BlogPaws - The Pet Social Media Resource

Giving Month At BlogPaws: Change The Life Of One Animal

2013-12-09T05:30:00-07:00

Post by Blog Manager Robbi Hess

When I see the pictures that scroll through my Facebook and Twitter feeds of pets in need of adoption, those that have been abused and stories of overcrowded shelters, it's all I can do to not "unfriend" or not follow those pages. It breaks my heart and honestly, if I could I'd probably bring even more pets into the house than I already have. I know I can't -- and not just because the Diva Poodle Henrietta would lose her mind -- but because I know I need to give attention to the pets I already have and worry about being spread too thin. Four cats, two dogs and a bearded dragon take a lot of time (and money in vet bills) and attention.

What can I do? I certainly don't want to lose the ability to share posts with people and enhance the chances of a dog, cat, bunny, ferret, horse or guinea pig finding a new home. The more often and the wider the audience you share those posts with the higher the chance those pets will find a forever home, right?

What's an animal lover to do? Could you get involved in any of these ideas?

Virtually adopt a pet. Contact your local pet shelter (or breed rescue) and ask if there is one pet you could "virtually adopt." By doing this you will likely get a photo of that pet and get updates on him or her. You would want to send either cash donations or donations of items the shelter has on its wish list. You could be involved in spreading the story and pictures of that pet you've adopted. Making a difference in the life of one pet seems less daunting to me than "trying to save the world."
Volunteer at a shelter. If you know you simply cannot work with the kittens or cats because you'd be bringing them all home with you, then volunteer to help with the dogs. Get your kids involved -- it's a great way to teach the spirit of volunteerism and caring for others.
Ask your friends and family to either give you cash which you will donate to a shelter or rescue or ask them to donate to the rescue in your name. What better holiday gift than to give to animals in need?
Ask your church, religious group or even professional organizations to which you belong if they'd be willing to donate items to your local shelter. Shelters need items that include towels and blankets (they can be used or worn) newspapers, kitty litter, food, cleaning supplies (make sure you find cleaning supplies that are pet friendly). Kick off your own fundraising or donation gathering effort.
If you do the above, contact your local newspaper and tell them that XYZ Group came together and are making a donation to the shelter and a) would they come and cover the passing of the donation or b) you could send in a press release with a photo to the local paper. As a former newspaper reporter that covered lifestyle topics, those feel good calls or submitted press releases were welcome fodder. Additionally, if it's a "slow news day" or if the paper is looking to fill a space with some good news around the holidays, they may follow up on your press release submission and do a story on the shelter, bringing it even more attention.
Do you have a pet that might be ideal as a therapy animal? Check into the requirements to have your pet deemed a service dog or therapy dog. Once your pet has earned his or her designation and passed the required classes you can give back by visiting senior citizens at nursing homes or hospitals. I've seen both the calming effect that these animals have on the patients as well as the looks of pure joy and contentment when a dog climbs up on a patient's lap and that patient can pet him. There is nothing quite like the unconditional love a pet gives.

What will you add to your holiday to-do list when it comes to pets in need?

BlogPaws Celebrates Giving Month This December

2013-12-03T05:30:00-07:00

Post by Blog Manager Robbi Hess

With the frenzy of Black Friday and CyberMonday behind us what can we, as pet lovers, do to celebrate Giving Month? Believe it or not, at the top of the list is to gift a pet loving/pet blogging friend or family member with a registration for BlogPaws 2014. No, this is not simply shameless self promotion.

Attendance at a BlogPaws conference can help the pet lover or pet blogger in your life (or yourself, for that matter) focus his or her talents on their pet blogging niche. BlogPaws conferences bring together pet lovers as well as those who run pet rescues and shelters -- pet bloggers can work hand-in-hand with rescues and shelters to help give pets better lives.

How can you help or get involved in Giving Month? Let me count the ways:

Offer to housesit for a neighbor's pet if you know he or she will be gone for a long day of holiday shopping. You don't have to spend the entire day with the pet, but a pop in and a quick walk and pat on the head will be much appreciated by a lonely pooch.
Are you like me and when you get a coupon you need to buy as many items with that coupon as you possibly can? If so, will your cats ever truly make their way through all of those bags of treats before the "best if used before" date?" If you don't think they will, gather the additional treats up and donate them to your local shelter.
Do you see the numerous adoptable dogs, cats, bunnies and other animals that scroll through your Facebook feed? Even if you don't live in the area where these pets are and where they need to be adopted from you could share that link on your social media sites. The more shares and the more exposure these adoptable pets receive the higher their chance of finding a forever home.
What is on the wish list of your local shelter or animal rescue? Ask and then play Santapaws and drop off an item or two.
Do you have a few spare hours a week? Would you love to have a pet (or another pet!) but simply don't have the room or time? Then why not give some of your time and love to a pet in need at a shelter. Simply sitting and petting a kitty or walking and playing with a dog can help relieve that pet's stress and could make him or her more adoptable.
Do you have room in your home to foster a pet? Ask if your shelter offers a foster program and perhaps you could bring a dog or a cat home for a week or a weekend (again to help them get away from the stress of a shelter) and spend time one-on-one with humans again. A pet that has been fostered may be more readily adopted because he or she is still comfortable in a family setting.
Do you have a skill you could offer to the shelter or rescue? Can you blog? Manage social media? Take adorable pictures of pets and put them on a website or Instagram or Pinterest as a way to help people see what pets are available? Do you want to get your hands dirty and help clean kennels and litter boxes? Call your shelter or rescue and ask what they need help with then volunteer.
If you have kids why not talk with them and ask them how they'd feel about geting one fewer present this year and using that money (even offer them a dollar amount, say $10) and shop for an item on the shelter's wish list. Involving your children in "giving moments" could foster a lifelong love of both animals and of giving back.
Do you have fantastic organizational or fund raising skills? Why not put those to good use and host a fundraiser for your local shelter. Is there a pet you've seen that truly needs medical help or other assistance for which you could help fundraise? Remember, you don't have to save the world, but you can save lives one pet at a time.

What can you do to give back this month and every month? We would love to hear about your efforts! Join the conversation in the Writer's Group in the BlogPaws Community.

Don't forget: All month long we are having a Holiday Sweepstakes which you can enter by registering for BlogPaws 2014 in Vegas!

BlogPaws Salutes Military Dogs on Veterans Day

2013-11-11T11:22:29-07:00

by: Carol Bryant

Some gave all. Some never returned. On this Veterans Day and always, we bow our heads and raise our American flag to honor those who fought for our freedoms, defended our honor, and showed bravery in the face of adversity, then and now.

Recently, the U.S. Military Dog Teams National Monument dedication ceremony was held October 28 at Joint Base San-Antonio Lackland. Check out the video below and then keep reading to learn about other dogs who gave all in the name of their call to duty.

Did you know about these 5 dogs who served valiantly for their country:

Rin Tin Tin – best known and remembered for movies and television fame, when German Shepherd Rin Tin Tin came to the United States, this breed was not widely known. Rin Tin Tin was actually the puppy of German war dogs and found in 1918 by an American Captain in Lorraine, France. He was found in an abandoned war dog station. Although not directly involved in war himself, Rin Tin Tin went on to movie fame for Warner Brothers.

William the Conquerer, or Willie – the dog of General Patton. Patton was a lover of bull terriers and is it any wonder that he acquired his first during World War I? The dog was appropriately named Tank. During World War II, Patton acquired Willie, a white bull terrier. The two went everywhere together. Patton died in December of 1945 from injuries sustained in a car accident. Willie lived his years out with Patton’s wife and daughters. A twelve-foot high bronze statue of the pair is erected at the Patton Memorial Museum in Chiriaco Summit, California.

Kaiser – the first Marine Scout Dog killed in action in Vietnam (July, 1966). It is believed that about 500 dogs and 250 handlers were killed during the Vietnam War. Marine Lance Corporal Alfredo Salazar was responsible for Kaiser and said, “He came to me and licked my hand. From then on we were a team.” And a team they were. They participated in more than 30 combat patrols and dozens of major operations. In July of 1966, Salazar and Kaiser were leading a patrol through heavy brush. Kaiser was hit almost immediately by heavy fire and hand grenades. Salazar said, “He tried to lick my hand but then he died.” He was carried back to the company area and buried under a shade tree. They named the area Camp Kaiser in his honor.

Fluffy – Iraq Special Forces Working Dog – A unit of twelve men deployed to northern Iraq requested help from Kurdish allies in the form of a dog. What they were given was an abused German Shepherd former Iraqi police dog, weighing only 31 pounds and severely underweight with missing teeth. After about 2 weeks of training (not nearly the amount most dogs receive), Fluffy was put to work. He guarded Special Forces soliders during missions. Sgt. 1^st Class Russell Joyce said, “He’s been in harm’s way and shot at more time than anyone on my team.” Fluffy retired and fears arose he may be euthanized because he had to stay behind in Iraq (due to customs and health laws). Joyce urged Senators, the Pentagon and the State Department to gain public support. In the 1993, Fluffy flew from Iraq to Germany and then onto Charleston Air Force Base in South Carolina, where he lived out hisyears with Sgt. Joyce.

Stubby – hero dog of World War I – So touching and amazing is the story of Stubby that his military gear on display at the Smithsonian in Washington, D.C. Stubby’s journey begins with the Great War in Europe. Because times were not good in France, the American Forces were viewed as second class soldiers and not to be trusted. Stubby lifted morale by visiting soldiers and warning them of gas attacks such as waking sleeping sentry. On one occasion, Stubby flushed out a German spy in the Argonne region by clamping down on the seat of his pants until backup could arrived. He was a lifetime American Legion member and marched in each of their parades until his passing. He has perhaps one of the longest and greatest tributes in the form of an obituary, which appeared in a three-column tribute of the New York Times. Read it here. http://www.ct.gov/mil/cwp/view.asp?a=1351&q=257958

Learn more about the U.S. War Dog Memorial here: http://www.aetc.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123368596

Aging Parents, Older Pets: Who's Going To Care For Fido or Fluffy?

2013-10-22T05:30:00-06:00

Guest post by Blog Manager Robbi Hess

My almost-80-year-old mother broke two ribs last Thursday... What does this have to do with BlogPaws? She has an almost 13-year-old Chihuahua, half blind, mostly deaf, never-overly-friendly to strangers, named Chico. As my mom was in the hospital discussions started between my siblings as to "who's going to take care of Chico?"

Prior to my arriving at the hospital it was determined that one sibling couldn't take him because his Mastiff prefers to be the only dog in the house, another sibling said, "we could either take him to the pound or have him put to sleep..." What?! First off, what are the chances of a dog his age,and let's face it his attitude, and health issues getting adopted? Probably none. Putting him to sleep because our mom might be laid up for a while and be unable to walk him? Really?!

Even though I currently have two dogs (and Henrietta does not take kindly to new dogs), four cats and a baby bearded dragon the choice was a no-brainer: Chico would come and live with us.

Chico was my dad's dog and he never really cared for anyone else in the family. When my dad passed away earlier this year, Chico eventually bonded with my mother. He has been through a lot in this past year; and now he is moved into our home aka zoo, confused, scared and probably wondering where "his" family went. Chico is also accustomed to living with rather quiet adults and having no other pets in the house -- this is a major adjustment for him.

All of this got me thinking: What arrangements do you, or your family, have in place for caring for a family pet if the owner no longer can? Is taking him or her to the pound an option? Would you have him put to sleep because he's an inconvenience? I know from my own experience, facing breast cancer surgery, I made certain that my family would commit to keeping Henrietta if something happened to me during surgery. I needed to know she would be cared for by people who understood her quirks and her need to be the queen of the castle.

What can you do -- today -- to make certain your pets or the pets of family members are cared for in the event of a life-changing emergency? Here are my tips:

Have a family meeting. Since I am dealing with an aging parent my siblings and I probably should have talked with my mom beforehand to talk about arrangements for Chico.
Make certain all family members know which veterinarian the animal usually goes to and has access to the vet records.
Does the pet need certain types of food? Does he eat at a specific time of day?
Does the pet have any medical issues or the need for injections or medications? If you're going to take him into your home you need to be prepared for the care involved.
What are the pet's exercise needs? If you're accustomed to caring for a poodle and are all of a sudden faced with caring for a Lab are you up to the different challenges it may bring?
If you're going to be the family member charged with taking on the responsibility of this new pet, why not do a few trial run weekends and bring her to your house. That way, your pets can meet her and if something happens and the new pet comes to live with you it won't be a completely unfamiliar environment.

Bottom line: A pet is a lifelong commitment, not one to be brushed off once a family medical emergency arises. Do I have a "relationship" with Chico? Not really. He liked being with "his" humans and we were not those humans. Do I feel that this poor dog has been through enough loss and changes this past year and that he deserves to be cared for until my mother can care for him again? You bet I do. Do I know that my mother can rest easy and recuperate knowing we are caring for Chico just as she would? Again, you bet I do. Do I think that my mom's recovery may have been hindered if she'd had to cope with the idea of having lost her dog -- her last connection to my dad -- because of her injury? Yes.

Please, don't wait. Talk to your family today and make arrangements for your pets in case something happens to you or to an aging parent. Making decisions while in crisis mode is not the way to operate.

What Did You Miss Last Week In BlogPaws? A Lot!

2013-10-19T06:00:00-06:00

Post by Blog Manager Robbi Hess

I love the weekly round up. It gives me the opportunity to go back and look more thoroughly at the posts that had gone live. Like the rest of you I juggle work, my own blogging, caring for Henrietta the Diva Poodle, and life in general and somedays I skim the posts -- not fully getting the entire impact and information being imparted.

On a Saturday or Sunday morning when I go back and look at the posts of my favorite pet bloggers or write the weekly BlogPaws round up I am able to relax (If dealing with breast cancer has taught me one lesson, it's to take time off and that is what I do on the weekends!)

If you're ready to settle in and relive what we posted for you last week, now's the time to grab your coffee, tea or soda and get to it:

Because we are celebrating and helping to raise awareness of animal adoption during our October theme of Adopt a Pet, we provided a post for any of you pet lovers who know you want to do something to help your local shelter. Even if you can't adopt there are still myriad ways in which you can be involved and bring some comfort to a homeless animal in need.
As BlogPaws 2014 draws ever closer we put out our call for speakers for BlogPaws 2014. Do you have a particular area of expertise that you'd like to share with our Pet Bloggers? Let us know.
There are oh so many things you could be addicted to: coffee, chocolate, Breaking Bad or potato chips. One of the best things we pet lovers can be addicted to is our pets, don't you agree! Read this post to see if you have any of the "symptoms."
For Wordless Wednesday we asked you to show us pictures of your adopted fur babies and boy did you come through! What an amazing array of pets!
BlogPaws 2014 or Bust winners were announced. Our Twitter contest drew in fabulous entrants and tweets that we just loved!
Do you love infographics? We do. We have an Adopt A Pet Month infographic on the site that we'd love for you to share on your blog or website. You will find the code to use at the bottom of the post. Help us spread the word about pet adoption and its rewards!
Another day another blog post, am I right? If you find yourself craving human interaction or in need of inspiration it's easy to do. Shake up your routine. Get out of the house. Interact with others. Take a walk in the park and watch inspiration come flowing back in!

We love hearing from our readers. What do you want to see us write about? What topics are near and dear to your hearts? What social media or blogging tips, tricks and tools do you feel you need guidance on or with? Comment here and let us know!