Save a Life!

There are lots of great organizations out there working to save animals. If you're looking for a new furry companion, please, PLEASE, PLEASE!!! check some of them out--you CAN do something to end the senseless euthanizing of millions of pets every year! (And of course, always spay or neuter your pets.)

If you are looking for a new addition to your family, you can check out the chapter in my book devoted to finding the right dog for you--please do your research first to make sure that your lifestyle matches well with the breed you pick. Remember that each animal is a distinct personality--there are breed traits, but each dog will exhibit his or her own style! Of course, this applies to all species. Do your homework so your pet won't pay the price later and end up at a shelter or worse!

All of my pets have been rescues--they were either abandoned, feral, or found through a local shelter or Petfinder.com. Every one has been a blessing to my life!

Also, please consider adopting an older pet--many of them are wonderful animals who have found themselves homeless through no fault of their own, through divorce, moving, death in the family, etc. Most are calmer, already housebroken, and have received some training. If you're not ready to devote the time needed to raise a puppy or kitten, an older pet may fit the bill. My dog, Sofia (pictured above), was 8 years old when I adopted her, and she is THE BEST dog on the planet!

If you have children who will be sharing responsibility for caring for your dog, check out this award-winning website: How To Love Your Dog. Also check out the Pedigree site for breed info, or Google the name of a particular breed for a national rescue organization associated with it. (Same goes for any other species.)

When you're ready to bring home a new friend, there are many avenues to try:

Check your local phone book for the SPCA or animal shelter
near you. I found some of my best feline friends at these!
Go online to Petfinder.com --this is a fantastic site that lists thousands of pets of all species that are available through humane societies and rescue organizations, and you can select by breed, age, gender, etc., and find all the available animals in your local area. This is how I found my beautiful Sofia and lovable Rajiv. www.Pets911.com is another great site.
Search online for rescue organizations--there are tons of groups out there who are fostering animals who desperately need homes. Most rescue groups do some rehabilitating of homeless pets before they're placed, and they will screen you beforehand to assure a good match.

And while you're online, go to The Animal Rescue Site and click to donate food for hungry animals. Put it in your Favorites and click every day when you check your email--it's free for you, and it's an easy way to help the animals!

My latest project is East Tennessee Spay & Neuter, a non-profit branch organization of United Humanitarians that provides vouchers and transport for low-cost spay-neuter surgeries and an intensive education campaign about proper pet care and the need for spay-neuter. We plan to provide a temporary quarantine and care facility as a waystation on the Highway to Heaven network, which would allow us to pull every animal every week from the two highest kill rate shelters in the area. We also plan to have a mobile spay-neuter clinic to reach the rural areas where up to 85% of pets never see a vet.

Carter and Sullivan Counties in East TN are two of the poorest counties in the state, and they are overflowing with animals that are not properly cared for, are mistreated, or are simply abandoned. Carter County animal shelter took in nearly 2500 animals in 2007, and 2000 of them were euthanized, because they just don't have the space in their dilapidated building to keep them all. In 2006-2007, Sullivan County Animal Shelter euthanized 100 animals per week!

Yet most animals here are not spayed or neutered, many run loose or are kept in tiny kennels, and the general attitude is that animals are disposable and easily replaced. Reports of serious abuse are up, as are the number of animals who receive no veterinary care, even for the simplest of ailments. Thankfully, both Carter and Sullivan Counties are now considering new shelter buildings. The goal of East Tennessee Spay and Neuter is to end euthanasia at these shelters by stopping the flow of animals into them. This can only be done through low and no-cost spay/neuters, and education to change the prevailing attitudes, all promoted in a peaceful, harmonizing way.

I'm looking for help in time, talent, materials, and money. If you would like to participate, please contact me!