ASPCA and Walmart Ask You to Lend a Paw

One of my absolute favorite organizations is ASPCA.  As an animal lover extraordinaire, I absolutely love all that they do for helpless little animals.  That’s why I follow their trail of good deeds and try to bring them to your attention!

Please read the following and help ASPCA and Wal-Mart as they try to help as many precious animals as possible. I already loved Wal-Mart, but I do even more so now.

From ASPCA:

Approximately five to seven million adoptable dogs and cats enter animal shelters nationwide each year. Of those, approximately three to four million are needlessly euthanized simply due to a lack of space or resources to adequately care for them.

Overpopulation is the leading cause of unnecessary euthanasia. This is largely due to an inadequate number of spayed and neutered pets, even among those living with otherwise responsible pet parents. Experts estimate that half of all puppies and three-quarters of all kittens born in the U.S. are the result of unplanned litters.

Walmart^® is proud to support the ASPCA^® in our goal to save and improve the lives of millions of pets nationwide, and to help raise awareness around the importance of adoption and spay/neuter. Walmart is showcasing its partnership with the ASPCA and celebrating Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Month throughout April, culminating with a special event on May 1 in Miami, Florida. The event will raise awareness and funds for the ASPCA, Miami Humane and Miami Animal Control Services.

Through the support of key pet suppliers, Walmart will host a fun walk and Pet Care Fair in Bayfront Park. Sponsor tents featuring educational seminars, information and giveaways will be available throughout the event, along with main stage performances and family fun. Education and community support through programs like the Pet Care Fair play a large role in preventing unwanted litters and increasing the number of pet sterilizations.

You can get involved, too! Animal lovers everywhere are encouraged to visit www.facebook.com/lendapaw and help “Lend a Paw” to support the ASPCA’s goal to save and improve the lives of millions of animals nationwide. When visitors click on the “Create a ‘Lend a Paw’ Post” button, Walmart, through the generous contribution of key pet suppliers, will donate $1 for each post (for a total donation of up to $100,000). All funds raised go to support the life-saving missions of the ASPCA and its local partners.

Also: ASPCA was selected as one of 49 charities to participate in Members Project^®, an exciting new promotion from American Express^® and TakePart. As part of the promotion, they need you to vote for the ASPCA EVERY WEEK at takepart.com/membersproject/vote – this will help them win $200,000 to help animals in need!

They’re currently in the lead – but there are only about 5 weeks left, so every vote really counts!

Also from ASPCA… Go Orange!

To commemorate Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Month this April, our corporate partners are “Going Orange” to celebrate the ASPCA’s victories on behalf of animals. ASPCA partner Red Lion Hotels has selected one of its flagship properties, the Red Lion Hotel at the Park in Spokane, WA, to light up orange for the entire month. In addition, Subaru of America, Inc., Clorox, the makers of Fresh Step^® cat litter, Brown Cow^® All Natural Yogurt, and Dyson^® will be supporting an ASPCA Spay/Neuter Block party in New York City as well as pet adoption and wellness events in Tampa, FL (April 24), and Dallas, TX (May 1). For more information about the ASPCA’s Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Month celebrations and how you can get involved and be a voice for animals this April, please visit AspcaApril.org.

Teleflora and ASPCA Create a Beautiful Valtentie’s Day

What a beautiful idea! If you or a loved one send flowers this Valentine’s Day (which is always an excellent way to say I Love You), you’ll want to do so with Teleflora. Not only are their floral arrangements too beautiful for words, their heart’s in the right place, too – with animals!

When you send flowers for Valentine’s Day, you can also give back to the ASPCA. When you buy flowers through Teleflora using their special link, 20% of the product price will be donated back to the ASPCA. Click HERE for the special link and the very special opportunity to give love all the way around.

Send a bouquet today!

Iams Helps Find Loving Homes For Over a Million Precious Animals

Beautiful actress Hilary Swank and her two precious adopted dogs

I was sent a very heart-warming and encouraging final update on Iams Home 4 the Holidays (IH4TH).  IH4TH had its most successful adoption drive ever by placing nearly 1.4 million pets into loving homes in the last three months!

1.4 million babies!  If that doesn’t touch your heart, I’m not sure it can be touched.

Between Oct. 1, 2009 and Jan. 4, 2010, more than 3,500 animal organizations and the IH4TH ambassador—two-time Academy Award-winning actress Hilary Swank—proved to be a powerful combination in the massive effort to help reduce pet homelessness.

“I’m proud to be part of such an amazing cause and I hope the many families who adopted through the IH4TH program will experience the same unconditional love and fulfillment my dogs Karoo and Rumi give me every day,” said Swank. “I hope our success inspires everyone to get involved and continue to help eradicate pet homelessness because there are millions of animals who still need our help and we all have the ability to help make a difference.”

The following animals were adopted this year:
* 729,357 dogs
* 588,265 cats
* 46,016 other animals (including rabbits, reptiles, horses, birds and more)

As one of the most successful pet adoption programs in the world, IH4TH partners thousands of animal organizations dedicated to helping place homeless animals with happy, loving homes. Founded in 1999 by the Helen Woodward Animal Center and supported by Iams, IH4TH—along with nearly 3,500 pet adoption centers – has helped more than 4.6 million pets find shelter, including nearly 1.4 million from just this year!

The next IH4TH program will kick off on Oct. 1 2010, but this is still an issue that needs attention—and there are plenty of ways to get involved now! To learn more about how to make a difference in the life of an orphaned pet, including finding participating shelters, volunteering or making a donation to support animal organizations and pets awaiting new homes, visit www.iamshome4theholidays.com.

As a pet lover extraordinaire, I want to say thanks to Hilary Swank, Iams, and every single very special person who gave a precious animal a new home.  May your newly expanded family be ridiculously happy and your homes filled with love.

If Hilary weren’t already one of my absolute favorite stars, she would be now.  But, alas, I’ve adored her since I first saw her.

Top Two Dog Videos of the Year

Yes, indeed, this is a proud cat-loving, cat-celebrating blog – and the human on this side of the words loves cats to total distraction. But, I have to admit (just not in earshot of my 5+ cats – the + is courtesy of Ming Li’s overactive drive to populate the animal kingdom) I’ve got nothing but love for dogs. No, they aren’t cats, but they are absolutely amazing.

These videos below are a few of my favorite dog videos of the past year – or any year, for that matter.

1. First up, Gracie! Gracie’s owner, Lt. Andrew, returns home from duty overseas. Gracie is so overwhelmed that she wiggles uncontrollably and cries for joy in his arms. Precious! Apparently Lt. Andrew had expressed concerns about Gracie remembering him because as she’s showing her joy and love, you hear a female voice saying, “I told you!” I can’t watch this one without tearing up.

2. Look out for the cute factor in this one! This French bulldog puppy can’t quite master turning over and it is too cute to behold. Look at that face.

How Safe are Your Pet’s Toys?

Let’s just be honest – few things are anywhere near as cute as a dog or cat with a toy. A dog with a toy bone or a cat with a catnip mouse could melt the coldest heart.

But are their toys actually harmful to them? Of course, every good pet parent knows to look out for small items that their babies could choke on and we all know to avoid anything painted or sharp. However, as a recent article on ASPCA shows, there are some things we might not know.

For the health and safety of your furry babies, read the article linked below, then double check the toy box (or, in our case, toy baskets!)

How Safe are Your Pet’s Toys?

The Dachshund and The Baby Pig

The Dachshund and the Piglet

This beautiful Dachshund has become “mom” to this precious baby pig because his birth mother couldn’t take care of him.

Reportedly, the loving Dachshund loves this baby just as much as her own puppies.  And cleanliness isn’t a problem because she licks and cleans him all the time!

His name is… appropriately enough… Pinky.

Dogs Are From Mars, Or So Our Cats Say

All About Cats

The framed print, above, is from Art in a Click.com – a GREAT place for art lovers to get their groove on! When I saw it, I knew I had to blog it. Too cute not to.

Our newest family addition, our dog Wednesday, is still trying to figure out the rulers of our roost (the felines, of course). They aren’t even trying to get a handle on him – that would suggest they actually cared. But there are times when the cats will sit back and watch him from a distance as he goes about his canine activities (snapping at flies, chasing after his tail, panting). They’ll watch him for a minute or two with what looks like a cross between amazement and stupefaction (that was my word of the day – can’t believe I worked it in). Then they’ll look at me…. then back at him. I”m not sure if they’re looking for my reaction or letting me know that I can feel free to take him away anytime I choose. (Come to think of it, they do glance toward the Caravan every now and then.)

Bo is especially entertained by him. I’ve looked out the window before and seen Bo lying on top of one of the vehicles just staring at Wednesday. I’d love to know what goes through his mind – but I’m sure it isn’t anything too profound. He’s probably just picking the right time to raid his leftovers or something.

Keeping Your Pets Safe and Cool in the Summer

We recently inherited a new member to our family of 5 humans and 6 cats – - – - – 1 dog. We got custody of “Wednesday,” the sweetest dog you could ever meet, when my mom passed away. He was her baby – she absolutely adored this dog! So, needless to say, we’re doing our best to give him as great a life as possible. Thing is, we’re cat people – so we’re still trying to figure out dog needs! One thing I’ve noticed is the fact that the heat is a whole lot harder on him than it is the cats.

He’s like 900 years old, with failing site and hearing – so we keep him on a runner that we fixed in the yard. I move it around to different parts of the yard to keep things interesting for him – and to locate him in the shadiest parts all day long. But one day last week, Steph (youngest daughter) and I were caught out running errands later than we thought and when we got back, he was not only in the sun – but had turned over his water bowl. Steph and I nearly croaked – we took it a lot harder than poor Wednesday did….but he enjoyed all the fussing and the nice cool bath.

I’ve been reading up online about dealing with pets in the summer – I already posted one link to an article here on the blog, and I’ve found another one that I found useful. (I love the idea about an automatic pet waterer.) Here’s the link >>>>>> Tips to Prevent Heatstroke in Your Pet

By the way, Bo is doing great after his ordeal. He’s back to his old, affectionate, playful self…..just a little jumpier than he used to be. I hope to be back to normal one day, too – his disappearance took an awful lot out of me! Pets become such a part of your life and family that it just turns your world upside down when something happens to them. Thankfully, everything worked out okay, and our world was put back right.

Joi

Kidney Disease in Pets – What to Watch Out For

The second leading case of nonaccidental death in cats and dogs is kidney disease. The really scary part is that it can be months or even years before symptoms show up, and by then the damage may be severe and irreversible. Even scarier, there is no cure for kidney disease in cats or dogs – yet.

But if caught early, the disease’s progression can be slowed down considerably.

1. Know the facts. Your pet’s kidneys filter out toxic waste. They produce “renin” – a hormone that controls blood pressure and regulates phosporus, calcium, and potassium. Furthermore, they help stimulate bone marrow to produce red blood cells.

Important functions, right? It’s not hard to see what all could go wrong if the kidney’s weren’t functioning properly. Harmful toxins which would otherwise be eliminated are left to make one very sick little cat or dog.

2. Treat Urinary Tract Infections promptly. An untreated UTI can lead to kidney infection and, then, kidney failure. If you notice blood in your pet’s urine, if he’s straining to urinate, or making very frequent trips to releive himself, call your vet – it may be a UTI. Antibiotics, given early, can clear this infection up before damage is done.

3. Watch his eating and drinking habits. Increased thirst and/or loss of appetite are signs of kidney trouble.

In the meantime, keep him hydrated by providing plenty of fresh water. If he eats dry food, mix in water or broth, or switch to canned food which contains more moisture.

4. Keep an eye on his activity level. Laziness and weight loss are also signs of kidney trouble.

5. Schedule regular kidney screening tests. Once your pet hits the age of 7, get blood and urine tests to screen for kidney disease.

WARNING SIGNS OF KIDNEY DISEASE:

Excessive urination
Increased thirst
Nausea
Vomiting
Dehydration
Lethargy
Oral ulcers
Muscle atrophy
Poor hair coat
Loss of appetite