Archive for the 'Animal Shelter' Category

There has been much focus and deservedly so on the Gulf of Mexico oil spill. But there are other communities that are being impacted by weather with hurricanes, tornados, wildfires and floods. Most recently the flooding in Nashville, Tennessee. Countless animals have been displaced being found wandering the streets, and in desperate need of homes. A spate of urgent requests for pet adoptions have been the end result.

To lessen the trauma of losing a pet and likelihood of pets seeking new homes BEFORE a DISASTER:

• Prepare. Get a pet emergency supply kit, including food, water, medicines and medical records, first aid kit, collar with ID tag, leash or harness, crate or pet carrier and sanitation items.
• Microchip: Make sure your pet is micro-chipped so that it may be easily identified. Keep registration up to date, and include emergency number of friend or relative that does not live in the immediate area.
• Plan: What will you do in an emergency? Create a plan to get away and develop a buddy system.
• Stay informed: Know about the types of emergencies.

DURING a DISASTER:

• Make sure your pet is inside well before storm begins. And do not leave a pet chained outside.
• Keep pet by your side to reassure them.
• Never tranquilize a pet. It will be inhibited from using it’s natural survival instincts.
• If you are instructed to evacuate do not leave pets behind.
• Have pet emergency kit ready to take with you.

AFTER a DISASTER:

• Re-orient dog to home by walking it on a leash. For both cats and dogs familiar scents may no longer exist.
• Be aware of downed power lines, debris and reptiles.
• Contact your local animal control office if a pet is missing to find out where lost animals can be recovered. Bring a recent picture of your pet, tattoo number or microchip number.
• Do not let your pet eat food or drink water that might have been contaminated.
• Pet behavior might change after the trauma of a disaster. Report any changes in behavior to your veterinarian.

DISASTER AFTERMATH:

• After a natural disaster, displaced people and companion animals face many dangers. There are many hazardous, life-threatening situations for helpless strays and displaced pets.
• Disorientation, panic and stress, and leads dogs and cats seeking refuge into hazardous situations when there are no longer familiar landmarks or scents.
• Floodwaters contaminated with waste and bacteria can cause intestinal parasites and gastroenteritis.
• Animals trying to swim in floodwaters can quickly become exhausted and drown.
• Displaced dogs and cats are frightened, lost, thirsty and very hungry and do not understand that they should steer clear of standing water and any food they may find.

Some of you folks might remember the good fortune of this dog being rescued from river earlier in the year. He was certainly fortunate but there are so many animals around the country struggling to survive after being displaced from their families. Please do take preventative measures and plan in advance for not only your safety and well being but your pets as well.

Resources:

Animal disaster plans and resources by state

American Kennel Club

ASPCA

FEMA for Kids

Humane Society

Red Cross

Not sure that I was as mature as Ciara at 12 years old. She is certainly a role model for other kids her age and for us adults too. As with anyone who has a pet, Ciara had the good fortune to grow up with a Golden Retriever, named Dakota. When Dakota passed there was an incredible void in her life. Instead of withdrawing after losing Dakota she volunteered at a local golden retriever rescue, Rescue a Golden, of Arizona.

But Ciara’s passion for animals did not stop there. She started a non-profit charity called Pennies For Pups.

“Pennies For Pups was founded to help raise awareness, money, medication and food for sick, injured and abandoned dogs in local animal shelters and foster care.”

Through Pennies for Pups she has established:

1. Annual weekly fundraiser at her school, Desert Arroyo Middle School.
2. Annual Book Sale and Dog show
3. Annual Four-Legged Food Drive

Yikes…..all at the ripe young age of 12! She most certainly is “a voice for the “bark” less”. Think she has a lot of MOXIE too…..”energy, nerve, courage & spirit!”

PeTA has enlisted the help of “Octomom”, Nadya Suleman to help promote spay & neutering of pets to pet owners. For $5,000 and a month’s supply of veggie dogs and veggie burgers she will place the above noted ad on her front lawn in La Habra, California, at 11 a.m today.

Already the ad has garnered attention from major media outlets for free; CNN, NBC, AOL News,  E! Online, USA Today, and the New York Post. With “kitten season” now underway it seems that this current focus on “Octomom” is well deserved.

Animal Birth Control

1. Up to 8 million dogs and cats inhabit shelters annually. At least half of these animals are euthanized.
2. 25% of animals at shelters are purebreds.
3. Female dogs and cats in heat have to fend off male animals without much success.
4. Spaying and neutering is a life saver for overall health and well being of your dog or cat.
5. Spaying and neutering puppies and kittens is cost effective.
6. With so many animals in need of good homes adoption is a life saver.

Following is video of above noted PeTA ad being unveiled.  Must say listening to paparazzi is very annoying.

Source: PETA

With “Stamps to the Rescue” being officially available today, April 30th another campaign is following on its heels, “Letters for Pets”. The effort is to continue momentum regarding the ongoing need for awareness of shelter pets and “to encourage the adoption of shelter animals across the country”.

“Our goal is to send 1 million messages to the White House asking for a presidential proclamation to declare April 30th National Adopt a Shelter Pet Day”.

Kudos to the national pet magazine Tails, Jane Goodall Institute’s youth organization Roots and Shoots which is promoting the letter writing in elementary schools. And Halo which is continuing the rallying cry from “Stamps to the Rescue” by donating 5 meals to shelter pets for each picture uploaded to the Tails’ Facebook fan page featuring your stamped letter.

Sample letters to President Obama, First Lady Michelle Obama, presidential daughters Sasha and Malia Obama, and White House dog Bo Obama, asking them to create a special day for shelter animals can be addressed to:

The White House
Attn: National Adopt a Shelter Pet Day
1600 Pennsylvania Ave NW
Washington, DC 20500

Extra letters can also be printed for friends and family.

How can the plight of a pug, named Puglet help make a difference in the lives of other pugs and pets that are homeless?  Easy…..Puglet inspired his mom to share him with the world via post. The project helps bring awareness to people that “recycled” pets are just as good as “non-recycled” pets.

According to his mom, and fellow recycled K9, Dutch (the Dalmation) “Flat Puglet started out as just something to write about on the blog (Daily Puglet). Thought it would be cool to visit some of Puglet’s “followers” in other parts of the country”. As “the Flattie prototype” gained traction in public the light dawned that the “Flat Puglet might be able to do some good”. To date there are now 65 flat Puglets “getting around”.

I know I posted yesterday about Earth Day (April 22, 2010), but how can one resist a most engaging and adorable pug? Here’s to “recycled” pets and recycling….

There are so many ways to “GO GREEN”:

Resources:

American Animal Hospital Association

Have a Green Pet

Petside.com

Have you pre-ordered your “Animal Rescue: Adopt a Shelter Pet” stamps yet? On March 17th, commemorative postage stamps, “Stamps to the Rescue” were introduced on The Ellen Degeneres Show. “This campaign will increase public awareness about sheltered pets and our hope is that it will encourage pet adoption and promote humane and responsible pet care”, said Postmaster General John E. Potter. Degeneres, co-owner of  Halo, Purely for Pets is donating one million meals to rescue pets. And is very close to exceeding that goal even before the stamps are officially introduced.

The stamps profile five cats and five dogs, and were photographed by Sally Andersen-Bruce. Their respective adoption stories can be viewed on Stamps to the Rescue.  There is also a video which has an even more powerful impact I think of how these wonderful animals found FOREVER HOMES. I just love the interaction with their new adoptive families.  Hopefully these visuals tug at more hearts encouraging others to consider adopting a cat or dog at their local animal shelter or rescue.

You can also pre-order the stamps by calling 1.800.STAMP.24 (1.800.782.6724). On April 30, DeGeneres will join Potter for the official stamp dedication ceremony at the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences in Hollywood, when the stamps will go on sale at post offices nationwide.

So many very simple ways we can “Be the Change”….

Animal Adoptions:

Petfinder

Adopt a Pet

After watching this video of Edie before she was rescued, memories came flooding back of the time I was going to the YMCA to exercise before going to work.  There was a dog cowering at the top of the stairs.  When I got to the top of the stairs his owner appeared and told me to “mind my own business” and I did.  To this day that memory haunts me for not having reported the incident to Marblehead Animal Shelter.

Fast forward to this past weekend in Columbus, Ohio where the first annual pet bloggers conference “BlogPaws” was held.  Unfortunately I was unable to attend. But, I was glued to my computer last Saturday pining for any information attendees would share. Out of that conference emerged a movement, a mission: “Be the Change”.

A friend of mine and dog owner mentioned to me recently in conversation that anyone who does not like animals is not worth knowing. What I do know and believe is that there are many loving pet owners and animal lovers.

Shelter and rescue groups are overrun with homeless dogs and cats. Space is becoming more limited.  And as a result animals are being euthanized at a record rate. “Be the Change” is a simple cause to action by fellow pet owners and animal lovers to help shelter and rescue groups save the lives of these many homeless dogs and cats.

• Volunteer
• Donate: Time, Pet Toys, Medical Supplies, Gift Cards from Pet Supply Stores or Supermarkets, Kennel Supplies, Office Supplies
• Foster a Pet

Giveaway:

How to enter: Leave a comment on this post (one per person and comments on this post only count toward the drawing) by noon EST on Friday, April 16.

Enter to win an Eco-Tech Dog Bed from pet-super-store.com. The contest was inspired by the “Be the Change” session, so add a link and comment (if you would like) to your favorite shelter or rescue (SEO) on THIS POST to be entered to win!

PS Don’t you just love happy endings I do?! Following is video of Edie’s adoption.  There is some duplication the first minute so you can fast forward. I think Edie has a lot of MOXIE: “energy, nerve, courage and spirit”.  Remember you too can help “Be the Change”.

Deadline for filing taxes is fast approaching as is American Humane’s “Be Kind to Animals” Kid Contest on the same date, April 15th.  I know what I would rather be doing. “Be Kind to Animals” week is May 2nd – 8th this year.  The contest acknowledges those teens and children who show compassion to animals and help them in extraordinary ways.

Nominations are for two age groups:

• Children ages 6-12 years old
• Teens ages 13-17 years old

The winner in each age group will receive $1,000 and the runner up will receive $500.  Winners will be announced during “Be Kind to Animals” week, May 2-8, 2010.  Not bad winnings for such a fun and rewarding contest.

The contest is intended to instill a sense of responsibility, appreciation and love for animals.  Some suggestions  for helping to make a difference in animals lives yearlong:

1. Be an advocate for animals. Look at policies and legislation locally and nationally that have an impact on animals.
2. Respect and love. Show children the importance of animals in their lives.
3. Donate to your local animal shelter. Donations can be in time, money or needed items like blankets.
4. Gift of wildlife. Explore the great outdoors to really appreciate nature and know that you can share it respectfully with animals.
5. Report animal abuse. There have been many reports lately of how animal abuse is interrelated with other forms of abuse and violence.
6. Adopt a pet from a shelter or rescue group. Many shelters and rescue groups are overwhelmed with animals looking for loving homes.  One out of every four dogs in a shelter is a purebred.
7. Take care of your pet. Pets unlike children never grow up.  They require constant care and attention. Maintain annual vet visits and vaccinations. Besides unconditional love there are many rewards to pet ownership.

Nominate someone you know for the “Be Kind to Animals Contest”:

Last year’s (2009) winners were pretty impressive.  So put on those thinking caps and see how you can contribute to the betterment of the lives of animals year-round.

Source: American Humane

Watch CBS News Videos Online

With today being National Puppy Day please do consider adopting versus shopping for a puppy.  There are so many wonderful and worthy pups available for adoption. But this also means a serious commitment of time and money.  All too often especially during these difficult economic times animals are abandoned due to lack of finances.

Andrea Arden of Animal Planet’s “Underdog to Wonderdog,” recommends creating a ‘Puppy Wish List’ to discuss each family member’s foreseeable relationship with the prospective new puppy.

1. Every puppy is different with respect to energy level
2. A larger dog will require more food than a smaller dog therefore be more expensive
3. Seriously consider whether you want a mellow dog or one that has a bundle of energy

I have had a couple of friends in the past who have gotten a timid dog that was fearful of men, a dog that raced barking at the door when the mail person arrived and a dog that was not good walking past other dogs while on leash. So there are many variables and important things to observe while in the company of your prospective new puppy.

Important items Miss Arden recommends to have ready when your new puppy arrives home for the first time: crate, leash for possible accidents in the house, food stuffable chew toys, and puppy training classes.

Resources:

Local Shelter

Petfinder

American Kennel Club

On March 24, 2010 Found Animals Foundation/@FoundAnimalsOrg will launch the national and international Pawdcast from Monday through Friday for 30 minutes from 4pm to 4:30pm PST. The objective of the Pawdcast is to bring more awareness of shelter pets, increase animal adoptions and lower euthanasia rates.

Segments will include:                                                                                                                             Hot Topics – global animal news                                                                                               Things Your Pets Want You To Know – tips and tricks                                                   Ask The Expert – live chat room

There will be special guests at the ribbon cutting ceremony March 24th so stay tuned.