Category Archives: furry heroes

Blog the Change: Happy birthday, Petfinder!

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Blog the ChangeIt’s that time again… another installment of Blog the Change for Animals!

I’ve focused on a variety of issues in the past (for my earlier posts related to Be the Change for Animals, click here), but today I want to keep it short and sweet.

As you know, Bella’s a rescue pup.  I found her using Petfinder… I’ll forever be indebted to that wonderful website for making these last 10 years of puppy love possible.  With that in mind, I’d like to dedicate today’s post to Petfinder… it’s Petfinder’s 15th birthday this weekend, after all.  Synergy!

Yesterday, I read an article about animal shelters and how both adoptions and donations have been declining due to the economy.  That’s why all I want to say to you today is this: if you’re thinking about getting another pet, adopt. Consider donating your time, money, or resources to your local shelters and rescue groups.  Petfinder has a wealth of info… read about how you can help and then find a local rescue group.  I’ve donated food and other items in the past, but I’ve decided that I want to do more.

Today, I renew my own commitment to helping animals and will be contacting at least one local group to donate my time.  I hope you’ll take a few moments today to think about what you could do to help animals in need.  (If you’re already involved with a rescue group in any way shape or form, I want you to know that you are my hero and I want to be like you when I grow up.)

Like I said, short and sweet.  (As short as I’m capable of anyway.) 

To read more fantastic Blog the Change entries, check out the list after the jump.  To participate in the blog hop, visit Be the Change for Animals for more information or add your link after the jump.


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Everything really is better with puppies

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The amazing and wonderful Pamela from Something Wagging This Way Comes (don’t you just love the name?) recently highlighted my humble blog as one of her favorites.  (Pamela had the brilliant idea to encourage her readers to visit some other fun dog blogs out there – including another of my faves, 24 Paws of Love – while she was on vacation… I just may have to “borrow” this idea one day.  In case you can’t tell, I want to be like Pamela when I grow up.)

Anyway, I’d like to take this moment to return the sentiment.  I highly recommend you swing by and check out Something Wagging This Way Comes to meet Pamela and her Golden Retriever, Honey, whose cuteness is off the charts.  Threre are so many fun and interesting things on Something Wagging – one of my favorite regular features is “The Puppiness Project.”  It’s a twist on Gretchen Rubin’s Happiness Project (which I also loved), in which Pamela attempts to learn how to be happy by studying Honey.  It’s an absolutely brilliant concept, and it will really get you thinking.  (A small sample: the merits of cuddling, learning to eat with gusto, and trying to expect the best from people.)  Maybe we’d all be better people if we followed our dogs’ examples!

However, my favorite post title has to be this one: “Everything’s Better with Puppies.”  If I didn’t already have a blog title, I’d be begging Pamela to let me borrow that one! 

So, in honor of Pamela and Honey, I suggest we all embrace our inner puppy and enjoy life without worrying about who is watching or if we look absolutely ridiculous, like this guy:


(via Best Week Ever)

The happiness is just radiating off that video in waves… it’s a nice a reminder to enjoy the simple things, try not to take everything too seriously, and have some fun.  Now get out there, tell Monday you’re going to have fun in spite of it, and enjoy your week! 

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A different kind of rescue dog

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There’s some synergy in the air, it seems.  We were just talking about Jack Russell Terriers on Friday… and today I have a very special JRT story to share with you.  Meet my new hero, Steve Porter.

For more on this amazing story, go here.  You can also see photos of the rescue.  Although Jessie ended up with a cone of shame, this story has a pretty happy ending.

As you may know, JRTs are very brave and are built for hunting below ground.  Some JRTs even compete in events called Go-to-Ground, which simulate and test a JRT’s ability to hunt underground. 

When I was a kid, my Toy Fox Terrier (Scotti) would show off these skills as well.  She’d chase squirrels and other animals all over the yard, including chasing them through a small drainpipe that was back there.  We were lucky – she never got stuck, although the habit did result in quite a few baths for my muddy mutt.  The frequent baths never proved to be a deterrent, however.

It appears that Jessie’s ordeal hasn’t stopped him from following his instincts either.  Those terriers are incorrigible.  In a good way.

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On Memorial Day…

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Memorial Day… a time to remember those who have given their service to our country.  Words really aren’t enough to describe this sacrifice and to truly honor those who have made it so that we can be free.  So these simple words will have to do instead: thank you.

Last year, I shared my tribute to human and canine heroes alike.  (I hope you’ll take a moment to revisit that post if you haven’t read it before – and even if you have – as it contains some fantastic links and information about War Dogs and Military Working Dogs.  Also, if you are in the market for something to make you cry today, I have a feeling that post will provide what you need.)

I did want to share some links with you today:

  • As you probably know, a dog helped in the raid on Osama bin Laden’s compound.  This amazing dog, a Belgian Malinois named Cairo, has received quite a bit of press (and even met the President).  Ever since, it seems like hero dogs have been all over the news.
  • Countless dogs have served our country over the years.  Check out the history of war dogs in these two amazing photo . (Thanks to and Phetched for the tip.)
  • As always, The Dog Files has a moving and visually stunning saluting Military Working Dogs.
  • I also urge you to visit FiveSibes for a touching tribute and some fantastic videos that are just perfect for today.
  • Check out this great post from Bocci’s Beefs about dogs of war and what would have happened if cats were helping us out instead.  (Just kidding… after all, there are some truly patriotic cats out there too.)
  • Last year, the National World War II Museum honored some four-legged heroes in an exhibit.  You can learn about some of these heroes here.
  • Can’t get enough of these fabulously furry heroes?  Read about five more here or watch a movie about some heroic dogs or horses..
  • Not all heroic dogs are on official duty, as illustrated by this tale of a unit in Afghanistan that was saved by some local strays.

As I mentioned last year, when these hero dogs retire from service, they need homes.  After Cairo’s participation in the bin Laden raid,  inquiries about war dog adoption have increased, but these heroes will need homes even after the initial rush slows.  If you are interested in giving a home to one of these retired heroes, learn more at Fido Friendly and then head over to Military Working Dog Adoptions.  (You can also check out the Department of Defense’s Official Military Working Dog Adoption Website.)    

If you have any stories about Military Working Dogs (either in action or in retirement), click on over to Dogster and read about Maria Goodavage’s new book project, Soldier Dogs.

Take a moment to remember today…

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Blog the Change: Pets of the Homeless

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Blog the ChangeToday’s post is part of Blog the Change for Animals, an event in which bloggers blog (that noun-verb combo gave me pause for a moment – it’s awkward but accurate) about animal causes. 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 entries from past Blog the Change events, check them out here: Protecting People & Their Pets and Share the Love & Rescue a Pup.

I spent a great deal of time agonizing over what to write about for today’s Blog the Change event.  Should I revisit an earlier topic, like the Pets and Women’s Shelters (PAWS) Program, pet adoption, or the importance of buckling up your pup? Or should I focus on something new?  Lucky for you, dear reader, I recently read a post by CindyLu’s Muse that made my decision for me. As soon as I read that post, I knew that I had to write about this cause for Blog the Change.  It’s a natural sequel to my post on the PAWS program.

That cause? Pets of the Homeless, a nonprofit organization that provides pet food and veterinary care to the homeless and less fortunate in local communities across the United States and Canada. I imagine that you, like me, may have felt your heart break a little when you pass a homeless person with a pet.  Sometimes the love between the two can take your breath away.  Given that winter is a particularly dangerous time to have no shelter, I thought that Pets of the Homeless was the perfect cause to feature during the frigid month of January.

Learn more about this organization and how you can help, after the jump.

Before I go on, I want to quickly address an argument I encountered while doing research for this post.  Some argue that homeless people should not have pets – and that the best solution is to take these pets away.  I’m not going to engage in that debate here.  However, I do want to share the following quote I found on the Pets of the Homeless blog:

“There are those who will say that homeless people should not have
pets. But they will have pets. There are those who will say that people
should not be homeless. But there will be homeless people. This is the
real world.  And as someone who works in that real world, I have
seen abuse and neglect of the pets of wealthy and impoverished alike,
just as I’ve seen wonderfully loving and supportive relationships
between animals and people on every rung of the economic ladder. One
issue, of course, is that economics can and often do contribute to an
inability to provide what can be costly services.”

– Ken White (President, Peninsula Humane Society)

Pets of the Homeless cites a sobering statistic from the National Coalition for the Homeless. NCH estimates that 3.5 million people are homeless. Between 5-10% of these homeless people have pets. (In some areas of the country, this number may be as high as 24%.) For a variety of reasons, many are forced to choose between keeping their pets or having a roof over their heads.  (Many shelters are not equipped to house pets.  For a list of those that do and groups that will provide temporary foster care for pets of the homeless, please click here.)  As a result, the majority choose to stay on the streets with their pets rather than abandoning them.

Pets of the Homeless aims to help this population in a variety of ways.  It has established collection sites to accept donated pet food and distributes this food through partnerships with homeless shelters, soup kitchens, and other entities.  The organization also makes two types of grants: one to veterinarians that go to where the homeless congregate and provide veterinary care such as vaccines, spay/neuter and other needed treatments; the other to homeless shelters looking for ways to allow pets sanctuary with their owners.

If you have tissues handy, I urge you to read some of the success stories and view the touching photos on the Pets of the Homeless website.

Want to know how you can help? If there is a collection site near you, donate pet food and supplies.  (If there’s no collection site near you, find out how to become one.)  Pets of the Homeless also provides a list of other ways that you can donate your time or money to this worthy cause.

I hope you’ll take the time to check out this organization and learn more.


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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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