Month: October 2012

Unfortunately, often people think of rats only as subway-station rodents or pests in their home. But rats can actually make wonderful pets! Rats are smart and friendly animals, and can in fact be very affectionate. Ideally, because of their social nature, it is best to adopt a pair of rats who get along and are of course both altered so that they cannot have a litter. Other benefits to having pet rats are that they’re quiet creatures, surprisingly clean, and generally easy to take care of. Pet rats behave differently from the feral ones you might find out in the wild. Being domesticated just like a cat or dog, pet rats don’t pose any more of a health risk than other pets. Not to mention, they’re also just super cute! You can find your own pet rat to adopt and love by clicking right here! If you’d like to read more information on these fascinating animals, check out this great article!

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UPDATED: 11:16 am PDT, Wednesday November 7th   Many people have contacted Adopt-a-Pet.com looking for opportunities to help pets and their humans affected by Hurricane Sandy.  We can’t thank you enough for wanting to help. We’ve compiled a list of resources to help you find the right volunteer or donation opportunity for you.

Make sure to use and follow hashtag #SandyPets on Twitter for a wealth of information.

First, if you’re in a hurricane-affected area and have lost your pet as a result of the storm, we have some suggestions:

1. Visit all of your local shelters.  We highly recommend a visit instead of just a phone call, because shelters may be inundated with lost pets, and the person you speak with may not have time to check all recently impounded pets to see if one matches your pet’s description.  Please go to the shelter and walk up and down the kennel aisles, talk to volunteers, and post lost pet flyers. Also, keep in mind that your pet may not be in the shelter closest to you, so visit as many shelters as you can. You can find a list here: http://www.adoptapet.com/animal-shelters.
2. Call and visit all veterinary offices in your area.  A well-meaning citizen may have brought your injured pet for treatment, or brought your pet to be scanned for a microchip.
3. Visit the Facebook page established for Hurricane Sandy Lost & Found Pets. Upload information for your lost pet, and include as much detail as possible.
4. Post a lost pet notice on Craiglist.
5. Create and hang lost-pet flyers all over your neighborhood and surrounding areas.  Post notices in veterinary offices, outside schools and grocery stores, and any other high-traffic areas.
6. If finances allow, use a service like http://findtoto.com, which will blast out phone calls to every home phone in your area.  This is obviously only useful if phone service has been restored in your area, and homes are still standing and not empty.

Volunteer:
Volunteers and foster homes are always needed, never more so than during and after a natural disaster.  Even if you live outside the disaster zone, your local shelter or rescue group may have taken in pets from shelters inside the disaster zone.  Please visit http://www.adoptapet.com/animal-shelters to find your local shelters and rescue groups, and contact them to offer your help.

State Specific Resources: (Help us add to the list.  If you know of a shelter needing help, please email us at info@cms.adoptapet.com.)

Connecticut:
–  The Little Guild of Cornwall came to the rescue of the heavily-damaged Animal Friends of Barbour County shelter in West Virginia.  The Little Guild is bringing back 80 animals (see the article in the Litchfield County Times here) to Cornwall.  They need foster homes and donations. Please support their efforts here or call (860)868-6868.

New Jersey:
–  Kinship Circle is a remarkable non-profit group. Kinship Circle volunteers have been on the ground working directly with FEMA, in areas that have been hit. They are working around the clock to save stranded animals. Adopt-a-Pet.com worked together with Kinship Circle during Hurricane Katrina, and we can say without reservation that she is completely dedicated to the animals and those concerned about them.  Information about donating and volunteering here.
–   Alley Cat Allies is working to help the famed feral cats of the Boardwalk.  They say they’ve been overwhelmed with offers to volunteer and now have more people than they need.  You can donate to help the relief effort here.
–  The New Jersey SPCA (http://www.njspca.org/) is available to help anyone with pets needing assistance.  (Call 855)-407-4787.
–  Liberty Humane Society (http://libertyhumane.org/) was hit hard by the storm.  They need volunteers and donations of food and cat litter (and, of course, cash donations are most appreciated). Visit their Facebook page for up-to-the-minute information.
–   Morris County pet friendly hotels and shelter info – http://www.nj.com/morris/index.ssf/2012/10/morris_county_parsippany_can_t.html
– Cape-Atlantic Citizens Altering The Strays (C.A.T.S.)  @ Mew To You, 959 Asbury AVenue, Ocean City NJ 08226. Phone: 609-399-4228.  “Downtown Ocean City was flooded during the hurricane and 2 feet of water came into our thrift shop which supports our cat rescue operation and our two adoption rooms.  The cats and kittens were evacuated on Monday and all are safe. We are cleaning up and have restoration people working so we can get back in operation as quickly as possible. The cats lost all their cat trees, scratchers, toys.  We need funds to help replace washer, dryer, hot water heater which were destroyed.  People can donate by going to Capeatlanticcats.com where there is a paypal link or send a check. Anyone local who can come help with the cleanup is welcome, we’re here every day from 9-5.”
– Humane Society of Atlantic County contacted us on November 8th: “We had flooding throughout our entire facility and have been making repairs and replacing ruined supplies/medications since the storm, but there is a long way to go. Right now, our needs are Lowe’s/Home Depot gift cards, laundry detergent/fabric softener, paper towels, bleach, heavy-duty trash bags, hand soap/hand sanitizer, cleaning supplies, canned cat food, and monetary donations.  PayPal donations can be made at http://tinyurl.com/hsacsandyfund and checks/supplies can be mailed to 1401 Absecon Blvd. Atlantic City, NJ 08401.  Thank you for your help!”
– Seer Farms. Located in Jackson, NJ, Seer Farms is working with NJ’s statewide emergency animal response team to rescue animals from the devastation and keep them safe until they are able to be reunited with their families. People who have been temporarily displaced from their homes and have a pet should contact Seer Farms at email info@seerfarms.org or call 732-928-1804 if they need their animals temporarily placed. For more information or to make a donation go www.facebook.com/SeerFarms – look for the link there to their Amazon wish list for items they currently need to care and house for Sandy pets.

New York:
–   If you live in New York and left your pets behind due to the storm, call the New York City Animal Planning Task Force’s 24-hour hotline for help: 347-573-1561
–  North Shore Animal League America is providing medical care and attention to evacuated animals.  They’re also taking in animals from other shelters that have been damaged or evacuated.  Learn more here.
– Purina donated $20,000 donation to North Shore Animal League for their Mobile Rescue Units and Emergency Pet Shelter which is housing evacuated animals; and Purina donated $15,000 to “PetSmart Charities, which has set up a temporary distribution center to hand out food, litter and supplies to animal welfare organizations across the entire northeastern United States.” Read more here. http://www.petsmartcharities.org/events-news/press-releases/pci-provides-emergency-relief-to-pets-affected-by-hurricane-sandy.html
–  Another organization doing great work at the center of this disaster is The Humane Society of New York.  Donate here.
– Anarchy Animal Rescue in Staten Island, NY say: “We lost our food and pet supplies in the area they were stored due to hurricane Sandy. We have over 50 animals that need help! We are asking people to donate: Food, Wee wee pads, Blankets, Beds, Leashes, collars and harnesses. Thank you!” You can contact them via Facebook at www.Facebook.com/anarchyanimalrescue to make a physical donation, offer to foster a Sandy pet, or donate funds via PayPal at www.anarchyanimalrescue.org
– Byram Animal Rescue Kindness Squad, Inc  (BARKS) in Sussex County NJ.  “We are currently looking to buy a gasoline powered generator to run a facility.  Sandy has been a devastating storm that has affected hundreds of shelters and rescues in our area.  Our main shelter is still without line power 11 days into this.  Many of our foster homes are still without, while others have been restored.  This generator would be a huge deal for us, and some donations for Sandy have already come in over the internet, so we have established a fund for this project.” Donate at http://www.barksinc.com

– Westchester County residents seeking additional information can visit http://emergencyservices.westchestergov.com/animal-response-team

– Emergency veterinary services are available:
Yonkers at Animal Medical Center, 914-457-4000
Veterinary Specialty center and ER in Hudson Valley, 845.632.3200 www.vschv.com
Katonah-Bedford Veterinary Center, 914-241-7700 www.vcahospitals.com/katonah-bedford

Maryland:
–  Baltimore Animal Rescue and Care Center is in need of foster homes to help with the vast amount of homeless pets they’ve taken in after Sandy.  See the news report here, and find information here.

Pennsylvania:
–  The Red Paw Relief Team is in need of donations to continue their relief work.  They’re also posting volunteer opportunities on their Facebook page.
–  Pennsylvania’s County Animal Response Teams are hard at work.  To find out more, to volunteer, donate, and to learn about specific shelters in need of help, visit their web site.

West Virginia:
–  The Animal Friends of Barbour County sustained major damage due to the hurricane.  They are badly in need of volunteers and donations.  Visit their Facebook page for updates.

 

 

Start your day with a happy adoption smile! Here’s a story sent to us from an adopter who used Adopt-a-Pet.com’s free Search Saver email service to find their new furry friend! (Want to help spread the joy of pet adoption by sharing your happy beginnings story with our readers? Email your adopted pet story and photo to info@cms.adoptapet.com.) Here’s the email we received heartwarming photos from Bruce: “Hi Adopt-a-Pet.com, We lost our male Cairn Terrier about a year ago and waited to start looking for a new one and decided we should get a female. He was the “boss” over Ivan and Buddy, so I signed up for the search notification. When I got the email I forwarded it to my wife and we decided to go for her. As it turns out she looks very much like a female Cairn-mix we had for many years.  Mandy has a great personality and she has been actively exploring all over the house. She has had a few accidents but has been quick to learn what “going outside” means. When the boys head for the door, she is right there with them. She is enjoying all the toys the boys have to chew on and play with and has made a route through the rooms that she tears around at full speed daring the guys to catch her. Very funny to watch. I was impressed with the care taken by your folks for the animals and the follow-ups to make sure all was well. We are happy with Mandy and the adoption process. BTW – Both Ivan and Buddy are also adopted; Ivan at 6 months from PetSmart and I got Buddy at 3 months when I worked in Greece. He became a Texan in 2009 when he was 6 years old. Regards, Bruce.”

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Did you know many shelters and rescues will not adopt out black cats before Halloween, some even banning black cat adoptions for the entire month of October? These homeless cat organizations believe that black cats are the most likely target of Satanic rituals that take place around Halloween, and feel it is more humane to limit black cat adoptions than risk that type of horrible end.  Are they believing made-up horror stories, or are there facts fueling the fears?  How do shelters and rescues that do allow black cat adoptions ensure their black cats are being adopted by loving homes where they will be safe?

The fact is, sadly, animals are killed in rituals in almost every community in the US. I worked at an animal control agency for 10 years where I heard first-hand accounts from animal control officers who were called to investigate ritually killed and discarded animals of all kinds. This was in a suburban area of Los Angeles! Just like other types of animal cruelty, it can happen anywhere. When I first started working at this shelter, they would not adopt out black cats for the entire month of October, telling adopters to come back after November 1st. Unfortunately, the limitation on an easy supply of black cats did not slow down the (rare but ongoing) animal sacrifices. The criminals simply switched to other colors and types of animals they could obtain for free. So the shelter adjusted their black cat policy to allow people to adopt black cats at any time – with the condition that if they adopted them in the few weeks prior to Halloween, they could not pick them up until after October 31st.

In speaking to and listening to shelters and rescues around the country talk about the challenges of adopting out black cats near Halloween, I’ve learned almost every shelter and every rescue handles the situation differently, depending on what they feel works best for their facility and their community. Fortunately  the shelter where I worked had the resources (space & staff time) to be able to set aside black cats adopted in October without negatively impacting the lives of other cats in their care, while trying to keep them healthy and happy during their wait. Other shelters are not so fortunate in their resources, and it is a tough balancing act weighing the welfare of all the cats in their care and once they are adopted out into the community.

What can you do to keep your cat safe, and help black cats in general?

1. Help bust the myths! One of the most pervasive untrue myths is that black cats are bad luck… actually in England, if a black cat crosses your path, that is considered a GOOD omen!
2. Help black cats be adopted because black cats are least likely color of cat  to be adopted from a shelters. Especially in darker cages, they are easy for a human’s eyes to pass over. But black cats can be just as wonderful as any color cat! There are even some studies that have found that cats of a particular color often share similar personality traits. Black cats are very likely to be social, gentle, smart, play-loving feline friends. (Living proof: my darling foster cat in the photo above.) Their elegance is undeniable – they are always ‘dressed’ for a fabulous formal party, often with a pair of sparkling emerald or golden jewel eyes as the perfect accessories. Beautiful!
3. Black cats, just like any cat, are not a decoration. Some shelters who lift their black cat adoption ban find they run into another problem: black cats adopted and then returned after Halloween.
4. Keep ALL cats and other pets safely inside your home, especially the weeks before Halloween.

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You may have thought about acupuncture for yourself or somebody you know, but have you thought about it for your pets? Acupuncture is an alternative medicine originating in ancient China that treats patients by inserting thin needles into specific pressure points in the skin. This Eastern therapy has been used for hundreds of years as a way to relieve pain and improve health issues in humans. But lately it’s been catching on that acupuncture  can also be applied to help animals overcome ailments. Recently there has been an increase in the study and practice of veterinary acupuncture. This is great news for anyone who has a pet with chronic pain or even anxiety problems. I have a friend who has been taking her senior German Shepherd mix to acupuncture treatments for months now because of her dog’s troubling hip dysplasia. I’m happy to report in her case it’s been helping immensely. Another buddy of mine swears to its benefit on her cat’s overall behavior.

Many pet owners bring their animals in to veterinary acupuncturists for help with pain management, enhancing mobility, or relaxation tips, among various other reasons. Click here to read a fascinating article about the three most commonly utilized acupuncture points used in pets, what they address, where they are located on your furry friends, and also where they’re found on you! Who knows? Maybe you could benefit from some acupuncture too.

Although we’re glad to know this knew service is out there, you’ll want to do your research and make sure you visit a true professional if acupuncture is something you would like to consider. As with all treatments, its success is on a case by case basis, and you should seek the counsel of your veterinarian or doctor before making any decisions. It’s better to be safe than sorry when it comes to you and your pet!

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We were very honored to be the recipient of not just one, but two awards at The Stray Cat Club charity gala in Beverly Hills this weekend! While we believe the staff, volunteers, and donors who make animal rescue possible are heroes that deserve awards every day, we were filled with gratitude when an organization that works so hard through their extraordinary contributions to end the feral cat crisis in Los Angeles county chose Adopt-a-Pet.com to accept these awards. The first award was from The Stray Cat Alliance themselves, a beautiful engraved plaque that you see at right. It says “The Stray Cat Alliance Is Proud To Honor Adopt-A-Pet.com For Your Extraordinary Dedication To The Well-Being Of All Animals.” How cool is that? Christi Metropol the founder of The Stray Cat Alliance presented the award on stage to me which I accepted on behalf of all of us at Adopt-a-Pet.com, in front of hundreds of animal welfare supporters. The second award was a surprise! I’d already stepped down off the stage (and my pounding heart was just returning to normal) when I heard our name called again! This time it was by Councilmember Paul Koretz, who presented Adopt-a-Pet.com with a Certificate of Recognition from the City of Los Angeles and the State of California. What a proud  moment!

The gala was a fundraising event for The Stray Cat Alliance, with what must have been over 200 silent auction prizes that people could bid for online as well as at the event. They did a live auction too, and a call out for donations, which raised over $30,000 in a few minutes! All these funds will go into the spay and neuter programs The Stray Cat Alliance runs in targeted areas of Los Angeles, providing free surgeries and medical care for any cat, stray, feral, or owned. Los Angeles has a huge cat care crisis and is very fortunate to have organizations like The Stray Cat Alliance working so hard to provide the care Los Angeles’s cats need.

Adding some lighthearted fun to the event was that it was costumes optional! Of course I went as a cat, and who did I get to meet but the Cat Daddy himself, Jackson Galaxy. (Photo below.) Fortunately, I was well behaved so they didn’t need to call on his cat whispering super powers, but it was great to see him and so many other cat welfare advocates out supporting such a great cause.

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A few weeks ago, a dedicated Southern California rescuer, Claudia Hoffman, got a troubling phone call. Two stray dogs were seen out on a barren field in Carson, CA. Left all on their on, one was a large female Mastiff and the other a little black Terrier-Chihuahua mix. Apparently they had been there for a while according to the neighbors who were kindly providing them with food and water. These dogs, likely dumped and discarded, were very shy; they would not get close to people and would run away when approached. Claudia knew a strategy would be needed in order to trap this pair and bring them to safety. Her goal was to take them off of the streets and into a warm home where they would enjoy the good life they deserved as part of a family.

Claudia put a plea out to all the Southern California rescuers she knew and asked for support from the local community. With so many animal advocates and rescue groups in the Los Angeles area, one might think that pet overpopulation is not an issue there. But it is. It’s indeed a big problem in this part of the country, although many passionate people are involved in trying to help put an end to the overwhelming number of homeless pets in LA County. Since everyone has different tactics, opinions, and beliefs, sadly working together does not always happen among the animal loving community. Being an emotional topic and with a wide array of personalities who are involved, sometimes even in this arena it’s unfortunately difficult for people to come together and collaborate in order to be most effective.

Despite this trend, Claudia knew she could not help these animals alone. She needed people to assist in the mission and stand alongside the fence near the field so that she could ensure that both the Mastiff and the Terrier mix wouldn’t escape. To her great pleasure, her call was not only heard but answered. Over forty people from all walks of animal rescue life showed up at eight on a Sunday morning to help capture these dogs. With such a large turnout of helpers, Claudia was able to coordinate teams, carpool volunteers to the location, and delegate tasks efficiently. Though at first the pups tried to get away, the fence was blocked by so many people. When the female Mastiff grew tired of attempting to run, she finally let herself be leashed, and her little boyfriend soon followed.

Here’s a little story to put a smile on your face, because who doesn’t love reading happy adoption stories? (You can email us yours with photos to info@cms.adoptapet.com too!) Today’s Happy Beginnings happy adoption story just a very short note. We usually love hearing all the details about the pet’s personality, the adoption experience, and all the other juicy details. But sometimes there is an exception, and when they say a photo is worth a thousand words, they must have been thinking about Diamond’s three happy adoption photos! His adopter writes: “Thanks to Adopt-a-Pet.com, I found Diamond at the Barc Shelter in June. She has a wonderful home and we love each other equally unconditionally. We take a long walk every day and short walks in between. She loves to go to the beach and jump the waves and run and loves her baths afterwards. She is a wonderful little companion and she is happy… and I am happier! Thank you for bringing Diamond to me, Suzanne.” See Diamond’s other two photos below. Thank you Suzanne, for adopting a pet, and sharing your story!

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Yes, I want to hear about Mitt Romney’s tax plan.  And, yes, I’m very interested in Obamacare.  And foreign policy.  And the deficit.  And the mortgage crisis.  But there’s another topic I’m just as interested in, one I’d like both presidential candidates to be asked about at the next debate: how to solve our national companion animal crisis.  Namely, how to remake a system that wastes hundreds of millions of taxpayer dollars on housing, and ultimately killing, millions of healthy dogs, cats and other companion animals.

Perhaps some of you just rolled your eyes, but I’m guessing not many.  After all, according to theAmerican Pet Products Association’s National Pet Owner’s Survey in 2011, 62% of all American households include at least one pet. There are over 78 million owned dogs and 86 million owned cats (“owned”, meaning not a stray, currently for sale, or awaiting adoption in an animal shelter or rescue organization).  In 2011, Americans spent $51 BILLION on our companion animals, the highest expenditure ever, even in the face of global recession.  In short, we Americans love our pets.  And many of us spoil them rotten.

But just like with the ubiquitous “99%”, inside the pet population, there are clearly the “haves” and “have-nots.” The ASPCA estimates that 5 to 7 million companion animals enter animal shelters each year. 3 to 4 million of those, the majority of whom are healthy and adoptable, are killed for lack of space, or because they slowly became unadoptable after living in the high-stress environment of a shelter for a period of time.  This is unacceptable to anyone who cares, who acknowledges the positive effects of sharing our homes and our hearts with those who have paws (or wings).  If you’ve ever cried into the fur of your beloved dog or cat, you know that this method of dealing with homeless animals must stop.  As Mahatma Gandhi famously said, “The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way in which its animals are treated.”  What does it say about our national morality that we find it acceptable, if sad, to take the lives of innocent creatures, creatures full of potential to love and be loved, to be a best friend and family member, but who instead leave the shelter in a trash can?

And then there are the tangible fiscal issues.  The candidates are debating cutting miniscule funding for Big Bird while governments in every city and county in the nation pour taxpayer dollars into the rounding up, housing, and killing of innocent animals.  That money could be used to help underserved kids, Mr. Obama, or refunded to taxpayers, Mr. Romney.  Furthermore, when nearly every state in the union is operating at a deficit, it creates a drain on the federal government. It’s in our national interest to stop this wasteful, irresponsible spending at the state level.

Before I cast my vote next month, I’d like to know where the candidates stand on this issue.  Currently, of course, all companion-animal laws are enacted at the state or local level.  There is nothing, however, that precludes our national politicians from having an opinion on states issues, and from putting forth ideas on how to solve them (and, if you need examples of that, see same-sex marriage, Roe v Wade, and other issues that are active at both a national and state level).  Both candidates own, or have owned, companion animals (I can hear all those Seamus-on-the-roof or Obama dog-eating comments now), and I assume they both love their dogs.  Disclosing their stances on the companion animal crisis will tell us a lot about these two men: their capacity for compassion, their problem-solving abilities, their willingness to acknowledge a problem that affects millions who don’t have a voice of their own, but are every bit as much a part of the American fabric as you or I.

On behalf of the millions of Americans who care about this issue, and on behalf of the millions of companion animals who will not survive their time in a shelter this year, I ask that this subject be broached at the next Presidential debate on Tuesday, October 16th.

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We all love fairy tales. Especially when the stories come true. Meet Seth, a typical Cinderella story as he went from being a sweet shelter pup to a valuable wildlife detection dog. Because of his incredible focus, attention and perseverance, especially when it came to tennis balls, Seth was chosen by his handler to do conservation work. Recently this area of environmental studies has increased the number of canine helpers being used to help conduct research, especially when it comes to field work. When Allison Bidlack, Ph.D. ‘07, learned that others had made the switch from human to canine assistants, she knew it was time to find her own wildlife detection friend to help her search for animal deposits. And that’s when her and Seth found one another and he became her adopted companion.

One of the advantages to having a furry assistant is that – whereas humans rely on what they see – dogs use their keen sniffing abilities to detect and distinguish various droppings. In the name of research, animals can be incredibly effective due to their specific skill sets, as well as each dog’s particular strengths and weaknesses. We just love that Bidlack and many of her colleagues are adopting pooches to help them do their own professional work, providing these pets not only with a second chance but also with an important job. Click here to read more about how Allison found Seth, and how others are rescuing dogs to serve important roles.

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