Celebrating 20 Years--It's Fall Auction Time!

As Save Our Siberians-Siberspace Rescue Fund enters its 21^st year, most of our supporters know that we exist soley for helping Siberian Rescues with funding for extraordinary medical expenses. We do that with funds provided by YOU! Without your auction donations, memorial and honorary donations, auction proceeds, SHCA National and online store purchases (and other small, but helpful fundraisers) this work could never happen.

Examples of the types of maladies we help are orthopedic, ACL, and gastric obstruction surgeries, eye enucleations, and many heartworm cases. Did you know that SOS-SRF has a fund dedicated only to heartworm cases? When long-time Siberian owner Julie Moreland died in a tragic accident, her husband donated a generous sum of money in her name. It was decided to start a dedicated heartworm fund. Some of you may remember Julie from her many years on Sibernet. She was a treasured friend to Siberians and to many of us. Her fund was in peril of ending until Bay Area Siberian Husky Rescue granted a generous $5000 donation this spring. Thanks to them, we will be able to continue to say “yes” to heartworm treatment—one of our most frequent funding requests.

Because we know we must spend your generous donations wisely, we do request an application showing that the Rescue has checked prices for medical care, asked for a Rescue discount, and that they have pursued funding from other sources, as well. We also require a good prognosis for the dog in question, on letterhead and written by the vet who is treating the dog.

So for us, fundraising never ends! Our next online auction runs from October 29 through November 4. Please watch for the announcement on Sibernet, our website, and our Facebook page!

Thank you for finding our vendor booth at the Siberian Husky Club of America's National
Specialty Show and purchasing items we had for sale. Our 20^th Anniversary image (above, artwork courtesy of Barbara Branham) is available on a round, beribboned, collectable porcelain Christmas ornament at our website. Additionally, we have a new training treat bag with handy water bottle slot for sale at a very reasonable price.

Amazon Smile This program from Amazon can be accessed through the following link: http://amazonsmile.com. When you register with Amazon Smile you choose a charitable organization (as recognized by Guidestar) and a percentage of any purchase you make on the Amazon Smile site is donated to that organization.

We are also a member of iGive http://www.igive.com/html/refer.cfm?memberID=315700&causeID=19764. When you make purchases at over 700 stores through their site, we earn a sales commission. And that money goes to rescue groups to help with extraordinary expenses required to bring a rescued Siberian Husky back to good health and give it a chance of finding a forever home.

Support SOS-SRF just by shopping at Fred Meyer with your Rewards Card. All you have to do is link your Rewards Card and scan it every time you shop at Fred Meyer. Click here https://www.fredmeyer.com/topic/community-rewards-4 to read more and link to us - number 91956.

Renee's Garden Seeds: We are still partnering with this company that specializes in herb, vegetable, and flower seeds and starts. At check out, enter our code FR981F in the coupon code box and we will receive 25% of your purchase.

Being Prepared for Disasters

Last Spring, Critter Cozy sent out a great newsletter on Emergency Preparedness and with their permission we are reprinting a shortened version of the story.

Planning for disasters
Living in uncertain times, with natural disasters such as floods, hurricanes,
tornadoes, and fires, we need to prepare ourselves and have a plan in place should an
emergency arise.

Here are some resources from the web that can help you create a plan and give 
you things to think about adding to your plan. Each person's plan will vary depending
upon their family and their pets' needs.

The AVMA's Saving the Whole Family© brochure offers a comprehensive list of what needs
to be done to safeguard pets large and small before, during and after a disaster.

At Prepare Your Pets, Too (American Red Cross) you will find info on
creating an emergency plan, putting together a pet emergency kit, and what to 
look for in stressed pets as they, too, recover from the disaster. 

Learn Pet First Aid 
Many vets give presentations or you can take a class through the American Red Cross. The American Red Cross also has a free APP on iTunes or Google Play.  While an App can be helpful, a hands on course is best. PetTech has instructors and classes across the USA.

What to include in a pet evacuation kit
A pet's evacuation kit will vary depending on the special needs of the pet such as, medication and a means to store it properly. A wheelchair bound pet may require a small tool kit in case something breaks. It should be tailored for your pet's personal needs and assembled prior to any emergency.

• Store the contents in an easy-to-carry, waterproof container and keep in an accessible location making it easy to grab if you need to evacuate. It is also a good idea to make a fanny pack with the most important things you may need to get to in a moment's notice.
• Food and Medicine: At least three to seven days of your pet's regular food. If you feed raw food, there are freeze dried raw brands that just need water added*+ 
• Two-week supply of medicine* 
• At least seven days supply of water 
• Feeding dish and water bowl
• Liquid dish soap for cleaning bowl or use disposable dishes

* These items have expiration dates

+ This is not the time to try a new brand of pet food.

First Aid Kit
There are many commercially available Pet First Aid kits on the market, however you will still want to tailor it to the needs of your pet. Possible additions include:

• Anti-diarrheal liquid or tablets
• Antibiotic ointment
• Gauze pads and bandage rolls
• Bandage tape and scissors
• Isopropyl alcohol or alcohol prep pads
• Saline solution
• Tourniquet (can be very dangerous--make sure you take a First Aid course to learn how to use it properly!)
• Towel and washcloth
• Tweezers
• Head lamp - so you are hands free if need to work on or examine your pet in the dark
• STAT!Syringe to induce vomiting 
• Hydrogen Peroxide* (for dogs only; toxic for cats)
• Tick key
• Booties

Sanitation

• Litter, litter pan and scoop
• Poop bags
• Newspaper, paper towels, and trash bags
• Household chlorine beach or disinfectant
• Important Documents
• Identification papers including proof of ownership
• Medical records and medication instructions
• Emergency contact list, including veterinarian and pharmacy
• Photo of your pet (preferably with you as this is a great way to prove ownership)

Travel Supplies

• Crate or pet carrier labeled with your contact information
• Extra collar/harness with ID tags and leash (make certain the contact info is up to date)
• Flashlight, extra batteries
• Muzzle

• Favorite toys and treats
• Extra blanket or familiar bedding
• Some believe Rescue Remedy Pet® is helpful for your pet. Make sure it is the PET VERSION as some other versions such as the Pastilles have xylitol in them.

After the disaster passes
Here are some things to do after the emergency passes and you are getting back to some sense of your normal.

• Evaluate your home inside and out. Look for sharp objects, dangerous materials in your yard from another area, dangerous and/or injured wildlife, downed power lines and other hazards.
• Determine if your water supply has been contaminated. Usually you will hear that information on the news.
• Examine your pets for injury or illness.
• Keep your pet on a leash as familiar scents and landmarks may have changed so they may not be able to find their way home should they run off.
• Keep cats, dogs and other small animals indoors as much as possible. They could encounter dangerous wildlife and debris if allowed outside unsupervised and unrestrained.
• If your pet has been without food for a prolonged period of time, be certain to reintroduce food in small servings, gradually working up to full portions.
• Let your pet rest/sleep as much as they need to recover from the trauma and stress of the emergency. 
• Try to re-establish their normal routine as quickly as possible to help them regroup emotionally.
• Spend some cuddle time with your pets to bring down the stress levels in both of you!

Help! My pet is lost.
Even the most attentive pet owners may get separated from their pet in an emergency. Here are some things to do to help reunite you:

• Visit animal control and animal shelters DAILY. They may be inundated with lost pets and not have time to create a full list of the animals there. Also descriptions vary from person to person: what is a black and white dog to one may be a grey and white to another.
• Check with social media venues as some emergency response agencies post information about lost and found animals.
• Go around your neighborhood in addition to where your pet was last seen and post waterproof lost animal notices with your contact information.
• Notify local postal carriers, law enforcement, animal care and control officials, veterinarians, and your neighbors of any lost animals. Give them a picture of your pet along with any unique markings they may have for fast identification.
• There are online organizations that post information about lost pets such as Helping Lost Pets.
• If your pet has a microchip, notify the microchip registry that your pet is missing.
• Get your pet microchipped and keep the registered information up to date 
• Save Our Siberians - Siberspace Rescue Fund has "My Pet Is Home Alone" Emergency Kits available on our online store for only $12. The Kit includes two key fobs and a wallet card in a eye-catching yellow-green which you carry with you and an envelope for home with instructions for the care of your pets stored in a matching yellow-green envelope.