The AnimalShelter.org web site was created in an effort to place homeless animals throughout the United States. These animals are often located in one of thousands of animal shelters and rescue’s throughout the Country which offer a temporary placement while a loving family is found. At the AnimalShelter.org we provide a database of animals which will allow you to search for your next pet based on animal type, breed, size, gender and location. You can also search through our growing directory which now includes, animal shelters, lost, found or adoptable pets, pet medications, dog parks, and hundreds of frequently asked questions. If you would like to make a gift or support our cause please purchase a ribbon from our animal shelter support page. Remember adopting a pet is saving a life.

Daily Pet Tips & Info...

Dog Bites

If I am bitten how should I care for a dog bite?
* Always wash the dog bite with soap and warm water, try to get any dirt, saliva, or any other particles washed out of your wound.
* Apply pressure with a clean cloth or towel to the dog bite to stop any bleeding, if the bleeding does not stop within 15 minutes you should proceed to a doctors office or emergency room.
* Apply a sterile bandage to the wounded area once bleeding stops.
* Keep the injured area elevated above your heart, doing this will help to slow the swelling and will also help to prevent infection which is very important, infection is one of the greatest dangers
* Report the dog bite to your local authorities, either the animal control or police department.
* Apply antibiotic ointment to the area twice a day until it is healed, if it is a small bite the antibiotic can be purchased from your local super store, however for a more serious dog bite a doctor can give you a stronger antibiotic.

For more severe dog bites you will need to call your doctor these situations include
If you have a dog bite on your hand, foot, or head, or if the dog bite is deep and could require stitches a doctor should be contacted immediately.
If you have a disease such as diabetes, liver or lung disease, any form of cancer, AIDS/HIV, or any other condition that has the possibility of weakening your body’s ability to fight off infection you should contact a doctor immediately.
If you see any signs of infection such as redness, swelling, increased temperature (either to your entire body or to the affected area), tenderness, oozing of pus from the wound, or a fever you should see a doctor immediately
If the bleeding does not stop after 15 minutes with or without applying pressure to he wound you should see a doctor immediately.
If you have not had a tetanus shot in the last 5 years you should see a doctor immediately.
If you are unsure of the immunization status of the pet whom bit you, you should see a doctor immediately.

If a dog bites me, will I need a rabies shot?
The simple answer is probably not, these days rabies is an uncommon disease for dogs and cats in the United States. Through vaccinations, and bi-annual veterinary checkups rabies is now far more controlled than it was in the past. If the dog who bit you appears to be healthy at the time of the bite (not acting aggressive, drooling or frothing at the mouth, dilated pupils, anxiety, etc), it was probably not infected with rabies. However we still recommend visiting your doctor or the emergency room if there are any doubts. It is better to be safe than sorry as rabies is a serious health risk, and can easily be treated if caught in time.
If you happen to know the owner of the dog who bit you, you should start by asking to see the vaccination records, these should be on file and can also be obtained from the dogs veterinarian. A dog which has bitten a person is often quarantined for 10 days to make sure that it is not showing any signs of rabies (this can happen if the dog was recently infected), if the dog shows any signs of sickness during the 10 day period, a veterinarian will test it for rabies, if the dog is infected you will need a series of rabies shots. Rabies shots usually consist of a regimen of 6 shots over a 28 day period.

According to the Centers for Disease Control, more than 4.7 million people are bitten by dogs every year, resulting in an astounding 800,000 injuries that require medical attention. With more than 50 percent of the bites occurring on the dog owner’s property, the issue is a major concern for insurers.
Over the years, many states have passed laws with penalties for owners of dogs that cause serious injuries or deaths. In about a third of states, owners are "strictly liable" for their dogs' behavior or aggresivness, while in the rest of the country they are liable only if they knew or should have known their dogs had a propensity to bite (known as the "one free bite" principle).

The Animal Shelter now has a new Twitter account, please setup a Twitter account and follow us for up to date pet tips and information Our goal is to have 1000 people following us by the end of the year, please help us out, its free and will only take about 3-5 minutes of your time. www.twitter.com/animalshelter.
Pet friendly vacation rentals We are pleased to offer Pet friendly vacation rentals so that you can now vacation with your pet.
The Animal Shelter now has a BLOG With all the talk of blogs on the internet we thought it was time for us to get our own. It will be dedicated to pet tips to educate the community. We encourage you to blog with us at http://animalshelter.wordpress.com
In Memory Of. After many requests we have added an In Memory Of page to our site. A dift can be given here and we will add your name, the amount, and any message you would like to our page of memories. Click In Memory Of to see what memories and stories have been added.
Search for local dog parks.Our dog park directory is new and growing, Dog parks are an excellent place to take your dog for exercise or fun.
You can now lookup some of the most common pet meds, how they should be used, stored, and potential side effects.Click now to get a list of common medical conditions, and treatments.
You can now add your shelter or rescue organization If your shelter or rescue is not listed you can now add it to our directory of nearly 6000 organizations .
State based search for animal shelters and rescues is now available You can now click on your state and view all shelters and rescues.
Zip Code search for Pets is now available You can now enter your zip code and a range in miles to determine which pets are in your area.
Zip Code search for Animal Shelters is now available You can now enter your zip code and a range in miles to determine which organizations are in your area.
You can now place a quick search link to our site using the code available on this link.

Not sure where to start in your search for a pet? Click below for details.
Dogs: Get advice
Cats: Get advice


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