Bollinger County Stray Project

Report for Feb. 12 to 18

In my column last week, I mentioned feeding raw pork to dogs. Mostly, I have fed pork liver, heart and some other organ goodies when available. The important thing to know about feeding raw pork to your dogs is that it should be frozen for about a month before feeding it. According to "Perfectly Rawsome," a resource for raw feeders, this gives time to kill the worms that are dangerous for humans, as they are also a concern for your pets on raw. Another concern about pork muscle meat is the high fat content and the typical type of fat on pork.

Pasture-fed pork that range on grass, weeds and organic garden waste are leaner and much healthier meat for your family and really important when fed raw to your pets. This is because the fat is less and the fat is high in omega 3 oils, which are the best oils for heart and joint health. It's the same for both people and pets. That is why pasture-raised meats sell at premium prices at the grocers.

Pasture-fed or wild game have the best balance or ratio of omega 3 to omega 6 oils. Unfortunately, deer fat is sticky to the roof of your mouth if not hot when eating, and most people don't like the stronger flavor. I personally like more flavored meats like duck and lamb, not bland like cheap beef or the cheaper Tyson chickens.

I'm old enough to remember the flavor of grass-fed roosters my grandmother raised, and how all of the family members joined in for a day of butchering (without electric pluckers) 50 to 100 roosters. As a little kid, I was thinking the day would never end. My little hands were good at gutting and slow at plucking. Mom was cleaning and examining the kids' work and probably also cutting them up so they would fit in the jumbo freezer.

Pasture-raised and free-range meats are healthier for you and your pets.

On another note, last week I posted an article on my Facebook page on holistic methods to care for a dog with cancer. If you know anyone with such a sad case, or a dog with non-cancerous fatty tumors, you may wish to share that information. Not only eating quality foods, but also some natural supplements, have been shown to slow or even kill cancerous cells. It is a good article for any person to read because these holistic methods helping dogs are being studied and documented as helping in human diets as well.

Dogs held for other rescues:

• Four Aussie-type mixed pups, abandoned in Bollinger County, are about 13 weeks old.

Returned to owner, placed in other rescues, foster or adopted:

• Three pit bull pups, about 4 months old, went to a St. Louis rescue thanks to the fostering and work of Tammy Beck of Zalma.
• A brown and sable mixed dog, abandoned by his owner, was accepted by an Advance family that had adopted two dogs from us years ago. He is about 2 to 3 years old.

Dogs with erlichia, special needs or euthanized:

• Another male at the same location as the above dog growled at me when just petting him. After giving him some time, I then tried to get a leash on him and he tried to bite me. That was it. I told the Realtor I would not be helping with that dog in any way any longer. In this market when amazing pets are not finding rescue, there is no reason to take space with such a dog that may hurt someone.

Lost and found animals in area:

• Several dogs that are found or missing are listed on our Facebook page and also the two Bollinger County "What's Happening" pages. Don't have FB? Then call us so we can try to match lost pets.

Miscellaneous and contact info:

We were caring for 23 dogs and pups at our home Feb. 18. If you have a stray camping out in the yard, don't wait. Call us at (573) 722-3035 or (573) 321-0050.

MARILYN NEVILLE is director of Bollinger County Stray Project.