posted by Stacy on Jan 26
Why Are There So Many Animals In Pet Shelters
Written by Ferox, a veterinary student who runs Nearly-Dr Ferox
Every year, animal lovers working in shelters are left with no option but euthanasia after being unable to find them new homes. The question many of these devoted volunteers find themselves asking again and again is how do these animals, many of which are sweet, loving souls, end up in shelters with a desperate need for a permanent home?
They come from all over the place. Having worked in animal shelters, there are a few common scenarios that crop up again and again.
- Those that find strays. Some people come into the shelter with a stray dog or cat that has been hanging around for a few days, that they finally managed to catch. Usually they’ve been spotted by the kids, and often the family asks to adopt the animal if it’s real home isn’t found, which is often the case.
- Those that claim they’re strays. There have been situations when someone has brought an animal to a shelter (usually a cat), and say that it’s a stray. The shelter scans the animal and finds a microchip. They ring the number…and a mobile phone in the person pocket starts to ring. Talk about an awkward situation.
- Those that pass away. Nobody plans to die, and sometimes pets are suddenly left without their owners after a tragic event, and end up in a shelter. Often these pets have special instruction such as ‘must not be separated’ because they’ve spent their entire lives together. The experience of being in the shelter is often traumatic for them, and although being kept together makes it slightly easier for them emotionally, it makes it harder for them to find new homes. This is because most potential adopters are looking for one pet, not two.
- Those that don’t care. Some people just fail to realize that by not spaying or neutering their cats or dogs, they’re going to be eaten out of house and home by hoards of kittens or puppies. This doesn’t seem to bother them though; when they kittens or puppies get to big, too expensive or aren’t cute any more they dump them at a shelter to make room for the next lot.
The end result is that animal lovers working in shelters are left with the heartbreaking job of cleaning up other people’s mess. Some situations are unavoidable, but much of the heartbreak could be avoided by spaying and neutering pets, and by having a contingency plan for them if something should happen to you, or if you become unable to keep your pets at home.
Please remember that owning a pet is a lifelong commitment and should not be taken lightly.
Nearly-Dr Ferox is a blog about the life and times of an Australian Veterinary student.
She shares her experiences not only with fellow vet students, but all those out there that hope one day to be Vets, or wished they had chosen a Veterinary career.
Her blog can supply knowledge to pet owners and explain to animal lovers things they they may now have known.
Some of her posts include Working With Pigs, Vets Over The Phone, Garlic Toxicity, and, The Little Black Dress
Please visit her site to learn more about Veterinarians and Veterinary students and all the things they do to help the animals.
posted by Stacy on Jan 21
A large part of activism is educating others, especially our children who will go on to inherit this world.
Most children have no idea how their daily habits affect animals or how easy it is to change. Kids typically want to be kind to animals but need someone to show them how!
In order to educate your children and others, educate yourself first! Peter Singer’s Animal Liberation is a thorough and easy-to-understand primer on animal rights. You can order it from PETA or you can try a local bookstore or library.
The following books, are also available from PETA:
- 50 Awesome Ways Kids Can Help Animals by PETA President Ingrid E. Newkirk—full of fascinating facts and more than 100 fun and easy projects and ideas that show children how they can get active for animals
- Diet for a New America by John Robbins—a moving and well-documented book that describes the inhumane and unhealthy conditions under which animals are raised for food and shows how our health and ecological well-being are linked to the adoption of a vegan diet
What you and your children can do to help stop animal cruelty
Once you are familiar with the issues, share the knowledge! Create fliers, write letters, hold demonstrations, organize an information table at a concert or outdoors event, and encourage others to join you in your efforts to speak out for those who have no voice. Check out PETA.org regularly for updates, factsheets, and answers to “Frequently Asked Questions.”
Together, we can make this world a better place for all living beings….
posted by Stacy on Jan 14
How many dogs does it take to change a light bulb?
1. Golden Retriever: The sun is shining, the day is young, we’ve got our whole lives ahead of us, and you’re inside worrying about a stupid burned out bulb?
2. Border Collie: Just one. And then I’ll replace any wiring that’s not up to code.
3. Dachshund: You know I can’t reach that stupid lamp!
4. Rottweiler: Make me.
5. Boxer: Who cares? I can still play with my squeaky toys in the dark.
6. Lab: Oh, me, me!!!!! Pleeeeeeeeeze let me change the light bulb! Can I? Can I? Huh? Huh? Huh? Can I? Pleeeeeeeeeze, please, please, please!
7. German Shepherd: I’ll change it as soon as I’ve led these people from the dark, check to make sure I haven’t missed any, and make just one more perimeter patrol to see that no one has tried to take advantage of the situation.
8. Jack Russell Terrier: I’ll just pop it in while I’m bouncing off the walls and furniture.
9. Old English Sheep Dog: Light bulb? I’m sorry, but I don’t see a light bulb!
10. Cocker Spaniel: Why change it? I can still pee on the carpet in the dark.
11. Chihuahua: Yo quiero Taco Bulb. Or “We don’t need no stinking light bulb.”
12. Greyhound: It isn’t moving. Who cares?
13. Australian Cattle Dog: First, I’ll put all the light bulbs in a little circle…
14. Poodle: I’ll just blow in the Border Collie’s ear and he’ll do it. By the time he finishes rewiring the house, my nails will be dry.
How many cats does it take to change a light bulb?
Cats do not change light bulbs. People change light bulbs. So, the real question is:
“How long will it be before I can expect some light, some dinner, and a massage?”
ALL OF WHICH PROVES, ONCE AGAIN, THAT WHILE DOGS HAVE MASTERS, CATS HAVE STAFF!
WHY GOD MADE PETS
They help out around the house…
They protect our children…
They look out for the smaller ones…
They show us how to relax…
They “converse” with each other.
They help you when you’re down…
They are great at decorating for the Holidays.
They have “great” expectations.
They are Patriotic.
They are happy to “test” the water.
They know who’s “BOSS”.
AND - They know when we need a good LAUGH!
HAVE YOU SMILED TODAY?????
It is done by moving the corners of the mouth upward.
LET ME SHOW YOU HOW………….
NOW PASS IT ON, AND MAKE SOMEONE ELSE SMILE!!!
To learn ways you can help stop animal cruelty and help pets worldwide please visit AnimalsNeedHelp.com
Thanks
Stacy
posted by Stacy on Jan 2
HSUS MySpace Page | Stop Puppy Mills Website
Are you an animal person? Do you want to help The Humane Society of the United States do something to save the lives of innocent dogs and puppies?
Educate yourself and others about the reality of puppy mills.
Puppy mills are massive breeding operations which force dogs to produce litter after litter just for profit. These dogs and their puppies are often plagued with suffering, resulting from disease, malnutrition, and loneliness.
Many puppies sold in pet stores and on the internet come from puppy mills. The problem is that most people don’t know that when they buy a puppy from these venues, they are often supporting a cruel and inhumane industry. But you can help.
Here’s what you can do:
1 - Sign the pledge. By choosing not to buy your next pet or any pet supplies from retail stores or Internet sites that sell live dogs or cats, you are actively helping break the cycle of cruelty created by puppy mills.
2 - Educate yourself. There are hundreds of thousands of homeless dogs and cats in local shelters that need homes. There are also many respectable breeders out there. If you’re in the market for a new pet, check out the Humane Society’s Puppy Buyer’s Guide for tips.
3 - Spread the word. Download web banners and badges and post them to your social networking profile, blog, or website. You can also post undercover video on dog auctions. These are easy ways to expose the reality of puppy mills to your friends and family.
HSUS MySpace Page | Stop Puppy Mills Website
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posted by Stacy on Dec 22
Top 10 Ways to Prevent Animal Cruelty
If you’re a fan of the award-winning reality series Animal Precinct, then you’ve already seen the ASPCA Humane Law Enforcement’s Supervisory Special Investigator Annemarie Lucas in action. But did you know that you, too, can help crack down on animal cruelty in your own community? Read on for Officer Lucas’s take on making the world a safer place for animals:
1. Be aware. Without phone calls from the concerned citizens who report cruelty in their neighborhoods, we wouldn’t know about most instances of animal abuse. It all comes from the public, it all starts with YOU—that’s why it’s so important to keep your eyes and ears open. Get to know and look out for the animals in your neighborhood. By being aware, you’re more likely to notice, for example, that the dog next door who was once hefty has lost weight rapidly—a possible indicator of abuse.
2. Learn to recognize animal cruelty. Here are some signs and symptoms that we see in many of the cases we investigate:
- Tick or flea infestations. Such a condition, if left untreated by a veterinarian, can lead to an animal’s death.
- Wounds on the body.
- Patches of missing hair.
- Extremely thin, starving animals.
- Limping.
- An owner striking or otherwise physically abusing an animal.
- Dogs who are repeatedly left alone without food and water, often chained up in a yard.
- Dogs who have been hit by cars-or are showing any of the signs listed above-and have not been taken to a veterinarian.
- Dogs who are kept outside without shelter in extreme weather conditions.
- Animals who cower in fear or act aggressively when approached by their owners.
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