While we respect the courage it takes to antagonize two at once, it's still not very nice to harass your brothers when they're playing so nicely. This is what we call "instant karma."
Posts tagged "animal shelter"
While we respect the courage it takes to antagonize two at once, it's still not very nice to harass your brothers when they're playing so nicely. This is what we call "instant karma."
Senior Humane Law Officer, Jami Landry, with Blitzen. Credit: On Location Studios
Location: Hyde Park, N.Y.
Formed in 1871 by a few concerned and exceptional citizens -- Matthew Vassar (of Vassar College), John Adriance (Adriance Memorial Library was named for him) and Samuel Morse (as in Morse code) -- the DSPCA protects the abused and abandoned animals of Dutchess County. Starting out in a small holding facility in Poughkeepsie, the DCSPCA eventually outgrew its humble digs and found a home in Hyde Park in 1960.
Over the years, the DCSPCA has come to specialize in large-scale animal seizures. That is, the shelter works with local officials to combat the problem of animal hoarding. According to Executive Director Joyce Garrity, when an animal hoarding situation is discovered, it often involves many animals that are in very bad health. Fortunately, the DCSPCA has highly skilled human law officers (animal cops) to handle the job!
This year, the DCSPCA is celebrating its 140th birthday -- 980 dog years! (Sort of.) In honor of this milestone in both human and canine years, the DCSPCA has broken ground on a new adoption and education center. The current facility will be renovated and serve as intake and rehabilitation for incoming animals, as well as housing its spay/neuter clinic. They talk with Paw Nation about how they help pets.
Sponsored Links
Caruba, Flickr
For reasons that are usually no fault of the dogs or cats themselves, adoptive pet parents sometimes find that they've made a serious miscalculation as to whether they really have the time, patience or desire to regularly change litter or scoop poop.
To help prospective pet owners avoid this adoption pitfall, we've put together a guide to bringing home the dog or cat that is right for you.
The Lifestyle Checklist
The most important thing you can do to prevent adopting a "problem pet" is to not start out as a "problem owner," that is, someone who glosses over all of the responsibilities of pet ownership. Sure, it's possible you could get home from the shelter with a perfectly obedient and housebroken pet, but don't count on it.
Though we firmly believe that there's a perfect owner out there for every pet in a shelter, some pets are simply more -- how do we say this? -- low-maintenance than others.
Assistant Editor Kristen Seymour with her rescued dogs from Puppy Hill Farm.
I've been volunteering with Puppy Hill Farm Animal Rescue, the rescue where I adopted my dogs, for several years, but my focus is on event planning, fundraising and public appearances, which works better with my schedule and suits my strengths.
Whether you've got only a few spare moments here and there or you're looking to get some serious volunteer hours in, a local shelter or rescue is a great place to lend a hand. Here are six ways you can get involved and help save lives!
Have a few minutes?
Even if your time is limited, chances are good you spend at least a few minutes online -- after all, you are here at Paw Nation, aren't you? Take a couple of those moments to spread the word about adoptable animals using Facebook or Twitter. Share links to adoptable animals and stories about animals who found happy forever homes. If you're a real social media expert, you might offer to help your local shelter with its daily postings.
Frazer Harrison, Getty Images
It began when DeGeneres helped promote the United Postal Service's social awareness stamp, Animal Rescue: Adopt a Shelter Pet. The campaign kicked off on April 30 when the talk show host and animal advocate announced that, in celebration of this newly launched stamp, Halo would work though social media channels like Facebook, Twitter and Freekibble.com, as well as contests to feed 1 million meals to shelter dogs and cats. Just before Christmas, that goal was attained.
More than 100 shelters across the country benefited from the program. Halo CEO Steve Marton says, "We are thrilled with the success of the campaign and the incredible number of supporters who helped us to achieve this goal. It's our mission to make a real difference for pets, and part of that mission is to ensure shelter pets are provided healthy, nutritious food."
Z.G. Standing Bear
Location: Divide, Colo.
Named after the first two hedgehogs ever taken in as pets by founder and 70-year-old retired criminal investigator and criminology professor Z.G. Standing Bear, Ph.D., the Flash and Thelma Memorial Hedgehog Rescue, Inc., has served since 1999 as what is believed to be North America's only 501(c)3 nonprofit corporation fully dedicated to hedgehog rescue, rehabilitation and sheltering.
Hedgehogs are less popular housepets compared to dogs and cats. What are the most misunderstood aspects of hedgehog ownership that often lead to an unwanted hedgehog arriving at your shelter?
Our hedgehog rescue began due to the terrible hedgehog-care information that's published both in print and on the Internet. Children often talk their parents into getting them a pet hedgehog and then lose interest, especially as they approach teenage years. Also, with a lot of the literature out there incorrect, people often don't realize the basic care needs and the personalities of hedgehogs.
Virtually all of the pet hedgehogs in North America are the descendants of some 80,000 Central African and Algerian hedgehogs that were imported from Lagos, Nigeria between 1991 and 1994. Of the 14 species of hedgehogs, the Central African and Algerian species are the only two that cannot hibernate, since they came from such a warm climate. Therefore, they must be kept warm, at 72 degrees Fahrenheit or higher.
There are many other reasons why a hedgehog may be placed at our rescue, such as the owner moving to one of the seven states where hedgehogs are illegal to possess, abandoning a hedgehog that needs medical care, economic difficulties, etc.
The Cat House on the Kings is a one-of-a-kind animal shelter. Located on 12 acres next to the Kings River in California's San Joaquin Valley, it's an utterly surreal spot on which hundreds and hundreds of cats run free. "It's cat heaven and dog Disneyland," says founder Lynea Lattanzio, who opened the sanctuary in 1992, having purchased the tract of land after a divorce, as a place to retire in peace and quiet.
The cats even have their own house, as Lattanzio recently moved out of the 4,200-square-foot home she'd been living, as there were 65 cats living in her bedroom. She now lives in a small house on the property, and does her best to keep cats out of her personal space. But animals otherwise have their run of the place. Lattanzio estimates she's currently harboring 700 cats and 100 kittens, as well as about 15 dogs and six goats.
Cat House on the Kings is less "crazy lady and her cats" and more of a well-run company, boasting numerous volunteers and 22 paid employees. Lattanzio wakes at 4:30 a.m. every day to begin taking care of the felines, starting with their feeding. The facility goes through some 900 pounds of cat food per week -- giant bowls of chow and water sit around the premises -- not to mention 300 ounces of canned food and half a pallet of scoopable litter. One worker's sole job, from when they arrive until when they go home, is to change litter boxes. "That's going to be a nice thing for them to put on their resume," notes Lattanzio.
Share
The cats even have their own house, as Lattanzio recently moved out of the 4,200-square-foot home she'd been living, as there were 65 cats living in her bedroom. She now lives in a small house on the property, and does her best to keep cats out of her personal space. But animals otherwise have their run of the place. Lattanzio estimates she's currently harboring 700 cats and 100 kittens, as well as about 15 dogs and six goats.
Cat House on the Kings is less "crazy lady and her cats" and more of a well-run company, boasting numerous volunteers and 22 paid employees. Lattanzio wakes at 4:30 a.m. every day to begin taking care of the felines, starting with their feeding. The facility goes through some 900 pounds of cat food per week -- giant bowls of chow and water sit around the premises -- not to mention 300 ounces of canned food and half a pallet of scoopable litter. One worker's sole job, from when they arrive until when they go home, is to change litter boxes. "That's going to be a nice thing for them to put on their resume," notes Lattanzio.
Frankie, the red-tailed catfish. Jonathan Strazinsky
Location: Orwell, Ohio - but much of the work is done online
Jonathan "The Fish Guy" Strazinsky can't say for sure when he founded Monster Fish Rescue. When he was a teenager, Strazinsky worked at a small-town, mom-and-pop pet store. He bought a 185-gallon aquarium himself and set it up as a display in the pet store. Eventually people started bringing in fish they didn't want and over many years, his propensity for taking in other people's unwanted fish went from being a hobby to a calling, complete with LLC status.
A few years ago, Strazinsky built an 800-gallon aquarium in his home and blogged about it. "I jokingly said, 'You got a fish you don't know what to do with, I got room.' The next day, I got 40 e-mails. I said to my wife, 'Hey, it seems there's somewhat of a calling for this.' It pretty much started as a wisecrack and now I rescue fish from all over the world."
How many fish do you take in a year?
Here in my house I take in anywhere between 20 and 60 a year. Most of the rescues and most of the re-homing is done online. I belong to 36 different aquarium and fish forums online. Through those forums, people say, "Hey, do you know anyone in the area looking for this or that fish?" I'll go through a whole other pile of e-mails looking for a match. About 98 percent of my rescues are done in that fashion. One percent actually come here. One percent are done through the Monster Fish Rescue website; I have an "Adopt a Fish" page there.
Luna, Isis and Stellina. Calliope Rescue
Calliope Rescue is a volunteer-based no-kill rescue organization based in Brookline, Mass. Named after one of the first cats they placed, the non-profit organization helps match rescue cats with perfect homes.
Luna, Isis and Stellina: Orphaned Kittens Get Lucky
A young, feral cat chose the right porch under which to birth her litter of three kittens. "The house happened to belong to a Calliope Rescue volunteer who cared for the mother and babies," says Calliope's Claudia Bruno. At just four weeks, the three kittens were placed in the shelter's care.
Named Luna, Isis and Stellina, the kittens were hand-fed from a bottle, and adjusted quickly to their new surroundings and family. "I spent eight hours with them until it was clear that I was going to be mom from now on," Bruno says. The mother had disappeared before the staff could manage to rescue her.
Fortunately, all three kittens were adopted as indoor-only cats in loving homes. Shortly after adopting her, Luna's new owner told the shelter, "I can't thank Calliope Rescue enough for saving Luna. My little princess is settling in so quickly! After only four days, she has decided she owns the house."
Boxer Buddies Rescue Inc.
Boxer Buddies Rescue Inc. is a Massachusetts-based non-profit organization devoted to finding foster and permanent homes for homeless boxers and mixes all over New England. Co-director Sue Stephens loves all types of dogs but says, "Boxers are the perpetual puppy and they live to entertain you. They are loving people dogs." She cautions prospective owners that the loyal breed is prone to separation anxiety, is very athletic, and needs steady companionship and training.
Bruce: A Menace Becomes the Perfect Pup
Stephens was the last resort for Bruce after he'd been returned from his seventh home because of being aggressive with other dogs. The all-white boxer wasn't doing well while kenneled and lost weight from stress and developed sores. That's when Stephens decided to bite the bullet and bring him home even though she knew it wouldn't be easy -- and it wasn't. Stephens had another dog, a big, dominant boxer/rottweiler female named Rudy and for six months, Bruce kept going after Rudy, trying to fight with her. But Rudy would never fight back.
Bruce was also having a tough time emotionally. He was so anxious that he chewed through walls and broke windows. "But each day got better," Stephens says. "It was a matter of structure, calm and patience." One day, finally, Rudy had enough of Bruce's aggression and pinned him to the ground. After that, Bruce made a surprising turnaround. The two dogs became best friends, and Bruce started taking his cues from Rudy. Ultimately Bruce became the model dog: no more aggression or separation anxiety and even bonded with a little Yorkshire terrier that Sue later adopted.
Cupid, a pit bull who got a bad rap, Best Friends
Best Friends Animal Society- Kanab, Utah
Best Friends is a Utah-based animal sanctuary home to about 1,700 animals. The no-kill organization specializes in special-needs animals and unique cases, providing shelter even to horses and waterfowl. The 3,700-acre ranch houses the animals but also works to rehabilitate them and find them permanent homes, with the lifetime promise that those animals can always come back to Best Friends if necessary.
Cupid -- A Shelter Dog For 3 Years Before Being Adopted
Nearly 50 percent of the dogs that come to Best Friends are pit bulls and mixes, which adoption manager Kristi Litrell thinks is due to the stigma that pits have. Often, the circumstances that bring them to shelters make it even harder to predict how a pit bull will do in a home. But then there are people like George and Victoria Bjornson -- who are extremely gifted when it comes to working with rescue pits -- who say the breed has "gotten a bad rap."
One of George and Victoria's five rescues is Cupid, an 8-year-old male pit bull who lived at Best Friends for three years before the couple adopted him. Others had fostered him and liked him, though he didn't get adopted because he was strongly dog-aggressive. But when George and Victoria had Cupid for a sleepover, George says, "What I saw was a dog that hadn't been socialized well and I thought I could work with him."
The integration of Cupid into the family was so successful that they've recently adopted Lila -- a pit bull who was seized in July during the largest dog fighting raid in which 500 dogs were rescued. The small, 4-year-old Lila had once fought in the ring, and also had shotgun pellets under her left eye and in her chest, but today, she has a new home and a new best friend in Cupid.
The Bjornsons are careful in the way they introduce a new member to their pit bull family. First, they spend a week alone bonding with the new dog, and then they introduce the dogs one by one. They watch for the dogs' energy level and body language. "Within 10 minutes, they are out playing in the backyard," Victoria says. "Most times, the last dog becomes the buddy of the new one." Just like Cupid and Lila. More than just attentive supervision, the Bjornsons' key to a peaceful pack is compassion and patience: "We don't set a timetable or expectations for them. We give them the space, time and love they need to adjust."
Petunia. BARC
BARC: Brooklyn Animal Resource Coalition - Brooklyn, N.Y.
BARC is a no-kill shelter in the Williamsburg neighborhood of Brooklyn, N.Y. Originally started in 1987 as a pet-supplies store, which is still the cornerstone of BARC, the two owners found themselves taking care of rescued animals brought to them by neighborhood residents. BARC grew into a non-profit shelter for dogs and cats and are in part funded by all the proceeds from the pet store. Their adoption fee is $150, which includes shots, spaying/neutering and, for dogs, micro-chipping.
Petunia -- Elderly Pooch Saved from a NYC Expressway
This shih tzu, was around 13 years old when she arrived at BARC after being found on the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway. The dog needed immediate medical attention for her severe malnourishment, eye problems, and hip pain. For weeks after being rescued, she remained lethargic and unresponsive until she finally gained some weight, got a great haircut and suddenly had a little more pep in her step. Still only able to walk a few blocks, the dog who is now called Petunia had also been diagnosed with lymphoma, and the staff at BARC prepared for her to live out her last days with them at the shelter.
That was when an older woman named Verna, who herself had trouble walking long distances, came to BARC and fell in love with this cute pooch. Coordinators at BARC counseled Verna on dealing with Petunia's health issues, walking the dog and how to introduce her to Verna's other dog. Four months later, Petunia is eating voraciously and can be seen prancing around with Verna on the other end of her leash.
The Photo Group and Global Pet Expo
Ray received the "Excellence in Journalism and Outstanding Contributions to the Pet Industry Award" for her efforts on March 26 by the American Pet Products Association and Pet Industry Distributors Association. The event was sponsored by Nestlé Purina (who also made a generous donation in Ray's honor to North Shore Animal League America).
Paw Nation had a chance to chat with Ray and asked her how she recommended people get involved with pet rescue when they're short on time and money. Her answer? "Just do it! Like the Nike campaign!"
"It's not the amount of time you spend. It's more about the quality," she told us, adding, "Fostering is a great and easy way to make a big impact."
Ray also suggested taking a local approach. "Make food. Drop off homemade treats [at a local rescue]," she said. She recalled a small grocery store she frequents that always has boxes at the check-out line for the local rescue. "Put out boxes with a picture of one of the dogs so people can easily donate food or blankets. You'd be surprised at how much gets dropped off!"
Connie Osborne
The Siamese mix snuck out of the house the Wednesday before Thanksgiving, Osborne tells Paw Nation, and by the time the family realized he was gone, everything had shut down for the holiday. So it was a major relief two days later when Osborne received a call from microchip company HomeAgain. Griffon was safe and sound at the animal shelter across town. He'd been picked up by animal control less than a block from her house.
Osborne arrived at the shelter with a cell phone picture to prove Griffon was hers, along with her microchip paperwork. They told her she'd have to pay $55, a charge that covered the cost of his overnight stay, some vaccinations automatically performed at the shelter and a $25 fee for animal control having to pick him up. All of those fees were understandable. But then she was told that she needed to speak with animal control at the police station where she was given a ticket for allowing her cat to get out.
"At that point I was thinking, 'I'm a good citizen, I'll sign the ticket,'" Osborne admits. "When I actually looked at it the next day, I broke down in tears." The city of North Las Vegas had fined her $1,132, and when she called animal control hoping it was a mistake, they told her that was the standard fee.
mylilangel58/Flickr
As we reported recently, the Grey's Anatomy star donated $25,000 -- via her charity organization the Jason Debus Heigl Foundation -- to fly 25 lap dogs from Los Angeles to Nashua, N.H. The transfer is an attempt to get the dogs to a part of the country with a high demand for small dogs, but little supply.
It turns out that Los Angeles isn't the only California city dealing with high numbers of small dogs -- the entire state is affected. Last week San Francisco's Animal Care and Control hosted a press event to draw attention to their own tiny problem -- chihuahuas.
"A year and a half ago we started to see an increase in chihuahuas coming to the shelter, either as stray dogs or surrendered by their owners," SF AC&C spokesperson Deb Campbell tells Paw Nation. "It's been a steady increase since then. We've never seen this before with chihuahuas." In years past, the shelter always had an overabundance of pit bulls and pit-bull mixes. Chihuahuas were rare, Campbell tells Paw Nation. "They would be adopted out immediately."
The overall consensus among shelters and rescuers in California, along with the Humane Society of Greater Nashua, is that pop culture is to blame for this explosion. "People see little dogs as a nice Louis Vuitton handbag or beautiful Prada sunglasses," Campbell tells Paw Nation. "They're an accessory to a lot of people. They've seen starlets on TV, movies, and in magazines with these dogs, and so people bred to meet that demand. And they went overboard."
Advertisement
Time-Lapse Tortoise Noms Salad
