My Friendly Pets

No matter how much time is spent educating the public about puppy mills, there are obviously still pet shops and others who will buy from them, or they would cease to exist. The newest culprit is John Blank, owner of the Limestone Kennel which is located in Cochranville, Pennsylvania.

On Friday, the puppy mill was shut down as a result of an undercover investigation that revealed the horrid conditions. The Pennsylvania society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals removed 32 od the dogs and there were over 300 dogs in another building that will require attention. Some dogs had obvious wounds on them, while some of the older dogs have very overgrown nails because the dogs had never been on solid ground.

So how was Blank caught? Blank sold a 3 week old Yorkshire puppy to an undercover agent. The legal age for the sale of the puppies is 7 weeks. Unfortunately, the puppy died as a result of dehydration, hypothermia and emaciation.

Right now, the Yorkshire terrier is the 9th most popular dog in the country, which has made it the number one dog being bred by puppy mills. According the the American Kennel Club, there are some very important things to look for when looking for a Yorkshire puppy. First and foremost, you should use a legitimate breeder. You can veryify a breeder’s status by contacting the AKC to determine if they are registered as such. Don’t look for a bargain. This is not the time to be looking for a cheap deal. If you know the price that Yorkshire puppies demand and you are in contact with someone who is offering puppies for a fraction of the average cost, you should be extremely careful, as this could be indicative of a puppy mill.

So be cautious and pay attention. The more we do, perhaps the more puppy mills will be discovered and abolished and their owners prosecuted to the full extent of the law.

O.K., I know the title is a bit odd, but think about it. I am not a super religious person…too much science education for that. Neither are the members of my immediate family. So it was wierd one day when we were in the car, having a discussion about the influence of religion on everyday life and my daughter said, “Wouldn’t it be interesting if G-d was a dog?” I think it would be very interesting and it makes perfect sense as well.

Think about it. Many of the things that people get from religion and their beliefs can also be gotten from a dog. For example, when you are frustrated, angry, sad or confused, merely petting a dog or getting a warm nuzzle or kiss is enough to bring a smile to your face and warmth to your heart. Many people are comforted in the same way by prayer!

In terms of religion, aren’t most people taught that G-d is all forgiving and loves us unconditionally? Well, if you forget to feed your dog or don’t take him out to walk or exercise as often as you should, does your dog give you an attitude or hold a grudge? Of course not, your dog will love you no matter what and be grateful for whatever time and energy you give him/her, even though it probably isn’t enough. This is close to religous teachings as well. Just because we don’t go to church or formalized religous services, supposedly G-d still cares and guides us.

Again, I am not a religous person and can’t speak to all who are. My reference to a dog as G-d, means no disrespect. In fact, it is completely the opposite. I, like so many others, think so highly of these great animals, that I wouldn’t be surprised but would be very pleased to see a great big lovable dog at the pearly gates when its my time, wouldn’t you?

In case you hadn’t heard, the 2008 Summer Olympics will be held in China this year. The Olympics begin August 8th (8/08/08), however there won’t be an item on the usual Chinese menu that has been traditionally served in China. You got it!!! Dog meat will not be offered on menus that are officially designated as Olympic restaurants. Also, the word around Beijing coming from tourist officials is that waitstaff should discourage customers from ordering items that are made from dog meat. Dog meat has a long tradition in China and is eaten by many who feel it has strong health related benefits.

However, measures such as these are not unique. In 1988, 20 years ago when the Olympics were held in Seuol, South Korea, the use of dog meat was also suspended. The Chinese tourism officials recognized that the practice of eating dog meat is not accepted universally and in an attempt to demonstrate respect for other cultures and ethnic beliefs, the suspension of the sale and use of dog meat has been put into place.

As with any decisions, there is controversy and so is the case with this. There are some traditional Chinese who say that eating dog meat has long been custom and tradition in China and that beef and pork were not banned from other Olympics, even when it infringed on the beliefs of Indians and Muslims. Point very well taken, however there is the view of public opinion and I thing the Chinese officials recognize the use of dog meat goes deeper to most non-Chinese than the use of cows or pigs. In many cultures, especially countries and cultures of the west, dogs are considered family members and are loved with the same depth and devotion as ones’ children in many cases. This can’t be said for the cows and pigs.

I think the ability of the Chinese to recognize the feelings that many people have towards their dogs is to be commended. They have proven that while they may still enjoy their own customs and traditions, they respect those of others enough to put theirs on the back burner, so to speak.

Saturday, July 12th was a day that shined bright on Broadway. No, not because of the many stars and shows that were being seen on a sultry New York City day. Rather because it was the 10th annual Broadway Barks event. This is an effort by Broadway Cares/Equity Fights Aids, “the nation’s leading industry based HIV/AIDS fundraising and grant-making organization.” The event, which this year was hosted by Mary Tyler Moore and Bernadette Peters was held in Shubert Alley between 44th and 45th streets in the heart of the theatre district.

This year marks the 10th anniversary of the organization and this event was used to raise awareness of the plight of the many homeless dogs and cats in New York City. It is hoped that as a result of this event and others like it, people will welcome the idea of adopting a pet from a local shelter so that the number of dogs and cats that are euthanized will continue to decrease. According to Mary Tyler Moore, back in 2002, the rate of euthanaisia in shelters was at about 70%, but in 2007 that rate had decreased to 43%. The New York City shelters that took part in this event include all of the following: A Cause for Paws, Adopt A Boxer Rescue, Animal Haven, Anjellicle Cats Rescue, ASPCA, AC&C, BARC, Bide-A-Wee, Bobbi & the Strays, City Critters, Humane Society of New York, Husky House, Kitty Kind, Long Island Greyhound Rescue, Loving Touch, Metropolitan Maltese Rescue, Mid Atlantic Great Dane Rescue, NYC Siamese Rescue, Pet-I-Care, PLUTO, Russell Refuge, Staten Island Council for Animal Welfare, Stray from the Heart, Tigger Foundation, Arf, and Save Kitt.

Bernadette Peters recently has been listed on the New York Times bestseller list for a book she wrote with the title “Broadway Barks”. The book was inspired by this event and it is about a puppy who is lost in Central Park in New York City and finds its way to Shubert Alley to be part of this very special event. With the book, which is filled with colorful maps and pictures is a CD with Peters reading the story as well as singing a song that she wrote and composed. Bernadette Peters is a classic Broadway star and puts her heart and soul into her performances and the causes she supports. All of the proceeds from the sale of the book/cd will go back to benefit this organization.

The event took place between 3:30 and 6:30 p.m. Moore and Peters were only two of the many Broadway stars who helped to make this adopt-a-thon a success. Many of the stars of Broadway’s biggest hits were on hand to help out the cause. To find out more about this cause, how you can help and even when you can attend the next event, check out the website by clicking HERE!!!

Mimi Ausland, a 12-year-old, started a trivia Web site to feed homeless cats and dogs Kibbles.(Photo Courtesy of Robb Kerr)

While watching the Today Show this morning, I came upon an interesting and inspiring story. Mimi Ausland is a 12 year old from Oregon. Mimi has always had an overwhelming love for animals. As she was playing an internet word game on the website www.FreeRice.com, which helps feed people in impoverished countries, she had a wonderful idea. Why not use an internet site to feed the many hungry dogs in shelters? Mimi, a volunteer at a local shelter in her area, knew that many shelters were overloaded with dogs. The housing crisis has caused many dog owners to simply abandon their dogs and most end up in shelters, without homes and hungry.

With her idea, and her parents’ help, it took about 4 months to get the website, www.FreeKibble.com up and running. On the site, there is a daily trivia question and whenever someone goes on the site and answers the trivia question, 20 pieces of Kibble are donated to a local shelter. At this writing 1,630,090 pieces of Kibble have been donated to help dogs in shelters close to Mimi’s home.

Again, Mimi is only 12, but she came up with the idea and is responsible for finding sponsors, serving as spokesman and generating media attention for her special effort. It seems to be working with close to 2 million pieces of kibble already donated, and more support than she could ever imagine, she is looking to expand her efforts.

Richard Thompson, the founder of Zootoo.com is donating all of the kibble that is generated through Mimi’s site. Thompson says,
“She has enthusiasm, passion, and she knows what she’s doing.â€? I think people are taken with the idea that a person as young as Mimi has the drive, initiative, heart and compassion to undertake such a huge project. It takes about 1/2 pound of kibble a day to feed a dog in a shelter. Through Mimi’s wonderful project, the dogs in the shelter near her home have been eating for over two months and it continues.

I think we’ll be hearing and seeing a lot more about Mimi and her kindness and generosity in the future. Her spirit is contagious. Just check out the site by clicking here and pass it on to all of your friends and family!!!

This is Ron and Tillman, a team competing on the new CBS reality show, The Greatest American Dog!!

For those of you who checked into to watch the first episode of The Greatest American Dog, you already know what the Canine Academy is. However for those of you who missed it, the Canine Academy is the house where 12 teams of dog and owner will spend the next couple of months working and training their dogs. Week by week there will be contests and competitions that narrow the teams down until only one is left. That team will win $250,000 and the title of Greatest American Dog!!!

The first episode was interesting. We got to meet all of the teams and watch how they begin to interact. Like any reality show, I started passing judgments and making determinations of who would last and who wouldn’t by the first commercial!!! One of the first contests was a game of musical cubes(The Dog Bone Challenge). All dogs and their owners circled a certain number of cubes while music was playing. As soon as the music stopped, a dog had to get to, jump up and sit on the cube. The dog left without a cube would be asked to leave. After each round a cube or two was removed. At the end, it was between the teams of J.D./Galaxy and Michael/Ezzie. J.D./Galaxy won and were given the key to the Big Bone Suite, where anyone, dog or man would be happy to rest their paws.

In the Best in Show Challenge, there were some pretty poor performances, but in the end Michael and Ezzie were sent home. Michael was devastated, but he claims he was never more proud of Ezzie and her performance.

I think things are going to get sticky as the weeks go on. There are some very strong personalities (and I don’t mean from the dogs). If you hadn’t watched, take a look for an hour on Thursday evenings this summer. The show won’t win an Emmy, but it is entertaining and some of the dogs are down right adorable!!!

Here we are, Thursday night!!!! Almost time for the greatest reality show of all time…o.k. I won’t be so dramatic, but make sure you check it out tonight on CBS-The Greatest American Dog. I am here to give you a glimpse of the remaining teams!!! Pick your favorites now or tune in tonight…tomorrow I’ll be doing a review and you can start picking your favorite teams!!

Laura and Preston. Laura who is 27 and a film producer who is from New Jersey, but came to Los Angeles to follow her dream of working in films. She is an active lady, who with Preston, bring smiles to many. Preston is a 5 year old pure Pomeranian, who loves the beach, the girls that are there and the camera. Preston is also a certified therapy dog

David and Elvis. David is a 55 year old doctor from New York City who never had a dog in his life until 2 years ago. Elvis is a 2 year old Parson Russell Terrier. Being adopted by David, who comes from a tight knit Jewish family gave Elvis the privilege of a $10,000 “Bark Mitzvah”, which brought together 100 family members and friends to celebrate the occasion. Elvis is full of personality and loves morning jogs with David. It will be interesting to see these two confirmed bachelors in the house with the rest of the teams.

Laurie and Andrew. Laurie, a resident of Virginia spends a lot of time with dogs. She is a Dog Fitness Specialist and also runs a doggie day care center. From the description, Laurie is known for her outgoing personality and her witty, outspoken ways. That should add sparks to the show. Andrew is a 5 year old Maltese who is well behaved and the “perfect companion”. He has competed in several dog shows winning top prizes.

Beth Joy and Bella Starlet. These must be the most theatrical pair on the show. Beth Joy has a degree in music, theatre and dance. She dedicates herself full-time promoting Bella Starlet’s career. The pair participate in many dog related activities to promote animal advocacy and adoption. Bella Starlet is a 10 year old Mutt (Chihuahua, Labrador Retriever, Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever, Shih-Tzu and Pomeranian). She loves many kinds of fruits and veggies and shares her home with 5 other dogs and in New York City!!!

Last, but by no means least is Teresa and Leroy. Teresa has her own dog sitting and pet care business in Virginia. She is competitive and treats her dog like royalty. Leroy gets special outfits and elaborate birthday parties. Very unlike one of the dog owners mentioned, which should present some interesting interactions. Leroy is a 5 year old border collie who loves to play frisbee. He is a “focused performer” who loves the activities for which he trains.

This should be a very interesting show. Remember, check it out tonight on your local CBS channel and watch for weekly reviews and updates. If you want to check out more information on The Greatest American Dog, click here.

As was mentioned in my last entry, the newest reality series involving dogs, their owners and a house they share will be debuting tomorrow evening on CBS. I want to get you all familiar with the teams. I introduced three of the teams in the last entry and will continue with the remaining nine in this entry and another.

J.D. is the oldest of the contestants introduced thus far. He is 38 and his dog Galaxy is 9. Galaxy is a mix of English Pointer and Border Collie. J.D. is a professional dog entertainer. He loves his 10 dogs including Galaxy, but he doesn’t believe in spoiling or indulging the animals. He is married with a son and step-daughter. Galaxy is considered to be an extremely good athlete who demonstrates maturity and confidence. She loves playing frisbee, with tennis balls and enjoys a good swim or run in the snow!!! J.D. and Galaxy are from Oregon.

Brandy and Beacon have been a team for two years, ever since Brandy recieved Beacon as a Christmas gift. Originally from Arkansas, Brandy has been in California for a few years and is currently a fashion designer with her own line of clothing called Cross Training Clothing. Beacon is a 1 1/2 year old minature Schnauzer, who although a girl, likes to play tough and tumble like a boy. She has agility training and alerts Brandy that she wants to go out by ringing a bell. I bet we wish we had all taught our dog(s) to do that!!! What a great idea!!! These two look like soulmates together.

Bill and Star. Bill and Star hail from Texas, where Bill, his wife, Star and two other dogs live on 18 acres of land. There is plenty of room for Star to run and romp. Bill is 60 years old, has his own business as a pressure washer and when he isn’t working he and Star like to make people smile with the many tricks that Star can do. Star is 7 years old and a full breed Brittany . She has been formally trained and has competed nationally in agility competitions. One of Star’s favorite foods is bacon.

Ron and Tillman. Ron is 39 and Tillman, a 3 year old English Bulldog have been forever friends since Tillman became a Mother’s Day gift for Ron’s wife. In fact, Ron and Tillman are so dedicated to each other that sometimes Erika, Ron’s wife and son are a bit jealous of their relationship. Ron is a laid back California guy who loves the beach, but also works as a construction manager, when the beach weather is not real great!!! Tillman is a boarding kind of dog. He loves to skateboard, snowboard and skimboard. He loves being part of the family and gets really upset when he is left home alone.

All of the contestants and their dogs seem to truly love each other. I think this will be an interesting reality show, to say the least. Watch in the next entry for the final contestants and then a review of the show on Friday!!!

In case you had missed one of my entries from last month, the newest reality show to debut this week on CBS is called The Greatest American Dog. The reality is that 12 teams of dog and owner live in a house together and weekly are set to perform tricks and feats. The team that fails each week will be disqualified until all that is left is “The Greatest American Dog”. The show premieres this Thursday, July 10th on your local CBS station.

I though this week it would be cool to look at the teams on the show and set the stage for what will be a weekly review of the show.

Travis and Presley. Travis is a 29 year old bartender who is single, lives in Los Angeles and comes from Oklahoma. Presley is a 1 1/2 year old boxer who enjoys lots of tricks and is seen by Travis as intelligent, affectionate and playful.

Michael and Ezzie. Michael hails from San Diego and is an aspiring actor/comic. Ezzie is a 2 1/2 year old Boston Terrier who loves to dance as one of her best tricks. Michael says Ezzie doesn’t like pools, but loves the ocean. Michale also says she highly intelligent, hyper, affectionate and high strung. With all of these TYPE A personality dogs, it should be a very interesting show!!!

Elan and Kenji. Elan is 24 years old, is from Oregon and has an extensive health studies background. She wants to open a pet care center and is very active with the Oregon Humane Society in her role to rehabilitate and encourage good behavior in dogs that come through the shelters. Kenji is a year old giant Schnauzer. She is energetic, loves other dogs, but tries to come out as the leader of the pack. Her stunning appearance can stop traffic!!!

I’ll catch you up on the other nine teams before the show debuts on Thursday. In the meantime, check out more of the show by clicking here.

Yes, it is summer!!! With the fourth of July, a recent memory and the “dog days of summer” approaching, there is one thing we all truly enjoy and that is a dip in pool to refresh and rejuvenate. And we aren’t the only ones either. Most dogs love to swim!!! Where do you think they got the term, doggie paddle?

However, having your dog swim in the water not only provides fun, but valuable exercise as well as a very strong healing component. Dogs who suffer from arthritis or who have had leg, hip or back injuries/surgeries benefit greatly from what is known as hydrotherapy. Hydrotherapy should be considered if your dog has trouble getting up and down, difficulty climbing stairs, is reluctant to go for walks because of limping or difficulty moving, is overweight or recovering from injuries or surgeries, as mentioned above.

In my research, what appears to be one of the best canine hydrotherapy centers is called the Interstate Canine Swim Center.
This wonderful facility is located in Maryland and is the first and largest canine swim center in the state. The climate controlled indoor canine pool is 35 feet wide by 60 feet long. The pool is used for therapy, rehabilitation, recreation and just good ‘ole doggone fun!!

Some of the benefits of having your dog swim include the following, a decrease in swelling of joints and limbs, an increase in circulation which helps with endurance, balance, coordination and other motion issues. As with humans, dogs who swim are enhancing their cardio vascular conditioning. With older dogs, swimming helps to increase energy as it would with elderly humans. At the Interstate Canine Swim Center, there is one-on-one sessions with the dogs and the therapists. Many happy dog owners who have watched their dogs heal and flourish as a result of hydrotherapy, decide to continue to have the dog swim at the center, for all of the other benefits the dog gains, especially the FUN part.

So if you don’t have a pool, check around to see where the closest dog swim center may be near you. Perhaps you and your do could enjoy a whole new activity together and keep cool at the same time.

Check out the swim center mentioned in this entry by clicking here!

So you want to “boogie” at night, but are stuck at home because you don’t want to leave your dogs behind!!! A Los Angeles business man named Brandon Hochman felt just the same way. He truly enjoyed the nightlife, but felt guilty about leaving his 3 dogs home alone while he danced the night away. So what did he do? He built a doggie night club on the rooftop of his downtown offices and called it SkyBark. With its special Pet-A-Potty and 3000 square foot dance floor, it attracts many A-listers and their pets in southern California. The club itself has a 360 degree view of the LA skyline and dogs enjoy the view while sipping on “muttinis”. The events that are held there attract many dog lovers, famous and otherwise. The charge to get in helps to maintain the club and also uses funds to support animal rescue and shelter organizations.

LosAngeles isn’t the only city where the dogs dance the night away in style. In the windy city, Bruce Haas, co-owner of the trendy Tails-In-The-City pet boutique throw dog friendly parties at popular nightclubs around Chicago. The “Dance with the Dogs” event had dogs and their owners enjoying the latest musical hits while sipping and munching on the best people/dog snacks around. While at the party, dogs could move to the beauty lounge and be treated to a “pawdicure” and well as hair touch-ups. Many foreign guests staying at pet-friendly hotels nearby were thrilled with the opportunity to socialize with other pet owners on in such a festive and hip environment.

Back in California, Long Beach to be exact, the owner of the Whiskers Pet Beastro host wine and cheese parties each month with gourmet people and doggie treats. It gets people out in the evenings to activies that they can share with their friends and their dogs.

And don’t forget “Yappy Hour” which is part of the the dog friendly enviornment at Hotel Monaco in Alexandria, Virginia is part of the Kimpton Hotel Group. This social time, held from 5:30 pm until 8:00 pm each Tuesday and Thursday evening in the hotel’s courtyard provides a festive atmosphere where hotel guests and their dogs can enjoy the each other’s company.

So virtually on each coast and in between there are places where you can “get down with the music” while also keeping Fido happily entertained!!!

Before I begin this entry, I want to let my readers know that I have been absent for a couple of weeks. There have been some technical difficulties, but I think they are all worked out now and I truly look forward to posting everyday, any and all information about the dogs that we love. So please start reading again, keep commenting, pass along this blog and enjoy!!!

How do you think you would feel the next time you went to your doctor’s office and in with him is not his nurse, but a dog who spends quite a bit of time sniffing you all over? Most of us would be horrified and hardly amused. However, there are dogs who have been trained to smell cancer cells which assists doctors in the diagnosis of this disease in many patients.

We know that dogs have been used for a long time to sniff out bombs, bodies-both dead and alive and even some “dvd smelling dogs” have helped to identify pirated dvd products at major airports and distribution centers. There are dogs currently trained to detect seizures in people who have epilectic seizures, low blood pressure and heart attacks.

According to Dr. Larry Myers, associate professor at Auburn University of Veterinary Medicine in Alabama, this isn’t magic. Dogs have an extremely heightened sense of smell and even subtle metabolic changes in a person due to the disease of cancer, can be identified by a dog that is trained to do so. For instance, a dog being used to detect prostate cancer would most likely be trained to identify urine that had a certain smell associated with prostate cancer.

This type of medical diagnosis tool has become so popular that there is a cnacer sniffing training institute in Japan known as the St. Sugar Cancer Sniffing Dog Training Center. One of the best trained dogs is a black lab named Marine. Marine is so good at what she does that they will be cloning the animal in South Korea in an attempt to produce a dog or dogs that will have the superb cancer cell sniffing ability that Marine possesses.

So let’s hope that in the future, there is a dog that can assist our physicians with the skills they are taught and the natural abilities they have to again, keep us both happy and healthy.

Doggles are goggles for dogs that have gained popularity for our four legged friends because of their practicality, ease of use, and their “coolness” factor. So why would you buy goggles for your dog? A dog’s eyes are senstitive to sunlight just like yours and mine. Just as you and I are encouraged to block UV rays from our eyes, we should do so for our dogs to prevent sun damage to the eyes. This is particularly true if your dog suffers from an increasingly common eye disease known as Pannus. While the exact causes of this disease are not known, we do know that ultraviolet radiation plays a significant role in propagating this disease. A dog with this eye disease needs chronic treatment and the disease could lead to blindness. Doggles block 99 - 100% of the UV raise, thereby minimizing sun damage to the dog’s eyes.

The lenses that are made for the doggles are shatterproof and that is a blessing for those rough and tumble dogs. For those of you who have a dog that enjoys riding with their head out the car window (not a great idea, but some still do it), and you fear, dust, dirt or debris will end up in the eyes of your dog, fear no more, because the doggles will help protect those soulful eyes that you love so much. And of course, they must be comfortable, because we wouldn’t want our loveable pooches to be uncomfortable. So how does Doggles insure their utmost comfort? Doggles feature the following:
Flexible snug-fitting frames
Foam padding for comfort
Shatterproof & anti-fog lenses
Deeper eye-cup to ensure your dogs eyes are safe whilst wearing Doggles
Adjustable elastic head and chin straps to keep Doggles secure

Goggles for dogs aren’t the only things that are made and sold by
Doggles. They have a complete line of apparel, collars, necklaces and health items. There are dog hats, dog art and even other dog comfort products. Check them out by clicking here.

If you haven’t seen all of the reality TV that you need in a lifetime already, and are a dog lover, you are in for a treat. On CBS networks beginning on July 10th, will be a new show titled, Greatest American Dog. How can a show with dogs possibly be good reality t.v.? Well, check it out!!! Twelve teams of dogs and their owners from all over the country will come together and live in the same house. The owners’ ability to train their dogs will be tested through many challenges and the teams will compete against each other. Each week a team of a dog and owner will be eliminated until there is one remaining team. The team will win $250,000 and the title of Greatest American Dog.

If you enjoyed shows like Real World, Big Brother or even the Surreal Life, this should come pretty close to that type of entertainment…only better, remember there are dogs in it. So you not only watch the dynamics of the people and how they get along in the house, but you also get to watch how the dogs interact as well. I think there will be some true drama. In fact, one of the contestants announced in the preview video (which can be seen here) that she is an “alpha bitch” and says that being in the house with twelve other people and their dogs will be a “true challenge”. The contestants and their dogs will compete in various types of training challenges and will be rewarded or not based on their performance. For example, a winner of the dog bone competition will be able to spend time in the dog bone room, which is supposed to be the best in the house, while the loser ( and his owner) will have to stay out in the dog house…and it truly is a dog house without any human amenities.

You can count on me watching, reviewing and rating the dogs as the summer goes on. This is one reality show I won’t want to miss, and you won’t either. Check your local CBS listings for days and times of the show….!!!

With the increase in housing forclosures and bankruptcies, humans are not the only victims of this economic suffering. Unfortunately shelters are being swamped with animals who are being abandoned because their owners are just up and leaving their homes and can’t take their dogs with them. While the amount of animals increasing in shelters is alarming, it is still a better alternative than just leaving your dog in the house to die, which is also happening around the country.

The mortgage crisis is not the only reason why people are having difficult economic time. We are all victims of increased energy costs. Most of us are worried about how we are going to pay for gas and oil to heat our homes. The increasing price of food and other household goods due to natural events as well as increased energy costs have also caused people to abandon their dogs because they can’t afford to feed them or keep them healthy. Bringing a dog for well care visits, keeping up on vaccinations and spaying or neutering can be expensive. If people don’t have money for their basic expenses, many will neglect the needs of their dogs.

I am not condemning those who have run into economic hard times. We are all victims of the rising costs to live in this country. But we can’t allow those dogs, who we promised to care for and who love us unconditionally, to suffer. They too are innocent victims. There are many ways to keep your animals as part of your family and afford to do so. Many local municipalities will offer vaccine clinics and discounted heartworm and tick preventative medications. There are also places where spaying and neutering will be performed at discount rates. It is not necessary to bring other dogs into this world if you can’t take care of the ones you have already. And finally, if you cannot take your dog with you or absolutely cannot afford to keep your dog, don’t abandon it or drive and dump it somewhere, take it to a shelter where you know it will be cared for until adopted. While shelters are full and resources scarce, your dog will be better cared for than leaving it to starve or fend for itself.