Project Breathe Provides Fire Departments with Pet Oxygen Masks

Nearly all fire fighters have seen people try to rush back into a burning building to save their pets, and most understand that pets are indeed beloved family members. Although the number of pets that die in fires is not an official statistic kept by the U.S. Fire Administration, industry web sites have estimated that 40,000 to 150,000 pets die each year in fires; most succumbing to smoke inhalation.

Most emergency responders are not equipped to deal with the crisis because they lack specially designed pet oxygen masks. A human oxygen mask is too flat and not able to cover the snout to give enough oxygen to the animal. With the right equipment, firefighters and EMS rescuers can often save a pet's life.

To fill this need, Invisible Fence Brand started Project Breathe, a pet oxygen mask donation program, to provide oxygen mask kits to first responders. The goal of Project Breathe is to ensure that every fire department and rescue unit is equipped with these life-saving pet oxygen masks. To date, they have donated more than 10,000 masks to fire stations throughout the U.S. and Canada.

Cats Rule and Dogs Drool – Internet Style

Image via icanhazcheezburger.com 

In the never ending competition between cats and dogs, Jack Shepherd of Buzzfeed FWD attempts to evaluate who is more popular on the internet and why. Shepherd, who shares his analysis on MSN.com, gives the follow reasons for the popularity of internet cats over dogs:

1) It’s the culture - Through various lucky accidents, cats started to permeate Internet culture early on, and dogs often found themselves imitating rather than innovating in the field. Cheezburger.com has an important role to play in this story, with the introduction of those semi-literate feline sensations the LOL cats. Shepherd states that the most popular post on dog-themed site I Has a Hot Dog has nowhere near the same traction in terms of Facebook shares.

2) It’s the cats - Shepherd’s personal theory about why cats have more "viral potential" than dogs is that dogs are trying too hard. When a dog gets in a box, it's because he desperately wants you to think he's cool. When a cat does it, it's because it suddenly felt like the right thing to do at the time - it's cool and effortless. It feels natural.

Dog Lover Teaches Kids about Life of Lab Animals

Image via JunoRescuedBeagle.com 

Via New York Daily News - Kate Aubry and her adorable “freegle” Juno were hard at work on Friday preparing to teach kids how to help their families shop with more compassion. The eager duo was set to talk to kids in an after-school program at the Animal Haven Shelter about the use of laboratory animals and how each of them could help end the widespread practice.

“The children in the Caring Kids program are already keenly aware of the abuses against animals, and animal testing is just another piece of the puzzle,” said Aubry.

It’s a subject that’s been close to Aubry’s heart since July 2010, when she adopted Juno - a skittish beagle whose only source of identity was the federal ID tattoo on her ear. Juno was one of 120 beagles freed from a bankrupt New Jersey laboratory and transported by rescuers from Best Friends Animal Sanctuary.

Cat Actor Finds Tinseltown Tough for Tabbies

Image via Pawnation

Via Huffington Post - A cat actor who recently relocated from New York to Los Angeles is finding that the road to fame is kitty-littered with hardship.

Vito Vincent is a lovable orange tabby who is very calm - even when cameras are running. As such, the animal actor has been able to score high-profile TV appearances on "30 Rock" and "The Colbert Report" as "Christianne Aman-purr."

But while New York is Mecca for many human actors, Hollywood is where it's at for animal thespians, so Vito's owner and manager, Michael LeCrichia, decided to high tail it to Tinseltown a year ago in order to follow in the footsteps of other acting greats like Lassie, Uggie the dog, and Morris the cat.

New Blog is One-Stop Site for Pet-related Contests and Giveaways

Image via Daily Nuzzles

Do you like to win free stuff for your pets? Of course you do! So you’re going to love Daily Nuzzles, the new blog founded by Caroline Golon of High Paw Media. Caroline is also the creator of www.Romeothecat.com and www.thehappylitterbox.com, two blogs dedicated to making the world a better place for pets.

Caroline created Daily Nuzzles because she knows there are many fantastic contests, giveaways, sweepstakes and easy, free ways to help pets out there. She has created one place where pet lovers can find a listing of the best, coolest FREE pet stuff on the web.

Whether it’s a contest to win a year’s worth of your favorite dog food, a rebate for grooming supplies or a simple and free way you can help pets in need, Daily Nuzzles wants you to know about it! Each day, Daily Nuzzles will feature all kinds of contests from pet blogs across the web, fun and free ways to help pets in need, and opportunities for rescues and shelters.

Interactive Tool Helps Pet Owners Learn About Proper Nutrition

Image via MorgueFile.com

Via ZooToo.com - Having a pet comes with a learning curve, and each pet owner's experience differs a little bit from that of the next, but there are some old wives' tales that every pet owner will likely encounter at some point in time.

A quick internet search will undoubtedly provide a variety of answers to these myths, but you can't always guarantee their veracity, so Amy Lieberman at Zootoo talked with Jennifer Coates, petMD.com veterinarian, to get the scoop on some of the more common nutrition myths:

• Milk - "Milk is not a normal part of the diet for a dog or a cat once they are weaned off of it," Dr. Coates said in a telephone interview. 
• Bones – Dr. Coates said she often removes broken pieces of bone from dogs' teeth, tongues, and around their jaws; she has also seen issues related to gastrointestinal disturbances. "As a vet, I take a hard line on this," Coates said. "I don't recommend bones because I see what can happen to dogs when they chew on bones." 

Introducing a New Cat into Your Home

Image via KrittersThatTwitter.com

My friend Lisa Illman at Kritters That Twitter is going through the process of introducing a new kitten to Abigail, her seven year old female tabby. Those of you who follow Lisa’s blog know that yesterday started out not-so-good, but ended on a much better note.

Introducing a new cat into your feline household is always a challenge. Having acquired five adult cats and four kittens in the past four years, I’ve been through my share of hissing, growling, and swatting – so I thought I would share this article on how to introduce your new cat or kitten to your other cat(s).

Lorrie Shaw, community contributor at AnnArbor.com, suggests the following:

The Scoop on Dog Poop

Today's post is dedicated to Amy Burkert at GoPetFriendly.com, who always says, "There is no poop fairy!"

Image via dnatestingblog.com

Via OpposingViews.com - America’s canine population dumps enough poop each year to fill 267,500 fully loaded tractor trailers stretching from Seattle to Boston, says Jacob D'Aniello, co-founder and CEO of DoodyCalls, a Virginia-based waste-management company that specializes in picking it up.

"The longer dog waste stays on the ground, the more it washes into the water and the environment," he told the NY Daily News in an Earth Day message.

Nationwide, the average dog population is 37 percent of the human population, or about one dog for every three people. America’s mania for canine companionship is job security for DoodyCalls, which currently has 55 franchises in 22 states and collected $4.5 million worth of the mess man’s best friends left behind last year.

Cats in Space

Space, the final frontier. A feline starship embarks on a mission to boldly go where no cat has gone before.

Today I've decided to indulge my inner geek by sharing this cat video based on the Star Trek television series. Have no fear that these kitties are wearing red uniforms - no animals were harmed in the making of this video!

Vigil for Fukushima Animals

This post comes via Deb Barnes, author of The Chronicles of Zee and Zoey.

Today is the one year anniversary of the day the Japanese government gave up on the animals in the Fukushima nuclear disaster area. Please take a moment to give prayers to those animals who have lost their lives and those surviving animals that so desperately still need help.

Only Naoto Matsumura, a 52 year old rice farmer, remains inside the exclusion zone without electricity and running water to feed a menagerie of animals. A facebook page has been created to honor his efforts to save the animals of Tomioka, Japan.

Rescue an Animal and Save a Life

Animal rescuers are a special breed of people. They are the ones who take in abused, neglected or abandoned animals and help them find loving, forever homes. In a world with rampant pet overpopulation, animal rescuers play a special role in our communities.

“Rescue an Animal and Save a Life” is an e-book about animal rescue and pet adoption. It’s written by Melissa Andrews, a dedicated pet rescuer. Like many animal rescuers, Ms. Andrews grew up in a home with pets. As an adult, she and her husband have helped rescue many dogs and cats from less than ideal situations.

In the book, Ms. Andrews shares her personal stories, as well as those of her friends who also rescue animals. Many are success stories, but one is a cautionary tale about an organization that was less than truthful about the history and health of the dog they were adopting out.

Don’t Let 'Vet Fear' Shorten Your Cat’s' Life

Image via Bayer Healthcare Animal Health 

Via Market Watch - Garfield took to the internet today to educate cat owners about the risk of Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) and the unseen danger as their pet reaches the age of seven. Every owner dreads the stress caused to their animal by visiting the vet and in the latest Garfield cartoon, you can see how treating CKD early need not be a stressful experience.

CKD is a common health problem for cats, especially those who are aged seven or older. Many cats will not show any signs of kidney disease until more than 75% of kidney function has been lost. First signs can include reduced appetite, increased thirst and urination and weight loss. With the right care and treatment, cats with CKD can enjoy a good quality of life for many months or even years.

ASPCA Learns How People Select a Pet

Via Wall Street Journal - In a new study to be released by the ASPCA, "physical appearance" is the top reason given for picking a particular puppy at an animal shelter.  With cats, it's a different story: "Behavior with people" was what convinced most adopters to choose a particular adult cat.

The research, conducted by the animal-advocacy organization from January through May of 2011, involved five shelters across the country. About 1,500 adopters filled out questionnaires explaining how they knew the cat or dog was "the one."

By understanding why people choose the pets they do, the ASPCA hopes to increase adoption rates and ensure adopters go home with a perfect match. It's particularly useful for shelter workers to know that appearance is often a deciding factor. They can then counsel adopters about behavior and other traits that might be overlooked.

Dog Who Stayed by Dead Companion Reunited With Family

Via Fox News – A loyal Labrador retriever named Maggie, who was videotaped as she guarded the body of a yellow Lab hit and killed by a car in Southern California, was reunited with her family Monday.

A Good Samaritan saw what was happening on Hacienda Boulevard in La Puente last Wednesday, called officers, put traffic cones around the dogs and took the video that touched hearts across the country as it made its way around the Internet.

Officers were getting the dogs out of the street at the same time Maggie's family was at the shelter looking for her, said Capt. Aaron Reyes, deputy director of the department.

Join the 2nd Annual Rabbit Adoptathon Blog Hop

Hey bunny lovers - you can join Affurmation and Bunny's Blog for the second annual Rabbit Adoptathon. It begins on Sunday, May 13th at 6pm ET and ends at 6pm ET on Saturday, May 19th. You can join in any time during the week.

The Rabbit Adoptathon Blog Hop was founded by Carrie Boyko at All Things Dog Blog as a way to promote rabbit care and adoption. In addition to being a dog lover, Carrie also has a bunny named Rocky as part of her furry family!

Rabbits are frequently sold as "starter pets" for children, and every year, thousands of rabbits are abandoned by people who are ill-prepared to care for them. But those of us who have bunnies know they can make excellent family pets if you have the right expectations and knowledge.

CARE Feline TNR

Through my effort to help save the Loews cats, I’ve recently become aware of a wonderful organization located in Winter Park, Florida.

CARE Feline TNR is a nonprofit organization committed to reducing the population of community and abandoned cats in Orange County, Fla. through Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR). They work in conjunction with Orange County Animal Services (OCAS) to offer free spay/neuter and vaccines for community and abandoned cats.

CARE is operated entirely by volunteers. Caretakers maintain feral colonies throughout Orange County. They provide food and medical attention to the community cats that live in these colonies. Caretakers work diligently to TNR each and every cat in a colony. This process requires a long-term commitment by a person who genuinely cares about the cats and will follow through with the entire program.

Remembering Canine Casualties of the Titanic

This Sunday marks the 100th anniversary of the Titanic’s sinking and just about every aspect of the storied liner has been explored, analyzed and celebrated. But little attention has been given to one group of Titanic travelers: the dogs that made the voyage.

A new exhibit at the Widener University Art Gallery, in Chester, Pa., that opened Tuesday hopes to change that by including stories of the dogs and their owners who sailed on the Titanic, said J. Joseph Edgette, professor emeritus of education and folklorist emeritus at Widener University, who produced and curated the exhibit.

“I wanted to include things that people don’t normally run across,” Edgette said, noting that there were no Titanic-related exhibits that he was aware of that focused on the famed ocean liner’s canine passengers.

Living with Pet Allergies

Image via MorgueFile.com

Via Fox News Latino - Allergies to pets are common, but that doesn’t mean you can’t have pets. You can keep your four-legged friend in your home if your allergies are not life threatening.

Dr. Eduarda Krieger, practicing veterinarian at Washington Animal Hospital in New York City, recommends going to the doctor to find out what triggers your allergies. Your doctor may recommend antihistamines and steroids to help you manage your allergies.

Here are some tips from Dr. Krieger to help keep your allergies at bay:

Volunteer Action Day is April 18

You can make a difference in a homeless pet's life by taking part in the People Saving Pets Volunteer Action Day on Wednesday, April 18.

Volunteer Action Day is a day designated by PetSmartCharities during National Volunteer Week (April 15-21) to focus on helping homeless pets - by educating the public about the need for volunteers and mobilizing pet lovers to lend a hand to their local animal welfare organizations.

Of the 750 local animal welfare organizations that were polled by PetSmart Charities in 2011, 97 percent said they rely on volunteers to help keep administrative costs down year-round. Volunteers free up funds to care for adoptable pets, such as providing low-cost, high-quality spay/neuter surgeries, vaccinations, food and shelter.

Celebrate National Pet Day

Did you know that today, April 11 is National Pet Day? It's is a day to celebrate your furry best friend and also to remember the thousands of animals who are still waiting for their forever homes.

National Pet Day was founded by celebrity pet lifestyle expert & animal welfare advocate Colleen Paige and is sponsored by the Animal Miracle Foundation & Network to celebrate the joy pets bring to our lives and to create public awareness about the plight of so many different kinds of animals in shelters all across the nation.

It's estimated that approximately 16,000 pets die in U.S. shelters every single day. This means that roughly every single hour of the day, 667 animals are taking their last breath. That's just cats and dogs and does not include the thousands of other animals that people consider pets.

Dog Deaths Spark Online Campaign Against Nestle Purina

A woman whose 9-year-old fox terrier, Sampson, became fatally ill after consuming chicken jerky treats earlier this year has launched a breaking campaign on Change.org urging Nestle Purina to stop selling treats she links to her dog’s death.

“Waggin' Train Wholesome Chicken Jerky treats were the last thing Sampson ate before he fell ill," said Terry Safranek, who launched the campaign on Change.org. 

"I've since learned we're part of a known epidemic of hundreds of cases of illness and death attributed to these and other chicken jerky treats made in China," Safranek said. "Nestle Purina needs to protect other families from what I went through by taking these treats off the shelves until they're proven safe."

Farm sanctuaries accept unwanted Easter gifts

Via New York Daily News - Every year about a month or two after Easter, animal shelters get flooded with ducklings, chicks and bunnies that need new homes.

The Farm Sanctuary in Watkins Glen, New York, and The Barnyard Sanctuary in Blairstown, New Jersey, are among a handful of places that will take in surrendered farm animals such as chicks and ducklings.

According to Tamala Lester, founding director of the Barnyard Sanctuary, bunnies are the third most surrendered animal in the country after cats and dogs.

More than 6,000 Animals Adopted During Mega Match-a-thon

The ASPCA recently announced that 224 animal welfare groups in 53 communities across the country found homes for 6,144 animals during the ASPCA’s first-ever Mega Match-a-thon from March 30 through April 1.

The ASPCA granted $492,250 to support a host of large-scale adoption events held nationwide in an effort to save more lives of shelter animals.

“It really was inspiring to watch the collaboration among different rescue organizations in a community,” said ASPCA President & CEO Ed Sayres. “They reached out to their local media, spread the word to their supporters through social media, and showcased the amazing animals they have up for adoption. And over the three-day event, they got together and saved a record number of lives.”

Dog Scouts Have 38 Troops Across the Country

Via Boston.com - Dog Scouts of America have badges, campouts and troops in 22 states. There are 682 Dog Scouts who belong to 38 troops across the country.

The organization has around 80 badges, but not all dogs can earn all badges, said DSA President Chris Puls of Brookville, Ind. Dogs are not required to earn badges beyond the first one, for basic obedience called the Dog Scout badge.

The organization was founded by Lonnie Olson 13 years ago. Kozette, Olson’s boxer mix nicknamed ‘‘Kozi,’’ is a model Scout with about 45 badges.

Easter Bilbies, not Bunnies in Australia

Via NPR.org  - In the turf war between rabbits and bilbies in Australia's arid grasslands, rabbits have largely won out. But the chocolate bilby has staked its claim on the springtime candy shelf - an honor that could help the threatened species make a real comeback.

Never heard of a bilby? It's a cute, rabbit-sized marsupial with large ears and a long, pointed nose. Once upon a time, it hopped around much of Australia. But the arrival of European settlers some 200 years ago brought hard times for the bilbies. Cities and farms destroyed habitat. Foxes and feral cats preyed on them. And rabbits eventually pushed them out of their burrows.

Nonprofit Organizations Help Feed Homeless Pets

Via Huffington Post - To help the estimated five to 10 percent of homeless people with pets, Pets of the Homeless recently teamed up with the South Lake Animal League of Groveland, Fla. The organizations distribute dog and cat food to local food pantries for the poor and homeless.

"It means they get to eat another meal, and their best buddy gets to have a healthy meal," said volunteer Paula Kane. "Because homeless people will go hungry before their dogs."

Some are skeptical as to why a person living on the streets should have a pet. But Kane, who helps feed the homeless, said many homeless people rely on their pets for protection and companionship.

Save Loews Cats

It has now been one week since the management of Loews Hotels at Universal Orlando Resort made the decision to trap and remove the feral cat colony on their property. In that time, five cats have been trapped and sent to Orange County Animal Services.

Volunteers from CARE Feline TNR report that the cats are in terrible condition - bruised and battered, terrified and traumatized, covered in their own urine. It is believed that the company contracted to trap the cats held them over the weekend, and they injured themselves in an effort to get out of the cages.

In addition, Loews has informed the caretaker of the cats that he may not enter the property to feed them, so it has been one week since they have had a meal. Remember, these cats are not wild animals - they are used to being fed by humans!

April is Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Month

On your mark, get set, go orange! April is Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Month - the month when the ASPCA's charter was signed in 1866.

Each year, ASPCA supporters across the country "Go Orange for Animals" to raise awareness about their cause. Here are just a few ways you can participate.

Was your cat rescued from an abusive situation, or your dog found abandoned on the street? Enter your pet in the "I Saved My Pet" Photo Contest! The grand prize winner - selected by ASPCA judges - will receive an ASPCA Fight Cruelty Kit and be featured on their website.

Top Vets Share Tips on Owning Pet Rabbits

Easter is coming, and many people have bunnies on the brain. But rabbits are not Easter toys! Every year, thousands of rabbits are abandoned or released outdoors because parents who bought them as gifts for their children are ill-prepared to care for them.

Vetstreet.com veterinarians, Dr.  Patty Khuly and Dr. Marty Becker, say rabbits can make excellent family pets if you have the right expectations and knowledge to care for them.

Here are the top things you should know if you’re considering adopting a rabbit as a family pet:

Space.com Shares Space Cats Video

Via Huffington Post - In the spirit of April Fools' Day, SPACE.com shares a hilarious video about a fictional character named Brant Widgen who works as an "image enhancement engineer" whose primary job is to remove adorable but pesky cats from the foreground of space photos.

"I usually receive a folder filled with new space images, and my task is to clear them up," Widgen says in the video. "I tweak some of the contrast, the color palette, and most of the time - I'd say 80 percent of the time - is the removal of a cat."

The video was posted on YouTube by Andy Freeberg, who told SPACE.com that it was created by some of his friends to poke fun at the ongoing debate about "fake" images of the cosmos. "The friends that made it were joking about all of the YouTube comments where people claim NASA is photoshopping their content to fake things," Freeberg said in an email.