Buddha died December 5, 2013

“Buddha, Nashville’s famous fat cat that became a media sensation when his story went viral across the globe from Australia to Vietnam to England, died Thursday night.

“Buddha was diagnosed as having a congenital heart defect. The way it was explained to us is that his heart walls were thickened. The weight certainly put added stress on his heart,” said Penny Adams, a volunteer with the Cat Shoppe/Dog Store in Nashville’s Berry Hill community, a retail store that manages the nonprofit Cat Shoppe Rescue Inc.

The gray and white domestic shorthair was about 6 years old.

After working out on an underwater treadmill and watching his treat intake, Buddha’s quest to lose weight inspired humans to drop a few pounds.

Adams, who also is the volunteer photographer at Metro Animal Care & Control, noticed the obese feline — then tipping the scales at 31 pounds — in a cage there on Aug. 2. His previous owner had surrendered him to the shelter after a death in the family.

Volunteers brought him to the Cat Shoppe to more closely monitor him and get the cat on a healthy weight loss regimen that included walks on an underwater treadmill three times a week at Stonewater Rehabilitation at Animalia in Franklin.

Eventually he weighed in at 24 pounds, close to his 20 pound goal. But he hadn’t been on his exercise regimen recently as his caretakers noticed that the kitty was suffering from his heart ailment. Instead, they tried to stabilize him so that he could be placed in a permanent home, but eventually he was overcome with heart disease.

“My hope is that he didn’t die in vain and that people will take feline obesity seriously”

“He loved spending his days watching birds and he enjoyed his toys. He was a very special cat and such an inspiration from so many across world who struggle to lose weight. My hope is that he didn’t die in vain and that people will take feline obesity seriously,” Adams said.

A celebration of life for Buddha is planned from 7 to 8 p.m. Dec. 14 at Monell’s Restaurant, 2826 Bransford Ave., next to The Cat Shoppe, in Nashville.”

For the original story or to see the video of Buddha using the tread mill, visit http://www.tennessean.com.

Other Related articles on Buddha:
“Buddha, Nashville’s 31.4-pound cat, to start diet and exercise” The Tennessean, http://www.tennessean.com

The post Heart ailment kills Buddha, the fat Nashville cat whose story went viral appeared first on Stray Magnet | Helping Lost, Stray, and Abandoned Pets.

September 14

3rd Annual Canine Summer Splash
10am-3:30pm
Sumner County YMCA – Outdoor Pool
102 Bluegrass Commons Blvd
Hendersonville, TN 37075

Cost: $15 cash per dog per session
Session I: 10am-11:30am (90 mins) Little Dogs Only (25 Ibs and Under)
Session II: 12pm-1:30pm (90 mins) Big Dogs Only (25 Ibs and Over)
Session III: 2pm-3:30pm (90 mins) All Dog Swim (Dogs of All Sizes)
Event proceeds benefit the Sumner County YMCA “Learn to Swim” Program and help Nashville Paw magazine to remain a free community resource.
Rules, weather updates and more info: http://www.nashvillepaw.com

September 21

The Music City 2013 Dog Day Festival & Mutt Strutt
9:45am Mutt Strutt
10am-4pm Dog Day Festival
Centennial Park
2500 West End Ave
Nashville, TN 37203

Bring your dog(s) and enjoy a full day of activities including contests, crafts, giveaways, training and agility clinics, food, music and hundreds of pet friendly vendors with sales items and freebies. Teddy’s Wagon will be there with adoptable pets and conducting a microchip clinic. There is also a kids zone! Don’t miss the Biggest annual dog festival in town and help support Nashville Humane Association!

Mutt strut online reservations click here.
Dog Day Festival Admission: $5, children under the age of ten are FREE with a paid adult.
More: http://www.nashvillehumane.org

September 27

Third Annual Rock n’ Roll for Pet Control
7pm-10:30pm
9717 Concord Rd.
Brentwood, TN 37027

A benefit Concert featuring: Mike Farris, Mike Younger, Bonnie Bishop to support Pet Community Center. The event, presented by Kody’s Fund, will also include a silent auction, bar and vegan buffet.
Tickets: Available online before Sept. 26 Single $30, group of four $100
More: http://www.petcommunitycenter.org

October 4

Fall Call of the Wild
6:30pm
Sound Kitchen Recording Studio
112 Seaboard Lane
Franklin, TN 37067

Tickets: Advance $45 a person/ $80 couple or $50 at the door
Come support Walden’s Puddle and enjoy food and drinks by Crave Catering, a silent auction and a special animal presentation program.
More: http://www.waldenspuddle.org/FallCall2013.pdf

October 5

Rally 4 Paws
8:30am start
Bellevue, TN

Large scale scavenger hunt around town to benefit three local animal organizations: Proverbs 12:10 Animal Rescue, Lovie’s Legacy and Habitat for Paws Nashville.
Tickets: Register before Sept. 7 and get $10 off per person or $25 off per car.
After Sept. 7: Registration fee is $20 per person up to 3 participants or $75 per car for 4 to 6 participants.
More: www.rally4paws.com

October 5

Freedom Farm Pet Celebration
10am-3pm
Moss Wright Park
745 Caldwell Dr.
Goodlettsville, TN 37072

Lots of vendors, pets for adoption, live music and a great opportunity to bring your pet for an outing! Benefiting Freedom Farm Animal Sanctuary
More: http://www.freedomfarm.net

October 12

Barktoberfest
12pm-5pm
Animalia Health & Wellness For Animals
1973 New Hwy 96 West
Franklin, TN 37064

Don on your costumes with your dog(s) for a chance to win over $3,00 in contest prizes. Live music, food, photo booth, local rescue organizations and other vendors.
Admission: Free ($20 for costume contest entry)
For a schedule of events or more information: http://www.nashvillepaw.com
Presenting sponsor, Greymont Kennel!

October 19

Agape Animal Ball (Masquerade)
6-10pm
Events on 3rd
209 3rd Ave N.
Nashville, TN 37201

“Hosted by Gary and Cassie Chapman, the event will feature live entertainment from some of Nashville’s biggest musicians, dancing, complimentary wine and cocktails from the Tito’s Handmade Vodka Bar, heavy hors d’oeuvres from some of the best restaurants in Nashville, and live and silent auctions featuring items from Jimmy Choo, Tiffany & Company, Elan Skin & Hair, and more!” “Don’t have a mask to wear to the most unique masquerade event in Nashville? We’ve got you covered! With the purchase of an Agape Animal Ball ticket, you will get to choose your own custom animal mask designed by a local artist…so no two animals will look alike!”
Tickets: $130-$200 depending on add ons
More: http://www.agaperescue.org

October 19

5th Annual Mars Petcare Adoption Fair
10am-3pm
Mars Petcare
315 Cool Springs Blvd.
Franklin, Tennessee

Come check out the largest adoption event in the state and take home a new companion.
More: http://www.mars.com

November 9

Puttin’ on the Dog & Cat Gala
6pm-9pm
Kennesaw Farms Clubhouse
1680 Nashville Pike
Gallatin, TN 37066

Come enjoy an evening of entertainment to benefit the Sumner County Humane Association. “There will be a silent auction, door prizes, fabulous food, and the announcement of our Pet Calendar Contest Winners!”
Tickets: $35.00 per person
More info at http://www.sumnerhumane.org.

The post Fall Events appeared first on Stray Magnet | Helping Lost, Stray, and Abandoned Pets.

Woofstock, Concert benefiting Bonaparte’s Retreat and Crossroads Campus
12noon-5p.m.
Fontanel
4225 Whites Creek Pike
Nashville, TN 37189
Featuring: Emmylou Harris, Ella Mae Bowen, John Hiatt, Buddy Miller, Joan Osborne, and some CMA surprises!
Admission: $20 (kids under 12 FREE)
Purchase tickets in advance or to get more info: http://bonapartesretreat.org

June 21

Hair Ball Sponsored by the Pet Community Center
7-11p.m.
Jamison Hall in the Factory at Franklin
230 Franlin Road
Franklin, TN 37064
The HairBall is an 80′s themed party raising funds for Pet Community Center
Tickets: $30 per person or $300 for a group of 10 Tickets available at petcommunitycenter.org

Come enjoy heavy appetizers, beer and wine – plus don’t miss the fabulous silent auction, live music and 80′s game arcade, all to benefit spay/neuter and training and education programs. Costumes are encouraged and J Bangs Salon will even be on hand to provide 80′s hair styles.
More info: www.petcommunitycenter.org

June 25

Live Music benefiting Nashville Rescue Mission and Southern Alliance for People and Animal Welfare (SAFPAW)
6-8p.m.
The Listening Room
217 Second Avenue South
Nashville, TN 37201
Artists: Sandra Lee and Friends, Karyn Williams and Brian White, Special Guests: SMC, Mark Selby, Clay Mills and Sonny LeMaine
Free admission-Donations Appreciated! All proceeds will benefit Nashville Rescue Mission serving the homeless community, and SAFPAW serving homeless pet owners and their pets.

June 30

Pittiefest 2013 benefiting Nashville Pittie
2-6p.m.
Streets of Indian Lakes
300 Indian Lake Blvd
Hendersonville, TN 37075
Admission: FREE
“Enjoy the day with live music, vendors, education, food and treats, and, or course, PITTIES!” Artists include: The Anthony K. Band, Graci Phillips, Lauren Winans, Ostrander, and Kimberly Cleveland.
For questions and more information, email Ren at events@nashvillepittie.org.

The post Pet Friendly Events in June appeared first on Stray Magnet | Helping Lost, Stray, and Abandoned Pets.

Kitten season starts in the spring, peaking in late spring or early summer, and ending in the fall. According to the Pet Community Center, “Each year in Nashville over 10,000 animals are euthanized because of pet overpopulation.” “Spaying and neutering makes a big difference: Just one unaltered female dog and her offspring can produce 67,000 puppies in only six years. In seven years, one female cat and her offspring can produce an incredible 370,000 kittens!” (PETA)

Middle Tennessee has lots of spay and neuter services, financial assistance programs, and low cost clinics.

A full list of those can be found at http://straymagnet.com. Below we we highlight a few mobile options, clinics and financial assistance programs.

Mobile Services:

Rover (Davidson County Residents)

Website: www.nashvillehumane.org
Rover is the Nashville Humane Association’s mobile surgical unit. “ROVER travels four days a week and is staffed by a Veterinarian, Licensed Veterinary Medical Technician (LVMT), Veterinary Assistant and Project Coordinator.” You can’t miss the big yellow bus which offers practically free -$10 spay and neuter services to qualifying individuals.

To qualify: you need to live in Davidson County and bring proof of one of the following: food stamp card, free school lunch program card or WIC documentation, disability letter or V.A. disability letter, last year’s tax return statement, public housing rent receipt or Section 8 letter, or Social Security income documentation.

To set up your appointment:
1-Call 615 352-4030
2
2-complete the patient information packet at http://www.nashvillehumane.org

The Spay Station (Wilson County)

The Spay Station is a New Leash on Life 33-foot mobile veterinary clinic. The Spay Station offers FREE spay and neuter services to those who demonstrate financial need.

To qualify: participate in ANY of the following programs: “food stamps, public housing, disability, WIC, Families First, SSI OR Medicaid.” While the Spay Station primarily serves residents in Watertown and Lebanon anyone (group or individual) may sponsor the spay station ($1,100) for their county. The Spay Station runs solely off of grants, donations and sponsors.

For an appointment or more information, please call 615-444-1196.

Spay & Neuter Programs and Low-Cost Services

Sumner Spay & Neuter Alliance

1033-B Union School Road
Gallatin, TN 37066
(615) 452-2233
Website: www.sumnerspayneuteralliance.org
Email: info@sumnerspayneuteralliance.org

Cost:
Male Cat $30, Female Cat $40, Feral Cat $25
Male dog $45, Female Dog $55

To schedule an appointment; call (615) 452-2233, Monday – Thursday from 10:00am to 4:00pm.

Beesley Foundation

2215 Keeneland Commercial Blvd.
Murfreesboro, TN 37217
(615) 890-6878
Website: www.beesleyfoundation.org

Cost:
Male Cat $40, Female Cat $45 (add $15 if pregnant or in heat)
Male Dog range $50-$90 depending on weight, Female Dog range $65-$100 depending on weight, exact fees available at http://www.beesleyfoundation.org.

Why prices are low:
1-”We are a non-profit clinic run by Beesley Foundation and supported in part by donations and fundraisers.”
2-”We only provide spay/neuter services and do not have the overhead required for full-service clinics.”

To Sign up for an appointment: Click here to download their application. “Fees for surgery (and required shots) must be paid before an appointment is made. When we receive your application with payment, we will call you to make an appointment.”

Fix for Life Spay & Neuter Clinic

511 W. Baddour Parkway
Lebanon, TN 37087
(615) 453-2349
Website: newleashonline.org
Email: fixforlife@newleashonline.com

“Fix for Life, an initiative of New Leash on Life, is a spay/neuter clinic that is dedicated to reducing pet overpopulation in Wilson and surrounding counties by providing high volume, high quality, low-cost sterilization services. Spay/Neuter services are offered to shelters, rescue groups as well as the general public and you do not have to qualify financially to use our services.”

Cost:
Male Cat $30, Female Cat $40
Male Dog under 50lbs $40, over 50lbs $50, Female Dog under 50lbs $50, over 50lbs $65
*Prices sometimes decrease when they receive grants, call regularly to inquire.

Call for an appointment (615) 453-2349 Monday thru Thursday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Middle Tennessee Spay and Neuter Clinic

738 B. North Main St.
Shelbyville, TN 37160
(931) 684-5353
Website: www.mtsnc.org

Cost: Cat $30 Dog $45

Who Qualifies: “Anyone on state or federal assistance including TNCare, food stamps, disability, reduced or free lunch etc., anyone who adopts from an animal agency, animals in the care of a rescue, humane or animal control, anyone with barn or feral cats (not owned pet cats) and those on fixed income. A 1-2 person home under $30,000. For each additional person add $6,900.
*Thanks to a grant provided by ASPCA (The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals) we are able to offer a discount of $20 off a surgery for big dogs over 50 pounds.”

Financial Assistance Programs:

Pet Community Center

Financial assistance and transport available to Fix for Life Spay-Neuter Clinic.
(615) 512-5001
Website: www.petcommunitycenter.org
Email: info@petcommunitycenter.org

Cost:
Male Cat $30, Female Cat $40, Feral Cat $38 (includes rabies vaccination and ear tip)
Male Dog $45-$55 (based on weight), Female Dog $55-$70 (based on weight)
Full list of prices available at http://www.petcommunitycenter.org.
Book an appointment by completing their questionnaire.
*Financial Aid may be available, contact them for more information.

People for Animals

Financial assistance and discount certificates available.
Franklin, TN
Website: www.peopleforanimals.net
Email: PeopleForAnimals@comcast.net

Process:
 Call (615) 794-8925 to talk to a volunteer who will determine the level of assistance available and the appropriate vet clinic for the surgery. The pet owner then calls the clinic to schedule the surgery.
List of programs and services
List of vets they work with (accept PFA certificates)

Nashville Humane Association

Discount certificates called “Friends of Animals Certificates” are available for purchase to use at participating clinics
. Anyone can purchase!
213 Oceala Ave
Nashville, TN 37209
(615) 352-1010
Website: www.nashvillehumane.org

Cost:
Male Cat $51, Female Cat $65
Male dog $64, Female Dog $90


List of participating vets

Cheatham County Animal Awareness Foundation (Cheatham County Residents)

Spay neuter services and financial assistance program for residents of Cheatham County. The Spay Station comes once a month to spay and neuter cats and small dogs and large dogs are performed at a local vet clinic.

Website: www.cheathamcountypaws.org

Call or email for more information:
Call for cats and small dogs (615) 829-8984
Call for dogs over 40 lbs (615) 578-1262
Email: cheathamcountypaws@hotmail.com

Local Trap and Release Programs:

The Pet Community Center also have a trap-neuter-return (TNR) program called Feline Fix. For more information visit www.petcommunitycenter.org
Together with Nashville Paw Foundation they are offering a spring program called Free Feral Cat Mondays. They will fund the sterilizations for 120 cats Fix For Life. The two dates left are May 6 and May 13. To schedule an appointment, visit http://www.petcommunitycenter.org.

Additional Resources:

“Pet Statistics: How Many Pets are in the United States?/ How many animals are in shelters?/ etc.” ASPCA
“Why Spay/Neuter?” on People for Animals
“Kitten Progression: At-a-Glance” on Alley Cat Allies
“Feline Spay + Neuter” by Mark Waldrop, DVM on Nashville Paw
“Spay and Neuter FAQs” from the Sumner Spay & Neuter Alliance

The post It’s Kitten Season; Help Control Overpopulation by Spaying and Neutering Your Pets appeared first on Stray Magnet | Helping Lost, Stray, and Abandoned Pets.