My Foster Cat Was Adopted Today

This morning, a young couple came to meet my foster cat, Kirby.


In a couple weeks, it will have been a year since a scraggly, scrawny black cat wandered his way into my backyard. He looked rough. He was skinny, and he had an eye infection in both eyes so bad that his eyes were almost sealed shut. At first, I thought he might be a feral cat. But, when I went outside, he ran right up to me, flopped over, and asked for a belly rub. He purred and rolled around on his back, begging for some love. I wondered how long it had been since he'd been touched by a friendly hand. This little guy had no collar and no tags, of course, and he was in pretty rough shape. I wondered if he had gotten lost, or if someone simply dumped him off in our neighborhood. It was clear that he'd been on his own for a while, but he was so friendly, obviously he had a home at some point in time. As much as I wanted to feed him, since he was so skinny, I resisted the temptation, and let him go on his way. We asked everyone in the neighborhood if they were missing a black cat, and of course, no one was. For a couple days, he'd show up in the backyard to stop by and say hi and get some love and attention.

Knowing what typically happens to sickly black cats at animal control, I contacted Second Chance Animal Rescue to see what I should do with him. And so began my journey as an animal foster. We'd considered fostering in the past, but always decided the timing wasn't just right. Well, when Kirby showed up in our backyard, he made the decision for us. Second Chance Animal Rescue agreed to allow us to foster Kirby under their organization.

It took a while for Kirby to learn house manners, since he was on his own for so long, and he was a little wild at times, but over the months, his awesome, unique personality developed more and more. His eye infection cleared right up, he underwent hernia repair surgery, a healthy diet gave him a gorgeous shiny black coat, and he put on five or six pounds. He learned what toys are and learned to play with gusto. He is such a cool cat with cute habits and tricks and he adores attention.

We took him to monthly adoption days, but unfortunately, he didn't do well. The car ride to PetCo freaked him out, sitting in a cage freaked him out, all the strange noises and commotion freaked him out. He acted like a feral cat in his adoption cage. His adorable personality just didn't come out when he was at adoption days, and potential adopters over looked him every time.

I was starting to think that poor Kirby was never going to get adopted. We knew that if an adopter met him in our home, where he acted like himself, he'd get adopted in a heartbeat. But after almost a year, I was starting to think that nobody would ever want him, and I'd end up adopting him myself.

When I first decided to foster Kirby, I was determined not to become a "foster failure." I guess most fosters "fail" and end up adopting a foster at some point in time, but I didn't want to "fail" on my first foster pet. If I ended up adopting Kirby myself, I couldn't be a foster for any other cats. In animal rescue, foster homes are worth a million bucks. They provide a safe haven for an animal in desperate need, and often it's a life or death situation. Rescues can only save as many animals as they have available space for. As much as I love Kirby, my job is to provide him a wonderful temporary home until he finds a permanent home.

I got the call last night that someone was interested in meeting Kirby, and had passed the screening process with flying colors. The young lady and her boyfriend were going to drive over an hour to meet him this morning and fill out an adoption application. After I got off the phone with her, it really hit me: Kirby's getting adopted.

I'm not even sure how to describe the feelings I have right now. On the one hand, the thought that Kirby's not going to be with us anymore absolutely breaks my heart. I love him as much as I love my own cats. On the other hand, I'm so excited and thrilled that he's finally getting adopted! I knew that giving him up was going to be difficult because I love him, and he's been with me for almost a year. But, I am so happy that he's getting adopted!

When his potential adopters drove up to our house this morning, Kirby ran right up to greet them at the door. He immediately started tossing a toy around and acting like a goofball. Then he ran over to the couple and asked them to pet him. The couple watched him and interacted with him for about two minutes before saying, "We're sure!" We went through all the paperwork, and this couple is wonderful! They had already gone through the screening process and passed with flying colors. It's going to be an awesome home for Kirby! I was kind of surprised that I wasn't sad at all during this process. I was just excited and happy that Kirby was getting adopted!

Since Kirby's been with us for almost a year now, he's due for his updated shots, so he's going to be at our house for another day or two so I can bring him in to get his vaccines updated so the new adopter doesn't have to worry about that. I have a couple more days with him, then he's moving on to his new life. That's the part that makes me sad: not having Kirby in my home anymore. I'm taking pictures, and spending time with him. Kirby acts like I'm crazy, fawning over him, taking pictures, and getting all emotional. It's like he's telling me, "Mom, it's cool. Don't be sad. You took great care of me, and now I'm finally getting my own home." Kirby will move on, and will have a great new life, and I will always have wonderful memories of him. Kirby's adoption is bittersweet, but in all honesty, it's more sweet than bitter. I've done my job as a foster, and because of me, Kirby will have a wonderful life.

So, will I do this again? You bet! There are always cats in animal control running out of time. Because I foster, and because a wonderful young family decided to adopt Kirby, I can help save another life.

This poem kind of helps explain why we fosters do this:

Dear Foster Mom

There I sat, alone and afraid.
You got a call and came right to my aid.
You bundled me up with blankets and love.
And, when I needed it most, you gave me a hug.
I learned that the world was not all that scary and cold.
That sometimes there is someone to have and to hold.
You taught me what love is, you helped me to mend.
You loved me and healed me and became my first friend.
And just when I thought you'd done all you do,
There came along not one new lesson, but two.
First you said, "Sweetheart, you're ready to go.
I've done all I can, and you've learned all I know."
Then you bundled me up with a blanket and kiss.
Along came a new family, they even have kids!
They took me to their home, forever to stay.
At first I thought you sent me away.
Then that second lesson became perfectly clear.
No matter how far, you will always be near.
And so, Foster Mom, you know I've moved on.
I have a new home, with toys and a lawn.
But I'll never forget what I learned that first day.
You never really give your fosters away.
You gave me these thoughts to remember you by.
We may never meet again, and now I know why.
You'll remember I lived with you for a time.
I may not be yours, but you'll always be mine.

- Author Unknown

A couple weeks ago, the adoption coordinator for Second Chance Animal Rescue sent out an email asking for help in finding people interested in fostering cats, particularly kittens and pregnant cats. If you are involved in cat rescue, you know that spring means kitten season, when hundreds of litters of unwanted kittens are born, and there's not enough homes for them all. Every humane society, animal control shelter, and rescue organization gets inundated with requests to take surrendered or found litters of kittens in the spring and summer. There is simply not enough room for them all. It's a sad fact that in the Twin Cities metro area, hundreds of cute, adorable, healthy, perfectly adoptable kittens will be euthanized in the coming months because there's not enough homes for them all, and not enough shelter and foster space to save them all.

If you have a spare room and some spare love, you can help save the life of a cat or kittens. While it took almost a year for Kirby to get adopted, it doesn't typically take that long for fosters to get adopted, especially kittens. Fostering is such an awesomely rewarding experience! If you are interested in fostering, please contact Second Chance Animal Rescue at 651-771-5662 for more information.

Minnesota Puppy/Kitten Mill Bill

Sadly, Minnesota has become a haven for large-scale dog and cat breeding facilities, due in large part to Minnesota's lack of regulation of such facilities.

Animal welfare organizations and concerned citizens throughout the state came together in an effort to promote legislation to regulate such operations, in the hope that fewer mills will come to the state, and that those already here will clean up their acts.

Senate File 7, introduced by Senator Betzold and House File 253, introduced by Representative Tom Tillberry, if passed by the Minnesota Legislature, would be an awesome step in the right direction toward eliminating the horrors of puppy and kitten mills.

To read the text of the bills check out these links:

S.F. No. 7, as introduced, The Puppy and Kitten Mill Bill

H.F. No. 253, as introduced, The Puppy and Kitten Mill

From AnimalFolksMN's website, the highlights of this legislation include:

• Licensing
Requires dog and cat breeders in Minnesota to be licensed. A “breeder” is defined as “a person, other than a hobby breeder, who possesses animals and is engaged in the business of breeding animals for direct or indirect sale or for exchange in return for consideration, and who possesses six or more adult intact female animals for the purpose of breeding."

NOTE: The above is often misinterpreted. This legislation applies to breeders who “possess six or more adult intact females for the purpose of breeding.” If a breeder has 5 or less adult intact females, it does not apply to them. If a breeder is not in the business of breeding (i.e. dogs used for mushing or a hobby breeder who breeds for show) and possesses 5 or less adult intact breeding females, this legislation does not apply to them. Hobby breeders are exempt.

REASONING: There is no licensing of dog and cat breeders by the State of Minnesota. As a result, the State does not and cannot know if animals in breeding facilities are properly cared for.

ALSO: The USDA (United States Department of Agriculture), per the Animal Welfare Act (AWA), does license some breeders — those with more than three intact females who sell wholesale. Note the word 'wholesale' — breeders who sell directly to consumers through websites, parking lots or classified ads are not required to be licensed by the USDA. This is a loophole in the Animal Welfare Act, considering the fact that many breeders are now using websites. It's also another reason for state licensing of dog and cat breeders.

• Inspections
Gives Minnesota the authority to inspect dog and cat breeding facilities, including both USDA-licensed facilities and totally unregulated facilities.

NOTE: There are 2.5 USDA inspectors in Minnesota to inspect and regulate approximately 220 USDA-licensed facilities throughout our State. These inspectors inspect USDA-licensed breeders and dealers (dogs, cats, exotics and other animals) as well as exhibitors, zoos, research laboratories, circuses and animals transported via commercial airlines. Due to limited staffing and from reviewing inspection reports (available through the Freedom of Information Act), the number of inspections are infrequent. Also, as stated above, the Animal Welfare Act (AWA) does not license breeders who sell directly to the public through the Internet, classified ads, parking lots or other means; therefore, there are no inspections of breeding facilities that are not required to be USDA-licensed. Commercial breeders are aware of this loophole; some have chosen not to re-new or apply for a USDA license, so avoiding inspection.

REASONING: This bill will close the AWA loophole. It will allow for additional inspectors and inspections of all USDA-licensed and non-USDA-licensed breeders (except "hobby breeders") by the State of Minnesota, and will, for the first time, inspect facilities that have gone unchecked.

• Enforcement
Gives Minnesota the authority to enforce both State and USDA laws, standards, rules and regulations.

NOTE: There is no State law that gives Minnesota the authority to enforce breeding and care standards.

REASONING: This bill closes the enforcement gap. Upon receiving a complaint, the Minnesota Board of Animal Health, a local animal control authority, peace officer or humane agent will be given the authority to investigate the complaint. Correction orders can be issued, requiring a breeder to correct a violation of federal and state statutes, rules and regulations governing breeding facilities. An order may also be issued to cease a practice if its continuation would result in an immediate risk to animal welfare or public health. The State would have the authority to refuse to re-issue a license, suspend or revoke a license if the breeder fails to act on certain orders (i.e. doesn’t comply, doesn’t pay, commits felony cruelty), as defined in the law.

• Penalties
Imposes civil and criminal penalties for violations.

REASONING: This bill creates misdemeanors for specific violations committed by unscrupulous dog and cat breeders. It also imposes administrative penalties.

On January 27, 2009, S.F. 7 was heard in the Minnesota Senate Agriculture Committee which lasted two and one-half hours. Senator Don Betzold (the author of S.F. 7) spoke on behalf of the bill — showing a video and passing around pictures of inhumane breeding conditions, stating the basic problem, and explaining the key points of S.F. 7.

After approximately one and one-half hours of people testifying in support and in opposition to the bill, the Committee voted to “table” S.F. 7. This means a final vote for or against the bill was not taken at this hearing. Instead, it was laid on the table waiting for further action, which means it will need to be called back for another hearing in the same Committee in order to finish the discussion.

For all Minnesotan animal lovers, your telephone calls, e-mails, and letters to your senators and representatives are needed. To find out more information about who to contact, when to contact them, and what to say, visit Animal Folks Minnesota. To receive updates on the status of this legislation and how you can help, please visit Animal Folks Minnesota, and sign up for their mailing list.

Beautiful Penny Needs a New Home, Fargo, ND

Just look at this gorgeous dog! Penny is a female American Pit Bull Terrier who is in need of a new home. She's about 10-12 months old, weighs about 40 lbs., and is up to date on vaccinations and spayed.

From 4 Luv of Dog Rescue:

Penny is a sweet, sweet dog. She is shy at first, but once she knows you are a friend she warms up quickly. Penny loves to play with other dogs, big or small. She walks well on leash and seems to listen well. We think Penny would do fine with cats, right now they scare her but we think she would do fine getting to know them. Penny is a stunning dog, she has a rich chocolate coat and beautiful eyes.

This sweet dog almost didn't get her second chance at a loving family. Her owner was sent to jail and Penny and 2 other doggie friends were sent to the pound. On her last day we took Penny in and now she is waiting for her forever family.

If you are located in the Fargo/Moorhead area, and are interested in adopting Penny, please contact:

4 Luv of Dog Rescue
Email: info@4luvofdog.com
Phone: 701-205-0190

4 Luv of Dog Rescue
c/o Natural Pet Center
3037 13th Ave. S.
Fargo, ND 58103

Letting Go of a Foster Pet

When I first considered fostering a pet, one thing I wondered was whether I'd be able to let my foster go when a good adopter came along. I still struggle with that question. I've had my foster kitty, Kirby, for about 5 months now. Every day, it gets a little bit harder to think about giving him up. But, if I would keep Kirby, that takes away a save place for another cat in desperate need of rescue. That's why I know when the time comes, as difficult as it will be, I will give Kirby to his new adoptive family.

When I talk to people who are considering fostering, one of the comments they make time and time again is that they don't think they'd be able to give the pet up. I think one of the best ways to think about it is that by adopting your foster, that's one less safe place for an animal in need of rescue.

On the other hand, all fosters are bound to "fail" at some time and adopt their foster pets. Some pets are just meant to be with you.

I ran across this fantastic article about letting go of a foster pet on PetLuvr.com. If you are a foster or if you are considering fostering, I strongly recommend reading this article. Here's an excerpt:

As we discussed in my last post, “So You Want to be a Foster Home,” the hardest part of fostering is letting go. For every foster pet, there comes a time when she has gained all she can from foster care, and needs to find a permanent, adoptive home. It’s bittersweet, knowing that you’ve done a great thing by giving an animal a second chance, but having to allow a pet you’ve come to love to move on. It’s important to allow yourself time to grieve, and to celebrate your foster pet’s new home.

Read more here.

Help Feral Cats in Burns Flat, Oklahoma

Feral cats need our help and protection. As you may know, feral cats are domestic cats that have reverted to a wild state. They are afraid of humans, and live in the shadows in urban and rural areas, scrapping out a bare existence. Sadly, many communities deal with feral cats by trapping them and destroying them, which is hardly a humane solution. A far better and more humane solution to control feral cat populations is trap, neuter, return. To learn more about trap, neuter, return (TNR), please visit Alley Cat Allies.

I recently received an email regarding a colony of feral cats located in the rural community of Burns Flat, Oklahoma. These cats are located on private property, and the property owners have demanded that the cats be removed, or they will be killed. A local rescue organization has teamed up with Forever Friends Humane Society to help these cats.

Forever Friends will trap, neuter, and relocate all the cats to barn homes, and take any adoptable cats into their adoption program. They have been offered a great deal with the VAW SPOT clinic to neuter all these cats. There are approximately 50 cats, and all can be neutered/spayed and vaccinated for rabies for about $750.00.

Forever Friends Humane Society has set up a campaign on Fundable. If you're not familiar with Fundable, donors pledge a certain amount of money. If the campaign reaches its goal by the deadline set by the organization, the money is then collected. If the goal is not reached, no money is collected. Foreover Friends and the feral cats desperately need you to pitch in to help reach their goal of $750.00. The deadline to raise this money is November 5, 2008. Foreover Friends is a 501(c)3 charity, so all donations are tax deductible. Please click here to donate!

I pitched in, will you??

Great Cats From Second Chance Animal Rescue, White Bear Lake, Minnesota

I'm a foster mom for Second Chance Animal Rescue, based out of White Bear Lake, Minnesota, just outside the Twin Cities. My sweet foster kitty, Kirby, is currently available for adoption, as are some other wonderful cats.

Lately, very few cats have been adopted from Second Chance Rescue. Perhaps it's the bad economy...

In any event, here's a few of the wonderful cats available for adoption from Second Chance Animal Rescue. If you live in or near the Twin Cities, please consider adopting a Second Chance kitty!


GORDY is approx. 4 years old and a cute black & white boy with a beard and moustache. He's a real sweetie, very friendly and likes to be where the activity is. He loves to hang out in his cradle perch and watch television with you. He likes to play with his interactive toys or he's fine just watching the activity out the windows. Gordy is a silly guy yet mellow. He gets along very well with the foster's cats and needs to be adopted into a home with another cat companion. Gordy has his own cute personality; after you finish your shower, he will help get the water drops out of the tub! Gordy would be best in a home without kids or dogs. He is neutered, FeLV & FIV negative, and distemper and rabies vaccinated. His adoption fee is $95. If you're looking for a real pal, call us at 651-771-5662.






DUNCAN is approx. 1-2 years old and a strikingly handsome black and gray cat with white feet and chest. He is shy at first and needs a kind voice so he feels brave . . . and then he warms up and becomes your best friend. Duncan is an active and affectionate boy, and he likes to head but and rub against his foster mom. He loves running through the house and playing with balls and toy mice and climbing the cat scratching tree. He likes being up hightand watching the bird activity out the window. Duncan loves attention and playing with interactive toys with his foster mom. He also entertains himself by playing ball - he carries a small rubber ball around, drops it and then chases it - very smart guy. Duncan also throws his fleece toy in the air and chases that. He’s a big sweet (and often clumsy) boy who likes to talk to you and rub up against you when he's happy. He should be adopted into an adult home without other animals.
Duncan is neutered, FeLV & FIV negative and distemper vaccinated. His adoption fee is $100. Call 651-771-5662 if you have a quiet, loving home and are looking for a great friend.


HI – my name is CISCO and I'm approx. 2 - 2 1/2 years old and a cute black/brown tiger. Both of my ears were frostbitten off so I look like one of those funny breeds called a Scottish Fold. I am a very happy, social, and affectionate cat. I LOVE sitting on your lap while you read, watch TV, or work on the computer, and I purr happily to let you know. I'm a good cuddler at night and want to be part of the family. I also love to play with those toys with feathers on them, furry mice and sparkle balls. I really like my scratching tree and enjoy hanging out on the top level so I can keep an eye on the house and watch out the windows. Sometimes I like to talk to you. I would like a home without other animals so I can have all the attention; I might be okay with another playful cat if slowly introduced. And a home without young kids is preferred too. I am neutered, FeLV & FIV negative and distemper vaccinated. You can adopt me for just $95. Please call Second Chance at 651-771-5662 to see adorable me.


FRAZER is approx. 5 years old and a WONDERFUL orange/white boy with pretty green eyes. He is such an affectionate, friendly, social, loveable guy – he LOVES to be carried around and will hang over your shoulder (and gives little kitty kisses). Frazer is a good cuddler, likes to sit on your lap, be petted, sleep with you and just be part of your world. He will follow you around and tell you all about his day - and he comes when he is called; he's a good conversationalist. Frazer enjoys catnip toys, furry mice toys, his scratching post and watching the activity out the windows. When he wants to be held, he will reach out for you with his front paws or will try to jump to your arms. Frazer enjoys laying in the sun and taking long naps. He would prefer a home without other animals or young kids running around. Frazer is neutered, FeLV & FIV negative and distemper vaccinated. His adoption fee is $100. Call 651-771-5662 to see this friendly lover boy.


SYLVESTER is approx. 2 years old and a handsome black/white tuxedo with beautiful green eyes and long whiskers. He is a friendly, social boy who comes running when you call him, and he will jump up on your lap purring happily. Sylvester likes to snuggle and sleep with you and is a good companion while you're watching TV. He likes to follow you from room to room and, when you come home, he will greet you with a cute meow. He also likes to greet company when they come to the house. Sylvester likes his catnip toys, watching the activity out the windows and being petted. He is fine with the foster's cats and likes to be part of the whole family. A home without dogs would be preferred and older kids would be fine. He will need routine brushing to keep his coat nice. Sylvester is neutered, declawed, FeLV & FIV negative and distemper vaccinated. His adoption fee is $110. Call 651-771-5662 to adopt handsome, wonderful Sylvester.

Call 651-771-5662 to apply to adopt one of these beautiful cats, or any of the other pets available through Second Chance Animal Rescue. Or, you can visit some of the cats and dogs at Petco in Roseville, Minnesota, 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. located at 2575 North Fairview Avenue (North of Highway 36 off Fairview Avenue) on November 8, December 13, January 17, or February 14.

Second Chance Animal Rescue is an all-volunteer, nonprofit 501(c)(3) animal rescue organization dedicated to rescuing, caring for and providing homeless dogs and cats with a second chance at life and companionship. We don't have a shelter but instead house animals in volunteer foster homes until permanent, loving adoptive homes are found. We rescue dogs and cats from animal control facilities and from a wide range of other situations before they are put to sleep or, in some cases, sold for research. Each animal is vet checked, heartworm or feline leukemia checked, wormed and spayed or neutered. The adoption fee includes a free ID tag and free vet exam.

Second Chance Animal Rescue
P.O. Box 10533
White Bear Lake, MN 55110
Phone: 651-771-5662
Website: secondchancerescue.org

I PASSED!

Just a quick note....my three years of hard work, plus three months of studying, then two months of waiting all paid off! I passed the Minnesota Bar Exam!

Another Contest! Help Your Favorite Shelter Win!

The Animal Rescue Site, in partnership with Petfinder, is sponsoring a $100,000 Grant Contest! Simply go to the Animal Rescue Site, click on the Purple button, then click on the button that says "Vote Now." Then you select your favorite shelter or rescue organization! In addition to a $25,000 grant prize, weekly prizes of $1,000 will be given away to deserving shelters and rescue organizations. There is simply NO reason not to participate! You can click every day!

Vote for Your Favorite Shelter and Help Them Win a Grant!

I LOVE getting to post about these great contests! Just the other day, I posted about Petfinder.com's contest. Unfortunately, Petfinder had to discontinue it's contest because some "enthusiastic" supporters figured out how to cheat the system. Instead, Petfinder will be giving away random prizes.

Anyway, Care2.com, in conjunction with 1-800-Adopt-A-Pet.com is sponsoring a GREAT contest called "America's Favorite Animal Shelter." All YOU have to do is VOTE for your favorite shelter! The organization with the most votes wins a $10,000.00 grant. In addition, each week, a random shelter will win $1,000.00.

Not only that, but the people who get the most other people to vote, i.e., the best "recruiters," will earn $50.00 gift certificates.

There's absolutely no excuse not to do this. All you have to do is vote.

Please click on the button below, then spread the word far and wide!

Once you've taken a moment to vote, email your friends and family, and start posting these buttons and banners on your website! Also, if you're not already a member of the Care2.com community, consider joining. It's a wonderful place where caring people network to make the world a better place.

Senor Chow Fletcher Needs a Home

It always breaks my heart to see senior dogs dumped at shelters. After giving years and years of their loyalty, they are discarded like trash to die alone in a concrete run. With the economy in crisis, shelters are seeing more and more pets abandoned or turned-in when families lose their homes. Maybe this is what happened to this poor senior guy, Fletcher.

Fletcher A0953629 is a senior male Chow-Chow mix. He's currently located at the City of Los Angeles West LA Animal Shelter in Los Angeles, California. While the shelter works hard to find homes for all pets coming in through its doors, there simply are not enough homes for them all. Sadly, senior dogs like Fletcher are often overlooked by people looking to adopt.

If you are thinking about adopting a dog, please consider a senior dog. Seniors are often a better match for families than a puppy or young dog. Plus, you know you are helping a dog that needs your help the most, at a time in his life when he deserves a nice warm bed and a gentle hand.

If you are interested in adopting Fletcher A0953629, or know of a rescue group that has room for him, please contact the City of Los Angeles West LA Animal Shelter immediately. Fletcher's time is not unlimited!

City of Los Angeles West LA Animal Shelter
11950 Missouri Avenue
Los Angeles, CA 90025
Phone: (888) 452-7381
Hours: 8AM to 5PM, Tuesday though Saturday, 12PM to 4PM Sunday

http://www.LAAnimalServices.com
Email: Petfinder@ani.lacity.org

Vote to Help Your Favorite Shelter or Rescue Win a $5,000 Grant from Petfinder!

Petfinder.com has a really awesome program going on through October 1, 2008 to assist shelter and rescue organizations with disaster relief. Petfinder is giving away $1,000,000, yep that's ONE MILLION DOLLARS, worth of power generators to shelters and rescue organizations to help prepare for disasters.

In addition, Petfinder.com is also giving away two $5,000.00 grants to two partner shelters or rescue organizations, and WE get to choose! Simply go to Petfinder's Pet Disaster and Emergency Preparedness Contest, select your favorite rescue organization or shelter, and VOTE! You can vote every day between today through October 1, 2008, so be sure to visit every day.

Kudos Petfinder and Honda!

Please help spread the word far and wide!

Now, off you go to vote! :)

Special Offer for Shelters, Rescues, Fosters...Discounted Foster Dog T-Shirts

I've had this "Adopt Me, I'm a Foster Dog" dog t-shirt in my store, Reekoe's Room, for quite a long time, but today, I've decided to offer it at a special discount price to shelters, rescue organizations, and pet fosters.

I'm offering this foster dog shirt at BASE price, with no mark-up, in an effort to help rescue organizations, shelters, and fosters "advertise" their foster dogs. The price is $16.99, exclusive of any tax and/or shipping. This special price is ONLY available through this link.

Please feel free to pass this offer on to anyone you think might be interested.

Flipper and Suzie from Adopt-A-Pet Fargo-Moorhead Need Your Help

Flipper and Susie have been together for 13 years, but their companion can no longer take care of them, as he has needed to move to a nursing home. They did get to wish him well at the local VA Hospital before they moved in to their new Adopt-A-Pet foster home. Flipper and Susie are in great health; however they both need to have their teeth cleaned as well as have some teeth removed. As many dog and cat owners know, teeth cleaning and/or removal is not cheap. Adopt-A-Pet is trying to raise $500 to help cover the costs of the dental work for Flipper and Susie.

Please consider "chipping in" by donating through the Chip-In Widget below to help Adopt-A-Pet offset the costs of caring for these sweet senior pets while they wait to find their new forever home.

If you are not able to donate, please consider helping spread the word on your web page, your blog, your facebook page, or your myspace page.




Adopt-A-Pet of Fargo-Moorhead is a non-profit, completely volunteer-run organization with the primary goal of placing rescued pets in loving and responsible homes.

I'm Baaack!

WOW! It has been FOREVER since I posted! The end of May through the end of July were pretty crazy for me. I finished up with my last found of finals for law school, and then graduated mid-May! Yay! Done...FINALLY! Then, I worked part time and took a Bar-prep course for the next two months. Some serious full-time studying for two months. At the end of July, I took the Minnesota Bar Exam. I'll find out whether or not I passed at the beginning of October. Now that I'm done with the exam itself, I think the worst part is waiting to find out the results....keep your fingers crossed for me!!

Anyway, the last time I posted, I talked about my new foster kitty, Kirby. His personality has really started to shine! He is an absolute goof-ball, and he seems to have endless amounts of energy. His favorite past-times include harassing my older (fatter) cat, who is about triple Kirby's size, watching Chippies (chipmunks) out the window, killing toys, racing through the house going 900 miles an hour, and playing with water. About a week after Kirby came to our house, we discovered that the poor guy had a hernia. Well, several months later, it got larger, so we took him in for hernia repair surgery. He's almost all healed up now. He slowed down for a couple days immediately following the surgery, but it didn't take him long to get back up to full speed :)

Here's his picture :)



Click on Kirby's photo to see his Petfinder profile.

If you live in the Twin Cities Metro area, Kirby can be adopted through Second Chance Animal Rescue. Second Chance will be having its next adoption day on Saturday, September 6 at Petco in Roseville. Kirby will be there up for adoption :) Visit Second Chance Animal Rescue's website to see the schedule of adoption events.

I'm a Foster Mom!

My fiancee and I have planned on getting involved in fostering pets at some point down the road, once I'm done with the bar, once my sister moves out, etc., etc. But, as luck would have it, a cute friendly little black kitty wandered into our yard the other day. I resisted the temptation to feed him, thinking that he was a neighbor's cat that had simply gotten out. But little black kitty kept coming back. One night, he sat by the back door and cried as we cooked supper. I couldn't help myself. I put some food out for him, and tried to figure out what the heck we were going to do with him. I contacted the rescue organization that we had adopted our second cat from to see what we should do, and they graciously agreed to let us foster the kitty through their program. I dropped little black kitty off at the vet on Monday, and he was neutered, treated for fleas and ticks, wormed, vaccinated, tested, poked, prodded, and pinched, and I picked him up today. He's settling in nicely in his "safe room" and he now has a name: Kirby. Right now all he wants is food and pets. He won't pose for a picture since all he wants to do is rub on the camera. I'll update with a photo as soon as I can get one :).

Beautiful Nicole Needs a New Home, Buffalo, MN

Nicole, a stunning black young adult female domestic long-haired cat in desperate need of a new home. Some terrible people tossed Nicole out of a moving vehicle, but luckily, some kind people picked her up and brought her to the Crossroads Animal Shelter in Buffalo, Minnesota.

Nicole is up-to-date on shots, she is spayed, and she is ready for a new home.

If you are interested in adopting Nicole, please contact the Crossroads Animal Shelter at 763-684-1234 as soon as possible.


Crossroads Animal Shelter
2800 10th St., SE
Buffalo, MN 55313
Phone: 763-684-1234
E-mail: crossroadsshelter@bwig.net

***Update 6/18: I am happy to report that Nicole has been adopted!

Doreen's Doggie Delights

Doggie Treats!

I ran across this lovely little website and just had to share. What better way to treat your canine best friend than with homemade goodies? Doreen makes all these wonderful doggie treats by hand, and they are made of human-grade food. All her treats are also corn and wheat free. Sadly, we know all too well that all pet foods are not created equal. You can be rest assured that Doreen's treats are healthy for your dog.

Doreen's Doggy Delights offers four varieties of treats, including Stu Biscuits, Wrigley's Pumpkin Surprise, Lucy's Cherry Chewies, April May's Carrot Cookies, and Thor's Sampler/Zipper Doodles. The ingredient list for each of these treats reads like a recipe for human cookies.

The best part is, Doreen donates a portion of the proceeds from all sales to help support various rescue causes.

Goodies from Mutts-N-Stuff

Whew! Been forever since I updated! Just a quick re-cap...I am now officially a law school graduate, and I'm studying for the Minnesota Bar which I take at the end of July.

Anyway, I recently bought a bunch of magnets from Cafepress to support animal rescue groups. Here's another one of my favorites from the Mutts-N-Stuff Shop.

Mutts-N-Stuff, founded in August of 2000, is an all-volunteer 501(c)3 organization of foster homes based in Missouri, set up to rescue and find good homes for unfortunate animals. Mutts-N-Stuff fosters puppies, dogs, kittens, and cats; and the occasional pig, chicken, and rabbit also.

The mission of Mutts-N-Stuff is to promote interest and participation in the rescue, foster, and adoption of animals from area pounds, from owners who are dying or who have died, or who are in need of the organization's help. Mutts-N-Stuff tries to match animals in need with good adoptive homes. In addition, Mutts-N-Stuff is a strong advocates of spaying or neutering pets.

Check out Mutts-N-Stuff's online store to find some great gifts, including mugs, t-shirts, stickers, and more. They have a wide variety of awesome designs, particularly promoting positive images of pit bulls. Here's another one of my favorite designs from Mutts-N-Stuff store.

Smiley Boy Needs a Good Home, Lawrenceville, GA

Look at this gorgeous grin! This dog is absolutely adorable! He looks like the happiest guy in the world. Unfortunately, Pen #136, an adult male pit bull, has somehow landed in an animal control facility. Despite his infectious grin, the fact that he was born a pit bull is a strike against this guy. He really needs someone special to bail him out!

The Shelter thinks that Pen #136 is a 1 year old black and white pit bull who is very playful, active, gentle, and super affectionate!!! He came in as a stray and is available for adoption, rescue or euthanasia beginning April 10th.

If you are interested in adopting Smiley Pen #136, please contact Gwinnett County Animal Control immediately at 770-339-3200.

Gwinnett County Animal Control
884 Winder Hwy (Hwy 29)
Lawrenceville, Ga 30045
or call 770-339-3200

Update 06/02: I am sad to report that Smiley Boy's listing has been removed, and I have not been able to determine his fate. If you are considering adopting a dog, please consider adopting a wonderful smiley pitbull!

Beautiful Glory Needs a Wonderful Home Where She Can Retire, McDonough, GA

It's just heartbreaking to see senior pets dumped off at animal control facilities. After giving years of utterly faithful devotion to their previous owners, they are simply abandoned, when the thing they deserve most is a warm bed and a gentle hand.

I saw a plea for this beautiful senior black lab through Saving Georgia Dogs. Glory 4/4-1036, a senior female black lab is located at the Henry County Animal Control Shelter in McDonough, GA. Sadly, at Henry County AC, a pet's time is not unlimited. Can you offer this beautiful, dignified senior lady a comfortable place to retire? Do you know a rescue organization that has room for this beautiful girl? If so, please contact the Henry County Animal Control Shelter at 770-288-PETS (7387) immediately!

Henry County Animal Shelter
527 Hamption Street
McDonough, GA 30253
Phone: 770-288-PETS (7387)

Update 6/2: I am thrilled to report that beautiful Glory has been adopted! If you are considering adopting a dog, please consider a "senior" or "special needs" dog.

Puppy Breath!

As you may be aware, the pet overpopulation problem in the Southern states is overwhelming. On a daily basis, hundreds of perfectly adoptable dogs, including puppies, are euthanized simply because there is no where for them to go. One of my favorite organizations, Saving Shelter Pets, Inc., has created an innovative rescue program called Puppy Promises. Through this program, Saving Shelter Pets intervenes when an owner wants to surrender a litter of puppies to a shelter. The owner of the puppies agrees to quarantine the puppies for several weeks, and Saving Shelter Pets spays the mother dog, as well as any other intact pets in the household. By keeping the puppies out of shelters, Saving Shelter Pets keeps these cute little guys out of shelter environments, where they often contract parvo or other deadly diseases. The litters of adorable puppies are then transported to adoption centers and no-kill facilities in the Northeast, where they are quickly snatched up by happy adopters.

As spring approaches, puppies and kittens are flooding into the shelters. Right now, Saving Shelter Pets has 22 Puppy Promises puppies waiting to hitch a ride to the Northeast. Each puppy needs $35.00 to cover their "fare" on their way North. Can you buy one pup his or her ticket to ride? Click here to donate!


Saving Shelter Pets (SSP) is a nonprofit, 501(c)(3) animal welfare organization. SSP facilitates rescues from high-kill animal shelters and promote spay & neuter, in an effort to give all pets the chance at life they truly deserve.

SSP is a small, all-volunteer organization with supporters and volunteers located throughout the country. SSP relies solely on donations to continue its rescue and spay/neuter efforts.

SSP is one of my FAVORITE rescue organizations. Through a group of dedicated online volunteers, SSP facilitates rescue from high-kill Georgia shelters. The group also has a WONDERFUL forum for pet lovers and anyone looking for ways to help shelter pets.

Help Shelter Pets While You Do Your Taxes!!

It's that time of year: TAX TIME!

If you use TurboTax, you can help shelter pets at no extra cost to you! All you have to do is sign up to iGive.com, and go to TurboTax through that site. TurboTax will donate a percentage of your total purchase price to your selected charity. TurboTax even makes a small donation if you do your Federal taxes for FREE!

iGive is an awesome program that allows you to shop online just as you normally would, except that your purchases through participating vendors help support your selected charity. This is a wonderful way to help your favorite charity with no extra cost to you. To make it even easier, iGive has a Shopping Window program that you can download. Each time you land on a site that is a participating vendor, you'll get a pop-up window to let you know that any purchases will help support your favorite charity. All purchases made by going through the vendor links at iGive or by using the Shopping Window program are automatically credited to your favorite charity.

Why not get started this weekend while you're working on your taxes?

Help Shelter Pets for FREE! Take Two Minutes and Write a Review

Insider Pages features an awesome fund-raiser program for charitable organizations. Right now, the Pet Rescue of Mercer is raising money through Insider Pages reviews. It's simple...simply sign up for an account with Insider Pages (I'm a member...no spam!), then write reviews of businesses you've patronized. Each review you write earns the Pet Rescue of Mercer either $1.50 or $0.50. If you think about it, that's a LOT of money for spending just two minutes of your time to write a review. PLEASE help this rescue organization out. This fund-raiser is over in just ONE DAY! Get on board right now and write a couple reviews! It costs you nothing but a couple minutes of your time.

Pet Rescue of Mercer is an all volunteer, not-for-profit animal 501 (c)(3) rescue group based in Mercer County, NJ. PRM rescues neglected, abused, and abandoned animals from local shelters by finding quality homes for them.

Foxy is just one of the beautiful pets awaiting adoption at the Pet Rescue of Mercer. Foxy is a senior female purebred Akita. She loves attention and is good with cats and dogs. Foxy is up to date on shots, spayed, and house-trained. If you are looking to adopt a pet like Foxy, please visit Pet Rescue of Mercer.

**UPDATE 4/9! FOXY WAS ADOPTED!**

Cool Magnets from PBRC

Awhile back I mentioned I went on a magnet shopping spree at Cafepress. You see, I had just moved, and I decided my new fridge needed a new look. I bought a bunch of magnets from various Cafepress stores, all of which help support animal rescue. Here are two I purchased from the Pit Bull Rescue Central Store.

I LOVE the magnet on the left! My fiancee has a buddy that refuses to have his adult black lab mix neutered, because "he just couldn't do that to his buddy." I think this magnet explains it well: "Real Men Have Their Own Balls -- Neuter Your Dog!"

The magnet on the right is just beautiful in real life. It poignantly points out the fact that we need remember that the blame for dog attacks lies with humans, not with the dogs.

Pit Bull Rescue Central website is a virtual shelter and resource for owners and caretakers of American Pit Bull Terriers, American Staffordshire Terriers, Staffordshire Bull Terriers, and pit bull mixes. The site features an absolute treasure-trove of information about "Bully Breeds" as well as a "virtual" shelter featuring adoptable "Pit Bulls" around the United States. As a bully-lover, I can't recommend this site enough. If you have a question about Pit Bulls, you will find an answer here.

Cutie Crystal Needs a Home! Georgia

Look at this cutie pie! What a unique mix! You can keep your puggles, I think I'll take this girl! She looks to be part beagle, part dobie. Does that make her a "beagleman" or perhaps a "dogle"?

Crystal 72778 is a 10 month old female beagle/doberman cross in desperate need of a new home. Her adoption fee is $110.00 which includes vaccinations, spay, rabies, and de-worming. Do you have room in your heart and home for this Georgia peach before her time is up?

If you can adopt Crystal, please contact Lowndes County Animal Services immediately!

Lowndes County Animal Services
337 Gil Harbin Industrial Blvd.
Valdosta, GA 31601
Phone: 229-671-2760

Update 6/2: Sadly Crystal's listing has been removed, and I have been unable to determine her fate.

Are You Midnight's Good Luck Charm?

Black cats, like black dogs, are much less likely to be adopted from shelters and pounds. Sadly, many people still associate black cats with "bad luck." Black cats in shelters also often get overlooked in favor of "flashier" cats like Siamese, long-hairs, orangies, Maine Coons, etc. Black cats and "plain jane" tabbies are usually the first to go down in high-kill shelters, who are starting to see a huge influx of cats and kittens as kitten season begins.

This guy really breaks my heart. Midnight looks exactly like my mom's cat, Max. I tried to convince her that Max needed a buddy, but considering the fact that my mom is in Minnesota and Midnight is in Georgia, it just doesn't work. Can you give Midnight a home?

Midnight 08-1259 is a black adult male domestic short-hair cat in desperate need of a new home. He just loves attention! If you can help Midnight, please contact the Lee County Animal Shelter immediately.

Lee County Animal Control
759 Hwy 32 East Leesburg,Georgia
P.O. Box 889
Leesburg, Ga. 31763
Phone: 229-759-6037
dcopeland@lee.ga.us or dmathis@lee.ga.us

Update 6/2: I am thrilled to report that Midnight has been adopted!

Check Out These Cool New Banners and Widgets from Petfinder.com

Many of our fellow pet-loving bloggers feature Petfinder.com "featured pet" widgets on their blogs. I just recently discovered that Petfinder now has dozens of other new cool banners and widgets to choose from. Please consider adding a couple to your website!




This new "featured pet" widget can be found here at Petfinder.com.

Here's another neat banner from Petfinder:

And my favorite, the "101 Reasons to Adopt" series of banners:



These awesome banners and MORE can be found here at Petfinder!

Awards! (and a little bit about me)

I apologize profusely for being absent for so long! Sometimes real life gets in the way of the fun stuff ;)

A little more about me, for anyone who is interested: I'm a full time law student in my spare time when I'm not trying to help shelter pets, so I've been super busy with school lately. I just got done with a mid-term and taking the MPRE (keep your fingers crossed for me-- I'll find out if I passed in a couple weeks), and I've been super busy at the law firm where I work. The good news is, I'll be graduating in May! After three years of working my butt off, I can finally see the light at the end of the tunnel! It will be weird after I graduate to be able to say "I'm a lawyer." Then comes the Bar Exam. Yikes!

I've also got a job lined up when I graduate, so that's a huge relief. Many of my classmates are scrambling to find some sort of job to help pay the gigantic student loan bills that are going to start coming in a few short months.

I started law school with all sorts of altruistic aspirations to do all sorts of good with my law degree. It was my intention to become a criminal defense attorney -- specifically, a public defender. During my second year, I came to realize that criminal defense work wasn't really what I wanted to do. Moreover, I also came to the conclusion that if you want to make enough money to pay back your student loans when you're done with school, you probably better look at private practice or a corporate law job. Ironically, it seems that public interest legal work is best reserved for those law students who come from wealthy backgrounds. Those jobs really just don't pay enough. Lots of people think lawyers are rich. That's not necessarily the case, I've discovered. The cost of education has gone up exponentially, while the pay scale for attorneys has barely risen over the last couple decades. We now graduate with much, much more student debt, fewer job prospects, and lower earning potential.

But, I digress. I worked for a solo practitioner law firm last summer doing personal injury and workers' compensation. It was just supposed to be for the summer, but at the end of the summer, my boss offered me a job. He decided it was time the firm brought on a second attorney. Yay!

Anyway, I'm so honored to report that Saving Lives One at A Time received two blog awards while I was absent from the blogging world.

First, we received the "Wonderful Site Award" from The Cat/Dog Log. We are so honored! Thank you!
We also received the "You Make My Day Award" from Kay's K9's. Thank you!!


We are proud and honored to pass these two awards on to Pet Rescuer Central. This wonderful blog always has awesome information about a variety of subjects related to animal rescue.

**UPDATE 4/10!***Just wanted to share...I passed the MPRE! Yay!

The Devastation of Parvo: Can You Help Save This Pup?

Parvo: Puppy Killer

Parvo is an absolutely devastating, highly-contagious viral canine disease. It most often strikes puppies, and typically, those infected with Parvo have only a 50% chance of survival. Puppies and adult dogs are usually vaccinated against Parvo, but shelter pups, who have often never received their puppy shots, are extremely susceptible to this terrible disease.

It is also extremely easy to spread Parvo, and the virus itself is extremely hardy. Most disinfectants don't kill it, and it can live in the environment for five months or longer.

In puppies, the virus usually takes about 7-10 days to incubate, which means that up to a week may pass after exposure before the puppy shows symptoms, or before the pup tests positive for parvo. The first symptoms of Parvo usually include a high fever, lethargy, depression, and loss of appetite. As the disease progresses, symptoms include vomiting and bloody diarrhea. Left untreated, the disease progresses to dehydration, shock and death. For more excellent information about Parvo, please visit the Working Dogs website.

Parvo Pup Needs Your Help!

Recently, I received an urgent plea for some pups at the St. Martin Parish Animal Control Facility. Three pups came in, and over the course of just a couple days, their physical health rapidly deteriorated. A kind soul brought the sickly pups to the vet, where they were diagnosed with Parvo. Unfortunately, as of this morning, two of the puppies have died. Their young systems just couldn't beat this devastating disease. One puppy is fighting to survive.

This little girl, 444518, is a baby rottweiler mix, and she's fighting for her life to survive.





Given the severity of the disease, the costs for treating the puppies, both the puppies that didn't make it, and the one puppy that is fighting for her life, are going to be enormous.

If you have a few spare dollars, please consider donating it to help offset the costs of treating the pups. Donations can be made to the St. Martin Humane Society. Please note that the donation is for the "parvo pups."All donations are tax deductible.

If you can't donate, please consider cross-posting this plea for help, or please send your prayers and/or good vibes to the one pup fighting for her life.

UPDATE 3/20: I'm very sad to report that the remaining "Parvo pup" has gone over the Bridge. She appeared to be doing a little bet better, and then she was gone. Thank you to anyone who donated, cross-posted, or sent prayers or good thoughts to the sick puppies.


In loving memory of the two babies who didn't make it. May you find love, health, and peace at the Bridge.

Sweet Pea is a Sweetie Pie! Adopt Her Today! Georgia

Look at this gorgeous orange-head!

Sweet Pea 9182 is an adult female orange tabby cat. From the looks of her profile photo, she loves to "sing." When she's not practicing her vocal scales, Sweet Pea loves lounging in laps and getting snuggles.

Unfortunately, Sweet Pea somehow landed herself at a shelter, and her time is not unlimited. As kitten season fast approaches, the situation may get dire for Sweet Pea if she is not adopted soon!

If you are interested in adopting Sweet Pea, please contact the Bainbridge-Decatur Humane Society immediately!

Bainbridge Animal Shelter
1300 Cox Avenue
229-246-0101
bainbridgedchs@bellsouth.net

***UPDATE 3/24: GREAT NEWS! SWEET PEA WAS ADOPTED!***

Did you know that most orange cats are male? From Watermark: A Poet's Notebook:

Like humans, cats have one pair of sex chromosomes. These are the ones that make them male or female and they play an essential role in determining a cat’s colour. In females, both sex chromosomes are X making girl kitties XX. Males are XY, the Y making them male. A kitten gets one chromosome from Mom and one from Dad. Moms only have X’s so the variable is given by the Dad, if he gives his X, the kitten is a girl, if he gives his Y, it is a boy.

The gene which makes a cat ginger (orange) is located on the X chromosome. The gene for ginger will override all other colours. Since males have only one X, they either are or aren’t ginger - no halfway about it. Girl cats have two X’s in each cell. As far as the cells are concerned two X’s is one too many, so each cell deactivates one of the X chromosomes in a fairly random fashion . . .

Since males only need to have the orange gene on one chromosome to become ginger, and females have to have it on two, ginger males outnumber females 3 to 1.

Nymphadora Tonks is Looking for Her Magical Person! Black Lab, Fargo-Moorhead

Nymphadora Tonks, or "Dora" for short, is a beautiful one-year old female black lab. She is currently fostered by my sister-in-law-to-be through Adopt-A-Pet of Fargo-Moorhead. Sweetie "Dora" was adopted when she was just a puppy, but she was returned to Adopt-A-Pet.

Are you that "magical" someone "Dora" is looking for?

From her foster:

"She is the sweetest dog I have ever met! Dora is quite mellow for a lab. She is the kind of dog that is excited when you want her to be excited, and lazy when you want her to be lazy. She will gladly go on a walk and then cuddle with you for a nap. She just wants to be loved! Dora thinks she is a lap-dog. One of her favorite things to do is be the "big spoon" when you sleep at night. Dora loves snow and will try to make her own snow-angels in the deep stuff. Dora is spayed and current on all her shots. Due to some unfortunate circumstances at her previous residence, Dora had trouble going to the bathroom as much as any other dog would, but she has not once had an accident inside. Dora is also very fearful of certain men but accepting of women and some men. Once she realizes you aren't going to hurt her she will try to lick your face off! Dora is sweet enough to be around kids and she loves to play with other dogs. Dora has never chewed anything she wasn't supposed to, but she does like to lazily pull apart her own toys. Right now she is about 10 to 15 pounds overweight but she should hopefully lose it quickly with a healthier diet and a few more walks during the day!"

If you are interested in adopting "Dora," please contact "Adopt-A-Pet" of Fargo-Moorhead.

Adopt-A-Pet
P.O. Box 865
Moorhead, MN 56561
Info/Cat Line: 701-232-5856
Dog Line: 701-232-5681

If "Dora" isn't right for you, but you live in the Fargo-Moorhead area, please consider adopting a needy pet from "Adopt-A-Pet." About "Adopt-A-Pet":

Adopt-A-Pet is a non-profit, completely volunteer-run organization with the primary goal of placing rescued pets in loving and responsible homes. We are dedicated to keeping our animals happy and healthy.

We receive no government financial support. Adopt-A-Pet relies solely on private donations to keep operating. Private donations, fundraising events, and our adoption fees help us pay for food, medical supplies, and the veterinary expenses we incur every month.

All of our animals are under our care until a permanent home can be found, no matter how long it takes.

Did you Know????
Each year hundreds of cats and dogs are euthanized. In 2006, 1291 cats were admitted to the Fargo, West Fargo, and Moorhead pounds, and 574 of them were euthanized. In 2006, 979 dogs were admitted to the pounds, and 112 were euthanized. These numbers do not account for the large numbers who die on the streets or are hit by cars. Please spay or neuter your pets.

Do you have extra room in your heart and home to provide temporary safety to a dog or cat in need? One of the greatest ways to help rescue organizations is to foster pets. For more information, please visit the Pet Foster Network, which has lots of great resources for people considering fostering.

I'm happy to announce that "Adopt-A-Pet" of Fargo-Moorhead is also to be the March recipient of proceeds from my Cafepress store, Reekoe's Room. 100% of the profits from every sale from my store through the month of March goes directly to "Adopt-A-Pet."

Update 6/2: I'm very happy to report that lovely Dora has been adopted!

Looking for a Perfect Dog? Look No Further!

"Perfect" Dogs

From Homeward Bound Dog Rescue:

Name: Perfect
Breed: Pug / Poodle / Doxie / Golden Retriever / Cavalier King Charles Spaniel / Bichon
Age: Puppy
Gender: Male / Female
Description: Are you looking for a dog who has perfect manners, never has an accident, doesn't shed, adores children (even toddlers who tug on his ears or stumble on him while he is sleeping), needs no exercise, doesn't bark, has impeccable manners, never chews, and needs no training? Perfect is just that and then some. Perfect requires no heartworm preventative, never needs to be groomed, and never needs to go to the vet. He gets along with all other animals, even rabbits, and never even so much as grumbles at another animal, even if another dog is eating out of Perfect's dog dish. He'd be perfect for someone with a very busy life who isn't home much. If Perfect sounds like the perfect dog for you, you may find more dogs just like him at your local toy store. If Perfect DOES NOT sound quite what you are looking for in a pooch, you'll be a great guardian for a real dog! As you can see, we have tons of other wonderful, perfect-in-their-own-unique-way dogs!

About Homeward Bound Dog Rescue

Homeward Bound is dedicated to rescuing homeless and unwanted animals. We are a non-profit, 501(c) 3-tax exempt, no-kill dog rescue and placement organization based in Minnesota. Although our focus is primarily on rescuing dogs, we also rescue cats, kittens, & other animals. We are an independent organization and depend solely on adoption fees, fundraisers, and donations to operate. We receive NO government support. Homeward Bound has been in operation since 1991 & has placed over 12,000 dogs in loving homes. We try our best to match the dogs with the needs, wants, personalities, and lifestyles of potential adopters to ensure a healthy, happy, & permanent home. All Homeward Bound dogs must live indoors. Dogs are social pack animals by nature and we want them to be able to have all of the companionship, love, & attention they deserve, as well as a chance to bond with the family.

We rescue all types of dogs, ranging from small to large breeds. Roughly 40% of the dogs we rescue are purebred while the other 60% are mixed breeds. The age of the dogs varies from puppies to adults. We will tell you about each dog's history, personality, & behavior, including whether or not they are good which children and other pets, their exercise needs, & other important information.

Each week, new dogs are rescued and we hold pet adoptions every Saturday at a Petco location from 11:30a.m. - 4p.m. in the Twin Cities area. Please see our Adoption Dates and Locations for more information.

If you live in the Twin Cities Metro area and are looking for a new furry friend, please check out all the wonderful pets available at Homeward Bound Rescue.