Pets Related News and Events Becoming a Foster Parent: Are You Ready? istock.com By Melissa Bahleda, M.A.T., C.B.C. Because I have been fostering shelter dogs for more than 20 years, I am often asked the same questions: "Why do you foster?" "How do you find the time?" "How do you choose the right animal?" "How do you know if they'll get along with your pets?" "How do you k... full article Patrick McDonnell Celebrates Shelter Animals in New Book Patrick McDonnell just might be an animal shelter's best friend. For the last decade, twice a year, he has put "shelter stories" front and center in his nationally syndicated comic strip, MUTTS Readers of more than 700 newspapers around the country have laughed—and probably teared up a time or two&mdas... full article Osceola, Missouri Animal Control Officer a Hero for Dogs April 26, 2008 The HSUS Animal Control Officer Latichia Duffy sees a dog off to a better life. On April 17, The Humane Society of the United States deployed personnel to assist with the transport of 47 dogs from an overcrowded shelter in Osceola, Mo. to Main Line Animal Rescue in Chester Springs, Pa. ... full article Adopting Older Pets Has Its Advantages April 25, 2008 The HSUS/Michelle Riley Angela Moxley with Tess. By Angela Moxley When they see me coming with my cocker spaniel mix in tow, the first thing people ask about is her name. The next thing they want to know is her age. And when they find out 10-year-old Tess only recently joined my household, their react... full article Spring into Summer with Our Top 10 Outdoor Activities for You and Your Dog April 18, 2008 istock.com Spring is here, and that means you and your dog will likely be spending more time outside. We've compiled 10 ideas to help you and your pooch get in on some safe, springtime fun. 1. Take a hike. Bring your dog hiking on a nearby wooded trail.2. Beach blanket bingo. Hang out at a dog... full article Pets For Life Enewsletter Gets a Makeover April 11, 2008 istock.com Heads up, pet lovers—Pets for Life is getting an extreme makeover. Next Sunday, you'll receive Pet of the Week, a new and improved version of this weekly enewsletter. Every Sunday, you'll meet a different featured pet chosen for his or her good looks, sass, sweetness or all-around sense ... full article Shelters Report Increase in Adoptions April 10, 2008 istock.com By Victoria Fisher On April 4, "The Oprah Winfrey Show" spotlighted the puppy mill industry and how it affects animals and animal care organizations. Millions of viewers got a first-hand look at some of the deplorable practices mills used to mass-produce purebred puppies and designer dogs. The... full article Gaining Ground in a Decades-Long Fight to Shut Down Puppy Mills April 4, 2008 The HSUS Puppy mills are mass dog-breeding operations. Today the nation turns its eyes to the horror of puppy mills, but for animal advocates and shelters across the country, the issue is—lamentably—very familiar. For more than four decades, The Humane Society of the Uni... full article Puppy Mills Dark, Hopeless Places April 4, 2008 The HSUS By Bernard Unti For a dog, a puppy mill is like doing hard time in solitary confinement. It's a hard knock life. No walks. No affection. No chance to relieve themselves outside of their cages, generally for years. They're fed and they're bred. And that's all.&nb... full article Oprah Winfrey Show Reports on the Horrors of Puppy Mills April 3, 2008 Watch Oprah April 4th! Don't miss The Oprah Winfrey Show airing Friday, April 4, when investigative reporter Lisa Ling will explore the horrors of puppy mills. The episode also features a conversation with HSUS President and CEO Wayne Pacelle. Find out when Oprah is on in your area, and see what the pu... full article Spinach-Loving, Blogging Cat Wins Spay Day USA Photo Contest March 28, 2008 Gabriella Pyle Gabriella Pyle's Grand Prize photo was taken on her cell phone camera. By Victoria Fisher Television aficionados would remember Gomer Pyle as the good-natured, naive gas station attendant with the noticeable accent on "The Andy Griffith Show." A certain cat from Walnut Creek, Calif., ... full article Pets and Foreclosures: Frequently Asked Questions March 25, 2008 istock.com Q: I'm facing foreclosure. How do I get a grant from The Humane Society of the United States? A: The HSUS is not in a position to grant funds to individuals directly. Rather, funds are being granted to animal shelters and rescue groups so that they can launch or broaden programs that... full article The HSUS Launches Grant Program to Help Families Care for Pets Through Tough Financial Times March 24, 2008 The HSUS is offering grants to local shelters and rescues to help families keep their pets. To help keep families and pets together through foreclosures and financial crisis, The Humane Society of the United States has created a new grant program for shelters and rescue groups. Pets have b... full article Marley: A Dog Like No Other March 14, 2008 John Grogan first began writing about his misbehaving dog, Marley, in his newspaper column. Readers loved reading the columns so much that Grogan decided to turn his many Marley stories into a book—"Marley & Me"—which became a bestseller. He's even written a children’s version of the book... full article HSUS Speaks Out on Iowa Mayor's Plan for Homeless Cats March 13, 2008 iStock.com By Nancy Peterson Randolph, a town of 200 people in southwestern Iowa, recently gained notoriety when its mayor announced a plan to deal with homeless cats. Mayor Vance Trively's plan offered $5 to anyone who brought cat they had captured to the Mayor's office. News Update: Bounty Rem... full article A Sweet Idea: Think of Rabbits This Easter March 7, 2008 istock.com Just like cats and dogs, there are thousands of homeless rabbits across the country. By Adam Goldfarb Easter: a holiday filled with plastic-wrapped, chocolate-coated goodness. Add to that adorable baby rabbits mascots, and nothing could be sweeter, right? It turns out, Easter ... full article Maffetts Care For Feral Cats Through Trap-Neuter-Return Program March 7, 2008 The Stiles family The Stiles family (from left, Eric, Nathan and MacKenzie), adopted Sparkey and Karma, two former feral cats who were helped through the TNR program. By Nancy Peterson Ann Maffett and her husband, Wayne, returned to Ann's five-acre childhood home in Tabernacle, N.J., when her fa... full article Spay Day '08: A Multi-Front Attack on Pet Overpopulation February 26, 2008 Spay Day USA Sponsors The HSUS's President and CEO Wayne Pacelle joins Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa at City Hall today for the signing of an historic spay/neuter ordinance. The measure, introduced by Councilmember Richard Alarcón and approved by the City Council last ... full article Man Charged in Virginia Puppy Mill Case February 22, 2008 A Virginia man accused of operating one of the largest puppy mills in the United States faces 40 misdemeanor charges in connection with allegations he deprived his dogs of food, water, shelter and emergency veterinary treatment, according to a Jan. 31 press release from the office of Commonwealth Attorney Grego... full article Beagles Deserve Praise and Protection: Avoiding Breed Fads February 15, 2008 Daisy was adopted from a shelter after a puppy mill discarded her. By Kathleen Summers Many hound lovers cheered last week when a high-spirited beagle named Uno won the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show. Uno won over the public with his carefree attitude and his mischievous antics, as he tried to munch on... full article Greyhound Advocate Works to Close Massachusetts Tracks February 12, 2008 The HSUS/Paula Jaworski A rescued greyhound takes a break. In this installment of our series profiling the people making a difference for animals in 2008 ballot initiatives for animals, meet Anne Albanese, who is helping to shut down greyhound racing i... full article Seven Indicted for Importing Contaminated Ingredients Used in Pet Food February 7, 2008 Nearly a year after a nationwide pet food recall affected millions of Americans and their pets, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) Office of Criminal Investigations announced a federal grand jury indictment against two Chinese nationals and the businesses they operate, along with a U.S. company and its pr... full article Moving On: Remember Your Pets When Relocating January 18, 2008 istock.com The HSUS urges all pet owners faced with foreclosure to take their pets with them when they relocate. It's a tragic occurrence that's happening every day in America—families are being forced out of their homes when banks foreclose on their mortgages. But just because a family loses... full article Opening Hearts and Minds to Help Chained Dogs January 18, 2008 Dogs Deserve Better Dogs Deserve Better delivered more than 7,300 valentines to chained or penned dogs last year. Thousands of chained dogs will receive a very special valentine this year, thanks to Dogs Deserve Better. The Pennsylvania-based non-profit that created the Have a Heart f... full article Online Pet Scams Soar January 4, 2008 istock.com Puppy money order scams often mention English bulldogs andYorkshire terriers. By Victoria Fisher We all know the Internet can be a great place to buy anything from books to DVDs and rare gifts, but it's not where you should go to buy a new pet. In addition to disreputable dealers ... full article