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

Pearl Tam is an enthusiast of making sure our pets receive the care they need and deserve.
LocalVets.com allows her to pursue this very passion. Their core mission is to connect pets in need with veterinarians who care. Currently, they work with over 5,000 vets across the country who are listed in their veterinarian directory. They are even connected with professional veterinary associations such as VHMA.

LocalVets.com is a great resource for pet owners like us to use when seeking the closest and most suitable veterinarian in our neighborhood. As you probably have had experiences with vet visits, you know first hand how dreadful it can be for your pet and even you. However, it is inevitable both because we want to keep our pets healthy and because of emergency situations.

There are not enough pet owners who provide their pets with the recommended veterinary visits of twice a year, especially for cats with an average of less than one visit a year. LocalVets.com makes it easier to locate a veterinarian in the vicinity by providing a directory of vets and even categorizing the them by services provided and animals treated as well as by major cities and states. It’s very easy to use and even provides detailed information about each animal hospital, biographies of the veterinarians, hours, and services offered.

If you are looking for something fun to give to a dog owner in your life, or if you want to treat yourself, you should head on over to the website Dog Is Good. They have some awesome goodies for the dog lover in your life. I would like to get this shirt for myself:

I love the “bling”! And the saying is just too true. Dog is good!

If shirts aren’t your thing, be sure to check out their greeting cards. I especially love this design:

And inside it says “until someone ends up in a cone”! All of their cards are very funny, and would be a great way to brighten up someone’s mailbox.

I haven’t seen any of the products in person, but I do think the site is a lot of fun and a great way to honor the bond between human and dog.

“Doing More™ for Pets” Campaign Highlights the Most Remarkable Pet Rescue Survival Stories“

ST. LOUIS, MO. (June 18, 2008) – Though the work of pet rescue can often be difficult, expensive and heart-breaking, we also hear stories that re-affirm the purpose, effort and devotion of pet rescue groups across the country. These stories tell of pets that have persevered throughout the harshest of conditions, and with the help of some very special people, have not only survived, but thrived.

The Purina® Pro Plan® brand is recognizing these stories through the Rally to Rescue™ “Doing More for Pets” Rescue Stories Contest. This nationwide campaign chronicles the amazing but often untold stories of pet rescue, and allows America to get involved through an online voting period that begins in June and runs through October. While many people are familiar with their large local animal shelters, “Doing More for Pets” honors rescued pets that have overcome great odds, thanks to the incredible hard work and dedication of small pet rescue organizations.

It is often hard to think of the cruelty some pets are subjected to, however these stories of triumph over adversity warm the heart because they celebrate happy endings and positive outcomes. From a litter of kittens left in a mall planter, to a Boxer so starved she couldn’t stand up, these pets rose above their circumstances, made remarkable recoveries, and in the process brought joy and hope to every life they touched.

More than 70 rescue stories were submitted and a judging panel selected 10 success stories that stood above the rest. These stories demonstrated that by doing more and going the extra mile, these dedicated pet rescue workers changed the lives of 10 exceptional dogs and cats.

Vote for Fluffy and Fido
From June 2nd through October 31, 2008, these 10 stories will be highlighted on www.rallytorescue.org. Animal lovers are encouraged to visit the site and vote for the dog or cat they believe has made the most significant transformation. In November, the finalist with the most votes will be announced at The National Dog Show Presented by Purina®. The pet rescue organization that nominated the winning pet will receive coupons for $5,000 in Purina Pro Plan brand Pet Food. A designated member of the rescue organization, the winning pet and their current owner will also win a trip to attend The National Dog Show Presented by Purina.

Ambassadors to the Rescue
The program is an extension of the Purina® Pro Plan® Rally to Rescue™ campaign, which is dedicated to raising funds and awareness for pet rescue nationwide. The honored pets could not have survived without the passion and commitment of the selfless pet rescue workers known as Rally to Rescue Ambassadors. These tireless individuals work to ensure the safety and well-being of homeless dogs and cats. Thanks to the efforts of these organizations, each year thousands of dogs and cats are rescued, brought back to health and placed in loving homes.
Smaller pet rescue organizations are often overlooked by potential donors and adopters due to their more limited fund raising and marketing capabilities. Rally to Rescue helps nearly 500 rescue organizations across the country give homeless pets the nutrition and care they need and the forever homes they deserve.

To learn more about the Pro Plan Rally to Rescue campaign or to vote in the “Doing More for Pets Rescue Stories Contest” go to http://www.rallytorescue.org.

Nestlé Purina PetCare promotes responsible pet care, community involvement and the positive bond between people and their pets. A premiere global manufacturer of pet products, Nestlé Purina PetCare is part of Swiss-based Nestlé S.A., the world’s largest food company. Rally to Rescue is not a 501(c)(3) organization.

Looking for a stylish way to make your dog stand out? This is a fun DIY project for making a fiber optic doggy coat. The project takes about 3 hours, and uses things you may already have around your home. The end result? One pimped out doggy coat!

How 2.0: Fiber-Optic Doggy Coat from My Home 2.0 DIY on Vimeo.

You can find more fun projects, including the fiber-optic doggy coat, on My Home 2.0. I think I may just have to try this project to make Baby a stylish coat for night time walks!

I wanted to introduce our newest sponsor, The Honest Kitchen. While supplies last, you can get a free sample of their awesome pet food when you click through the ad they have on our sidebar.

The Honest Kitchen provides natural & organic pet food products. They use selection of fresh wholesome, human grade foods that are also gluten-free, grain-free diets and 100% wheat free. All of the grains that The Honest Kitchen uses are certified organic, their meats are hormone and antibiotic free and their fruits and vegetables are guaranteed non GMO.

So, if you like to treat your pet to the same quality of food that you would love to eat for yourself, please be sure to check out The Honest Kitchen.

There is a fun contest being sponsored by Purina Dog Chow and Drew Lachey.

Is your dog a natural in front of the camera? Do you share Fido’s photogenic features with all your friends? Now you can share your unique dog’s mug with people everywhere when it is showcased on the digital displays in New York’s Times Square and simulcast on the internet.

The Purina® Dog Chow® brand invites dog lovers to visit www.pictureyourdogintimessquare.com between March 17 and April 28 and follow the instructions to register and upload a photo of their one-in- a-million dog. Then, on June 19, uploaded photos will be featured on the Reuters/NASDAQ Digital Tower Billboards in Times Square, giving each pooch face time in one of America’s most famous intersections. The digital displays will be simulcast on the Purina® Dog Chow® virtual online dog park at www.longliveyourdog.com so you don’t need to be in the Big Apple to see your dog’s photo in Times Square.

Those who register with Long Live Your Dog, create a home page for their dog, and upload an original photo will also have a chance to win a trip to New York City to see his or her dog’s image featured on the big screen in person. The trip includes a five-day, four-night getaway with one guest and their picture-perfect pooch. Visit www.pictureyourdogintimessquare.com to learn more.

But what I think is even more exciting is the reason why they are holding this promotion in the first place! To help support real life dog parks.

The Purina® Dog Chow® brand will help support real-life dog parks nationwide with its grant program. Up to $40,000 in grants will go towards maintenance and upkeep of dog-friendly areas, including dog parks and other off-leash designated areas.

“With dog ownership numbers increasing, dog parks are becoming such an integral part of every community,” said Daynique Smith, brand manager for Purina® Dog Chow® brand Dog Food. “People love to spend time with their special dogs, and we want to do our part to provide assistance to community dog parks to sustain and upgrade their facilities.”

To be considered for a grant, applicants must meet certain eligibility requirements, submit an application containing 500 words or less explaining how the funding will be used and include a photo of the park facilities to be upgraded or maintained. Grant applications will be accepted via U.S. mail at Purina Dog Chow Grant Program, 2M, Nestlé Purina PetCare, Checkerboard Square, St. Louis, MO 63164. All applications must be submitted or postmarked between March 17 and April 28, 2008. Limit
one application per dog park. The recipients will be announced online on June 19, 2008.

For more information on the “Picture Your Dog in Times Square” event and the Purina® Dog Chow® Grant Program, or to send a personalized voice message from Drew Lachey, please visit www.pictureyourdogintimessquare.com or www.longliveyourdog.com.

So, get that great photo of your dog and send it in for a chance to win!

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.