I want to start our newsletter off by thanking our First Lady of New Hampshire, Valerie Sununu. I went to the mailbox over the Labor Day weekend to get the mail and among the usual mailbox stuff was a card. I opened it and to my surprise, it was a hand written letter from the First Lady! Here's what she had to say..."I was thrilled when the Exeter Area New Car Dealers Association asked me to select the local nonprofits that are doing the kind of good work that is making a positive impact on families and children in our community. It was my sincere privilege to choose you! Thank you so much for everything you do to make NH a safe and nurturing place. With gratitude, Valerie" Also in the card was a check from the Exeter Area New Car Dealers Association for $2,000.00! This unexpected honor blew me away! Thank you to Valerie Sununu and the Exeter Area New Car Dealers Association for this generous gift.

What does Annie's Angels do with $2,000.00 from a very generous donor? This past month we received and granted 32 requests for assistance. These requests included medical equipment, paying for utilities, fuel, groceries among other things. Many of these requests came to us as a final cry for help. This funding helps us fill these requests!

Not all requests are "glamorous" ones. I know you're used to seeing the vans we've helped with or the new wheelchair ramps or other big ticket items that photograph well and say "we made an impact." Just as big an impact is made by some of the simplest of requests that you never think about and I pray you'll never need. 

One of these "final cries" came from a local home healthcare organization on behalf of their client. "D" needed a bariatric commode, not covered by insurance. She tried to find one through local loaner closets because she couldn't afford to buy it herself. Working with her case worker, "D" was able to find one online and forward me the link. Within 2 days "D" had the equipment she needed! 

Another example of where a grant like this can help..."C" suffers from inoperable, urinary incontinence. Once again a home healthcare provider reached out. The case worker contacted "'C's" urologist and insurance many times to sort out her need for maximum absorbency liners for her urinary incontinence. This was truly affecting the way she lives. "C" previously was a very social person and now she does not want to go out in fear that she will be embarrassed by an accident. Her case worker has tried her own office and local churches that often have surplus of these items to hold a client over as "C" cannot afford these items and her case worker cannot find what she needs. Her medical supply company is less than helpful, and "C" will switch but this will take time. The case worker asked for a possible gift card or an order from Amazon of Maximum absorbency liners for "C" to fit within an adult brief. "C" and the case worker found the product and Annie's Angels ordered it. While only a band aid at this time, I’m sure "C" and her medical supply company will work with insurance to sort things out.

It isn't easy for people to reach out for help. Thanks to grants like this one from the First Lady and Exeter Area New Car Dealers Association, we can continue to help, we continue to say YES when others say no and we continue to make a difference.

Finally, I ask you to remember all the local businesses that have supported us, not only this past month but the ones who support us throughout the year. I ask you to use them if you can, if you have a need they provide. Check out our sponsor and event pages at AnniesAngels.org to find them. Without you supporting them, they can't support us.

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Thanks to YOU we are able to ease some of the stresses that come with a doctors diagnosis. We justcan't do this good work without YOUR support. I ask that you please consider making a tax deductible contribution to Annie's Angels or visit  the  Our Families tab on the website and select a particular family to help. Get updates about "your family" on the website or follow them on social media to see how your contributions are working, and thanks again for your continued support.

 

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With Summer coming to an end and Fall quickly approaching, I located an interesting article entitled “7 Autumn Health Tips for Dogs & Cats” by Dr. Laci Schaible.  I hope you find this information helpful.    

7 Autumn Health Tips for Dogs & Cats

“1. An increased need for food as the summer heat lessens up?
Several decades ago, your veterinarian may have recommended a slight increase in your pet's food consumption as the weather cooled and your pet required slightly more caloric intake to regulate his system. Today, however, things have changed. With a shocking number of pets categorized as obese and most dogs and cats are primarily house pets, this isn't a concern for most pet parents. If you do have a very fit working dog, a small increase may be a wise idea; with this said, an increase around 10% is probably all that is necessary. This does not mean an extra meal or an unlimited pass to treats.
2. School and home project supplies pose risks to curious pets.
While kids may be dedicated to keeping their school supplies tidy for the first week or so, at this point in the season, school supplies may be holding living rooms hostage. School glues, permanent markers, and pencils can all cause upset stomachs. Heavy-duty glues can cause serious blockages in the GI tract and even require surgery to remove them—and part of your pet’s GI system. Make sure your children's projects stay covered up and are not accessible to your pets. Dogs in particular seem to like the flavor of glue.
This also goes for adults if you’re doing home improvement projects now that the weather has cooled off. I once had to remove over 12” of small intestine from a dog when his owner ran to Lowe's in the middle of a flooring project. His dog “helped” in the owner’s absence by ripping up the remaining linoleum and ingesting all the remaining glue. These accidents are easily avoided but repairing the damage is never as simple.
3. An apple a day?
As it turns out, apples are not the cure to health for Fido or Fluffy. If your dog likes to graze the ground for food, consider leaving Fido at home during your stroll of the apple orchards. While the flesh of ripe apples doesn’t pose a problem for dogs or cats, apple stems, leaves and seeds are not so gentle. They can cause GI upset, decreased oxygen in the blood, decreased heart rate, difficulty breathing, seizures, coma, and even death. With reasonable preparation, the flesh of apples can make a suitable treat for dogs but cats are unlikely to enjoy the flavor of this fruit.
4. Fall is a prime season for mushrooms.
While most are non-toxic, dogs are highly susceptible to mushroom poisoning because of their wandering and scavenging behavior. Unfortunately, dogs are unable to sniff out the toxic ones, so the best way to avoid trouble is to keep pets away from areas where any mushrooms are growing. Dogs should be prevented from consuming mushrooms when they are being exercised. Profuse bloody diarrhea, vomiting, abdominal pain, dehydration, fever, and elevated heart rates characterize the initial phase of mushroom toxicity. Without treatment, the pet will succumb to liver and kidney failure within 3-7 days. As with most poisonings, prompt upper gastrointestinal decontamination and supportive care are critical elements of treatment.
5. Snakebite season is here.
Autumn is the season when snakes prepare for hibernation and are more likely to strike, increasing the possibility of bites to naive and curious pets. Be aware of what kinds of venomous snakes are in your area and avoid the areas they most often inhabit.
6. The fall season brings highly caloric foods and drinks that don't end with the Halloween candy bowl.
Sharing human treats can be dangerous and even deadly. Stay away from desserts, candies, fatty meat and trimmings, bones, gravies, calorie-dense casseroles, and seasoned sides. Don't forget garlic and onions are toxic! Many pet parents aren't aware of the many dangerous things that can happen, such as acute and life-threatening pancreatitis, a condition brought on when a pet ingests highly fatty foods.
A note for any season: Do you know the most popular flavor of dog medication? It's CHOCOLATE! Turns out we aren't the only ones that enjoy the rich flavor of cocoa beans. Dogs will go to great lengths, or counter-top heights, to indulge in this deadly vice so don't leave the candy bowl or kitchen counter unsupervised and within a paw's reach for a moment!
7. Consider adding pumpkin to your pet's diet if you are looking for a healthy nutritious seasonal treat.
Pumpkin, both raw and canned, is safe provided your pet is not suffering from a chronic condition such as kidney disease or diabetes. As far as our healthy pets go, seeds and flesh of fresh, raw or cooked pumpkins are safe. Fresh pumpkin is more nutritious than canned. If you choose to go with canned, make sure it doesn’t have added sugar or sweeteners. An easy way to have some handy dog treats around that will last several weeks is roasting the seeds in the oven.”
Source: The Water Bowl-Embrace Pet Insurance embracepetinsurance.com/waterbowl/article/autumn-health-tips