Your Weekly Twitter Recap!

Filed under: Twitter Digest on October 31st, 2011 | No Comments »

Shelter Sketches: Meet Harley

Just over one week until the move to Las Vegas! Here’s a quick one for this week.

Meet Harley

Harley is a large male Old English Bulldog mix. He’s about five years old and living in foster care right now because he doesn’t tolerate the heat well. Despite Harley’s sweet personality, he was just dumped over the fence at a shelter while his “family” drove away. Harley loves being petted and going on walks when the weather isn’t too hot. He is neutered, up-to-date on shots, and house trained. Can you give this big boy a forever home?

Contact Info:
K & C Pet Rescue and Adoption Society, Inc., Jacksonville, FL

kandcpetrescue@gmail.com

Meet Harley

Textures from Bittbox and Hibbary.

To find out more about Harley, check out his Petfinder page.

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Chelsea Conlin is a freelance illustrator, but if she can help spread the word about animals in need with her skills, she’s more than happy to do so! She currently lives in Kentucky with her husband where they do what they can by driving dog rescue transports on weekends. They have two dogs of their own: a rescue greyhound named Storm and a mixed breed named Azu. You can find Chelsea at Paper Nautilus, her sketchblog, twitter, and deviantArt.

Filed under: Animals in Need, Art, Shelter Sketches on October 29th, 2011 | No Comments »

Guest Post: Homeless Pets And How You Can Help Them

Homeless Pets And How You Can Help Them

Approximately 3.5 million people in the United States are homeless. This includes both those who are chronically homeless, and those who are temporarily homeless due to events like losing a job or a home foreclosure. Somewhere between 10 and 15 percent of those 3.5 million people aren’t on the streets alone, but with their pets.

How does this happen? Someone may already own a pet when they’re evicted from their home, and they don’t want to give the animal up, so they keep it, even as they sleep in tents or doorways. Or, someone who is homeless may come upon a stray animal, and decide to take care of it. That a person without a home or money to buy food would take on the care of a pet is a testament to the bond people have with their pets, and to how having a pet can have a positive effect on a person’s emotional and mental state. But homeless pets are still in danger.

From MNN

Why This is a Problem

In some ways, this can be seen as a good thing. Better for someone—even someone without a home—to be looking after an animal than that animal running free where it can possibly be run over, or starve to death. The thing is, because a homeless person lacks the financial ability to properly care for a pet, there is still a danger of disease. Someone living on the street can’t afford pet meds, even common ones like flea and tick treatments or heartworm preventatives.

All it takes for a dog to get heartworm is being bitten by a mosquito carrying them. Without the proper medication, any dog living outside is vulnerable. In addition, a homeless person cannot pay to have an animal spayed or neutered, so there’s an additional risk of the homeless pet contributing to the already staggering dog and cat overpopulation problem.

How You Can Help

Because pets are seen as property, it’s not possible to simply seize an animal from a homeless person if there’s no indication of actual abuse. The truth is, most homeless people try very hard to care for their pets, sometimes using their last bit of money not to buy food for themselves, but for their pets.

Instead, you can help by donating food and supplies to help these people care for their pets until they are in a position to do so on their own. Organizations like Pets of the Homeless have set up collection points across the country to accept donations of food, treats, flea and tick treatments, leashes, and collars. Some homeless shelters and soup kitchens will sometimes also accept donations of pet food, but be sure to call and ask before simply dropping something off that may not be distributed.

By donating through a recognized and participating organization, you can be sure that your contribution will go to help the animals—and their owners—who so desperately need it. And you’ll have improved not just one life, but two.

Note from the Editor: If you’re in Austin, Texas and looking for help for either you or someone you know, Animal Trustees of Austin offers free services to homeless people and their pets. They are located on IH35 and 51st Street. Check their website or grab a card from their office!

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About the Author: Caroline Ruddy is a freelance writer finally pursuing her dream of being published. She loves books and movies, especially when they include a furry friend napping on her lap. Want to write for ILRA? We’d love to here from you – find out what you can do to help!

Filed under: Advice, Animals in Need, Be The Change, Guest Blogs on October 28th, 2011 | No Comments »

Your Weekly Twitter Recap!

Filed under: Twitter Digest on October 24th, 2011 | No Comments »

Shelter Sketches: Meet Dex

Big news on my end! We’ll be moving to Las Vegas in a couple weeks, so I apologize in advance if any posts are late or if the sketches seem very quick. I’ll do my best to keep up with Shelter Sketches during the move. :)

Meet Dex

Dex is an adult male Great Dane. He was picked up as a stray and was going to be euthanized at a shelter until Waverly Pet Rescue pulled him. Dex is very fearful and shy, but with the consistent, patient training he will definitely come around and realize the world isn’t such a scary place. As of October 16, 2011 he was in a foster home that is working with him, but he really needs a forever home. Wouldn’t you just love to be the one to teach this dashing guy that he can still trust people?

Contact Info:
Waverly Pet Rescue, Waverly, IA
waverlypetrescue@mchsi.com

Meet Dex

Texture from Bittbox.

To find out more about Dex, check out his Petfinder page.

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Chelsea Conlin is a freelance illustrator, but if she can help spread the word about animals in need with her skills, she’s more than happy to do so! She currently lives in Kentucky with her husband where they do what they can by driving dog rescue transports on weekends. They have two dogs of their own: a rescue greyhound named Storm and a mixed breed named Azu. You can find Chelsea at Paper Nautilus, her sketchblog, twitter, and deviantArt.

Filed under: Animals in Need, Art, Shelter Sketches on October 23rd, 2011 | No Comments »

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