FREE Feral Cat Workshop in Babylon (LI, NY)

EVERYTHING IS FREE Feral Cat Workshop HOSTED BY BABYLON ANIMAL ADOPTION AND RESCUE CENTER Who: The Town of Babylon and the Babylon Animal Adoption Center (BAARC) invite you to a free Feral Cat Education Workshop presented by the Animal Lovers League, Glen Cove. The program will be presented by Joan Phillips, Animal Lovers League Director and member of the Nassau County Feral Cat Committee. Joan has fifteen years experience in animal sheltering, operating a spay-neuter clinic and Trap-Neuter-Return Program (TNR) for feral cats. Co-presenter is Grace DeVita, Director of Second Chance Animal Rescue (SCAR), and past Director of the Humane Division of Nassau County SPCA. What: This workshop will educate, train, and empower officials, members of the public and interested volunteers to become an integral part of the effort to reduce the unrestricted breeding of feral and abandoned cats. Learn the do’s and don’ts of successful programs. Public officials are encouraged to attend at least the first hour of the program to get an overall view of some successful collaborative/cost-effective programs. A wealth of ideas and proven methods for successful trapping will be shared, and “hands-on” (without live cats) demonstrations of safe trapping, and the variety and use of traps available as well as how to organize a successful TNR program or day. Transport to spay-neuter clinics, after-care protocols and colony management and monitoring will be covered. Learn tricks to catch the most elusive kitties and about the latest in equipment. How to find spay-neuter resources and recruitment and training of those who really want to make a difference will be on the agenda as well. Where: Town of Babylon, Phelps Lane Annex 9:30 to 12:30 When: Saturday, April 25th, 2009 – 9:30 registration How: The program is FREE!!!! Reserve quickly to receive a FREE CD & DVD entitled: Effectively Managing Feral Cats How to Perform a Mass Trapping Implementing a Community Trap-Neuter-Return Program FOR RESERVATIONS: email TNRSeminar@aol.com. Please email your name, address, zip code, telephone number and email address to register and to receive TNR updates and TNR clinic notices. Or call 516-776-8998 and leave your name address, zip code and telephone number if you do not have access to a computer. Please spell your name and street address. Directions to Phelps Lane Annex: From the north (via Sagtikos Pkwy) 1. Bear right onto Southern Pkwy West / Southern State Pkwy 2.5 mi 2. At exit 39S, take ramp right for SR-231 / Babylon-Northport Expy / Deer Park Ave South toward Babylon 0.2 mi 3. Keep right onto CR-34 South / Deer Park Ave 0.4 mi 4. Turn right onto Phelps Ln 0.5 mi 5. Arrive at 281 Phelps Ln, North Babylon, NY 11703-4005 The last intersection is Denise Dr – If you reach Justamere Ln, you’ve gone too far From the east (via Heckscher Pkwy W / Heckscher Spur N W / Southern Pkwy / Southern State Pkwy W) 1. At exit 39S, take ramp right for SR-231 / Babylon-Northport Expy / Deer Park Ave South toward Babylon 0.2 mi 2. Keep right onto CR-34 South / Deer Park Ave 0.4 mi 3. Turn right onto Phelps Ln 0.5 mi 4. Arrive at 281 Phelps Ln, North Babylon, NY 11703-4005 The last intersection is Denise Dr -If you reach Justamere Ln, you’ve gone too far From the west (via Southern Pkwy E / Southern State Pkwy) 1. At exit 37S, take ramp right for South Belmont Ave toward West Babylon 0.1 mi 2. Keep straight onto Sylvan Rd 0.6 mi 3. Turn right onto Miller Ave 0.3 mi 4. Road name changes to Phelps Ln 0.3 mi 5. Arrive at 281 Phelps Ln, North Babylon, NY 11703-4005

Pets and Everyday Garden Hazards

Spring has sprung, and everywhere you look, people around town are cleaning up their gardens and getting ready for the growing season. Here’s some information to help you protect your pets from everyday garden hazards.

Toxic Plants and Bulbs

Many plants found in Long Island gardens can be harmful to dogs and cats. Toxic varieties include:

Lilies (Lilium)

Tulips

Narcissus

Azaleas

Rhododendrons

Yew

Autumn Crocus

Chrysanthemum

English Ivy

Mulching safely

If you have dogs, please avoid cocoa mulch! It’s made from crushed cacao shells, and contains caffeine and theobromine, (which are also found in chocolate, cola, and tea). These substances are highly toxic to dogs, who tend to be attracted by the sweet smell. Watch out for mulch made of recycled plastic as well- it can pose a choking hazard for unsupervised dogs.

Pesticides and Fertilizers

Take the same precautions to protect your pets and family: Always read labels and follow directions carefully.

Do not allow pets in sprayed areas until the pesticide has dried completely. (Granular products may have specific instructions for keeping pets off the treated area – check the label!) Pets are often exposed by eating a product or absorbing it through their skin, so be sure that they don’t eat or lick the pesticide off their paws.

Fertilizers can also be toxic-when applying to your lawn or garden, be sure to check the label to determine if the chemicals are a threat to your pet’s health. If in doubt, assume that the fertilizer is dangerous.

If you think that your pet may have ingested a poisonous substance, contact your local veterinarian or call the ASPCA 24-hour emergency poison hotline at 1-888-426-4435 (there is a fee for this service). For more information on plants and pets, check out the ASPCA website www.aspca.org/pet-care/poison-control/plants.