The Little Black Cat Collective Pet Food Pantry

08/28/2026

Be smart and kind like Bob!

Just a reminder to have your pets spayed or neutered...

08/26/2026

Best deal in town! Get those cats taken care of before it’s too late! ♥️

08/26/2026

Big Ben’s Clock Shop, where our pantry is also located, is a retailer of Kit-Cat Klocks and carry a variety of colorful clocks and fun accessories like socks, keychains, ornaments, puzzles and MORE! Great gifts and great fun!

Come and visit us Tuesday-Friday from 12-6 pm and Saturday 12-4 pm.

Bring home the smiles! 😊 Add a little extra joy to your everyday with a perfectly paired set of Kit-Cat favorites. The Happy Home Bundle is an easy way to brighten your space, from your kitchen counter to your morning coffee. Inside the bundle you’ll get: 🕒 A Kit-Cat Klock® of your choicePi...

08/26/2026

𝗧𝗵𝗲𝘆 𝗱𝗼𝗻’𝘁 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗻 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝘀𝘄𝗶𝗺 𝗶𝗻 𝗶𝘁.

Last year, dogs in Los Angeles were suspected of being exposed to cyanobacterial toxins simply by 𝘄𝗮𝗹𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗮𝗻𝗮𝗹𝘀.

During canal cleaning, cyanobacterial material could be removed from the water and deposited onto the sidewalks. Even after sweeping, some wet residue could remain—creating a potential exposure route for dogs walking through the area.

Twenty-seven dogs became ill and five died.

𝗦𝗼 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗶𝘀 𝗯𝗹𝘂𝗲-𝗴𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗻 𝗮𝗹𝗴𝗮𝗲?

Despite the name, blue-green algae are not actually algae. They are 𝗰𝘆𝗮𝗻𝗼𝗯𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗮—bacteria that can form harmful blooms in warm, nutrient-rich water.

And you cannot determine whether a bloom is toxic simply by looking at it. Blooms can appear green, blue, yellow, red, or brown and may resemble spilled paint or pea soup.

The major cyanotoxins of concern include:

𝗠𝗶𝗰𝗿𝗼𝗰𝘆𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗻 — can cause severe liver damage and potentially liver failure

𝗔𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗼𝘅𝗶𝗻 — primarily affects the nervous system and can cause seizures, excessive salivation, and rapid death

The Los Angeles investigation also detected 𝗰𝘆𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗱𝗿𝗼𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗺𝗼𝗽𝘀𝗶𝗻 in canal material.

𝗖𝘆𝗮𝗻𝗼𝗯𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝘁𝗼𝘅𝗶𝗰𝗼𝘀𝗶𝘀 𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗴𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗿𝗮𝗽𝗶𝗱𝗹𝘆.

Signs may begin within minutes to several hours and can include vomiting, diarrhea, drooling, weakness, pale gums, muscle tremors, respiratory difficulty, paralysis, seizures, shock, and respiratory arrest.

And unfortunately, 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝗶𝘀 𝗻𝗼 𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗰𝗶𝗳𝗶𝗰 𝗮𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗱𝗼𝘁𝗲.

Treatment is primarily supportive and may involve decontamination, IV fluids, oxygen therapy, blood products, and aggressive management of the clinical effects.

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝘁𝗮𝗸𝗲𝗮𝘄𝗮𝘆?

When evaluating a dog with sudden neurologic, gastrointestinal, or systemic signs, environmental toxin exposure may deserve consideration—even when the owner says:

“𝗠𝘆 𝗱𝗼𝗴 𝗱𝗶𝗱𝗻’𝘁 𝘀𝘄𝗶𝗺.”

Because sometimes, 𝗶𝘁 𝗺𝗮𝘆 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗯𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘄𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘆 𝗱𝗿𝗮𝗻𝗸.

𝗜𝘁 𝗺𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝗯𝗲 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘆 𝘄𝗮𝗹𝗸𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵.

• Ben Ikenson, VIN News Service — published August 20, 2026.
• American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA), Algae Alert: Understanding the Dangers of Blue-Green Algae for Pets

08/25/2026

🏥 Updated version of a post from May, with corrections readers sent in.

The biggest one came from the comments: several people pointed out that a veterinary teaching hospital is often more expensive than a regular vet, not less, and that many have service-area limits. They are right, and the original post was too loose on that.

Here is the accurate version. A teaching hospital is a referral center, so it can cost less than a private specialty hospital and more than a general practice, and many require a referral from your own vet first.

Six in ten pet owners told the ASPCA in March 2026 that they are not confident they could afford a medical emergency for their pet.

What makes vet bills hard is that the decision is emotional and time-sensitive, so most people go straight to how do I pay this. The better first question is what care does my pet actually need today, and what can safely wait.

Ask for an itemized estimate before approving treatment, and ask which line items are urgent stabilization and which are recommended follow-up, because labs, imaging, and hospitalization can sometimes be delayed or done elsewhere for less.

Ask the clinic about its own hardship or care fund before you look outward, since in-house funds tend to move fastest.

Then call local humane societies, rescues, and breed-specific groups, understanding that many are stretched thin right now, so ask early and ask several rather than counting on one.

National grant programs like The Pet Fund and RedRover Relief exist, but they are income-based, application-driven, and frequently out of money, which is why they belong in the plan rather than at the center of it.

If financing is necessary, CareCredit's promotional rate only works if you pay the full balance before the deadline, because missing it by one day backdates interest to the original purchase date at the full rate.

Scratchpay does not carry deferred interest, though APRs still vary by plan, so read the specific offer rather than the brand.

And if the debt would create a second emergency for your household, say that directly to your vet, because honest conversations about limits lead to better options than silence does.

What worked when you faced one of these bills?

P.S. Once a week, I email the best money article I read, with my take on this week's top Facebook posts and what's new on the Ways to Wealth blog. It's free, and you can sign up on the Ways to Wealth home page.

R.J. Weiss, CFP®



The content shared here is for educational and informational purposes only. It is not personalized investment, tax, legal, or financial advice. Consult a licensed professional before making decisions based on your specific situation.

08/25/2026

TNR OF WARREN will be open this Wednesday, August 26 th, from 10:00 am to 1 pm for Cat Spay and Neuter registrations. We provide low cost spay and neuter services for Feral, Stray, and Owned cats.

We also schedule wellness visits for common issues like upper respiratory infections, and other minor medical situations for all cats at very reasonable pricing for our clients. Now offering low cost cat vaccination clinics also. While we do require in person registration for spay and neuter surgery, vaccination appointments can be made by calling us at 330-442-5341 on Wednesday, Thursdays, and Sundays from 10 am to 1 pm.

For pricing see our website at www.tnrofwarren.org.

We can lend you traps if needed for outdoor cats. Only cats registered as outdoor cats are eartipped after surgery . We require credit card as a deposit for the traps to ensure we get them back. There is no rental charge to borrow traps, as long as they are returned clean and on time. It is part of the service that only we offer.

You can also purchase highly discounted professional cat and dog flea, tick, and wormer medications. Until the end of August, if you purchase a ticket to our Pancake Breakfast and Basket Raffle on Oct 3rd, you can get a dose of Revolution Plus for free. There is a maximum of 2 deals per customer per day.

Spay and neuter registrations must be made in person at our office, and payment is due when you register.