Month: November 2010

View more cartoon’s from Jim George at Draw the Dog.

Hard workers who are committed to helping our county’s shelter animals come in all shapes and sizes. The Dalhart Animal Wellness Group and Sanctuary (D.A.W.G.S.) in the Texas panhandle is proof positive of that! This very special animal rescue group is run almost entirely by children. One historic spring in 2003, school teacher Dianne Trull was talking to her students about pet over-population and one child earnestly inquired, “Why do the dogs have to die?” Luckily, Diane was able to grasp the power in that moment. Unwilling to tell her students that they were powerless to help these homeless animals, she instead took it upon herself to empower these young leaders. As Diane puts it, together, her students, her family and she set out to “change how the world works.”

And change the world they have indeed! Both for themselves and for the more than 5,000 dogs and cats they have so far placed in loving homes. And they have done all of this in spite of tremendous obstacles.

Diane’s commitment, and that of her students, was tested early on when the community forced them out of their existing shelter and had them move over 500 animals during a blizzard to another nearby location. Regardless of season, the weather in Dalhart continues to pose some of the most greatest challenges; wind speeds up to 70 mph and temperatures that can range from 70 degrees one day to below zero the next. That’s not to mention the tornadoes and hurricanes that frequent the area.

However, Diane is reluctant… finish the post by clicking here.

Pia blogs often at The Daily Wag on MarthaStewart.com, the home of episodes from Francesca and Sharkey – Martha Stewart’s two dogs. Dr. Pia Salk is a psychologist, animal welfare advocate, and expert on the human-animal bond. Pia frequently highlights the important role that animals play in our lives and how our societal treatment of animals conveys important messages to our youth.

As a psychologist — one deeply aware of the powerful connection between humans and animals — I wanted to share some little-known information about another “believer,” who provided therapy from a small Vienna office at the turn of the previous century. You may know him best as the father of psychoanalysis: a cigar smoking Austrian by the name of Sigmund Freud. But what you may not know about this mental health pioneer is that he employed not only a couch as a therapeutic tool, but he also typically had one of his dogs present during client sessions. While Freud’s own affinity for dogs was perhaps the initial reason for having them present as he worked, he soon witnessed the therapeutic benefit they bestowed upon clients.

Freud was partial to chows — a dog who, like the pit bull, is now often maligned by erroneous media reports. Sadly, this often results in many chows landing in already overcrowded city shelters. If only our current sensationalist media outlets could look to history on occasion and glean some wisdom from great thinkers such as Freud, perhaps fear-based actions could be minimized.

For one thing, Freud noticed that a dog’s presence acted as a calming influence on his patients. Children and adolescents in particular seemed better able to disclose painful information with a dog nearby, but adults benefited in a similar way as well. It seems that the mere presence of a dog in the room lowered the barriers of resistance all humans erect to avoid painful subjects, and so facilitated the therapeutic process. What Freud surmised from these observations was that the unconditional regard of a dog was healing. The steady canine presence in the face of what a human might experience as painful or embarrassing provided containment and a safe place of reassurance.

Freud often referenced one chow in particular, Jofi, whose response to clients offered him clues to a client’s emotional landscape. Freud noted that Jofi would settle farther away from clients who exhibited anxiety and stress, but remained close to those who seemed depressed — close enough to be touched by the client if he/she so chose.

Jofi could also indicate the end of a 50-minute session… finish the post by clicking here.

Pia blogs often at The Daily Wag on MarthaStewart.com, the home of episodes from Francesca and Sharkey – Martha Stewart’s two dogs. Dr. Pia Salk is a psychologist, animal welfare advocate, and expert on the human-animal bond. Pia frequently highlights the important role that animals play in our lives and how our societal treatment of animals conveys important messages to our youth.

Adopt-a-Pet.com’s partnership PEOPLEPets.com is raising awareness of animals adoption! Each month, PEOPLEPets.com highlights a pet from AdoptaPet.com who is looking for a home. This month, it’s Sunday who was found on, appropriately, a Sunday night, roaming the streets in a stray-heavy Cleveland, Ohio, area. Though his rough background cause him to fight with other cats, he just adores people, Helping Hands representative Tia Kocianic tells PEOPLEPets.com. “He is a real lap cat, and is very chatty and sweet. He loves to follow people around the house ‘talking’ to them,” she says.

Though he was adopted last spring, his new “parents” recently divorced, and are unable to keep him. “He needs a family who understands that he is a one-and-only cat, but who will love him regardless for who he is,” Kocianic says. The young adult is neutered and healthy.

Helping Hands Pet Adoption Network is a small group of foster families that helps animals in transition find loving homes. The organization — which is currently at capacity — takes in dogs and cats from all walks of life, regardless of health or age, and works to find them forever families in the Cleveland area.

Read more about Sunday and how to adopt him here.

Adopt-a-Pet.com, in partnership with Sparebytes, is proud to present the newly updated Pet Playpen iPhone game. Pet Playpen is an innovative virtual pet application that allows you to play, feed, groom and interact with several different pets including cats and dogs.

November 4, 2010

Release Link: http://www.prweb.com/releases/2010/11/prweb4737904.htm

Adopt-a-Pet.com, in partnership with Sparebytes, is proud to present the newly updated Pet Playpen iPhone game. Pet Playpen is an innovative virtual pet application that allows you to play, feed, groom and interact with several different pets including cats and dogs.

Sparebytes has partnered with Adopt-a-Pet.com, North America’s largest non-profit homeless pet adoption website, to support them in their mission of helping to find a happy home for every homeless pet. Adopt-a-Pet.com, which displays 155,000 pets for adoption at approximately 9,500 animal shelters across North America, is sponsored by Purina and Bayer Animal Health.

Pet Playpen is a fun and interactive way for children of all ages to experience learning how to properly care for pets. “Every pet in the game you care for has needs such as hunger, hygiene, and happiness that need to be fulfilled, just like a real pet. For example, you can play Frisbee with your dog to increase his happiness or brush your cat to keep her well-groomed,” stated Arthur Ham, Sparebytes co-founder. Sparebytes is independent game studio based in California focused on creating interactive and entertaining iPhone applications.

“Pet Playpen is a fun way for kids to learn the basic responsibilities of caring for a pet in a simply fun and interactive game. We couldn’t agree more that all pets need and deserve such love. We are thrilled that Pet Playpen will help promote pet adoption, and we hope the app is wildly popular so that more people know about our free service and more great pets get into loving homes,” says Adopt-a-Pet.com President and co-founder, David Meyer.

We are thrilled that Pet Playpen will help promote pet adoption, and we hope the app is wildly popular so that more people know about our free service and more great pets get into loving homes,” says Adopt-a-Pet.com President and co-founder, David Meyer.

The Pet Playpen iPhone app can be downloaded from the Apple iTunes App Store (http://itunes.apple.com/app/pet-playpen/id309300697?mt=8). Says Ham, “With Pet Playpen’ large audience of families, kids, and pet lovers, we hope to effectively spread Adopt-a-Pet.com’s message of encouraging existing and potential pet owners to adopt homeless pets.”

View more cartoon’s from Jim George at Draw the Dog.

If you are thinking of adding a pet to your family, getting your children involved with the daily responsibility of caring for your new family member is an excellent way to teach kids some value lessons. We recently caught up with Christi Drue Dunlap who has authored “Lucky Me” which is told from the point-of-view of Rocky, an adorable rescued pug, this book will show children (and their parents) what it feels like to be a pet without a home; what the inside of a Humane Society looks like; ways to make sure your new pet feels at home, right away; and how animals tell us what they like and what they don’t.

Author/photographer/mom/blogger Christi Drue Dunlap loves animals. Her blog, Life in the Fur Lane, finds humor and beauty in the chaos of having a child and many pets. She writes and blogs because “family and furry friends make her house a home,” she says. “And life without fetch playing and the occasional furball just wouldn’t be as love-filled and fun.” Learn more about her book here.

This post comes from Twinkie Tiny Dog, a blog about a Teacup Yorkie in L.A. Twinkie had some good tips for senior pet owners or to be senior pet owners after meeting up with dog trainer Cyndy Wood. Cyndy has a huge 14 year old dalmatian who is in pretty good health. Some of her tips included looking for the proper food, how to help prevent arthritis, or reduce the side effects of arthritis. Probably one of the best tips was to have your senior pet’s blood tested, and give them wellness exams. Cyndy also includes some information about proper exercise and how to deal with the cold. Read the entire post here.