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!