The month of September is known as Responsible Pet Ownership Month. Being a responsible pet owner means keeping your animals current on vaccinations, spaying or neutering your animals, and providing all the basic needs like shelter, food, and water. While getting a new pet is always exciting and fun, they are a lifetime commitment.
Why is vaccinating your animals so important? Vaccinations are to help animals live longer and more prosperous lives. They activate immune responses to help an animal’s immune system fight harmful disease-causing agents. With vaccines, an animal’s body will produce antibodies against the disease-causing agents, providing a stronger immunity to life-threatening diseases and illnesses. However, it is essential to remember that vaccines have risks; therefore, discussing what may be in your animal’s best interest is discussed with your veterinarian.
Like our four-legged companions at home, the wild cats and bears at the Refuge receive vaccinations to keep them healthy and thriving in their forever home. Additionally, they all receive routine veterinary exams to assess their health condition continually. This type of health care may require additional blood work, skin culture analysis, dental procedures, and even cancer treatment.
Animal overpopulation is a genuine concern in the United States and a global crisis. Spaying and neutering your animal(s) prevents them from reproducing, which helps pet homelessness, abandonment, or neglect. Not only will you help fight the homelessness crisis, but sterilization offers many medical and behavioral benefits to your animals. For example, sterilizing your animal will help fight against uterine infections and mammary cancer in females or testicular cancer in males.
As a reputable Global Federation of Animal Sanctuaries (GFAS) facility, TCWR is a non-breeding facility. After an animal’s arrival, TCWR’s top priority is sterilizing any animal living with another to eliminate breeding. This situation is commonly seen among breeding pairs or siblings that TCWR rescues. Additionally, sterilization may be performed on an animal living solitarily, depending on the individual animal’s health.
The most common responsibility we associate with pet ownership is providing shelter, food, and water. However, proper socialization and enrichment are equally important. Behavioral or socialization issues are one of the top reasons animals are surrendered to shelters or rescues. When you socialize your animal with others, you advocate a healthy lifestyle for your pets. TCWR encourages this behavior with the wild cats and bears by providing weekly enrichment items ranging from spices, perfumes, boxes, and seasonal objects like pumpkins and Christmas trees.