Happy Howl-O-Ween from the SPCA of Texas! With all of the gremlins, goblins and ghosts out on the prowl, the SPCA of Texas wants to remind pet owners to keep their pet’s safety in mind this Halloween. Here are some helpful tips to ensure the whole family has a spooktacular Halloween this year:

• Don’t give any candy to your pets! All forms of chocolate can be dangerous, even lethal, for dogs and cats. Other candies may contain the artificial sweetener xylitol that can also be poisonous to pets. Make sure that all Halloween treats are in a high place and dispose of any leftover candies or wrappers where your pet cannot reach them. If pets consume chocolate or candy, contact your vet immediately.
• Keep pets away from live flame decorations like candles and jack-o-lanterns, and restrict your pet’s access to hanging decorations such as streamers. Your pet could possibly receive an electrical shock if they chew on electrical cords. If your pet chews on cords, make sure you keep them out of your pets’ reach. Pets are curious and can become tangled or even choke if they chew on the decorations.
• Keep your pets away from the door when trick-or-treaters arrive so that he or she doesn’t get scared or dart outside. Keep pets in a familiar place with lots of toys and familiar sounds to distract them from the doorbell.
• Don’t let the family dog accompany the kids on their trick-or-treat outing. Although bringing your pooch may seem like a fun family outing, your pet would likely feel much safer and more comfortable in his or her own home away from all the Halloween festivities.
• Be careful with costumes. For some pets, wearing a costume can be uncomfortable and stressful. If you dress up your pet for Halloween, make sure the costume does not limit his or her movement, vision, breathing or ability to bark or meow. Monitor your pet for signs of discomfort, and if he or she seems distressed, remove the costume and opt for a festive collar or bandanna instead.
• Make sure your pet is wearing a collar and identification tags, so you can be contacted if he or she does slip away during all of the Halloween commotion. In addition to identification tags, ensure your pet is microchipped.

And of course, if the thought of more homeless, unwanted dogs and cats scares you like it does the SPCA of Texas, always remember the importance of spaying and neutering your pets.

WHAT: The SPCA of Texas will take part in the 17^th annual North Texas Facing Family Violence Conference (NTFFV), hosted by the Collin County Council on Family Violence (CCCFV) from Wednesday, October 23 until Friday, October 25. NTFFV is held to provide an environment where professionals can gain valuable insight into best practices and emerging trends in criminal justice response, victim assistance, education and mental health. Online registration has ended but walk-ins are still welcome to register on-site any day of the conference. To learn more visit ntffv.com.

The SPCA of Texas and the North Texas LINK Coalition will have an exhibit table at the conference where people can learn more about the link between animal cruelty and family violence. Nationally, about 71% of pet owners entering domestic violence shelters report that their abuser had threatened, injured or killed family pets. The SPCA of Texas hopes to enlighten people about this disturbing trend and highlight the resources available to victims of abuse in our community like The Family Place, which offers housing for their clients and their pets.

Featured speakers at the conference include:

• Dale Hansen, Sports Anchor, WFAA: Emcee of the conference and recipient of the Dallas Peace and Justice Center’s 2019 Inspiration Award
• Phil Arkow, Co-Founder of the National Resource Center on the LINK between Animal Abuse and Human Violence
• Felicia Kerney, Esq: Assistant District Attorney, Dallas County District Attorney's Office

Over 250 mental, health, law enforcement, legal and faith professionals will be at the event. The theme of this year's conference is Family and Intimate Partner Violence: Responding to Experiences Throughout the Lifespan. This includes recognizing the intersections of race, class, disability, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, and nationality.

WHEN: Wednesday, October 23, 2019 to Friday, October 25, 2019

WHERE: Collin College - Spring Creek Campus
2800 E Spring Creek Pkwy, Plano, TX 75074

Huddle up team! If you've been looking to adopt a dog from the SPCA of Texas, you're in luck! Starting tomorrow, the SPCA of Texas is having a Huddle Up, Cuddle Up adoption special at its two Metroplex-area shelters. From Friday, October 11 through Sunday, October 13 wear your favorite team's sports gear to the shelter and receive half off the adoption prices for dogs weighing 40 pounds or more. To see all of our available dogs, visit spca.org/findapet.

The SPCA of Texas has two shelters where you can adopt your new football cuddle buddy. There are dozens of animals waiting for you at the SPCA of Texas' Jan Rees-Jones Animal Care Center in Dallas at 2400 Lone Star Drive and at the SPCA of Texas' Russell H. Perry Animal Care Center in McKinney at 8411 Stacy Road. Hours are noon to 6 p.m. Sunday through Wednesday and noon to 7 p.m. Thursday through Saturday.

Regular adoption fees are $125 for puppies and kittens aged 0-6 months and $60 for adult dogs and cats aged 6 months or older. Fee includes spay/neuter surgery, age-appropriate vaccinations, a heartworm test for dogs six months and older and a FIV/FeLV test for cats 6 months and older, initial flea/tick preventative and heartworm preventative, a microchip, 30 days of PetHealth Insurance provided by Pethealth, a free 14-day wellness exam with VCA Animal Hospitals, a rabies tag and a free leash.

We hope you’ll visit our adoptable pets online and then visit them in person at one of our shelters. We’re ready to help you find the pet of your dreams!

The SPCA of Texas is joining Hill’s Pet Nutrition and its nation-wide network of animal shelter partners in a campaign to educate pet families about the importance of including pets in their emergency planning. September has been designated National Preparedness Month by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to remind families to make emergency plans to help them respond in the event of a disaster or emergency situation. As families assemble a disaster supplies kit, the SPCA of Texas and Hill’s are encouraging them to also create a pet emergency go-kit.

“Planning ahead is the best way for families to ensure that all members of their family, including pets, are ready to face an emergency,” said Joann Fuller, who oversees Hill’s Food, Shelter & Love® program. “Creating a pet emergency go-kit beforehand can relieve some of the stress families experience and keep pets safe when disasters strike. Our ultimate goal is to reduce the number of cats and dogs that are hurt, displaced or abandoned when communities are impacted by disaster.”

The pet emergency go-kit should be stored alongside the rest of the family’s emergency supplies and include the following items:

• Basic first aid supplies
• A 3-day supply of bottled water and the pet’s preferred food, held in a waterproof container
• Safety harness and leash
• Waste clean-up supplies
• Medications and a copy of the pet’s medical records
• List of veterinarians and local pet care organizations
• List of the pet’s feeding routine and any behavioral issues
• Comfort items, such as a blanket or favorite toy, to help keep the pet calm and comfortable

The SPCA of Texas and Hill’s also recommend the following Tips to Help Ensure Your Pet’s Safety in an Emergency:

1. Ensure your pet’s identification by using a microchip or collar ID tag, and make sure that all contact information is up to date. You can update the microchip’s contact information at the manufacturer’s website by locating the code from the barcode sticker or the confirmation form provided by your veterinarian or animal shelter.
2. Display a pet rescue decal on the front door or window to let first responders know there is a pet in the house. Include your veterinarian’s contact information.
3. Learn where your pets like to hide in the house when frightened. Finding a pet quickly will help to evacuate faster.
4. Identify a location to take a pet in case of evacuation. Keep in mind that disaster shelters for people may not be open to pets. Scout hotels and motels with pet-friendly policies and ask relatives or friends if they could house you and your pet.
5. Carry a picture of your pet in the event of separation.
6. In case of evacuation, consider taking a pet carrier or crate for transport and safe keeping.

 “The SPCA of Texas is pleased to partner with Hill’s Pet Nutrition to help educate the public on how to care for pets in preparation of a disaster,” said Karen Froehlich, President and CEO for the SPCA of Texas. “Pets are family, and including them in all disaster planning is an important way to ensure you all have what you need during unforeseen disasters.”

When communities are hit hard by disaster and even the best laid plans are not enough , Hill’s Disaster Relief Network responds quickly to supply free pet food to families in need. This first-of-its-kind network was established in 2013 as an extension of the Hill’s Food, Shelter & Love® program, which has provided nearly $300 million worth of Hill’s® pet foods to more than 1,000 shelters in North America over the last 17 years, helping more than 10 million pets find new homes.

Since 2013, Hill’s Disaster Relief Network has delivered over 360,000 pounds of free food to nearly 360 organizations across the country in response to more than 86 disasters, including floods, tornadoes, mudslides and the devastating hurricanes in Florida and North Carolina last year.

Families can view the entire Pet Emergency Go-Kit and learn more tips about disaster preparedness and safety at HillsPet.com/PetPrepared. Shelters in need of assistance can contact DisasterRelief@hillspet.com.

The 21^st night of September was certainly one to remember for SPCA of Texas supporters and animal lovers. The Hyatt Regency Dallas’ foyer filled quickly, as hundreds of dapper gents dressed up to the nines and hundreds of lovely ladies wearing their most dazzling dresses and adorned in their finest jewels arrived for the SPCA of Texas’ annual Fur Ball gala.

Greeted by the SPCA of Texas’ signature purple on every possible surface, guests glided through the lobby, glittering as they went, chatting brightly to one another and wishing congratulations to this year’s chairs, John and Lana Payne, and co-chairs, Jacob and Katherine Payne (who also happen to be their children) on a job well done. Sipping on wine and nibbling on passed bites, the joyous group hugged old friends, made new ones and caught up from their summer adventures as a jazz trio, members of Party Machine, set the relaxed yet festive mood for the evening.

In one particularly busy spot, a passel of puppies and a crate of kittens lapped up the love from delighted guests. People maneuvered their way through the throng, perusing the spectacular silent auction items put together by the 2019 Auction Chairs, Sandra Fite and Julia Howard, and Auction Co-Chair Amber Camper.

When doors opened for dinner service and the evening’s program, guests paused to admire a gorgeous ice sculpture in the shape of a dog, thanks to Tito’s the Vodka for Dog People, as they were greeted by even more purple and were beckoned into the ballroom by a sea of flowers, thanks to Simply Elegant owned by Heather Rubin-Evetts, set on gorgeously appointed tables. They floated toward their seats to enjoy their salads of baby romaine and pecan smoked mozzarella with plum tomato dressing.

Emcee Brian Curtis, NBC 5 News Anchor, kicked off the evening’s ceremony, sharing his emotional story that led him to finding his own SPCA of Texas rescue dog, Ocho. Newly named President/CEO Karen Froehlich was next to offer her thanks, praising the hard-working chairs and committees for a wonderful event, thanking the board of directors for their unwavering support, thanking the staff and volunteers for providing every animal exceptional care and a loving home, and highlighting the organization’s accomplishments over the past year.

After a delightful dinner of grilled sirloin, pan-roasted chicken, shiraz demi, yukon potato puree and dessert of chocolate covered carrot cake, the evening continued with the SPCA of Texas enlightening donors and sponsors about the amount of work that goes into rehabilitating the animals that come into their care. Animals like Hercules, who has a medical condition that requires meticulous treatment, and like Mazi, who was abandoned at a truck stop and who will need a wheelchair to walk. Both deserving dogs and their foster families received standing ovations from the crowd.

Another dynamic duo then took the stage, Brian Curtis and auctioneer Grant Snyder, who was flown in from L.A. The zippy pair’s infectious enthusiasm and playful banter prompted the crowd to open up their hearts and their pocket books to set a record fundraising amount for the annual Fur Ball gala auction. Plus, with a little help from Jacob Payne and a dozen other Jesuit College Preparatory senior students, the duo introduced the Russell E. Dealey Challenge. Dealey graciously challenged everyone at the black-tie event to give an extra $100 and he would match their gift two to one, up to $54,000. Altogether, the money would equal $81,000 in honor of the SPCA of Texas’ 81^st year!

Fur Ball 2019 then brought the high-voltage fun with headline entertainment by Party Machine, and guests danced the night away.

Attendees included: Sunny Ackerman and Susie Lyne, Steve Atkinson and Ted Kincaid, Wally Brewster and Bob Satawake, Stephanie Carreon-Elliott, Mandy Strauss, Andrea Alcorn, Phyllis Comu, Ron and Anna Corcoran, Peter and Lynn Dauterman, Russell E. Dealey, Robert Dombrowski, Gwen and Leldon Echols, Sandra and Colin Fite, Dallas County Commissioner Dr. Elba Garcia, Regina Montoya, Marsha Pendleton-Gray and Dr. Richard Gray, Kristen and Scott Greenberg, Gus Hinojosa, Steven and Jennifer Kenny, Carolyn and David Kubes, Cindy and Don Lindsley, Jennifer Lindsley, Donna and Brian Loughmiller, Christine Martin, Sonja McGill, Mary and Matt Metz, Pamela, Lily and Sarah Moayedi, Carol and Ed Nelson, Beth Nunez, Betsy Orton and Sharon Fancher, Dhruva and Hiren Patel, Dr. Laura Rabe, Joan Rogers, Christina and Chase Sanders, Hillary and Mark Schwarz, Tammany Stern, Susie Swanson and Kevin Coffey, Mary and Skip Trimble, Karen Urie, Patricia Villareal and Tom Leatherbury, and Anja Woodson.

Fur Ball 2019 was a financial success thanks to Chairs John and Lana Payne, Co-Chairs Jacob and Katherine Payne, Auction Chairs Sandra Fite and Julia Howard, Auction Co-chair Amber Camper and Underwriting Chair Arlene Kirkland. The evening’s production was provided by Nomad Productions.

Fur Ball is DFW’s salute to the bond between people and their pets and a celebration of the SPCA of Texas’ important mission to provide every animal exceptional care and a loving home. All money raised through Fur Ball 2019 will go directly to the SPCA of Texas to help rescue, heal and find homes for thousands of animals.