Crazy for Critters

Dogs Need Homes

From the e-mail I got: My co-worker found this beautiful girl and her two puppies on the street in the Redland with a rope tied around her neck. Her babies are being fostered by her neighbor and she is fostering mom.  She has a ton of animals (dogs, cats, horses etc.) and would love to find her a forever home.   She is housebroken and gets a long with other dogs and people. She looks like a Keeshond mix, about  20 pounds. Contact: Marlene Pendergast, (305) 532-3481 ext. 2230.

Peanut, a small female beagle mix, found on March 30th. She is approximately 1 1/2 - 2 years old and weighs 19 lbs. She is a very sweet and timid girl who is looking for a good home. Peanut does not require a lot of exercise and is very content to be a laid back lap dog. She would be perfect in an apartment going out for leashed walks or playing supervised in a home with a yard. She gets along with other dogs but would be fine in a single dog home as well. Peanut is crate trained and settles down nicely during the day in her crate. She is also fully house trained and walks very well on a leash. We are in the process of teaching her basic commands and she is already getting the hang of "sit" and "lay down".

Peanut has already received her first set of shots and has been treated for fleas and worms. Peanut has tested positive for heartworm but we have found a vet who is willing to treat her at a highly discounted cost and we will be funding that treatment. The only requirement for her adopter would be keep her calm (no running or walking off leash) for the six weeks after her treatment and to have her re-tested at the end of the treatment cycle. Because she is so young and she is not showing any other symptoms the vet expects her to live a long and healthy life as long as she is given her monthly heartworm preventative (which all dogs in South Florida require).  If you think you would be interested in meeting her or know someone who might be, please pass along my contact information. Anna - 305-213-9298 or acruzmorales@gmail.com.

 

Here I am back again, it is me Frankie. I knew it was too good to be true. I had found the perfect family for me. Two parents, two children and a kitty to be my pal. I know I am a little older, but I thought that the stars were finally shining on me. I had hit the jackpot. Chopped chicken for dinner, loveable children that shared their beds with me. Parents that were always home because their work was something that they didn't have to leave the house to go to. Walks and car rides and mostly , so much love. I couldn't keep up with all of the kisses. They even fed me Doritos. It was two months of heaven on Earth. And now:   It feels like I have been through an earthQUAKE. One morning I woke up and I thought it was going to be another heavenly day with my people, and I found myself being placed in a car with my dad. Everyone was surrounding me and crying  and giving me kisses and I was kissing them back. I didn't know that these were the last kisses I was ever going to get from my mom and brother and sister. My dad brought me to a gas station and put me into another car with a nice lady that I remembered from my old shelter. He gave me a big kiss and hug and then we pulled out of the station. I remember looking back at him and he was crying. We drove for many hours until we reached a familiar place. It was my old shelter. The place that I was originally taken to after I lived two years at a construction site. Everyone came out to greet me and gave me lots of hugs, but I don't want to be here. I miss my family so much. And I hate living outside again. I loved sleeping at night all curled up with my best friend brother in his bed. It appears that that was the problem, he evidently was allergic to me and now I can't be a part of their family. This wasn't my fault. They all loved me so much. I would love another chance to have a forever home. I am only 6 years yo ung and get along with everyone, dogs and cats. I weigh about 40 lbs and am perfectly house broken. I am back at Pet Rescue in Miami. Please don't make me stay here a long time again! Call my Best friend Kathy if you are interested in meeting me and taking me home to be a part of your family. Her number is 305-401-4693 and her email address is klcremer@aol.com.

________________________________

Pets Go Stylin' for Friends Forever

Saturday, it's the rescue group's 3rd Annual Spring Fling Fashion Show fundraiser, 6-9 pm at the White Lion Cafe, 146 NW 7th St., Homestead. Call NOW for reservations: 305-248-1076.

Admission, including outdoor dining and a pet fashion extravaganza, is only $10. Proceeds go to saving animals. So dress up your pooch and have fun!

To learn more about Friends Forever, which has adoption events every weekend, click here.

Pets and Pesticides

WASHINGTON, D.C., April 16, 2009 — The Environmental Protection Agency's announcement today that it would intensify evaluation of spot-on pesticide products for pets comes on the heels of the Center for Public Integrity's award-wining Perils of the New Pesticides project, which highlighted the dangers of such products, based on a groundbreaking review of the EPA's own data.

 

The Center's project focused on in-depth analysis of the EPA's Pesticide Incident Data System; the system contains a database of more than 90,000 specific pesticide exposure incidents from 1992 through 2007, which was obtained through Freedom of Information Act requests. One of the project stories, “Pets and Pesticides: Let's Be Careful Out There,” published last December, reported that at least 1,600 pet deaths linked to spot-on pesticide treatments had been reported to the EPA over the previous five years. The number of deaths linked to such treatments was about double the number of fatalities reportedly tied to similar treatments without these pesticides.

 

The Perils of the News Pesticides project has recently been honored by two journalism organizations. The project won first place in Sigma Delta Chi's Award for Public Service in Online Journalism (independent), and was also a first place winner in the Online Category from the Association of Health Care Journalists. The AHCJ judges said that the project was a "rich, multi-part report of the dangers to pets, people and the environment of pesticides declared 'safe' by the EPA."  

 

Go Fetch the Matzo Ball!

I know that Passover is nearly over, but while I was on furlough, this story ran in the NY Times - about a dog seder. Silly? Yeah. Offensive? Kinda. But as the host said, they had fun, so whatever.........What I really wonder about tho is the kosher-for-Passover dog food. Now, I grew up in a kosher home, and what Snowy, Beasley and Frisbee ate while the rest of us were feasting on gefilte fish was never an issue. Ah, marketing. Never a missed opportunity!

Cat Fanciers: Plan Ahead. Waaaay Ahead.

Cats Exclusive is holding a "no-kill adoption event'' at the War Memorial Auditorium in Fort Lauderdale on June 20th. "No kill” shelters and groups are asked to bring their cats and other small animals for adoption.

 

Says the group: "The economic crisis has made victims of pets, and this large adoption fair will enable us to find homes for adoptable companion animals, enabling us to take in more pets to prevent them from being abandoned or euthanized. Though three times as many cats are losing their homes as dogs, an event for dogs is also being planned. Please help us.

 

Thank you for your consideration. If you have any questions, please feel free to call (954) 975-8349, ext.301. Or: http://http://catsexclusive.org/

 

Bo Bio (and some free advice for his new family)

It's moving day for Bo the Obamadog

By SHARON THEIMER

WASHINGTON (AP) — Bo the Portuguese water dog makes his official move into the White House on Tuesday, and how President Barack Obama and his family introduce him to his new home — and the world — will say much about their skills as novice dog owners.

The White House will be the puppy's fourth home in his six months of life. He was born in Texas, then moved to his first owner's home in Washington, D.C., then spent nearly a month with Sen. Edward Kennedy's dog trainer in Virginia, and now is moving to 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.

A dog can become disoriented when moving to a new home, said Cesar Millan, host of the National Geographic Channel's "The Dog Whisperer" and co-founder with his wife of a nonprofit foundation to help abused and abandoned dogs.

"Being disoriented can lead an animal to become anxious, to become nervous, to become fearful," Millan said. "In some situations they get really excited. So, regardless which state of mind the dog might go into, that's not going to be good for the dog."

Among Millan's top tips: "Day one or day two or day three, there should be a lot of walking involved. And before the dog eats, he should be very hungry, because that helps him to understand that the humans are helping him to work for food and water." Focus on establishing a routine to help the dog calm down, rather than comforting him and using his name a lot when he's upset, Millan said.

Bo was given up by his first owner because things weren't working out with the family's other dog. Kennedy and his wife Victoria, who had two Portuguese water dogs from Bo's breeder and acquired a third from Bo's litter, thought Bo would be perfect for the Obamas, and gave the dog to the Obama daughters, Malia and Sasha, as a gift, the dog's breeder and a spokeswoman for Michelle Obama said.

At 6 months, Bo is still very much a "goofy puppy" and like many Portuguese water dogs, may still be that way up to age 2 or even 4, said Stu Freeman, president of the Portuguese Water Dog Club of America. "A puppy is a puppy and these are very active puppies," he said.

"The dogs are intelligent, they need to work and be kept busy," Freeman said. "If you can't keep them active and amused, they will find something to do."

Bo's official American Kennel Club-registered name is Amigo's New Hope, and his first owner called him Charlie. His new name could present some special training challenges, AKC spokeswoman Daisy Okas said.

"Since `Bo' sounds like `no' we would recommend that they work with a trainer to consult on the best commands to give the dog. So the trainer may recommend either hand signals for `no' or perhaps saying `stop' instead," Okas said. "The dog could become very confused if it thinks its name is being called when it's actually being told to stop a certain behavior."

Also, at least in the early days, the Obamas should set and carry out the dog's routine themselves, "Dog Whisperer" Millan said.

"It's all about gaining trust and respect, day one," Millan said. "It's very important that everybody — the girls, Michelle, the president — to play, all of them together, the pack leader role."

A Made-for-TV-Worthy Tale

Dog overboard found four months later

  AFP – A handout photo by Jan Griffith shows cattle dog Sophie Tucker, a pet dog that fell overboard in rough …

Mon Apr 6, 4:21 am ET

SYDNEY (AFP) – A pet dog that fell overboard in rough seas off Australia has been reunited with its owners after surviving alone on an island for four months, reports said.

Sophie Tucker, apparently named after a late US entertainer, fell overboard as Jan Griffith and her family sailed through choppy waters off the northeast Queensland coast in November.

The dog was believed to have drowned and Griffith said the family was devastated.

But out of sight of the family, Sophie Tucker was swimming doggedly and finally made it to St Bees Island, five nautical miles away, and began the sort of life popularised by the TV reality show "Survivor."

She was returned to her family last week when Griffith contacted rangers who had captured a dog that had been living off feral goats on the largely uninhabited island, in the faint hope it might be their long-lost pet.

When the Griffiths met the rangers' boat bringing the dog to the mainland they found that it was indeed Sophie Tucker on board.

"We called the dog and she started whimpering and banging the cage and they let her out and she just about flattened us," Griffith told the national AAP news agency.

"She wriggled around like a mad thing."

Griffith said that when the dog was first spotted on the island she had been in poor condition.

"And then all of a sudden she started to look good and it was when the rangers had found baby goat carcasses so she'd started eating baby goats," she said.

Sophie Tucker, a member of the Australian cattle dog breed, had been quick to readjust to the comforts of home, complete with airconditioning, Griffiths said.

"She surprised us all. She was a house dog and look what she's done, she's swum over five nautical miles, she's managed to live off the land all on her own," Griffiths said.

"We wish she could talk, we truly do."

BO!!!

FINALLY! The White House has a puppy, and while I and many others wish the First Family had adopted from a shelter, at least they didn't aid and/or abet the puppy mill industry. Sen. Ted Kennedy gave them this little Portuguese Water Dog as a gift. It's certainly hard to argue with the cuteness factor here, though the floral garland seems an unnecessary flourish.

I wish the Obamas, and Bo, many long, loving, healthy years together.

Click here for more info on the breed, and here for a fuller explanation of the pup's name, ancestry, etc. 

Blog Off the Air for a Week

Folks-

Crazy for Critters  is unplugging until April 13. If you're following the dire news about newspapers-- this is related. The Miami Herald has been forced to impose a one-week unpaid furlough on  all its employees as a cost-cutting measure. Mine starts now. Federal labor law mandates NO contact with the workplace during that time. None. Zero. Nada. Can't check email, phone mail or post to the blog. It's actually meant to protect workers from exploitation - and I'm all for that - but it also creates a difficult situation for those of us who WANT to stay connected - and more to the point in my case, be able to advocate for animals.

But it is what it is, so I have to sign off. See you a week from Monday.

Ellie B

A Nice Chunk of Change (to help change things for animals)

MADDIE’S FUND^® HAS AWARDED A COALITION OF ANIMALS GROUPS WHO BELIEVE IN A NO-KILL COMMUNITY A STARTER GRANT OF $30,000

This grant could lead to multi-million dollar funding

NORTH MIAMI BEACH, FL—April 4, 2009-- Maddie's Fund^®, the Pet Rescue Foundation (www.maddiesfund.org), has awarded a $30,000 Starter Grant to support HOPE (Helping Orphaned Animals Everyday), a coalition of animal groups that combines the talents and resources of local shelters. The announcement was made by Emily Marquez-Dulin, spokesperson of HOPE and Executive Director of the Humane Society of Greater Miami Adopt-A-Pet. 

Miami-Dade’s Starter Grant initiative is led by the Humane Society of Greater Miami working with adoption-guarantee organizations Cat Network, Friends Forever Rescue and Pet Rescue, and Miami-Dade Animal Services, the county-run open admit animal shelter.

Maddie’s Fund is the largest private foundation for animal welfare in the country whose mission is to create a No-Kill Nation and to recognize communities that are leading the way in saving animal lives. A Starter Grant assists local communities as they endeavor to end the killing of healthy and treatable shelter dogs and cats.

Funds received in Miami-Dade County will bring the coalition to the point of applying for a Maddie's Fund Community Collaborative Project Grant. This type of grant can help a coalition close the gap between where a community currently is and where it wants to be in the future. “Under the Maddie’s Fund Collaborative Project Grant, our participating groups could receive multi-million dollar funding to end the killing of Miami-Dade's adoptable - healthy and treatable - shelter dogs and cats,” explained Sara Pizano, DVM, Director of Miami Dade Animal Services.

About Maddie's Fund

Maddie's Fund^®, The Pet Rescue Foundation, (www.maddiesfund.org) is a family foundation funded by Workday and PeopleSoft Founder Dave Duffield and his wife, Cheryl. Maddie's Fund is helping to create a no-kill nation where all healthy and treatable shelter dogs and cats are guaranteed a loving home. Maddie's Fund is named after the family's beloved Miniature Schnauzer.

To achieve the no-kill nation goal, Maddie's Fund directs its resources towards creating successful models of community lifesaving; pioneering shelter medicine programs in veterinary schools; enlisting private practice veterinarians in the animal welfare cause; and implementing a national strategy to collect and report shelter statistics. Maddie's Fund is named after the family's beloved Miniature Schnauzer who passed away in 1997.

For further information contact Marquez-Dulin at 305-749-1817 or email her at emily@humanesocietymiami.org