Recycle your unwanted pet bedding, shelters, and carriers

What to do with that igloo your cat never uses? Or the pet bed that your dog shuns in lieu of yours? Recycle your pet bedding, shelters, and pet carriers by contacting a local rescue group. You will be doing two good deeds by helping out a rescue that will put them to good use and by keeping them out of the landfill. For a list of rescue groups in our area, contact a local vet or animal shelter.

Surf's Up and Tails Up!

We will be reporting live from Tybee Island on February 16 from a pet's perspective on this laid-back island off the coast of Savannah, Georgia. Lily, Buster, and I will be staying at the pet-friendly Mermaid Cottages, a colorful and eclectric group of cozy rental cottages that caters to the pet crowd.

Lily and Buster have already packed their bags and are ready for the roadtrip. Stay tuned for their take on the places to see and be seen in Tybee!

For more information about Mermaid Cottages, click on the following link: http://www.mermaidcottages.com/

Lighthouse photo courtesy of TrekEarth

In Memory of Lady

June - August 2006

"...May the winds of destiny carry you aloft to dance with the stars."

Just 3 months old, Lady, a pit bull mix, suffered an untimely death in a crime that the Humane Society of the U.S. called “one of the most egregious, high-profile cases of animal cruelty in Georgia history”. The defendants were each sentenced to 10 years in prison for Lady’s death. The HSUS awarded the Atlanta prosecutors the prestigious Humane Law Enforcement Award for their relentless efforts to seek justice for Lady.

Though she was on Earth just a brief time, Lady's tragic story rallied animal lovers around the world to take a stand against cruelty to animals. A memorial in Lady's honor has been established on the Atlanta Pet Rescue web site. Atlanta Pet Rescue is a non-profit, no-kill shelter entirely funded by private donations. To make a donation to Lady's Fund, which will be used to help other abused and injured animals, click on the following link: http://www.atlantapetrescue.org/www_ver2/rainbowbridge.htm#L


Lady, your spirit lives on, and you will never be forgotten.

HSUS article link: http://www.hsus.org/press_and_publications/press_releases/the_hsus_awards_atlanta_district_attorney_paul_howard_with_humane_law_enforcement_award_101207.html

Against All Odds

After several years of working with rescue groups across the country, I realized I needed to take a break from the daily drama of so many needy, homeless animals. One day as I was walking by a neighborhood message center, a flyer caught my eye. As I stopped to read the poster, it jogged my memory about a news story I had heard in passing several weeks before. A dog had been dragged behind a truck, and after the rope slipped from his neck, he was pulled to safety by a woman following the truck. Battling for his life, the pup was taken to a nearby veterinary hospital. The flyer was posted by a local rescue group trying to raise funds to pay for his spiraling veterinary care. At first I thought, 'no, I'm not going to get involved', and then I thought 'there's no way I can't get involved'. This is another one of the it-takes-a-village-type stories.


Nicknamed "Sparky", for his ineffable personality and indomitable will to live, this plucky pup became a frequent news item in the local media. Because of the severity of his wounds, every day was a struggle between life and death. He would not be out of the woods for some time, so a web site kept everyone updated on his day-to-day progress between news stories. A very generous patron even donated a billboard near where the incident happened, in the hopes that whoever did this could be brought to justice.

The veterinary clinic, where Sparky spent many months in recovery, thought that he would need skin grafts to close the largest wounds. Sparky surprised everyone when the wounds healed on their own, and he was pronounced fit for adoption. There was no shortage of people who wanted to give the little guy a home. After an exhaustive review of potential adopters, Sparky rode off with his new owner.

Sparky became the official spokesdog for Atlanta Pet Rescue, which sponsored his rescue and recovery. His new owner attended their annual fundraiser, where Sparky was the focal point of the event. An artist had donated a painting of Sparky in his festive surgical socks. I bid well beyond my budget on the painting. I figured if I couldn't have Sparky, at least I'd have his painting. My bid was left in the dust as the bidding quickly accelerated to a winning bid of $5,000. The winner, as he was accepting his prize, called Sparky's new owner up to the stage and presented the painting to him. There wasn't a dry eye in the house.

Some would question why so much money and effort was spent on one dog when there are so many other needy pets. Sparky is the poster dog for all those other less fortunate animals, and he has helped build awareness of the need to take a firm stand against animal cruelty and prosecute those responsible.

If you would like to make a donation in Sparky's honor to help other homeless and injured pets, or read about his amazing recovery against all odds, click on the following Atlanta Pet Rescue link: http://www.atlantapetrescue.org/www_ver2/sparky.htm

How Lucky Added Purpose to One Woman's Life

As a large, older dog, Lucky's prospects for adoption were grim. So Lucky was truly lucky when he landed in the loving arms of a couple who adopted him from a Phoenix shelter. He must have realized just how fortunate he was and started working his magic for his new owners.

New to Atlanta, Lucky's parents were looking for a house to rent and Lucky was part of the package deal. Unfortunately, the landlord of the house they loved with lots of acreage for Lucky had a long-standing rule -- No Pets. Charming guy that he is, Lucky eventually won over the landlord, and Lucky now had lots of room to roam. Lucky's magic touch didn't stop there however.

The elderly owners of Lucky's house lived next door with their developmentally challenged daughter who could not communicate. The barriers were broken down when she saw Lucky. She started talking non-stop to Lucky, which only he may have understood, but she now had something to look forward to. She took such an interest in all things Lucky, that her home began to fill with stuffed Dalmatians, every version of the "101 Dalmatians" video, and Dalmatian figurines.

Those long, empty hours were suddenly filled, and she played endlessly with all those Lucky look-alikes when Lucky wasn't around. Lucky seemed to realize that his new playmate was special too. Normally a curmudgeon with no interest in anything except his doting parents or a treat, Lucky always makes a beeline for this special person and looks forward to his visits as much as she does. From Lucky's point of view, this is just his way of paying it forward.

It Takes a Village to Save a Stray

Our neighborhood is very pet-oriented, and you will always see people walking their pets or headed to the park to play with them. One very cold winter, a bedraggled Chow mix started roaming the area. Many tried to coax him into their cars or try and get him to come to them, but he would always shy away.

After weeks of trying catch him, we set up a central command post with me as Mission Control. Several volunteers drove around the neighborhood routinely to try and find him, while others set up feeding stations and a shelter. I would get daily calls and emails of sightings of the Chow we nicknamed "Travis", who found a way to cross very busy city streets and frequently showed up in adjacent neighborhoods a mile away.

But Travis always ended up back in Peachtree Hills. With temperatures in the single digits and desperate to try and catch him, we expanded our circle of help to include Animal Control, rescue groups, a dog whisperer, and even the neighborhood vet for advice on how to bring Travis in. Once he was captured, a temporary and long term housing solution were lined up until a permanent home could be found.

Travis eventually was captured by Animal Control. Once he was examined by their vet, Travis, sadly, was found to have a heart worm condition that was beyond treatment. Travis was already suffering from congestive heart failure, and heart worm treatment would hasten his untimely end. It was a heartbreaking moment, but the collective decision was that the most humane thing to do was to put Travis to sleep, rather than let him suffer an agonizing death.

But Travis' spirit lives on. Since Travis loved to roam our neighborhood so much, a Japanese Maple will be planted at the entrance to the neighborhood in his memory with the hope that he is finally at peace.

Keeping Up with the Pet Food Recalls

For the most up-to-date resource for pet food recalls, click on the following ASPCA link that lists all of the pet foods that are currently under recall.

http://www.aspca.org/site/PageServer?pagename=recall_list

How to Find the Right Dog Breed for Your Lifestyle

Most of my dogs that have wandered into my life were strays, so I have never given much thought to finding a dog that fit my lifestyle. I guess I've adapted my lifestyle to accommodate them. If you are looking for a new addition to your family, it is a good idea to research the different types of dog breeds and be familiar with their personality type, energy level, and care requirements. Doing the research up front will help you determine if the dog will be a good fit with your family and can prevent having to deal with behaviour problems or finding the dog another home.

Some breeds are high maintenance and require regular grooming or lots of exercise. If your schedule doesn't permit enough free time to properly care for a particular type of dog, you may want to consider a different breed. The Animal Planet web site has a fun, 10-question survey that will help you identify what breed may be best suited to your situation. It also has a Dog Breed Directory that lists characteristics for each breed.

Out of curiosity, I completed the survey and had a 99% match with a Canaan, which is a herding dog. Ironically, I've owned mostly large herding dogs, but lately the strays that have have been showing up on my doorstep are getting more diminutive with each addition. The latest is a Chihuahua/Boston Terrier mix. Even the cats are bigger than he is.

If you are considering a pure-bred dog, check out the rescue groups that place breed-specific animals that have been given up for adoption. A local veterinarian or animal shelter should be able to provide you with a list of the groups in your area. If you decide to use a breeder, be sure to verify that they are a reputable operation. Some breeders, who breed strictly for profit, may not keep the animals in a humane environment, or breed without any concern for latent medical problems which can result in expensive vet bills down the road.

So do yourself and the dog a favor and know what you are in for before you choose a new pet. And consider giving a rescued dog a second chance at a better life.

To use the Animal Planet Dog Breed Selector or to access its Dog Breed Directory, click on the following link: http://animal.discovery.com/breedselector/dogselector.do

Your dog will be begging you to bake these treats!

Bow-Wow Brownies

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup vegetable oil
• 2 tablespoons honey
• 1 cup of whole wheat flour
• 4 eggs
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 1/2 cup carob chips (Note: Do NOT substitute chocolate chips for carob chips. Canines do not have the enzyme required to digest chocolate, which can be fatal to them)
• 1/4 cup of carob powder
• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Blend oil and honey in a bowl. Mix in remaining ingredients. Pour into greased 15-by-10-inch baking sheet. Bake for 30-35 minutes. Cut into squares.

From: "Real Food for Dogs: 50 Vet-Approved Recipes to Please the Canine Gastronome"