Category: CLAW Tawks

Past and Upcoming Events

Thank you to all who participated in our annual Bowie CLAW Blanket Drive. We collected an amazing number of blankets and quilts, sheets and bath towels. A big shout out to Ledo Pizza for allowing us to set up in front of their restaurant and Exit Reality for the use of their truck. 

Brought to you by Honey Bee Photography, it’s time for Photos with Santa at Calvert Brewery. For those of us with human children, one favorite activity of the entire year is the day you get to take your child to the mall to see Santa. But what about our four-footed fur babies?  It isn’t like you can take your German Shepherd to the mall for photos with Santa.  Wouldn’t you love to have your own experience, watching your pet having fun with the jolly old elf, and having those photos to enjoy for years to come? Come join us at our FIFTH ANNUAL Pets with Santa Event, November 9, from 12-4.  Appointments are HIGHLY encouraged, however, walk-ins are welcome! For more information, check out Honey Bee Photography. http://www.honeybeephotography.com/thehiveblog.html?b_blog=P4O9d+kaqNjaCwEfd0e6qQxhoaGjPQU5026IUzz2D7YXKLy6AE6oJxcZ53OP

News from the Board

We are pleased to announce the election of two new members to the Bowie CLAW Board of Directors: Michaele Angulo and Michelene (Mickey) Kennedy-Teston! We are very excited and grateful to have these pet-loving members.

Community Cat Program

Please donate your unused medium-to-large styrofoam boxes like the ones you receive with deliveries of food items. We use them to construct outdoor cat shelters, as pictured here. You can drop off a box at any Bowie CLAW donation location.

Give $1 Back for a Good Cause

Bowie Citizens for Local Animal Welfare will receive a $1 donation for every $2.50 reusable Community Bag sold at the Giant Food store located at 15520 Annapolis Road, Bowie MD in the month of November. 

Adopt a Senior Pet Month

November is National Adopt a Senior Pet Month–a month dedicated to helping older pets find loving forever homes. Shelters and rescues across the country hope those looking to adopt a new furry friend will consider adding a senior pet to the family this month. 

Meet Hamilton

     Three years ago, my family went to the Prince George’s Animal Facility looking for a puppy. Of course, like many places, the puppies were the first to be adopted. But lucky us, we met our rescue dog (of course, he rescued us!).  They truly have no idea how old Hamilton is.  There were lots of guesses – and crazy ways of guessing. But it really doesn’t matter if he is 7 or 10. He is ours and we absolutely love him.  He got a second chance at a family and we got a first class dog.  – The Kelley-Baker Family –

See you at our general meeting Saturday, November 16^th

^{9:30 am   Bowie City Hall}

Upcoming Events

Saturday, October 19^th from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM is our annual Bowie CLAW Blanket Drive. We will be collecting blankets and quilts, sheets and bath towels curbside at Ledo Pizza & Pub  (formerly TJ Elliot’s – 6814 Laurel Bowie Rd.). Sorry, no pillows, afghans, table linens or rugs please.  We could use volunteers for this event. Help us make the dogs and cats at the Prince George’s County Shelter a little warmer this year. If you are available, please contact Tara at BowieAnimalShelter@gmail.com or BowieClaw@gmail.com.  

Other upcoming events – There will be a Feral Winter Shelters Workshop October 26^th at 3:00 PM.  Please contact us if you are interested in attending. We are also accepting donations of Styrofoam coolers and boxes to use in making cat houses. Photos with Santa at Calvert Brewery and the Christmas Market will take place November 9^th. Stay tuned for details. If you are willing to volunteer, please reach out to us at BowieCLAW@gmail.com.

Volunteer Showcase

For his school project Mike Kane has been volunteering for Bowie Claw. At the Kaleidoscope event, Mike handled Jayda, our very sweet guest from the Prince George’s Animal Shelter. He also prepared bags of treats for the Bowie Marketplace Chic-fil-A to be given to dogs at the drive thru. And next, he is volunteering at our Blanket Drive October 19^th. It’s great having such an enthusiastic supporter!

Community Cat Program Update

During the project year (October 1, 2018 – September 30, 2019), we sterilized and vaccinated a total of 188 cats:  91 males and 97 females.  That is 157% of our assigned goal for the year!. We could not do this without our incredible volunteer trappers! THANK YOU!

National Animal Safety and Protection Month

We never expect an emergency. No matter what we do, accidents happen. Take steps to be prepared and be aware. Be safe and protect your treasured furry friend.

• Be proactive. Keep all animals up to date on immunizations. Farmers, ranchers and pet owners, and hobbyists: all follow the vaccination schedule set forth by your veterinarian.
• Pet-proof your home and property. Remove or secure choking hazards and toxic chemicals. Make your home pet-friendly and safe.
• Identify your animals. Place tags securely on collars and even label collars with your contact information.  Microchip all pets.   If you have more uncommon pets, take photos of them in the event they get loose.
• In a disaster, have a plan. Who will be responsible for locating each animal in the house? How will you transport them? If it’s a fire, human life takes priority. However, place decals on windows and doors with the number of humans and each kind and number of pets residing in the home. Keep the decals up to date.
• Learn basic first aid. Caring for your animal at home will prevent a minor injury from becoming severe. Always call your veterinarian or emergency animal hospital if you are unsure.
• Know your animal. If your animal’s behavior changes, watch for signs of illness. Is he injured or spent too much time in the heat? Contact your veterinarian before giving human over-the-counter medications.

See you at our general meeting Saturday November 16^th 

Sign up for Smile.Amazon and iGive online—a percentage of your online purchases will be donated to Bowie CLAW at no cost to you.  Federal employees, please consider supporting Bowie CLAW in your Combined Federal Campaign (CFC) contributions this year.  Our Campaign Number is 15690.  Thank you!

Upcoming Events

September 21 – General Membership Meeting: 9:30 am at Bowie City Hall. YOU are invited!

Sept 28th–we will be participating again this year in Kaleidoscope, a community event held on the lawn of Cresthill Church on Rt. 197. We will have adoptable dogs from the Prince George’s Animal Adoption Center from 10-1, and lots of information about Bowie CLAW from 10-2.  Come out and look for us!

Other upcoming events – our annual Bowie CLAW blanket drive, photos with Santa at Calvert Brewery, and the Christmas Market. Stay tuned for dates. If you are willing to volunteer, please reach out to us at BowieCLAW@gmail.com.

Diamond Dogs

It is the end of another great season of the Bowie Baysox Diamond Dogs! Throughout the baseball season Bowie CLAW and other area animal shelters and rescue organizations have been bringing one dog to the Prince George’s Stadium during home games to help them find their forever homes. Bowie CLAW set up a table on the concourse where fans could meet the Diamond Dog of the Game and learn more about our group and help the area animals. Bowie CLAW worked with some great rescues groups include Lab Rescue of Capital Potomac, Canine Companions for Independence, Lu’s Labs, and All Shepherd Rescue. If you missed it, make sure to come out next year!

Stressed? Your dog might be too!

Research indicates that dogs can mirror their owners’ stress levels. When researchers measured the stress hormone cortisol in a group of dogs and their owners, they found that levels synchronized. Interestingly, the researchers determined that the dogs’ stress levels rose in response to their owners’ stress levels, rather than vice-versa. More research is needed to further confirm this finding, but if your dog seems stressed, maybe look to see if you’re stressed. Take time to laugh with friends, take up a yoga or meditation class, get into an exercise program, AND of course, walk and snuggle with your dog.

A Big (but Sad) Farewell

Deb Forespring, one of our wonderful Bowie CLAW Directors, is moving to Delaware. Deb has been very active with our Community Cat program, and the new Kitten Socialization program with Bowie Animal Control. We are very sad to see her go; but we wish her the very best. Wherever she goes, we know there will be some lucky animals!

Of course, this means a Director seat is now open. If you have been an active Bowie CLAW member for at least three months, you qualify to join the Board of Directors!Pleaseconsiderthis position – it is great fun to be with like-minded animal-loving people?Contact us at bowieclaw@gmail.com

Thank you!

Over the past few months we have received a tremendous number of donations. We are so appreciative of the generosity. As many of you already know, we are a fully volunteer operated organization. Every contribution matters!

Past and Upcoming Events

Mark your calendar, this Saturday, July 20^th is our next general meeting.  We gather at 9:30 am at Bowie City Hall for coffee and donuts.  Please come meet our new Board of Directors and bring a friend – the more the merrier. Meet other wonderful pet people!

Take me out to the ball game! The Baysox Diamond Dog games are up and running. Only three more games left! Just as a reminder, throughout the baseball season Bowie CLAW and other area animal shelters and rescue organizations have been bringing one dog to the Prince George’s Stadium during home games to help them find their forever homes.  We will have a table on the concourse where fans can meet the Diamond Dog of the Game and learn more about what our group is doing to help the area animals.  Join us at the following Sunday home games and maybe find your new forever friend.

• July 21^st  LRCP
• August 4^th Canine Companions for Independence
• August 25^th Lu’s Labs

Meet CLAW’s New Officers and Directors

Officers: President- Paul Nadler, Vice President- Michael Semeniuk, Secretary/Treasurer- Virginia Jones

Directors: Tara Kelley-Baker, Deb Forespring, Hugh Hammett, Michael Semeniuk , Paul Nadler,and Virginia Jones.

There remains one vacant Director position to which the Board may appoint an interested candidate for one year until the next annual election. If you are a member and interested, please reach out and let us know!

Kittens

Bowie CLAW’s newest of programs couldn’t be more adorable.  And we need your support to make it successful.  We are looking for volunteers to socialize kittens. Socializing and caring for feral kittens requires devotion, patience, and attention. The more contact they have with humans, the easier it is to find them a safe forever home.   If you have a lot of love to give, these babies could use it. If you are interested, please email us at bowieclaw@gmail.com

See you at our general meeting Saturday July 20^th!

Past and Upcoming Events

Thank you to those who came out to the Bowie Fest! A number of people stopped by our kiosk including the parent of Kismet, the lost (and found) blind cat who Bowie CLAW helped to locate.  We also gained a new member and made some donations.  Thanks Lauren Semeniuk for leading this great event – and Paul Nadler and Deb Forespring (among others) for volunteering.

Traveling With Your Pet

Its summer vacation! Thinking of taking your beloved furry friend? Traveling with your pet(s) can be stressful, for both of you.  But there are things you can do to minimize this stress. 

BEFORE YOU GO, make sure your pet is fit to travel. Some animals simply cannot handle travel due to age, temperament, illness, etc.  Have all the proper identification for your furry friend. Get an id tag with your home address and cell number, as well as a temporary tag with the location and phone number of the hotel or place you plan to stay.  If you haven’t already, get your pet microchipped. Take photos of your pet’s medical documents and save them on your phone (or make a copy and toss them into your bag). For a comprehensive guide to traveling with pets, see  https://thepointsguy.com/guide/how-to-travel-with-pets/  This guide will give you advice on car travel, in-cabin air travel, cargo air travel, as well as booking pet friendly hotel stays.  Enjoy your vacation with your pet, but plan so your furry friend can stay safe!

Help Repeal Prince George’s County’s Anti-Pit Bull Ordinance

We recently learned that the Humane Rescue Alliance is partnering with a coalition of organizations working to repeal Prince George’s County’s ordinance prohibiting owning or keeping a dog labeled as a pit bull terrier. Please contact your Prince George’s County Councilmember and the At-Large Councilmembers and urge them to support the repeal of the ordinance. Dogs should be deemed dangerous or potentially dangerous based on a set of observed, concrete behaviors and criteria, not based on appearance and stereotypes.

Help ensure Prince George’s County joins the thousands of other cities, towns, and counties that have created a safe and humane community for their residents and their pets through sound public policy, rooted in science.

Election of Directors

At the recent General Membership Meeting of Bowie CLAW on May 18, the annual election of the Board of Directors was held.  Elected to a three-year term were Hugh Hammett, Virginia Jones, and Michael Semeniuk. Deb Forespring was elected to fill out the remaining two years of one position.  Tara Kelley-Baker and Paul Nadler continue to serve for another year in their positions.  There remains one Director position vacant for which the Board can choose to appoint an interested candidate for one year until the next annual election. If you are an active member and interested in serving, please reach out to us!

See you at our next General Meeting Saturday July 20^th!

Past and Upcoming Events

Thank you to those who came out to celebrate St. PAWtrick’s day with us! A special thanks to the volunteers: Maria Berrocal, Ronald Bond, Naiyaeliz Dunn, Jayla Hubb, Alina Benitez, Julie and Jaylin Rivas, Trinity and Tayah Hutchins, and Jessica and Sophia Chavez for helping with the event.  Caricatures were done by Avionne Akanbi (here is Paul Nadler and his pup!).  And of course a round of applause for the Hunt School of Irish Dance!

Lots of great events are coming up!

• April 13^th  Bowie CLAW will be at the Bowie Green Expo. The event takes place at Kenhill Center from 12-4.
• April 28^th  The annual Bowie CLAW Meet and Greet!  Visit us at the Food Court lawn at Bowie Town Center.  We will have dogs available for adoption from the Prince George’s Services and Adoption Center.
• May 4^th  Bowie CLAW’s Pet Round-up at the Texas Roadhouse in Bowie from 3-6:30pm. This is an adoption event in the parking lot of TX Roadhouse involving 9 rescues/animal shelters featuring adoptable cats, kittens, dogs, puppies, bunnies and guinea pigs looking for forever homes.  Flyers will be forthcoming so you can present a flyer to your server and either dine-in or carry- out. Bowie CLAW gets 10% of your food sale on that day!
• May 18^th Bowie CLAW General Meeting   at Bowie City Hall at 9:30 am. We invite and welcome everyone to join us.
• May, 22^nd and 23^rd – United Way of the National Capital Area “DoMore24 Power your Community Campaign.”  Bowie CLAW will have 24 hours during this campaign to raise much needed money for our Pet Assistance and Support (PAS) and feral kitten socialization program. Keep a look-out for our video!

We are seeking volunteers for all these events. Please email us at BowieCLAW@gmail.com.

Upcoming General CLAW Meeting

At the upcoming general meeting, May 18^th,@9:30 a.m. we will be holding an election for the Board of Directors. Five positions are opening on the Board.  To keep Bowie CLAW active and to continue the PAS program, we need active members who are willing to serve on this Board.  Please consider this opportunity and submit your interest by April 11^th to Virginia Jones (current Secretary) and/or Teresa Ruiz (current President) at BowieCLAW@gmail.com.

Scoop that Poop!

There are important reasons to clean up after your dog. When your dog does his business in the yard and the park (including the dog park), decomposition begins. Disease-causing bacteria and parasites seep into the soil and travel with the rain water runoff. These harmful bacteria and parasites become part of the local streams, rivers, and lakes.  People, including kids, play in and come into contact with the contaminated water.   Just one dog can produce 248 pounds of waste a year – there are 23 million bacteria in 1 tiny gram of dog poop.  Please do your part in keeping us all safe and healthy.  Enjoy being outside and have a very happy Spring! Go out and walk your dog – and scoop that poop!

See you at our general meeting Saturday May 18^t!

Hey, federal employees!  Please consider supporting Bowie CLAW in your Combined Federal Campaign (CFC) contributions this year!  Our Campaign Number is 15690.  Thank you!  And sign up for Smile.Amazon and at iGive.com, select Bowie Citizens for Local Animal Welfare, and a percentage of your online purchases will be donated at no additional expense to you–WIN-WIN for all.

Past and Upcoming Events

Happy St. Patrick’s Day!

Come celebrate how lucky you are to have your loving pet (and how lucky they are to have you!). Kiss the Blarney Bone and have your pet photographed – March 17th from 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM at the Calvert Brewing Company, 15850 Commerce Ct. in Upper Marlboro. The Hunt School of Irish Dance with be featured at 2:00 PM –you don’t want to miss that!

10 Animals From Ireland You Should Celebrate on St. Patrick’s Day

As you don green get-ups and toast to St. Patrick, take a minute to think of all the wonderful gifts that the Emerald Isle has given us. Its native species includes the common lizard, the Irish hare, the good-natured Connemara pony and the Kerry Bog pony, the Irish moiled cow, and the easygoing Galway sheep. And don’t forget the gorgeous Irish dog breeds (like the Irish Water Spaniel, Irish Setter, Kerry Blue Terrier and the Glen of Immaal Terrier) we now love on this side of the world. Cheers!

Upcoming General CLAW Meeting, March 16, 9:30 am, Bowie City Hall

This is a very significant meeting for all members and our supporters who care about animal welfare. We have several important community events coming up, and we always welcome your participation as volunteers at these events. Additionally, there will be five opportunities (aka: vacancies) on the Board of Directors, and if you are an active member, we encourage you to volunteer to serve on our Board of Directors. To keep Bowie CLAW active and to continue the Pet Assistance and Support program, we need active members who are willing to serve on this Board. The Board meets six times a year to guide the mission of Bowie CLAW. Please consider this opportunity and submit your interest at BowieCLAW@gmail.com.

We are fortunate to have County Councilman Todd Turner join us on March 16. Mr. Turner will be speaking to the group regarding the outlook in our county for the 22 year old “pit bull ban”. This law is more correctly termed “breed-specific legislation” (or BSL). BSL legislation is a type of dangerous dog law. It is defined as any ordinance or policy that pertains to a specific dog breed or several breeds, but does not affect any others. Often this legislation targets pit bulls, Rottweilers, Doberman Pinschers, and a variety of wolf-dog hybrids (among others). Bowie CLAW has been working for several years to change this legislation; there is no evidence that breed-specific laws, which are costly and difficult to enforce, make communities safer for people or their pets.

Please note: this is not a public hearing. Mr. Turner has graciously agreed to meet with Bowie CLAW because he learned that we had not been included in the most recent meeting with interested parties, and wants to update us. Mr. Turner is our representative on County Council, and is honoring his obligation to his constituents in District 4 by meeting with us. Mr. Turner is well aware of and supportive of all the reasons that this ban should be reversed. We welcome you to come, show your support, and listen to his most current perspective about what he is doing, what he can do, what he cannot do, and what we can do.

Should you have questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to reach out to us at BowieCLAW@gmail.com.

See you at our general meeting Saturday March 16th!

Hey, federal employees! Please consider supporting Bowie CLAW in your Combined Federal Campaign (CFC) contributions this year! Our Campaign Number is 15690. And sign up at Smile.Amazon and iGive.com to have a percentage of your online purchases donated to Bowie Citizens for Local Animal Welfare. Thank you!

Past and Upcoming Events

Our Valentine Kissing Booth at the Calvert Brewing Company was a loving success!

Thanks to all who participated and volunteered their time. Special kisses to Tyler Cotton, Adriel Borromeo, Alina Benitez, Julie and Jaylin Rivas, Natasha Morgan, Alexus Kellerman, Leigha Cromartie, Phoenix, Lila Pavelec, Teri Stumpf, Paul Nadler, Kathleen Parke, Virginia Jones, Jasmin Manning, Keva Michelle, and Teresa Ruiz!

Our next event will be the St. PAWtrick’s day celebration at the Calvert Brewing Company Sunday, March 17th 2019 from 1:00 to 4:00. The event will feature the Hunt School of Irish Dance. Come in your greenest attire and join us for a beer and fun!

Please mark your calendars – our next General Bowie CLAW meeting is Saturday, March 16h, 2018 at the Bowie City Hall. April 28 is the date for our annual Meet and Greet at Bowie Town Center Food Court lawn, and May 4 features the Texas Roadhouse Dine to Donate FUNdraiser. We invite you to join us at all these events, and volunteer to help make them a success for animals. Just send an email to bowieclaw@gmail.com.

Did you know having a dog can be good for your heart?

If you have a dog, you already know how warmth and comfort they bring to your life. But did you know science has found evidence that having a dog may help improve heart health? According to the Harvard Medical School, having pets is associated with a decreased risk of cardiovascular disease. Multiple studies have shown that people who live with dogs have lower blood pressure than those who do not. Scientist think this may be because their dogs have a calming effect on them, and because they tend to get more exercise (walk the dog!).

In addition to this, there is some evidence that living with a dog is associated with lower cholesterol and triglyceride levels. One study focused on this area of work found that people with dogs had lower cholesterol and triglyceride levels than those without dogs. These differences weren’t explainable by diet, smoking, or body mass index (BMI). However, the reason for these differences is still not clear.

Dogs’ have a calming effect on us and appears to help us handle stress. For example, some research suggests that people with dogs experience less cardiovascular reactivity during times of stress. That means that their heart rate and blood pressure go up less and return to normal more quickly, reducing the effects of stress on the body. Petting your dog has an important role as studies have shown blood pressure goes down when a person pets a dog.

If you’re living with a dog (or two), or are thinking about it, the potential heart health benefits are big plus!

Pet Assistance and Support Program

We currently are supporting 63 animals: 43 cats, 18 dogs, a bird and a fish?! As many of you know, the PAS provides food, litter, toys, and necessary medical expenses to local residents who are struggling to afford their pets. Your participation in our fundraisers and your generous donations make this program possible! To learn more, or to volunteer to assist, please email bowieclaw@gmail.com.

See you at our general meeting Saturday March 16th!
Hey, federal employees! Please consider supporting Bowie CLAW in your Combined Federal Campaign (CFC) contributions this year! Our Campaign Number is 15690. And sign up online for Smile Amazon and iGive to support Bowie Citizens for Local Animal Welfare as you make online purchases. Thank you!

Past and Upcoming Events

Happy New Year! We have a number of amazing events this 2019. Let’s start with attending our general meeting on January 19th. Come and meet like minded friends and see how you can support our local animals (we welcome new people and new ideas). Look for upcoming Meet and Greet events, a Valentine’s Day kissing booth, St. Patrick’s Day pictures and dancing, and much much more! 2019 is sure to bring some fun filled events for you and your pets to enjoy.

Top 10 Resolutions for You and Your Pet!

The start of a new year can signal a fresh start for your pets. Here are ten resolutions to make this year your pet’s healthiest year yet! (adapted from Petmd.com)

10 Measure Your Pet’s Food – Every Time! Many owners “eyeball” their pet’s daily intake and pour that into a bowl, usually resulting in overfeeding and weight gain. It’s important to use a measuring cup. The recommended feeding guidelines on the bag are good place to start to figure out how much food Fido(or Kitty really needs.

9 Choose an Age-Appropriate Diet Growing pets have very specific nutrient requirements to ensure their bodies grow healthy and strong. Choosing a diet specifically tailored to your pet’s life stage is a way to keep them in optimal health.

8 Try a New Activity with Your Pet From doga to hiking, skijoring to kayaking, it’s easier than ever for people to incorporate their pet into a new exercise routine. It’s a great way to bond, it’ll get you both out of the house, and both owner and pet will reap the rewards of a healthy physical activity. Meet-up groups are a great way to find like-minded pet owners to join you in your exercise, too!

7 Incorporate (More) Playtime into Your Routine Cats love the thrill of chasing a laser toy! Toys that trigger a cat’s predatory instinct are a great way to get them off the couch and engaged in a little aerobic activity.

6 Make a Date with Your Vet Yearly examinations by the veterinarian are a key component of good preventive care. Keep up-to-date with heartworm preventive. Veterinary visits are also the perfect time to ask for advice.

5 Groom Your Pet Daily Brushing your pet helps to removes excess fur from the coat, reducing the amount you find on your clothes and furniture and distributes oils from the skin to the fur, keeping the coat healthy. Daily grooming is a also a bonding activity that shows your pet how much you love them by taking care of them in a very soothing manner.

4 Practice Good Oral Hygiene Habits with Your Pet Daily tooth brushing is the best way to keep tartar and plaque at bay. Water additives, dental diets, and treats designed to reduce tartar can also be a helpful tool in keeping teeth clean.

3 Teach an Old Dog a New Trick Studies show that mental stimulation can help reduce cognitive deterioration in aging animals. In other words, keeping your senior pet’s brain active can actually make it healthier!

2 Update Pet ID Info Over the course of a year, a lot can change — people move, get new phone numbers, and forget to update their pet’s tags. Keep your microchip information current.

1 Consider Fostering Many animal shelters and rescues need loving homes to provide safe and temporary living arrangements for pets. It’s the perfect way to test the waters of pet ownership without the lifelong commitment. Who knows? That home just might end up being yours.

See you at our general meeting Saturday January 19th!

Hey, federal employees! Please consider supporting Bowie CLAW in your Combined Federal Campaign (CFC) contributions this year! Our Campaign Number is 15690.

If you shop online, please sign up at iGive.com and Smile. Amazon–designate Bowie Citizens for Local Animal Welfare, and we will receive generous donations at no extra cost to you!

Thank you!