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Pledge Your Time and Be a Shelter Pet Hero!

PetSugar — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 06:00:53 -0700

Even if you can't spare a few bucks, one thing you can always donate is your time. And what better way to spend a few hours over the weekend (or if you're lucky, during the week) than playing with a few furry friends at a local shelter? Purina's Be My Hero program helps you do just that.

And it's not just about playtime with a few pups - when you pledge to spend time volunteering at one of the 7,500 participating shelters across the country, Purina will donate $5 dollars to pets in need. Hey, if Martha Stewart can do it (that's one of her first kittens), I think you can to.

Have You Fostered an Animal?

PetSugar — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 06:00:59 -0700

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7 Wildly Easy Ways to Give Back!

PetSugar — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 15:45:45 -0700

I'm all about giving back for no real reason at all, but Sunday kicks off National Volunteer Week. In honor of this extra push to get out there and do good, check out my ideas for how to help animals in need when you start this slideshow!
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I've Found My Local Opportunity to Volunteer, Have You?

PetSugar — Fri, 03 Oct 2008 12:45:04 -0700

As much as I adore my pooch, I've got some love to share. Even though there's no room in my home for another pet, I still want to get involved (especially since it's Adopt a Shelter Dog Month). Getting started is definitely the hardest part . . . but I found a great resource to help me do just that!
Visit Pets 911 to search for a local organization that needs help. The site tracks details about volunteering, fostering, and adoption opportunities by zip code. Once you find a match, give them a call or stop in to donate your time and services. Even if you can't walk out with a furry friend, I guarantee you'll leave with a fuzzy feeling inside.

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Be Kind to Animals: Dealing With Neglect and Abuse

PetSugar — Sat, 10 May 2008 09:00:19 -0700

I hate even thinking about animals being mistreated, and definitely couldn't just stand by and watch it. The American Humane Association offers some tips on what to do if you witness abuse or neglect.

First off, you'll want to evaluate the situation. While seeing abuse is usually more clear-cut, try to take a step back when you think you've spotted neglect. It can start with witnessing dogs illegally tethered, but also things like ratty coats and visible ribs can be signs of a bigger problem.

Find out what to do next when you read more.

If you've witnessed animal mistreatment, it's always good to get another opinion from the proper authorities. Don't be afraid to report it to your local animal control department, police department, or humane society.
Be aware of what animal cruelty legislation exists in your area and know what definitions and penalties are in place. Make sure to also support any initiatives to strengthen your state's anti-cruelty laws.

Have more ideas? Share them in your comments below.

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Four Ways You Can Help Shelters (Other Than Donations)

PetSugar — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 03:50:06 -0700

Acting as ambassador to the Iams Home 4 the Holidays campaign, Hilary Swank gets cuddly with some cute puppies. What a tough job! The program already has over 3,400 shelters in 17 countries participating in their efforts - you can search by location to see if there's an establishment or breed rescue near you.

If your home is not needing another furry face despite the temptation, find four other ways you can help out - and see more pics of Hilary and the pooches - when you read more.

Dog walkers: Use extra time and get extra exercise by offering your talents as a dog walker on weekends or around your work schedule.
Foster homes: New kittens and puppies may need special one-on-one care so offer to help with the potty and litterbox training for a new babe - you may just fall in love in the process.
Cleaning staff: Someone's got to keep those kennels spotless - find out if you can help out either tidying up or bringing in supplies for weekend or holiday clean fests.
Adoption drives: See if the shelter is holding any special events where you could volunteer your time, playing with and showing off cute, available faces to potential owners.

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Give Back: Offer Your Skills and Knowledge to Shelters

PetSugar — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 04:30:14 -0800

Next up, let's focus on a way to Give Back something you love – Have any passions you could share with your local shelter, animal care and control, humane society or rescue? Say, for example, you tried to find volunteer or donation information on their website . . . only to realize that they don't have one. Here are a couple talents you could use to help them get the word out:

Web designers: Offer to help improve or set up a website for needy shelters. PS, it's easier than ever to get them started using our very own OnSugar platform.

Find more suggestions when you read more.

Photographers/Graphic designers: Volunteer to take photos of the pets for a newsletter, website or simply to display the cute faces needing forever homes.
Advertising/Marketing professionals: Make fliers, offer to man temporary adoption locations, or come up with other creative ways to get the word out there. Contact alumni organizations, businesses or other groups looking for volunteer opportunities to see if you could set up a fundraising drive or event to benefit the shelter itself.
Writers: Help write or edit newsletters, mailers, newspaper ads or even clever captions and bios for the organization's website or pamphlets.

Any other skill sets I've forgotten? Share them in your comments below.

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Found! Rose McGowan's Four-in-One Pet Carrier

PetSugar — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 14:00:00 -0800

I'd have to say Rose McGowan won me over when she appeared in the Dogs 101 episode featuring Boston Terriers – I knew she was an animal activist, but I didn't realize how dedicated she was to my fave breed! She volunteers with Boston Terrier Rescue Net, helping to place pups, and even had two smooshies of her own. Sadly she lost one of her precious pals, Fester, earlier this year but I'm glad to see her bringing Bug out and about – how cute is she?!

Pick up a Pet Wheel-Away ($78) in black, red, green, or this "zippy zebra" pattern. Not only is it perfect for jet-setting, hidden straps make it an easy backpack convert if you don't want to hold the handle or wheel it around. It comes with a padded bed for cross-country trips and the three-sided mesh feature helps your furry friend keep a watchful eye on you, too.

Check out a couple more pictures of Rose and Bug – snuggling and kissing her head, awwww! – below.

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Awww, Hurricane Ike's Tiny Bushy-Tailed Victims Need Help

PetSugar — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 14:00:05 -0700

It's not just pets that need help in the aftermath of recent hurricanes, over 1,000 baby squirrels are undergoing care in what's best described as a "squirrel neonatal unit". The Houston SPCA still receives 20 to 30 lil ones each day, causing these creatures to far outnumber all of the other animals there.

We’re feeding them puppy formula every three hours. . . . We’ve had a pelican and a couple of seagulls, but we’ve been overwhelmed by the squirrels, said Sharon Schmalz, executive director of the society’s Wildlife Rehabilitation and Education Center, who explained that this was the height of squirrel birthing season in Texas.

The orphans – many less than three inches long – are hand fed via these nipple-tipped syringes and will remain in the care of volunteers until they reach 12 weeks old. They will then be re-released into their natural habitats, places like rural areas outside city limits or tree-filled suburbs, with newfound strength to frolic freely and leap from limb to limb.

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How You Can Help Furry Victims of Hurricane Ike . . .

PetSugar — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 15:00:08 -0700

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.

Towels
Batteries (especially 9 volt)
Crates of ALL sizes
Tarps
Bungee Cords
Bottled Water
Cat Litter
King Size Kong toys for dogs
Rabbit Food - Timothy Hay pellets or Timothy Hay
Small TVs with built in VCR/DVD
Soft Chewable Dog Treats
Current Key Maps
Disposable Rubber Gloves
Digital Cameras
8- and 12-Inch Cable Ties (50 lb strength)
Newspapers
Food for Hamsters, Rats, Guinea Pigs, Ferrets, and Gerbils
Halters - small and medium size
Fly Spray and Masks
Thrush Medicine
Mucking Forks/rakes

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