Forgotten Needs

Today I was wrapping a box our clinic uses to collect dog and cat food for a local animal shelter, Castaway Treasures.  As I was doing this, I began thinking about needy pets and realized that there is a population of needy pets who don't get much press:  those pets owned by families struggling to make ends meet.  While shelter animals will always need a lot of support from our community, pets whose families have hit hard times also merit our thoughts and our donations.  While struggling families want to keep their beloved pets, they often have to face the harsh reality that they simply cannot afford it.  They want to make sure their pet is well cared for, well-fed, comfortable and happy.  When they can no longer provide all this, they either surrender their pet to a shelter or rehome their pet.  Families losing pets to tough economic times is a loss for us all.  Not only does it increase the population at already full shelters, but it also divides families.  The ties between animals and their humans are always worth preserving, for they run deep and strong. 

What many people do not realize is that community food banks that collect human food for families in need also collect pet food.  As you gather items to donate to your community food bank, please include dog and cat food along with your other donations.  This will enable families who have hit hard times to continue to feed their four-legged family members, and keep their entire family together.

Happy Holidays!  Thank you for your generosity.  Check back next week for more.

Signing On

Greetings!  My name is Dr. Linda Lueth.  I own and operate a full-service small animal veterinary hospital, Cortaro Farms Pet Hospital, in Tucson, Arizona.  Everyday I have the pleasure of working with cats and dogs of all shapes and sizes.  Many of my patients I begin seeing when they are youngsters, and I continue to see them all the way through their golden years.  During this time, I get to know my patients and their humans very well.  I see lots of funny antics, experience many tender moments, and am able to marvel daily at the capacity of both humans and animals to love.

While I have some experience at veterinary medicine, I am pretty new to online media.  In fact, as I write this blog, I am just beginning to understand what exactly a blog is.  But, I think this blog will give me the chance to share some thoughts and insights on my practice, some helpful resources and some heart-warming stories.  I will update my blog weekly and expect that the topics will wander between informational and narrative - depending on what each week brings.   I am excited to have the opportunity to share with you. 

I must begin, though, with a warning: the information contained in my posts should never be used as a substitute for veterinary care from your family veterinarian.  Because our patients cannot talk to us, we veterinarians must rely on our senses - sight, sound, touch, and smell - to help us figure out what ails our patients.  So, in order to really tell anything, we must see and touch our patients.  Also, while something I might describe may seem to describe what your pet does or has exactly, you should never try to treat your pet on your own.  Many treatments and medications reach from human medicine across to veterinary medicine, but many do not and carry with them deadly consequences.  So, I hope you enjoy my stories and insights, but remember that there is no substitute for your family veterinarian.

Welcome, and I hope you will check back next week!