Tour For Life Mobile Pet Adoption Event

Billed as "The World's Largest Mobile Pet Adoption Event," the North Shore Animal League's 13th annual Tour For Life® launched on March 6.  In partnership with PURINA ONE®, they'll be stopping in 53 cities in 27 states where they'll join their rescue partners to promote adopting pets from animal shelters.

Four mobile adoption units will be covering over 17,000 miles during March and April.  Last year's event helped find homes for over 1,500 animals.

Fetch Tour for Life route information on their website and adoption updates on their Facebook page.

Established in 1944, the New York based North Shore Animal League America is the world's largest no-kill animal rescue and adoption organization.

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Why We Love Cats & Dogs: KCPT & Wayside Waifs Special in Kansas City

If you live within the reach of KCPT (public television station in Kansas City, MO) be sure to tune in tonight between 7 and 8:30 pm.  Don't miss Nature:  Why We Love Cats & dogs.

Wayside Waifs has partnered with KCPT for its March Membership Drive.  Wayside Waifs President, Cynthia Smith, will co-host the live show while Wayside staff and volunteers man the phones to take your pledges.  The true stars of the show will be the adorable Waifs (shelter cats and dogs), who will make special appearances throughout the broadcast.

Wayside Waifs has already set a new record in 201l.  Despite the snowy weather, they found loving homes for 436 animals in the month of January.  This marks the most January adoptions in their 67 year history.

50 Dogs and Cats Rescued from Bates County Missouri Animal Hoarder

The Humane Society of Missouri Animal Cruelty Task Force spent yesterday near Butler, MO where they rescued 50 dogs and cats, plus one mourning dove from an animal hoarder in Bates County.  This individual had more than 20 animals in their home and others at nearby properties.

As some of you may realize, we're having a wicked winter in Missouri with unusually cold spells, ice, freezing rain and snow.  Some of the rescued dogs had been left outside in wire cages and pens with little protection.  No food was observed and the only water available was frozen.

Inside the houses the rescue team found piles of trash, urine-soaked floors, and feces.  The smell was so strong it could be detected from outside.

The animals are now in the care of the Humane Society of Missouri and will eventually be available for adoption.

New Pet Boutique in Kansas City - Whiskers and Wags Outfitters at Wayside Waifs

Whiskers and Wags Outfitters at Wayside Waifs
in Kansas City Missouri

If you live in the Kansas City area, you have a new resource for pet food, toys, treats and training materials.  Whiskers and Wags Outfitters is a new boutique inside the Harold and Marilyn Melcher Adoption Center at Wayside Waifs.  All proceeds help homeless animals.

They carry a full line of high quality pet supplies and training items, pet inspired gifts, Wayside Waifs logo apparel and children's books.  They even have their own blend of Roasterie coffee:  The Rescue Me blend.

Shop for pet necessities, and just plain fun dog and cat fun stuff, knowing that you're supporting the largest no-kill animal shelter in Kansas City.  Wayside Waifs places more than 5,000 animals in new homes each year.

Whiskers and Wags Outfitters are located at Wayside Waifs, 3901 Martha Truman Road in Kansas City, MO.  Store hours are:  Wednesday through Friday from 2 to 8 PM;  Saturdays and Sundays from Noon to 6 PM.  Closed Mondays and Tuesdays.

At For Love of a Dog we have a special place in our hearts for Wayside Waifs.  Afterall, that's where we found Sherman who gave us such joy for so many years.

Celebrate Animal Shelter Appreciation Week

   November 7 - 13 is National Animal Shelter Appreciation Week. 

There are approximately 4,000 animal shelters across the U.S., available to serve the estimated 6-8 million homeless animals who seek refuge each year. While 63 percent of American households include pets, only 10 percent of owned dogs and 18 percent of owned cats are adopted from animal shelters

How do you plan to honor your local animal shelter?  Here are just a few ideas:

• Visit your local animal shelter and find out how you can help.
• Adopt or foster an animal.
• Say thank you with a card, note or other gift to your local shelter.
• Support spay and neuter.
• Donate a dog bed or other supplies your shelter needs.
• ID your pet so they won't find themselves a shelter resident.

In 1996, The HSUS launched National Animal Shelter Appreciation Week (based on an idea from the Capital Humane Society in Lincoln, Nebraska). This campaign was designed to acknowledge and promote the invaluable role shelters play in their communities and to increase public awareness of animal welfare issues and shelter services. During National Animal Shelter Appreciation Week, the first full week of every November, The HSUS promotes and celebrates animal shelters across the country through media and public outreach. 

Puppy Mills and Prop B - The Shame of Living in Missouri



Photo courtesy of the HSUS
Beverly Fields / B & B Kennel

 I've said it before and I'll say it again:  I am ashamed to live in Missouri, the puppy mill capitol of America.  With the November elections looming on the horizon and Prop B on the ballot, I'm bombarded from all sides about the Puppy Mill Cruelty Prevention Act.

Sunday brought the (nearest city) editorial from the Springfield News Leader:  Proposition B well-intentioned but not in the state's best interests.  Their bottom line:  Prop B would "burden ethical breeders."

Huh?   Give me a minute while I try to compose myself.  Ethical dog breeders already comply with the proposed regulations of Prop B and, in fact, do much more than Prop B would require of them.

Ethical dog breeders already make sure their dogs have food and water, shelter from the elements, vet care, space to turn around and stretch in, exercise, and rest between breeding cycles.  That's what Prop B would require.  Does it seem unreasonable to you?  Does it seem like it would place any burden on a dog breeder?  Would you want to adopt a puppy from anyone who does less?

Furthermore,  ethical dog breeders make sure their dogs and puppies are socialized with humans.  Ethical dog breeders keep health records and do not breed dogs which do not contribute to an improvement to the breed.  Ethical dog breeders throroughly screen potential puppy adopters and frequently follow those puppies throughout their lifetimes.  Ethical dog breeders are more than willing to have potential puppy adopters visit their breeding kennels, in fact they encourage it.

Planning to adopt a puppy?  Visit your local shelter, develop a relationship with a responsible, ethical dog breeder.  And if you live in Missouri, vote Yes on Prop B.

Rover-ution Love a Bully Dog Adoption Event

Make plans now to attend
Rover-ultion Luv a Bully Adoption Event
Saturday, October 23, 2010
12 - 5 pm
Mill Creek Park on the Country Club Plaza
Kansas City, MO
for more info kcluvabully@yahoo.com

Adoptable bullies and other breeds of dogs *  Low cost microchip clinic * Hot dog bobbing * Costume contest * BSL protest march * Prizes *  Help make Kansas City no - kill by 2012

Hosted by Kansas City Dog Advocates,IncrediBulls, Wayside Waifs, No More Homeless Pets KC, Animal Haven, Spay Neuter Kansas City, Halfway Home Adoption, Furry Kids Refuge, and the Missouri Pit Bull Rescue.

Add Aventure to Your Life: Adopt a Black Dog

Spanky Doo, a black dog
adopted from an animal shelter

My fix for heartbreak was a black puppy.  I'd lost my heart dog, Benji, to liver failure and the grief was palpable.  Our young dog, Sherman, was a huge comfort, but I wanted a second dog.  Two dogs just seemed right.  Sort of double the pleasure, if you know what I mean.

Though I checked the message board at our vet's office, I was more inclined to adopt from an animal shelter and save a life.  We headed to the Humane Society of Southwest Missouri in Springfield. 

There we found the leftover from a litter of lab mix puppies.  He'd been the only black puppy and it was love at first site.  12 weeks old and most of that time spent in a cage, I was afraid house breaking and socialization might be a challenge.  Not so.  One accident in the house.  Spanky was smart as they come. 

We couldn't leave a ladder out for more than a moment;  Spanky would climb it.  We learned that the hard way when were having new shingles put on our roof.  Curious about everything and fearless, he was an adventure packed into a silky, lean, black body with a curly tail.

Looking to add some adventure to your life?  Visit your local animal shelter and adopt a dog.  You'll be ever so glad you did.

If you live in the southwest Missouri area, we recommend the Humane Society of Southwest Missouri.  Founded in 1956, they are the only open-admission humane society in this are.  (No  limits are placed on the number or type of dogs or cats accepted at their shelter.)  They now have a brand new state-of-the-art shelter building to enhance their efforts.

Don't Shop. ADOPT! October is Adopt a Shelter Dog Month

The last time you were in a pet shop and stopped to check out the puppies, did you wonder where they came from? 



Are you considering adding a canine to your family?  Why not adopt from a shelter or rescue?  October is Adopt a Shelter Dog month. 

Compassionate Giving for Animals: the ASPCA Guardian Program

Talking Dogs at For Love of a Dog is a member of the DogTime blog network and we share DogTime's goal of keeping dogs out of shelters and helping those who are in shelters find loving homes.  DogTime is working with the ASPCA to create awareness around their ASPCA Guardians donations program.  The ASPCA Guardians are a group of dedicated friends who make regular monthly gifts. This level of support makes it possible for the ASPCA to reach and rescue animals in need.

The ASPCA Guardians are a group of dedicated friends who make monthly gifts that provide a consistent, reliable income stream which allows the ASPCA to focus more resources on their lifesaving programs and less on fund raising. 

With a donation through ASPCA Guardians you can make a real difference every single month of the year.  Here's what your donation can do:

• $18 per month can help 10 animals get adopted
• $20 per month helps keep the ASPCA Disaster Response Trailers stocked.
• $36 per month allows 5 dogs and 5 cats to be spayed and neutered and receive vaccinations.  In 2008 the ASPCA Mobile Clinic Program spayed and neutered over 23,220 animals - a 63% increase over 2007. 

The sad reality is that an animal is abused every 10 seconds in the United States.  Join the ASPCA to stop animal cruelty.  Find out more about the ASPCA.   To donate to the ASPCA please click here.  Check out this video we received from DogTime Media

SAAF House - a New Spay Neuter Clinic in Springfield Missouri

Now, here's some good news.  There's a new low cost spay and neuter clinic in Springfield, MO called Saaf House.  Open four days a week, Saaf House offers reasonably priced vet care for companion pets.  Their web site posts prices for various procedures, vaccines and other services.

Saaf House is a project of the Springfield Animal Advocacy Foundation (SAAF), a not for profit formed in 2007 by folks from various local animal welfare agencies.  They have a big goal:  to make  southwestern Missouri no kill by 2018.  They aim to acheive that goal by reducing the number of animals coming into Animal Control, increasing adoptions, and educating the public about animal welfare issues.  Saaf House is just the latest in their arsenal of solutions to the problem of homeless animals.

SAAF members include:  the Animal Abuse Council, Castaway Animal Rescue Effort (CARE), Pet Connection, Spay Neuter Assistance Program (SNAP), Springfield Greene County Animal Control, Canines 'N Cats Adoption Station.  Rather than taking in more animals and building more space to shelter them, these Missouri Ozarks animal organizations are implementing proactive programs that will save both money and lives.

Dog Fighting Raid in Stone County MO

What a way to celebrate an anniversary.  A year ago marks the one year anniversary of the largest dog fighting raid and rescue in United States history.  To date 17 defendants in that case have pled guilty and been sentenced to do federal time.

This week, on July 8, 2010, the Humane Society of Missouri was involved in a dog fighting raid in Stone County, MO.  At the request of the Stone County Sheriff’s Department, the Humane Society of Missouri Animal Cruelty Task Force last night rescued seven adult pit bulls and eight puppies from the property of an alleged dog fighter near Kimberling City, MO in Stone County. Several of the dogs had old wounds and two adults had recent wounds – including one with a bloody eye. The dogs were found on a densely wooded hillside away from public view. Most of them were attached to heavy log chains and thick collars. The property was trash strewn and had dilapidated buildings with multiple abandoned trucks.
The Stone County Sheriff’s Department has been investigating this situation since last December and consulted with members of HSMO’s Animal Cruelty Task Force during the investigation. The Humane Society of Missouri was asked to assist with rescue of the dogs when the warrant was issued yesterday by the Stone County Sheriff. The owner of the pit bulls voluntary surrendered all of the rescued animals to the Humane Society of Missouri. The rescued dogs were taken to the Humane Society of Missouri’s Headquarters shelter in St. Louis City for triage and care. During the next several weeks, the dogs will receive thorough veterinary examinations and behavior evaluations with the goal of placing as many of them as possible with qualified rescue groups or in private homes.

Wild Horse and Burro Adoption

Wild Horse and Burro Adoption
Feb 26-27, 2010
Columbia, Missouri
Boone county Fairgrounds

Friday preview: 2-7 pm
Saturday adoption: 8 am - 5 pm
Adoption is first come, first served. Maximum adoption fee is $125.
For more information contact the US Bureau of Land Management at 1-866-4MUSTANGS

Adopt a Senior Pet Month

November is Adopt a Senior Pet Month

It isn't just puppies and kittens that need a forever home. Give an aging dog or cat a second chance in a loving home by adopting a senior pet from your local shelter.

Here at For Love of a Dog Jewelry, Lucy and I are both senior dogs and we can't imagine what it would be like to be homeless at our ages. Please rescue a senior dog and let their golden years actually be golden. Check your local animal shelter or browse Petfinder. Can't adopt? Consider fostering or sponsoring a senior pet.

Woof!
Tucker

Taking Action for Animals Conference July 24-27

Sponsored by the Humane Society of the United States, this conference welcomes newcomers to animal protection movement, as well as experienced advocates. Taking Action for Animals will be held July 24-27 in Arlington, VA.

80 speakers, 4 tracks of workshops, vegan meals, and an exhibit hall full of experts. The HSUS says:

• Find out how to end the euthanasia of millions of pets in two special workshops: How to be more effective in promoting spay and neuter and The Shelter Pet Project - a 3 year national public service campaign to encourage adoption.
• Learn the most effective tactics for getting an elected official to listen to your views and then meet with your members of Congress during Lobby Day.
• Learn how to reduce the threat of swine flu and other emerging infectious diseases and prevent a pandemic.
• Meet Ginnifer Goodwin - animal advocate and star of the hit movie "He's Just Not That Into You."
• Enjoy comedian and author Carol Leifer and singer/songwriter Nellie McKay

Register before June 20 and save $25 on registration. Book your hotel room by July 2 to receive a special group rate at the Hyatt Regency Crystal City. For more information