Dr. Janice reminds us that fleas and ticks aren't the only insects we need to worry about. To protect your dogs from fly strike you must keep your pets clean and properly groomed, and pets who have sores on them must be kept away from flies! Here's what Dr. Janice had to say:

Saw my first case of fly strike this year. This happens when thick fur, soiled with diarrhea, blood, or other bodily fluids attracts flies which lay their eggs there. Maggots hatch out within 1-2 days. The maggots produce an enzyme which actually digests the skin and creates open wounds. They will feed on both live and dead tissue. They produce toxins and enzymes that can make the affected animal very ill or even kill it,. The wounds are always worse than they look at first!
Keep your pets CLEAN. If they are ill or have open wounds, keep them indoors, away from flies. Cleaning maggots out of wounds and trimming away dead tissue is not my favourite task.

.......Most often I see it in heavily coated dogs, like Newfies (and sheep, when I used to do large animal work) but this was actually a guinea pig which lived in an outdoor pen.

.........It can happen fairly quickly, in only a few days and since it is usually covered by soiled matted hair (at least at first) it can be easy to miss at the start. i probably see a half a dozen or so cases every summer. I used to see more when I worked in rural practice where animals were left outside more.

Thelma and her daughter Louise arrived in our care on June 10 when their owner was no longer able to care for them.



Thelma is under assessment in foster care and is doing well so far.  She is a quiet, sensitive girl who is a little on the shy side when meeting new people  but warms up quickly and becomes fast friends with anyone who is willing to give her some snuggles.

She has nice house manners and is easy going,  follows direction well.  She knows basic commands like sit and is a gentle girl with a lovely temperament.

She fancies herself a bit of a Diva and it's clear that she is used to getting a lot of attention and being pampered, without too many rules in place.  What a princess!  She is the kind of girl who would probably have an inexperienced owner wrapped around her paw in no time.  Her gorgeous eyes and gentle little kisses are pretty irresistible and she seems quite confident in her ability to use those traits to get what she wants.  Ha, ha!   She is learning the routine and rules in her foster home and finding her place within the pack.  With an owner who won't let her walk over them, she will be a fabulous companion.



She did well meeting the 5 other dogs in her foster home and is settling in.  She could join a family with another well socialized large breed dog.  She has shown subtle indicators of a bit of possessiveness when another dog comes near her bed but responds immediately to redirection.  This is not uncommon when a foster (especially a Diva!) is put into a new environment with several other dogs.   Her foster family will be working through this with her.  She is not guarding food or toys so that's terrific, she waits nicely with the other dogs for meals and is easy to manage. 

Here she is hanging out with some dogs at her foster home (her daughter Louise was visiting that day too!)




So far Thelma has shown no interest in playing or socializing with the other dogs and she would be totally fine going to a home where she was the only pet and all of the attention could be on her.  She is far more interested in people than in dogs!

Thelma was born September 24, 2007 and is in good health.  She weighs just over 100 lbs,has now been spayed and brought up to date on vaccines and is ready to find a loving home.

She is being fostered in the Mississauga, ON area and her approved adopters will be required to pick her up in person. An adoption donation of $500 applies.
 

Sep 5:  I was adopted!

Beautiful gal Kera arrived in our care on June 17th and has been getting lots of TLC to help her become healthy.  This sweet girl was suffering from horrible infections over most of her body including eyes, ears, feet and skin.  We are please to report that Kera has recovered beautifully and will be ready to join a forever family soon! 
 Affectionately known as 'Goob', Kera makes friends with everyone she meets!  Wonderfully sweet and affectionate with people, playful and happy-go-lucky with other dogs and gentle with cats and kids, she would be a lovely addition to most families.

This pretty gal has excellent recall and answers to both Kera and (yep, you guessed it...) Goob!  Kera knows her basic commands and listens well but could use a little bit of work on her leash manners.  She LOVES car rides and visiting people and places.



Kera is a purebred Newf who was born August 12, 2009.  In her short life she has already been bounced around through 4 different families.  Despite a life of instability she is a resilient girl who is  well adjusted and takes everything in stride.

Kera has been diagnosed as hypo-thyroid and will require daily medication to ensure her thyroid levels are managed.  Her thyroid medication is not expensive (approximately $18-$24/mth) but will most likely be required for the rest of her life
.  
Kera is being fostered in the Ottawa area and her adoptive family will be required to pick her up in person. 

Kera on intake -- her eyes, ears, feet and skin were oozing due to infections...

Kera the Newf with her foster 'Dad'

Want to make walk time even more enjoyable? Add a foster dog to your pack!

Newf Friends is in need of foster homes in Ontario.

Summertime means that many of our volunteers are heading away on vacation so our foster homes are bursting at the seams! If you've thought about fostering, now is the perfect time to join our team. We need you!

Update: July 14: A home visit is going out for Raven!

Say hello to Raven, a pretty gal who is searching for a fabulous family to call her.

This approximately 4 year old love bug is a happy, friendly girl who loves to spend time with people getting lots of loving.  She arrived in our care on June 9 and is settling into her foster home well and already making friends wherever she goes. 


Raven has nice house manners and is a quiet, mellow girl.  She is house-trained and knows her basic commands, she walks well on leash and is an absolute pleasure to be with.  She is fine being left in the house for a regular work day, is not destructive at all.


Raven has lived with other large and giant breed dogs and could happily join a a family with another larger breed companion.  She has been around smaller dogs but is not reliable near very small dogs so for this reason she is best joining a family with only medium or large size pets. 

She enjoys leisurely walks in the woods and is looking for a quiet country home where she will be away from the hustle and bustle of city life.  Because she is not reliable near small dogs, she is not suited to visiting dog parks -- walks in the country on her own property are the best bet for her.  She loves to swim and is a great candidate for water rescue training!


Raven has been vaccinated and spayed.  She is being fostered in the Bracebridge area and her approved adopters will be required to pick her up in person.  An adoption donation of $500 applies.