This is a great AP story that thoroughly explains many of the costs of owning a pet. It is wonderful to want to adopt a pet from a shelter, but everyone’s goal is to make sure that these animals don’t come back to a shelter! In today’s economic environment, you should make sure that you have enough financial resources and time to care for an animal before you purchase one.

Read the article here.

Rescue folks are often spreading the spay and neuter message- now your pet can join in!  Feline Fido Pet Designs features a “Save Lives Spay & Neuter” collection of collars and leashes that WellPetUSA loves!  Now your furbaby can promote responsible pet ownership and look incredibly cute at the time.  A must have for anyone involved in rescue or shares their life with an adopted dog or cat!  Props to this pet accessory company for supporting the homeless pet cause.  Feline Fido creates each leash, collar, harness and key chain by hand and we find all of the products super affordable.  See the Spay & Neuter Collection here.

Don’t miss their Breast Cancer and Autism Awareness Collars…

Visit the ASPCA website for  more Halloween pet safety details.  Here are just a few great tips from the site-

No Chocolate: Even if your pet has a sweet tooth, ingesting chocolate (especially baker’s and dark chocolate) can be dangerous for dogs and cats, possibly causing vomiting, diarrhea, hyperactivity and even seizures.

No Sweets for the Sweet: Candies containing the artificial sweetener xylitol can be poisonous to dogs. Even small amounts can cause a sudden drop in blood sugar, which leads to depression, lack of coordination and seizures.

Dangerous Décor: Keep wires and cords from electric lights and other decorations out of reach. If chewed, your pet could experience damage to his mouth from shards of glass or plastic, or receive a possibly life-threatening electrical shock.

Don’t Play with Fire: Keep your pets away from jack-o-lanterns with lit candles inside—knocking the pumpkin over can easily cause a fire. And curious kittens can get burned or singed by candle flames.

Costume Caution: Please don’t put your pet in a costume unless you know that he or she loves it. Costumes can cause skin irritations, obstruct a pet’s vision or impede his breathing.

If your pet accidentally ingests potentially harmful products, immediately consult your veterinarian or the ASPCA’s Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435.

The Minneapolis Star Tribune has a story today about the efforts to rescue dogs from Baghdad, particularly the story of Ratchet who was rescued by a soldier but whose clearance for release to the US was being held. This pup attracted the support of more than 45,000 people who signed a petition asking the US Army to let the puppy come the US. The dog has now been cleared to leave. The full story is available here.

The article also mentioned Baghdad Pups, an organization that rescues dogs and cats who have been adopted by troops and helps transport them to the US. This organization has already transported more than 50 animals to the US so far.

If you are interested in the story of how soldiers are adopting animals in the war zone and the challenges they face a great book on WellPetUSA’s recommended reading list is From Baghdad with Love.

“Like the movies “101 Dalmatians” and “Beethoven” before it, the release of “Beverly Hills Chihuahua” has animal welfare organizations concerned that Chihuahuas will be the next victims of our trend-crazed and impulse-purchase culture—even more than they already are.
Since word of the movie first began to leak out, those in the animal welfare community have been wondering what they can do to slow the rush of Chihuahua-buying surely to follow the movie…
After careful consideration and a little background research by our A Puppy Store Free LA staff, we discovered that the movie does have a rescue angle. That’s good news! It turns out that the movie’s main Chihuahua character, Papi, was rescued. (click here to read his story)
But still—some people will probably want a Chihuahua after seeing the movie, and we hope they don’t head to the classified ads in their local paper, to the Internet (unless they’re going to Petfinder) or to a pet store. To read Best Friends’ press release and position on the movie, click here.
Shelters around the country are already bursting with Chihuahuas, particularly in Los Angeles, the very place where the movie takes place. So we put our heads together and came up with ways that we can all spread the word that if you’re in the market for a Chihuahua, adopting one is the way to go. ”

From Best Friends Society “Don’t Buy Puppies Campaign”

Michelle Obama announced on Entertainment Tonight that the family will indeed, “adopt a rescue dog.”“As you know, adoption is an amazing gift of life to a homeless animal… and it is something that all of us, no matter our political leaning, can enthusiastically support. The Obama family’s decision to adopt will be a great example, and will result in many dogs and cats being saved from euthanasia across the country. This is exactly what we hoped for when we launchedthis website, and we hope you feel as proud as we do about this development.”
From Best Friends Society’s website ObamaFamilyDog.com

“More than 55,000 people, mostly in Africa and Asia, die from rabies every year  - a rate of one person every ten minutes. The most important global source of rabies in humans is from uncontrolled rabies in dogs. Children are often at greatest risk from rabies. They are more likely to be bitten by dogs, and are also more likely to be severely exposed through multiple bites in high-risk sites on the body. Severe exposures make it more difficult to prevent rabies unless access to good medical care is immediately available. This major source of rabies in humans can be eliminated through ensuring adequate animal vaccination and control, educating those at risk, and enhancing access of those bitten to appropriate medical care.

In 2006, a group of researchers and professionals formed a global Alliance for Rabies Control. They created and began inviting partners to join the World Rabies Day initiative. The inaugural World Rabies Day initiative now involves human and animal health partners at the international, national, state/provincial, and local levels, veterinary, medical and other specialized professional and student organizations, and corporate and non-profit partners.” (from WRD website)

www.worldrabiesday.org

This is a great initiate for dog lovers to support!  In North American countries and abroad, poor local  governments address the problem of dog overpopulation and the spread of rabies by poisoning and shooting the animals.  Awareness, funding and education will save human and canine lives across the globe.

Visit the Events tab to see the clinics, contests and trainings being offered right here in the United States.

Now that it’s back to school, many high school juniors and seniors will be planning for college and picking which school to attend. The PetSide.com blog has published a list of schools with pet-friendly policies.

They include:

• UCLA
• Eckerd College
• Vassar
• MIT
• Stephens College
• University of Pennsylvania (caged animals only)
• CALTECH
• SUNY Canton

Read the full story with information on each policy here.

The Washington Humane Society and The Humane Society of the United States invite you to join fellow animal lovers in the DC Metro Area – including visitors from across the nation and around the globe – for the 3rd annual Humane Society Walk for the Animals. Bring your canine friend – or walk for a pet who prefers to stay at home – and enjoy a scenic stroll around the lake at beautiful Constitution Gardens, located just north of the World War II Memorial, at the corner of Constitution Ave. and 17th St. NW.  more details….

Thanks to
Tails Pet Media Group for the scoop!

You may have heard a few people mention Etsy.com, or you could already be a full-blown member of the community.  If its all new to you, Etsy describes itself as “an online marketplace where you can buy and sell items that are handmade, as well as vintage goods and crafting supplies.“  Basically, its some of the coolest handmade artists across the US and abroad in one online location.  Ranging to stay-at-home-moms to professional artists with studios, this site is extremely buyer and seller friendly.

A group of artists formed Team Etsy for Animals and from April 2007 to June 2008, team members contributed almost $10,000 to animal charities.  EFA members also donate their hand-crafted items to animal charity events, assist with animal rescue, and contribute time, talent, and money.  The group rallies at times of specific need and recently raised $6700 for the Cedar Rapids Animal Shelter following the Iowa Floods this summer.  One way money is raised is through the EFA Team Store where team members donate their craft and 100% of the sales go to the EFA Charity of the Month.  Check out a few examples of items currently available in their “shop.”

Blue Flowers Pocket Mirror by albinarose in Honeoye Falls, NY

“All of my mirrors are 2.25 inch (5.75cm) and hand pressed by me.  The mirror is a real glass and Mylar protects the image.  My images come from a variety of sources that include scrap booking paper, small portions of images from 50 year-old magazines or old damaged books, (25 yrs. and older), and scraps of fabric”

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I’m too Cute greeting card by 9LivesPhotography in Chicago, IL

“I’m Stella, and I was adopted from a local cat shelter with my sister, Sadie. I’m the cute one (at least I think so!)”  4X6 photo printed on Kodak Professional Endura luster paper and mounted on a 5×7 blank white acid-free Strathmore notecard. Includes matching envelope. Packaged in cello sleeve with pretty ribbon.

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Large Sterling Silver Fawn Pendant by safarilee in Australia

“This precious sterling silver, handmade, prancing fawn comes on a sterling silver chain. The fawn is approximately 43mm x 30mm x 1mm and weighs 4 grams. Both the necklace and the fawn will be mailed in a gift box handmade in India from recycled newspaper using a design from an Aboriginal man in Australia.”