Rescue Story – Chance the Yellow Lab
February 25th, 2010
Chance is a 10 week old “Beagador” (Beagle-Yellow Lab mix) that was found in a ditch. He was named Chance because he got a 2nd Chance at life.
Chance was infested with fleas. It took almost an hour and a half to get all the fleas off of him. His gums were white, and he could barely stand. His tail and back end were covered in fire ants, and in his weakened state, he wasnt going to last much longer.
In a time where good news and happy endings are in the news much – its always great to hear when there is one. Chance was rescued and found a good home. He was cleaned up, given nutritious food and veterinary treatment, and he was a new puppy with a new lease on life.
You don’t have to be a professional, anyone can rescue an animal and make a difference. Are you ready?
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K9 Cuisine is a provider of premium dog food. We’re committed to providing our customers with the knowledge, and the products, to help their faithful friends be the best they can.
Tags: dog, lab, rescue
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Interview with Becky VandeKerkhof of Got Paws?
February 23rd, 2010
K9 Cuisine: What is your story-how did you get into pet care?
Becky VandeKerkhof: I have always loved animals and growing up two of my closest friends’ parents who were dog lovers and breeders just rubbed off on me. Great Danes and Bull Mastiffs are the ones that made me a big dog person! Throughout my 20′s I travelled and moved around a lot and was never in a position to own a pet. When I settled in Traverse City, MI 5.5 years ago, I adopted a German Shepherd and that is when everything changed for me.
In his short 2 years, Bubba had experienced so much inconsistency and aggression. He was one scared, sensitive boy who needed every extra minute I had to dedicate to helping him heal and enjoy life. And this is what I did. We went everywhere together until he was confident enough to stay home alone. He fell in love with my car – this became his safe place – so as long as the weather was right he slept in the car while I worked and ran errands.
Our experiences together over the first few years dramatically increased my understanding of dogs and my passion for helping all animals who need a new home whether they have been mistreated, abandoned or surrendered by owners due to circumstance. I began to investigate different careers within the pet care industry and decided to start a pet sitting business – from that point it was just a question of waiting until this was financially feasible.
K9 Cuisine: What is the secret to your success with Got Paws? Pet Care Services – how have you gotten to where you are today?
Becky VandeKerkhof: I genuinely love what I do and believe that I am good at it. People and animals easily pick up on this passion and confidence. My primary focus is to ensure that clients and their pets are comfortable. It’s not easy to entrust your pet to a relative stranger, especially if they have special needs or some type of behavioral problem. Before a client hires me I go to their house for a initial consult, free of charge. By the end of the consult my goal is to feel that the client has complete confidence in me. Dependent on the situation the visit can take anything from 30 minutes to 2 hours but by the end the outcome is always the same – a level of understanding and trust has been gained and new friendships formed. Word of mouth is extremely important in this business and by behaving with integrity and setting clear and consistent standards GotPaws? has earned a great reputation in a relatively short time-frame.
K9 Cuisine: What makes you different?
Becky VandeKerkhof: In addition to providing pet sitting and dog walking services, I use my business as a tool to promote pet adoption and also to help owners find new homes for their pets when circumstance demands. I donate a percentage of my profits to the local Humane Society and I offer discounts to clients who have rescued their dogs or cats.
K9 Cuisine: What is it about dogs that you love?
Becky VandeKerkhof: Wow, that could be the hardest question I’ve ever been asked…too many answers come to mind….there’s a quote that perhaps best describes it – “Dogs are not our whole life but they make our lives whole.”
K9 Cuisine: What is the neatest part about your work?
Becky VandeKerkhof: I can’t think of any other job where you are greeted with so much excitement everyday. From the moment I arrive at a client’s house, I am shown nothing but love and affection. The dogs wag their tails and smile and maybe talk to me a little and the cats curl up around my legs and meow hello. There is a reason why therapy dogs are used in hospitals, nursing homes and shelters. They truly make your day and all they ask for in return is food, water and a walk. Oh and a belly rub and treat is greatly appreciated too!
K9 Cuisine: Where do you see the pet care industry going?
Becky VandeKerkhof: The only place for it to go is up! Take pet sitting for example, it has recently been documented to be one of the fastest growing home-based businesses in the world but it goes much further than general care - clients are demanding a wide range of services – basic pet care, dog walking, care of special needs pets, pet transportation services, overnight pet sitting, house sitting with no pet involved, errand services and pooper scooper services.
Approximately 60 percent of homes in the US have at least one pet and as a country the amount of money we have spent on anything pet related in the last 15 years has more than doubled. American’s have fallen in love with their pets and we suddenly want to treat them like children. Consider the products available these days, for example, organic dog food and dog clothing, the success of these human-like products is a clear indication of a significant shift in the role pets play in our society.
K9 Cuisine: How do you fit into that-what are your future plans?
Becky VandeKerkhof: My business is relatively young – I just reached my six month anniversary – and I am already profitable. The fact that it was viable to start my business at such an unstable economic time is a testament to the industry’s immunity to the current economic crisis. I plan to keep doing what I have been, working hard on adding more clients and making a difference in as many pets and people’s lives as possible.
K9 Cuisine: Do you have any funny stories to share?
Becky VandeKerkhof: There are two dogs that I take care of on a regular basis and they are always so excited to see me that as soon as I open the front door they often pick up one of their beds (strong teeth) and start running around the room with them wagging their tales crazily. It is the cutest thing and makes me laugh out loud everytime.
K9 Cuisine: How can people find out more about you and the your organization?
Becky VandeKerkhof: Visit my website – www.gotpawsintraversecity.com. Become a fan on Facebook and follow me on Twitter
K9 Cuisine: Tell us a little about you!
Becky VandeKerkhof: I think I gave you enough in the first answer above. But if you are looking for some more personal details ….I am 33 years old and live in Traverse City, MI with my husband Shane and our fur-child Bubba.
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This information was provided by Becky VandeKerkhol of Got Paws? offering a variety of pet services in the Traverse city area. For more information, please visit http://www.gotpawsintraversecity.com/.
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K9 Cuisine is a provider of premium dog food. We’re committed to providing our customers with the knowledge, and the products, to help their faithful friends be the best they can.
Tags: K9 Cuisine, pet care Traverse, pet sitting Traverse
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Interview with Michelle Brown – Pet Advocate
January 14th, 2010
K9 Cuisine: What is your story-how did you get into the dog rescue business?
Michelle: Through my efforts to help rescue a Labrador Retriever in a kill shelter in West Virginia, I met Teri Askew of Labrador Life Line, a non-profit that raises funds and disburses them to lab owners and rescues for a variety of medical emergencies. I felt strongly that it was a charity I wanted to raise funds for and help with PR on. I have a Labrador that I rescued after she was hit by a car ,and her owners relinquished her because they couldn’t afford the medical care. I knew there had to be ways for people to keep their beloved pets in situations like Lucy’s, and Labrador Life Line is the charity that makes it possible.
K9 Cuisine: What is the secret to your success-how have you gotten to where you are today?
Michelle: I am new with Labrador Life Line – joined as an intern in January and became a full board member in June. My career as a magazine publisher, with a knowledge of how to get PR and how to sell, has helped me bring some big ideas to our charity, which will help us increase our revenue by 45% in 2010.
K9 Cuisine: What makes you different?
Michelle: I have a strong business sense plus an emotional reason to help people keep their pets, which translates into infectious enthusiasm.
K9 Cuisine: What is it about dogs that you love?
Michelle: Dogs are sensitive and non-judgmental. They give unconditional love. I have MS and am extremely limited in my ability to walk. When we rescued our dog Lucy, she had a broken pelvis from being hit by a car. She needed a quiet household so she could be on bed rest until she healed, and I was working full time from home. We kept each other company, and still do when I work from home.
K9 Cuisine: What is the neatest part about your work?
Michelle: I love the success stories and knowing that Labrador Life Line has had a direct impact on a family and their beloved pet. We always see before pictures of the dogs in need, and get stories of how they have healed with after pictures. I appeared on a segment on a local cable tv show called Pet Talk and worked with more than a dozen families who we gave money to to put the segment together. Their stories and their gratitude, and the generosity of our donors is extremely rewarding.
K9 Cuisine: Where do you see pet rescue going?
Michelle: I see pet rescue becoming more commonplace as it receives more favorable publicity. As long as the economy stabilizes and people donate to rescues, they will endure. Puppy mills and back yard breeders have received a large amount of negative publicity and strong advocates for rescue, like Oprah Winfrey are extremely influential.
K9 Cuisine: How do you fit into that-what are your future plans?
Michelle: Future plans for Labrador Life Line are to continue to find ways to increase our publicity and fundraising efforts so we can raise more funds and distribute more funds to needy Labrador Retriever owners. We are a virtual, national group of volunteers. Our overhead is about one half of one percent of our budget, and those expenses are only for web fees and Paypal fees on web donations.
K9 Cuisine: How can people find out more about you and your organization?
Michelle: Our organization is online at www.labradorlifeline.com. Any of our board members can be contacted by email through our website.
K9 Cuisine: Tell us a little about you!
Michelle: I am Michelle Brown, a married mother of 2 girls, ages 12 and 16, and one sweet rescued 5 year old lab named Lucy. I live in Greenwich, CT and work full time in magazine publishing in New York City related to the menswear industry. I’ve had dogs since I’m 8 years old and have had labs since 1991. I believe that giving back is what life is about. My rescue dog has given so much love to me and my family and I am trying to help others to continue to experience the same love.
Tags: dog, lab, labrador, labrador for life, love, rescue
Posted in K9 Rescue, K9 Stories | 1 Comment »
Interview with Kelly Spring – Pet Advocate
January 6th, 2010
"Kelly and Mowgli"
K9 Cuisine: What is your story-how did you get into pet rescue?
Kelly: I got involved in rescue when my 8 year-old dog, Niko, passed away. I was devastated by the loss, and I felt saving other dogs was the best way to honor his memory. It turned out to be the thing that had been missing in my life. I’ve been completely hooked ever since.
K9 Cuisine: What is the secret to your success with the your organization-how have you gotten to where you are today?
Kelly: We have amazingly talented and dedicated volunteers. We’re 100% volunteer-operated, so we depend on our volunteers for every aspect of our work — foster homes, adoption coordinators, event coordinators, handling dogs at events, driving them to the vet, etc. We have a really well-trained and reliable team of people who donate an incredible amount of their time, talents, and energy to rescuing dogs with us.
K9 Cuisine: What makes you different?
Kelly: We provide a lot of support and resources to our adopters. We carefully match adopters and dogs, and we invite them to use us as a resource for the life of the dog. We provide a wealth of information on transitioning a rescue dog into her new home. Our Adoption Coordinators keep in touch with our adopters and help them work through any problems that might arise with advice based on our own experience, information and research we’ve gathered and referrals to professionals we partner with.
K9 Cuisine: What is it about dogs that you love?
Kelly: I love the authenticity of dogs — and all animals. They aren’t capable of hiding their emotions — you know when their happy, sad, frustrated, excited… their affection, loyalty and compassion is so completely genuine.
K9 Cuisine: What is the neatest part about your work?
Kelly: I love being at the shelter transport arrivals. Every two to three weeks, 30 to 50 dogs, who would otherwise have been euthanized, arrive in DC on Saturday afternoons. It’s amazing to watch them come off the vans scared, dirty, and often underweight and malnourished — and know that they are about to start a whole new life in a safe, loving home.
K9 Cuisine: Where do you see the pet rescue industry going?
Kelly: I hope it continues to grow as the public becomes more aware of puppy mills, irresponsible breeders, and the pet over-population problem.
K9 Cuisine: How do you fit into that-what are your future plans?
"Kelly and Snoopy"
Kelly: We hope to open a doggie daycare in a few years to fund our rescue work and serve as a community center for pets and their owners. We’d love to offer free shot clinics, positive obedience training, seminars on good nutrition, etc. And down the road a little farther, we’ll open a sanctuary to care for animals who are more difficult to find homes for.
K9 Cuisine: How can people find out more about you and the your organization?
Kelly: Please visit our website at www.LuckyDogAnimalRescue.org and visit our weekly adoption events to meet our dogs and volunteers.
K9 Cuisine: Tell us a little about you!
Kelly: I have three of my own dogs — Kobe, an 11 year-old Shiba Inu; Tallula, a 2 year-old black lab mix; and Hooch, a 1 year-old Mystery Mix. I also have a rescue cat named Milo. I have a particular soft spot for the really shy dogs. I really enjoy working with them and slowly watching them come out of their shells. So, I foster shyest of the shy dogs that come into Lucky Dog and help them work through their fears and get ready to go to a forever home.
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K9 Cuisine is a provider of premium dog food. We’re committed to providing our customers with the knowledge, and the products, to help their faithful friends be the best they can be.
Tags: adoption, doggie daycare, dogs, foster dogs, pet rescue, puppy mill, volunteer
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Paul and Sue Lockinger – Pet Rescuers
December 1st, 2009
K9 Cuisine: What is your story-how did you get into rescuing pets?
Paul: Sue wanted a Golden Retriever. I was interested in another dog, but, I was not interested in visiting any pet shops to find one. Sue spent a lot of time on the web site of a local rescue group looking for the perfect Golden Retriever (an older, husky, deep red male) that was just like her first Golden.
K9 Cuisine: What is the secret to your success with the your organization-how have you gotten to where you are today?
Paul: The secret to our success is taking the proper actions and remaining flexible. As I mentioned Sue was spending a lot of time on the web site, but was not really getting anywhere. Things started to happen after Sue downloaded the membership application. We filled out the application, submitted it and soon became the foster family for a pair of blonde Golden Retrievers just eleven months old. We since fostered many Goldens but have yet to foster the one Sue was looking for but we have found 4 wonderful Goldens to add to our family.
K9 Cuisine: What makes you different?
Paul: We don’t believe we are any different than anyone else. Each person has their own interests and ours happen to include dogs.
K9 Cuisine: What is it about dogs that you love?
Paul: This is a very strange question. I prefer to ask (What is there about dogs not to love?).
K9 Cuisine: What is the neatest part about your work?
Paul: We find it very satisfying to be able to help creatures that would otherwise be unable to help themselves. When placed in the proper setting a pet can provide an amount of joy that is beyond measure.
K9 Cuisine: Where do you see the pet rescue going?
Paul: I remember a time when pet rescue was an individual endeavor. Organized pet rescue as a whole is fairly new and will probably continue for many years, but, I suspect that many organizations will disappear due to the inability of leadership to treat their rescue efforts as the business that it is.
K9 Cuisine: How do you fit into that-what are your future plans?
Paul: Pet rescue is a multi-faceted business. As such, organization members can remain as involved or uninvolved as they please. In the past Sue and I have been involved to differing degrees. Sue and I together have been on the intake team (pickup and delivery of new rescues), the foster team (providing a temporary home for new and sometimes not so new rescues), events team (attending events either with or without a dog to promote awareness of the rescue group efforts), and adoption (making a rescue a permanent member of our family). Sue has also held various positions with the group, both on the board of directors, and in other supervisory capacities. For now we intend to continue to participate in rescue, but fostering and adoption is not an option for the near future.
K9 Cuisine: How can people find out more about you and the your organization?
Paul: At this time Sue and I are working in different directions while remaining committed to the work of rescue. Sue is concentrating her efforts with a group know as Arizona Retriever Rescue whose web site is www.azrr.org . I am working toward helping all rescue groups raise funds through the sale of books. More information about the fundraising program can be obtained at www.florianvalentine.com.
K9 Cuisine: Tell us a little about you!
Paul: Sue and I both grew up with many pets around us. Some were obtained from other people who no longer wanted them for one reason or another. This was long before organized rescue was established. The move into organized pet rescue was just a natural progression. In 2006 Sue and I started a publishing company to market a book I had written (The Puppy Who Refused To Die). As part of our commitment to rescue we made the book available to rescue groups as a fundraiser.
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K9 Cuisine is a provider of premium dog food. We’re committed to providing our customers with the knowledge, and the products, to help their faithful friends be the best they can be.
Tags: Arizona Retriever Rescue, dog, dogs, golden retriever, pet rescue, pet rescuer, puppy
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Interview with Carol Frischmann
November 25th, 2009
K9 Cuisine: What is your story-how did you get into working with animals?
Carol: The story goes that when I began crawling, a Doberman pinscher grabbed the back of my diapers and prevented a tumble down a flight of stairs. Ever since, I’ve been paying my debt to all four-footed creatures, and their brothers that fly, hop, and swim. When I began to write professionally, I wanted to help people feel the awe I have for animals in their “native” environments. For dogs, that’s our homes and businesses.
K9 Cuisine: What is the secret to your success with helping animals-how have you gotten to where you are today?
Carol: One secret to succeeding at writing about animals is to write a lot and keep writing, even when editors reject your articles. Another secret is that I learn something from every person I interview, every book I read, and every seminar I attend. The final secret is my own pets—Onyx my dog and Gray Bird, my parrot. They keep me hungry for knowledge.
K9 Cuisine: What makes you different?
Carol: I hope my perspective offers a unique view of pets that comes from my study of nature, and science. If I’m writing about flea remedies, I consider the dog in his environment, as well as his biology. The chemistry of the drug or the product is important. How does it work? Then I can understand how the product works against the flea and whether it is likely to affect the dog. Often the science doesn’t end up in the article, but I have to understand it.
K9 Cuisine: What is it about dogs that you love?
Carol: Two things I’m loving about dogs this morning are: (1) their ability to be excited about what’s happening right now, and (2) I love how they know how to do their jobs. Shepherds herd. Terriers are great ratters. My Doberman patrols the house. At the same time, dogs are individuals. I’m convinced that my dog has a real sense of humor. If she were a comedian, she’d be Lily Tomlin.
K9 Cuisine: What is the neatest part about your work?
Carol: My job is to meet people who live or work with animals and write about what they think and do. I get to learn about the animals I love. It’s a coin toss between the animals or the animal lovers. They’re both fascinating.
K9 Cuisine: Where do you see dog care going?
Carol: Many people now see the family dog as surrogate human beings. Dogs have unique needs—their bodies, minds, and social structure work differently than those of people. If I can do a better job of helping people understand what dogs need, we can do a better job of caring for and keeping dogs in their original families.
The new products and services for dogs that last will be the ones that address dogs’ true natures, and not the nature we pretend they have– as tiny humans. That’s an impossible burden for our companions to bear.
K9 Cuisine: How do you fit into that-what are your future plans?
Carol: I’d like to understand more about the circumstances in which dogs thrive, and then continue to write and speak about how we can do the best for them, as they do for us. This fits in well with my lifelong interest in doing things for our families that also works for the planet. Pets losing their original homes is the most serious problem about pets for our planet.
K9 Cuisine: How can people find out more about you and your business?
Carol: I’d suggest subscribing to my free newsletter at www.thiswildlife.com and following my blog, “Pets and the Planet,” at www.carolfrischmann.wordpress.com, which is focused on practical ways to care for your planet while caring for your pets.
K9 Cuisine: Tell us a little about you!
Carol: I grew up in the Low Country of South Carolina on a farm. I love to travel and grow my own food. My friends know that I write novels at night.
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K9 Cuisine is a provider of premium dog food. We’re committed to providing our customers with the knowledge, and the products, to help their faithful friends be the best they can be.
Tags: animals, doberman, dog, dogs, pets
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Interview with Anlina Sheng – Pet Advocate
November 17th, 2009
"Anlina & Violet"
K9 Cuisine: What is your story-how did you get into saving animals?
Anlina: As a child, the only pets we had were goldfish, which were pretty to look at but pretty boring and hard to get passionate about. Then, our neighbour across the lane passed away. Her cat, Kitty wandered over to our house and just never left, and my passion for cats was born. Over the years we adopted a lot of stray cats and I developed a real affinity for cats with socialization issues or other problems that makes them poor candidates for adoption.
For several years after I moved away from home I didn’t have any cats, as my husband was allergic. When we finally decided to adopt I started looking into our local Humane Society. I spent a lot of time at the shelter getting to know the cats and picking out one to adopt. From there it was an easy decision to start volunteering.
K9 Cuisine: What is the secret to your success with the your organization-how have you gotten to where you are today?
Anlina: When I decided to adopt from the Thunder Bay & District Humane Society, I also filled out an application form to volunteer. I made volunteering with the cats a regular weekly activity and took on tasks that weren’t getting enough attention from other volunteers, such as brushing, dematting, claw clipping and working with the shy or poorly socialized cats. I also volunteered my professional services and offered to create a new website for the Humane Society.
Being a regular volunteer with additional useful skills, one of the current board members suggested that I join, which I did. I’m now in my second year on the board. There’s no secret to it – I’ve gotten where I am by being committed and dedicated, by making my time and skills available, and by being willing to do tasks that needed to be done. Charitable animal organizations need good people that they can rely on, so if you can be that person, it’s not hard to get recognized for it.
K9 Cuisine: What makes you different?
Anlina: My other passion (and my day job) is marketing, advertising and design, so I’ve been able to bring those skills to the table to help the Humane Society. Having a passion for animals is essential, but being able to bring diverse skills and interests to the organization is extremely helpful, as there is so much that needs to be done beyond just caring for the animals.
K9 Cuisine: What is it about cats that you love?
Anlina: I love pretty much everything about cats. They’re great companions and extremely fun and entertaining to have around the house. Each cat has a unique and endearing personality, and I really enjoy getting to know them (even the cranky or shy ones.) I love that cats are independent, curious and fast learners. I love that they’re extremely clean, their fur is soft, they’re beautiful and they smell nice – I couldn’t imagine a more aesthetically pleasing animal.
I love that cats are like little people, but without all the failings of humanity. Cats are never malicious, mean or dishonest. They’re loving and loyal and forgiving and they’re sensitive to your moods.
Whenever I’m feeling lousy, I know I can count on my cats to give me comfort. And cats don’t waste time feeling sorry for themselves. I have one cat with a missing eye and one cat with only three paws – they don’t let their disabilities hamper their lives and they don’t mope about or wallow in self pity. They adapt and continue to make the most of life. There are a great many lessons we can learn from cats.
K9 Cuisine: What is the neatest part about your work?
Anlina: The neatest part of my work is socializing cats that are really timid or have really bad fear aggression and seeing the progress that they make.
I worked with one cat who was removed from a house during an investigation. When I came to him, he was hunched up in the corner of his cage with his ears flat back and he’d stopped grooming and so was covered with a thick layer of loose fur. If anyone approached the cage to clean it or feed him, he would turn into a little ball of fury and launch himself at the bars, spitting and clawing. He was genuinely scary and was just not doing well being around humans.
Once he trusted me enough to come right up to the side of the cage to get his treat, we moved on to touch. Rather than approach him with my big, scary hand and risk undoing the progress we’d made (and getting clawed up), I’d touch him on the back of the paw with the spoon. It was very non-threatening and we built a strong positive association with touch. The spoon would touch his paw and it’d leave behind a treat for him to lick off.
From there, we made slow but steady progress, feeding him with the cage door open, leaning in to touch him, petting him with my hand and eventually coaxing him out of the cage.
It took several weeks of almost daily visits, but by the time he left the shelter to go to his new home, he would sit in my lap, cuddle and let me brush him & pick him up. That kind of success feels so good.
You can’t ask for a better pay off than taking a fearful, aggressive cat and turning him into a loving, cuddly kitty.
K9 Cuisine: Where do you see the humane industry going?
Anlina: Current attitudes, in the humane industry and the general public, are undergoing a shift right now, both with regards to pets in general and homeless pets. There’s a very positive shift toward viewing animals’ lives as valuable and viewing animals as unique individuals, even members of the family.
We can see already that shifting attitudes have influenced the humane industry. The no-kill movement has made huge strides and I think it will continue to make progress. More and more shelters are going no-kill with great success.
More gentle and humane euthanasia methods are replacing things like gas chambers, which used to be considered by many to be just fine for strays and animals that no one wanted. Animals with injuries, diseases or behavioural issues that would have guaranteed euthanasia in the past are now being treated and rehabilitated.
Shelters are working to improve their image and environments, with more comfortable, harmonious spaces for both humans and animals. We’re recognizing more that the mental and emotional health of animals is just as important as a bowl of food and a roof over their heads.
People in the humane industry are taking a more positive outlook, too.
Rather than seeing pet over population as an impossible problem and the public as the irresponsible enemy that is compounding the problem, we’re seeing greater recognition that there are enough potential homes for all the homeless pets out there, and it’s a problem that can be solved if we work with the community. More humane workers realize that the general public may be uninformed but they are generally not malicious or deliberately negligent – people want to do what is right for animals in their community, but they don’t know what needs to be done, they don’t understand the scope of the problem or the services needed to enable people to be responsible pet owners just don’t exist (such as low cost spay/neuter clinics). No one thinks solving these problems will be easy, but it’s no longer written off by everyone as “impossible”.
I think we’re going to continue to see a move toward treating animals lives with more care and respect and will continue to see the problem of homeless pets approached with more optimism, creative problem solving and community cooperation.
K9 Cuisine: How do you fit into that-what are your future plans?
Anlina: I plan to continue working with humane organizations, whether on the board, as a regular volunteer, as an activist or running my own. I’m very interested in getting into rescue, specifically of cats who are “unadoptable” because of physical disability or behavioural problems.
I believe that every cat deserves a chance and inside every problem cat, there’s a good loving cat that needs to be coaxed out. All too often these cats aren’t given a chance, which is really unfortunate.
Many of the cats I’ve had over the years started out as problem cats and with time and the right kind of attention, became extremely loving companions.
K9 Cuisine: How can people find out more about you and the your organization?
Anlina: You can visit the Thunder Bay & District Humane Society’s website. It’s still a work in progress, but there’s lots of information about the organization, our animals and how you can get involved.
You can find me on LinkedIn, or view my CV on my website, or find out more about me and my thoughts on animals at my blog.
K9 Cuisine: Tell us a little about you!
Anlina: I currently live in Thunder Bay, Ontario. At my day job, I work as the creative director at a small marketing agency, doing everything from branding to print design to web design to TV production. I also do freelance illustration on the side, for stock image sites, books and online communities. Cats are my great passion, and in addition to working with the Humane Society, I also have a blog where I discuss various cat related topics. I currently have three cats – Violet, Clover and Cajun, and will be adding to the family very soon. I love good books, good food and new experiences. In the near future, I plan to move to a small farm where I can grow my own vegetables, raise my own farm animals and live humanely and sustainably.
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K9 Cuisine is a provider of premium dog and cat food. We’re committed to providing our customers with the knowledge, and the products, to help their faithful friends be the best they can be.
Tags: cat lover, pet advocate, pet rescue
Posted in K9 Rescue, K9 Stories | Comments Off
Interview with Allyson Halm of Adopt-A-Dog
November 12th, 2009
K9 Cuisine: What is your story-how did you get into the dog adoption business?
Allyson: I began bringing stray dogs home as a kid. After high school, I became a vet tech, a dog trainer, managed a boarding kennel, was an Animal Control Officer for 12 years, and I am now in charge of Adopt-A-Dog.
K9 Cuisine: What is the secret to your success-how have you gotten to where you are today?
Allyson: My sense of integrity & dedication to doing what I love.
K9 Cuisine: What makes you different?
Allyson: I tell it the way it is…I don’t sugar coat things. I also reach out to children and teach them about dogs.
K9 Cuisine: What is it about dogs that you love?
Allyson: I love their loyalty… no matter how bad people can be to a dog, the dog always forgives. I admire their senses, and the way they communicate with each other and with us.
K9 Cuisine: What is the neatest part about your work?
Allyson: Educating children about the responsibility and lifetime ownership of a dog.
K9 Cuisine: Where do you see the pet adoption industry going?
Allyson: I have been around for 30 years, and not much has changed. We need neuter legislation nationwide and licensing for breeders…that’s something I would like to see changed.
K9 Cuisine: How does your company fit into this, what are your future plans?
Allyson: We will continue to invite kids to the shelter and go into the classrooms. We teach children that pets are not disposable…a life should not have a price tag.
K9 Cuisine: How can people find out more about you and Adopt-A-Dog?
Allyson: Visit our website, attend local pet related events, even volunteer at the shelter!
K9 Cuisine: Tell us a little about you!
Allyson: I am 53 and the mother of two girls. Devoted dog lover. Feel free to Google Allyson Halm for more info.
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K9 Cuisine is a provider of premium dog food. We’re committed to providing our customers with the knowledge, and the products, to help their faithful friends be the best they can be.
Tags: adopt a dog, adoption, dog, dog adoption, dogs, teach children
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November 7th, 2009
Last year, two fishermen were fishing a mile off the coast of England in the North Sea, when they saw something furry in the water. Naturally, they thought it was an otter and were later surprise to find a small terrier paddling for his life. They lifted the poor, wet dog into their boat, and ordered a lifeboat to carry him back to shore.
The 14-year-old dog, Freddie, belonged to a 73-year-old woman named Jean Brigstock. Jean had taken Freddie out for a walk on the beach. Apparently poor Freddie became confused by the fog, and he wandered into the water. Jean had been frantically searching for him. When Freddie attempted to swim back to shore, he apparently was swimming the wrong direction and traveling farther and farther out to sea.
“He looked like a drowned rat when they found him,” Brigstock told the Daily Mail. “I’m so grateful to the two fishermen, the Coastguard and the inshore lifeboat men who took so much trouble to find him and take him to safety.”
Although Freddie was shaken by his adventure at sea, he was in perfect health. After recovering from the cold water, he was up the next morning, bright-eyed and busy tailed…ready for his breakfast!
Original story found here: http://www.razoo.com/articles/Animal-Rescue-Stories
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K9 Cuisine is a provider of premium dog food. We’re committed to providing our customers with the knowledge, and the products, to help their faithful friends be the best they can be.
Posted in K9 Rescue, K9 Stories | Comments Off
Interview with Stephanie Smith – Pet Writer and Advocate
November 4th, 2009
K9 Cuisine: What is your story-how did you get into pet rescue and writing?
Stephanie: I have had a Poodle since the age of four, when my mother gave in to my pleas for a pet. I started writing for pet publications when I was in graduate school. I wrote about dogs because that was what I knew about. I joined the Dog Writer’s Association of America (DWAA) because someone who was a dog writer mentioned it to me and helped me join.
When I got a dog who was more than a little crazy from the local pound, I started in obedience. I then got a Poodle to compete with, and finished a CDX with her. Through the obedience, I met someone and started doing Pointer field trials and hunting tests. I ended up hearing about all the Pointers needing homes, and started working with local shelters. I finally, after 12 years and several moves, had to stop doing rescue because of health problems. That also ended my obedience career. However, I still train my dogs in house manners, and trained my service dog, a Standard Poodle. She acts as my hearing and mobility assistance dog, while my pet dog, an Australian Cattle Dog, provides the comic relief when we are home and watches the house when we are out (usually lying on my pillow).
K9 Cuisine: What is the secret to your success with the your organization-how have you gotten to where you are today?
Stephanie: I am a member of the Board of Directors for DWAA because I wanted to make a difference. Someone mentored me and I feel obligated to give back to others. I train my dogs because that is part of my responsibility as a dog owner. I write because I enjoy it, and it is an excellent way to educate others on a variety of topics. I have lots of opinions, and writing them down is as good a way to express them as any.
K9 Cuisine: What makes you different?
Stephanie: I have a Ph.D. in clinical psychology, write, train my dogs, do woodworking, and am a master gardener. I have lots of trivia swirling around in my brain and can pull up a tidbit on most topics.
K9 Cuisine: What is it about dogs that you love?
Stephanie: They return your love so gratefully and bountifully. I have only met maybe three dogs out of all the ones I have rescued that could not be saved because of behavioral issues, and that was because they had been treated horribly. All the others, even the ones that had been mistreated, responded to love. Not all were placeable – some lived out their lives with me, but they responded.
K9 Cuisine: Where do you see the pet rescue/pet writing industry going?
Stephanie: There are more people than ever that are obtaining animals as pets. Most of these people have no idea what is involved in properly caring for the animal they just brought home. Pet writers must better educate people through general purpose media as well as pet oriented media or more animals will be discarded because they are too much trouble or unmanageable. Rescue organizations are all ready overwhelmed and undermanned. We have to educate people or the animals will pay.
K9 Cuisine: How do you fit into that-what are your future plans?
Stephanie: I intend to continue to educate people through the written word whenever I find someone who will let me. Now, writers have to eat too, so I cannot do it without being paid. I will continue to be creative in finding ways to both eat and to educate people about how to care for their animals whether they consider them family members or livestock.
K9 Cuisine: How can people find out more about you and the your organization?
Stephanie: My website is www.lambdafarm.mysite.com. I do freelance writing on practically any topic. People can find out more about dog rescue organizations through the American Kennel Club website, www.akc.org, and about Dog Writer’s Association of America through their website, www.dwaa.org.
K9 Cuisine: Tell us a little about you!
Stephanie: As I mentioned, I am a freelance writer, have a Ph.D. in clinical psychology, and do woodworking. I am also a master gardener. I live out in the country in Hunt Couty, Texas, with my Standard Poodle, Amber, and my Australian Cattle Dog, Sandy. I read pretty much everything but horror, but prefer forensic mysteries, history, and religion. I write nonfiction articles on most topics.
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K9 Cuisine is a provider of premium dog food. We’re committed to providing our customers with the knowledge, and the products, to help their faithful friends be the best they can be.
Tags: australian cattle dog, pet advocate, pet rescue, pet writer, standard poodle
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