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It’s not that uncommon for veterinary students to help out at their local animal shelter, trading their time and skills for hands-on learning experiences. But typically the time they spend is as interns or assisting the vet staff, practicing drawing blood, handling animals, and other medicine-related tasks. However veterinary students at the University of Florida in Gainesville took their mission to help animals to another level!

Sophomore veterinary student Lauren Gray was at the Alachua County shelter almost daily last summer. As she collected blood samples from cats for the research project, she realized the overcrowding was resolved by euthanasia. “It was heartbreaking to see a cat one day and not see him the next,” Gray says.

When Levy learned that healthy, adoptable animals were meeting this fate due to a lack of space and lack of adopters, she turned to Lauren Unger, a third-year veterinary student and president of the shelter medicine club. Levy proposed that Unger consider leading an adopt-a-thon, with the goal of finding homes for the animals. “I wasn’t sure it was feasible,” Unger says. “It wasn’t the best time of year because many students had already left for the summer.” After thinking it over, Unger accepted the challenge. She encouraged club members, saying, “At least we can try.”

You can find out what happened next by reading the rest of their story that was published in the Rally To Rescue magazine by clicking here.

Written by Katya Friedman – I always thought of myself as tolerant and kind, someone who’s willing to work for and on the important things in life.  I considered myself a dedicated person, a problem solver, a hurtle jumper.  But all that came in to question when we first brought home Feebe. Over three years ago, while volunteering at the South Los Angeles Animal Shelter, I fell in love with a Shepherd mix who was being surrendered to the shelter because her owner “didn’t have time for her anymore.”  I’d seen so many Shepherds (and other animals) coming in to the shelter and they all break my heart, but for some reason, unclear to me still, this dog captured my attention like no other.  As she was being dumped at the shelter, she looked right into my eyes, I looked right into hers, and just like that she became my dog.  I knew I would not let anything happen to her. It felt like she took hold of my love in an instant.  Looking back now, I know she chose me to be hers.

Feebe, as my husband and I named her once we adopted her, is a beautiful dog.  You’d think she would be an easy adoption as she’s quite stunning really.  But she had some behavior problems, and while we were excited about saving her life, from the moment we brought her home those issues arose: she had never been inside a house before due to having been a guard dog her whole life so she had separation anxiety being about left alone; she had a vision problem that caused her to be jumpy at times when friends came over; and worst of all, she exhibited some aggression towards my other dog.  We were concerned about what to do and devastated to realize this was the case.

Let me take a moment to say that NOT all animals at shelters have behavioral or medical issues – far from it.  In over four years of spending time at shelters, I have found that most of the animals do not.  Homeless pets are loving, lovable, healthy, and balanced animals who have every right to find happy forever homes, as much as any other animal does.  Although the shelter is a world of hurt for them, once they are out and in homes, their resilience and ability to shake off the anxiety is amazing.  It’s incredible how their true characters come out and how quickly they thrive off love, stability, and security.  They just need a family to belong to, and a home to call their own.

As a shelter volunteer, I try to focus on matchmaking people with the most well-adjusted and well-suited animals to adopt, and there is never a shortage to choose from.  It was not my fate, however, to find such a dog for myself.  I believe I was meant to connect with Feebe. I believe the teacher comes when the student is ready.  And boy, has Feebe been my teacher.  Though at first I was not sure we could handle it, I’m proud to say I’ve learned that I am really the loyal and solution-oriented person I thought I was.

Not everyone is ready or able to handle a dog with issues, but as the mother to a furry firebrand, I can wholeheartedly tell you that there are so many invaluable benefits to adopting, or even fostering, a challenging animal. It has not always been easy and it has required large doses of patience and understanding; but the gains have far outweighed the costs when it comes down to Feebe and saving her life.  If you are willing and able to help a challenging pet overcome their issues and live up to their fullest potential, I promise you it will enhance your life and be worth your while.

Resilience, Commitment and Dedication.

From the get go, our alarm caused my husband and I to try everything.  We read books, we sought out trainers and group classes, we asked owners of other challenging dogs, we went on lots of walks with Feebe.  We worked hard with her, spending lots of time with her and getting to know her personality, her communication signals, and her triggers.  There were improvements as we began to see Feebe’s anxiety subside, while her joy increased.  There were also setbacks and times when we felt more discouraged than ever, but all in all we knew we could not give up on Feebe.  Thankfully we never did.  Taking her back to the shelter was never an option, and we knew that the rescue groups around us were scampering to save so many other lives.  So Feebe was ours, for better or for worse, and we decided it was for the better.

We read that dogs take a little bit of time to adjust to a new home.  Being true pack animals, when a dog comes into her new home, she’s not only trying to find out who the new people and animals are but also who she’s supposed to be in this new pack.  It can be a very scary time for some dogs, and for Feebe it was definitely difficult.  Yet by giving her a routine, structure, boundaries, and love, all of those fears and uncertainties began to melt away.  Having compassion for her past, for her mistakes, and being patient and kind about teaching her a whole new lifestyle and set of behaviors started to visibly pay off.  It took commitment and dedication, but we made a vow that day we brought her home to keep her with us and keep her safe.  We began to work at finding a way that we could all reside happily together.  We kept each other going, and she kept us going too.

Noticing and celebrating progress.

My husband and I felt that it was our job to set Feebe up to succeed, not to fail.  All pets are individuals, and for her this was how we could love her best.  We did not put her in situations we felt she did not yet know how to handle, or scenarios that would provoke or frighten her.  So many negative pet behaviors in dogs come from fears and insecurities about the unknown.  We promised to Feebe and to one another that we would protect her as much as we could from the things that made her regress, and gradually help her develop her coping skills.

We worked with a few trainers (many trainers are open to price cuts for rescue dogs, which is so great!) and used positive reinforcement to teach her.  Through continual drills and consistency, and because she is so smart and eager to please, we saw results immediately.  Manners were being cultivated and Feebe’s mind was being stimulated, something that is beneficial for most dogs especially Shepherds.

Stopping to smell the roses became vital for Feebe’s growth.  We noticed the small achievements and celebrated her progress.  Many dog owners notice when their dogs are practicing behaviors they don’t want, but Feebe taught us that paying attention to the behaviors we do want makes all the difference.  We learned more and more not only about dog behavior, but also about her and her character.  We realized that when we focused on the good, those behaviors seemed to strengthen.  I’ve been told that whatever we focus on grows and in the case for Feebe, when we caught her accomplishing feats and gave her our energy when she behaved well, those actions did in fact get stronger and she blossomed.

Learning how to make lemonade.

Although Feebe was getting better every day – the separation anxiety had subsided, we taught her how to properly meet people who were strangers to her, she was solid on her commands, and she was able to coexist peacefully with my other dog – there were still some problematic triggers for her.  As much as we tried, she never would be a dog-park dog or be alright being hugged by a big gruff man she didn’t know, even if that man was a relative of ours.  She needed certain boundaries respected and upheld, and we would always need to utilize our proper greeting rituals and calming crate time in order to keep her feeling comfortable.

Eventually, it was a matter of us letting go of wanting Feebe to be the dog we wanted her to be, and instead accepting her for the dog she is.  When we did that we began to recognize the tremendous amount of love and gratitude this one sweet pooch could give us.  There were some things she could do better than other dogs – she could run and jump like the best of them! – however she had limitations too.  It turned out Feebe had strengths and weaknesses, just like we all do, and learning how to manage those and support her allowed us to focus on her strengths and appreciate her for who she is.

An indescribable feeling of pride.

Today, over three years later, Feebe can go to doggie day care!  Watching her play with other dogs is still thrilling for me, knowing she has learned how to play and communicate appropriately with other canines.  She spent many of her years not knowing how to be around other dogs, and we are filled with pride when watching her enjoy their company.  Feebe also loves sleeping on her lavender-smelling dog bed (lavender is a natural calming scent) when we leave the house, and there are no longer barks, whines or destructive behaviors.  Those days were long gone once she knew she was safe.  She can trust that we will love her forever and ever, and as cheesy as it sounds, I am certain that she knows she can count on that.

There are no words to describe the amount of gratitude we feel knowing we have helped Feebe live up to her greatest potential, helping her to become the best dog she can be.  Bad habits have been curbed because we did the work with her.  Good habits have replaced them.  She is not perfect – neither are you or I, nor any other dog.  But she is good enough. She is good enough just being her goofball self, doing the best she can with our help, and she has enriched our lives exceedingly.  We got out what we put in, and that is always what it takes every time.  We cannot expect these animals to teach themselves or to come knowing how we want them to live in our homes – and thankfully, we get to build our own personal characters as human beings while we help them flourish.

Unconditional Love.

The best gift for me in having a challenging dog has been grasping the true meaning of unconditional love.  We have learned to love Feebe no matter what.  When she slips up, when she digresses, when she is imperfect.  She has taught us that she is worth loving no matter what, worth fighting for no matter what, and worth working with despite her challenges.  We still separate our dogs when we are not home, we still have to give a little extra care when it comes to Feebe, but it is still worth it.  It’s not that bad, it’s doable, and in the end, we get to fulfill the promise we made to her when we walked her out those shelter doors. A person who is true to her word – that is the kind of person I want to be.

In exchange, Feebe loves us unconditionally too, even when we mess up or are anything less than our best selves.  Maybe if we looked at it another way, she’s not a challenging dog but we’re challenging people?  If you can help a homeless pet in need recover and rehabilitate, if you can offer love and benevolent leadership to help them thrive, I guarantee you the challenges will be beyond meaningful.  You just might be able to surpass your wildest imagination in terms of what you can do for another being and learn what you’re really made of.

Here’s an article from Mamapedia about the lessons special needs animals can teach us, written by Katya, the Director of Partnerships and Promotions for Adopt-a-Pet.com. Maryam Faresh and Bruce Meade have five rescued animals, three cats and two dogs. Two of their five, Daisy and Louie, are special needs pets. They have always rescued animals and appreciated them, but Daisy and Louie have opened their eyes and hearts to a whole new way of rescue.

Louie came to Maryam and Bruce, an eight-month old young kitty with a cast on one back leg and the other back leg’s paw newly amputated. Louie had been born on the streets, and the kind vet who rescued him said he would take care of all the vet bills if they would give him a home. Maryam and Bruce didn’t think twice and welcomed Louie in with open arms.

Louie didn’t realize his limitations; he tried to do things other cats could do like jumping on the bed or on a shelf, but he couldn’t. Maryam and Bruce began to care for Louie: they placed their bed mattress on the floor, lowered any shelves that may be tempting for him to jump on, and would take turns scratching behind his ear to keep him comfy and let him know he was loved! They researched special needs cats online and read up on how to best take care of him. As Louie struggled with everyday normal activities, even getting in and out of the litter box, Maryam and Bruce tried their best, learning as they went along, just like Louie did. He began to thrive.

As time passed Maryam and Bruce found themselves turning to Louie for inspiration. Louie never stopped trying, he never gave up. He learned his limitations, and then, would push through them. Maryam and Bruce see Louie as an amazing spirit to have in their home, a daily reminder of the power of perseverance and fearlessness! And then they met Daisy…

Daisy was born blind and deaf and was passed through three homes before finding Maryam and Bruce. She bonded instantly with their three year old dog, Olivia, but could not bond with them. The first two nights Daisy was up all hours of the night pacing and barking and they knew they needed help with her extreme nervousness.

They soon learned that deafblind animals are very different than just deaf or just blind. The first step was for Maryam and Bruce to understand Daisy’s need for a strict schedule; this would be her life force. Next was they worked on getting Daisy to accept their touch. It took eight months for Daisy to bond with them, and they worked with her day and night. Daisy was not the kind of dog who easily responded to cuddling and kisses…and Maryam spent many nights in tears feeling as if somehow she was failing as a pet parent. But she and Bruce didn’t give up.

One evening the couple went to a friend’s party and they had their three-month old white Labrador Retriever who was of course the life of the party. The guests were cooing over the puppy and his responsiveness and playfulness with everyone! But Maryam kept thinking: What about a dog like Daisy? What about Daisy? When they took Daisy outside people would just stare at her eyes and her obvious blindness and other dogs would pick fights with her due to her disabilities. Maryam and Bruce realized their duty was to love Daisy just as she was, and to make other people understand her greatness.

In one night everything changed – Daisy stopped resisting and the bond was made. It would only grow stronger from there. Maryam and Bruce cried with joy and since then Daisy has learned how to cuddle, kiss, climb stairs, visit new locations and even learn how to swim! Daisy’s strength, joy for life and perseverance is something Bruce and Maryam would never trade for the world. You can view some of Daisy’s amazing accomplishments here.

Maryam is a now strong advocate for special needs animals, and tries to help people understand that special needs can come in many forms: emotional or physical or both. She promotes positive messaging about special needs animals and wants people to know that though they can be challenging, they can be overcome. Bruce and Maryam believe as with any family pet, the success lies in the parent’s willingness to commit to a routine and structure, to do the work and support their furry family member.

The couple has dedicated their lives to spreading the message that rescuing special needs animals is amazing and inspiring. You don’t need extensive animal experience, just the patience, love and dedication needed to support them. Bruce and Maryam hope to be a support system for other families willing to open their homes and hearts to special needs animals. They hope to ease the minds of other special needs pet parent’s out there.

Daisy’s and Louie’s spirits inspired Maryam to write a children’s book called What about Daisy? which tells the story of a deafblind rescue dog in search of her forever home. With the help of her canine rescue mom, her two fairies, and a three legged cat named Louie, the adventure to find Daisy her loving home will entertain and warm the hearts of many children and their families. It encourages kids to love those with special needs just the same. To date Daisy has visited and taught more than 1,500 students throughout California about tolerance and acceptance for special needs children and animals!

And Louie and Daisy lived happily ever after…

Learn more and check out What About Daisy? the children’s book at What About Daisy.

Please consider finding a special needs pet to adopt or foster by searching Adopt-a-Pet.com and checking the “Has Special Needs” box when you run your search!

Just like humans and other animals, cats go through very distinctive formative periods in their lives. Kittenhood, pre-teen/adolescent, teenager, young adult, mature adult, and senior ages all include important differences and a loving educated cat owner that recognizes and responds to each appropriately will help their cat live the richest and happiest life possible. So what about those often troublesome teenagers? They aren’t tiny baby kittens exploring and learning like little furry sponges, nor are they out-of-control wild young adolescents, but rather like human teens, their feelings can be very sensitive. Easily hurt but also quickly consoled, they require a bit of special nurturing at certain times to help them along their path to being a happy, well-balanced adult cat.

Our friends over at the wonderful Way of Cats blog explain teenage cats through an example with their 8-month-old kitten Tristan. ” Last weekend, I made meatloaf. Which meant eight month old Tristan got locked in the bathroom. Most of the time he perches on the cat cabinet, or the kitchen stool placed near the work area, and simply watches like a Good Boy. He gets a few reminders and he’ll ignore brownie batter. But the combination of raw hamburger and my mixing it with my hands means if his curiosity gets the better of his common sense, there’s not a lot I can do about it.

Thus, I do a pre-emptive strike; and put him somewhere else.

This simple precaution is an excellent kitten approach; past a certain point, they aren’t learning anything, and we are getting exasperated, so it’s time for the lesson to be over. Then we can complete our task, and they can ponder their lesson, or not, depending on their age.

Our kitten needs raising in a way that acknowledges their needs and limitations. So if we find ourselves getting frustrated, both we and the cat need a “time out.” In this case, I started by assembling my ingredients. When Tristan persisted in getting on my kitchen cart, I was able to put him away before my hands were too messy to do so.”

You can read the rest of how Way of the Cats manages Tristan’s hurt feelings at being confined away from the hamburger (for his own safety) at http://www.wayofcats.com/blog/the-teen-years-in-cat/13304

kitten photo credit: http://www.sxc.hu/photo/721201

If you’re looking for a different kind of pet to adopt, consider a ferret! Ferrets make great pets. They can be loving and sweet companion animals, not to mention loads of fun. Since ferrets are not as commonplace as other pets, they are sometimes harder to read as less might be known about them. Read on to discover some ferret behaviors that may seem alarming to the uneducated ferret owner or observer, but are actually quite common.

Ferrets can sleep so soundly they can seem dead. Ferrets spend 14–18 hours a day asleep and are most active around the hours of dawn and dusk. Sometimes ferrets tremble when they’re anticipating something or excited. Rest assured this is normal, as these little fellows are not shy about their exuberance! They perform a frenzied series of sideways hops, often bumping into things and trembling when they’re happy. Another normal ferret behavior is that they drag their tooshies after using the litter box.

These and other behaviors which might seem unsettling to new owners are actually all regular ferret activities. You can learn more about ferrets and what ferret behaviors really mean by clicking here.

Ferrets are silly, adorable animals that make great pets! You can find a ferret to adopt by using the “Other Pets” search on Adopt-a-Pet.com and then selecting “Ferret” as the species in the small animals section.

Adopting a pet is one of the kindest things you can do! But we know that not everyone can bring in a pet right now. Luckily, there are still many other ways you can make a positive impact to help the shelter and rescue pets in your community. Here are nine ways you can make a difference for adoptable pets today:

1. Volunteer: The shelter can be an extremely stressful atmosphere. A foreign place and small space, other stressed animals, endless barking, a constant influx of new animals and people – it can be a very unnerving experience. As anxiety grows, volunteers who come walk with, play with, and love on animals become a saving grace for many pets. The attention and interaction that volunteers can offer brings much needed comfort to shelter animals. Consider volunteering at your local shelter and enjoy the rewards of helping improve and enhance lives!
2. Donate: Whether you have $10 a month to spare, supplies you can donate, or have collected newspapers in your neighborhood to give, your local shelter can use and will appreciate it! Most shelters and rescue groups have a wish list of materials they need in order to keep saving lives. Instead of throwing away that old blanket, check with your local shelter to see if they need it. Reach out to your friends, and have a towel drive or ask everyone to donate one small bag of dog food. Instead of birthday gifts, have your friends donate to a rescue group of your choice.
3. Foster: If you can’t adopt a pet yet but want to enjoy the company of an animal, consider fostering a lucky dog, cat or bunny! Foster homes are the lifeline for rescue groups, allowing them to save animals and keep them safe while looking for their forever home. Fostering a pet can be so much fun, and it’s a great way to get your furry fix without making the adoption commitment. When you foster, you’re a pivotal part of the animal’s rescue, offering rehabilitation and love while they way for their forever family.
4. Take pictures or video: Animals is shelters and rescues need glamor shots! A picture is worth a thousand words and a beautiful picture can make the difference between adopted and waiting. Even more, nothing captures a pet’s personality like a video! Shoot a mini pet movie and you’ll be creating an excellent way to capture a pet’s personality and help adopters fall in love. Use a regular digital camera with a video setting, and no editing software needed – it’s easy and it really helps. So get those cameras charged and ready!
5. Be a techie for the animals: The internet has made pet adoption a whole new ball game. Having bios, photos, and video of animals who need homes increases their exposure and their chance at adoption. You can also do some “social PETworking” by posting a shelter pet on your Facebook page or via TwitterACritter and in doing so, you will be spreading the word about specific pets and help save them. Networking animals online helps them get adopted or rescued, right from your very couch or desk chair!
6. Spay or neuter your pet: By simply taking responsibility for spaying or neutering your own dog or cat, you’re doing your part to fight pet overpopulation. There are so many reasons to spay/neuter your pet, from behavioral advantages to health benefits to social consciousness. There are many low-cost clinics if financial matters are a concern, and even organizations that will help cover those costs for you. By spaying or neutering your animals, you’re a part of the solution and we thank you for that.
7. Link it up: Ask animal-related businesses in your area to post a link to Adopt-a-Pet.com on their web sites! By adding a link to our nonprofit website, people in your community can find adoptable pets and get involved to help their local shelters or rescue groups. Google to find out trainers, groomers, pet stores, dog parks, and veterinarians, in your community and politely ask them to add a link to Adopt-a-Pet.com to their website! It’s easy and oh-so helpful for promoting pet adoption – widgets and search boxes can be found at http://www.adoptapet.com/public/links/index.html
8. Adopt and commit: When you’re ready to bring a pet into your life, please choose adoption as your only option! You’ll want to make sure you’re ready for the long-term commitment to have a pet, as the greatest gift you can give homeless pets is simply to keep your own for life. If everyone did this (and spayed and neutered them), the number of pets in shelters would be drastically decreased! Remember that no pet is perfect and all require a little work and a lot of love – please stick with them through thick or thin just as you would with a child. Animals are not disposable, and when you make a lifelong promise to your pet, that’s one fewer animal in a shelter. If nothing else, feel GREAT about being wonderful to your own furry family members– you may not be able to save every animal in the world, but it means the world for the ones you do save.

In a recent issue of one of our favorite magazines, Rally To Rescue, we read a particularly inspiring article about rescued dogs and cats who in turn, helped rescue their rescuers! There’s Champ the Beagle who was found nearly burned to death, a Siamese cat who repeatedly pounced on his owner until he woke up to save him and the rest of his family including two other felines from a house fire, a Cattle Dog who’s barking was a life-saver instead of an annoyance, and a kitten with a rare bloodtype who helped save another cat’s life. You can read all about these amazing animals and their full stories at http://www.rallytorescue.org/articles/article.aspx?articleId=147

Can you tell if your cat is upset? We don’t mean angry, that is usually an easier emotion to read – but upset, as in unhappy, disappointed, or worried – or as Webster defines it, “emotionally disturbed or agitated.” Cats have many ways of telling their human caretakers that they are upset, but if you aren’t familiar with the intricacies of cat behavior and language, or if you just adopted your cat and you’re still learning to communicate with each other, it can be a bit of a challenge, and you might miss some of the clues that will tell you that your cat is upset – and miss out on being able to help them be the happy content cat you want them to be!

The wonderful Way of Cats blog writes in detail about some of the different ways cats communicate distress. Their article’s insights start out with:  “If we have a close relationship with our cat, signals get through pretty well. I know when any of our crew is unhappy; but the ways they show it will vary among different cats.” They then go on to describe the various categories and displays of upset behavior signals in their delightfully witty and enlightening way. You can read about how upset  cats use Complaining to management, Yelling for help, Catching our eye, Hanging around and Bad Behavior in detail at http://www.wayofcats.com/blog/how-to-tell-if-the-cats-upset/13053

Do you know how to give your pet first aid? It is estimated that 92% of dogs and cats will experience an emergency during their lifetime. Pet first aid is the immediate care given to an animal that is ill or injured and generally requires follow-up veterinary care. Vets are the experts, but they are rarely on the scene when something happens to your dog, cat or other pet, so by reacting quickly, effectively and confidently before professional medical care is available, you may save your best friend’s life! Our Adopt-a-Pet.com spokesperson Dr. Pia Salk recently posted a series of Pet First Aid articles on her blog for MarthaStewart.com after speaking to pet first aid expert Denise Fleck. Pia took Denise’s pet first aid and CPR class, and shares what she learned in three articles. You can read them here:

Pet First Aid – Part I

Pet First Aid Part II

Pet First Aid Part III

We read this inspiring story in an issue of Rally to Rescue and thought you’d all enjoy reading how one person can make a huge difference in dogs lives! Day after day, Mikael Hardy passed by the same yards and saw the same dogs. Making deliveries as a volunteer driver for Meals on Wheels in Greenville County, S.C., she saw the dogs alone, looking bored and neglected, living on the ends of oversized chains. Hardy noticed that the dogs were often chained quite a distance from driveways, paths and doorways, where people would frequently pass. The dogs’ lack of socialization led to further neglect. Whenever someone tried to show them interest, they undermined the attention by jumping up and making the interaction unpleasant. Visits were infrequent, however, loneliness was the least of the problems caused.

“The neglect contributed to the dogs being underweight and malnourished,” Hardy says. “Their water bowls were usually either empty or green from the growth of algae. The dogs often had heartworms, and were starved for love.”

Fed up one day with seeing so many dogs face these potential hardships, Hardy stopped her car outside one of the houses. She went to the front door and knocked. When the owners answered, Hardy started talking, trying to convince them to bring their dog inside or at least build a fence and let the dog off his chain. For 18 months she knocked on door after door. The response she got was always the same: “Dogs live outdoors, and fences cost too much.”

It was in the middle of one such conversation that Hardy became particularly frustrated. She stopped trying to persuade. She threw up her hands and blurted, “We’ll do it. We’ll build a fence for you.” She hadn’t paused to think how that might happen, but when the homeowner accepted the offer, Hardy committed to the task.”

Read the rest of Hardy’s story to find out how she did it at http://www.rallytorescue.org/articles/article.aspx?articleId=150