If you are thinking about spaying or neutering your dogs or cats, it’s worth your while to give Beaver Creek Animal Hospital a call. January 16th to 31st is “Spay/Neuter Awareness” days there. The phone number is 519-637-0966.
This weekend, January 20-22, is the Elgin Kennel Club dog show at the Western Fairgrounds in London (newspaper says Progress Bldg, web says Canada Bldg). It’s a great place to see a lot of beautiful dogs and buy dog stuff. Just remember, don’t bring your dog. Only service dogs are allowed in so competitors aren’t distracted. I know that if I took 
Leo, those in the Standard Poodle class would say ‘we might as well go home – look at that guy!’ Well, in my dreams anyway.
If you want to take your dog somewhere fun, you’re both welcome at Family Flowers Saturday Jan. 21st 9-5. On Talbot Line, just east of St. Thomas, they’re having “Dog’s Day Out” with free food samples and toys and fun stuff for your dog. It’s a great place to go any time for flowers and gardening supplies and also to visit the animals in their mini-farm.
Tuesday, January 31st is STDOA’s monthly meeting at the Elgin Mall Community Room 7 pm. We didn’t have a December meeting so there’s a lot to catch up on and a lot to plan. All are welcome.
The happy news I have to report is the year-end totals for the Caring Pet Cupboard. In just one year, we collected 5,705 
pounds of kibble. Add another 4.355 pounds from donations from Darford and Royal Canin and we got 10,060 pounds donated. Plus 539 cans of dog and cat food and 110 packages of treats. Plus other items like cat litter, bowls and leashes.
The good news, and sad news, is that it all gets used. It is distributed through the food banks in St. Thomas and Aylmer and Tabby’s Treasures in St. Thomas. Animal rescue groups and individuals have needed all the puppy, kitten and medical diet foods we’ve been able to give them. But I am glad we have it to give, and that’s due to you – the donors. Thank you for making this such a success.
Pets/Friends for Life in the past year had 130 cats and kittens dumped during the night at their building. The people who leave them don’t also leave notes with information such as whether the cat is vaccinated or spayed. So full vet care has to be done. It cost Pets/Friends $7000 extra last year in vet bills for those dumped cats. If you’ve got a few extra dollars, or a bag of clumping cat litter or box of laundry soap, they could use it.
If you can foster a dog, All Breed Canine Rescue needs foster or permanent homes for dogs like brother and sister Border Collies Emma and Bandit. And there are a lot of puppy mill dogs, such as these little ones, coming to Ontario now if foster homes can be found. Contact ABCR if you can help.
