Tag Archives: in which I get serious for a moment

Adopt a Less Adoptable Pet Week

Posted on by
3

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!

Share

Write a post, help a dog

Posted on by
11

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.)

Share

Remembering

Posted on by
17

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.

Share

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

Posted on by
Reply

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…

 

Share

Don’t judge a dog by its cover

Posted on by
Reply

“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 →

Share

Play it cool… real cool…

Posted on by
Reply

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…

Share

Protecting people and their pets

Posted on by
Reply
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 →

Share

Horrible woman does terrible thing… and now I’m angry

Posted on by
Reply

We’ve touched on the issue of pet safety in the summer before.  I don’t understand how people still don’t get it.  I mean, it’s a really simple concept:  DON’T LEAVE YOUR DOG IN A HOT CAR.  Although you’d think this would be easy to grasp, apparently it’s too advanced for some people.  Some thoughtless, terrible people.

You may be wondering why I’m so worked up about this today. I just read a story that made me so angry that I wanted to punch something… in particular, the woman in the story.

The headline says it all:  “Woman finds dog dead in her sweltering car outside Costco, returns pet supplies.”  (There’s a link to a segment aired by a local news outlet in that article, but I couldn’t bring myself to watch it.  The woman has been charged with cruelty.)

Seriously?  It’s been hot for weeks in the DC area… temperatures have been consistently in the nineties, and sometimes even higher.  Yet this woman thought it would be okay to leave her poor dog, Delta, locked in a car?  It was 104 degrees outside.  While shopping at Costco, she left Delta in an oven for an hour and fifteen minutes.  Then, when she returned and realized that she had killed Delta, she RETURNED THE PET SUPPLIES she had just purchased.  I can think of many words to describe this woman right now, none of which are PG-13.  (Don’t even get me started on the comments by her estranged husband in this article.  Waterworks initiated.  That poor man.)

I’m so angry I can’t even type anymore.  (League of Angry Gentlemen – I expect an equally angry post from you about this pathetic excuse for a person.  Update: The Angry Gentlemen answered the call.  When you want anger done right, go to a professional.)

Tuesday Tag-AlongI know I’m probably preaching to the choir here.  (In fact, several bloggers called attention to this issue last week during Blog the Change.)  In honor of poor Delta and other dogs who have suffered this fate, I encourage anyone who reads this post to promote pet safety today by linking to MyDogIsCool.com on their site.  It’s unacceptable that any dog should have to die because a careless person traps them in a hot car.
Share

Hot blooded…

Posted on by
Reply

Check it and see… Mother Nature has a temperature of a hundred and three.

If only the title of this post was not inspired by the fact that my car told me it was 103 degrees yesterday.

And today.

With that in mind… make sure to take care of your furry friend during these sweltering summer days.  If you must go outside (or if your pal gets cabin fever), there are many options you can explore.  Get your pup a cooling vest or cooling bandana.  Let him splash around in the kiddie pool. Cool your feline friend down with a spray bottle.

In any event, I advise you to check out these helpful tips to keep your pet cool and safe in the summer.  Sunburns and overheating aren’t just for humans, after all.  Unfortunately, the heat’s not the only thing to watch out for – check out a few other dangers lurking during the summer season.

One final tip, and then I will get off my (rapidly melting) soapbox… please don’t ever leave your poor pooch in a hot car.  It’s a terrible idea and is extremely dangerous.  Think you know just how dangerous?  Take this quiz and find out.

Keep cool out there!

Share