Santa Paws Drive

With October coming to a close, it's not too soon to begin thinking about da holiday season. Many people buy gifts for der pets, but shelter animals are often overlooked during da holidays. Dat's where da Santa Paws Drive comes in - der goal is to make sure dat shelter animals get some of da love, attention and gifts dat other pets are lucky enough to receive. And dey are currently accepting nominations for shelters to be Santa Paws Drive recipients. Six shelters around da world will be selected to receive cash, toys and treats delivered to dem by Christmas!

To nominate your favorite shelter, simply visit da nomination page and fill out da form with your contact information and a short note about why you are nominating dem. All nominations must be registered non-profits and be received by November 5. Help brighten da holidays for shelter pets dis year!

Fans for Food

This week's Be the Change for Animals challenge is Fans for Food. K9 Cuisine owner Anthony Holloway has pledged to send 5,000 pounds of food to two shelters if they get 5,000 facebook fans by October 31. The two rescues are Half Way Home in Collins, MO and Homeward Bound Golden Retriever Rescue and Sanctuary in northern California.

K9Cuisine is an online pet food distributor that offers only brands with the highest nutritional value. If we make this campaign a success, thousands of rescue animals will get the best nutrition in order to get back on their feet while waiting for their forever homes. Here's how you can help: become a fan of K9Cuisine on facebook, and tell your friends to become fans too! You can use facebook, twitter, email or your blog to help get the message out.

National Cat Day

Hey gang - did you know dat Friday, October 29 is National Cat Day? It was founded by Pet Lifestyle Expert & Animal Behaviorist, Colleen Paige to help galvanize da public to recognize da number of cats dat need to be rescued each year. Estimates reveal dat der are approximately 4 million cats entering shelters every year with 1-2 million being euthanized. Da goal of National Cat Day is to facilitate da adoption of 10,000 shelter cats nationwide. Please visit your local shelter on October 29th and offer love and life by adopting a homeless cat.

Iams Home 4 The Holidays

Iams Home 4 the Holidays partners with organizations dedicated to finding homes for pets. Since it began, dey have helped 4.6 million families experience da joy of pet adoption. Dis year da goal is to find homes for 1.5 million pets and donate 5 million meals to shelters. Here's how you can help: 1) use Petfinder to find da perfect pet for your family; 2) "Like" Iams on facebook, and food will be donated to a shelter; 3) share Iams content with your friends to encourage adoptions and food donations; 4) buy a specially marked bag of Iams food, and food will be donated to a shelter; and 5) make a difference by volunteering at your local shelter. You can help homeless animals find der forever home for da holidays!

Bun Runs

Here's a great bunny video produced by WQED, our local public television station. Da speaker is Mary Cvetan, co-founder of da Pittsburgh House Rabbit Club and da shelter is Animal Friends, our local no-kill shelter. Every Saturday, dey release all da adoptable bunnies in a large room to run and play to der hearts content. Check out da running bunnies!

Plus One Movement

Dis week, Be the Change for Animals focuses on da Plus One Movement, which provides a sustainable supply of much-needed dog food to rescues and brings greater attention to rescues in general. Included with every Darford treat or food box is an individually wrapped meal of fresh Darford Zero/G Food for Dogs at no additional cost. You can donate dis meal by simply dropping it in da Plus One hamper found right in da store. A designated local rescue will den pick up da contents of da hamper to feed dogs desperately waiting to find der forever homes. Here's how you can help: 1) support da Plus One Movement by following dem on facebook and twitter; 2) visit der website and sign up for der email newsletter; and 3) join da movement just by feeding your dog. Help promote dis cause to support rescues in your community!

Pet Blogger Support

Pet Blogger Support is all about supporting your fellow pet bloggers through comments on der blogs. Once a week, Pet Blogger Support features a new blogger for you to check out, and you can support dem by leaving a comment on da post and by visiting der bloggy. It’s a great way to “pay it forward” with comments. You can support each other, have fun, and make new friendships with fellow pet bloggers. Dis week - Bunny's Blog is featured on Pet Blogger Support, so check it out!

Change the World

I love, love, love Eric Clapton - so although this song isn't specifically about changing the world for animals, it expresses my sentiment of wanting to make a real difference. And on those days when it feels like it's just too much, that I can't possibly make a change, it helps me get refocused and reenergized. So enjoy!

Zooh Corner

It's rare for me to do two posts in one day, but one of my favorite rabbit rescues is in dire need of help, so I decided to do my Blog the Change post today. Zooh Corner Rabbit Rescue is a non-profit, no-kill rabbit welfare organization based in San Gabriel, CA. Their mission is threefold: to rescue, treat, spay/neuter and place rabbits that have been abused, neglected, injured or dumped; to educate the public on rabbit health care and needs; and to stop the irresponsible breeding and selling of rabbits.

Because they are a no-kill organization, they are able to spend as much time as needed with each rabbit, getting to know its special personality and taking care of each bunny's individual needs. However, Zooh Corner is in an EMERGENCY SITUATION - they are completely full at this time, and they continue to receive more rabbits everyday! They desperately need people who are willing to foster a rabbit or two. You can help by contacting Cat Logson at zoohgirl@gmail.com and by forwarding this information to anyone else who may be interested in helping. Thank you for your assistance.

Blog the Change Day

Hey gang - dis Friday, October 15th is Blog the Change Day! It's a day to blog about a cause near and dear to your heart, inspire your readers, and share with the Be The Change for Animals community. Dis event positively impacts animals and advocates one-on-one. Here's what you can do: 1) grab da Blog the Change badge; 2) help spread da word; 3) blog about your favorite shelter, rescue or cause; 4) add your link to da blog list; and 5) visit other blogs - leave comments, retweet or cross-post on facebook. It's dat easy to help Be the Change!

Howloween Pawpawty

Join us dis weekend on twitter for da October Pawpawty. Da theme is Howloween, and da anipals will be dressed up in der funniest, prettiest or scariest costumes! Proceeds will benefit da Orphan Animal Rescue & Sanctuary in Neenah, WI. Dey are a nonprofit, no-kill, volunteer-driven animal rescue and sanctuary dat consists of a small network of foster care homes, community partners, and an adoption center. Da fun starts on Saturday, October 16 at 2 p.m. Eastern. Be der or be square!

Dogs Rule Day

Did you know dat tomorrow is Dogs Rule Day? Our friends at Pedigree have declared October 9 as a day to celebrate our favorite four-legged friends, and dey have even provided a list of 101 ways to celebrate da day. Some of my favorites include donating a bag of dog food to a shelter, volunteering at a shelter, fostering a dog, or donating to a spay/neuter program. And don't forget dat it's Adopt-A-Shelter-Dog month - check out da list of available dogs on Petfinder.com to find a BFF of your very own!

Wabbit Wednesday - Part 2

As I mentioned in a previous post, I had never had a rabbit prior to adopting Bunny. Luckily, I found the House Rabbit Society website! The HRS is a nonprofit organization dedicated to rescuing abandoned rabbits and educating the public about rabbit care. Founded in 1988, they are headquartered in Richmond, CA and have over 120 licensed educators and fosterers and 30 local chapters across the United States, Canada, Europe, Australia, and Asia. To date, they have rescued and found adoptive homes for over 25,000 rabbits.

The first page I went to was House Rabbits 101: a resource for new rabbit owners. This page has links to the House Rabbit Handbook, a video on owning your first house rabbit, access to Etherbun - their email list, and lots of great articles and FAQs. It was a life-saver for someone like myself, who had no idea how to care for a rabbit. I was also able to connect with my local chapter of the HRS, who helped me find a veterinarian that treats rabbits (not all vets do). I highly recommend this site to anyone who is considering adopting a rabbit!

World Animal Day

Did you know that today is World Animal Day? It's a day to celebrate animal life in all its forms. World Animal Day started in 1931 at a convention of ecologists in Florence as a way of highlighting the plight of endangered species. Since then it's grown to encompass all kinds of animal life and is widely celebrated in countries throughout the world. October 4 was chosen as World Animal Day because it's the Feast Day of St Francis of Assisi, the patron saint of animals. Hundreds of events are taking place in more than 73 countries around the world - check out the World Animal Day website for one near you!

Adopt A Shelter Dog Month

Did you know dat October is Adopt-A-Shelter-Dog month? Der are lots of shelter dogs in need of forever homes, and Petfinder has put together a list of great articles, an adoption checklist, and tips for da first 30 days after you adopt your dog! If you can't adopt, you can do any of da following: 1) Donate your facebook status by pasting "October is Adopt-A-Shelter-Dog Month. Save a life: Adopt a dog! http://www.petfinder.com". 2) Tweet da same message. 3) Contact your local shelter regarding der wishlist or special event opportunities. 4) Share an adoptable dog profile on facebook, twitter, or your blog. 5) Sign up with your local shelter as a foster parent or volunteer. 6) Add a Petfinder banner or widget to your blog. 7) Write a op-ed about pet adoption for your local paper. 8) Take pictures of dogs at your local shelter and upload dem to Petfinder. 9) Donate to your local shelter or rescue. 10) Talk to your children and grandchildren about da importance of pet adoption. Der are many ways you can help spread da word about Adopt-A-Shelter Dog month!