Adoptable Black Lab Dog Max: Tuesdays Tails

This beautiful black adoptable dog is Max.  He is a neutered black Labrador Retriever and Beagle mixed breed dog.  About 2 years old, Max is looking for some fun and love in a forever home.

Attentive, curious, eager to explore the world, Max is looking for a companion ready for some nice walks.  He wouldn't mind having a nice big backyard!  

A friendly guy, Max loves people and is very good natured.

Take a look at Max's adoption video and then give the shelter a call! Max is at the Humane Society of Missouri Maryland Heights animal shelter:  314-951-1588.  Max's ID number is A553385

We're participating in the Tuesday's Tails blog hop hosted by Dogs N Pawz.  This is the blog hop that features shelter pets.  Find a pet at your local animal shelter or rescue and join us!  Please help spread the word about these beautiful animals via social media and let's find them forever homes!

Pit Bull Dog Baby Girl Needs a Forever Home

Baby Girl is a spayed female Pit bull Terrier mixed breed dog.  Animal Shelter staff at the Humane Society of Missouri think she's about 2 1/2 years old.

Baby Girl is a real looker with those beautiful eyes.  One is brown;  the other blue.  She's a brown brindle and creamy white beauty.  As you can see from her adoption video, Baby Girl doesn't miss a trick.  She's alert and interested in everything going on around her.

This girl is a lover.  Baby Girl adores people and has some wet kisses at the ready.  Good natured, easy going, and ready for her forever home.

For more information about this beautiful Pit Bull mix dog, contact the Humane Society of Missouri in St Louis 314-951-1562.  Baby Girl's ID# A543394.  You may also view her profile on Petfinder.

Since 1870, the Humane Society of Missouri has been dedicated to second chances. They provide a safe and caring haven to all animals in need - large and small - that have been abused, neglected or abandoned. Their mission is to end the cycle of abuse and pet overpopulation through our rescue and investigation efforts, spay/neuter programs and educational classes. They are committed to creating lasting relationships between people and animals through our adoption programs. They further support that bond by making available world-class veterinary care, and outstanding pet obedience and behavior programs.

We're participating in the Tuesday's Tails blog hop hosted by Dogs N Pawz.  This is the blog hop that features shelter animals.  Find a pet at your local animal shelter or rescue and join us!  Please spread the word about these beautiful animals via social media and let's find them forever homes!

White Collie Dog Teddy is Looking for a Home

Teddy is on the far right.

Teddy is a 10 year old white Collie dog available for adoption from the Rocky Mountain Collie/Sheltie Rescue.

He was recently shaved to remove mats, so his coat looks unusually thin right now.  Until recently he lived on a farm in Nebraska with 2 siblings.

Teddy is now neutered and had dental care.  His foster mom describes him as "a joy."

Teddy is very sweet, playful and makes friends quickly.  He is seen here in his adoption video with friends Mulder (the Sheltie) and Lola (the Golden).  

Rescue volunteers are sure that whoever adopts Teddy will find a dear friend.  For more information about this beautiful Collie, contact the Rocky Mountain Collie/Sheltie Rescue.

Rocky Mountain Collie and Sheltie Rescue, originally Pueblo Collie Sheltie Rescue, is a non-profit volunteer operated organization founded in 1979.  Their mission is to rescue, rehabilitate and place lost, abused and abandoned Collies, Collie-mixes, Shelties, and Sheltie-mixes in loving, responsible home.  They are a certified rescue organization through the Colorado Board of Agriculture's State Veterinarian's office.  All of their dogs live in foster homes and remain in foster care until they are adopted.

Fostering Dogs: Kristi and Glenn Austin Q and A

Jingle was found as a stray with her two 8 month old puppies by animal control in Christiansburg, VA.  No one claimed this little family.  The puppies were adopted, but beautiful mama hound, Jingle, remained homeless.

That's when a Virginia couple, Kristi and Glenn Austin, stepped up and agreed to foster Jingle while she underwent spay surgery.  

That's Jingle (left) at the shelter, sporting a new collar, and loaded in the Austin vehicle getting ready for her roadtrip to foster care with Kristi and Glenn.

I can't say I was surprised.  Kristi and Glenn have been fostering for awhile and they especially love hounds!  Well, truthfully, they simply love dogs.  In fact, they have seven dogs of their own.  Yes, some of them are "failed fosters."

Glenn and Kristi Austin

Because fostering is such an important part of saving shelter dogs, I thought I should take advantage of my friendship with the Austin's and ask some questions.

Max

Tell us about your first fostering experience. Why did you decide to foster?
How long did you foster that first dog? How did that dog fit in your
household?

Kristi: Our first foster was in July 2010. 

We adopted a Dalmatian mix from the Dalmatian Rescue of Southwest Virginia (www.drswv.com) in January 2010 and I started volunteering with them later in the spring.  They were in need of emergency fosters for three puppies coming up from North Carolina. I was able to help find fosters for two of the puppies and I talked my husband into fostering the third. 

So Max came into our lives on July 4, 2010. He was about 4 months old and full of clumsy puppy energy. Max is the reason why some people say they can�t foster � because they would get too attached and want to keep them. Well I only had Max a few days and I was completely in love with him. He became our first foster as well as our first failed foster.

Glenn: Ask her to tell you about the �cannon�

How many dogs have your fostered?
 

Chester

Kristi: We�ve fostered dogs anywhere from a few days to several months. There�s been a total of 9 since 2010. Max, (Dalmatian mix), Chester (Dalmatian/Setter mix), Haven (American Bulldog mix), Yuma (Dalmatian mix), Belvedere (English/Bluetick Coonhound), Louis (Long haired Dalmatian), Maggie (Redtick Coonhound), Jazzi (Jack Russell/Hound mix), and Jingle (Redbone Coonhound). 

Our latest foster, Jingle, came from a shelter in southwest Virginia. We are working with City Dogs Rescue http://www.citydogsrescuedc.org/) in Washington, DC to temp foster her, coordinate her vetting and getting her transported to DC.

How do you introduce a new foster dog to your current pets?

Haven

Kristi: Introducing a new dog to our pack can upset the pack dynamic that�s been established by our own 7 dogs. So much so we�ve gone back and forth about continuing to foster. 

Our younger dogs, Boof and Luna are usually more welcoming. Max, our �middle child�, thinks �Yay! Someone I can dominate!�. Mia and Ash, our alpha female and male are quick to let the newbies know they are in charge. Emme is typically indifferent, as is Belvie, unless it�s a puppy and he becomes a drooling goof! 

What�s easiest to do is to introduce the new foster gradually. We�ll put the foster with one or two of ours at a time so they can do the meet and greet with each other and get familiar with all the new smells. By the time the foster has met all of ours, they look at you like �That�s all of them right?�

Yuma

Glenn: We bring them in, let check out the house and just introduce them to the less alpha dogs first and then one by one introduce them all in
limited numbers.

 



Tell us about your set-up. Crates? Yard/exercise.

Kristi: All of our own dogs are crate trained so we do have several crates set up in 2-3 rooms in the house. We rotate who gets crated at night and there�s a couple that are crated when we�re at work because they like to pilfer in the house. So we do/have used crates with all of our fosters. We have a fenced in area for our dogs so fosters get to go out and play and interact with our dogs.

Of course, you feed them, but what about basic training, behavior
modification, socialization, and medical care?
 

Louis the Longhair

Kristi: we do work with fosters on house training and crate training. Basic manners are always useful. Socialization is usually needed. 

I�ve taken fosters on short weekend trips or trips to dog friendly places in town to allow them to interact with people and see how they ride in a car. We have dealt with behavior modification issues in the past. 

One of our fosters, Haven, was becoming crate and dog aggressive after she�d been at the rescue for a few weeks. I had spent some time with Haven at the rescue and knew she was a great dog, just not happy in a crate environment. My husband let me bring her home to foster so I could work with her. 

We kept her outside in a kennel during the day and crated at night. I worked with her one on one for about a month, slowly introducing her to our dogs and letting them interact. I also had a behaviorist work with her. This dog had an amazing, goofy personality. 

Haven was with us for about 8 months before she was adopted. We�d had several applications on her, but I was very protective of her. My husband has referred to me as the �adoption mafia� because I was so militant about her applications. I had worked with Haven for so long and she�d come such a long way, I couldn�t just let her go to anyone. She ended up getting adopted by a family friend so I get regular updates! 

Rescue/shelter dogs come to their foster homes with a past. People who are thinking about fostering should understand that. These dogs have been dumped at shelters, abused and neglected by their former owners, or picked up as strays These dogs have often lived hard lives by the time they go to a foster home so they are nervous, afraid, unsure. Foster parents have to be ready and willing to deal with that.

How do you find the time?

Maggie

Kristi: We have a pretty good system down with our own dogs and they are on a routine for feeding, bedtime, etc. It takes a couple of days for the new foster to figure it out, but once they do they settle into it pretty well. 

Feeding time is like an assembly line of dog bowls. We rotate who�s inside and who�s outside on days we�re off so they all get time inside and outside. Don�t get me wrong; it can be stressful and chaotic. My husband vacuums everyday as soon as he gets home from work. Thank God for hardwood! 

We�re constantly picking up gutted dog toys or taking shoes away from Boof. Glenn and I both work full time, but we love our dogs so we make time. Fostering from time to time is very important to me. There are just so many dogs in shelters and you realize you can�t save them all even though you want to. I don�t know who this quote is attributed to, but I love it: �Saving one dog won�t change the world, but it will change the world for that one dog.�

Any �horror� stories?

Kristi: Not really horror stories. There are things that you sometimes have to watch out for when you bring a foster in, especially if you have other dogs. If you bring in a male that hasn�t been neutered yet, they tend to mark which cause your male dogs to mark over it. 

Strong willed female fosters can cause an issue if you have a dominant female in the house. A battle of wills so to speak. You often have to be prepared to work on them with basic manners, housetraining, socialization, or just being in a house for the first time.

Are you actively involved in finding the foster dogs forever homes? How do you give them up?

Jazzi

Kristi: Yes, I volunteer with the Dalmatian Rescue of Southwest Virginia as the Foster and Event Coordinator. I often work with the applications for any dog I am fostering for them. I also network with several groups via Facebook and email to spread awareness of dogs available for adoption or needing rescues. I create flyers for my fosters that have pictures and bios of our fosters to post on Facebook.

As much as I would love to keep them all, I know realistically it�s not possible so I like to play a role in where the foster goes if I can. 

Another group I work with is in my home state of West Virginia. One of the volunteers I work with I call my �coonhound partner in crime� and she works endlessly with other volunteers to save the dogs at the shelter in Charleston. The group is called Dog Bless and your can check them out here: https://www.facebook.com/dogblessadvocacy

Tell us about your �failed� fosters. Why did you decide to keep them?

Belvedere aka Belvie

Kristi: Our first foster, Max, was a puppy and that probably had a little
to do with us keeping him. You do get attached to them, especially your first couple fosters. Max was just an adorable clumsy puppy. He and his brother were picked up as strays in North Carolina when they were just about 3-4 months old. 

He will be forever known to us by the �ass cannon� incident on his first night with us. He�d been on a transport all day so he was a little stressed and settling in. I caught him just finishing up a round of diarrhea in our dining room (thank goodness for hardwood floors!).

Anyway, I went to clean it up and thought I got it all, but could still smell it. We discovered he�d also managed to poop down into the AC register! He sat by my side watching me in my rubber gloves as I cleaned it all up!  

Max as a puppy used to play really hard with our larger dogs. When he�d get tired he�d come over to me and I�d pick him up and he�d go to sleep in my arms. My husband looked at me and goes �That dog isn�t leaving here is he?� Well now 3 years later, Max is close to 70 lbs and still climbs into my lap on occasion. He�s a total mama�s boy!

Glenn: Kristi brought Belvie in and already �had� a Coon Hound rescue group up in Massachusetts for him. Well Massachusetts has strict rules for bringing in outside animals. We had to arrange to have a Health Certificate for him prior to transport. We arranged transport and a vet visit but the health Certificate expired before we could get him transported so we had to arrange for another Vet check. 

So we�re ready to get him on a transport and we find out that he has to be tested for Lyme Disease.  He�s tested on Thursday, the transport is on Friday. Of course he tests positive for Lyme Disease, though he has no symptoms. Treatment is antibiotics for several weeks. At this point after our failed attempts to get him transported we just decided it was meant to be for him to be with us, so we adopted him!

Why should dog lovers foster?

Jingle

Kristi: Fostering is an amazingly rewarding experience. Our latest foster, Jingle, is a senior redbone coonhound that was picked up as a stray in southwest Virginia with her two pups. The pups were adopted but Jingle was left. I convinced City Dogs Rescue in Washington, DC to take her in and we became her foster while she's vetted. 

For anyone who thinks they can�t foster because they would want to keep him/her, that's okay because you will want to keep them. BUT, know you are saving the life of an unwanted dog that would have stayed in a shelter and perhaps been euthanized for to make room for more dogs to be brought in. When you foster and let that dog go to a forever home, it opens your home to save yet another life.  

I'll cry like an idiot when Jingle moves on but I'll know that she's spending her golden years in a warm home with a family who will love and spoil her crazy. 

If you foster for a rescue, vetting expenses are generally paid for or reimbursed by the rescue. A foster family provides love, attention, help with housebreaking (if needed), socialization. I am the foster coordinator for Dalmatian Rescue of Southwest Virginia and we adopt Dalmatians and Dalmatian mixes throughout US and in Canada. Foster homes are always needed.

If you can�t foster, I would encourage anyone to volunteer with their local shelter or rescue. Help with transporting a dog, walking a dog, donating a bag of dog food or a little money to help pay for vaccinations or heartworm preventatives.

Austin pups sunning on the deck.

If you are interested in fostering, Kristi and Glenn suggest you check out these sites: 

Dalmatian Rescue of Southwest Virginia 
Dog Bless   (affiliated with the Kanawha Charleston Humane Association in West Virginia)
City Dogs Rescue, Washington, DC
Logan County WV Adoptable Animals � volunteer group working with a rural county pound in Logan, WV. They just received their non-profit status.  This is where our former foster Yuma was pulled from this pound.

Some of the Austin pack watching Glenn plow snow!

You Do the Math: World Spay Day

Reproduction facts about dogs and cats from the Humane Society of the United States:

• One un-spayed female dog and her un-spayed offspring can theoretically produce 67,000 dogs in six years.
• One un-spayed female cat and one un-neutered male cat and their offspring can result in 420,000 kittens in seven years.
• A single female cat can have 29 litters in 10 years.
• A male cat can sire as many as 2,500 kittens in a single year;  a male dog can sire almost as many puppies.

According to research data gathered from the American Humane Society and Pet Finder as of August 2012:

• Total number of US animal shelters:  5,000
• Number of companion animals that enter animal shelters annually:  6-8 million
• Average number of companion animals euthanized annually:  3.5 million
• Percent of dogs in animal shelters that are euthanized:  60%
• Percent of cats in animal shelters that are euthanized:  70%
• Percent of dogs that are returned to their owners:  15%
• Percent of cats that are returned to their owners:  2%
• Total number of pets that end up in a shelter that are spayed or neutered:  10%

You do the math.

Be part of the solution!  Spaying or neutering your pet ensures that they will not add to the millions of already homeless pets.  

Need more reasons to spay or neuter your pet?  Fetch the following articles from the Be the Change for Animals blog hop celebrating World Spay Day.

Help! A Cat Music Video: Dog Song Saturday

It's Saturday, so time for a dog song at Talking Dogs.  Hope you won't be too disappointed, but we're actually featuring a cat music video today.  Skeeter insisted!

February 26 is World Spay Day and we're celebrating a little early with Help!   Put together by the Alliance for Humane Action, this cat music video provides a very important message:  spay or neuter your cat.  Of course, the same is true for dog owners.

We'll be talking more about World Spay Day later this month, but right now it's time for you to grab a cat (or dog)!  Sit.  Stay.  Relax and enjoy Help! Cat Music Video.

Fetch more dog (and cat) song music videos at Talking Dogs and be sure to scroll down below today's featured video to explore some barking good blogs in the Pet Blogger Hop. Don't miss some great articles about spaying and neutering your pets in the World Spay Day blog hop!

 
Be the Change for Animals World Spay Day Blog Hop!

Animal Welfare in Trouble in Missouri

From the looks of the legislative session, animal welfare in Missouri is in trouble.  Here's a wrap up of the latest news from the Missouri Alliance for Animal Legislation.

"As more and more commercial dog breeders stop breeding dogs due to recent implementation of humane standards of care, the clamor from the pet industry and agricultural interests increases as they rail against all laws protecting animals.

A prominent Missouri pet industry representative, Jim Hughes, who operated one of the largest dog brokering operations in the country, recently lamented that "today, the pet shop is about to suffer the same fate as Hostess Twinkies." Mr. Hughes stated that the "puppy breeders are disappearing in droves." Mr. Hughes blames the recently enacted Canine Cruelty Prevention Act (CCPA) stating that years ago "the commercial puppy breeders sold 400,000 puppies through pet stores across the country...that has been cut in half."

While it is true that over 900 dog breeding operations have closed down in Missouri, Mr. Hughes fails to acknowledge that the reason for doing so was not onerous regulations but rather many breeders simply refused to provide even a modicum of care and humane treatment to their dogs. The new regulations which proved too burdensome to hundreds of breeders were the requirements for veterinary care, adequate living space, and access to fresh air. Simply put, dog breeders can no longer warehouse their dogs in barns confined inside tiny cages often never seeing the light of day and languishing without veterinary care.

Instead of celebrating the demise of the cruel puppy mill scenario of raising dogs and encouraging a more humane and professional approach of producing puppies, industry leaders, along with agricultural interests, and even some lawmakers, are instead decrying a loss of jobs. At a recent hearing in a House Agriculture Committee, some lawmakers ramped up the rhetoric against the welfare of animals. Comments such as animals should not be companions, horses should not be companions, and they will make Bessie the cow a companion animal next, were heard including the claim that dogs are just an issue to get the foot in the door to attack animal agriculture. One lawmaker expressed a desire to weaken our new puppy mill law and another wants to lessen the penalties for dogfighting and for "those who torture animals."

A host of bills have already been introduced that would weaken current laws or restrict future laws protecting animals. One bill would even eliminate our current prohibition against cockfighting. We expect more adverse bills to come. We will keep you informed of our ongoing efforts to protect the welfare of animals in Jefferson City. This legislative session will no doubt be a very critical time for the welfare of animals in Missouri.

Here's the legislation MAAL is following in 2013 - legislation supported by MAAL is in black;  opposed is in red:

• HB 153 Added protections for Animal Control Officers.
• HB 174  Crimes Against Police Animals
• HB 205  Affirms the Right to Raise Livestock Without An Undue Economic Burden on Livestock Owners
• HB 206 Designates the Month of December as "Pet Breeders Appreciation Month"
• HB 210 Weakens Animal Fighting and Abuse Statutes 
• HB 255 Removes Taxes on Animal Shelters
• HB 284 Removes Taxes on Animal Shelters
• HJR 7 Proposed Constitutional Amendment Affirming the Right to Hunt, Fish and Farm
•  HJR 10 Proposed Constitutional Amendment Requiring 4/7 Majority on any Ballot Initiative Relating to Raising Livestock
• HJR 11 Proposed Constitutional Amendment Affirming the Right to Hunt, Fish and Farm
• SB 41 Weakens Protection Against Emission of Air Pollutants and Solid Waste Discharge
• SB 98 Removes Taxes on Animal Shelters
•  SB 149 Primate Act   

 Fetch the Missouri Alliance for Animal Legislation on the web for more information.

Missouri Puppy Mills: Dog Breeders Ordered to Provide Humane Care

A judge has denied the request presented by a group of Missouri dog breeders for a preliminary injunction and has ruled that dog breeders must continue to provide humane care.

I just received this news from the Missouri Alliance for Animal Legislation.  Some of the assertions by the dog breeders in this lawsuit were pretty unbelievable.  So, I'm re-printing straight from MAAL.  I've used bold and red to call your attention to some of the most shocking court statements.

"A group representing 83 dog breeders in the state of Missouri has brought a lawsuit in an effort to thwart the new regulations promulgating humane standards of care for dogs confined in puppy mills. These new regulations are the result of the passage of the Canine Cruelty Prevention Act in 2011. The breeders' group sought a temporary restraining order against the regulations and when that failed, they sought a hearing to argue for a preliminary injunction against the regulations. After the hearing on January 11, Judge Jon Beetem, of the Circuit Court of Cole County, dismissed the request for preliminary injunction but will allow the dog breeders to argue their case at trial later this year.

The rejection of the injunction is an important victory as it means that dog breeders will have to continue to comply with the regulations--some of which are due for enforcement at the end of January. An injunction would have permitted dog breeders to flaunt the new regulations and continue to deny breeding dogs access to the outdoors until the case is resolved later in the year. 

The hearing was quite telling about the commercial dog breeding industry in Missouri.

One breeder testified that when she was told she had to provide her dogs with access to the outdoors, she chose to kill them rather than comply with the new rule. She had her veterinarian euthanize 72 of them and proudly presented a photo of 25 dead dogs to the judge as evidence of how her business has been hurt since passage of the new law.

Another breeder in the courtroom audience stated that she also destroyed her dogs rather than comply with new rules and bragged that she only had to pay her vet $7 per dog to have them euthanized.

While some of the testimony was a tragic exposure of how dogs are exploited in the commercial dog breeding industry, some of the testimony proved farcical as the breeders and their representatives argued that they did not know what "constant" and "unfettered" access to the outdoors meant. They claimed that since the regulations did not define the terms, the breeders were left in the dark. One witness under cross examination by the attorney general's office was asked to read the definition of "constant" and "unfettered" from the dictionary. After reading the definition, the witness claimed that nowhere in the regulations did it say to refer to the dictionary for meaning of the words. He claimed not to know to use a dictionary for words he did not understand. He argued that "even words with defined meaning need further clarification from the Department of Agriculture."  

Another breeder testified that her dogs cannot be outside as they are too excitable and the excitement of being outside could kill them. She said she could not risk them being outside as a car might backfire or children might walk by her yard. Any excitement could cause them to die. This, of course, raises the question as to whether she informs her customers that the puppies she is selling are restricted to indoor use only for their entire life and can never go outside even to relieve themselves. This breeder testified that "outside air causes loss of ventilation" for dogs. She alleged that six dogs died of heatstroke and excitability when she tried an outdoor exercise plan. 

The breeders argued that dogs do not need access to sunlight and even expressed objection to providing extra bedding to dogs housed outside in winter weather claiming they did not know what "extra bedding" meant. The breeders also argued against the requirement for heavy duty tarps for windbreaks for dogs housed outside.

An Assistant Attorney General summed it up well for the judge when he asserted that dogs are simply commodities to commercial dog breeders."

I guess I could have used bold and red throughout the article since almost all of the above has me banging my head against my desk.  So goes the fight in Missouri about puppy mills / commercial dog breeding.

Black Lab Molly is Looking for a Forever Home

This beautiful girl is Molly.  She's a spayed female, black Labrador Retriever mix.  Shelter staff think she's about 18 months old.  She sits and walks nicely on a leash.

Take a look at Molly's adoption video below and then give the Humane Society of Missouri Chesterfield Valley animal shelter a call at 636-530-0805.  Molly's ID number is A544835

Adoptable Dog Boogie Pilgrim Has Personality to Spare

You really do need a fun loving, car riding, grass rolling guy in your life, right?

Boogie Pilgrim is all that and more!

For starters, he is one handsome dude of a dog.  A beautiful white with some black beauty marks, Boogie Pilgrim is a 45 pound, one year old, Pitbull Terrier mix.  He is working on his house manners and is learning basic training commands.

He may look like a distinguished gentleman in his photo, but you should see him lolling on a comfy bed or couch.  Boogie Pilgrim loves car rides and knows that his place is in the back seat, checking on the world outside the window.  He's an outdoor boy and loves to roll in the grass.  Fetch is his favorite game.

Boogie Pilgrim is a young guy just finding his way in the world.  All he needs is someone to love him and help him be the best dog he can be.

If you think that someone might be you, contact Stray Rescue of Saint Louis at 314-771-6121.  Boogie Pilgrim is calling their Pine Street animal shelter home for now. 


Founded by Randy Grim, Stray Rescue of St. Louis's sole purpose is to rescue stray animals in need of medical attention, restore them to health, and place them in loving adoptive homes. Virtually all of the pets they save have been abused and neglected. They've been dumped on highways, or remote country roads. Abandoned in public parks, empty houses and dark alleys. They've even saved dogs left chained behind buildings after their owners had moved away.

Celebrate Valentine's Day with Adoptable Pets

Tired of the same old, same old, for Valentine's Day?  Head to St. Louis Missouri and celebrate with adorable, adoptable pets instead!

On Tuesday, February 12, the Humane Society of Missouri is having a soiree to remember.  Join them for cocktails, light appetizers, and meet plenty of single pets looking for love at this fun, casual event.

Your ticket gets you one drink and unlimited trips to the Doggie Kissing Booth!  Proceeds benefit the Humane Society of Missouri's Cinderella Fund, which makes extraordinary surgeries possible for injured and abused animals. 

Since 1870, the Humane Society of Missouri has been dedicated to second chances for animals in need.  The Humane Society of Missouri helps more than 85,000 homeless, abused and unwanted animals each year.   They operate three Adoption Centers and Veterinary Medical Centers throughout the St. Louis area.

Fetch the Humane Society of Missouri on the web for more information.  Get your tickets to Puppy Love here.

Free Pet Care Available in 63107 Zip Code

Live in the 63107 zip code in St. Louis, MO?  Take advantage of free help for your pets!

Through their Families With Paws program, Stray Rescue of Saint Louis is sharing information and free pet care resources, one zip code at a time.

Working with a grant from the National Humane Society, Stray Rescue is targeting one zip code at a time within their city.  Going door to door, Stray Rescue is offering free pet care assistance:

• Spays and neuters for dogs and cats
• Rabies and distemper shots for dogs and cats
• Microchips for dogs and cats

Currently they're working with the 63107 zip code, the program will move to different zip codes in the future.  Contact Stray Rescue of Saint Louis on the web or call 314-771-6121 for more information.
 .
 

Letter from Pit Bull Dog Falcon

This beautiful boy is Falcon.  He's a 2 year old Pit Bull mix who is currently calling Wayside Waifs in Kansas City home.  Below is his message to you, plus a wonderful adoption video!

"Hey there! I'm Falcon, a happy, energetic boy, just searching for a brand new home. I'm loads of fun and ready to go, so I hope you can keep up with me! I am a 2 year old, 46 pounds of solid muscle, Pit Bull Terrier/Pointer mix. I'm a handsome, fascinating combination of breeds and you won't find another dog out there like me! First thing you'll notice about me is my eyes. Oh my, my picture really doesn't do me justice, but come out to meet me and you'll find I have the most beautiful eyes ever. I'm strong and loyal, just like my Pit Bull ancestors. And I'm athletic and active, just like my Pointer ancestors. I love to play and am happy to join you with whatever activity you'd like to do.

I came to Wayside as a transfer from the shelter in Springfield, MO, when they ran out of space for me. With my unique looks and loving, fun personality, it didn't take me long to make a name for myself here. I'm already a volunteer favorite, thank you very much! They take me out for a walk or a run to try to tire me out, but no one has succeeded in that as of yet. It's hard for an active dog like me to live in a kennel, so I really, really appreciate it anytime I can get out to play. When I finally get home, life will be so wonderful! I think about it all the time and look forward to the day I get adopted. That will be the best day ever.

It seems like I'm already at least partially housetrained. I keep my kennel clean and go to the bathroom as soon as I get outside. Please be patient with me when we get home though, as I learn all about my new routines. I love to go for walks, although sometimes I forget my own strength and pull on my leash just a little. A harness would be good for me and make our walks much more enjoyable for both of us. I'll make a really great exercise partner for my new family...always up for a walk or run or hike or just playtime in the backyard. I need and want exercise to keep me happy and healthy, so I hope you're the active sort who likes that kind of thing too.

I love my treats! And I'm smart and eager to please, making me a perfect candidate for training. I hope you'll take the time to help me learn all about what it means to be a great family dog. I've already mastered 'sit' and 'down', and I'm working on 'leave it'. I am happy to come whenever you call me, and am such a good listener when you need something from me. I'm social and sweet and just an all around great dog!

My play with other dogs can get sort of rough and rowdy. I love to play, but not all dogs appreciate my style. So please bring any other dogs you have to meet me before we go home together, just to be sure we get along great.

Please come for me soon! I need a home! I need a family. I need you. I'm waiting for you now.
Love, Falcon"

Wayside Waifs is Kansas City�s largest no-kill animal shelter.   They are an independent, 501 (c) 3 not-for-profit humane society and animal welfare organization established in 1944.  Wayside Waifs is committed to finding homes for all adoptable pets. Wayside is the largest pet adoption center in Kansas City, placing over 5,400 animals each year in loving forever homes. Wayside does not euthanize adoptable animals, and there are no time limits for animals in our care. Only animals suffering from significant medical issues or those that pose a danger are humanely euthanized. Wayside Waifs is proud to be a part of Kansas City's no-kill community.

Dog Song Saturday: Adopt a Dog by Edie Brickell

  It's Saturday, so time for a dog song at Talking Dogs.  Today's featured dog song is short and sweet.  All of us at Talking Dogs love the message:  adopt a dog.

We also like that this is short and sweet because just two weeks ago we adopted our little black Golden Retriever / Labrador mix puppy, Rosie.  And we need to play with her!

This dog music video is actually an ad spot for the SPCA.  The song is Adopt a Dog, an original song by Edie Brickell.

Trust us, you're gonna love it!  

Grab a dog.  Sit.  Stay.  Relax and enjoy Adopt a Dog.   

If you're in the mood, fetch some more dog song music videos at Talking Dogs.  We've got quite a collection!   Then be sure to scroll down below today's feature to explore some barking good blogs because today is a Pet Blogger Hop.

Adopt Dr Joyce Brothers a Dog at Stray Rescue

Is there a Doctor in the house?  As a matter of fact, there is!   

Hi everyone, my name is Dr. Joyce Brothers, also known as JOY to those who know and love me.  That�s because I am pure Joy�the happiest girl in the world.  

I am somewhat of a celebrity at Stray Rescue.  I have charmed the socks off of all their volunteers.  They spoil me rotten, but what I would really love is a chance at a forever home because I have been living at SR for quite a while.

Some things I love are car rides, playing Frisbee (see my link, I am an expert) having lunch at an outdoor caf�, milkshakes at Crown Candy Kitchen, kids, walks in the park, and hiking in the woods.  I am a very experienced hiker.  

Lately I have been lucky enough to spend a day or two each week with a volunteer at his office.  I am an official mascot of a company!   I attend meetings and hang out with the gang during lunch.  I am constantly honing my training skills too.  I can sit, wait, give my paw, and my leash walking skills are just about perfect.   

Don�t I sound like the perfect dog for you?  I promise to be your best and most loyal friend.  Check out my video below and then call Stray Rescue of St Louis at their 2320 Pine Street animal shelter 314-771-6121 and find out more about me.

Stray Rescue is a pawsome organization and their animal shelter is barking good, but I really need a forever home!

Stray Rescue's sole purpose is to rescue stray animals in need of medical attention, restore them to health, and place them in loving adoptive homes. Virtually all of the pets we save have been abused and neglected. They've been dumped on highways, or remote country roads. Abandoned in public parks, empty houses and dark alleys. We've even saved dogs left chained behind buildings after their owners had moved away.

Rescued animals often make the best pets. As a no-kill organization, pets from Stray Rescue seem to understand that they have a second lease on life. In return for a little affection and attention, these remarkable animals reward their new owners with a love and loyalty unmatched anywhere.