Continue reading »]]> The Montclair Township Animal Shelter is once again partnering with Montclair Feed & Pet Supply to celebrate Valentine’s Day a little early with an offer for those looking for love—reduced adoption fees on all dogs and cats during the in-store event on Saturday, Feb. 4. A number of the Shelter’s adoptable pets will be on-site at 191 Glenridge Avenue from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. with dog adoption fees reduced to $70 and cat fees to $50. The fee reductions will also apply to all adoptable pets at the Shelter, located at 77 North Willow Street. The Shelter will open an hour earlier for the event on Feb. 4, from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.

The Montclair Township Animal Shelter began on-site adoption events at Montclair Feed & Pet Supply in the beginning of 2012. On the first Saturday and last Sunday of each month volunteers transport a number of the Shelter’s adoptable pets to the store for display for the hours of 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

The Shelter provides animal care, control and pet adoption services to the townships of Montclair, Nutley and Verona. Located at 77 North Willow Street in Montclair, the Shelter is open Tuesdays from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m.; Wednesday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Off-hour and off-day visits are available by appointment. More information about the Shelter can be found at montclairanimalshelter.blogspot.com or call 973-744-8600.

More here: Find A New Sweetheart, Adopt a Homeless Pet – Montclair, NJ Patch.

Continue reading »]]> he Niagara Falls Humane Society tries to alleviate the suffering of all animals and to eliminate euthanasia as a method of population control for pets. At the NFHS, no healthy adoptable animal will ever be euthanized.

When it comes to adding a new member to the family, a lot of people tend to want to adopt a kitten or puppy. Sure they’re cute and playful little balls of fur, but they are also a lot of work. The NFHS has many older cats and dogs available for adoption that would make perfect additions to any household. Not everyone has the energy or patience to handle that accompanies looking after a younger animal.

There are many benefits that come with adopting a more mature animal. You don’t have to worry about housebreaking them or having them tear up your furniture, your curtains, or your clothing. Older pets are much calmer and set in their ways. Even though they may no longer be a puppy or a kitten anymore, it doesn’t mean that they are not just as playful and fun to have around the house. They still love to play with their toys, chase after tennis balls, and go for walks.

The rest is here: Gimme Shelter: In praise of older pets – watch the video | Bullet News Niagara | Niagara Falls, Welland, Thorold, St Catharines, Fort Erie, ThoroldBullet News Niagara | Niagara Falls, Welland, Thorold, St Catharines, Fort Erie, Thorold.

Continue reading »]]> More than 11 years ago ready to become a pet parent I stepped into the local animal shelter and perused the cages to find a new companion animal. The shelter was filled to capacity, mostly with pit bulls and other large, abandoned dogs. In one cage I saw a mound of mismatched fur and realized I had found “the one.”

It was difficult to describe the dog’s appearance. He looked like a cross between an Ewok and Gizmo the gremlin. He was around 3 months old and had been found wandering the streets alone. His cage was marked “terrier mix,” so there was no way to fully know the breed or how large the puppy would get.

Despite the way he started his early life, the dog wagged his tail and was very affectionate to me. Idecided to take the plunge and adopt him. Eleven years later, my dog Happy is still a part of my family. I can say I’ve never met a more laid-back, well-behaved and relatively trouble-free dog and that comes with a history of many pet dogs growing up and my father even having owned a pet shop at one point. If Iever choose to welcome another dog into my home, I’m certain I’d go the adoption route.

Pets in shelters

According to the ASPCA, many of the shelters operating nationwide are independent organizations, and there is no reliable means of tabulating just how many dogs enter their shelters every year. It is estimated that anywhere between 5 to 7 million companion animals enter a shelter every year. Approximately 3 to 4 million are euthanized, and only 15 to 20 percent are returned to their owners due to microchip or tag identification. The National Council on Pet Population Study and Policy says most of the pets are destroyed simply because there is no one available to adopt them.

via Benefits to pet adoption – News – By By: Jeanette Smerina Frontenac Local Community News.

Continue reading »]]> One of the most basic concepts of economics is that there’s no such thing as a free lunch.

On Wednesdays at the Independence Animal Shelter, however, things are a little different: Adult cats are available for adoption at no cost.

And while it certainly isn’t a “free” endeavor – expenses went into preparing the cat for adoption, taking care of it while it was housed at the shelter and the new owner is acquiring those expenses – shelter officials say they are hopeful that “Whisker Wednesdays” will encourage pet adoption in a down economy while helping the shelter work toward its goal of becoming a no-kill facility.

“There are a lot of people out there who can give a good home to an animal but maybe can’t afford the adoption fee,” said Jennifer Polston, Independence Animal Services supervisor.

Whisker Wednesdays applies toward adult cats who are estimated as 1 year or older. The $99 adoption fee is waived, and Polston said she hopes new owners will take that “saved” money and buy a litter box, toys, food and other feline necessities.

More here: Free cat adoptions help lower shelter population – Independence, MO – The Examiner.

Continue reading »]]> Lollypop Farm will hold a dog adoption day from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 4, at the Satellite Adoption Center in the Mall at Greece Ridge.

Several dogs from Lollypop Farm will be available for adoption during the event.

The Mall at Greece Ridge is located at 71 Greece Ridge Center Drive.

For more information, visit www.lollypop.org.

Originally posted here: Lollypop Farm to hold dog adoption day Feb. 4 at the Mall at Greece Ridge – Greece, NY – Greece Post.

Continue reading »]]> Homeward Pet Adoption Center, one of Washington’s biggest no-kill animal shelters is celebrating its 22 year anniversary all through February and using 22 as its theme.

On Wednesday, Homeward Pet in Woodinville will kick-off with an online fundraising goal of securing 220 $22 donations. “Just $22 goes a long way toward helping a homeless animal; paying for care like a month’s worth of food for a large dog, vaccinations to help prevent life-threatening illness in a cat for a year or enough canned food to feed a litter of kittens for a week,” according to the shelter’s website. Donations can be made at homewardpet.org. On Feb. 22 the center is having its the 22nd Anniversary Adoption event, with adoption fees discounted to $22 all day, for kittens, puppies, cats and dogs

Homeward Pet was established in 1990 by founder Peggy Barnish, with the belief that there could be an animal shelter where euthanasia was a last resort, used only to ease suffering from injury or illness, and where every adoptable cat and dog would eventually find their forever home. Back then, the shelter operated out of a 1,200 square foot space and under the name Hooterville Pet Safehaus, the organization helped 370 animals in 1990.

More here: Homeward Pet Celebrates 22 Years in Woodinville – Woodinville, WA Patch.

Continue reading »]]> Montclair Animal Shelter is offering an early Valentine’s Day gift for those looking for love: reduced adoption fees for one day only, on Saturday, February 4.

MTAS is once again partnering with Montclair Feed & Pet Supply to celebrate Valentine’s Day with reduced adoption fees on all dogs and cats during the in-store event. A number of the shelter’s adoptable pets will be on site at 191 Glenridge Avenue from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. with dog adoption fees reduced to $70 and cat fees to $50. The fee reductions will also apply to all adoptable pets at the shelter. The shelter will also open an hour earlier for the event on February 4, from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.

MTAS began on-site adoption events at Montclair Feed & Pet Supply at the beginning of 2012. On the first Saturday and last Sunday of each month, volunteers transport a number of the shelter’s adoptable pets to the store for display from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

The shelter provides animal care, control, and pet adoption services to the townships of Montclair, Nutley, and Verona. Its regular hours are Tuesdays from 2 to 6 p.m.; and Wednesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 2 to 4 p.m. Off-hour and off-day visits are available by appointment. Montclair Feed & Pet Supply is open Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., and Sunday, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

More here: Reduced Adoption Fees for Valentine’s Day … and More – Baristanet | Baristanet.

Continue reading »]]> Death and taxes are inevitable, yet not a subject that people consider when adding a pet to their family. Most people assume their relatives will gladly adopt their furry, feathered or scaled animals, should their pet outlive them. Sadly this is not the case. Dogs and cats often live 15 years, cockatoos 65 years, and turtles 40 years in captivity.

Housing restrictions, work schedules and the costs of taking care of an unexpected pet can also discourage relatives from hurrying to adopt. According to the ASPCA, a medium dog incurs costs of about $1,500 annually and a cat about $1,000. Keep these figures in mind when providing for your pet.

Take time to discuss your pets and adoption options with people close to you. There are stories of extravagance, like Leona Helmsley leaving $12 million to her dog Trouble, yet not all are financially able to provide such excess. Neighbors and friends help out but often must “depend on the kindness of strangers” to place an animal in a new home.

More here: Critter Corner: Planning for the Future Welfare of Your Pet – Hillcrest, OH Patch.

Continue reading »]]> In its first year, Direct Energy and Trib Total Media’s 2011 Pittsburgh Volunteer Citizen Award has been awarded to Stacy Berkoben of Arnold, PA. Stacy has volunteered hundreds of hours and helped to fundraise thousands of dollars for Animal Protectors of Allegheny Valley, a nonprofit, no-kill animal shelter in New Kensington, PA. By winning the Volunteer Citizen of the Year Award, Stacy will receive a $1,000 cash prize and $5,000 to donate to Animal Protectors of Allegheny Valley.

Described as a true ambassador of animals, Stacy utilizes her warm and friendly personality to educate the public about responsible pet adoption, proper pet care and the importance of spaying and neutering. She has rescued four cats and a dog herself, which are now thriving in a safe and permanent home, thanks to Stacy’s kind heart.

Stacy also fundraises for Animal Protectors of Allegheny Valley by participating in ticket raffles, “Paws for the Cause” and “Meet and Greet” events, bake sales, spaghetti dinners and community dog walks. Additionally, Stacy spends countless hours hand-sewing pet toys, blankets, beds, collars, scarves and mittens to sell at these events. With the $5,000 donation from Direct Energy, Animal Protectors of Allegheny Valley will help fund it’s spay and neuter program and provide educational materials to the public.

More here: Animal Rescuer Wins First Ever Pittsburgh Volunteer Citizen of the Year Award – MarketWatch.

Continue reading »]]> This Valentine’s Day, fall head over heels for a four-legged companion during the PetSmart Charities National Adoption Weekend, February 10-12 at your neighborhood PetSmart(R) store. Save a pet’s life and enrich your own with the pure joy that only a tail wag can bring.

Whether your type is a cat or dog, puppy or kitten, purebred or mixed breed, you’re bound to find the perfect match among the thousands of pets up for adoption by more than 2,000 local animal welfare organizations in all of the 1,210 PetSmart(R) stores in the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico.

Your pet adoption will benefit these local shelters and rescue agencies; each will receive $35 in adoption-reward grants from PetSmart Charities for every pet they adopt in stores during this three-day event.

“Adoption is one of the key ways to save pets and end pet homelessness, not to mention enrich our own lives with a loving companion,” said Susana Della Maddalena, executive director of PetSmart Charities, Inc. “Thanks to generous donations from our wonderful supporters, PetSmart Charities funds hundreds of adoption events and awareness programs each year that help find homes for thousands of lovable and healthy pets.”

Every year, PetSmart Charities and its local shelter and rescue agency partners host four National Adoption Weekends. During the 2011 National Adoption Weekends, more than 66,000 pets’ lives were saved across the U.S., Canada and Puerto Rico.

More here: Find Unconditional Love With an Adopted Pet at PetSmart Charities(R) National Adoption Weekend, February 10-12 – MarketWatch.