On Christmas Day we are filled with joy and can’t wait to tear into all those presents under the tree. Just another reminder to not forget about your furry friend in all the Christmas joy. This was really a sad story but could happen to anyone. Just use on caution on this day and everything will be ok.

I was just this week reading about an Australian Labrador who ate some Christmas decorations. The baubles caused havoc in his gastrointestinal tract, and although the dog is now fine, his owners were saddled with a $7000 bill for emergency veterinary services. That’s not the best way to start the festive season!

There are quite a few potential hazards for your dog at this time of year. If you are aware of the risks, you can take steps to keep your dog safe, and avoid the same fate.

Wishing you and your dog a very Happy Holiday!!!

I have had a lot of interest of late, from individuals or companies asking if I would be interested in reviewing their products.

I have never really given it much thought, but since I have been faced with the question, I think it would be a pretty neat idea.

I have no problems giving a fair and unbiased review of your products. If anybody is interested in having me review you, or your companies products, feel free to contact me HERE.

This is a story that had immersed last month, and had generated global outrage. Prosecutors in Puerto Rico said criminal charges will be filed in the slaughter of dozens of dogs and cats seized last month from a housing project  and allegedly thrown from a bridge. They said the findings of an investigation into the killings would be released within a few weeks.

Demands for justice increased this week after an Associated Press investigation showed inhumane animal killings have been routine in Puerto Rico for many years.

The investigation, which includes eyewitness accounts from two former employees of two  companies, showed that hundreds of unwanted animals have been tossed off bridges, buried alive, injected with unknown substances while being restrained with a noose on a stick, and then “slammed” into waiting vans and other inhumane ways of disposal for years, despite promises to deliver adoptable strays to shelters and humanely euthanize the rest.

In the lawsuit of the most recent action, a government contractor, Animal Control Solutions, is accused of throwing the animals from a bridge instead of delivering them to an animal shelter or humanely euthanizing them. Only a couple of some 80 pets survived the 50-foot fall from the bridge, some with serious life threatening injuries.

According to an interview with an agent of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, drugs must be administered by a veterinarian or another authorized person in an approved location, such as a veterinary clinic.

We will keep you updated on this gruesome and disgusting tragedy. Although we don’t pledge to be much of a ‘breaking’ news source, stories like this need to be seen and heard by as many animal lovers as possible. Stay tuned.

Supporting your local shelter or animal organization-whether by donating your money or your time-is a great way to help fight animal cruelty in your community. Shelters may offer opportunities to foster and socialize abused or frightened animals, or to assist humane educators in teaching kids why being cruel to animals isn’t cool.

But what can you do if your local shelter doesn’t have these programs-or if your community doesn’t even have a shelter?

For many animal advocates, starting a shelter is the ultimate in fighting animal cruelty. Every week, the ASPCA’s National Outreach department receives dozens of requests from people looking for ways to fight animal cruelty by improving the lives of animals in their communities. And every year the staff visits more than 150 shelters throughout the country, talking with directors, volunteers and employees, discussing their problems and assisting them with suggestions and resources.

The overwhelming conclusion? It takes a lot more than good intentions to run a shelter. It takes management experience, accounting skills, good contacts and the ability to get things done in the community. Excellent marketing skills are a big plus, too.

These 10 essential tips-gleaned from the pages of our comprehensive three-ring binder book, Keys to a Great Shelter: The ASPCA National Shelter Outreach Guide to Starting and Improving a Humane Organization-just might help change your dream into a reality.

1. Assess Community Needs
This could be the most important research you do, and it’s important to do it before you incorporate. Determine the problems of your local animal welfare organization. Does an existing shelter fail to meet the humane needs of your community? How is animal control handled locally? Visiting other shelters and networking with existing humane organizations will help you come up with ideas. Would another shelter drain the resources of your community and reduce the effectiveness of both? Do you have sufficient resources-not just in funds, but in expertise-to properly maintain a shelter? Can you develop community support for your goals? These are the types of questions you’ll need to answer before taking the next step.

2. Think Twice
The idea of your own sheltering facility is extremely enticing. But consider if a supportive or outreach program might not be of more immediate assistance. Many municipal shelters are greatly helped by Friends of the Shelter groups or by other humane groups who help provide for programs in foster care, low-cost spay/neuter, fundraising, education or legislative action.

3. Get Experience
If you and the members of your group don’t have experience in sheltering or a related field-become a volunteer! Seek out other opportunities to learn, too, such as attending conferences and online learning.

4. Form a Team of Go-Getters
Make the effort to assemble a winning team with the requisite expertise in management, fundraising, and accounting for your board of directors. A veterinarian, a lawyer and a teacher are also great allies, as are professionals in media, advertising and public relations. Everyone who is on the board should have and/or be willing to cultivate important contacts within the community. Look for people who can give, or get others to give, significant funding, and you’ll be well on your way.

5. Visit Other Shelters
Every member of your team should visit several shelters, and those on the shelter construction committee should visit many more. Take your architect and/or contractor along, too. Don’t look only at those in neighboring counties, but visit shelters in other states and other parts of the country to garner a wealth of ideas. Visit shelters large and small, both retro-fitted buildings and custom-designed facilities. Make arrangements to have the executive directors give you a tour. Ask lots of questions. Find out what their goals were in designing the shelter, what they feel has worked well for them and what they would do differently. Take photos, videos and notes to share with the board.

6. Decide What Type of Shelter You Want
Most shelters incorporate one or more of the following functions. Municipal animal shelters are funded by taxes and user fees, and often employ animal control officers. Privately funded non-profit shelters (generally called the humane society, the society for prevention of cruelty to animals or the animal rescue league) usually accept all animals and, as a result, are often forced to euthanize animals based on space, species, age and adoptability. They usually offer a variety of programs, such as animal rescue, cruelty investigation, and community education. “No-kill” shelters are generally privately funded and do not accept all animals brought to them. However, once accepted, animals are never euthanized unless they are incurably sick, disabled or display extreme behavior that makes them unadoptable. Sanctuaries specialize in offering lifetime care to animals, but must limit their admissions, and generally promote adoptions.

7. Come up with a Mission Statement and a Plan
Presumably, your group has already discussed its goals at length, but now it’s time to put your thoughts on paper for others to see. Write a mission statement that explains the purpose of your organization. This will help guide your development and is required for incorporation as a non-profit. The decision to incorporate or not, as well as the decision about what type of an organization you will be, are decisions you will need guidance to reach.

To incorporate, you’ll need to include the organization’s bylaws and articles of incorporation, as well as a list of those on the board of directors. Refer to the bylaws of other organizations for ideas; samples are included in the NSO Guidebook. There are a number of documents that must be filed in order to qualify for the IRS’s 501 (c) 3 tax-exempt status. Mistakes in filing can mean lengthy delays in getting the shelter off the ground. That’s why it’s important to have an attorney help you navigate this legal process.

Once you’ve filed for incorporation, the next step is to develop policies and protocols-about adoption, euthanasia and volunteering, to name just a few. You’ll also to need to determine the future of your shelter. Where do you want the shelter to be in five years? In 10 years? What part will your community play in supporting the shelter? How will you develop supportive relationships with local and national vendors? Do you have people in your organization who can find and develop potential resources?

8. Raise Funds
The one inescapable fact of all non-profit humane organizations is the constant need for funds. Good intentions and hard work alone won’t cut it. Remember, running a shelter is a business, and developing sound and professional fundraising strategies not only has its obvious rewards, but is an indispensable tool.

Personal contact is the tried-and-true means to gain major donations. Many animal welfare organizations have also developed wonderfully imaginative and amusing ways to raise money and goodwill with special events. From dog walks and bake sales to corporate sponsorships, possible sources of revenue are readily available. Regardless of the size of your community, you’ll need to come up with your own sources of funding.

9. Toot Your Horn
When it’s finally time for the shelter’s grand opening, make it a major event-send press releases, advertise, have an open house party. It’s more than a celebration; it’s a promotion of all you will offer to the community. Develop sympathetic contacts with the press, send a regular newsletter to supporters, adopters and visitors, and be sure to include a donation envelope.

10. Don’t Forget the Animals
Buddy, Sweetie, Dudley, Flower… Whoever the animals are who have touched your heart, always keep in mind that they’re the reason that you’re doing this.

Starting a shelter is an exciting and complicated process, but it’s not for everyone. For those who embark on this course, we wish you every success. Fortunately, for the rest of us, there are other opportunities to help.

Mary Kirby, volunteer, and Lisa Saavedra, former assistant director, ASPCA National Outreach, worked extensively on compiling the guide, Keys to a Great Shelter. © 2002 ASPCA

To order their publication, please click Here.

I know it’s overkill, but being a dog lover, and fact a dog blog owner, it’s hard not to comment on the recent accusations against star football player Michael Vick. I am not going to get into a debate whether he is innocent or guilty. The point I am getting at is the negative exposure that this is giving the Pitbull. As if they don’t have a bad rep to begin with, this seals the deal.

Living here in Pennsylvania, it is very difficult to even get home owners insurance if you own a Pitbull, and on top of that, whole townships have begun a ban on even having the dogs! This is appauling. Once again, as an American trademark, punish everyone for the mistakes of a few.

Again, I am not going to get into a heated debate over politics, and the slow eroding of our rights in this country.

The point I am trying to make is that there are other stories that will never make the frontpage of a newspaper. My father-in-law has 3 dogs. 2 Labradors and one Pitbull. The Pitbull’s name is Jaws, perfectly named because of his huge head. Jaws is one of the most lovable dogs I have ever seen. He is also a big whiney baby. He always wants attention, obeys when you speak, and cries continously about every little thing. He also loves company.

The two Labs are very similar. I commend this to their excellent upbringing. They are all babied and given as much love as possible, and never abused. However, there is one major difference that may shock you.

Thru all the different times of interaction including playing and possibly getting a little rough on my end, there has been a few occasions where the Labs have snapped or nipped at me. I agree it was my fault because I may have accidentaly hurt them in one way or another. However, Jaws the Pitbull, has never snapped or nipped even once!

Not bad for the most vicious dog breed on earth!

I find this so ironic as Labs are one of the most popular and lovable dog breeds known. It just goes to show that almost any animal, hurt or backed up in a corner will always try to defend themselves, mostly out of instinct. I am sure Jaws may be the same way, but we have never seen it yet. He continues to love us, and it is heartbreaking to imagine that one day we may not be able to have him or another Pitbull down the road.

For all of you that may have formed an opinion by seeing all of this dogfight stuff, please realize that Pitbulls are just like any other dog, and they do what they are trained to do. It is the owners that need to be punished, not the Dogs!

Please pass this article on. It just may save a life!

Note: You can print this post by visiting the site.

Just thought I would throw this in here. I see a lot of people misspelling the word ‘puppy’ with the word ‘puppie’.

The most common being:

• puppie names
• puppie breeds
• puppie dogs
• puppie pictures

Altho it is easily confused since the plural of ‘puppy’ is ‘puppies’, so you can see why some people, especially in foreign countries, would make this common mistake.

Thankfully, if you would make this mistake and try to find our site, you are in luck. We just registered the domain name puppie-dogs.com as well, and it directs right to puppy-dogs.com.

Go ahead, try it! (Will probably take a day to kick in) You will now be able to find your favorite site even if you do make a typo :0)

 Sincerily,

Puppy-Dogs.com and Puppie-Dogs.com Staff