Thursday, September 17, 2009

NFL's Aaron Curry Says, 'Be Your Dogs' Biggest Defender'


Find out more about Aaron Curry at PETA.com.

The Seattle Seahawks' first-round draft pick, Aaron Curry, makes tough defensive plays both on the field in the NFL and off the field for dogs. In his PETA ad, Aaron poses with his dog Laila and urges people never to chain their four-legged friends.

Many dogs spend their entire life tied to the end of a chain or locked in solitary confinement in a cage, suffering through frightening thunderstorms, suffocating heat, and bitter cold, often without food or water, vital medical care, and the love that they deserve.

Aaron knows that dogs left to fend for themselves at the end of a chain can fall prey to attacks by other animals or cruel people, can become aggressive and prone to attack, or can even die by hanging as a result of getting entangled in their tether. Life on a chain is no life at all.

Dogs crave and deserve companionship and are healthiest and happiest indoors, where they are safe from the elements and possible predators. Aaron's dogs, Laila and Ali, are a part of his family, and he would never chain them outside. Check out what else Aaron had to say about the issue in this behind-the-scenes interview.

Source: Peta.com

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Thursday, September 10, 2009

Dog Day at Lee Harvey's

The Humane Society of Dallas County brought adoptable dogs, treats, competitions and fun to Dog Day at Lee Harvey’s.

Trophies were given to "The Most Talented Dog", "The Friendliest Dog" and "Best Dressed Dog".

Our shelter dogs got to mingle outside and got lots of love from other animal lovers.

Thank you to everyone and every pup who came to the event.









Photography by LifeAsArt Photography
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Wednesday, August 19, 2009

The Big Wash 2009

Mister Car Wash is reaching out to Humane Society shelters across the country to help them care for dogs and cats in their community.

On Sunday, August 23rd, the Mesquite Mister Car Wash location will be raising money and spreading the word about Dog & Kitty City, the Humane Society of Dallas County's no-kill shelter for dogs and cats.

Drivers who make a cash donation to the Dog & Kitty City donation jar get a FREE express wash. HSDC volunteers will be on hand with some of their adoptable pups to greet people, help the dogs mingle and spread the word about the shelter.

You can buy a DKC t-shirt or one of the "doggie bag" treat packs for your own pooches at home – all proceeds go to the shelter. And kids can come inside to help get the cars clean by taking a turn at the soap suds gun!

EVENT DETAILS:

Location: 3205 North Galloway, Mesquite Texas

Date: Sunday, August 23rd, 2009

Time: 9:00am - 5:00pm

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Wednesday, December 31, 2008

Puppy Mill Awareness

The following article is from Puppymills.org:

Puppy mills are nothing new. These mass dog-breeding operations have been around for decades. They continue to thrive because they prey on unwitting consumers who are smitten by too-cute-for-words puppies in pet store windows and on fancy websites.

But behind the friendly facade of the local pet shop, the pastoral scenes on a "breeder's" website, or the neighborhood newspaper ad, there often lies a puppy mill. These canine breeding facilities house dogs in shockingly poor conditions.

Life is particularly bad for "breeding stock," dogs who live their entire lives in cages and are continually bred for years, without human companionship and with little hope of ever becoming part of a family. These dogs receive little or no veterinary care and never see a bed, a treat or a toy. After their fertility wanes, breeding animals are commonly killed, abandoned or sold to another mill. The annual result of all this breeding is hundreds of thousands of puppies, many with behavior and/or health problems.

Several hundred thousand puppies are shipped cross-country to be sold in pet shops, but many are sold via newspaper classifieds or Internet sites and are often accompanied by false claims such as, "We'd never sell puppies from a puppy mill" or promises that the puppies are "home raised," farm raised," or "raised with kids/grandkids." The ploys of the puppy mill are designed to dupe a well-intentioned family into buying a puppy and keeping the engine of cruelty working overtime. Learn how to avoid buying a puppy mill puppy at the Puppy Buying Tips page »


Laws and Order

Because a puppy mill is a business, the facility is designed purely for profit, not for the well-being of dogs. Laws are on the books to provide minimum-care standards for puppy-mill animals, but enforcement has historically been spotty at best. The U.S. Department of Agriculture licenses and inspects "commercial breeding facilities for violations of the Animal Welfare Act; likewise, a handful of states have laws that provide oversight of some breeding operations as well. But puppy mills can successfully navigate around these laws, either by selling directly to consumers (thereby avoiding USDA licensing requirements) or by simply avoiding the reach of law enforcement (with so few USDA inspectors and minor fines, it's easy to stay in business). Read more about the cruelty documented at puppy mills at the USDA Hall of Shame page »

Read more about the laws regulating puppy mills at the Frequently Asked Questions page »

We Need Your Help
The Humane Society of the United States has been investigating puppy mills for decades, exposing the cruel realities of the commercial dog-breeding industry. We've lobbied for the current laws as well as for additional money to enforce those laws. We've also educated millions of consumers on the many reasons they should avoid puppy-mill puppies.

But our work is far from over. There are still thousands of puppy mills that need to be shut down for good. We need your help to do exactly that: Stop puppy mills. Help The HSUS stop puppy mills by spreading the word about puppy mills, making a donation to our Puppy Mill Education Fund or telling a friend about the Stop Puppy Mills website.




“The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated”. - Mahatma Gandhi

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Monday, December 29, 2008

Bringing Your New Friend Home (Key Points and advice for new dog owners)

Have you recently adopted a new best friend? Please take a few moments to educate yourself on the needs of your new pal.

Count on a dog marking or having accidents the first few days, even if he was house trained. Too often people adopt and forget that their home is a new, foreign environment to the new pet. Being a friend to your dog means being selfless, patient and educated.

Don't forget about your dogs need for exercise. Even if your doggie loves to cuddle on the couch and is mainly an inside dog, they are like us and need exercise to stay healthy. They also get bored. Get your pet and yourself outdoors. You now have a buddy to enjoy nature with!

ID your dog at ALL times! Don't become a victim of another tragic lost-dog story. Keeping your dog safe is simple. Keep a snug collar on him/her at ALL times with UPDATED ID tags. If your phone number changes, the tag should change to. I can't stress it enough- ALWAYS KEEP AN ID TAG ON YOUR LOVED ONE. Micro-chipping is also a cheap and extremely effective way to help keep your dog safe (but should be done in addition to having a tag. Microchipping should NOT take the place of a tag.)

Be a leader! A dog is a pack animal looking for guidance. For some people, disciplining and delegating a dog can be difficult cause they are SO darn cute. However, it is better for your dog for you to guide them. Make sure they know who is in charge. Take the time to teach them commands and to establish guidelines with them. Be patient. As hard as it may be to believe, the dog WANTS you to lead them. This makes them feel secure.

Beware of letting your dog on your bed or furniture if you haven't established all human family members as the leaders ("alpha"). Dominance-related problems often arise when a dog is on a higher physical level. Dogs don't seek equality; they seek and need leadership.

The dog is not to blame. A dog cannot do damage unless you let them. Watch your new dog during the transition period. When you can't supervise, keep him/her in a crate or other secure area with chew toys. If your dog starts to chew on your shoes or other items that are NOT chew toys, replace the item with the appropriate thing to chew on. In other words, if you find your doggie chewing on your new Nike's, take the shoes away and hand over one of those awesome chew toys you got your pup. This will teach him/her what he/she CAN chew on.

It's quite possible that your dog is smarter than you are. If your dog is lucky enough to get a warm home AND a yard, make sure your yard is as "escape-proof" as possible. This is not to say that a yard can be made totally escape-proof. Dogs are smart and usually quite curious. Supervise your dog even in a fenced yard. Make sure the fence is strong and is not broken. Dogs can scratch and even chew through a weak fence. The heighth of your fence is also VERY important. Dogs can leap and sometimes even climb. BEWARE of accidentally providing them with objects in your yard that may aid them in their great escape.

Don't kiss your dog or place your face at the dog's eye level before you've begun obedience training and established yourself and other humans in the home as higher up in the hierarchy. Dogs often perceive a face placed at their eye-level as a threat, and then bite. Be cautious of how you approach your new pet. If you want to pet them, do not do so from above their heads, where they may not see you and be frightened. Make your hand visible before reaching out. Even the teeniest, friendliest looking dog gets scared and will act on their fear. Be patient, and teach them love. They will return it.

Don't issue a command unless you are in a position to enforce it. Telling a dog to do something, then not guiding him to obey if he chooses not to, teaches him to ignore you.

Beware of sending mixed signals that bad behavior is cute or entertaining.

Changing a dog's name: A dog can learn a new name quickly if you use it consistently. Start by linking it with the previous name.



Much of this information was quoted from the following site: www.paw-rescue.org
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Friday, December 12, 2008

Male Shar Pei and Female Retriever Mix Found


2 dogs were found at the intersection of Homer St. and Vickery Blvd in Dallas, Texas on Monday, December 8th at 11 am.

Neither dog has ID tags & neither is
microchipped. Male purebred Shar Pei is young, obedient; timid at first, but then VERY sweet. He is NOT neutered & was found with a fancy red leather collar (but no tags). Female Golden Retriever (??) mix is the SWEETEST, most gentle girl w/the best disposition ever. She seems VERY young - maybe 1 year old, weighs about 40 lbs with long white & tan hair.

If you have any information on these two pups please call The Dog and Kitty City Shelter at
214-350-7387.

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Friday, December 5, 2008

Why Animals Do Not Make Good Gifts

From Helpinganimals.com

Animals, like us, require love and proper care to flourish. Although people who give animals as gifts invariably have good intentions, it is unfair to give an animal to anyone unless you are absolutely certain that the person wants that particular animal as a companion and is willing and able to give a lifetime of proper care.

Think Before Giving

Adding an animal companion to the family is an important decision. It means making a permanent commitment to care for and spend time with the animal and to provide for his or her lifelong care.



Why Animals Do Not Make Good GiftsBefore adopting, consider the time and money involved in proper animal care. Will your loved one have the time and patience to exercise and housetrain the animal? Is he or she prepared to pay for food, accessories (such as toys, grooming supplies, leashes and harnesses, and bedding), inoculations, and veterinary care, including spaying or neutering, flea treatment, deworming, and emergency care?

If a family decides to adopt an animal, every member of the family should go to the local animal shelter together to choose the animal, having already discussed the obligations and long-term commitments involved. Please, never buy from breeders or pet stores, and always practice your ABCs—animal birth control. For every animal purchased from a breeder or a pet shop, a potential home is taken away from a homeless dog or a cat at a local animal shelter.

Children May Not Be Ready

Small children may unintentionally harm animals, even breaking their fragile bones or causing other fatal injuries, when they think they are playing. Puppies, kittens, bunnies, chicks, baby ducks, and other young animals are especially vulnerable.

We have heard too many stories about families in which the child has lost interest in an animal, and the adult is forced to make the difficult decision on the best way to "solve" the problem. Often this means turning the animal over to a crowded shelter or pound or—worse—passing the animal on to a series of homes, causing trauma, psychological scarring, and behavioral problems.

Too Few Happy Endings

Animal shelters are filled beyond capacity with homeless animals, many of whom were former "pets" who, for one reason or another, didn't fit into someone's lifestyle. No matter how much they would like to, many people who receive animals as gifts find that they are unable to make the lifelong commitment to care for their new companion.

Sadly, many people end up turning animals they received as gifts over to an overburdened humane society or animal-control agency that is likely filled to capacity. In worst-case scenarios, some people even abandon animals on the road or in the back yard when they move away.

What You Can Do

  • Don't ever give an animal as a gift. If you have discussed the idea with the prospective recipients and know that they have the time, willingness, ability, and resources to properly care for an animal and make that serious commitment, consider offering them a gift certificate from the local animal shelter.
  • If you attend a fair, flea market, or other event at which animals are being given away, educate those who are responsible. If people are offering free kittens or puppies, for example, explain the risks of giving animals to unknown passersby—some people sell dogs and cats to laboratories or dealers, and others abuse, neglect, or abandon them.
  • Sign our pledge saying that you will never buy an animal from a pet store or a breeder and that you will always practice your ABCs (animal birth control) by spaying or neutering your animal companions.
HelpingAnimals.com
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