Help animals in Haiti

At the risk of being accused of putting animals before humans, here are some resources for helping animals affected by the earthquake in Haiti:

Brad Shear, executive director of the Mohawk and Huson River Human Society, recommends donating to the World Society for the Protection of Animals, which he says has been helping animals for a long time and needs assistance now.

The Humane Society of the United States is also assessing how it can help and is accepting donations.

The Christian Veterinary Mission, whose mission is to improve the care of livestock and other animals, has set up a dedicated fund for earthquake relief.

Heifer International has put on an emergency appeal for funds.

The American Veterinary Medical Foundation has an ongoing disaster relief fund.

Know of any other ways to help? Share them here.

Tillman the Skateboarding Dog Plays Video Games Too

By now, the antics of Tillman the skateboarding bulldog is the stuff of Internet yore. It is history, never to be rewritten, but rather to remain in the annals of online ephemera until the World Wide Web's last dying day--

Whoops, my bad. Here's Tillman playing a skateboarding video game (really well, obviously).


Skateboarding Dog Plays Video Game - The best video clips are here

Sweaters for Shelter Dogs: You Can Help!

I love stories about people finding new ways to help needy pets, so when I heard about the Save the Dogs From the Chill Project, my tail got to wagging.

The Save the Dogs From the Chill Project takes donations of old sweaters and re-purposes them for dogs in shelters, something that's particularly important this winter when temperatures all across the country are reaching record lows. Even the southern states are seeing below-freezing temperatures, and not all shelters have indoor areas for all their dogs.

You can keep tabs on the project's progress on their blog . And, of course, you can send your own used sweaters (or check your local Goodwill to scoop some up on the cheap) to the address in this post. Come on, you're never going to wear that ugly Christmas sweater again, are you? Lend a paw to a dog in need!

10 Reasons Older People Need Pets

As the new year unfolds, one of the best resolutions you can make—and keep—is to call your local animal shelter and make arrangements to see if there is a stray dog or cat that you can take into your home. Having a pet helps seniors stay invested in life. Particularly if you live alone, pets counter loneliness and help you continue to focus on what's going on around you.

There is no one pet perfect for everyone. Maybe you've always had a thing for songbirds and want to be awakened with a melody each morning (but not one that comes from an alarm clock). Or perhaps it's exotic fish or some other creature you can care for. My son has taken a powerful liking to chinchillas, and he says that if you can locate a social chinchilla, you will have found the perfect pet. The point is to find a pet that is right for you.

Although there is no perfect pet, I will promptly alienate millions of pet lovers by saying that a dog is the best choice for many people. Dogs and people develop deep emotional ties, and dogs are great companions. They will literally lay down their lives to protect you. Most ask for little in return except to be where you are and to get an occasional pat or scratch behind the ear.

Most people advise older pet owners to consider a smaller dog. Big dogs can be more than a handful. Maybe you can't get out to walk the dog as often as you should. Smaller dogs don't require as much exercise. And when you take the dog for a walk, it's nice to walk it and not be taken for a walk, which can easily happen with a larger dog. Maybe you live in a small home or apartment and don't want a big dog taking over your living space. You may prefer a dog that's not high strung and is calmer around the house. Here's a list of small dogs selected to meet these requirements, drawn from similar lists provided at PetPlace.com and Pet Connect:

•Cocker spaniel
•Chihuahua
•Maltese
•Pekingese
•Pomeranian
•Pug
•Schnauzer
•Shih tzu
•Toy poodle
•Yorkshire terrier

If you haven't already set out for the pet store or shelter, here are 10 reasons to do so:

Companionship. Loneliness can become an unwelcome companion as we age and can lead to depression as well as physical problems. Dogs mold their schedule and personality to you. They are never unavailable or off duty. Smaller dogs, in particular, can easily travel.

Having a routine. The routine of caring for a pet can bring structure and purpose to daily life. Maybe you don't always want to get out of bed, but your pet wants you to. Isn't that a good thing?

Exercise. People benefit from regular physical exercise regardless of their age. But it is hard to get into a regular exercise routine, and it's so very easy to skip it. Having a dog can be a great way to make walking a part of your daily plan.

Less stress. Older people with pets tend to exhibit less stress than those without. Maybe it's those regular walks or the sense that you've got a friend to share life's challenges. Or maybe it's that tail wagging you see very day when you wake up.

Getting out. Having a pet, particularly one that requires regular outdoor activity, helps you stay connected to life. You go for veterinary checkups, and perhaps you visit a dog groomer. You need to be involved in social activities.

Making new friends. There are lots of shared activities for pet owners, ranging from communal walks to charitable events and other organizations that cater to animals and protecting the environment. It can be hard to meet new people, but pets are great icebreakers.

New interests. A pet can expose you to new interests and activities. Maybe it's cleaning up the neighborhood park where you walk your dog. Some hospitals seek pet owners who will volunteer to bring in their pets to spend time with patients.

Protection. A dog can provide significant security. Potential thieves will stay away from a home with a barking dog. Your watchdog may weigh only 8 pounds soaking wet, but the person on the other side of the door doesn't know that.

Taking care of something. Sure, you need your pet. Your pet needs you, too. The need to be useful and of value doesn't magically disappear when your career ends or your kids grow up and build their own independent lives. It is very satisfying to take care of another living creature.

Investing in life. At the end of the day, having a pet means that you have made a promise to continue being involved in another life. This commitment is one of the most positive decisions you can make as you get older.

How to Meet a Dog Lover

If you love dogs, it would be nice to meet someone who loves dogs too. Especially if your dog is a significant part of your life--you'll want your significant other to appreciate him as much as you do. Love me, love my dog...right? Here are some ways to go about catching a dog lover.


Step 1 - Visit the Mecca for dog lovers--of course, we're talking about the dog park. Chances are, people who make the effort to load their dogs into the car and are willing to travel just so their pooches can have leash-free activity and socialization are lovers of dogs. There have been many instances of people unleashing their dog only to find themselves leashing a mate.

Step 2 - Go over and compliment the dog of someone who strikes your fancy. If he says, "Thanks, we found him as a stray" and then his boyfriend comes over to join him, move on to your next target.

Step 3 - Find someone who has the same type of dog you have or a breed of dog you're familiar with. This could indicate someone with similar tastes and a compatible personality. It will be a great icebreaker, plus, he (she) will be impressed that you know so much about their dog. If you have a mixed breed dog that you rescued and the object of your affections (lust) has a mixed breed rescue dog, you will have that in common and can discuss why people continue to breed or buy dogs from pet stores when there are so many animals that need homes. Then you'll look into each other's eyes--and the rest will just fall into place.

Step 4 - Enroll your dog in doggie daycare. If you see a cute Boxer with an equally cute owner, make sure you pick up your dog at the same time each day. Eventually you can ask him (her) where they're headed (chances are it's home, since they have their dog). That should be their cue to invite you to a cafe with a dog friendly patio or to a place that has "yappy hour" (a dog friendly happy hour).

Step 5 - Join an online dating service and make sure to specify you're a dog lover. If possible, mention your dog in your bio. There are online dating services specifically for pet lovers (dogmeet.net, DateMyPet, PetPeopleMeet). There is also Craigslist for meeting local dog lovers.

Angels Gate Hospice

A few days ago I wrote about Rachel Ray's Mutt Madness contest. The $50,000 winner was Angels Gate Hospice.

Angel's Gate is a home for special needs animals. Their website states that "animals, many of whom are terminally and/or critically ill or physically challenged, come to live out their days in peace, dignity and love. Our focus is on wellness and quality of life. We provide for the physical, emotional and spiritual needs of each animal. We take a holistic approach in animal care, giving all needed supportive services including hospice care.

If you come to visit our home you're likely to be impressed with the vitality of our family members even though they are "special needs" animals. Many require physical therapy, medical attention and nursing care. They may have cancer, liver or kidney disease, paralyses, blindness, deafness, diabetes, neurological or seizure disorders, orthopedic or geriatric problems. Still the overall impression is one of vibrant life and peaceful living. Most dogs and cats are active and relate in socially positive ways.

Currently, at our home we care for nearly 400 individuals of many species. These include dogs, cats, parrots, ponies, ducks, swan, pigeons, geese, chickens and rabbits. Dogs and cats receive a raw food natural diet (B.A.R.F. diet) specially prepared by a local butcher.

Our animals are a part of the Angel's Gate household. Most are free to roam their home and/or the spacious back yard. Dogs and cats are not crated. Only the parrots are caged. The water fowl, chickens and pigeons are penned at night for their protection.

There is never a fee when we adopt an animal with special needs. We depend solely on supporter contributions which come to us from all over the United States. We even have supporters from as far away as Canada, France, Germany ,The Netherlands, Africa and many from Japan.

Angel's Gate has relocated from Long Island to our 100 acre farm in the town of Delhi, which is located in beautiful Delaware County NY."


To see the Rachel Ray clip, Click here.

Burned Pupppy Has a New Home and New Purpose

For months, concerned North Carolina citizens and animal lovers across the nation have been following the saga of Susie, a puppy found in a Greensboro park with burns on 60 percent of her body. An employee at the shelter where animal control brought the dog said she had severe burns over her back, belly, and head, plus some broken bones, and wounds that were infected with maggots, reports the WFMY News in Greensboro.

At first no one knew who had set the 3-month-old pup on fire, but a Crimestoppers tip led to the arrest of Lashawn Demaro Whitehead, 20.

Over the course of Susie's recovery, volunteers at the Guilford Animal Shelter used Twitter to keep her growing community of fans up to date on her progress. Hundreds of people came forward to try to adopt her, but the shelter wanted to make absolutely sure that the dog, who has obviously already been through a lot, would go to just the right home.

Now, finally, Susie has a new family. According to WFMY News, she has been adopted by Donna Lawrence, owner of Greensboro's Kutting Edge Hair Salon. Lawrence, who was attacked by a pit bull last year, said, "I think my story compared to her story, being attacked by a human. We both had to overcome our fears so that kind of attracted me to her."

"She's doing good, she is happy, she's energetic, she loves being in my back yard, she plays with my other dog, my cat -- so she's doing great," Lawrence said. She brings Susie to work with her at the salon, in part to socialize the dog with people. As she explained, "I want to use her for a therapy dog eventually to help with burn victims or cancer."

Marsha Williams, the owner of Guilford Animal Shelter, told Paw Nation that many people had volunteered to take Susie after reading about her story, but that their goal was to find someone who really wanted her for who she was. She went on to say, "We talk to Donna [Susie's new owner] almost every day. We had to send over a trainer to teach Donna how to interact with Susie so that she would respect Donna as leader in the house. When Susie decided it was her house she wanted to be dominant. You can't feel sorry for her and baby her. You have to treat her like any other dog."

Susie's new owner and the shelter plan to work together to use Susie as an advocate for animal cruelty prevention and education programs, and as a therapy dog.

To watch video, Click here.