My Fire Hydrant

Mike Arms and my friends at the Helen Woodward Animal Center have been inspired by the runways of NYC! It’s time for these amazing furbabies to show their haute couture side–these pets are ready for their close ups!

This is another fine example of how Mike and HWAC bring attention to available pets–not with the negativity of being “abandoned,” but with a more positive, marketing-like strategy of showing them as beautiful, fashionable, with the potential to be beloved family members.

Big kudos to Mike and HWAC! And also to volunteer photographer Ricki Douglas!

If you are interested in adopting any of these pets, would like to make a donation, or would like more information, please contact Helen Woodward Animal Center Adoption Department at: 858-756-4117 ext. 313, or stop by at 6461 El Apajo Road in Rancho Santa Fe, CA.

In September, 2011, the employees of P&G Pet Care (where I work) took a day away from the office to do a shelter makeover for the Humane Society of Greater Dayton.

Here’s the press release!

Mike Arms/Iams Hero Award Given to Austin Humane Society

On Monday, October 10, the Iams Company and Mike Arms, president of Helen Woodward Animal Center and founder of the Iams Home 4 the Holidays pet adoption program, will present the first annual Mike Arms/Iams Hero Award in recognition of Austin Humane Society’s extraordinary relief effort in the Austin/Bastrop wildfires in September, 2011.

Austin Humane Society took the lead in coordinating the disaster relief efforts for the animals displaced in the Austin/Bastrop counties as a result of the recent Texas wildfires. This widespread disaster destroyed over 1,400 homes in the Central Texas area. The Austin Humane Society helped create a temporary triage unit in the Austin and Bastrop areas providing food, and refuge, and medical care for the displaced animals. We are grateful for their dedicated service to enhancing the quality of life for animals and their families.

Iams gives out the Mike Arms/Iams Hero Award to a person or animal organization that exemplifies the commitment and passion for the lives of orphaned animals similar to what Mike Arms has been doing for so many years.

For the past 12 years, Iams has joined forces with Mike Arms and the Helen Woodward Animal Center for the annual adoption campaign to help raise awareness of orphaned animals in shelters and rescues around the world. The program has created new ways to increase public awareness about orphaned animals, increase the number of pet adoptions, lower euthanasia rates, and set records for the number of people that are receiving humane education.

I am so please that the Austin Humane Society has been recognized in this way!

We established the Mike Arms/Iams Hero Award last year, when we presented Mike with the “Iams Lifetime Hero Achievement Award” in recognition of his commitment and extraordinary contributions to enhancing the lives of homeless animals for more than 30 years. In his honor, we created the annual “Mike Arms/Iams Hero Award.”

 

One of my favorite people (and a personal hero) Robin Presnell, who leads Small Paws Rescue, has failed Foster 101.

Robin, and husband Dale, already have two Small Paws Rescue dogs: Chipper (her first rescue who came from a puppy mill) and Spunky Monkey. In the past 13 years, Robin has helped find furever homes for over 8,000 Bichons. Robin has fostered many times in the past. There have been a couple of times when she almost couldn’t give up her foster Fluff. But each time, she happily sent the Fluff off to a new, furever home—probably with tears of gladness in her eyes.

“There was magic in the air the first time I met him, when I reached down and picked him up, pulling him from a kill shelter a few weeks ago. He was trembling, and was in a run with a large dog who was scaring him. The minute I held him to my chest, and told him it was ok, that I was a Bichon Mom and he was safe now, he took a big sigh.”

Of course, Robin’s fate was sealed.

Reagan was originally fostered in Tulsa with a Small Paw volunteer who needed to make a business trip to New York City, so she asked Robin if Reagan could bunk with her for a few days. Reagan worked his magic, and found his furever home with Robin!

The rest of the family—especially the four-legged members—are very happy with the arrangement. Reagan joins 14-year old Spunky Monkey in blitzing through the house. And he loves to wrestle with his other brother, 13-year old Chipper. Youngster Reagan has made his older brothers feel like puppies again!

Reagan has also become an ambassador for Small Paws. As Robin says,” I take lots of business cards when Reagan is with us. He’s a people magnet.”

He accompanies Robin to the local middle school where she teaches an after school class about dogs. “He loves everybody and everything,” says Robin. “He LOVES to go and is a perfect gentleman when we are out.”

Last weekend, Reagan accompanied Robin and husband Dale as they did shopping errands (Chipper and Spunky Monkey prefer to remain at home instead of meeting and greeting the crowds). Their last stop was lunch at a popular burger restaurant that has an outside patio, so Reagan could sit with them. It was a beautiful, sunny day. Robin finishes the story:

“Dale had a burger, I had a chicken salad, and Reagan had a piece of grilled chicken.

So during dinner I told him, “Baby Reagan, now we don’t want to hurt Spunky Monkey and Chipper’s feelings, do we?”

“No, Mama.”

“So, when we get back home, we don’t need to announce that we went out for dinner, ok?”

“Yes Mama.”

After letting all of the other outside diners come over and pet him, we made a last quick shopping stop and then returned home.

The SECOND he got home and in the door he screams at the top of his little lungs, “WE WENT TO MASH BURGER!! WE WENT TO MASH BURGER!!”

Spunky ran up to him and started to sniff him.

“I SMELL MASH BURGER ON HIS BREAF! I SMELL MASH BURGER!!

And the blitz was on. Round and round they went, Tails up, motors running.

Whenever I take Reagan to the eye dogtor, Spunky and Chipper mope around, waiting by the door for us, so says their Dad. They are not moping for me. They want their BROTHER back and NOW!

We have a baby in our house again.

And it will never, ever be the same.”

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I love happy endings! Don’t you?

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Want to help? Make a donation to Small Paws Rescue!

Petfinder is up for a “Webby” Award!

Voting for the 15^th Annual Webby Awards closes today. What’s a “Webby?” According to the Webby web site:

Unlike other award shows that crown just one winner chosen by the people, we think the public should have a say in who wins big. That’s why we give you the chance to crown a Webby winner in every category.

The Webby People’s Voice Awards honors the year’s best work in Websites, Interactive Advertising, Online Film & Video and Mobile. And while our esteemed judges have their own opinion, we want to hear from you. You can vote in every category, so go ahead. Step up on your soapbox and let the web know who rules your digital world.

Petfinder’s iPhone app has been nominated. This is an incredible tool that allows you to search for your perfect furry match right on your iPhone! You can find the furry love of your life on you iPhone through the Petfinder app!

Not only do I love this because I love Petfinder, but also because it’s putting adoptable pets in the spotlight and exposing more people to the pet adoption message. It’s the only pet-related app in the category, so it would be a big win for adoptable pets if the Petfinder app won.

TODAY is the last day to vote! Here’s how you do it:

Step 1: Go to the Webby site and register to vote (you can use your Facebook account to register).

Step 2: Go to the Mobile and Apps page and vote in the Utilities and Services Category.

Step 3: Ask your friends to do the same and help us help homeless pets WIN!

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Here’s another reason why I love where I work. This past Thursday, my boss Jason Taylor was in New York City where he donated 15 tons of Iams and Eukanuba dog and cat food to the Food Bank for New York City.

The Food Bank is an incredible organization. They’ve been around for 28 years, working to end poverty. Not only do they distribute food to needy families, provide income support and training, they also offer nutritional education to children and adults. Each day, they provide 400,000 free meals for New Yorkers in need.

Why is my boss giving them dog and cat food? To feed the dogs and cats of people who cannot afford to buy dog and cat food.

We’ve partnered with VCA Charities Pet Program to launch a 6-month pet food distribution program for needy New York pets through the Food Bank for New York City. We’re providing food. VCA is providing certificates for wellness checkups at their VCA hospitals in the New York City area.

Lucy Cabrera, Ph.D., President & CEO of the Food Bank For NYC said, “In the midst of a jobless economic recovery, escalating food and fuel costs, today three million New York City residents are having difficulty affording food. That certainly means there is little or nothing left to feed their beloved pets. We truly want to thank the Iams and VCA Charities for recognizing the urgent need to keep families together and for helping our client’s pets stay healthy and hearty.”

I’m so glad we were able to help launch this program!

More photos.

 

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Officer Tess is another member of the California Narcotics Canine Association. She’s trained to apprehend criminals. Though she looks ferocious when she’s in pursuit, she’s actually a very well socialized girl when she’s off-duty.

Read more…

The dogs of the California Narcotics Canine Association  are picked for their strong hunt and play drives. Officers–both human and canine–received regular training to keep them an effective and tight team.

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Meet some of the men and women of the California Narcotics Canine Association. I got to see these canine teams in action as part of the AKC/Eukanuba National Championship, where they did demonstrations showing how these incredible dogs protect their communities from the bad guys.

Read more…

This Saturday presents another opportunity to see one of my favorite veterinarians, Dr. Jessica V. of PawCurious, in tears.

I adore Dr. V. because of all she’s done for animals. Not only does she help animals in her professional capacity as a veterinarian, she’s also one of the driving forces behind “Be the Change for Animals,” a grass-roots social media effort that supports animal causes.

A couple months ago, at the BlogPaws West conference in Denver (September 2010), I watched as Mike Arms picked an unsuspecting Dr. V. from the audience to help with his keynote speech (P&G Pet Care—my company—provided both keynote speakers for this conference). I knew Mike would call on someone to help—I’ve seen him do this before. Over breakfast that morning I had strongly requested that he NOT pick ME! Mike had told me he always picks the person who seems the most empathetic and in tune with what he’s saying. He chose the right person when he picked soft-hearted Dr. V.

Mike asked Dr. V to read a very powerful and emotional letter written by a shelter worker in charge of his shelter’s once-a-week euthanizations. This letter underscores the horrendous emotional price our shelter workers pay each time an orphaned pet is uselessly destroyed. By the time Mike told Dr. V. that she could stop reading (she never finished the letter), we were all of us in tears.

(SIDEBAR: Dr. V later said to me that among the lessons she learned during Mike’s keynote address is NEVER SIT IN THE FRONT ROW!)

Dr. V at BlogPaws:

It is appropriate that Dr. V. again help Mike out by reading a letter. This time, it will be during the HOPE Telethon* to benefit the Helen Woodward Animal Center. And it’s a different letter.

So here’s an opportunity to see our favorite Dr. Jessica V. in tears. And be sure you’ve got tissues handy, because she won’t be the only one crying! This will be a cathartic moment for everybody watching, so be sure to tune in to the livestream of the event!

• WHO: Dr. V of Pawcurious and the friends of Helen Woodward Animal Center
• WHAT: The HOPE Telethon, to benefit the HWAC.
• WHERE: Livestreaming over the interwebz at www.AnimalCenter.org
• WHEN: Saturday November 13 from 10am to 2pm, Pacific time. (1pm to 5pm EST)

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*What is the HOPE Telethon?

H=Helping people with special challenges

O=Orphaned cats and dogs finding safe haven

P=Parents and children learning about sharing the earth

E=Educating shelters about “the business of saving lives”

According to the website:

“Each year Helen Woodward Animal Center reaches 10,000 animals and 50,000 children and adults with our unique programs, but we need your help to make it happen. The HOPE Telethon will be broadcasted live on KUSI – TV 9/51 on November 13th, 2010 from 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. to raise funds for the Center’s many beneficial programs. Tune in or come visit us at the Center.”

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