Tag Archives: furry heroes

Write a post, help a dog

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Today, I have homework for you.  Yes, you.

Whether you’re a blogger (pet or otherwise) or just a blog reader, you have a chance to earn some good karma points by sending a little puppy love out into the world.  Tell me more, you say?  Why, certainly…

If you have a blog – any blog – it’s simple.  (If you don’t, it’s just as simple.  See below.)  For each blog that publishes a post about the Pedigree Adoption Drive by Sunday, September 19, Pedigree will donate a 20 pound bag of its new Healthy Longevity Food for Dogs to shelter dogs.  (Most shelter dogs are over three years old – the perfect constituency for this new formula.)

To participate, just make sure to follow the rules below:

  1. One post per blog.
  2. To make sure that post counts: (a) Announce your post on Twitter, using the hashtag #dogsrule; (b) Use #dogsrule in your post; (c) use “#dogsrule” as a tag/label for your post; (d) Link to the Pedigree Adoption Drive fan page on Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/Pedigree?ref=ts)
  3. Link your post (using the post URL, not your blog’s URL) to the blog hop hosted by the 10 lucky bloggers that Pedigree sponsored to attend the recent BlogPaws West conference.  (The blog hop will run from Thursday through Sunday – you can even link up through this blog.  Just add your post to the list after the jump.)

Easy peasy, right?

If you don’t have a blog, you can still participate.  For every person that becomes a fan of the Pedigree Adoption Drive on Facebook by December 31, Pedigree will donate a bowl of food to shelter dogs.  What are you waiting for?  (And if you do have a blog, do both!)

Write a post, help a dog.  It’s that simple.

As a rescue pup herself, Bella fully endorses the content of this post.  Bella rules.

(Click “read more” to see the blogs that are already participating and to add your own post to the list.  I really am making this too easy on you.)

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Remembering

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I wanted to share this great video with you from The Dog Files.  (Have your tissues handy.)  No wordy intro from me today… this video speaks for itself:

If you’d like to read more, The Thundering Herd has also posted some info about heroic 9/11 dogs.  You can also read an account from 2001 about some of the dogs working at the Pentagon.

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Don’t judge a dog by its cover – Part II

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Last week, I shared an article I’d read in Parade magazine regarding the progress of the dogs rescued from Michael Vick’s dogfighting ring.  At that time, I told you a little about the two main rescue groups that took in the dogs (Best Friends Animal Society and BAD RAP).

Now I have an update to share with you… Best Friends Animal Society just released a video providing additional updates on the “Vicktory Dogs,” as the dogs are known at BFAS.  Check it out below:

(via Best Friends Animal Society)

It warms my heart to see them doing well.  (If you didn’t see my post last week, please check it out for more info.)  Until next time…

 

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Dogs… in… space!

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That’s right.  It’s a Pigs in Space joke.

Yesterday was the 50th anniversary of the launch of Sputnik 5.  Aboard this spacecraft?  Two dogs, named Belka and Strelka.  The Soviet Union sent these pups (along an odd assortment of traveling companions including mice, rats and flies) into space.  This motley (muttley?) crew survived the trip, and proved that living beings could endure space travel.  The dogs became national heroes.  (Other dogs weren’t so lucky.  One of the most famous of these was named Laika.)

While the use of dogs (and other animals) in these sorts of situations is of questionable morality, I won’t delve into that here.  (Although I admit, I have been pondering that issue ever since I read the story.  Some of the background reading I did for this post just made me sad.)

Anyway, enough with the serious stuff… after all, it’s No Frown Friday.  I’ve occasionally posted about space stuff before, but this time it’s all about the pups.

  1. Punny pet names?  Of course.  This week, I give you Neil Arf-strong and Fuzz Aldrin.
  2. I never saw that Space Buddies movie, but I have to admit that the canine stars were pretty cute in their spacesuits.
  3. Speaking of spacesuits, check out what real-life canine cosmonauts wore.
  4. Do you remember Snoopy’s stint as an astronaut? (If you’d like to read the week of strips illustrating Snoopy’s trips to the moon, start here.)  Snoopy has served as a NASA mascot, and NASA even gives out a Silver Snoopy award.  If you’d like to learn more about Snoopy in space, you can find more details and photos in this article.

An animated film about Belka and Strelka was released in Russia earlier this year.  When it is released in the U.S., it will be called Space Dogs 3D.  I was unable to find out much information about when it will be released or where you might be able to see it.  In any event, here’s the trailer:

If you can’t find it in theaters, there’s always the eventual DVD release, right?

Anyway, I hope you and your canine cosmonaut have a weekend that’s out of this world!  (I couldn’t resist.)

P.S. Don’t forget to donate to your local shelter or rescue group tomorrow in honor of International Homeless Animals Day.

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Don’t judge a dog by its cover

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“He wasn’t a bad dog – he simply didn’t know any better;
he’d never lived in a house.”
from “Can You Teach a Bad Dog New Tricks” by Jim Gorant

A friend suggested I check out an article in this past weekend’s issue of Parade magazine.  So I rifled through my newspaper (I’m still old school on Sundays) and pulled out the insert.  Staring at me from the cover? An adorable dog.  A pit bull, to be exact.  After reading this article, I knew I had to share it with you.

The title of the article is “Can You Teach a Bad Dog New Tricks?”  The “bad dogs” in question are Michael Vick’s pit bulls.  (I think it goes without saying how very, very terrible he is… but we’re focusing on the dogs here, so I’ll save that angry rant for another time.)

We’ve all heard about what happened to Michael Vick after his dogfighting ways were discovered.  But what about the dogs?  Find out more after the jump…

Continue reading →

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A dose of Bella for your Wednesday

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Bella likes being the center of attention.  Every now and then, she reminds me that she’s the face of this operation, and that I should feature her more often.  In an effort to appease my doggie boss and increase this week’s Bella quotient, I’ve illustrated this post with a few photos from the Bella archives.

Before I go, I have an update about International Homeless Animals Day this Saturday.  Go check out this post at Bocci’s Beefs to find out how you can participate.

Finally, I want to say a quick thank you to Miley at Curious Cavorting Cavoodle.  This sweet blogger bestowed another award on us!  In lieu of writing a new post, I’ll just direct you to my other recent posts recognizing some great blogs and encourage you to visit the blogs listed in the blogroll at right.  However, I did want to let Miley know how much I appreciate it – thanks again!

Happy Wednesday!

 

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Play it cool… real cool…

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Hope you had a wonderful weekend!  I have a few interesting items to share with you this morning, including two great causes and a big thank you to some pet blogging pals.

First, I’d like to highlight this week’s cause at Be the Change for Animals – saving dogs from hot cars.  Last month, I wrote a post about this topic after reading a tragic story about a careless owner and a very unlucky dog.  The title of the post should give you a clue about my feelings on the subject:  Horrible woman does terrible thing… and now I’m angry.I encourage you to check out the ways you can help on the Be the Change for Animals site.  You can also find more information at My Dog is Cool.  It’s important to know the facts, as well as what you should do if you see an animal in distress.

Next, check out Bocci’s Beefs for some information about International Homeless Animals Day, which takes place Saturday, August 21.  The goal is to raise awareness about pet overpopulation.  Personally, I take Bob Barker’s daily advice to heart (I loved the Price is Right as a kid), and always have my pets spayed or neutered.  It’s the responsible thing to do.  Bocci has taken the lead in organizing something among the pet blogging community, and is asking for suggestions regarding how we can help our local shelters and rescue groups.  Swing by and check out the discussion (or add some ideas of your own).

Finally, I want to say thank you to House of Carnivores and Arwen’s Pack for giving us another awesome award – I really appreciate it!  Apparently we are in a mutual appreciation society – I just gave an award to both of them as well.  Thanks again to you both.

This time, I’ll just encourage you to check out my two earlier posts (here and here) passing on awards and highlighting some fun new blogs.  And, as always, I encourage you to check out my blog list at right… I have linked to many fantastic pet blogs in the Puppy Love category for your reading pleasure.

Until next time, fellow pup enthusiasts…

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Protecting people and their pets

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Bella’s serious face

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

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.)

Continue reading →

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Forget about Monday for a minute…

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I think you should cure that impending case of the Mondays by watching the video below.  It will make you smile.  (Full disclosure: I did get a little weepy towards the end.  It’s okay though – they were tears of happiness.  Also, I am a chronic crybaby.)

From the lovely folks at the Nevada Humane Society…

(via Life with Dogs)

Doesn’t this just make you want to run out and rescue a pup or ten?

(If you want some more warm & fuzzy feelings, Life with 5 Dogs recently posted a great poem about a rescue dog.)

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