Wabbit Wednesday - Carmel and Cadbury

This week's featured bunny is a bonded pair. Meet Carmel and Cadbury available for adoption from Animal Friends in Pittsburgh, PA. These bunnies are so sweet, you'll get a sugar rush just looking at them!

Carmel is an affectionate Rhinelander rabbit who is fairly relaxed, but still has her moments of jubilation. Even though she is gentle and submissive, her playful and curious side occasionally shines through. She's 3 years old and has lived with just one owner until that person took a new job requiring lots of travel. Now, she's looking to find a kind, human companion.

Cadbury is Carmel's best friend and playmate for the past 3 years. He's a New Zealand White rabbit. His regal all-white coat gives him a touch of confidence without being snobby. And when you're stressed, just rub your hand over his smooth silky fur, and your worries will hop away.

Both bunnies are charming, healthy and are friendly with children. They've spent their first three years together, and they must be adopted out to the same qualified owner.

If you have room in your heart and your home for this handsome couple, please contact Animal Friends or visit Petfinder.com to find an adoptable rabbit near you!

Blogpaws 2011

I arrived at Blogpaws in Tysons Corner, VA on late Thursday afternoon. Mike Arms, CEO of Helen Woodward Animal Center, had offered an ACES Workshop earlier that day, but I arrived too late to attend. 

However, I did arrive in time to attend the Welcome Reception and see many people who I had met at the previous two conferences.

Friday morning’s keynote speakers were from Rescue Ink. They are an animal rescue group that brings an "in your face" approach to the fight against animal abuse and neglect. These are some big scary-looking guys, but the work they do to help animals is amazing!

The first session I attended that morning was Leveraging Niche Blogging. Toni Eberhardt from PetSmart, Dayna Hilton of Firehouse Dog Publishing, and Jill Lane of Travelin’ Jack’s Dog Blog discussed how niche bloggers can achieve success by focusing on a specific topic.

The second session I attended was Create a Compelling Brand. Holly Buchanan of Buchanan Marketing presented information about what makes a brand unique and how bloggers can uncover ways to leverage community, advertisers and sponsors.

By that afternoon, I was getting a little tired so I took some “me time”, but I came back later to watch The Petties on Dogtime.com. I was so excited that Be the Change for Animals won Best Cause Related Blog, as were fellow team members Kim Clune and Maggie Marton!

The next day began with a keynote address by Heidi Ganahl, Top Dog at Camp Bow Wow. Heidi gave a great talk, and I was excited to hear that they were doing a special project with one of our local Pittsburgh shelters – Western PA Humane Society.

The first session I planned to attend that day was Pet Blogging: Your Next Career Move to be presented by Laurie Ruettimann. Laurie is one of my favorite bloggers, and I was really looking forward to hearing her speak. Unfortunately, she was not able to make it to the conference because of Hurricane Irene. I hope I will get to meet her next year!

For the second session that day, I attended Grow Your Audience with Guest Blogging presented by Jane Harrell of Petfinder.com and Laura Bennett of Embrace Pet Insurance. The session explored how to pitch yourself as a guest blogger, the benefits of guest blogging to grow your own readership, and things you need to know about content ownership.

Lunch included an inspiring presentation by BZTAT (artist Vicki Boatright) and dancer Miah Thornton. BZTAT made a video about her public art project Okey’s Promise, and Miah danced to the music. It was a wonderful performance, and it ended with BZTAT announcing a Kickstarter fundraising project for the next installment of Okey’s Promise.

The last session of the day was Be the Change: How You Can Help Pets in Need. This session has become a “tradition” at BlogPaws, and it was to be presented by Dorian Wagner of Your Daily Cute, Jane Harrell of Petfinder.com, Jessica Vogelsang (Dr. V.) of Pawcurious, and Blogpaws co-founder, Caroline Golon.

Unfortunately, both Jane and Caroline had to leave early because of the hurricane, but Dorian and Dr. V. were troopers and led a “group tweet” to help find a forever home for a puppy named Devika. They also discussed ways that people can help pets in need and distributed “The Little Book of Big Change” to give people more ideas.

The closing keynote was presented by Francois Gossieaux, Founder of Human 1.0 and co-author of The Hyper-Social Organization. Blogpaws co-founders Tom Collins and Yvonne DiVita also presented checks totaling over $12,500 to five different shelters and rescue groups. But probably the most unique thing about this year’s conference is that we spent the evening celebrating at the closing reception while Hurricane Irene blew through the Washington D.C. area!

Next year, Blogpaws 2012 will be in Salt Lake City, Utah. I could do without another natural disaster, but I look forward to seeing all my blogging buddies again and learning even more!

National Dog Day

Via NationalDogDay.com - National Dog Day, sponsored by the Animal Miracle Foundation & Network, is celebrated each year on August 26.

It’s a day that helps the public recognize the number of dogs that need to be rescued each year, and it acknowledges family dogs and other dogs that work selflessly to save lives, keep us safe and bring us comfort.

Founded in 2004 by pet lifestyle expert and author Colleen Paige, National Dog Day was created to honor dogs, give them their own day, and show a deep appreciation for our long connection with each other.

National Dog Day encourages dog ownership of all breeds - mixed and pure - and embraces the opportunity for all dogs to live a happy, safe and abuse-free life.

National Dog Day is against any kind of breed ban. Dogs should not have to lose their lives because of the atrocities they have been forced to endure at the hands of man.  

And while people have the right to purchase a pure breed dog, National Dog Day strongly discourages buying from pet stores, backyard breeders, the internet, newspaper ads and puppy mills.

Millions of dogs are killed each year because they are unwanted. They are wonderful and viable sentient beings that deserve compassion and respect. Please consider adopting on National Dog Day!

For more information on National Dog Day, please visit their website at http://www.nationaldogday.com/.

Image via FreePhotoBank.org

Wabbit Wednesday - Fuzzy Wuzzy

This week's featured rabbit is Fuzzy Wuzzy - a 14 week old white male Lionhead available for adoption from the Western PA Humane Society.

Fuzzy Wuzzy is THE most adorable bunny...ever! Unfortunately, his previous owner won him in a fair game and had no idea how to care for him properly.

When he was surrendered, Fuzzy was underweight, never had hay (an essential part of his diet), was given cat litter and cedar bedding (both hazardous to his health) and wasn't fed proper greens .

He has come a long way since arriving at the shelter just over a week ago.  He is super affectionate and is quickly getting up to a healthy weight.

Because Fuzzy Wuzzy is so young, he is not able to be neutered until 6 months old. His adopter would need to take him home on a codicil contract with a deposit that will be refunded at the time of neuter.

If you have room in your heart and your home for this handsome little guy, contact Western PA Humane Society or visit Petfinder.com to find an adoptable rabbit near you!

Take Your Cat to the Vet Week

via Petfinder.com - August 22-28 is Take Your Cat to the Vet Week, and throughout the week Petfinder.com will be reminding you to schedule a vet visit for your cat. (The American Veterinary Medical Association recommends cats go to the vet twice a year for checkups.)

Why is there a need for Take Your Cat to the Vet Week? Even though pet cats outnumber dogs in the U.S. by 15 million, CATalyst Council and the American Humane Association estimate that cats go to the vet only half as often as dogs.

In fact, Feline Pine, which founded the event, surveyed cat parents in 2009 and found that fewer than half took their cats to the vet unless the cat was sick.

But cats need preventive care just as much as dogs, and regular vet checkups can help you catch health issues before they become major illnesses that are painful for your cat and more difficult (and expensive) to treat.

Continue reading at http://bit.ly/pcud5a

Written by Jane Harrell
Image via Carlos Porto/FreeDigitalPhotos.net

PETA Plans Porn Site

Via Huffington Post: PETA knows how to raise eyebrows. The animal rights group's memorable campaigns have entailed everything from celebrities posing nude for its anti-fur campaign to scantily clad women having an erotic moment with their vegetables to support veganism.

Now, PETA has pulled out all of the stops with a XXX porn site for its next clever marketing endeavor, reports The Register.

"We live in a 24 hour news cycle world and we learn the racy things we do are sometimes the most effective way that we can reach particular individuals," said PETA spokeswoman Lindsay Rajt.

Instead of focusing on anti-fur, the porn site will raise awareness of veganism, said Rajt. "We really want to grab people's attention, get them talking and to question the status quo and ultimately take action, because the best way we can help the greatest number of animals is simply by not eating them."

Read more at http://huff.to/og6Y4H

Written by Tara Kelly
Photo via PETA

PetSmart Charities introduces People Saving Pets

People Saving Pets is a new social movement that brings together people who love pets.

They’re sparking conversations about pet homelessness and giving people simple steps to help prevent it. They’re spreading the word, changing how people think and making pet homelessness a thing of the past.

Working together, pet lovers can help save 4 million adoptable pets from euthanasia each year. It all starts with understanding the issue and what can be done to solve it.

Whether through adoption, spay/neuter, donation or simply spreading the word to others, People Saving Pets believes that every action makes a difference!

The People Saving Pets movement is empowered by PetSmart Charities. An independent 501(c)3 organization, their mission is to create and support programs that save the lives of homeless pets, raise awareness of companion animal welfare issues and promote healthy relationships between people and pets.

PetSmart Charities cares deeply about the 4 million animals that are euthanized each year, and they are working with animal organizations all across the country to achieve their goal of finding homes for all adoptable pets.

But to truly succeed, they must also unite and engage the public. That’s why they’ve partnered with animal welfare organizations to launch the People Saving Pets movement.

PetSmart Charities believes that pets bring joy to our lives, enrich us and teach us to love. They know that many people share this belief, which is why they are asking you to join the People Saving Pets movement.

Wabbit Wednesday - Vera and Bradley

This week's featured rabbit is a bonded pair.  Vera and Bradley are available for adoption from Western PA Humane Society in Pittsburgh, PA.

Vera is a 1 year 4 month old spayed female brown and white Dutch rabbit. She loves romping and playing with her pal Bradley, a neutered male black and white Dutch. Because they are a bonded pair, they need to be adopted together.

When Vera and Bradley came into the shelter, they were both emaciated, covered in urine and had severely overgrown toenails. They are beautiful, purebred bunnies who deserve a forever home where they can be properly cared for.

Vera and Bradley would do well in a nice calm family with older children.

They should be kept indoors where they are safe from predators. They will need an extra large cage with enough room for them to stand up, lay down and turn around - as well as a safe, bunny-proof area to exercise.

Vera and Bradley are both litter trained (avoid pine or cedar shavings as they are hazardous to a bunny's health). Their diet consists of limited quantities of pellets and dark leafy greens, and unlimited amounts of timothy hay and water.

Remember having a bunny is a 10 year commitment! They should have annual veterinary check-ups, and they may require tooth trims.

If you have room in your heart and your home for this gorgeous pair, contact Western PA Humane Society or visit Petfinder.com to find an adoptable rabbit near you!

Circus Elephant Collapses in Anaheim

via Change.org - Late at night on Sunday, August 6, in Anaheim, California, as the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus was loading its performing animals onto boxcars, an elephant named Sarah fell from a ramp and collapsed on the ground.

Ringling is claiming that the stumble was entirely accidental — the 53-year-old elephant simply lost her footing while boarding the train and unsuccessfully trying to back down the ramp.

But that’s not what it looked like to eyewitness Ameer Sanghvi, who told NBC LA, "They were struggling to get her on the ramp. She finally managed to get on the ramp and that's when she collapsed on her back, on the gravel with rough rocks.”

Just last month, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) reported that the USDA had cited Ringling in June for violating the Animal Welfare Act by failing to provide proper treatment for the same elephant. Sarah has a history of having a pus-like discharge in her urine and an elevated white cell count. Per the USDA inspection report, her handlers ignored Ringling's senior veterinarian’s orders to treat the infection, which could become fatal if neglected.

Animal Defenders International (ADI) has filed a formal complaint with USDA Western Regional Director Robert M. Gibbens, asking him to remove Sarah from the circus.

Matt Rossell, ADI’s campaigns director, stated, “Sarah is sick, and the stress and fatigue has likely led to this dangerous fall. This elephant needs to be taken off the road immediately so she can be properly evaluated and treated by a veterinarian.”

Instead of performing handstands, Sarah should be receiving veterinary care. Sign the petition telling the USDA to remove Sarah from the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus.

Written by Laura Goldman
Photo via PETA

KG Dog fighting app is back...again!

Once again, after being involuntarily pulled from the market in April, the notorious Android app that allows people to participate in training and fighting dogs is back again.

With this Android app, developed by Kage Games, LLC and now being called KG Dogfighting, players can "raise your dog to beat the best." More information about this game is available at Steve Dale's Pet World in Dog Fighting App Returns, Please Bark Back to Android Marketplace.

What can you do to get rid of the dog fighting app?

This app was removed from the marketplace once before. Tell Android that it should be removed again, and for good this time, by complaining to the Android marketplace that the app is inappropriate. One voice will make no difference, but if we combine our voices, we can let Android know that we, as a community of dog lovers and animal supporters, disapprove and that we will not support this type of thinly disguised market for greed and abuse.

Continue reading on http://exm.nr/n6dlKN

Written by Lorie Huston
Image via Cage Games/Android

Sex and the single pet owner

via PRNewswire: A recent study published in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology shows that pet owners have greater self-esteem than those without pets. They are more physically fit, less lonely, more conscientious, more socially outgoing and have healthier relationship styles.

"We know that singles take their relationships with their pets just as seriously as they do with their lovers," explains Kim Hughes, Singles and Dating Expert for Lavalife.com. "Now we are digging deeper to find out what our pets say about our personalities and how that can influence our relationships with two-legged creatures."

Lavalife.com recently polled singles about their furry friends and the results were eye-opening: 47% would ditch a lover if they didn't get along with their pet, 10% would consider shared custody of a pet after a relationship ended, and more than 60% of single men polled wouldn't kick Fido out of the bedroom even when getting intimate with a lover.

"We can tell a lot about a person not only from the type of pet they have but also where they acquired their pet," Hughes continues. "Here are some clues that singles can use to help decode potential paramours."

People who purchase pets from a pet store tend to be more impulsive, while people who buy from a breeder are more analytical. Those who rescue pets from shelters are known to be comfortable with risk and especially compassionate.

Since most large dogs need lots of exercise, owners of large breeds tend to be more active, outgoing and assertive. Small dog owners tend to be more detail-oriented, and some may even be neat freaks.

Cat lovers tend to be more independent and scholarly while dog owners have been found to be more conscientious, agreeable and extroverted.

"Having a pet requires a person be responsible and it is not always possible to do things on a whim, so don't count on the last-minute date or sleepover," explains Dr. Rachel Needle, Licensed Psychologist and Certified Sex Therapist.

Other research suggests that there is a connection between the way a partner treats his pet and how he treats his significant other. Likewise, treating a potential mate as you would your animal can lead to a more successful relationship.

"If someone is kind and loving towards their pet, that is a good indication that they will likely be that way towards a lover as well," continues Dr. Needle. "However, be careful if your partner is too attached to their pet or if they treat their pet poorly. This can be a red flag!"

Image: kenfotos/FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Wabbit Wednesday - Mr. McGregor

Meet Mr. McGregor - an adult male English Spot available for adoption from Animal Friends in Pittsburgh, PA.

This proper Englishman prefers using his surname to distinguish himself from other rabbits. He is gentlemanly, interactive, curious and polite. He might be a touch shy at first, but after a few pats on the back, he will be your buddy for life.

He's a thinking man's bunny, usually watching his surroundings for anything to pique his interest. When he's excited, he will rapidly twiddle his nose and twitch his whiskers.

Like any well-rounded bunny, Mr. McGregor does have his tricky side. He tends to rub up against other bunnies to encourage them to play. Some bunnies appreciate the attention, while others tend to ignore his earnest entreaties.

If you have room in your heart and your home for this very British bunny, contact Animal Friends or visit Petfinder.com to find an adoptable rabbit near you!

Haven for Feral Cats

Though their presence is widespread, feral cats are largely unwelcome in New York City's gardens.

That's not the case at the Morris-Jumel Community Garden in Washington Heights, where the welcome mat is always rolled out for the neighborhood's colony of free-roaming cats.

The bucolic garden, located on West 162nd Street across from the historic Morris-Jumel Mansion, boasts two dozen plots where members grow vegetables and flowers and host neighborhood parties around the barbecue pit.

It is also home base for Coco Bean, Betty and Grady Tate, three of the 11 feral cats that make up the Monte Calvario Colony, named for the church next door that allows them to be fed in its parking lot.

In winter, the cats take shelter in Styrofoam boxes that are filled with straw and hidden beneath a tarp in the back of the garden.

The cats earn their keep by steering the rats away.

"The greatest thing is that you can be a cat advocate and a people advocate at the same time," said Sheila Massey, a local resident and member of the NYC Feral Cat Initiative who has been managing the street’s cat colony for the past three years. "By spaying and neutering the cats, they become good citizens."

Under trap-neuter-return (TNR), rescuers can trap feral cats, have them spayed or neutered and return them to the same areas.

Once neutered, the cats protect the community against rats but no longer display nuisance behaviors such as fighting over mates, yowling in heat, rummaging through trash cans, spraying urine and producing multiple litters. Well fed, there is no need for them to scavenge for food.

For the first time, the city plans to issue regulations for TNR programs, which could help reduce the number of feral cats that roam the streets.

Read more: http://nydn.us/mUByzY
Written by Amy Sacks
Photo by Sheila Massey

Guide dog will always be his hero

Michael Hingson has told this story countless times. "On Sept. 11, 2001, my guide dog Roselle and I were working in the World Trade Center on the 78th floor of Tower One when the airplane crashed into our building."

Amid the horror and confusion that surrounded him, Mr. Hingson, who is blind, never doubted that the 3-year-old yellow Labrador retriever would lead him to safety.

"From the outset, Roselle guided and did her job perfectly, as we went to the stairwell and traveled down 1,463 stairs.

"After leaving the building, we were across the street from Tower Two when it collapsed. Despite the dust and chaos, Roselle remained calm and totally focused on her job, as debris fell around us and even hit us.

"We found a subway entrance, where we could escape the heavy dust. All that day Roselle worked flawlessly. She saved my life and truly is the greatest dog hero of all."

Mr. Hingson wrote this when he nominated Roselle for the first American Humane Association Hero Dog Awards. This week he learned more than 300,000 voters picked her as one of the eight finalists.

Read more: http://bit.ly/qyuuNO
Written by Linda Wilson Fuoco
Image via American Humane Association

Palm Beach County Couple Spends $60K on Feral Cats

PALM BEACH COUNTY, Fla. - Palm Beach County animal control officials estimate there could be up to 250,000 stray and feral cats in the area. Many of those felines live very close to human populations and are often fed by people. There is a network of volunteers that venture out each evening to feed thousands of feral cats in the Palm Beach County.

Jim Strout of Boynton Beach completes his feline feeding duties every single night. He drives all around Palm Beach County in his four-door sedan, which is almost always packed tightly with a variety of cat foods. Strout's preparations begin at approximately 3 p.m. daily. By 7 p.m., he hits the road and is out feeding up to 500 feral cats until about 2 a.m. Everything in his vehicle is for just one night of feeding. "This is just one night. I do this 7 nights a week," he said.

Strout said he spends up to $60,000 each year, between his feedings and his wife's nightly feral cat feedings. Strout said his wife packs her car as well, and completes a different route with hundreds of different cats. The Strouts are part of an underground network of volunteers who say they are keeping these animals from starving, all while keeping the Palm Beach County feral cat population down.

Read more:http://bit.ly/pKZZng
Written by Dan Corcoran

World's Best Cat Litter Kicks Off New Charity Campaign

via PetProductNews.com - World’s Best Cat Litter has launched the fourth round of its GiveLitter charity campaign. The campaign invites the public to visit www.givelitter.com and vote for one of three animal organizations to receive a donation of World’s Best Cat Litter.

For this round, voters can select A.D.O.P.T. Pet Shelter in Naperville, IL, Homeward Pet Adoption Center in Woodinville, WA, or Animal Rescue Fund of the Hamptons in Wainscott, NY - all three of which are part of Best Friends Animal Society’s No More Homeless Pets network.

For every vote cast on www.givelitter.com, World’s Best pledges to donate 1/10th of a pound of its cat litter. For every person who becomes a fan of World’s Best Cat Litter Facebook page, the company pledges to donate one pound of litter. Subsequent votes cast on Facebook are worth 1/10th of a pound of litter.

All three organizations will receive cat litter donations, according to the company. At the end of the voting period, World’s Best Cat Litter plans to add up all of the votes and divvy up the cat litter based on the number of votes each organization received. Voting ends on September 16, 2011.