If you haven't seen it already, The American Dog magazine has launched the Humanitarian Awards - if you haven't voted already, you have until December 5, 2010 - and you can vote every day until then. There are some names you'll no doubt recognize like Best Friends Animal Society, Nathan Winograd, Rescue Ink and Shorty Rossie, as well as some you might not know - Tamira Thayne & Dawn Ashby of Dogs Deserve Better, Pinups for PitBulls, Surf Dog Ricochet and Sarge the Elderbull.
Even though I read and write about this stuff pretty much every day, I was still amazed by the number of people (and dogs) involved in helping dogs and the number of dogs helping people too. The categories range from general rescue groups, special interest groups (ending puppy mills or unchaining dogs), "spokesdogs" therapy dogs and service dog organizations. One concern close to my heart is also one of the largest categories: "Voice for Saving the Pit Bulls".
(One name that is missing is Mimi Ausland, the founder of FreeKibble.com, although their sponsor Halopets is listed. If you haven't signed up for your daily FreeKibble reminder do - two simple questions a day - learn a bit and donate a bit for free.)
While it's not clear if the winners are going to receive a huge cash prize for their cause-of-choice, the publicity, discussion and awareness raised is great too. In a way, the Humanitarian Awares are another "awareness event", which are as important for the education the public as they are for placing pets or raising money.
So please do vote every day and get to know some of the individuals and groups you don't see on TV or read about in the headlines. Share some of the links on Twitter or Facebook and email a few friends or better yet your government representatives a few interesting articles. Sign up for a blog or two. Make a small donation.
Working together we can improve the lot of dogs everywhere.
Showing posts with label dog rescue. Show all posts
Showing posts with label dog rescue. Show all posts
Wednesday, November 17, 2010
Sunday, September 19, 2010
Adopt A Less Adoptable Pet Week
September 19 through 25 is Adopt a Less Adoptable Pet week. What classifies an animal as a "less adoptable pet"?
While some of these characteristics may require a bit of work on your part, not only are you going to save a life, but the feeling that comes with helping an animal overcome their issues is well worth the effort. I know, I've adopted one dog that meets ALL of these requirements to be labeled as "less-adoptable" - and she stinks to high-heavens most of the time too! The joy of turning an old, black, overweight Pit Bull mix with health and socialization issues into a happy, trusting and healthier dog has been more than ample payment.
Spudz was a reject - her owners wanted her and her canine pal euthanized because they were no longer wanted. Fortunately, a local rescue group saved her and when I was told "She's old, overweight and not much to look at" I knew she was the dog for me. Spudz was indeed old, overweight, had hip and back problems, smelled very, very bad and at age six or seven she wasn't housetrained. She wouldn't eat, drink or go potty if I was looking. She would hit the ground shaking if you had a belt in your hand. And she was black too, although I actually prefer black animals as they go with most of my clothing!
It took months (and the adoption of my Mad-Mac) before Spudz started being a normal dog - and sleeping on the sofa, which is the best place for a dog to be. She still isn't totally housetrained, and starts smelling just a few days after her baths. She loves walks and is at a decent weight, but despite the gentle ministrations of my chiropractor, her back continues to deteriorate. With coming out of her shell came little naughty behaviors like counter-surfing and stealing treats off the coffee table. But the important thing is that a less-adoptable pet is happy.
So please consider passing by the perfect Golden puppy or the bouncy adolescent tiger kitty and take a look at the older, black Pit Bull or an HIV cat. You won't be sorry...
- Old
- Black
- Big
- Health problems (missing limbs, eyes, deafness, HIV-positive, diabetic)
- An "unacceptable" breed (Rotties, Pit Bull-types, Dobbies, Dogo Argentino)
- Shy, anti-social or "only" pets
While some of these characteristics may require a bit of work on your part, not only are you going to save a life, but the feeling that comes with helping an animal overcome their issues is well worth the effort. I know, I've adopted one dog that meets ALL of these requirements to be labeled as "less-adoptable" - and she stinks to high-heavens most of the time too! The joy of turning an old, black, overweight Pit Bull mix with health and socialization issues into a happy, trusting and healthier dog has been more than ample payment.
Spudz was a reject - her owners wanted her and her canine pal euthanized because they were no longer wanted. Fortunately, a local rescue group saved her and when I was told "She's old, overweight and not much to look at" I knew she was the dog for me. Spudz was indeed old, overweight, had hip and back problems, smelled very, very bad and at age six or seven she wasn't housetrained. She wouldn't eat, drink or go potty if I was looking. She would hit the ground shaking if you had a belt in your hand. And she was black too, although I actually prefer black animals as they go with most of my clothing!
It took months (and the adoption of my Mad-Mac) before Spudz started being a normal dog - and sleeping on the sofa, which is the best place for a dog to be. She still isn't totally housetrained, and starts smelling just a few days after her baths. She loves walks and is at a decent weight, but despite the gentle ministrations of my chiropractor, her back continues to deteriorate. With coming out of her shell came little naughty behaviors like counter-surfing and stealing treats off the coffee table. But the important thing is that a less-adoptable pet is happy.
So please consider passing by the perfect Golden puppy or the bouncy adolescent tiger kitty and take a look at the older, black Pit Bull or an HIV cat. You won't be sorry...
Saturday, August 21, 2010
A Plea for a Canine Friend
Money can buy you a fine dog, but only love can make him wag his tail. - Kinky Friedman
I've started writing this several times over the last few months, and I've never really been satisfied. It's been a rant on a particular situation and a diatribe on what seems to be a way of life for many. It's been a plea to potential dog parents in general, and a plea to a particular dog owner who I am all too well acquainted with.
But tonight, as I sit listening to a sad, lonely, uncertain dog who is just a few feet away from a place where he could feel happy, find company and feel secure, this piece has become a little bit of all of those failed attempts.
Please forgive me if it gets too personal.
My canine friend sits next door, his pet "parent" has left for the evening. Moose-boy, as I affectionately call him, probably hasn't been fed - "He's got food all the time, I don't starve my dog" is what I hear, despite the fact that the vet and others have pointed out that Moose is about 20 pounds underweight and still losing, and that sometimes dogs just want something different. I should also mention that when Moose arrived in my life, he came without food, treats, toys or bowls, and so we winged it with what my dogs eat for over a month - maybe he's decided he just wasn't getting what he wanted. I do feed him with my own dogs whenever he's with us, although it doesn't seem to be helping.
Moose has also gone through some very traumatic changes in the last six months, and his "parent" has done little if anything to address his symptoms of severe separation anxiety. He lost his home, his "dad", his canine companion (traded for a motorcycle) and his routine. "He's just got to learn to deal with it - I've got to work/go out/get on with my life" is Owner's point of view. There's been no attempt to rework obedience lessons, or to follow the commonly recommended separation anxiety protocols.
Owner doesn't see the need for Moose to have more than 5 minutes in the morning to attend to "business" - "I take an hour to wake up" or "I'd have to give up my visit with Dad every morning" are the usual excuses. Moose puts up a fuss if I walk my dog without taking him (I think removing a window air conditioner or eating a screen window counts as a "fuss"), so I sneak him out when I can, and on a daily basis it's obvious his "business" wasn't done in those 5 minutes.
Moose has the additional stress of being very near things he enjoys the most - a place to run, people to hang out with and dog friends too. So not only is he NOT being taught how to cope with being alone, he's being tempted by the very things he desperately wants - no matter how quietly the rest of us sneak around and no matter how many barriers his human erects.
(And as a very personal aside, all the help and assistance I offer is being turned down because Owner doesn't like me - but that's a whole 'nother story....)
So apart from getting all this aggravation off my chest, what's the point of all of this?
It's a plea for my friend, and for all of the other pets in the world who need us.
When we take animals into our lives, just as when we take on any other responsibility, we take on ALL the things necessary to make their lives as comfortable as possible, even if our lifestyles are disrupted. That includes feeding, helping them adjust to changes, proper exercise and potty time, and not tormenting them with things they can't have (or denying them what they could have just because we don't feel like it!).
Being a pet-parent means being responsible for another living creature. If you take an animal into your life, please be sure you are willing to care for them for their entire life OR be willing to take the time and effort to find someone who will. Don't abdicate that responsibility and don't let pride or personal differences get in the way of being responsible.
And if you know of anyone who would love a large, goofy GSD who's great with other dogs, cats, children and humans, but who needs a bit of help with being alone, please let me know... I would love to find a real home for my canine friend.
PS. Moose is on the maximum dose of Clomicalm, and has been checked for all the standard things which might cause weight-loss and anxiety.
09-28-10 One month later and Moose is either with someone OR locked in an airline crate, sometimes for hours. When he's in his crate, he howls almost constantly. Because it isn't technically illegal - he has food, water, shelter - there is nothing else to do legally if Owner doesn't come to their senses.
I've started writing this several times over the last few months, and I've never really been satisfied. It's been a rant on a particular situation and a diatribe on what seems to be a way of life for many. It's been a plea to potential dog parents in general, and a plea to a particular dog owner who I am all too well acquainted with.
But tonight, as I sit listening to a sad, lonely, uncertain dog who is just a few feet away from a place where he could feel happy, find company and feel secure, this piece has become a little bit of all of those failed attempts.
Please forgive me if it gets too personal.
My canine friend sits next door, his pet "parent" has left for the evening. Moose-boy, as I affectionately call him, probably hasn't been fed - "He's got food all the time, I don't starve my dog" is what I hear, despite the fact that the vet and others have pointed out that Moose is about 20 pounds underweight and still losing, and that sometimes dogs just want something different. I should also mention that when Moose arrived in my life, he came without food, treats, toys or bowls, and so we winged it with what my dogs eat for over a month - maybe he's decided he just wasn't getting what he wanted. I do feed him with my own dogs whenever he's with us, although it doesn't seem to be helping.
Moose has also gone through some very traumatic changes in the last six months, and his "parent" has done little if anything to address his symptoms of severe separation anxiety. He lost his home, his "dad", his canine companion (traded for a motorcycle) and his routine. "He's just got to learn to deal with it - I've got to work/go out/get on with my life" is Owner's point of view. There's been no attempt to rework obedience lessons, or to follow the commonly recommended separation anxiety protocols.
Owner doesn't see the need for Moose to have more than 5 minutes in the morning to attend to "business" - "I take an hour to wake up" or "I'd have to give up my visit with Dad every morning" are the usual excuses. Moose puts up a fuss if I walk my dog without taking him (I think removing a window air conditioner or eating a screen window counts as a "fuss"), so I sneak him out when I can, and on a daily basis it's obvious his "business" wasn't done in those 5 minutes.
Moose has the additional stress of being very near things he enjoys the most - a place to run, people to hang out with and dog friends too. So not only is he NOT being taught how to cope with being alone, he's being tempted by the very things he desperately wants - no matter how quietly the rest of us sneak around and no matter how many barriers his human erects.
(And as a very personal aside, all the help and assistance I offer is being turned down because Owner doesn't like me - but that's a whole 'nother story....)
So apart from getting all this aggravation off my chest, what's the point of all of this?
It's a plea for my friend, and for all of the other pets in the world who need us.
When we take animals into our lives, just as when we take on any other responsibility, we take on ALL the things necessary to make their lives as comfortable as possible, even if our lifestyles are disrupted. That includes feeding, helping them adjust to changes, proper exercise and potty time, and not tormenting them with things they can't have (or denying them what they could have just because we don't feel like it!).
Being a pet-parent means being responsible for another living creature. If you take an animal into your life, please be sure you are willing to care for them for their entire life OR be willing to take the time and effort to find someone who will. Don't abdicate that responsibility and don't let pride or personal differences get in the way of being responsible.
And if you know of anyone who would love a large, goofy GSD who's great with other dogs, cats, children and humans, but who needs a bit of help with being alone, please let me know... I would love to find a real home for my canine friend.
PS. Moose is on the maximum dose of Clomicalm, and has been checked for all the standard things which might cause weight-loss and anxiety.
09-28-10 One month later and Moose is either with someone OR locked in an airline crate, sometimes for hours. When he's in his crate, he howls almost constantly. Because it isn't technically illegal - he has food, water, shelter - there is nothing else to do legally if Owner doesn't come to their senses.
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