PAWPRINTS

Archive for the ‘Pet Welfare’ Category

The ASPCA is teaming up with Care2.com and Adopt-a-Pet.com to find America’s Favorite Shelter. All you have to do is vote and tell all your friends to vote, too^__and your local shelter could receive some much-needed cash ($15,000!) to perform its amazing work.

What could your local shelter accomplish with an extra $15,000? Trick question! Animal shelters across the nation badly need funds, especially in the wake of the economic recession—so there’s no “extra” about it. That’s why the ASPCA is teaming up with Care2.com and Adopt-a-Pet.com for the America’s Favorite Animal Shelter contest!

The contest, now in its fourth year, helps bring shelters the hope and help they need to accomplish amazing feats for homeless animals. There are three prizes your favorite shelter could win: the $500 prize awarded weekly to one random shelter participating in the contest, the $3,000 third prize, the $7,000 second prize or (drum roll, please) the big $15,000 first place prize!

So, how can you help? Easy: Visit Care2.com/animalsheltercontest, find your favorite shelter, and vote! You can only vote once, so make it count! (And make sure you read the full contest rules, too.)

Post flyers, use social networks and email, tell everyone you know to vote, and you could help your shelter rocket to the top of the pile. And if you recruit tons of friends to vote, there’s a little something in it for your pets, too! The top 20 recruiters get a $50 gift card for pet supplies.

What are you waiting for? Vote today!

ASPCA News Alert: May 13, 2011

The ASPCA recommends arranging a safe haven for yourself and your pets, and if you must evacuate your home due to a crisis, plan for the worst-case scenario. Most importantly, do not leave your pets behind. Remember, if it isn’t safe for you, it isn’t safe for your pets.

To minimize evacuation time, please follow these simple steps:

• Store an emergency kit—with items such as three to five days’ supply of pet food, bottled water, medical records, a blanket, a flashlight and leashes—as close to an exit as possible.
• Make sure all pets wear collars and tags with up-to-date identification. Your pet’s ID tag should contain his name, your mobile telephone number and any urgent medical needs. Be sure to write your pet’s name, your name and contact information on your pet’s carrier.
• The ASPCA recommends microchipping your pet as a more permanent form of identification. A microchip is implanted in the animal’s shoulder area, and can be read by scanners at most animal shelters.
• Always bring pets indoors at the first sign or warning of a storm or disaster. Pets can become disoriented and wander away from home during a crisis.
• Consider your evacuation route and call ahead to make arrangements for boarding your pet outside of the danger zone at the first sign of disaster.

For a complete list of disaster planning tips, or to receive a free “Animals Inside” window sticker, please visit ASPCA.org.