This Holiday Season, honor your pet with a photo decoration on a Companions For Life Pet Tribute Tree at selected neighborhood Starbucks*!

Just send us a photo of your pet or a short written tribute, along with a $5 donation, and we’ll create and hang your decoration next to a light - a red light for those pets who still grace our lives or a white light in memory of a pet who has passed on.

Tributes can also be made in honor of a friend or relative or their pet and we’ll send a personal note to the honoree letting them know of your gift in their name.

All proceeds benefit Companions For Life’s humane education programs. "Teaching children respect, responsibility and kindness toward animals helps them become adults who practice caring and compassion toward not just animals, but also the people in their lives and society as a whole," said Rebecca Poling, president of Companions for Life.

Our hope is that one day all pets are loved as much as yours. But until then, your donation can help us achieve our goal of No More Disposable Pets by providing humane education and shelter outreach materials in the Metroplex.

Conveniently donate online at http://www.companionsforlife.org/christmastree.html, then email us your favorite pet photo and we’ll create your tribute decoration, and hang it on the tree of your choice. Or mail your donation and photo to Companions For Life, P.O. Box 794073, Dallas, Texas 75379.

Need more information?

• Visit our website at http://www.companionsforlife.org/christmastree.html;
• Email info@companionsforlife.org or
• Call 972-661-2356.

* Pet Tribute Trees will be on display from November 28, 2008 through January 1, 2009 at the Starbucks at Preston & Beltline in North Dallas and the Starbucks on Arapaho & North Garland Road in Garland.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

Happy Thanksgiving everybody! We at Companions for Life have a lot to give thanks for this year, even as we continue to fight for a more compassionate world with no more disposable pets.

A short list of some things we're giving thanks for today:

• The passing of new Dallas City Animal Ordinances that we hope will help Dallas residents be more responsible pet owners and ultimately reduce chronic shelter overcrowding.
• The ongoing dedication of compassionate people in our shelters who keep going in spite of all the challenges, working to save animals and provide committed and loving homes for unwanted pets.
• Our passionate volunteers who pitch in wherever needed to help drive initiatives like humane education, shelter outreach and legislative change.
• Everyone who has donated time or money to help us continue our work - thank you!
• All the responsible pet owners out there who understand that pets are part of the family, to be loved and appropriately cared for.

Yes, there is darkness and cruelty in the world - but with people like you, there are slivers of light and silver linings! Every animal you help, or that we can help with your support, is one more ray of hope and light to fight the darkness.

Have a Safe and Happy Thanksgiving!

Get Your Pampered Chef Gifts Online & Raise Money for CFL!

Do you love Pampered Chef products? Want to help Companions For Life while getting a jump on your Christmas shopping and raise money for humane education?

Starting today, you can buy Pampered Chef products online 24/7, and just by starting your visit at this website -
http://www.pamperedchef.biz/shelleycancook?page=foh-welcome&password=H4E5, Follow this link to the special website our Consultants have set up and a portion of the proceeds will go to Companions For Life! Shop to your hearts content and as long you start at this page, your purchase will count toward our totals.

Place your order by December 8th to guaranty delivery by Christmas. And through November 30th, all unglazed stones are on sale 20% off! So act fast and score some great cookware for yourself and for those on your Holiday list.

One week left to chip in!

We still have $400 to raise to meet our target for funding the purchase of humane education materials for children - it's easy to help, just click the Chip In widget on the right; no donation is too small!

You can also send a check or money order to: Companions For Life, P.O. Box 794073, Dallas, Texas 75379.

What your contribution can do:

• $7.50 can buy a packet of 50 spay/neuter bookmarks for kids
• $ 9.99 buys a 48-page reproducible workbook for children grades K-3
• $15.00 creates 100 fliers explaining basic pet care for dogs or cats
• $24.95 provides a "Dogs, Cats & Kids" educational video for an elementary school.

Please act now to help shelters and schools teach children responsibility and compassion for pets!

Holiday Gifts That Give Back!

Did you know that Companions for Life has an eBay store where you can find great gifts for the holidays while doing your bit for animals at the same time?

100% of all sale proceeds goes towards helping Companions for Life continue to help animals through shelter outreach and humane education.

Buy your gift that gives back now!

Cat's at home; you're at work - how to keep Fluffy from getting bored?

One thing you learn living in a small space - EVERYTHING has to be dual purpose!! Like this handy vacuum-cum-kitty-toy - compact, multi-purpose and good for getting your cat on YouTube!

Technorati Tags: Roomba,vacuum,kitty,cat,cat on vacuum,cat on roomba,cat toys

Puppy Mill Action Week Nov 16-22 - ACT NOW!

Check out our post below - we're not OK with puppy mills, are you?

Please Help Us Teach Pet Responsibility!

Over the past few years, Companions For Life has come to the aid of dozens of local pet rescue groups and animal shelters by providing free professional humane education materials for their use. We've been able to do this thanks to the support of our wonderful donors who understand the important role education plays in improving the lives of pets in the Metroplex. But this year, more than ever, we need your help. The economy has hit all of the rescue groups and shelters very hard. Donations have dried up and they are having trouble making ends meet. Vet bills are eating up their funds faster than ever, while the number of animals surrendered continue to rise due to foreclosures and job losses. For many groups, education has become a luxury they can no longer afford. Please help us help them spread the word!

Your donation to Companions For Life will go directly toward the purchase of humane education materials to teach children to be responsible pet owners, teach adopters basic pet care, promote responsible pet ownership, encourage the public to do their part to fix the pet overpopulation problem, and much more! From videos for classroom presentations to door hangers about tethered dogs, from fliers about winter pet care tips to bookmarks urging teens to talk to their parents about spaying and neutering their pet, Companions For Life purchases these materials from national leaders in education - the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, the National Humane Education Society, and American Humane Association, to name just a few. Purchasing in large quantities allows us to take advantage of huge discounts so we get more materials for less money! Won't you please help us today? Only $ 7.50 buys a packet of 50 spay/neuter bookmarks for kids, $ 9.99 buys a 48-page reproducible workbook for children grades K-3, $15.00 buys 100 fliers explaining basic pet care for dogs or cats, or $ 24.95 buys a "Dogs, Cats & Kids" educational video for an elementary school.

But please act now! Our current supplies are nearly exhausted and we need to raise $500 by the end of November to continue this critical mission! Donate online now using the Chip In widget on the right! Or send a check or money order to: Companions For Life, P.O. Box 794073, Dallas, Texas 75379. Regardless the method you choose, please donate now! By the end of November, we'll have to start turning away rescue groups and shelters asking for our help!

Puppy Mill Action Week is November 16 to 22!

Half the country must have watched the Oprah episodes on puppy mills, aghast at the conditions endured by the breeding dogs and appalled at the callous disregard for their animals' welfare demonstrated by the money-hungry breeders.

People wept for the dogs, suffering a hellish existence in squalor and bred literally to death for easy money. Who knew, people asked, that those cute puppies in the pet store and on those cheerful websites came with such an unacceptable price tag?

Even now, in the midst of an official recesssion, when record numbers of family pets are being abandoned and surrendered to shelters, puppy (and kitten) mills just keep churning out the inventory, focused on one thing - and one thing only: profit.

What do you think happens to breeding stock that is no longer viable? To litters that don't sell because people can't afford the "luxury" of a pet right now? To dogs and cats who aren't wanted so much once they're no longer that adorable puppy or kitten? How many of them count towards the tens of millions of animals being euthanized across the country every year? Are you OK with that?

This week is Puppy Mill Action Week - here's where you can make a difference:

Get educated.

• Learn about the difference between responsible breeders (yes, there are some) and back-yard or puppy mill breeders. Help your friends and family understand why it's a bad idea to buy that cute little buddy in the pet store.
• Parents and teachers can find humane education resources about the new Mission: Humane project, “A Cause for Paws,” to guide students in learning about dog care, promoting improved conditions for dogs in puppy mills, and raising awareness about how to get a dog without supporting cruelty. Check out the project for both elementary school students and teens.

Get active!

• The Humane Society is asking people to work with their local pet stores and encourage them to develop and implement "puppy friendly" policies by refusing to sell puppies in their store and supporting shelter adoptions instead.
• Please also write to your elected officials asking them to co-sponsor the Puppy Uniform Protection Statute (PUPS), HR 6949, to require broader federal oversight of puppy mills.
• Write to newspaper editors about the pet store/Internet puppy mill connection. Download a letter you can sign and send to your local paper

Part of the Oprah Puppy Mill Coverage:

Pease don't just sit there and be outraged, that doesn't do anything. Take a step towards closing down the puppy mill industry this week and help save lives!

What to do if you're unable to exercise your dog

Get an engineer to build you a robot!

Dog Plays Fetch with Robot

This doggie is having an awful lot of fun playing fetch by himself!