This week features a story of an adopted animal Bailey making new friends at Sunrise Living, a senior living community in Lombard Ill. Also, new laws are being proposed in snowy Colorado to cut down on puppy mills.

A task force is changing the rules for dog breeders in Colorado in an effort to crack down on so-called puppy mills without changing the law. Continue reading…

The Sunrise Senior Living community in Lombard has adopted Bailey, a 25-pound homeless beagle, as its resident therapy dog. The community opened in late September, and has 30 residents who now are Bailey’s new favorite companions. Bailey was found through an organization named A Cry For Help, which shelters battered or lost animals. Although most of his history is unclear, Bailey is known to be from Tennessee and approximately 3 years old.

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You’re thinking about adopting a new pet and are wondering, how much time does a pet need? The answer depends on the type of pet, including but not limited to the breed, age, amount of previous training, other pets & people in your home, and your current activity level and lifestyle. In this article, we’ll help you consider these options, and list different types of pets’ needs. Matching the time a pet will take to the amount of time you want to spend on your pet is a very important part in finding your new best friend!

A good first step is really thinking about your daily routine. How much free time do you have each day that you are willing to devote to the care, training, and attention of your new pet over the next few months, and then for the lifetime of that pet? For social pets like birds, rabbits, dogs, and cats, time spent just “hanging out” with you while you’re watching a movie or reading a book, counts too!

With any human-social pet, babies and youngsters need a LOT more time. Plan on at 1-2 hours extra each day, until the pet is a trained, socialized adult. For example, puppies & kittens generally do best if only left alone (in a safe enclosure) for 1 hour for every 1 month of their age. If they are left alone for longer, socialization and behavior problems can develop as the pet matures.

Will they have a friend? Having a bonded, same-species companion can keep social pets company, reducing their dependence on your time and giving them a much happier life.

Dogs and puppies vary the most in their time requirements, ranging from an adult, already-trained, mellow breed, to a high-energy puppy that would love a jogging companion and another high-energy dog friend.

To help you decide on a pet that will be right for you, we’ve put together a basic “Average Daily Time Needed” guide below. With any pet, if possible, you’ll also want to ask experts (such as their current caregivers) about that particular pet’s needs.

Average Daily Time Needed
1/4 to 1/2 hour: Reptiles, Amphibians, Fish
1/2 to 1 hour: Ferret, Gerbil, Guinea Pig, Hamster, Mouse, Rat, Birds
1-2 hours: Chinchilla, Rabbits, pair of adult Cats
2-3 hours: pair of Kittens (or Kitten & Cat), pair of adult Dogs, single adult Cat
3-4 hours: single adult Dog, or Puppy with trained adult Dog
4-5 hours: single Puppy, or untrained/high-energy adult Dog

Adopting A New Pet, Raising Your Pet | No Comments »

I don’t know about you, but if I hear anything else about Balloon Boy, I’m going to scream (Whew. I resisted the easy “I’m going to pop” pun). All the same, the smart part of my brain sees another side to this. Sure, I find the story annoying and the parents’ actions questionable at best, but at the same time I’m oddly intrigued and even (dare I say?) inspired. I mean, after all, Richard and Mayumi Heene allegedly orchestrated something that had an entire nation riveted, watching at the edge of our seats to see where the story would take us. They had us in the palm of their hands. Even after the incident was exposed as a hoax, they still had us all talking about it.

We in the animal welfare community could stand to take a lesson here. If Balloon Boy & Associates can garner this sort of wall-to-wall news coverage for a made-up story, shouldn’t we be able to drum up even a fraction of that? After all, our entire cause is life-and-death. What could be more dramatic? Unfortunately, because the issues of overpopulation, puppy mills, and shelter animals being put to death have been around for a long, long time, the media and the public seem to have become inured to them, and the coverage has become more and more humdrum. So what do we do? What can we learn from Balloon Boy?

1. People out there DO care… but they want to be entertained.

The world is full of people ready to drop everything they’re doing and park themselves in front of the television to see just what happens when a boy-filled balloon plummets back down to earth. Why? Because they care, sure. But more than that, it’s entertaining. It’s sensational. It’s human drama unfolding before their very eyes.

Think about the animals in your shelter or rescue group. So many of them have dramatic stories, but those stories go untold. Sure, maybe you write about each animal on your web site or on Adopt-a-Pet.com, but why not get them out to people who aren’t looking for a pet to adopt? There’s the dog whose owner died tragically, the one who was found shaved and painted, the one who became best friends with a hamster in his foster home, the cat who leads the blind dog around. Tell their stories in the most emotional, entertaining way you possibly can. We don’t always know the story behind each of the pets in our care, but let’s tell the stories of the ones we do know. Write a press release and get it out to local media (and national, too, if the story is compelling enough). Use Twitter and tweet out a link to the pet’s story on your site or use Adopt-a-Pet.com’s TwitterACritter feature to tweet links to your pets’ stories on Adopt-a-Pet.com.

2. Tell an unusual story.

The same old story can only be told so many times. The Balloon Boy story was nothing if not unusual. A boy accidentally taking off in a balloon his mad-scientist father made? Not a chance that story isn’t going to be picked up by the news… all of the news. Nobody had ever seen anything like it.

We have a little more of a challenge than Balloon Boy’s father had. After all, he was free to be as creative as he wanted to be because he was writing fiction. We are tethered by the bonds of reality, but we do still see unusual stories, don’t we? Open your eyes to the world in which you operate and develop radar for the strange, the beautiful, the coincidental, the inspiring stories that develop there. Understand that your world is more than just the pets currently in your care… extend your radar to include what happens to those pets after you adopt them out. Tell those stories to the media and social networks, and make sure to include a pro- pet-adoption spin and a promotion for your shelter in every story.

3. Tell the story in real time to allow the public to be a part of it.

This one is key. Balloon Boy is a compelling story no matter how you slice it, but imagine if we’d only found out about the story after the fact? The story would have been, “Worried family breathes sigh of relief after discovering their son wasn’t in soaring balloon as suspected.” A bit of a yawner compared to the way the story actually unveiled itself moment-by-moment.

The best way to tell a pet’s story (or any story) is to give it a beginning, middle, and an end, and to tell it as it happens. Give your readers, viewers, followers, and friends a chance to change the course of the story, to determine how it ends. Tell the beginning of the story first, and present the call to action. The middle of the story is where we have our chance to invite the public to follow the journey and to interact with it. Make sure to give compelling updates. Finally, report on the end of the story, whether it’s heartbreakingly sad or incredibly uplifting.

4. Crave fame… for your animals

Richard and Mayumi Heene have something that all master self-promoters share: a burning desire for fame. Most of us in the animal welfare community don’t have that quality. That’s ok… few people in the world do, and those of us who don’t tend to look at them as narcissistic. Time to rethink things, folks. We need to crave fame, not for ourselves, but for the animals in our care, for our shelters, and for the issue of homeless pets in general. Leap on every PR opportunity! Create new ones! Let’s be the biggest, loudest stage-mothers we can be, all for the good of the pets in our shelters.

You’re probably thinking of other lessons we can learn from the Balloon Boy incident, so let’s hear them! I want to hear your comments. May your pet-adoption PR efforts soar effortlessly through the universe like a giant… well, you know.

Helping Pet Adoption, Pet Adoption News | 1 Comment »

This week features a story of 24 animals being saved, a new book on pet adoption, and a tail of 23 trips from Iraq to the US in the name of pet adoption.

How far will people go to rescue cats and dogs? One person, Terri Crisp, has made 23 trips to Iraq to help bring home soldiers’ pets. Continue reading…

Stillwater Middle School counselor April Thompson and her Boston terrier Lily have been featured in the book “Lost Souls: FOUND! Inspiring Stories of Adopted Boston Terriers.” Lily is one of 50 dogs featured in the book, the first in the breed-specific “Lost Souls: FOUND” series about adopted dogs.

Two dozen dogs that were seized from a Ballantine breeder last year are on a cross-country bus trip to new homes.

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Now you can promote the ADOPT message in the hippest way possible! The adoption-supporting OBEY Clothing company has chosen Adopt-A-Pet.com for their latest OBEY AWARENESS Campaign. Shepard Fairey and his OBEY Clothing team share a commitment to helping homeless animals, “Millions of animals urgently need us to take the lead and speak out on their behalf,” Said Fairey. All profits generated from the sale of OBEY AWARENESS Adopt-a-Pet.com products go directly to support the cause.
http://shop.obeyclothing.com/c-126-adopt-a-pet.aspx

For more hip Shepard Fairey adoption-supporting gear, like signed prints, stickers and shirts go to: http://muttslikeme.adoptapet.com/get_image/index.html

And stay tuned for more rad ADOPT merchandise by Obey Clothing!

Adopt-A-Pet News, Sites We Like | No Comments »

You’ve adopted a new cat or kitten, and want to know how to best introduce him or her to other cats in your home? Depending on their age and personalities, you may take days or months to fully integrate your new cat or kitten to your family pets. Below are some guidelines and helpful tips to get your new feline friendship off to a good start, and hopefully on their way to becoming best buddies for the rest of their lives! (We use the word “cat” below, but you can substitute “kitten” if that applies.)

Generally it’s believed the easiest introduction is when the new cat is younger, smaller, and of the opposite sex, but it really depends on the personalities and experiences of the felines involved. Neutering/spaying of all cats to be introduced is essential, ideally 2-4 weeks before the introduction, so the hormones levels have time to subside.

STEP ONE: ISOLATION

Confine the new cat to one room with its litterbox, food, water, and a bed. Feed your current cat(s) and the newcomer on either side of the door to this room. Don’t put the food so close to the door that the cats are too upset by each other to eat. This will help to start things out on the right foot by associating something enjoyable (eating!) with each others’ presence. Gradually move the dishes closer to the door until the cats can eat calmly directly on either side.

If you have adopted the new cat from an environment (like a shelter) where it was exposed to sicknesses it could be incubating, follow the recommendations of your vet for the duration of this isolation.  Typically, for the most common sickness (Upper Respiratory Infection), it will need to be 7 to 10 days.  That may seem like a long time, but in addition to keeping your resident cat healthy, the new cat will have a chance to get adjusted to his/her environment’s sounds and smells. The chances that the first face to face introduction with your resident cat(s) will go well are improved – which is very important!

STEP TWO: SCENT/SIGHT INTRO

After the 7-10 day isolation period is done, and your new cat is healthy, you can progress to these steps. Progress only when all cats are OK with each other during each step.

1. Switch sleeping blankets between the new cat and resident cats so they have a chance to become accustomed to each other’s scent. Also put the scented blankets underneath the food dishes.

2.  Use two doorstops to prop open the door just enough to allow the cats to see each other (an inch opening) but not get out, and repeat the feeding nearby process.

3. Put the new cat in a secure cat carrier, and open the door so the resident cat can come in and sniff all around the new cat’s room and new cat in carrier.

4. Confine resident cats in another room, and let the new cat explore the rest of the house. This switch provides another way for the cats to have experience with each other’s scent without a face to face meeting. It also allows the newcomer to become familiar with its new surroundings without being frightened by other animals.

STEP THREE: MEETING!

The final moment – the first full meeting!  Open the isolation room door and calmly observe. You may want to have a water squirt bottle in one hand, and a blanket in the other, just in case you need to intervene in a sudden attack. Playing calming music or talking in a calm friendly voice to the cats will help YOU to feel less stressed, which will help the cats too! Hissing, puffy tail posturing, growling are normal, but should be minimal if you have taken the time to follow the steps above as suggested.  It may be that the first meeting is only a few minutes if the hissing/growling starts to escalate.

You want to TRY to avoid any interactions between the cats which result in either fearful or aggressive behavior. If these responses are allowed to become a habit, they can be difficult to change. It’s better to introduce the animals to each other gradually (five minutes more each day) so that neither cat becomes afraid or aggressive. You can expect mild forms of these behaviors, but don’t give them the opportunity to intensify. If either cat becomes fearful or aggressive, separate them, and you may have to take a step or two back (back to feeding on either side of propped open door for example) and slowly move forward when they’ve calmed back down.

Cats can make lots of noise and roll around quite dramatically without either cat being injured. If small spats do occur between the cats, you should not attempt to intervene directly to separate the cats. Instead, use a spray bottle to squirt water on the cats in order to separate them (or if that doesn’t do it, trying to cover and wrap one up in a blanket to get them separated). Give them both a chance to calm down before re-introducing them to each other – like a day or more. Hopefully, none of this will be necessary, but if so, be confident that while cats can take weeks to months to get adjusted, most cats can learn to get along, if not become the best of friends.

Tips for after the first introduction

• keep the second litterbox in the isolation room even after the cats are out together – if you want to move it, do so gradually a few feet at a time to the new location
• clean all the boxes more frequently
• make sure that none of the cats is being “ambushed” by another while trying to use the box
• keep the resident cat’s schedule as close as possible to what it was before the newcomers appearance.
• calming products like Rescue Remedy and Feliway spay (available at pet supply stores) can help de-stress cats

Adopting A New Pet | No Comments »

Over the past six months Arizona Basset Hound Rescue (AZBHR) rescued an incredible 52 Basset Hounds from a puppy mill in Pinal County. They were able to save and care for so many dogs because of their amazing big network of foster homes (97 dogs in foster care as of today!), volunteers, and donors with very big hearts! We had the chance to speak to AZBHR’s president, Kim Bruck, not only about this wonderful rescue’s work over the past decade, but how she’s helped over the past 5 years. As our Hero of the Month, we applaud her and all her volunteers’ efforts in saving the lives of so many Basset Hounds in need – over 1300 since they started, with 158 so far in 2009 alone!

Tell us about your rescue of 52 Basset Hounds from a puppy mill: How did you get involved? How did you manage to save so many?

Kim: AZBHR worked with Pinal County for over two years trying to close down this breeder and is very thankful to Pinal County and all their staff for the efforts in getting the owner to surrender the final group of Bassets as of Monday, August 3rd. As a result, AZBHR has 97 Basset Hounds in foster care as of September 10th… yes, 97! That is a RECORD for us as we usually average 60. Of the 97 dogs, there are 21 that are forever fosters who are seniors or have medical behavior issues and will be with their foster homes until they go to the Rainbow Bridge.

AZBHR would NOT exist without the many volunteers in our organization, past, present and future. AZBHR is an all-volunteer organization with NO paid staff. It’s because of the dedication and long hours our volunteers put in that we can help all these hounds! Most of the dogs have been adopted, but many are still waiting for their forever homes.

When and how did your rescue get started?

Once upon a time, Basset Hound “rescue” was something performed by Basset breeders and breed club members. In the late 1980s, when it became apparent that the need was far greater than the individuals and clubs could provide, the Basset Hound Club of America formed a committee called B.H CARES. By the early ‘90s, it was obvious that the rescue efforts were becoming greater than the club could handle, and B.H.CARES became a separately incorporated entity. We had association with the local groups, or “chapters,” who were totally autonomous. The national group served the same functions as had the original BHCA committee. One of the board members helped local Bassett Rescuers launch Arizona Basset Hound Rescue, filing papers of incorporation in 1999.

You have some interesting fundraisers going on right now! Tell us about your prizes, and how did you get them donated?

We are definitely in need of funds – our veterinary bills are currently over $70,000! We sent over 5,000 emails and letters to companies for donations for the Basset Ball. AZBHR also has a volunteer who does fundraising programs, Valerie Cree and she sets up the fundraisers such as the current Raffle for Ron Burns Limited Edition Artwork, titled Furever Homes™. The grand prize winner of the raffle will receive a limited edition of their choice from artist Ron Burns valued at up to $2,000. Additionally, three runner-up winners will be selected to receive a $100 gift certificate for Burns fine art. Visit http://www.ronburns.com to see Ron Burns’ limited-edition work. Raffle tickets are only $5 each, or a quantity of five is available for $20. Tickets go on sale September 1st and the last day to purchase will be October 23rd – drawing will be held at the AZBHR Howl event, but you do not need to be present to win. http://www.azbassetrescue.com/Events/Events.htm

What is the best part about rescuing Basset Hounds?

Knowing you have saved their life! That is what it is all about.

You can see Arizona Basset Hound Rescue’s adoptable dogs at http://www.adoptapet.com/adoption_rescue/70689.html and also see even more photos, stories, & news coverage videos on their own website http://www.azbassetrescue.com too.

(Photo: www.ADogsLifePhoto.com)

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Congratulations! You’ve adopted a dog! Your life is about to be enriched in ways you’ve never dreamed possible. So…now what? Bringing your new dog home is such an exciting and fulfilling experience, but it can be a bit daunting as well, especially if you’ve never shared your home with a furry companion. Here are some tips to get your relationship off on the right foot (or paw, as the case may be)!

1. Be prepared: Before you adopt your dog, know which training method you’re going to use (we love clicker training and other positive-reinforcement techniques) and read up on it so you can employ the philosophy from day one. Research dog care and nutrition in advance as well, and decide which food you’ll feed your dog and how many times a day he’ll eat (usually once or twice). The more prepared you are, the smoother your new family member’s transition will be.

2. Be flexible: While it’s good to be prepared, remember that your new dog is a living being with a mind of his own, and he may well express preferences that run counter to your plans. If the sleeping arrangements you’ve laid out just don’t work for him, you may have to shuffle things around a bit. If the sound of the clicker scares him to death, a different training method may be in order. Maintain a good sense of humor and try not to get exasperated. The transition period won’t last forever. Soon you and your new buddy will have a well-established routine.

3. Shop for the basics: You’ll need a leash, collar, a bed, food and water dishes and, of course, food! It’s a good idea to have these items in place even before you bring your new dog home. One other thing to buy right away: an ID tag! Put the tag on your dog immediately—we can’t stress that enough. By the way, you’ll notice that a crate isn’t on the list of things to buy in advance. If you plan on crate-training, it’s best to take your dog with you when you shop for the crate so you can find the correct size.

4. Make sure all family members are on board: Set some ground rules and make sure everyone in the family agrees to follow and enforce them. For instance, if you don’t want your new pup on the couch, all the training in the world won’t help if your daughter lets him sit there with her when you’re not home. Also, if caring for your dog will be a family effort, be certain everyone understands and agrees to their particular roles and responsibilities.

5. Help your new pal adjust: Over the first few days to a week, your new dog will be going through an adjustment period. You may notice some symptoms of anxiety, including a lack of appetite and suppressed bowel habits. Your dog may even hide under or behind furniture or stay in one particular room for a few days. Don’t be alarmed—this is absolutely normal behavior. By showing your new friend patience and understanding, you’ll be helping him through a tough, scary time and showing him how wonderful his new home really is!

6. Establish a schedule of feeding and walking and be consistent: Try to walk him and feed him at the same times each day, and signal the walkings and feedings with the same key words every time. For instance, right before you feed him, you might say, “Dinner time!” A reliable routine is an important tool in successfully integrating your new dog into your family and helping him feel secure.

7. Set aside time to bond: Spend some quiet time with your dog each day, petting him gently and speaking in a soothing voice. Touch is an incredibly powerful method of communication, one that is almost impossible to misunderstand. Show your dog he’s safe and loved, and your relationship will get off to a beautiful start.

8. Everyone needs time alone: Your dog is no exception! Give him time every day to be alone and to explore his new surroundings. Observe from a distance to make sure he’s safe, but not close enough to intrude on his “me” time.

9. Slowly introduce him to new things and people: We know you’re dying to show your amazing new family member to all of your other family and friends, but take it slowly! A good rule of thumb is to introduce no more than one new person to your dog each day. Also, save the first trip to the dog park for a week or two to avoid overwhelming and confusing him.

10. Get him a tune-up: Schedule a first visit to your dog’s new veterinarian during the first week (or immediately upon adoption if you have other pets at home or suspect your new pup might be ill). Bring any and all medical and vaccine records supplied by the shelter or rescue from which you adopted your dog. Many veterinarians will even provide a free first checkup to folks who adopt a pet! This first visit is a great time to get clues about your dog’s personality and past history, so don’t be afraid to ask lots of questions. Also, have your dog microchipped right away (if he’s not already), so you can be reunited if (gasp!) you ever get separated. True love is hard to replace!

Adopting A New Pet, Doggie Tips, Getting Along with Your Pet, Household Tips, Pet Health and Safety, Raising Your Pet, Uncategorized | No Comments »