4 The Love of Animals- animal rescue, wildlife, pets, and more!

The following is a guest post from Susan Daffron.

Thank you for letting me write a guest post for your blog!

My name is Susan Daffron and I’m the founder of the National Association of Pet Rescue Professionals (http://www.naprp.com) and the author of books on caring for adopted dogs (Happy Hound - http://www.HappyHoundBook.com) and adopted cats (Happy Tabby - http://www.HappyTabbyBook.com).

June is Adopt a Shelter Cat Month, which is sponsored by the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA), and with good reason! During the spring and summer, animal shelters are overflowing with cats and kittens. Although cats are the most popular pets in the US, most shelters still struggle with low adoption rates and dismal return-to-owner statistics when it comes to cats. Take a quick trip around the PetFinder.com Web site and you’ll see that many, many beautiful, friendly cats are waiting for good homes.

The good news is that many households have more than one cat. (I’m not the only “cat lady” out there with more than one feline!) As one who shares her life with two cats, I can attest that cats make great roommates. Unlike my dogs, my cats are generally quite self-amused. They are perfectly content living in my house.

My cats are adults, so they sleep a fair amount these days, but an often-under appreciated characteristic of cats is that they can be extremely funny. Our cats are endlessly amusing. At our house the all-feline team tends to be particularly active in the morning while we’re doing dishes. We call it the “kitty floor show.” The two cats chase each other all over the house, have a big conversation, possibly pound on each other a bit, and then pass out.

Because cats are fairly “low-maintenance,” they can be great pets for people who live in apartments and are away from home all day at work. While you’re working, the cats are probably sleeping. But after work, you get to have a furry face welcoming you back to your home. Of course, when you adopt a cat, you do have to invest time and money to take care of your kitty properly. Plus, you need to commit to caring for your cat for potentially the next 20 years. (One of my cats is 15 and still going strong!)

If you decide to add a new feline to your home, now is a good time to do it. In honor of Adopt a Shelter Cat month, many humane and rescue organizations are running special promotions. Because cats are often happier if they share their household with a feline friend, shelters and rescues sometimes do a 2-for-1 deal on cats adopted at the same time. Some groups also offer special prices for senior citizens because of the health benefits of owning a cat. According to the Humane Society of the United States, owning a pet can benefit both our emotional and physical health. Cats can alleviate loneliness and depression, particularly among the elderly. Studies also have shown that owning a pet can lower blood pressure and cholesterol levels.

When you adopt a cat from an animal shelter, humane society or rescue group, your adoption fee almost always covers spaying and neutering costs, vaccinations, and even a microchip or ID tag. So head to your nearest shelter and save a life by adopting a cat!

This is a guest post from the folks at Comondi.com. Why does their site fit so well with what I am trying to do here? Well, they donate 5% of their SALES (not just the profit) to animal charities. And they offer great organic and vegan products. Way to go Comondi!

While flailing around desperately trying to alight on some way to help animals and align my passions with my day-to-day need to earn money, I remember placing an order at an online store in the States. My roomie and I were very excited about all the super-duper organic, vegan, eco-friendly items we were about to have delivered to our door in a few weeks. These American online stores offered so many great items that we’d never even heard of!! It was an eco-vegan shopping paradise. Then, it happened. We went to check out and there was no province listing, no ability to input a Canadian postal code. Ohio had a lot of the same letters as Ontario but I didn’t think it was gonna cut it. What was going on? How were my super-duper products going to get to me if I couldn’t give them my address? Back to the Shipping page; crap, they don’t ship to Canada. About the 10th time this had happened to us. All our lovely items just sitting in their virtual shopping cart never to make it to our welcoming doorstep.

Then it hit us - if there was a store actually IN Canada then it has to ship to us, right? Domestic online shopping was the solution. It sounded easy but we actually couldn’t find an online Canadian store which served as a general store for vegan, organic, fair-trade items. So, we decided to start our own. And so Comondi was born.

We didn’t want to offer a whole new barrage of consumer goods that nobody really needed but we did want to offer alternatives to what people were already buying and would continue to buy regardless of whether we disagreed or not. We also hoped that the items we would carry would help create positive employment for marginalized people or would support small business like us!

Basically, we wanted people to think, “I need something to scrub my dishes with but I’d like it to be sustainable, vegan and fair-trade; where can I get such a thing?” and then find us! Everytime I went to buy anything for the house, be it tea towels or mops or any mundane item, I always thought “I wonder if there’s a more sustainable option?” We wanted to marry the worlds of veganism, environmentalism and fair labour. Many products out there fit one or two of these categories but very few fit them all. We wanted to find those products and offer them in place of the generic Walmart fodder. And that’s really what Comondi is all about. Offering alternatives to everyday items that don’t destroy the earth, that contribute to a rising sun mentality.

Well, in truth, Comondi is ACTUALLY about the animals. From the very beginning, when we sat around and discussed what this company would be, I kept saying, “It’s for the animals. It has to be about them.” So, to honour this, we donate 5% of our SALES (not just profits) to charities and non-profits advocating for animals. Right now, it’s GAN, a great Montreal based organization. I’ve met the founders, Andrew and Rebecca, a few times now and really respect their dedication and compassion. With very few resources they’ve managed to help so many animals and get the word out about important issues. Canada is lucky to have them.

And we’re hoping to have more links to animal activism and breaking issues so that people are educated when they come to the site.

For those of you wondering about the ecological costs in RUNNING a business, we spent a lot of time thinking about that. Primarily, the damaging emissions of all the trucks and planes carrying our parcels and products around the world. It still eats at us but we had to accept that nothing is perfect, that to create change there do have to be compromises. But, it’s a start and we hope that customers feel good knowing that every dollar they spend at Comondi supports veganism, environmentalism, animals and people…the world really. And therein lies the name.

We spent hours and used a lot of scrap pieces of paper to come up with a name. Finally, it just came out of a book, some book I was reading about the state of the world. And one of the words was “amundi” which meant “without a world”. And I thought how much I didn’t want that to happen, how I wanted every living being to have a world, this very world on which we sit. And I wanted this new company to be part of that, to be truly WITH THE WORLD, WITH LIFE. So, I figured if you added a “con”, in some amalgamation of languages, that would make it “conmundi”, “with the world”. And so, once we’d stylized and played with it, it became “Comondi“.

And someday I hope Comondi will be a way of giving the animals back the world we’ve taken from them.”

Be sure to visit their site and check out the awesome products they offer!

My name is Susan Daffron and I’m the founder of the National Association of Pet Rescue Professionals (http://www.naprp.com) and the author of books on caring for adopted dogs (Happy Hound - http://www.HappyHoundBook.com) and adopted cats (Happy Tabby - http://www.HappyTabbyBook.com).

This week is National Dog Bite Prevention Week, which is designed to increase awareness of an all-too common problem: dog bites.

Many people seem to think that a dog would “never” bite them, but the statistics show that every year, 4.7 million people in the U.S. are bitten by dogs. Even worse, sixty percent of those people are children. Every year, roughly 800,000 people require medical attention for dog bites, and about 12 people annually are actually killed in dog attacks.
The statistics are scary, but the good news is that almost all dog bites can be prevented. The three keys to preventing dog bites are education, responsible dog ownership, and animal control. Here are a few tips:

1. In many rural areas, animal control resources are limited, so it’s especially important that you gain an understanding why dogs bite and educate your children on dog safety. Statistically 50% of children will be bitten by a dog before their twelfth birthday. Don’t let your child become part of that statistic!
2. Many dogs are friendly, so it’s not like you have to walk around fearing every canine you meet. But it pays to be cautious. The majority of bites are from a dog the person knows. Never assume a dog is friendly; always ask the owner first (if one is around).
3. Dogs bite for three main reasons: to defend territory or to express fear or dominance. Often it’s a combination of all three, so pay attention to the behavior of any unfamiliar dog. If he seems edgy, afraid, or behaves oddly, he’s more likely to bite.
4. Don’t look an unfamiliar dog straight in the eye. If a dog knocks you down, curl up into a ball and cover your face.
5. Teach your kids not to approach any dog that looks tense or aggressive. If a strange dog approaches, they should stand still. Make sure your kids also know that they should not run or scream. Teach your children not to tease dogs or disturb a dog when he’s sleeping or eating. Also explain that they need to tell an adult whenever they see a stray dog or a dog that is acting “weird.” Never leave little kids alone with a dog unsupervised.

Thank you again for helping me spread the word about this important subject. The reason I wrote my books and started the National Association of Pet Rescue Professionals is to help educate more people about pet care and keep these animals out of shelters. Here’s to saving more lives!

**Thank you Susan for the great guest post!**

The following is a guest post from Feline Fido, a fun site with great collars, leashes, and key fobs, that also is promoting awareness of great causes!

Aimee handed me this wonderful opportunity to tell you a little about my store, FelineFido.com. We offer many designer pet collars, for everyday wear, holidays and a collection of awareness pet collars, leashes and key fobs for the ‘fashionably aware pet’. We are most proud of the way we have managed to combine our love of pet fashions with a way to promote awareness for special causes such as breast cancer, spay & neuter and autism. For each of these causes we offer collars and leashes that send a message and we also donate 15% of the proceeds from the sale of these items to their respective causes.

For the last few months, we’ve been working hard to promote our autism awareness dog collars, leashes and key fobs. The incidence of autism affecting someone in any of lives is on the constant rise, with the number now averaging 1 out of every 150 children in the USA being diagnosed with a type of autism spectrum disorder. Because our items are unique and geared toward pets, it seemed suiting to find an organization to donate to that had similarities. That’s why it was so exciting to be able to contribute to a wonderful organization called 4 Paws for Abilty. 4 Paws raises and trains service dogs for children with autism. They are even trained to track their child, and will autistic children having a large tendancy to wander away - this is of utmost importance. In finding the 4 Paws organization we stumbled upon the website of a little boy named Trapper Leeth who had just been approved for his very own 4 Paws dog. Trapper’s story was very touching, he is a 3 year old boy living in a very remote area of Alaska, he was diagnosed with Autism at the age of 2 and the nearest services for him are nearly 8 hours away and can only be accessed via Ferry. Trapper has no words, he doesn’t even answer to his name, and what’s worse is he has a very bad tendancy to wonder off - living in a remote area of Alaska with water and wild animals close by, this poses a very serious hazard to Trapper. Back in October, just days after Trapper was approved for his service dog, his family was in a vehicle roll-over accident that landed his mother in the hospital for a few months. Today she is back home in braces and her doctor has recently reported that her back and neck fractures have not healed and she’ll likely need surgery. Trapper is required to meet a fundraising requirement of $13,000 that will cover the costs associated with caring for and training this very special dog. As you can imagine, this vehicle accident certainly put a damper on the family starting the fundraising needed to bring hom Trapper’s dog.

For this reason, Feline Fido donates 15% of the proceeds from any autism related item purchased from our store to 4 Paws for Ability in honor of Trapper Leeth. Once Trapper achieves his fund raising requirements, we’ll continue on to help another child bring home his very own miracle dog. I hope that more and more companies will join in to support other families in obtaining their autism service dogs, hopefully those with bigger resources than us. I can only imagine the overwhelming relief and excitement felt by these families when they find out, they raised the required funds!

I got an email from Jenn of Cutie-Paws. She is doing some amazing work, not to mention making some really great stuffed plushes. With each handmade animal, 60% of the sale goes towards AnimalAsia China Bear Rescue. The following is a guest post from Jenn:

Why I’m doing what I’m doing:

Bear bile is used as a Traditional Medicine in China. The Bears are trapped in the wild via snares, which can often sever the bears’ limbs, and then kept in cages that are roughly the size of the bears themselves. Once trapped on the farm, the bears are “milked” for their bile through painful catheters that are up to 7 inches in length and are directly inserted into their gall bladders.

The cages that the bears are kept in are called Crush Cages. Why? Because once the bears are lying at the bottom of the cage to eat, a metal arch that spans the length of the cage (called the “crush”) keeps them flattened through force so that the farmer can milk them. The cage with the crush raised is not much bigger than the bear itself. It does not allow the bear to stand or move. With the crush lowered, the bears are literally being pressed into the floor of the cage. Animals Asia received many bears with the crush rusted in place in the lowered position meaning that the farmer never raised the crush when the milking was finished. These bears were literally forced into that position for years. As a result they suffer unimaginable pain and suffering, physically and mentally.

After I found out about this - I decided I wanted to do something. I started donating money to Animals Asia, but it wasn’t enough. I wanted to raise money and awareness, so I decided to make plushie animals and sell them, donating at least 60% of the sale to AAF. My goal this year is to try and raise $1000 for Animals Asia’s China Bear Rescue! You can help me achieve this goal by adopting a cutiepaw and 60% of the sale will be donated to Animals Asia’s China Bear Rescue!

So please stop by her site! I was unaware of this issue, and am really glad that Jenn is doing something to help spread awareness and help these animals.

This sounds like a great product for people with dogs and cats that shed.

FURMINATOR® DESHEDDING™ TOOL FACT SHEET
For the more than 63 percent of U.S. households* who love their pets but hate the shedding, the new and uniquely designed FURminator deShedding Tool is the solution to their “hairy” pet peeves. The tool reduces shedding up to 90 percent in long and short-haired dogs and cats and is used by professional groomers and veterinarians across the United States.

Background: The FURminator deShedding Tool is designed to remove undercoat and loose hair in dogs and cats. It reduces shedding up to 90 percent and releases animals’ natural oils to provide a healthy and shiny topcoat.

The unique stainless steel edge works without cutting or damaging the topcoat and pets enjoy being brushed with the tool. The deShedding tool removes undercoat and loose hair and reduces the amount of airborne allergens such as dander that cause allergic reactions. The FURminator deShedding Tool also helps to reduce hairballs and prevent matting.

Retail Locations: Nationwide at PetSmart, Petco, independent pet retailers, veterinarians, groomers, and rescue organizations. FURminator products can also be ordered though consumer catalogs and web sites.

Availability and Price: Available in small, medium and large sizes for dogs, as well as a cat (small) and equine version. Priced from $34.95 to $69.95.

Additional FURminator deShedding Products Available: deShedding Shampoo, deShedding Solution, Waterless deShedding Shampoo and Conditioner, deShedding Dog Treats – All priced at $12.95

The following is a guest post from Susan Daffron:

My name is Susan Daffron and I’m the founder of the National Association of Pet Rescue Professionals and the author of books on caring for adopted dogs and cats called Happy Hound and Happy Tabby.

Spay Day is February 26, this year and I thought I’d share a list of reasons why it’s so important to “fix” your pets because so many myths continue to exist when it comes to spaying and neutering. Here are three facts:

1. Spayed or neutered animals are healthier. Female cats and dogs can’t get uterine or ovarian cancer and the possibility that the animal will get breast cancer is greatly reduced. Neutering reduces roaming and fighting and most animals lose the desire to constantly mark their territory.

2. Spayed or neutered animals live longer. Statistically, animals that have been spayed or neutered live an average of two to three years longer than unsterilized pets.

3. Spaying or neutering saves money. Spaying is a one-time cost that is tiny when compared to the cost of providing care for a mother and a litter (or litters!) of puppies or kittens.

It’s a myth that it’s good to let a pet have “just one litter” of puppies or kittens before you get her spayed. The bottom line is that by letting your pet have that “just one litter” you contribute to the problem of pet overpopulation. Even if you find homes for the puppies or kittens, those critters produce more critters and the problem grows exponentially and quickly. One cat or dog who has babies and whose babies have babies can be responsible for the birth of 50 to 200 kittens or puppies in just one year. The reproductive rate of dogs is 15 times that of humans and the reproductive rate of cats is 30 times that of humans.

Virtually every pet rescue requires that adopted pets be spayed or neutered. These people work tirelessly to save animals every day, so do your part to help them help the animals. Spay and neuter your pets!