When Lisa and I adopted Bo, 15 years ago, he was about 11 months old.  Eight years later we adopted Copper, she was around 6 months.  It wasn’t so much that we set out to adopt younger dogs, it just happened.

We recently added another member into our family, Logan, who is a 5 five year old Bernese Mountain dog rescue.

Logan has taught us how much joy  adopting an older dog can bring.  Being an abused dog from a puppy mill he missed out on all the fun things a normal dog would experience.  Everything is new to him; running, playing, taking walks, being loved.

The first time Logan wagged his tail I think Lisa and I must have stood around grinning for about an hour. Originally, when we were looking to adopt a Berner rescue, I admit, we were looking for a dog no older than two.  One of the people from BARC mentioned Logan to us, that was when we started to consider adopting an older dog.

We knew that there will always be people to adopt the puppies, everyone loves a puppy, but the older ones ofter get left behind.  People are afraid they’re to set in their ways or that they won’t be around that long.

I think when older dogs are adopted they are so appreciative because they sense how lucky they are, they have so much love to give. The fact is that no one knows how much time we’re going to get with our dog, some die young while others live to a ripe old age. Life offers no guarantees, sometimes you just have to take a chance..

The following is from an article posted in the L.A. Times.

We got the scoop on two great senior dogs in the West L.A. shelter from shelter volunteer Mirja Bishop. We’ll let Mirja take it from here:

Holly, ID# A0940982, has been at the West L.A. shelter since May. She’s already spayed and is listed as a German Shepherd mix.

Jessica, ID# A0941207, has been at the West L.A. shelter since May. She’s already spayed and is listed as a German Shepherd mix.

Holly is 11 years old; Jessica is listed as 10, but she behaves like a much younger dog. They’re reportedly mother and daughter — you have to look closely to tell one from the other, but Holly does have a few gray hairs on her muzzle and she’s a little slower and more deliberate than Jessica. They have always been housed together and they are deeply devoted to one another.

Recently another volunteer and I bathed the girls in preparation for a mobile dog adoption event (lifting them into the wash basin was quite a challenge). Both were apprehensive, but their sweet dispositions (and a few treats) allowed the baths to go off without a hitch!

When bath time was over, we took Holly and Jessica to a play area so they could romp and chase each other around on the grass. (Holly still acts like a mom and tried to groom her daughter, despite the look of protest on Jessica’s face. The look clearly said, “Mom, don’t embarrass me!”)

They played with such wild abandon that all I could do was smile and shout, ‘Go, girls, go!’ What a joy it was to see them running freely, two beautiful dogs enjoying some well-deserved playtime.

It’s hard to understand why they have not been adopted to date; it probably points out a sad reality, that people do not want older dogs. How sad, because these dogs have so much love and loyalty to give to some lucky person! We hope that someone out there will fall in love with the two of them — they have spent their lives together and to separate them now would be truly sad.

Holly and Jessica are just a few of the many older dogs that are housed in our local shelters. Senior pets have so much love and loyalty to offer and ask for nothing more than a forever home where they can curl up and feel safe and loved again.

This mother-daughter team is available now at the West L.A. shelter, located at 11361 West Pico Blvd. (near the intersection of Pico and Sawtelle). You can inquire further about them (or any of the other dogs in the shelter) by calling 888-4LAPET1 with the ID numbers listed here.

If anyone lives around the L.A. area and is looking for love, I know where you might want to start.

October is  American Humane’s Adopt-A-Dog Month,  so I thought it was important to show people  how wonderful the dogs in shelters are.

Most aren’t given up because they’re mean or uncontrollable, the sad truth is it’s usually due to financial issues and  life changes.

The following list is compiled from the National Council on Pet Population Study & Policy.

1. Moving — Dogs can handle change, especially if their owners make the change fun. But so many people leave pets behind at shelters when they move. That’s much more traumatic for dogs than riding two days in a car with their friend to a new home.

2. Landlord issues — If you rent, then you must get approval from your landlord to have a pet. Some people lie about these things and then when the landlord finds out they have a pet, they end up getting rid of the pet rather than moving.

3. Cost of pet maintenance — Pets are not cheap to care for. The average cost of caring for a dog is estimated at about $400 a year. That includes food, toys, vaccinations, and an annual visit to the vet. It cost a lot more if your dog gets sick or injured, has special dietary needs, or takes medication.

4. No time for pet — That’s a big excuse that rarely holds water for most shelters. What that means is that the family has gotten bored with caring for a pet.

5. Inadequate facilities — What this means is that the person doesn’t have a fenced in yard or outdoor space to house the dog. Why not bring the pet inside then? The dog was probably an indoor pet at first, but something happened, either with the dog or the dog’s family, and the decision was made to put the dog outside.

6. Too many pets in the home already — This usually is the case when dogs are not spayed or neutered. Sadly, people often take the oldest dog to the shelter because the family wants to keep the most newly acquired pet. Isn’t that sad?

7. Pet illness – All too often, people are forced to give up pets when they can’t afford to pay for veterinary care for a pet’s illness. I sympathize with people on this one, since there is no place for pet owners to turn right now to get help with medical expenses for their pets.

8. Personal problems — Divorce, job loss, major injury, foreclosure on your home are many of the personal reasons people give for giving up pets. This is tough because certainly if you can’t pay your own bills, it may be tough to care for a pet properly.

9. Biting — When a dog bites, he’s usually out of the house. Although I think it matters why he might have bitten someone or if the bite was a real bite or a snap. Dogs that snap are often warning people they are stepping over the line and need some training. Dogs that bite can be a problem.

10. No homes for littermates — Many people refuse to spay or neuter their dogs and the result is a few litters a year. While the pet owner may be able to find a home for one or two of the puppies, more often than not, the remaining littermates end up at the animal shelter.

This list just emphasizes the fact that  dogs in shelters are sweet and loving,  deserving of a second chance.   Any type of dog you’re looking for can be found at the local shelter.  Big, small, adult, and puppies are available for adoption.

The beauty above is Dogster’s own Blizzard, he’s in the Greenville (OH) area and is available for adoption.   Isn’t it time you rock your world and adopt a new best friend?

Calling all animal lovers and rock music aficionados to come support Rational Animal’s eagerly awaited third annual Gimme Shelter: Rock & Rescue NYC benefit concert.

This rocking event takes place on Monday, October 6 at the Highline Ballroom. Located at 371 West 16th Street in Manhattan’s fashionable Chelsea district.

Join honorary chairperson Debbie Harry, MCs Chi Chi Valenti and DJ Johnny Dynell, and guest hosts Beastie Boy Adrock and Gina Gershon for an evening of music and entertainment with a purpose: to raise money for animal rescue groups that are working to save lives and create brighter futures for New York City’s homeless animals.

This year’s ten beneficiary groups all are members of the Mayor’s Alliance for NYC’s Animals. They include A Cause for Paws, Adopt-A-Dog, Anjellicle Cats Rescue, Bobbi and the Strays, Linda’s Feral Cat Assistance, Loving Touch, Metropolitan Maltese Rescue, Rawhide Rescue, Spay Neuter Intervention Project (SNIP), and Tiny Treasures Rescue. The ASPCA, an Alliance founding member, is one of the event sponsors.

“Our goal at Rational Animal is to end euthanasia of healthy and treatable animals,” says Susan Brandt, Rational Animal’s founder. Gimme Shelter is a rockin’ way to spread our message, and we’re thrilled that this community of fellow artists and animal lovers have donated their time and talents to the cause.”

Wow, not only do they have an impressive musical line-up,  they also have an amazing list of worthy beneficiaries. Go enjoy a fun filled evening knowing your contribution (tickets start at $50) goes to some topnotch causes.

Hurricane Ike has left more than just physical devastation in its wake.

There are 120 dogs who were abandoned being transported to Minnesota to be put up for adoption.

The process starts this morning, when a team from the Animal Humane Society (AHS) of Golden Valley, with the help of Northwest Airlines, brings back 59 dogs from Texas that were lost, abandoned or surrendered after the hurricane.

I just can’t understand how anyone could take shelter and leave their dog behind.  I realize that some of the dogs probably got lost in all the confusion,  but I would go to the ends of the earth to get my dogs back.

Once in Minnesota, the dogs “will rest and recover at AHS’ five facilities,” the society said in a statement Tuesday. “Some may require additional medical treatments and be in AHS’ care because of the extraordinary circumstances they have been through.”

I hope that these dogs will all be adopted into wonderful new forever homes.  They have not released adoption information yet, but anyone residing in the vicinity and looking to adopt should keep checking for updates.  Remember…it’s Adopt-A-Dog Month, here’s your chance.

Today we’re kicking off the start of the American Humane’s Adopt-A-Dog Month.

Throughout the month of October I’m going to feature articles regarding all things adoption; tips, advice, adoption stories, and ways to help even if you’re not looking to adopt.

Big dogs, small dogs, adult dogs, puppy dogs — you can find them all at your local shelter or breed rescue group. And each one is guaranteed to enhance your life, make you smile and rock your world.

Millions of dogs are surrendered to our nation’s animal welfare organizations every year, not because they are bad or unlovable, but because their owners just couldn’t take care of them anymore. Now these dogs are homeless, and they need a second chance.

American Humane works year-round to support these animal welfare organizations, promote adoptions and enhance the bond that people share with their companion animals. And each year, we celebrate American Humane’s Adopt-A-Dog Month and give shelters tools and resources to continue fostering connections between people and pets.

We encourage everyone to visit their local shelters, learn about the services they provide and — best of all — see all the wonderful dogs they have ready to be adopted.

Having a dog rocks. Experts say dogs promote exercise, help lower blood pressure, prevent heart disease, and fight depression and loneliness. Plus, dogs often can serve as “social aids,” helping people get to know others, sparking conversations, and encouraging increased social contact and greater bonds between people.

If you’re ready to have your world rocked, check out the resources at American Humane to learn about the adoption process, behavior and training, and pet care.

So, are you ready to rock your world?

The Bernese Auction Rescue Coalition, BARC, is having a raffle to raise money for their amazing organization.

They are a non-profit corporation dedicated to rescuing and rehabilitating Bernese Mountain Dogs from dog brokers, dog auctions, puppy mills, and any other dangerous, exploitative or abusive situation.

BARC, Inc. places these dogs in loving pet homes as spayed or neutered companions. This wonderful group is who Lisa and I went through to adopt our beautiful boy, Logan. They rely on donations to be able to keep doing the work they do.

BARC is having a fundraising raffle offering some really cool prizes. Everything from books, clothing, gift baskets, jewelry, ltd. edition prints, to wood carvings. To enter you buy tickets, single or in books, and choose the coveted prize you’re seeking. The biggest problem is deciding what item(s) to choose,  there are so many great prizes.

On the site it has the raffle ending tomorrow, but it has been extended through this Friday, October 3rd.  So run, don’t walk, over to BARC’s raffle page to buy your tickets. You do need to send in a check for the tickets, as long as you get it mailed on or before October 3rd you’re fine.

This is a win-win situation, your donation goes to a great organization who rescues and saves innocent dogs, and in the process you get the chance to win a terrific prize.

Here’s an interesting story concerning the new mandatory sterilization ordinance in Los Angeles, CA.

When the Los Angeles City Council approved the measure in February, the hope was that pet sterilization would stem the tide of unwanted and stray animals flowing into shelters. According to the Humane Society of the United States, 3 million to 4 million animals are euthanized in shelters nationwide each year.

The new ordinance, which goes into effect in less than a week, orders all dogs and cats 4 months and older be sterilized.

The ordinance would exclude those dogs and cats that have special skills or are being trained for special activities. Also exempt, are show dogs and those trying to join the show circuit. Lastly, are those that have medical excuses. Hmm….as in, “No don’t cut those off, I may need them at a later date.”

Since spaying or neutering can be expensive the city has put into place a number of low cost options.

There are a number of reduced-cost options for sterilizing your animal. The city’s shelters and many of their private rescue partners offer vouchers — to everyone — worth $30 toward the cost of a sterilization procedure performed by participating veterinarians. Senior citizens, the disabled and low-income residents quality for a certificate for a free procedure at certain veterinary hospitals or a mobile clinic.

Interestingly, City Controller Laura Chick, released a report stating that “L.A. Animal Services was ill-prepared to implement or enforce the new law.”

She contends that animal control officers already have difficulty enforcing the other ordinances in place. While I realize it may be hard to enforce every ordinance, such as the leash law, it doesn’t mean an important issue such as this should be swept under the carpet.

It seems to me, the city controller is more concerned about the bottom line than the fact that millions of innocent animals are being euthanized each year. By putting an ordinance like this into place the number of suffering and abandoned animals will be substantially cut down.

There are  already major costs involved  to catch, temporarily take care of,  and euthanize these abandoned animals. I would think that, in the long run, the enforcement of this ordinance would be  cost-effective for the city.

Do you think that it should be mandatory for all pet owners to sterilize their pets, unless they fall under one of the exemptions ?  Or, do you think the this is something the government should stay out of ?

There’s a wonderful new site, Adopt-a-Pet, which focuses on permanent pet adoption. Victoria Stilwell, host of “It’s Me or the Dog” on Animal Planet is helping out.

Purina and Adopt-a-Pet.com, a non-profit pet adoption charity, worked together to create a “Permanent Pet Adoption” checklist, which provides tips to ensure a successful adoption.

The sad truth, unfortunately, is not all adoptions end with happy endings. Too many times dogs are adopted without fully realizing what a huge responsibility dog ownership is.  Cute puppies grow up, dogs don’t always listen, time is needed for care and grooming, and the costs involved can be very expensive.

The key to changing this is education. That is the crucial factor in keeping pets in forever homes. The checklist below, info compiled using a survey of over 180 shelters, is an invaluable resource.

Before You Adopt Give This List Some Thought:

1. When you adopt, you need to make a real commitment to care for your pet for its entire life, no matter what that entails, just as you would with a child.

2. Be prepared for a pet to affect other parts of your life for as long as you have the pet (can be up to 15 years for a dog and 20 years for cat). Your pet’s well-being will have to be considered in all kinds of decisions, including travel, social life, relocating to a new home, adopting other pets, having children, etc.

3. Verify in advance that you’re allowed to keep a pet where you live, especially if you rent or belong to a homeowners’ association.

4. Make any necessary modifications to your yard and fence, if you have one, to provide for your pet’s safety and to prevent your pet from escaping.

5. Never give a pet as a gift.

6. Choose a pet appropriate to your living situation and lifestyle. Figure out what size, age, and energy-level pet is most appropriate for you.

7. Never adopt a pet on a whim or because you feel it’s love-at-first-sight. Do your research and carefully consider all the aspects and implications of adopting before you make a decision.

8. If you’re adopting a pet for your kids, understand that the responsibility is yours. Kids, by their nature, often tire of things that were once new and exciting, and this includes their pets. You will most likely end up being the one who provides most of the pet’s care.

9. Plan for a several-week adjustment period during which there will be challenges.

10. Provide sufficient exercise and stimulation. (Walk dogs according to individual need, provide playtime and appropriate toys for both dogs and cats, spend time just petting and talking to your pet, include pet in family activities.)

You can also watch Victoria Stilwell, on video, as she reviews the top 10 list.

Besides the terrific top 10 list, the site is filled with valuable information and cool links. So, whether you’re looking to adopt or not, it’s worth stopping by and checking out Adopt-a-Pet.

If you’re having trouble watching the video in your reader, you can watch it here!

Another great, and important, tip from our friends at Sunbear Squad.

Week of Sept. 20:

Watch for spring’s puppies and kittens now banished to the back yard-do they have shelter, food and water?

Be a Good Samaritan for animals.

This is truly a historic week when it comes to puppy mill reform.  A few days ago the Puppy Mill Bill was passed by the PA House of Representatives and is on the way to the Senate.

Now, there is new legislation seeking to close a loophole in the Animal Welfare Act, which allows puppies to be sold via the internet without Federal oversight.

WASHINGTON - The Humane Society of the United States and Humane Society Legislative Fund commend federal lawmakers for introducing bills that will crack down on abusive “puppy mills” in the United States - where breeding dogs are often stacked in wire cages for years to produce litter after litter. The legislation will close a loophole in the Animal Welfare Act that currently allows large, commercial breeders who sell puppies online and directly to the public to escape licensing and regulation.

The legislation - known as the “Puppy Uniform Protection Statute” (PUPS), or “Baby’s Bill” in honor of rescued puppy mill survivor Baby who is the subject of Jana Kohl’s new book A Rare Breed of Love - was introduced in the House of Representatives yesterday as H.R. 6949 by Reps. Sam Farr (D-Calif.), Jim Gerlach (R-Pa.), Lois Capps (D-Calif.) and Terry Everett (R-Ala.). A companion bill, S. 3519, was also introduced in the Senate by Sen. Richard Durbin (D-Ill.).

The statute is pretty long, but worth reading, so check out the Humane Society site to read in full.  Once again we’ve proven when dog owners become a united front we are a powerful lobbying group.  We cannot, and will not,  be ignored.

I want to thank Gizmo for giving me a bark to let me know about the new legislation.