure they have a collar and ID tags with your most current contact information. Attach a temporary tag with the information of where you will be staying on your trip. You can also ensure a permanent form of identification by getting your pet microchipped.
• When packing for your trip, make sure to bring a generous supply of your pet's regular food. Other essentials include: food and water bowls, litter and litter box, crate and bedding, leash and harness, grooming supplies, dog poop bags, toys, treats, pet first aid kit, and any necessary medications.
• When traveling by car, it's safest to have your dog in a crate or secured with a seat belt harness in the back seat. This keeps your dog safe if you suddenly need to hit the brakes and it keeps your eyes focused on the road while driving.
• Some dogs are sensitive to motion sickness while riding the car. To avoid an upset stomach, don't feed a large meal right before the car ride and don't feed snacks while the car is in motion.
• Take frequent breaks on long road trips to give everyone a chance to stretch their legs, get a drink and use the bathroom (but always on-leash!).
• Bring some kind of entertainment for your dog during the trip, a chew toy or other favorite toy to help alleviate boredom.
• Never leave your dog unattended in the car, even for a quick stop. On an 85-degree day, even with the windows slightly open, the temperature inside your car can reach over 100 degrees in only 10 minutes. A dog left alone in a car also poses a risk for your dog to be stolen.
• Don't allow your dog to stick their heads out of the window. It may look fun, but they could be injured from flying debris.
• If you are flying to your destination, your pet should ride with you in the cabin of the airplane. Check with your airline in advance of your trips for the regulations and fees associated with this. Animals flown in the cargo area of airplanes are killed, injured, or lost on commercial flights each year. It may be the safest option to leave your pet at home with a pet sitter or boarded.

Preparing Your Pets for an Emergency

Do you have a preparedness plan in case of an emergency, like a fire, flood, or tornado? Your family's plan for emergency safety should include plans for your pets as well. With tornado season about to start in Texas, take some time to make sure you are ready and prepared.

Step One: Make a Pet Emergency Supply Kit

• Include 3 days worth of pet food in a waterproof, airtight container and at least 3 days worth of bottled water.
• If your pet takes medication, keep an extra supply in a waterproof container.
• Keep a copy of your pet's medical records, vaccination records, and adoption paperwork ready to go.
• Include a first aid kit with bandage rolls, bandage tape and scissors, flea and tick preventative, heartworm preventative, gloves, rubbing alcohol, and saline solution.
• Have an extra collar, leash and ID tags handy.
• Keep your pet's crate or travel carrier in a convenient location that you could grab easily and go when time is of the essence.
• Have extra bathroom supplies on hand and ready to go: litter, litter box, scoop, dog waste bags, newspaper or puppy pads, paper towels, etc.

Step Two: Plan for What to Do in an Emergency

• Communicate with your family about what your plan is for various types of emergency, such as fire, flood, tornado, power outage, etc. Know where your nearest shelter is, and if they will allow pets, if you must evacuate there in case of emergency. If pets are not allowed, consider other friends or family that could shelter you or consider pet-friendly hotel lodging. Finding out where these places are located before an emergency can save precious time when it matters most.
• Depending on your emergency, determine if you must evacuate or shelter in place. Watch TV, listen to the radio, or check the Internet for instructions from the local authorities, if necessary. If you are told to evacuate, do so immediately.
• Plan with neighbors, family, and friends on what your emergency plan is and if someone would be able to take care of your pets if you were unable to.
• Consider microchipping your pet, which is a permanent form of identification, should your pet  become separated from you.  
• Gather contact information on local emergency animal hospitals, should your pet need urgent care.
• Obtain "Pets Inside" stickers for your home's front and back doors. In an emergency, rescue crews would know to check for your pets inside of the home.

Step Three: Stay Informed

• Be aware of inclement weather conditions that could pose risks to your family and pets.
• Keep batteries in your smoke detectors and test them regularly.
• For more information about emergency preparedness, visit www.ready.gov.

Catio Partitions are Complete!

A dream has come true for the cats at Operation Kindness! New partitions have been installed on both ends of our cat porch (also known as our "catio") that will enable some of our long-term residents to get out of their cages and stretch their legs.

 

Catio without partitions

Catio with closed partitions



Garfield enjoys the catio

Cats at Operation Kindness that are not free-roaming are kept in cages in the cat rooms. These cats are typically in their own private space because they are either on a special diet or do not enjoy the company of other cats. Unfortunately, this means they do not get to enjoy the fun of the free-roaming catio. But not anymore!

 

The partitions will allow private use by cat residents who are not free roaming. The partitions easily open and close to allow the staff and volunteers to place cats on the porch on a rotating basis. This enrichment of our cat area was made possible by a generous donation from Kathleen Bailey.



Garfield got some fresh air and play time for the first time in more than a year. He spent a few hours on the porch, laying in the sun and playing with the staff.

 

Garfield is a 2 year old, male domestic shorthair cat that is available for adoption. You can find out more about him at www.OperationKindness.org.

A Story of Hope

Animals are amazingly resilient creatures, but it is a sad thing when dogs are abandoned to fend for themselves.  As animal caregivers, the staff and volunteers at Operation Kindness see this every single day.  Just when you think you have seen everything, something happens that gives you pause for concern. Luckily, our medical team is able to intervene and save animals.  

Hope upon arrival at Operation Kindness

On Saint Patrick’s Day, a man brought us a small, dirty, severely matted little two year old Shih Tzu mix that he had found in an alley near his home.  The little dog was not putting any weight on her rear legs and was having a very hard time foraging for food.  The kind man brought her to Operation Kindness hoping we could help her. Upon examination, we discovered that her hair was so badly matted it was cutting off the circulation to her rear legs and feet.  Our medical team could not even cut the mat out because the hair was so tightly wound around her foot. 

Vet technicians work to remove the painful mats from Hope's hair

Our veterinarian put her under anesthesia and one of the veterinarian technicians began working on the mat, shaving a hair at a time out of the mat.  Finally, the foot and lower leg were free, but the damage to her lower leg was a severe injury.  There was a deep cut caused by the hair digging into her leg. After working for over 2 hours, she was cleaned up and free from the mats that were causing her so much pain.
 

Hope during her treatment

Hope, as we named her, is now resting comfortably without the shackles of her own hair binding her legs.  She will need weeks of rehabilitation in our shelter before she is ready for adoption. We believe with medical attention and therapy, we will be able to save her leg and she will get to run and play like all dogs should be able to do. 



Hope enjoys a short trip outside



For the time being, she is enjoying all the love and attention she is receiving from staff and volunteers. We'll keep you updated on her recovery and when she is made available for adoption. Click here to donate to help animals like Hope.
  

 

Helping Tails Helps Operation Kindness

Meet Candy, a 7 year old Shih Tzu mix, that was rescued from the streets and transferred to Operation Kindness. As you can see in her "before" photo, she was horribly matted, filthy and frightened. Candy received medical treatment and was made available for adoption.

Candy was specially helped by the Operation Kindness' Grooming Committee. This group of volunteers is dedicated to getting the dogs bathed, groomed, and looking gorgeous so that they will be more likely to be adopted into forever homes. Once the committee took Candy to be groomed and she received her "makeover" she was very quickly adopted!

The Operation Kindness Grooming Committee is supported by Helping Tales Publishers. A portion of each sale of the books "Patches Awesome Day" and "Diamonds in the Ruff" is donated back to the Grooming Committee to help more dogs to look their best! These two fabulous children's books were actually written by an Operation Kindness volunteer, James Martinez!

In Patches’ Awesome Day, Patches the dog invites the reader to come along and share his day, reminding us of the importance of smiling, laughter, playing, and friends.

Diamonds in the Ruff is a story about the rewarding world of volunteering, helping those in need, and discovering the inner beauty that is within us all. Readers will love this story about a mom and her son volunteering at an animal shelter and their desire to make a difference. Both books are appropriate for kids of all ages!

To learn how to become an Operation Kindness volunteer or how to help support the Grooming Committee, visit our website.

Artists for Animals: Meet Maria!

Mark your calendar for the Artists for Animals Concert Fusion Experience on Friday, March 14th at 7:00PM at the Addison Conference and Theatre Center! 

The evening will include a live performance from members of the Dallas Symphony Orchestra with a beautiful backdrop of amazing photos exemplifying the human/canine bond by portrait photographer Teresa Berg.

The evening includes a wine reception paired with desserts! Original art and art photography will be offered during the silent auction and artists will be in attendance to demonstrate and talk about their creative process. All proceeds from Artists for Animals will benefit the animals at Operation Kindness No-kill Animal Shelter. To purchase tickets online, visit http://bit.ly/1aMqJmL.

The beautiful dog featured in the above photo is Maria, and she is currently available for adoption at Operation Kindness! Maria came to Operation Kindness from another shelter because she is so sweet and loving we knew she needed a second chance. Our Animal Care Director walked past her cage, and Maria greeted her with a fast tail wag and kisses. It was then we knew this girl deserved a bright future! She's a 1 year old Pit Bull mix.

She first went to a foster home for 6 weeks with her day-old puppies where she was named Maria, and her puppies were named after the Von Trapp children in the Sound of Music! Her foster family learned she is potty trained, likes her crate, and is very affectionate. They said she is a huge cuddler! Maria came back to the shelter when her puppies were old enough and they were quickly adopted. It's been a few weeks and sweet Maria is still here and she is making friends fast.

 

There isn't a person she has ever met that she didn't absolutely love! Kids, men, teenagers... she likes, ahem, LOVES them all! Maria is a wonderful dog with people, and she is in a play group with other dogs. She sometimes does not like the company of other females so we would require a doggie intro for any potential canines siblings. This social butterfly will steal your heart if you come and meet her. We're confident that the person or family who takes this girl home will think they hit the doggie jackpot! For more information on how to adopt Maria, visit www.operationkindness.org or call 972-418-PAWS.

Train that Cat!

Contrary to popular belief, it is possible to train a cat! With positive reinforcement through praise and food rewards, you can teach your cat to perform behaviors and stop offering undesirable behaviors.

 

Here are a few easy steps to start training your cat:

• Experiment with different types of treats and foods to find the one that your cat finds most delicious. Use this treat for training.
• Each time your cat response to a verbal cue (ex. "here kitty"), feed your cat their favorite treat.
• One of the easiest things to teach your cat is their own name. Every time you feed your cat, say his name as you place the food down. When playing with your cat, call him by name and then give a treat when he responds.
• Once your cat responds to his name, teach him to come when called. Start from a short distance from your cat, and gradually increase the distance between you as he learns to respond. Call your cat and when he comes, give him a treat. If one treat is not enough of a lure, start by shaking a bag of treats to get his attention. Soon he will start coming when called even if you do not have a treat.
• Train your cat not to scratch on furniture or other places by making sure he has a place that he IS allowed to scratch. The ideal scratching post for a cat should be 1) at least 30" tall, 2) made of soft wood or wrapped with sisal rope (not carpeting), 3) mounted in a stable, untippable base. Many cat condos or towers come with scratching posts, but you can also make your own. Place the post in a room where you spend a lot of your time, such as the living room, and near objects that the cat is naturally drawn toward scratching (like the couch). To get your cat to scratch the post, start scratching on it yourself with your nails and he will quickly imitate you. Soon, he will find the scratching post so rewarding that he will stop scratching on other surfaces.
  
  

• Spray bottles or squirt guns may stop your cat from doing an undesirable behavior, but this negative punishment only works when you are present. Your cat will continue to do the undesirable behaviors, but just when you aren't looking! Instead, show your cat what you DO want him to do and reward him when he offers those behaviors.
• If you would like to train your cat to enjoy grooming behaviors, such as nail trims and brushing, start slow. Trim one nail at a time and give a treat after each nail. Take breaks before trying again. Work quickly and with a business-like attitude, fussing too much over your cat during the process will make them feel more stress. Never scold or handle your cat roughly- keep the experience positive!
• Learn to read your cat's body language. If he has a tense body, is low to the ground, flattened ears, or quickly twitching tail, he's trying to tell you that he has had enough and needs a break. Respect his space and try again when he is in a happier mood!
• Alternatives to negative punishment are available to keep your cat from offering undesirable behaviors. For example, use a citrus air freshener to keep a cat out of a certain room, as they typically do not like the smell and will avoid it. Sticky Paws tape will keep a cat from scratching on certain items or furniture without causing pain.
• If your cat continues to "act out" or offer undesirable behaviors, try to get to the root of the problem. Are they getting enough play time and exercise? Has a new change been introduced recently (a move, a new pet, a new baby, etc.)? Does your cat need a visit to the vet to make sure their health is in order?
• Showing any type of hostility towards your cat or punishing with force or hitting will not train your cat and will damage your relationship with your pet. They will start avoiding you or may lash out with hostility of their own. Keep things positive and rewarding for everyone for a happy family!
• Finally, don't underestimate your cat! Cats a very smart animals- they can be trained to run agility courses and even use the toilet instead of the litterbox!

Happy Tail: Theo

Acer, now known as Theo, was adopted from Operation Kindness in November 2013.
Here's the most recent report from his happy adopter:

Little Theo, formerly known as Acer, is doing VERY well!! He has doubled in size since we got him, and rules the roost! Well almost… he has “Grandma Sammy”, our 6.5 pound 12 year old Siamese female, to contend with. He is best friends with Elliot, our 16 pound Lynx/Siamese mix, and they wrestle and stretch out together all the time. Theo wakes us up with kisses and cuddles, and greets us in the evenings with the same. He is most famous for his “meerkating” which is where he sits up straight on his bottom and looks around. It’s TOO precious! He also enjoys attacking his favorite uncles and Daddy’s feet. Everyone knows him, and everyone thinks he is just funny. He is also helping us with a sweet little foster puppy named Presley. He is helping her learn to trust other animals and appropriate ways to play. We couldn’t be happier with him!

Cold Weather Pet Tips

As the cold front blew into town over the past weekend, it's a harsh reminder that winter isn't over yet! Here are some ways that you can keep your pets safe and warm until Spring arrives.

• Keep pets indoors. Regardless of the season, dogs and cats should never be left outdoors unsupervised. Pets that are kept inside are healthier and happier! When dogs must go outside for exercise and to use the restroom, kept the trips short and keep your dog active to keep their body warm. Short haired and smaller dogs may be more comfortable in a jacket or a sweater. Also, don't shave your pet down during the winter as a longer coat will keep them warmer.
• Outdoor or feral cats may seek shelter under the hoods of cars during the winter. If the car is started, the cat may be injured. To avoid this, tap loudly on the hood of your car before getting in to give the cat a chance to get out.
• Puppies do not tolerate the cold very well and may be difficult to housetrain during the winter. An alternative is to papertrain your puppy to go indoors until the weather warms up.
• Make sure your pet has a warm place to sleep, elevated off of the floor to avoid drafts, and with a cozy blanket.
• Just as you would not leave your dog in a car during the summer, it can also be dangerous during the winter. Your car can act as a refrigerator during the cold weather and cause dangerous freezing conditions for your pet.
• If your neighborhood is home to feral cats, you can help them during the winter by building a cat shelter.

Dine & Help Homeless Animals

Half Shells Benefit for Operation Kindness
Tuesday, January 7th, All Day
Half Shells Plano
The Shops at Legacy: 5800 Legacy Drive, Plano TX

On this day 15% of all sales will be donated to Operation Kindness! Enjoy grilled and fried seafood specialties, delicious burgers, and more at this hot spot in the Shops at Legacy.
Have lunch with your coworkers, meet friends for a cocktail and munchies after work, or take family out to dinner. Either way you are helping homeless animals!

Fuzzy's Taco Shop Benefit for Operation Kindness
Monday, January 20th through Friday, January 25th
Fuzzy's Taco Carrollton (2661 Midway Rd Suite 236 Carrollton, TX)
Fuzzy's Taco Dallas (4740 W. Mockingbird Lane Dallas, TX)

Stop by the Fuzzy's Tacos in Carrollton or in Dallas and mention Operation Kindness when you pay and 10% of your sale will be donated to Operation Kindness!
This special runs Monday through Friday and is valid only at these two locations.

3rd Annual Meow Mixer!

Record Breaking Adoptions in 2013

We are proud to announce that more dogs and cats at Operation Kindness found homes in 2013 than in any other year! 3,704 dogs, cats, puppies and kittens found forever homes in 2013. This shatters our previous record of 3,164 adoptions in 2012.

Thank you to all of the volunteers, staff members, donors and supporters who helped make this possible. We couldn’t do it without you! We are looking forward to 2014 and Operation Kindness' New Year's Resolution is to break our adoption record once again!

Here are a few photos of our happy adopters with their new family members!

Rocket gets adopted

Broady goes home in time for the Holidays

Chance gets adopted from our Galleria Dallas Adoption Center



Dallas find his forever family

Vidal and his happy adopter

Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram to keep up with our happenings throughout the year!