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Do you adopt? Or … rescue?

April 6th, 2011

Today more than ever we know that “words have meanings.” Words may be used as powerful tools to empower, create, and change the world around us.

Two words that I have used fairly interchangeably have been “adoption” and “rescue.” I can point to differences in these words, but hadn’t give it much thought. That is, until my rescue group brought this up on our email list.

How my pets found me

My beloved pets came to me in a variety of ways. One example: Greta the cat. Our tech brought her in on Halloween, having witnessed her get hit by a car. No collar, no microchip. She needed immediate veterinary care. I say I adopted her, but maybe I rescued her instead? Did she accidentally escape from a loving home that Halloween night almost 19+ years ago, leaving her people distraught? Or was she a stray that fended for herself? She wasn’t underweight, but she was in pretty bad shape when I found her.

We will never know. And in this case, she went on to have a life of luxury – love, food, toys, companions. No one came looking for her.

So what is the big deal?

I felt that “adoption” and “rescue” are good words; something positive. Turns out, not everyone has that view. Some feel that if the animal was saved from a horrible situation, that animal was rescued. If the animal was placed in one situation and then another, that is adoption. But there are many gray areas.

The definitions of “horrible,” “acceptable,” what constitutes “neglect,” or what is “better” for the animal may depend on who you talk to. More words.

For organizations (“rescue” groups, shelters, etc.) and individuals who have had to face the difficult decision to part with a pet, these words matter. The perception that the animal had to be “rescued” implies that it was in a terrible state. Maybe, maybe not. This point is argued by animal lovers everywhere.

Shelters who take in animals to adopt them out, receive animals from a variety of situations. Organizations such as Greyhound adoption groups, receive large numbers of dogs retired from racing, breeding, or those that are not entered into training. Unfortunately our group has also had a lot of owner surrenders lately, too. Loss of job, divorce, or loss of a home have necessitated finding new homes for dogs.

If the animal wasn’t adopted, what kind of life (or death) would it have? Are we rescuing it from potential future events?

When all is said and done

In the best of circumstances, pets find loving homes with lots of attention and good food. What is your opinion of rescue versus adoption? Do words matter finding homes for pets?

Posted in K9 Care, K9 Rescue, K9 Stories | 2 Comments »

Slow Down, Chow Hound

March 31st, 2011

Eating too fast. Gulping large quantities of food (and air) in seconds. This is a problem that I have not had to deal with for any of my dogs. I have always had “regular” eaters, some even picky. Gulping was not a problem. Until now.

We failed Fostering 101 last week and adopted “Burro,” now “Purl” the Greyhound. She, like Argos, had a very ravenous appetite when she arrived, and we had to remove all extra temptations of food on tables or counters. She inhaled everything.

Unlike Argos, she hasn’t calmed down on eating. She may have even been trying to eat faster, it was hard to tell.

I am working to add a few pounds to her frame, so the good appetite is great. But this quick food intake can also be a problem. If they also swallow a bunch of air with the food, it may lead to bloat or vomiting or discomfort.

For pets prone to putting on pounds, calories add up quickly, too. It is hard to resist that “wow they are really hungry I should give them more” feeling.

Ways to Slow Down Food Intake

Here are a few ideas to slow down eating. Every dog is different – what works great for one dog will frustrate or bore another. Try out a new technique or consult a dog training professional for ideas/products that resonate with your dog.

1) Small meals throughout the day – Hopefully reducing the over-anticipation. Also reducing amount of food for the body process at one time. You could divide the portions further to 4-5 servings a day if that works with your schedule.

This worked great for Argos. He was fed three times a day for the first few weeks. He completely calmed down around mealtime, including laying down until he gets the signal that his dish is ready. He is a very deliberate eater now.

2) Interactive food toys – I purchased a Kibble Nibble Dog Toy prior to Purl. This was for Sophie and Argos, both moderate eaters at the time. Neither one not needing to slow down or lose weight, but something to engage them and keep them busy.

Each dog played differently with this toy: Watch video of Argos | Watch video of Sophie

There are many other toys like this on the market. Some are food-dispensing puzzles, some are designed to slowly release food with activity, similar to the Kibble Nibble.

For the food dispensing toys, the entire day’s ration can be put inside, releasing the ‘meal’ over several hours.

3) Human treat dispenser - Veterinary Behaviorist Sophia Yin DVM MS advocates the “learn to earn” method of training.

In a nutshell:

“For the fastest training dogs should earn their meal throughout the day when you are home. That means no food in the food bowl. Instead you’ll carry food around with you in your pockets or bait bag or have it available in easily accessible containers in throughout the house. Then throughout the day, when you are home, you’ll reward appropriate behavior.”

From The Learn To Earn Program (PDF)

With three hungry dog mouths to feed, this would take more time than I have in my day. So I opted for…

4) Brake-Fast® Pet Food Bowl – I learned about this dish a few years ago from my friend (also a veterinarian) who has Labs. And we all know how Labs love to eat! It was more of an amusement at that time, since I did not have a need for this bowl for my dogs.

Until now.

After three full weeks with no slow-down in sight, Purl needed help. At first, I turned one bowl upside down in her regular bowl to add an obstacle. That worked for a few feedings until she figured out how to flip out the extra bowl.

We purchased the Brake-Fast® bowl on a Saturday, and by Tuesday she was eating slower than the other dogs, the last to finish. More importantly, she is calmer about approaching her food and eating. Hopefully in another week or so, she will be a normal paced eater. Time will tell.

Do you have a chow hound?

Please share what worked to slow your dog’s food intake in the comments below. Always good to have new ideas and products to try out. Just in case.

Posted in K9 Care, K9 Expert Question, K9 Health, K9 Nutrition, K9 Rescue | 10 Comments »

5 Fabulous Reasons to Foster

March 15th, 2011

I wrote about Adopt the Internet last week. The focus of the PetFinder Adopt the Internet is on adoption. As it should be – PetFinder has helped place over 17 million animals in their 15 years.

For this post, I am focusing on the sidekick to adoption; fostering.

Fostering is providing a temporary home to an animal waiting on their forever home. It may be because their time has run out at the shelter, the animal is declining or in poor health in the shelter, or the rescue group does not have the facility to house the animals they take in.

Fostering is a great service to that animal, making them ultimately more adoptable. Fostering is also a great way to “test out” how a particular animal or breed of animal will fit in your household. If it works out, you “fail” fostering and welcome a new adoptee!

5 Reasons To Foster

1) Help a pet out of the shelter
Most shelters do the best they can, given the facilities and funding on hand. Even in the best of circumstances though, a shelter environment isn’t a home environment. Lots of animals, smells, and noises can make even most outgoing animal shy or overly attention-seeking.

Offering a stable home environment allows for close observation of that animal – personality, health, and behavior – to ensure that the animal is healthy and provide accurate information to prospective adopters to ensure the best possible match.

2) Watch them bloom
Even though both of our fosters (adopted pets, too) had radically different personalities, they all “bloomed” after getting settled in. That first tail wag, play bow, or silly smile makes it worth getting over little houstraining accidents or ‘mistakenly’ chewed up item.

Meeting other household pets must be done with care and caution – to protect both the foster and the resident pets. Gradually allowing more freedoms and interactions as they get to know each other keeps the peace.

3) Basic training
Each new foster is a big question mark – are they already housetrained? Do they know basic obedience? Can they walk on a leash? When fostering, you may not get all of the background info you would after reseaching a potential adoptee.

Don’t be intimidated – use this as a great opportunity to brush up and practice those basic skills. If you need help, reach out to your foster coordinator or others who foster. Most will be happy to offer tips and advice.

The benefit? Our fosters have eagerly and quickly taken our advice – they have trained quickly and it is gratifying to see the results – and their self-satisfaction at a job well done.

4) Good cardio workout
This is a dual meaning for me, and a little tongue in cheek. With our latest foster, Burro the Greyhound, I am getting a lot of strength training because she is terrified of our non-carpeted floors. She is getting better at this, but for ease/quickness, I often carry her to carpet for good footing. Lucky for me she is small and easily carried.

The second part of the cardio work out is the happiness, then the sadness, then the happiness when a foster finds their forever home. It is definitely a good feeling, but I did feel the tinge of ‘what if’ with our first Greyhound foster, Hammer. It was short-lived though, because the photos and emails from his new family proved that everything turned out as it was meant to be.

5) Give them foundation, then wings
Before Hammer came to our family, we had a big sit down meeting with the kids. What fostering is, how it helps the animal, and what our role is. The kids “got it” better than I anticipated. They did great and it was a good learning experience.

Fostering provides a solid foundation of health, behavior, expectations and basic training for the newly adopted dog. This is the main reason I foster – knowing that they dog is a little more ‘polished’ and ready for a home. Less worry about a return or  adoption gone wrong if more of the variables are known.

After Hammer found his home, we had several phone calls and emails about his personality, little quirks and other Hammer humor to discuss. It is a great way to make new friends.

Never Say Never

I used to say never. I could never (ever!) foster. I would surely adopt every single one. But if you view fostering as a service to that animal and the adopters, it makes it easier. PetFinder.com also has some great tips and resources all about fostering.

Posted in K9 Care, K9 Fun, K9 Rescue, K9 Stories | 5 Comments »

Adopt the Internet

March 8th, 2011

Pet adoption and rescue is a topic I visit often. I live it.

I am not one of the super heroes of the rescue world; those who rescue countless animals or work tirelessly in shelters or situations of abuse or neglect, but I do what I can.

Every little bit counts.

Many of us are familiar with this quote:

“Saving just one pet won’t change the world
but, surely, the world will change for that one pet “

It is easy to feel overwhelmed — not only at the sheer numbers of animals being euthanized (killed) each day because time for them has run out but also the numbers of animals waiting in shelters and rescues.

If the time isn’t right to adopt now, the overwhelm-guilt is even bigger. That is why I focus on the quote above. It makes things more… attainable. Doesn’t fix everything, but it is a start, and hopefully times are changing. Hopefully, some day, we can change the bigger picture.

Sometimes the process still feels too slow. It is easy to be impatient. To feel powerless. We have many pets, how can we help one more? One thing my family has  done is to foster dogs awaiting their forever home. I never thought I could – it would be too “hard” and would it really help anyway? Turns out it did.

First we fostered Hammer. Now we have Burro (pictured in the photo with her mentor Argos – more photos here). Hammer was a sweetie, but needed a little refinement in the manners department. He was an energetic teenager dog who shined after a little polishing, and found a fabulous forever home.

Burro is the complete opposite – she is afraid of her own shadow. At times immobile from fear. We have only had her for 3 days, but she is already blooming out of her scaredy cat shell. She is discovering that walks are fun, there’s lots of yummy food here, and cats aren’t scary (most of the time).

Fostering has not only helped the dogs, it has helped all of us to have more patience with dogs who aren’t quite yet “pet-ready” yet and the power of a nicely matched adoption success.

For now, let’s Adopt the Internet

PetFinder.com is a household name these days. Fifteen years of hard work and 17 million pet adoptions later, it’s time to party. Time to celebrate each single pet who found a home (Sophie and Argos) because of this web site.

It’s a party and you are invited! Fun prizes, cute photos, and more.

Here are some ways you can be involved:

• Add a badge to your Web site to show your support.
• Take the PetFinder pledge that you will tell one person about pet adoption on March 15. By pledging, you’ll enter for a chance to win one of 10 Pet Hair Eraser® Vacuums from BISSELL.
• Caption a Petfinder adoptable-pet photo on ICanHasCheezburger! The photos with the best captions will be featured on the ICanHasCheezburger.com homepage on March 15.
• On March 15, donate your Facebook status and photo to an adoptable Petfinder pet. Simply replace your photo with one from the Adopt-the-Internet All-Stars gallery and post one of these messages:
  -More than 320,000 pets are waiting for homes on Petfinder.com. Help Petfinder Adopt the Internet today and find forever homes for as many as possible!
  -I adopted my pet from Petfinder and now I want to help get this pet adopted! If you want to help pets in need of forever homes, please repost this!
  -On March 15, share an adoptable Petfinder pet on Twitter with the hashtag #adopttheinternet.
• Add a link to your blog, Facebook or Twitter post to this page! (Come back on March 15 to find out how.)

So join in… in some way. Every little bit counts.

March 9, 2011 update: Just had a great question from Twitter:

When I get ready to add to my furry family, would I be able to find purebreds on PetFinder?

Answer: Yes! Check out the many dog breeds and cat breeds available on PetFinder.

Posted in K9 Care, K9 Fun, K9 Rescue, K9 Stories | 4 Comments »

And The Best Dog Is…

February 23rd, 2011

The one in your house. The one you go for walks with. The one who sleeps on your bed.

But you knew that, right?

Westminster Dogs

I just returned from a crazy busy week in New York for the 135th Westminster Dog Show. I attended this show for the first time in 2008, on behalf of About.com (my photos and coverage here) to film videos on pet care.

Even though I was very active in 4-H dog obedience and showing as a teen, I was unsure how I would fit in at a show of purebred dogs and breeders. Especially now as a vet who loves the various mixed breeds, pet adoption, and shelter medicine.

As part of my first trip research, I watched Best in Show. While a comedy, I did see some resemblances at the show(!). I also saw real life; dogs who were very much a part of their family, out on the farm, visiting nursing homes and schools, and loved like any other dog. Just like my dog.

For this year’s show, I interviewed several veterinarians and vet techs who attended, and asked if they incorporate their dog show life into their practice life. I enjoyed reading their varied answers. One interviewee said that she didn’t blend show and work because of “negative feelings” between show and veterinary people.

I get that.

But I also love dogs. All of them. I love seeing the vast differences between breeds. I love learning the history of where they came from and what they were bred to do. I love seeing them in action. The variability of size, form, and function of dogs is like no other species I know of. Amazing.

Back Home To My Best Dogs

Seeing all of those gorgeous, well-groomed and well-loved dogs makes me miss my dogs even more than a ‘regular’ trip. And there they were… Sophie and Argos, waiting for my return. I think they thought I had abandoned ship.

We quickly got back to our normal routine, and while out on our daily walk, I watched them. Argos who sees everything. Sophie who smells everything. Doing what they they do best.

Argos, one of the sighthound breeds, sees things way before I do, and often sees things I can’t, even with my glasses on. He runs like the wind. Sophie, on the other hand, knows how to use her nose. She is a blend – with Golden Retriever and Collie influences. When she is on the beach, she doesn’t know if she should chase seagulls or herd them, but she sniffs everything. She is happiest nose-to-ground, trotting along.

Seeing my dogs “do what they were bred to do,” I love watching them evolve to fit in with each other and family life. When we adopted Argos, walks were new to him. He would stand around looking lost on those first walks, what was this other dog doing? What was she smelling? Now Argos gets in on the act, sniffing around, sometimes pushing Sophie out of the way in the process. Here is a recent photo of Team Sniff in action.

Sophie has taken cues from Argos, too. When he sees a deer, a cat, or a piece of garbage blowing through the air, he freezes. Head up, ears up, his undivided attention gets our attention. Sophie will pause, scan the horizon, determine if the item is barkworthy, then usually resumes sniffing.

Celebrate Dogs

We have strong feelings about our best friend. Emotions run high. No breed or dog is “better” than the next. Some breeds/breed types are definitely better suited for certain lifestyles and people, though. A thorough assessment of your family and home life paired with research about a specific dog or breed will help ensure a happy life together.

We found Sophie via our local shelter and Argos via Petfinder.com. If you are looking for a purebred dog, check out the hundreds available on Petfinder. Learn fun breed facts, history, behavior traits, health concerns, and more in the PetFinder Breed Directory. Of course there are many fabulous dog “blends,” cats, exotic and farm pets who are looking for homes too.

Another great PetFinder resource: Train Fur Keeps program to ensure a long healthy relationship with your new pet.

The Pedigree Foundation has a strong presence at the Westminster show, raising awareness about pet adoption and raising funds to help shelter animals around the US.

Go forth and award your best in show dog(s) with a big hug. They deserve it.

Related: More photos of Sophie and Argos (and my various cats)

Posted in K9 Care, K9 Fun, K9 Rescue, K9 Stories | 3 Comments »

6 Free (Or Almost Free) Stuff for Pet Health

January 27th, 2011

Today’s economy is tough. Routine veterinary care is becoming a luxury for some dogs and cats.

What can we do? Start small. Keeping our pets healthy is a first step. Some of these ideas can also be applied to animals awaiting homes in shelters and foster care, too.

6 Free (Or Almost Free) Stuff For Pets

1) Go for a walk

• Cost: Free
• Benefits: A happy, healthy dog. Healthier you, too. I find that even if I feel that I am too busy/it’s too cold/it’s too hot/I’m too tired, I always feel better after a nice walk with the dogs.

2) Brush their teeth

• Cost: $5 -7 for pet toothpaste and toothbrush. You can use a human soft toothbrush to save money, but do not use human toothpaste or mouth rinses. Dogs won’t spit out the fluoride like we do. Most pet toothpastes work with enzymes, and do not need to be rinsed. And bonus – they are flavored with yummy things like chicken and beef!
• Benefits: Healthy teeth, gums and mouth. Dental disease affects more than the mouth – heart, liver, and kidneys can suffer from the bacterial load of dental disease. Keeping those pearly whites clean and white equals good health, and less problems necessitating vet visits.
• How to do it: Tips and Tools for Dental Health
• Related post: More Than Fresh Breath
  

3) Check their weight

• Cost: Free.
• How to do it: At home, weigh yourself, then you and your pet together, and subtract the difference. This can be difficult to do with a large dog and one bathroom scale. Most veterinary offices have the easy walk-on platform scales where you can weigh your pet at no charge. (Call ahead to ask what the best days/times are for stopping in.)
• Benefits: Knowing your pet’s weight and optimum/target weight keeps everyone honest and on the right track. Added to that, visiting the vet for “non-stressful” visits such as a weight check help dogs (and cats) who may not enjoy vet visits, car rides, or meeting new people.
• Related: Tips to reduce your cat’s stress in the car and at the vet

4) Keep them safe in the home
Pets eat stuff they shouldn’t, and sometimes tip over a burning candle or potpourri. We want to keep them safe all of the time, but what if there is an emergency or fire while we are away? Here are some free alert stickers for all of these situations.

• Cost: Free, or for cost of a stamp.
• Benefits: Information at your fingertips and piece of mind for emergencies.
  Free fire alert rescue stickers – from ADT
  Pet Poison Helpline clings (requires self-addressed stamped envelope)
  Pet Safety Pack – from ASPCA
  Rescue Sticker and Alert Cards – from ARF, Animal Rescue foundation

5) Keep track of them and find them fast if lost
No one wants to think of their pet being lost. But wonder if they are scared by a thunderstorm or disoriented in new surroundings while on a trip? Pet ID tags and microchips have reunited thousands of lost and separated pets.

• Cost: Here is a free ID tag.
  For other ID tags, check with your vet or one of the many places online to buy pet ID tags. For microchips, check with your veterinarian or local pet shelters and rescues. Some even offer microchip “clinics” with discounted prices. Once your pet is microchipped, it is important to register the chip. Fees may apply, and vary with the service the chip is registered with.
• Benefits: Quick reunions. Lost pets are at risk of being hit by cars, or end up in shelters, where disease or euthanasia are possible outcomes.

6) Check in with the vet
Some vets offer “free first exam” and some cities have low-cost options for veterinary care at shelters or clinics. Call your shelter or local veterinarian for options in your area.

• Cost: Here is a free new pet exam at Banfield Veterinary Hospitals.
• Benefits: Establishing a vet-pet relationship is good for many reasons. Besides a health exam and head start, your vet is a resource to call if you have health questions or concerns, or need a record of care if your pet needs to be boarded or needs emergency care in the future.

One more…
While I didn’t include this on the list, good nutrition leads to good overall health. You can also find many free pet food samples on the web and on K9Cuisine, too.

Posted in K9 Care, K9 Expert Question, K9 Fun, K9 Health, K9 Nutrition, K9 Rescue | No Comments »

Raising Awareness for Animals 1 Day at a Time

December 23rd, 2010

Ashley Niels of the I Love Rescue Animals animal rescue site is embarking on an ambitious project – to raise awareness about a 365 different animal-related organizations and causes.

Her plan is to wear a different t-shirt for each day of 2011.

365 Days of Animal Advocacy

Niels is calling this project the 365 Days of Animal Advocacy and is modeling this after other “365 day” day-in-the-life Flickr photo diaries and YouTube videos. People like to see the transformations – of hairstyles, clothes, moods. In this case, it will be on what animal-related cause is the daily featured shirt.

The shirts can be anything that helps animals – rescue organizations, shelters, spay/neuter advocacy, events and businesses that raise funds for animal charities, getting dogs off of chains/out of pens, animal sanctuaries, anything that betters the world for animals.

The daily shirts will be posted in a variety of social media outlets – Facebook, Flickr, YouTube to name a few – with a blurb describing the shirt and linking to the shirt sponsor’s site so readers can learn more.

The first step? Get t-shirts.

According to the counter on the 365DAA page, Niels currently has 15 shirts. That is only ‘covering’ her until the middle of January. Eeeek! If you are a rescue or animal person with a cause or mission, here is some advertising for just the cost of one t-shirt.

To submit your cause, business, shelter or event, please leave a comment on this post and they will respond with postal info.

The next step – getting the word out

In addition (or instead of) shirts, Niels is asking for your help with this project. Blogging, tweeting, Facebooking, Flickr-ing, all of it.

Are you best friends with Ellen or Oprah? Got an idea for how to take this project to the next level? Contact Niels/I Love Rescue Animals and share your great ideas.

Going Forward

Niels plans to start this project on January 1, 2011. I will update this post with relevant social media links and news as I have them.

Good luck and we’ll be tuning in, hoping for a viral takeoff for this project!

Connect with I Love Rescue Animals

• Web Site
• Twitter
• Facebook

Posted in K9 Fun, K9 Health, K9 Rescue, K9 Stories | No Comments »

Behind Through A Dog’s Ear

December 8th, 2010

I first met pianist Lisa Spector, and acoustic researcher Joshua Leeds, at the 2008 Westminster dog show. They are the creators of Through A Dog’s Ear (TADE), music to help calm canine companions.

I was intrigued by the “clinically tested” claim about this music. Both Leeds and Spector are huge dog lovers and put extensive time, energy and research into this project. I wrote about how Through A Dog’s Ear was born in 2008. I recently wrote about the 7 days of giveaways – one free mp3 each day this week offered by TADE and their dedication and generosity for shelter animals everywhere.

Time For An Update
I interviewed Lisa Spector for an “behind the scenes” look at TADE, what they are working on and what’s coming up.

1) How do you select the songs for TADE?
I get stacks of music books out of my book case. I play through literally hours and hours of music for Joshua and we decide first if there are any sections of a composition that could work without any psychoacoustic re-arrangement.

In other words, if Beethoven wrote a Sonata that has a slow movement, sometimes a section of that movement would be slow and simple enough to qualify as what we now call “Simple Sounds.” We often end up taking that section and simplifying it even more – slowing it down, lowering it an octave, taking broken chords that would require active listening, turning them into solid chords that inspire passive hearing.

Then I live with the music for awhile.

Invariably, some of the music we have chosen doesn’t work after spending more time with it, while we fall in love with other music selections. While we never change or add notes that a composer wrote, we often take out notes and leave out large sections of music to help simplify it.

2) You have a generous shelter program. How many shelters are using TADE?

There are 130 shelters currently playing TADE. About 25 of those have received free music to send home with adopters. Many of them save those CDs for the dogs with more challenging behavior problems.

3) How many adoptive families have benefited from TADE shelter donation program?

We have already gone through close to 2,500 adopter CD’s donated by our publisher, Sounds True. We are currently looking for a corporate sponsor to provide more adopter CD’s so that we can continue donating them to adopters of shelter and rescue dogs.

4) Anything new on the horizon for TADE – for example: music for dog training classes or cat music?

In terms of recordings, we will be expanding to recordings for other species. Also, in the short term, I am giving a concert presentation at Cypress Inn in Carmel, Ca (the dog capital of the country) on Dec. 26. It is a fundraiser for Doris Day’s new non-profit, the Duffy Day Foundation, that provides veterinary care to pets with special needs that are adopted from the SPCA for Monterey County.

I have kept in touch with Lisa over the years, and have met again at Blogpaws West with a great opportunity to hear her play TADE and other classical selections live. All I can say is WOW.

Here is a video of Lisa’s performance to give you an idea.

See more selections on Lisa’s YouTube Channel

Thank you, Lisa, for this interview and update on Through A Dog’s Ear.

More About Through A Dog’s Ear

• Through A Dog’s Ear web site
• Review: Through A Dog’s Ear starter book and CD
• Review: Through A Dog’s Ear Vol 1
• Review: Through A Dog’s Ear Driving Edition

Posted in K9 Care, K9 Fun, K9 Health, K9 Rescue, K9 Science | No Comments »

Season of Giving

December 1st, 2010

The holidays are here, and while many of us focus on gift ideas for pets and their people, many others focus on where their next meal is coming from. The economic recession has caused loss of jobs, homes, and families all over the country struggle to put food on the table.

According to NPR, “More than 50 million Americans lived in households that had a hard time getting enough to eat at least at some point during 2009. That includes 17 million children, and at least a half-million of those children faced the direst conditions. They had inadequate diets, or even missed meals, because their families didn’t have enough money for food.” Read full article

Included in this crisis are pets and animals. Stories of starved and abandoned horses, dogs and cats are in the news are all too common, and shelter surrenders due to inability to care for pets are at a record high.

You Can Make A Difference

Gifts of food and cash help animals and people in need — not only provide immediate help, they may help keep the family together, too.

Here are some programs and organizations working to provide basic necessities for pets and people. Donations are easy and there are many ways to be involved on a local level, too.

→ PetCo Food Bank Program
From their site: “The PETCO Foundation is expanding our “We Are Family Too” program to include a Food Bank Collection Program in our PETCO stores nationwide. This program was specifically created to support food bank’s inventory of pet food/litter to assist people in financial crisis feed their pets.”

Click on your state and find your city to see what store(s) are collecting food, and for what pet food pantry in your area.

→ PetsMart Shelter Donation Station
From their site: “Each year, millions of pets are surrendered to shelters. To help care for the many homeless pets in their charge, shelters often need items like food, bedding and health care products. Shelter Donation Station makes it easy. You can find the products shelters need on their Wish Lists, purchase the products you wish to donate and have them shipped to the shelter.”

Click on your state and find your city to see local shelter wish lists. Don’t see your shelter? Email shelterdonation@ssg.petsmart.com to see about getting your shelter listed.

→ Banfield Season of Suppers
From their site: “Pet parents have been known to forego their own dinner so their furry companions can eat and we’ve teamed up with Meals on Wheels Association of America (MOWAA) to ensure that Pets and their people both get what they need. Since its inception in 2006, the Season of Suppers campaign has collected thousands of pounds of food to help feed needy pets nationwide.”

The Season of Suppers is one of the first “pet pantry” programs I wrote about. I know seniors who benefit from Meals on Wheels, and before the Season of Suppers, many seniors split what little food they had with their beloved pets. Now, pet food is delivered with the people food.

Season of Suppers offers many ways to help feed pets and become involved in your local community. Get started now.

Start a Pet Food Bank
No pet food bank in your community? No matter how rural or how small of a location, there are likely pets and people in need of food and basic necessities. Local human resources (shelters, food banks), schools, and churches are a good place to start. Here are some starting a pet food bank tips from AnimalShelterTips.com.

Pet Pantry Gets Some Love from K9Cuisine

I “met” Anthony Holloway, CEO of K9Cuisine, almost 2 years ago on Twitter. We have since met in person (and his lovely wife Kate!) at two Blogpaws events. They are the most kind, genuine people you could meet, and they really “walk the talk” by giving back to animals in need. Here is a video of pet food pantries that have benefited from their generosity. Kudos!

Every Little Bit Helps

No donation is too small. Every kibble counts. Don’t have any extra funds or food to donate? Consider volunteering your time; many of these programs are run by volunteers.

Happy holidays to all!

Photo: Licky Dog / TB2011 on Flickr

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Petland Pet Store to Sell Shelter Animals

October 27th, 2010

Some of you may recognize the name “Petland,” a chain of pet stores based in Ohio that were the subject of an 8-month long investigation by the Humane Society of the US (HSUS). The stores were under investigation for selling puppy mill puppies to the unsuspecting public. News stories, demonstrations and lawsuits concerning these puppies and Petland brought more awareness to the plight of puppy mills and all animals for sale in pet shops.

Not everyone, but more people now question where is that doggie in the window from? It’s a start.

It’s a sad situation all around. Those puppies certainly didn’t plan on being born in horrible puppy mill situations. They need homes too, which unfortunately leaves more ‘room’ in the puppy mill market.

Shelter animals, like puppy mill dogs, also didn’t plan on ending up abandoned, neglected or for-whatever-reason in a shelter.

An innovative approach?
Puppy  mills need to be outlawed, shut down. Meanwhile, shelters are overflowing. Hmmm….

In a recent news story, husband and wife Eric and March Caplan, Petland franchise owners, say that they are going to stop selling purebred and “designer” dogs. Instead, they will be working with local shelters to provide dogs and cats to the public.

The Caplans are modeling their new business plan after seeing the success of another Petland franchise in Texas who made the switch to shelter animals. At this writing (10/27/10), they are still working to sell their current 8 puppies from breeders and no shelter animals have made an appearance at the store yet.

Once the plan takes place, shelter animals who have been spayed/neutered, microchipped, and vaccinated will be available at the store. According to this article, “The cost of adoptions will include the shelter fee plus a service charge for caring for the animals at the store.”

Petland has 100 stores in the US, and 96 of them are franchised-owned. Will more of the franchisers follow suit? Time will tell.

Cautiously optimistic
The “selling” of shelter animals is still largely untested, but I think making adoptable animals more “available” by this could be a step in the right direction. It is still just the talk phase at this point, since no shelter animals have been placed at this store.

I attended the Blogpaws keynote speech by Mike Arms, an accountant and passionate animal advocate. His message is that saving animals is a business and we need to start thinking of it as such. As pet lovers, we don’t always like to associate animals with buying/selling, but better marketing is what they need. (For the record, I have no idea what he thinks of this new venture at Petland.)

I have seen the results of getting animals out in the public eye firsthand many times. I have worked at the Greyhound rescue adoption meet-and-greets. Adoptable animals shown at weekend Adopt-A-thons, pet fairs, even my state fair always get lots of loves and questions about adoptions.

The animals love it, and the best bonus … I see many “adopted” signs at these events. It happens just by getting the animals out in the public view. Right or wrong, for a myriad of reasons, people avoid shelters.

What do you think?
Does this new way of thinking – pet stores partnering with shelters – make sense? What are some pros or cons that you can think of?

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