Help us get Skip adopted!

HomeFur-ever is urgently in need of donations specifically toward the training of our adoptable dog, Skip, so that we may insure his ability to be adopted.  Skip is currently in a foster home with someone who is interested in adopting him, however, his behavior issues are causing the potential adopter to re-consider.  We have found a trainer who has signficantly reduced their fees and is willing to help; can you please help us come up with the funds needed?

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THIS IS THE SITUATION: due to issues with food aggression, Skip is currently not able to be adopted and needs professional training to overcome this. To see his handsome mug shot click on this link: http://www.petfinder.com/petdetail/15620032 

Skip was evaluated this week by Bonnie Waintz, a very reputable trainer from Alternative k9 training http://alternativek9training.com/bonny.htm

Bonnie assessed that he is totally redeemable and with some work will make a fine dog. However he needs one-on-one training  to resolve his issues. His foster is going out of town and Skip needs to be boarded. Bonnie has offered to take him into her home and work with him for one week (doggie boot camp) and then conduct follow up visits with Skip’s foster to reinforce his training. She wants to help Skip and has reduced her fees.  We only need to raise an additional $170 to make this happen.

If you have boarded your animals, then you know barding alone would cost at least $20 or more a day. To have Skip professionally trained too, is an outstanding deal. Most importantly this will give him the chance he needs at being adopted into a forever home.

Are you able to contribute a couple of dollars or maybe $5, $10, or $20? We realize times are tough and money is very tight, but any amount would greatly help Skip get on track.

If you are able to help, please send a check made payable to Alternative k9 Training to:

Melinda Schneid, 455 Woodvale, Walled Lake, MI  48390

Time is of the essence as arrangements will need to be made this week depending on if we are able to raise the funds. If  funds in excess of $170 are raised, they will be used for evaluation and training of other dogs that need help. We will keep a detailed accounting of all funds received for this purpose and will provide a financial report upon request.

Thank you for taking the time to consider this proposition. Any help you can provide will be greatly appreciated.

LOW COST SPAY / NEUTER CLINIC COMES TO METRO DETROIT

By Christine Ridgway

According to the Humane Society of the United States, for every human born today in the United States, 45 cats and 15 dogs will be born. Six to eight million will end up in shelters. (aprox. 25 % pure bred – 55% unaltered). Over half will be euthanized because there simply aren’t enough homes. If you have not sterilized your pet and it has a litter(s), every home found for one of your pet’s offspring takes a home away from an animal waiting in a shelter.

Countless homeless animals that never make it into shelters scratch out a miserable existence on the streets. Abandoned, they will suffer from illness and injury or fall prey to abuse. Before dying, they will produce more unwanted litters for which there are no homes. In addition they can become potential threats to public health and safety.

By sterilizing your pet you will be doing your part to prevent the number one cause for death and suffering in cats and dogs: pet overpopulation. Won’t you please be a part of the solution!

If you have an un-altered animal please contact your veterinarian today to make an appointment to sterilize them. If your current financial situation prevents you from doing so and you are seeking an affordable alternative, please look into All About Animals Rescue’s Low Cost Spay/Neuter Clinic located in Warren MI.

All About Animals Rescue (AAAR), a non- profit animal welfare organization dedicated to reducing pet overpopulation, has opened the first full time spay/neuter clinic in Southeast Michigan. This is a unique and exciting concept for our area! They offer high quality, high volume, low cost spay/neuter services for pet owners 5 days a week, as well as some weekends.

Call 586-435-6930 today for their schedule or visit: http://www.allaboutanimalsrescue.org/.

For more facts about why you should spay/neuter your pets please see: http://www.allaboutanimalsrescue.org/spayneuterfacts.html 

AAAR offers incredibly reasonable prices to enable people to affordably sterilize their companion animals. The fee is $40 for cats and $80 for dogs. AAAR also has subsidy programs for low-income owners who cannot afford the surgery fee and offers special discount packages on basic vaccines and heartworm testing.  In addition, AAAR performs low-cost sterilization for feral cats to facilitate trap neuter and release ( TNR), thus providing an alternative to euthanasia for these special needs animals.

No-Kill Conference

The No Kill Advocacy Center is teaming up with the Animal Law program at George Washington  University Law  School, Maddie’s Fund and Friends of Animals to bring together the nation’s most successful shelter directors and the nation’s top animal lawyers. They will help you create a No Kill community and teach you how to use the legal system to save the lives of animals.

Learn from animal control/shelter directors who are now saving over 90% of all animals using the building blocks to No Kill success – programs and services that have had results in both urban and rural communities – to increase adoptions, reduce length of stay, increase redemption rates, rehabilitate animals, and much, much more.

Learn from animal law experts who have challenged our legal system to help animals: Whether it’s drafting model laws, fighting breed specific legislation, eliminating the gas chamber, filing impact legislation, or protecting condemned dogs, learn how to use the legal system to save the lives of animals.

Learn from activists fighting entrenched and regressive shelters in their own community as they show you how to launch successful campaigns for reform.

To get more details about this event, click HERE.

A Christmas Poem

‘Twas the night before Christmas and all through the house  Not a creature was stirring not even a mouse.

The stockings were hung by the chimney with care In hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there.

The children were nestled, all snug in their beds With no thought of the dog outside filling their heads.

And Mom in her kerchief and I in my cap Knew the dog was cold, but didn’t care about that.

When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter I sprang from the bed to see what was the matter.

Away to the window I flew like a flash Did the dog bark at something or find food in the trash?

The moon on the breast of the new fallen snow Gave the luster of mid-day to objects below.

When what to my wondering eyes should appear But Santa Claus, with his eyes full of tears.

He cradled the dog, once so playful and quick Last year’s Christmas present now starving and sick.

More rapid than eagles he picked up the doggy, Who climbed in his arms, looking frozen and dirty.

Now Dasher, now Dancer, now Prancer and Vixen On Comet on Cupid on Donner and Blitzen. To the top of the porch, to the top of the wall Let’s find this pet a home where she’ll be loved by all.

I knew in an instant there would be no gifts this year For Santa had made one thing painfully clear. The gift of a pet is not just for the season We had gotten the dog for all the wrong reasons.

In our haste to fill the kids’ Christmas list, There was one important thing we had missed A dog can be family, and puppies are cute You don’t gift a puppy, then give it the boot.

And I heard him exclaim as he rode out of sight, “ You weren’t given a ‘gift.’ You were given a life.”

URGENT Situations for 3 HomeFur-ever Animals

We at HomeFur-ever would like to make our audience aware of 3 VERY SPECIAL ANIMALS which are in need of URGENT re-homing.  We are desparate to find a foster home, adoptive home, or sanctuary where each of these animals can be provided with the special care they need to give them the best possible quality-of-life in order that they may live out the remainder of their lives with the dignity they deserve. 

The animals are currently located in the Detroit metro area, however, if a suitable home is located for them outside the area we have several options available to insure they would be able to be transported to that location.  Obviously the Detroit area or State of Michigan would be easiest, but we’ll do whatever is needed to provide them with the special care they need.

Please read their stories and contact us  if you can provide assistance or refer us to someone who can.

Case #1 – Scrappy -

Scrappy is owned by a person in a section of Detroit where there is a high rate of animal abuse and neglect.  He does have an owner who keeps him in the house most times, but that is about the best we can say of the situation.  Scrappy’s tale of woe really began when he got loose and did not come home for a couple of days.  Someone in the neighborhood spotted him lying under a vacant home near the porch so the owner retrieved him.  Upon return, his condition indicated to the owner that he had likely been hit by car but even so, he neglected to take him to a vet for medical care.  Scrappy was forced to pull himself around dragging his back legs which were no longer functional. 

When HomeFur-ever became aware of the situation and got involved, we first asked the owner to surrender the dog to us since it was obvious he was not being properly cared for.  The owner refused to surrender him saying, ‘I love him, couldn’t possibly give him up’ – of course our thought was, if you love him so much why isn’t he receiving proper medical care?  So, alternately, we begged the owner for authorization to rush him to our most skilled/experienced vet, where we found out by X-rays that someone had shot him and the bullet was still lodged in his lower back.  If Scrappy had received treatment when found, the Vet thought he would probably still be walking. Unfortunately, by the time the Vet got him, he was unable to change Scrappy’s circumstance.

So, as an alternative and at the Vet’s urging, HomeFur-ever has purchased a cart for Scrappy in hopes that if he could be exercised daily in the cart that his spine would straighten out, which in turn could possibly give him better muscle control in the kidney area thus making him a good candidate for medication to better control his urine; the Vet thought it a good sign that he still had muscle in the anal area.

We trained the owner on how to place him in the cart and spent time teaching Scrappy how to walk in it so he could again become mobile under his own power.  We educated the owner about the importance of daily use of the cart to benefit Scrappy.  In spite of his physical challenges, Scrappy is the sweetest, most loving animal, who easily gives kisses and just loves any attention he is given.  He obviously has a strong will to live and make the best of things.

It has been a couple of months since Scrappy has received his cart, and the owner recently called our Director to tell her that he is tired of cleaning up after the dog and does not have time to put him in his cart.  He is planning to put him down so he can get a puppy.  We have begged him to give us some time to find an alternative arrangement for Scrappy so he can live the life he deserves, but so far have been unable to find a foster or adoptive home for him.  Time is running out as the owner is quite impatient to be rid of him, and we are terrified that he will be put down any day.

Case #2 – Sanford

HomeFur-ever rescued Sanford after he appeared to have been hit by a car. He had two broken legs, one with a compound fracture.  Poor Sanford was in so much pain that he had chewed off his foot to try to alleviate the pain. Unfortunately, that leg was damaged beyond repair and had to be amputated.

You would think he had suffered enough and the story would end there, but such is not the luck of our poor Sanford.  Unfortunately, during his recovery he was frightened and managed to escape from the veterinarian’s office where he was receiving care.  This led to him being missing for several weeks until a good samaritan finally found him hiding under a porch looking for scraps of food.  They saw his HomeFur-ever tag and we were able to get him back to complete his treatment and work toward giving him a much better life.

Unfortunately, due to a shortage of foster homes, Sanford has to live in a foster home that has a lot of other foster animals who are left on their own much of the day while the foster Mother is out working, including some who didn’t like him very much, so there are times when those animals have attacked him.  This resulted in Sanford becoming very timid and fearful.

Even with all of this, Sanford has been a trouper!  He adapted fairly well to the loss of the leg and learned to get around as needed, and as time has passed, he seems to have overcome his fear of other dogs.  Unfortunately, he has now suffered a spinal stroke and is starting to lose his battle to gain a new life.  As a result of the stroke the vet indicates he needs regular physical therapy with a professional, and daily physical therapy at home.  However, the home where he is currently placed is unable to provide this extensive type of care and Sanford’s condition is deteriorating quickly as a result.  We have been unable to find anyone else who is willing to take him on in a foster or adoptive situation.

Case #3 – Celeste

This is Celeste, a VERY small German Shepherd at only 30 lbs. She is somewhere between 10 – 15 years old, and unfortunately is dying from cancer.

She doesn’t have very long to live, so we’ve been trying to find a quiet foster home where she can end her days in a loving environment, but have so far been quite unsuccessful – she is currently living in a foster home with multiple animals where they are doing their best to care for her and give her the calm environment she needs, but it’s not the best situation for her.

She will need hospice care, but there is actually little more involved than giving some meds to keep her comfortable, feeding her in small amounts several times per day, and wiping her eyes to clear away the liquids that collect there. She’s a very quiet girl who doesn’t move very well, but just loves laying outside in the sunshine.  We believe she previously had a stroke, but the meds do help her move better so she can do her business when needed. She still currently has control of her bodily functions, though she does have a very hard time walking.

Each of these animals has had to suffer the worst that life has to offer; we hope that our readers will help us find a situation for each of them that will enable them to live the rest of their lives seeing only the best that life can offer them.  Can you find it in your heart to help?

Two National Fundraising Contests for Animal Rescues/Shelters

Two national pet-listing websites, Adopt-a-Pet and Petfinder, are sponsoring contests to help animal rescues and shelters across the country raise funds to help animals.  Each of these contests is won by votes from YOU for your favorite animal rescue or shelter.

The America’s Favorite Animal Shelter contest, sponsored by Care2 and Adopt-a-Pet.com, is a chance for animal lovers everywhere to raise awareness of the need to adopt shelter and rescue animals while helping their favorite shelter win a much-needed donation.  Their contest takes place from November 5 thru December 16, 2009.  The winning shelter/rescue gets $10,000, and a random shelter/rescue is selected weekly to win $500.

Click HERE to vote for HomeFur-ever in the Adopt-a-Pet contest .

The second contest, sponsored by Petfinder, is on the Animal Rescue Site.  If you will click on the link below and search for “home fur-ever” (you have to spell it that way) and vote for us, you will help our chances of winning a grant that’s part of $100,000 being awarded! You can vote once a day, but if you use Internet Explorer, Mozilla Firefox, Google Chrome and Opera, that means you can vote 4 times a day – once on each browser.

If you would like a reminder to vote daily, the Rescue Site offers a free Daily Reminder email service that you can sign up for which also results in extra food donations to shelters if you are a new registrant on the site.  Sign up by clicking HERE.

Voting for this contest began September 14th and continues thru December 20th.  The following are the prizes that will be awarded:

Prizes will go to the eligible Petfinder.com organization with the highest accumulative votes for the duration of the Challenge as specified in the rules.  

Grand Prize:  One $20,000 grant!

Second Prize:  One $5,000 grant!

Third Prize:  One $3,000 grant!

New! Most Touching Story*:  Two $2,000 grants! (judged by The Animal Rescue Site)

State Winners**:  Fifty-one $1,000 state grants (50 U.S. states and Washington DC)

Canadian Winners*:  Two $1,000 grants will be awarded

International Winner:  One $1,000 grant will be awarded.

Click HERE to vote in the Animal Rescue Site contest. 

We would very much appreciate your votes in both contests (daily if your schedule will allow), and would appreciate you informing all pet lovers you know to visit the site and vote as well; HomeFur-ever and all of our rescued animals can really use your help!

Why Should You Volunteer for an Animal Rescue?

Maybe these statistics will answer the question; are you aware that…

• 6 to 8 million lost and unwanted animals enter animal shelters nationwide annually?
• 3 to 4 million animals are euthanized in shelters every year, well over 250,000 per month?
• the leading cause of death of healthy dogs and cats is euthanasia?
• only 1 in 3 animals have a home that lasts their entire lifetime?
• only 20% of animals currently in homes were adopted from shelters?

If the statistics don’t convince you, how about this?

There are few things more rewarding than seeing a family brimming with excitement over their new pet, especially if it is an animal you have come to know and love, and it seems like the perfect match.

Or this?

There are so many situations where an animal is neglected or abused that you might think that this type of work would be depressing.  In fact, it’s quite the opposite.

When you see a starving, flea infested dog who is trapped in an abandoned building and you know that his life depends on you, the feeling can be overwhelming. But once you’ve rescued that animal, cleaned him up, insured he has medical attention and some food and then placed them in a foster home, you then experience a tremendous feeling of hope. 

Then when you see that dog a few weeks later after he’s been treated with love in that caring foster home and his coat is shiny and his tail is wagging, you are overcome with happiness and satisfaction that you’ve played a role in saving that animal’s life and dramatically improving his circumstances.  Your heart just wants to burst!

If these reasons aren’t enough, we encourage you to visit HomeFur-ever at one of our upcoming adoption events – because we’re certain the faces of the many animals currently in our care will absolutely convince you that volunteering for an animal rescue is one of the most important things you can do with your life!

THANK YOU to Those Who Have Provided Assistance After Our Recent Robbery

To those who have provided assistance after the recent theft of our equipment and supplies:

HomeFur-ever would like to extend our deepest gratitude to those who have provided us with equipment & supply donations, cash donations and offers to volunteer assistance during this time of extreme need. 

While a situation as we recently experienced with the theft of all of our equipment and supplies is never easy to deal with or to overcome (see news release and media coverage if you are unfamiliar with our recent situation), we are VERY proud to say that the assistance we have received from the Detroit community has helped us to continue the care of our animals, and has shown a very positive side of the Detroit metro area.  Additionally, we have received substantial support from outside the Detroit community as a result of our participation on Twitter and Facebook; and we would like our new friends to know how very appreciative we are of their well-wishes, assistance and support.  In times like these the support of your friends – new or old – gives you the strength to do what needs to be done in spite of the obstacles!

Though the gifts we’ve received, large and small, have been too numerous to list here individually, we hope that every group and individual who has offered that assistance to us will accept our sincere thanks on behalf of our group and the animals we care for.

As one might expect, the need continues as we have a long way to go to recover, and to replace what was taken from us and our animals.  However, we are very confident  that our friends and animal-lovers both inside and outside the Detroit community will help us to obtain everything we need to insure that our work helping animals can continue without interuption.

Thank you again one and all for your support of HomeFur-ever Animal Rescue!

Dog Flu Shots Now Available

Posted: Wednesday, 23 September 2009

(CBS)  While humans deal with the H1N1 virus, another flu virus has been spreading in the dog world. Resident veterinarian Dr. Debbye Turner Bell shared the details about H3N8, otherwise known as canine influenza, with Early Show co-anchor Maggie Rodriguez on Wednesday. According to Bell, there is a new vaccine available, which Bell called “a good thing, because no dog has natural immunity to this very contagious virus.” In 2004, a mysterious virus raced through greyhounds at Florida racetracks almost as fast as they could run. It caused coughing, high fever, runny noses, and in many cases, life-threatening pneumonia, she explained. “It was disturbing because of the fact that so many dogs were sick and some were dying,” said Dr. Cynda Crawford, veterinarian at the University of Florida’s veterinary school. Within six months, this devastating disease had spread to 14 tracks in six states. A year later, in 2005, the virus was still spreading. But finally, some answers. Crawford identified the bug. “It is highly contagious,” Crawford explained. “Virtually all dogs exposed to this virus will become infected.” Today, this highly contagious virus has been noted in 30 states, affecting thousands of dogs in shelters, boarding kennels, and doggy day care facilities. The spread of the virus seems to have plateaued in many areas. However, four-to-five states are still seeing outbreaks: Florida, Colorado, New York, Pennsylvania, and there is an outbreak currently in Virginia, Bell pointed out. “Is this anything like H1N1?” Rodriguez asked. “Well, it’s a type A, influenza, however it is not swine flu, as we like to call it the canine influenza, it’s not contagious to humans so far as we know,” Bell said. “There’s no evidence that it can be given to people or other species. “The mortality rate is about 5 percent. It’s very similar to the human H1N1 in that generally it’s mild, there’s cough, nasal discharge, sometimes with a secondary bacterial infection, many recover from it except for those who go on to pneumonia.” Dr. Debbie Wohl, a veterinarian who practices in Valley Stream, N.Y., shared her experience with Rodriguez and Bell and administered the vaccine to her dog named, Harley. “That is pretty much what we saw. Several years ago there was an outbreak in our area,” Wohl said. “We think it came from a dog who used to go to a doggie day care center in the city. And because it’s so contagious, quite a few dogs got ill from it. We saw a lot of dogs coughing, nasal discharge, fever, anywhere from mild to severe.” Although most of the dogs got over it in one or two weeks, some of the dogs did progress to pneumonia and in those cases they got very sick and one or two did pass away from it, Wohl explained. According to Bell, since this is a virus that spreads in communal areas, dogs that go to kennels, doggie day cares, or grooming parlors should be vaccinated. She also added that people that work with animals should vaccinate their own animals as well. The vaccine involves a series of two shots, with the second one following two to four weeks later. “This is called a lifestyle vaccine,” Bell said. “If you have a dog that’s at home, stays in your yard and never comes in contact with other dogs, probably doesn’t need this vaccine. But if you travel, go to kennels, this vaccine is for you.”

iPHONE PET FIRST AID APPLICATION

July 16, 2009

Introducing the pet first aid mobile application, your first stop for critically important pet information.

Your four-legged family members rely on you for their care, so be prepared 24/7 for a medical emergency. From cuts and impalement, to choking and CPR, Pet First Aid is at your fingertips with detailed articles, video, and illustrations to help you care for your dog or cat. Record your pet’s vital medical information to ensure their veterinarian is never more than a touch away, and your pet will never miss another vaccination.

Pet First Aid is loaded with detailed videos and step-by-step illustrations so you’ll know exactly what to do when caring for your pet. Videos include: restraint, muzzling, CPR, bandaging, and many more. All articles, videos, and illustrations are bundled with the application for offline or wilderness access. Featuring dozens of articles, including: bleeding, poisoning, drowning, recue breathing and CPR, muzzling, restraining, disaster preparedness, bites and stings, burns, and many more.

In addition, Pet First Aid allows you to save vital medical information for all your pets. Easily record their vaccinations, identifications, veterinarian contact info, medications, allergies & conditions, and any other notes for reference when visiting the veterinarian.  Learn more at http://jive.me/

All content developed by PetTech of Vacaville, experts in Pet First Aid and Pet Emergency Preparedness training.  Software development provided by Jive Media, makers of the #1 best-selling first aid application in the Apple App Store