How sad is this, a beautiful senior lab who is going to be put down without anyone even knowing her name?  She was picked up as a stray and is only known as 1054.

I have no doubt she was a very loyal, loving companion and now she is nothing but a number. Her age is unknown, but she is obviously an old gal.  Don’t let old age fool you, if you’ve never adopted an older dog before this girl can bring more joy than you can imagine.

She is located at  Portage County Dog Warden Shelter in Ravenna, Ohio. You can reach them at 330-297-6924.  There is no time to spare,  I know there is a perfect family out there for this beautiful girl, is it you?

Please post and crosspost this message, before it’s too late.

To get your dog a day of fun you’ll pay the equivalent of $14 a day, which is quite affordable to the more affluent Taipei family. The price includes food, swimming, walks, and more.

Here are the details from Reuters.

It’s just like day care for children,” said Kevin Lin, a former Wall Street employee who now owns the luxury Pet’s Dream Park hotel. “A major reason I opened this business is to ease the stray dog problem.”

Rescue shelters and private individuals in Taipei also offer basic pet boarding services, but Pet’s Dream Park and its suburban competitor, Little Treasure Pet Lodging and Comfort School, offer a deluxe alternative.

“I’ve seen small dogs kept in cages and wondered why if people can live in such nice surroundings dogs can’t also,” said Yao Pen-thun, owner of the Little Treasure hotel.

Some customers leave their animals for months at a times as business travel requires long stays outside Taiwan. There are between 30 and 60 dogs, and the odd cat, at each property.

At Pet’s Dream Park, dogs spend hours paddling in an indoor pool or getting groomed at a beauty parlor. Nervous pets get their own VIP rooms at no extra charge.

Little Treasure takes its dogs for nature walks, and makes them listen to stories to help their mood, its website says.

I wouldn’t mind spending a day at either of those places,  if it were closer I’d have Lisa drop me off in the morning and pick me up at night.

* No pic with story so this is Dogster member Caliber at doggy daycare.

Many of you do not know that a few weeks ago there was terrible flooding in Atlanta, GA  and many of the surrounding counties, nine people lost their lives and hundreds of animals have been displaced.

Daffy’s Pet Soup Kitchen is working to help those displaced by the flood and could really use your help.

We are a member of the Humane Association of Georgia and Georgia Volunteer Organizations Active in Disasters. We are working with local and federal governments to help resolve issues pertaining to the flooding and their victims. We work with the groups to help coordinate the food for these animals along with the sheltering issues. We have visited/ talked with Gwinnett, Cobb, Douglas, Dekalb, Paulding, Chattooga, and Carrol Counties and have had discussions about these issues.

www.daffyspetsoupkitchen.com

The main concern is yet to come as far as keeping families and their pets together, our motto. We need donations of pet food, pet supplies, crates, gas cards, and financial donations are needed. Please donate food and supplies at any of our locations. If you are donating pet food or supplies in bulk, please contact Tom Wargo via email for more information.

These animals have no idea whats going on, and the last thing they and their families need right now is to be separated. Please help us keep these families together. Our food and financial situation is diminishing quickly and we need support. Please help out and donate on line or drop food at any of our sites. If you are interested in possible animal fostering, please let us know that as well. We need your help. We have depleted a lot of our finances we had for our rent on our new lease we have this month, October. Please help us help others and help us rebuild our lease fund to keep our warehouse and keep up the good work.

Please make checks payable to:  SOS Club

PO Box 1640

Lilburn, GA 30048

Thank you for your support.

In Kaufman County Texas almost 600 dogs, along with some cats, were seized when the Humane Society and sheriff’s deputies raided a puppy mill.

The society said it started investigating the kennel, which is located near Prairieville just north of Mabank, when someone came to them asking for dog food donations. Representatives visited and found poor living conditions and malnourished dogs.

“If loving the animal is a criminal, then maybe I’m a criminal,” she said. “Because I work 6 o’clock in the morning until 11:30 at night taking care of these animals.

Representatives said most of the dogs were living in their own waste and many were under fed. Three dogs died after being rescued and several others have skin or foot conditions.

Watch FOX 4 reporter Fil Alvarado’s story.

If you can’t see the video click here.

Deputies said kennel owner, 72-year-old Margaret Boyd, faces animal cruelty charges.

Boyd told FOX 4 she is fighting to get the animals back. A court hearing is scheduled for Friday and both she and the Humane Society plan to ask for custody of the animals.

* Pic MyFOXDFW

Instead of watching a movie about a dog, what about watching one with your dog?

There’s a fun event happening August 14th to benefit local dog organizations in the Oakland, CA. area.

HOLLYWOOF fundraiser: Movie Night with your Dog!

Your dog will be howling with joy! Hollywoof is a one-of-a-kind event for both dog lovers and dogs alike. With a dog masseuse pampering pooches, photographers taking candid portraits, free raffle prizes from local businesses, and a “Doggy” Bar, there will be plenty of entertainment for you and your pup.

To cap off the evening, we will be showing the award winning documentary, “MINE” by local independent film maker Geralyn Pezanoski. All proceeds will benefit local organizations, ‘MINE’ the movie, and its outreach efforts nationwide. And yes, dogs can stay for the movie too!**

Date: Friday, August 14th 2009
Time: 6.30pm-9.30pm (doors open 6:30 pm, movie starts @ 8:00 pm)
Location: Uptown Body & Fender, 401 26th St. Oakland, CA 94612. (!!! NEW LOCATION !!!)

Tickets must be purchased in advance, so don’t miss out, buy your ticket today!

Cape Cod’s first pet pantry, For The Love Of A Pet, is holding their third fundraiser at CJ’s Ranch (1415 Osterville W. Barnstable Road, Marston Mills). The event will be Sunday, August 9th, from 10:00 AM until 5:30 PM.

The day will include food, karaoke contests, pony rides, country line dancing lessons and demonstrations by CJ’s Ranch Drill Team. There will also be raffles and games featuring great prizes!!

Admission is $10.00 a person which also includes a raffle ticket. Children under 12 free with a can or bag of pet food. Pet food donations are greatly appreciated. All proceeds will go directly to For The Love Of A Pet, Inc.

For The Love Of A Pet, Inc., is pet food pantry established to provide food, supplies, education and support to pet owners who are experiencing financial challenges.

Their mission is to keep and maintain pets in a healthy home environment. For further information, please contact Carol Eklund at (508) 472-9175 or visit For The Love Of A Pet.

I received a message from Dogster member Dixie about a new clinic in the Chicago area.

I’m passing on the info for other Dogsters who live around there and may want to check out the new facility at this weekend’s open house.

Exciting news for Chicago-area pups whose pawrents are looking for cutting edge, state-of-the-art veterinary care for their four-legged family members. The Chicago Center for Veterinary Medicine has opened a new clinic on Chicago’s Near West Side.

You’ll love the name. Furnetic. And what we love even more than the name is that this clinic is affiliated with the prestigious University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine at Champaign-Urbana. When the Crew fell ill from various diseases/cancers, the UofI Vet Med School was suggested by many people as a place we could go to pursue treatments above and beyond those available at regular veterinary clinics. With the opening of this new Chicago-area vet center, we will have local access to UofI specialists and equipment that can save lives.

Thank you, Chicago Center for Veterinary Medicine, and thank you University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine at Champaign-Urbana, for answering the prayers of many pawrents in the Chicago metro area and opening Furnetic.

To learn all about Furnetic visit their website and if you have time stop by their open house this weekend.

Admit it. You’re curious. You’ve seen the cool Web site, and you’re wondering what the city’s newest veterinary clinic is really like.

Of course, you’re welcome to visit us at any time, but if you like food and other free stuff, you’ve got to stop in during our two-day, totally off-the-leash open house:

• Friday, July 31, from 2 to 7 pm, and
• Saturday, August 1, from 9 am to 1 pm.

You’ll get to meet our caring veterinary staff, check out our brand-new facility, get your picture taken if you like, sign up for great prize drawings, and walk off with a bag of treats.

You’ll find out that we’re part of the Chicago Center for Veterinary Medicine, a program of the University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine in Urbana. So even though we are people who are crazy about pets, we’re all about serious veterinary care.

See you on July 31 or August 1!

Oh, and don’t forget to bring your people along so they can help you fill out the entry form for the free drawings.

* Pic courtesy Furnetic

Ann Silverman,  writer for the examiner.com in NYC, posted an article on finding a professional dog walker.  She shares some good information that every dog owner should know.

I’ve never had to hire a dog walker, since I work from home, but if I ever do now I’ll know what to ask. And so will you.

When interviewing a perspective dog walker, the dog owner should ask him or her several standard questions that will reveal how good of a professional the person is.

It’s important to find out how long he or she has been doing this for a living, and if this is his or her sole profession. Does the dog walker own a dog? How many dogs does he walk at any given time?

With a small breed, it’s important that the dog walker specializes in walking small breeds and does not walk more than three at any given time.

An owner should also be certain that the dog walker will be available for walking the dog at the number of times promised, and if he or she cannot walk the dog, that there is always a substitute available. References are also of great importance.

You should always get references from any perspective dog walker, and make sure to call them. Keep in mind any referrals given are obviously going to be positive. No one is going to give you a client that was dissatisfied as a referral. It’s always a good idea to look online and see if you can find any unbiased opinions on the business or person you’re considering hiring.

*Angel and friends

The following is from the Damn, I Wish I Thought Of That Email Newsletter. It’s part of the “Take Care of the Pets” issue.

We’re a nation of pet lovers: According to a 2005-2006 study by the American Pet Products Manufacturers Association, 63 percent of U.S. households own at least one pet. Here’s how to take care of them (and their owners):

1.  On the menu

If you allow dogs in your store or restaurant, why not take it a step further by putting something for them on the menu? Chef Eric May of Charcuterie — located in Sierra Madre, CA — created a special menu for the town’s second largest species of inhabitants: Dogs. In addition to the restaurant’s traditional lineup of sandwiches and pasta, they also offer special dishes and portion sizes for any pets that may be looking for a meal.

The Lesson: If you’re opening your doors to pets, why not offer them a few special dishes or products?

2.  On loyalty

If you’d like pets (and their owners) to keep coming back, try extending your loyalty programs to your four-legged customers. Red Lion Hotels recently launched a special loyalty program that awards pets 500 points for each stay that can be redeemed for pets-only gifts. And while their rewards program is fairly high-tech and involves a point system, yours could be as simple as a punch card or a series of coupons that frequent visitors and their pets can use toward future visits.

The Lesson: Keep pet lovers coming back with special incentives and rewards for regular visits.

Learn More: Red Lion Hotels

3.  On the outside

For some businesses, allowing pets on the premises is understandably not an option or isn’t applicable — but that doesn’t mean you can’t offer something special with pet owners in mind. Chicago’s Shirts On Sheffield, a designer clothing retailer, leaves a couple bowls of water and dog biscuits outside the store. Even though pet owners can’t bring animals inside, locals often make an effort to swing by the store during their walks. If a storefront isn’t applicable, other options include sending treats with mail orders (because even if they don’t own a pet, they’ll know someone who does), or equipping your service reps with a few pet toys for house calls.

The Lesson: Don’t let a “no pets” policy get in the way of doing something remarkable for the roughly two-thirds of your customers who own animals.

4.  TripsWithPets.com

If you’re a pet lover that likes to travel with your animal, try TripsWithPets.com com to find pet-friendly lodging throughout the country. The site also offers insight into airline pet policies, as well as some tips on traveling with your animal.

Check it out: TripsWithPets.com

Considering there are over 40 million dog owners those are some great tips for business owners to keep in mind.  Especially in today’s economy where being innovative can make the difference between closing shop or keeping your doors open.

* Pic from the Red Lion Hotels website.

It feels like every day I’m reading about another shelter being forced to close its doors or cut drastically back due to budget cuts.

The Humane Society Naples is now facing this issue and need our support to stop it from happening.

The Humane Society Naples urges public to save DAS adoption program

Media Contact: Stephen Wright, PR Coordinator, 643-1880 x 19

The Board of Directors of The Humane Society Naples has passed a resolution calling on the public to save Collier County’s Domestic Animal Services’ adoption program from proposed budget cuts.

Domesic Animal Services is the Collier County agency that handles violations of pet laws and ordinances, pet licenses, animal cruelty cases, and the prevention of animal diseases that spread to humans. It also has to accept surrendered pets, livestock and exotic animals. For many years, Domestic Animal Services had operated an adoption program for the stray and homeless pets in its care.

“We want everybody to let commissioners know how important this program is and that it must be saved,” said Michael Simonik, Executive Director of The Humane Society Naples.

Founded in 1960, The Humane Society Naples is a private, local no-kill charity that provides shelter and adoption services for the area’s local pets. It is not a government agency, nor is it a branch of any national organization.

Last year The Humane Society Naples adopted out more than 1,500 pets.

“We are just starting a major facility renovation this month,” said Simonik and though we will stay open, we’ll be operating at reduced capacity. If DAS loses its adoption program, there is no way we could handle their overflow of homeless pets,” he said.

Simonik explained that results of the county animal control agency eliminating its adoption program would be devastating for the community. Of course, the number of pets euthanized at DAS would jump significantly, he said.

“But then there are unintended consequences,” he said. Once people know that a pet surrendered to DAS will have almost no chance for adoption, they most likely will just let it loose to run in the community and have at least a small chance of finding a home, he explained.

Rampant pet dumping will result in more animal-to-people and animal-to-pet bites, he cautioned. “And besides the initial injury, there’s the spread of disease, too,” he added.
That’s why it’s so important for the public to call, write or visit commissioners and attend the upcoming county budget workshops, June 29 and June 30.

“If Domestic Animal Services loses its adoption program, it will be a disaster for everyone,” he said. “We can’t let that happen,” he added.

The Humane Society Naples resolution can be found on the organization’s website, HSNaples.org. If you are reading this online, you can click here to see it now.

A News Release from the county states that public comment regarding the proposed budget will be received starting at Tuesday, June 30, at 1 p.m. in Commission chambers.
Board of County Commissioners
3301 E. Tamiami Trail
Naples, FL 34112
Phone: (239) 252-8097
Fax: (239) 252-3602
E-Mail:
Send to Frank Halas
Send to Jim Coletta
Send to Fred Coyle
Send to DonnaFiala
Send to Tom Henning

Incorporated in 1960,The Humane Society Naples is a private local non-profit, no-kill animal shelter. Located at 370 Airport-Pulling Road North in Naples, The Humane Society’s Adoption Center hours are Tuesday and Thursday 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Wednesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. For adoption information, call 643-1555 or log onto HSNaples.org.

The HSN has saved so many cats and dogs, it’s a wonderful and very necessary organization.  As you read above the result of cutbacks would have a devastating effect on the community. Please take a moment to send letters/emails to the officials above letting them know a budget cut is not an option.