Posts tagged "PetFinder"

The Doggie Diaries: Whom Do You Like Best?

by Ben Westhoff (Subscribe to Ben Westhoff's posts): Nov 26th 2009 12:00PM Filed Under: Dogs, Pet Adoption

Ben Westhoff

Anna and I have found an apartment. Located deep in the New Jersey suburbs, it's the ground floor of a house, actually. It's much bigger than our place in Hoboken, but then again, most people's crawl spaces beneath their staircases are bigger than our place in Hoboken. We've got plenty of space for storage, including ample closets, a basement and, most importantly, our own washer and dryer.

There's even a backyard, if you consider a few unpaved square feet in front of the driveway a backyard. This will come in handy, however, because, despite our previous fears, we found a landlord who is forward-thinking enough to let us have a dog. We think he's going to let us have a dog, that is. According to the terms of the lease, our little canine friend has to be pre-approved, presumably to make sure he or she's not too big or loud.

In any case, we have begun scouring the earth (or at least the Internet) for some fine un-feathered friends. Anna really fell hard for an adorable abused puppy named Raina -- who had a pirate-like black patch over his eye -- but when she called to ask about him he'd already been adopted. Arrrrgh!

We're also keen on this terrier/Labrador-retriever Mix, this wirehaired-terrier mix, not to mention Bo and Burger here. Tell us in the comments which dog you like best. Oh, and don't even think about swooping in and adopting them. At least, not until we've made our decision.

The Doggie Diaries: Bully Breeds

by Ben Westhoff (Subscribe to Ben Westhoff's posts): Nov 19th 2009 11:00AM Filed Under: Dogs, Pet Adoption

Flickr/Beverlykahuna

Thanks in part to all of the stories and words of advice shared by readers, Anna and I are exploring adoption of a rescue dog. (A dog that has been rescued, that is. Not, like, a St. Bernard carrying a barrel of whiskey around its neck, or a puppy in a cape.)

We've been perusing Petfinder.com in our spare moments, and have come upon a number of lovable-looking candidates, one of whom we're making plans to go see. One thing struck us as interesting, however: the amount of so-called "bully breeds," i.e. the bigger, sometimes more aggressive dogs with bad reputations. In Northern New Jersey, at least, there seems to be an inordinate amount of American Staffordshire terriers, pit bulls and pit-bull mixes.

Sure, Michael Vick now is playing down the turnpike for the Philadelphia Eagles, but that doesn't really explain it. So I consulted Kim Saunders, Petfinder.com's vice president of shelter outreach and public relations. "Certainly in the Northeast and the New York metro area there's a predominance of bully breeds in need of homes," she told me. "People get them for the wrong reasons, they come from areas where they're not spayed and neutered as often, and there are a lot of unfortunate stereotypes about the dogs, which are not deserved."

Today is Less Adoptable Pet Day

by Sonia Zjawinski (Subscribe to Sonia Zjawinski's posts): Aug 12th 2009 3:00PM Filed Under: Dogs, Cats, Pet Adoption

Luckily Truman already has a home, but there are plenty who are still looking. Photo:cygnus921/Flickr

I have a thing for disabled animals. Ever since my dog became three-legged, I just love the heart and courage of any animal who deals with a disability. That's why today is so special.

August 12th has been declared "Adopt-a-Less-Adoptable-Pet Day."

Petfinder, one of the largest pet adoption sites with more than 12,000 adoption groups, has dedicated a section of its site to old, crippled, and mostly ignored animals in need. The purpose of today is to try and get the word out about these lovable pets looking for a place to call home.

Petfinder surveyed its rescue partners and found that almost half of the agencies have pets who have been in their system for over a year! Age, size, and medical conditions like incontinence and FIV seem to be the leading causes for amazing animals to be overlooked.

If you're looking to adopt, don't hesitate! Today (and any day for that matter) is a good day to look past the adorable kittens and find out just how rewarding adopting one of the underdogs (or cats!) can be.

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Miniature Dogs

Miniature Poodle
Miniature Poodles, like all Poodles, are excellent swimmers who originated as a water retrievers. All Poodles, Standard, Miniature and Toy are actually one breed, just different sizes. Miniature Poodles, who can be white, black, apricot or gray, are usually 15 inches or under, according to the American Kennel Club.

David McKelvey/http://www.flickr.com/photos/dgmckelvey/3748491903/

Miniature Dogs

Miniature Dachshund
The Miniature Daschund, only 11 pounds or under, is not a separate classification of the Daschund -- it's just a smaller version of the Standard. The miniature dog, with its long bodies and strong sense of smell, are both hunters and lapdogs, according to the American Kennel Club.

Miniature Dogs

Miniature Schnauzer
The Miniature Schnauzer is of German descent and was originally bred to be a small farm dog. The most popular of the three Schnauzer breeds, the Miniature Schnauzer is a attentive, lively and a favorite among celebrities like Mary Tyler Moore and Bill Cosby. The strongly built miniature dog is between 12 to 14 inches, according to the American Kennel Club.

Miniature Dogs

Miniature Bull Terrier
Just like the playful Bull Terrier, the Miniature Bull Terrier, who originated in England, has a similar personality. Don't let its size fool you – the Miniature Bull Terrier is strong, energetic and audacious. Miniature Bull Terriers are between 10 to 15 inches and can be solid white or colored, according to the American Kennel Club.

Miniature Dogs

Miniature American Eskimo Dog
The American Eskimo Dog is one of three separate categories of the American Eskimo Dog. Between 12 to 15 inches, the bright white dog is loving, protecting and sociable. Now a great companion dog, the miniature dog was once a circus dog, according to the American Kennel Club.

Miniature Dogs

Miniature Pinscher
Also known as the "Min Pin," the Miniature Pinscher is a German Breed whose ancestry includes the Daschund, Italian Greyhound and the shorthaired German Pinscher. The quick, curious dog is the perfect apartment dog. Despite its small size, the compact pooch makes a wonderful watchdog. The spirited miniature dog, about 10 inches to 12 1/2 inches, can be red, black, or chocolate with tan, according to the American Kennel Club.

Miniature Dogs