Ever Want to Help a Chained Dog?

This morning I received a wonderful e-mail from the folks at Best Friends Animal Society. They operate out of Kenab, Utah and run a wonderful "forever" animal sanctuary. They are assisting a group with a special Valentine's Day project for chained dogs and are asking everyone to participate. I thought I would share the information with those of you here as well. Together we can make a difference. Read on for details below:

Dogs Deserve Better Announces its Third Have a Heart for Chained Dogs Week, February 7-14.

Dogs Deserve Better, a nonprofit working to bring dogs into the home and family, has designated Valentine's Week, February 7-14th, "Have a Heart for Chained Dogs Week."

The group is striving to raise awareness for chained and penned dogs in a positive way...by delivering a Valentine, a brochure and a treat to dogs living outside all over the U.S. as well as in other countries where they have representation, such as Canada and Australia.

Dogs Deserve Better seeks to mail and/or hand deliver more than 3000 Valentines, in this, its third season. In 2004 the group delivered over 2400 Valentines to chained or penned dogs.

Tammy S. Grimes, founder of Dogs Deserve Better, states, “Last year, elementary students made 500 of our valentines, which were a touchingly successful addition to our campaign. This year we’d like all 3000 valentines to be hand-made, and we're seeking interested elementary teachers and students nationwide, as well as groups such as girl and boy scouts, to create Valentines for the chained dogs. The students and groups gain a sense of accomplishment from creating for the dogs, and our hope is that more and more dog caretakers are educated as a result of the children's efforts.”

All Valentines are needed at the Dogs Deserve Better headquarters in Tipton, PA by February 7th, and must fit into an A10 envelope when folded. Any group who would like to participate should e-mail info@dogsdeservebetter.org or call 814.941.7447 for further details.

Dogs Deserve Better invites any interested volunteers nationwide to deliver Valentines to local chained dogs. Volunteers can also provide the group with addresses of dogs in need of a Valentine and treat.

Those interested in sponsoring Valentines for the chained dogs may go to www.dogsdeservebetter.com to help one or more of the many wonderful dogs living alone outside in our country.



Please spread the word about this special week!



Thank you for being a part of our Network and for any help you can provide.



Sincerely,



Deborah Delgado-Hand
No More Homeless Pets
Best Friends Animal Society
5001 Angel Canyon
Kanab, Utah 84741
(435) 644-3965 ext. 4401
deborahd@bestfriends.org
www.bestfriends.org

Fresh Poster

First off, I'd like to say "thank you" to Thess for the invite to contribute to this great blog! My name is Cheryl, and I love animals. Now when I say I love animals, that should actually read I LOVE ANIMALS!! In fact, I love them so much, that I've managed to create what I jokingly refer to as my own private "zoo". Here's the quick listing of the pets that live in my home with my husband, Casey, and me. Four dogs (1 Schipperke, 1 Chihuahua, 1 Cocker Spaniel, and 1 Jack Russell mix, all of which were rescues), seven cats (all rescues), and eighteen lizards (9 Leopard Geckos, 3 Bearded Dragons, 5 Crested Geckos, and 1 Madagascan Gecko). I admit it's quite a houseful, but I truly ENJOY every minute of it. I've volunteered for my local shelter and humane association, since I was in high school. I help as many animals as I can, and it is my dream to one day win the lottery and open my own animal sanctuary. I always keep up with animal legislation across the US and other countries, and I'm a sucker for an animal story with a happy ending. I have my own blog dedicated to my home life with my pets and my husband called Richardson Zoo. I'll more than likely be posting pet related articles and tips, along with pictures of my zoo at home. Here are a few of my fur kids:

Bear, the Schipperke


Rose, the Bearded Dragon


Phoebe, One of the seven cats.

MY BOO

Here are some more pics of baby boo...

I've had my boo for about 5 years. How I got her...mm, I was walking down the street right after school with my high school buddies. It was the same old routine. We were walking down the street on our way to the express trains to get home. As we were walking, I saw an old man at the side of the pavement with a cardboard box. A lotta students from my school were surrounding him. My friends and I wondered what the whole fuss was about so we walked by. As we got closer, we saw 2 lil puppy dogs. A male and a female. I asked how much they were and the old man was selling em for a mere 80 bucks. - THAT'S DAMN CHEAP. They looked so cute, I just had to get one.

I picked a female pup cuz if she pees in the house, at least her urine won't squirt on the walls cuz we live in an apartment. 4 of us chipped in cash for the dog...and she stayed with me. First they said that we'd take turns in keeping her but then later, their folks didn't want them having dogs. So then, she was all mine. MINE MINE MINE! Call me selfish but I'm relieved! I don't have to share her with anyone.

So well, she's been my adopted sister since I got her. When I called my mom over my cellphone and told her what I had gotten...she thought I was joking. She was like "Uh...WHAT?..You're crazy." Lil baby boo spent her first few days locked up in the bathroom when no one was home. I KNOW ITS MEAN! Don't worry though cuz our bathroom is huge. I even had an arguement with my mom. Her excuse was that baby boo wasn't house broke yet. Eventually she did get "potty trained" so then she could roam freely around the apartment. She had always slept with me when she was a pup so now I guess she's accustomed to that and she does fight for bed space. Sometimes she'd sit on me while I sleep just so I'd move over.

Well, those are just some pics I said I would post. Enjoy.

FIGHTING the battle of her life

We are in vigilance due to our oldest ferret, Danielle who's turning 6 yrs old this year being sick ...we found out that she's got a tumor and sugar in her blood is deadly low. We planned to have a birthday celebration for my husband this week but due to Danielle's condition, we opted not to. Other people might say, all because of a pet plans have changed? You see, we consider all animals in our house as little people who love us unconditionally and we love them dearly. The day we took each and one of them home, we promised them we'll do the best we can as 'parents' and Danielle is really papa's girl. I tell you that we even considered euthanasia few days ago....both husband and I were hurt even just thinking about it but we've decided to fight for her because Danielle is also showing such determination and trying her best not to succumb to her condition.

Before the visit to the vet, she would suffer disorientation, hyperventilation, screaming in her sleep, banging her head while sleeping- she's totally unaware of her surroundings that we had to take turn to wake her up when this happens, and she had no muscle control. If only she could stand an operation to remove the tumor, we are more than willing for her to go under the knife but ferret her size (less than a kilo) usually reacts badly to sedation, the vet even warned us for a chance of a heart attack. So her vet just injected help for her blood and issued pills for her to take each day. We will all take it slowly, one day at a time.

Danielle in 2001 ...bubbly, curious, naughty and playful


Danielle January 10, 2005 ......sad and weary eyes

Remembering Peedy

It was the morning of January 5 last year, when I came downstairs and started my morning rituals...one was to uncover Peedy's cage ( we would cover him with a thin cloth everynight so that he could sleep better) when I saw him lying beautifully, but stiff on his floor. Prior to that, the night of Jan. 4, everything seemed alright... he was eating his cookie and apple portion like always. And on the floor was a leaf of lettuce, his favorite.

Peedy was two years old when my husband's friend handed him to us because his mother was too old to take care of the bird. Peedy and I had our share of 'fights' , either I would tease him or when I needed to trim his curly nails, boy! he could fight! Opening his wings and like he's saying: C'mon girl, bring it on. See how big I am?!' I would always call him Bruce Lee whenever he'd do that, ha ha ha!

But we also had our 'moments' . He was my favorite singing partner! He loved to sing, and would sing harder than the stereo. Many times when I had to practise singing or recording, he'd sing along. He loved Tina Turner, Frank Sinatra and Whitney Houston. But there was one number that he'd sing along w/ me on top of his small lungs...Barbra Streisand's 'Songbird'
How ironic is that?

I still have that recorded duet of ours. My only memory of Peedy's voice.

Thank you for the wonderful times, you have brought us pure joy, my little yellow friend. I and papa still talk about you, and will always love you. Though we may never know the cause of your untimely demise.

Peedy in his 'coffin' before we buried him in the backyard.

Hey guys! Thanks for the invite. :D

Say hi to Chachi!


This was taken when she was first brought to us by my cousin.

Pero baby pa din sha.. she's only 6months old.

She's a lhasa apso with a tinge of poodle genes.. (Maybe that's why her hair's a bit fine and frizzy.. hehe)

I've got more pictures of her here.

She's got her own dogster page too! Check out her profile here.

Thanks ulit!

'til my next post. :)