As I mentioned last week, today is the first (?) annual Adopt-a-Less-Adoptable-Pet Day! Petfinder created the holiday in order to raise awareness about animals who have an extra difficult time finding their forever homes, for a whole host of reasons.

Among cats and dogs, animals who face added obstacles to being rehomed include:

- Seniors and adults;
- Animals with medical issues, including disability and disease;
- Animals with emotional or behavioral issues, such as shyness or a nervous temperament;
- Animals who must be the only nonhuman in the home;
- Bonded animals who must be adopted as a pair – or, worse still, a trio, quartet, etc.;
- Cats with feline leukemia (a transmissible disease);
- Black dogs (for additional information, please see my post at Change.org on Black Dog Syndrome); and
- Dogs who belong to a so-called “dangerous” breed (pit bulls being the “dangerous” breed de jour).

If you plan on adopting an animal companion (or have adopted in the past), congratulations! With this one simple act, you become a hero to two animals – the one you rescued from a pound, shelter, rescue group or sanctuary, and also to the animal for whom you’re freed up a space in said pound, shelter, rescue group or sanctuary. According to the HSUS, between 3 and 4 million cats and dogs are killed in U.S. shelters every year. While adopting one or two or even ten animals might seem a drop in the bucket, it makes a world of difference to the animals whose lives you’ve saved by adopting instead on buying.

But, as always, there’s more you can do! In regards to animal adoption, go out of your way to choose a cat or dog who meets the above criteria. Naturally, you may not be able to deal with all of these issues; for example, if you already live with one healthy cat, a FIV+ feline is out of the question. Instead of focusing on what you cannot do, however, concentrate on how you can help animals in need. For example, adopting a black dog doesn’t take any more effort than adopting a multi-colored one.

If your home is already filled to capacity, you can urge friends and family members to adopt – and to consider adopting a “less adoptable” animal, to boot. Or make a donation to any one of the hundreds+ animal rescue organizations across the country (and the globe) – many of which specifically focus on a population of “less adoptable” animals, be they companion, farmed, or “exotic”/wild animals.

Of course, you can also help by spreading the word. Make this Adopt-a-Less-Adoptable-Pet Day a success by linking to Petfinder on Twitter, Facebook, MySpace, etc., and by telling the world about your “special” kids!

[Pictured above is a very young me, circa 1997, with two of my family's own "less adoptable" girls:

Shannon the black mutt, one half of a 6-year-old pair of sisters we adopted from the local humane society (her sister, Shana, had already passed when this photo was taken); and

Shadow the pit bull mix, who had been hit by a car and had a crushed leg when we found her.

As with all our kids, they were both pure awesomeness, and I miss them more than words can say.]

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Tagged: animals animal welfare holidays observances events adoption pet companion animal animal companion dog canine cat feline special needs senior petfinder my furkids furkids dogkids flickr photos Adopt-a-Less-Adoptable- Pet Day August 12

Your Daily Click-Through Reminders

According to Wiki, click-through sites are “websites where users can click a button to generate a donation for a charity or cause. The money for the donation comes from advertisers whose banners are displayed each time a user clicks the button.”

Please take a few moments to visit the following click-through sites and generate some much-needed cash for these deserving environmental and social justice organizations. No purchase necessary – just click to donate!

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Tagged: kcfreecycle links quick links link love delicious environment environmental environmentalism environmentalist nature green care2 click through sites ecology fund animal rescue site rainforest site free rice good search click to donate land care niagara

There exist very few programs to help members of the military care for their companion animals while they are stationed overseas. Unless soldiers can recruit a family member to house and care for their “pets” while they are away, soldiers are forced to relinquish their animals – to a “pound,” a shelter, or an adoption group.

Between 6 and 8 millions dogs and cats enter U.S. shelters every year. Of these, half are euthanized murdered.

By fostering a soldier’s companion animal(s), you can save an animal’s life, and also ensure a happy reunion between a soldier and her furry friend(s) when she returns from serving her country – i.e., you.

How it works: many of the programs I’ve seen match potential foster homes with soldiers in need, based on a number of factors, including location, type of animal, and caregiver preferences. These groups are generally nonprofits, and finances are limited; consequently, veterinary and food costs, as well as terms and conditions, are usually negotiated between the soldier and caregiver.

To get started, check out Guardian Angels for Soldier’s Pet and Operation Noble Foster.

If you live near a U.S. military base, you may also want to check with local veterinarians to see if they can help match you up with soldiers in need locally. Alternately, you can coordinate with your local veterinarians to start a grassroots foster program in your area – even if you yourself are not in a position to foster an animal.

2. Lift the ban – help repeal “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.”

According to Servicemembers Legal Defense Network (SLDN), 12,500 service members have been discharged under “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.” Visit SLDN today to find out how you can help repeal DODT, which is essentially discrimination written into federal law. In a word, unconstitutional.

Three places to start:

- Sign SLDN’s petition to Congress to pass the Military Readiness Enhancement Act, which would repeal DODT.

- Write to your Congressional representatives and urge them to repeal DODT.

- Make an online contribution. “The Servicemembers Legal Defense Network provides free legal service for LGBT service members. SLDN is also leading the charge to repeal “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” and replace it with a non-discrimination policy.”

3. Contact President-elect Barack Obama, Vice President-elect Joe Biden, and your Senators and Representative; ask them to provide increased funding for the care of injured veterans.

According to a report by the RAND Corporation, Invisible Wounds of War: Psychological and Cognitive Injuries, Their Consequences, and Services to Assist Recovery,

Nearly 20 percent of military service members who have returned from Iraq and Afghanistan — 300,000 in all — report symptoms of post traumatic stress disorder or major depression, yet only slightly more than half have sought treatment.

In addition, researchers found about 19 percent of returning service members report that they experienced a possible traumatic brain injury while deployed, with 7 percent reporting both a probable brain injury and current PTSD or major depression. [...]

Researchers concluded that a major national effort is needed to expand and improve the capacity of the mental health system to provide effective care to service members and veterans. The effort must include the military, veteran and civilian health care systems, and should focus on training more providers to use high-quality, evidence-based treatment methods and encouraging service members and veterans to seek needed care.

Since October 2001, about 1.6 million U.S. troops have deployed to the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, with many exposed to prolonged periods of combat-related stress or traumatic events. Early evidence suggests that the psychological toll of the deployments may be disproportionately high compared with physical injuries.

Furthermore, PTSD impacts female servicemembers – who are at an increased risk of experiencing sexual assault while in the military – at a greater rate than their male counterparts:

About one out of seven female veterans of Afghanistan or Iraq who visit a Veterans Affairs center for medical care report being a victim of sexual assault or harassment during military duty, a study reports today.

More than half of these women have post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). A similar proportion of male veterans with sexual traumas have PTSD, but fewer than one out of 100 men who had recent deployments say they were harassed or sexually assaulted in the military, the report says.

Of course, physical injuries are prevalent as well; according to DOD statistics, 32,977 troops have thus far been injured in Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom. Furthermore,

As of August 1, 2008, DOD reported 1,214 individuals who are amputees, of whom 877 have suffered major limb amputations. Of the 1,214 total amputees, 606 (49.9%) were wounded by improvised explosive devices. [...]

As of July 2008, DOD reported a total of 8,089 servicemembers suffering from traumatic brain injuries, or TBIs. Of those, 5,792 (71.6%) sustained their injuries due to a blast, 916 (11.3%) sustained their injuries due to a fall, 495 (6.1%) sustained their injuries due to a vehicular incident, 401 (5.0%) sustained their injuries due to fragments, 190 (2.3%) sustained their injuries due to a bullet, and 295 (or 3.6%) sustained their injuries due to other causes. Of the 5,852 cases of TBI in the Army, 5,150 (88.0%) were counted as mild, 350 (6.0%) were counted as moderate, and 349 (6.0%) were counted as “severe” (an additional 3 cases were not recorded).

Contact President-elect Obama and VP-elect Biden, as well as your incoming and/or returning Congressional reps, and urge them to provide increased funding and improved care and outreach for our veterans. Also, encourage them to focus on the the issue of rape and sexual assault in the military, which disproportionately affects our nation’s female servicemembers.

- Contact President Obama here, here and here.

- Contact VP Biden here.

- Find your Senators and Representative here.

4. In the meantime, make a donation to help care for injured veterans.

Some suggestions:

- The Fisher House: “Supporting America’s military in their time of need, we provide “a home away from home” that enables family members to be close to a loved one at the most stressful time — during hospitalization for an illness, disease or injury.”

- Yellow Ribbon Fund: “The Yellow Ribbon Fund was created in early 2005 to assist our injured service members and their families while they recuperate at the Walter Reed Army Medical Center and the National Naval Medical Center.”

- Wounded Warrior Project: “The mission of the Wounded Warrior Project is to honor and empower wounded warriors.”

- Disabled American Veterans: “With more than 1.4 million members, Disabled American Veterans is an organization of disabled veterans who are focused on building better lives for disabled veterans and their families. The organization accomplishes this goal by providing free assistance to veterans in obtaining benefits and services earned through their military service. It is fully funded through its membership dues and public contributions. It is not a government agency and receives no government funds.”

- The Blinded Veterans Association: “The Blinded Veterans Association (BVA) is an organization of blinded veterans helping blinded veterans. Through our service programs, regional groups, resources, and advocacy before the legislative and executive branches of government, we hope to make life better for blinded veterans. We also hope to be there with encouragement and support. There is no charge for any BVA service and membership is not a prerequisite to obtain help. All legally blinded veterans are also eligible for BVA’s assistance whether they become blind during or after active duty military service.”

Visit the DOD’s Military Homefront for additional “Community Support Links.”

Of course, be sure to consult Charity Navigator to evaluate and compare nonprofits before making a donation.

5. Health care professionals, volunteer your services to help injured veterans recover.

On Memorial Day, the AP reported on “donated mental health services” to troops returning from Iraq and Afghanistan:

Thousands of private counselors are offering free services to troops returning from Iraq and Afghanistan with mental health problems, jumping in to help because the military is short on therapists. [...]

There are only 1,431 mental health professionals among the nation’s 1.4 million active-duty military personnel, said Terry Jones, a Pentagon spokesman on health issues.

About 20,000 more full- and part-time professionals provide health care services for the Veterans Administration and the Pentagon. They include psychiatrists, psychologists, psychiatric nurses, social workers and substance abuse counselors. [...]

About 300,000 of those who have served in Iraq and Afghanistan are estimated to have anxiety or post-traumatic stress, a recent private study said. Add in spouses left home to manage families and households without their partner as well as children deprived of parents during long or repeated tours of duty, and the number with problems balloons to 1 million.

If you’d like to volunteer your services, contact Give An Hour, The Soldiers Project, or The Coming Home Project.

These programs accept monetary donations as well.

6. Hire an (injured) veteran.

If you are a small business owner, or are in the position to influence your company’s hiring decisions, please consider employing an injured veteran – or a veteran, period.

Start at Hire Vets First, a “comprehensive career website for hiring veterans of America’s military. Whether you’re a manager, human resources specialist, or veteran, you’ll find the resources you need for matching employment opportunities with veterans.”

Remember, injuries can be both physical and psychological.

7. Bring the troops home – with their furry friends.

While stationed overseas, troops may befriend and unofficially “adopt” local stray animals, including cats and dogs. When their tours are over and it’s time to return home, the military is unable and unwilling to assist in the transport of these animals back to the states. Whereas the importance of the human-animal bond is recognized by mental health professionals, and can even prove healing to those with mental and physical health issues, being forced to abandon a beloved companion – in the middle of a war zone, nonetheless – can prove traumatic for already-traumatized servicemembers.

Luckily, Operation Baghdad Pups is trying to fill the gaps in our governments’ misguided policy:

Operation Baghdad Pups assists in transporting to the United States dogs and cats adopted by soldiers serving overseas.

In many cases, the pets become not only camp mascots, but provide comfort and companionship while the soldiers are far from home, says SPCA spokeswoman Stephanie Scroggs.

Ms. Crisp (left) greets Kujo, a dog rescued by an American soldier in Iraq. A cat named Jasmine (above) is also among new arrivals at Dulles.

Technically, military regulations bar soldiers from caring for animals found while on active duty overseas. However, humanity sometimes trumps rules when a soggy and homeless animal needs care.

“We started the program earlier this year when we heard from a soldier who had tried everything to bring the unit mascot, Charlie, home with him,” she says. “The military will not bring animals to the States.”

Charlie, who was once malnourished and flea-ridden, now lives near Fort Bragg, N.C., with that solider, Sgt. Edward Watson of the Army’s 82nd Airborne. The border collie arrived at Washington Dulles International Airport on Valentine’s Day.

“Leaving him behind was not something I was looking forward to,” Sgt. Watson says from North Carolina as Charlie barks at a neighbor cutting the grass. “This program is definitely an awesome thing.” [...]

There is strict criteria: The animals must have a home to go to in the United States, and they need to have been adopted by soldiers who have taken care of them from a young age, Ms. Scroggs says.

“We do not hope to be animal control for the Middle East,” she says. “We are helping American soldiers by bringing home the animals they love.”

You can learn more and donate to Operation Baghdad Pups – a project of the SPCA – here.

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Tagged: action alert veterans day observances holidays animals animal welfare pet companion animal foster operation baghdad pups Guardian Angels for Soldier’s Pet Operation Noble Foster glbt DODT don’t ask, don’t tell Servicemembers Legal Defense Network sldn ptsd rape sexual assault mental health counseling therapy links donate volunteer

Keep Your Animals Safe On July 4th!

Photo via Creativity+ Timothy K Hamilton

The Fourth of July can be one of the most dangerous and frightening holidays for animals. Loud explosions are terrifying to animals who don’t understand them.

With proper planning and some common sense, your companion animals can remain safe and secure on Independence Day. Here are some tips:

* First and foremost, leave your companion animals at home when you go to see fireworks! Resist the urge to take them to fireworks displays.

* Before you leave home for the fireworks, make sure your animals are indoors in a sheltered, quiet area. Some animals become destructive when frightened, so be sure that you’ve removed any items that your companion animal could destroy or that would be harmful if chewed or swallowed. Leave a television or radio playing at normal volume to keep him/her company.

* Make sure your animals are wearing identification tags (and it’s even better if they’re also microchipped!) so that if they do become lost, they can be returned promptly.

* Do not leave an animal in your car. With only hot air to breathe, your animal friend can suffer serious health effects, even death, in a few short minutes. Partially opened windows do not provide sufficient air or cooling, but they do provide an opportunity for your animal to be kidnapped.

* If you know that your animal becomes seriously distressed by loud noises, consult with your veterinarian before July 4th for ways to help alleviate the fear and anxiety he or she will experience during fireworks displays.

* Never leave your animals outside unattended, even in a fenced yard, and especially not on a chain. With explosions occuring, animals who normally wouldn’t leave the yard may escape and become lost, or become entangled in their chain, risking injury or death. (There are lots of other reasons to never leave your dog chained! Contact us if you want more information about the negative effects of chaining dogs.)

* If you find somebody else’s companion animals running at-large, either take them to the address on the tag, if you feel comfortable doing so, or bring them to the local animal shelter, where they will have the best chance of being reunited with their human families.

And our friends at the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center offer the following additional tips, which are appropriate year-round but especially so on Independence Day:

* Never leave alcoholic drinks unattended where animals can reach them. Alcoholic beverages have the potential to poison animals. If ingested, the animal could become very intoxicated and weak, severely depressed or could go into a coma. Death from respiratory failure is also a possibility in severe cases.

* Do not apply any sunscreen or insect repellent product to your animal that is not labeled specifically for use on animals. Ingestion of sunscreen products can result in drooling, vomiting, diarrhea, excessive thirst and lethargy. The misuse of insect repellent that contains DEET can lead to neurological problems.

* Always keep matches and lighter fluid out of animals’ reach. Certain types of matches contain chlorates, which could potentially damage blood cells and result in difficulty breathing – or even kidney disease in severe cases. Lighter fluid can be irritating to skin, and if ingested can produce gastrointestinal irritation and central nervous system depression. If lighter fluid is inhaled, aspiration pneumonia and breathing problems could develop.

* Keep animals on their normal diet. Any change, even for one meal, can cause severe indigestion and diarrhea. This is particularly true for older animals who have more delicate digestive systems and nutritional requirements. And keep in mind that foods such as onions, chocolate, coffee, avocado, grapes & raisins, salt and yeast dough can all be potentially toxic to companion animals.

* Keep citronella candles, insect coils and oil products out of reach. Ingestions can produce stomach irritation and possibly even central nervous system depression. If inhaled, the oils could cause aspiration pneumonia in animals.

* Never use fireworks around animals! While exposure to lit fireworks can potentially result in severe burns and/or trauma to the face and paws of curious animals, even unused fireworks can pose a danger. Many types contain potentially toxic substances, including potassium nitrate, arsenic and other heavy metals.

Visit the web address below to tell your friends about this.
Tell-a-friend!

If you received this message from a friend, you can sign up for IDA’s Action Center.

About IDA

In Defense of Animals, located in San Rafael, Calif., is an international animal protection organization with more than 85,000 members and supporters dedicated to ending the abuse and exploitation of animals by protecting their rights and welfare. IDA’s efforts include educational events, cruelty investigations, boycotts, grassroots activism, and hands-on rescue through our sanctuaries in Mississippi and Cameroon, Africa.

In Defense of Animals is a registered 501(c)3 non-profit organization. We welcome your feedback and appreciate your donations. Please join today! All donations to IDA are tax-deductible.

In Defense of Animals
3010 Kerner, San Rafael, CA 94901
Tel. (415) 388-9641 Fax (415) 388-0388
idainfo [at] idausa.org

idausa.org

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Tagged: animals animal welfare action alerts ida in defense of animals pet companion animal dog canine cat feline fourth of july 4th of july pet safety companion care aspca american society for the prevention of cruelty to animals fireworks flickr photos holidays observances

Inside sez: “Warmest wishes this Mother’s Day”

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Tagged: green mother’s day mothers cards al gore holidays kcfreecycle

Your moderators hereby challenge all of you to find one thing in your possession that you can offer here between now and this Saturday, April 26th.

Anything! Big, small, pretty, ugly, working, in need of fixing, children’s items, adults’ items, pet goodies, anything.

Sometimes people list an item to give and say something like “pick up today or it’s going in the trash tomorrow!”

Let’s avoid that by offering it tonight or tomorrow.

Has your spouse been nagging you to get rid of something? Do your kids think you’re hanging onto an eyesore? Are you tired of the astronomical amount of toys cluttering the house?

Here’s your chance. Take the Earth Day/Week Challenge right now.

It’s so easy to do; just sweep through your house and you’ll probably find something in the first room you visit.

I double dare you all to meet this challenge.

Yes, all 11,196 of you could keep 11,196 items out of the landfill this week by offering something to your neighbors now.

Let’s go!

Shelly, KC Freecycle List Moderator
shelly [at] kcfreecycle.org

getcher grist ecard here!

Happy Earth Day, y’all! While I love celebrating the earth and raising environmental consciousness, it’s important not to relegate Earth Day to just one day of the year. Earth Day is every day. And environmental activism doesn’t always – or even usually – mean buying more stuff.

Cartoonist Mikhaela Reid waxed green about the un-sustainability of our current culture over at her blog The Boiling Point yesterday:

With every Earth Day there comes a flood of special newspaper and magazine “Green Issues,” all generally pushing the same deluded feel-good idea that if only we replaced non-green products with slightly more green products, we’d really Make a Big Difference and Save the Planet. We don’t really need to change our consumer culture or hold corporate polluters accountable or enact sweeping and drastic environmental legislation–we just need to change our lightbulbs and wear organic cotton T-shirts. [...]

Anyway, here’s the thing: buying more fancy stuff you don’t need (no matter how organic or recycled it is) is fundamentally an anti-green act. If you replace your perfectly good couch with some fancy organic or more sustainably produced designer creation, that does not mean you are saving the planet. It means you are buying a nice couch that is slightly less destructive than another couch. You’re still consuming, and you’re still creating waste. You are not a hero, and you are not an activist, you’re just a less destructive shopper.

And shopping is not a substitute for action.

Anyway, go read the whole thing; she makes many a good point. Buying green is good, but only when necessary. ‘Tis better to not buy (and consume) at all. And mere shopping is not to be mistaken for activism. Replacing your incandescent light bulbs with compact fluorescent light bulbs is a most certainly a good thing, but it does nothing to curb our increasingly demanding lifestyles, discourage corporate polluters, or encourage a nationwide shift to renewable forms of energy. To truly make a difference, we need structural change.

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Tagged: kcfreecycle earth day consumerism green environment the boiling point Mikhaela Reid

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Tagged: bbc documentary penguins kcfreecycle

If you’d like to learn more about World Water Day (this year’s theme: Sanitation), check out www.worldwaterday.org and www.worldwaterday.net. Also, you can read more about the awesome Dean Kamen here. (If you only watch one clip, make it Stephen’s interview with Dean, which is the fourth one down below.)

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Tagged: kcfreecycle stephen colbert the colbert report video comedy central water world water day holidays observances events dean kamen environment environmental environmentalism environmentalist water scarcity water pollution health human rights

———- Forwarded message ———-
From: Last Chance for Animals – campaigns [at] lcanimal.org
Date: Jan 25, 2008 4:57 PM
Subject: Join us for Pet Theft Awareness Day 2008!

On February 14th, LCA will observe The 20th Annual National Pet Theft Awareness Day! Each year, LCA educates the public on the dangers of pet theft with the help of individuals and other animal organizations throughout the United States.

An estimated 2 million companion animals are stolen in the United States annually. Unfortunately, most stolen pet cases go unreported, so it is almost impossible to know exact numbers of missing animals, but we do know is that pet theft is a real threat! Stolen pets are sold on the street for top dollar (especially popular breeds), shipped to puppy mills for breeding, sold to animal research labs, trained for dogfights or used as “bait” by dogfighters. It is the responsibility of caretakers to protect their pets from these horrible fates. Visit www.StolenPets.com to learn how you can protect your pet.

Do you want to get involved and spread the word about Pet Theft?

Join LCA’s National Pet Theft Awareness Day and help us reach out to the public on pet theft. See below for all the event details and pet theft materials!

Live in the Los Angeles area? LCA will be observing Pet Theft Awareness Day “on the go!” the weekend before Valentine’s Day. Our Animal News Van will make special appearances at local dog parks showing “Dealing Dogs,” HBO’s documentary about LCA’s undercover investigation into pet theft, and the LCA crew will be passing out important information on pet theft along with dog treats and toys. Thanks to Three Dog Bakery & Centinela Feed for the donated goodies.

Check out the schedule below and come get your Pet Theft Awareness Day info and free presents for your dog. If you would like to volunteer and help pass out free treats, email volunteer [at] lcanimal.org!

Saturday, February 9th, 2008

Runyon Canyon Dog Park, 10:00am – Noon
2000 North Fuller, Los Angeles, CA 90046

Sepulveda Basin Off-Leash Dog Park, 1:00 – 3:00pm
17550 Victory Boulevard, Encino, CA 91406

Not in Los Angeles? Check out other Pet Theft Awareness Day activities here or email volunteer@lcanimal.org to get involved!

Support LCA

Dealing Dogs
$25.00
HBO documentary about LCA’s undercover investigation into pet theft.
DVD, 70 minutes.
Order Now

Rebel Dog Tag
$7.50
Each tag is stamped with the USDA tag number and information about “Rebel,” a special dog at Martin Creek Kennels.
Aluminum, chain and silencer included.
Order Now

Pet Theft Stickers
$0.25 each
“In the time it took to place this sticker, I could have stolen your pet.”
Pink and black sticker, 2″ x 4″.
Order Now

For the Animals,

Campaigns Department
Last Chance for Animals

Last Chance for Animals | 8033 Sunset Blvd. #835 | Los Angeles | CA | 90046

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Tagged: kcfreecycle freecycle free to good home ads animals animal welfare action alerts lca last chance for animals pet companion animal dog canine cat feline pet theft bunchers class b dealers animal research animal experimentation animal testing vivisection holidays observances events National Pet Theft Awareness Day february 14 valentine’s day flickr photos fliers