Monday, December 12, 2011
There are dogs in every animal shelter who need you. So why buy when there are rescued pets standing by?
No one thinks they are contributing to animal cruelty when they purchase that cuter-than-cute puppy from a pet store or when they look through Craigslist and answer a "Puppies For Sale" ad. Yet, they often are. Puppy mills and unlicensed backyard breeders make a good profit off the pets they sell but it's often at the expense of the animals themselves. What sellers also don't tell potential pet parents is that they may be getting an animal that has unchecked hereditary defects, behavior issues or potential health problems. Many pets bought because of their cute factor at pet stores or from backyard breeding operations end up at shelters or worse. They are abandoned by owners as the cute factor wears off and they are left with a dog they …
Monday, November 28, 2011
What if you were only given a few weeks to find the person you would spend the rest of your life with?
Time isn't always on the side of homeless pets in shelters in the Atlanta metro area. Many homeless dogs and cats who wind up in animal shelters are coming off of bad situations, such as being abused or living on the streets, or are given up by people who no longer want them or can't afford their care any longer. They end up in shelters, where a happy ending might or might not be in store. There are two types of animal shelters. "Kill" shelters keep cats and dogs for a period of time (days, weeks, sometimes months or as long as they stay healthy) before they are euthanized due to overcrowding. At "no kill" shelters the animals live and are cared for until they are adopted. Most shelters in the United States are kill shelters. There are …
Monday, October 31, 2011
LifeLine Animal Project wants to pair homeless pets with war vets in November by waiving dog and cat adoption fees for former and active duty military.
Nov. 11 is Veterans Day and LifeLine Animal Project in Avondale Estates decided to do more than simply wave the American flag. The non-profit wants to be a friend by offering a friend to the men and women of the armed services. A furry friend, to be exact, from their Dog House or Kitty Motel, where they rescue and rehabilitate homeless pets. Figuring that the loyalty of a pet and the loyalty of America's military deserved to come together in some way, LifeLine is dubbing November as "Pets For Vets Month" at their no-kill shelter and will waive all adoption fees for military personnel, past and present. “We are all deeply grateful for the brave men and women who put themselves in harm’s way for our sake,” said Blythe Randolph, board chair …
Monday, October 17, 2011
Twenty-five percent all homeless dogs in shelters are purebreds. Tex the Australian Cattle Dog would like to lessen that percentage by finding a new home.
There are no cattle or livestock at LifeLine Animal Project in Avondale Estates, so Tex the Australian Cattle Dog, or "Red Speckled Heeler," focuses on making sure his ball doesn't get too far away from him. His focus is total and his tail twitches in anticipation every time the toy is tossed for him to retrieve. Originally bred in the 1800s in Australia to drive cattle over long distances and rough terrain, this Aussie breed counts dingoes, collies and dalmatians as their canine cousins. As livestock guardians and herders this highly energetic and intelligent breed are considered among the very best. "This is a working dog, " said Debbie Setzer, LifeLine's community outreach director. "He needs an active home where he can get a lot of …
Monday, October 3, 2011
October is "Adopt A Shelter Dog Month" nationwide and tails are wagging in anticipation.
How much is that doggy in the window? If it's a rescued or shelter pet, chances are that dog is less expensive to bring home and more is known about their temperment and health than dogs who are purchased in pet stores or from "puppy mills". "Some people might be reluctant to adopt from a shelter, thinking they are getting 'used goods' or that there's something unknown going on with the pets," said Rebecca Guinn, executive director and co-founder of LifeLine Animal Project, "At LifeLine we know the dogs in our Dog House really well and can help match the perfect dog for your situation." Many shelters and rescues do a full health and personality accessment of the dogs they save, update their vaccinations and spay or neuter them before …
Monday, September 19, 2011
Major is a homeless hound with a heart of gold, one misshapen ear and a love for people and other dogs.
The Humane Society of the United States reports that 6-8 million dogs and cats enter animal shelters each year. Meet Major. He's one of those millions of homeless pets but you'd never know it by his attitude. Major is a 5-year-old hound mix who was rescued by LifeLine Animal Project. He's a favorite among their staff and volunteer dog walkers because of his lively and loving personality. "He's a lovable goofball," said Debbie Setzer, LifeLine's community outreach director. "He's great with other dogs and he's a lot of fun." He was rescued a few years ago with a large group of rural dogs and he's been at LifeLine's Dog House in their no-kill shelter ever since. Major sees the world through a hound's nose and rose-colored glasses. He will …
Monday, August 15, 2011
Looking for a dog that will get along with your other dog or cat? Rico could be your new best friend.
The first thing you notice about Rico is that he notices everything. Perhaps it's that he's part greyhound, a breed that is known to be very visually oriented, but this alert 2-year old dog doesn't let much go by without giving it a glance or a quizzical look. He shows great and animated interest in the world around him. The second thing you notice is how he often appears to be smiling. He hasn't always had something to smile about. Rico was rescued as an emaciated stray by LifeLine Animal Project and due to his visual acuity and how fast he can run, he wasn't easy for the Avondale Estates rescue to catch. They didn't give up. Once he was rescued he was brought to the vet at their spay and neuter clinic and then introduced into LifeLine'…
Monday, August 1, 2011
Once proudly heralded as "America's Dog" the pit bull has become America's most argued about dog.
Laura Ingalls Wilder had one, as did President Theodore Roosevelt, Helen Keller and Fred Astaire. TV personality Racheal Ray has one named Isaboo. Singer Pink and tennis superstar Serena Williams own them too. American Pit Bull Terriers, American Staffordshire Terriers and Staffordshire Bull Terriers, recognized breeds, are often lumped by public perception into a group that include various mixes of bulldog breeds, terriers and other dogs. All are widely referred to as "pit bulls", causing confusion as to what a pit bull actually is. The confusion extends to their reputation. They are undoubtedly strong, sleek, sensitive, stubborn and extremely smart, all traits handed down by their terrier and bulldog ancestors. Their history is one of …
Monday, June 6, 2011
Roscoe rebounded from being abandoned and now he's looking for a new family to love him.
The loyalty of "man's best friend" is legendary. Dogs left behind or discarded by their owners suffer the same confusion and anxiety that a person would who is suddenly abandoned by their family and thrown into unsure circumstances. Roscoe the dog is a good example. He’s a 4-year old with a handsome face, slim build and smarts to spare, but all the intelligence in the dog world dídn't help him understand why he ended up in a shelter. Roscoe is a mixture of two protective and family-oriented breeds, shepherd and Doberman Pinscher, so being abandoned by his owners shook his world for a while until he was taken in by LifeLine Animal Project. It now takes him a little bit of time to get to know and trust new people but once you “belong” to …
Feed A Fur Friend
8:50 am on Monday, December 12, 2011
I didn't know the Amish operated so many puppy mills until I read this. I did a search and read where they have been busted and they defend breeding in terrible conditions saying dogs are just like livestock. They make a lot of money at it. That's wrong. more ›