May 6-12 is Be Kind to Animals Week!

According to American Humane, Be Kind to Animals Week is the oldest commemorative week in U.S. history!  What better way to celebrate this important humane awareness event than with these easy ways to show your kindness to all animals?

• Adopt a homeless pet from an animal shelter or rescue group.
• Volunteer your time and talents at a non-profit animal welfare organization.
• Report suspected animal abuse to local police or animal welfare organizations.
• Enjoy wildlife from a distance and avoid touching or picking up wild animals.

• Create safe and welcoming outdoor spaces for pets and other animals like birds and insects.
• Remember to take your pet to the vet for regular wellness exams.
• Consider buying cruelty-free cosmetic brands on your next shopping trip.

• Donate to a local low-cost spay/neuter organization to reduce the homeless pet population in your area.
• Clean up plastic litter than can be harmful to birds and animals if eaten.
• Teach kids how to safely and gently interact with animals.

• Be aware of wildlife and free-roaming pets while driving.  Report animals hit by cars to local authorities.
• Put down your phone and spend more quality time interacting with your pets.

 

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Happy National Adopt a Shelter Pet Day!

National Adopt a Shelter Pet Day is observed each year on April 30th.

This special day was created as a way to raise awareness about the many thousands of homeless pets that are waiting to get adopted from animal shelters and rescue groups around the country.

Consider opening your heart to a homeless animal when thinking about getting you next pet!

 

Heartwarming Video: Rescue Dog Fosters Dozens of Kittens

Zuca was a pregnant stray when she was taken in by an animal welfare agency in Oregon.  All her puppies were adopted, and eventually so was Zuca.  This sweet pup became best friends with a cat named Stout in her new forever home.

Sadly, Stout passed away and Zuca was depressed…until her human mom Ronda started taking in foster kittens!  Zuca has been lovingly caring for nearly 100 foster kittens since 2015.

Her mom reports that she gets excited whenever new kittens arrive, and she immediately starts licking them and cuddling with them, knowing instinctively exactly what kind of care each one needs.

This upcoming kitten season, Zuca (now 12 years old but still going strong) and her mom hope to foster at least 20 more babies, bringing their total to over 100.

An added bonus to all this great mothering from Zuca…. all of her foster babies are very comfortable around dogs and do well in adoptive homes with canine siblings!

Check out this adorable video of Zuca in action with her foster kittens, and follow Zuca and her kittens on this irresistible Instagram account!

 

Images via Love Meow.

 

Amy Sedaris Teams Up with House Rabbit Society for Informational Videos

Rabbits make wonderful pets, and more and more animal lovers are discovering the joys of keeping indoor-only house rabbits as companion animals.

If you’re interested in acquiring a rabbit but have never had one as a pet before, you probably have a lot of questions.

How do you rabbit-proof your home?  What size enclosure does a rabbit need?  What kinds of toys and treats should you buy?  Do you have to trim their teeth and nails?

Writer/actress/comedian Amy Sedaris is a proud rabbit parent.  She has joined forces with Mary E. Cotter of the House Rabbit Society to create a series of informative YouTube videos that will tell you all you need to know about caring for a pet rabbit.

Check out this introductory video, as well as others in the series on topics ranging from rabbit breeds, to grooming tips, to how to introduce your rabbit to other pets.  And be sure to visit the House Rabbit Society website for lots of great information on adopting a rescue rabbit in your area!

 

Dog Colored with Human Hair Dye Suffers Severe Burns

A recent heartbreaking story on the Newsweek website serves as an important reminder that hair color intended for humans should never be used on our pets.

A Maltese mix named Violet was taken in by the Pinellas County (FL) Animal Services Department.  Poor Violet was dyed purple with human hair dye, suffered severe burns, and was then abandoned on the street by her owner.

Violet was brought to Animal Services with skin burns and her eyes swollen shut.  Her skin began to slough off during cleaning.  Staff didn’t think she would survive the first night.

Treatment for Violet included pain medications, antibiotics, IV fluids, and countless topical treatments and bandage changes for her damaged skin.

Violet needed three months to recover, and happily, she was adopted once she got healthy again.

Pinellas County Animal Services posted this important warning along with Violet’s story on their Facebook page:

“Express yourself, but please do not use hair dye intended for humans to express your pet’s style. Let’s all say that together–Do NOT, under any circumstances, use hair color intended for humans on your pets. Chemicals in hair dye are TOXIC, causing a wide array of external injury to your pet–possible burns, blindness, and because an animal’s first instinct is to lick, it can cause poisoning or internal burns. Just don’t.”