Canine Health and Happiness

Help stop the slaughter of innocent animals!

2010-03-16T23:35:00.000-07:00

I know this is a site dedicated to dogs, but I also know that if you are a dog lover then you have to be an animal lover. So that is why I am posting this news letter here, to try get a little more awareness out there to everyone about what is actually going on in our world. Maybe when you read this you might join peta and just give your signature now and again to stop the slaughter of innocent animals. Remember " We are their voices".

The annual seal bloodbath, the largest slaughter of marine mammals on Earth, is scheduled to begin in just a few weeks' time. Up to 388,000 baby seals, most of whom are in their very first weeks of life, will be bludgeoned and shot to death and then skinned for coats that no one wants or needs – no one, that is, except the babies themselves! Their mothers, who are spared because fur traders don't want their pelts, will mourn and wail as their babies are killed right in front of them, their bodies left to rot on the ice.

Last year, with the help of PETA supporters and members like you, we dealt a devastating blow to the sealers and anyone who profits from the seal-fur industry. More than 110,000 letters and e-mails were sent to Members of the European Parliament informing them of the horrors facing Canada's seals and urging them to vote for a ban on the import and sale of seal products within the EU.

As a direct result of our work and that of other animal protection groups, the seal product ban passed.

Your support of PETA has been critical in bringing about substantial change for animals all around the world. Please help us do even more by making an online donation today.

Canada may seem far away, but we know that Canada's sealers felt the effect of the actions you took as the price for seal fur plummeted and the slaughter became less profitable for them.

We also know that Canada's seals felt it too, as almost two-thirds of the government's quota – more than 200,000 seals – were spared from the violence of the sealers' swinging clubs.

Together we have achieved so much, but there is still so much more to do. Please join PETA's campaign to end all forms of animal abuse.

Already the seal-fur traders are searching for new markets for their bloody wares and are seeking ways to raise the price of seal fur once again. We must act now to block these attempts to find new buyers in countries such as China.

Tens of thousands of people have been mobilised to send letters of protest against the killing, and dozens of high-profile press events and demonstrations have been organised outside Canadian embassies around the world.

The public outcry against the seal slaughter is growing, but we cannot rest for a minute – the lives of Canada's seals for years to come are depending upon us.

Put simply, PETA needs you. This year's slaughter of baby seals is due to begin any day now. And the time to protest against that abomination is now.

Very truly yours,

Ingrid E Newkirk

Founder

Puppy pleasures!!

2010-02-28T21:24:00.000-08:00

Just 5 more minutes please???????

THE INSPIRATIONAL BLIND SLED DOG - ISABEL

2010-02-27T01:27:00.000-08:00

Check out this video brought to us by dogster.com about a blind sled dog. Truly inspirational!
http://dogblog.dogster.com/2010/02/26/videos-inspirational-blind-sled-dog/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+DogsterForTheLoveOfDogBlog+%28Dogster+For+The+Love+of+Dog+Blog%29

STOP KILLING DOGS IN SOUTH KOREA

2010-02-27T01:05:00.000-08:00

The following was taken from an email I received from uniteddogs.com 27th February 2010. Excluding the excerpt from Wikipedia. I know we can make a difference in the lives of dogs in South Korea if we just help by signing these petitions.

Over 2 million dogs are brutally killed in South Korea every year.

That's over 5,000 dogs a day who get strangled, burned, electrocuted or beaten to death for their meat.

The South Korean government has accepted Animal Protection Laws which make animal torture illegal, but those laws have never been properly enforced in the country. The dog meat industry continues to thrive and the officials are reluctant and indifferent to ban it. Oh, sorry, except during the 1988 Seoul Olympics and 2002 FIFA Cup when dog meat restaurants were forced to shut down temporarily in fear of bad impressions of South Korea.

Although forbidden to advertise themselves on main streets or in English, over 6,000 restaurants today serve dog meat in South Korea. And they don't get closed down.

I have taken this excerpt from Wikipedia –Dog Meat Consumption in South Korea. At http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dog_meat_consumption_in_South_Korea

“History

Korean people had mostly depended on crops for diet for millennia, not raising many pigs, chickens, or any other meat animals. Cattle had been valuable working animals for farming. Therefore, Koreans had had limited sources of animal protein, and the most affordable and available animal meats usually had come from dogs.

The consumption of dog meat can be traced back to antiquity. Dog bones were excavated in a neolithic settlement in Changnyeong (창녕), South Gyeongsang Province. A wall painting in the Goguryeo tombs complex (고구려 고분군; 高句麗古墳群) in South Hwangghae Province, a UNESCO World Heritage site which dates from 4th century AD, depicts a slaughtered dog in a storehouse (Ahn, 2000) [1]. The Balhae (발해; 渤海) people also enjoyed dog meat, and the Koreans' appetite for canine cuisine seems to have come from those days.[2]

Approximately In 1816, Jeong Hack You (정학유; 丁學遊), the second son of Jeong Yak-yong (정약용; 丁若鏞), a prominent politician and scholar of Choseon dynasty at the time, wrote a poem called Nongawollyeonga (농가월령가; 農家月令歌). This poem, an important source of Korean folk history, describes what ordinary Korean farmer families did in each month of a year. in the description of August, the poem sings about a married woman visiting her birth parents with boiled dog meat, rice cake, and rice wine, thus shows the popularity of dog meat at the time (Ahn, 2000; Seo, 2002).

In Dongguk Seshigi (동국세시기; 東國歲時記), a book written by a Korean scholar Hong Suk Mo (홍석모) in 1849, contains a recipe of Boshintang including a boiled dog, green onion, and red chili pepper powder. [3]

Current Situation

Selling dog meat has been illegal in South Korea since 1984, as manufacturing and processing of dog meat have been outlawed. This is because South Korean Food Sanitary Law (식품위생법; 食品衛生法) does not include dog meat as a legal food ingredient. Also, dog meat has been categorized as 'repugnant food' (혐오식품; 嫌汚食品) under a regulation issued by Seoul Metropolitan Government, of which using as food ingredient is not legally permitted, making the use of dog meat as a food ingedient illegal at least in Seoul Metropolitan Area. [4] [5] However, the laws are not strictlly enforced and some portion of South Korean population still consume dog meat. The primary dog breed raised in dog farms for meat, the Nureongi (누렁이), or Hwangu (황구; 黃狗), differs from those breeds raised for domestic pets.[6]

Even though a fair number of South Koreans (anywhere from 5 to 30%) have tried it before, only a small percentage of the population eats it regularly.[citation needed] There is a large and vocal group of Korean people that are against the practice of eating dog meat.[7] There is also a large population of people in South Korea that do not eat or enjoy the meat, but do feel strongly that it is the right of others to do so.[7] There is a smaller but still vocal group of pro-dog cuisine people in South Korea who want to popularize the consumption of dog in Korea and the rest of the world [7], claiming it is a traditional culture of Korea with long history worth preserving.

Although it is technically illegal to sell dog meat in Korea, some restaurateurs still do so even though they risk losing their restaurant licenses. In 1997 one dog meat wholesaler in Seoul was brought up on charges of selling dog meat illegally. [8] BBC claim that, in 2003, approximately 4,000-6,000 restaurants served soups made from dog meat in Korea.[9] The soups cost about US$10 while dishes of steamed dog meat with rice cost about US$25. The BBC claims that eighty-five hundred tons of dog meat are consumed per year, with another 93,600 tons used to produce a medicinal tonic called Gaesoju (개소주).[9]

Dog meat is often consumed during the summer months and is either roasted or prepared in soups or stews. The most popular of these soups is Gaejang-guk, a spicy stew meant to balance the body's heat during the summer months. This is thought to ensure good health by balancing one's "ki" or vital energy of the body. A 19th century version of Gaejang-guk (개장국) explains the preparation of the dish by boiling dog meat with green onions and chili powder. Variations of the dish contain chicken and bamboo shoots.”

You can help us change the life of millions of dogs.

International support against dog torture and dog meat consumption is the only way to put pressure on the South Korean government to protect animal rights for real and ban the dog meat industry in all forms. This petition will be presented to the Korean officials in Seoul by the Korea Animal Rights Advocates when at least or more than 1 million signatures have been collected.

This petition is different from any other petition made in support for Korean dogs because of its great scope. People across the world are able to see the "Stop Killing Dogs" page in English, French and in many other languages, and understand that it is not a harmless ancient tradition or anything inevitable.

You can change that. Here is how.

Go to http://www.uniteddogs.com/stopkillingdogs and sign the Stop Killing Dogs petition. The petition will be given to government officials of South Korea by KARA (Korea Animal Rights Advocates) once we gather 1 million signatures.

Share this petition with your friends and family through e-mail, Twitter or Facebook. Join our Facebook fan page at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Stop-Killing-Dogs-supporters-page/235848430651 and ask your friends to join as well. If every person helps who has signed the petition, we'll reach our goal much, much faster.

Show that you care! By ordering the official petition bandana and the badge (for you and your best friend) you can express your support in a stylish way. For each set sold, we donate €1 to KARA (Korea Animal Rights Advocates).

All bandanas for pets are red and bundled with a gray badge. For people, we have two sets to choose from - the red set (includes a red bandana and a gray badge) and the white set (includes a white bandana and a red badge).

To order go to -

http://www.uniteddogs.com/stopkillingdogs/shop/

"Wisdom of wolves"

2010-02-25T03:24:00.000-08:00

I have taken an excerpt from a book that is available from Simple truths. The book is called " Wisdom of Wolves" written by Twyman Towery and it is definitely food for thought.

"It's a society where teamwork, loyalty and communication are the norm rather than the exception. Sound like utopia? Actually, it's already present in nature - in a wolf pack. The wolf pack knows who it is. Those in the pack exist for each other.

Twyman Towery, Ph.D., a professional speaker and consultant who studied the lessons of leadership in nature, has captured them in a new book for Simple Truths called Wisdom of Wolves. Twyman shares the parallels between the wolf pack and human behavior...in business life, family life, and personal life.

Today, I'd like to share a chapter from Wisdom of Wolves. Who knew that the key to success might just be patterning your attitude after that of a wolf? "

The Introduction from

Wisdom of Wolves

by Twyman Towery

The attitude of the wolf can be summed up simply: it is a constant visualization of success. The collective wisdom of wolves has been progressively programmed into their genetic makeup throughout the centuries. Wolves have mastered the technique of focusing their energies toward the activities that will lead to the accomplishment of their goals.

Wolves do not aimlessly run around their intended victims, yipping and yapping. They have a strategic plan and execute it through constant communication. When the moment of truth arrives, each understands his role and understands exactly what the pack expects of him.

The wolf does not depend on luck. The cohesion, teamwork and training of the pack determines whether the pack lives or dies.

There is a silly maxim in some organizations that everyone, to be a valuable member, must aspire to be the leader. This is personified by the misguided CEO who says he only hires people who say they want to take his job. Evidently, this is supposed to ensure that the person has ambition, courage, spunk, honesty, drive - whatever. In reality, it is simply a contrived situation, with the interviewee jumping through the boss's hoops. It sends warnings of competition and one-upmanship throughout the organization rather than signals of cooperation, teamwork and loyalty.

Everyone does not strive to be the leader in the wolf pack. Some are consummate hunters or caregivers or jokesters, but each seems to gravitate to the role he does best. This is not to say there are not challenges to authority, position and status - there are. But each wolf's role begins emerging from playtime as a pup and refines itself through the rest of its years. The wolf's attitude is always based upon the question, "What is best for the pack?" This is in marked contrast to us humans, who will often sabotage our organizations, families or businesses, if we do not get what we want.

Wolves are seldom truly threatened by other animals. By constantly engaging their senses and skills, they are practically unassailable. They are masters of planning for the moment of opportunity to present itself, and when it does, they are ready to act.

Because of training, preparation, planning, communication and a preference for action, the wolf's expectation is always to be victorious. While in actuality this is true only 10 percent of the time or less, the wolf's attitude is always that success will come-and it does.

If you would like to order this book you can find it at – www.simpletruths.com

Table scraps or Human Foods your dogs should never eat.

2010-01-14T05:46:00.000-08:00

Being a dog enthusiast I am always researching everything to do with dogs and keeping them as healthy as possible. So I can tell you that there are countless things out there that are said to be dangerous for dogs to eat. I personally believe that most things in moderation are safe for dogs as they are for humans, excepting the really well known no-no foods that are proven to be poisonous to dogs even in small portions. So here is a list of some of the dangerous foods you should avoid feeding your dog…

Avocado – never give this to your dog as it contains a chemical called Persin which is very toxic to most animals, causing vomiting and diarrhea.

Alcohol – Any alcohol or foods containing alcohol because alcohol has the same effect on a dog's liver and brain that it has on humans. But it takes far less to do its damage. Just a little can cause vomiting, diarrhea, central nervous system depression, problems with coordination, difficulty breathing, coma, even death. And, the smaller the dog, the greater the effect.

Onions - Onion in all forms - powdered, raw, cooked, or dehydrated - can destroy a dog's red blood cells, leading to anemia. An occasional small dose is probably safe but I stress the word OCCASSIONAL. But just eating a large quantity once or eating smaller amounts regularly can cause onion poisoning. Symptoms include vomiting, diarrhea, little interest in food, dullness, and breathlessness.

Caffeine - Caffeine in large enough quantities can be fatal for a dog. And, there is no antidote. Symptoms of caffeine poisoning include restlessness, rapid breathing, heart palpitations, muscle tremors, fits, and bleeding. In addition to tea and coffee - including beans and grounds - caffeine can be found in cocoa, chocolate, colas, and stimulant drinks such as Red Bull. It's also in some cold medicines and pain killers.

Grapes and Raisins - Although it isn't clear why, grapes and raisins can cause kidney failure in dogs. And, just a small amount can make a dog ill. Repeated vomiting and being hyperactive are early signs. Within a day, the dog will become lethargic and depressed.

Milk and dairy products – milk and other dairy products can cause diarrhea and other digestive upsets and also set up food allergies which might manifest in itchy skin.

Nuts – Nuts can be lethal to your dog. As few as 6 macadamia nuts can be fatal to your dog causing illness, muscle tremors, weakness or paralysis of hindquarters, elevated tempreture, rapid breathing and possible kidney failure and death.

Chocolate - The toxic agent in chocolate is theobromine. It's in all kinds of chocolate, even white chocolate. The most dangerous kinds, though, are dark chocolate and unsweetened baking chocolate. It can also cause abnormal heart rhythm, tremors, seizures, and death.

Persimmons, Peaches and Plums - The problem with these fruits is the seeds or pits.The seeds from persimmons can cause inflammation of the small intestine in dogs.peach and plum pits contain cyanide, which is poisonous to both humans and dogs

Raw Eggs - There are two problems with giving your dog raw eggs. The first is the possibility of food poisoning from bacteria like Salmonella or E. coli. The second is that an enzyme in raw eggs interferes with the absorption of a particular B vitamin. This can cause skin problems as well as problems with your dog's coat.
Raw meat and fish - Raw meat and raw fish, like raw eggs, can contain bacteria that causes food poisoning. In addition, certain kinds of fish such as salmon, trout, shad, or sturgeon can contain a parasite that causes "fish disease." If not treated, the disease can be fatal within 2 weeks. The first signs of illness are vomiting, fever, and big lymph nodes.
Sugar and sugary things – can lead to obesity, diabetes and dental problems.
Salt – TOO MUCH salt can be bad causing the dog to drink large amounts of water and urinate frequently and lead to sodium ion poisoning.

Jock of the Bushveld.

2009-12-29T02:43:00.000-08:00

Jock of the Bushveld.

I have recently done a review of a movie called ‘Jock of the Bushveld’ which was an adaptation of a book by the same name by author Sir Percy Fitzpatrick. This was a true story accumulated through Sir Percy Fitzpatricks travels during the mid 1800’s in Transvaal South Africa during the gold rush era. The book focuses on his dog and best friend – Jock, a Staffordshire Terrier.

Sir Percy Fitzpatrick rescued Jock from being drowned in a bucket of water shortly after he was born as he was considered to be the runt of the litter, and this was where the great friendship started.

Jock was Percy’s constant companion and he learned everything he needed to know to do the job that was expected of him in the Eastern Transvaal bush of the time. He had many miraculous feats for a dog of his size, he brought down buck and even Kudu which are very large buck measuring at about 150 cm and weighing between 180 – 250 kg. Jock even once fought and killed a Baboon. Unfortunately it was a kudu that kicked jock in the head on one occasion that caused him to go deaf. He still traveled with Sir Percy for a while after that but it became very dangerous for Jock as he couldn’t hear approaching horses and so on to move out their way. So Sir Percy had to make the difficult decision of taking Jock to live with a friend who happened to be the same man whom he got Jock from in the first place Tom Barnet. He had to leave Jock there as it was a safer environment for him. It was here that Jock met his death when Tom Barnet accidentally shot Jock mistaking him in the dark for one of the wild dogs who regularly ate his chickens.

Jock became an Icon in South African history and is still fondly remembered. There is currently a statue of Jock in front of the city hall in Barberton South Africa, and in 1983 the Lowveld diggers and Transport Riders Society erected bronze plaques on rocks wherever Jock’s original routes crossed the present day roads.

Prolong your dogs life

2009-12-05T02:06:00.000-08:00

Click the link on the right entitled 'DOG FOOD SECRETS' to find out how to add many years to your dogs life by learning dog food secrets.

The Joy of Online Shopping

2009-12-05T01:18:00.000-08:00

Are you an avid online shopper like me? Whether it be personal or business shopping, here is everything you need to know and to help you better enjoy that online shopping experience! Follow the link below -

Click Here!

The Bull Terrier

2009-12-04T02:05:00.000-08:00

This wonderful dog is a favorite among many. But be warned this is not a dog for a first time dog owner, as they have very strong characters and can be considered little terrors if they don't get the right amount of attention and discipline from early on. They need someone with a stronger character than their own to control their behavior and let them know who is boss.

History

Bull Terriers originated in England originally as companion dogs. They have a wide range of acceptable colors, white, white with markings being any color and brindle with white markings. They are approximately 21-22" in size and weighing around 60-70 lb for males and 50-60 lb for females.

The Bull Terrier was once considered the ultimate pit fighting dog, but when dog fighting was abolished patrons turned to showing their dogs and breeding them for appearance. Around the mid 1800's White English Terriers were crossed with Dalmations to produce an all white strain called The Bull Terrier. In the 1900's the dogs were crossed with the Staffordshire Bull Terrier into bring color back into the breed. This dogs comical nature and expression has won it many friends, and it has been very popular in movies and advertising.

Temperament

Very mischievious describes the Bull Terrier. They are comical, playful, assertive and energetic dogs. They are sweet natured, affectionate and very loyal devoted companions but can be very stubborn. Some can be aggressive with other dogs.

Upkeep

Bull Terriers need lots of exercise and mental stimulation to be healthy happy dogs, with a weekly coat brushing.

Health Concerns

Deafness in the whites, kidney problems, heart problems and Patellar Luxation.
Life span - 11-14 years.

Prevent your dog from dying prematurely.

2009-12-04T00:39:00.000-08:00

Ever wonder what goes into dog food? Or why so many dogs are dying prematurely? Heard the shocking news lately about what goes on in dog food plants? Well if you click on this link

Discover Why 87% of Dogs Die Too Early & 3 Easy Things You Can Do To Stop It

you will be able to find out the truth about what commercial dog food is doing to your dog. did you know that the optimal life expectancy for dogs is 27 years? Yet how many dogs make it to that age? Read an urgent press release to dog owners, excerpt - "Many world-famous Doctors of Veterinary Medicine and published Dog Care Experts universally agree any dog that eats commercial dog food is at a much higher risk of dying prematurely and by the time symptoms are noticeable, it's often too late to prevent an agonizing death except by lethal injection.

See their shocking, research-supported claims in this report.

Also in this report, we show you a simple solution proven to increase the lifespan of your dog by up to 134% and save you up to $10,000." Read the full press release when you follow the link on the right or above.

Do something today to increase your dogs lifespan.

2009-12-03T06:15:00.000-08:00

Click to feed a dog for free
Free kibble - feed a dog for free

Feed an abandoned dog for free today!

2009-12-03T05:56:00.000-08:00

I have done some research today and come up with 3 sites where you can go into and click to give the equivalent of one bowl of dog food to a homeless dog for free. Every click helps guys!! You can register with them to send you a reminder everyday or just go there whenever you like. There are so many tails you could make wag today! I unfortunately couldn't post all the links together so below is the first one and the next two will be above this post! Thanks for understanding.

Click to feed a dog for free

Animals are not ours to wear!

2009-11-28T23:10:00.000-08:00

Animals Are Not Ours to Wear

Skins: Abuse of Animals

Animals are not ours to wear, walk on or carry our possessions in. Before animal skins reach store shelves, animals live a life of misery, pain, boredom and fear, and many are skinned alive.
On fur farms, inquisitive and normally free-roaming animals such as foxes, minks and chinchillas spend their entire lives confined to tiny, filthy wire cages. They are denied the opportunity to engage in natural behaviours such as climbing, burrowing and swimming, and many go insane. When they are killed, animals are often gassed, anally or genitally electrocuted, or poisoned with strychnine, or their necks are snapped. These methods are not always effective: some animals wake up while the skin is being torn off their bodies.
Leather is just as cruel as fur. Every year, more than 1 billion animals are slaughtered in the global leather industry, which pulls in £600 million per year in Great Britain alone. In the UK, these animals are most commonly cows. Leather from Asian countries such as India and China often comes from animals whose throats were cut and whose skin was ripped off while they were still conscious.
But it's not just cows who suffer for the leather and fashion industries. The exotic-skins industry claims the lives of millions of snakes, alligators, seals, zebras and other beautiful animals, whose skins are regularly found on catwalks and celebrities' bodies. Other skins come from more familiar faces. An estimated 2 million cats and dogs are killed in China every year, and hundreds of thousands of cats' and dogs' skins are traded in Europe.
Thirty per cent of the world's wool comes from Australia, where sheep farmers mutilate millions of lambs in a cruel procedure known as mulesing. This mutilation is a misguided attempt to prevent flystrike, even though humane alternatives exist.
Many celebrities and important figures have joined PETA in the campaign against the cruel use of animal skin and fur.

This was taken from the peta web site - http://www.peta.org.uk/issues/animals-are-not-ours-to-wear/

Make a difference - Make the pledge to go fur free.

China - the shocking fur trade.

2009-11-28T23:00:00.000-08:00

China's Shocking Fur Trade

When undercover investigators made their way onto Chinese fur farms, they found that many animals are still alive and struggling desperately when workers flip them onto their backs or hang them up by their legs or tails to skin them. When workers on these farms begin to cut the skin and fur off an animal's leg, the free limbs kick and writhe. Workers stamp on the necks and heads of animals who struggle too hard in order to make a clean cut.
When the fur is finally peeled off over the animals' heads, their naked, bloody bodies are thrown onto a pile of those who have gone before them. Some are still alive, breathing in ragged gasps and blinking slowly. Some of the animals' hearts are still beating five to 10 minutes after they are skinned. One investigator recorded a skinned raccoon dog on the heap of carcasses who had enough strength to lift his bloodied head and stare into the camera.
Because a fur garment's origin can't be traced, anyone who wears any fur at all shares the blame for the horrific conditions on Chinese fur farms. The only way to prevent such unimaginable cruelty is by never wearing any fur. Take PETA's pledge to be fur-free today!

Pledge to go fur free, and save innocent lives.

2009-11-28T22:57:00.000-08:00

Take a pledge to go fur free and help to stop the slaughter of innocent animals all over the world. Take this pledge today to make a positive difference in our world. This is the link where you can make that pledge that will save countless lives, every pledge helps! http://action.peta.org.uk/ea-campaign/clientcampaign.do?ea.client.id=5&ea.campaign.id=5045

Homeless by christmas without your help

2009-11-28T22:42:00.000-08:00

FRIENDS OF RESCUED ANIMALS (FORA)- HOMELESS BY CHRISTMAS WITHOUT YOUR HELP
.

Pro-life animal rescue centre FORA must find a new property by Christmas for 600 dogs and 200 cats after the sale last week of the Roodepoort property leased to founder Marlene de Beer six years ago by benefactor Bill Joffe in memory of his wife Francis Petlyn.
WE ARE APPEALING FOR YOUR HELP PLEASE DONATE WHATEVER AMOUNT YOU CAN MANAGE TO HELP US SAVE OUR DOGS AND CATS and PLEASE SEND EMAIL TO ALL THE ANIMAL-LOVERS YOU KNOW.
“We are definitely not closing, we are relocating, just as soon as we raise enough funds and finalise the right property”, says Breggie van Loggenberg, FORA manager since the death from cancer of Marlene de Beer in 2005.
The staff and volunteers at FORA are devastated at the need to find a suitable property and raise sufficient funds in a very short space of time.
We send out an urgent plea for your help, be it in the smallest way. We need to raise R3.5 million to buy a suitable property & put-up kennels, runs and other infrastructure.
Please think of all the dogs and cats with us at present but also those who will have nowhere to go in the future. We are a group of mainly volunteers who have spent years putting our time and care into running the shelter. These animals have become our friends and our family and we will not rest until we have secured a new home and secure future for them.
We have touched the lives of thousands of animals and people in six successful years and if just 3 000 people give us R1 000 each and 5 000 people give us R100 each, we will have reached our target !
We will be deeply grateful for any help, even the smallest donation of money or materials.
FORA will hold an Open Day on Saturday 3 October from 12 noon at their present property below Westgate and invites their many friends and supporters to join them and pledge whatever support they can.
Cnr Wilgespruit & Main Reef Rds, Roodepoort
Please help us save our animals - we will be deeply grateful for any help that you can give us

• emailing: fora@mweb.co.za

Further information will be available on the website : www.fora.org.za.
Other volunteers are also standing by to answer queries :
Verity 002782 892 4015, Ronell 002772 398 8165 or Betty 002772 413 5364
A PRESS RELEASE is going out today 21 September (will be on the website)
ABOUT FORA – Endless Hope not a Hopeless End
• FORA is a registered Non Profit Organisation
• FORA is a no kill shelter operating behind Westgate in Roodepoort on the West Rand
• FORA has helped animals and animal-lovers across Gauteng and as far afield as Pretoria, Durban and Cape Town, becoming known for their willingness to go the extra mile and take in any needy creature, even incurring medical costs to heal a sick animal when the bank account is empty.
• FORA receives wonderful support from the community and businesses, but no funding from government. We rely on faith a lot of the time and although we witness tragedy and suffering, we also experience miracles and the daily joy of helping and homing rescued animals.
• FORA takes in rescued, abandoned and lost dogs and cats, offering them a safe haven to live out their lives if they do not find new homes or are not reclaimed by their original owners.
• The enclosures and runs have adequate space for the dogs and cats to lead comfortable lives and they are regularly exercised.
• They are supplied daily with food, clean water and their enclosures are cleaned every day.
• All animals are sterilised, inoculated and dewormed while at the shelter and medical treatment is available for any who are injured or sick.
• Dogs and cats who have been traumatised are rehabilitated
• Strict home-checks are done before animals can be adopted.
• FORA has been established on the Roodepoort property for over 6 years as part of a 10 year lease granted by benefactor Mr Bill Joffe (now sadly deceased) in memory of his wife Francis Petlyn - except in the event of sale of the property, when the notice period is 3 months.
• FORA has over the past year been looking at affordable properties but these are few and far between, especially a property that would suit the shelter’s needs and still be within the area where they receive such great support from the community.
• FORA must raise at least R3 million for a new property + an estimated R500 000 for relocation/setup costs
• Interestingly, the notice of the sale of the property was received on 17 September 2009, the fourth anniversary of the death of FORA founder Marlene de Beer.
THANK YOU FROM ALL AT FORA.

ENDLESS HOPE, NOT A HOPELESS END.
FORA is a registered, non-profit organisation (NPO 29775) situated in Roodepoort. We adhere to a strict no-kill policy and operate on the three R's principal - Rescue, Rehabilitate and Rehome. We offer a "home-for-life" to those animals not fortunate enough to be rehomed, where they can live out their days free of pain, abuse and neglect.

This is an organisation in South Africa who needs all the help they can get right now.

The above was taken from the fora web site at

Winter's here, don't forget about outside dogs!

2009-11-17T23:14:00.000-08:00

Winter is here again for a lot of us around the globe, which means warm clothes, heaters/fireplaces and everything to do with keeping snug. What about all those outside dogs who are often chained outside come winter, spring or summer. These dogs also need a warm dry place to snuggle and keep warm for winter, but they are often forgotten. They have to suffer through come what may resulting in severe aches and pains and unthinkable cold. Can you imagine being stuck outside in the cold wet of winter without any place to take shelter? This is a reality for so many dogs.

You can help make a difference is some of these dogs lives by joining a program called "Angel for animals" by PETA.

"As an "Angel for Animals" sponsor, you can help provide a sturdy, weatherproof PETA doghouse that will give a needy dog the shelter that can help see him or her through winter and also help him or her endure bad weather for years to come.

It's impossible to be anything other than miserable when you're wet and cold. That's what winter means for dogs who are kept chained outside like bicycles and forced to face the elements without proper shelter. PETA goes out and finds and helps hundreds of these dear individuals every winter. Most of these dogs find themselves with little more than a freezing patch of dirt and no way to escape the harsh conditions."

Helping these animals is only possible through donations by people like you and I, but wouldn't you feel great knowing what kind of a difference you have made? I am appealing to everyone in the position to help, yes we know times are tough and everyone is feeling the economic crisis, but come on guys these dogs have no other voices but our own.

"It is startling to see the difference that a well-built doghouse can make in these animals' lives. We fill our doghouses with warm, fluffy straw bedding—the dogs go inside immediately to curl up and can't believe their luck. They smile! Their tails thump, life comes into them, and their world doesn't seem quite so hopeless anymore. We also give them tangle-free lightweight line to replace the heavy chains that weigh them down, and we provide them with a toy, a nutritious meal to winter-proof them that day, clean water (often we break the ice or have to provide a bucket or bowl), and a few minutes of the love and attention that mean the world to these social souls."

"Last year, thanks to generous "Angel for Animals" sponsors, PETA provided nearly 300 neglected dogs who live in low-income areas with sturdy doghouses. These are dogs people can legally keep in conditions we find appalling. With many more dogs in urgent need—and with temperatures dropping fast—we want to top that number this year, and I hope that we can count on your support. There are so many ways that you can help:

• Your "Angel for Animals" sponsorship gift of $265 can provide a sturdy, straw-filled doghouse to one neglected dog.

• Your "Angel for Animals" sponsorship gift of $530 can provide sturdy, straw-filled doghouses to two neglected dogs.

• Your "Angel for Animals" sponsorship gift of $1,325 can provide sturdy, straw-filled doghouses to five neglected outdoor dogs. It will be the best present they will ever have!

Please know that any gift you can give, no matter its size, will be put to work immediately toward this vital program."

So if you can't afford any of these options contact me and I will give you the details to make a direct deposit to PETA towards this worthy cause. Your donation will be dealt with by yourself, I will just direct you to the appropriate place to make contact with the person at PETA who deals with the donations. Lets try and do whatever we can this winter to help a few extra helpless dogs survive.

* All excerpts were taken from an email I got this morning from PETA.

Help abused and homeless dogs for free..

2009-11-10T01:29:00.000-08:00

I have been searching for every conceivable way to help underprivileged and abused dogs for those of us or who are unable to actually give financial aid. On my search I have found a South African site 'Barking Mad' where you can sign up to get a reminder each day to go to the site and click on a button that provides a bowl of food for the dogs they take care of, this is thanks to their sponsors . This way you have the chance of helping these dogs without actually donating money! www.barkingmad.co.za is the web address to this site. I unfortunately couldn't paste the link here so just add the http:// before the barkingmad.co.za.

Jack Russells - Dynamite comes in small packages!

2009-11-05T23:57:00.000-08:00

In honor of that poor little Jack Russell that was treated so horribly I decided to do an info fact sheet today on Jack Russell Terriers.

History

The Jack Russell belongs to the terrier group of dogs. They are working dogs, used for hunting foxes and other ground-dwelling quarry such as Groundhog, Badger, Red and Grey fox from the early 1800's. They were named after a Reverend John Russell who was a breeder of fine Jack Russells during the 1800's.
After years of breeding the Jack Russell has a shape ideal for hunting foxes and getting into tight holes and spaces. The Fox Terrier that we know is an offspring of the original Jack Russell, but the Jack Russell has kept its pure blood line through working terrier enthusiasts keeping it's ideal measurements, whereas the fox terrier has become more of a companion dog.
The Fox Terrier was excepted as a kennel club breed in the late 1800's, but has undergone many changes due to breeding for the show ring. These changes have made the dogs less agile for hunting as the shape does not allow for them to get into all the places that the original Jack Russell Terriers could for hunting their quarry. The JRTCA have awarded the Jack Russell Terrier with the awards "Natural hunting certificate" and the bronze medallion for special merit in the field.

Description

The Jack Russell Terrier should be predominately white and have black and tan markings or patches. They should always have dense double coats which should be smooth or rough,sometimes with brown or black spots on the skin known as ticking. The head should be of average width to the ears, and narrow to the eyes, the top of the head should be slightly flat between the ears. The stop at the end of the muzzle should be defined and the nose should be black. The teeth are straight with a scissor bite. Eyes are dark and almond shaped. The ears are v shaped and carried forward on the head. The tail is set high and used to be docked to about 5 inches to provide a good grip for handlers. This breed of dog should always appear intelligent and alert. The Jack Russell Terrier should be between 10 and 15 inches at the shoulder.

temperament

These are highly intelligent, vocal and athletic dogs. they are also famous for being absolutely fearless little dogs. Due to their history as working dogs and their high intelligence they can become very destructive if not constantly stimulated. Obedience training is recommended for these little dogs of strong character as they are very stubborn and can become aggressive towards people and other animals if not trained and socialized. Overall wonderful little dogs that definitely fit the saying " Dynamite comes in small Packages"!

Animal cruelty by Owners of dogs

2009-11-05T22:21:00.000-08:00

This morning I read a horrifying article from my home country of South Africa where the people are supposed to be educated and compassionate to animals and animal cruelty. I will insert the article here for all to read. This article was published in 'The Star' newspaper on the 15th of September 2009 and was posted on the 'Barking Dog' web site where I found it.

Jack Russell endures days of agony at heartless owner's home

UPDATE :(
Sadly the little Jack Russel that was rescued in Krugersdorp didn't make it. But at least he spent his last days in the care of Dr Koekemoer and the CLAW vets and staff who all did their utmost for him, he passed away being cared for, not alone discarded in a yard. Thanks to all who prayed and kept him in their thoughts. And to those who donated towards his vet bill

Jack Russell endures days of agony at heartless owner's home
The Star, September 15, 2009 Edition 4

A MALE Jack Russell found in Krugersdorp West yesterday morning is close
to death. Its leg has been ripped off at the pelvis and it seems it has
been lying for days in its owner's front yard without any medical
attention.

The animal had sustained massive blood loss, and when The Star went to
visit it, shortly after it had been taken to Horison Park Animal Clinic
by Cora Bailey of the Community-Led Animal Welfare Organisation (CLAW),
its brown eyes were glazed from the morphine injection it had been
given. It didn't lift its head.

When asked how the dog was doing, vet Dion Koekemoer replied "Not good".

According to the neighbour who reported the atrocity, the dog's owner
had left for work as usual yesterday morning. This means the woman must
have walked past her pet - with its gaping wound - as it lay in her
driveway.

Some men saw the dog from the street and attracted the attention of the
neighbour. One of the men was in tears.

According to the neighbour, the dog had hurt itself three or four months
ago and had been limping.

On Sunday, she heard it howling and tried to call the Krugersdorp SPCA,
but the organisation's phone cables had been stolen.

Yesterday, she eventually contacted the Krugersdorp News, which alerted
Bailey.

"We got to the house. In the driveway was this small dog. I thought he
was dead. The domestic worker came out and said 'We don't know what's
wrong with the dog'," said Bailey.

"Apparently there's a child in the house as well. It's appalling, to see
that and not react. This woman lives in a suburb. She has a domestic
worker.

"If you can afford to employ someone to clean your house, you can afford
medical attention."

Yesterday afternoon, the dog underwent surgery to clean its wound. "We
got all the maggots out the wound. Let's hope he doesn't succumb to the
infection. He's very weak, very thin," said Koekemoer.

It will be a while before the wound can be closed. Koekemoer is doing a
stretching procedure to get enough skin.

Under the Animal Protection Act, failure to seek medical attention for
one's animals is a criminal offence.

The Krugersdorp SPCA will be laying charges against the dog's owner.

This is the site with this story - www.barkingmad.co.za.

This poor Jack Russell after enduring so much pain passed away. We have to ask ourselves what kind of civilised society are we living in when this can happen to a domestic dog in its own home done by its own owner???

I just hope he has moved on to a better place. RIP

2009-08-26T05:43:00.000-07:00

Hi there all!

I apologise for being away for so long, but it was unavoidable due to technical problems. I hope to be back full time from today!

I found a very touching poem about stray dogs that I would like to share. Enjoy and reflect!

The Stray's Prayer

Dear God, please send me somebody who'll care!
I'm tired of running, I'm sick with despair.
My body is aching, it's so racked with pain,
and dear God I pray, as I run in the rain,
That someone will love me and give me a home,
a warm cozy bed and a big juicy bone.

My last owner tied me all day in the yard
Sometimes with no water, and God that was hard.
So I chewed my leash, and God I ran away.
To rummage in garbage and live as a stray.
But now God, I'm tired and hungry and cold,
and I'm so afraid that I'll never grow old.

They've chased me with sticks and hit me with stones,
while I run the streets just looking for bones!
I'm not really bad, God, please help if you can,
or I will become " just a victim of Man!"
I'm wormy dear God and I'm riddled with fleas,
and all that I want is an owner to please!

If you find one for me God, I'll try to be good,
and won't chew their shoes, and I'll do as I should.
I'll love them, protect them and try to obey...
when they tell me to sit, to lie down or to stay!
I don't think I'll make it too long on my own,
cause I'm getting so weak and I'm so all alone.

Each night as I sleep in the bushes I cry,
cause I'm afraid God, that I'm gonna die.
And I've got so much love and devotion to give,
that I should be given a new chance to live!
So dear God please answer my prayer,
and send me someone who will REALLY care..

That is Dear God, if you're really there!

Unknown

2009-07-25T01:34:00.000-07:00

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