ASHEVILLE-JAN22-WEB

CELEBRATING OVER 

FREE – TAKE ONE 

JANUARY 2022 

VOL. 23 NO. 11 

animal adoption, rescue and education in asheville and surrounding communities 

TM 

!

How to Help Homeless Pets 

During the COVID-19 Pandemic 

While Coronavirus/COVID-19 has many of us 

practicing social distancing or settling in to shelter in 

place, there are still thousands of dogs and cats that 

need our help. Luckily, there are still plenty of ways you 

can support the them—and the groups that care for them. 

1. Give to Animal Shelters in Need 

One of the fastest and simplest ways to help a dog 

or cat amidst Coronavirus is by giving a donation. 

Fundraisers and events for many pet shelters have been 

cancelled. Traffic from potential adopters has slowed, but 

there are still pets coming in, costs for care, and needs to 

be met. 

Visit your local animal shelter’s website to see if you 

can make a donation online or find animal rescue 

groups and shelters near you. If your local organization 

cannot directly take a donation, The Petfinder Foundation 

can help. They’re currently working overtime during the 

Coronavirus pandemic to identify and distribute funds 

to adoption organizations that need it most, and you 

can donate to them directly. If you can’t donate funds 

directly, you can also donate product or supplies to animal 

rescues—and there’s no need to go directly into the 

shelter to do it. Just reach out to your local shelter and see 

if they have a wish list online. Pick a few items and send 

via mail. 

2. Adopt a Pet 

It’s as true today as it always has been. Adopting a 

new dog or cat is one of the best ways to help 

homeless pets. Search for an available dog, cat, rabbit, 

and more near you. If you find a pet that looks just perfect 

for you, fill out a pet adoption application, then reach out 

to the shelter directly to see what their current protocols 

are, given COVID-19. 

Since we’ll all be spending more time at home, it’s a 

good time to start healthy training habits, form a bond, and 

get a new pet acclimated to your home. 

3. Foster a Dog or Cat 

If you have the space and time to temporarily bring a 

pet into your home, now is a great time to do it. Fostering 

a dog or cat is a great way to know if you’re ready to 

adopt, or just help a pet in need for a little while. Plus, it 

can make the whole process of being socially distant feel 

a little less lonely—and a lot more cuddly. Here are a few 

ways to check into fostering: 

- Search Petfinder for available pets now. When you 

find a pet that you are interested in fostering or adopting, 

use the “ask about” button to reach out directly to the 

shelter. 

- GreaterGood.org is compiling a list of shelters 

and rescues looking for foster families, and matching 

those groups with fostering volunteers from the national 

community. Sign up to be an emergency foster and you 

may help save a pet’s life—not to mention bring a little 

extra joy into yours. 

If you have questions about fostering a dog or cat in 

need, feel free to check out the frequently asked 

questions about fostering a pet on Petfinder, read more 

at tinyurl.com/y7zveyz7. 

4. Other Ways to Help 

Make sure you have a disaster pet plan of your own, 

and run through this checklist of appropriate disaster-time 

supplies to make sure you’re covered 

If you’re struggling to care for a pet due to COVID-19 

try to avoid taking them to a shelter that may already be 

overwhelmed. Consider pet rehoming as a better option. 

Share posts from local shelters and Petfinder on social 

media, and help spread the word. 

5. If You Are a Shelter in Need of Help 

If your organization has been impacted by Coronavirus/ 

COVID-19, The Petfinder Foundation has grants up to 

$1,000 available. To apply, visit their online portal at 

tinyurl.com/yb2dcq6q and create an account. 

If you need fosters for animals in your care, 

GreaterGood.org is compiling a list of shelters and 

rescues looking for foster families, and matching 

those groups with fostering volunteers from the national 

community. Just fill out a quick survey at 

tinyurl.com/ybfhnrhz. 

THERE AREN’T ENOUGH 

HOMES FOR THEM ALL. 

PLEASE SPAY AND 

NEUTER YOUR PETS! 

PAGE 2 • CRITTER MAGAZINE • JANUARY 2022

IN THIS ISSUE 

JANUARY 2022 

How to Help Homeless Pets During the Pandemic ........... 2 

Angus & Phil ......................................................................... 3 

Point of View ........................................................................... 4 

It’s Time to Stop Demonizing Invasive Species 

Winter Weather Tips for Outdoor Cats ................................. 6 

Why National Bird Day? ......................................................... 7 

How To Help a Dog Chained Outside in the Cold ............... 9 

Ways to Keep Birds Safe and Happy .................................. 11 

Critter Notes ......................................................................... 14 

Critter Kids’ Page ................................................................. 15 

Thanks From the Birds! 

New Year Resolutions for Pets & Their People ................. 20 

Consider Volunteering to Help Animals ............................. 21 

..... 

Bear Wise Basics ................................................................. 24 

ON THE COVER 

CAPTAIN CHEWIE was found by Henderson County Animal Control in a 

ditch in poor condition. He was thin, had no hair, painful, bleeding skin and his 

extremely injured eye needed to be removed quickly. Without immediate care, 

it was doubtful he would survive. Western Carolina Regional Animal Hospital 

stepped up and removed his eye and began caring for his injury and skin— 

in-house and pro bono. They could see that this poor boy was very loving 

despite his condition—and they kept him for a month. Chewie is now at Blue 

Ridge Humane Society and seeking his forever home. If you’re interested in 

adopting this super sweetheart, submit an application at blueridgehumane.org. 

THINK OUTSIDE THE CAGE! 

National Bird Day 

Wednesday, January 5, 2022 

A Campaign by the Avian Welfare Coalition 

nationalbirdday.com 

’ 

HAPPY 

20211 2022! 

Critter Magazine is an animal adoption publication dedicated to 

improving the quality of life for animals through education, support of spay/ 

neuter efforts and encouraging responsible pet ownership, as well as helping 

to find loving homes for animals in need. Although the majority of the animals 

profiled are dogs and cats, we will feature any animal that is in need 

of adoption. While COVID continues to be active, thereby limiting the number 

of locations we can distribute, we have made the decision to publish monthly 

online only at www.crittermagazine.com. Advertising and editorial deadline is 

the 15 th of the month for the following month’s issue. We welcome letters to 

the editor, comments and suggestions, as well as informative articles and 

stories which are relevant to our goals. 

Critter Magazine cannot screen either potential adopters or animals for health or 

temperament. We urge all parties to act responsibly in these matters. All animals 

adopted through Critter Magazine must be spayed or neutered prior to adoption. 

Critter Magazine is a publication of Critter Communications, LLC. 

Publisher and Editor - Elaine Lite 

P.O. Box 8052 

Asheville, NC 28814 

E-mail: crittermagnc@charter.net 

(828) 255-0516 

If you are interested in publishing a Critter Magazine in your area, 

contact Elaine Lite at crittermagnc@charter.net or call 828-255-0516. 

www.crittermagazine.com 

All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or part without prior written consent of publisher prohibited. 

CRITTER MAGAZINE • JANUARY 2022 • PAGE 3

Point of View 

It's Time to Stop Demonizing 

"Invasive" Species 

By Marina Bolotnikov, Vox 

Marine ecologist Piper Wallingford was doing fieldwork 

on the rocky shore of Laguna Beach, California in 2016 

when she noticed a dime-sized creature she’d never seen 

before. It was a dark unicorn snail, a predator that drills 

into mussels and injects an enzyme that liquefies their 

flesh. “Then,” Wallingford explains, “they basically suck it 

out like soup.” 

The animal is native to the Mexican state of Baja 

California, Wallingford later learned, and it’s been 

migrating up the coast over the last few decades in search 

of new habitat, eating into local mussel populations along 

the way. It’s also one of countless species around the 

world—from white-tailed deer to lobsters to armadillos to 

maple trees — that are moving with the climate. 

Ecologists expect climate change to create mass 

alterations in the habitats of these “range-shifting” or 

“climate-tracking” species, as they’re sometimes called, 

which will reshuffle ecosystems in ways that are hard to 

predict. The migrations are critical to species’ ability to 

survive hotter temperatures. 

The scientific community largely views this kind of 

habitat shift as a good thing, Wallingford and other 

ecologists told Vox. But the primary lens available to 

the general public and to policymakers is less forgiving. 

“Invasive species” is a concept so ingrained in American 

consciousness that it’s taken on a life of its own, coloring 

the way we judge the health of ecosystems and neatly 

dividing life on Earth into native and invasive. 

A 2018 Orange County Register story on Wallingford’s 

work, for example, called the dark unicorn snails “climate 

invaders.” “I think any time you introduce this idea of a 

new species, there’s sort of this inherent reaction of, ‘Oh, 

that’s bad, right?’” Wallingford says. But she encouraged 

local stakeholders not to try to remove them. 

For decades, invasion has been a defining paradigm in 

environmental policy, determining what gets done with 

limited conservation budgets. Species deemed invasive 

have often been killed in gruesome ways. Even though 

invasion biologists readily point out that many non-native 

species never become problematic, the invasion concept 

almost by definition makes scientists skeptical of species 

moving around. But a growing community of scientists 

and environmental philosophers now question whether a 

concept defined by a species’ geographic origin can 

capture the ethical and ecological complexities of life on a 

rapidly changing planet. In the 21st century, there’s no 

such thing as an undisrupted ecosystem, and this will 

only become truer as climate change and habitat loss 

accelerate. It’s crucial that we get this right. 

Range shifts have “been a real problem for the hardcore 

invasion biologists to deal with,” says Mark Davis, a 

biology professor at Macalester College and a critic of the 

invasion framework. 

In a controversial recent paper published in Nature 

Climate Change, Wallingford and a team of co-authors 

argued that the tools of invasion biology — for example, 

looking at a species’ impact on local food or water 

PAGE 4 • CRITTER MAGAZINE • JANUARY 2022 

sources, or figuring out if it’s encountering prey that aren’t 

used to predators — could be adjusted to understand the 

impacts of range-shifters. 

The proposal got “a lot of pushback,” says Wallingford, 

who doesn’t necessarily oppose the “invasion” lens. 

Detractors said that merely linking climate-tracking 

species with invaders taints them by association. Rangeshifters 

ought to be seen “not as invasive species to keep 

out, but rather as the refugees of climate change that 

need our assistance,” University of Connecticut ecologist 

Mark Urban argued in a comment published in the same 

journal issue. 

Climate change and the range shifts it’s causing are 

extraordinary circumstances. If a species flees a habitat 

that is burning or melting, is it ever fair to call it invasive? 

Even outside of a climate context, this tension reflects a 

more fundamental problem within the invasive species 

paradigm. If the label is so stigmatizing that the only 

appropriate response feels like extermination, perhaps 

something else needs to take its place. 

The origins of “invasive” species 

“Invasive species” might feel like a firmly established 

scientific category, but invasion biology, which studies the 

impacts of non-native species, is a relatively young field. 

British ecologist Charles Elton drew attention to non-native 

species in his 1958 book The Ecology of Invasion by 

Animals and Plants, arguing that there is a place, or 

niche, for every species on the planet where they’ve 

evolved to survive. Those that move, he believed, should 

be removed. 

Even before that, “There were people who recognized 

invasions and remarked in great detail on them,” including 

Charles Darwin, says University of Tennessee ecologist 

Daniel Simberloff, one of the originators of invasion 

biology. It wasn’t until the 1980s, Simberloff says, that it 

cohered into a subfield of scientists talking to each other 

and looking at invasions as a general phenomenon. 

Invasion biologists aren’t opposed to the presence of 

all non-native species — many of them are innocuous, 

some are even beneficial. A widely accepted rule of 

thumb says that about 10 percent of species introduced 

into new ecosystems will survive, and about 10 percent of 

those (so, just 1 percent of all non-natives) will cause 

problems that lead them to become “invasive.” Some can 

do real harm, such as threatening vulnerable endemic 

species. Feral cats in Australia, for example, are thought 

to be a major driver of extinctions of small mammals. 

Invasion biology became entangled with politics as its 

influence grew. In 1999, then-US President Bill Clinton 

signed an executive order establishing the National 

Invasive Species Council. It defined an invasive species 

as a non-native species “whose introduction does or is 

likely to cause economic or environmental harm or harm 

to human health.” Simberloff, who advised in drafting the 

order, says the White House added the “economic” 

component to that definition — which often amounts to 

harming agribusiness. “There are introduced species that 

have some substantial impact on some agricultural crops 

that don’t really have much of an impact on anything else,” 

he says. “Many scientists wouldn’t worry about them.” 

Combining commercial and environmental concerns in 

the “invasive” category can make it sound as though 

threats to the bottom line of a business are tantamount to 

an ecological problem. This is particularly troublesome 

considering some businesses — industrial monocropping 

Continued on page 18

Saving Haywood County’s Adoptable Pets 

PO Box 854 Waynesville, NC 28786 ph: 828-246-9050 

E-mail: info@sargeandfriends.org www.sargeanimals.org 

MINT is a sweet Tuxedo 

female who is about 

1½-years old. This lovely 

lady would make a 

wonderful companion in 

her new loving home. 

EVEREST is a big, fluffy, beautiful 

4-year old girl who appears to be 

an Alaskan Malamute. She’s super 

friendly and hasn't found a human 

she doesn't like. She’s just under 

100 lbs. and likes to jump up to say 

hello, so a home with small children 

might not be in the cards. 

DARYL is an adorable young 

male tabby who is just about 

6-months old. He loves 

attention and would enjoy a 

home with a playful owner 

or even another 

fun-loving feline. 

BUDDY is a friendly, 7½-year 

old beagle mix. He doesn't enjoy 

the company of pets and has not 

been around small children—but 

he has spent a few days in a foster 

home and they reported that he’s a 

wonderful and mellow companion. 

NOW OPEN! Please visit sargeanimals.org 

for applications and info about our adoption protocol. 

ASHEVILLE PET SUPPLY 

“WNC’s Holistic Pet Center” 

Featuring 

Solid Gold, Wysong & Wellness 

· Holistic, hypo-allergenic premium foods 

· Healthy nutritional treats 

· Herbal and homeopathic remedies 

and supplements 

1451 Merrimon Ave. Asheville 

(828) 252-2054 

KUDZU is one of our 

FAVORITES! He’s an 

11-month old Rat Terrier mix 

weighing only 41 lbs. Just like 

the plant, Kudzu grows on you 

quickly with his goofy ears and 

playful personality. He walks 

decently on a leash and is a 

medium/high energy level. 

He would be the ideal hiking 

or running partner. If you’re 

interested in this adorable 

guy, please fill out 

an online application 

on our website at 

foothillshumanesociety.org. 

989 Little Mountain Road 

Columbus, NC 

FoothillsHumaneSociety.org 

828-863-4444 

Seeking volunteer dog walkers & fosters. 

DONATIONS MAKE THE DIFFERENCE ... 

UNTIL THEY ALL HAVE A HOME! 

Adoption Hours: Mon & Tue 11 am-5 pm 

Thu-Sat 11 am-5 pm / Sun 1-5 pm 


All your pet needs 

in downtown 

Weaverville! 

WeavervillePetPantry.com 

1 Merrimon Avenue • Weaverville 

Friends2Ferals 

A TNR Program of the 

Humane Society of Buncombe County 

Offering help with your outside cats 

• Loaning traps • Trapping • Education/Assistance 

• Discounted spay/neuter/vaccinations 

PO Box 2532 Asheville, NC 28802 

828-505-6737 

A 501(c)3 non-profit • On Facebook at Friends2Ferals 

Winter Weather Tips 

for Outdoor Cats 

As temperatures across the country begin to drop, many 

people find themselves concerned about how to care 

for outdoor/community cats in the wintertime. Cats are 

resilient, but they can always use a hand staying warm and 

healthy during cold weather. 

“Cats live and thrive outdoors in all kinds of climates,” 

said Becky Robinson, president and founder of Alley Cat 

Allies. “But a little extra help during the winter months can 

go a long way for protecting community cats.” 

Alley Cat Allies offers some ways people can make life 

outdoors even more comfortable for cats: 

- Protection from the Cold 

Provide shelters to keep cats warm. These can be easy 

and inexpensive to build yourself, or can be purchased pre 

-made online. Check out their do-it-yourself shelter video at 

alleycat.org/resources/how-to-build-an-outdoor-shelter. 

Insulate shelters with straw. Not only is straw less 

expensive and easy to come by (just check your local pet 

supply store or garden center), but straw repels moisture. 

Remove snow from all shelter entrances and exits. It’s 

important to keep cats from getting snowed in. 

- Extra Food and Water 

Increase food portions to help cats conserve energy and 

stay warm. Canned or wet food, which takes less energy to 

digest, should be in insulated containers. Dry food, which 

will not freeze, also works. 

Keep water from freezing to prevent dehydration. To 

keep water drinkable, use bowls that are deep rather than 

wide and place them in a sunny spot. Or use heated 

electric bowls. 

- A Little Precaution Could Save a Cat’s Life 

Do not use antifreeze, which is deadly, in an 


SNOW is a 2-year 

old shepherd mix 

who was abandoned 

in Cabarrus County. 

She can be very 

vocal upon first 

meeting and at the 

fence but is a good 

girl when she is 

out of her kennel. 

Meet and greet with 

other family dogs 

is required for 

her adoption. 

962 Cane River School Road 

Burnsville, NC • (828) 682-9510 

Hours: Mon, Tues, Thu, Fri 

noon-5 pm / Sat - noon-4 pm 

Closed Wed and Sun 

Follow us on facebook 

E-mail: ychs@ccvn.com 

www.petfinder.com/shelters/NC08.html 

area accessible to 

cats. Keep antifreeze 

out of reach and 

clean up spills. Most 

antifreeze brands use 

ethylene glycol as 

the main ingredient, 

so be sure to switch 

to a brand made with 

propylene glycol as it 

is less toxic. 

Refrain from using 

salt and chemicals to 

melt snow. These can 

be lethal when licked 

off paws or ingested 

from melting puddles and can hurt a cat’s paw pads. 

Check your car before you drive. Look between your 

tires and give the hood of your car a few taps before 

starting it to make sure that a cat has not hidden 

underneath or inside the engine for warmth. 

- Spay and Neuter Before Kitten Season 

Winter is the prime breeding season for community cats 

and the ideal time to spay and neuter. If you’re conducting 

Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR)—the only humane and effective 

approach to stabilize community cat populations—in the 

winter, follow these safety tips: 

Check the traps frequently and provide a warm holding 

area, pre-and-post surgery. If it’s too cold for you, then 

it’s probably too cold for cats to be in traps, exposed to 

the elements, for extended periods of time. Keep traps 

covered and secured in a temperature-controlled vehicle or 

building. 

Ask your veterinarian to shave only a small area for 

spay/neuter surgery. This will help the cats stay warm by 

maintaining maximum fur coverage. Find more winter 

weather tips for outdoor cats at alleycat.org/WinterWeather.

Why National Bird Day? 

• The beauty, songs, and flight of birds have long been sources 

of human inspiration. 

• Today, nearly 12 percent of the world's 9,800 bird species 

may face extinction within the next century, including nearly 

one-third of the world's 330 parrot species. 

• Birds are sentinel species whose plight serves as barometer 

of ecosystem health and alert system for detecting global 

environmental ills. 

• Many of the world's parrots and songbirds are threatened 

with extinction due to pressures from the illegal pet trade, 

disease, and habitat loss. 

• Public awareness and education about the physical and 

behavioral needs of birds can go far in improving the welfare of 

the millions of birds kept in captivity. 

• The survival and well-being of the world's birds depends upon 

public education and support for conservation. 

For information about how you can get 

involved, visit nationalbirdday.com. 

Mention this ad for free nail trim with a regular office visit! 

www.CatClinicofAsheville.com 

49 Haywood Rd. 

Asheville, NC 28806 

828-645-7711 

catclinicofasheville@gmail.com 

Now and 

throughout 

the year ... 

please 

support our 

advertisers! 

They help make it possible for 

rescued pets to find loving homes. 


MaryPaws Adoptions 

P.O. Box 941 Leicester, NC 28748 • 828-622-3248 • marypaws.com • find us on Facebook at Marypaws! 

ADOPTIONS HELD AT OUR SHELTER BY APPOINTMENT. COME SEE ALL OF OUR WONDERFUL CATS! CALL FOR INFORMATION. 

RUBY is a 4-month old Tabby who is 

Remy’s sister. She has Remy's charming 

personality and gets along with everyone. 

She is quite lovely with wildcat spots on her 

back, making her look very exotic. Ruby is 

very playful and will be a great companion. 

REMY is a tiny 4-month old Tabby girl with 

lots of personality. She loves to interact with 

people in all ways—and when you enter 

the room she quickly comes to see you. 

She’s curious, loving and wants to look 

you in the eye—and plays with everyone! 

ARCHIE is a gorgeous 4-month old, marbled 

tabby with unusual markings. He has swirls 

of black mixed with buff & gray and his chest 

and feet are white. His face looks like he has 

makeup around his golden eyes. He’s playful, 

affectionate and gets along with other cats. 

MARYPAWS Animal Adoptions is a rescue organization dedicated to helping unwanted felines find loving and permanent homes. Through 

our adoption program, we have helped hundreds of abandoned cats and kittens avoid homelessness. Please help us by spaying/neutering your 

pets, making a donation if you can, or by offering one of our adoptable animals a place in your heart and your home. If you’re looking for a 

pair of felines, call us! We have many siblings who are available and ready to be adopted together. 

Be Kind to Animals ... 

Today and Every Day! 

"Some people 

talk to 

animals. 

Not many 

listen though. 

That's the 

problem." 

― A.A. Milne 

Bring in Your Pet 

for a Free Treat! 

• Natural Pet Foods 

• Natural & Organic Fresh-Baked Treats 

• Large Selection of Products 

and Toys Made in the USA 

• Gifts for Pets & Pet Lovers 

. 

Monday-Saturday 11-6 • Sunday noon-5 

118-A Cherry St. Black Mountain 

828.669.0706 

www.boneafidepetboutique.com 

- Doris Day 


What to Do If You See a Dog 

Chained Outside in the Cold 

By Lindsay Patton 

For animal lovers, seeing a dog tied up outside elicits 

a visceral response. Many times the chain is meant as a 

dog sitter, a way to get the dog out of its owner’s hair. The 

dog is stuck and if the owner is not paying attention, the 

dog could get tangled up and severely — or fatally — 

injure themselves. 

The situation becomes even worse when the dog is left 

out in freezing conditions. A dog’s fur coat can only go so 

far, with shorter-haired dogs like Chihuahuas and Jack 

Russell terriers succumbing to the cold quicker than heavy 

-coated dogs like Siberian Huskies or Alaskan Malamutes. 

In fact, a dog like the Jack Russell terrier may start to 

shiver if it is left out for too long in weather that is below 

50 degrees Fahrenheit. Even leaving your dog in the car 

during these temperatures is considered neglect. A car 

cools down as quickly as it warms up, so if you are gone 

for more than 10 minutes, a dog will start suffering from 

the cold. 

Just like us, dogs can fall victim to hypothermia or 

frostbite if left out in the cold for too long. The areas that 

are at a danger for frostbite in dogs are ears, tail tip, nose 

and feet. A general rule to follow in cold temperatures is 

“If it’s too cold for us, it’s too cold for our dogs.” 

So what do you do when you see a dog chained up in 

freezing temperatures? The first thing you should do is 

write down all you can about the situation: the time, the 

temperature, the home’s address, the type of dog. Write 

down as much information as you can and if you have a 

device available, take photos or video of what you see as 

evidence. 

Next, call someone who can help. The Humane Society 

recommends contacting local law enforcement agencies 

or animal control first. Because the dog is at risk of 

hypothermia, frostbite and death, the owner could face 

criminal charges, which would save more animals from 

being abused. It is also important that you take notes from 

the call as well. Get the name of the person you spoke to, 

the time and length of the call. 

As much as you want to help, it is important that you let 

the authorities handle the situation. By taking it into your 

own hands, you put yourself at risk. You can, however, 

monitor the location over the next few days to see if the 

situation has gotten better or still remains the same. If it 

has not gotten better, follow up with the person you spoke 

to and report it again. 

It is always wise to be prepared to help an animal. The 

last thing you want to see is a suffering animal, but the 

more prepared you are to help, the better that animal’s life 

can be. The best way to be prepared is to program the 

phone numbers of your local law enforcement, animal 

control and humane society into your phone. That way you 

can alert someone of the neglect as quickly as possible. 

The following is contact information for Asheville and 

Buncombe County residents: 

- Asheville Police Department - Non-emergency number 

828-252-1110 

- Buncombe County Sheriff - Non-emergency number 

828-255-5555 

- Buncombe County Animal Shelter - 828-250-6430 

ADOPTION IS A 

BETTER OPTION ... 

Please check your local 

animal shelter or rescue when 

choosing your next companion. 


General Family Dentistry 

Kevin Fox, DDS 

David Whitlow, DDS 

Providing gentle dental care for the entire family 

and proudly supporting all of our community 

animal shelters & rescue organizations … 

How we can help save lives ... 

Spay/Neuter 

Adopt a homeless pet 

Foster an animal waiting 

for adoption 

Donate 

Volunteer 

Be a Voice for Animals 

BABY GIRL is a beautiful 

5-year old Pittie mix. This 

sweet girl is housebroken, 

and knows sit and lay 

down. If you would like 

to meet her, call Yancey 

County Humane Society 

at 828-682-9510. 

Adopt a pet from any local shelter or rescue organization 

and receive a complimentary doctor exam and 

bitewing x-rays at your next dental appointment. 

*Offer valid thru December 31, 2021. 

Please present adoption contract at time of appointment. 

2 Iris St. (behind Biltmore Village) • 828-252-2791 

Greyhound Friends 

of North Carolina 

Rescue • Advocate • Adopt 

LUCY is a fluffy calico 

with a lot of attitude! 

She is timid around 

strangers, but once she 

gets to know you, her 

personality shines. She 

came to us with a spinal 

injury as an older kitten, 

and because of this she 

absolutely hates using a 

cart, and prefers to drag 

her back legs. She’d do 

well in a home with no 

carpet where she can zoom around to her heart’s content. 

SEE MORE OF OUR WONDERFUL PETS! 

TAAGWAGS.ORG • 828-966-3166 

taagwags@gmail.com 

ADOPTION DAYS are held at PetSmart in Arden 

Saturdays - 11 am - 4 pm 

CHANGING THE WORLD … ONE GREYHOUND AT A TIME! 

www.greyhoundfriends.com 

RUBY is a beautiful 

2-year old fawn girl 

who is as happy as can 

be and keeps herself 

entertained. She would 

make a wonderful 

companion for a 

loving family. 

ADOPT A RETIRED RACING GREYHOUND! 

Greyhounds are calm, easy-going, sweet, loving, intelligent, clean, good 

with kids and other dogs … and some even like cats! Most are between 

2-5 years old when they retire and have a life expectancy of 12-14 years. 

All Greyhounds are spayed/neutered, teeth cleaned, vaccinated, heartworm 

tested,de-wormed and groomed. A one-time adoption donation covers all 

these expenses. Meet our Greyhounds and learn more. For information, 

(828) 692-4986 or (828) 230-2917. E-mail: sherryc@morrisbb.net. 


What You Can Do to Keep 

Birds Safe and Happy 

Up to 1 billion birds may be killed annually in North 

America from colliding with windows. Some birds die on 

impact while others are stunned and may fly away. 

However, even those who fly away may die later from 

internal hemorrhaging and brain swelling or because their 

injury and disorientation made them more susceptible to 

predation. 

Birds fly into a window because they don't know it's a 

window. When they see the average window they see the 

reflection of trees or sky and think 

they can fly through. Sticking a few 

stickers or hawk silhouettes on the 

glass won't solve the problem; 

birds are agile fliers and they'll 

perceive that they can fly between 

the stickers. But there are things 

that you can do reduce the risks. 

1. Use taut exterior window 

"bug" screens and leave them up 

year-round. Screens break up the 

reflection and help cushion the 

blow and reduce injury if a bird 

does hit the window. 

2. Apply CollidEscape 

(collidescape.org) to the outside of 

your windows — an easy-to-apply 

vinyl window film that reduces 

reflections on the outside of the 

window while allowing viewers from inside to see out. 

3. Place vertical exterior tape strips on the glass. Strips 

must not be set more than 10 centimeters (3.9 inches) 

apart. You can also paint patterns on the outsides of 

windows with soap or tempera paint (which can be wiped 

off with a sponge but will not be washed away by rain). 

You can find stencils and tempera paint at art and craft 

supply stores. 

4. Install frosted or etched windows with less reflective 

surface area. This can be done with new windows, while 

craft etching kits are available for existing windows. 

5. Create movement that can help birds avoid windows. 

For example, hang ribbons or other material in strips no 

more than 5 centimeters apart on the outside of windows 

for the full width of the glass. If you like hawk silhouettes, 

make them from aluminum or wood and hang them by a 

chain or rope from an overhang. 

6. Use external sun shades or awnings to minimize 

reflection and transparency of windows. 

7. Keep drapes and blinds closed whenever possible to 

reduce the illusion that birds can fly through the window. 

8. Position houseplants and flowers away from windows 

where they cannot be seen from outside to reduce the 

likelihood that birds will see them as sources of shelter or 

food. 

9. Strategically place bird feeders and baths to reduce 

collisions. Keep birdbaths and feeders closer than 3 feet 

from the window or farther than 20 feet away. If the birds 

are very close to the window, they will not build up 

sufficient speed for an injury if they fly at the window, and 

if they are much farther away they will be more likely to 

avoid the window or recognize it as part of the house. 

10. If putting in new windows, angle the glass downward 

so it does not reflect the sky and trees. 

Habitat loss is the single greatest threat to birds, 

outweighing building collisions, domestic cat predation, 

hunting and capturing for the pet trade. 

You can help offset some of these threats and 

contribute to wildlife conservation by creating habitats in 

your backyard and community, and getting the whole 

family involved. It won't take much effort — the following 

tips for creating habitats for birds are relatively simple and 

immediately impactful. 

• Provide nesting sites. 

Planting a variety of native trees 

and shrubs provides optimal 

protection and nesting sites for 

birds. 

• Diversity is key. One of the 

most important features for birds is 

structural diversity, with shrubs and 

herbaceous plants that grow under 

trees and plants at different heights 

and groupings. 

• Dead trees have a purpose. 

Birds love dead trees and limbs. As 

long as dead trees and limbs do 

not pose a human safety concern, 

leave them. They provide habitat 

for birds such as woodpeckers and 

bluebirds who utilize tree holes for 

nests. Dead limbs also provide 

optimal "lookout" posts for birds. 

• Cats vs. birds. Keep cats indoors, especially during 

the bird breeding season (generally spring and summer) 

when young birds are most at risk as they are learning 

to fly. 

• Stop mowing. Or at least set aside some "no-mow" 

areas of your yard. Many songbirds nest close to the 

ground in grass and "weeds." Leaving tall grass areas will 

help birds such as goldfinches, quail and towhees. You 

also will save on mowing time, expense and pollution. 

• Create a water source. Wild birds need a continuous 

supply of fresh, clean water all year long. Look for a basin 

that can be cleaned easily and has a gentle slope so birds 

can wade into the water. The bowl should be no more 

than 1 to 3 inches deep. Keep birdbaths at least 15 feet 

from other feeding areas. Place them near shrubs or trees 

for quick escape from predators. Having perching space 

nearby helps birds to sit and preen after bathing. Keep 

water clear of algae, mud or droppings by replacing it 

every two to three days. 

• Consider the birds and the bees. Help out bees and 

provide these pollinators with a variety of flowering plants 

that have overlapping flowering periods. Planting clumps 

of native flowers will attract more pollinators. But avoid 

using insecticides and herbicides, especially when flowers 

are in bloom. (If you are successful in attracting a diverse 

collection of birds to your garden, you will no longer need 

insecticides and herbicides.) Different birds specialize in 

eating different insects, while others set their sights on 

weed seeds. For example, goldfinches devour thistle 

seeds, and black phoebes are experts at catching flying 

insects. 


SISTER KITTEN ANIMAL RESCUE 

PO Box 1872 Maggie Valley, NC 28751 · (828) 400-0223 

SisterKitten.org · email: adopt@sisterkitten.org 

JOHNNY MO BLUE ELLE DRIVER COSTNER 

Sister Kitten Animal Rescue (SKAR) was founded in 2019. We work to improve animal lives and the public’s perceptions of animals, 

with a focus on supporting community cats and “outdoor” dogs in WNC. We rescue and re-home abandoned and neglected 

animals, provide trap-neuter-return (TNR) as well as support, education and assistance to community cat caregivers. We maintain 

animals in foster care for adoption, provide veterinary care for sick animals, and promote community animal welfare. We respond 

to weather-related emergencies in the Southeast by assisting with animal rescue and relief efforts. We’re committed to proactive, 

respectful neighbor relations and positive collaboration with other local animal rescue and animal control agencies. 

Like dogs and cats, birds are now facing epidemic overpopulation and homelessness. 

There aren’t enough homes - especially good homes - for every bird bred! Because of 

their demanding needs, parrots, like the Umbrella Cockatoo, above, are often victims. 

Thousands of birds are displaced each year simply because their caretakers can no 

longer provide the time and attention they require - either because they are not educated 

about bird care or because their lives and interests change. The least fortunate unwanted 

birds are passed from home to home before dying from neglect or abuse, or they are 

euthanized. The lucky ones end up in shelters and sanctuaries are filling up fast! 

If you are ready to make a lifetime care commitment, you can help solve this problem 

by not breeding birds and by adopting a displaced bird rather than buying one from a pet 

store. Bird rescue, adoption, and sanctuary organizations can also use volunteers and 

donations to help care for their birds. Please spread the word to your fellow bird lovers - 

thousands of parrots and other birds will thank you! 


BLUE RIDGE HUMANE SOCIETY 

ANIMAL ADOPTION RESCUE CENTER 

88 Centipede Lane Hendersonville, NC 28792 • 828-692-2639 • www.blueridgehumane.org 

HOURS: Tues - Sat 10 am - 5 pm / Sun noon - 5 pm / Closed Mon 

KNOX is a handsome 1½-year old boy 

who is a bit on the independent side 

even though he loves a good snuggle. 

He really loves when he’s outside 

running in the sunshine—and he enjoys 

a good roll around in the grass. We 

discovered that he likes to play Frisbee, 

and it’s a great way for him to exercise! 

CASHEW is really buttering up the 

camera here. With lovely markings & 

intelligent eyes, she’s a stunner. Add 

some beauty and fun to your life this 

New Year—add something nutty. You 

deserve it—just as much as Cashew 

deserves a new loving home! 

BOSS the dog doesn’t worry about 

work or deadlines—he only wants 

your unconditional love & attention. 

At 2-years old, this guy is still a 

puppy at heart. He knows sit and 

shake—and loves to play. Call 

today to meet this adorable boy! 

URSULA the Queen is looking 

for a kingdom to rule. She’s a 

beautiful and elegant house 

panther who is oh, so sweet. 

She enjoys having her ears 

rubbed and being told 

how pretty she is! 

If you’re looking for a dog or cat but can’t find one you like, fill out a pet request at blueridgehumane.org/adopt/requests. 

Once we get a dog or cat that matches your needs, we’ll give you a call to go over the next steps. If you or someone 

you know is in need of assistance with their pet, call our Pet Helpline at 828-393-5832. 


CRITTER NOTES 

Phoenix Landing Online Events for January 

Phoenix Landing Parrot Rescue will offer ‘No Place 

Like Home’—a self-paced, online class, available 

Friday, January 7 - Monday, January 24. (Registration for 

this session closes on Sunday, January 23.) When we 

bring a parrot into our lives, from parakeets to macaws, 

we are offering them a place to call home. What does 

home mean? For a parrot it might mean a place to be 

safe, be healthy, have a sense of family, and be provided 

positive opportunities to live and thrive. This class will 

address what each of these means to a bird, and give you 

some ideas about how to continue providing the good life 

for your bird. This class satisfies their adoption process 

class requirement. In order for applicants to receive credit 

for the class, all activities must be completed and 

turned in. Online (Google Classroom). Registration is 

free, but please show your support by paying what 

you can afford—whether $5 or $25. Register at 

tinyurl.com/y3pc8axc. 

A webinar focusing on Conservation in Bonaire will 

also be held on Saturday, January 8 at 1 pm. The talk will 

feature Julianka Clarenda of ECHO and Lauren Schmaltz 

of World Parrot Trust. Echo’s focus is on restoring 

the endangered dry forest habitat and securing natural 

biodiversity on Bonaire through (1) nature conservation 

(2) awareness building and (3) monitoring programs. 

The Yellow-shouldered Amazon parrot (Amazona 

barbadensis) is used as a flagship species for promoting 

and striving towards achieving this vision. For more 

information about ECHO visit echobonaire.org. Register 

for the webinar at tinyurl.com/3hz7hce5. 

Blue Ridge Audubon January Bird Walks 

Blue Ridge Audubon host their free birding walks 

on Saturday’s each month. Masks are encouraged for all 

participants The following walks are scheduled: 

- Jackson Park bird walk, Saturday, January 8 at 9 am. 

Join EMAS and friends for a bird walk at Jackson Park 

in Hendersonville. Meet in the Admin Building parking 

lot on Glover Street. Monthly on the second Saturday. 

- Swannanoa Valley bird walk, Saturday, January 15, 

9 am. Meet at Owen Park, 875 Warren Wilson Rd. in the 

parking lot between the lagoons (behind the National 

Wiper Alliance building). Monthly on the third Saturday. 

Email blueridgeaudubon@gmail.com for information or 

visit blueridgeaudubon.org. 

AHS and Appalachian Animal Hospital Host 

Drive-Thru, Low-Cost Vaccine Clinic 

Asheville Humane Society and Appalachian Animal 

Hospital have partnered to offer a low-cost, drive-thru 

community vaccine clinic for pets on Sunday, January 16 

from 1-4 pm at River Ridge Market Place (behind 

Aaron’s Rent-to-Own), 800 Fairview Road in Asheville. No 

appointments needed—first come, first served. for the 

safety of all, masks required as per Buncombe County 

mandate. 

FOMCA Has a Wish List for the New Year 

Friends of Madison County Animals (FOMCA) has had 

a very successful 2021 helping many pets in Madison 

County. They would love your help to be able to continue 

their important work for the animals. Please check their 

Wish List for 2022 below—and donate if you can. They 

would be most grateful! Wish List: Dog houses (must be 

able to be moved by 1-2 people easily); Plastic cat 

carriers; Plastic dog crates; Wire dog crates - medium to 

XL; Fencing Materials in good condition; Metal T posts of 

any height; Welded wire or field fencing; Wood or metal 

posts; Gates (with or without hardware); Chain link panels 

(either individual panels or entire chain link kennels); 

Humane/live animal or Hav-a-Hart traps for TNR. 

Get the facts on chaining. Visit UnChainBuncombe.org or email UnChainBuncombe@gmail.com. 


Thanks From the Birds! 

Many people put bird feeders in their yards or 

in their windows. They enjoy watching their 

feathered friends visit. And the birds enjoy a 

tasty treat—especially during the winter and 

early spring. At those times, seeds and bugs 

are hard for birds to find. 

Thank a bird-lover you know. Sign your 

name in the blank space on the card below. 

Then cut it out and deliver it. You can also 

draw and color other birds on a separate 

sheet of paper to give them. 

Your kindness makes the season warmer and brighter. 

From _____________________ and the neighborhood birds. 

Reprinted with permission from Humane Society Youth, publishers of KIND News, 67 Norwich Essex Turnpike, 

East Haddam, CT 06423-1736, © 2022. 

Cappuccino Machines 

Coffee & Tea Brewers • Gourmet Coffee 

Gourmet Tea • Grinders 

753 Haywood Rd. Asheville 

(828) 254-7766 

Be kind to 

ALL animals. 

chooseveg.com 

People & Pets 

Acupuncture 

Dr. Andrea L. Fochios 

MA, DVM, L.Ac 

Veterinarian & Chinese Medical Practitioner 

By Appointment Only 

Visit us at our office in W. Asheville 

16 Harris Ave. Asheville, NC 

828-254-2773 • Email: ALFDVM@aol.com 

officeofpeopleandpetsacupuncture.com 


Email info@bwar.org for more 

information about our pets! 

ABEL is a beautiful boy who would love to be your 

new adventure buddy! He’s very affectionate and 

loves to be near his people. He’s also a smart boy 

who is treat motivated and knows basic commands 

(sit, lay down, stay). Abel is an active and playful 

dog who loves to go on hikes - he is still 

learning how to walk on a leash though. 

To meet him, email dogs@bwar.org. 

YUKI is an elegant lady who is ready to spend her 

golden years presiding over your home. Gentle Yuki 

is a bookworm who loves being read to - any genre 

will do! If you're looking for a quiet, calm, and 

affectionate cat to join your family (and book club), 

Yuki will fit right in. To meet her, 

email info@bwar.org. 

31 Glendale Ave. Asheville · www.bwar.org · 828- 505-3440 

MOUNTAIN PET RESCUE 

The Thrift Hound Store 

234 New Leicester HWY. Asheville 


QUEEN & DIVA are 8-year old sisters who have lived together 

their whole lives—and plan to stay together forever. They are ready 

to find a retirement home where they can relax and play at their 

leisure. They are currently being fostered in a home with other dogs 

and some cats and are fine with most of them. They recently had 

their teeth cleaned and were spayed, they are up-to-date on 

vaccinations, microchipped and on monthly flea/heartworm 

prevention. To meet these adorable gals, 

email pets@mpravl.org. 

MountainPetRescueAVL.org 

Email: pets@mpravl.org

14 Forever Friend Lane - Off Brevard Rd. (Rte. 191) & Pond Rd. 

828-761-2001 • www.ashevillehumane.org 

ADOPTIONS: Tues.—Sat. 10 am - 6 pm / Naptime for animals 1-2 pm 

Buncombe County Shelter • 16 Forever Friend Lane • 828-250-6430 

SHELTER HOURS: Mon-Sat 9 am-6 pm • Closed Sun 

HARRY is a sweet, happy older guy 

who has lots of love to give! Some of 

his favorite things are car rides, naps, 

rolling in grass and getting petted all 

over. This delightful dog is a dream to 

walk on leash and is mellow & easygoing. 

He has gone on hikes and walks 

with our volunteers and he’s loved by 

all. Please consider meeting him! 

MEAKA is a beautiful 

1½-year old lady who is 

patiently waiting for her 

new, loving home. We bet 

she’d make a fabulous 

snuggle buddy! Come by 

and meet her today! 

HOWLY BARRY is a cute 4-year old 

gal initially separated from her twin sister 

when they were abandoned and brought 

to AHS. They had been living in different 

kennels for a few weeks. One day on a 

group hike they spotted one another and 

pulled to get to each other. When they 

finally came together, they played and 

played and jumped for joy! 

YOLANDA is a lovely 

2-year old female 

sweetheart who can’t wait to 

find her new forever home. 

She’s not only beautiful— 

but would make a 

wonderful companion 

for any family. 

The Adoption Center is OPEN ... no appointment needed. 

OUR THRIFT STORE IS NOW AT RIVER RIDGE MARKETPLACE! (Exit 8 off I-240) 

PHOENIX LANDING, HELPING PARROTS 

EDUCATION, ADOPTION, WELFARE, REFUGE 

www.PhoenixLanding.org 

A 501(c)3 non-profit finding furever 

AVAILABLE FOR ADOPTION 

MOOKIE is a 25-year old, male 

African Grey whose owner died recently. 

He’s a little nervous about stepping onto a 

bare hand but steps up nicely onto a towel 

covered hand. He likes an occasional 

head scratch but is mostly a hands off 

bird. However, he loves the company of 

humans and likes to sing and dance. He’s 

boarding at Exotic Bird Hospital until he can 

find a foster, but he comes with a large play 

stand where he used to spend most of his 

time at home. He was recently diagnosed 

with a heart murmur so he requires daily 

medication, which he takes on a treat. Inquiry@phoenixlanding.org. 

As always, we have a long wait list for large birds - macaws, cockatoos and 

Amazons - and many in our system come back to us multiple times. 

If you have experience caring for big birds and can help foster, even for a 

month, please let us know. Start the process by completing an application 

on our website or email inquiry@phoenixlanding.org. 

Fostering is a great way to learn if a big bird is right for you. 

We also highly recommend one of our behavior classes to 

help set everyone up for success! 

ARIEL is a gorgeous tripod in need of a home! She’s been with us a 

while now and deserves her loving, forever home. She would be a 

perfect cat for a single person who wants a kitty to love them FurEver. 

Work from home? She’ll sit right there with you while you work. 

Contact us to arrange a meet & greet! 

Follow us on Facebook and let us know if you would like to 

meet one of our kitties! Offering ‘contactless adoptions!’ 

(828) 348-7198 • PO Box 1479 Enka, NC 28728 

Fureverfriends@bellsouth.net 

On Facebook at ‘Furever Friends Animal Rescue - Asheville’ 


POV — continued from page 4 

or cattle farming, for example — that are protected against 

invasive species by federal and state management 

programs are themselves hugely harmful to biodiversity. 

Scientists on both sides of the invasive species debate 

agree this conflation is problematic. 

Common starlings, for example, a species of bird 

native to Europe and parts of Asia and Africa, have 

become wildly successful as an introduced species in 

North America. They’re blamed for hundreds of millions 

of dollars in agricultural damage annually in the US, 

often eating grains in cattle feedlots, says Natalie 

Hofmeister, a PhD candidate in ecology and environmental 

biology at Cornell University. “That’s like a 

treasure for the starlings,” she says. The USDA Wildlife 

Services poisoned 790,000 of the birds in fiscal year 2020. 

While starlings have long been thought to harm native bird 

species, which might sound like a more scientific rationale 

for killing them, Hofmeister says the literature isn’t settled 

on whether that is true. 

The invasion model has a nativist bias 

Some conceptions of invasive species’ harms are 

questionable. 

For example, invasives can be considered a threat not 

only by killing or outcompeting native species but also by 

mating with them. To protect the “genetic integrity” of 

species, conservationists often go to extraordinary lengths 

to prevent animals from hybridizing, environmental writer 

Emma Marris points out in her book Wild Souls: Freedom 

and Flourishing in the Non-Human World. Consider the 

effort in North Carolina to prevent coyotes from breeding 

with endangered red wolves, which bears uncomfortable 

parallels to Western preoccupations with racial purity that 

only recently went out of fashion. 

That’s why some scientists look askance at the 

influence of invasion biology and argue that the field 

has a baked-in, nativist bias on documenting negative 

consequences of introduced species and preserving 

nature as it is. Invasion biology is like epidemiology, the 

study of disease spread, biologists Matthew Chew and 

Scott Carroll wrote in a widely read opinion piece a 

decade ago, in that it is “a discipline explicitly devoted to 

destroying that which it studies.” 

Historically, the term has erroneously expanded to the 

idea of, “‘If you’re not from here, then you are most likely 

going to be invasive,’” Sonia Shah, author of The Next 

Great Migration: The Beauty and Terror of Life on the 

Move, said on a June 2021 episode of Unexplainable, 

Vox’s science-mysteries podcast. Conservation policies 

have been crafted around the idea that if something is not 

from “here” — however we define that — “then it is likely 

to become invasive, and therefore we should repel it even 

before it causes any actual damage,” as Shah says, 

which is part of the nativist bent that pervades ecological 

management. 

What’s more, the very notion of “invasion” draws on a 

war metaphor, and media narratives about non-native 

species are remarkably similar to those describing enemy 

armies or immigrants. For example, a recent news story in 

the Guardian about armadillos “besieging” North Carolina 

described them as “pests” and “freakish.” It also gawked 

at the animal’s “booming reproduction rate,” an allegation 

that, not coincidentally, is leveled against human migrants. 

Many scholars have explored how anxieties about 

humans and nonhumans crossing borders, or going 


places where they don’t “belong,” map onto one 

another. “The fear of immigration is never isolated 

to humans,” writes science studies scholar Banu 

Subramaniam in The Ethics and Rhetoric of Invasion 

Ecology. “It includes nonhuman migrants in the form of 

unwanted germs, insects, plants, and animals.” 

A “curse word” that harms entire species 

One important set of interests isn’t considered in 

invasive species management at all: those of the 

“invasives” themselves. Arian Wallach, an ecologist at the 

University of Technology Sydney who is well known for 

her criticism of invasion biology, calls invasive species 

“nothing less and nothing more than a curse word” used 

to demonize species and exclude them from moral 

consideration. She first began to question invasion biology 

after she moved for her PhD to Australia, which has some 

of the most militant invasive species management 

programs in the world, aimed at protecting the country’s 

own unique species. 

“I started seeing conservationists blowing up animals 

with bombs, shooting them from helicopters, poisoning 

them, spreading diseases through them,” she says. 

Australia has shot feral goats, camels, deer, pigs, and 

other animals from the sky (a method also used in the 

US), and the country kills many small mammals with 1080, 

a poison that is widely regarded as causing an extremely 

painful death. Invasion biology, Wallach believes, is “a bad 

idea that’s had its run.” 

Wallach’s own research looks at how dingoes, dog-like 

animals that are thought to have been brought to the 

continent thousands of years ago, can control the 

populations of more recently introduced cats and foxes 

that eat some of Australia’s iconic marsupial species, such 

as the eastern barred bandicoot. Her work serves as 

a proof of concept for “compassionate conservation,” a 

movement that opposes the mass killing of some animals 

in an attempt to save others. A core tenet of this framework 

is to value animals as individuals with their own 

moral value, rather than just a member of a species. 

It might seem, then, that there’s a trade-off between 

caring about animals as individuals and caring about them 

in the context of species and ecosystems, but Wallach 

argues it’s more complicated. Bias against non-natives 

doesn’t just harm individuals; it can harm entire species. 

In a 2019 study, Wallach and a team of researchers 

pointed out that non-native species are excluded from 

world conservation goals. This creates situations where, 

for example, a species like the hog deer, a small deer 

native to South Asia, is endangered in its home range but 

hunted and treated as feral in Australia. Using a sample 

of 134 animals introduced into and out of Australia, the 

team found that formal conservation counts significantly 

underestimated their ranges, and that 15 of them could 

be downgraded from “threatened” or “near threatened” 

status if their non-native ranges were counted. For many 

endangered species, non-native habitats can be part of 

the solution, providing refuge to wildlife that can no longer 

survive in their native ranges. 

A broader movement wants to see 

beyond the invasion lens 

If we try to think outside the invasive species framework, 

what else can we look to? 

Indigenous knowledge is increasingly being recognized 

as essential to conservation, write Nicholas Reo and 

Continued on page 23

BONNIE 

Animal Haven of Asheville 

P.O. Box 9697 Asheville, NC 28815 • 828-299-1635 • animalhavenofasheville.org 

LOOK FOR OUR FACEBOOK PAGE AND ‘LIKE’ US! 

For All Your Home & Gift Needs! 

Check out our great selection of treasures for family & friends. 

Shop the Animal Haven of Asheville Thrift Shop for almost everything! 

Furniture, clothing, shoes, housewares, books, jewelry, electronics, 

tools, pet supplies, collectibles, toys, and more. 

LET YOUR OLD STUFF DO GOOD STUFF! 

Downsizing? De-cluttering? Donate your gently used items. 

Donations may be dropped off during store hours: 

Tuesday through Saturday 11 am - 5 pm 

65 Lower Grassy Branch Rd. (off Tunnel Rd.) 

All donations are tax-deductible! 

Please open your heart and home to 

one of our loving Clumber Spaniels 

Clumbers in Need have several dogs available 

for adoption. Call us for more information or 

to meet one of these very special canines. 

CLUMBERS IN NEED 

(828) 230-2499 

www.clumbersinneed.com 

clumbersinneed@yahoo.com 


New Year's Resolutions 

for Pets & Their People 

Tips for enhancing animals' lives and our own 

By Janet Tobiassen Crosby, DVM 

I am not typically one for making New Year's 

resolutions -- too much stress and expectation! But I do 

enjoy the feeling of a "fresh start" and the refocusing that 

the new year brings. Here are some ideas and tips to 

hopefully enhance the health and add some fun to your 

pets' lives. 

It is the start of a new year, and people's thoughts 

often turn to diet and exercise, making up for holiday 

indulgences. Pets also suffer from overeating and lack of 

exercise. But there are more things to consider than diet 

and exercise when it comes to being a good example for 

our pets. Here, in no particular order, are 10 tips to a 

healthier lifestyle for our pets and animals in need. 

1. Exercise - Regular exercise has the obvious health 

benefits, but it also is a great time to bond with our pets. A 

simple daily walk helps a dog learn proper manners, 

provides some good quality time, and does wonders for 

the human counterpart, too! Keeping pets at the proper 

body weight reduces the risk of heart and joint problems, 

diabetes, and a host of other poor health conditions. 

2. Health Check Up - A regular visit to your veterinarian 

is the best way to stay ahead of potential problems. 

Annual examinations of teeth, heart/lungs, and body 

condition overall will be less costly than waiting for a 

problem to develop and your pet suffering needlessly from 

complications of preventable problems. Having a good 

"baseline" of information about your pet also gives the 

veterinarian something to compare against and determine 

exactly what is wrong when something isn't quite right with 

your pet. 

3. Good Nutrition - Like humans, pets who eat poor 

quality food just don't have the health reserves than those 

that a good balanced diet. Poor skin, hair coat, muscle 

tone, and obesity problems can be a result of a poor diet. 

Also, pets are not humans -- a diet rich in table scraps is 

not a healthy one, and can lead to problems such as 

obesity and pancreatitis. 

4. Good Grooming - No one wants to be around a 

stinky pet. Regular grooming -- bathing, toe nail clips, 

brushing teeth and hair coat, parasite control -- not only 

make the pet more pleasing to be around, it is much 

healthier for the pet! For skin and coat problems that 

don't resolve with regular grooming, please see your 

veterinarian -- there may be an underlying medical 

condition affecting the skin, coat, or toenails. 

5. Safety - Keeping pets safe is something most pet 

owners take for granted. However, take a moment to 

assess the toxic chemicals used in your house and yard. 

Are they necessary? Are all safety precautions followed? 

Where are household chemicals stored? Can your pet 

access these items? If toxins such as rodent poisons are 

used, can your pet access the rodents? Think too about 

enclosures for pets -- is the fencing secure? Can your pet 

get caught or hooked up on the fence, a tree, etc. and 

choke or be stuck out in the weather when you are away? 

6. Information - Being informed is the best way to keep 

track of our pet's health and well being. If possible, keep a 

medical log of your pet's vet visits, medications, special 

needs, etc. to help keep track of your pet's medical 

history. Knowing what is normal and not normal for 

your particular pet will assist your veterinarian when 

diagnosing in case of illness. 

The Internet is a wealth of information, but caution 

is advised when seeking out a diagnosis or medical 

assistance via the web. Just as in real life, there is good 

information and bad information out there. The only way to 

get an answer/diagnosis is through a thorough physical 

examination, review of medical history, and possible lab 

work performed by your veterinarian. 

7. Love and Attention - This is probably obvious, but 

too many pets are left outside in all kinds of weather, with 

very little human contact. Same goes for inside pets -- 

those who are largely ignored for lack of time and busy 

human schedules. Take the time to focus on your pets 

and create/nourish that human-animal bond! 

8. Volunteer - There are thousands upon thousands of 

animals in need of help each day. This concept can be 

overwhelming for many people. Every little bit helps, 

though. Financial donations, donations of supplies or 

your time to a local shelter or rescue group is always 

appreciated, and real live animals are being helped by 

your generosity. 

9. Maintenance - This refers to the more "unpleasant" 

aspects of pet care -- the litter box scooping, yard clean 

up, cage cleaning, and fish tank maintenance. A clean 

environment for our pets is a healthy one! Poor sanitation 

can lead to behavior problems (i.e. litter box avoidance) 

and health problems such as skin infections and the 

spread of communicable diseases. 

10. Be a Voice - Speak up when you notice neglected or 

abused pets in your neighborhood. This isn't pleasant, but 

if you can help even one animal escape a painful life, it is 

worth it. Shelters and rescue groups will thank you and 

most will accept an anonymous tip to help animals in 

need. 

For more information about pet health and wellness, 

speak with your veterinarian. 


Consider Volunteering to Help 

Animals in the New Year 

If you’re thinking about getting a head start 

on your New Year’s resolutions, you might want 

to consider volunteering at an animal shelter or 

with a local rescue group. Here are some great 

reasons that might help you decide. 

1) The animals need your love and help 

According to the American Society for the Prevention of 

Cruelty to Animals, animal shelters and rescue groups 

take in about 7.6 million animals every year. You can 

make a difference. 

2) It might help get them adopted 

Petting, grooming and playing with shelter animals 

can make them healthier and happier—and more 

adoptable. A study by animal research consultant 

Dr. Nadine Gourkow and Clive J.C Phillips, a professor of 

animal welfare at the University of Queensland, found that 

cats who had four 10-minute sessions of playing, petting 

and grooming time developed upper respiratory disorders 

at lower rates and were more content than cats who didn’t 

interact with people. Caring for the animals and helping 

things run smoothly at your local shelter also helps get the 

animals into their forever homes. 

3) It’s good for health and improves your mood 

Interaction with animals has been shown to have 

exceptional health benefits, including reduced stress and 

anxiety as well as improved immune system functioning 

and pain management. Research has found that while 

donating money makes people feel happier for a week, 

donating time extends it to 24 days. 

4) Make new furry friends if you can’t adopt 

Adopting a pet is a huge commitment in terms of time, 

money and your housing situation—a place of residence 

not allowing pets is the #1 reason people give away their 

dogs, followed by not having enough time. So if you’re not 

ready to make that commitment yet (or ever), you can still 

spend plenty of time around animals by volunteering 

according to your own schedule. 

5) There are no shortage of shelters or rescues 

No matter where you live or where you move to, you 

will always be welcome at a shelter or rescue—and very 

appreciated. Most of these organizations could not survive 

without the help of their devoted volunteers. 

6) And finally - the snuggles are the best perk! 

Need we say more? 

If you’re interested in volunteering locally, look no 

further than the pages of this issue of Critter Magazine. 

The rest is up to you! 


HENDERSON COUNTY ANIMAL SERVICES 

828 Stoney Mountain Rd. Hendersonville, NC 

hendersoncountync.animalshelternet.com 

(828) 697-4723 

A FOSTER HOME 

SAVED MY LIFE 

OTIS is an adorable 

1-year old male who 

has been neutered. It 

would be great if he 

could find his forever 

loving home for 

the holidays! 

Hours: Mon. - Fri. 10 am-4:30 pm 

This SWEET GIRL is a 

beautiful 10-month old 

kitten who is looking for 

her new loving home— 

and a name! She’s simply 

precious and would 

make a great BFF! 

Sat. 10 am-2 pm 

There was nothing wrong with me. 

I JUST RAN OUT OF TIME. 

Foster homes give great dogs time to find homes. 

If you have room in your heart and your home for a temporary 

pet, please consider fostering. It costs you only time and love. 

For a dog who runs out of time, it means the world. 

CONTACT ANY OF THE SHELTERS OR RESCUE 

ORGANIZATIONS IN CRITTER MAGAZINE. 


POV— continued from page 18 

Laura Ogden — Dartmouth University professors of 

Indigenous environmental studies and anthropology, 

respectively — in an ethnographic study of Anishinaabe 

perspectives on invasive species. (The Anishinaabe are a 

group of culturally related First Nations peoples in the 

Great Lakes region of Canada and the US.) Anishinaabe 

ideas, Reo and Ogden found, reflect a worldview that sees 

animals and plants as belonging to nations with their own 

purposes and believes people have the responsibility to 

find the reason for a species’ migration. The authors’ 

sources recognized parallels between the extermination 

of species deemed invasive and the dark history of 

colonial violence against Indigenous peoples. The 

interviews “helped me recognize the ways in which 

different philosophies of the world shape our ethical 

response to change,” Ogden says. 

Life is “extremely adaptable and regenerative and 

dynamic,” Wallach says. “Go back 10,000 years, and it’s a 

completely different world. Twenty thousand years, it’s 

different. A million, 2 million, 500 million … There is no 

point that things aren’t shifting and moving.” 

Another scientific idea that captures this notion is 

“novel ecosystems,” or, as environmental journalist Fred 

Pearce has termed it, “the new wild”: ecosystems that 

have arisen, intentionally or not, via human introduction. 

In Tierra del Fuego, at the tip of Chile and Argentina, a 

particularly dramatic novel ecosystem is taking shape. In 

1946, beavers were introduced there in a futile attempt to 

create a fur industry. Instead, the animals proliferated 

and munched down the region’s Nothofagus — southern 

beech — forests, creating dams and ponds. “They are 

these miraculous world builders,” says Ogden, who wrote 

an essay imagining the beavers not as invaders, but as a 

diaspora. (Beavers have also been a boon for ducks and 

other marine species.) The invasive species paradigm, 

Ogden adds, is devoid of nuance, history, and politics; she 

prefers a concept that gives expression to the moral 

complexity of the beavers’ presence in South America, as 

well as the fact that they had no choice in being moved 

there. 

The beavers should ultimately be removed from the 

forested areas, Ogden believes, though she doesn’t 

think we can do so with a clear conscience, and says 

eradication “seems very unlikely.” But the idea of a 

diaspora opens up a way of thinking about what we owe 

the beavers, as opposed to how to expel them. After 

75 years in South America, don’t the animals have a claim 

to living there? What right do we have to exterminate 

them? 

I posed this question to Daniel Simberloff, the 

prominent invasion biologist. “I don’t believe they’re 

endangering any of the Nothofagus species,” he 

acknowledged, noting that there hasn’t been enough study 

to know what impact the beavers are having on species 

that require the southern beech forest habitat. Still, “I think 

it’s a disaster that this native ecosystem is being 

destroyed and replaced by pastures of introduced plants,” 

Simberloff says. “Other people may not agree with me.” 

Even when it’s packaged as objective science, 

conservation always entails value judgments. One might 

say that the deaths of 100,000 beavers should count as a 

“disaster” just as much as the demise of an old-growth 

forest. Conservationists will have to choose whether to 

meet ecosystem disruptions like this one with the “war 

machine” of invasion biology, as Ogden calls it, or to come 

to terms with a changing world. 

For now, the dark unicorn, the thumbnail-sized snail 

that caught marine ecologist Piper Wallingford’s eye, 

continues inching up the coast of California. “The question 

of how they’re getting from one site to another is still one 

that we can’t answer,” Wallingford says. 

There is something humbling in seeing other species’ 

will to survive in an interconnected world undone by 

climate change. Though the dark unicorns’ movements 

elude our understanding, they already know where they 

need to go. 

They Can’t Read or Write. 

But They Sure Can Multiply. 

Fix Your Pet. 


The Six Bear Wise Basics 

Intentionally feeding bears or allowing them to find anything that smells or tastes 

like food teaches bears to approach homes and people looking for more. Bears will 

defend themselves if a person gets too close, so don’t risk your safety and theirs! 

Food and food odors attract bears, so don’t reward them with easily available 

food, liquids or garbage. 

Bird seed and grains have lots of calories, so they’re very attractive to bears. 

Removing feeders is the best way to avoid creating conflicts with bears. 

Feed pets indoors when possible. If you must feed pets outside, feed single 

portions and remove food and bowls after feeding. Store pet food where 

bears can’t see or smell it. 

Clean grills after each use and make sure that all grease, fat and food particles 

are removed. Store clean grills and smokers in a secure area that keeps bears out. 

See bears in the area or evidence of bear activity? 

Tell your neighbors and share information on how to 

avoid bear conflicts. Bears have adapted to living near 

people; now it’s up to us to adapt to living near bears. 

BEARWISE - A Southeastern Association of Fish & Wildlife Program 

Alabama · Arkansas · Florida · Georgia · Kentucky · Louisiana · Mississippi · Missouri 

North Carolina · Oklahoma · South Carolina · Tennessee · Texas · Virginia · West Virginia 

Helping People Live Responsibly 

With Black Bears

ASHEVILLE-JAN22-WEB

Create successful ePaper yourself

Delete template?

Save as template?