FAQ’S

+ Can we drop off the stray dogs we find at your facility?

No. Though our name implies we are a “Pound”, which is an outdated name for an animal shelter, we are a primarily foster based rescue. Many stray dogs walk across the rescue property each week. We provide them with food and water but more often we cannot bring them in for lack of space. We must do what the general public does… call animal control or take them to the local shelter or Humane Society. Most dogs living on the street are suffering… they starve, dehydrate, have torturous skin conditions and may be attacked by other animals… including humans. If you cannot care for them yourself, do not be afraid they will be killed at the shelter. Unless they are aggressive, they have a good chance for a better life.

+ My dog had puppies. Can you take them?

We have a small rescue and primarily depend upon fosters to care for the dogs and puppies until their adoption day. There are many factors which come into play whether we can take on a dog, litter or family of dogs. It generally boils down to space and funding. If we can bring your puppies into rescue, you will be asked to sign a surrender form. On occasion, we may be able to commit to puppies, it never hurts to ask. However, if you can foster them until transport or adoption you will have a much better chance with any rescue organization of getting your puppies to a good home through the rescue. We provide food and supplies to our fosters, pay for veterinary needs and any costs associated with adoption. For more information regarding our policy and responsibility to a pet taken into Pound on the Hill Animal Rescue, please see our Adoption page. We will be responsible for checking the potential adopter to assure the human and canine are a good match, we check in with their veterinarian to assure their history of caring for their pets’ medical needs has been good and we check their home to be certain the home is safe and the containment options are safe and acceptable. If the “Mama Dog” is your pet, we will ask that you allow us to have her spayed. For more information about Fostering for Pound on the Hill, please see our FOSTER page.

+ Does my dog have heartworms? I don't see any worms in the poop.

Heartworms and intestinal parasites (worms) are two different health issues.
Heartworms are actual worms living and breeding in and around the heart. This causes great distress on the dog’s heart and will contribute to your pet’s early demise. They are carried by mosquitoes. A mosquito may bite a dog with heartworms and then bite another dog depositing heartworm egg into the bloodstream. There are preventatives for heartworms which will stop the cycle of heartworms if your dog is bitten by an “infected” mosquito. A test to determine if your dog has heartworms can be administered by your veterinarian. It can be dangerous to give a heartworm positive dog (a dog currently infected with heartworms) a preventative. See your veterinarian for more information.
Intestinal parasites or the worms which are seen in dog feces, typically live in the dog’s stomach and intestines. They take nutrients from the dog or puppy. There are numerous health issues which can be directly caused by these parasites. Weightloss, dehydration, diarrhea, anemia, heart failurs and even death. When the dog becomes fully infested with these worms they can migrate to the esophagus and find their way to the lungs… killing your pet. Almost every dog will have some type of worm in their lifetime. These come from fleas, eating dirt or even digging in the dirt then licking their paws and are commonly passed from the Mama Dog to her offspring at birth and through nursing. There are four commonly seen worm types… Tapes, Rounds, Whips and Hooks. A veterinarian can perform a fecal exam to determine if your dog has worms and if so, what type of worm. Your veterinarian will prescribe the best medication for that type. All types of worms cannot be seen in fecal matter without a microscope. Internal parasites/worms are deadly for puppies, as well as, some adult dogs.

+ I think my dog is pregnant. When will she have her puppies?

The gestation period for dogs is 58-68 days. Even if you know the exact date your dog conceived you are still looking at a 10-day window of when your puppies will arrive. If you believe your dog may be pregnant, your veterinarian can perform an ultra-sound to tell you the approximate number and age of the unborn puppies. But if you are wanting to know what day to take off work so you can be with her… you may want to consult your nearest psychic. Even your veterinarian will be making an educated guess at the arrival date. Please contact Pound on the Hill Animal Rescue if you cannot afford to get your dog spayed.

+ My dog appears pregnant but she is in a fenced yard. How could she have gotten pregnant?

There are health issues which will cause bloating… And there is the occasional false pregnancy which will cause your dog to produce milk…
However… thinking a dog cannot get pregnant in a fenced yard is much akin to thinking my daughter cannot be pregnant because she was in a car. Generally speaking, male canines are as determined as their human male counterparts… They will jump fences, maneuver through the chain link and climb the highest mountain… all in the name of lust. We experienced a male dog throw his body against a door to our house all night. This was after he busted through the gate on our fence. He was trying to get to a dog who we rescued that day. She happened to be in heat. The three of us were huddled in the house terrified he would get through the door.
Sexist? Me? No… Females have raging hormones, too! And... in my opinion, can be quite adept in getting what they want albeit more subtle maneuvers. Case in point... my first dog. I was clueless even though I was well into adulthood. She was a German Shepherd with an IQ double of mine. She would get out of multiple locks on my sliding glass door. I moved the locks the top of the door and though I thought she would push a chair over to get to access the locks, she did not. When she went into her first heat, the doors were carefully checked before leaving. Feeling that she was secured, I went to work. I returned to find she had unlocked and opened the window, pushed out the screen and invited the neighbor’s chow in for a roll in the hay. They were sitting on the couch in afterglow when I returned from work. Procreation is instinctual in all animals.
If you need to know for certain whether your little princess has been fooling around, take her to your veterinarian. If you would like for her to be spayed but cannot afford to do so, please contact Pound on the Hill Animal Rescue.

+ My dog keeps having puppies. I cannot afford to get her fixed. Are there birth control pills for dogs?

To my knowledge there are no birth control pills available for dogs. However, there are programs available which may offer financial assistance to have your dog spayed. If you are on Medicaid or other government assistance programs many veterinarians will allow you to have up to two dogs spayed or neutered (fixed) per year for $20 per dog. You may want to contact the clinics in your area to see if this option is available to you.
Check with your area Humane Society. They often have a program to help with low cost spay and neuter.
Spay and Neuter organizations in the Birmingham area:
Alabama Animal Adoption Society - (205) 871-6351
Alabama Spay and Neuter - (205) 956-0012
Friends of Cats and Dogs Foundation - http://www.fcdf.org
Greater Birmingham Humane Society - (205) 942-1211
If you are in Bessemer, Alabama please feel free to contact Pound on the Hill Animal Rescue for further assistance.