Lend a Paw

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July 15, 2010Blog the Change: Hot in Herrrre

Heyooo, pups! Today at phetched we’re participating in Blog the Change, which, in 25 words or less, is an effort by pet bloggers and Be the Change for Animals to spread the word about pet-helpful causes and organizations. (Is that less than 25 words? I didn’t count. But you can head to Be the Change to find out more.)

In thinking about what pet cause I’d like to pledge my support to, as I felt the welcome evening breeze blow into our non-air-conditioned house, the answer came quickly and easily:  I want to help you help me (thanks, Jerry Maguire) spread the word about the dangers to dogs and cats left inside hot cars. We all know the danger of leaving animals in cars on hot summer days, but apparently a lot of folks out there don’t, and they drive me to cussing on at least a weekly basis. And did you know that even temperatures that may be comfortable for you can become deadly for pets inside a parked car, even with the windows cracked? It’s true.

My Dog is Cool is a great resource with all kinds of information about the dangers to pets left in cars – including downloadable, printable flyers you can keep in your car to help spread the word.

I’m going to print some off for myself so I can spend less time cussing and more time Being the Change.

(P.S. – You can go to Blog the Change, scroll down the page, and find a list of links to other pet blogs that are blogging for change today.)

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June 19, 2010Help Kickstart Barkwheats

Y’all, no doubt, know Barkwheats because, well, we’ve featured them here before, and because our good pal Abby McMillen’s art is featured on their (adorbs) packaging. Makers of wholesome, grain-free treats for dogs, Barkwheats buys their ingredients from local organic farmers in Maine, utilize wind energy for production, and employ 100% compostable materials in their packaging.

Barkwheats was born in 2007 as a little homespun operation and already has grown into a successful business with nationwide distribution. Barkwheats has grown so much, however, that their current baking equipment can’t keep up with demand. They’re running a campaign through Kickstarter to try to raise enough money for a new biscuit moulder. This new biscuit moulder a) sounds like something I want in my kitchen and b) would increase Barkwheats’ production by, like, a million (or basically a whole lot).

Check out Barkwheats’ Kickstarter page to find out more about this awesome company and how you can help.

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May 3, 2010Forgive, Trust, Love: Sugar Tags

You may have heard the story of Sugar before, as her quest for a new, happy life garnered her a bit of internet fame. Sugar’s short life, though filled with pain and abuse, serves as a model of forgiveness, trust, and love.

Dropped at a Los Angeles shelter in a state near death, Sugar had been abused, burned with acid, and bore an infected scar from what looked like an amateur C-section job. (What the eff is wrong with some people? Guess what, turds? Acid HURTS.)

Through the efforts of shelter workers, community supporters, foster care, and rescue organization Molly’s Mutts and Meows, Sugar nevertheless overcame these horrors (plus a diagnosis of skin cancer) and displayed an extraordinary ability to love, trust, and forgive despite her horrific past. Sadly, though, Sugar succumbed to complications from the abuse inflicted upon her before she was ever able to be placed in her forever home.

Kim Rodgers of Bark Pet Photography, one of the tireless supporters who worked to give Sugar a better life, created Sugar Tags in memory of the sweet dog who, despite the terrible ways in which humans had treated her in the past, “somehow learned to forgive, trust, and ultimately love those around her.” All profits from the sale of Sugar Tags go to Molly’s Mutts and Meows, which spent more than $8000 trying to help nurse Sugar back to health.

In addition to helping support Molly’s Mutts and Meows, Rodgers hopes that Sugar Tags will help spread Sugar’s story of courage, forgiveness, and love.

You can fetch Sugar Tags from Bark Pet Photography.

Now! Dry those tears and get to work.

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May 1, 2010Hooray for the Humane Alliance

An awesome organization from my town of Asheville, NC was featured in USA Today this week.

The Humane Alliance is a non-profit group of vets and other professionals who are saving thousands of lives by performing efficient, inexpensive sterilization procedures — and training others around the country to do the same. According to the USA Today article, last year alone HA spayed or neutered more than 23,000 animals in western North Carolina alone. TWENTY-THREE THOUSAND. That’s a lot of adoptable lives potentially saved from euthanasia. HA is so good at what they do that they’ve been trusted with millions in grants from organizations like PetSmart and the ASPCA.

(All images © John C. Fletcher for USA Today. Please don’t sue me.)

Read more about the Humane Alliance’s wonderful work at USA Today. (And read the comments to get an idea of the kind of morons that live in our country.)

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March 30, 2010Mozart Dane: “Art with a Mission”

I have a distinct memory of standing with my mother in an art museum somewhere at a youngish age, looking at abstract art (I think Mark Rothko) and stating, “Well, I don’t get what the big deal is. That doesn’t look like anything. I mean, even I could do that.” And then my mom replied, “Well, good. Do it and make a ton of money.”

And the thing is, even though I’m older and supposedly wiser now, I still don’t get it when it comes to a lot of abstract art. (Still lookin’ at you, Mark Rothko.) And am I so wrong? I mean, I’m not trying to be ignorant or insulting here, but I just think you could hang some of Mozart Dane’s work right alongside some museum pieces and a lot of people wouldn’t even get suspicious. I’m amazed at how the bright colors mix together with seeming purpose to end up looking like, well, something.

Mozart, a 5-year-old Great Dane, paints with his paws using acrylic on canvas. A discarded puppy bred in an Amish puppy mill, Mozart was given a second chance at life and happiness at Harlequin Haven Great Dane Rescue in Bethel, Ohio. Now Mozart, still healing from the physical and emotional trauma he suffered in the puppy mill, serves as the spokesdog for HHGCR, and all the proceeds from sales of his work go to help homeless animals and raise awareness of the horrors of irresponsible and inhumane breeding.

You can read more about Mozart’s story and mission and see more of his work here.

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March 27, 2010Lending a Paw: HeARTs Speak

The formal mission statement of HeARTs Speak, founded in early 2010, is “to unite the individual efforts of animal artists and animal rescues into collective action for social change.” Really, though, it’s simpler than that — get pets adopted.

Knowing that quality, professional-looking photographs help increase the appeal and adoptability of shelter pets, this group of photographers and artists are donating their talents to rescues and shelters to help dispel the myth that shelter pets are “inferior in some way,” increase adoptions, and thus decrease euthanizations.

For more information, including opportunities to help and donate, visit HeARTs Speak’s web site and fan them on Facebook.

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January 23, 2010My Doggie Valentine

The day is swiftly approaching us, folks, that most glorious of Hallmark holidays — Valentine’s Day. The great thing about being dog owners, though, is that we truly know what unconditional love is all about… even if “unconditional love,” at least in my house, has a lot to do with meeting a strict 8:30 dinner time and turning a blind eye when underwear, socks, and other valuable possessions are chewed to shreds.

In celebration of our most precious Valentines, Chef Michael’s is sponsoring the My Doggie Valentine contest. All you have to do to enter is upload a photo of your dog, and the grand prize is a 4-day vacation package for you and your dog* to New York City! The cool part? For every entry, Chef Michael’s is donating $10 to Adopt-A-Pet (up to $7,500).

Visit  the contest web site for more information and entry terms.

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* for dogs up to 25 lbs. Sorry, Ming and Dot!

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January 16, 2010Help on the Way: S&R Dogs in Haiti

Watching the footage of the state of things in Haiti after Tuesday’s 7.0 Mw earthquake is beyond distressing for me. What’s perhaps most frustrating is I can do little to help beyond give money or items toward the relief effort, as I’m profoundly lacking in any useful skill for search, rescue, or relief.

Here’s a short Associated Press video about NYPD search and rescue dogs headed off for a mission in Haiti. I have a master’s degree, but I swear these dogs are smarter than me.

(And Officer Mateyaschuk’s accent? Awesome.)

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January 11, 2010Barkin’ Doggie Biscuits: You Buy One, They Give One

We all know our dogs have hearts of gold (even when they’re doing horribly, terribly naughty stuff). I like to think they would gladly help pups in need if they could. Well, when they chomp down on Barkin’ Doggie Biscuits, they sort of can.

Barkin’ Doggie Biscuits is a brand-new company with a whole lot of heart. For every biscuit sold, they donate a biscuit to a doggie in need at a shelter, rescue organization, or foster home. So when you buy a pound of Barkin’ Doggie Biscuits for your pup to enjoy, Barkin’ Doggie sends a pound of biscuits to one of their partner rescue groups for adoptable doggies to enjoy. Pretty cool, right?

(And that logo? Squeal.)

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Inspired by their rescue dogs Zeus and Rocky, Barkin’ Doggie proprietors Annvi and Tobiah Utter didn’t just want to give adoptable dogs something to bark about (and help raise awareness of rescue and adoption) — they wanted to create super tasty, healthy treats with “all natural, pronounceable ingredients.” The three available Barkin’ Doggie flavors contain yummy, wholesome ingredients like peanut butter, molasses, mint, pumpkin, honey, flaxseed, and cinnamon. My pups sampled some Pucker Up! treats, and I can only guess by the way they snap to attention anytime someone’s within a 10-foot radius of the bag that they’re pretty darn good.

Visit Barkin’ Doggie’s site to learn more about their mission and their products, and visit their online store to start payin’ it forward in biscuits.

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December 14, 2009Help Iams Bring Pets Home for the Holidays

Well, Hanukkah’s in full swing now, the countdown to Christmas has officially begun, and you’ve possibly already attended a holiday party or two. Everything is merry and bright. But it’s time for us to break it down for just a minute and talk about something serious… the fact that as many as 8 million pets are homeless in the U.S., and nearly half of those (that’s FOUR MILLION, y’all) will be euthanized this year due to shelter overcrowding.

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Iams Home for the Holidays (IH4TH) was founded 10 years ago to help raise public awareness about pet adoption and find loving homes for shelter dogs and cats. Today IH4TH is a worldwide effort with over 3,500 pet adoption organizations in 21 countries participating. Last year alone, IH4TH helped place 1,202,751 pets in loving homes. That seriously makes me tear up. For real.

This year’s goal: help 1.5 million pets find homes by January 4th, 2010. On board is IH4TH’s 2009 ambassador Hilary Swank, who adopted a dog, Rumi, from an IH4TH participating shelter in LA last year.

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Can we talk for a minute about how preshy that blouse is she’s wearing? LOVE.

Anyway, we’re not big awesome Oscar-winning movie stars, but we can still help with IH4TH’s mission.

Here’s what you can do:

1. Visit IH4TH’s web site and learn about the program, pet adoption, and volunteering.

2. Adopt a homeless dog or cat this holiday season, convince a friend or loved one to adopt a pet instead of buying, or donate money or needed supplies to an animal shelter near you.

3. Vote daily at Iams’ Feed Pets in Need site to help the shelter of your choice win FREE food for a month.

And if anyone can tell me where Swank got that blouse, that would be really great, too.

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