150 Ways to Save the World: #3 Veterinary Care Assistance Programs

From http://awayhomeandpetcare.com

Let's face it, none of us like being sick. When I'm under the weather, all I want is a good supply of movies, lots of juice and veggie soup and a phone so I can continuously call my mom and ask her if she will fly 2000 miles to come give me that TLC that only moms can give you when you're sick. But short of a limb falling off I will pretty much wave off any doctor visits and prescribe myself bed rest and plenty of fluids. This however, is not the case when it comes to my pups. Any sign of unusual sluggishness or loss of appetite and I turn into that crazy mom shoving old ladies out of the way to get to a vet tech! (I truly wish I was exaggerating this one.)

As many pet parents will agree, the thought of our furry little children getting sick is terrifying. Not only because we do not want them to feel badly but also because we know that a vet visit will pretty much reduce our monthly budget to living off of ramen noddles. Imagine what this is like for pet parents who simply can't afford vet care even on the best of days. Too often loving families have to give up a cherished pet because medical care is just too costly for them. So what can we do?

1. Talk to your vet and see if they have a program already in place that helps defer the cost of medical care for low-income families, animals that have been rescued by private individuals (eg. a person who finds a dog that has been hit by a car), or even just assistance for pets that need a lot of medical care beyond the norm. If they already have a program like that, AWESOME! Then consider making a one-time donation or donating on a monthly basis. Even $5-10 a month makes a huge difference.

2. So let's say you ask your vet if they have a program like we just talked about and they don't. No biggie, why not ask if they would be open to starting one. See if they would be open to matching all the funds raised every month, providing in-kind vet services to match the amount raised every month, providing a reduced rate for people who would qualify for this assistance or allowing for payment plans.

3. If you're really up to the challenge, get every one talking by spreading the word far and wide. You could even volunteer to help make up some posters to hang up at the vet, your office, the local grocery store, etc. You could make a donation jar to put out at the front desk of the vet, the local gas station, your neighborhood coffee shop or any of those other great places where people are looking for something to do with that extra change. (*Note - make sure you have the go-ahead from the businesses and the vet before doing these.)

4. Knowledge is power and knowing who you can turn to for assistance can save the lives of animals and even help keep families together. You can often feel very alone when trying to help your pets so let's make sure everyone knows that they have tons of groups that can come to their aid. For an incredible list of organizations able to financially assist with everything from spaying/neutering to emergency veterinary care, follow this link to The Humane Society of the United States. Share this info with everyone you know and anyone you think might benefit from it. (As an aside, this list also shares where you can get help finding housing for families with pitbulls, groups that give out pet food, who can help seniors transport pets to the vet and much much more.)

Well, that's it for today guys. Hope everyone is happy and healthy and getting lots of yummy treats!

150 Ways to Save the World: #2 - Freekibble.com

From Freekibble.com

Age ain't nothing but a number and I truly believe that. No matter how long you've been on this planet, you always have the power to create great change around you. A fantastic example of this is Freekibble.com which was started in 2008 by Mimi Ausland. Mimi had a simple goal, she wanted the dogs and cats in her local shelters to be able to have a good meal. Four years later, Freekibble.com and Freekibblekat.com, are both in the Top 5 most-visited animal websites in the world and have generated the delivery of over 7 million healthy pet meals to shelters and pet-food banks around the country. Not bad for someone who was 11 years old in 2008! To make it even more incredible is that after hearing about what Mimi was doing, Ellen DeGeneres joined the cause, making her pet food company, Halo, the official sponsor of both programs.

Now how does this program work you ask? Very simply. Every day each website posts a new multiple choice trivia question on anything from current animal news, quirky pet tricks, pet stats and more. Simply choose your answer and right or wrong, 10 pieces of kibble will be donated. Also, remember to sign up for the daily email reminder so you'll never forget to go and do your part. So go right now and sign up! What are you still doing here, I said go!...........Have you done it yet??

150 Ways to Save the World: #1 - Spring Cleaning

From farmsanctuary.org

 It's that time of year when we throw open the windows and let the fresh spring air flood into our homes that have been in hibernation mode for the past several months. I love seeing the bright flowers peeking from the earth, all the adorable little baby animals playing at Farm Sanctuary and all the birds singing as though they are heralding the arrival of warm winds. Max and Bella especially love it because this is when the ponds thaw, mud pits abound and squirrels start emerging from their homes for romps around the neighborhood. Spring is like my New Year's celebration, a fresh start wrapped in tulips and farmers markets and what better way to begin anew than clearing all the clutter from your home and life.

What you may not have realized is that this cleansing can help out a lot of little critters in your area. This year when you are making that pile of clothes (why did I buy pants that are obviously too short and not in a good capri way?), extra dish racks (seriously, how many does 1 person need?) and dog toys (we could open our own Pet Smart with this amount of inventory!) why not use it all to hold a good ole garage sale with all the proceeds going to your favorite shelter or rescue. Even better invite friends and neighbors to participate to make it an even bigger affair. When you are sorting through everything, remember to clean all the items prior to your sale (who wants to buy a shirt covered in dog hair?) and throw away items that are ripped or damaged. Also, if you have any sheets, towels or pet items like beds, bowls, leashes, collars (all in good condition of course) that you were looking to get rid of, save them for the shelter, they are always in desperate need of extra ones.

Another good idea is to let your charity of choice know that you are having a sale in their honor. They will help spread the word and may also have items they wish to donate or volunteers that want to help out. Have brochures and information about your charity where people pay and also on a nice display at the front so everyone attending the sale can learn about the cause. You could even put a donation jar at your cash area for those that want to help even more. For even more fun, see if the shelter is willing to send some volunteers with a couple of little ones looking for homes. Who knows, maybe someone might fall in love with your New Kids on the Block cd and that beautiful 8 yr old shepherd looking for a home. Now, that would be a great day! Just remember to have shade and lots of water bowls around for your furry guests and patrons.

Happy cleaning!

A New Beginning

Dear Readers,

For a while now I have been searching for just the right voice for Sit.Stay.Speak Up! As you may have noticed from the many lapses in time between posts, things weren't working out so well. Too often it felt depressing and too much like work. How can that be? Helping save lives shouldn't feel like it's dragging you down. Changing the fate of animals for the better is something that should have you singing in the rain (oh, how I love Gene Kelly)! So, after some good soul searching and clarification on what I truly want to accomplish with this blog, I have found just the right voice - mine! Ha! Ha! It was right here all along but I just wasn't listening to it. Well, that has changed and I am revved up and excited to bring you the first major series on this blog which will detail all the fun ways to bring change, be it to your neighborhood or to a land far, far away. Another major difference you will see with the blog is that while the majority of the focus will remain on our canine buds in need, there will also be wolves, bats, dolphins, dancing baby goats and tons of other wondrous creatures making guest appearances. So just don't be surprised when I start talking about products made of elephant poop (the best journal I have ever had!), you have been duly warned.
My unshakable belief is that EVERYONE, each individual person on this planet, is absolutely able to change the world for the better. The simple truth is that to change the world you need only change your own actions, be they little or big. One simple act of kindness can bring an animal from scared to comforted, beaten down to confident and even from the brink of death to full of life.
So without further ado I (re)welcome you to Sit.Stay.Speak Up! and to our first major series - 150 Ways to Change the World and Get Lots of Sloppy Kisses Along the Way!

Most sincerely,

Sarah
World Changer

We're helping Noble find his Forever Family. Is it you?

My friend just recently did an amazing thing and rescued a dog from an abusive situation! Woo hoo! Now we're on a mission to help find this super handsome guy his forever home.  And trust me, this guy is HANDSOME,  she gets stopped on the street all the time so people can tell her that. :)  Please help us out by sharing his story. PS - transport can always be arranged, so if you're interest just email or call and we will get it all figured out. So without further delay, here's Noble!

Allow me to introduce myself. My name is Noble. I am a neutered, two and half year old Rottweiler mix. I am up-to-date on all my shots, I have a microchip and I have my whole tail! I love to give kisses galore and have lots of fun (except when I’m modeling, I’m very serious about my modeling career). Right now I think snow is about the greatest toy ever invented. I am also pretty small for my age and only weigh 66 lbs. Most importantly, though, is that I am quite a handsome chap. I know self - praise is no form of recommendation but my rescue mommy says this all the time, so it must be true! I am a very active dog and I enjoy structure; it keeps me balanced.
Boy do I love the outdoors! So many smells and new experiences, it keeps a guy like me wanting more! I really wish I had a yard, it must be amazing to just be able to run freely for a long as I wanted. I do have a fascination with these little furry black things that scurry up trees. Foster mom calls them squirrels but never lets me play with them – what a party pooper! My foster mom says I’m really smart and in a few short days I learned how to walk nicely on the lead. I occasionally will get a tug but that’s only because she doesn’t seem to understand I just want to leave my scent everywhere – sheesh.
Right now I am totally living the good life but I have not always had it this good. I was in a shelter and when I thought I found my forever home I was passed off to someone else. I have been severely neglected and when my foster mom found me I was not being properly fed, I hadn’t been to a vet in a couple of years, and my foster mom and the vet figured out that I was beaten. I am not a fan of other dogs – I feel really insecure and guarded but only because I have never been exposed to them so I get scared. I was never properly socialized which my rescue mom calls a “tragedy” – wonder what that means.
All I know is that I have to have hope. I dream of the day I find a dog savvy pup parent who can build my confidence and show me how to be respectful because truthfully I really do want to have friends. I really want to trust but I am scared. Since I spent a lot of time in fear during my old life and I am insecure because I do not know what to expect. I am not sure if I will get a next meal or be hit – I just am not sure how to act sometimes but I'm learning super fast. My foster mom says the funniest thing I do is that I hide my treats. Getting treats is something so new to me that I like to hide them under shoes and between the couch cushions. I’ve never gotten such amazing snacks like this before – what if I want one next Thursday! I do have some manners that I am very proud of – I can sit, lay down, stay, up, shake paw and I can take treats you hold in your teeth! Typical to my breed I am highly intelligent and aim to please. I am very, very loyal and want more than anything to find a special someone to appreciate me. I have huge crate but am a bit of a Houdini – can’t hold a guy like me down! I want to feel the wind in my ears! I would be great in agility and am always eager to learn I just need the right person to show me the way. I may not be perfect but I can promise you this – I will ALWAYS try my best and do whatever it takes to show you I am devoted to you – please give me a chance. Just remember, to the world you may be one person but to me you would be my whole world.

With lots of sloppy kisses and a whole heaping bunch of love,

Noble xox

If you would like to be Noble's family, please email zeroggirl@gmail.com or call 613.709.6025.

Saturday Smiles

I do not think you could ever find another dog who is more in bliss than Casper is right now! I wish Max and Bella loved baths this much.

Does your dog love something that most dogs don't like?

Give a Dog a Bone

Alllllmost got it.  Courtesy of Agilityfusion.com.

When it's cookie baking time at our house, Max and Bella camp out in the door to the kitchen anxiously awaiting the ding of the timer. My little monkeys have quickly learned that when the timer dings, good things suddenly appear out of the big white box in the kitchen. My guys get treats and they get them often but for many dogs, treats are a distant memory or a completely unknown concept. Not all shelters have treats to give out or are able to keep enough around to give them more than every once in a while. If you love to bake, want a great family project or are just looking for some instant and slobbery gratitude, bake a bunch of cookies and visit your local shelter or animal control facility. You will become an instant rock star to all those waiting for their forever families.

To get started, there are tons of simple and yummy recipes that you can easily get your hands on. Most book stores and libraries carry dog cook books but even quicker is to google "dog cookie recipes" and you'll have enough to keep you going for 6 lifetimes. I'll even eliminate that step and share this one for Homemade Carrot, Date and Oatmeal cookies recently featured in PETA's newsletter.

Vegan Carrot, Date, and Oatmeal Treats
1 1/2 cups gluten-free all-purpose flour
1/2 cup instant unsweetened oatmeal
2 tsp. baking powder
1 cup finely chopped or grated raw carrots
2 Tbsp. pitted and finely chopped dates
1/2 cup natural unsalted peanut butter (I'm going to use almond butter.)
1/2 cup filtered water

• Preheat the oven to 325°F.
• In a mixing bowl, combine the flour, oatmeal, and baking powder. Make a well in the center.
• Place the carrots and dates in a separate bowl with the peanut butter and water.
• Add the peanut butter mix to the well in the flour mix and stir until combined.
• Flatten the dough on a lightly floured surface until it is approximately 1/4-inch thick. Use a cookie cutter to cut the treats.
• Arrange on a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper and bake for 14 to16 minutes, or until dry.
• Let cool for 30 minutes before serving.
• Store in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks.

Makes 40 servings

I'll be trying this one out tomorrow and will let you know whether they get two paws up.

Victory for Romanian Stray Dogs

Back in May of last year I wrote about the Romanian stray dog situation. In a misguided attempt to cull the numbers of strays, dogs were being horrifically killed by clubbing, poisoning and electrocuting to name just a few of the methods. Rightly so, the Romanian population was angered by this and was asking the the courts to put an end to this terrible practice. I am happy to report that after millions of people signed petitions asking the courts to address this issue, the Romanian Constitutional Courts have announced that under Community Law the current practice of euthanizing stray dogs is illegal. What is even better is that this decision is final! This means that groups like Romania Animal Rescue will be able to continue stepping up their community education and spay/neuter programs which will help save countless lives. So far their programs have helped spay/neuter over 16,000 animals including almost 4,500 last year. Let's help them double it this year! Donations can be made online through paypal or you can send a check to one of the following addresses.

From Romania Animal Rescue, Inc.

RAR US
Nancy Janes
c/o Romania Animal Rescue, Inc.
8000 Morgan Territory Road
Livermore, CA   94551

RAR UK
Gill Silversides
c/o Romania Animal Rescue, Inc.
9 Brooklyn Road
Larkhall, England
BA1 6TF

A New Leash on Life

If your family is anything like ours, you probably found more presents under the tree for the four-legged family members than the two! :) We love to give presents to our furry kids and often that includes new leashes and collars. Their old ones are still in great condition but it's just nice to have a little change - something new to start the year with. So what to do with the old ones? Any gently used collars and leashes will eagerly be snatched up by any rescue, but there is one in particular that I am boxing up mine to send to this year.

Save A Sato is an incredible organization in Puerto Rico that rescues satos (street dogs) from their very rough and often cruelty filled lives on the streets and finds homes for them through partner shelters along the east coast of the United States. This is truly a group filled with love, who make a huge difference in their country. Did you know that in 10 years, this no-kill shelter has saved over 16,287 dogs! As I mentioned before, this group is important to me. The reason, you ask? Well, it's 47 lbs of pure love and ears! My little Max!

Check out those ears!

I am so grateful every day for the work they do! So if you are looking for a way to help them out, gather up those gently used collars and leashes and send them to Save A Sato at one of the following addresses.

Save A Sato Foundation
P.O. Box 37694
San Juan, Puerto Rico
00937-0694

Yvette Pina
P.O. Box 0737
Chicago, IL
60690

If you want to help gather even more gently used leashes and collars check with co-workers to see if they have any they were planning on getting rid of, check out thrift/second hand stores, or go to Dollar stores (if you live in Canada like we do, Dollarama is truly mind blowing in the amount of leashes and collars they have).