Shelter Pets.

Even to veteran cat owners, cats can seem mysterious at times. But did you ever stop to consider that they find us just as confounding? Cats, despite moments of weirdness, are fairly predictable in their behavior, but we must seem bananas to them. This new spot by the Shelter Pet Project a a "public service ad campaign focused on spreading the word that pets in shelters are wonderful and lovable," posits just one example. ...

Watch videos from Paw Nation Mimi Ausland, Freekibble.com founder We already knew that Halo, Purely for Pets and Freekibble.com were doing some amazing things for shelter pets -- after all, in December, we reported that they had teamed up to deliver a million meals to shelter pets in 2010. And the good news keeps coming. Halo, which is co-owned by animal-loving comedienne Ellen DeGeneres, has helped Freekibble.com, which was created by Mimi Ausland (pictured above) when she was only 11 years old, reach the amazing goal of five million meals! Have you done your part to help? Every day, you can go to Freekibble.com and Freekibblekat.com to answer a fun trivia question. It doesn't ...

Betsy Saul As much as this thing we call the Internet has changed the lives of humans all over the planet, it's had perhaps an even greater impact on another, slightly furrier species: shelter pets. The Internet has connected millions upon millions of lonely shelter puppies and kitties with forever homes, facilitated a boom in pet fostering, and changed the way we look at adopting pets altogether. One of the adoption innovators responsible for this shelter pet revolution is none other than Petfinder co-founder Betsy Saul. As part of our coverage of Petfinder's Adopt the Internet Day (March 15), Paw Nation got the chance to chat with Saul about Petfinder's humble beginnings, the joy of ...

These are the four rescue dogs who play the role of Max at the park. Universal Studios Hollywood For the past three years, Universal Studios Hollywood theme park has celebrated Grinchmas, a special event featuring Dr. Seuss' classic Christmas characters, which includes snow to play in, Whoville celebrations, and even celebrity readings from the likes of Brandy and Stephen Moyer. This year, Grinchmas, which lasts through Jan. 2, opens with an event sure to make even the grinchiest pet lover's heart grow three sizes. The park will host pet adoption fairs on Dec. 11 and 12, from noon to 4 p.m., with animals provided by the Amanda Foundation and the Los Angeles Department of Animal Services. ...

superfem, Flickr Why is it that some shelter animals have dozens of people clamoring to adopt them, while others are disregarded, leaving these dogs and cats to languish in shelters, often for months at a time? "Sometimes, it's hard to distinguish one feature that makes them less adoptable or why they are perpetually passed over," Betsy Saul, co-founder of Petfinder.com, tells Paw Nation. Other times, it's obvious. Why Some Pets Are Left Behind at Shelters Adoptable pets that are blind, deaf or otherwise have "special needs" are often hard to place, states Petfinder.com. So are pets that are older, shy, have dark fur, are too large or can't live in a home with other animals. Then there is ...