Archive for December, 2008

Pets Abandoned in the Midst of Recession

December 23, 2008 at 5:01 pm · Filed under Animal Stories, Animal news, Animal welfare ·Tagged , , , , ,

I have read so many articles about pets being abandoned in the midst of recession. This can be due to their owner have moved to a new home or cant afford to sustain them. The number of abandoned pets in animal shelters have increased in a dramatic rate. I suppose it has even doubled or tripled than the last year. The animal shelters could be facing a problem in the long run – how can they sustain the animals if the numbers continue to spike during the recession?

The central issue here is all about pet responsibility. It is a simple fact that most people ignore. If you cant afford to take care a pet, then dont get it. Otherwise, you are just harming the pet’s life. I want to share this article snippet from Care2.com:

But this financial turmoil isn’t only affecting the family house, it’s also affecting the dog house. Shelters are reporting that pet owners are abandoning their pet dogs at alarming rates.

Therefore kennels are becoming grossly overcrowded. Secondly, these charities rely on donations to sustain their efforts. And with money so tight for everyone, they expect a huge decrease in donations this year.
For full Care2.com article, click here.
Sad to say that animals suffer the same fate as ours, and its even worse for them. Some people may say that they are just animals but that doesnt stand in the case. It is not a reason why you should leave your pets. The core here is pet responsibility and how you will accept that kind of responsibility, just like accepting your own responsibility in your family.
I find it disheartening for owners to abandon their pets. They may have their own reasons but still, they are not enough to abandon their pets and let them die, in the road, in the abandoned houses. What a sad day for those pets.  A life is still life, no matter what form they are. And it is our duty as the species granted with intelligence to look over the other species and work towards their own preservation – in the case of the pets, taking care of them is an accepted responsibility.
I also found this picture from Flickr (from a user named “crows to burnaby’s”). Click to this flickr link.

I cannot say any word whenever I see that pic.

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Call for Aid: The Heroic Pitbull from Oklahoma City

December 11, 2008 at 3:50 pm · Filed under Animal Stories, Animal news ·Tagged , , , , , , ,

Oklahoma City – A heroic pitbull named D-boy made a life-saving move to save his dear family from a man who just busted into their house. In retaliation, the man shot D-boy thrice (including one in the head) but miraculously, the heroic pitbull survived. Even if he was shot, he still continued charging towards the man which made the guy freak out and runaway. Up until now, police in Oklahoma City is still in search of the man who busted in into the house of the pitbull’s family.

D-boy is owned by the Trawick family, living in Oklahoma City. I found this article from News9.com which tells their story.


The pit bull is more than a friend, even more than a companion and family members said he’s the reason they’re alive.

The family’s hero is their pit bull, D-boy.

Roberta Trawick was sitting on the couch when a man busted in, through the front door.

“He came in, pointed a gun at me and said, ‘Get down on the ground’,” Trawick said.

The next thing Roberta knew, D-boy ran in from another room, ready to attack.

“I was too scared to move, I didn’t know what to think,” Trawick said.

But before D-boy could get a hold of the intruder, the man started shooting.

“I seen him shoot the dog twice,” Trawick said. “He shot him once in the head and he was still going after him and the guy shot him again.”

D-boy was shot three times, altogether. The intruder, apparently spooked, took off out the front door.

For full News9.com article, click here.

I also found this CNN video that also tells the story of the heroic pitbull. Please click on this link to watch the video.

The heroic pitbull deserved an accolade from all of us. D-boy showed the utmost quality of dogs: their ability to defend the family they loved and loyal to. I am glad that D-boy has survived the ordeal. However, I read also from the news that the Trawick family is also facing tough times and they are needing money to shoulder D-boy’s vet expenses.  That is why, in the title of my blog post today, I put “Call for Aid”.

I encourage you my dear readers to pitch in for D-boy’s vet expenses. If you have a dollar or two (no matter what the amount is), you can send your donations to this address:

To donate to D-boy, you can send a check to:

Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care Hospital
1800 W. Memorial Road
Oklahoma City, OK 73134

* Checks can be made out to VECCA and please add D-boy to the memo line.

If you are living around the area and may have information about the man who broke into the Trawick residence (and obviously the person who shot D-boy thrice), you can contact Crimestoppers at 405-235-7300.

There have been people who already made donations to D-boy but still, through this blog, I am encouraging more to help the heroic pitbull shoulder his vet expenses.

Here are some of the snippets of the people who already donated:

Patty Morse is an animal lover, and that love inspired her to take special notice of D-Boy, the pit bull. When Morse saw our story about D-Boy, how he took three bullets and saved his family, she said she wanted to pay for part of the dog’s more than $1,500 medical bill.

“I’m a waitress. I make cash everyday so I’ll be getting a money order in the mail by Friday for sure,” Morse said. “The dog’s a hero.”

And once the story aired on CNN, NEWS 9 received an influx of people who also wanted to help.

“You really need to support things like this, I think,” Chuck from Arizona said.

He’s sending $100 toward D-boy’s medical bills.

“When I can, I like to help out and I like to help out animals,” Sue Westhead in New Mexico said.

In an email, Michael Hughes in California said: “It’s just something we need to do to be able to help that family.”

Click here for the full second article about D-boy’s plight.

Donations are welcome. Please refer to the contact details that I have mentioned above. Thanks!

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Bias in Adopting Black Dogs

December 9, 2008 at 5:33 pm · Filed under Animal Stories, Animal news, Animal welfare ·Tagged , , , , , , , , ,

I came across an article from LA Times about an ongoing bias against black dogs. The article mentions that some of the dark-colored dogs are being passed in the adoption – it takes a while before they can get adopted. This kind of bias may have started from an urban legend. Nonetheless, the color of a dog’s coat has no direct influence in its temperament and personality. Here is a snippet of the article that I have read:

Shelter officials have dubbed it black dog syndrome — the propensity of dark-coated animals to be passed over for adoption in favor of their lighter counterparts.

Skeptics say the syndrome is an urban legend, but shelter and rescue leaders insist the phenomenon is very, very real.

“It definitely exists,” said Madeline Bernstein, president of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Los Angeles. She cited many causes, not the least of which is a misperception that black dogs are mean. “It’s that old thing of light is good and dark is evil. The light-versus-dark thing is so ingrained in our consciousness in books and movies. It transfers subliminally in picking out a dog.”

For full LA Times article, click here.

To help out spread the word about dog adoptions, I will include here some of the black dogs that are available for adoption. (All of their images and information are from LA Times too.) If you are looking for dogs to be adopted, take a look into these colored dogs. Maybe one of them will eventually land in your warm home.

Ace, Labrador retriever mix

Ace, Labrador retriever mix

Ace, Labrador retriever mix

Where to find him: Agoura animal shelter, 29525 Agoura Road.

More info: Ace was surrendered to the Agoura shelter because of “owner problems” and is looking for a new home. He’s 7 months old and neutered.

Meet him in person at the Agoura shelter or call (818) 991-0071 with his ID number (A3897822) for more information.

Dora, Labrador retriever/Rottweiler mix

Dora, Labrador retriever/Rottweiler mix

Dora, Labrador retriever/Rottweiler mix

Where to find her: Paw’d Squad’s adoption events, held every Saturday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Centinela Feed & Pet, 7600 S. Sepulveda Blvd., Westchester.

More info: Dora was rescued from a backyard breeder by Paw’d Squad Animal Rescue when she was 5 weeks old. She’s now 7 months and is ready for a new home. She loves people (although she’s a little shy at first), other dogs and cats — but her best friends at her current foster home are a pair of chickens. Dora has already been to obedience and socialization classes and, as one might guess from her name, loves to explore.

Get more information by e-mailing pawdsquad@yahoo.com.

Spoon, Labrador Retriever/Rottweiler mix

Spoon, Labrador Retriever/Rottweiler mix

Where to find her: Paw’d Squad’s adoption events, held every Saturday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Centinela Feed & Pet, 7600 S. Sepulveda Blvd., Westchester.

More info: Like her sister Dora, Spoon is a 7-month-old who was rescued from a backyard breeder. She’s a little shy with new people (but warms up quickly) and gets along well with children, other dogs and cats. She walks well on a leash, knows many commands and, like her sister, has already attended obedience and socialization classes. Both are expected to grow to about 65-70 pounds. Asked about Spoon and Dora, Carole Pearson of Paw’d Squad says, “They are overlooked constantly because they are black, and it’s so sad. They are such perfect puppies.”

Get more information by e-mailing pawdsquad@yahoo.com.

Shadow, Labrador retriever mix

Shadow, Labrador retriever mix

Where to find her: Agoura animal shelter, 29525 Agoura Road.

More info: Shadow found herself without a home when her owner moved away. She’s been at the Agoura shelter for more than a month and has watched many of her cohorts find new homes since then. Shelter staff hopes it will soon be her turn! She’s been temperment-tested and passed with flying colors, and since she’s already spayed, she can go home with her new owner immediately.

Meet her in person at the Agoura shelter, or call (818) 991-0071 with her ID number (A3902315)for more information.

Name unknown, Labrador retriever mix

Name unknown, Labrador retriever mix

Where to find him: Downey animal shelter, 11258 S. Garfield Ave., Downey.

More info: Believed by the L.A. County animal control staff to be a victim of the housing crisis, this sweet Lab mix was surrendered to the shelter by his owners. “He is so skinny, it looks like [they] were really having a tough time caring for him,” says Patricia Learned of the Department of Animal Care and Control. “He really needs some good food and a warm home.” Although he’s malnourished, shelter staff say he’s surprisingly energetic (and for that reason might do best in a home without small children).

Meet him in person at the Downey shelter or call (562) 940-6898 with his ID number (A3910970) for more information.

Kobe, smooth-coated Chihuahua

Kobe, smooth-coated Chihuahua

Where to find him: North Central animal shelter, 3201 Lacy St., Los Angeles.

More info: Kobe is a smooth-coated Chihuahua (an unneutered male) who’s about 2 years old.

Meet Kobe in person at the North Central shelter, or call (888) 4LAPET1 with his ID number (A0998786)for more information.

Jamie, German shepherd mix

Jamie, German shepherd mix

Where to find her: Baldwin Park animal shelter, 4275 N. Elton, Baldwin Park.

More info: Jamie was dropped off at the Baldwin Park shelter — and her owner didn’t even give a reason! She’s a little slow to warm to new people but is very sweet once she does, shelter staff says. She’s about 1 year old.

Meet her in person at the Baldwin Park shelter, or call (626) 962-3577 with her ID number (A3910853)for more information.

Blogger’s note: All pictures and information came from Los Angeles Times.

My dear readers, if you happen to live in the Los Angeles area or know someone living there and maybe needing a pet companion, try looking for this pets. Coat color has nothing to do with temperament. What matters most is the dog’s temperament and personality. Check this guys out. They all deserve a warm and loving home as well as be included into your family.

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Dogs Can Also Have Emotions

December 8, 2008 at 5:19 pm · Filed under Animal news ·Tagged , , , , , ,

If you have a dog in your house, take time to observe your pooch whenever if there is someone new who arrives in your house. It can be a new baby, relative or partner. Try to observe the emotions that your pooch show.

According to researchers and psychologists, dogs can display (and sense as well) a wide myriad of emotions – particularly, the feelings of jealousy.

Here is a snippet of the CNN article that I have found:

Dogs appear to experience a range of complex, unpleasant emotions such as jealousy and pride, scientists have discovered.

Dogs hate their owner showing affection to other dogs.

Dogs hate their owner showing affection to other dogs.

Until now, this type of behavior had only been shown in humans or chimpanzees, but researchers suspected that other species that live together could be sensitive to fair play — or a lack of one.

“We are learning that dogs, horses, and perhaps many other species are far more emotionally complex than we ever realized,” Paul Morris, a psychologist at the University of Portsmouth who studies animal emotions, told The Sunday Times.

“They can suffer simple forms of many emotions we once thought only primates could experience.”

For full CNN article, click here.

Now, observe your pooch again. Have you noticed it became jealous for a while? Try to balance your attention between your dog and the new person / entity in your house and check for the results. No wonder my mutts are always jealous of one another whenever I play or pat with the other mutt.

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My Furry Thoughts – December 5, 2008

December 5, 2008 at 1:59 pm · Filed under Animal news, Animal welfare, SPCA ·Tagged , , , , , , , ,

I got a newsletter from SPCA about a particular case of stray animal control in Iraq. Here is a snippet of the article:

SPCA INT’L REACHES OUT TO HELP IRAQ FIND HUMANE SOLUTIONS TO THEIR STRAY ANIMAL PROBLEM

Washington, DC, November 24 – 200 dogs were killed by inhumane measures in Baghdad, Iraq on Sunday, marking the beginning of a government campaign to reduce the animal overpopulation problem that plagues the country. These drastic actions were taken in response to a local public outcry for officials to do something about the stray packs of dogs that can cause human health and safety problems.

SPCA International adamantly condemns the inhumane methods employed in the campaign, including using poisoned meat and rifles. These means cause extreme and prolonged agony. There are humane alternatives that have proven effective and SPCA International encourages the Iraqi government to immediately stop the inhumane killing and implement humane methods.

For full SPCA press release, click here.

Stray animals are indeed a problem, not only in Iraq but also in other countries. Some people have treated this animals like vermin, wherein they euthanized them through putting the dogs and cats in a gassing chamber while others surprisingly have turned these animals into food which is not safe and humane either.

Speaking of food, I would like to applaud the Philippine Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (PSPCA) with the cooperation from the Philippine government agencies for their successful operations against the dog meat traders in Baguio City. In the Philippines, especially in the northern parts of the country, dog meat is served as a delicacy called “azucena” and is served as “pulutan” or finger food among the drinkers. There have been sticky factors that surrounds the fight of PSPCA against this barbaric dog traders – which also includes the culture of the indigenous groups in eating dog meat. Damn, that is one dish that I cant stomach.

These groups dont have an inkling or an understanding that dogs are not meant to be food. I find it barbaric though. I found this youtube video that aside from the PSPCA, there are other animal rights groups such as the Humane Society that are also at work in stopping the dog meat trade in the Philippines. I also applaud this groups for their hard work. Here is the video:

I encourage you, my dear readers, to support these guys, support your local animal groups. People need to be educated when it comes to treating animals. The way you treat animals reflect the way you interact with people as well. Animals are also God’s creation, they also deserve the proper treatment, and in the case, humane treatment for cats and dogs.

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Domesticated Horses Suffer from Hard Economic Times

December 2, 2008 at 3:26 pm · Filed under Animal Stories, Animal news, Animal welfare ·Tagged , , , , , ,

Like some of our furry friends, cats and dogs, other animals like domesticated horses have been suffering too from the financial hard times. I have found this article from UPI.com sharing the plight of domesticated horses in Nevada. Here is a snippet of the article:

Authorities in Nevada say an increasing number of domestic horses are being abandoned by their owners because of the worsening economy.The horses are being turned loose to fend for themselves, but lack of survival skills and often end up being killed by predators, hit by cars or dying of starvation, said Darrell Peterson, a brand inspector for the Nevada Department of Agriculture.

For full article at UPI.com, click here.

Sad to know about these horses. Pity them and shame to the owners who heartlessly left them in their sad plight. If you know a certain animal rights organization that can help this wonderful creatures, please feel free to inform them about the plight of these animals in Nevada.

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