Still not quite right!

Our Web site still isn't quite right, but at least we have some basic information up. We're hoping to have an upgrade at the end of May.

In the meantime, a note for the Fans of Barbaro, who are all pulling for the safety of the horses and jockeys in the Kentucky Derby today.

I know we all wish these beautiful horses -- and their riders -- a safe ride, too!

Web site is back up!

We're live again at www.ourplacetopaws.com and faye@ourplacetopaws.com.

Be sure to check back for some new content next month -- and we're still looking for cat, dog and other animal photo submissions for the next newsletter and reader photo spotlight!

Web site still down, but coming back soon!

We're still having some difficulties with our Web site transfer, but the blog will be going until and after our Web site and email are back up.

We're hoping to post a lot of new things on the site at the end of May, and another newsletter will be published at the end of the month, so stay tuned!

In the meantime, if you'd like to submit your cat, dog and animal photos, you can send them to faye@flrcommunications.com.

President Signs Animal Fighting Bill Into Law

This just in from the Humane Society of the United States:

Dear Faye,

I wanted to be the first to share with you some fantastic news. Today President Bush signed the Animal Fighting Prohibition Enforcement Act into law. This is the culmination of an almost six-year campaign by The Humane Society of the United States and our allies to enact meaningful federal penalties for animal fighting.

The law takes effect immediately. It provides felony penalties for interstate commerce, import and export related to animal fighting activities, including commerce in cockfighting weapons. It will make it much harder for criminals who engage in dogfighting and cockfighting to continue their operations. Each violation of the federal law may bring up to three years in jail and up to a $250,000 fine for perpetrators.

We are fortunate to have had steadfast Congressional leadership on this issue. But this campaign would not have been a success without your tireless efforts. Thank you again to each of you who sent emails, made phone calls, wrote letters and visited your federal legislators on Capitol Hill and in their home districts.

This victory reminds us to never to give up, and that there are rewards for compassionate action and perseverance. Please share this tremendous news with others and let them know that you had a part in making it happen.

Sincerely,

Wayne Pacelle
President & CEO
The Humane Society of the United States

Web site down

Hello!

Our Web site and email at www.ourplacetopaws.com are experiencing some technical difficulties, but they will be back soon, and we have plans for some new information to be launched soon on the site. Until then, look at these gorgeous wolf designs on, of all things, an ostrich egg.

For more information about the artist and her animal portraits, including commissioned pet portraits, visit www.deybydeystudio.com. Peggy Dey has been lifelong animal lover and activist, and her own home is full of rescued strays. I support her business and hope you will, too, if you have need of a portrait, holiday cards or wildlife art prints.

Thank you!

Help save our wolves!

I just took action to stop one of the worst wolf massacres in decades -- and I hope you will, too. It's easy to help. Just go to the website below to take action:

http://action.defenders.org/northernrockieswolves

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has proposed to strip wolves of crucial Endangered Species Act protections in the Northern Rockies. Such a plan would allow Wyoming and Idaho to move forward with plans to eliminate as many wolves as possible within their borders.
Please help me save these magnificent animals. Tell the federal government to maintain federal protections for gray wolves by sending a message at the website below:

http://action.defenders.org/northernrockieswolves

Help generate 200,000 comments to federal officials -- take action at the website above, then forward this message on to others who care about wildlife.

These wolves are in trouble. But, together, I know we can save them. I hope you'll help...

Thanks!

Very Special Canine Moms Looking For Permanent Homes

Patterson, NY – April 30, 2007 – As Mother’s Day approaches, Guiding Eyes for the Blind is seeking permanent, loving homes for some very special moms – their exceptional brood dogs who will give birth to the next generation of guide dogs.

“Guiding Eyes broods provide such a vital service to the blind community. Their puppies will grow up to be guide dogs and allow safe travel, independence and new opportunities for vision-impaired people,” said Vikki Iwanicki, program manager at the non-profit’s Canine Development Center (CDC, http://www.cdc.guidingeyes.org/) in Patterson, NY. “We don’t keep our dogs in a kennel environment. That is why we’re looking for more homes for our breeding dogs. We want them to live happy, active lives in loving homes, and return to the center periodically for breeding.”

Most of the dogs in the program are Labrador Retrievers, although some German Shepherds and Golden Retrievers also participate. Prior to being placed in the Brood/Stud Program, the dogs are born and socialized with other puppies at the Center. They are then raised and trained by volunteer “Puppy Raisers” across the Northeast who teach them basic obedience and house manners, and socialize them in a variety of environments. Those dogs that have an exceptional temperament and good health, are selected to be Broods or Studs for the program. These “cream of the crop” dogs are usually available for placement at about 16 months old.

In order to qualify to take home a Brood, volunteers must live within an hour and a half of Guiding Eyes’ Canine Development Center in Patterson. They must agree to exercise the dog for three miles every day, keep the dog in excellent physical shape and follow some simple rules (such as keeping the dog on leash in any unfenced area). The dogs are great with children and other pets, and are highly adaptable to most living situations.

Guiding Eyes provides free veterinary care, including all flea, tick and heartworm preventative medication, free instruction in dog handling and obedience, and a 24-hour veterinary hotline. Once the dog is retired from the program, Guiding Eyes will neuter or spay the animal at no charge, and the foster family can adopt it as their own.

Iwanicki and her husband, John, even provide a home for a brood themselves. “We have loved every minute of our time with our precious girl, Hattie,” said John. “She has brought us immeasurable joy and has transformed us from couch potatoes to avid walkers. But more important, we have loved seeing her puppies grow up to be guide dogs. When you see the enormous difference that a guide dog brings to the life of a blind person, you can't help feeling proud of the small part you played in getting them there. I highly recommend the program to anyone who is looking for a furry family member and wants to do something to help others."

About eighty percent of the dogs in the Brood/Stud Program are female, and are brought to the CDC when they are in heat or to give birth. But there are males too, known as “studs”, that are also looking for homes. Volunteers interested in harboring a stud should live within one hour of Patterson, NY given the short notice that they may have when their stud’s services are needed. They are also required to exercise the dog three miles each day, keeping it healthy and happy.

“Many fosters tell me their male dogs really enjoy going to the Center for their ‘dates.’” Iwanicki laughed.

Perhaps one of the most fulfilling aspects of the program is that fosters are invited to the graduation ceremony of any of their “grandpuppies” that graduate as guide dogs.

“When I saw my first grandpuppy graduate as a guide dog I thought I would burst with pride!” said Iwanicki, “It’s immensely satisfying to know that Hattie’s puppies will grow up to change the world for a blind person.”

If you are interested in fostering a dog as part of the Guiding Eyes for the Blind Brood/Stud Foster program, please contact Linda Hines at 845-230-6424, or toll free at 1-866-GEB-LABS. For more information, you can also visit the CDC online at http://www.cdc.guidingeyes.org/.

Funny cat video

In case you need a few laughs today! One of these vignettes (the third one I think) had me laughing so hard there were tears in my eyes.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5JAYKw-x6qE&NR=1

Humane Society's Most Humane U.S. Cities

The Humane Society has just come out with a listing of the most Humane cities in the U.S. To learn if your city is on the list and read why (or why not), click here.

Boston, where I live, scored pretty well (number 7) but it looks like the city has some work to do in some areas! Where did your city fall?

Still more foods added to pet food recall

From the Daily Star in New York: Chenango Valley Pet Foods of Sherburne has begun voluntarily recalling pet foods manufactured with a certain shipment of rice protein concentrate, according to a media release from the company.

The action was taken after the company was informed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration that it shipped a concentrate contaminated with melamine, an industrial chemical used to make plastics and fertilizers that may lead to illness or fatalities if consumed by animals. The pet foods were sold to customers in Wisconsin, Massachusetts and Pennsylvania, which in turn sold the products to their customers through mail order catalogs and retail outlets. Read more.