Adopt a greyhound

Greyhound Adoption of Ohio will host an open house April 25 at the group’s kennel at 7122 County Lane in Chagrin Falls.

The public is welcome to visit and play with greyhounds awaiting adoption from noon to 4 p.m. Refreshments will be served.

For more information, call 440-543-6256, e-mail RJRJLP@aol.com, or visit www.GreyhoundAdoptionofOH.org.

In case of inclement weather, call to confirm the event is still happening.

Pets’ new home ‘a miracle’

I had the pleasure of touring the new home of Pawsibilities - the Humane Society of Greater Akron a few weeks before it opened in Twinsburg earlier this month.  I could not get over the space they now have! It’s like night and day, compared to the old facility in Peninsula.  

Here’ s a column I wrote on my visit that was published in RPC’s weekly papers:

Read the rest of this entry »

Skate for PAWS

The Chagrin Falls Junior Girl Scout Troop will host a Roller Skating Fundraiser for The Public Animal Welfare Society of Ohio (PAWS) on April 25 from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at the Chagrin Valley Roller Rink, 7151 Chagrin Road, in Chagrin Falls.

The cost is $10, $7 for the event and $3 for skate rental. The skate rental fee will go to the roller rink, and the entire admission charge will go to PAWS. Skaters can bring their own skates and pay just the $7. 

The Junior Girl Scout Troop #1923 from Chagrin Falls is hosting this fundraiser. Enjoy a night of skating, homemade baked goods, handmade (by the Girl Scouts) dog and cat headbands, a raffle, and more. A few of PAWS’ adoptable animals will be there as well.

PAWS,  founded in 1976, is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization dedicated to the rescue of pets in Northeast Ohio. Their mission is to rescue stray and/or abused cats and dogs and place them in good homes. PAWS members provide medical care to rescued animals and foster them in their own homes.

Bow Wow Beach open for season

Stow’s Bow Wow Beach dog park is open for the season with some new bells and whistles, including a dock for dogs to get a running start before leaping into the lake, and some more dog-washing stations to make sure only clean paws hop back into your car.

Stow Sentry Associate Editor Mike Lesko wrote all about the updates. You can read his story here. Hope to see you at the park!

Regis the Runaway Dog

This is one of my most favorite pet stories I’ve read in a while. Probably because it has such a happy ending. Cuyahoga Falls News-Press Steve Wiandt did a terrific job with it.

Check it out here.

Smart as … an octopus?

My brother, P.J., passed along a fascinating story to me today.

“I know you focus on the cuddly creatures, and an octupus is far from it,” he emailed me today, “but this article I read is very interesting.  Australian researchers have studied a species of octupus storing coconut shells in what they believe is the first example of an invertebrate using tools.”

You can read the AP story here.

“I was gobsmacked,” AP quotes Julian  Finn, a research biologist at Museum Victoria in Melbourne. “I mean, I’ve seen a lot of octopuses hiding in shells, but I’ve never seen one that grabs it up and jogs across the sea floor. I was trying hard not to laugh.”

Funny? Sure. But fascinating, and a discovery with far-reaching consequences? Undoubtedly.

Kitten needs home

Hudson Monthly Editor Stephanie Fellenstein came home Thanksgiving to find an unexpected guest — this cute little kitten on her back steps. She thinks the kitten is around two months old and says it’s very sweet, uses a litter box and likes dogs and other cats. Since she already has a yellow lab and three cats, she’s looking for a home for their little pilgrim. If you or someone you know is looking for a kitten, let me know and I’ll get you in touch with Stephanie.  Make someone’s Christmas special!

Asking Santa about pet who passed

One of the perks of my position at the weekly newspapers this time of year is that I am our official Santa’s helper. I get all of the letters to Santa that boys and girls write so I can type them up for the paper before I ship them off to Santa. The letters can be sweet, funny and sometimes touching.  And some really hit my hard, like this one I keep rereading:

Pet rescue needs volunteers

Akron-based One of a Kind Pet Rescue  is looking for volunteers. The rescue needs help from 8:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. every day of the week to help walk and spend time caring for its cats and dogs. The minimum age for volunteers is 18, age 15 with adult supervision.

One of a Kind Pet Rescue is a non-profit organization founded in November 2005 and funded by private donations. The organization rescues pets in imminent danger of euthanasia, spaying/neutering animal and getting homeless animals adopted into appropriate, loving homes.  

For more information about volunteering, contact The Volunteer Center, 90 N. Prospect in Akron, from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. weekdays at 330-762-7601, ext. 5512 OR online. Or visit the rescue’s Web site and click on the “Volunteer” tab at the top.

Tail Waggin’ Tutors help shy readers

 Many libraries are sponsoring programs where children read their  favorite stories to therapy dogs, and Hudson Library is no exception. Hudson Monthly Magazine has a cover story on “Tail Waggins Tutors” this month.  Check it out — it’s a wonderful program. From the story:

The objective of “Tail Waggin’ Tutors” is to encourage children to read by providing a non-judgmental listener and furry friend to read to that won’t laugh at them if they make a mistake or stumble over a word. Children learn to associate reading with being with the dog, and begin to view reading in a positive way. Over time, the child’s reading ability and confidence can improve because they are practicing their skills.

I think programs like these are a godsend, and I wish they were around when I was a child. I suffered a severe stutter growing up and developed a real fear of reading aloud. Often I would practice reading to my dog and do my speech therapy homework in front of him precisely because he was a non-judgmental, patient listener. Kudos to the volunteers who keep such programs up and running.