Month: May 2012

Home. Some cats and dogs never have one to call their own. PeoplePets.com wants to help change that by introducing their readers to an extraordinary homeless pet every week. Today, they’d like you to meet Ziggy, a 2-year-old American Pit Bull terrier who is deaf. When you point to the ground, Ziggy lays down. If you hold out your hand, he’ll give you a high five. This extremely intelligent dog has learned sign language to compensate for not being able to hear. Besides having an impressive resume of skills – he’s earned a Canine Good Citizen Certification from the AKC and has been trained in dog agility – Ziggy is polite, house-trained and loving. He’s an active, large dog that would be best in a home without children or other pets. Looking for a walking partner? Ziggy has plenty of energy for long walks and fetch, and is a great co-pilot on car rides.

You can find out more about Ziggy and see a video of him performing tricks in his article on PeoplePets.com and find out more about him on his Adopt-a-Pet.com profile page here.

 

Moth-er- v. 1. moth·ered 2. moth·er·ing. As so many of us fur-mom’s know, the wonderful ability to nurture is not limited by biology or membership in a specific species. (See Pia’s blog on MarthaStewart.com here with more photos and thoughts on mothering.) Mother Nature, does not concern herself with the details of one’s genetics, gender, race, age, species- or other such ‘differences’- when it comes to empowering her ‘children’ with the capacity to ‘nurture.’ In kinship, Pia (Photo of Adopt-a-Pet.com staff cat Lana mothering her favorite dog Claire.)

Did you like this article? Click an icon below to share it on Facebook, Twitter, and more!

If you like “The Onion”,  you’ll love our first Dog Park News segment!  Brought to you by one of our zany staff members here at Adopt-a-Pet.com (who fancies herself a reporter!), this funny video will bring you all the latest, breaking news going on at the dog park.  A tennis ball stolen?  A Mastiff causing a traffic jam?  Perfect weather to check out your local pet adoption event?  Get your news!

This just goes to show you that we will try anything to help homeless pets!  We’re hoping this funny video will make you laugh and promote pet adoption at the same time.  Keep your eyes out for more Dog Park News to come!

Did you like this article? Click an icon below to share it on Facebook, Twitter, and more!

Dear Adopt-a-Pet.com, I used your listings and finally found and adopted a Miniature Schnauzer, at the Western Arizona Humane Society shelter in Kingman, Arizona, listed through your service. Roxy is the sweetest girl and I was lucky to find her. WAHS was very nice to deal with and the animals are taken care of with love. Foxy now has a great home and she is just a doll! I can’t believe someone would turn her and her brother into a shelter, I just couldn’t do that.

I took a drive from Las Vegas to Kingman, about a two-hour drive and had already put a two-day hold on her as didn’t know when I could get there. When I got there I played with her and she seemed very friendly, and hopped right up on my lap.

After getting home Foxy started to relax. However, she is very attached to me already and doesn’t like to be alone or with other people. I am having to leave her with people to get her used to me coming back, as she thinks I’m not coming back and that she’s being left again. NO WAY!!!

Foxy is a great dog and I’m lucky to have found her. Thanks again for your love of animals and dedication.

Very Sincerely,
Tom

We’ve been loving all the Best Welcome Home Ever video submissions!  For example, have you ever seen a Pittie mix talk?  Well, here’s your chance!  Click here to watch Gamble the sweet pup welcome his mama home!  I personally love seeing all of Gamble’s furry siblings make their cameos!  You can watch more hilarious and sweet videos, or submit your own, at www.bestwelcomehomever.com!  We will be making our very own Public Service Announcement based on submissions so your pet could become a star!  We hope you will submit your video before May 28th, 2012 when our campaign wraps up.  We welcome you to share your best welcome home ever with us!

Who wakes you in the morning with a silly wide-eyed grin and greets you upon arriving back home? You know who! And it’s a wonderful feeling isn’t it? The stress and angst of the day quickly melt away when greeted by your canine friend. You change your clothes and escape together for some play time. I cannot imagine not having an animal companion in my life. In my mind, a home is simply not a home without one. Having animals in my life has changed me – in every way “humanely” possible. I have learned to truly open my heart to the shared unconditional love. Our relationships with animals bring us so much – unconditional love, being present and in the moment, caring for another being, feeling safe and protected. We have so much to learn from them, if we pay attention to all they show us about life and ourselves.

Have you noticed that when you are sad or crying, are sick with a cold or flu, they are right there with you? They sit beside you, nuzzle you and even jump up to try and help you. If their needs are taken care of and they feel safe, their job is to help you heal. They pull away your pain and suffering. They literally take it away from you and pass it through their bodies to help you clear it. They may even take on your illness or dis-ease to clear you so you don’t have to experience it. When we are aware of this and understand it is their role, then we have the opportunity to give them the respect they deserve. They have important work to do with us. I have seen people with severe allergies, tumours, liver problems etc. and then observed that their animal companion has the identical condition or symptoms. The animal in their life is helping them clear it. The condition could have potentially been much worse were you facing it on your own; without your beloved animal companion.

What is helpful to know for their wellness is their natural instincts need to be fueled so they can effectively clear imbalance and help you heal. For example, if they are bred for hunting they need to get out to sniff around and hunt. If they are retrievers, they need to retrieve and swim. This helps them naturally clear the energy they may have taken on from you or others in your home. It is essential that they get to run and play unrestrained on a daily basis. They give so much to us and therefore it feels wonderful to reciprocate and give back to them. Love, compassion and devotion – 3 words that describe our mutual relationship with them. We all deserve this in our lives!

What may cause an animal to get sick?

We and our animals get sick from anything that weakens our life force and/or electromagnetic field. Genetics can play a role in illness, as can the emotional weight from trauma, or the stress from too many toxins. Environmental toxins in the air, water, chemicals on lawns, can all shorten our life span and create illness. These are all foreign to the metabolism of the body and are difficult for the body to eliminate completely. Trauma to any part of the body, especially the head, throws off the normal flow of life force energy: commonly called chi. Head injuries can deprive every cell in the body from the energy it needs.

Here are some healthy practices to keep in mind:

• dogs need the opportunity to clear the energies they may have taken on from people that are sick, or if they have been cooped up all day; let them out to run and play
• allow them to take part in their instinctive activities to help them clear stored up energies
• ensure they are walked on a daily basis, in safe & legal off-leash areas if possible
• acknowledge their need to socialize with people and other dogs
• permit them ample time to enjoy fresh air outside
• give them freedom to run and play
• try to avoid keeping them in a crate for prolonged periods of time (in short spurts is fine for initial puppy training)
• feed them food that is healthy and nutritious
• they can become ill if  they are abused, yelled at or mistreated
• try not to have too many rules; enjoy their silliness and idiosyncrasies
• they need plenty of love and your undivided attention

I feel I could never give back the love and patience my animal companions have shared with me over my entire life. They truly deserve the same respect and love as all beings on the planet do. They are not status symbols or furniture… they have big gorgeous open hearts and if we open our hearts as well, our lives are forever changed.

I adore the poem below and cannot remember who wrote it or where I got it from, but it will make you think and perhaps focus on the simpler things in life – the aspects of life that have real lasting value.Take a break from the busyness of everyday life, and let your dog teach you a few new tricks.

If A Dog Were The Teacher

“If a dog were the teacher you would learn stuff like:
When loved ones come home, always run to greet them.
Never pass up the opportunity to go for a joyride.
Allow the experience of fresh air and the wind in your face to be pure ecstasy.
When it’s in your best interest, practice obedience.
Let others know when they’ve invaded your territory.
Take naps.
Stretch before rising.
Run, romp, and play daily.
Thrive on attention and let people touch you.
Avoid biting when a simple growl will do.
On warm days, stop to lie on your back on the grass.
On hot days, drink lots of water and lie under a shady tree.
When you’re happy, dance around and wag your entire body.
No matter how often you’re scolded, don’t buy into the guilt thing and pout… run right back and make friends.
Delight in the simple joy of a long walk.
Eat with gusto and enthusiasm. Stop when you have had enough.
Be loyal. Never pretend to be something you’re not.
If what you want lies buried, dig until you find it.
When someone is having a bad day, be silent, sit close by and nuzzle them gently.” ~Author Unknown

As always I am here to support you in this life journey of ours and love your feedback.

This article was written by Cheryl Hiebert. Cheryl is a Personal Wellness Coach with a mind body spirit approach to wellness. Her goal is to help you feel empowered on your individual path and help you jump out of bed every day loving your life. To help you create a life where you feel happy, full of energy and first on your list. You are worth it! Cheryl also wrks with people and their animal companions, such as offering Pet Loss & Bereavement counseling. To see how you can get more support from Cheryl, make sure to visit her website.

 

Did you like this article? Click an icon below to share it on Facebook, Twitter, and more!

The image you see at right of a pale blue plastic ball caught in a barbed wire fence might not make sense to you, unless you’ve seen the powerful video PSA created by Cesar Millan to promote the importance of spay and neuter. To me, it makes a lump rise in my throat. Somehow in 1 minute and 1 second video with it’s abstract imagery is stronger than almost any other video PSA I’ve seen about spay neuter, and I’ve seen a lot of them! Before you think “oh I can’t watch it” because sad images of sad dogs or cats make you cry, there is only one live dog in the first few seconds and she’s in a loving home. But wow with it putting your imagination to work, it really works! You can watch Cesar Millans PSA below, and below that you can use the icons to  share this video with your friends, family, neighbors, on your Facebook, Twitter… everywhere!

…

Did you like this article? Click an icon below to share it on Facebook, Twitter, and more!

We love hearing stories of triumph!  We love it when an underdog – literally – proves not only to be different than assumed, but to go above and beyond expectations.  I’m sure we’ve all heard many stories of Pitbulls who overcome stereotypes and victoriously prove their goodness.  This breed that gets so much put up on them, so much false baggage which they must carry around like a heavy weight, bearing it anyway so they can show you their love.  What will it take for more people to believe that Pitbulls are wonderful?  We at Adopt-a-Pet.com never get tired of hearing another tale that tears down the misconceptions of Pitbulls!  Check out Scooter’s story here and read about a dog who was used to intimidate, but ultimately cast aside for her unwavering sweetness.  That is until a fabulous rescue came to save her!  From “thug” to therapy dog in training, Scooter is soaring past limitations and surprising everyone with her abilities.

Photo: Courtesy Born Again Pit Bull Rescue. Scooter, who loves to give kisses, licks Merissa Micochero, who fostered and trained her. Thanks to Micochero, Born Again Pit Bull Rescue and Scooter’s new owner, she has a new leash on life.

So many of you are heroes out there doing the same – looking beyond breed and judgments, pushing aside hype and fear, looking into the eyes of a dog and seeing their truth.  We thank you for helping pave the way for Pitbulls everywhere, and we applaud you for showing them to be who they really are!  All dogs are individuals, unique unto themselves, and dogs like Scooter remind us that love knows no breed or boundary.  If you rescue Pitbulls, foster or have adopted Pitties, we thank you for the work you do to help us celebrate these marvelous dogs!

Did you like this article? Click an icon below to share it on Facebook, Twitter, and more!

Many adopted pets settle right in to their new home without even turning around three times to lie down! But others need a little more time and help from us to get adjusted. Highly sensitive dogs and cats can be deeply affected by having been abandoned by their previous owner, and the stresses of living on the street or in a shelter. That kind of anxiety can manifest in some pretty bizarre behaviors! The good news is that there’s a lot you can do to help reassure your new pooch or feline, and get them on track to becoming your happy family pet. As animal shelter and rescue volunteers (and with our professional trainer Katya), we here at Adopt-a-Pet.com staff have a lot of first- and second-hand experience with helping newly adopted and fostered dogs and cats! We’ll be sharing some of our stories here, and what we’ve discovered works. We hope you’ll be inspired and possibly find some solutions if you’re struggling with a new pet’s adjustment. Nothing replaces the hand-on help and experience of a professional behaviorist, who can visit with you and your pet in your home and help you fast track a program to get you chugging off in the right direction. But sometimes you can’t get an appointment immediately, and are searching the internet for some ideas for things you can try right away to help… so that’s what these articles are here for! For this first article, let’s meet Dolly the dog and her adopter Tony.

Hi Jennifer,

I am kind of freaking out and wonder if you have any advice. Today while I was at school, Dolly managed to escape her metal crate. It is very sturdy, but apparently she is capable of bending the frame up. She didn’t tear anything up too bad, and the cat was contained, so mostly it is a positive story, but I am concerned about having an pet who is not yet trained and potentially destructive in the house without a way to contain her. I can see that when I leave for class for a few hours, I will have to be wondering for the foreseeable future whether or not she is doing serious damage.  Do you have any advice? She freaks out pretty bad when we aren’t here (we’ve been “leaving” and then going outside the window and looking in at her, and then returning when she appears agitated to try to get her accustomed to when we are gone). Just do you know, we’re all committed to the process. I would never give up over a few inconveniences!

Thanks Jennifer! I really appreciate it.
Tony

….

Hi Tony,

So sorry you are freaking out, but I hope it helps to hear that it is not unusual! Some shelter dogs have anxiety about being abandoned again. The good news is there is lots you can do to help her get used to your leaving, and this is a very fixable problem!
There are so many variables with each individual dog and home, without actually seeing Dolly in her home, I don’t think it is possible -or a good idea- to say “do X, Y then Z” without that in-home observation.

If you can afford it, I highly recommend hiring a professional behaviorist to come and work with you and Dolly. They will get to know her, watch her in your house, in the crate, outside your house, and will be able to give you a solid plan based on Dolly, you and your environment. In the meantime (or if you can’t afford a behaviorist) try our tips for reducing anxiety in our https://www.adoptapet.com/blog/help-your-dog-stop-crying-when-left-alone/ article and also check out the crate training article mentioned step 8. We’ve had some great feedback from people using those steps!

You might also try running a google search for: “help my dog escapes from his crate” and start reading!!! So many things you can try, I would read through as much as you can and see what fits your situation best, and this “do it yourself” method can be some (or a lot!) of trial and error depending on your dog, until you get it right.

Best wishes,
Jennifer

— One day later, Tony’s reply:

Dear Jennifer,

You know what? Things are much better. She is slowly getting used to the idea of our coming and going. Yesterday we went to the vet and she recommended a Dog Appeasement Pheromone (DAP) collar, which is a pheromone that nursing mother dogs produce to relax the babies. Is seems to be helping. We also got permission from a neighbor to use an enclosed space off both our laundry rooms during the day when we are gone. (Thank goodness for dog-friendly neighbors!) That way the crate can be reserved for sleeping and times in the house when we can’t have her leashed to our belts. 🙂 I was a little concerned being in the enclosed concrete space would remind her of the shelter, but she did great out there! The sun comes in in the afternoon, and it is even well-covered in the event of a little rain. Speaking or which, when the rain started last night at around 12:30, she did get a little vocal. I moved out onto the couch to sleep, and it calmed her right down. She is doing great-making a lot of progress very quickly! She is really going to be a terrific companion. Right now she’s dream-barking in her crate. 🙂

Thanks so much for your help!
Tony
Learn more about Jennifer, our blog author at Google+
Did you like this article? Click an icon below to share it on Facebook, Twitter, and more!

Getting adopted is tough for older animals. Would-be owners often overlook these pets for younger companions. The Black Canyon Animal Sanctuary found a perfect solution. Who needs a loyal friend and companion more than a homebound senior citizen? Who needs to be loved and cared for more than an abandoned older dog or cat? Debbie Faulkner, founder of Black Canyon Animal Sanctuary in Crawford, Colorado, recognized the unmet needs of senior people and senior pets, and started a community outreach program to bring them together. She calls it the Silver Whiskers Program.

“At Black Canyon Animal Sanctuary, Debbie takes in dogs and cats who have been abandoned or abused, and gives them the love and care they need to rehabilitate and trust people again. But even when these dogs and cats are ready to be someone’s pet, it’s not so easy to find suitable homes for them. Senior pets just aren’t as easily adopted as younger pets.

But senior pets are often an ideal match for senior citizens. Older pets are generally calmer and are already trained. But the senior adults who most need a furry companion are often unable to afford or properly care for them.

That’s where Silver Whiskers and its generous donors make the connection work. They carefully match up senior people with a senior pet who has rehabilitated at the sanctuary. Silver Whiskers covers all the costs of owning a pet, including food, supplies and veterinary care. They also provide transportation to and from the veterinarian.

A Senior Whiskers volunteer will arrange a sleepover so the pet and person can see how they like each other. Once the match is made, the senior pet has a home for as long as the senior person is able to care for him.

The benefits to the senior pets are obvious. They get a home and someone to love and care for them. They get plenty of attention because their owner is home all day.

But the benefits to senior people are even greater. A dog or cat in the home gives the person a friend to love, care for, and interact with everyday. A pet’s unpredictability breaks up stale routines and creates joyful moments of spontaneity, and provides something delightful to look forward to each day. A pet can dig up satisfying feelings that were buried – feelings of being relevant, needed and useful. A cat, with a unique personality, provides something interesting to talk about. And a dog, who will go on walks, can actually help a senior make new friends, as nothing can break the ice and invite neighborly interaction like a wagging tail.

Take a look at how well this program works in our Snouts in Your Town video. If you want to see the dogs and cats who need adopting, or want to donate to this program, go to BlackCanyonAnimalSanctuary.com.

You can find an older animal to adopt near you by doing a search on Adopt-a-Pet.com and selecting “senior” from the age drop down menu. Senior pets rock!

Did you like this article? Click an icon below to share it on Facebook, Twitter, and more!