WOODLAND – The Animal Welfare Council of the Alleghenies, a 501(c)3 organization, owns and operates the Allegheny Spay and Neuter Clinic, located in Woodland.
Over the last four years, the clinic has continued to grow and has served more than 11,000 animals in the local and surrounding areas. As a holiday gift to its animal friends, it will offer a cat spay, cat neuter and dog neuter special for appointments booked, starting Dec. 9 through Dec. 31.
To make an appointment during these weeks, contact the clinic at 814-857-5280. The clinic is located at 1380 Shawville Hwy., Woodland (beside the Woodland Post Office). It is open to the public on Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays from 8 a.m. -4 p.m. for affordable spaying and neutering of cats and dogs, as well as nail trims and routine vaccines.
The AWC would like to remind you of a few ways to keep your pets safe over the winter months and this holiday season.
- Give your pets plenty of water. Pets spending a lot of time outdoors need more food in the winter because keeping warm depletes energy. You should check your pet’s water dish to make sure the water is fresh and unfrozen. You should also use plastic food and water bowls rather than metal; when the temperature is low, your pet’s tongue can stick and freeze to metal.
- Protect paws from salt. The salt and other chemicals used to melt snow and ice can irritate the pads of your pet’s feet. You should wipe all paws with a damp towel before your pet licks them and irritates his/her mouth, or buy pet friendly salt for your sidewalk.
- Beware of antifreeze encounters. Families can help save their own pet from an encounter with antifreeze by closely watching the animal in areas where antifreeze may be accessible, such as roads, driveways or garages. You should keep antifreeze sealed and away from animals. Also, you should clean up spills completely, and fix any leaks immediately and consider switching to a brand of antifreeze that contains propylene glycol instead of ethylene glycol. If you think your pet may have ingested antifreeze, take them to a veterinarian immediately.
- Decorating safety. You should Keep ornaments, including tinsel, out of your pets reach, as ingesting tinsel or glass ornaments can be a choking hazard or create an intestinal blockage. You all like the smell of a fragrant holiday candle burning; however, you should keep candles on high shelves or mantles out of way of dog tails and holiday climbing cats to prevent accidental burns or fires. You should be aware of the hazards of chewing the live holiday plants – Holly, Mistletoe and Poinsettia plants can be poisonous to dogs or cats. Lastly, do not allow pets to chew through or get tangled up in the holiday lights around the bottoms of trees or in displays around your house.
The AWC would like to wish everyone and their furry family members large and small a safe and happy holiday season.