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It's difficult leaving a much-adored animal behind. Credit: Joe Barrentine, AP Finding a safe and loving place to leave a pet during service overseas can be a heart-wrenching experience for many members of America's armed forces. Fortunately, thousands of concerned civilians across the country are stepping up the help lighten the load for America's men and women in uniform. Recognizing the Need While many of our soldiers can rely on friends and family to care for Fido and Fifi, others find themselves in a situation that leaves them little choice but to turn their pets over to a shelter -- or worse. In fact, one such heartbreaking situation inspired one very patriotic animal lover to create ...
Mary Spencer with Hattie, Charley and Libby. Credit: Mary Spencer There are heroes. And then there are superheroes. Meet Mary Spencer. She's giving Wonder Woman a run for her money. Spencer joined the SPCA of Texas in 1992 and served as its chairman for eight years. Today, she chairs the organization's building committee and represents the mayor of Dallas on the city's Animal Shelter Commission. Last week hundreds who share her passion for homeless pets attended an event in Dallas to launch her book, "All My Fosters Are Rockstars," which weaves stories of some of her foster pets with information about the importance of microchipping, spaying and neutering, adoption, and other animal ...
Assistant Editor Kristen Seymour with her rescued dogs from Puppy Hill Farm. Many of us in the Paw Nation are interested in helping our local shelters and rescues place animals in forever homes, but did you know that there are more ways to volunteer than walking the animals and cleaning cages? 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 ...
The Photo Group and Global Pet Expo Rachael Ray has become a heavy hitter in the pet industry. Not only does she have her own line of dog food, Nutrish (from which all proceeds benefit animals in need), but she uses her celebrity status to promote animal advocacy, and to bring positive attention to homeless animals and the rescues that help them through Rachael's Rescue. 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 ...
Reunited after 18 months in Iraq. Photo: Courtesy of Guardian Angels for Soldier's Pet In the past, soldiers without family or friends to care for their cats and dogs were often forced to surrender their pets to a shelter. Luckily, thanks to a nonprofit organization called Guardian Angels for Soldier's Pet (GASP), that's changed. Since 2005, GASP has placed 100 soldiers' pets in loving foster homes across the country. GASP founder and CEO Linda Spurlin-Dominik tells Paw Nation that the organization currently keeps tabs on 67 military pets in foster care. When soldiers return, they are reunited with their furry family members. Most fostered pets are cats and dogs, but ferrets and rabbits ...