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Dog Risks Life to Save Companion

Another amazing story of heroism to follow-up my post about Jake. Only this time, the hero is a dog. A stray risked his life by diving into the middle of a crowded highway in Chile to rescue another dog who had been hit by a car. Here's the Early Show report.

Help Anaki and Win

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Announcing Animal Rescue Online's first contest! The winner will receive an ASPCA "Sports Themed Squeak-rope Toy" of their choice (for their own furry friend). The aim of this contest is to promote Anaki, a five-year-old boxer mix located in Conneticut Humane Society's Waterford branch. Anaki is deaf, but responds to hand signals and has been described by the shelter as "a very sweet girl [...] the most loyal and tender-hearted companion" who is "housebroken and well mannered. She enjoys the company of adults." Anaki needs to be the only pet in her adoptive home.

To enter the contest, write an article about Anaki (with a link to her Petfinder page included) and put it on your website, then submit a link to it via the comments section of this post. All entries must be received by January 20th, 2009 at 9:00 AM Pacific Standard Time. The post doesn't have to be long at all (minimum fifty words). The winner will be selected at random by Designate, an online generator.

Jan. 24th: Adoption Fees Slashed for 'Change a Pet's Life' Campaign

On January 24th, three hundred United States shelters will be reducing their adoption fees for Change a Pet's Life Day. The event, organized by Hill's Pet Nutirition, hopes to draw attention to homeless animals and rescue centers. "Eight million pets a year enter shelters," says Hill's representative Janet Donlin, "We are hoping that people who have been thinking about adding a pet to their family will take this opportunity to do so."

"The first ten adoptions at participating Hill's partner shelters are free on January 24, 2009," states Hill's website, "New pet owners will also receive a starter kit that includes free Hill's Science Diet pet food and tips to give their adopted cat or dog the best start in their new life."

If you're interested in participating, visit the official website for Change a Pet's Life Day. There's a search engine there that can help you locate a shelter near you that's part of the event.

Man Saves Dog From Shark

This news is a little old (the interview I've linked in the video originally aired in October). However, it was just so amazing I had to share. After seeing his dog Jake attacked by a shark, Greg LeNoir came to the rescue - he jumped into the water and punched the shark.

Congrats, Chelse!

On December 29th, I wrote a post about a cat I had personally gone to meet, named Chelse. I've kept tabs on Chelse; a couple of days ago her Petfinder post was taken down. Today, I received an e-mail from the Newington Humane Society confirming my suspicions: Chelse has been adopted!

There are however, many animals still looking for homes. If you're thinking about getting a pet, please consider a senior animal. They have lots of love to give.

Latest Headlines: News From Around the Web

Hello and welcome to the first post in ARO's Latest Headlines series, where I'll scope the web for the most interesting, and recent, pet and animal rescue headlines so you don't have to! Below are the articles that caught my attention this time around.

• Woman Pushes for Statewide Animal Rescue Service
• More on the Presidential Pup debate: Adopt v. Purchase
• After Angering Animal Activists by Purchasing a Puppy, Biden Announces Next Dog to be Shelter Pup
• Huge Growth in Dishonest Pet Food Chains
• Kidnapping of 'Designer Dogs' Sparks Alert Over Pet Theft Ring in UK

While reading the pet-napping article, I also came across one for New York City, which covers the recent kidnappings of celebrity pooches and also, a warning to all dog owners to protect their animals: (For protection tips, scroll down to the bullet-ed list at the end of the article.)

• Tails of the City: Do You Know Where Your Dog Is?

Help Fight Puppy Mills

For more information on how to help fight puppy mills, visit the Humane Society's Stop Puppy Mills campaign site. Learn about what you can do to help; and, if you're considering purchasing a puppy, where to buy.



PLEASE NOTE: The video below contains images of injured and deceased animals. Viewer discretion is advised.

President-elect Barack Obama to Adopt Dog?

U.S. president-elect Barack Obama promised his daughters a dog following the conclusion of the election. Now, with Obama headed to the White House, that promise has become national news. Animal welfare advocates across the country are scrambling for the new First Dog to be a shelter animal. The Best Friends Network has even created a website dedicated to convincing the Obamas to adopt.

However, Obama's daughter, Malia, has allergies, and Obama's concerned he might not be able to find a shelter animal that fits his family's needs. “There are a number of breeds that are hypoallergenic, but on the other hand our preference is to get a shelter dog, but obviously, a lot of the shelter dogs are mutts like me,” Obama said. “So, whether we are going to be able to balance those two things I think is a pressing issue on the Obama household.”

Malia, after researching dog breeds, said she'd like a goldendoodle (golden retriever and poodle cross). The uproar that caused in the rescue community is absolutely absurd. Lobbyists got their feathers ruffled and started to campaign against a purebred animal. "The People for Ethical Treatment of Animals," reports the New York Times, "wrote to the Obamas saying that a purebred would be 'elitist.'"

Picture me rolling my eyes here. Elitist? That's the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard. I understand their concern. But there are plenty of purebred pets looking for homes.

The Best Friends Network issued a press release on November 7th urging the Obamas to search for hypoallergenic shelter dogs, stating "that shelters include both purebred, mixed breed dogs." They went on to say "while it is true that the majority of dogs in shelters are mixed breeds, a surprising 1 out of every 4 shelter dogs are purebreds."

Interesting, somewhat related, link: "Like Home, Pets Rule the White House and Not Just for Obama."

In Need of Help Caring for Your Pet?

I've blogged about the effect of the economy on shelters and pet owners before; and, I mentioned grants available to animal rescue groups in need of financial help. But, what about the rest of us? We pet owners struggling to feed every member of our family - not just the human ones.

If you're having trouble affording your pet, the Humane Society of the United States has complied an excellent resource: a nationwide list of pet financial-aid organizations.

SPCA Shelter Nominations

Know a local rescue group that could use a financial pick-me-up? The Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals International (SPCA) is offering grants to shelters and animal rescue groups across the nation. To nominate your local group for the grant, visit the SPCA International website for more information about the program and a nomination form.

Here are some basic requirements for the shelters; they must:

Be an active 501(c)(3) community based animal welfare organization; meet all the licensing and registration compliances required by law; have an annual operating budget preferably under $500,000; operate with at least a 60/40 split of volunteers compared to staff, with total paid staff preferably under 10 individuals; not sell any of the animals they are responsible for to research facilities; and require companion animals in their care to be spayed or neutered as part of their adoption contract. - spca.com

Economic Crisis Reducing Animal Adoption Rates

We're not the only ones suffering. According to several news outlets, animal adoptions have significantly dropped over the past couple of months. With so many family's struggling just to keep their homes, there's no extra to spend on adopting an additional family member.

"Unfortunately, dogs and cats are kind of considered a luxury item," says Reagen Kulseth, founder of SAFE (Saving Animals From Euthanasia). "They're an extra expense people can't justify."

"It's quite a dramatic drop-off [in adoptions]," states John Welsh, Riverside County, California's animal services spokesman. "It's a trend we don't want to see."

Not only are animals not getting placed in permanent homes, donations to the shelters that care for homeless animal's are decreasing as well. This makes it hard for the shelters to deal with the animals they can't adopt out; leading to overcrowding and serious financial trouble. According to StarNewsOnline.com, a group called the Sunburst Foundation, located in Wilmington, North Carolina, "'adopted out' about twenty dogs" last year. "This year, it's been able to place only two or three."

Meanwhile, more and more familys are giving up their animals to shelters, because they no longer have the funds necessary to care for them - adding yet more unplaceable pets to shelters that are suffering the same constraints as the owners who dropped the animals off.

Kulseth's SAFE, "like many other rescue groups...has cut back on the number of animals they take in."

Pets have been among the voiceless victims of the current economic downturn. Animals have been left behind in foreclosed homes, and shelters are reporting that families are struggling to keep and feed pets. - hsus.org

The Humane Society of the United States, in response to the problem, issued a press release offering grants to rescue groups in need.