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…

“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

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!

Live in the Chicagoland area?  We’d love to have all animal lovers join us!

SAVE THE DATE
WellPet invites you to Yappy Hour to benefit the Meow Bow Wow Fund, which reimburses animal rescues for their vaccinations and spay/neuter costs. The Clubhouse will feature special dog-themed drinks like the Chocolate Lab Martini and the Grateful Greyhound. We’ll have an amazing silent auction to peruse while you sip your cocktail: offering dog and cat accessories, gift certificates, unique and handmade items, jewelry and much more.  Appetizer specials, a rescued puppy slide show, and friends- if it sounds fun we hope you can join us and “unwind” for this great cause!  We’ll be there all night.

First Friday at The Clubhouse

December 5th (Date change from 11/7)

298 Oakbrook Center, Oak Brook, IL 60523

6:00pm-9:00pm

Questions or silent auction donations please contact: katie@wellpetusa.org

No RSVP necessary, open to the public

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.”

While Hurricane Hanna heads for the east coast of the US, Caribbean animal shelters are working hard to get things back to normal after Gustav.   

The Animal House in Ochos Rios, Jamaica suffered shelter damage, is with out power and suffered a loss of supplies.  Maureen from the facility explains, “We are in serious need of help following Gustav - damage to our electrical wiring which needs re-doing before power can be restored, loss of medical and food supplies, damage to our perimeter fencing, etc., and are asking for assistance anywhere we can think of.

The good news is that not one of our 150 plus animals was injured,..despite over 24 hours of battering by what proved to be a horrible storm.”

 While WellPetUSA’s focus is on domestic pets, its important to keep remeber that people are working worldwide to assist the homeless pet population.  Animal House is only one of two shelters on the island and they did a terrific job of keeping their animals safe from the storm, BRAVO!  There is no HSUS, ASPCA or FEMA so they did it all on their own on an island no less.

Visit the animalhousejamaica.org if you are interested in helping.

HSUS Shelter Partners are immediately eligible to become a PLANET DOG adoption advocate.

PD Adoption advocates that  have special adoption events receive a free adoption events display. Click here to see the display.

These free items are not intended to be sold at your shelter, but to be used to promote adoption events or as a permanent display, only.

Retailers and groomers hosting adoption events that sell Planet Dog products are also eligible to receive free Adoption Day kits including displays, toys and stickers.

 Join Charities across America
Sunday, October 19, 2008
in the SADDLE or in your SNEAKERS
TO HELP ABUSED, NEGLECTED & UNWANTED HORSES

What Is the National Rescue Ride?

‘The National Rescue Ride is a day where all horse lovers across the country will join in a  Rideathon/Walkathon in their own area. The purpose is to raise funds for the charity the rider/walker chooses to support by asking friends and family to sponsor in dollar amounts.  Funds raised will help them provide for abused, neglected and unwanted horses. Because it is the same day for all charities participating nationwide, it will help make a point  to help end horse abuse and neglect, and bring awareness to the unwanted horse issue. Today, with slaughterhouses closing, horses are now shipped across the borders for slaughter, a situation which is far worse than before. There are incentive prizes for the nation’s biggest fund raising riders/walkers! Join us, make a difference.’

Find a ride/walk event in your state.