Following Comedian Steve Hofstetter’s dog journey, I grow more and more fond of the funny man. Yes, I’m a fan of his comedy, but I’m an even greater fan of his compassion and commitment to animals.

Steve went from respecting his wife Sara’s animal welfare interests at a distance to adopting a rescue dog now named Bea Arthur and using his celebrity status to promote rescue. Offering a stray dog named Carlin the only comfort of his last few days on Earth last month, now Steve is turning animal activist to change the outcome of a topic so large that it hasn’t been properly tackled to date – ending puppy mills.

Having been part of the enormous 4-rescue effort of rehabilitating 17 mill rescues brought to New York two weeks ago, and poised to personally rescue more in the coming days with the Companion Animal Placement Program and Dog House Adoptions, I’ve learned that the work involved in unraveling the damage done to a single dog by a single puppy mill, while incredibly rewarding, takes a significant emotional toll. Many thousands if not millions more dogs need our help.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Zzev1JCxdo

Steve’s latest message gives me hope. I share it with gratitude for the work he and Sara are doing to make a very real difference. We can rescue mill dogs all we want, but the problem will always be bigger than the resources available to cope – unless we eradicate the problem’s source.

From Steve:

My wife Sara reached out to you with our story about Carlin, the abandoned dog we found in a gas station parking lot that had to be put down. The support and kind wishes we received were overwhelming, as close to 250,000 people read and shared Carlin’s story.

I wanted to reach out with a thank you, and some good news. The heartbreak inspired me to start a legislative campaign to end all puppy mills once and for all. With my contacts in the media and government, passing this is a realistic possibility. And Carlin’s story convinced our landlords to let us have a second dog – so we might not have saved his life, but his life saved another.

If you’d be willing to share this story [featured below], it’s a lot more uplifting than the last one, and will hopefully inspire more people to adopt.

And if you’d like to join our campaign to end puppy mills, please visit EndTheMills.com. Even one petition signature helps a great deal, as we’ll be pursuing legislation on a federal, state, city, and local basis.

Thank you so much,
Steve Hofstetter

The Happy Ending

It’s been 18 days since my wife, Sara, and I found a stray dog in a gas station. It’s been 18 days since we cleaned him off, fed him, and named him Carlin. It’s been 18 days since we learned Carlin was in the advanced stages of distemper and we had to put him down. It’s been 18 days since I cried for the first time in years.

I knew I’d become a dog person already. What I didn’t know was the extent. For two years, we had a little Puerto Rican roommate named Bea Arthur that showed me just how much I could love a dog. But in just a few hours, Carlin taught me that loving one was not enough.

I will never forget the shock of the vet telling me that Carlin had distemper. We knew something was very wrong. But the optimist in me thought everything would work out. The optimist in me likes to get my hopes up just enough to set up an impending heartbreak. Turns out the optimist in me is also a sadist.

There was a brief moment when I was thrilled that the vet agreed to take Carlin in, before I realized that he was taking him in just to end things mercifully. That emotional cliff dive was like nothing I’d ever experienced. I went from the relief of knowing Carlin would be cared for to the anguish that this was somehow our fault. We were happy to give Carlin his literal moment in the sun. But, as illogical as the thought was, I couldn’t escape the fear that we were partially responsible.

I wrote a column about Carlin – both as catharsis for me and a tribute to him. I must have re-read it a dozen times, hoping that somehow the results would be different. But you can’t change the ending. Ilsa gets on the plane, Soylent Green is made of people, and the boat always sinks. Sara and I weren’t whole for days.

The oddest part was when we’d interact with other people. When you’re that emotionally distraught, it’s difficult to understand that everyone around you isn’t just as sad. Even a world champion in empathy can’t truly relate to someone else’s loss. We couldn’t connect to anyone.

Well, we connected to a few people. We live in the top floor of a house, owned by a wonderfully sweet couple named Larry and Lee who have an adorable mutt named Hannah. Months ago, we’d asked if they would allow us to have a second dog; we assumed that due to our shared love of everything pup that they’d relax their previous one dog policy. We got a resounding no.

After we lost Carlin, a second dog wasn’t even on our minds. We knew the rules – and having just lost our brief friend, we were gun shy. But Lee could tell something was wrong. Having trouble explaining what had happened, I pointed her towards the column. A few hours later, I received an email from them that didn’t just allow us to get a second dog – the email pleaded for it. This time, we didn’t ask for them to let us get a second dog – the universe did.

It turned out that Larry and Lee had just rescued another pup of their own, and they could see just how good of a home we would be for one more. That email was the first time I’d truly smiled since we lost Carlin, and I had done a show the night before. Outwardly, I’d smiled plenty. But that was the first time I meant it.

I was excited that Carlin’s death would save the life of another dog. And the sheer volume of support we received regarding Carlin was staggering. Close to 250,000 people read the column, and it was shared all over Facebook, reprinted in blogs, and even appeared in some newspapers. Carlin’s life hadn’t just touched us – it touched everyone we told.

I was inspired. I spent a few days building EndTheMills.com, a website based around the idea that with simple legislation we could end puppy mills forever. I didn’t want Carlin to just save one dog. I wanted him to save them all. It was an immediate success – through signatures, publicity, and donations, there is a realistic possibility that my little gremlin could be the catalyst to end the systematic overbreeding and abuse inherent in the mill system. The ending of Carlin’s part of the story couldn’t change – but the movie wasn’t over yet.

Sara went home for a week to visit family, and then I had a few gigs. So this weekend was our first chance to adopt a little brother for Bea. I’d gone through the seven stages of grief – shock, guilt, anger, depression, the turn around, reconstruction, and hope. As much as those few hours with Carlin will always be with me, I knew that the real way to end the movie was to find the first dog who’s life Carlin would save.

We went to No Kill Los Angeles, an adoption event sponsored by Best Friends Animal Society where dozens of rescues and shelters bring over a thousand animals to be adopted. We didn’t know if we’d meet “the one” there. But it was a great chance to try.

I never imagined that I would be looking for a second dog – let alone a Chihuahua mix – but I wanted to find a dog that reminded me of Carlin. The first dog we met was Jack – a sweet little guy from Best Friends themselves. But it would be ridiculous to fall in love with the first dog we met. And one named Jack? That’s the grandfather I wanted to name a child after. Fate couldn’t be that obvious, could it?

After meeting several more with too much energy for a family of couch potatoes, we found a second candidate. Charlie had been fostered by a rescue for close to a year, and was incredibly chill. He was great with people, great with other dogs, and grateful that we wanted to meet him. But our heart, somehow wasn’t in it. Maybe it’s because Jack looked more like Carlin. Or maybe because Jack was smaller and needed more help, or maybe because we just met Jack first. Whatever the reason, Charlie reminded me of the platonic friend you know would be a good choice to date, but there’s just not enough spark to go through with it. Sorry Charlie – we’re just going to be friends.

So where is the happy ending? I’m writing this, sitting on my couch, while Bea Arthur and Mitch Hedberg are asleep next to me. We changed Jack’s name to Mitch – I may not ever have a son, but if I do, I’m keeping the name Jack available. Besides – Mitch is a fitting tribute to Carlin, another one of comedy’s greats. And Mitch Hedberg was a one-liner guy. Seems right for a dog small enough for me to palm.

Bea is a wonderful big sister. Despite how selective she can be with other dogs, I feel like somehow, she knows. She understands that Mitch is family.

It’s been 18 days since everything changed. It’s been 18 days since I started grieving. And it’s been 18 days since we got to spend one afternoon with Carlin. But that afternoon will allow us to spend a lifetime with Mitch. And hopefully, it will inspire other people to help us end the mills permanently, preventing street dogs like Bea, Mitch, and Carlin from ever needing a home again.

The movie isn’t over yet. That happy ending is up to you.

———

 Start here…

The post Help Comedian Steve Hofstetter End the Mills appeared first on This One Wild Life.

I had the pleasure of meeting with an inquisitive group of students taking Writing for New Media with Jennifer Marlow at The College of Saint Rose in February. Invited to guest lecture, I spoke with them about how building an online social network has helped to rescue dogs in our immediate area and how social media reaches beyond local boundaries in order to make a difference. 

Anthony Acosta and Gidget

One student in particular, Anthony Acosta, asked me to be part of his journalism class project and, a month later, my blogging friends and I were being interviewed for his semester’s final piece.

While it feels a bit egotistical to post an article about myself here, I do so proudly. None of what I have achieved has been accomplished alone. This article celebrates all the people I’ve worked with to launch Be the Change for Animals, a national animal activism site asking you to “spend just a minute and never a cent” to help animals in need, and Dog House Adoptions, a dog rescue serving New York’s Capital region. I am beyond grateful for the dedication of every team member on both projects. The successes laid out below belong to us all.

So, without further ado, I present to you…

What Can Blogging Do for Animal Welfare?

A Guest Post by Anthony Acosta

Blogging has become increasingly popular. Through the democratization of the Web, ordinary everyday people can express their opinions on specified, yet infinite topics. Although personal diaries and other less-than-useful blog entries make up the majority of the blogosphere, Kim Clune has strategically harnessed the power of new media to enhance animal advocacy efforts both domestic and wild.

Clune has a strong online presence in the field of animal advocacy. As the founding member of multiple blogging sites, she promotes events, disseminates information and provides avenues that allow people to participate in these efforts. Recently, Clune has dedicated most of her time toward dog rescue, helping to launch Dog House Adoptions, Inc. in April, 2012. She jointly runs the organization with her husband Tim Clune, Lori Harris and Audra Bentley.

Lori Harris, Audra Bentley, Tim Clune and Kim Clune 

“We crafted our mission to reach beyond simply rehoming local strays. It is our goal to demonstrate that these dogs are not throwaway items. They have tremendous value in our community,” said Clune. Approximately 3-4 million cats and dogs are euthanized in the United States each year. That’s about 10,000 cats and dogs executed daily.  According to Clune, these are often perfectly healthy animals who were innocent victims of human negligence.

Sarah McLachlan is an avid, well-known supporter of the ASPCA. She produced the popular commercial featuring the song “Angel,” in attempt to muster involvement and monetary donations.

“McLachlan is a fantastic and effective voice fundraising for the ASPCA, but it pains people to watch her commercials. They react out of overwhelming sadness and then look away. The heart can only take so much,” said Clune.

Clune’s tactic for educating the public and making a difference in the community is to highlight the pros rather than the cons. She and her team have chosen a path of sustainability, celebrating their dog’s milestones and adoptions. She tackles the issues with a sense of humor instead of disseminating gory images and graphic storytelling. This has proven to be successful.

“By creating an environment that is hopeful more often than grueling, our long term goal is to keep our volunteers and ourselves energized for the long haul – this all happens by building a relationship with one dog at a time,” said Clune.

Clune wears many different hats in the development and maintenance of Dog House Adoptions, Inc. She is the media liaison, fundraising and event promoter, WordPress tech, theme designer, graphic artist, author, photographer and videographer. “I’m also a real-life community ambassador, dog chauffer and puppy cuddler.” Animals are Clune’s passion and she does everything she can to help them, devoting her life and career to ensure their well-being.

“Kim is truly impressive in everything she does. She’s also a warm, caring, funny and incredibly passionate woman – those very same qualities are what shine through in her blog, drawing so many people to it daily,” said Kim Thomas, one of Clune’s managing editors.

Bristol/Chrystal

The pioneer of Dog House Adoptions, Inc., Bristol is a young black lab mix. She came to Dog House Adoptions pregnant and covered with scars from untreated bite marks. With time, money and compassion, Bristol was fostered for 8 weeks from puppy delivery to puppy rearing with help from Lisa Drury, a reputable Rensselaer County lab breeder.

Lisa Drury with Bristol/Chrystal

Drury helped transition four puppies from newborns to adolescents, working in conjunction with Dog House Adoptions to secure wonderful homes. Today, all four puppies are fully healthy, loved and recently celebrated their first birthday along with Dog House Adoptions, Inc. April 13, 2013.

Because of Bristol’s prominence in the local community, Drury, Kate O’Hara and O’Hara’s grandmother started a fund to raise money for Bristol’s recovery. After receiving $120, Bristol was spayed, nursed back to health and able to attend The Animal Hospital’s Pet Adoption Day in Slingerlands. There, Bristol met her new family who renamed her Chrystal for being the gem of their lives.

Kate O’Hara with the Friends of Bristol veterinary check.

Along with Dog House Adoptions, Inc. Clune also wears many hats in the creation and maintenance of other successful online organizations including This One Wild Life and Be the Change for Animals.

This One Wild Life & Be the Change for Animals

This One Wild Life is what spearheaded Clune’s success in media and animal advocacy. In 2009 it started out as her own personal blog discussing her experiences when connecting with domestic animals and encountering wildlife. After her readership blew up, she quickly realized how powerful blogging was in terms of spreading ideas toward social change.

This One Wild Life celebrates the joy humans experience while interacting with animals, whether domestic or wild, advocating for animal health and welfare in both the rescue and pet world. This One Wild Life produces a plethora of multi-media content regarding animal activism and stories regarding adoptive efforts and numerous events.

Generally these organizations work hand in hand to share important information to maximize their impression on the community. Be the Change for Animals provides an avenue for people to help animals in a pace that doesn’t overwhelm. They highlight one cause every week and provide information on how readers can help. Clune’s organizations don’t just ask for donations, calls to action typically involve the signing of petitions, Facebook “like” campaigns or participating in letter-writing campaigns for the protection of voiceless animals.

“We invite the community to share their favorite causes during Blog the Change. During these events, we link participating posts together to build community-driven relationships and promote sharing,” said Clune.

Amy Burkert, Peggy Frezon, and Kim Clune from BTC4animals.com

Peggy Frezon, an editor for Be the Change for Animals, is working on a project to spread awareness for National Volunteer Month. “We’re blogging about people who volunteer to help animals and encouraging others to blog,” said Frezon. She has also recently created posts about spaying pets, puppy mills, and the illegal ivory trade. “I hope by spreading awareness and compelling writers, we can get others to care enough to act.”

How to strengthen your blog

Back in February, 2013 Clune visited The College of Saint Rose in Albany, NY – where Clune received a bachelor’s degree in English literature – as a guest speaker teaching students how to maximize their blogging potential. Below is a set of tactics used by Kim Clune and other established bloggers.

1.)   Interest: Write about something you are passionate about, because maintaining a blog will consume hours of your time. While writing allow yourself to feel something and convey that emotion.

2.)   Simplicity: Don’t try to use fancy words and phrases. Write simple, as if you were talking to your friends. Be concise, people tend to read less online, no one wants to read pages of content.

3.)   Know your audience: What makes them tick? What turns them off? Keep an eye on which posts get the most traffic, likes and comments.

4.)   Multi-media: Written content is important, but providing photos, videos and other visual media will increase your traffic tenfold.

5.)   Socialize: Use all types of social media platforms and connect them to one-another. This way you don’t limit yourself to the people using a single network. Offering multiple ways a reader can receive content is a great way to enhance your impression.

6.)   Cross-posting: Whenever you create new content on your blog, post a status or send out a tweet. Advertise your writing through your social networks.

7.)   Build relationships: Do some research and find people who are interested in the same topic. Have a conversation with them in their own space to lure them into your space.

8.)   Share: After a relationship is established, see if the other blog/online-organization will integrate with your own. That way when you post, it will automatically appear on their page as well.

9.)   Interact: Respond to every comment left on your blog, this engagement sets you apart from your competition. Depending on the magnitude of your readership this might be hard to keep up with, but it’s worth the effort.

———————————-

Thank you, Anthony,  for sharing our story and for taking such an interest in our work being done on behalf of animals in need.

Students of the New Media class, using what they’ve learned, have created their own civic projects. Give them your support with a click and a comment…

• Body image awareness on Facebook
• Food waste wareness at Saint Rose on Facebook
• Cyberbullying awareness on Facebook.com and Twitter
• Textbook costs awareness on Facebook
• Texting and Driving awareness on Facebook

The post What Can Blogging Do for Animal Welfare? appeared first on This One Wild Life.

My cat Jackson kicked off the brand new 2013 season of Animal Planet’s America’s Cutest Pet!  This is the cuteness you’ll see when you tune in for his video “Cat Tongue and a Wink!”

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZTTp7ex5QmY

His sweet little face joins his brother Jed in fame as Jed’s “Cat Turns Treat Monster” video boasts over 2 million views!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C_yTa2TudJQ

Five videos from This One Wild Life’s YouTube channel will also play as b-roll throughout the season so you’ll see Jackson, Jed, Shamus and Emmett! They’d love for you to cheer them on, so be sure to watch America’s Cutest Pet!

UPDATE: Did you miss the airing? Here you go! Jackson’s wink is in the show’s intro and just before Meow Mugs, of which he ranks #4 as a “flirt” and “off the scale cute.” And I love that they say “He looks possessed!” when Jed’s face appears in the b-roll leading up to the Crabby Kitties. Ha! I didn’t think Animal Planet chose him to appear!

About America’s Cutest Pet

From talking kitties and slumbering cats to dancing dogs and dogs that doze, We count down the cutest clips in the web-o-sphere to crown America’s Cutest Cat and America’s Cutest Dog.

With viral videos of the craziest and quirkiest cats a mere mouse-click away, Animal Planet settles the cuteness debate by counting down the top five videos in eight pre-determined categories, such as “Are You Talking to Meow?” and “Copy Cats.” Taking into consideration online views and commentary from Animal Planet personalities and feline experts, the top cats from each category will then square off to determine the undisputed cutest cat.

Combing through the best the internet has to offer in doggie home videos, America’s Cutest Dog pushes the cuteness scale to new heights in categories like “Dancing with the Dogs” and “Let Sleeping Dogs Lie.” From musical puppies that play instruments and sing along to the radio, to canines on the go and dogs that dress to the nines, AMERICA’S CUTEST DOG will be named from a strong pool of pooches.

The competition is fierce, so tune in to find out who we crown America’s Cutest Pet!

The post My Cats on Animal Planet: America’s Cutest Pet! appeared first on This One Wild Life.

I just received an email from Sara Tenenbein, a long time rescue advocate and wife of Comedian Steve Hofstetter. It reads:

Two days ago, my husband and I found an abandoned dog in a gas station parking lot. My husband, who was not a dog person before I met him, caught the dog, fed it, and cared for it.

He wrote a piece for his Facebook about it because, in his words, “I wanted to create something beautiful for him.”

It is both a heart warming and heart breaking story. I am very proud of what he did, as well as what he wrote. I wanted to share it with you in hopes that you would share it with your readers, and it would inspire a few more people to take action and help.

The post The Day Everything Changed by Comedian Steve Hofstetter appeared first on This One Wild Life.

Over the past seven years, the honeybee die-off known as “Colony Collapse Disorder” (CCD), has claimed 5,650,000 hives, valued at $1.61 billion, according to the Organic Consumers Association.

Italy, France, Slovenia and Germany have taken action to limit the use of bee-killing pesticides. But the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) about to approve a deadly new neonicotinoid called Sulfoxaflor.

Environmental groups filed a lawsuit against the EPA, claiming the agency has failed to protect one of the Earth’s most vital pollinators from dangerous pesticides. Join in the fight for our food!

Take Action!

• Tell Congress to ban neonicotinoid pesticides before they devastate the U. S. bee population.
• RSVP for Swarm the EPA on Earth Day

Why it Matters

If bees die, they cannot pollinate, and 1/3 of U.S. food crops cannot reproduce fruits, vegetables, nuts, and livestock feed. (Visit this impressive list of crop plants pollinated by bees.)

In the short term, dead bees mean less hives, higher hive rental fees, smaller crops, and a rise in food prices. The sharpest bee decline yet in 2012 brought much of these consequences with it. Long-term, the implications are far greater, from economic family struggles and health troubles to food shortages, small farm collapse, and environmental justice issues.

In addition to mites and viruses, the presence of pesticides, fungicides and herbicides are largely being blamed for the increase in bee decline. The largest threats are neonicotinoids. These systemic pesticides are embedded in seeds and the plant carries the chemical that kills insects that feed on it.

It’s a dastardly domino effect. Many bee-keepers feed their colonies high-fructose corn syrup. High-fructose corn syrup is made from Monsanto’s genetically engineered corn and that corn is treated with Bayer’s neonicotinoid insecticides.

New York Times journalist Michael Wines reports in “Mystery Malady Kills More Bees, Heightening Worry:”

But while each substance has been certified, there has been less study of their combined effects. Nor, many critics say, have scientists sufficiently studied the impact of neonicotinoids, the nicotine-derived pesticide that European regulators implicate in bee deaths.

I think the critics he refers to are criticizing the lack of Monsanto’s scientists to study the impact. The 2012 study from Harvard School of Public Health was pretty clear that the link between neocotinoids and bee deaths is obvious.

And, in case you missed it, that’s right. Other parts of the world have determined a deadly link between bee die-off and neocotinoids, but the U.S. presses on. Why? According to the Organic Consumers Association’s article, “Stop the Death of Bees:”:

Poland is the first country to formally acknowledge the link between Monsanto’s genetically engineered corn and the Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD) that’s been devastating bees around the world, but it’s likely that Monsanto has known the danger their GMOs posed to bees all along. The biotech giant recently purchased a CCD research firm, Beeologics, that government agencies, including the US Department of Agriculture, have been relying on for help unraveling the mystery behind the disappearance of the bees.

Now that it’s owned by Monsanto, it’s very unlikely that Beeologics will investigate the links, but genetically engineered crops have been implicated in CCD for years now.

Tell the EPA to protect the food chain, not the biotech companies. The lives of every single being, not just bees, depends upon it. And what human wants to eat corn that kills bees? What, then, is it doing to us?

This post is part of Blog the Change for Animals hosted by Be the Change for Animals. Spend just a few moments and never a cent to make the difference for animals in need! Join in the 15th of every January, April, July and October!

The post Save the Bees to Save Our Food! #BTC4A appeared first on This One Wild Life.

Does your dog root through laundry in search of your undies to  - GASP – eat them!?!

For years, one topic has consistently reared it’s head in The Honest Kitchen inbox… undies. According to THK, a prevalent problem among dog owners is “pets consuming foreign objects around the home, especially underwear like socks, briefs and even bras,”

Be honest. You wrote to them, didn’t you! Well, they responded.

Check out Undies, edible underwear for pets, made entirely from dehydrated, human grade vegetable protein. Ingredients have been shaped into a flexible, realistic pair of underwear with instructions on how to use them – and how to spare your own underwear.

Undies can be hidden around the house to create all the fun of stealing some real underwear, but none of the risks of ingesting harmful fabric, underwires or thread. Undies are made from one pure, single source vegetable per variety and are available in Pure Carrot (socks), Pure Celery (briefs) and Pure Beet (bras). All we’ve added is a natural turkey aroma, and nothing else.

Save yourself another expensive trip to Victoria’s Secret and spare the health of your perverted pup. And you might want to rub yourself down with turkey before you serve up some Undies, you know, for authenticity sake.  Okay, that’s our suggestion, not THK’s, but you’re no April Fool.

Shop Now for our Dehydrated Human Grade Edible Veggie Undies! 

The post Edible Undies – for Dogs? appeared first on This One Wild Life.

Asking for votes to help my dog rescue feels like staring down your hot, steamy bowl of delicious free time while salivating on your slippered feet. Like any good dog, I’m doing it anyway. I’ll either get shooed off or you’ll give in.

Please, I beg of you. Give in. This contest is EASY, FAST, ADDICTING, and FUN!

VOTE SARATOGA SPRINGS BEST CITY FOR PET TRAVELERS!

The first three rounds have been nail biters, cities screeching by with a single vote in the final hour. Saratoga made the Sweet Sixteen dance. If Saratoga wins the Final 4, I’ll give all the prizes to Dog House Adoptions. That means we all win by helping homeless dogs in Upstate, NY!

WHAT MAKES SARATOGA SPRINGS DOG FRIENDLY?

Saratoga isn’t just pet-friendly hotels and scenic parks. With it’s 40+ dog-friendly downtown businesses featuring a sticker to signify that entry with your dog is cool, no questions asked, it’s a model city for every destination pet travelers want to go.  I wrote all about it here.

Defeating Sonoma, Vancouver, and Sante Fe for being the dog-friendliest, now Saratoga faces it’s greatest challenge, Annapolis, MD. Their voters are fiercely committed. We need the same. So, get your March Madness on and GET IN THE GAME!

VOTE SARATOGA SPRINGS BEST CITY FOR PET TRAVELERS!

WHO IS DOG HOUSE ADOPTIONS?

With just 5 core volunteers and terrific help from upstanding and committed dog lovers, Dog House Adoptions has spayed, neutered, vaccinated and rehomed 33 Rensselaer County orphaned dogs since our founding a year ago.

Our dogs come from the streets. When not claimed from their 5 day hold, the towns expect them to be put down. But we step in…

We care for the wounds of dogs, body and soul, and celebrate the healing of these discarded and vulnerable pups.  We earn the precious gift of their trust and watch them blossom when nurtured with love. Then we seek the perfect companions for each one, sending them on to a joyful life with a family of their own – orphans no more.

The work is constant and our love never wanes – from the minute these dogs arrive until, well, infinity. Just because they leave us doesn’t end our caring.

HOW DOES MY VOTE HELP DOGS AGAIN?

To continue our work requires more funding. If Saratoga wins, the following prizes will further our fundraising. Wouldn’t these entice you to bid at our birthday party?

• A three-night stay in the super pet-friendly Kimpton hotel of your choosing
• a plethora of pet travel gear from Kurgo valued at over $300
• dog food, supplements, and treats from The Honest Kitchen
• a Critter Zone air purifier, a convenient travel bag set, complete with folding bowls, from Petmate
• a snazzy matching collar and leash set from 2 Hounds Design
• and a Sherpa soft-sided pet carrier.

It’s just a vote. It can help a dog. You can feel good about it. Please… I beg you.

VOTE SARATOGA SPRINGS BEST CITY FOR PET TRAVELERS!

The post It’s just a vote. It can help a dog. Vote Saratoga! appeared first on This One Wild Life.

What’s the best city for pet travelers in 2013? Top voted cities will win the annual Best City for Pet Travelers Tournament hosted by GoPetFriendly.com!

Saratoga Springs, NY beat Sonoma, CA in round one;Vancouver, BC in round two; and Sante Fe, NM in round three. While dog parks and pet-friendly hotels are nice, Saratoga has much, much more!

What Makes Saratoga Springs
“Best City for Pet Travelers?”

Saratoga Springs has made a concerted effort since 2009 to increase the dog-friendliness of it’s downtown business district, thanks to Melanie Dallas of Sloppy Kisses, a treat boutique for dogs, and Adrianna Flax of Saratoga Arts. Dog-Friendly Downtown is their brainchild.

DOG-FRIENDLY DOWNTOWN
THE WAY IT WORKS:

The blue sticker pictured here, when displayed on participating storefronts, acts as an invitation to walk in with your dog, year round and no questions asked.

Strut right in with your best friend to retail establishments, hotels, restaurants with outdoor dining options and even art galleries. That’s right. Dogs and their humans can see some of the region’s highest-quality contemporary art at The [dog-friendly] Arts Center gallery space!

Visit Saratoga Springs’ Dog-Friendly Downtown website for an interactive map listing all participating businesses and their possible size or food related limitations. According to Dallas, “You can shop, you can eat, you can go to the gallery, go get your nails done, and you can do all that with your dog.”

For more about Saratoga’s Dog-Friendly Downtown initiative, history, and growth, watch Dallas’ interview on Saratoga.com.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vH6i4DGJzFE

VOTE SARATOGA SPRINGS BEST CITY FOR PET TRAVELERS!

DOG-FRIENDLY – ALL YEAR LONG

For the Howl-o-ween hound
Join Sloppy Kisses for their Annual Canine Costume Parade/Contest!

Have a booze hound?
Yappy Hours are a frequent event. In 2012, they took place from 6 to 8:30 p.m. every other Thursday, May through September. Prior hosts have been The Mill at Round Lake, Gideon Putnam Resort, Saratoga State Park, The Mouzon House, and The Inn at Saratoga.

For the Patriotic Pups
The Patriotic Pooch Parade marched down Broadway as part of Saratoga’s All American Celebration on July 4th.

Is your hound a history buff?
Samantha Bosshart, Saratoga Springs Preservation Foundation executive director, led a 2012 tour of the fine homes on North Broadway. Prominent residents included Lucy Skidmore Scribner, George B. Cluett, William B. Gage, Henry Hathorn, and Senator Brackett. Dog treats and water were provided along the route, and the walk was followed by “Yappy Hour” at The Ice House on Putnam Street.

VOTE SARATOGA SPRINGS BEST CITY FOR PET TRAVELERS!

WHAT DOG-FRIENDLY LOOKS LIKE:

I took Shamus, my Newf, to shop the shops on Dog-Friendly Downtown Day one year. Afterward, we hit up a rockin’ Yappy Hour at The Putnam Den where Mayor Johnson, his wife and their recently adopted dog Chase mingled with other dog lovers. After a day of meeting & greeting, dogs and owners were well acquainted. We were all “Snacks? Drinks? This party is ON!” Then it was off for a patio dinner with Amy and Rod from GoPetFriendly.com. This is where we met for the first time and where our idea for co-founding Be the Change for Animals was born!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iVz_tO16XTg

VOTE SARATOGA SPRINGS BEST CITY FOR PET TRAVELERS!

THE PARTICIPATING PACK

The best part is that the program is growing. Dog-Friendly Downtown welcomed 4 new businesses for 2013 so far: Dog Friendly Downtown Program: Lucia Boutique, Yellow Boutique, PaperDolls of Saratoga and Saratoga Saddlery & International Boutique. More than 40 participating establishments have joined the pack, escalating totals from last year’s 30+.

Note the providers featuring lovely Upstate New York wines, Sonoma. We’ve proven you’re not the only gig in wine country. And Vancouver, we have you in our sites next.

VOTE SARATOGA SPRINGS BEST CITY FOR PET TRAVELERS!

Saratoga Springs may be notorious for race horses, but Mayor Johnson wouldn’t mind if it were notorious for dogs too – and that’s no sour grapes. C’mon Saratoga fans! Show your support for Dog-Friendly Downtown!

WHO WINS WHAT?

Because I nominated Saratoga, and if I win the Final 4 with your help, I’ll give the following to Dog House Adoptions in Poestenkill, NY for their (our) first birthday fundraiser in May… So, we all win by helping homeless dogs!

The tournament champion will receive: a three-night stay in the super pet friendly Kimpton hotel of their choosing, a pleathora of pet travel gear from Kurgo valued at over $300, dog food, supplements, and treats from The Honest Kitchen, a Critter Zone air purifier, a convenient travel bag set, complete with folding bowls, from Petmate, a snazzy matching collar and leash set from 2 Hounds Design, and a Sherpa soft-sided pet carrier.

The post Best City for Pet Travelers? VOTE Saratoga Springs! appeared first on This One Wild Life.

What is The Honest Kitchen?

The Honest Kitchen has been a beloved dog food brand in this household for several years now. I couldn’t have felt more confident about our pet food being gently dehydrated with all the safety precautions and controls afforded to humans – controls other pet foods can’t offer. Every bit of protein is hormone and antibiotic free, responsibly farm raised or wild caught. Fresh, GMO-free fruit and vegetables are never processed, nor are vitamins sprayed on to make up for lacking amounts due to processing.

In fact, The Honest Kitchen is healthier than what our household humans often eat. If I ate like my dogs, I’d be running circles around marathoners. Every day would be a good, healthy hair day. And if I want to, I can eat what my dogs eat because, as I said, The Honest Kitchen is human grade food. (It smells like the most delicious homemade chicken soup to me.)

What Happened to The Honest Kitchen?

Certain lots of food are being recalled. (See below for details.) My heart sank with the news. I’m well aware that human food preparation still faces risk of contamination regardless of higher FDA controls in place, but this brand has been conscientious in every way. Even their boxes are recyclable and inks are soy based to protect the environment (or chewing cats like Jed above). So, what could have happened?

Nothing Happened – But to be safe…

That’s right. Nothing happened with The Honest Kitchen specifically. Spokesperson Carmon Valasquez had this to say,

We have had absolutely no positive tests for Salmonella and no reports of illness; however, a supplier has informed us that they have found a positive Salmonella test from the same batch we used in our food.

If you read about THK’s own quality control process, you’ll see that it is very stringent. Still, to be safe, THK is treating the report as if their own food may be affected, just in case, even though their own tests came back clean.

My Faith: Unshaken and Strengthened

While nothing happened to THK, something did happen for me. My faith in The Honest Kitchen was strengthened by proactive and forthcoming nature of  THK’s Founder and President, Lucy Postins. This is what she had to say about why the recall exists and how she’s working toward it never happening again.

From THK Founder and President, Lucy Postins

Dear Honest Kitchen Customer,

I’m writing to inform you that today we are voluntarily recalling five lots of our Verve, Zeal and Thrive products, which were produced between August and November 2012 and sold nationwide in the US and Canada via retail stores, mail order and online after August 2012.

We are taking this precautionary action after learning that one of our raw ingredients suppliers has recalled a batch of human-grade parsley that has the potential to contain Salmonella. The batch of parsley was shipped to us in 2012 and used in the five lots of finished Honest Kitchen products. We’ve included specific details about which lots are being recalled, directions on how you can obtain a full refund for the affected lots, and information on the potential effects of Salmonella in our
official recall press release.

At The Honest Kitchen, we are accountable for every pound of food that we produce and ultimately, when it comes to the way we do business, the buck stops with me. We are committed to always providing healthy, quality products that balance gentle production methods with a focus on safety and integrity, and along with my team, I have built our company over the last decade on the principles of honesty, transparency and openness.

We work closely with each of our suppliers to carefully source our human grade ingredients. Our finished products are made in a human food facility and held to the same high quality control standards as human food products. And, humans taste the products we make as part of our quality control and R&D processes.

As you may know, Salmonella can appear in many human foods, from pistachios to mangoes, but it trends particularly high in meats, eggs and leafy greens such as spinach, lettuce and herbs. To further protect you from the risks Salmonella can pose, we’re adding additional steps to our food safety program:

• All dehydrated leafy greens (parsley, basil, dandelion, spinach and alfalfa) will be steamed, to eliminate pathogens while maintaining our commitment to very gentle production that retains and protects the nutrients that nature provides.
• We will conduct additional tests for pathogens on all leafy greens when they arrive at our manufacturing facility.
• We are no longer purchasing any ingredients from the supplier that provided the parsley being recalled.

We are committed to continually evolving and adapting our procedures to prevent problems like this from occurring in the future. If you have questions, concerns, or frustrations, please call our toll free number, 1-866-437-9729 or send an email to info@thehonestkitchen.com. Customer service representatives will be available Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. PST to respond to inquiries.

I apologize for the inconvenience this situation has created and I promise that we will continue to operate our family business in a way that lives up to the high standards that you have always expected from us.

 

Thank you, Lucy, and to all the THK staff, for protecting our animals in every way conceivable, and for the precautionary measures you’ll now implement to make them even safer. My faith remains unshaken thanks to the honest foundation this company provides to all it’s customers, costumers who are treated like family because we all eat from the same THK table.

Please Check Your Inventory

If you have any of this product in hand, contact THK for a refund. More information can be found at The Honest Kitchen’s Quality Control FAQ.

Verve:
Item Code: V4, VR
Production Date: 8/20/12
Expiration Date: 8/20/13
Size: 4 lb. box, 10 lb. box
Lot Number: 2332A (batches 1-3)

Item Code: VR
Production Date: 11/1/12
Expiration Date: 11/1/13
Size: 10 lb. box
Lot Number: 3062A (batches 8 & 9)

Zeal:
Item Code: Z4, ZR
Production Date: 8/14/12
Expiration Date: 8/14/13
Size: 4 lb. box, 10 lb. box
Lot Number: 2272A (batches 1-5)

Item Code: ZR
Production Date: 9/21/12
Expiration Date: 9/21/13
Size: 10 lb. box
Lot Number: 2652A (batches 1-4)

Thrive:
Item Code: TM
Production Date: 9/18/12
Expiration Date: 9/18/13
Size: 1 oz. sample
Lot Number: 2622A (batch 3)

The people who stand behind The Honest Kitchen genuinely want your pets to be safe – just as much as you do. How could they not? Every day, they and their pets eat this food too.

I am a proud participant in The Honest Kitchen’s ally program. I joined because, after increased deception about what constitutes “healthy” food in the pet food industry, I’ve found a human grade, socially and environmentally conscious dog and cat food company that I can trust my pets’ life with. While I do receive samples and a discount through the program, I tell everybody I know about The Honest Kitchen because – bottom line – I want people to feel as good about what they feed their pets as I do.

The post An Honest Recall from The Honest Kitchen appeared first on This One Wild Life.

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