Humane Society

Not every tragedy gets a quick and sweeping response from Congress, but eight days after a pet chimpanzee attacked and injured a woman, the House of Representatives passed a practical ban on chimps as house pets. The bill would ban transporting pets across state lines to be sold as pets.

Last week, Travis the chimp severely attack his owner's friend in Connecticut. The victim is still hospitalized and Travis is dead. Travis had been brought from Missouri to Connecticut.

The president of the Humane Society said:

There is no reason for any private citizen to keep a primate as a pet, and this trade is driven by unscrupulous dealers who sell primates across state lines for thousands of dollars. Congressional action on this animal welfare and public safety issue will complement our efforts at the state level to dry up the trade and the practice of private ownership of chimps and other primates.

Do you think this bill will help keep humans and animals safe, or is it a slippery slope toward banning dogs? They can attack, too!
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According to the results of a recent investigation, it turns out that the largest chain of pet-selling stores in the US is also the nation's largest retail supporter of puppy mills.

An eight-month evaluation by the Humane Society of the United States uncovered that Petland stores are purchasing and selling puppies from horrific conditions despite promises that the dogs come from known breeders with only "the highest standards of pet care." Many hail from massive commercial facilities or are purchased from large scale "pet distributors" (read: puppy brokers) . . . and the company itself may not even know what the standards of care were like in the first place.

See some shocking statistics and learn what you can do when you read more

Thankfully, there were improved plans in place before the recent hurricanes hit, but I'm reminded that plenty of pets still need help in the storms' aftermath. Shelters including the Houston Humane Society and the Galveston Island Humane Society are working around the clock to photograph all the arriving animals to help keep track of the pets, and locate their owners. Much of the area is still without running water, electricity or gas . . . but the stray and injured animals keep on coming!

In addition to accepting monetary donations online, if you're local to these areas (or any place affected by the storms), don't be shy about stopping in to volunteer or bring by some much-appreciated goods. To see the items on the shelter's wish list, read more

With the fashion industry taking the Cool vs. Cruel anti-fur movement to heart, it seems that we're finally making some headway on the realization that cruelty for the sake of couture isn't the best idea. Plus, when celebs like Hayden Panettiere make headlines for their causes – like her involvement in Save The Whales, Again! – it puts a blazing spotlight on issues that are important to our world.

Just like Hayden, Nigel Barker, one of Tyra's industry judges on Americas Next Top Model, is taking a stand against March's annual commercial seal hunt (where each year hundreds of thousands of baby seals are hunted and killed for their fur). Traveling to eastern Canada this week, Nigel will be scoping out the baby seals before the hunt begins :

“It is my hope that by witnessing these baby seals in their natural environment we can draw attention to the inhumane slaughter that will occur in a few short weeks,” said Barker. “Every year hundreds of thousands of baby seals are clubbed and shot to death for their fur. Their carcasses are discarded like waste and left on the ice. It is my strong opinion that this is bigger than making a fashion statement. This is about making a life statement. If we call ourselves human we must act humanely.”

If that's not enough, Nigel will be returning to the ice flows of eastern Canada to film and witness the seal hunt in progress. Ultimately, Nigel and The Humane Society hope that the seal fur trade will be banned in Europe, where a majority of the fur is shipped and sold. To check out a video of Nigel and HSUS President Wayne Pacelle speaking out against the fur trade, just read more

It's time to groom your pup or kitty and get out the camera! The Humane Society of the United States is hosting a special photo contest in honor of Spay Day. This year the special day falls on Feb. 26 and highlights spaying or neutering pets as an effective and humane solution to the problem of pet overpopulation.

How to you enter the contest? All you have to do is upload a digital photo of your pet and explain how your furry friend has made your life better. The Humane Society celebrity judges will award prizes to 36 entrants judged to have the best photos and write-ups.

The contest ends March 7. You can register your pets on the Humane Society website.

At the humane society near my home, they're always looking for volunteers. Since I have such a soft spot in my heart for animals, like my pal PetSugar, I was checking out ways to help out and saw the perfect job.

You and your significant other can volunteer as dog walkers. You usually have to have some kind of orientation first, but then after that you can show up and take the dogs that are waiting to be adopted for a walk whenever you want. It gives you both some exercise, and it also helps the dogs feel more at ease when socializing with humans.

Animal shelters appreciate your help, and the dogs appreciate getting out of their tiny stall and into the fresh air where they can run around. It'll have a huge impact on the dogs you walk, and you'll feel good getting outside and running around, too.

Fit's Tips: Some shelters are closed on Sundays so call ahead to find out when they're open.

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During and after a disaster such as the Southern California wildfires, it's common to hear pleas for donations and want to help out. As of this time, the creatures at the San Diego Zoo and Wild Animal Park are doing fine, but organizations like the Humane Society are still helping to rescue, shelter, and provide for the needs of displaced pets and larger animals like horses and llamas. If you're inspired to give to a cause (animal-related or not), here's some food for thought to protect your good intentions from someone else's bad ones.

• Pick your passion. Chances are if you're thinking of donating, you already have an organization or a cause in mind. If you're still looking, it helps to search nationally soliciting charitable organizations (and determine their legitimacy) at the BBB Wise Giving Alliance, a merger of the National Charities Information Bureau and the Council of Better Business Bureaus' Foundation.
• Do your homework. If it smells fishy, it probably is. Be careful to avoid charitable scams. Many times, especially when disaster strikes, bogus organizations pop up often with similar or "legit" sounding names. In this situation, give to familiar charities that have a history of working in disaster relief. Always protect your information – don't give card numbers over the phone to solicitors or on the spot cash donations, and keep a record of your transactions. Remember all donations are valuable even offering up your time!

For the third year in a row, the Humane Society of the US educated fashion students from various Art Institutes about the problems associated with animal fur, including cruelty and false labeling. Then, in perfect Project Runway style, comes their challenge: budding designers are shown four runway designs from fall 2007 that used animal fur, then asked to reinterpret and improve them sans cruelty in a Cool vs. Cruel fashion design contest.

Test your eye for style and pick your winner out of the 16 very original designs. Be sure to vote by October 29 – each person can only vote once so don't keep this contest to yourself. Check back on November 8 when fashion guru Tim Gunn and the rest of the judges announce their picks and the People's Choice winner too!

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I recently went to the Humane Society to donate some old blankets and I saw one very overweight pooch that was rescued from an elderly woman's home. She just kept feeding the doggy a ton of food, but wasn't able to take him out for long walks.

Tons of food + No exercise = Fat dog, not a positive equation.

I just came across something to "cure" this problem. It's called the Happy Runner introduced by EasyStep. It's a neat little contraption that fits over your existing treadmill (you know, the one you bought last New Year's), so your dog can go for a walk or jog. This is NOT a joke - this is real.

It's great for preventing obesity, so pet dogs can get exercise even if their owners don't, can't or won't take them out. Also, how many times does Rover want to go for a walk, but it's raining, or too cold to go? Now you have no excuse to give woman's best friend the exercise he or she needs.

The Happy Runner fits over most treadmills because the width is adjustable (there are screws on the top), and the 4 red straps support your dog, and keep him or her centered and secure. I must stress how important it is that the dog be watched, in case little Max or Muffy trips or gets too tired, you can stop the treadmill immediately.

When your doggy is done with its daily jog, the Happy Runner folds for easy storage. I'm actually surprised that something like this wasn't invented sooner. The next thing you know, they'll make longer treadmills so you can walk with your dog. Now there's a brilliant idea!

Want to see more pics? Then read more

Buffalo Exchange is arguably one of the best used clothing stores around. With 32 locations in 11 states, its hip shops are a great place to buy, sell, and trade often good-as-new clothes. Now, the company is hosting a very cool program, called Coats for Critters, that lets you bring in any real fur or shearling apparel—maybe your mother's old mink stole or those rabbit-fur earmuffs you had as a kid—and donate it to the Humane Society's Coats for Cubs program.

The furs will be used as bedding and wraps to keep orphaned and injured wildlife warm. More than 200 wildlife rehabilitators in North America participate in the program. The Buffalo Exchange event runs through through Earth Day, April 22, 2007. I know a lot of FabSugar readers are anti-fur, but don't distress if there isn't a Buffalo Exchange store near you. You can also donate your fur directly to the Humane Society of the United States. To see where to send it (and claim a tax deduction!), read more