Month: November 2011

You may have read our series of interview articles here on this blog about a great idea to increase shelter pet adoption: adoption centers in a mall near you! We thought what potential pet owner wouldn’t like a bright, fun, one-stop-shop conveniently located in their local mall, with helpful pet adoption counselors, adorable adoptable pets from their local shelters, and all the supplies a pet owner could need? And 7 months later, we have a happy update: the first Adopt&Shop  is such a huge success, Found Animals is opening a 2nd location soon! In its first 6 months, Adopt&Shop found homes for over 450 pets – an average of 65 animals a month! You can see what the store looks like inside in their video tour at http://www.foundanimals.org/pet-adoption/adopt-shop Speaking of videos, we’d like to mention one more…

Found Animals just released a year-end recap of Found Animals’ efforts and the state of homeless pets in California. You can watch the video here on YouTube: http://youtu.be/TZxMmKxqp-Q — be prepared, it starts out with some saddening statistics, such as that shelter intake has increased 15% over the last 5 years statewide, 1 million dogs and cats enter California shelters, and over half of them are euthanized simply because there are not enough homes. To put that in perspective, they point out that is 1 out of every 3 dogs, and 4 out of every 5 cats. Thankfully Found Animals and many other organizations are working hard to reduced California’s pet overpopulation through many different types of programs. Adopt&Shop is just one success story that we hope will inspire and lead the way to a brighter future for all homeless pets.

A new survey released by Bark Busters, a world wide dog training company, found some surprising data: you can indeed teach an old dog new tricks! What matters most isn’t age or breed—it’s the owner. That’s right, it’s all about who’s training. Another interesting conclusion: this survey found that Pit Bulls are actually easier to train than many other breeds! The majority of the participating trainers stated that they see more Labrador Retrievers than any other breed, followed by Pit Bulls. They found that Pit Bulls came in a very close second in terms of easiest to train, meaning they are the “least time- and effort-intensive to train” next to Golden Retrievers. Given the high numbers of Pit Bulls in shelters across the county, and the difficulties we face adopting them out due to unfair stigma, we hope the results of this survey can help when adopters come your way. The 155 trainers from across the nation who are responsible for this data represent collectively 750 years of experience and 200,000 dogs trained. Click here: http://www.barkbusters.com/page.cfm/ID/457 to see the full results of the survey with all the questions and graphs of the answers!

So if you want a well-behaved dog and you’re willing to invest the time and effort to train him, that 3-year-old Pit mix waiting for a forever home at your local shelter might not be a bad idea after all—and you could put the money you didn’t spend on a purebred puppy toward training to start you both out on the right paw. All dogs need positive training, regardless of where they came from, so please choose to adopt and save a life while you’re at it!

As a volunteer foster parent for many litters of kittens, I have gone through more than my fair share of cat and kitten toys. Aside from the invisible kitty gnome that must have a huge stockpile of cat toys under her bridge (couch) somewhere, I like to send a newly adopted kitten off with their favorites to play with in their new home. That habit can be costly! And even my adult cats just so love getting a new toy, even if it is identical to one they already have – it just smells new, and they know it and find it oh-so-exciting! So over the years I’ve figured out many free or almost free DIY cat toys to supplement the fancier ones I buy at pet supply stores. I also have tons of them, so I can rotate “new” ones in each week, and put a bunch away for a month or so. Here’s a list of  creative ideas to inspire you!

Note: please use common sense and do not leave anything that could be ingested with kitty when you are not there watching – especially the ones we’ve * starred * below. Take those toys out only for supervised play. 

• empty cardboard boxes (you can cut holes out for more fun, or use soda boxes)
• wine corks
• balled up tin foil*
• balled up paper*
• pipe cleaners (fun to twist into different shapes)*
• baby socks tied in a knot
• large water bottle caps
• bendy straws with the bendy ends cut into boomerangs*
• bottle caps
• toilet paper or paper towel rolls cut into rings and/or pulled into cardboard squiggles
• empty plastic pill bottle, scrubbed out with hot water, put a few bits of cat food in it, cap back on
• cat toy-size twigs from outside*
• paper grocery shopping bags (with any handles cut off)
• milk jug rings*
• empty thread spools
• ping pong balls
• baby carrots
• brussel sprouts

Update #1: Here’s a great idea for making DIY toys out of cardboard cut-outs, thanks to Roland for sending this to us! He says his cat loves the ball shape one as it rolls.

Update #2:  Thanks to Jenny for this almost-free great idea! “I just read your article, and thought I’d add one to your list of inexpensive cat toys. I get the largest pom-pom I can find from a craft store (usually about 2 inches), they come in a pack of four for 99 cents. I put them in a sealed baggie with cat nip, give them out one at a time, and my kitties love them. They are light weight, glide across the floors and my kitties get plenty of exercise. When they have licked and batted it around long enough to get tired of it, one of my four thoughtful kitties put it in their food dish and I replace it with a new one in a couple of days!”

We are very excited about the new Unexpected Pit Bull 2012 Calendar! Since 2004 this professionally photographed calendar highlights the love and spirit of Pit Bulls. Created by The Unexpected Pit Bull, a not-for-profit organization that develops and markets merchandise celebrating Pit Bulls, 100% of the calendar’s net profits are donated to deserving Pit Bull charities (mostly rescue, education, and advocacy organizations) in need of support. And we find that pretty awesome! Since launching, The Unexpected Pit Bull’s signature product has been their annual calendar, which has even been featured on The Rachel Ray Show. The nonprofit’s goals are to keep Pit Bulls with the people who love them (and away from the ones who don’t), to fund specific advocacy and education initiatives for the breed, and to create beautiful calendars that communicate the delight of that comes with having a Pit Bull! We stand behind their mission and that is why this year, Adopt-a-Pet.com decided to support their calendar and their efforts to help more Pitties everywhere. If you love these dogs, want to help them overcome unfair stereotypes, and promote more appreciation for these beautiful animals, hanging The Unexpected Pit Bull calendar in your office might be a great way to help spread the message.

This year the calendar was made in creation with HE(ART)S SPEAK – an organization that pairs photographers around the world with animals who need attention. Animal lovers and artists coming together – I mean, how cool is that?! The 2012 calendar edition features gorgeous photography and design, and we think they make terrific holiday gifts. There are a few promotions going on right now designed to make your holiday presents more affordable, which you can find out about by clicking here. This is truly a gift that gives back! And for anyone who’s ever enjoyed some Pittie kisses, you know how grateful these dogs are for your help.

You’re ready to get out of town for a little R & R, but you’re uncertain whether traveling with your dog in tow will provide either of those Rs. For the well-prepared dog owner, traveling with a pet is a fun and rewarding experience. If staying with friends at your destination, don’t assume your dog is welcome in their home. Ask your hosts if the dog may tag along, and if so, where he’ll be staying so you can better prepare. If pets are a no-no, consider finding a kennel in the area so you can still spend time with Fido while being respectful of your friends’ wishes. Click here to learn more tips for traveling with your dog.

We just love hearing stories of matches made on Adopt-a-Pet.com! This one comes from Julia, a woman with a heart big enough for two! “Dear Adopt-a-Pet.com, Thanks to your site, I saw Sophie’s photo on line last night and went to see her after work today and adopted her. She is the sweetest little thing. I am SO GLAD I found her. Thank you for posting her photo, I promise to make her very happy! If it had not been for your site I would have gone to the shelter totally unprepared and possible spent hours. The photos helped narrow my choices and made it easier. Sincerely, Julia”  …and then a few days later, we received a follow-up:

Dear Adopt-a-Pet.com,

Just wanted you to know I went and got another one that you had posted…Dixie. She’s a medium size black dog…she came with the name of Dixie and I am keeping it. They said she was at least 12. She is SO SWEET but she has some masses and will require surgery…just waiting for my vet to get back from vacation.

I got lucky with both my babies. Thanks again for having your site!

Sincerely, Julia

We so appreciate the exposure our partner sites give to pets for adoption, like Minnie on the Wet Nose Guide! “Well, hello there. I’m Minnie. Let me start off by saying, although I’m from Texas and I do have polite southern charm, I prefer to spend my time with adults. You see, I’ve never had much time alone with children, or even teenagers for that matter. Because of this, I get along famously with adults, and would prefer to spend my time in a forever home that was filled with other mature-aged individuals. After all, I’m of the “mature” age myself.” You can read the rest of Minnie’s story on the Wet Nose Guide here.

You know the yellow-covered books in the “For Dummies” serious that are how-to guides for just about everything? Well, Dog Photography has finally joined those illustrious (and well-illustrated) bookshelves! It’s an incredibly thorough guide with 18 chapters covering all the basics, advanced techniques, and (our favorite) even a chapter called “Pro-Bone-O: Morethan Ten Tips for Giving Back” that focuses on using dog photography to help shelter and rescue animals, and the particular challenges photographing shelter dogs pose.

I haven’t read all 300 pages yet, but after thumbing through and admiring all the beautiful color photos, being a shelter pet photographer, jumped right to Chapter 17. Although I don’t need some of the guidance they start off with, like identifying local shelters and rescues and understanding the differences, I really appreciate they’ve included that information for others who are just starting out wanting to help shelter dogs. Being experienced in photographing shelter dogs, I can definitely say their information and tips for “Making the Best of the Shelter Setting” and “Offering Your Help without Creating Extra Work for the Rescue” are spot-on. It is clear that the authors have not only professional photography experience, but experience (and great advice!) navigating being a photography volunteer at a shelter.

There are some other great tips in this section that aren’t related to photographing dogs in shelters too! Like “Donating a Portion of Your Session Fees as a Fundraiser”, “Donating Packages for Silent Auctions” and “Hosting Special Events as a Fundraiser” which are all great ideas!

I’m really looking forward to exploring the rest of this book, and also using it for a reference, like if I ever get the chance to set up a “studio-style” session at a shelter, I’ll know where to turn (Chapter 7). All-in-all this is a GREAT book for anyone that is interested in dog photography, shelter and rescue dog photography, or as a gift for someone in your life who is or might be.

We give it five out of five: paws up!
  

You can find Dog Photography for Dummies on Amazon.com for $16

While different breeds of cats are known for distinct personality as well as physical traits, one of the cool things that we love about cats is how personalities also seem to run in certain colors, especially within mixed breed cats. Cat enthusiasts can often predict much of a cat’s personality just with a glance at their coat coloring! Another interesting predictor given by coloring is if the cat is male or female. Just like it is very uncommon to have a red tabby female (although we are seeing more of them now, it used to be extremely rare), cats with Tortoiseshell coloring are almost always female.  Do you know why? It has to do with the fact that certain colors are actually carried on different parts of the chromosomes. We’re not scientists but our friends over at About.com’s Cats Guide do a great job of explaining all about the color, sex and chromosome link, as well as how Tortoiseshell cats share a unique personality most often described as “tortitude.”

You can read About.com’s article and see their beautiful fall gallery of  Tortoiseshell cats photos here.

Find beautiful Tortoiseshell cats and kittens for adoption near you by selecting “Tortoiseshell” from the color drop-down selector at http://www.adoptapet.com/cat-adoption

Photo: Brenna is a Tortie available for adoption in Chicago, IL. Visit her Adopt-a-Pet.com page for all her information and how to adopt her!