I have no words.
The cute is almost too much to handle.
Speaking of rhinos (as one does), you should head over to Tiny n Fit to read her recent post about visiting South Africa. She shares some sobering facts about rhino poaching, as well as some ways that you can help. (Spoiler: you don’t even have to leave your house, although you can if you want.) Finally, you can enter to win a cool Rhino Force bracelet (ends Monday).
What are you waiting for?
Last week, I wrote about some of the more interesting search terms that had brought people to this humble blog. I happened to glance at the search terms again yesterday, and saw a new one: “I want a puppy that makes puppies.”
Well, dear searcher… what exactly do you mean by that? I kind of hope you’re looking for some sort of child’s toy that I haven’t heard of yet. Or… do you want a real puppy that makes other puppies? Technically, most puppies – female and male – can play some role in the creation of other puppies. That being said, just because they can do something doesn’t always mean that they should.
Your search was actually pretty timely. Let me take a minute to tell you about World Spay Day, which just so happens to be today. (February is Spay/Neuter Awareness Month, my friend.) Did you ever watch The Price is Right? Remember when Bob Barker would tell you to help control the pet population?
That’s what we’re talking about today. I struggled with what to say in this post – spay and neuter is occasionally controversial, but I am in support of it. I’m not looking to court controversy today, however – I believe in encouraging people to do their homework and really consider their options.
I’ve shared this video (and others in the same campaign) before, but I think today is a good time to share it yet again:
It’s something to think about, right?
Be the Change for Animals is hosting a blog hop for World Spay Day. I encourage you to swing by BtC4A and then check out the posts below to learn more about spay and neuter. Before you follow through on that goal to let your puppy make other puppies, you might want to consider all of your options and the impact your choices can have on other cute pups out there.
As you know, I think rescue rocks. (Bella and Tavish are both rescue pups, after all.)
Today, I’ve got an exciting opportunity to share with you – through October 27, you can help rescue pets just by clicking your mouse. Sounds great, right? Read on, dear friend… Continue reading
I’m not going to lie to you. I had a hard time deciding what to write about for today’s Blog the Change event. For some reason, I had a case of writer’s block. Finally, I decided to share a few simple reasons to adopt a dog. When all else fails, keep it simple, right? Continue reading
Last week, I told you about a great event happening today – Bloggers Unite for Dog Rescue. So, let’s get to uniting, shall we?
I’m always impressed with those who are dedicated to animal rescue. Local dog rescue organizations count on volunteers who help by fostering dogs in their own homes while they search for permanent placement, taking dogs to adoption events, fundraising to cover medical and boarding costs, and so much more
Many rescue groups do not have the resources to promoting their efforts on a large scale. As such, bloggers can make a big difference by spreading the word to give these unsung heroes and homeless dogs a voice.
I’ve been a bit remiss in sharing adorable adoptables lately, so I thought I would remedy that today. I’ve chosen three pups from three local rescue groups that are near and dear to my heart: Homeless Animals Rescue Team (HART), Friends of Homeless Animals (FOHA), and City Dogs Rescue (CDR).
Why these three? Well, HART is the rescue group where I found my beloved Bella. FOHA is the group I volunteer with right now (attending adoption events and helping with the Twitter account) and where the boys are from. CDR is a great group I discovered quite recently – I’ve been working with them as a volunteer blogger.
(Want to know how you can participate in this event? Among other things, you can blog for dog rescue, adopt a companion, spread the word about animal rescue, or even donate to or volunteer with a local rescue organization. Head over to Be the Change for Animals to find out more about today’s event and to read more from other bloggers participating today.)
And now, today’s adorable adoptables…
Well, another Blog the Change for Animals event is upon us. This time, however, I didn’t have to agonize over choosing a subject. Instead, I’m joining with several other bloggers to promote a great event happening on Monday, July 23.
What event might that be, you wonder? It’s called Bloggers Unite for Dog Rescue - BtC4Animals.com has partnered with Blog Catalog and Dog Rescue Success for a special online global blogging event aimed at bringing attention to dog rescues. As you may know, we recently became a three dog household, and all of our pups are rescue dogs. Accordingly, this cause is very close to my heart.
The only missing ingredient for the upcoming event? You! Join us on July 23 to draw attention to the importance of dog rescues and dog adoption. I hope you’ll spread the word about this great event. For more information about this event (including talking points for a blog post and other ways to participate), visit BtC4Animals.com.
A lot of great bloggers are participating in today’s Blog the Change event – to see what they’re all barking about, check out the list after the jump…
Hot. So hot. (As you can see, the heat temporarily rendered me unable to produce normal sentences. I’ll attempt to remedy that.) To the links!
It’s always a good idea to hit the pool. No, not that kind of pool. This kind. Or, you know, you could just do this…
Whatever you do this weekend, remember that a dog in a hot car is a bad idea. Here’s how you can help fight the stupidity.
As usual, it’s time for some Friday linkage. This week, the theme is helping out. Confused? Stick with me…
It’s not a one-way street, however. Dogs help us too. Like this dog helping his baby friend learn to crawl.
I kind of want a series featuring the adventures of this dog and baby as they grow up together. Rated TV-CAA (Cute, Awesome & Adorable).
Lately, it seems that I’m constantly running behind. Today’s post is no exception. Writing a post for Blog the Change for Animals has been on my to do list for over a week, yet I’m still barely getting it up before the day is done. Luckily, a topic has been percolating in my brain for a while now, so here we go…
Have you ever thought about volunteering for a rescue group? I’ll admit – it took me a while to turn my intentions into actions. I would occasionally send an email to a rescue group for information, but somehow it never really clicked.
For today’s Blog the Change event, I decided to share a little bit about my experience and encourage you not to give up if you’re interested in working with a rescue group. I had my own form of Goldilocks syndrome – it took me a while to find a group and volunteer opportunities that were a good fit. With a little persistence and patience, you can find your fit as well.
For me, things finally changed once I read an article about Second Chance Photos. I’d never considered offering my services as a volunteer photographer before, and reading about the organization gave me the push I needed to seriously pursue volunteering with a local rescue group. I emailed several local organizations, and one took me up on my offer. (I later had the opportunity to attend a Second Chance Photos workshop, and it was fantastic.)
My experience taking photos of some of the animals at Friends of Homeless Animals (FOHA) led to other opportunities. In order to make the logistics of photo shoots easier, one of the other volunteers suggested I sign up for dog walker training. (Before taking the training, I had to have another volunteer get the dogs out of their runs and bring them to me for photos. Now I can get dogs out myself. I’ll be candid – I haven’t done any formal photo shoots since taking the training, but I’m going to revisit this option soon. I wanted to get comfortable with the shelter and its routines before trying again)
After taking the training, I began to receive FOHA’s weekly newsletter, which is full of volunteer opportunities. I started to volunteer for dog adoption events, and I now help out with FOHA’s Twitter account as well. The adoption events are very rewarding – it’s a fun way to spend a day, and it’s nice for the dogs to get out of the shelter for a few hours. Two of the dogs I’ve brought to events (Willis and Janai) have since been adopted – when I read their names in the weekly email of dogs who were going home, my smile couldn’t have been bigger.
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| My most recent adoptable buddy – the lovely Smilin’ Sally. |
So, if you want to volunteer but don’t know where to start, this post is for you. Your fit is out there. If the first group you try isn’t a great match, try another one.
Try out different opportunities. If you’re a people person, you might enjoy working an adoption event. If you enjoy being outdoors, you might like being a dog walker. If your time is limited or you prefer working from home, you could volunteer to help with the organization’s social media accounts. If you’re a writer, perhaps you can help pen bios of adoptable animals for the website. Do you have experience planning events? Perhaps you can help plan a fundraiser or organize other events for the group. Are you a cat person? Consider becoming a volunteer cat snuggler. (Best job title ever.) Help collect food, blankets or other supplies for the shelter. Every little bit helps, whether you can volunteer once a week or once a month.
Many rescue groups have weekly newsletters – sign up for those and take a a look to see what kinds of help the group needs. There’s an opportunity out there for everyone. Sometimes, you just have to try a few on for size until you find the one that’s just right. If you haven’t found your fit yet, don’t give up. I’m glad I finally took the leap, and I hope you will too.
I also hope you’ll check out all of the great blogs participating in today’s Blog the Change event… there are some truly wonderful posts this round.
I think Bella is getting a little too into this whole Easter thing. Although I must admit, she does have the ears for it.
Also, I said it last year, but it bears repeating… rabbits are not Easter toys. Spread the word and encourage people not to give live bunnies (or chicks, ducklings, etc.) as Easter gifts. Stick with chocolate or a snuggle-worthy stuffed animal. As you can see, Bella has approved the content of this message.
