Rose the Service Dog takes the Witness Stand

via ABC News - An 11 year-old Golden Retriever named Rose is the first service dog in the state of New York to sit on the witness stand during a trial.

Earlier this month, Rose provided support to a 15 year-old girl, who had been the victim of sexual abuse over a period of four years.

Measures were taken to keep the dog inconspicuous. Rose was located behind the witness stand, and she could not be seen by those sitting in the gallery, except when she poked her head up to nudge the victim.

"My heart was in my throat," said Sherry Cookinham the unit supervisor for the Children's Home in Poughkeepsie that has been helping the teenage girl. "I knew at that moment that Rosie was doing her job and the little girl was going to be okay."

With Rose's support, the young girl was able to identify the man who had abused her. The man was found guilty and is facing 25 years to life in prison.

There are hopes that the use of service dogs in court could become a more common practice in New York and possibly go beyond children to victims of violent abuse or post-traumatic stress disorder.


Photo by Dale Picard

Bissell Invites Animal Lovers to Help Homeless Pets

BISSELL Homecare, Inc., a longstanding supporter of pet adoption, has announced the launch of an online fundraising campaign to help more homeless pets across America find loving homes. From now through September, for each new fan that registers on BISSELL's Facebook page, the company will donate 50 cents to the Petfinder.com Foundation toward its goal of contributing $50,000 in 2011.

The Petfinder.com Foundation is a 501(c)(3) organization that works with animal shelters and rescues across North America to ensure no adoptable pet is euthanized for lack of a home. BISSELL's $50,000 gift to the foundation will directly fund numerous shelters and rescue groups in need of help, and will serve to arm pet parents with the knowledge and tools they need to care for their furry companions.

"BISSELL believes that pets are part of the family and wants to see more four-legged friends find forever homes," said Rich Sorota, senior vice president and general manager of global marketing and sales for BISSELL.

In addition to partnerships with organizations like Petfinder.com, BISSELL supports the pet community through contributions to more than 100 U.S. pet charities totaling over $200,000 annually. For more information about BISSELL, visit http://www.bissell.com/

Joplin Adopt-a-thon Video

Day 1 of the Joplin Adopt-a-thon was a huge success! Thousands of people showed up to offer their homes and their hearts to the hundreds of animals left homeless by the recent tornado.

More than 400 animals were adopted in just the first day! Thank you to all the volunteers who helped make this possible.

Films Illuminate Human-Animal Relationships

via www.huffingtonpost.com - In the past few years films focusing on animals have dramatically shifted their focus from nature oriented to an examination of the changing relationship between humans and animals. They represent a growing awareness that our treatment of animals and attitudes towards them are evolving into a more healthy respect for life in general.

Several recent documentaries such as The Cove have dramatically exposed the dark side of human relations with the animal world. Now three films in release or rolling out offer compelling stories of hope and positive developments in the way in which humans treat other animals. Buck, the story of Buck Brannaman the true horse-whisperer, Project Nim about a chimpanzee who was raised as a human, and One Lucky Elephant which has it's LA premiere this weekend.

The film received critical acclaim on the festival circuit and standing ovations this month at screenings in New York City. The journey of Flora and the filmmakers is both heartbreaking and uplifting, an affirmation of love and it's power to overcome seemingly insurmountable obstacles.



written by Jerry Cope
photo by Laura Bittner via flickr

Cat Caught Barking

Here's a cute video of a cat barking like a dog until he realizes that he's been caught!

Animal Rights Awareness Week

June 21-25 is Animal Rights Awareness Week. Started in 1999, the purpose of this event is to educate the public about the ways in which we interact with animals and to increase awareness about the basic needs and rights of animals.

Throughout history, prominent individuals like Mahatma Gandhi, Alice Walker, Albert Einstein, Albert Schweitzer and Leonardo da Vinci have a expressed a deep concern for the rights and well-being of animals. They urged others to view animals as viable individuals with feelings, interests and needs of their own.

Yet today more than ever, human civilization inflicts great harm and suffering on the world's creatures through industries and attitudes that exploit animals and destroy wildlife.

The response to this injustice is the crystallization of the animal rights movement. It has become the vehicle for millions who seek justice and compassion for animals. Animal rights is an affirmation of all life, an affirmation of humanity's ability and need to nurture and protect the sanctity of life in all species, human and non-human alike.

For more information about animal rights, please visit In Defense of Animals at www.idausa.org.

image via www.freephotobank.org

Take Your Dog to Work Day

Businesses across the country are adding kibble, chew toys and Frisbees to their office supply lists in preparation for the 13th annual celebration of Take Your Dog To Work Day (TYDTWDay®) created by Pet Sitters International (PSI).

This Friday June 24, businesses, animal shelters and pet-care professionals will work together to better the lives of shelter dogs everywhere.  Thousands of businesses will open their doors to employees’ furry, four-legged friends on this day in celebration of the great companions dogs make and to promote pet adoption.

Since TYDTWDay’s inaugural celebration in 1999, America’s love affair with pets has grown to an all-time high, and there are more than 78 million dogs in 46.3 million households across the country.  During this same time, intake at animal shelters has also grown at a startling rate - with an estimated six to eight million cats and dogs entering shelters each year.

“From reducing stress levels to helping increase our physical activity, pets have been shown to enrich our lives in so many ways,” Patti Moran, PSI president said.  “TYDTWDay offers pet parents an opportunity to show off their dogs to co-workers and give back to the pet community by promoting a great cause - pet adoption.”

Pet Sitters International and its 2011 campaign partners encourage businesses, shelters and pet lovers interested in celebrating the event to visit www.takeyourdog.com to register, download a free 2011 TYDTWDay Action Pack, and enter the official 2011 TYDTWDay Photo Contest.

HomeAgain PetRescuers Help Keep Pets Safe on July 4th

The fireworks and festivities of the Fourth of July often turn happy, contented pets into scaredy cats and petrified pooches - leading to more pets going missing than any other single day of the year.  HomeAgain PetRescuers are rallying across the internet to raise awareness of this problem and help protect pets.

"Not Lost on You" is a social media campaign alerting pet parents to the steps they should take to keep their four-legged family members safe.  By posting the "Not Lost on You" flag on their Facebook wall, supporters demonstrate to their online community that pet safety awareness is vitally important on Independence Day. Twitter users are invited to spread the word and increase awareness by using the hashtag #NLOY.

"July 4th is the number one day for pets to go missing," said HomeAgain General Manager Gary MacPhee. "We are asking the volunteer HomeAgain PetRescuers to spread the word through the 'Not Lost on You' campaign so families can celebrate with peace of mind knowing all members, including pets, are safe.

HomeAgain reminds pet parents of the following tips to ensure pet safety during July 4th festivities and all year round:

• Keep pets safely at home and away from fireworks festivities.
• Find a quiet place to keep your pet while fireworks displays are taking place.
• Turn on a radio, fan or television to distract pets from outside noise.
• Ensure windows and doors are securely closed to prevent pets from running off in the event they become startled by unexpected sounds.
• Make sure your pet is wearing a collar with visible ID tags.
• Microchip your pet and keep your contact information up to date in a national database.

Judge Upholds Ruling, "Gothic" Kittens Violate PA Cruelty Law

 
via www.mcall.com - A Pennsylvania appeals court has upheld the animal cruelty conviction of a woman who pierced kittens' ears, necks and tails to make them into "gothic cats" she planned to sell on eBay.

Although piercing is not explicitly outlawed, such treatment of animals clearly constitutes torture and infliction of intense pain prohibited by the state's animal cruelty law, the Superior Court found according to an opinion handed down Tuesday.

According to the opinion, Holly Crawford, a dog groomer from Sweet Valley, Luzerne County, advertised the kittens for sale on the Internet auction web site eBay for $100 with barbell earrings, "submission rings" through the scruff of their necks and tails that had been cut off and pierced at the stump.

After an investigator for an animal welfare group saw the kittens, the Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals obtained a search warrant, seized the kittens in 2008 and took them to a veterinarian for examination. Crawford was charged and convicted by a jury of cruelty to animals.

written by Peter Hall, The Morning Call
Photo by Don Carey, The Times Leader

How to Recognize an Animal Hoarding Situation

Last week, the Humane Society of the United States’ Animal Rescue Team assisted in the rescue of nearly 700 cats that were found living in deplorable conditions in High Springs, FL.  When responders arrived on the scene, they found the cats housed mainly in unsanitary wire pens throughout the eight-acre property.  A veterinarian on the scene determined that many of the cats were underweight and suffering from medical ailments such as upper respiratory infections and parasite infestation.

According to the ASPCA, animal hoarding is a complex and intricate public health and community issue.  Its effects are far-reaching and encompass mental health, animal welfare and public safety concerns.

The following criteria are used to define animal hoarding:

• More than the typical number of companion animals.
• Inability to provide even minimal standards of nutrition, sanitation, shelter and veterinary care, with this neglect often resulting in starvation, illness and death.
• Denial of the inability to provide this minimum care and the impact of that failure on the animals, the household and human occupants of the dwelling.

Here are several signs that may indicate someone is an animal hoarder:

• They have numerous animals and may not know the total number of animals in their care.
• Their home is deteriorated (i.e., dirty windows, broken furniture, holes in walls and floor, extreme clutter).
• There is a strong smell of ammonia, and floors may be covered with dried feces, urine, vomit, etc.
• Animals are emaciated, lethargic and not well socialized.
• Fleas and vermin are present.
• The individual is isolated from the community and appears to be in neglect himself.
• The individual insists all animals are happy and healthy—even when there are clear signs of distress and illness.

Here are several signs that a rescue group or shelter may involve a hoarder:

• The group is unwilling to let visitors see the location where animals are kept.
• The group will not disclose the number of animals in its care.
• Little effort is made to adopt animals out.
• More animals are continually taken in, despite the poor condition of existing animals.
• Legitimate shelters and rescue organizations are viewed as the enemy.
• Animals may be received at a remote location (parking lot, street corner, etc.) rather than at the group's facilities.

If you think someone you know is struggling with animal hoarding, here are some ways you can help:

• Pick up the phone and call your local humane law enforcement department, police department, animal shelter, animal welfare group or veterinarian to initiate the process.
• Contact social service groups and ask them to get involved. Animal hoarding is not just about the animals. Your local department of the aging, adult protective services, health departments and other mental health agencies may be able to provide services or links to services.
• Reassure the animal hoarder that it's okay to accept help. Animal hoarders are usually worried that their animals will be killed or that they will never see them again.
• Volunteer your time. With the removal of so many animals from a hoarding situation, the burden on local shelters can be staggering. Volunteer your time to help clean cages, socialize animals, walk dogs and perform other such necessary duties.
• Keep in touch. Under the guidance of an organization, help the individual with daily animal care chores. If the individual acquires new animals, help ensure that they are spayed/neutered and vaccinated.

Content provided by the ASPCA in conjunction with the Animal Legal and Historical Center. 
Image via www.freephotobank.org

Crazy Cat Lady Dating Video

It's been a while since I've posted anything just for fun - so I thought I would share this video, which has been making its way around the internet.



Okay - it's not a real dating video, but it's still the best laugh I had all week. Have a great weekend!

Nominate BtC4Animals.com for the Petties

If you've been following Bunny's Blog for a while, you know that my passion is helping animals.  That's why I've focused my blog around animal shelters, rescue groups and other animal-related causes.

Another favorite blog is Be the Change for Animals.  BtC4Animals.com highlights one cause per week and provides information on how readers can help. Calls to action don’t require money or more than 15 minutes to complete and typically involve actions like signing a petition or participating in a letter-writing campaign.

I've supported this blog from its inception - first as a follower, then as a cause scout, eventually moving on to being a staff writer, and most recently as twitter liaison.  That's how much I believe in the mission of this blog.

So I'm asking you to consider nominating BtC4Animals.com for the Petties, Dogtime's annual celebration recognizing excellence among animal-loving bloggers of all stripes. The Petties are the only awards nominated by, voted for and presented to individuals in the pet blogging community.

The best part? Winners are honored with a $500 donation to the shelter of their choice. If BtC4Animals.com wins, we will donate the prize to Best Friends Animal Society, an organization dedicated to helping homeless animals. 

Here's how you can help:
1.  Visit the Petties Nomination Page
2.  Nominate BtC4Animals.com for Best Cause Related Blog
3.  Enter the following information - Name: Be the Change for Animals, URL: www.btc4animals.com,
     Email: admin@btc4animals.com
4.  Answer "Why should this blog win?" in 100 characters.

Thanks for all you do everyday to Be the Change for Animals!

Farewell to BJC

Today has been one of those days every pet owner dreads. Bunny has been on a long, slow decline these last few months, and I knew the end was inevitable. Still there is no way to truly prepare for these things emotionally.

Bunny has been with me since September 6, 2003. She has moved with me from apartment to apartment, then finally into our house. She has been a companion to both my daughter and me for nearly eight years - first as a high energy adolescent, then as a calm mature adult, and finally as a frail elderly rabbit. She started out as an only pet, but she adapted to having five cats in the house and still maintained her position as "alpha".

This past week has been hard as I've watched her "wind down" - reaching the point today where she is simply sleeping. As of this minute, she is still with us, but I expect that she will not be tomorrow. So I have said my last goodbye, as has my daughter. We have gone into her room and talked to her, petted her and told her how much we love her.  I know that she knows we're there because there is just enough movement to indicate that she is still aware of what's happening around her.

I'm sharing this with you so that you will understand if I go away for a while. There's really no way to know how I'll handle the mourning process - I may write more, or I may write less - but I will definitely keep writing because Bunny is the reason why I blog.

By adopting her, she has helped me learn about rabbits and rabbit care. By using her image as my Twitter avatar, she introduced me to a wonderful group of people who care about animals as much as I do. And by setting up a Facebook page for her, I have met hundreds of equally wonderful (and equally crazy) pet people all over the world.

So I will continue blog in her memory. I will continue to update her Facebook page - not as her, but as myself. And I will keep her Twitter account active for Pawpawty and other fundraising events. But on a day-to-day basis, I will be tweeting as myself. I think that's appropriate - I want to remember her for the ways that she has helped me, but still respect the fact that she is gone.

Goodbye Bunny - I'll miss you.

note: BJC crossed the Rainbow Bridge on June 7, 2011

Stop the Slaughter at NYC ACC

I generally try to stay with uplifting stories because I think reading post after post of heartbreaking stories can wear you down and make you feel like there is nothing you can do to help. This post, which I originally read on www.bhrescue.com, is indeed heartbreaking - but there is very definitely something you can do about it!

"Sammy was a cute dog, a cute lab mix, and he was sentenced to die. His crime? He was born. He might have escaped his house, or maybe he was thrown out because his former family didn’t want him. But Sammy was lucky, so he thought, as a human found him. That human, however, betrayed him. That human surrendered him to one of the worst shelters when it comes to euthanizing animals needlessly: the Animal Care and Control (ACC) of New York. True to form, Sammy was euthanized needlessly too.

Sammy would have been a perfect dog to adopt. He was accessed with mild manners, no illness, and young. Moreover, he even had someone who wanted to adopt him. The only problem was that she didn’t live in Brooklyn, NY, where he was. She lived in NJ, but she was approved to adopt through an ACC-approved rescue organization. So, she TRIED to call the shelter to tell them not to euthanize Sammy. She was on her way to get him. But there was a problem. Nobody at the shelter picked up the phone. Nobody bothered to think that someone might want to communicate with them. So, they euthanized him. What if the person who was trying to contact the shelter was his former family? I guess ACC just doesn’t care."

The post then goes on to describe how ACC makes the process difficult for rescue groups to act in time to save dogs' lives:

"The horrible thing about ACC is that they don’t give time for any rescue to come and get the dogs out of their facilities. They print a To Be Destroyed list that they give out to some rescue groups at around 5 pm. Rescue organizations have till 8 am to pull the dogs out. Of course, ACC doesn’t open till 8 am and by 10 the slaughter begins. Animals that have a rescue, a foster home, or a forever home to go to have to be whisked out fast before they are euthanized. Luckily, ACC allows out-of-state rescue organizations to pull out the animals. But, it takes time to get the proper personnel at the door before 8 a.m. If only ACC would bother to answer their phones, they would know that many have the opportunity to be saved."

Here is where you can help:

• Like Urgent Part 2 on facebook. This group posts dogs listed on the ACC To Be Destroyed list. Cross-post listings to help increase the chances of saving these dogs.
• Like Stop the Slaughter at NYC ACC. This group is working to increase awareness of the situation in hope of making a change. 
• Sign and share this petition on Care2 asking Mayor Bloomberg, New York City Council and the NYC Department of Health to reform ACC.

Let ACC know that the needless slaughter of adoptable animals is unacceptable and must stop!

Image via Stop the Slaughter at NYC ACC on facebook

Like Mr. Chewy on Facebook and Help Donate to ASPCA

Looking for a quick and easy way to help improve the lives of at-risk animals? Help MrChewy.com get to 10,000 "Likes" on facebook, and they will donate $10,000 to the ASPCA!

Here's what you can do to help:

• "Like" MrChewy.com on facebook.
• Share the link on your facebook profile. 
• Post the link on twitter.
• Write a blog post and share on facebook and/or twitter.

MrChewy.com delivers pet happiness by conveniently shipping 70+ brands of pet food, treats and accessories while ensuring at-risk pets lives are improved across the planet.

At-risk animals need a hero - and you can be one today!

Image via MrChewy.com on facebook