Capri needs help and eventually a home

I subscribe to the Bide a wee newsletter and I hear all the wonderful stories of them caring for animals that have been abandoned and abused. If you can, check out their webpage, and I know tines are tough, but if it's possible send them a donation. http://www.bideawee.org/ Thanks!








I'm called Capri, and
people who meet me call me cute as well! I have quite a sunny name, and I only wish I could say the same about my life. Things have been tough for me ever since I was born. I was born blind, and I'd been abandoned as a puppy at a shelter where "special" dogs like me had no chance to go anywhere else. Most people just didn't or couldn't care for a dog like me. Still, the shelter staff tried to find someone that would, someone who'd give me a chance. Just when it seemed like there was no hope for me, the shelter got in touch with Bideawee to tell them my story and how much I needed help. Bideawee's staff said, "yes," then they came and took me to my new home.









I was so happy! How lucky could I be? Well, maybe not so lucky. There was a reason why I'd lost my sight. My retinas had never developed, and I had pretty bad glaucoma. Even though I couldn't use my eyes, they caused me such pain that I just couldn't be my normal puppy self.


Still, being at Bideawee brought me a change in luck. I got adopted, even though I still lost my right eye because it bothered me so much; and I felt like I'd won a lottery. Just when things seemed to be going well, though, my family's circumstances changed two years later, and they couldn't keep me any longer. Bideawee took me in once again, desperate to make sure I wouldn't wind up in a shelter that would rather euthanize me than let me live.




I lost my right eye to illness, and I'd lost my home because of things I could not control. Now it turns out that I'm losing my left eye because the glaucoma causes me too much pain. The surgery will mean I won't live in pain anymore; but it also means I'll live the rest of my life without my eyes. I'm recuperating now, and it will be a long, slow process. Once I'm healed, I'll have to hope that I will again find a home, one that won't mind a dog missing her eyes. Until then, I'll stay with Bideawee, as they do what they can to help me get better.







As much as Bideawee's helped me already, they need help, too, so they can give other cats and dogs like me shelter from the troubles we face. I wish I could do more than give the staff here licks and big, wet kisses, though I try to live up to my lovely name by being sweet to everyone I meet - the staff, other dogs, and even cats.




Bideawee is important to special pets like me; and pet lovers like you are important to Bideawee. Without your support, I'd never have been rescued and given another chance. I never would have gotten the surgery to relieve my pain, to help me have a better life. Your generosity means a girl like me gets the attention and care that makes a big, positive difference. Although I'm blind, I see that I'm in a place where special cats and dogs like me are welcome. Please help Bideawee today, so it can continue to save pets like me - pets special both inside and out.



ADOPTION CENTERS

Manhattan
410 East 38th Street New York, NY 10016212.532.4455ManhattanAdoptions@bideawee.org

Wantagh
3300 Beltagh Avenue Wantagh, NY 11793516.785.4079WantaghAdoptions@bideawee.org

Westhampton
118 Old Country Road Westhampton, NY 11977631.325.0200WesthamptonAdoptions@bideawee.org

a post on Dogster.com

At this point, you're certainly not surprised to hear the words "recession" or "economic crisis." You would have had to be living under a rock to not have seen, heard, read about or experienced the current state of the (now) global economic downturn. You or someone dear to you may be recently unemployed, you may be tightening your purse strings or you may be even switching to a less expensive dog food. The latter, of course, only applies if you are indeed lucky enough to still be able to properly care for a pet, and have not been forced to hand your four-legged friend over to a shelter.

It sounds unfathomable and drastic, but it's true--shelters all across the country have reached and surpassed their occupancy levels and are facing numbers the likes of which they've never seen before. It's happening all over.

From West Texas...
"We do our best to get them a home, but if we don't for some reason, it takes a while, they don't go anywhere. We'll keep them here forever if we have to," Lone Star SPCA Director, Kirk French, said. --NewsWest9.com, January 5, 2009

to Georgia...
The heartbreaking truth is that some Georgia residents are having to choose between feeding their pets and feeding themselves, and when the choice becomes that stark hard decisions need to be made. One pair of Miniature Schnauzers was dropped off anonymously at a midwestern shelter. They were up to date on shots, spayed and neutered, nicely groomed and had clean, healthy teeth. The owners apparently hoped that they could be adopted by someone who could continue to care for them. Cases like that break the hearts of shelter workers, who often end up taking dogs and cats home with them until suitable homes can be found. --Atlanta Dogs Examiner, January 5, 2009

to Missouri...
"Some of them, when they're first abandoned, are pretty healthy, not thin, and may be wary of people, but don't live completely in hiding. But faster than you'd think, they get very thin, they might get mange, or injured somehow, they live in the shadows, and soon they have an air of dejection," [said] Randy Grim, head of Stray Rescue of St. Louis. -- USA Today, January 6, 2009

to Michigan...
Nearly 6,000 dogs and cats have been taken to the shelter this year. Of that, 401 were turned in by owners who cited financial pressures - an increase of 75 percent compared to the previous year, officials said. -- MLive.com, December 26, 2008

... the story is the same: too many pets, not enough shelter space or resources.
As unemployment rates go up, so do the turn-in rates at shelters, which means that the organizations that are responsible for the care, maintenance and funding of the shelters are forced to deal with a larger number of four-legged clients, but with the same (or fewer) resources. You don't have to be a mathematician to figure that one out. It quite simply does not work.

At Dogster and Catster, we take great pride in not only being able to provide our members with a fun experience, but with an informative and meaningful one as well. As times get tough for our furry little friends out there, we'd like try to do what we can to make the situation more manageable. Here is a list of Dogster resources that will help you to find out more or lend a hand during these rough times:

The Dogster Railroad - This is a special place for Dogsters to help Dogsters arrange for community transport of rescues or dogs being re-homed.

The Dogster Adoption Center - Find out about adoptable dogs here. You can find shelter dogs or dogs that are at risk of being sent to a shelter.

Dogster Local - This is where you can search for animal shelters and rescue organizations in your area.

Dogster Adoption and Rescue Groups - Browse through all kinds of organizations that work to provide furrever homes for dogs.

Dogster Rescue and Adoption Answers - Browse through, ask or answer questions that have to do with rescue and adoption.

As long as this crisis exists, we here at Dogster HQ will do our best to provide our members and readers with news, information and tips relating to the situation. Please feel free to pass links to our dog and cat articles and pet-centric services to any of your pet-loving friends who may find themselves in dire economic straights over the next few months.

Finally, leave a note in the comments section for this post if you have any thoughts or tips that you would like to share with other readers. Together, we can make a difference. And we will.

Dog Valentines

We are currently making some valentines for DDB, and we are also collecting coupons to send in as well. Email us for more infor. or sontact anyone at Dogs Deserve Better.

Thank you!!


Is Your Dog the Love of Your Life? Help Dogs Deserve Better Make Other Dogs as Lucky During our Have a Heart for Chained Dogs 2009 Valentine Campaign.

We are striving to raise awareness for chained and penned dogs in a positive way...by delivering Valentines, a brochure and a treat coupon to dogs living outside, all over the U.S. and into other countries where we have representation, such as Canada and Australia.

What can you do to help?

1. Make Valentines. Teachers, Students, Scout Leaders, Group Leaders, and Individuals--please make Valentines! Please note: Sizes should be no bigger than 4"x8.5" so they can fit in a mailing envelope. The valentines can say anything along the lines of 'Bring us into the home and family'. Send them to us by February 5th at P.O. Box 23, Tipton, PA 16684.

2. Mail Coupons for Free or Reduced Cost Treats or dog food. Last year we did not have enough treat coupons to fill all the Valentines. Can you help us out this year by mailing any and all treat or dog food coupons you have to us at P.O.Box 23, Tipton, PA 16684?

3. Send addresses for Chained or Penned Dogs. This is so CRUCIAL! Please, take the time to find out the address of that chained or penned dog near you, even though it takes a little time...

To make our goal, we need to mail at least 12,500 Valentines.Send addresses via mail, call 877.636.1408 to report addresses, e-mail them to info@dogsdeservebetter.org or fill out the form at http://dogsdeservebetter. org/Valentines2009. html and visit the link to find out more.we really need some action this year for Have a Heart for Chained Dogs Week! As we're expecting to mail 12,500 valentines to chained dogs, we first and foremost need some kids and adults making the valentines...and then we need a ton of addresses of dogs to send them too...so please, please, crosspost this and help us get some action. Below is the press release, with links to the page on our site if you need more information...http://www. dogsdeservebetter. org/Valentines2009. html

Group Seeks Crafty Kids to Create Canine ValentinesElementary School Students, Clubs, Groups, and Individuals Needed to Make Valentines for Delivery to Chained Dogs NationwideTipton, PA -- January 06, 2009 --
As Valentine’s Day approaches, non-profit organization Dogs Deserve Better is asking for help from dog lovers nationwide in a direct mail outreach campaign which pairs Valentines created by schoolchildren with America's chained dogs.Dogs Deserve Better, a national rescue and advocacy group dedicated to ending the suffering of perpetually chained dogs, annually sends Valentines and dog treat coupons to chained canines across the country during its Have a Heart for Chained Dogs Week, February 7-14.
The group includes a brochure for the dog’s caretakers, explaining why the antiquated practice of chaining dogs for their lives is a form of abuse. The materials encourage people to bring their dogs into the home and family or to find better homes for the animals.

Last year's campaign reached 10,435 dogs.By the end of January, the group needs 12,500 Valentines to pair with addresses for chained and penned dogs. Each Valentine should measure no more than 4"x8.5"so that it readily fits into a mailing envelope.
"The creation of the Valentines is an ideal project for schools, scouting troops, and other similar organizations because children have a natural love for animals, especially dogs, and enjoy making art projects,” says founder Tamira Thayne, an artist herself. "We receive thousands of heart-touchingly creative Valentines made by schoolchildren each year, sending the dogs good wishes and hopes for a brighter future."

Although the practice of 24/7 chaining is pervasive in many parts of the country, especially in rural areas, states and cities have started to pass laws against the practice. California passed a law in 2006 and Texas followed suit in 2007. Hundreds of cities have passed, or are considering, similar legislation.Meanwhile, countless “backyard dogs” are spending yet another winter in the cold. Often, they shiver day and night in leaky, uninsulated doghouses, suffer from thirst because their water is frozen, and pace neurotically from lack of exercise and attention. Perpetually chained dogs can become aggressive or insane from their constant confinement, often posing a danger to people.

Dogs Deserve Better provides a variety of services to people who agree to take their dogs off their chains, including providing help with socialization, housetraining, and fencing.For more information about the Valentine’s Day outreach, go to http://www. dogsdeservebetter. org/Valentines2009. html or email info@dogsdeservebetter.org.Valentines, addresses and donations can be sent to: P.O. Box 23, Tipton, Pennsylvania 16684.For general information about Dogs Deserve Better go to www. dogsdeservebetter. org.

Puppy Mill shut Down in Washington

In Gold Bar, Washington a puppy mill was raided after a tip from a good Samaritan. The conditions of this puppy mill were so horrendous that even seasoned animal control officers were shocked.
After obtaining a search warrant, deputies and officers raided the property, where they found many of the dogs stuffed inside small crates and pens overflowing with urine and feces, investigators said. Several dead puppies also were found in a freezer, and two dead dogs were found elsewhere on the premises. Eighty-seven of the dogs were living in a converted attic.
On the property a variety of small breed dogs were found along with some mixed breeds, sold as “designer dogs.” There were also a few larger dogs along with four cats and three parrots. All together 155 animals were rescued, taken to the Everett Animal Shelter for care and assessment.
Vicki Lubrin of the Snohomish County Animal Control Services said the cost of seizing and treating the animals rescued from these conditions severely impacts the budgets of all responding agencies.
She said anyone wishing to donate dog food or money for medical expenses to the Everett Animal Shelter’s nonprofit agency, ARF (Animal Rescue Foundation), may do so by calling 425-257-6000 or coming to the shelter in person at 2732 36th St., Everett.
We hope all the animals will eventually be put up for adoption and find loving homes.