Pedigree Dog Adoption Drive 2008

At the Westminster Dog Show in New York earlier this month Pedigree, a long-time sponsor of the show, kicked off their annual dog adoption drive. They have a fully integrated campaign to promote the adoption drive including eloquent print and TV ads, a website (www.dogsrule.com) and a pop-up dog store/adoption center in Times square that sells “dogs rule” merchandise, the proceeds of which all go to the newly established Pedigree Adoption Drive Foundation (a non-profit).

Pedigree notes that over 4 million dogs enter shelters every year, for various reasons including when their owners move or get divorced - about half of these dogs are eventually euthanized because the shelters just can’t find homes for them. Pedigree offers free food for a month to anyone who adopts a shelter dog, and they encourage informed decision making and responsible pet ownership on their site with these great articles:

• Things to consider
• Questions to ask
• Responsible dog ownership
• Socializing your dog
• Free adoption guide (PDF file)

Pedigree also promote volunteer opportunities on their site, and helps people find shelters near them. They even have a section featuring happy-ending adoption stories!

Are you thinking of adopting a pet?
Many of these concepts apply to adopting other pets as well as dogs. Visit the Companions for Life website to find articles and links to help you evaluate if you’re ready to adopt a homeless animal, as well as cat-specific adoption information and videos to help you effectively introduce your new cat or dog into the family.

Are you a shelter helping to find animals a new home?
Companions for Life has developed a follow-up program to help shelters systematically check on the well-being of those companion animals who have been placed in a home, without compromising their existing resources. "Analyzing Adoptions" is a concise, simple, and proven program that helps you ensure effective follow-ups with minimal time and training. Check out our website for more information!

The Companions for Life adoptions library page also has useful articles and links to information that can help you more effectively “market” the pets you have for adoption and increase your adoption rates.

Happy adopting!

February Is Pet Dental Health Month!

Many pet owners regularly walk and groom their pets, have them vaccinated every year and wouldn’t dream of forgetting to feed them, but they frequently neglect their pets' dental health. It’s easy to notice if your pet is limping or bleeding but, because most dental issues aren’t obvious, by the time the problem is noticed and the animal is taken to the vet for treatment, it’s a big deal.

This type of inadvertent neglect can have a big impact on an animal's health and well being, to say nothing of the unnecessary costs incurred by pet owners to address conditions caused or exacerbated by dental issues that could have been avoided with a bit of preventative care. As in humans, poor pet dental care can cause bad breath, bleeding and inflammation of the gums, receding gums, and loss of teeth. In addition, the health of your pet’s mouth can have an effect on their overall health too – periodontal disease, which is the most common dental problem for dogs and cats in the US, can introduce bacteria and toxins into the animal’s bloodstream which can cause damage to internal organs, or even organ failure! An article published online by the UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine estimates that over 70-80% of cats and dogs develop gum disease by the time they are three.

Regular checkups can do more than just prevent or treat plaque, gum disease and decay in your pet’s mouth. Serious conditions like organ damage, fractured teeth and mouth tumors (particularly common in cats, and often caught too late because of a lack of regular care) can be diagnosed early and therefore treated more successfully, with regular dental attention.

The California Veterinary Medical Association (CVMA) recommends taking your pet in for a regular dental check at least once a year, and to take your pet into the vet immediately if you notice swollen, receding or bleeding gums; a change in eating habits, increased drooling or bad breath.

It’s true - pet dental care is more expensive than a quick visit for vaccinations, and may involve them staying at the vet’s for the day for examination/treatment under anesthetic – but delaying or neglecting regular dental care is false economy. Paying for an annual checkup to ensure your pet’s oral health can save you time and money and heartache in the long run. You may also want to consider pet health insurance, which can help offset the cost of your animal’s dental exam or treatment. So what’s stopping you? Make that appointment today!

Sites referenced for this post:
http://www.vetmed.ucdavis.edu/vsr/dentistry/dentalcare.htm
http://www.cat-world.com.au/PeriodontalDiseaseInCats.htm
http://www.emaxhealth.com/116/20407.html
http://www.emaxhealth.com/116/20639.html

The Starfish Story, or Why We Do What We Do

The Starfish Story
adapted from The Star Thrower
by Loren Eiseley
1907 - 1977

Once upon a time, there was a wise man who used to go to the ocean to do his writing. He had a habit of walking on the beach before he began his work.

One day, as he was walking along the shore, he looked down the beach and saw a human figure moving like a dancer. He smiled to himself at the thought of someone who would dance to the day, and so, he walked faster to catch up.

As he got closer, he noticed that the figure was that of a young man, and that what he was doing was not dancing at all. The young man was reaching down to the shore, picking up small objects, and throwing them into the ocean.

He came closer still and called out "Good morning! May I ask what it is that you are doing?"

The young man paused, looked up, and replied "Throwing starfish into the ocean."

"I must ask, then, why are you throwing starfish into the ocean?" asked the somewhat startled wise man.

To this, the young man replied, "The sun is up and the tide is going out. If I don't throw them in, they'll die."

Upon hearing this, the wise man commented, "But, young man, do you not realize that there are miles and miles of beach and there are starfish all along every mile? You can't possibly make a difference!"

At this, the young man bent down, picked up yet another starfish, and threw it into the ocean. As it met the water, he said, "I made a difference to that one!"