One of our Wordless Wednesday submissions was from Foster Mommy and it got us to thinking about the wonderful people that open their homes to pets that need our help.

Foster homes are extremely useful to assist animal shelters, local humane societies and breed rescues. There are so many pets in need that some of them could use a little extra help to find a permanent, loving home. Fostering a pet may seem like a huge task but it is a very good way to make a difference. A break from kennel life will give the pet a second chance at becoming someone’s forever cherished pet. Fostered pets become better adapted to home life and increases their chance of remaining in the new home permanently. The individual love and care of a foster parent gives the animal an opportunity to flourish. After some of these lovable pets have spent several weeks or months at the shelter without being adopted they are euthanized for lack of space. Getting involved and doing whatever we can to prevent this fate is worth the little time and effort it takes.

Medium-to-large, adolescent, untrained dogs are prime candidates for foster homes. So often they are overlooked for adoption because they are too big, unruly, or just too ordinary. Their behavior becomes worse from the stress of being kenneled. Can you imagine being in a cage with countless others and watching as people go through to choose a pet? What do you think these sweet animals are thinking after time and again not being the picked one? The adorable puppy stage has long passed. They do however have a lot to offer each in their own way. Foster homes can provide a stable home setting where they can become the perfect adoptee.

Other common reasons pets are fostered are kittens and puppies who are too young to be spayed or neutered, cats and dogs who are nursing a litter, orphaned kittens and puppies or pets that are being treated for injury or illness. This group will take a lot more time and dedication to foster. The orphans will need to be bottle fed as often as you would feed a baby. Injuries and illness will be challenging to say the least. Once they are old enough or well enough to be adopted you will experience the feeling of a job well done.

Aside from regular day-to-day care of feeding, grooming and exercise, the responsibilities of a foster home may include basic training in house training, walking on leash, sit, down and stay. Some of our furry friends need behavior modification to correct problems such as jumping, barking, destructive chewing, and just not listening. Socialization skills help to determine whether the dog is good with different types of people and other animals. If needed you may be asked to dispense medication or take the animal to vet appointments. And the most important of all is to lavish them with plenty of playtime, cuddling and love.

Foster volunteers are the key to saving the lives of homeless pets. Do a little homework to find out what the foster programs are all about. Learn how to get ready to become a foster parent. The rewards is knowing you provided the individualized care and affection to restore the optimal state of your visitor. The feeling that you were instrumental in getting them on the path to a great new life will last a lifetime.

Foster programs can provide you with all the information you need. If this is something you would be interested in getting involved with, then please contact your local humane society, animal shelter, or a breed rescue organization.

PetsBlogs is a steadfast supporter of adopting a pet from your local shelter. Whenever we get wind of a project that encourages adoption, we like to help spread the word.

On November 15, 2011 The Ad Council, in partnership with The Humane Society of the United States and Maddie’s Fund, announced the launch of a second series of public service advertisements for The Shelter Pet Project, a campaign that has helped change the landscape of shelter pet adoption and reduce the euthanasia of shelter pets by 10 percent since its launch in 2009.

The campaign goal is to bring the number of healthy and treatable pets losing their lives for lack of a home to zero. This is the first time in its history the Ad Council has taken on an animal welfare cause. The Shelter Pet Project is also the first national PSA campaign that brings together the largest animal welfare organizations and shelters across the country to reach that goal.

The public service advertisement will be distributed by the Ad Council to more than 33,000 media outlets nationwide. Te PSAs will run and air in advertising time and space that is donated by the media.

Ad Council

“In just two years, the number of pets euthanized has decreased by 10 percent, however there are still millions of healthy pets that need a loving home,” said Peggy Conlon, President and CEO, The Advertising Council. “This campaign entertains audiences while bringing an important message, the need to adopt pets from shelters, to the forefront.”

The Ad Councils mission is to identify a select number of significant public issues and stimulate action on those issues through communications programs that make a measurable difference in our society.

To that end, the Ad Council marshals volunteer talent from the advertising and communications industries, the facilities of the media, and the resources of the business and non-profit communities to create awareness, foster understanding and motivate action.

The Humane Society

“Choosing to adopt is game-changing for you and life-saving for an animal,” said Wayne Pacelle, president and CEO of The Humane Society of the United States. “Pets end up in shelters through no fault of their own – they are often victims of circumstance. If enough people in our nation choose adoption, we can eliminate the euthanasia of healthy and treatable pets in our country.”

We all have heard of The Humane Society, but did you know it is the nation’s largest and most effective animal protection organization—backed by 11 million Americans, or one in every 28.

Established in 1954, The HSUS seeks a humane and sustainable world for all animals—a world that will also benefit people. We are America’s mainstream force against cruelty, exploitation and neglect, as well as the most trusted voice extolling the human-animal bond.

Maddie’s Fund

“We are expecting our new campaign PSAs to connect with the 17 million people who are going to get a pet this year and convince at least 2.7 million of them to adopt from a shelter or rescue,” said Maddie’s Fund President Rich Avanzino. “We are hopeful that the new ads will also inspire the 14 million animal lovers who have already adopted to tell their friends why shelters are the first and best places to go for a new four-legged family member.”

Maddie’s Fund® The Pet Rescue Foundation, is a family foundation funded by Workday and PeopleSoft Founder Dave Duffield and his wife, Cheryl. Maddie’s Fund is helping to create a no-kill nation where all healthy and treatable shelter dogs and cats are guaranteed a loving home. Maddie’s Fund is named after the family’s beloved Miniature Schnauzer.

Draftfcb

“We are thrilled to be launching the second phase of an already impactful partnership with the Ad Council and its sponsors,” said Nick Paul, EVP, Global Chief Growth Officer, Draftfcb. “This is a tremendous cause and we hope that the energy and positivity behind the new work will reflect the joy that comes from bringing a pet in need into a loving home. We are confident that the optimism of our message will resonate with the millions of potential adopters that are still out there and bring us even closer to our goal.”

The new television, radio, print, outdoor and Web ads, created pro bono by Draftfcb Chicago, focus on the relationship between shelter pets and their owners by featuring pets observing their human’s quirky yet loveable behaviors, concluding with the message that, “A person is the best thing to happen to a shelter pet.” All of the ads direct prospective pet owners to a comprehensive website, The Shelter Pet Project, where users are able to search for a pet from a local shelter or rescue group, read adoption success stories and learn valuable information about pet adoption.

Please join all of us here at PetsBlogs and show your support for this wonderful cause by spreading the word about the Shelter Pet Project. A person is the best thing to happen to a shelter pet . . .

• If you’re looking for a pet, consider a shelter pet.
• Encourage any friends you know who happen to be looking for a pet to consider rescuing their new best friend from a shelter using the resources available at ShelterPetProject.org.
• Like The Shelter Pet Project on Facebook
• Follow The Shelter Pet Project on Twitter
• Subscribe to The Shelter Pet Project Channel on YouTube.

The Fourth of July celebration is one of the most popular holidays in the United States. Families and friends gather for cookouts, parades, fun and fireworks. For the safety of all creatures, great and small, we’d like to share the following press release from the Humane Society in hopes of keeping more furry friends safe and secure this Independence Day.

Tips for a Safe Fourth of July for Your Pets

Make the holiday happy and safe for the whole family

Everybody loves a holiday, but our beloved pets can become distressed by the additional noise and commotion involved with Independence Day.

In fact, animal shelters across the country are accustomed to receiving “July 4th” dogs—dogs who run off during fireworks celebrations and are rescued by animal control officers or good Samaritans who take them to the safety of a local shelter.

“Pets are family members, and it’s understandable that people want to include them in their holiday plans,” said Adam Goldfarb, director of the Pets at Risk program for The HSUS. “However, most pets will be more comfortable staying at home. Spare our furry friends the stress of fireworks, crowds and fanfare on the Fourth of July, and for everyone, we wish you a safe and fun Independence Day.”

Fortunately, you can prevent pet problems on Independence Day simply by planning ahead and taking some basic precautions:

Leave them at home
There are many family and group activities that are perfect for pets, but a public fireworks display or a picnic, cookout or any other type of gathering where fireworks will be set off isn’t one of them – please resist the urge to take your pets to such an event.

Don’t leave your pet in the car
With only hot air to breathe inside a car, your pet can suffer serious health effects—even death—in a few short minutes. Partially opened windows do not provide sufficient air, but they do provide an opportunity for your pet to be stolen.

Give them shelter
Keep your pets indoors at home in a sheltered, quiet area. Some animals can become destructive when frightened, so be sure that you’ve removed any items that your pet could destroy or that would be harmful to your pet if chewed. Leave a television or radio playing at normal volume to keep him company while you’re attending Fourth of July picnics, parades, and other celebrations.

Keep it quiet
If you know that your pet is seriously distressed by loud noises like thunder, consult with your veterinarian before July 4th for ways to help alleviate the fear and anxiety he or she will experience during fireworks displays. The HSUS has calming products for sale at its online store, Humane Domain.

Pay attention
Never leave pets outside unattended, even in a fenced yard or on a chain. In their fear, pets who normally wouldn’t leave the yard may escape and become lost, or become entangled in their chain, risking injury or death.

Tag ‘Em
Make sure your pets are wearing identification tags so that if they do become lost, they can be returned promptly. Animals found running at-large should be taken to the local animal shelter, where they will have the best chance of being reunited with their owners.

The Humane Society of the United States is the nation’s largest animal protection organization, backed by 11 million Americans. We work to reduce suffering and improve the lives of all animals by advocating for better laws; investigating animal cruelty?; conducting campaigns to reform industries; performing animal rescue and emergency response; and providing care to animals through our sanctuaries, emergency shelters, wildlife rehabilitation centers, and clinics.

Naturally Calming . . .
To help alleviate the fear and anxiety your pet may experience tonight, consider Rescue Remedy (a natural remedy found at health food stores) or a Thundershirt (a garment which provides gentle, constant pressure to the body).

Wishing you and your furry friends a happy and safe
4th of July!

The 17th annual Spay Day is Feb. 22, 2011.

Spay Day an annual event of The Humane Society of the United States and Humane Society International to inspire people to save animals’ lives by spaying or neutering pets and feral cats. Spay Day officially takes place on the last Tuesday of February—but events will be running all through the month!

In celebration of Spay Day, Zazzle will present the Spay Day Online Pet Photo Contest this year. The Humane Society of the United States and Humane Society International will again be the host of the contest. This is a great opportunity to celebrate our pets, raise funds for spaying and neutering, and win great prizes!

There are two categories you can enter, the judged category and the fundraiser category. Both categories have prizes worth winning. Get your photos entered before the contest ends at 5:00 p.m. EST on February 25, 2011. You can however vote in the fundraisers category until 10:00 p.m. EST on March 3, 2011.

Entering the contest is easy and free—simply upload a digital photo of your pet and tell us a little about him or her. You can also enter as a memorial tribute to a pet who is no longer with us.

A panel of Photographer Judges will select the grand prize winner, 10 runners up and 25 finalists based on the quality of your photos and how well you answer a few simple questions to reveal your pet’s personality—no donations or votes are necessary to win the Judged Category.

In the fundraiser category there are one grand prize winner, 10 second prize winners, 100 third prize winners and 500 fourth prize winners.

Contest entrants may collect votes to win prizes in the Fundraisers Category. Your friends and family can get one vote credit for every $1 they donate to support spaying and neutering programs. Voters must purchase a minimum of 5 vote credits—a $5 donation—each time a donation is made. Every dollar donated in your pet’s name will give your pet another vote. If your pet finishes in the top 611 in votes, you’ll win great prizes!

Visit the voting instructions page to get more information for the fundraising category to pass along to your friends and family.

Sending Holiday cards is an annual tradition for many people. Pet lovers have the opportunity to choose from many beautiful greetings this year. Guidepost has made it easy by posting an article listing 5 sites that are offering cards. All the participating organizations listed below have played a major role in the lives of our furry friends.

The wonderful thing is all or a portion of the purchase price will benefit these hard-working animal organizations.

We recently received an email from the Humane Society of the United States about The Puppy Mill Cruelty Prevention Act that will appear on the November ballot in Missouri. I decided to research puppy mills to see if it warranted a blog. Much to my chagrin there was a lot of information showing the extent of the problem.

There are seven states that are known as puppy mill states because they have the majority of the puppy mills in the country. They are: Missouri, Nebraska, Kansas, Iowa, Arkansas, Oklahoma and Pennsylvania.

Tragically, approximately 40 percent of all pet store puppies nationwide come from Missouri, where nearly 200,000 breeding dogs produce up to a million puppies a year.

Approximately 3,500 pet stores in the United States sell puppies. They sell approximately 500,000 thousand puppies a year. The puppy industry in Missouri has an estimated valued of 40 million dollars a year. Lancaster County in Pennsylvania has a puppy industry valued at 4 million dollars a year.

There are hundreds of thousands of puppies raised each year in commercial kennels. The dogs are kept in small wire cages for their entire lives. They never touch solid ground or grass to run and play. The cages are overcrowded and offer unsanitary conditions, without adequate health care, food, water or human company. Some of the cages are outside where the dogs are subject to the extreme cold or heat. Indoor facilities have equally terrible conditions, with ammonia vapors and odors permeating badly aired buildings. The puppies may have immediate health problems such as respiratory infections or pneumonia and some even have genetic diseases that show up years later. The breeding dogs are bred as often as possible to increase profits then put to sleep as soon as they can no longer produce. They never experience the love and compassion they deserve.

Unlicensed puppy mills often sell puppies at six weeks of age even though federal laws prohibit licensed mills from selling puppies under eight weeks of age. There is federal law, the Animal Welfare Act, and many states have laws that purport to regulate puppymills, but the fact is that those laws are rarely enforced. No states have laws against a breeding kennel legally keeping dozens of dogs in cages for their entire lives, if food, water, and shelter are provided. There are puppy mills that aren’t even regulated or inspected by the USDA, since many of them sell directly to the public.

Puppy mills are the main supplies to pet stores. Pet stores often tell customers that their puppies come from local breeders or quality breeders. Puppies that come from puppy mills are often not purebred. Ask to see the paperwork and find out where the puppies really come from. If the people of the United States refused to buy a puppy in a pet store or Internet site, and refuse to buy supplies from any pet store or Internet site that sells puppies, the misery of puppy mills would cease.

When you decide to get a puppy, consider adoption. Animal shelters have an ample supply of puppies, many of them purebreds. There are also breed specific rescue groups for every breed of dog.

If adoption is not for you find a responsible breeder and visit their premises. Never buy a puppy without seeing their parents and where they live.

There are many legitimate ads in local newspapers offering puppies. Go to the home and see the conditions in which they were raised.

Remember that pet stores do sell puppy mill puppies. False claims are not uncommon when the pet stores are trying to make a sale.

Beware of websites that say great things about their “home raised” or “family raised” puppies. Puppy millers pose as small family breeders online and in newspaper and magazine ads. Just because they say it does not make it true.

If you are tempted to “rescue” a puppy mill puppy by purchasing it from a pet store, just remember you are enabling the industry by putting money back into their pockets to produce more.

The Humane Society of the United States is working hard to combat the problem of puppy mills. They are the nation’s leading advocate for legislation to regulate puppy mills. They have fought for strengthened provisions and broader enforcement of the federal Animal Welfare Act.

For more information visit http://www.humanesociety.org/issues/puppy_mills/

If you’re like many Americans, the country’s current economic state has forced you to trim your budget. If you’re a pet owner, you’ve probably had to switch to less expensive food and fewer vet visits for your pets. Sadly, for many less fortunate pet owners, the recession has made it extremely difficult, if not impossible, to continue caring for their pets. This is heartbreaking for both the owners, who have to let go of beloved extended family members, and for the pets, who have to leave a loving home for an uncertain future.

The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals estimated in November that between one and two million pets had been abandoned nationwide since the recession began in December of 2007, and that another million pets are in danger of abandonment because of it. It’s difficult to know how many, since more and more pets aren’t being dropped at animal shelters, but rather, just abandoned in the street.

Statistics like these are certainly sobering. But thankfully, there is an alternative springing up all over the country. Now, many local Humane Societies and food pantries have joined forces to help struggling pet owners feed and care for their pets. The Associated Press reported dozens of pet owners at the Cincinnati Food Pantry who lined up to receive a two weeks’ supply of pet food, treats, cat litter and other items. They are not alone.

Cities all over the country are teaming up with non-profit organizations to make sure the animals of their city stay fed and sheltered. In Tampa, Florida, the Humane Society of Tampa Bay has its own pet food pantry called “Casper’s Cupboard”  where people can come to receive donated pet food, toys, and cleaning supplies.

The internet of course, is another great resource for getting help with your pet needs. The Save Our Pets Food Bank boasts a total of over 160,000 lbs. of pet food donated in just under two years. The Food Bank, based in Georgia, also contains a list of several locations that provide free or low-cost pet care and food, both statewide and nationwide.

If you’re someone who is struggling to afford your pet, be sure to check into local programs at your Humane Society. A list of locations can be found here.

And if you’re someone who is willing and able to help, local Humane Societies and animal shelters are always looking for donations. You can help by donating material supplies or your time. Area animal shelters are always looking for volunteers in different capacities, whether it be sorting food, collecting donations, distributing supplies, or even your grooming or vet skills.

Anything you can do to help will make a great difference in the lives of the needy. They (and their pets) will thank you for it.

Animal Humane Society Promotes Prevention through Education

Golden Valley, MN (April 9, 2008)—April is often called the cruelest month of the year, but Animal Humane Society (AHS) hopes that with education, it doesn’t have to be for animals. AHS has been active in the prevention of animal cruelty in Minnesota since 1878. Our strongest lines of defense include humane investigations and education.
“Our Humane Investigations department responds to 3,000–5,000 requests for service each year,” states Janelle Dixon, President and CEO of AHS. “We hope to bring those numbers down by continuing to engage the hearts, hands and minds of the public and being a strong voice for animals.”

Animal Humane Society engages the public by educating them on the proper care of animals. A great number of people unintentionally bring harm to their pet by simply not knowing how to tend to them properly.

“Many of the reported cases of cruelty we investigate have a close parallel to weather,” states Keith Streff, one of two full-time, professional humane investigators in the state and working for AHS. “Many of the calls are seasonal related. Examples include pets being left outside in the summer heat with no water and situations where animals are left out in the extreme cold without shelter.”

The duties of AHS humane investigators also include investigating cases that involve dog fighting, cock fighting, negligent breeders, starvation/emaciation, and malicious behavior that results in the unjustified pain and suffering of animals. Humane investigators have authority under the law to remove animals and hold their owner responsible when the conditions warrant it.

According to Streff, who has been with AHS since 1987, many of the cases can be resolved with an educational approach. In 2007, AHS reached more than 24,000 students through its humane education programs. Shelter tours, summer camps, children’s evening programs, Boy/Girl Scout programs, and multimedia kits for teachers are offered. Classroom education programs are offered to schools, clubs and community organizations tailored to the age and interest of the audience.

“Humane education gives Animal Humane Society the ability to prevent animal cruelty before it starts,” states Tammy Noack, Humane Education Manager for AHS. “Our focus is to help students develop compassion, empathy, and respect for animals. We can change attitudes regarding what is acceptable and what is not when it comes to how animals should be treated.”

For more information on our humane education programs, please visit us online at www.animalhumanesociety.org. If you have an animal welfare concern and are unsure who to contact for help, contact Animal Humane Society Humane Investigations at 763-489-2236.

What You Can Do:

• Enter the ASPCA’s Go Orange Contest
• Animal Humane Society’s Cruelty Prevention and Legislation page.
• ASPCA – How to Recognize Cruelty.
• ASPCA – Report Animal Cruelty.
• Take the ASPCA pledge to fight animal cruelty.

ASPCA Public Service Announcements