Petopia

Gift idea: ASPCA Christmas Tree Ornaments for Cat or Dog

The holidays are approaching and gift selection anxiety is rising. Gifts that help support a cause make both the giver and the receiver feel better about the whole exchange. The ASPCA "works to rescue animals from abuse, pass humane laws and share resources with shelters nationwide." Read more about the ASPCA. Buying items at the ASPCA store helps support the organization.

Here are two Christmas tree ornaments that make great gifts for your pet or for an animal loving friend. The Personalizable Cat Ornament is a glass ball ornament with "CATS make a house a HOME" on one side and a large pawprint on the other. It comes with a marker so you can personalize it with a name and date and it's topped with pawprint ribbon bow.

The Personalizable Dog Ornament reads "DOGS make a house a HOME" on one side and has a large bone print on the other. It's topped with pawprint ribbon bow and can also be personalized with the included marker.

Each ornament is $15 which is a reasonable price for a nice gift and a meaningful contribution for a good cause. Think about how many of the people on your gift list would like one of these ornaments and start crossing off names. Can you feel your gift selection anxiety easing off?

ASPCA Announces Winners of the 2009 Humane Awards

Ten remarkable animals and people, including a piano-playing cat and the task force who participated in the largest dog fighting raid in U.S. history, will be honored for their heroic deeds at this year's ASPCA(R) (The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals(R) Humane Awards Luncheon in New York City. The awards ceremony recognizes animal heroes that have demonstrated extraordinary efforts, as well as individuals who made a significant impact in the lives of animals during the past year.

The ASPCA Cat of the Year is Nora, I cat I wrote about a few months ago: Nora, The Piano Playing Cat and Author. Nora was adopted from a shelter and became a YouTube sensation by playing the piano. Nora has penned several books for example My Story: A Picture Book.

The ASPCA "Tommy Monahan" Kid of the Year award is dedicated to Tommy Monahan, a 9-year-old Staten Island boy who perished in 2007 trying to save his pet from a house fire. Eleven-year-old Monica Plumb in Powhatan County, Virginia, decided to make a real difference after seeing a news story about a pet that was saved from a house fire due to the use of an oxygen pet mask. Monica launched PetMask.com to collect online donations to purchase pet masks for fire departments, and has since purchased more than 50 mask kits for fire stations in nine different states. Monica is truly an inspiration for other young people and a beacon for those who cannot speak for themselves.

Read more about the remarkable award winners in this ASPCA press release.
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Related reading: Animal Heroes: True Rescue Stories.

Rescue Ink: Tattooed Men on a Mission to Rescue Animals

It's been a year and a half since I wrote Rescue Ink: Tattooed Men Add Spice to Animal Rescue. They are still a bunch of tattooed motorcycle-riding tough guys on a mission to save animals in danger. These tough guys get tough on fighting animal abuse and neglect. As they say: "We're not a gang, vigilantes or a social organization, but we do have that certain 'in your face' style when it comes to animal abusers." They've always been a very active group and these guys are now busier than ever.

While they acknowledge they can't rescue all the animals, they do what they can rescuing one at a time. They estimate that:

In the last couple of years, Rescue Ink has saved thousands of dogs, cats, birds, horses, even pigs and chickens. Some are hands-on operations, like the “cat house” with more than 150 felines in residence, or the pig rescuer who needed help corralling a couple of enraged sows. Other efforts raise awareness, from anti-puppymill marches to caravans to help overwhelmed shelters.

Read some of Rescue Ink success stories here. Rescue Ink now has their own television program, Rescue Ink Unleashed on National Geographic Fridays 10pm and they recently published a book: Rescue Ink: How Ten Guys Saved Countless Dogs and Cats, Twelve Horses, Five Pigs, One Duck,and a Few Turtles which has gotten great reviews from readers at Amazon.

These tough guys with a heart are a delight. Good job and keep going!

Video: Suryia and Roscoe, Orangutan and Hound, are Unlikely Best Friends

Suryia and Roscoe reside at T.I.G.E.R.S Preservation Station (a preserve for endangered animals) in Myrtle Beach, SC. These two crossed paths several years ago and they instantly became inseparable. How did that happen?

One day the director and orangutan rode an elephant down to the river where they encountered a thin, stray Blur Tick hound dog. The hound dog and orangutan took one look at each other and then ran to embrace, hug and play. The hound dog followed them home to the preserve where Suryia gave some of his monkey biscuits to Roscoe (as he became known). To this day, Suryia shares his food with Roscoe. This video show them playing, running and swimming together. Their love and caring for each other is very evident -- what fun to watch!

They have gotten lots of press including appearances on the Today Show, Oprah and on the National Geographic Channel's show "Odd Couple."

The popularity of their story helps to raise awareness of and support for the Rare Species Fund (RSF). RSF was established to provide funding to critical on the ground international wildlife conservation programs. RSF receives its financing through The Institute of Greatly Endangered and Rare Species. They couldn't ask for better ambassadors. See more delightful Suryia and Roscoe photos here. Enjoy the video.

Learn more: Orangutans: Wizards of the Rain Forest.

2009 Iams Home 4 the Holidays Campaign Goal: Adoption for 1.5 Homeless Shelter Pets

Between now and January 4, 2010 Iams Home 4 the Holidays (IH4TH) program hopes to find loving homes for 1.5 million orphaned, abandoned animals. This year's campaign ambassador is Hilary Swank and Iams' project partner is the Helen Woodward Animal Center along with an additional 3,500 animal organizations from around the world. 

It's estimated that there are 8 million homeless animals in the U.S. This campaign will raise awareness about the need for pet adoption and provide resources and tips to help pet parents make informed adoption decisions. Every family who adopts a pet through the program will receive an Iams adoption kit and DVD loaded with important information about nutrition, training and proper care of their adopted pet.

As one of the most successful pet adoption programs in the world, IH4TH partners with thousands of animal organizations dedicated to finding forever homes for orphaned pets. Founded by Helen Woodward Animal Center and supported by Iams, IH4TH began in 1999 with just 14 participating animal shelters in San Diego County. Since it began 11 years ago, IH4TH - along with nearly 3,500 pet adoption centers - has helped more than 3,278,143 families experience the joy of pet adoption, including 1.2 million pet adoptions last year alone. For more information, please visit Iams Home 4 the Holidays. Show your support by helping spread the word, by adopting, volunteering, or donating.
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Related reading: One at a Time: A Week in an American Animal Shelter and the beautiful photo book, Shelter Dogs.

Montgomery Animal Shelter / Huntington Beach Humane Society Closing, Please Help by Adopting Animals -- Really?

This is just the sort of subject that grabs my attention when I scan my email. Recently I got an email alerting me that an animal shelter in New Jersey was closing tomorrow!! Two exclamation points emphasized the urgency of this message. The email informed me that people could adopt the next day for free and that all animals left without a home would be euthanized. 80 dogs and 30 cats needed homes now!!

I read this type of email with a bit a skepticism as too many of them are proven to be urban legends or myths. So I always turn to snopes.com and do a search. Sure enough I found this "story" under Gimme Shelter and they concluded that this is a false email. Please read their post for full details on how they reached this conclusion.

Even though this email was not true, it provides a good opportunity to remind everyone know that animal shelters across the country are full to over-flowing. While none are likely to close their doors and euthanize all their animals, they are in dire need of help. If you can provide a loving home for a pet, contribute money or pitch in and give them some time, contact your local animal shelter and help them out.
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Related reading: One at a Time: A Week in an American Animal Shelter.

Dogs Can Provide Therapy for People

When a young boy was depressed, only Alex, the certified therapy dog, could help. That's the touching story in a recent Guideposts article: The Boy Who Needed Alex; A young student no one could reach...that is, no person (written by Lori Shaw). Alex, on a routine weekly visit to the school, "discovered" the young boy and realized he needed attention. Read the full article for Alex's story.

Certified therapy dogs are provided by Therapy Dogs International, Inc. (TDI). TDI is a volunteer organization dedicated to regulating, testing and registration of therapy dogs and their volunteer handlers for the purpose of visiting nursing homes, hospitals, other institutions and wherever else therapy dogs are needed. To belong to TDI all dogs must be tested and evaluated by a Certified TDI Evaluator. Each dog must pass a temperament evaluation for suitability to become a Therapy Dog. Currently over 20,000 dog/handler teams are registered with TDI.

While most dogs are not officially certified that doesn't mean they don't help. All pet owners discover in time that pets are very therapeutic. If you've ever had a particularly bad day you may find that your dog shows you extra attention and gives you more licks in your face. Cats are also sensitive to human needs. My husband came home from the hospital and went straight to bed where our cat immediately curled up with him, nudging his face and purring and staying at his side. Do you have any stories to share of how your pet helps you through difficult times?

TDI therapy dogs wear a TDI bandana. If you see one, give him an extra pat on the head -- they deserve our praise and admiration.
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Related reading: Therapy Dogs: Training Your Dog to Reach Others.

Celebrity Pet Photographer, Jim Dratfield: Gallery Show and Fundraiser

Friday, July 24th from 6-10pm, the work of Jim Dratfield will be displayed at Taj, 48 West 21st Street Between 5th and 6th Avenues, in New York City. Admission is free but they also plan to sell raffle tickets to raise money for "Friends of Animal Rescue." This group provides funding that helps NYC rescuers save animals from death row at city shelters.

Jim Dratfield's Petography(R) specializes in fine art photography of pets and people with their pets. His signature style is sepia-toned prints, which lends a rare and timeless quality to the photographs. Jim has done photo commissions for the likes of Jennifer Aniston, Charlize Theron, Bebe Neuwirth, Henry Kissinger, Billy Joel and Elton John to name a few. Jim is the author of nine books and his tenth book Pugnation: The Bark is Back!, comes out in October. His work has been featured on ABC's 20/20, The View, Oprah's O. Magazine, Instyle and Town & Country.

Jim Dratfield's Petography(R) promises to capture the true personality of your pet in a variety of settings and poses. View photographic examples of his work here. I think you'll agree that his work is extraordinary.

Monks Online Offer Benevolent Biscuits, Natural Treat for Dogs

I recently read 2 Entrepreneurs Help a Monastery Thrive and learned how LaserMonks, the monks at the Cistercian Abbey of Our Lady of Spring Bank, formed a very successful Internet business selling online ink and toner. The business profits are split between the support of the monastery and charities. They say their business is "Commerce with Compassion."

It wasn't until I heard their story on the NBC Nightly News broadcast tonight that I learned they have expanded their business and now also sell Benevolent Biscuits, dog treats that the monks bake in the monastery kitchen. These biscuits are all-natural dog treats. Ten percent of the purchase price is donated to Canine Companions for Independence, a non-profit organization that enhances the lives of people with disabilities by providing highly trained assistance dogs and ongoing support to ensure quality partnerships. If you want to learn more about how 5 Cistercian monks from Wisconsin created a $10 million Internet business, read their inspiring story here: Lasermonks: The Business Story Nine Hundred Years in the Making.

I think this is a wonderful idea and that they are living up to their mission of commerce with compassion. What do you think?

2010 SOB Calendar: Naked Bikers Benefit Pet Rescue of Maryland

I just heard from "King" Ken Shapiro of Semites on Bikes (SOB) that their 2010 calendar is available for pre-order (shipping in August) for $20.

If you pre-order now you will be one of the first to receive this unique calendar (and get one before they sell out). All proceeds go to the vetting of the dogs and cats, puppies and kittens in the care of Pet Rescue of Maryland. This popular calendar features the naked members of SOB with their bikes and with pets strategically placed to keep the calendar PG rated. You will see dogs, cats, birds and even a goat.

I wrote about their earlier calendar project, Naked Bikers Create Calendar to Benefit the Baltimore Cat House,

Ken Shapiro, a Maryland native who loves motorcycles and animals and who founded Semites on Bikes, the world’s largest group of “non-stereotypical Jewish bikers,” has a history of doing things with a unique twist. So when he decided that the members of Semites on Bikes (SOB) would raise money for the Cat House Project of the Humane Society of Baltimore County he came up with the idea for the "Kitty Porn" Calendar.

The next time you need a gift, consider one of these calendars. You'll have something unique to give and a great story to tell also. And never miss all the best pet videos, cutest photos and latest pet news -- absolutely free -- click here.