If you know someone in need, please email us. We can help with spay/neuter and other medical issues but it is on a case by case basis as we have funds available. We can put you in touch with other organizations for other support so if you are unable to find help, do not be afraid to ask.

• If you know someone who needs to surrender an animal, please call us, it takes a few days to process most requests.

• If you are aware of someone taking an elderly or handicapped animal to the shelter, call us. Elderly or handicapped animals are the first to be euthanized.

• If you are aware of feral cat colonies or stray cats that are not spayed/neutered, call us, we can help trap and spay/neuter.

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Other resources that might help you:

• Brevard Spay Neuter Clinic - Low Cost Spay/Neuter, Vet Care

• Pet Gazette - Online Newspaper that shows local adoptable pets in need of forever homes.

• Natural Pet Specialty Shop - Great knowledge base for many issues, natural foods/solutions to problems, Melbourne

• Animal Safehouse of Brevard - Support for Domestic Violence Victims

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Helping **YOU** keep your pet safe and healthy.

Keeping your pet Healthy is not hard or complicated but you do have to care and pay attention enough to act.

• Feed the best food you can afford. Lookup the brands you see where you shop, buy the best you can afford. For dogs here or for cats here.

• ALWAYS keep a plentiful supply of fresh, clean water available to your pet.

  • Having fresh water and the ability to potty when needed is VERY important. When your dog HOLDS-IT they are concentrating their urine which can lead to issues later on. Do not leave your pet without potty breaks for more than 8 hours on a regular basis.

 

• Take your pet for an annual veterinarian appointment, keep vaccines up to date (Brevard County Law), spay or neuter.

  • Many medical issues can be caught and treated BEFORE they become expensive for you or serious and painful for your pet. The stories that can be told from those is rescue are endless about the needless suffering animals have endured because the owner was not educated about good animal care.

  • Heartworms - this is a preventable disease, Florida is a breeding ground for this issue. It takes just ONE bite by ONE mosquito to infect your dog. Just because your pet is an inside pet does not mean your pet is safe. The treatment for heartworms is expensive and dangerous for your pet, it is best to avoid Heartworms. There are effective, low-cost solutions available, look here.

  • Flea/Tick - Fleas and Ticks cause many other issues besides the obvious scratching and irritable attitude in your pet. Many skin issues are related to the lack of control of fleas where the pet lives. Using preventions year round is necessary in most of the mild Florida winters. There are effective, low-cost options available.

• Pick-up after your pet (poop patrol). Leaving feces laying around is a breeding ground for issues and not just for your dog; Zoonotic diseases can be transferred to you this way. In Brevard County it is also the law, look here.

 

Keeping your pet Litter-free is not hard or complicated but you do have to act. Spay or Neuter ***NOW*** do not wait.

• There are many low-cost solutions in Brevard County (INCLUDING US!).

 

Keeping your pet Safe is your responsibility.

• Keep your pet in a collar with tags. Your Brevard County tag law is here; this will help get your pet back to you in the case they are lost and prevent high cost fines.

• You should always have a tag with your phone number(s) on it besides the county tag, this will allow your pet to be returned to you -avoiding the shelter-. Think about putting an out of the area relative or friend's number also in case of emergencies like hurricanes or tornadoes when your phone may not be working.

• Microchip your pet. Be sure to register the chip with the appropriate tracking company, many have a lifetime fee which covers you. Then keep the information up to date! Your lost pet will not be lost forever.

• Socialize your pet so they are comfortable with other animals, children and people in general. This allows them to better handle many of life's situations.

• If your pet must be an outside pet, consider the following to make their life safe and as comfortable as possible in the Florida weather:

  • Provide shelter: a porch or dog house or other SOLID structure to protect the pet from the weather (heat, rain, sun)check the area at various times of the day in the summer to find the best spot that avoids direct sunlight in summer and gets maximum sunlight in winter

  • Consider the sun/shade, look at your backyard in the morning, afternoon and evening. Make sure your pet has somewhere to hide to get away from the harsh Florida sun. Wonder why your dog digs holes on the side of the house? Maybe it is the only place they can get away from the sun.

  • Provide a water source which will remain clean and easy for you to keep fresh. Dogs need fresh water AT ALL TIMES. Maybe 2 or 3 bowls put in different areas are what is needed when you are gone all day.

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Be prepared for disasters that happen in Florida, see www.floridadisaster.org. Also life happens and accidents or health issues can come from nowhere - have a plan and make caring for your pet one less thing you have to stress over.

Preparing ahead of time is simple!

• Have a travel quality plastic or wire crate for EACH pet you own. Even if your animals are best buddies, during an emergency stress can cause them to act differently.

• You can place the crates next to each other to allow them to be close.

• Keep the crate in a place where your animal has access, like the bedroom or living area, porch. You want each pet to be familiar and comfortable with the crate and this will help them feel safe in the crate during times of stress such as travel or evacuation.

• One way is to feed your pet in the crate (with the door open) so they like going inside.

• Have a spare leash, harness, collar attached to the crate or in an emergency go-bag.

• Microchip - if your pet has one, REGISTER IT. There are free options for registering your microchip.

• Make sure you have a tag w/ the registry contact information.

• Put your vet/rescue and/or out of town person as a contact when you register your chip.

• Many microchip registrations allow you to enter vet/medical information and pictures too.

• Be sure your spare and current collar/harness have an up to date TAG for your pet.

• Place multiple phone numbers on your tags if possible, preferably one number that is from out of town. If a disaster strikes having your cell and home phone will not do much good if both are not working. But an out of town number is probably going to work as disasters are typically localized.

• Be sure to notify the person whose number you use and let them know what you want to happen if they get that call. Give them the name of your vet, maybe send them a copy of the latest shot records or tell them where you register the microchip (email so they have a record and can remember).

• It could be as simple as a Ziploc plastic bag - place all vet paperwork and receipts in a Ziploc bag and attach to the crate or place in the emergency go-bag.

• You will always have up to date information on your animal's records, medications, vaccines, vet information.

• Tie wrap the bag to the crate or store in your emergency go-bag. When you have to provide proof of shots or get medication re-fills you are all set.

• Emergency go-bag or backpack, have one ready to go.

• Be sure to have spare dishes, toys, blankets (with your family scent - not new) in a bag that is ready to go.

• Keep this bag with your other supplies in an easily accessed location.

• Be sure to pack cleaning supplies, bleach wipes and paper towels for potty accidents or vomit cleanup.

• Food - try to keep a few extra cans of wet on hand always and do not let the food go completely out.

• Take a cellphone photo of your pet's food(s) so you always know the right type to purchase.

• Tear a label from the food so you always know what to purchase, place in your Ziploc bag. This works even if your cell phone does not.

• Changing a pet's diet will cause stomach upset and messy stools which is no fun or anyone.

• Pets do not like to eat strange food.

• Have a can opener for can foods that need them.

• Medications - be sure to know what medications your pet is on.

• Store the preventives, monthly heartworm, flea/tick control with the paperwork so you don't forget it.

• Like with human medications, check your supplies when a weather WATCH is declared so you have enough to get through the weather event.

• If you have to leave the area, having the medications with you will make things easier if you have to see a vet while traveling.