I don't know about you, but I donate to so many animal organizations that I could wallpaper my house with all the 
calendars they send. Here, to kick off the New Year: the PETA calendar for 2007. I flipped to my birthday month, September, and found a ...beaver! Little Puff, whose beaver family was killed by a mean person who destroyed their dam. Suggestion: If you're overloaded with critter calendars, take some to a daycare center so the kids can look at the pictures and learn their numbers.
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Gerald Ford's Presidential Pets
Many people found many reasons to like President Gerald Ford, who died Tuesday at 93. Here's another: He and his family kept pets in the White House. They had a miniature sealpoint Siamese cat named Shan, and a golden retriever named Liberty who produced a litter of puppies in the First Family's residence.
A fascinating source for great stuff about the nation's FIrst Critters is the website of the Presidential Pet Museum in Lothian, MD (who knew such a thing existed)? Turns out that all have kept pets but three: Millard Fillmore, Chester A. Arthur and Franklin Pierce.
Assemble the rest of the White House menagerie and you've got a virtual Noah's Ark. In addition to the cats, dogs, birds and barnyard animals you'd expect through history, there was wildlife like Teddy Roosevelt's badger, jungle beasts like James Buchanan's elephants, and oddities like John Qunicy Adams's silkworms.
Among the most prolific keepers of creatures: George Washington, who had a huge pack of hounds, and JKF, who had lambs, ponies, parakeets and Pushinka, the offspring of a Soviet "space dog," given to daughter Caroline by Soviet Premier Nikita Kruschchev "as a peace offering after the Cuban Missile Crisis," according to the museum site.
So whatever your politics, remember Gerald Ford kindly. He was kind to animals. 
More Humane Society Old-Timers
Continued from yesterday: longtime residents of the Humane Society of Greater Miami/Adopt A Pet shelter who desperately need homes. They're been there at least a year.
This is Rocky, a 3-year-old male Rottweiler found roaming the streets. He loves to be cuddled, according to shelter staff, enjoys playing tug-of-war with his rope toys, and gets along well with other dogs. He's got hip dysplasia and will eventually need surgery. 
Socks and Oreo are 2-year-old brothers: terrier mixes. They were abandoned and obviously were abused, said shelter staff. They sleep, eat and play together, and must be adopted together because they are so attached to one another. They're high-energy, sweet and affectionate.
Mickey is a "very sweet and petite'' 3-year-old rat terrier mix, says the staff. His owners surrendered him because they were having surgery and couldn't take care of him. Mickey gets along well with other animals and is a great companion.
Go to humanesocietymiami.org for adoption information.
Very Special Critters
These dogs have been at the Humane Society of Greater Miami/Adopt A Pet for a very long time: one-two years. They REALLY deserve loving "forever'' homes. Please read these descriptions by shelter personnel, and consider adopting one of them.
From the top: Katya is a 4-year-old Labrador Retriever mix with diabetes. Her condition is easily managed with a special diet and shots twice daily.
Tucker, a 6-year-old German Shepherd mix. "He is very sweet and walks great on a leash. He gets along well with other dogs and he would do great in a home with children. He is often used to assist Humane Society educators in schools because of his sweet and gentle disposition. Everyone loves Tucker.''
Zana, a 2-year-old female German Shepherd/Great Dane mix. "Zana is a fun-loving, affectionate girl and she enjoys playing fetch. Zana is extremely picky about her dog and cat friends so she must go to a home where she is the only pet.''
I'll post more tomorrow.
