Carley Has Finally Left the Building | Adopt a Shelter Dog Month

October is Adopt a Shelter Dog Month and I think Carley would make a good spokesdog.

In 2007, when they were little puppies, she and her brother were surrendered to Dogwood Animal Shelter in Osage Beach, Missouri.  Carley's brother was adopted quickly.  

Unfortunately, Carley was not.   

Carley was listed on Petfinder.  She completed the shelter's obedience class.  Shelter staff raved about her and said she was a fast learner and eager to please.  A professional photographer took some fabulous adoption photos of Carley in 2013.  Carley's been shared on social media for the past 2 years.  Still, no takers.

Luckily for Carley, Dogwood Animal Shelter is a no-kill facility.

Carley waited 7 long years at the shelter.

This past week Carley was adopted!

Carley is shown above with her new best friend 

getting ready for her freedom ride.

Ashley adopted Carley's brother 7 years ago and lately has been taking Carley to her home for weekend visits.  Just a couple of days ago, she made official.  Carley not only now has a home, she's been reunited with her brother.

The best way to celebrate Adopt a Shelter Dog Month is to adopt a dog!

Your local shelter is the perfect place to find dogs of every type, size, age and personality -- all waiting for a loving home. Or, if you prefer a particular breed that isn’t currently available at a shelter, go online to find a breed-specific rescue group in need of adopters like you.

Find out what a shelter or rescue dog can bring to your life this October during Adopt A Shelter Dog Month!

We are participating in the Tuesday's Tails blog hop hosted by Dogs N Pawz and Talking Dogs.  This is the blog hop that features shelter pets.  Find a pet at your local animal shelter or rescue and join us!  Please help spread the word about these beautiful animals via social media and let's find them forever homes! 

Talking Dogs is the official blog of For Love of a Dog Jewelry.

Mutts are My Favorite Dog Breed | National Mutt Day 2013

  
Today we're celebrating National Mutt Day!

A mutt is a dog of unknown ancestry that belongs to no single organizationally recognized breed and is not the result of selective breeding according to Wikipedia.

I grew up with purebred dogs.  Blackie Duke was a Labrador Retriever.  Skippy was a Cocker Spaniel.  Snoopy was a Beagle.  All pedigreed, papered and purchased from responsible dog breeders.

When I left for college I was deeply in love with my mom's (purebred and registered) Dachshund.

However, my own first dog was a mutt and a shelter dog.  Benji was a mix of dog breeds that included German Shepherd and Doberman.  I adored him.  He road shotgun in my life voyage as a young adult.

Want a unique dog?  How about the sweetness of a Golden Retriever with the spicey smartness of a Border Collie, plus so much more?  Head to your nearest animal shelter.   That's where I met and fell in love with my Jeffie.  He's one in a series of mutts who have made my life richer.

National Mutt Day was created in 2005  by Colleen Paige, Celebrity Pet Expert and Animal Welfare Expert.  The day which takes place on December 2 each year is about celebrating mixed breed dogs - the mutt! Sadly, the largest number of dogs euthanized in animal shelters each year are unwanted, medium to large mixed breed dogs.

In every heart there is a hole...
in every shelter there is LOVE to fill it.
                                                                   ~ Colleen Paige

The aim of the day is to raise awareness of the plight of mixed breed dogs in shelters around the USA and to educate the public about the number of mixed breed dogs that are waiting to be given a loving and caring home.

This December, on National Mutt Day, we hope you'll visit your local shelter.  Adopt a mixed breed dog or make a donation of money, time, or needed supplies.


Talking Dogs is the official blog of For Love of a Dog Jewelry.

You Do the Math: World Spay Day

Reproduction facts about dogs and cats from the Humane Society of the United States:

• One un-spayed female dog and her un-spayed offspring can theoretically produce 67,000 dogs in six years.
• One un-spayed female cat and one un-neutered male cat and their offspring can result in 420,000 kittens in seven years.
• A single female cat can have 29 litters in 10 years.
• A male cat can sire as many as 2,500 kittens in a single year;  a male dog can sire almost as many puppies.

According to research data gathered from the American Humane Society and Pet Finder as of August 2012:

• Total number of US animal shelters:  5,000
• Number of companion animals that enter animal shelters annually:  6-8 million
• Average number of companion animals euthanized annually:  3.5 million
• Percent of dogs in animal shelters that are euthanized:  60%
• Percent of cats in animal shelters that are euthanized:  70%
• Percent of dogs that are returned to their owners:  15%
• Percent of cats that are returned to their owners:  2%
• Total number of pets that end up in a shelter that are spayed or neutered:  10%

You do the math.

Be part of the solution!  Spaying or neutering your pet ensures that they will not add to the millions of already homeless pets.  

Need more reasons to spay or neuter your pet?  Fetch the following articles from the Be the Change for Animals blog hop celebrating World Spay Day.

Effort Underway to Eliminate Unjust Taxes on Missouri Animal Shelters

According to the Missouri Alliance for Animal Legislation, the 2013 Missouri session will include legislation attempting to right a wrong for animal shelters in the state of Missouri.
 
Senator Kurt Schaefer (R), Columbia, and State Representative Noel Torpey (R), Independence, intend to introduce legislation which will exempt animal shelters and rescues from license fees. These charitable entities have been exempt from paying a license fee in the past in recognition of their important role of keeping stray animals off the streets and protecting the public from disease and other health problems that result from the irresponsible acts of others. 

Unfortunately, in 2010, the Missouri legislature extended fees for commercial breeders and kennels to non-profit animal shelters.  

Senator Schaefer and Representative Torpey's bills would reverse this onerous tax and would once again exempt shelters and rescues which provide a community service. This will allow such entities to dedicate all of their assets to the care of animals. 

This legislation also contains language that would address the issue of individuals selling dogs for a profit and claiming to be a rescue. It would give the Director of Agriculture the authority to deny or revoke a license of any animal shelter, "if it is determined by the Director that the applicant or the licensee unreasonably profits from the charges for adoption or sales of the animals." Hopefully, this will help rein in the problem of unscrupulous breeders and sellers of dogs masquerading as rescues. 

Foster a Lonely Pet for the Holidays Video

On Sundays we usually feature adoptable dogs here on the Talking Dogs blog.  Today, in a way, we're featuring all dogs currently in animal shelters who are hoping for a forever home.   

If you're planning to add a canine family member, please consider adopting a shelter or rescue dog.  If you can't adopt, please think about fostering a lonely dog for the holidays.

The video, Foster a Lonely Pet for the Holidays 2012 was produced by Paws New England (PAWs)  PAWs and 13,000 other rescue organizations are participating in PetFinder's "Foster a Lonely Pet for the Holidays" initiative.  Find a participating shelter or rescue organization near you.

Working together we can empty the nation's shelters this holiday season.
 

National Animal Shelter Check In Day is Saturday

 

Join Best Friends Animal Society and other pet lovers on Saturday, November 10 for the second annual National Animal Shelter Check-in Day, designed to shine a giant, digital spotlight on homeless pets around our country.

How do you participate?
Go to your local animal shelter and "check-in" using your mobile phone's geo-location app.  While you're there, take a picture of a dog or cat and share it.  Please use the #CheckinDay hashtag so your tweet appears in the Best Friends Twitter Ticker.  Depending on the shelter's rules, you could even volunteer by walking a dog or getting silly with a cat.

It's easy!

Click here for a list of Best Friends participating No More Homeless Pet® Network partners. Or, check in at any animal shelter near you – wherever you are - on November 10!

Join the campaign today and help spread the word.

Petfinder: Help is Needed after Hurricane Sandy

Hurricane Sandy animal shelter news from the Petfinder blog:

"For the northeastern region of the US, the high winds and rain of Superstorm Hurricane Sandy have moved on. Petfinder shelters and adoption groups are rising to the challenge of recovering from the worst of the storm. Other Petfinder members further west will continue to face wind and rain as Sandy travels on.

"We are slowly receiving feedback from our member shelters. Many are still without power. We will share their needs with you as they check in.
Please reach out to your local shelter or rescue group to learn if they need assistance. Give them a call, drop them an email, or look messages from them on social media sites like Facebook. It may take a little while for organizations to get back to you if their power is still down. You can locate shelters and adoption groups in your area via our Animal Welfare Organization search on the left side of our homepage.

Connecticut:

• New London Animal Control was seriously damaged by a tree. Their pets have been moved, but the shelter is unusable at this time. The situation has been reported by local news.

Maryland:

• Baltimore Animal Rescue & Care Shelter (BARCS) had already evacuated their shelter in advance of the storm. Luckily their facility did not flood. Their animals are safe, and once the roads are open again they’ll start moving the pets back to the shelter.

New York:

• Buddy’s Precious Angels Sanctuary had a tree come down on an empty kennel. They report that they are otherwise okay.
• Amber’s Angels Rescue suffered fence damage due to a tree falling. Their animals are safe.
• Rochester Animal Services set up a temporary animal shelter for the public in advance of the storm. Central and western New York state received less damaging weather than expected, so luckily the temporary shelter was not needed. This kind of advanced preparation takes so much stress off of the public when facing the uncertainty of a massive storm, so we really applaud Rochester for this.
• Rescue Ink’s Long Beach Animal Shelter received serious water and wind damage. The building still stands and their pets are safe, but they need to replace supplies and refurbish the shelter.

New Jersey:

• Woodbridge Animal Shelter reports that the first floor of their shelter flooded. Their pets were evacuated to the second floor. To foster or provide other assistance, call the shelter at 732-726-7036 and leave a message "

Hurricane Sandy Lost and Found Pets

 If you've lost a pet due to Hurricane Sandy, there's help available.

Fetch Hurricane Sandy Lost and Found Pets on Facebook to post photos of lost or found pets in the areas affected by the storm.  You'll also find temporary shelters that allow pets, as well as animal shelters that are in need of assistance.

Hurricane Sandy Lost and Found Pets is not affiliated with any rescue group.  Volunteers are networking to get animals reunited with their familes. 

Pit Bull Awareness Month | Adopt a Dog

 It's national Pit Bull Awareness month!

If you've been thinking about adding a Pit Bull dog to your family, we'd like to suggest that you check out your local animal shelter.  

Browse Petfinder, Petango or another of the online adopt a dog sites.  Or, better yet, find a Pit Bull rescue group in your area.  There you'll find dogs who have been checked for socialization, vetted and vaccinated, and often living in foster homes so that you'll know that much more about your wannabe best friend.

Though they do not necessarily list every single Pit Bull dog rescue, since new ones are organizated frequently, we suggest you fetch BULL911 for a substantial list of Pit Bull rescues from across the country.  From Alabama to Washington and parts in between, you'll find many rescues that are eager to help you in your adoption quest.

BULL911 is an American Pitbulls advocacy site operated by a group of bullie loving dog owners, fans, trainers and friends who are working hard to save Pit Bulls. 

Adopt a Shelter Dog Month Video

We're celebrating national Adopt a Shelter Dog month here at Talking Dogs.  Usually every Sunday we feature a dog (or two) that is available for adoption from an animal shelter or rescue. 

Today we'd like to encourage you to find your own dog to adopt!

According to the ASPCA, approximately 5 to 7 million dogs and cats enter animal shelters in the United States every year.  About 60% are euthanized.


Have a look and listen to the video below, then visit your local animal shelter.

If you can't adopt right now, see what else you can do to help those pets find loving homes.  Surf over to Petfinder or Petango and use social networking to get the word out about some of the dogs listed there.  Explore the web and your community to find a dog rescue that could use your help.

Spread the word:  Adopt a Shelter Dog!

Dog Song Saturday: Staying Alive is Every Shelter Dogs Song

  It's Saturday, so time for a dog song at Talking Dogs.  AND since October is national Adopt a Dog month, adoption is our theme today.   

Staying Alive is performed here by the Bee Gees  and accompanies a dog video entitled: Staying Alive Every Shelter Dog and Cat's Song.  

This dog music video was put together by Homestretch Hounds, an animal rescue and shelter located in Southwestern Ohio.  Most of their rescued pets come from small, rural pounds and they give these animals a second chance at life by bringing them to their facility when their time is up.  Visit Homestretch Hounds on the web or join them on Facebook.

Okay.  Grab a dog.  Grab some tissues.  Dancing is permitted today!  Groove along with the Bee Gees and enjoy Staying Alive Every Shelter Dog and Cat's Song.  Keep your weekend musical by fetching more dog song music videos at Talking Dogs.  Be sure to scroll down below today's dog song to explore some barking good blogs in today's Pet Blogger Hop.

Visit your local animal shelter or rescue.  Remember:  By adopting a pet, you are saving two.  The one that you adopt and the one that takes their place in rescue.

What Can a Shelter Dog Bring to Your Life?

Photo:  Petfinder 

 Animal shelters all over the country have dogs of every type, size, age and personality waiting for loving homes.  In celebration of the American Humane Association's national Adopt-A-Dog Month this October, the AHA asks prospective pet owners the question:  What can an adopted dog bring to your life?

According to the AHA, there are as many responses to that question as there are dogs in this world.  Whether you want an exercise buddy, a best friend for your child, a partner in agility competitions, a constant companion for an aging parent or simply a fuzzy face to greet you after a hard day at work, an adopted dog can be all of these and more.  Adopt-A-Dog Month is the perfect time for people to adopt a shelter dog and experience the joy of finding their own answers to that questions.

If you're thinking about bringing an adopted dog into your family, here are some things to consider:

•  Like children, dogs are completely dependent on their owners for all their needs — food, water, medical attention, exercise, shelter and, most important, companionship. But unlike children, dogs will never learn to pour themselves a drink, fix breakfast or clean up after themselves. Opening your home to a dog can be highly rewarding, as long as you understand and accept the daily responsibilities and routines that come with owning a dog.

• • The qualities and personality you want in a dog are more important than size and appearance. For example, an older shepherd mix might do better than an energetic terrier in an apartment. Very often the pet that has the characteristics you’re looking for will come in an unexpected package.

For more tips on dog adoption, behavior and care, or to share your own dog adoption story, visit American Humane Association’s online Adoption Center at www.americanhumane.org/aadm.

Visit Petfinder to find your new best friend:

Adopt a Dog | Huge Pet Adoption Event Oct 13 Belton MO

October is National Adopt a Dog Month

Celebrate!  Add a new furry member to your family!

Several Kansas City area animal rescue groups are participating in a huge pet adoption event:

When:  Saturday, October 13 from 1:00 PM to 5:00 PM
Where:  Man's Best Friend Pet Resort at 329 S Mullen Road in Belton, MO (816-331-4364)
Who:  Wayside Waifs, Missouri Pit Bull Rescue, Angels Left Behind, Clinton Animal Shelter, Barkin' Dogs Rescue and more!

My Best Friends: Bloggers Unite for Dog Rescue

 Some of my best friends came from behind bars.  

 Their only crime?  

 They were unwanted.

 Over the years we've enriched our lives with several adopted, rescued furry friends, but the ones below came from animal shelters.

 All save one were scheduled for euthanasia.

 

Benji was on death row at the Lawrence Humane Society.
A German Shepherd and Doberman Pinscher mix, at about 3 months old he had less than a week left before he would be euthanized when I first saw him.  I'd gone along for the ride with some friends who were planning to adopt.  A fulltime college student living in an apartment, I had no business even considering adding a puppy to my life.  But I did.  At the "midnight hour" I became the cavalry and rescued this pup who would become the love of my life for the next 14 years.  A three time cancer survivor and amputee, my tripawd Benji and I had some amazing adventures together.

Sherman was all alone in a cage at Wayside Waifs the day the Dog Daddy and I went looking for a new friend for Benji and to celebrate the farm we'd just purchased.  A yellow Lab mix puppy who'd been picked up as a stray, we fell in love.

When my beloved Benji succumbed to liver failure, my fix for heartbreak was a puppy.  The only black one in a litter of Lab mix puppies, he remained unadopted at the Humane Society of Southwest Missouri and didn't have long before his time was up.   Spanky Doo was smart as a whip, ready for anything, and soon became the boon companion of our Sherman.

We found Jeffie, our cush dog, on Petfinder  Jeffie, his two brothers, and his Golden Retriever mother had been picked up as strays and were living at Dogwood Animal Shelter. 


Before I adopted Benji, all those years ago, I had grown up with bonny dog companions who were all purebred dogs adopted directly from the breeders.  I was unaware of animal shelters, the notion of pet rescue, and ignorant about the great numbers of unwanted pets.  


Since then, the canine members of my family have all been rescues either adopted from shelters, unwanted products of unspayed neighbor dogs, or strays we couldn't bear to re-home.  Most have been mixed breed dogs, but there have been some purebreds, too.

According to the ASPCA, approximately 8-12 million companion animals enter animal shelters each year and approximately 60% of those dogs are euthanized nationwide.  Less that 20% of shelter dogs are returned to their owners.  Most of those returned were identified with tags or microchips.  About 25% of dogs that enter local shelters are purebred.

Adopting, rather than shopping for a dog means that not only has that life been saved, but there's more room in that shelter for another homeless dog.  Visit your local animal shelter, surf Petfinder, or contact a dog breed rescue group to find your special canine best friend.  Large dogs, small dogs.  Purebred dogs, mixed breeds.  They're all there just waiting for you. 


Bloggers Unite for Dog Rescue is a special online global event held today, July 23, 2012,  that stresses the importance of dog adoptions.  BTC4animals.com is proud to partner with Blog Catalog, Dog Rescue Success and pet bloggers to harness a global online community to help save the lives of dogs in need.

Dog Song Saturday: Big Black Dogs Colorblind

It's Saturday!  Time for a dog song here at Talking Dogs.   Today we have a song that is not technically about dogs.  However, Colorblind by the Counting Crows is used as the music for this brilliant video about big black dogs and Black Dog Syndrome.  The lyrics are about as perfect as you can get.

The Plight of Big Black Dogs video was created for the Georgia Animal Rescue and Defence, Inc (GARD) group to enlighten the public about the fact that more big black dogs are euthanized in shelters across the United States than any other color dog.  It's a beautiful piece and an oh, so important, topic.

A few years ago I was stunned to learn about Black Dog Syndrome.  I'm someone who has always loved big, black dogs.  I've even chosen canine family members simply because they were black.  So, it was shocking to to me to learn that such a disproportionate number of black dogs are overlooked and put down at shelters.  Public education about this issue is so necessary and this video addresses some of the myths about black dogs visually.

So, grab a dog!  A black one if you've got one, though any dog will do.  Sit.  Stay.  Take a moment to appreciate Colorblind and The Plight of Big Black Dogs.   Then scroll down below our dog song video and fetch some barking good dog blogs, because today is a Pet Blogger Hop.