Not The Porn Site You Thought It Was, But A Pussycat Lovers Community! We are SO happy you came!
Yesterday, we dropped some depressing stats on you before showing you pictures of adorable and adoptable senior dogs. Today, in honor of Adopt a Senior Pet Month, we’ll do the same for cats.
Washington Humane Society
King. Via WHS.
Roman. Via WHS.
Mocha. Via WHS.
Washington Animal Rescue League
Gigi. Via WARL.
Homeward Trails
Fellini. Via Homeward Trails.
Originally posted here:
It's Adopt A Senior Pet Month So Here Are Adoptable Senior Cats In Our Area
PHOENIX, AZ–(Marketwired – Nov 3, 2014) – Are you ready to fall head over paws for an adopted pet? PetSmart Charities November National Adoption Weekend may be the perfect time to do so, happening Nov. 14-16 at all 1,300 PetSmart® stores in the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico.
More than 2,000 animal welfare organizations will be on-site at every PetSmart store during the weekend-long event to help you find the perfect dog, cat, puppy or kitten.
How to Adopt
Visit the PetSmart Charities’ adoption center inside any PetSmart store in the United States, Canada or Puerto Rico from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 14 and Saturday, Nov. 15; and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 16. To find the PetSmart store nearest you, visit http://pets.petsmart.com/adoptions/ or call 1-877-473-8762. National Adoption Weekends are sponsored by PetSmart, Purina® Pro Plan® and Tidy Cats®.
Celebrating Adopted Pet Love Stories
PetSmart Charities has teamed up with Nicholas Sparks, a pet parent, pet adoption advocate and best-selling author of The Notebook, The Best of Me and The Longest Ride to celebrate both the newly formed bonds from National Adoption Weekend and also pet parents everywhere who have chosen to adopt.
Pet parents are invited to submit their pet’s adoption story and tell Sparks about the impact their adopted pet has made on their life. Sparks will select the most heartwarming pet adoption story and the lucky winner’s adopted pet will be named in one of his upcoming novels.
“Teaming up with Nicholas Sparks to promote pet adoption and celebrate the love our adopted pets give us is a natural fit,” said Jan Wilkins, executive director, PetSmart Charities. “Nicholas is a huge pet adoption advocate and even includes pets in many of his novels.” The winning story will also be featured on Sparks’s website, along with an introduction by the author.
How to Enter
Tell us why you fell in love with your adopted pet and how they’ve made your life complete by submitting your pet’s adoption story and photo to the “Fall into a Nicholas Sparks Love Story Contest” by visiting this link. Key contest dates:
ABOUT PETSMART CHARITIES®
PetSmart Charities, Inc. is a nonprofit animal welfare organization that saves the lives of homeless pets. More than 400,000 dogs and cats find homes each year through our adoption program in all PetSmart® stores and our sponsored adoption events. PetSmart Charities grants more money to directly help pets in need than any other animal welfare group in North America, with a focus on funding spay/neuter services that help communities solve pet overpopulation. PetSmart Charities is a 501(c)(3) organization, separate from PetSmart, Inc.
Visit site:
Make Your Own Love Story at PetSmart Charities(R) National Adoption Weekend, November 14-16
Black cat Izzy Dizzy has finally found a new loving home – thanks to the Sunday Mercury.
The sweet and affectionate pet had been stuck in a cats’ home in Birmingham for six months because of her colour.
Would-be owners shunned her because of what has been termed Black Cat Syndrome.
After the Mercury highlighted her plight, Izzy Dizzy has found a new home with animal-lover Elaine Coulthard and her husband, Leslie.
Elaine, 81, of Sutton Coldfield, Birmingham said: “She’s a lovely cat and we just can’t understand why anyone wouldn’t love her – or any other black cat for that matter.
“I always thought that black cats were supposed to be lucky and I was surprised to be told they are not on trend at the moment.
“We’ve decided to call her just ‘Izzy’ because ‘Izzy Dizzy’ is a bit of a mouthful. She’s still a bit nervous but she’s settling in well.”
Elaine and Leslie wanted ‘an elderly cat’ – Izzy is eight years old – because of their own advanced years.
The couple’s own cat Whisky, died recently at the age of 19. Whisky’s brother, Ginger, died last year, aged 18.
Now, Izzy is sharing her new home with Border Collie, Max, four hens and 30 rare breed sheep.
The Mercury told Izzy’s story last month when she was being looked after by the Birmingham branch of Cats Protection. She had been taken in following problems within the family who owned her.
Animal charities say that nearly three-quarters of cats in care in Britain are black, or mostly black with a touch of white – and have branded the problem Black Cat Syndrome.
It is thought they are being passed over because of the rise of the social media ‘selfie’ – black cats are said to photograph poorly, and more colourful felines are pre-furred online. Prettier pedigree cats also hog the limelight on TV ads and on YouTube.
Alison Dickenson, deputy manager of Cats Protection Birmingham, said: “We are very pleased that Izzy Dizzy has at last found a loving new home with the Coulthards. If any Sunday Mercury readers want a cat of any colour, we have plenty of them, around 200 at any one time!”
Cats Protection Birmingham re-homes about 1,000 cats each year from its adoption centre in Packhorse Lane, Hollywood, near Birmingham.
The charity never puts down a healthy cat and currently has a waiting list of 450 cat owners who are sadly having to part with their pets.
This can be because parents discover their children are allergic to cat fur; owners are moving to accommodation where pets are banned; or they are too hard-up to look after the cats.
Supported solely by the public, the organisation ensures that all cats being adopted have had health checks, blood tests, inoculations and are neutered before being re-homed. There is a £50 adoption fee.
To boost the image of black cats, Black Cat Day – with a Halloween theme – is being held at the adoption centre today from noon until 3pm.
If you want to find out more about the cats waiting for a home in Birmingham, see www.birmingham.cats.org.uk or call 01564 822020.
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Izzy, the unwanted pet because of Black Cat Syndrome, finds a new home in Sutton Coldfield
PLEASANTON, Calif., Oct. 22, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — Maddie’s Fund® today announced the final number of adoptions made at their 2014 Maddie’s® Pet Adoption Days event. An unparalleled 16,665 dogs and cats found homes during the nation’s largest free pet adoption event, sponsored by Maddie’s Fund. This represents a 98% increase over last year’s 8,432 adoptions for this two-day event. Maddie’s Fund originally set aside $10 million to underwrite the adoptions managed by participating organizations this year, however, the total donation awarded to groups for qualifying adoptions this year was actually $13.3 million.
In its fifth year, Maddie’s® Pet Adoption Days spanned 591 cities in nine states across the U.S. More than 200 shelters and rescue groups worked enthusiastically over the two days to give homeless pets a second chance. Communities throughout the country were buzzing with adoption events, and many locations had people lined up hours before their doors opened.
“We’ve made lifesaving history!” said Maddie’s Fund president Rich Avanzino. “We are so honored to partner with all of the shelters, rescue groups and adopters who were there for homeless animals when they most needed help. This dedication to shelter pets is inspiring. For me, they are the true heroes.”
Inspired by one family’s love for a Miniature Schnauzer, Maddie’s® Pet Adoption Days has found homes for more than 30,000 homeless dogs and cats since 2010. For each pet adopted, Maddie’s Fund gives participating shelters from $500 to $2,000 to cover the true costs of those adoptions. This funding enables shelters and rescue groups to save and treat more animals throughout the year with a total of $24.7 million in funding going to these groups over the past five years.
“It’s an incredible feeling when you see entire communities come together to find shelter pets families of their own. Watching people fall in love with those pets, the shelter pets going home with their new families, and seeing the staff and volunteers celebrating… it’s overwhelming. Cheryl and I see the spirit of Maddie at every adoption location we visit,” said Maddie’s Fund founder Dave Duffield. “This event demonstrates that we are all, collaboratively, making the world a better place. And there’s nothing better than being part of that.”
Maddie was a beloved four-legged family member of Dave Duffield, founder of Workday® and PeopleSoft, and his wife, Cheryl. For the last five years, Maddie’s Fund, their family foundation, has sponsored Maddie’s® Pet Adoption Days to honor her memory.
For more information about Maddie’s® Pet Adoption Days visit http://adopt.maddiesfund.org
About Maddie’s Fund
Maddie’s Fund® is a family foundation endowed by the founder of Workday® and PeopleSoft, Dave Duffield and his wife, Cheryl. Maddie’s Fund, whose mission is to revolutionize the status and well-being of companion animals, is helping to achieve and sustain a no-kill nation by providing solutions to the most challenging issues facing the animal welfare community through grant giving, hands-on animal care, and research and education. Maddie’s Fund is named after the family’s beloved Miniature Schnauzer who passed away in 1997. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and Instagram
Media Contact: Sharon Fletcher
Director, Marketing & Communications
Tel: 925.310.5458
Email: fletcher@maddiesfund.org
To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/maddies-fund-surpasses-expectations-with-a-record-number-of-pet-adoptions-in-2014-two-day-event-167369691.html
SOURCE Maddie’s Fund
Originally from:
Maddie's Fund Surpasses Expectations with a Record Number of Pet Adoptions in 2014 Two Day Event
Public health experts and animal lovers are carefully monitoring the health of a Dallas-area resident who may have had close contact with Nina Pham, the nurse being treated for Ebola virus disease at Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital.
So far, there are no indications that Bentley, Pham’s 1-year-old King Charles spaniel, has been infected with Ebola or become sick as a result. Bentley is now in the care of the the Dallas Animal Services and Adoption Center and being quarantined at “an undisclosed location,” according to the DAS Facebook page.
Workers watching over Bentley have donned full-body protective suits to make sure they don’t catch the deadly virus from Pham’s pet, if indeed he is infected. But the risk that a person could catch Ebola from a dog is exceedingly low, experts say.
There has not been a single case of a dog or cat spreading the virus to people, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In fact, the CDC adds, “there have been no reports of dogs or cats becoming sick with Ebola” – not even in Africa, where the virus was first identified in the 1970s.
That’s not to say that pets aren’t vulnerable to infection – there is scientific evidence that they are. During an Ebola outbreak in the African nation of Gabon in 2001 and 2002, researchers tested the blood of 258 dogs from various parts of the country and detected Ebola antibodies in more than 25% of the animals from villages in the epidemic area. For the sake of comparison, they also tested 102 dogs in France and found similar antibodies in two of them, though they could have been false-positives, according to their report in the journal Emerging Infectious Diseases.
How did the dogs in Gabon get the virus? Probably not through casual contact, the researchers wrote: “We observed that some dogs ate fresh remains of Ebola-virus-infected dead animals brought back to the villages, and that others licked vomit from Ebola virus-infected patients.”
Even so, none of the dogs displayed any symptoms of Ebola virus disease, the researchers noted. What’s more, none of the canine blood samples contained genetic sequences from the virus, and the researchers weren’t able to isolate the virus from the blood samples either, according to the study. Though some of the dogs were surely infected, perhaps the virus didn’t make them sick or caused only a “very mild” infection, the researchers wrote.
If a dog or cat becomes infected with Ebola, it is unclear whether the virus can then spread through the animal’s body, fur or paws, the CDC says. If a pet may have been exposed to the virus, local health officials should consult with a veterinarian to determine “how the pet should be handled,” according to the federal health agency.
The World Small Animal Veterinary Assn. recommends that pets exposed to Ebola be quarantined and tested.
“It is possible that dogs may harbor the virus, particularly in endemic areas where they may roam and have access to infected animal carcasses,” WSAVA says. “However, house pets that may potentially be exposed in developed countries represent a very different scenario.”
The group chided Spanish officials for euthanizing the dog of Ebola patient Teresa Romero Ramos, a nursing assistant who contracted the virus while caring for missionaries who had been sickened by it in West Africa.
The pet, Excalibur, was not tested for the virus, WSAVA said, and it’s not clear that the dog was even infected. Ramos’ husband pleaded for the pet’s life, saying in a video that “they want to kill him for no reason.”
Madrid’s Health Ministry obtained a court order to euthanize Excalibur on the grounds that it was the only way to be absolutely sure the dog wouldn’t spread the virus to others.
If you would like to have your own dog or cat tested for Ebola, you’re out of luck – such tests are not available, according to the CDC. But there’s no cause for worry, the agency says: There is no reason to test a pet that’s never been exposed to an infected person, and in any event the risk of catching Ebola from a pet is “very low.”
For more medical news, follow me on Twitter @LATkarenkaplan and “like” Los Angeles Times Science & Health on Facebook.
Copyright © 2014, Los Angeles Times
Original article:
Ebola pet threat? No evidence that dogs or cats spread the virus
PORTLAND, Ore., Oct. 12, 2014 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — With the number of stray animals in need of forever homes at an all-time high, Cedar Mill Veterinary Hospital is offering a special incentive program to encourage pet adoption. As part of the clinic’s adoption reward policy, pets that are adopted from an animal shelter will receive a free wellness exam within six months of adoption. Pets receive free deworming medication during the initial exam. The clinic is also offering heartworm and FELV/FIV tests for 50% off within two months after a pet’s adoption.
Portland veterinarian Dr. Rick White announced that his animal hospital, Cedar Mill Veterinary Hospital, is now offering discounted pet care for dogs and cats who are adopted from a shelter or rescue group. The animal hospital is offering the discount as part of an incentive program to encourage pet adoption.
“While the greater Portland community has numerous animal shelters dedicated to helping animals in need, unfortunately these shelters are often right at capacity and unable to accept additional pets,” said Dr. White. “We are encouraging prospective pet owners to adopt their pets from a shelter and give these wonderful dogs and cats a forever home.”
Pets that are adopted will receive a free wellness exam within six months of their adoption date. Should Dr. White and the veterinary team determine that additional care is required, a complimentary re-check is offered within two months after the initial exam.
The clinic is also offering 50% off heartworm tests for newly adopted dogs and 50% off FELV/FIV tests for adopted cats. All adopted pets will receive 50% off a fecal exam test as well.
“We want pets to have a healthy start in their new lives with their forever families,” said Dr. White. “We also recognize that basic wellness care services can add up, especially if adopted pets need special treatment for parasites or another health condition. That’s why we’re excited to offer our pet adoption reward program, which makes the initial pet care more affordable for pet owners who adopt.”
Animal shelters in Portland are currently under severe strain to accommodate the number of pets that are in need of a forever home. Many shelters are working with limited resources and despite many dedicated volunteers, Dr. White says the shelters are struggling to care for all the pets in need.
“Adopting a pet in need from an animal shelter or rescue group is a wonderful, rewarding experience,” said Dr. White. “I strongly encourage prospective pet owners to visit their local shelters and get to know the wonderful cats and dogs who are awaiting a forever home.”
Dr. White and the pet care team at Cedar Mill Veterinary Hospital have long been strong supporters of pet adoption. To learn more about discounted services for adopted pets, visit the animal hospital’s website at cedarmillvet.com.
Cedar Mill Veterinary Hospital
888-667-5235
See the original article here –
Cedar Mill Veterinary Hospital Rewards Pet Owners for Adoption
According to a recent survey by the Humane Society of the United States, 62 percent of American households own at least one pet. Pet owners spend more than $50 billion per year each their pets, too. Certainly, that’s a lot of money. How can we save more money on our furry, feathered and scaled pet friends?
DEAR JILL: One tip I’ve seen before is don’t buy dogs that have to be groomed. More importantly, Don’t buy dogs or any pets. Adopt, adopt, adopt. — LEE
JILL SAYS: This is a great tip. I think nearly everyone is aware of the pet overpopulation issues in our country. There are far more dogs and cats looking for homes than there are people willing to adopt them. I understand that some people are tied to wanting specific breeds of dogs or cats, but breed-specific rescue groups abound for everything from Jack Russell terriers to Labrador Retrievers.
We recently adopted a new dog through a local rescue group. Our dear senior dog passed away after more than 13 years with our family. After grieving for a few months, we were ready to open our hearts to another dog. The Internet makes it easy to find a local animal shelter or rescue group in your area — many offer online profiles with photos of their adoptable pets.
After connecting with a local group and deciding which dog we wanted to meet, the rescue group brought the dog to our house to meet our family. We were able to see how he interacted with us in our house and yard.
Well, we were all smitten with the German shepherd mix with big brown eyes that curled up in on the living room floor and seemed to be “home!” Less than a week later, we welcomed him home to stay.
Our first dog came from a local farmer whose dog had puppies, and I learned of the advantages to adopting from a dog rescue this time around. With our “farm boy,” we were responsible for all of the costs of vaccinating and neutering our dog. These expenses quickly added up to hundreds of dollars the first year — not including the $400 I paid the farmer for the dog.
When we adopted our new dog from the rescue, our $325 adoption fee included all of his necessary vaccinations and his neutering procedure. They took care of all of these procedures with a local veterinarian before the adoption was finalized.
Another benefit? Adopting from a rescue group meant that our dog had lived with a foster family for a few weeks prior to coming home with us. We were able to get a sense of his personality and behavior by talking to the family. We don’t know much about his previous life, but he arrived at our door completely housebroken and knew some basic obedience commands. That’s a plus you can’t put a price on.
Of course, sometimes you don’t choose a pet — they find you. Last summer, a feral cat showed up in our yard and began living under our deck. She was afraid of people, but she also didn’t seem in a hurry to leave. After a few months, we realized she was likely here to stay.
I don’t mind having a cat around, but I also wasn’t keen on spending more than $300 to have a stray cat spayed. I called our local county’s extension office and learned about their feral cat catch-and-release program. For $35, they would trap, spay and return the cat to the property. This seemed like a small price to pay to ensure that we didn’t end up with more cats living in the backyard — especially when I was informed that female cats can have a litter of kittens every nine weeks.
I mention this as I’m sure I’m not the only one who’s had a pet “find” them unexpectedly. There may be discount spay/neuter programs you can take advantage of if you find yourself in a similar scenario.
Next week, I’ll share more pet-savings tips from readers.
Read original article –
PHOENIX, AZ–(Marketwired – Oct 7, 2014) – More than two-thirds of Americans considering adding a pet to their families now say they would adopt a pet rather than buy one from a pet store or breeder, according to new research released today by PetSmart Charities®. The 2014 U.S. Shelter Pet Report also found that while a growing number of people say they care about pet homelessness, more than half — many of them pet lovers — still don’t provide any support for solving the issue.
“Unlike other causes, we are not hampered by a lack of a cure or technology,” said Jan Wilkins, PetSmart Charities’ executive director. “If all the pet lovers in the United States simply took action in their communities today, our grandchildren would not have to live in a world where thousands of healthy pets are euthanized daily.”
While adoption rates are rising, the study reveals that there is still work to be done to change how some people view pet adoption. For example, 24 percent of those considering getting a pet said they still prefer non-adoption sources, like breeders, over shelters or rescue groups. Dog owners were especially inclined to purchase, with 28 percent saying they bought their most recent pet. Cats, the pets most at risk for euthanasia in shelters, don’t stand a chance with some adopters: 27 percent of people considering a new pet said they would not choose a cat.
Other key findings include:
Everyone Can Be a Hero for Homeless Pets Today
We are a nation full of pet lovers — 81 percent of households today have pets — but we need some guidance on how to help solve the homeless pet problem. PetSmart Charities has launched an interactive quiz to test people’s knowledge about pet overpopulation. “Which Hero for Homeless Pets Are You?” offers steps everyone can take right now to help save shelter pets in their communities.
The PetSmart Charities 2014 U.S. Shelter Pet Report is based on a survey of 2,800 adults with and without pets conducted in July with research firm Ipsos MarketQuest. The study has a margin of error of plus or minus 2.5 percentage points.
To read the full survey results, click here.
ABOUT PETSMART CHARITIES®
PetSmart Charities, Inc. is a nonprofit animal welfare organization that saves the lives of homeless pets. More than 400,000 dogs and cats find homes each year through our adoption program in all PetSmart® stores and our sponsored adoption events. PetSmart Charities grants more money to directly help pets in need than any other animal welfare group in North America, with a focus on funding spay/neuter services that help communities solve pet overpopulation. PetSmart Charities is a 501(c)(3) organization, independent from PetSmart, Inc.
ABOUT THE SURVEY
The surveys were conducted by Ipsos MarketQuest as self-administered online interviews in July 2014. More than 3,100 interviews were conducted among respondents who were equally split by gender and over 18 years of age.
Continue reading –
How to save when you adopt a pet
According to a recent survey by the Humane Society of the United States, 62 percent of American households own at least one pet. Pet owners spend more than $50 billion per year on their pets, too! Certainly, that’s a lot of money. How can we save more money on our furry, feathered and scaled pet friends?
“Dear Jill,
One tip I’ve seen before is ‘don’t buy dogs that have to be groomed.’ More importantly, ‘Don’t BUY dogs or any pets.’ Adopt, adopt, adopt.
Lee P.”
This is a great tip — I think nearly everyone is aware of the pet overpopulation issues in our country. There are far more dogs and cats looking for homes than there are people willing to adopt them. I understand that some people are tied to wanting specific breeds of dogs or cats, but breed-specific rescue groups abound for everything from Jack Russell terriers to Labrador Retrievers.
We recently adopted a new dog through a local rescue group. Our dear senior dog passed away after more than 13 years with our family. After grieving for a few months, we were ready to open our hearts to another dog. The Internet makes it easy to find a local animal shelter or rescue group in your area — many offer online profiles with photos of their adoptable pets. After connecting with a local group and deciding which dog we wanted to meet, the rescue group brought the dog to our house to meet our family. We were able to see how he interacted with us in our house and yard. Well, we were all smitten with the German Shepherd mix with big brown eyes that curled up in on the living room floor and seemed to be “home!” Less than a week later, we welcomed him home to stay.
Our first dog came from a local farmer whose dog had puppies, and I learned of the advantages to adopting from a dog rescue this time around. With our “farm boy,” we were responsible for all of the costs of vaccinating and neutering our dog. These expenses quickly added up to hundreds of dollars the first year — not including the $400 I paid the farmer for the dog. When we adopted our new dog from the rescue, our $325 adoption fee included all of his necessary vaccinations and his neutering procedure. They took care of all of these procedures with a local veterinarian before the adoption was finalized.
Another benefit? Adopting from a rescue group meant that our dog had lived with a foster family for a few weeks prior to coming home with us. We were able to get a sense of his personality and behavior by talking to the family. We don’t know much about his previous life, but he arrived at our door completely housebroken and knew some basic obedience commands. (That’s a plus you can’t put a price on!)
Of course, sometimes you don’t choose a pet — they find you. Last summer, a feral cat showed up in our yard and began living under our deck. She was afraid of people, but she also didn’t seem in a hurry to leave. After a few months, we realized she was likely here to stay.
I don’t mind having a cat around, but I also wasn’t keen on spending more than $300 to have a stray cat spayed. I called our local county’s extension office and learned about their feral cat catch-and-release program. For $35, they would trap, spay and return the cat to the property. This seemed like a small price to pay to ensure that we didn’t end up with more cats living in the backyard — especially when I was informed that female cats can have a litter of kittens every nine weeks.
I mention this as I’m sure I’m not the only one who’s had a pet “find” them unexpectedly. There may be discount spay/neuter programs you can take advantage of if you find yourself in a similar scenario.
Next week, I’ll share more pet-savings tips from readers.
Jill Cataldo, a coupon workshop instructor, writer and mother of three, never passes up a good deal. Learn more about Super-Couponing at her website, www.jillcataldo.com. Email your own couponing victories and questions to jill@ctwfeatures.com.
Read this article:
Meet Cleo! Cleo is a 12-year old Calico Cat that was brought to the Committed Alliance To Strays (CATS) in August 2002, after being found in a dumpster. Cleo was originally given to a home, but was returned because the adopter had to move to take care of a sick relative. CATS is running a special now through the rest of September for the adoption of senior cats. Any cat that is above 8-years old will only have an adoption fee of $20, which is half off the original price. CATS would rather their senior cats live out their lives in a loving home, rather than in the shelter.
For more information or to adopt Cleo, or other cats contact the Committed Alliance To Strays at 5417792196 or you can visit them at 104 N. Ross Ln, Medford, Or 97501. Their hours are Tuesday through Saturday 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
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