Homeless People And Their Pets

Catster (we have a Dogster, so why not a Caster) has the goods about how Vancouver has begun accepting homeless people and their pets in its shelters. I cannot imagine - after becoming homeless - having to also be separated from my pets, and worse, them being euthanized at a shelter because I could not take care of them.

Truly, never a day goes by where I am not completely grateful for all that I have. Thank You God.



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Kudos To Macon, Georgia Animal Control

The shelter signed a pledge to go no-kill for a week. This is a big deal in the south, where there are far fewer spay-neuter programs, and many many strays.  I do not mean that as a gratuitous knock on the south!

SIGNED, Macon Animal control has officially signed the PAWS of Hope & Faith Pardon.  During the week of Nov.6th thru 12th there will be no animals put down! The goal is to save everyone of them. Small steps: one week of no-kill will lead to more!

I appluad small steps like this. It's so easy for advocates of worthy causes to feel frustrated at not getting a big committment. But this small step is a measurable thing that can be done. It's something to build on. I do think a month would have been nice, but I'm also thinking that if they agreed on a week, a week of no-kill is likely a big deal in that community.



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Where to Lodge Dog Breeder Complaints in Missouri

The Attorney General in Missouri has an impressive page up on his site. Take a look. I like the ticker that numbers how many dogs have been rescued and of course the hotline.

Thanks, Chris Koster.



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Creative Animal Rescue

I saw this story linked on facebook and was just thinking of sharing it with you and thought "what a nice story," when I realized the subject of the story is a facebook buddy of mine who does dog rescue!

I am very pleased to present this to you!

Real estate professionals work hard to find prospective property-owners their dream homes. But one New Jersey group is committed to providing that same service for pets-in-need as well.

The Diamond Real Estate Group, from Mount Laurel, has used social networking sites such as Facebook to personally sponsor 25 animal rescues and help facilitate over 100 more over the past couple of years.

"Our team started with animal rescue two years ago," says Toni Diamond, founder of the group. "So many dogs and cats that would make wonderful pets are euthanized because they are dumped into shelters unwanted. We believe it's important to stand up for these animals that have no voice."

Philly-burbs.com has the goods..

Check out this other quote that is one million percent true:

"The South does not regulate with spay and neuter as much as the North," says Diamond. "This results in lots and lots of unwanted puppies and shelters that fill up quickly. We network with friends, vets, shelters, cross-posters and volunteer transporters to get dogs from North Carolina and Georgia up north."

Remember those transports I go on periodically and for which I have posted numerous impossibly cute pictures? This is how those Sundays fit into the big picture in dog rescue.

Please get your pet spayed or neutered!


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Best Friends 'I Read To Animals Program'

Last week I added Best Friends Animal Society to my monthly contributions list. They will take out my donation each month on a credit card and I know that money is being used for great programs like the following.  They get the benefit of knowing what money they have coming in, which allows every organization better strategic planning.  I have been extremely impressed by their creative, diligent, and persistent work on behalf of dogs, cats (yeah, I know I don't mention them much), and other animals over the years.

This is from an email update I receive, fairly often.

April 14, 2011, 12:59PM MT

By Ted Brewer, Best Friends staff writer

A formerly stray and anxious pit-bull terrier becomes a library therapy dog in Best Friends’ I Read to Animals program.

For the past three weeks, a formerly stray pit-bull terrier has played the role of captive audience to a number of young readers at a library in a small agricultural town in Northern Utah. As a participant in the Best Friends’ I Read to Animals program, Tacoma has serenely listened while children as young as 3 years old read to him.

Read the rest of the article here.
And here are the program componants of Best Friends 'I Read To Animals' Program:

Program Benefits:



Builds kindness, compassion and respect towards animals

Encourages language and reading skills in a non-judgmental environment

Increases reading confidence and motivation to read

May lower the stress level of young readers


Program Components:




Best Friends Humane Education lesson

Writing, art or craft activity

Reading 1:1 with an animal

Stuffed animal adoption

I Read to Animals adoption certificate

 
Kudos, once again, to Best Friends. They do so much for unwanted pets, and in this case found a great solution that benefits everyone.
 
 
 

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Once Again, Dogs Do Their Duty

Kristen Kubilus of South Brunswick Patch has the story:

(Photo credit Kristen Kubilus)

“The way he speaks in front of others has improved and he has become more confident,” Dhillon said of her son. “He loves the dog.”

Dhillon continued, “No one is judging him if he makes a mistake. The dog is listening to him. He picks out the book in the beginning of the week, practices it, and then he can come and read it in front of his friends.”

Vikas Bawa agrees that the therapy dog has been a great reading partner to his two daughters. When mentioning his three-year-old, Riya, he said, “She could read, but she was very shy. She wasn’t outspoken. With the dog, she reads out loud and is able to be more extroverted.”

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A Win-Win in Michigan

I completely and wholeheartedly support this effort made to socialize shelter dogs and have carefully-screened incarcerated people helping to train them and make them more adoptable. Good for the mental health of both dogs and inmates. It moves shelter dogs into homes since they are trained with basic commands and are made used to a more normalized living situation. Behavioral issues, which crop up due to lack of continuity and routine and made worse by the increased stress of shelter life, have been worked on before the adoption.

(Photos by REGINA H. BOONE/Detroit Free Press)

"Thanks to their stint at the Women's Huron Valley Correctional Facility, the 10 former orphan hounds are now roll-over-and-rub-my-tummy certified Canine Good Citizens, ready to join new families in life outside the walls."

Read the full article here. Thanks to Freep.com for the article.


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