Tag Archives: furry heroes

Celebrate Shelter Pets!

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Today is Celebrate Shelter Pets Day!  (Check it out on Shelter Pet Project’s Facebook page.)  As you may already know, this blog is all about Bella, my own little rescue dog.  We love rescue stories around here, and hope you do too.

In lieu of another Bella story, I decided to share a clip from a recent episode of Community (“Cooperative Caligraphy“).  In that episode, the cast becomes desperate when they are kept from a puppy parade organized by the local shelter as part of an adoption event.  Here’s what you see over the closing credits:



(Intrigued? You can watch more Community here.)

All shows should end with a puppy parade.  Actually, all events in my life should end with a puppy parade.

Next time you’re looking for a furry friend, just remember: shelter pets rock!

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Thank a Veteran today

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I realize posting has slowed a bit this week… I promise I’ll return to normal form soon.  However, I did want to share a post from the archives in honor of those who have served our country.  On Memorial Day, I shared information about some inspiring heroes, both human and canine (including Military Working Dogs).

If you’d like to read it:

I think it’s a pretty appropriate post for today as well.  Thank you to those who have served our country – we are blessed that you chose to make such a sacrifice to protect our freedom.
(Also, a quick housekeeping note – No Frown Friday will be on hiatus this week.  So if you just can’t wait for more, be sure to check out the archives.  Normal posting will resume soon – in the meantime, say hi to your puppy for me!)
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Blog the Change: Protecting people and their pets

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Blog the Change

The post below originally appeared on this blog on August 4, 2010.  While trying to choose a topic for today’s Blog the Change, I kept coming back to this issue.  Victims of domestic violence may delay leaving a dangerous situation for fear of leaving their pets behind.  The Pets and Women’s Shelters (PAWS) Program is an effort to create opportunities for victims of domestic violence and their pets to be safe and stay together.  I think it’s a really important cause, and it seemed worthy of posting again.  In addition, National PAWS Day was October 5, so it seemed like the perfect time to resurrect this post.

At the end of this post, find out how you can participate in Blog the Change (sponsored by our friends at Be the Change for Animals). You will also find links to all of the other blogs participating in Blog the Change.  I encourage you to check out these blogs – many great causes out there.  Finally, if you’re interested in reading my July entry for Blog the Change, check it out here: Share the Love & Rescue a Pup.

Your regularly scheduled No Frown Friday will return next week.

Update (1/16/11):  The PAWS Program is no longer at American Humane.  However, you can read up on its current status here.

Bella’s serious face

Every now and then, I get serious for a moment.  Today is one of those days.

When you give your heart to a dog, you get so much in return.  In addition to unconditional love, a furry friend (like my Bella) provides companionship, comic relief and so much more.  Seeing my pup after a long day always makes me smile, and snuggling with her while sharing my troubles helps melt away the stress of the day. 

We always talk about rescuing animals, but sometimes an animal rescues its person.  I read a moving story yesterday courtesy of the lovely folks over at FIDO Friendly Blog called “The Dog Who Saved Me From Abuse.”  The author tells the story of how adopting Baby (a Chiweenie – great breed name, right?) changed her life.   She was stuck in an abusive relationship with no way out – at first, Baby gave her an excuse to get out of the house, and then Baby’s unconditional love helped the author survive and find the strength to leave.  It’s an inspirational tale, and I hope you will take a moment to read it.  Grab some tissues.  In fact, you may want to have your pup handy – I know I needed a Bella hug when I finished reading.

The post also contains information about a great program that I want to share with you.  It’s called the Pets and Women’s Shelters Program (aka the PAWS Program).  American Humane developed this program to encourage domestic and family violence emergency housing shelters to allow residents to bring their pets with them.  (This post is getting a bit long, so you can find the remainder after the jump.  I have lots of info to share with you today.)

Allowing residents to bring their pets with them to these shelters recognizes both the comfort that pets provide and the importance of the human-animal bond.  Further, it removes one more obstacle that might discourage people from getting out of abusive relationships – if they can bring their pets to the shelter with them, then they don’t have to worry about leaving their furry friend behind.  (There is often a link between domestic violence and pet abuse – both human and furry family members may be in danger.)  Keeping domestic violence victims and their pets together is an important mission – I encourage you to learn more about the PAWS Program and what you can do to help.  

The United States Humane Society also has a program to help victims of domestic violence and their pets – it’s called Safe Havens for Animals.  This program aims to provide temporary housing for victims’ pets when a shelter cannot accommodate them.  The goal is the same – to give people and their pets a way out of abusive situations.  As noted above, animal cruelty and human violence often go hand in hand.  The more options out there, the better.

If you want to read more about this issue, I’ve rounded up a few other links:

This concludes today’s serious interlude.

To find out how you can participate in Blog the Change, go here.  You can also add your BtC post using the list below.  While you’re at it, visit some of the other blogs participating in Blog the Change:

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Back in black

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That’s right… I’m starting you off with an AC/DC reference before the holiday weekend.  Originally, I was thinking that this post might have a Columbus Day theme, but it was not to be…Instead, our focus today is on the one of the less adoptable groups in the pet world – black dogs and cats.  Today (thanks to our friend Lily Danel) I saw a great article about how one shelter is attempting to help black cats overcome their undeserved reputation as bearers of bad luck.  The Loudoun County Animal Shelter in Virginia is hosting Black Cat Weekend on October 16th and 17th (all black cats adopted from the shelter will be spayed/neutered for free).

In honor of this great idea, I dedicate this post to all of the less adoptable black pets out there:

  1. As always, your punny pet name for the week: Blackeared the Pirate.
  2. Pawcurious has the right idea: Black is the New Black.
  3. I know it’s No Frown Friday, but I promised nothing with regard to tears. Check out this moving video about black dog syndrome via Of Cows’ Tails and Chew Toys.
  4. Here are a few lighthearted reasons to adopt a black dog or cat.
  5. Check out the crew over at Life with 5 Dogs… how could anyone pass up cute dogs like these?

Growing up, I had four dogs that would qualify for the black dog club – a German Shepherd (Shadow), a mutt named Pedro, and two Flat-Coated Retrievers (Sparkle and Bourbon).  Here are a few photos of my loves:

Shadow
Pedro

 

Sparkle & Bourbon (during their puppyhood)

Fun fact: while looking for photos for this post, I dug out one of my old photo albums.  When I put the album together (maybe 10 years ago), I apparently decided to ditch any chronological order and organized it by dog photos first, then family. I couldn’t stop laughing.  (To any family reading this post… no offense!)

If you or someone you know is looking for a pet, make sure you don’t overlook the black dogs and cats out there.  (Adopt a less adoptable pet… all the cool kids are doing it.)  Visit the Black Dog Rescue Project, Start Seeing Black Dogs and http://www.blackpearldogs.com/ to learn about other ways to help.  Don’t worry – we didn’t forget about the kitties!  Check out Black Cat Rescue and read about helping black cats here.

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Through a Dog’s Eyes

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Ugh. Yesterday, I had to take a sick day.  It was absolutely zero fun.  The one bright spot was getting to catch up on my DVR.

One of the programs I watched was called Through a Dog’s Eyes.  It’s a wonderful documentary that aired on PBS in April (and again in September), and it follows a group of people as they visit Canine Assistants to meet their service dogs for the first time.  Canine Assistants is a group that breeds, trains, and places service dogs with people who have physical disabilities, seizure disorders, and other needs.  (Canine Assistants provides the dogs free to the recipients through donations and sponsorships.)  The stories of the recipients are moving and interesting – and it gives a whole new perspective on the human-canine bond.

Here’s a preview for the show – if you missed it on PBS, you can watch the entire program on the PBS website.  (Bonus: it’s narrated by Neil Patrick Harris.)

Learn more, after the jump.


PBS has a wealth of useful information and great links on its page dedicated to the program. (There are even outtakes, training tips and a section simply called “More Puppies” – talk about knowing your audience.)

The founding of Canine Assistants is a great story.  Jennifer Arnold was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis at the age of sixteen.  Jennifer’s father suggested she get a service dog.  An organization denied her application, which provided the inspiration for Jennifer to found Canine Assistants.  (The organization is truly a family affair.)

Jennifer’s training philosophy is also a great one – it’s based on the idea that the dogs want to please their people, and it’s about positive reinforcement rather than domination.  (I’m sure our friends at Never Shock a Puppy would approve.)  The program also briefly touches upon the science behind the dog-human bond.  (Through the PBS site, I found a link to the Family Dog Project, which is dedicated to researching this bond.  Interesting stuff.)

Paw Nation is doing a series of posts about another recipient who is getting a dog from Canine Assistants.  The first post appeared earlier this month – I’m looking forward to reading more.  (You can also read an interview with the After-care Coordinator for Canine Assistants.)

If you’d like to learn more about Canine Assistants, visit them here.  I’m also considering picking up Jennifer’s book (also called Through a Dog’s Eyes)… after the documentary, I’m sure it will be good!

Have you seen the documentary?  What did you think?

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Adopt a Less Adoptable Pet Week

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It’s Adopt a Less Adoptable Pet Week.  This week (through September 25), Petfinder and others are raising awareness about the many deserving pets who may be overlooked by potential adopters.

There are many factors that can contribute to that “less adoptable”
label – including age, special needs, or breed (such as pit bulls). 
Some of the factors are less obvious – for example, did you know that black dogs are less likely to be adopted?  I know!  I don’t get it either.

BlogPaws has challenged bloggers to post about a less adoptable pet this week – and a group of sponsors have offered to donate money for each post.  Those donations will be given to Blind Cat Rescue and the Grey Muzzle Foundation.  Pretty cool, huh?

So, how do you participate?  Go to Petfinder’s list of less adoptable pets.  Choose one (you have the option to search for pets near you – see the instructions in the sidebar on that page).  Then write a post and add your post to this list.  (For bonus points, share it on Facebook and Twitter too!  For Twitter, use the hashtags #BetheChange and #ALAPW.)
 

So… now that the intro is out of the way, I’d like to introduce you to Skye the Dachshund.  This little guy is approximately 2 to 4 years old.  He was found dragging himself down a road in North Carolina and ended up in a shelter.  A shelter worker tried to find a rescue to take him – now he’s with Dachshund Rescue of  North America in Virginia.  DRNA isn’t sure what caused the injury to Skye’s back legs.  He was not a candidate for surgery by the time DRNA got involved.  However, he was quite the speed demon after he got a customized cart, and now he’s walking and running!  Maybe this speed racer will roll (or run) right into your home and heart?  For more info on Skye, please visit his Petfinder listing.  You can see more videos and photos of Skye here.

Now it’s your turn… spread the word for a less adoptable pet.  Your post may help someone find the dog they didn’t even realize they were searching for.  After all, less adoptable pets rule!

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OK Dog

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I liked OK Go after that awesome treadmill video.  After watching the video below, I love them:



(via Best Week Ever)

Most of these doggie superstars are rescues, and the message at the end of the video encourages viewers to support the ASPCA.  You can even donate to animal rescue through OK Go’s website.

Apparently OK Go is on Leno tonight… I don’t usually watch, but I may make an exception this one time…

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Head of the class

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Speed Bump
(via Speed Bump)

It’s September… which means school is back in session.  I haven’t been a student in quite some time.  Neither has Ms. Bella.  She did take one obedience course… seven years later, she does sit when asked (most of the time). 

We’ve been lucky – Bella’s a fairly low-maintenance gal who doesn’t get into much trouble.  When we eventually adopt dog number two, we’ll have to be much more diligent! 

If you haven’t already guessed, the topic of today’s No Frown Friday is… school!  Let’s hit the books:

  1. This week’s punny pet names are based on some famous names that chose the School of Life instead of a college degree: Drew Hairymore, Nose-Anne Barr, Roarin’ Beatty, and J.K. Howling.
  2. During college, I often found myself suffering from doggie withdrawal.  Earlier this week, I read that Yale Law School had recognized this epidemic, and offered a solution: if you needed a boost, you could check out Monty the pup for a 30 minute play date.  The circulation listing quoted in that post is so cute it’s out of control.  (A sample… “Subjects: Dogs in libraries; Stress reliever for law students.”)  It turns out that Monty might not have been available, but that’s okay.  A girl can dream.  I would have owed so much in overdue dog fees.
  3. Who needs obedience school? This “” has a college degree!
  4. You may (or may not) remember those great literary punny pet names I shared back in June.  In any event, there’s a second installment – quite a treat!  (Be sure to take the pun-filled quiz… I’m still giggling about Captain A. Lab.)
I’ve pulled today’s video out of the Internet archives, and dusted it off for your amusement.  I remember when I first saw this video last year. It quickly earned a place on my list of favorite things:


Reactions: (1) I would have been so much better at science if it was taught by puppies.  (2) I would like to open a school where all lessons are taught with the help of puppies.  (3)  I’ve already got a foolproof plan for the drama program.

Speaking of smarty pants pups, sometimes well-educated service dogs school others in the Americans with Disabilities Act.  If you want to learn more about the valedictorians of the doggie world – those amazingly smart service dogs – check out Canine Companions for Independence.  CCI spoke at Blog Paws West last weekend, and by all accounts it was amazing!

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