Raccoon Illegal Possession Survey

This survey will assist in determining approximately how many people raise raccoons and under what circumstances. Any information you can provide would be helpful. You may remain anonymous if you choose to do so. We simply need honest responses. To receive Wildlife Coalition newsletter please check the yes box.

http://www.lawbreakersanonymous.com/raccoonsurvey.htm

Please everybody, fill this out. You will remain ANONYMOUS!

Wildlife in the Classroom Fundraiser

"Wildlife in the Classroom" Fundraiser

Teachers join the Rainbow Wildlife Rescue - Educational programs are under development - Outdoor cameras needed to stream video from the animal habitats live into the classrooms - Laptop or netbook needed for recording video and images and classroom presentations.

This year is starting out very promising! After gaining the 501(c)3 status from the IRS we are in the process of forming a board of directors/trustees. In addition we welcome our first Wildlife Assistant Rehabilitator and sub-permittee Loree Behymer who will be in charge of the squirrels this year. But that's just the tip of the iceberg! Three teachers from Gilbert Intermediate School in Stephenville, DeeAndra Lambert and Valarie and Doug Burns, have visited the Rainbow Wildlife Rescue and want to become actively involved ranging from joining the board of directors to assisting in fundraising, receiving basic wildlife care training, and most importantly develop educational programs to get the kids involved. This would make one of my lifelong dreams come true! The highlight of our educational program will be cameras installed in the animal enclosures streaming videos and images of different native wildlife species live into the classrooms. The kids can observe these animals throughout the day and collect data on them. This aligns with the state Science TEKS particularly with 5th grade and below. Usually these animals are seen dead on the side of the road but students rarely observe them alive, watching them eat or learning where the sleep. The benefit of having the kids watch the webcam in class would hopefully show them how much amazing wildlife is in their own area. The students taking the TAKS test will be asked some questions relating to their state and the animals/plants that grow here. If they have never been able to observe an animal in it's habitat it's hard for them to relate. In order to achieve this goal we need 3 outdoor cameras that can operate wireless and are capable of streaming video over the internet. In addition we need a laptop or netbook to record the pictures and transport data and presentations to schools and other educational demonstrations. The videos and images will be viewable to everybody on the internet through our Rainbow Wildlife Rescue website, including you, not only the classrooms which however are the number 1 priority. Here is an example of a live squirrel cam: http://lpyardcams.camstreams.com/ Please help us get "Wildlife in the Classroom" program into place.

Different Ways to Donate The Rainbow Wildlife Rescue is a 501(c)(3) non-profit charitable organization. All donations are tax deductible. Mail a Check, Moneyorder or Items to: Rainbow Wildlife Rescue 502 E. Clifton Street Stephenville, TX 76401 Phone: (254) 968 - 4626 Email: help@rainbowwildlife.com Donate using PAYPAL Support the Rainbow Wildlife Rescue Donate using FaceBook Cause Facebook Cause Donate using GuideStar GuideStar - Network for the Good Donate using JustGive JustGive.org If you would like to become a sponsor of the Rainbow Wildlife Rescue or have contributed in the past and would like your name to be added to our Thank You page, please click HERE. If you like to make a contribution or think you have items that we could use, please visit our Donation page to view our wishlist.

Teachers join the Rainbow Wildlife Rescue

This year is starting out very promising! After gaining the 501(c)3 status from the IRS we are in the process of forming a board of directors/trustees. In addition we welcome our first Wildlife Assistant Rehabilitator and sub-permittee Loree B. who will be in charge of the squirrels this year.

But that's just the tip of the iceberg! 3 teachers from Gilbert Intermediate School in Stephenville have visited the Rainbow Wildlife Rescue and want to become actively involved ranging from joining the board of directors to assisting in fundraising, receiving basic wildlife care training, and most importantly develop educational programs to get the kids involved. This would make one of my lifelong dreams come true! Stay tuned for the introductions.

The highlight of our educational program will be web cams in the enclosures streaming live pictures of the animals into the classrooms. The kids can observe these animals throughout the day and collect data on them. This would align with the state Science TEKS particularly with 5th grade and below.

Usually these animals are seen dead on the side of the road but students rarely observe them alive, watching them eat or learning where the sleep. The benefit of having the kids watch the webcam in class would hopefully show them how much amazing wildlife is in their own area.

The students taking the TAKS test will be asked some questions relating to their state and the animals/plants that grow here. If they have never been able to observe an animal in it's habitat it's hard for them to relate.

In order to achieve this goal we are in need of 4 outdoor webcams or security cams that can operate wireless and on batteries and are capable of streaming video over the internet. In addition we need a laptop or netbook to record the pictures and transport data and presentations to schools and other educational demonstrations.

If you would like to help us out in any way, please click HERE!

Thank you in advance.

Top Most Common Pet Poisons of 2009

Is your pooch mad for people food? Does your kitty like to self-medicate? Sadly, not everything we love is good for us. In fact, many common household goods that we take for granted as harmless can poison our furry friends. In 2009, the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center in Urbana, IL, handled more than 140,000 cases of pets exposed to toxic household substances, including insecticides, cleaning supplies and prescription medications.

To help you keep your pet safe and sound in 2010, our experts have created a list of the 10 common poisons that most affected our furry friends last year. Here’s a sneak peek at their advice:

• Top dishonors—once again—go to human medications, which accounted for the most calls to the ASPCA’s 24-hour poison control hotline in 2009. Pets often snatch pill vials from counters and nightstands or gobble up meds accidentally dropped on the floor. Remember to keep all medications, including pain remedies, antidepressants and decongestants, in a cabinet far away from pets’ prying paws.
  
• Cats and dogs are often the unwitting victims of our efforts to battle flea infestations. The misapplication of spot-on flea and tick products can be especially problematic for our feline friends. Talk to your vet about choosing the right, species-specific flea treatment for your pet and never use products made for dogs on cats, and vice versa.
  
• Some of the most delicious people food—including citrus, avocado and raisins—can be poisonous to pets. Chocolate ingestion accounted for nearly half of all people food-related cases in 2009, so be sure to keep cocoa hidden from your resourceful cat or dog.
  
• Pet parents also need to remember to protect their cats and dogs from common household cleaners such as bleaches, detergents and disinfectants. These products, when inhaled by our furry friends, can cause serious gastrointestinal distress and irritation to the respiratory tract.
  
• Household plants may keep your house green and your air clean, but some can cause serious gastrointestinal problems for companion animals who nibble on them. Check out our toxic plant list before your next visit to the nursery.

As always, if you suspect your pet has ingested something toxic, please call your vet or the ASPCA’s 24-hour hotline at (888) 426-4435. To read our complete list of the 10 most common pet poisons of 2009, visit APCC online.

How to rehabilitate a scared Puppy

Tips on how to work with a scared dog or puppy



1. Do not ever pity a dog. Most dog owners make the mistake and apply human psychology to a dog by talking to them in a high pitched baby voice and offering affection or treats in the attempt to provide comfort to the fearful canine. This only reinforces the fear and teaches the dog that it's ok to be scared. He even gets rewarded for it with affection and treats. That's obviously not the message we want the dog to get.



2. Do not feed into the fearful behavior, ignore it. Instead wait for him to show the slightest hint of courage and brave behavior, then praise him.

3. Provide the dog with as much socialization and exposure to new things as you can, always in a calm and assertive manner.



4. You've probably heard it from the Dog Whisperer Cesar Milan before: No Touch, No Talk, No Eye Contact.

Make sure your guests understand that they need to completely ignore the dog until he makes contact on his own, usually by sniffing. Even then they need to avoid eye contact, do not bend over the dog which appears as a threat to most canines, and pet the dog under the chin and chest instead of the top of the head. This is the hardest part of all..getting humans to understand that they do not do the dog a favor by feeling sorry for him and forcing their affection on them.

5. The power of the pack works every time because learning from other dogs that are balanced is much more effective than any human effort could accomplish.

Doogle, Chihuahua, abused, neglected, mistreated, rescued

Doogle was kept in a small round bird cage hanging off the ceiling in a run down puppy mill and then dumped over the animal shelter's fence in the middle of the night about a year ago. He couldn't even walk.

Had no clue how. After his rehabilitation, which took 2 surgeries and a lot leadership to give this little 3 lbs guy some confidence, he has come around nicely and lives with 2 Great Danes and a Labrador at the Rainbow Wildlife Rescue in Texas, his forever home. We are considering teaching him some more tricks and taking him to schools to teach kids how to take proper care of their own pets. GO DOOGLE DUCK GO!

Items needed for Education and Schools

I am working with a school teacher on developing a program covering our urban neighborhood wildlife for teachers as well as for students of all ages.

One of the highlights in this program will be outdoor cams transmitting pictures of the animals in our care live into the classrooms.

But for that we need the cams and a laptop computer.

Here is a list of top priority items we need:

• A laptop or netbook computer for educational, administrative and presentation purposes.
• 4 wireless battery-powered outdoor webcams for the enclosures to be transmitted straight into classrooms.
• Fencing Material (lattice, privacy panels, chain link, fence posts and poles, concrete)
• Green House Frame for a flight cage for songbirds (minimum size 6' width, 8' length, 8' height)
• Pick-up Truck or Van for Animal Transport and Rescue Missions
  

If you are interested in donating any of these items or help us raise the funds to purchase them, please go to the following page for more information and shipping address: http://rainbowwildlife.com/donations.html .

All our sponsors will be featured on our Sponsor page!

Further we have planned to pick up some of the over 26000 animals that have been seized in Arlington, TX from US Globals Exotics. While it is not determined what kind of animals we'll be bringing home or even when exactly, the purpose of them will be educational as described above.

That also means we have to build more habitats and fences to keep these animals secure. Any help with items, funds or if you are handy, your time helping us build it all, will be much appreciated!

Laila was adopted!

After what this little girl has been through, she finally found a great home with kids to love on her while she grows up!