News Round Up

via Paw Nation:

Pet have bad breath? It may not just be rotting teeth.

Read this story:
http://www.pawnation.com/2010/02/16/bad-breath-in-pets-what-causes-it-and-how-to-handle-it/

A recommendation:
Normally I don't campaign for a lot of products here, but this one is fantastic. It's enzymatic toothpaste, that is, the enzymes in it eat the bacteria that cause bad breath. I use a baby toothbrush on my little guy.

http://www.1800petmeds.com/C.E.T.+Enzymatic+Toothpaste-prod10593.html

It's even on sale at the moment. Great stuff. Read the reviews!  I use the CET chews, too. He loves them, and with the toothpaste, his teeth have not needed to be professionally cleaned in the three years I have him. I get it through 1-800-Pet Meds. 


via NewTimes.com:

Sixth grader writes book to promote adoption of shelter dogs:

Meet Ally Del Monte, young person extraordinaire:
http://www.newstimes.com/local/article/New-Milford-sixth-grader-writes-and-illustrates-367504.php

Ally decided to tap her writing and artistic talents to promote the benefits of adopting dogs from shelters or rescue organizations rather than buying them from pet stores or breeders.

Have you met Shorty, the Pit Boss? I love this show, even though he's loud and a little obnoxious. It's clear he loves the dogs.

Interview with Shorty, aka Pit Boss, via Paw Nation:

Shorty Rossi, the star of the new reality series, "Pit Boss," may be one of Animal Planet's most colorful characters. He runs Shortywood Productions, a talent management company in Los Angeles, Calif. representing actors who are, like Rossi, little people. He readily admits to having served time in prison for gang-related felonies, but that's all in the past. For the past nine years, Rossi has been rescuing pit bulls, a breed with which he fell in love while growing up in the housing projects of South Central Los Angeles.
Recently, Rossi spoke with Paw Nation about his new show, why he loves pit bulls, and what you should know about little people.

Read the whole interview:
http://www.pawnation.com/2010/01/28/pit-boss-shorty-rossi-is-animal-planets-newest-star/


Dachshund saves the day!

"Our dog saved our house," said Diane Urquhart, who lives in a trailer at the Chinook Mobile Home Park with her husband, and four of their kids.
The couple and three of the children were home when an outlet in 11-year-old Kalen's room apparently started overheating around 1 a.m. Sunday.

Kalen was asleep, but JoJo kept coming out of the room to bug the adults. They couldn't figure out what he wanted. He'd been fed and had already gone outside, Urquhart said.

"He came out to see us four times, then kept going back into our daughter's room," she said.

Urquhart said JoJo's ears usually tell his story — if he's happy, hungry or done something wrong. But this time was different.

Read the whole story via The Seattle Times:

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2011190952_jojo26.html?syndication=rss


via the Richmond-Times Dispatch: a real piece of work.

A former Richmond sheriff's deputy faces up to 28 years in prison after his conviction yesterday on multiple dogfighting and cruelty charges.
David W. Robinson, 38, whose Henrico County property contained 21 pit bulls, most of them in emaciated condition and some with their teeth filed to knifelike sharpness, will be sentenced May 27.

Also -- just cause I like that it lists his address:

Robinson, of the 6400 block of Miller Road in eastern Henrico, had been a Richmond sheriff's deputy for six years as of April 16 last year, when Henrico Animal Protection officer J.E. Carlson responded to a complaint at Robinson's home and discovered evidence that eventually led to Robinson's arrest

Read the whole story here:
http://www2.timesdispatch.com/rtd/news/local/crime/article/DOGS26_20100225-223203/326970/

And here's his sorry-ass picture:

And here's a good story: (Former Sheriff Robinson might note the pink boa, for he may find himself wearing one soon).

via USA Today, by Sharon L. Peters:

Little Mama wound up homeless at a young age, the details of which will never be known. But she was picked up wandering the streets by animal control in Philadelphia. It was clear she'd had puppies (barely beyond puppyhood herself) though her offspring were never found. Maybe her first owner wanted puppies and not the mother who brought them into the world; maybe Little Mama got booted out when she got pregnant. In any case, she was taken to the city holding facility, and quickly won over everyone.

Read the whole story here:
Pet Talk: 6th time's the charm for rescued dog finding a home - USATODAY.com
http://www.usatoday.com/life/lifestyle/pets/2010-02-23-pettalk24_N.htm?csp=34&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+usatoday-LifeTopStories+%28Life+-+Top+Stories%29&POE=click-refer




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Vote for this cute pet so Soldiers' Angels can win some money for Troops

http://bissell.com/mvp_PetDetail.aspx?id=8590066411


Every bit helps. Funny how this effort is for both dogs and soldiers, my two favs. Miss Scarlet is actually one of the six chihuahuas of the founder of Soldiers' Angels, Patti Patton-Bader.

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xoxo (Voting is through March 4th.  Thanks!!)

...

Adoption Events in or near NYC - Late February

via the Mayor's Alliance for NYC's Animals:

...

Sean Casey Animal Rescue / TD Bank: Adoption Van at TD Bank

http://www.scarnyc.org/

Saturday, February 27, 2010

Noon-4:00 p.m.

TD Bank, 210-212 Prospect Park SW

Brooklyn

Cats, dogs, kittens, and puppies will be available for adoption in the North Shore Animal League America adoption van outside TD Bank at this special "I Love NYC Pets" Month event.

For more information, contact Charles Henderson at (718) 436-5163 or charles.seancaseyanimalrescue@gmail.com, or visit the Sean Casey Animal Rescue website: http://www.scarnyc.org/. http://www.nycacc.org/adopt.htm

Animal Care & Control of NYC / TD Bank:
Adoption Event at TD Bank

Saturday, February 27, 2010

Noon-4:00 p.m.

TD Bank, 1837 Richmond Avenue
Staten Island

Cats, dogs, kittens, and puppies will be available for adoption in the North Shore Animal League America adoption van outside TD Bank at this special "I Love NYC Pets" Month event.

For more information, visit the Animal Care & Control of NYC website.

Mayor's Alliance for NYC's Animals:
Adoption Van at Community Bookstore

Saturday, February 27, 2010

Noon-4:00 p.m.

Community Book Store, 143 7th Avenue, Park Slope
Brooklyn

Cats and kittens will be available for adoption in the North Shore Animal League America adoption van outside Community Bookstore.

For more information, contact Siobhan Healy at (917) 449-2448 or siobhan@AnimalAllianceNYC.org.

K9Kastle: Adoption Van

Saturday, February 27, 2010

Noon-5:00 p.m.

701 86th Street, Bay Ridge
Brooklyn

Cats and kittens will be available for adoption in the North Shore Animal League America adoption van at this special "I Love NYC Pets" Month event.

For more information, contact Tara Ciabattari at (917) 748-2504 or MaddieK9@aol.com, or visit the K9Kastle website.

ASPCA: Mobile Adoption Van at Petland Discounts

Saturday, February 27, 2010

Noon-4:00 p.m.

Petland Discounts, 734 Ninth Avenue (at 50th Street)
Manhattan

Cats, dogs, kittens, and puppies will be available for adoption in the ASPCA Mobile Adoption Van outside Petland Discounts at this special "I Love NYC Pets" Month event.

For more information, visit the ASPCA website.

For Animals, Inc./ TD Bank:
Adoption Van at TD Bank

Sunday, February 28, 2010

Noon-4:00 p.m.

TD Bank, 10110 Metropolitan Avenue, Forest Hills
Queens

Cats and kittens will be available for adoption in the North Shore Animal League America adoption van outside TD Bank at this special "I Love NYC Pets" Month event.

For more information, contact Theresa Bachu at (917) 257-6759 or spotty_11420@yahoo.com, or visit the For Animals, Inc., website.

Empty Cages Collective/ TD Bank:
Adoption Van at TD Bank

Sunday, February 28, 2010

Noon-4:00 p.m.

TD Bank, 3755 East Tremont Avenue
Bronx

Cats and kittens will be available for adoption in the North Shore Animal League America adoption van outside TD Bank at this special "I Love NYC Pets" Month event.

For more information, contact Empty Cages Collective at (800) 880-2684 or emptycagescollective@gmail.com, or visit the Empty Cages Collective website.

Linda's Feral Cat Assistance: Adoption Van

Sunday, February 28, 2010

Noon-6:00 p.m.

186 First Avenue (between 10th and 11th Streets)
Manhattan

Cats and kittens will be available for adoption in the North Shore Animal League America adoption van at this special "I Love NYC Pets" Month event.

For more information, contact Linda Bryant at (718) 205-1792 or teabag_1@earthlink.net, or visit the Linda's Feral Cat Assistance website.

ASPCA: Mobile Adoption Van at Petland Discounts

Saturday, February 28, 2010

Noon-4:00 p.m.

Petland Discounts, 734 Ninth Avenue (at 50th Street)
Manhattan

Cats, dogs, kittens, and puppies will be available for adoption in the ASPCA Mobile Adoption Van outside Petland Discounts at this special "I Love NYC Pets" Month event.

For more information, visit the ASPCA website.


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Give A Damn

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Thinking of Widget Today

http://blog.rollingdogranch.org/rolling_dog_ranch_animal_/2010/02/widgets-eye.html

She's having an eye operation that will have her eye removed (enucleation). Everyone at Rolling Dog Ranch is upset.

We have finally come to the conclusion that enucleation is a better alternative for the animal. The procedure is simpler, the recovery is faster, and the degree of post-operative pain is significantly less than with the intraocular prosthetic. Most important, the post-op pain ends much sooner. There is also less risk of post-op complications; indeed, we almost lost Widget's prosthetic implant back in 2006, though quick intervention by Brenda saved the day.

So why do the prosthetic implants at all rather than enucleation? Honestly, the only reason people opt for the implants is so their animals can keep their natural appearance -- those faces we know and love so much. And that is why we have dreaded this day, because we knew we wouldn't put Widget through the prosthetic implant procedure again -- that if her right eye became painful and required surgery, we would opt for enucleation. That meant she would never look the same ... her adorable, bug-eyed face would be changed forever.

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xoxo (Thinking of Widget today, as well as Steve and Alayne)

Great Slide Shows - Rolling Dog Ranch Featured

While checking Rolling Dog Ranch's site, I learned of this post, which mentions and gives a link to some photos taken by one of the photographers at the Best Friends Animal Society, Sarah Ause.

http://blog.rollingdogranch.org/rolling_dog_ranch_animal_/2010/02/best-friends-slideshow-on-the-ranch.html

Take a look. There are great shots of the animals at Rolling Dog Ranch (in Beautiful Montana), which really show the contentment they feel at being in a place where they are loved. The pictures are truly beautiful.

When I poked around at the photographer's site -- http://bestfriends.org/slideshows/index.html, I came across a number of really touching slide shows, the first of which is about puppy mill dogs being rescued and taken all the way to Manhattan for adoption. Those pictures were featured in Best Friends' 25th Anniversary magazine last summer.

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Wheels of Hope

via the Mayor's Alliance for NYC's Animals:

Each month, the Mayor's Alliance Wheels of Hope for Homeless Pets transport van program moves approximately 150 animals out of NYC's Animal Care & Control (AC&C) shelters and transports them to other Alliance Participating Organizations (APOs) — shelters and rescue groups that will find them new homes. Some trips are short; others are long hauls. But either way, they carry a price tag — and that cost is particularly related to the price of fuel. When fuel prices rise, the cost of these life-saving transports can increase dramatically.

The Wheels of Hope for Homeless Pets fundraising campaign is seeking to raise much-needed funds to keep the wheels turning every day, and help the Mayor's Alliance for NYC's Animals continue to transport as many animals as possible on the next leg of their journeys to permanent loving homes.

GO HERE TO MAKE A CONTRIBUTION OF ANY AMOUNT:

https://www.networkforgood.org/donation/ExpressDonation.aspx?ORGID2=731653635&vlrStratCode=6XwTMNI5%2fh8zNTnopN%2bqiQbcJdI1wR3fyb0UPIsdlj4WL4UK4jeQkbqlCNKAuEv%2f

Or

You may also send a check or money order made payable to:

"Mayor's Alliance for NYC's Animals" with "Wheels of Hope" in the memo to:

Mayor's Alliance for NYC's Animals

Attn: Wheels of Hope for Homeless Pets

244 Fifth Avenue, Suite R290

New York, NY 10001-7604

Thank you for helping to keep the wheels turning for New York City's Homeless animals!


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Adopted

I haven't written about Yonkers Animal Shelter in a while. Things have been good. I still volunteer there on the weekends, and am in love with precisely 104 dogs.  Last year was one of the best we had in adoptions, I'm told, and that was a surprise since things slowed down terribly for a long stretch, likely due to the economy. We've adopted out a good number already this year, with four going home this weekend!  I don't want to jinx anything (it's a superstitious thing) and will talk about them another time.

Suffice it to say two favorites of mine went home, and the last one I had the pleasure of watching him sit in the backseat with his new owner, in a car full of family members, and they all were waving goodbye. It was like the scene out of The Wizard of Oz with everyone waving as Dorothy goes into the balloon.

I'm so pleased about the two that I knew a while getting adopted. It's funny; one week you are taking care of them with treats, making sure they get their walk; the next they are no longer homeless. I marvel at how one minute things can seem a little hopeless for some and the next minute you know they will have a warm bed in a home that very night.

In the meanwhile, here is a picture of one that got adopted a few years ago by a then-volunteer.  I hope and pray they all get homes like this!

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xoxo (Best of luck to our little ones that got homes this weekend. They certainly earned them).

RIP Daddy - a True Ambassador for the Bully Breeds.

via many sites this morning: (the below info taken from The Dog Whisperer site):

Cesar Millan, all his family and friends, his staff and volunteers, and dog lovers all around the world today will mourn the passing of one of the most loyal, trusting, well-balanced, and influential pit bull ambassadors the world has ever known. Daddy, Cesar’s longtime friend and partner in canine rehabilitation, died peacefully surrounded by family on Friday the 19th of February. He was sixteen years old.

Click on the title of this post to be brought to Ceasar Milan's site, where numerous fans of Daddy have posted condolences. I did not know of Daddy, partly because I don't happen to watch Cesar (not for any particular reason), but learned of him through numerous pet sites this morning as I was scanning the daily reads.  A person I know said: "He was a true ambassador for the bully breeds."

Here is a sample of a fan's note about him:

I've been watching and learning from "The Dog Whisperer" TV program since the very first season and I've grown more attached to Daddy than I even realized. Last year (Apr. 24, 2009) I lost my dog Thor (black lab, Rottie mix) due to a cancerous tumor on his liver. It was unexpected and Thor was only 9 1/2 years old. On May 6th, 2009 I adopted a rescue dog that I named Rex. He's 5 years old, part yellow lab and part boxer. Thanks to Cesar and Daddy, I made an excellent, well-informed choice with Rex. Of the five dogs I've had in my life, Rex is the most submissive, people-pleasing dog I've ever been blessed with. My deepest heart-felt sympathies go to Cesar's entire family on Daddy's passing. He will be missed.

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xoxo (RIP Daddy)

Kate Quigley...A True Hero

via LEE HILL KAVANAUGH for The Kansas City Star
photos by DAVID EULITT:

Read the story here:
http://www.kansascity.com/637/story/1750734.html

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xoxo (God bless this woman. She's my hero.)

Stray Dog Saves Lives in Afghanistan

via The Times-Herald:

When a man dressed as an Afghanistan policeman came to the camp of Newnan-based National Guard soldiers deployed to the country and blew himself up, things could have been much worse without the efforts of a stray dog -- Rufus -- who had taken up with the soldiers.

Rufus is a true hero in the eyes of the soldiers, says Sgt. Devin Shaner of Newnan who is among those deployed with Georgia National Guard's 48th Infantry Brigade.


The soldiers were deployed to Afghanistan in summer 2009. The deployment included, among others, soldiers with Georgia National Guard's Bravo Company Second Battalion, based in Newnan at the Jackson-Pless National Guard Armory. The Second Battalion consists of men and women from around this region of the state.

Five soldiers were injured in the blast, Shaner said: Sergeant Chris Duke, Staff Sergeant Charles Lancaster, Staff Sergeant Tony Davis, Staff Sergeant Marty Brownlee and Specialist First Class Garry Ware. None of the injuries were life-threatening.

Shaner, who grew up and has family in Coweta County, sent what he calls "The Rufus Story" via email to The Times-Herald to share with the people back home.
Among several dogs who have come into their base from time to time, the soldiers had somewhat adopted two of them, Shaner said.

Both dogs, the older dog named Rufus and a small puppy named Sasha, the night of the incident were seen barking at and trying to attack the intruder. Two of the five soldiers who were wounded heard the barking right outside their room and yelled at the dogs, Shaner said.

At that point the suicide bomber detonated himself in the doorway of the building, Shaner said. After the attack, witnesses said they saw Rufus and Sasha biting the leg of the intruder -- and the dogs are credited with keeping the attacker from making it no further into the building than the entrance.

"Had the dogs not tried to stop him, no one knows what the outcome would have been or how many more casualties we would have taken," Shaner writes.
The puppy Sasha did not survive the attack, but Rufus was found and treated for his injuries. He's a real survivor.

To show their appreciation to Rufus, three of the soldiers who were injured in the attack but were returning to duty soon are organizing an effort to have Rufus shipped back to the United States, Shaner said, as they plan to adopt him.

"These three soldiers feel that people at home should know 'The Rufus Story' as he is now viewed as a hero in their eyes," Shaner said in his email.
The soldiers of Newnan-based Bravo 2/121 are engaged in various missions during their deployment to Iraq, Shaner explained during a two-week break back home last August.

Shaner said he feels that his mission -- mentoring the Afghan Army -- is the most important of all. His team at that time was mentoring an Afghan Army battalion, fresh from basic training.

"It's the most important mission in Afghanistan," he said. "As soon as we get these guys" trained and ready to handle things themselves, "the sooner we can come home."

"Twenty years from now, in the history books, they're going to be writing about the mentoring training teams and how much we changed history," he said.

Shaner last August was filled with praise for the Coweta community and all the support his unit has received. Shaner's colleagues "have been great," said his wife, Christa. "They call and check on me. I got home one day and my grass had been cut," she said. The couple has two young sons.

When he's not fighting in Afghanistan, Shaner is fighting fires in Coweta. He is one of three Coweta County firefighters in Bravo Company.

When the National Guard group left Newnan last April, the soldiers first made a stop at Ruth Hill Elementary School to visit Shaner's mother, who has been a big supporter.



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Cupid human trick: Furry pet is no sure bet as a Valentine's Day gift

via The New York Daily News: (excellent headline!)

When it comes to Valentine's Day, some suitors proffer pets as tokens of their love. Unfortunately, pet-gifting is not always the way to a woman's heart.


"It happens every year," says Mike Rubin, store manager at Puppy Paradise in Marine Park, Brooklyn. "One gentleman last year got a very nice little puppy and the girl freaked out. They were not that close to each other. He was trying to get, how do I say this, an extra score, and she was not into the whole thing."

When the jilted suitor brought the rejected pup back to Puppy Paradise, a sympathetic employee took it in.

At Groom-O-Rama in the West Village, groomer Sal Peretz says he typically gets a last-minute influx of customers - always men - looking to surprise their special someones with a furry Valentine's Day gift.
Peretz finds out about the failures when put-upon girlfriends drop the unwanted pets off at an animal shelter. The shelters trace the pets back to Groom-O-Rama via tracking microchips, which Peretz places on some of his animals.

"We get a lot of animals at different intervals after certain holidays, and Valentine's Day is a big one," says Sandra DeFeo, co-executive director at the Humane Society of New York. "Sometimes it's right away. They'll say, 'I can't take the responsibility.' A lot of times it's a large-breed dog that starts as a small puppy, but when the dog is bigger it requires a lot of exercise and attention that the person can't give the animal."

For some, a pet can be the worst possible gift. The recipient might have allergies or live in an apartment where pets are banned. In the downtrodden economy, some people simply can't afford to raise an animal. On average, cat- and dog-owners spend $700-$875 in food and vet visits per year, according to the ASPCA.

"I think giving a pet as a gift can be irresponsible," says Giancarlo Rachiele, 45, of the Bronx. "My son's girlfriend gave him a 'dwarf' rabbit as a gift two years ago. The rabbit grew and grew to the size of a small dog."

Rachiele and his wife ponied up $100 for a large cage and became the primary caretakers. Tired of the mess their unwanted pet created, they found a new home for the bunny on Craigslist. By then, the girlfriend had long been out of the picture.

Gifted pets don't always end up as disaster stories. John Carmenatty, 33, scoured the pet section of Craigslist for two months before finding a gray, moon-faced furball to surprise his girlfriend of 16 years, Sandra Vasquez, with an early Valentine's Day gift.

"Roses don't last, chocolates get eaten in one day, but the kitten's gonna be around until it runs away or, God forbid, dies," says Carmenatty, a carpenter from East New York, Brooklyn.

Some pet experts say that being a present is an ideal fate for a pet - as long as the gift has been carefully considered.

"There's a lot of mythology around pets as gifts, and it comes up most around Christmas or whenever there's a gift-giving occasion," says Gail Buchwald, senior vice president at the ASPCA. "I would say that when pets are given as gifts, they stand a greater likelihood of staying in a home because they're attached to sentimental value. If someone gives you a beautiful gift, you're less apt to return it."

She stresses, however, that pets are not for everyone. In order to avoid frivolous adoptions, the ASPCA, as well as many other animal shelters, requires that all owners be present during the adoption process.
In lieu of giving an actual pet, animal shelters often recommend buying a gift certificate so that loved ones can choose their own companion.

"It's not something you can return or give back to the person after a breakup," says Rubin. "It's almost like an engagement ring."


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xoxo (Please, dogs bought in puppy stores come from pully mills. There are no exceptions to this practice. They are terrible places and we need to stop supporting them.)

NYC Shelter Dog Wins Talent Contest

via The Associated Press:

NEW YORK — A three-legged pitbull mix that played in a game of doggie baseball has won "Best in Show" at a talent competition held by one of New York City's largest animal shelters.

Nine dogs competed in Friday's contest at the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. But it was Prince who impressed the judging panel the most with his feat of catching three baseballs.

The nearly 2-year-old dog lost one of his legs and had a pin inserted in another after being struck by a car.

The ASPCA's senior vice president of the adoption center says Prince's disability doesn't hold him back.

Gail Buchwald says he "struts his stuff like a winner."

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Dog and Cat Food RECALL

Dog and Cat Food Recall

— Nature's Variety is recalling one lot of Chicken Formula Raw Frozen Diet for dogs and cats because the products could be contaminated with salmonella. Contaminated pet food can infect animals as well as people who have not handled the products properly.

The company received one customer complaint linked to a lot not affected by the recall. There have been no reported pet or human illnesses linked to the recalled lot, according to the Lincoln, Nebraska company.

The recall involves different forms, including chicken medallions, patties and chubs, with a "best if used by" date of Nov. 10, 2010.

The products were distributed in retail stores and online in the U.S. and in Canada.

For more information, consumers can call 800-374-3142.


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xoxo (Please pass this info around).

Brooklyn Terrier Mugged; Doggie Coat Missing

via NBCNewYork: (This dog's owner is very lucky she didn't get her dog stolen!)

Getty Images Now that's just cold.

A Brooklyn woman says a mugger stole a doggie coat right off the back of her mild-mannered terrier.

Donna McPherson says she tied up Lexie, her 10-year-old Westie, outside a Park Slope supermarket "for two minutes'' while she bought milk.

She heard a "funny bark.'' When McPherson went outside, she found the little white dog shivering. His green wool coat, with leather trim and belt, were nowhere in sight.

"How could anyone steal a coat off someone's back in the freezing cold?" the 42-year-old investment banker complained to The New York Post. "I was so angry, but in the end I was grateful that it was just the coat and not him."
McPherson said the dog coat was worth $25. She looked all over the neighborhood, hoping to spot the burglar who stole the coat off her pup's back, but couldn't find him.

McPherson said that, fortunately, Lexie wasn't wearing his pricier Burberry, but she bought two new coats anyway to make it up to him.

 
xoxo

 (A word to the wise; don't leave your dog tied up outside of a store when you can't see him or her the ENTIRE time. A person can run up and take the dog and drive off. Why risk it? I carry my dog in the store with me, if I can have a dog in there (or I don't go to the store during his walk), and there is only one store where the meter pole is directly in front of the entrance and the cash register is directly by the door, so he sees me the entire time and I see him. Otherwise, it's not worth it.)

February Adoption Events in New York City

http://www.animalalliancenyc.org/events/adoption.htm

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Want to See The Trouble With Puppymills?

via ASPCA:

It's not so bad at first but keep watching; you begin to see the squalid conditions as the camera moves back, the wire-bottomed cages, and the first dog that looks completely neglected (apart from dogs living continuously (as in forever) in little cages), is the white poodle, who has so many matts she cannot stand correctly. In fact, go to this link and make sure to see the third picture from the end, of what appears to be a brown poodle, if you want to see what puppymill dogs look like. These are the dogs that breed pet store puppies.  http://www.slide.com/r/d0z4DMOn5z8_HXvfV_-Az8_7ctYMvfSk?map=2&cy=un




The ASPCA under the authority and request of Shirley C. Byers of the Marshall Co. Prosecutor’s Office in Marshall County, MS, is managing operations in the investigation of a local puppy mill where 94 dogs as well as a cat are being seized.

The Marshall County Sheriff’s Department, led by Sheriff Kenny Dickerson, served a warrant, along with Sgt. Kelly McMillan, Investigators Gary Byrd and David Pannell and Officer Tracy Jefferies. Charges against the puppy mill’s owners are currently pending, but the dogs have been signed over to the ASPCA.
Tim Rickey, the ASPCA Senior Director of Field Investigations and Response, says the dogs, which include small breeds such as Shih Tzus, Lhasa Apsos, Pugs, Yorkshire Terriers, Corgis and Chihuahuas, were discovered living in feces-encrusted pens and filth. He says many of the dogs are underweight and appear to have skin problems, among other medical conditions. Several dead adult dogs and puppies were also discovered.

Also on the scene with the ASPCA are the American Humane Association, Marshall County Humane Society, Mississippi State University and Collierville (TN) Humane Society, who are removing and transporting animals to an emergency shelter site at the Marshall County Humane Society Clinic in Byhalia, MS, where they will be triaged by a veterinary team and temporarily sheltered before being exported to other animal welfare agencies and ultimately made available for adoption.

“The ASPCA works in partnership with local groups to rescue animals like these from deplorable conditions,” says Matt Bershadker, Senior Vice President of Anti-Cruelty for the ASPCA. “Without the support and collaboration of these agencies, this crucial, life-saving work would not be possible.”

Veterinarians, including Dr. Rebecca Coleman of Memphis, TN, Dr. Phil Bushby, a faculty member at Mississippi State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine, and Dr. Kimberly Woodruff, also with Mississippi State, are examining animals, and those requiring immediate medical care will be treated.

“We appreciate the diligence of the Marshall County Prosecutor’s Office in pursuing this case and are pleased to be able to lend our assistance, both in terms of human resources and equipment, in our ongoing fight against animal cruelty,” says Rickey.

The investigation was set into motion after local officials contacted the ASPCA several weeks ago. For more information about puppy mills and how to fight animal cruelty, visit http://www.aspca.org/.



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xoxo (Thanks to the ASPCA for rescuing them.)

Another Childrens Book Encouraging Adoption From Animal Shelters

Broadway Barks Reminder: Bernadette Peters' new children’s book "Stella Is A Star!" is now available for pre-order on Amazon.com! Proceeds from sales of the book go toward helping animal shelters and adoption agencies. Pre-order your copy today!

Broadway Barks came about as a result of Bernadette Peters' and Mary Tyler Moore's passion for animals. Originally conceived as a program to promote the adoption of shelter animals, Broadway Barks has evolved into an event that has not only focused on the plight of homeless animals but has opened the door of communication and fostered a spirit of community among the number shelters and rescue groups working throughout the city.

From Amazon.com's site:  http://www.amazon.com/Stella-Star-Bernadette-Peters/dp/1609050088/

Product Description

Bernadette Peters and Liz Murphy the terrific team behind the New York Times best-selling Broadway Barks are back with a story about Stella, a pup who would rather be a graceful pig ballerina than what she really is: a dog no one seems to like.

Bernadette Peters' lovable Stella learns the lessons of self-acceptance, following her heart's desires and, most important, that it's okay just to be herself. The book includes a CD with an original song written and performed by Bernadette Peters.

About the Author

Bernadette Peters has led a dazzling stage career on Broadway and in theaters and concert halls around the world, playing such memorable roles as the witch in Into the Woods and Mama Rose in Gypsy. She is the cofounder, with Mary Tyler Moore, of Broadway Barks, a charity that finds homes for shelter animals with the help of Broadway stars. Her passion for animals is the inspiration behind this book. Liz Murphy was born in England and lives with her family in Montclair, New Jersey. She is a graduate of the Kingston Art College, where she majored in graphic design. This is her fifth picture book.


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Demo - the story of a junkyard dog

Respect-A-Bull - the folks who rescued Stanley (remember the short film "Just One Dog?") - are recommending a book in which the main character is a pitbull who's a hero.

From Respect-A-Bull's site:

At the back of the book, I noticed that there was a photo of a dog who looked just like the Demo in the book. As it turns out, the Demo in the book was based on a real dog. The real life Demo was rescued after he was born to a junkyard mom.

I'll be the first to admit that I always start to tear up when I read the part when Demo saves the day. It gets me because I love when the little guy comes up on top, but also because it's so amazing to see the breed that I love portrayed as the hero in a book rather than the villian in the media. So, it comes as no surprise that I cried when I learned that the real Demo, just 1 month shy of his 16th birthday, passed away.

Godspeed, Demo. You are a hero to us all, a poster boy for all of the pit bulls out there who should be looked at as regular dogs and admired for their breeds. Your book sits on our coffee table and will remain a family favorite. You are this family's Snoopy.

Full story here:
http://www.respect-a-bull.com/apps/blog/

Their home page: http://www.respect-a-bull.com/



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xoxo (Thanks to Respect-A-Bull for all their work!)