Paws 'n' Claws

Have you seen these missing Huskies?

Laurel Babcock — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 20:19:11 +0000

This plea was forwarded to me, so I’m giving you the info I have. If you live around this area, please read and respond if you have info. Thanks. A lost pet is a heart-breaking thing.

Have you seen these dogs? We are desperately trying to bring them home. We have been out searching for them on foot day and night, walking the woods and the trails, following every lead and phone call, putting signs up everywhere and living on little if any sleep. We’ve even hired professional dog trackers to help us. Shane and Timber have been missing quite some time now, and we’re praying that some kind Samaritan has found them and is taking care of them. Do you have have them in your care? Please, if you find them or any other dog that might be lost or abandoned, take them to any vet and ask the vet’s staff to check them for a microchip if they do not have a collar and tags on.

We were separated on the Hastings Trail in Hastings on Hudson by the Rowley Bridge. Shane is a white Husky and German Shepherd mix with a blue right eye and a brown left eye. Timber is a rust and white/crème Husky with blue eyes. Both were wearing collars at the time and are microchipped. These two boys are very loved and deeply missed. We’re so worried about them, especially now that hunting season is beginning, and they could still be in the woods. If you have seen them or have seen anyone with dogs that look like them, please call anytime day or night. They are friendly but might be very cautious and timid, so approach them slowly, please do not chase them. If they are roaming they can travel far and quickly. So please, we need your help to bring them home. Shane and Timber are loved and cherished, and our hearts are broken and our lives empty without them.

Please call 917-554-7307, ask for Philomena, with any information, sightings, if you have the dogs or know anything about where they are…

New additions

Laurel Babcock — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 19:58:54 +0000

Brother blog leader Carp just made my day by sending the most adorable photo of his new nephews (I assume they’re nephews, not nieces, based on their names. Carp’s a great reporter, but an e-mail slacker when it comes to info). Anyway, thanks buddy. I give you his sister’s new family members, Monty and Junior (the little one). My, there is so little in the world that is cuter than puppies!

Nora, live Saturday from Westchester Cat Show

Laurel Babcock — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 12:00:17 +0000

Just a reminder to tune to P&C tomorrow to watch Nora the piano-playing cat, who will be live streamed at the Westchester Cat Show in White Plains. She’s the 2009 ASPCA Cat of the Year! I’ll post again tomorrow with the link. The fun starts at 1 p.m.

Here’s how the event is supposed to go down according to my cat show contact. It’s being billed as Shelter Aid, like Willie Nelson’s “Farm Aid” concerts:

Betsy Alexander, who is Nora’s human assistant (owner, mother, etc.) will be with us at the County Center
to accept Nora’s award. Nora will be with us via the magic of the Web. After the award presentation, Betsy will play guitar and sing a song (or two). We will project the live video call with Nora on a screen for all to see, and our hope is that Nora, seeing and hearing Betsy and the crowd, will be inspired to join in and play the piano.

The proceedings will be broadcast live and video streamed for all the world to see. It will also be recorded so
people who missed the live version can watch the recording. Folks then can, if they wish to, go to www.westchester-feline.org and make a contribution to Shelter Aid. Any donations received will be given to shelters and rescue groups.

Me here again: This is a new and big undertaking for the show. I hope it goes well. Sadly, I can’t be there because of a scheduling conflict, but I hope you all tune in, and help….
P.S. I love cat people….only they (we) would refer to a cat’s owner as their “human assistant!”

Gucci rules (and I don’t mean the clothes)

Laurel Babcock — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 16:30:21 +0000

Wow, one look at this first photo tells you who rules the roost in this house! Thanks to P&C friend MAKO from the brother blog for sending these pictures of his “little son.” As MAKO reports,”I love him dearly and he’s the best fuzzy companion!!! His name is Gucci and he turned 10 years old in July. He has himself a nice cute girl friend too.” Friends, I give you, Gucci!

I practically hear the theme from “Jaws” in my head when I look at that picture. Here he’s just a big fluff ball.

He’s ready for his close-up!

MAKO, thanks again. I am digging Gucci!

Don’t forget your pets next week

Laurel Babcock — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 15:00:24 +0000

Here’s a thought you’ll only find on blogs like this. On Thanksgiving, when you’re giving thanks, do you ever mention your cuddly pal? Yes, health, family, friends, a job, yada yada yada, all important (I don’t mean to be snarky here, really, besides, when am I ever snarky!? Moi?) but I can’t ever recall, moi included, hearing someone say, I am thankful for Fido or Fluffy because…..
Well, that just ain’t right.
We take pictures, blog, talk and do everything about our pets but probably don’t pause to give thanks. I do know that I’m thankful for Stanley and Cup (and every pet I’ve had before them) every single day. Raise your hands if you’ve ever come in the door after a lousy day and your heart didn’t lift at least a little bit at the sight of those four legs and tail greeting you with happy love.
So, thanks to P&C contributor John for sharing this with me so I can share with you. According to the author of this story, here are five reasons to be thankful for your pet:
1. My pets comfort me.
2. My pets understand.
3. My pets help me grow.
4. My pet cuddles.
5. My pet amuses me.

Read the full story here, then tell me, why are you thankful for your pets? And maybe, next Thursday, you’ll give them a shout out….but careful with the table food treats! (that’s another post to come….)

Puppy mill puppies rescued

Laurel Babcock — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 23:27:32 +0000

More news today from the Best Friends Animal Society:

Approximately 150 cast-off puppy mill dogs from a number of Midwest states are safe today after being transported by Best Friends Animal Society and delivered to North Shore Animal League America. After thorough medical evaluations, much-needed grooming, and a lot of TLC, they eventually will be available for adoption at the Animal League and through local rescue groups, hopefully in time to spend the holidays with their new families.

After a long, cross-country journey, they were delivered this morning to the Animal League in Port Washington by Best Friends Animal Society, which arranged for the release and provided transport of the dogs. While the majority of the dogs will remain at North Shore Animal League America, two other animal welfare organizations—Animal Rescue Fund of the Hamptons, Wainscott, NY and Noah’s Ark Animal Welfare Association, Ledgewood, NJ—will provide homes for the dogs until they are adopted.

Among the rescued dogs Best Friends delivered, are adults that were used for breeding, adolescents and puppies, including various breeds such asdachshunds, Westies, French bulldogs, poodles, Boston terriers, beagles, Brussels griffons and bichon frises.

“Just because the puppy mill staff decide that these dogs are no longer profitable doesn’t mean they deserve to be discarded. We are glad to offer them a second chance at a new life,” said Kelli Ohrtman, campaign specialist for Best Friends Animal Society, which funded the transport of the dogs to the New York area through its “Pup My Ride” transportation program. “Many of these dogs will be walking on grass, playing with toys, eating treats and being held and cuddled for the first time in their lives.”

The rescue and transport of the dogs are part of Best Friends Animal Society’s “Puppies Aren’t Products” national campaign, which also targets the retail end of the puppy mill industry through informational demonstrations at New York puppy emporiums. Since 2008, the peaceful pet store demonstrations have caused some stores to only offer for sale pets that come from rescue groups and shelters.

The Animal League will announce later in the week when the animals will be available for adoption and advised interested individuals to visit the Animal League website for details.

Help is just a text away

Laurel Babcock — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 21:17:52 +0000

This just in from the Best Friends Animal Society: If only rescued cats and dogs could send text messages.
Certainly they would be thumbing in their donations to Best Friends Animal Society, which in 25 years has helped tens of thousands of animals.
In order to expand its donor base to a more technology-conscious audience, Best Friends is moving to the forefront of charitable giving technology by announcing a mobile giving program with mGive.com that provides a much more direct, personal way to make a donation. You simply send a text message that donates $5 to Best Friends Animal Society.
People can get involved by texting the word PETS to the number 90999 to give $5. When prompted, replying with YES confirms the donation. Donations will be billed on their regular cell phone bill, making this a simple way to help save lives. The goal is to raise $50,000 with the new micro-donation program and obtain as many as 10,000 additions to the organization’s mobile database.
“Every day 12,000 dogs and cats are killed in shelters across the country simply because there is no home for them,” says Claudia Perrone, marketing manager. “By entering into mobile giving, we hope to raise awareness by communicating with more people in a relevant way. Text donating is an easy way to help support the life-saving work of Best Friends, and help us work toward a time when homeless pets are a thing of the past.”
The program is designed to educate and engage individuals regarding Best Friends Animal Society by providing information on how Best Friends is sustaining its “No More Homeless Pets®” mission. Interested persons will be sent three text messages per month to keep the animal welfare conversation going, while a fourth will be a message that invites people to donate just $5.
Promotion of the program will be through a 15-second video spot in New York’s Times Square that will reach approximately 90 million consumers during the month of December. There will also be a street promotion that includes chalk stencils in Times Square, along with a mobile-giving facebook application.
“By going mobile, Best Friends has an instant and convenient way to continue the conversation with our supporters, keep them up to date on breaking news, and provide them with easy ways to take action on behalf of homeless pets.

Unlikely buddies

Laurel Babcock — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 18:00:40 +0000

This has been floating around awhile, but finally made it’s way across the country to me. The Jesusita fire in Santa Barbara , Ca., this summer caused these two to take shelter together. The fawn is 3 days old here and the bobcat about 3 weeks.
The fawn came from somewhere in the fire and the bobcat from Carpentaria. They immediately bonded and snuggled together under a desk in the Santa Barbara County Dispatch Office for several hours.

Animal Planet reported the kitten was rescued near Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s ranch, where it was dehydrated and near death. They rescued the fawn during a wildfire. Although wild animals, especially of separate species, are never placed
together due to regulations, in this emergency situation, they had no choice. During the mayhem of the fire, they were forced to put animals anywhere they could, since they had run out of crates large enough for the fawn. The kitten ran to the fawn, and it was instant bonding.

Aren’t kids so much smarter than grown-ups?

Why should two-footers have all the fun….

Laurel Babcock — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 16:26:58 +0000

Yes, it’s that time of year again…..get your pet’s picture taken with Santa! The Putnam Humane Society is holding its annual fundraiser, and its not just limited to cats and dogs. Bring your bird, guinea pig, reptile … even the kids! Photos are printed immediately after their taken and no appointment necessary. The suggested donation is $12, plus $5 for additional prints. Here’s the where and when:

Saturday, Nov. 21, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., Brewster Feed Barn, Route 22, Brewster, NY (in the A&P Shopping Center).
Saturday, Dec. 12, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., Mahopac Feed Barn, Route 6, Mahopac, NY (also in an A&P Shopping Center, two stores down from Fraser Hardware).
For more info, visit www.puthumane.org

Cute sleeping pet competition

Laurel Babcock — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 18:31:01 +0000

I’ve often asked is there anything cuter than a sleeping kitty because when I see Stanley sleeping, well, it’s just the cutest, and if you’ve seen her pictures here you just must agree. But P&C friend and contributor ilb thinks he’s found something cuter…a sleeping puppy…namely his Yorkie Casey was he was a puppy. I say, blue ribbons for all! And do love the way Casey’s big puppy ear looks in this pic.

Do you have any sleeping pet pics that you think can best Stanley and Casey?