Trick or Treat meets Adoptable Dogs

Michelle Riggi is devoted to animal welfare. She loves dogs. She must--she has more than 30.
She also loves Halloween.
She also happens to own an opulent stone mansion in Saratoga Springs, just 30 miles north of where I live. The socialite and philanthropist's home is decorated with banners, autumn wreaths, and thousands of pumpkins.

Photo credit: John Carl D'Annibale, from the Albany Times Union

Michelle doesn't discourage trick or treaters....she dresses up as Cinderella,  welcomes them to her home, offers them donuts, cider and full size chocolate bars--some with a $100 bill hidden inside the wrapper.
AND
This year Riggi's Halloween festivities will include representatives from Saratoga County Animal Shelter and the group Homes for Orphaned Pets Exist, allowing trick or treaters to meet and potentially adopt homeless animals. Michelle Riggi is well-known for championing animal causes, and has adopted many of her chihuahuas and other small dogs.

Photo credit: John Carl D'Annibale, from the Albany Times Union 

Happy Halloween!!

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What is the best day of this dog's life?

What is the best day of this bulldog's life?  Watch this video to the end and see....you might need your tissues. This is worth watching!

ADOPT!!  :)

Want more positive pet tips, good news, and special offers? Fetch my free newsletter, Pawsitively Pets. Kelly and Ike hope to see you there!

 

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Announcing...it's a boy!

Okay, did you catch on that I was hinting a little bit yesterday?! (hehe sorry!)
But now I can tell you. I have some exciting news! We've got a new dog!!

Please meet Ike.

Peppertree Rescue, the same group that helped us with Moses and then Brooks, alerted us to a 6 year old golden retriever they called Burghley. Burghley had been in a home with a 3 yr old golden, and unfortunately the family was relocating and unable to take their dogs with them.

We met Burghley in the park, anxiously wondering what Kelly would think. She let him know she was boss, but otherwise she more or less ignored him and seemed comfortable with him. He didn't seem to mind her bossy ways. The rescue group sent an experienced dog person to help us get a sense of both Kelly and Burghley's reactions and determine if they might be able to live peacefully together. She indicated that it could work.

We thought Burghley was adorable. He is much younger than Brooks and has a good deal more energy. He has Lyme disease, an ear infection, and is not neutered. He gets car sick. He escaped from his crate, chewed through a wooden door, and is a known wanderer. He was the top dog in his old home, so that made me a little nervous. But at the end of the meeting, the rescue group said that they could either take him back to the kennel at the vet's, or we could take him home. Well....how could we send him back to the kennels??

So we all went home. We renamed him Ike. And we've been taking our time to get to know each other and get adjusted. He's a bit of a counter surfer. He doesn't like to be left alone. He cries when we put him to bed at night. He needs obedience training. But he's super sweet, he loves attention, he's fun and playful. And he's OURS!

We've had Ike for one week now, and so far so good.
Tomorrow... How does Kelly like Ike?

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12 Things to Know About Adopting a Dog and Rescue Groups

We're spending a lot of time lately thinking about adopting a dog, looking at pictures of adoptable dogs on Petfinder, and talking to our local rescue groups. We're looking for a new furry best friend (and companion for our current dog, Kelly), and it's taking some time. That's okay, we're not in a big hurry. (At least, that's what we keep telling ourselves. But when we see or hear about some of these dogs, our hearts get a little mushy!)

We've chosen to adopt again. There's no shortage of homeless dogs. But you may be surprised to know that if you choose to adopt, it may not be a quick and easy process.  Here's what you should know:

Rescue groups-
1. ask a lot of questions
2. may require you to fill out a lengthy application with questions about your schedule, your family, your yard, and more.

3. may ask for personal references
4. will call your veterinarian to check that you've properly cared for your pets
5. will inspect your home

6. generally charge around $150-$450 adoption fees

Here's what else you should know:
Rescue groups-
7. Care about dogs. A lot. A lot a lot. Did I say a lot?
8. Care about people, too, and finding the right dog for the family.
9. Are volunteers with jobs, families, stresses, health concerns, financial pressures, and pets of their own. Yet they still put in countless hours to help save dogs in need. We sometimes get emails from one of our rescue group coordinators at three in the morning. I'm not sure that she ever sleeps.
10. May witness horrific situations of hoarding, abuse, neglect, and abandonment, and the reality of high kill shelters, and still continually put their hearts out there again and again. I often ask people in rescue how they handle it. Usually they say that they have to focus on the ones they save.
11. Have a heart for the old, the sick and the homely. And have witnessed situations of true transformations when these dogs are given loving homes.
12. Nurse sick dogs back to health. Bring homeless dogs to the vet for shots, treatments and surgeries. Have dogs spayed or neutered, microchipped. Often pay out of pocket for dog food and medical supplies. Those adoption fees only cover a small percentage of what's needed.

Rescue groups ask a lot of questions because they care about finding homeless dogs good homes. They don't want to see those dogs back out on the streets. They also have a lot of people waiting for certain dogs, and not enough people looking for other types of dogs.

So far, we've found a few potential dogs in our search. Some have gone to other adopters before we got on the list. (Laid back, not-too-old golden retrievers happen to be in high demand. Go figure!). Once, it was determined that the dog in question was likely too high spirited to get along with our Kelly. Once, the senior dog we were considering wasn't able to manage stairs, so it wasn't a match. But we'll keep looking. We are happy to wait for the right dog who will fit in with our family and get along with Kelly. Those rescue groups can go right on asking all those questions. And we'll keep answering. And soon we'll find a dog who fits as well as Brooks had fit. And hopefully who needs us as much as we need him.

p.s. Keep going k9kampers! Check out Kol's post today on Kol's Notes!

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When to get a new dog after pet loss?

It's only been a few weeks since we lost Brooks, but Mike and I have dared, a few times, to let the subject of getting another dog escape our lips. We say it in hushed tones, almost like a secret. As if the word got out, we'd somehow seem less loyal to Brooks. When is it time to get a new dog?

The truth is, no dog can replace Brooks. Ever. No dog could ever look at me the same way he did, sprawl across my chair in the exact same way, love me the same way. No dog could be as sweet and gentle and perfect as our Brooks. But there is a hole, and nothing will be quite right again until it's filled. No, we haven't healed from losing Brooks yet. But if we wait for that, well, we're going to be waiting a long, long time.

Besides, there are other dogs out there waiting for homes, waiting for the kind of love and comfort we have to give. A dog who otherwise might be left on the streets or in a shelter. We want to give another dog a place in our home and our hearts--even hearts that might be aching still.

So we told the rescue group who found us Brooks, that when the right dog came along, we're ready. And we smiled for the first time in a long time.

We don't wish to be picky, but we do need to wait for the right dog. Mostly, we need a dog who will get along with Kelly. Kelly isn't friendly with all dogs and we learned from experience that we're not comfortable refereeing and mediating difficult doggy interactions. And the breed must be a Golden Retriever (or mix). Brooks spoiled us for that.

But the big question is age. After adopting a senior and losing him after one year, would we do it again? My son says no--he's begging us, next time, to get a puppy instead. To be honest, we'd like a younger dog, maybe a couple years old, so that hopefully we won't have our hearts broken again quite so soon (although, to be sure, there are no guarantees at any age.) Truth be told, however, an older dog fits our lifestyle well. We loved how easy Brooks was--content with a few walks, throwing the tennis ball around a bit, and snoozing the rest of the day. We loved his calm personality. No, I don't relish the thought of losing a dog again. And I'd prefer a younger dog, for that reason. But if the right dog came to us and he was a senior, we'd do it again.

I miss Brooks. I miss him from the moment I wake up and he's not there beside the bed greeting me, to when I'm sitting in my big green chair and he's not there sleeping on the ottoman, to when I look at his picture and long to feel his soft golden fur, and every moment in between. But I think my heart is able to handle it again. My husband thinks he wants to get another dog before too long.

We're ready, wherever you are.


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PetSmart Charities Shares Adoption Stories

Instead of a roundup today, I want to share this wonderful post on PetSmart Charities blog. They've been asking readers to tell about how their pets enrich their lives and to share their successful, positive stories of pet adoption to inspire others to consider adopting a homeless pet.

Recently, I was notified that Brooks was to be featured on the PetSmart's blog. They also sent me a personal note saying that they'd read my blog post and very kindly offered to postpone or withhold posting out of respect for our loss. I responded that the post would be a comfort, and added that I didn't regret adopting a senior dog, and that while losing a pet is never easy, we still feel lucky to have known him for that year.

Here is the PetSmart Charities link "Senior Dog Turns out to Be Just Right." I hope others will consider adopting a senior dog. One might just fit your lifestyle, like Brooks did ours. My favorite memory is of sitting in my big green chair with Brooks snuggled up right by my side, head in my lap while I read or worked on my laptop, always one hand stroking his soft ears or neck. A younger, more active dog probably wouldn't have done that for hours on end!

You can share your dog's adoption story too.

Here's a funny picture of Brooks to make you smile:

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Pet Blogger Challenge - Paws to Reflect

Once again, Amy from Go Pet Friendly has put us to the task of reviewing our goals and achievements with the third annual pet blogger challenge.This is open to all pet bloggers, so grab the questions, put on your thinking cap, and join the linky!

1.  How long have you been blogging? Provide a link to your post from last year’s Pet Blogger Challenge so we can refresh our memories.

 I've been blogging 5 or 6 years

Here's last year's post! 

2. What do you consider the most important goals you set out in last year’s post?

Last year I challenged myself to step it up with more useful content, topics that will help other pet parents or get them thinking.

 3.  Have you made progress toward those goals, or have your goals changed over the past year?

I’ve added Brooks’ Books (book reviews), more guest posts, and a feature called Pointer and Counterpointer, discussing two sides of an issue.  I’ve also started a newsletter, PPP’s Pawsitvely Pets which is kinda like a short, cool ezine, where I share good news, dog treat recipes, and popular posts, and I’m having so much fun with it, I hope you check it out!

 I don’t tend to take on really controversial topics on the blog, but I think I’ve been successful in steering away from obvious topics that may be common knowledge to most pet blog readers who, as you know, are very smart already.  In my effort to avoid controversy, however, I think sometimes I play it too safe. I may brush the surface instead of revealing my deepest thoughts. I still marvel at some of my favorite bloggers (you know who you are!) and wish I’d said that.

4. How often do you post? 

Minimum of 3 days/week, up to 6 days/week

5. Has your opinion of blogging on a schedule or as the spirit moves you changed?

I love having a schedule!

If you publish on a schedule, why? How strict are you about your publishing deadlines? What do you do for inspiration when it feels like you’ve covered every topic?

As a freelance writer, I have multiple projects going at all times, so I have to stick to a schedule or I’d have papers and notes flying all over the place and no idea what I’m doing. (Haha reality isn’t much different.) I have a general editorial calendar for the year which is subject to change as the need arises. Then I have a schedule of what specifically I plan to write for a couple months, and I try to post at least a week in advance. I love it when I get several posts scheduled ahead, so that takes the pressure off a bit. The key is being flexible, because I often have to shuffle things around.

I have to admit that I’m never stuck for inspiration, I always have more to blog about than there is time to blog. Kelly and Brooks aren’t always in the midst of exciting blog-worthy stunts, so I read the newspapers and check out pet websites to see what catches my eye and what people are talking about. I receive quite a few requests from companies and individuals asking for reviews or offering guest posts, which I also welcome.

 6. How much time do you spend writing your blog per week? How much time visiting other blogs? Share your  tips for staying on top of it all.

Agh! The answer is too much and never enough. Most days I visit other blogs and leave comments, and this takes 2 or 3 hours every morning. It could take even longer because I have so many wonderful blogs in my Google reader that I would want to keep up with, but I never can do it all. I love connecting with so many other bloggers and always feel like I’m missing out when I fall behind.

 I have no idea how long it takes to write the blog, it feels like I’m doing it on and off  all day-- between scouting ideas, writing, designing, posting. Book reviews are the most time consuming because it takes a few days to read the books first.

7. How do you measure the success of a post and of your blog in general (comments, shares, traffic)?

I feel really good when I get a lot of comments because that means the content was engaging enough to initiate sharing of thoughts and opinions. When I don’t get many comments, I try to analyze if it was a boring topic or was it because I hadn’t had time to connect on all my social media networks? I have no scientific method of analyzing this however! I actually don’t check my stats often, and envy those who analyze posts and are so smart about it all. I check my overall pageviews once in a while and I’m really happy with how well they’ve grown!

8. If you could ask the pet blogging community for help with one issue you’re having with your blog, what would it be?

Great question! Actually, if I may, I’d like to ask for help with two issues

*Do you enjoy reading product reviews?
 

*If you’re familiar with my Wednesday Pet Roundup, do you have any tips for how I can improve it? Do you click on the links? Are there too many or too few links? Too much or too little details? Should I move it to a different day of the week? Anything else?

9. What goals do you have for your blog in 2013?

My goal is to be more personal, to dig deeper, and to focus on quality posts that say what I really want to say. I will continue to support pet adoption and focus on healthy lifestyles with pets. I am so grateful to this community of bloggers and their pets, some of whom we lost this past year, and I thank you all for being a part of my world. I’m looking forward to continuing to celebrate, support, share and grow together in 2013.

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A is for Adoption (yay!)

Kelly poses after a haircut

I've decided to give myself a little challenge for the new year, and blog about something for each letter of the alphabet, one each day. So without further ado, I'll start at the very beginning...a very good place to start...

A is for adoption.

Remember that scene from Modern Family where Cam and Mitchell clapped and said "Yay!" every time they said the word "adoption," because they wanted Lily to form a positive association with the word? Well that's the way it should be with pet adoption too! Pet adoption (yay!) is positive for so many reasons, because it can save lives of homeless and unwanted animals. But it's strange to me that not-all-that- many years ago, I never even considered adoption (yay!)

When I was growing up, our dogs were strays, or given to us by friends whose dogs ran loose and had puppies that needed homes. Later, my husband and I bought our first dog, a dalmatian, at a bargain price from a backyard breeder. Fortunately Schuyler was wonderfully healthy and had a calm, gentle disposition. He was a pampered only dog, earned his CD in obedience, and became a nurturing big brother to his two human siblings.

Hudson

When it was time for our next dog, I still knew nothing about adopting (yay!). And I couldn't help but wonder why. Surely there were humane societies then, and good people fostering dogs, but I knew nothing of that world. We found a yellow lab through an ad in the newspaper. Again, Hudson was a wonderful member of the family and I wouldn't have traded him for anything. But I know I would have wanted to save a homeless dog, if I'd only been more aware.

Nearly ten years ago, we added another dog to the family. This time, computers were a part of our lives. And I finally figured out, for me, that is what made the difference. Now I had access to a myriad of thoughts and opinions, advertising and websites. And when it came time to find our new dog, Petfinder was a household name, and we searched there without a second thought. And, luckily for us all, we found an adorable 1 year old spaniel-mix, and Kelly was adopted. (Yay!)

Today I read about pet adoption (yay!) everywhere. Animal advocates are spreading the word. All of my friends have either purchased their dog from a responsible breeder (I'll add a yay for this too! I've shared my home with purebred dogs from breeders and I don't think anyone who goes this route should feel guilty for not adopting. There are many good reasons to get a dog from a reputable breeder too!) or adopted (yay!) their pet. So more and more homeless dogs are finding good forever homes. And there's only one thing I can say to that.

YAY!

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Find Your Doggy Double

Human to Canine pairing software. It all sounds a bit futuristic. And unbelievable. But here it is, Doggelganger,  a site where you can upload a picture or video of yourself, and it will match you up to your doggy double.  Here are my results:

All the dog matches are dogs up for adoption.
What a fun--and unique--way to spread the word about pet adoption! And I bet it results in many pets finding forever homes with their human doubles!

Try Doggelganger, and tell us what your match is!


Weight Loss with a Wag blog tour stops today:
Something Wagging This Way Comes - see why they ask, "boxers or briefs?"
and
Champion of my Heart.  -find out some ways people sink their own weight loss efforts.

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Co-Founder of Petfinder Barks Back!

Today I am honored to have as my guest Betsy Banks Saul, co-founder of Petfinder.com.

There probably isn't a pet lover around, with access to a computer, who hasn't heard of Petfinder. Founded 15 years ago, it is now the go-to site for bringing people together with their furever friend. I am delighted that I found Kelly through Petfinder! I think back to how we got our pets when I was a kid.  Some people bought a purebred dog from a responsible breeder. But more often than not, the people I knew got a puppy or kitten from some neighbor whose dog had a litter, because in those days the dogs and cats almost all ran loose, and almost none were fixed.

Today we know a lot more about responsible pet ownership and overpopulation. Most people I know have their pet spayed or neutered. And most people know about the horrible, inhumane conditions of puppy mills and pet farming. However, many people are still purchasing puppies from pet stores.

A recent press release that arrived in my mailbox posed the question: Does the average American family realize that the “doggy in the window” most likely comes from a Puppy Mill? Do they know the repercussions when they choose to purchase a puppy from a pet store? I asked Betsy about this as we talked on the phone last week.

Me: Where are most people getting their pets today?

BBS: We all know that puppy mills are bad and adoption is good, yet less than 25% of pets coming into homes come from shelters. People walk by a pet shop in the mall and see that furry face in the window and they want to buy it now. Even people who are committed to animal welfare may see that adorable puppy in the cage and fall in love.

Me: How can people tell that the pet they are buying comes from a puppy mill?

BBS: Many pet stores have signs in front that say "Our Puppies are Not From Puppy Mills" but in the vast majority of cases that is so not true! How do we know? Because a responsible breeder would not sell to just anyone. They would want to interview you. They would want to ask you questions about things such as how much time you would be home and what your yard is like. What responsible breeder would not want to meet the potential pet parents?

Me: Some people feel that by purchasing a pet shop puppy, they are at least saving one life. While admirable, is this misguided?

BBS: Unfortunately, yes. They may be giving that dog a better home than it knew before. But they are perpetuating a terrible, terrible industry. In addition, puppy mills produce pets that are more chronically afflicted with disease and socialization issues.

Me: How can we understand why puppy mills continue to exist? Why are they legal in some states?

BBS: The reason puppy mills exist is because they are profitable. Look at proposed laws aiming to regulate conditions and standards for dog breeding, such as Proposition B in Missouri. Who was against it? Pet industry brokering and shipping companies, and also the agricultural community feared that this would be a gateway for regulations for all of agriculture.

Me: What can we do?

BBS:  1. Don't shop for pets in pet stores.
2. Spread the word.
3. Adopt a shelter pet.
4. Consider fostering a pet.
5. If you're on Twitter, tweet about an adoptable pet on Petfinder on Tweet a Pet Tuesday.

Me: Thank you Betsy for joining us today, and helping shed some light on this problem. As you know, Petfinder is where I got my dog Kelly and she's been the best friend ever! I hope everyone who is looking to add a cat or dog or other pet to their family will look into Petfinder.

With 181,000 homeless dogs on Petfinder.com right now, there are many options for people who want a family pet. Simply type in your zip code and the criteria you are looking for – whether it’s a purebred, a large dog, an older pet with special needs or a young pup who is house-trained – Petfinder.com will show you all potential canine companions who are in need of homes starting with those closest to you.

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Blog the Change, Just say NO to Puppy Mills

Blog the Change!

October is Adopt-A-Shelter-Dog Month, and Peggy's Pet Place, along with dozens of blogging friends and the rest of the staff at Be the Change for Animals, have decided this is the perfect time to help spread the word about PUPPY MILLS.
 
 We all know that puppy mills are bad and adoptions are good, yet statistics are dire. Recently, I spoke with Betsy Banks Saul, co-founder of Petfinder.com, and she told me that less than 25% of the pets coming into homes in the U.S. come from shelters. What the bark?!

Puppy mills keep dogs in small cages without human contact or socialization, keep females pregnant producing litter after litter, often feed poor quality food and provide inadequate medical care. Puppy mill puppies are more chronically afflicted with disease and socialization issues.We all know that dogs are a part of the family, NOT livestock, or worse.

Knowledge is spreading about the inhumane and horrendous practices of puppy mills, but there is still much work to be done. Here is one way you can help:


 On September 9, Petland Canada announced that they would no longer sell puppies and kittens in their stores. But Petland USA has yet to reach this conclusion. Mary Haight, of Dancing Dog blog, did a little investigative journalism and discovered that,
           "Investigators visited Petland’s breeders to check living conditions and found that most had hundreds of cages of
dogs that were never walked or socialized, stinking of urine,
living lives of desperation."

Please join in and save lives. Sign the petition to ask Petland USA to STOP selling pets! 

All of the dogs pictured are adoptable pets, waiting for their furever home, and can be found on Petfinder.com.

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