A sanctuary for the ones other shelters can't take

Some animals come into rescue with birth defects, disabilities or long-term medical needs that most shelters simply aren't set up to handle. For many of them in our area, Josh and His Critters is where the story changes.

Founder Tina Marie Lythgoe runs the nonprofit rescue, rehabilitation center and sanctuary on a simple belief: everything with a heartbeat deserves a chance. The rescue is named for Josh, a newborn Westie mix with a cleft palate who was expected to be euthanized until Tina said yes and bottle-fed him to health.

Today the sanctuary cares for dogs, cats, goats, pigs, rabbits, birds and more, and other shelters call when they're out of options. It runs on community support, so donations, follows and shares all make a real difference. Our full story on the rescue is coming to the site soon.

Still Adopt a Shelter Dog Month

October isn't over. The Lancaster Animal Care Center (5210 W. Avenue I) and Palmdale Animal Care Center (38550 Sierra Highway) are open for adoptions Monday through Saturday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Browse adoptable animals on the LA County adoption search.

Getting pets ready for freezing desert nights

AV afternoons can feel mild well into winter, but once the sun drops, temperatures can slide below freezing, and our wind makes it feel colder still. A few habits go a long way:

• Bring pets inside when temperatures head toward freezing, especially small, short-haired, very young, senior and thin animals.
• Outdoor dogs need real shelter: dry, insulated, raised off the ground, with the door facing away from the wind. Straw stays drier and warmer than blankets, which soak up moisture and freeze.
• Check water bowls morning and night. A heated bowl keeps water from freezing solid.
• Knock on the hood or honk before starting the car. Cats like to curl up in warm engine compartments.
• Walk the fence line after windstorms and make sure tags and microchip info are current.

Antifreeze: the danger that tastes sweet

Antifreeze made with ethylene glycol tastes sweet to animals, and a very small amount can cause fatal kidney failure in a dog or cat. Wipe up spills in the garage and driveway right away, keep containers sealed and out of reach, and consider a propylene glycol product, which is less toxic. Early signs look like drunkenness: wobbling, vomiting, extreme thirst. Treatment works best within hours, so get to a vet immediately if you even suspect your pet drank some.

Poison help is available around the clock from the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435 and Pet Poison Helpline at (855) 764-7661. A consultation fee may apply.

Windy days and Valley Fever

Fall wind kicks up desert dust, and with it the spores that cause Valley Fever. Dogs that dig and sniff in the dirt are especially exposed. Watch for a cough that won't quit, fever, low energy or weight loss, and limit dust exposure on windy days for pets and horses alike.

Horse owners: fall is colic season

Vets see colic calls rise every autumn, and most cold-weather cases are impaction colic, tied to horses not drinking enough. Cooler nights make a trough less inviting, and dry hay carries far less moisture than anything green.

• Keep water appealing. Horses drink more when water sits roughly between 45 and 65 degrees. Get a tank heater in place before the first hard freeze, and check for ice every morning.
• Offer free-choice salt to encourage drinking. A wet mash or soaked hay sneaks in extra water.
• Switch hay slowly. The gut needs about two weeks to adjust to a new load or cutting.
• Feed off the sand. Use a feeder, mats or a slow-feed net instead of the bare desert ground.

Pawing, rolling, sweating, looking at the belly, fewer manure piles or skipping dinner all mean it's time to call your vet. Pull the feed and don't give medication unless your vet says to.

Backyard flocks and goats

If your hens have slowed down, shorter days are the likely reason: most hens lay steadily only with around 14 hours of light. Fall is also molting season, when ragged-looking birds drop old feathers and grow new ones. It's normal, egg production usually pauses, and a higher-protein feed helps them regrow feathers faster.

Keep coops dry and draft-free but vented up high, tie down roofs and run covers before the next big wind, and lock birds in at dusk as predators get bolder. Goats handle dry cold well but hate wet and wind, so give them a three-sided shelter facing away from the wind, deep dry bedding, plenty of good hay to keep their internal furnace running, and water that stays unfrozen.

Got an animal event coming up?

Halloween adoption days, costume contests, horse shows, vaccine clinics, rescue fundraisers and barn open houses are all welcome. If it involves animals and it's happening in the Antelope Valley, we want to help spread the word.

Post your event here and we'll consider it for an upcoming issue.

Need shots before the holidays? LA County Animal Care & Control runs low-cost vaccine and microchip appointments at both AV care centers year-round. Book through the county's vaccination page.