Most of the animal rescues I hear from are for dogs or cats. But today, I received word of a seminar being held to inform people about the Happy Trails Farm Animal Sanctuary, a Ravenna 10-acre working farm that cares for farm animals that have been abused, neglected or abandoned and helps them find homes. We’re talking all kinds of animals, from horses and cows to ponies, pigs, goats, sheep, ducks, geese, chickens, turkeys and roosters.
The sanctuary is always looking for volunteers to do everything from mucking stalls and cleaning feed buckets to writing grants and being farm tour guides. You can read all about the different volunteer needs Happy Trails has here.
Happy Trails will be the topic for the Second Sunday Seminar Jan. 11 from 9:30 to 10:15 a.m., at the chapel at Kent United Church of Christ. IIona Urban, a volunteer at the sanctuary, will provide the history of the non-profit organization and discuss her experiences there.
Jan 05, 2009 | | Events, Horses, People helping animals
I went with PJ today as he met Goblin, the Jack Russell mix that’s looking for a home. We decided he wasn’t the dog for us and will continue looking. Goblin is adorable — 15 pounds, quiet and a real love bug. But, PJ was concerned he might be a little too much energy for our lifestyle. I can’t say I disagree with him. And, he said, Goblin was certinaly adorable and loving, but just didn’t strike him as the one. So, we’re going to keep looking.
But, if you are looking for a dog like Goblin, don’t pass him up. He is being fostered by the Mini Mutts Rescue in Lake County. Visit their Web site to learn more about applying to adopt Goblin, or any of their other wonderful dogs. And I’ll keep you posted about our search.
Jan 04, 2009 | | Available for adoption, Dogs, My life
So, I’m ready to get another dog. I miss Todd terribly, but that ache from the dog-sized hole in my heart hurts more. So, I’ve started the process, planning to find a dog the same way Todd found us. I’ve been scanning Petfinder.com for dogs in the area that meet my short list of criteria: under 35 pounds (apartment’s rule), housebroken, not a puppy but not a senior, and a cuddlebug. A beagle would be a plus, but not a necessity. When someone catches my eye, I contact the rescue that has him or her and if necessary, send in an application. Then, if I am approved, I schedule a time to meet them. If it’s a love connection, I tell PJ and he sets up a time to meet them. If both of us are in agreement, we have a new dog.
I suppose it seems like a long, arduous process, but I don’t see it that way. Getting a pet is a decade-plus commitment, one I don’t take lightly. So I want to make sure that it’s the best possible fit for both us and the dog.
PJ is going to see Goblin on Sunday, a Jack Russell mix that I met New Year’s Day and think is just adorable. During our time together at his foster mom’s house, he couldn’t get enough snuggling or give enough kisses. He’s being fostered through the Mini-Mutts Rescue, a wonderful organization. Their screening process for potential adopters it thorough, and the folks I’ve talked to have been nothing but accommodating and understanding about PJ and my process to find a new dog.
There are a few other dogs I have inquired about with other area rescues, so we’ll see. I am patient, but hopeful that by springtime, I’ll have a new pooch to be bragging about!
Jan 02, 2009 | | Available for adoption, Dogs, My life
I know I haven’t posted a while, but my Christmas holiday was busier than I anticipated. Lots of visits, lots of traveling, and lots and lots of playing with dogs! It was all very wonderful, but by the time I got home, I usually just crashed from sheer exhaustion, so that’s why there were no posts from me. I’ll catch everyone up:
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Dec 29, 2008 | | Dogs, My life
Hope you were on Santa’s nice list! Have a very Merry Christmas.
Dec 25, 2008 | | Animal humor, Dogs
I’ve often said that if I had oodles of space and resources, I would use them to shelter homeless animals. The daydream is one of my favorites, especially comforting on those “I wish I was anywhere but here” days. But, I wonder, if I did have a large, fenced-in yard, would I really go through with it? Could I quit my job and become an animal rescuer full time? I asked myself that question again tonight after reading about the Rudes on CNN.com. The Maryland couple put their money where their mouth was and transformed their home into an animal sanctuary, where they house more than 100 cats.
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Dec 23, 2008 | | Animals in the news, Cats, People helping animals, Pet health
The Cleveland APL is starting a new program Monday that aims to match up a cat adopter to the perfect feline for them. The Meet Your Match Feline-ality Adoption Program, developed by the senior director of behavior problems at the ASPCA, includes a behavior assessment of each cat and a brief survey of each adopter to increase the potential for successful, permanent placements of the APL’s homeless cats.
All cats 9 months and older will be assessed for their unique feline personality. They are then color-coded, creating picture-perfect adoptions for shelter animals and their new owners.
“The goal for every adoption is to find a loving home for our cats,” says Cleveland APL Executive Director Sharon Harvey. “The Feline-ality program will help us do just that by allowing our counselors to match the expectations and lifestyles of the adopters with the behaviors and feline-alities of the cats.” Read the rest of this entry »
Dec 19, 2008 | | Available for adoption, Cats, People helping animals
The weekend after Thanksgiving, I touched base with Senior Editor Marsha McKenna to find out how her holiday was. Imagine my surprise when I got a text back that read “Tundra got out, went over a mile to Chapel Hill and was caught running through Macy’s”
Tundra is Marsha’s “grand-dog,” her daughter Karen’s beautiful Siberian husky that she adopted from someone who apparently wasn’t prepared for Tundra’s “exuberance.” That’s Tundra with Marsha’s granddaughter, Elaina.
You can read about his shopping mall escapade in a column Marsha wrote for the weekly newspapers here. Be sure to check it out — it’s a scream. But the story gets even better. Today, Marsha got a phone call from Tundra’s original owner, who had to give him up to the person Karen adopted him from because he’s moving out of state. He saw the column on him in the Stow Sentry and called in to say that it sounds like the fuzzy escape artist is staying true to form.
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Dec 18, 2008 | | Animals in the news, Dogs
If you’ve done your homework and decided that a cat is the perfect addition to your family this holiday season, then you don’t want to miss the Feline Frenzy at the Humane Society of Greater Akron, Pawsibilities this weekend. Stop by the Humane Society’s shelter, 4904 Quick Road in Peninsula, on Saturday, Dec. 20 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and or Sunday, Dec 21, from noon until 5 p.m. and rescue a cat.
Cats over 5 months old are only $50 and that includes spay/neuter, vaccines and a vet check. Adoptions counselors will be on site to help you make the purrfect match for your lifestyle.
This home for the holidays weekend focuses on adoptable cats, but lots of dogs are also hoping for their forever home, too. Dogs are $99 and also have been spay/neutered and had medical checks.
For more information, call 330-657-2010.
Dec 17, 2008 | | Available for adoption, Cats, Dogs, Events
Though the news seems full of doom and gloom about our shopping habits this holiday season in light of the tanking economy, Pet Supplies “Plus” reports finding a bright spot — it’s “shamelessly unscientific” annual online survey shows that most pet lovers are planning to spend even more on holiday shopping for their pets this year than last year.
The survey of 328 pet owners found that on average, pet owners will be buying 5 gifts for their pets this year, spending $54 per pet. 48 percent said the economy will make them more careful about shopping for their pets, but 66 percent said they plan to spend more on their furry and feathered friends this year than last.
And my favorite stat? When asked, “If you could buy only one gift this holiday season, who would it be for?” 41 percent said their pets! And why not? They never complain about it being the wrong size or color — they just love spending time with us.
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Dec 16, 2008 | | Birds, Cats, Dogs, Fish, Frogs, Little furry pets
