You know it’s true love when…
RedandHowling: Musings on Dogs, Cats & Other Bundles of Love.
Month: January 2024
New Cartoon: Unkind
New Cartoon: The Dog Nose Knows
Photos of smiling pets
We love photos of smiling pets! Our friends over at Petcentric posted pics of 7 smiling pets here, and we have to agree, pet smiles are contagious! We’ve added a seven smiling dog and cat photos of our own below. Pets sometimes smile with their eyes, but in these photos we think their grins are pretty visible too! Petcentric says, “Check out their adorable warm, furry grins, and get ready to smile. Whether it’s getting a new toy, taking a long walk or enjoying a little extra cuddle time on the couch, pets have a lot to smile about. The best part about pet smiles is that they make people smile, too. Check out these adorable cat and dog smiles that are sure to leave you grinning.” If you have a photo of your adopted pet smiling, why not share with other pet people to inspire them to adopt a pet too! You can do that on the Petcentric Facebook page here.
All photos above are of adopted pets taken by me, Jennifer Warner Jacobsen, Director of Shelter Programs, Adopt-a-Pet.com.
New Cartoon: Weekend Pep Talk
This MUST be the pre-weekend pep talk all of the dogs have, right? They are just sooo good at squeezing right into the center of the bed. Aren’t they? LOL!
RedandHowling: Musings on Dogs, Cats & Other Bundles of Love.
Play the Purina® Prize Bowl
Getting ready for the big game this weekend? Or have no idea what we’re talking about? Either way, you can have some super fun and a chance at scoring big in the Purina® Prize Bowl Instant Win Game! The Game began at 12:00:01 p.m. ET on 1/22/14 and runs through 3:00:01 p.m. ET on 2/12/14 so there’s plenty of time to play, and you can play once a day too, for some pretty paw-some prizes to pamper your pet and help you clean up after your pets and your party! Visit PureLoveForPets.com and follow the on-screen instructions to register for the Game. Once registered, you’ll be invited to play the Prize Bowl Instant Win Game, where you use the mouse or touch pad on your computer or mobile device to click or rub off the shaded area of the interactive game piece on-screen to reveal whether or not you are a potential winner. If you have more questions, visit the game site’s FAQ click here for more information! Game on!
New Dog Safety Book: For Dog's Sake!
This handy life-saving book, “For Dog’s Sake!” is by our co-founder, the artist behind Red and Howling. It’s a goldmine of information that all dog parents need, from how to perform the Heimlich Maneuver on a pet who is choking to understanding the hidden dangers that lurk in our homes. Best of all, purchase the book between now and the end of June and 20% of the author’s proceeds will go directly to helping sick and injured shelter pets through Adopt-a-Pet.com’s Veterinary Care Fund.
Get the book! www.ForDogsSake.Rocks
New Cartoon: When I see…
October 29 is National Cat Day
Black cats are always the last to go at adoption shelters – especially around Halloween. Until now. October 29 is a new worldwide holiday: National Cat Day! a holiday to celebrate cats for their unconditional love and companionship, and to welcome those in need into our lives through animal rescue. Remember, however, that black cats need extra protection around Halloween. Here are a few simple tips to keep your kitty safe. And adoption shortfalls don’t end with black cats. More cats than dogs are euthanized every year, mostly because they usually arrive at shelters without any owner identification. The Animal Miracle Network estimates that approximately 4 million cats enter shelters every year, and 1 to 2 million of them are euthanized.
The primary goal of National Cat Day is to facilitate 10,000 incremental adoptions of shelter cats nationwide on October 29. This will be the first year that the Animal Miracle Network attempts to track the numbers for cats, but similar National Dog Day initiatives in the past have exceeded the goal by more than 12,000 dogs.
National Cat Day founder Colleen Paige explains, “We put a lot of manpower into communicating with our affiliate event promoters and shelters around the country that signed up to participate. We’ll only take credit for the numbers we directly receive from our adoption sources.”
You can still help homeless cats on National Cat Day if you’re unable to take on another pet. Visit a local animal shelter and offer to volunteer by cleaning cages or playing with the cats. You could also host your own event such as a bake sale and donate the proceeds to a shelter in honor of National Cat Day.
If you’re already a proud cat owner, take some time on National Cat Day to show your pet how much you appreciate her. Paige recommends spoiling her with treats or a new litter box, or simply showing her some love. “In this difficult economy, if all you can afford is time, spend some of it with your furry feline,” recommends Paige. “That’s more important to them then all the catnip in the world.”
If you’re looking to give a homeless cat a loving home, visit Petcentric’s Adopt-a-Pet.com-powered pet search tool to meet your new best friend. With pet adoption, you’ll find that National Cat Day will be the first of countless great ones to come.
Colleen Paige is the Editor-in-Chief of Pet Home magazine. Visit www.nationalcatday.com and www.colleenpaige.com for more information.
This post is brought to you by…
On May 7th and 8th Find Love at Your Local Petco Store During the Mutts Adoption Event Weekend!
Inspired by Patrick McDonnell’s heartwarming comic strip MUTTS featuring Mooch and Earl, the Mutts Adoption Event – brought to you by the Petco Foundation – celebrates the love that can change the world for pets without a home. And your life just might be changed too! During this national event, thousands of pets will be waiting for you at Petco and Unleashed by Petco stores across the country, waiting for a home… waiting for the love that will change their lives. Who knows—you might find your very own Mooch or Earl and fall in love!
Why MUTTS in May? Recently award-winning artist and animal advocate Patrick McDonnell, creator of the MUTTS comic strip, turned a visit to New York City’s public open-admission animal shelter, Animal Care Centers of NYC, into a week’s worth of MUTTS comics called ‘Shelter Stories’. He focused on not just the animals in the shelter, but the selfless volunteers, the incredibly caring staff, and future pet parents that came in looking to fill their heart with love. Patrick captured the essence of love in not only the animal’s eyes, but also in their new pet parents and families hearts.
Patrick’s journey is featured on Shelter Me, an inspiring series that celebrates shelter pets by telling positive and uplifting stories, proudly supported by the Petco Foundation. Check your local PBS station or visit shelterme.tv for airtimes then visit your Petco store to begin your own story.
Cartoonist Patrick McDonnell’s Experience at New York City Animal Shelter Inspires his MUTTS comic strip, “Shelter Stories” from Steven Latham on Vimeo.
The Petco Foundation believes love has the power to change everything. How has love changed you? Share your stories on Facebook and Twitter with the hashtag #lovechangeseverything!