Posts tagged "pet adoption"

We watch celebrities the way a hawk watches a mouse, and these days famous folks are likely to have menageries of their own. Here are three recent celebrity pet stories that caught our eagle eyes here at Paw Nation.

Robert Pattinson Loves His Dog -- and Acting Elephants
Pattinson is best known for portraying a vampire at odds with a werewolf (in a little series of films called "Twilight"). In real life, he has no problem canoodling with a canine. Pattinson adopted a dog from a shelter, promptly shortening the pooch's name from Yogi Bear to simply Bear, telling MTV that he felt "Yogi was a bit much." The actor also had high praise for Tai, his elephant co-star in the film "Water for Elephants," telling Vanity Fair that, "She was the best actor I ever worked with in my life." We hope Pattinson's on- and off-screen human girlfriend Kristen Stewart doesn't take offense.


Katherine Heigl Saves a Pit Bull
Katherine Heigl's animal-loving bona fides are well-established. This television and movie star is the founder of pet rescue organization The Jason Debus Heigl Foundation; the charity is named after her late brother, who was killed in a 1986 car accident when he was only 15 years old. Heigl got even more involved in the life of a pit bull named Rufus, who was being used as bait in dog fights. The actress adopted the pooch and is currently nursing him back to health.

Adorable adoptable dogs from the Humane Society of New York rubbed furry elbows with celebrities and were treated to swanky snacks and dog-friendly beer at a St. Pawtrick's Day party. The event was hosted at Kimpton's The Muse New York hotel in conjunction with Wendy Diamond's Animal Fair magazine. Everyday pet owners as well as TV personalities and their dogs were decked out in festive attire, all to benefit the Humane Society of New York.

Guests and their pups were offered green hats, beads and more before stepping in front of the cameras for a photo op. Most were already primped and prepared, as you'll see below, but a few still took advantage of the fun props.

Be sure to check out all of the photos and then go online to see what fundraisers are happening in your area for animal welfare organizations or shelters.

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 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.

One of the things we love about our jobs here is the fact that we get to bring attention to great causes, one of the main ones being pet adoption. Tuesday is a big day for helping homeless pets because it's Adopt the Internet Day 2011!

Petfinder created this day in honor of its 15th birthday to help spread the word about ways everyone can help homeless pets.

How You Can Participate
Short of bringing home a new furry friend there are many ways you can help.

- You can take a pledge to tell at least one person about pet adoption (and also be entered to win a Pet Hair Eraser® Vacuum from Bissell -- score!).

- Donate your Facebook status and photo to an adoptable animal on Petfinder.

- Use Twitter to share an adoptable Petfinder animal, and more, all of which can be found on Petfinder's Adopt the Internet page.

On Tuesday, March 15, every single one of our posts will be dedicated to the topic of pet adoption, so be sure to check them all out. It's a topic we're passionate about, and we hope you'll join us in helping adoptable animals find loving forever homes!

Robert Pattinson Adopts a Rescue Dog to Deal With Loneliness in Hotels
Twilight star Robert Pattinson recently adopted a stray dog to be his travel buddy when filming in remote locations. In rags-to-riches fashion, his new puppy went from living at a shelter to private jet-setting. Pattinson told ContactMusic.com that his new spoiled pet will help keep him company.

Pets Help Sell Manhattan Apartments
The real estate market may be suffering, but some agents have found a new secret weapon to selling: cute pets. The New York Times reports that well-behaved pets of all kinds can be a valuable selling tool and help potential buyers feel more comfortable in a space and -- after a long day of looking -- help them better remember one apartment over another.

SeaWorld Orlando Launches Program With Local Shelters
SeaWorld may be best known for its water animals, but through its new SeaWorld's Happy Tails program the park is encouraging its Orlando visitors to adopt homeless dogs and cats. The new animal adoption program provides pet lovers two free single-day admissions to SeaWorld when they adopt a dog or cat from a participating animal shelter in Orlando. Save a pet and go to SeaWorld? Everyone wins!

Dachshund Dash Controversy
Wiener races may be popular all over the country, but one race in Huntsville, Ala., isn't being well-received by all, according to WAAY-TV. Many wiener race organizers warn that this particular race -- a wiener race on ice -- is unsafe for dachshunds because of the breed's propensity to back issues. Those in favor of the race say that the ice isn't that slick and conditions are safe. No word on how the dachshunds feel about the whole thing.

Ellen DeGeneres has delivered on a goal set in April -- through Halo, Purely for Pets (the pet care brand she co-owns) -- she's provided a million meals to shelter animals this year.

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."

Best Friends Animal Society has made the best Christmas video ever, featuring some gorgeous furry friends wrapping gifts, making ornaments and frosting cookies -- with extra hands thrown in, William Wegman style.

In this season of giving, consider helping homeless animals. Donate to Best Friends before Dec. 31 and a group of benefactors will match your donation. This means that if animal lovers give up to $2 million between now and the end of the year, these donors will give another $2 million to Best Friends. The funds will enable the organization not only to continue to care for the 2,000 dogs, cats and other animals at its shelter in Southern Utah but also support homeless pets across the country.

Today is the fifth annual National Mutt Day, which celebrates and encourages the adoption of shelter dogs and provides donations to local shelters. This year's goal is to save 10,000 mutts from euthanasia or a lifetime in a shelter. National Mutt Day founder and animal behaviorist Colleen Paige spoke to Paw Nation about why she created the day and ways you can help.

Paige has long invested her time in educating the public about the reality of strays, puppy mills and shelter dogs, and the idea of establishing National Mutt Day came out of her desire to do something on a grand scale. "National Mutt Day has helped save over 50,000 dogs since its inception," Paige explains.

The first goal of the event is to find forever homes for shelter dogs, but that's not your only way to participate. "People forget that if they aren't adopting, they can still help local shelters," Paige says. She suggests donating blankets, food, crates or your time as a volunteer. Of course, simple cash donations are always helpful, and Paige recommends asking your neighborhood shelters for their wish lists.

National Mutt Day is closely aligned with other humane causes -- like the importance of spaying and neutering pets, choosing responsible breeders rather than pet shops or puppy mills, and other issues.

To participate, please contact your local shelter directly. More information is available on National Mutt Day's official site.

Read about another worthy cause at Good News Now.

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 breed prejudice, with pit bulls being the most common type of dog being put down in shelters.

A troubling survey by Petfinder.com -- which has over 13,000 shelters and rescue groups listing adoptable pets on its website -- prompted the organization to proclaim September 19–25 to be "Adopt-a-Less-Adoptable-Pet Week."

Nearly all of the shelters and rescue groups that Petfinder surveyed reported having "extreme difficulty" finding homes for some of their animals. More alarming, 33 percent of Petfinder.com members had pets listed on Petfinder.com for one to two years. Another 27 percent have had pets listed for even longer than two years. By bringing attention to the plight of these overlooked animals, Petfinder hopes to find permanent homes for pets considered less desirable.

Reasons to consider adopting a "less adoptable" pet
- Older dogs have already gone through the hyperactive puppy or kitten stage and have fully formed personalities, which means you know what you're getting.

- Many of them are already housebroken or know how to walk on a leash.

- A deaf dog may be less likely to bark at your loud neighbors.

Name: Bedlington Terrier

Personality: A terrier without the terror! Bedlingtons are renowned for being one of the calmest, most mild-mannered types of terrier. But like all terriers, they're also fiercely loyal to their family and incredibly smart. The Bedlington Terrier Club of America says, "A Bedlington loves to play, retrieve, jog, help with chores, or share your quiet moments. They will curl up in a little ball or become your inseparable companion as you read, write, sleep, drive, or just sit."

Grooming: As a hypoallergenic low-shedder with a woolly coat, the Bedlington terrier is sometimes jokingly called a "lamb on a leash." The coat can mat, however, so weekly brushing is recommended. A professionally done "pet clip" can reduce the need for at-home grooming even more.

Common Health Issues: Bedlingtons are known to live longer than most other small breeds and they experience relatively few health problems. Recent studies have shown that cancer is a low-risk cause of death in Bedlingtons. One acute health issue that occurs more commonly in Bedlingtons than other breeds is copper toxicosis, which results in excess copper in the liver. Biopsies and genetic testing can both be used to detect copper toxicosis early on. Allergies and eye problems may also occur but are seldom serious.

Training Tips: Your Purebred Puppy recommends that Bedlington owners engage in "respect training" when working with their dogs, which emphasizes the dog's role in the household as a follower of the leader of the pack (you).

Jesse James, owner of West Coast Choppers and ex-husband of Sandra Bullock, has added a new member to his family: a French bulldog named Pierre, reports Star Magazine. The dog was a gift to his daughter Chandler.

James is known to be a devoted dog owner. Last year, when his pit-bull puppy named CinnaBun went missing, he offered a $5,000 reward for her return and fortunately, she was found, safe and sound. James also has another pit bull named Mr. T.

James recently moved his family from California to Austin, Texas, supposedly to be closer to Bullock. We wonder what James's latest lady, Kat Von D, thinks about the move -- and the new addition to the clan?

Celebs are going cat crazy.

On Thursday, Nicole Richie introduced the newest member of the family on her website and Twitter account. Tabitha Jones Madden, as the cat is called, has actually been living with the Richie-Madden clan for about two months after being taken in from the street. Richie writes, "I couldn't resist. I fed her, and she was as happy as Benji Madden in a sorority house. Its been two months now, so I think it's safe to call her mine." We're sure her two-legged children, Harlow and Sparrow, are just as excited as their mama.


Another celebrity tyke who's undoubtedly enjoying some kitty cuddles is little Levi McConaughey, son of Matthew McConaughey and Camilla Alves. The couple took Levi to the veterinary clinic in Malibu and came out with a gorgeous gray cat, reports OK Magazine. This shouldn't come as too big a surprise; Matthew is a known animal lover. He helped rescue pets after Hurricane Katrina, and in 2006 he saved a frightened feline from being burned alive by some thugs in Sherman Oaks, Calif., according to Contact Music.

Feeling inspired to bring home a furry friend of your own? Start your search online!

Dog Breed: Boston Terrier

Personality: Though also known as the "Boston bull," this breed is described by Dog Breed Info Center as "gentle, alert, very intelligent, well-mannered and enthusiastic." The American Kennel Club praises Bostons as "truly an all-American dog... lively and highly intelligent... with an excellent disposition."

Grooming: Only a "minimum amount" is needed for this short-haired breed, according to the AKC.

Common Health Issues: BostonTerrierHub.com notes that Boston terriers "are generally healthy, long-lived dogs," and that their most common health issues are those that are common to many breeds: patellar luxation, eye problems, distemper, parvovirus, etc.

Training Tips: As Bostons terriers"like to learn" and "are very sensitive to the tone of one's voice," they're not hard to train, according to Dog Breed Info Center. Seconds the AKC, "The breed is easy to train and they are easy keepers, preferring to remain by their owner's sides." As with many small breeds, Boston terriers need owners who exude consistent confidence like pack leaders; otherwise the dreaded Small Dog Syndrome might set in.

Dog Breed: Bichon Frise

Personality: "A cheerful, happy dog," says the American Kennel Club, which goes so far as to label the bichon frise "merry." Originally bred as a companion dog, the bichon enjoys nothing more than basking in the nearness of you. "It has an independent spirit, is intelligent, affectionate, bold and lively," notes Dog Breed Info Center, Also, "it has a self-assured, happy temperament that is easy to live with."

Grooming: While this dog is considered a non-shedding breed, it still requires daily grooming and some experts recommend a professional grooming once a month. The AKC's website explains, "Hair grows continually and does not shed, so extensive grooming is a must to prevent mats." The Bichon Frise Club of America strongly recommends taking precautions to prevent flea infestations, as bichons are highly allergic to flea bites.

Common Health Issues: There is a wealth of information available -- much of it conflicting -- as to how disease-prone the bichon frise breed is. The Bichon Frise Club of America, Inc. Health Web Site states that "bichons are considered to be a healthy breed if purchased from reputable breeders. For example, the top five diseases afflicting bichons (as noted in a recent health survey) are not life threatening. "Others claim that bichons are especially prone to liver shunts, particularly runts and smaller-than-normal bichons. If detected early in life, these can be managed through a low-protein diet, medications, and sometimes surgery. However, shunts are often undetected until later in life, when the chances of survival drop dramatically. Overall, though, the bichon frise is a hardy breed that enjoys a longer-than-average lifespan into teenage years. Old age and cancer are the most common causes of death.

Name: Airedale Terrier

Personality: The American Kennel Club breed standard describes the Airedale terrier as having a "sweet disposition," dubbing the breed "the undisputed 'King of Terriers'" due to the its formidable size and "hardiness." According to National Airedale Rescue coordinator Cheryl Silver, the Airedale is a "Fuzzy clown" that "will do anything for a laugh."

Grooming: According to the Airedale Terrier Club of America, "grooming an Airedale three or four times a year, in addition to regular weekly brushing and combing will keep him looking great." The AKC concurs, stating that "the Airedale coat needs regular brushing and stripping."

Common Health Issues: The National Airedale Rescue website states that "Airedales, like all other larger breeds, have occurrences of hip dysplasia." In addition, "Hypothyroidism does exist in the breed and is easy and inexpensive to take care of," Silver tells Paw Nation, noting that common symptom are skin issues, weight gain, and a lack of the breed's trademark exuberance.