Save the date! January 24th is Change a Pet’s Life Day, sponsored by Hill’s Pet Nutrition. This one day adopt-a-thon event hopes to unite 3,000 animals with their forever families.
Category Archives: Shelters
A plea for the Obamas to adopt a shelter dog
I received the following e-mail from blog reader Cynthia Sharpley. Love the term “mutt-i-gree”.
Continue reading A plea for the Obamas to adopt a shelter dog
Lost Boxer – Savannah
To all of our alert & watchful readers in Savannah: keep an eye out for this lost little girl. Received this in my e-mail today.
Hi All – received a message this AM re: a lost female boxer, rescued at 2 yrs., now 5yrs., fawn and flashy (white), natural ears, docked tail. Went missing 2 days ago (Dec. 28). Very sweet. Parents have done all the right things as far as trying to locate and are beside themselves. If anyone has any information PLEASE contact me at the below number to let me know.
Many thanks and fingers crossed!
Allison L. Connor
Savannah GA
Volunteer and Shelter Liaison
Boxer Aid & Rescue Coalition, Inc.
Helping Homeless Boxers in N. FL & S. GA
912-596-4250
Safety Tips for Newly Adopted Dogs
Are you, like the Obamas, considering adopting a shelter dog? Bark Busters, purportedly the world’s largest dog training company, offers these tips for keeping everyone safe.
Continue reading Safety Tips for Newly Adopted Dogs
Shelter Dog Rescued
What a great story! (And perfect timing, since this is National Adopt-a-Shelter-Dog month.)
Blackie, a 3-year old Labrador retriever mix was turned over to the Edmonton Humane Society last May when his guardians couldn’t afford the $3,500 surgery he needed to repair his back leg. The people had paid for similar surgery on his other leg, but apparently just couldn’t swing it twice. (Who could???)
Anyways, the shelter was afraid that a new adoptive family would be tough to find, given that the new guardians would have to foot the bill for the surgery. They were just sure they’d have to put the dog down.
But, lo and behold, the good people of Edmonton came through, donating enough to the shelter’s sick and injured animal fund to pay for the surgery. Blackie had his operation at the end of August and has been recovering in a foster home. He was put up for adoption today – no word yet on who the lucky adoptive family is.
I told you it was a great story!
Until next time,
Good day, and good dog!
[Picture credit: David Bloom / Sun Media]
Adopt a Shelter Dog Month
October is National Adopt a Shelter Dog Month! What will you do to celebrate?
Nearly 10 million animals enter shelters each year in the United States for reasons ranging from behavior problems to housing or lifestyle conflicts to expectations not being met. Only about 25% of these animals are subsequently adopted, and although progress has been made, as many as 50% of shelter animals are still euthanized.
So, other than adopting another dog for your family, which many of us can’t necessarily do, how else can you help? Consider spending a few hours a week volunteering. Shelters can always use dog walkers, dog bathers, cage cleaners, or any number of other helpers.
If you can’t spare even an extra hour out of your busy schedule, you might make a donation to your local shelter. They can always use cash, of course, but will also appreciate food, towels, paper towels, cat litter, leashes/collars, food dishes, and newspapers.
Above all, before you adopt any dog into your home, make sure you are willing to make a lifetime commitment to him, so that you don’t add to the problem – your dog must never become a shelter dog!
Until next time,
Good day, and good dog!
Second Chances for Jailbirds and Jail Dogs
Innovative prison program teaches dogs and men
At Wakulla Correctional Institute in Florida, an inmate reaches into his pocket and finds a dog biscuit for Pooh, a Husky-Labrador Retriever-Chow mix. Pooh gobbles the treat too enthusiastically and the inmate pushes him gently and firmly to the floor to calm him. Settled down, Pooh licks his hand.
Not too long ago, things looked bleak for Pooh. He was big and unruly and no one wanted to adopt him. Then Pooh got lucky and became part of a new program, Paws in Prison. Working with “dog whisperer” Jay King, inmates are taught how to train a dog, giving them useful skills and providing pound pooches a second chance.
The dogs move in with the inmates for two months, sleeping in kennels pushed right up against the bunks. King teaches them that it isn’t rocket science to train a dog–to teach them stability you have to be stable. He teaches them to train with kindness and treats, never harshness or punishment.
The end goal is to give the prisoners valuable skills that they can use outside prison (some dream of one day opening their own dog training schools), and to rehabilitate otherwise un-adoptable dogs to help them find forever homes.
Too busy for a fulltime pet? Rent-a-dog!
The rent-a-pet concept has grown worldwide in recent years, despite disapproval from some animal rights advocates. Those in favor of the practice say it helps people understand dogs and learn how to treat them properly.
Dog lovers short on time or space say that renting dogs is a good interim solution until they’re able to commit to a permanent canine companion. Organizations that rent dogs to others feel that people often don’t understand all the work involved in caring for a pet, and their rental solution helps people understand what’s involved in caring for a dog.
Some rescue groups even use the rent-a-pet type program to help with fostering rescues. Not a bad idea, as it helps the dogs and helps potential foster carers decide whether they have what it takes to foster or adopt a dog.
Opponents say it’s mean to pass a dog around amongst temporary families, when they deserve a forever home. Advocates say it improves people’s understanding of dogs and offers a solution where some dogs would otherwise be homeless or euthanized. What do you think?
Adoption Fair
My company picnic was at the Cleveland Zoo today. (And, just in case you were wondering, it is mating season for those huge tortoises, and they are VERY noisy when they do it!)
When we got to the zoo, the whole area from the parking lot to the gates was filled with tents and tables and DOGS. It was a really cool adoption fair, featuring animals from local shelters and rescue groups. Click below to see my pictures.
Bring Your Dog to Work
June 20, 2008 is Bring Your Dog to Work Day.