Deer and cat bond at animal rehab sanctuary
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Little man is big hero to pitbulls
Watch the trailer below and I think you'll be as excited to see the show as I am. Pit Boss premieres on January 16 at 10:00 pm on Animal Planet.
Two woofs for Shorty!
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Honoring Michael Vick is sick
First, the Eagles gave this murderer a multi-million-dollar job and now they're essentially calling him a hero? Shame on everyone associated with the Eagles. Shame.
Read the full story HERE. And, please consider signing the petition to revoke the award by clicking HERE.
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From stray dog to spoiled pooch
Hi folks, I'm Faith. This is my first guest post on Puddy's blog.
Today I felt compelled to write something personal so I hope you'll bear with me. I've been with my family since 2006. Three years ago on this very day I was lost, starving, cold, and scared. I was limping because I had been hit by a car and my teeth were in bad shape because I was so hungry that I was chewing on things that weren't edible (I was underweight and just a small, 75 pound little girl). I had just about given up hope that someone—anyone—would help me. That's when I saw her.
A woman was getting into her car on a very industrial street. She was kneeling on the front seat, leaning into the back rearranging some bags and didn't see me on the other side of the road. MAC trucks were speeding by so fast it was all I could do to cross all four lanes to get to her in one piece. I had been through so much and I simply needed some help. Her car door was still open so I quickly snuck up and bolted inside. Safety at last!
I was panting and pacing around in her compact car; so terribly relieved to be off the street. The woman stared at me in disbelief. I smiled.
To make a long story short, the lady fixed me up, took me home, and made me part of her family. There are so many lost and scared animals out on the streets, fending for themselves, and I know I'm one of the lucky ones because I was saved (although she always tells me she's the lucky one).
My only wish on my anniversary is that everyone who reads this does something to help an animal in need. Pick up a stray, feed a feral cat, take an injured wild animal to someone who can tend to his or her injuries. Make a difference, embrace compassion, and extend the circle of kindness to all animals, wild and domestic. Do something.
Thanks for listening to my story. I hate to rush off, but my family has a special anniversary party planned for me.
Until next time,
Faith
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Three tips for happier dogs
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From tails of woe to Tails of Joy!
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Two-legged dog inspires soldiers
Actor John Schneider speaks out for animals
Yes, ignorance is bliss. But, creating change saves lives. I hope you enjoy John's insights.
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Free download: Shepard Fairey Obama-style animal adoption artwork
Designed to bring attention to animal adoption, most of the artwork is available for free download (there are also some specialty items for sale). There are two beautiful designs, one in red and blue and the other in yellow and black (both feature different verbiage on the dog tags). And, you can get the artwork on posters, stickers, banners for your website/blog, wallpaper for your cellphone or computer, t-shirts, coloring pages for kids, and more. There are even links to share the images on all the social networking sites! Finally, for the art collectors, there are a limited amount of numbered prints available which are signed by Fairey himself.
To learn more, click HERE. Or to go directly to the download/order page, click HERE. And always remember: Adopt, don't shop!
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Extreme dog houses
If you want to see some amazing canine architecture, click HERE to see the most incredible doghouses ever made!
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"Rent" a Christmas tree
This is a great way to bring sustainable living into your life. It is eco-friendly and a wonderful way to respect nature (who said trees have to be cut down in their prime just to be tossed out two weeks later, anyway?).
I hope this idea catches on. Two paws up!
* To learn more about the Living Christmas Tree Company, click HERE.
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Dogs welcome at this church
To learn more about these amazing dog-friendly services, click HERE. There's also another nice write-up HERE.
* And for those who never saw my earlier post with the wonderful video and song "God and Dog", click HERE. It's really quite wonderful.
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Baby moose enjoys an unexpected shower
Unfortunately, the video cannot be embedded here, but click HERE to see it. You will not be disappointed. The pure joy of the baby moose is beyond heartwarming. Tweet
Adopt a turkey this Thanksgiving
For a one-time donation of $25, you can participate in Farm Sanctuary's 2009 Adopt-a-Turkey project. You'll receive an adoption certificate with a color photo and a bio of your new, feathered friend. More importantly, you will give a beautiful bird the peaceful life that we all deserve.
You're thankful for your life and family, why not let a turkey be thankful for theirs, too?
To learn more about the Adopt-a-Turkey project, click HERE.
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Environmental Film Festival celebrates "green" films
My dog says you should check out the great "green" documentaries being shown at this year's Green Screen Environmental Film Festival in Venice, California. The four-day community event starts on Thursday, November 19 and runs through Sunday, November 22. It features some great films, a street festival, food, music, and town hall discussions about environmental issues.
While you're there, be sure to catch "45 Days: The Life and Death of a Broiler Chicken", which will be shown on Saturday at 4pm. However, if you can't make it to Venice, you can see the short 12 minute film below (broken into two parts; part 1 on top and part 2 at the bottom). Whether you "love" animals or just "love" to eat chicken, you'll find this documentary very enlightening.
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Imagine being boiled alive
The next time you happily scamper up to the lobster tank at your local restaurant to select your victim, ah, make that your entree, remember this: lobsters feel pain. Yes, friends, lobsters feel pain.
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Trivia challenge to help feed animals
You can play the Bow Wow Trivia contest online by clicking HERE or Meow Trivia by clicking HERE. Better yet, if you're on Twitter, follow @FreeKibble to get all the dog and cat trivia together.
Play along today and help a hungry, homeless animal who needs YOUR help!
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If you've ever seen a stray animal, you need to watch this
Cruelty is cruelty. Stand up for what is right and be a voice for the animals who need you.
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Mine, mine, mine
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Jillian Michaels: Friend to animals
Also, on Jillian's Facebook page she recently announced that she'll be adopting a vegan diet for the month of January! Thanks for being a friend to animals, Jillian. Two paws up!
* To get Jillian's shirt, click HERE.
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More reasons dogs should keep US as pets
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Outrageous cruelty to baby "veal" cows
As Paul McCartney once said, "If slaughterhouses had glass windows, everyone would be a vegetarian."
Click HERE to read the story and see the video.
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Halloween can be frightening for your pets
Also be careful your companion animals don't dart out the door if you're staying home to greet Trick-or-Treaters; all the activity at the front door allows for a quick escape. Put your animals in the bedroom or den for the evening, give them a nice soft bed and some treats, and shut the door until everyone is settled in for the night.
Lastly, remember that all the costumes and masks can be frightening to animals, especially dogs. Faces are covered, people's outfits may make them appear larger or taller, and gestures may be more animated than usual. Even these slight changes can spook your animal or cause them to not recognize you.
Halloween is fun for humans, but be sure it's a stress free day for your companion animals. Happy Halloween!
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The misunderstood bat
The Organization for Bat Conservation offers great programs to educate people about the wonders and variety of bats, how to make bat houses, and how to coexist with bats. You can even sponsor a bat!
This Halloween, when you put out that rubber bat as decoration, why not take the opportunity to tell your friends and family about the amazing world of bats. To learn more about these fascinating mammals, you can also visit Bat Conservation International.
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Pitbull Awareness Day is this weekend
Halloween fun that also benefits kitty cats
Details are below, or visit www.straycatclub.org to purchase tickets.
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Mushrooms can be lethal
For more on the dangers and symptoms, read this great article from Petfinder by clicking HERE.
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When pinatas strike back
* The cartoonist, Dan Piraro, is a great animal advocate. To support him and all his animal-friendly comics, be sure to visit his blog, by clicking HERE. He's an awesome talent with a compassionate heart! Tweet
Animal CPR
Check out the video below so you're ready to help your furry friend if he or she ever needs CPR. A few minutes watching these instructions today could save your companion animal's life tomorrow.
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Vegan pizza in LA and DC
For those in the Washington DC area, be sure to check out Duccini's Pizza in Adams Morgan. The joint now offers pizza with vegan cheese! It's gooey, it melts, and stretches just like real cheese. Get it during the promotional period (ends on Sunday) and you can get a large with toppings for just $5. For more info, click HERE.
For those in the Los Angeles area, check out Cruzer Pizza in the community of Los Feliz. They bake with the same brand of vegan cheese, Daiya, and offer a nice selection of fake meats for toppings. As of last report, Cruzer was the only pizza joint in California using Daiya. For a review of the yummy eats, click HERE.
For more information on restaurants that are cooking with Daiya vegan cheese, befriend this faux cheese on Facebook by clicking HERE.
And, if you have leftovers, Puddy will happily gobble them up for you!
Photo credit: Sick of Lettuce blog Tweet
Be a caring consumer
Be a caring consumer and don't purchase products that were tested on animals. To learn more about which products are (and aren't!) cruelty-free, click HERE.
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Help feral cats in your community
To plan an event for National Feral Cat Day or to get some ideas on how you can help educate others about the plight of feral cats, click HERE to visit Alley Cat Allies.
Best Friends Animal Society also has some other ideas about how to help ferals in your community. Click HERE for more ways you can help.
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The amazing migration of the Christmas Island crabs
To learn more, click HERE.
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What if dogs ruled the world?
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Cow milk is for baby cows
To watch the video, click HERE. And if you'd like to try my favorite soy milk, Silk, click HERE to see the different varieties that are available. They have all kinds of flavors and consistencies. If you like nonfat milk, you'll probably enjoy the Plain Silk Light (which isn't flavored like the vanilla or chocolate milks). If you like whole or lowfat, just get the regular Silk.
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Neuter that boy and spay that girl!
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Eat yummy food to help needy animals
To learn more about this fun event for a great cause, click HERE. To buy tickets, click HERE (and be sure to select "Compassionate Cuisine" from the list of events).
* Buy your tickets in advance for a sweet discount!
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Secure your backyard to prevent escapes
To ensure your dog's safety, make sure he/she is never left outside unattended. To be extra careful, conduct periodic checks to ensure that your fence is secure. Look for weak boards, gaps, and areas that can be dug under. Don't store items next to the fence that your dog can use to get a boost over the fence. And, make sure the fence is high enough so passersby can't reach over to steal a small dog.
Accidents happen. This terrible tragedy with Spaz is evidence of that. Make sure your dog doesn't pay the ultimate price for something that would have been easy to fix. Your animals deserve your best.
RIP Spaz.
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Vegan blog posts all in one spot
Whether you're a vegan, or just curious, check out VegBlogs by clicking HERE. You're certain to learn something new and interesting!
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Help ban declawing
Declawing is a terribly cruel, and unnecessary, surgical procedure where the vet amputates the last joint on each of a cat's toes. It is not a toenail that is being plucked, it is a bone that is being cut into and the last digit of a cat's toe that is cut off. Each and every toe has the tip cut off—bones, flesh, and all. Does this sound painless to you? It sure doesn't to me!
There are plenty of alternatives to having your cat declawed, which simply require a little effort on your part. Declawing may seem like the easy solution to stop an overzealous scratcher, but it is quite simply the cruel solution.
To sign the petition to stop declawing, click HERE.
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It's Saint Francis' birthday
Donate towels or blankets to your local animal shelter, have a feral cat spayed or neutered, buy your dog a new toy, play with your kitty, feed the birds, throw peanuts to the squirrels, make a contribution to your favorite animal charity, or do something nice for a companion animal in your neighborhood.
If you love animals, find a special way to honor them today (and every day!).
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Free screening of Peaceable Kingdom
Most of the movie focuses on the moving personal stories of those who are on the front lines rescuing animals and those who used to exploit these creatures, but are now advocating for their fair and ethical treatment. If you've never thought about "food animals" before, but you have a dog or cat whom you love dearly, this enlightening documentary will open your eyes in wonderful new ways.
Peaceable Kingdom has been shown at film festivals across the country, but if you happen to be in the Los Angeles area this weekend, there is a FREE screening at UCLA.
Here are the details:
When: Sunday, October 4th, at 2 pm
Where: UCLA, Kerckhoff Hall State Room, 405 Hilgard Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90095
Cost: FREE
Parking: On campus parking costs $10
Sponsors: Bruins for Animals and United Animal Advocates of LA
Following the film, there will also be a short Q & A with discussion, light refreshments, and free literature.
To RSVP to the free Peaceable Kingdom screening, click HERE. And if you'd like to see the amazing film, The Witness (the story of a New York construction worker who starts to perceive animals in a different way), you can purchase it by clicking HERE. It's a wonderful film that will leave you inspired and energized.
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It's World Vegetarian Day!
Not a vegetarian? Here are some simple ways to get started down the path of compassionate living (courtesy of the North American Vegetarian Society):
• | Eat meat-free for the day or throughout the month |
• | Learn how a vegetarian diet can benefit you personally |
• | Try the meatless options available at local restaurants and eateries |
• | Discuss vegetarianism with your interested friends, family and co-workers |
• | Host a meatless meal or potluck for your friends |
• | Eat meatless meals on a regular basis |
To learn more about embracing a lifestyle that promotes compassion and respect for ALL living creatures, visit GoVeg.com to get the scoop. And, for a free veggie starter kit, click HERE.
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Shame on Nike for re-signing Michael Vick
Click HERE to send a note to Nike customer service, letting them know how disgusted you are by its decision to work with a man who murdered so many dogs.
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Another Nutro dog food recall
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Please sign the anti foie gras petition
To learn more about the suffering that ducks and geese endure to "make" foie gras, click HERE. To sign the petition to Amazon, please click HERE.
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Wonderful Indian legend
When a human dies, there is a bridge he or she must cross to enter Heaven. At the head of the bridge waits every animal that human encountered during their lifetime. The animals, based on what they know of this person, decide which humans may cross the bridge—and which are turned away.
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Speak out for coyotes
If you are on the side of the coyotes and want such issues to be handled in a humane fashion (rather than resorting to immediate killing with no DNA verification), please come to a special meeting tonight to discuss the issue. The details are below:
When: Tuesday, Sept 29 at 6:30 p.m.
Where: The Russian Orthodox Church, 650 Micheltorena St, Los Angeles, CA 90026-3623
Sponsored by: Councilman Tom LaBonge
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Embrace your inner dog today!
Things We Can Learn From A Dog
Never pass up the opportunity to go for a joyride.
Delight in the simple joy of a long walk.
When loved ones come home, always run to greet them.
Eat with gusto and enthusiasm.
If what you want lies buried, dig until you find it.
Allow the experience of fresh air and the wind in your face to be pure ecstasy.
Be loyal.
Run, romp, and play daily.
When someone is having a bad day, be silent, sit close by, and nuzzle them gently.
Avoid biting when a simple growl will do.
When you're happy, dance around and wag your entire body.
No matter how often you're scolded, don't buy into the guilt thing and pout...run right back and make friends.
When it's in your best interest, practice obedience.
Let others know when they've invaded your territory.
Take naps and stretch before rising.
Never pretend to be something you're not.
Thrive on attention and let people touch you.
On hot days, drink lots of water and lay under a shady tree.
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Sleepy hippos
Learn more about these wonderful creatures by clicking HERE.
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Rescue Ink Unleashed premieres tonight
They also just put out a brand new book this month, Rescue Ink: How Ten Guys Saved Countless Dogs and Cats, Twelve Horses, Five Pigs, One Duck, and a Few Turtles. Click HERE to check it out on Amazon and get it at a sweet discount. And, if you're in the New York area, the guys have some book signings coming up, too.
I love these men. Tough exteriors with hearts of gold. Totally my heroes. Go Rescue Ink!
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Colorado gets veggie billboards
Love animals, the planet, and your health? Want to know more about becoming a vegetarian? Click HERE to learn the facts.
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Real men neuter their dogs
Besides, countless animals are born each year only to die because there aren't enough homes. Be responsible and do the right thing. Neuter your boys and spay your girls (animals, that is).
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Blindness is no setback for animals
Animals with a physical or mental disability are still amazing companions. Over the years, my family has adopted four blind dogs and one deaf one. They got around remarkably well and possessed all the same great attributes as our other dogs—they were affectionate, playful, and ever so grateful.
Won't you consider adopting an animal with a disability who really needs a home? Or, perhaps, a donation to Rolling Dog Ranch or your favorite animal rescue group?
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Babysitters by day, dogfighters at night
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Cat uses one of his nine lives
To read Herman's story, click HERE.
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It's Elephant Appreciation Day!
This amazing sanctuary in Tennessee is home to Asian and African elephants who were previously on display at zoos, circuses, or other entertainment venues. Now, they can enjoy their retirement years on soft dirt and green grass. The sanctuary even has a live Elecam where you can see what the elephants are doing on any given day.
It costs $125,000 annually to take care of each of elephant under the sanctuary's care, so why not consider "adopting" one to help pay for his/her care? Now, that would be a nice way to celebrate Elephant Appreciation Day!
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Humane mousetrap saves lives
Rodents might be pests, but they're just trying to survive like all of us. And they certainly don't deserve to suffer a painful death in an old-fashioned trap. To learn more about the Humane Mousetrap and/or to purchase one, click HERE.
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Wild horses and burros need your help
To learn more and to help these magnificent wild animals, please click HERE. A sample letter is provided to help you understand the facts, and email addresses are listed for your convenience.
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Free kitty kibble
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Say no to dissection
As a student, it may be hard to find your voice and stand up for what you believe in, but find the courage to do it. To learn more about dissection alternatives and what you can do to opt out of dissection days, click HERE.
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Animals are fascinating
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