PETS AND ANIMALS

Animal rescue programs are often wonderful and beneficial organizations that help find loving homes for misplaced, mistreated, stray and unwanted pets. Without local animal rescues, America would be facing many more issues relating to stray cats and dogs than they do today.

The general purpose in animal rescue organizations is primarily to work hard in order to save the lives of pets in need. Sometimes, pets that have been in the shelter for too long are eligible for euthanization, and these organizations desire to see no animal euthanized. Rescue shelters strive to keep these loving pets alive, as they look for new caring families to take a new pet into their home.

There are many different kinds of rescue groups out there for different kinds of pets. For example, there is rabbit rescue, bird rescue, and there is even a squirrel rescue group! The primary kinds of animal rescue cat and dog rescue organizations. Some rescues have branches for specific breeds, such as Golden Retrievers Rescue, large dog rescue, or working dog rescue.

These rescue organizations normally work closely with animal shelters. Animal rescue organizations will normally accept pets from shelters or pet adoption agencies that have been there too long and have worn out their welcome. Sometimes when a shelter is unable to find a home, an animal rescue organization can. If for some reason it takes a good amount of time for a dog or cat to be adopted, animal rescues usually have a list of many foster families who are willing to take the pet into their own loving home until an adoption family can be found.

Animal rescue organizations primarily depend on donations and fund-raisers as their money source. They also depend heavily on caring volunteers who keep things running smoothly and in an orderly fashion. They also have foster family volunteers, who make a large difference in the lives of pets everyday by accepting these unfortunate animals into their homes.

While animals are staying at the local rescues, they often benefit greatly. Many rescues give the pets health attention, such as spaying or neutering, vaccinations, disease prevention medication, and other medical attention that might be necessary. These pets also often play with volunteers, doing things such as catch, tug-o-war, or simply running around and getting along with other dogs. Many times these pets undergo training sessions as well, so that when a caring family receives their new pet, they have little to worry about; they are getting a healthy, happy, and house-trained pet as a new addition into the family. They are also saving a valuable life in the process of animal adoption through a rescue group.

Because of these non-profit volunteer organizations, hundreds of animal lives have been saved annually by being rescued and then transferred into a loving new home. Without the faithful work of these volunteers, these organizations would not be possible. If you are interested in getting involved in your community, animal rescue is a wonderful way to help by donating your time or finances. Help your community, and help save precious animal lives by supporting your local animal rescue organization.



By: Melissa Turner

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A new wrinkle on an old scam is currently appearing on the Internet and in local newspapers throughout North America and is costing pet lovers hundreds of dollars. Pet adoption notices are appearing in classified ads online and in print and when pet lovers respond to the ads and wire money, no pets are shipped and the victim usually loses anywhere from $100 to $1000 or more. These scams are especially effective due to the almost universal appeal of pets and people’s willingness to help others in a tough situation, but as the old saying goes, ‘Let the buyer beware.’

How the Pet Shipping Scams Work

A pet lover sees an ad somewhere offering a pet for an unusually low price because the pet owner can no longer keep the pet due to the owner having moved to an African country where the climate is not suitable to the pet’s health. Other variations on this involve financial hardship, an unexpected move for employment, or that the pets’ lives are in peril from being abandoned. When these ads appear online, they look like legitimate websites and feature pictures of the pet mentioned in the ad, increasing the likeliness of a successful scam.

The pet lover responds to the ad and receives an email from a seemingly legitimate email address requesting a low sum of money, usually just over $100. Upon receipt of the money wire, the scammers generally request additional money for pet shipping insurance and customs processing costs. Because they have already wired money, victims are inclined to send additional funds to hedge their initial investment and help the animal. But once the funds are sent, no pets are shipped and the seller does not respond to any additional correspondence.

How to Avoid Pet Shipping Fraud

There are a number of red flags which should alert pet lovers to the nature of these scams, but their judgment is often clouded by their fondness for animals. To avoid becoming a victim, look for these warning signs:

- Wiring Money to an Overseas Address-Usually the scams involve sending money to Nigeria, Cameroon, or another African country.

- Unusually Low Prices-Purebred breeds and hard-to-find animals are usually offered at prices well below the market value.

- Follow-Up Requests for More Money-Once a modest sum has been sent, victims usually receive a reply shortly thereafter requesting a larger amount of money.

- Refundable Pet Insurance-Short-term pet insurance for over $1000 that will supposedly be refunded when the pet arrives is requested.

If you have fallen victim to these scams, you’re not alone. Hundreds of pet lovers have unwittingly become victims to pet shipping Internet fraud and the Council of Better Business Bureaus and American Kennel Club have issued warnings about it. Other than reporting the fraud to the authorities, there’s little that can be done about recouping the money, but legitimate pet shipping companies are doing their best to alert pet lovers from becoming new victims.



By: Rick Powell

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When it comes to adopting pets, there are many options. People have different reasons for adopting a pet, and often this reason influences where they look for their new friend. For some people, whether the animal is a purebred or not is important, so they will pursue breeders. Others are interested in saving an animal from the fate of a life without a loving family. These people will typically search animal rescue organizations or animal shelters. Both purebred and mixed breed animals can be found at these organizations, as well as older animals and animals that need special care. This guide will help you explore your options when considering the adoption of a new family pet.

Choosing a Breeder

You’ve decided that it’s time for your family to have a brand new pet. Everyone is ready to play with it, feed it, clean it, and care for it every day. You know that you want a purebred, and you’ve researched the genetic and behavioral disposition of every breed, and you know the breed that’s best for your family and your lifestyle. The final step is to find a good breeder.

First, avoid pet stores. It is a known fact that most pets that are offered in pet stores come from mass breeding facilities more commonly known as “puppy farms” or “pet farms.” This is not a business practice that you want to support. It’s best to do the ethical thing and avoid them at all cost.

There are several methods you can use to evaluate breeders. Initially, obtain a list of referrals of reputable breeders from your veterinarian or local dog shows. Always visit where the breeder raises the dogs or cats, and bring the following checklist in order to determine whether the breeder is a good one.

Does the breeder:



Raise the animals in a home, as part of a family?

Have animals that appear healthy and excited when visitors arrive?

Maintains a clean area where the animals are raised?

Shows you the animals parents when you visit?

Knowledgeable about the breed?

Can produce records of veterinary visits for the animals?

Provides references?

Offers guidance for caring for your new pet and for the particular breed?





Purebred Rescue

An even better option than buying a new animal from a breeder, is to invest in saving a purebred living at a purebred rescue group. Purebred breeding groups are wonderful organizations that accept purebred animals that are typically abandoned, found as strays, or from local animal shelters. Purebred rescue organizations typically have a great deal of knowledge about the breed they work with, and usually offer a great deal of guidance for adoptive families.

When you purchase a purebred from a rescue group, you can feel good about having saved an animal from living a life without a loving family. You can find local rescue groups in your area through the newspaper classified section. A great resource for rescuing purebred dogs is to search through the contact list at the American Kennel Club. Another great resource for both cats and dogs is AllAboutDogsandCats.com, which provides a list of hundreds of national breed rescue clubs and organizations.

Animal Shelters

An animal shelter is the best source where you can find a family pet. Family shelters are home to many wonderful animals who mostly are only there because of the humans who previously owned them, not for any fault of their own. Often life changes, unrealistic expectations, or other reasons force families to give up their animals to animal shelters. Half of these animals end up euthanized because there simply isn’t enough space. This is why, obtaining your family pet from an animal shelter is the greatest thing you can do, and it is something you can feel very good about.

It is a common misconception that the animals at animal shelters are all mixed-breeds, poorly behaved, or poorly kept. While this may hold true for a minority of them, many of the animals found at shelters around the country are actually purebreds, nicely kept, and very well behaved. Many shelters even offer adoption counseling, training classes, and even discounted or free neutering. Some great resources to locate animal shelters around the country include Pets 911, 1-800-Save-A-Pet, or Petfinder. Another good resource is the classified section of your local newspaper, or the yellow pages under “Animal Shelters”.

A Pet Portrait of Your New Pet

Once you discover that special pet that will become your friend for life, there is no better way to celebrate than to commemorate the beauty and overwhelming “cuteness” of your new family friend with a painted pet portrait.

Pet portraits are sweeping the country as a very popular form of recognizing how much your animal friend means to you and your family. Pet portraits can be especially meaningful because when you see a pet portrait on the wall, it is a statement that this animal isn’t just “another animal”, but it shows that your pet is a loved and cherished member of the family.

The best pet portraits in the country are created by artist Nikky Hughes of Los Angeles. Nikky was classically trained at the Mission Renaissance art school, and she focuses on capturing not only the beauty, but the unique character of each animal. Her artwork is soft and romantic, and a portrait of your pet by Nikky will become a family heirloom for many generations.



By: Nikky Hughes: Pet Portraits

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