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The Senior Dogs Project "Blessed is the person who has earned the love of an old dog." |
| News.... December 2003 |
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Issues & Announcements |
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 According to Michael M. Arms, President of the Helen Woodward Animal Center (HWAC near San Diego, CA), more than 200,000 orphaned dogs and cats are expected to begin the New Year in their new homes following the fifth annual Home 4 the Holidays pet adoption drive. Home 4 the Holidays began in 1999 when HWAC organized fourteen San Diego area shelters to wage a campaign to find as many homes for orphaned pets as possible during the holiday season. Each adopted pet went home with a holiday meal of Iams food and a booklet of coupons redeemable at PETCO. From November 10, 2003 through January 4, 2004, animal shelters and rescue groups worldwide will work toward a goal of 225,000 adoptions. What better gift is there for an orphaned animal than a loving home? Although some animal welfare experts are against encouraging adopting an animal during the holidays because it is often done on impulse without forethought about the responsibilities of caring for a pet, Arms says that it's necessary for shelters and rescue agencies to promote adoption during the holidays. Otherwise, he says, we are essentially handing people a map to the nearest pet store, where they will purchase an animal -- and most likely the animal will be from a mill. Home 4 the Holidays 2003 is partnered with Petfinder.com and is sponsored by The Iams Company, PETCO Animal Supplies, the PETCO Foundation and HWAC. |
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Senior Canine Rescue Society Takes a Break |
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We are surely hoping that the Senior Canine Rescue Society will be able to regroup in 2004. This notice was recently posted on their website: "We have . . . made the extremely painful decision to close our doors to new dogs for at least six months, try to regroup, and see what the spring/summer of 2004 brings. We will continue efforts to place the dogs in our care, as they are very special souls who deserve permanent, loving homes. . . We simply cannot afford another dental surgery, another geriatric blood panel, another spay or neuter or tumour removal. We will have our hands full taking care of our permanent charges, only one of whom has a regular sponsor." If you can help SCRS get back on their feet, please visit the website to find out about sponsoring a dog, making a donation, or adopting one of their current foster dogs.
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Creve Coeur, MO (near St.Louis) -- Puppy Mill Protest at Petland |
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| Saturdays, December 13 and 20, will be the last two week-ends prior to Christmas that provide the opportunity to protest against the selling of animals from puppy mills at Petland in Creve Coeur, MO. If you can attend, plan to gather near the bank at Ross and Olive The rally will be held from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Please bring your friends and families. This is the last chance to make a statement this year! Heritage Plaza, Olive Street, 7/10 of a mile west of I-270 You can bring your dog, but please use a short leash. This is a very busy street. NOTICE: please take the weather and your pet into consideration -- it will be cold! REMEMBER: This is private property. We must stay on the public sidewalk and out of the way of traffic. Now is the time to make our voices heard! In six months, animals purchased at pet stores will more than likely wind up in shelters. For more information, E-mail: kgolab @ mail.win.org (Remove spaces in address before sending) | |
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Help the United States Postal Service Get It Right.....Re-issue the Spay/Neuter Stamp.... |
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 The United States Postal Service is no longer selling the spay/neuter stamp and has decided not to reproduce it. Please write to the USPS to encourage them to produce more of these important stamps. If enough people write, they may re-issue them.
Please write to: USPS Stamp Development Sample Letter: Dear USPS: I am writing you concerning the Spay/Neuter stamps. I understand that the supply of these stamps is running very low and they may soon become completely unavailable. Please do not let this happen. We urge you to reprint and continue reprinting stamps with the Spay Neuter message until there is no longer a pet overpopulation problem. The statistics are alarming and very sad:
There are 1000's of individuals across the country working hard to help spread the message about the importance of spaying and neutering. Please support their efforts. Please reprint the Spay/Neuter stamp. Sincerely yours, |
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...and Don't Print the Pro-trapping Stamp
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 A pro-trapping postage stamp is currently under consideration by the U.S. Postal Service. The National Trappers Association (NTA) is pushing the stamp and if they go forward with their campaign to institute the pro-trapping stamp, the trappers will inundate the USPS with vocal requests for these stamps. Each year approximately 10 million animals are trapped in the wild, so that they can be skinned for fur coats. The primary tools used by fur trappers are the following: leghold trap, the body grip (Conibear) trap, and the wire snare. Volumes of documentation proving that leghold traps mutilate wild animals, are non-selective in what they catch, and are a danger to companion animals and children. This is not something to be promoted on a stamp. Learn more about trapping here.
Contact the national Citizens' Stamp Advisory Committee and ask it to deny any pro-trapping stamp requested by the NTA. Tell the Committee that the USPS should not promote animal cruelty. Write to: Citizens' Stamp Advisory Committee |
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Easy Christmas Shopping |
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| Haven't finished your Christmas gift shopping yet? You can skip the last-minute frenzy of holiday shopping by giving a gift membership to one of the many animal welfare organizations that need your (and your friends' and family's) support. Here are some memberships to consider:
Humane Society of the United States |
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For Other Gifts.... |
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| Shopping at ihelppets.com offers the opportunity to buy gifts that give twice. All profit from sales on the site goes to help homeless pets. There are gifts for humans, canines, felines, kids, and adults. Gifts can be shipped directly to the recipients. Wrapping is available, too. Free shipping on every order. Just use the code "Shipping." |  |
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Senior Dog Health |
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Holiday Hazards
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| The ASPCA Health Watch page lists common items present during the winter holidays that can be harmful or poisonous to pets. From chocolate and macadamia nuts to electrical cords and anti-freeze, the list goes through most of the common hazards and describes symptoms of poisoning. If you suspect your animal has been poisoned, and you can't reach your vet, you can call the ASPCA poison control hotline, which is noted on the site. | |
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Rescue and Adoption News |
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A Christmas "Angel" Is Ready to Go Home....
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San Francisco, CA -- Angel is ready to go home with you for Christmas. Wait 'til you see how she'll light up not just the Christmas tree, but the whole house! Angel was left to die on a busy highway in northern California, but a Good Samaritan found her before she was hit by a car. It was a miracle that she survived, since it was later discovered that she is blind. Angel has a diabetic condition that went untreated and led to her blindness. |
| Despite all this, Angel celebrates Christmas every day -- she embraces life, people, other dogs, and every experience with gusto. If you even think about petting her or playing with her, she rolls over on her back and shows you her tummy, stretching her paws up to you sweetly, as if to say, "Yes! I'm really enjoying this! Don't stop!" Her thick, luxurious black coat, white chest and paws, and white-tipped tail establish her as a true beauty. Angel is seven or eight years old, weighs about 50 lbs., has been spayed, and is very healthy. The requirements to maintain her health are two daily insulin shots (a.m. and p.m.) and a diabetic diet. She will more than repay you for this attention at Christmas and throughout the year with her loyalty, love, and delightful personality. E-mail: angel @ srdogs.com (remove spaces in address before sending) | |
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Chow Mix Leo Found a Fabulous Home |
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 Leo, a Malamute/Chow mix, was first advertised on the srdogs.com site over a year ago. He had been rescued by Our Lady of Mercy's Catnip Cottage in Summervillle, South Carolina. It took quite some time for the right family to find Leo, but they finally did. Maureen DellOlio of the Cottage writes: "Leo is doing MARVELOUSLY in his new home. I took him to an adoptathon at our neighborhood Superpets store. A woman who had just survived treatment and surgery for breast cancer fell in love with Leo on the spot. She originally thought he was my dog, and came over to tell me how very lucky I was to have such a beautiful dog. When I told her that he was a rescue and needed an adoptive home, she looked like a five-year-old girl on Christmas morning. I have gotten letters, photos and updates from her and the family. She and all three of her children adore Leo. He is always smiling in the photos, with his family all around him. Her nine-year-old 'bookworm' introvert child has even put down books and become more extroverted since Leo came into the house. Leo is working a healing magic in her home. His furry, loving and protective nature is bringing happiness and love into the family again. Leo has a large yard, a good-sized house and a loving family. Leo has a job to do now, and he takes it quite seriously. Little did Leo know that he had his most important work ahead of him still when he was rescued. It's a perfect ending for a dog who was going to be euthanized. He's really home for good." Our Lady of Mercy Catnip Cottage, 105 Coney Court, Summerville, SC 29483. Phone: (843) 821-9536. E-mail: mdellolio@sc.rr.com |
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Can You Post a Senior Dogs Project Flyer? |
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We continue to ask your help in educating people about the joys and benefits of adopting an adult dog by posting a Senior Dogs Project flyer.......
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So many good dogs who are over the age of five are euthanized simply because of their age and the bias most people have toward adopting puppies. Our flyer explains why adopting an older dog is such a good idea. We can e-mail a copy of the flyer to you (request Word or PDF format, and you can print it out from your computer). Just send an e-mail to: flyer @ srdogs.com (remove spaces in the address before sending) with the word "Flyer Word" or "Flyer PDF" in the subject line. We've heard from supporters that they've posted the flyer in supermarkets, shelters, churches, veterinary offices, doggie daycare centers, dog trainers' offices, parks where people walk their dogs, and community bulletin boards. So, if you have time and opportunity, we'd appreciate your printing out a copy and posting it. Thank you!