The Humane Society’s Dog Tags program helps  soldiers recovering at Walter Reed Army Medical Center. They sign up to help the shelter dogs learn to behave,  when the soldiers get out of the hospital they know how to care for and train the dogs.  The dogs learn better behavior, making them more adoptable.  In my book that’s a win-win.

Here are the details from Army.com.

The program began simply enough more than a year ago. The shelter is located just across the street from the Walter Reed campus. Soldiers out walking would come across shelter staff members walking the dogs. They would stop and pet the dogs and seemed to enjoy getting to know them. Officials at the shelter had the idea to hook the two together through a training program for the troops and the dogs.

“We want the program to be educational so that if there are service members in the program that want to potentially pursue this as a career, … they’re getting as much information as possible and as much hands-on time as possible with the dogs,” Foley said. “We also want it to be recreational, too, for people who … just love animals and like spending time with the dogs.”

The skills the dogs learn in the classes translate to better placement opportunities, Foley said. The program has far expanded the amount of training the shelter’s dogs received previously.

“This is another way our dogs are outside of their kennels being talked to and touched and interacting with people,” she said. “That’s extremely beneficial to reduce the stress levels of the animals in our kennels, and at the same time, it makes the animals far more successful in their new homes if they come into it with some basic obedience training.”

But for all of the good it is for the dogs, it is equally beneficial for the recovering troops, Foley said.

The article shares a wonderful story about Army Captain Lawrence Minnis and Ebony, a pit bull, who he ended up adopting. You can read how they saved each other on Army.com.

* Pic courtesy Army.com

They are located at a high kill shelter in Kentucky, so time is of the essence.

Soxy

http://www.petfinder.com/petnote/displaypet.cgi?petid=14934088

Cupcake

http://www.petfinder.com/petnot/displaypet.cgi?petid=14934672

Luna

http://www.petfinder.com/petnote/displaypet.cgi?petid=14934933

Mitzi

http://www.petfinder.com/petnote/displaypet.cgi?petid=14934945

The pups are at the Daviess Animal Control located on 2620 Highway 81 Owensboro, KY 42303.   You can reach them at (270) 685-8275 or via email,  click here.

Please post and crosspost this message, let’s help save these senior gals.  They still have a lot of living to do, give one a chance and in return you’ll get an endless amount of unconditional love.

The shelter is a lifeline for animals that need a home,  many dogs there have been abused or abandoned. Here are the details from KAKE 10.

“If we close down, absolutely it would be terrible because there would be nowhere for someone to take an unwanted animal,” said the Pratt Area Humane Society Board President Pam Howell.

“We’re pretty desperate. It’s a crisis situation,” said Howell.

Now they are pleading with the public for help. If they are forced to close, the animals already there would go to other shelters. But for those who still need help, it could be devastating.

“If animal control did pick up an animal, it would just be euthanized after the three day hold so there would be no adoptions. If you’re out of town for those three days, tough luck,” said Howell. “We’re working hard trying to do good things but we can’t do it without their support,” said Howell.

To help the shelter, you can send money to the Pratt Area Humane Society, 10233 Bluestem Blvd., Pratt, KS, 67124. Or go to their website and make a donation.

Pictured  is Angel,  she’s a Plott Hound/Catahoula Leopard Dog mix.  See more adorable Pratt Humane Society dogs by going to their website, adopt your new best friend.

I mentioned before about Georgia having one of the highest kill rates in the country, sad but true. Here’s an urgent message I received about the Floyd County Animal Control in Rome, GA. These dogs only have until TUESDAY, OCTOBER 13th to live.

PLEASE CROSSPOST: THERE ARE MANY PUPPIES IN URGENT NEED OF RESCUE AT FLOYD COUNTY ANIMAL CONTROL IN ROME, GA~THESE BABIES MUST BE RESCUED BY 6:00 PM ON TUESDAY, OCTOBER 13TH AS THEY ARE SCHEDULED FOR EUTHANASIA ON WED. MORNING, BEGINNING AT 8 AM!

There are many lab mix puppies, black and yellow, husky mix babies, a GSD baby, hound-gsd mix puppies–boxer & boxer mix puppies~a little Pugapoo, a wirehaired terrier mix.

PLEASE ACT QUICKLY! PLEASE DON’T THINK SOMEONE ELSE WILL SAVE THEM!

YOU ARE THEIR ONLY HOPE!

Please look at this list and see if you can help even one! All of these dogs and puppies are URGENT! THE SHELTER WILL CLOSE ON WEDNESDAY AND ALL ANIMALS PAST THEIR HOLD TIME WILL DIE!

PLEASE HELP THESE PUPPIES!

Local volunteers are available to help with pulling from the shelter and driving to the vet or boarding. If you do not have a local contact to assist you please email Margaret and I will forward your request for assistance to a local volunteer.

FLOYD COUNTY ANIMAL CONTROL

Telephone number: 706-236-4545

Fax number: 706-233-0032

Email: broomej@floydcoga.org

Hours:

M, T 10am – 6pm

Wednesdays NEVER OPEN

Th, Fri 10am – 6pm

Sat + Sun 1pm – 5pm

View the slideshow of the dogs, click here.

This is the perfect story to go along with American Humane’s Adopt-A-Dog Month.  There is a new ‘101 Dalmatians’ musical starring shelter dogs, rescued from various shelters and rescue groups.

Animal trainer Joel Slaven didn’t have an easy time finding the dogs because shelters didn’t want a replay of what happened 13 years ago. After the original live action movie in 1996 and the sequel in 2000 dalmatians became the ‘it’ dog. Everyone had to have one, unfortunately many who adopted knew nothing about the needs of this particular breed. The other unwanted outcome was overbreeding at puppy mills due to the high demand, causing additional health problems in a dog that is already known to have issues.

This time Slaven was determined to do things different, to use the dogs’ celebrity to teach people about them. To let potential adopters know that when you adopt a dog you aren’t just adopting a cute fuzzy face. You are adopting a family member who is going to require training, love, and patience. Along with the medical expenses that come with dog ownership.

Here are the details from the Associated Press.

Now that they are on the road, the dogs have two rehearsals, playtime in the afternoon, grooming sessions and, of course, media appearances.

Rascal, along with the 14 other dogs, will need to find permanent owners after the tour, which is slated to run through at least June. However, Slaven, who already has two yellow Labrador retrievers, has committed to bringing back to his ranch any dogs who don’t find a home.

Until then, “home” is the bus. Kennels line one side (with living quarters in the rear for two full-time trainers), with a pet-care area for bathing and grooming. An awning pops up alongside the vehicle for shade and there are attachable pens for outside time.

Thanks to Slaven it looks like these dogs will all have good homes. Let’s just hope this time around people who watch the musical and fall in love with those adorable faces on stage will know adopting a dog is a lifetime commitment filled with responsibility, and it doesn’t end when it is no longer convenient for you.

* Photos courtesy AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack

Black went from a stray running the streets to becoming a service dog for the member’s son who has autism.

Black was a stray running the streets. His picture was in the newspaper for adoption at the local pound and I lucked out and was the first there.

He went right up to my son who is on the Autism spectrum. I have been interested in getting and training a service dog for my son and Black seemed a good candidate.

So far Black has settled in and loves all the kids. Having him around calms my son down when he is anxious or upset. Black right away took to him. He is wonderful. The chances of a pound dog to work out this good are almost nill.

Black was sent to us I am sure. He is a true gift from God.

It sounds like this was a match made in heaven.  We wish Black and his new family a long and happy life together.

About a week ago, Typhoon Ketsana (known in the Philippines as “Ondoy”) made landfall and dropped 17.9 inches of rain on Metro Manila in a span of 24 hours – the most in 42 years.

A month’s worth of rainfall in a single day washed away homes and flooded large areas, stranding thousands on rooftops in the city and elsewhere.  Both humans and animals are now in desperate need of help.

Here are the details from the Inquirer.net.

The Philippine Animal Welfare Society (PAWS) has opened its compound in Quezon City for animals needing shelter while waiting to be reunited with their owners, according to its program director, Anna Cabrera.

Cabrera said they were also bracing for animal rescue operations in coordination with government agencies and volunteer groups doing involved in rescue missions. She appealed to rescue organizations to accommodate PAWS members in helping rescue the animals stranded in roofs or trapped in homes.

“We are aware that in this situation, animals will be saved last. We lament this fact, but we have to save human lives first,” Cabrera said in a phone interview.

Cabrera advised pet owners, who have no way of taking with them their pets, to leave them in safe areas and leave them food and water.

“What they can do is to give us the location where they left their pets because PAWS will try to go to these areas and give them food and water and rescue them,” she said.

The PAWS shelter is located in PARC-Aurora Boulevard, Katipunan Valley, Loyola Heights Quezon City (http://parc. mefindhome.org for map and directions). Volunteer veterinarians are on standby.

The public may also contact Nita Lichauco, PAWS chief, at 724-1986. For those who cannot bring donations at the shelter, you can drop it off during office hours at 2-B Legaspi St., Philam Homes Subdivision West Avenue, Quezon City c/o Mr. Rich Ilustre, PAWS Director. You can also contact via email.

If you live in the United States I do not have any info yet on how or where to donate, will post when I do.

Although no official wedding date has been set it’s nice to know they want to include their furry friends.

Here’s the scoop from People.

Splash, my alpha, will be the ring bearer,” Moyer said at the L.A. Dogworks and Good Dog Animal Rescue fund raiser on Wednesday. “My son [Billy, born in 2000] might be unhappy about that.”

But Splash, a 10-year-old border collie Moyer calls “a grumpy little sod,” won’t have to worry about getting fitted for a tux quite yet. Moyer, 39, and Paquin, 27 – who spent nearly the entire event holding hands – haven’t set a date yet.

Even if you don’t watch the show you’ll like these two because both volunteer their time to help out the  Good Dog Animal Rescue.

The rescue  helps sick, injured, and abused dogs. They take the “unwanted” and find them loving forever homes. You can buy one of their  cool “I RESCUED MY BEST FRIEND” t-shirts to help support them.

Pictured is Anna Paquin with her best bud at a Good Dog Animal Rescue fundraiser, you can see she’s wearing one of their tees.

North Mecklenburg Animal Rescue is entered in the Animal Rescue Site’s Shelter Challenge! And they could really use the funds!

Although I personally did not come from this Rescue, me & Mom have done some demos for their Fund Raisers & we’ve visited their Shelter a lot. I was used as Demo Dog for some training Dog Haven did for them.

North Mecklenburg Animal Rescue could really use our help! I mean, just look at the vet bills they have, yikes!

They champion the Bully Breed! Many of their rescues have been pulled from Death Row! Many have been rescued from being Dumped by   Uncaring Humans! Many may never find their Furever Home but will always be welcome at NMAR!

NMAR needs our help fellow pupsters!!!!!!!

Please go to Animal Rescue Site Shelter Challenge
In the seach options go to:

State – NC

City – Harrisburg

or just type in the shelter name: North Mecklenburg Animal Rescue and then VOTE!

NMAR needs to catch a break!

The North Mecklenburg Animal Rescue looks like a great place.  Good luck to them and all the other deserving shelters that entered.

* Dogster member Mozart on top and an abused dog rescued by NMAR pictured below.

We’re only a couple weeks away from the start of American Humane’s Adopt-A-Dog Month.  It’s important to help them get the word out about how great rescue dogs are.

Want to be a Superhero?

Rescue a Shelter Dog … and Get a Loyal Sidekick for All of Life’s Adventures

You can save the day for a homeless dog — and find a faithful companion who will be at your side for all of life’s adventures — by adopting a dog from your local shelter or breed-rescue group during American Humane’s Adopt-A-Dog Month® in October.

Adopting a dog is a heroic feat that’s easy to perform, and animal shelters and breed-rescue groups are filled with amazing dogs: large, small, mixed breeds, even purebreds. In fact, millions of loyal, lovable dogs are surrendered to our nation’s animal welfare organizations every year because their owners simply couldn’t take care of them anymore. Now they’re homeless — and just waiting for a hero like you!

During Adopt-A-Dog Month, we encourage you to visit your local shelter or breed-rescue group, meet potential sidekicks and discover the many super-size benefits of having a dog: happiness, companionship, improved physical and emotional health, and devoted love. Dogs also encourage people to exercise, enhance family and social relationships, promote laughter and act as a nonjudgmental audience and sounding board. Now that’s super!

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

If you would like me to feature your rescue on the For The Love Of Dog blog next month write a story about their adoption and send it to me using the Bark Back form.  One can never tire of reading rescue stories with happy endings. The Dogster with the best rescue story will be awarded 100 zealies!  Better get those paws typing.

Our beautiful rescue crew: Copper, Bo, Logan.  They are such a huge part of our lives, sometimes I wonder if we rescued them, or they rescued us?

*Pic courtesy American Humane