In Santa Cruz, CA the restaurants are going to the dogs.  Three months ago Whitney Wilde came up with  Woofers and Walkers, she wanted to organize a group of dog lovers to go for weekly walks ending in lunch at a local restaurant where they could sit and socialize. I’m liking the sound of this already.

“I’ve wanted to do this for five years now,” Wilde said. “As 41 percent of Santa Cruz County, I wanted to get dog owners together and put a public face on responsible dog ownership. Dog owners can be a real force in town.”

So far six restaurants have opted in, all have outdoor patio dining where dogs are now allowed.  The only rules, dogs must be leashed and cleaned up after. Many of the group members have dogs that are rescues, this is a great way to help socialize them.

Nelli, a mixed breed terrier, along with the majority of the dogs in the group, were rescue dogs the owners saved from being killed, or in Daphne Morrissey’s case, from the life of a greyhound race dog.

“She didn’t know how to be a dog,” Morrissey said, describing her dog, Bean, when she first got her. “She didn’t know what stairs were or what a mirror was or how to play.”

After training and joining social groups such as Woofers and Walkers, Bean has grown more comfortable around other dogs and animals.

“This is to show how thankful we are to have these rescue dogs, and yet we are all rescued because of them,” Wilde said during a special remembrance ceremony for Tilly, a terrier owned by Jeanne Allen of Santa Cruz that had to be put down last week after battling illnesses.

“Not only is someone like Jeanne a person who has rescued dogs from being killed, but she is a great person,” Tess Cain said. “This group goes way beyond dog walking. This group has bonded us together and our dogs have been playmates ever since.”

We have a lot of dog walking groups in the Atlanta, GA area but none that end with lunch.  This is such a great way to show those who don’t own dogs that dog owners are a responsible group.

If you live in the Santa Cruz area you can join Woofers and Walkers every Sunday for a different adventure.

*(Picture courtesy Shmuel Thaler/Sentinel)

Turkey Day is over but stomach upsets may not be.  Here’s a good tip from our friends at Sunbear Squad.

Week of Nov. 30:

Watch for pets sickened by eating rich holiday leftovers or cooked turkey bones.

Be A Good Samaritan For Animals

The Sanctuary Animal Rescue in Clewiston, FL has a new family member.  Teddy Bear is six weeks old,  born with twisted front legs the breeder contacted the rescue to see if they would take him. The sanctuary didn’t even hesitate to make arrangements to get Teddy Bear.

Palena Dorsey started the Sanctuary in March 2004.  Her mission was to help those animals that were considered fearful and aggressive, or who were old and ill and about to be put to sleep because of the overwhelming influx of animals at local shelters.

The Sanctuary of course said they would take him. Teddy Bear had a very long trip and it took 30 hours to get there. He was very tired and  was coughing too. He was given fluids and put on antibiotics.

Palena is the Executive Director and Teddy Bear lives in her room and stays with her 24 hours a day. He has to be fed often and helped to go potty, but he’s happy.

The Sanctuary Animal Rescue is trying to raise money so Teddy Bear can have surgery to help him, hoping he can eventually  get adopted and have his very own home.

What a wonderful woman Palena Dorsey is, stepping in where others may have turned away. If you would like to help you can make a donation directly to Teddy Bear,  or for any of the Sanctuary’s residents.

Winter weather is here, at least in many areas of the country, bringing with it biting cold and snow.

There are a few things to keep in mind as the temperatures drop when it comes to the safety of your dog.

The Humane Society has some provided some helpful tips to keep away the winter woes.

* Don’t leave dogs outdoors when the temperature drops. Most dogs, and all cats, are safer indoors, except when taken out for exercise. Regardless of the season, shorthaired, very young, or old dogs and all cats should never be left outside without supervision. Short-coated dogs may feel more comfortable wearing a sweater during walks.

* No matter what the temperature, windchill can threaten a pet’s life. A dog or cat is happiest and healthiest when kept indoors. If your dog is an outdoor dog, however, he/she must be protected by a dry, draft-free doghouse that is large enough to allow the dog to sit and lie down comfortably, but small enough to hold in his/her body heat. The floor should be raised a few inches off the ground and covered with cedar shavings or straw. The house should be turned to face away from the wind, and the doorway should be covered with waterproof burlap or heavy plastic.

* Pets who spend a lot of time outdoors need more food in the winter because keeping warm depletes energy. Routinely check your pet’s water dish to make certain the water is fresh and unfrozen. Use plastic food and water bowls rather than metal; when the temperature is low, your pet’s tongue can stick and freeze to metal.

* Warm engines in parked cars attract cats and small wildlife, who may crawl up under the hood. To avoid injuring any hidden animals, bang on your car’s hood to scare them away before starting your engine.

* The salt and other chemicals used to melt snow and ice can irritate the pads of your pet’s feet. Wipe the feet with a damp towel before your pet licks them and irritates his/her mouth.

* Antifreeze is a deadly poison, but it has a sweet taste that may attract animals and children. Wipe up spills and store antifreeze (and all household chemicals) out of reach. Better yet, use antifreeze-coolant made with propylene glycol; if swallowed in small amounts, it will not hurt pets, wildlife, or your family.

For those Dogsters wondering if your dog needs a coat, I went to Dogster’s vet blog and checked with  Dr. Eric Barchas.   So, do dogs need to wear coats?

It depends on the dog, and it depends on how cold it is.

As a rule, smaller dogs are more likely than larger dogs to need extra warmth. Their small bodies cannot hold heat as well.

Likewise, dogs with short, thin coats are more likely than those with long, thick coats to need extra warmth.

Therefore, a Chihuahua who lives in Los Angeles might need a sweater if it dips below 50 degrees (Fahrenheit). A husky who lives in Fairbanks might never need a sweater.

Also, remember that pets, like people, warm up with activity. I may take off my jacket when I am hiking a trail up a hill, but put it on again when I reach the top. A dog playing fetch usually won’t need a coat. A dog being carried in a purse usually will.

Given the complexity of the situation, your best bet is to use common sense and pick up on your pets’ cues. If they are reluctant to go outside, or if they show signs of being cold (such as seeking warmth or shivering), then you should consider bundling them up.

According to The Humane Society, the happiest dogs are those who are taken out frequently for walks and exercise but kept inside the rest of the time.

* The snow cutie above is Dazzle.

In Our Hands Shelter in Brooklyn, NY is in desperate need of foster parents to help care for loving dogs whose time will be up without immediate intervention.

Dear Friends,

The lists of URGENT dogs at Animal Care and Control have been especially awful during the past couple days, and as a result, we have committed to placing the following NO CONCERN dogs and others. In order to SAVE THEIR LIVES, we are asking you, our faithful supporters to stand and offer to foster a shelter dog who would otherwise meet the same unhappy fate of millions per year.

Sweet Butter came into the shelter via police escort on 11/11/08. This gentle girl hopped right in and got a ride, thinking they must be taking her home. But no, sadly they took her instead to an overcrowded city shelter. Now her life is in grave danger, for there is no cage space left, and Butter has been there too long. Can you help by fostering or adopting her?

THIS SWEET SWEET Boy is going to be DUST unless you can commit to ADOPTING/FOSTERING or Sponsoring IMMEDIATELY!!!
2 year old MARLON was wandering the streets as a stray. They scooped him up and brought him to the Shelter.

He was soooo thin … very emaciated. But he hadn’t been on the streets for long, because his nails were overgrown. That means that someone kept him confined, didn’t walk him, and didn’t feed him. The staff has been feeding him extra meals to fatten him up. All the while, he’s proved a loving animal: great with people and fine with other dogs. He arrived weighing only 38 pounds and should weigh a lot more.

Although Marlon has been let down by humans, he’s nevertheless sweet as sugar, well-behaved AND smart! He plays nicely, fetching a doll and returning it. He’s happy to rest his head on your lap (to stay warm during this cold weather, and he probably knew about the treats in my pocket). Please consider this fine, affectionate dog!

Sweet Butter and Marlon are just two of the dogs in desperate need, please contact the shelter to find out about the others.

If you’re looking to adopt, or are available to foster, please contact Emily today at emily@emilygear.com.

* The beauty above is Kane.

It is the 10th annual Iams Home 4 the Holidays pet adoption drive. Their goal is to find loving, lifelong homes for more than 1 million orphaned dogs and cats through the participation of 3,000 organizations.

The drive started October 1, 2008 and runs through January 5, 2009. The goal this year is 1 million adoptions.

How did Iams Home 4 the Holidays start?

Iams Home 4 the Holidays began in 1999 when Helen Woodward Animal Center organized 14 San Diego area shelters, finding homes for 2,563 orphaned pets. Each pet “went home” with a holiday meal of Iams food.

How did it become the largest adoption drive in history?

130 shelters in 5 states found homes for 20,000 pets during Iams Home 4 the Holidays 2000. In 2001 spokesperson Diane Keaton lead 450 shelters across the USA, Canada, Mexico and Puerto Rico, finding homes for more than 100,000 pets. Iams Home 4 the Holidays 2002 grew to 1200 shelters and rescues in 20 countries, completing 180,000 adoptions and breaking all previous records.

During the 2003 drive the 1,316 participating shelters and rescue groups completed 261,839 adoptions. Our 2004 campaign grew to 1,800 shelters and rescue groups and 313,123 adoptions. And in 2005 Iams Home 4 the Holidays not only found a home for our 1-millionth pet, the 1,941 participating groups again broke their own record by finding families for 328,777 orphaned pets.

To find out more you can call the Helen Woodward Animal Center at 858-756-4117 x-302.  Or sign up right now to be part of the largest and most successful pet adoption drive in history.

Here is a great posting from our sister site, Catster,  on members that got together in an effort to save a Dogster who was left alone after the death of her owner.

It is a sad story, but it shows what can happen when dogs and cats get along.

Recently, TV station KOAT in Albuquerque reported that Dogster Noelle (left) was saved from euthanasia in a shelter by the members of the Dogster community, who arranged to transport Noelle (who was on death row in a Florida shelter) to a new home 1500 miles away in New Mexico.

But several of my Catster friends were quick to point out that technically, it was mostly Catsters who did the legwork to save Noelle and her two feline housemates (Aldo and Tess) from an unhappy ending, and asked me to tell the story of the Catsters behind the scenes that made this happy ending a reality.

You can read the full story on the  Catster blog, plus check out top dog Ted Reinghold being interviewed by phone on Albuquerque ABC news affiliate KOAT.  Ted spoke about the amazing lengths that Dogster and Catster members have gone to in order to find homes for  Dogster pets, or to help relocate them.

Dogsters and Catsters rock!

Recently I posted an article on tips for traveling with your dog(s) over the holidays.

Whether traveling by land or air, the American Humane Society provided us with helpful information on ways to minimize stress for your pet.

Today’s focus is on what happens when you arrive at your destination, how to be the perfect doggy guest. If you have family or friends who are kind enough to invite the entire family, four-legged buddies included, it’s important to make sure you prepare for your stay.

To get help on this subject I went to the owner of a dog friendly B&B, I figure she’s seen it all.  Martha who owns Ponder Cove, a beautiful B&B in the North Carolina mountains, was kind enough to give me a few minutes of her time to share some great tips.

So, let’s get shakin’ and make this a very successful holiday season. I will attempt to lay out the perfect formula to make you the best house guest ever with Bowser in tow.

1) Make sure Bowser gets a bath. He will shed less while being a guest and he certainly will smell better.

2) Make sure you pack Bowser’s much needed supplies in an appropriate box. I own the big Rubbermaid tubs that I buy from Target. Mine are the size of my dog crates. So, when we arrive it is stored on top of the crate. A tidy guest makes a happy host.

3) Make sure you have the much needed supplies.

a) Blanket or sheet to cover bed if Bowser is a bed buddy.

b) Food.

c) Bottled water. (It can be from your tap but it will prevent stomach problems if your dog is sensitive and used to your tap water)

d) Water bowl. Hosts hate being asked for kitchen bowls. It is just not sanitary.

e) If you use canned food…bring the can opener.

f) Place mat for water and food bowls.

4) Make sure you take the crate if he is crate trained. He or she will settle much better on arrival in his own bedroom versus a strange house.

5) Make sure Bowser is comfortable in the car before the journey. Give him plenty of room. Take along his favorite blanket and allow him to settle in nicely.

Martha has six more helpful tips, and a funny story of how she was once a guest with her dogs and broke every rule possible.  Grab your leash and run on over to Ponder Cove to check out the rest of the list and what not to do when you’re a guest.

If any Dogsters have a funny guest story give me a bark.

In some Florida schools teaching kids to read has literally gone to the dogs.

READing Paws, part of a national program, uses trained Reading Education Assistance Dogs.

At Orlando’s Bay Meadows Elementary Hector the sheltie* visits the classroom each Monday, he lounges on the floor with children who take turns snuggling up next to him to read.

Even the youngsters who claim to hate reading want to read books to Hector.  “No one wants to miss it,” said Carol Welch, the human teacher in Room 501.

It might seem silly, but Welch says Hector helps students practice pronouncing words without the pressure of messing up in front of other kids.

The program is already a hit in Atlanta and Nashville  but is new to the Orlando area.  This is the only program of its kind in Central Florida and already there is a waiting list for the nationally-registered therapy dogs, and their handlers.

What a great program, I can see why the kids love it.  For more information on READing Paws, go to readingpaws.org or call Merilee Kelley at 321-251-6001.

* Click here to go watch Hector in action.

As always, we thank our friends at Sunbear Squad for another great tip.

WATCH TIP for week of Nov. 16

Watch for dogs and cats that are near or on railroad tracks. They may not hear or pay attention to oncoming trains and may be killed.

Be A Good Samaritan For Animals