In today's issue:

-Meet our adoptable dog of the day

-Learn about our Shelter of the Week

-Enjoy a laugh with our dog meme of the day

-Get great information in our featured article

-Take our action of the week

-Check out our family photo of the day

Join our Facebook group - Post Your Pooch!

Vintage Pet Rescue is a Rhode Island-based 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that functions as a specialized retirement home, sanctuary, and hospice facility for senior, geriatric, and special-needs dogs. Founded in 2017 by Kristen and Marc Peralta, the organization pulls older dogs primarily from high-kill or crowded shelters across the eastern United States to give them a safe, loving, and comfortable place to live out their final months or years.

What Makes Vintage Pet Rescue Special

• A True Cage-Free Home Environment: Unlike traditional shelters with concrete kennels and metal bars, Vintage Pet Rescue is designed to look and feel like a real home. The dogs roam free, lounge on couches, sleep in cozy beds, and experience a family-like atmosphere that drastically reduces shelter stress.
• Specialized Hospice and Medical Care: Geriatric and hospice dogs often arrive with complex medical needs, chronic illnesses, or mobility issues. The rescue provides dedicated, round-the-clock medical attention, specialized medications, physical support, and pain management to ensure a high quality of life.
• Dual Mission of Sanctuary and Adoption: While many dogs spend their golden years permanently at the sanctuary, VPR also adopts out senior dogs to qualified local families in the New England area (RI, MA, CT) and helps owners who can no longer care for their aging pets.

What Every Pet Parent Should Know This Pet Diabetes Month

Every November, as we gather closer with the ones we love, veterinary clinics and pet lovers nationwide observe Pet Diabetes Month. While it might not come with festive sweaters or holiday treats, this awareness celebration carries a message every pet parent needs to hear: diabetes in dogs and cats is more common than many realize. With early detection and a little daily love, diabetic pets can live long, tail-wagging lives.

Subtle Clues at the Water Bowl and Beyond

Because diabetes affects how a pet's body turns food into fuel, the earliest warning signs often show up in their daily habits rather than dramatic symptoms. Keep an eye out for these telltale changes:

• Extra trips to the water bowl: Finding yourself refilling the water dish twice as often—or noticing larger, more frequent clumps in the litter box—is often the very first clue.
• A big appetite paired with weight loss: It seems like a contradiction, but when a pet's cells can't absorb glucose for energy, their body begins breaking down fat and muscle instead, causing them to lose weight even while begging for seconds.
• A sudden dip in energy: A dog who normally sprints for the leash might lag on walks, or an outgoing cat may start retreating to quiet corners to nap.
• Changes in eyes or posture: Dogs with elevated blood sugar can develop cloudy eyes (cataracts) relatively quickly, while cats sometimes develop a noticeable weakness or flat-footed stance in their hind legs.

A Diagnosis Isn't the End of the Adventure

Hearing the word "diabetes" in the vet's exam room can feel overwhelming at first. Thoughts of daily schedules, special diets, and tiny insulin syringes naturally bring up a wave of "Can I really do this?"

The reassuring truth is: yes, you can. And your pet will make it easier than you think. Most dogs and cats adapt to their new routine within just a couple of weeks. Insulin needles are hair-thin and virtually painless, especially when paired with mealtime or a favorite belly rub. Many pet parents even say the structured feeding and care routine brings a comforting rhythm to their mornings and evenings. Plus, watching their companion bounce back to their playful, bright-eyed self makes every bit of effort worthwhile.

Three Ways to Celebrate Pet Diabetes Month

Whether your furry friend has been diagnosed or you simply want to keep them thriving for years to come, November is the perfect time to take one small step:

1. Schedule that wellness check: Routine blood and urine screenings catch blood sugar changes early, before complications have a chance to take hold.
2. Keep waistlines healthy: Maintaining a lean body weight through measured meals and daily play is one of the strongest defenses against diabetes, especially for indoor cats.
3. Share the awareness: Mention the signs to a fellow dog-park regular or cat-loving friend. A casual conversation could help someone spot symptoms in their own pet months sooner.

Our pets give us unconditional love every single day of the year. This November, returning that devotion is as simple as filling their bowl with intention, keeping an eye on their quirks, and partnering with your veterinarian to keep their future bright.

Dog Food and Supplement Recalls

Here are the recent recalls and advisories:

• FI - Pet Supplements: Potential Salmonella Contamination
• Northwest Naturals - Chicken Recipe: Potential Salmonella and/or Listeria Monocytogenes Contamination
• Fromm - Wet Canned Dog Food: Potential Metal Contamination
• Oma's Pride - Canine Food: Contaminated with Salmonella

Want to help find lost pets?

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We want to feature your pup!

We want to share your pup with our pack. Email us your favorite doggy pic or video with your pup’s name, and we'll try to feature it as a family photo in one of our upcoming newsletters or on our Facebook page.