It’s the height of summer, which means that mountain trails, bucolic meadows and forested thickets are beckoning your dog to romp and explore. This impulse may be at odds with concerns about new research on Lyme disease, which may have you more inclined to restrict your canine companion’s activities to the Great Indoors. Before you put the kibosh on outdoor fun, make sure you know all the facts about canine Lyme disease.

According to Banfield Pet Hospital’s 2014 State of Pet Health Report, based on the medical data from over 2.3 million dogs, incidence of canine Lyme disease has increased 21% since 2009. As of last year, one in every 130 dogs carries the disease-causing bacteria.

The risk of Lyme disease depends on where you live. In New England, Lyme disease rates are much higher than the rest of the country. New Hampshire has the highest rate of Lyme disease cases, with one in every 15 dogs affected! Compare this with Washington and Oregon, where only 1 in 1,000 dogs carried the bacteria.

In the last five years, populations of the two species of ticks that carry Lyme disease have skyrocketed. As white tailed deer populations have escalated (chiefly due to declines of predator species), so too have the tick species that feast upon them. This is especially true in states east of the Rocky Mountains. While much smaller in stature, but just as problematic in the Northeast, the white footed mouse is another carrier of the bacteria responsible for Lyme disease. Greater numbers of animals that attract ticks translates to an increased likelihood that pet kids will be bitten.

Lyme disease is caused by the corkscrew-shaped bacteria, Borrelia burgdorferi. The bacteria are carried by ticks which transmit the infection when they feed on animals and humans. The disease can cause generalized illness in animals and humans. Even though about 75% of dogs living in endemic regions are exposed to infected ticks, only a small percentage develop symptoms.

Lyme disease was first discovered in 1975, when an unusual outbreak of rheumatoid arthritis occurred in the children of Lyme, Connecticut. In the U.S. today, it’s the most common disease transmitted to humans by insects, and perhaps dogs as well. Infections can also occur in horses and cattle … even cats.

The most common sign of Lyme disease in dogs is arthritis, which causes sudden lameness, pain and sometimes swelling in one or more joints. Other symptoms include fever, lack of appetite, apathy and swollen lymph nodes. In severe cases, the infection can lead to kidney failure, which can prove fatal, although this outcome isn’t common (thank goodness).

If your pet kid is diagnosed with Lyme disease, don’t assume that you too are contaminated. Transmission of the illness from companion animals to humans, or vice versa, is highly unlikely.

You wear sunblock to prevent sunburns, so why not take preventative measures to deter ticks? There are many highly effective veterinary products that will kill ticks before they can transmit the bacteria. Just keep in mind that the best way to avoid the problem is to steer clear of tick-infested areas, especially in the spring when young ticks are most active.

After spending time outdoors, do a thorough search for ticks, on both yourself and your companion animals. If you locate any, they should be removed carefully with tweezers, pinching the tick near the head, where they enter the skin. Researchers have learned that infected ticks must feed for about 24 hours to transmit the bacteria to a susceptible animal. That means quick removal greatly reduces the chance of contracting the illness. Fortunately, Lyme disease is easily treated in dogs with antibiotics.

Thank you for all you do to make the world a better place for companion animals.

It is with immense pleasure that we bring you news that another rescue organization has received financial aid from Dr. Jane’s Foundation. This month’s featured grant recipient is a committed group of volunteers working to alleviate the needless death and suffering of animals in Texas.

In operation since January of 2004, True Blue Animal Rescue is a non-profit organization dedicated to rescuing abused, neglected and abandoned animals, providing necessary rehabilitation services and locating great new forever homes. They have put significant resources towards developing working relationships with shelters and law enforcement agencies in nearby counties. Their ongoing efforts to provide low-cost spay-and-neuter services have directly led to a decrease in the number of strays and unwanted litters of dogs in Washington County. Similar efforts have helped to diminish feline overpopulation in a dozen nearby feral colonies.

This small-but-mighty rescue group also maintains a substantial volunteer base (10 officers and 20 members) who provide assistance in raising much-needed funding. With an extensive network of foster parents, True Blue has made a significant impact in their corner of the Lone Star State. In 2013, they fostered approximately 75 animals and expect to meet that benchmark this year, too. Successful adoptions last year beat the 100-mark, with 52 dogs, 14 cats, 18 horses and 17 donkeys finding new forever homes.

There’s no question that saving a life is noble, and it’s the primary enterprise of most rescue organizations. The immediacy of present problems – handling medical crises and providing for daily needs, such as shelter, food and attention – these activities take a great deal of time and energy. However, these are symptoms of a broader problem – namely, pet overpopulation. Simply put, there are just too many animals in need and not enough people adopting rescued pets. Like other ambitious groups, True Blue actively promotes spay-and-neuter procedures to put an end to the practice of euthanasia as an acceptable strategy for dealing with unwanted companion animals.

To really make a difference, to fundamentally change the future, the True Blue team is making an investment in the long view. At their Washington, TX facility, they offer an educational program that teaches children about proper animal care, the importance of developing compassion and empathy for all creatures, and techniques for building their own self-esteem. In a very real sense, these lucky children are learning to become informed pet parents and future advocates for animals. Aptly named ABLE - Animals Bridge Love and Education – True Blue has seen firsthand the dramatic impact this program has had in training tomorrow’s adults.

The award given by Dr. Jane’s Foundation has been allocated to the fund that covers the costs of alteration surgeries for their rescues. Our grant will help True Blue to continue providing this valuable service to their local community. DeAeth expressed sincere gratitude for our “generous gift”, adding that these funds have “helped us spay even more animals and find them homes”.

Here are just a few of the many animals that have been saved by the good works of True Blue Animal Rescue. In fact, everyone you see here is available for adoption … yes, including the horse!

This adorable mom and litter were saved from certain death. Affectionately dubbed ‘The Charlie Brown Family’, Lucy and her six babies - Peppermint Patty, Sally, Marcie, Linus, Shermie and (of course) Charlie - were on a ticking clock, with mere days before they would have been euthanized. Upon intake, all seven dogs were suffering from kennel cough, but thanks to the excellent care of their foster family, two weeks later they had fully recovered. Lucy will be living out her days with her foster mom (now her adoptive mom), but the pups will be available for adoption as early as July.

This charming little Australian Cattle Dog and Terrier Mix is another rescue who faced an uncertain end at a kill shelter. Fortunately, one of True Blue’s dedicated volunteers learned of Bandit’s status from an animal control officer and intervened in the nick of time. Just over a year old, this lovable pup yearns for the great outdoors, and is positively thriving in foster care. Bandit’s seeking a family whose energy level and enthusiasm for life matches his own.

This mustang was found wandering the streets with her foal in tow. Both Jessi and her daughter, Starlet, were utterly emaciated and exhibiting high levels of fear and anxiety. Rescuers could only guess at how long they’d been living off the land. Thanks to True Blue’s superb veterinary care and quality placement, both are living happily with a foster family. Anyone looking to adopt Jessi should be an experienced equestrian, as both horses appear to have never had any previous training.

This sweet Australian Shepherd endears himself to all who meet him. Smokey Lonesome’s past is a mystery, as he just showed up at a home that was fortunately inhabited by a family willing to feed the obviously hungry pup. His need for a square meal had finally won out over his conspicuous fear of people. It was clear to his rescuers that Smokey had endured an ordeal, likely at the hands of an abusive owner. However, with True Blue’s dedicated trainer and a caring foster family, Smokey Lonesome’s future doesn’t look quite so forlorn any longer.

If you or someone you know would be interested in supporting this superb organization, we encourage you to visit their website at t-bar.org (or call them directly at 936-878-2349). You never know … you could end up finding your new best friend!

Dr. Jane’s Foundation has provided funding to animal rescue groups all over America since 2007. Our non-profit wing could not have achieved what it has without the continued patronage of our customers and the contributions of individual donors. On behalf of all the dogs, cats, horses and donkeys now living in safe, caring environments thanks to True Blue Animal Rescue, we thank you for caring enough to make a difference.

If you’ve had experience with an animal rescue organization worthy of special recognition and financial support, please let them know that we are still accepting grant applications for 2014. Interested parties should email [email protected] … one of our customer service agents will be happy to share application details.