Pit Bulls -- Heroes and Friends

Despite a bad rap in the media, pit bulls are typically loyal, loving, intelligent family dogs who are often known to take heroic action to protect those they love. Jasmine, a pit bull living in Alexandria, Virginia, recently saved her family from disaster. When a fire erupted in the dryer vent of the family's home in the middle of the night, Jasmine barked nonstop waking her family so they, and Jasmine, could escape unharmed.

The Washington Animal Rescue League adopts many wonderful pit bull dogs into loving, caring forever homes. Two staff members adopted pit bulls in recent month. One lives with a baby and other animals; the other lives with another dog and comes to work with her guardian every day. Trixie is another successful League pit bull adoption. Her new family, including two boys and another dog, reports that Trixie has lots of energy but knows how and when to chill, too. That's her in the picture above, snoozing with her buddy Jack.

For a wonderful fiction story highlighting the hard luck life of a pit bull named Cash, check out Dog Lost by Ingrid Lee discussed in the March 5th Post

Marvelous Mila Chills in Her Forever Home

I am delighted to end the week by sharing good news from a recent adopter.

Mila, who lived at the League for 4 months and was definitely a staff favorite (arent' they all?), is happily adjusting to the good life in her new home. Known for her boundless energy, her newest best buddy Gabe writes She's calmer with each day - and she absolutely loves her two new dog beds. I'll send some more active pictures later on, but three weeks ago I never would have thought I'd be able to sit with Mila on her dog bed and pose for a picture!

Doesn't she look absolutely GREAT!?!?!?!

Remembering Rosie

March 4, 1995 - March 13, 2009

For years I facilitated a humane education program that centered on well-constructed lesson plans chock full of fun, enriching activities, but no live animals. In 1999 I decided to revamp the program to include dogs, IF I could find the right dogs. That's when I met Rosie and her person Stacey. Rosie was one of those dogs that made you smile. She didn't do tricks or dress up in clothing, but when she walked into a classroom there was magic. Rosie was a leaner. She pressed her whole body against you. Kids ended up with Rosie fur all over their pants! And, they loved it.

Several years ago Rosie was unable to visit her 5th grade class at Ross Elementary School. At the very time of the scheduled visit, Rosie was undergoing surgery; a tumor was removed from her front left leg. I talked to the students about the surgery; the worry that filled the classroom was thick. Our positive thoughts paid off -- not only did Rosie make a full and speedy recovery, but she had an unusual patch of fur on her leg to commemorate the event. The veterinarian had taken fur from another spot on Rosie's body and grafted it over the area where the growth had been. The result was a funny patch of hair that grew against the rest of Rosie's fur creating a strange pattern and an opportunity for Stacey to remind students why it is so important to regularly take your dog to the veterinarian. Rosie was always the teacher.

In addition to visiting students and stressing the importance of proper animal care, Rosie volunteered to listen to children read books at Prospect Learning Center. She enjoyed the stories, but liked the students' gentle pats the best. Sometimes it was hard for a student to read AND pet Rosie at the same time, so the reader would put the book aside and pat Rosie.

Later, Rosie visited Tubman Elementary School. Fourth graders were engaged in a photo project and Rosie happily posed with her ball, demonstrating a fun activity that kids could play with dogs. She even managed to get her left leg front and center in most of the photos.

The trouble with sharing your life with a companion animal is, that you know, in all likelihood, you will outlive your friend by many, many years. Over time, we can have had numerous animals in our lives and each one is special. Photos, memories and tributes keep our animals with us. Stacey shared one of her tributes to Rosie with me, and I am happy to share it with you.

Rosie (a.k.a. Rosie the Riveter, Rosie-pie, Ambassador of Love) was born in the Tompkins County Animal Shelter in Ithaca, New York. When she and her five siblings were four days old, they came home with their mother to receive foster care. Rosie stayed for good.

She was an avid hiker, tennis ball catcher and swimmer, and for several years she was a blood donor for dogs in need. Her truest passion, though, was meeting new people and spending quality time with her trusted human friends. Her daily walks were constantly punctuated by people greeting her and commenting on her friendliness and beauty.

Rosie’s gift for spreading happiness found a most useful outlet in the Washington Humane Society’s Humane Education Program. During her six years as a volunteer, Rosie visited with hundreds of students in D.C.’s public schools, helping them to understand how dogs think and feel, and the responsibility people have to help dogs live healthy, happy, fulfilling lives.

Rosie will be missed, by many, beyond words. Take a lesson from her approach to life: revel in its joys, forgive its shortcomings, and leave it with no regrets.

Another Happy Ending! Juanishia Loves Lady

Juanishia & Lady

Juanishia, a Washington Animal Rescue League caretaker, loves every animal who comes through our doors. Every so often, however, there is that one very special dog or cat who needs a little more love and a little more attention. Such was the case with Violet. The 5 pound, 10-year-old chihuahua was rescued from a puppy mill several months ago. No telling how many litters of puppies she had over the years. In between the time of her rescue and her arrival at the League, she was living in a shelter in Georgia. Juanishia started spending a little extra time with Violet every day. She was determined to give the dog all of the love she had been missing for so long.

Day after day Juanishia watched potential adopters walk right past Violet's den. Finally, Juanishia decided enough, she adopted the sweet dog with the sad eyes, took her home and named her Lady. "She sleeps with me and gets along great with the cats, I just love her," Juanishia reports.

The Canadian Seal Slaughter Started Yesterday, We Can Help.

It started yesterday. Mass killings. Reportedly, 9,500 baby seals were brutally killed in just one day. According to the Humane Society of The United States, sealers made their way into the harp seal nursery off Canada's east coast and began the work of clubbing to death weeks-old pups—some who haven't even learned to swim or eaten their first solid meal.

The annual commercial seal hunt has begun, and sealers will club or shoot

up to 280,000 baby harp seals by the time it's over. The animals are being killed for their fur—victims of a heartless industry that puts fashion whims before compassion.

We can make a difference. Write letters to the Canadian government telling them that the seal slaughter must stop, persuade local grocers and restaurants to boycott Canadian seafood (Commercial seal hunting is an off-season activity conducted over just a few days by a few thousand fishermen from Canada's east coast), and share information about the Canadian seal slaughter with your family and friends. To find out more, go to http://www.hsus.org/protectseals.html or www.PETA.org.

One Lucky Dog!!!!

The very best, most wonderful thing about working at the Washington Animal Rescue League is watching one of our dogs or cats go home. The second best, most wonderful thing about working at the Washington Animal Rescue League is hearing how well one of our cats or dogs is doing in his/her forever home. I saw Cadbury, the smiling dog, leave the League and said to his adopters, "Please keep in touch and let us know how he is doing". And they did! Read the letter below from Pat and Bill about their new pal Cody.

Sorry for the delay in providing an update on Cadbury. We have changed his name to Cody because he looks a little like a Coyote and Cody has a Western ring to the name. He is a very good dog and so affectionate. He seems to be house broken as we have had one accident. He sleeps peacefully all night and automatically goes to his bed and lies down when we sit down to eat with no begging for food.

We go on two or three walks a day for at least two hours. The first few days there was lots of leash pulling but that seems to be over and he now walks very nicely by our side on a loose leash. He likes the other dogs we meet on the walks and will play with them if they are willing. We walked seven miles yesterday to the Lincoln Memorial and back and he was still ready to play in the backyard when we got home. Today we went to the Shirlington dog run and had a blast. He played great with all the other dogs both large and small. Cody meet a red Australian Cattle Dog http://en.wikipedia .org/wiki/ Australian_ Cattle_Dog and the two of them took off like greased lightning trying to herd each other. It was the first time I saw him run a full speed with out any restraints and it was quite exciting. One of the women with a small dog complemented him on being a gentle playmate. When I called Cody to come to me in the dog park he came right away with his tail wagging.

We play fetch with a ball and it works real well. He gets the ball and brings it back and drops it in front of me. The other day we were walking up the U.S. Capitol grounds and we ran into a group of high school students. Cody was like a rock star as everyone wanted to pet him and play with him and tell him how handsome he was. He returned their warm affection.

Yesterday he went to the dog spa and got a bath and a combing to remove his winter under coat of down. He looks better than ever now.

I am not sure how Cody got to the shelter but it must be a sad story for the previous owners as he is such a good dog. Please thank everyone at the WARL for all the work they did to help Cody through the period in his life before the adoption. We have been very impressed with the professionalism of everyone we meet at WARL and have told glowing stories of your success to everyone we met. I hope you enjoy the pictures below.

Pat, Bill, and Cody

The Circus is Here -- Do Something!

Ringling Brothers paraded elephants down the streets of the Nation's capital yesterday with moms, dads, and kids lining up to get a good look at these enormous herbivores . In celebration of St. Patrick's Day the elephants were dressed in green hats and beads -- does that make sense? I've yet to see an elephant donning a hat or wearing beads or feathers when I'm marveling at the elephants on the elephant cam at http://www.tappedintoelephants.com/asp/index.php or watching a documentary highlighting elephants in their natural habitat.

Even people at the parade seemed confused by what they were watching. One parent was quoted in the Washington Post saying, "I've never been a big circus person. I'm not big on captivity. Me as a parent, I want my son to be able to enjoy the experience, but as a human being, it's not something I like. I'm sure the treatment the elephants receive from [Ringling Bros.] isn't as good as they would receive in a zoo, since they have to be trained to perform." But there he was with his two-year-old son. I suggest that they pop some popcorn and watch Planet Earth or Animal Planet together.

Since Ringling and other circuses refuse to change their ways, some communities are taking legislative action to end the abuse. Recently, the Joint Environment Committee of Connecticut's General Assembly passed HB 6555, a bill to protect elephants from abusive use of cruel and inhumane devices such as bullhooks and chains. This comes at a time when the trial against Ringling for violations of the Endangered Species Act is wrapping up in Washington, D.C.

Evidence from the trial has revealed that elephants are chained for an average of more than 26 hours at a time, and sometimes for as much as 60 to 100 hours, as the circus moves across the country, said Nicole Paquette, Senior Vice President of Born Free USA. Internal documents obtained by Born Free USA also reveal:

• Ringling's animal behaviorist reported "an elephant dripping blood all over the arena floor during the show from being hooked."


• In internal emails, a Ringling veterinary assistant reported that "[a]fter this morning's baths, at least 4 of the elephants came in with multiple abrasions and lacerations from the hooks." "The lacerations were very visible ... (a handler) applied wonder dust just before the show." Wonder dust is used to stop the bleeding of a wound and it is charcoal in color which covers up the spot from public view.


• Another report saw Troy Metzler, one of Ringling's elephant trainers, "hitting Angelica (an elephant) 3 to five times in the stocks before unloading her and then using an electric prod ..."


• Even circus CEO Kenneth Feld admitted in court that "he's seen handlers hit elephants under the chin, behind the ears or on the legs with a bull hook."

For more information on elephants and what you can do to help them go to:

http://www.savetheelephants.org/

http://www.bornfreeusa.org/

http://www.elephants.com/

Write to your legislators, media outlets and local venues where circuses rent space. Tell them that the abuse must stop. There are so many wonderful forms of entertainment that don't include animal cruelty -- ball games and other sporting events, movies, plays, and concerts. Enjoy the weekend. Do something fun that does not involve an elephant wearing a Leprechaun hat.

We Can Make a Difference!

Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey circus will be pulling into Washington, D.C. this week. Ringling Bros. is currently on trial in federal court in Washington, D.C. for the cruel mistreatment of the elephants in its care. Many people who purchase tickets to the circus have no idea what life is like for a circus animals. Patrons need to be informed.

Those who want to see an end to the use and abuse of animals in traveling circuses, and want to help spread the word, are invited to help leaflet before each show at the Verizon Center, March 19-22nd. Volunteers can sign up online for one or more shifts at http://www.noanimalcircus.com. For more information, e-mail to NoAnimalCircus@hotmail.com.

A Rare Visitor in Washington

Washington Post photographer Linda Davidson took this picture of a snowy owl, and she didn't even have to go to some far off arctic place to get it. She snapped the photo in downtown Washington, D.C. The snowy owl, an unusual sight this far south, usually winters near Canada . Hopefully, the stop in the nation's capital was just a temporary layover on the bird's journey. Especially since snowy owls are known to feast on lemmings, a rodent common in arctic regions but not so in Washington.
To find out more about snowy owls go to: http://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Snowy_Owl_dtl.html or http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/birds/snowy-owl.html

Dog Lost -- One Sad Story Worth a Read

Dog Lost, by Ingrid Lee is one of those books that you read and say, "Wow, glad this is just a story!". Truth be told, many of the horrors that befall that Cash, the beloved pitbull puppy belonging to 11-year-old MacKenzie, happen to animals every day. Cash is kicked by MacKenzie's alcoholic father, then thrown in the trunk of the car and then dumped and that's just beginning. The rest of the book focuses on MacKenzie's search for his dog and Cash's will to survive. Boy and dog are eventually reunited, but not after both suffer terribly. In real life, many abused and abandoned animals' stories do not end happily.

Read Lost Dog and think about how you feel about breed bans. Should any one particular breed of dog be outlawed? If all pitbulls are euthanized, then will another dog be labeled a menace to the community? What about Doberman Pinchers? How about Rottweilers or German Shepherds? It's not the breed that's bad, it's the people who treat the animals horribly, terrifying them so, their only recourse is to react like a dog.

An Interactive Book for Big Kids

Remember those fun books you had when you were a little kid? The ones where you pulled a cord or opened a door. Well, Scooter Strays by Howard Edelstein is an interactive book for elementary school readers.

Scooter gets out and is on his own. Thirsty, Scooter finds a puddle of antifreeze. What happens next? The reader decides. The reader controls the story by making a choice and turning to the corresponding page. You can read the book many times and essentially read a different story every time.

It's fun to read. Try writing your own interactive story!

All proceeds from the sale of Scooter Strays are donated to a local humane organization. The book can also be read on the Washington Humane Society's kids' page, www.whs-kids.org.

The Circus: Hardly Entertainment!

In a few weeks Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey circus will come to town. In addition to the circus, Ringling will begin their stay by parading animals down Pennsylvania Avenue. As in years past, people will line the parade route and gawk at the wild animals. Is that entertainment? Should we feel good about watching wild animals perform asinine stunts, that are totally unlike everything a wild animal would do in the wild?

What is the difference between watching the circus and watching a professional ball game? For starters, players want to play. They've spent their entire lives preparing to play. They love it. They eat, breathe, and sleep baseball, basketball or football. And, they get paid good money, no GREAT money, to play ball. They are entertainers. What about other entertainers -- musical groups, singers or actors? They, too, work hard to do what they want to do. They choose to entertain us. And they, too, are paid handsomely for performing for our enjoyment.

What about the circus elephant? Have you ever seen an elephant in Africa choose the life a circus performer? Would a wild animal choose to spend most of its life in a box car, traveling from one location to another? And, not traveling in first class either. Circus elephants are chained and shackled. They are forced to stand in their own waste. Extremely social animals, circus elephants are kept isolated. They are poked, prodded and beaten with bull hooks (a rod with a hook at the end) that circus personnel call "guides". Would an elephant in the wild wear jewels or clothing? Would it stand on two legs?

People make choices. Circus animals do not. If people choose NOT to buy tickets, circus owners will not make money. And, if circus owners do not make money, they will not be able to maintain their circuses. Currently, circus owners make gobs of money because people choose to buy tickets to see wild animals do "tricks". Circus owners make the money. What do circus animals get out of the circus?

Groundhog Day is NO Fun for the Groundhog

Today, newscasters throughout the U.S. will laugh and joke as they report on whether or not Punxsutaney Phil, a groundhog held in captivity in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, sees his shadow. Every year on February 2nd we go through this same ritual. Supposedly, if Phil (and other groundhogs) sees his shadow, then we will have six more weeks of winter. If the groundhogs do not see their shadows (really the groundhogs could care less whether there are shadows or not!) then spring will arrive early.

Did you know

• The groundhog, or woodchuck, is one of 14 species of marmots.
• These rodents gorge themselves all summer to build up reserves of fat.
• After the first frost, they burrow underground and sleep until spring, depending on their stored body fat for nourishment.
• While hibernating, the groundhog's heart rate slows, and its body temperature is not much warmer than the temperature inside its burrow.
• Female groundhogs give birth to a litter of 2 to 9 babies in the spring.
• Baby groundhogs stay with their mother for several months.
• Groundhogs are the largest members of the squirrel family.
• That though they are usually seen on the ground, groundhogs can climb trees and swim.
• Groundhogs are typically found in areas where woodlands meet open spaces, like fields, roads, or streams.
• Groundhogs eat grasses and plants as well as fruits and tree bark.
• The average groundhog lives for only one year.
• GROUNDHOGS CANNOT PREDICT THE WEATHER -- and according to the calendar, we have 6 more weeks of winter!

Friends Forever

A headline caught my eye on the Fox 5 animal webpage where our puppy cam is hosted. It read, Family Allowed to Adopt Fallen Son's Dog. The December 2007 article told how Lex, Marine Corporal Dustin Jerome Lee's K-9 partner, sat whipering from his own injuries, and had to be pulled away from the slain Marine's side after the deadly mortar attack. The bond between the the dog and the Marine compelled Corporal Lee's family to adopt the 8-year-old German Shepherd. The military, however, expected Lex to perform two more years of service.

The family knew that their son would want Lex to live with them. They already had Corporal Lee's first canine partner, Doenja, living with them. The Lees lobbied the military for months, launched an Internet petition and sought the help of North Carolina Congressman Walter Jones, (R. N.C) before Lex was given special permission to retire from the Marines to live with the Lees.

This real life story reminded me of a book I read two years ago. Cracker! The Best Dog in Vietnam. This book is so much more than a heart-warming, gut wrenching story embedded in the horrors of war. Newberry award winning (Kira Kira) author Cynthia Kadohata focuses on the power of the human animal bond during a time in U.S. history that is rarely discussed. When Rick Hanski signs up for the army, leaving the security of his Wisconsin home and a waiting job in his Dad’s hardware store, he is ready to “whip the world.” Hanski, however, quickly begins to second guess his decision and ability when, as a dog handler, he is teamed with strong-willed German Shepherd named Cracker.

Initially, Cracker is leery of everyone. She does not understand why her former best friend, a boy named Willie, gave her to the army. Hanski and Cracker, however, soon develop an understanding and form a bond that goes beyond friendship; they become one of the most sought after and respected U. S. Army dog search teams in Vietnam.

The novel, recommended for ages 10 and up, is told alternatively through Hanski’s and Cracker’s points of view. It is graphic, but not gruesome. Kadohata does not sugar-coat the heroics of the dogs for reasons based on facts. An author’s note reads “...at the war’s end [dogs] were considered surplus military equipment. Although precise records were not kept, most historians agree that at least 4,000 dogs served during the war and are credited with saving some 10,000 human lives. About 1,000 dogs died from combat, jungle disease or other reasons. At the war’s end, only approximately 200 dogs were reassigned to other U.S. military bases. The remaining dogs were either euthanized or given to the South Vietnamese Army. The fate of those dogs remains unknown.” The book has a bitter-sweet ending. Cracker and Hanski survive the war. Unfortunately, true to the hazards of war, other characters, dogs and soldiers, do not.

According to the article about the heroic Marine team of Corporal Lee and Lex, the military currently has 1,700 dogs working alongside American troops. These relationships, real and fictionalized should be noted and celebrated. I cried when I read about Hanski's reunion with Cracker. I cried, too, for Corporal Lee, for his family and for Lex, one of the best dogs currently living in Mississippi.

SNOW Day!!!!!

This picture was taken earlier this morning

Max & Nigel are now warm and dry inside.

Enjoy the snow, but be sure to dry off your dog's feet after a romp outside.

AND, keep your cats indoors!

Danger Alert

The Washington Post publishes a feature called Animal Watch in its Sunday Metro section. Today's Animal Watch headline read, That Isn't Your Engine Purring. The cute play on words failed to highlight the tragedy that was fortunately avoided.

The blurb detailed how an unsuspecting driver heard a kitten (meowing) from under her car's hood. She drove to a veterinarian's office where an animal control officer came and safely retrieved a 4-month-old kitten. That was one LUCKY kitten.

Many times kittens and cats will seek warmth under the hood of a car. What happens is the kitty crawls up the front tire and beds down in the warm engine of a parked car. An unsuspicious driver comes out and starts the car. Sometimes the cat takes a warm ride, like the kitten in the article. Oftentimes, however a tragic scene is played out -- the driver starts the car and YEOW!!!!! the cat is mangled or killed by the fan belt. Best way to avoid the deadly CAT-in-ENGINE situation is to keep your cat safe and warm indoors!

**** Tell drivers to bang on the hood or honk the horn before starting the ignition. The loud noise should be a warning to napping kitties to find another spot.

Catastrophe!! Too Many Cats and Not Enough Homes

What do Aggie, Starbuck, London, Aberdeen, Aruba, Jamica, Wooshie, Wynken, Argle, Repeat, and Spanky all have in common? They are all cats who have lived at the Washington Animal Rescue League for 6 months or more! Valentine's Day marks Aggie's one-year anniversary at the League. We would love to celebrate that day with Aggie moving on to a real home. One where she will be loved and cared-for -- forever!

To help us introduce the absolutely purrrfect cats to prospective adopters, we are hosting a special event, CATAPALOOZA, on Saturday, February 14th.

The day will be jam-packed with activities ranging from workshops presented by veterinarians, adoption experts, and behavior specialists to a designated place to shop for cat unique art and books. Plus, there will be a story hour featuring cat tales and a make-your-own cat toy workshop especially for kids. Of course, we'll have refreshments. And cats. Lots of cats. More than 60 cats will be trying their very best to capture the attention, and heart, of that one special person, couple or family who will say, "That One! I want to live with that one. Forever and ever!"

Even if you cannot adopt a cat, stop by the League on Valentine's Day. Tell your friends to come to Catapalooza. We will be introducing visitors to Artimis, Gee Gee, Remy and all of the other spectacular cats who will be here, counting the days until they find their forever homes!

What's In a Title?

Okay, look at the cover of this book. My Big Dog, what's it about? If you said a dog, you would be only partially right. In fact, the dog is a very minor character in this book. We see the dog a lot, and the dog moves the story along -- well, sort of -- but the story could just as easily have been called, MERL, ONE ABSOLUTELY TERRIFIC, FABULOUS, PERFECT CAT or I AM MERL THE GREAT, DO YOU REALLY EXPECT ME TO LIVE WITH THAT?.

My Big Dog is about Merl, a tabby cat who rules the roost, that is until a sloppy, dopey, gangly golden retriever puppy invades Merl's space. When Merl cannot take one more nasty dog kiss, he decides to take drastic action -- Merl moves out. Life outside of the house where Merl has My dish. My sofa. My chair. My mouse. My bed is not so good; and in the end, it is the dog (whose tag reads Violet") who rescues Merl and brings him home.

My Big Dog is about friendship, tolerance and compromise. The illustrations in My Big Dog are so much fun to look at, you will want to look at each one for a long time before reading any of the text. This is truly one of my very favorite books. When my son Max was little he would beg me NOT to read My Big Dog again because it was the only book that I wanted to read.

Puppies!

Check out the Washington Animal Rescue League's new Puppy Cam, http://media.myfoxdc.com/petcorner/homecam.html.
See puppies play, eat, nap and poop! Remember, if you view the puppy cam after hours it may be dark; puppies need their rest. AND, for an entertaining in-person show, stop by the League and see lots and lots of kittens in our three lobby display windows. The kittens are tumbling, pouncing, and leaping right now. Check out the League's web site, www.warl.org for current visiting hours.

Inauguration Week

It is inauguration week and Washington is the place to be! The historic inauguration concert yesterday brought together nearly 500,000 people. I was there. It was lots of fun. People were happy and enjoying the music and cheering crazily every time the jumbo-tron screens flashed to President-elect Barack Obama and his family. The soon-to-be first family was bopping away to the tunes. President-elect Obama encouraged the concert goers (and home viewers) to join forces and work together to make our nation a better place.

Security was tight. I was glad to see that people followed the directions of the concert organizers.; They left their dogs at home. One man, who wasn't going to the concert, was walking his dog on one of the streets that led to the Lincoln Memorial concert site. He was talking with the soldiers who were manning one of the many streets that were closed to vehicular traffic. Like everyone else, the soldiers were happy and enjoying the positive mood of the day. The man asked the soldiers to pose with his dog. They happily stood for a quick photo, including the one that I took. It could have been called a day of national friendship. I hope that the mood lasts.

The Obama family is looking for the right dog to join them in the white house. They move in tomorrow. In honor of their big move and big decision to choose the right dog, three polls were added to the blog. Read them, and let me know what you think. I think that the President and Mrs. Obama and their daughters could definitely find the perfect dog for them at the Washington Animal Rescue League. We are right down the street, in their new neighborhood.

Recycling Projects -- Think Animal Toys

What can you do with one old sock? Fill the foot with catnip, knot the ankle and give it to a cat who wants a toy!

Do you have a stuffed animal or two that you don't cuddle with any more? Donate them to the League or another local animal shelter. Not all stuffed animals are okay, they need to have the batting-type of stuffing -- not sawdust or beans.

You can make fun tuggy toys with old towels. Tear (or cut) them into strips and tie them together, pull the knots super tight and then use the tuggy toys to play with your dog. You can sneak some dog cookies into the knots and watch your dog untie the toy!

Can't get the last little bit of peanut butter out of the jar? Bet your dog can. Peanut butter is a yummy treat. A dog with a nearly empty jar of peanut butter can be occupied for a long time.

There are lots of reuse/recycle ideas that can be used to create fun cat and dog toys, do you have some that you have created? Please share them here. Let's reuse and recycle ideas so our animals will have lots of fun things to do.

A Little Savings Goes A Long Way

Way back in August I heard a radio report about a NYC family, the Humphreys, who collect spare change. They find pennies, nickles, dimes and quarters on streets, sidewalks, in stores and just about every place they go. In December the radio program did an update; the family reported that their loose change total for 2008 was more than $1,000.00!! That's a lot of cat food.

What does found change have to do with cat food, or dog food for that matter? Well, if I set up a "change pot" and pick up every penny, nickel, dime and quarter that I see discarded wherever I go, I could save enough money to donate lots and lots of cat food and/or dog food and toys, too, to the League. That would be a very generous donation. Every penny counts. Organizations like the Washington Animal Rescue League rely on donations.

Without donations the League could not take care of the hundreds of dogs and cats that depend on us every single day. We find cats and dogs permanent, loving homes. Our medical center helps people on restricted incomes get veterinary care for their animals. In a perfect world all animals would have wonderful, forever homes and everyone would be able to afford the very best of veterinary care for their animal companions. Although our world is not perfect and there are lots of homeless animals that need care, the Washington Animal Rescue League is there to help. My change pot and lots of other change pots, can help the League provide the very best care for London (pictured) and all of the other cats and dogs in our care.

Check out the Huphrey family's blog at changepot.blogspot.com

Five Things YOU Can Do to Help the Animals During These COLD WINTER DAYS!!!! BRRRRRRR!!!

It's winter, it's supposed to be cold -- but 26 degrees for a high seems way too cold for Washington, DC. That's what is predicted for Friday, January 16th -- just 26 degrees for a day time high and only 15 degrees for the low. Brrrrrrr! That means if someone leaves their dog outside with a bowl of water, the dog's liquid will be one giant ice cube in no time AND it will stay that way, with no thawing in sight. That's not right. Whether you live in the District of Columbia, Wisconsin, or even Alabama, dogs, and cats, should not be left outside in the cold.

The bone-chilling cold that is hugging the nation is responsible for highs like -2 degrees in Altoona, Wisconisn and 2 degrees above zero in Des Moines, Iowa (with a low of -6) and only 56 degrees in Auburn, Alabama with a low well below the freezing mark. This is a good time to think of all animals. What can we do to make sure that dogs, cats, and area wildlife are protected from the latest arctic blast?

• Keep dogs and cats inside


• If there is snow on the ground and/or salt in street, make sure to wipe your dog's pads with a warm water cloth after a walk


• Tell drivers to knock on the hoods of their cars to frighten away any unsuspecting cats who may have climbed up under the hood seeking warmth in the car's engine


• If you know someone who leaves their dog outside, make sure the dog has a proper dog house. That means that the house is elevated off of ground, has a flap over the entry way to keep out wind and has hay or shredded newspaper inside for bedding -- not a towel or blanket. Better yet, also alert the local animal welfare agency and let them check out the dog house


• Feed the birds and other wildlife. It's hard for birds, squirrels and other animal friends to find food in the winter. Put seed and/or suet in a convenient place. Once you commit to feeding the birds, don't stop until spring. The animals will be come dependent on your generosity and come to feed regularly at the designated spot.

Only 67 days until spring!

Good News for Life Living Under The Sea

Major News Flash!

Yesterday -- President Bush moved to create three new marine national monuments in the Pacific Ocean. Renee Schoof of the McClatchy Newspapers reported that The monuments — in the Mariana Islands in the western Pacific, the Rose Atoll off American Samoa and remote islands in the central Pacific — cover 195,280 square miles, the largest protected area of ocean. The Marianas Marine National Monument will protect the Mariana Trench, the deepest place on Earth — deeper than Mount Everest is high and explored for the first time only in 1960. The monuments also protect corals and the ecosystems that include large migratory, resting and feeding sea birds, and endangered animals such as sea turtles.

Search the web. Learn more about this historic environmental protection designation.

A Quick, Funny Back-to-School Story to Start Off the New Year

This morning my son, Max, decided that before he chose a jacket to wear to school he should test the weather. He went out onto our screened-in porch . It must not have been too cold because he was able to stay out there long enough to do his best imitation of a cat wanting inside.

Max got on all fours and meowed loudly at the door. That's what Merl, our brown tabby, does when he wants inside. I laughed and Max meowed louder. Bruce and Merl came running from other parts of the house to see who the new cat was. Max meowed again and our tough guy cats crouched down into one of those, "I'm not so sure about you" positions.

When I opened the door to let Max-cat in, Bruce hissed, ran away and hid under a chair. I think he was embarrassed by being fooled by Max. It took several minutes of coaxing before Bruce came out, acted like nothing happened, and was content to bat around his favorite toy, a teeny, tiny blue crab.

Bruce in one of his favorite positions

Good Deeds -- Big and Small

Inside yesterday's Washington Post was an article detailing a heroic whale rescue. The young calf -- one of less than 400 remaining North Atlantic right whales -- became entangled in fishing lines off the coast of northern Florida during its annual migration along the Eastern seaboard. Folks from six Florida and Georgia institutions worked for three days to free the whale; Rescuers in three boats cut about 350 feet of fishing line that was trailing the whale. According to the article, they did not pull the fishing lines out of the whale's mouth because doing so could harm the animal. The rescue team determined later, from the air, that the whale was free of the line. The rescue was a success!

Shortly after reading the Washington Post article, I was involved in an animal rescue of my own. I am watching my friend's cat for a couple of days and expected it would be a simple task -- feed the cat, change her water, scoop the litter pan and play with her. I did not expect that I would have to catch a wild bird inside my friend's house, but that is exactly what I did.

I was getting ready to lock up when I heard a strange noise coming from a bedroomthe. There, pounding the window -- from the inside -- was a teeny, tiny frantic bird. "What is a bird doing here!" I made sure that the cat was not in the bedroom and closed the door. It was just me and the bird. I tried opening the window, but wasn't sure how it opened and I couldn't get it to budge. I tried throwing a blanket on the bird, but it was so little and so fast, it escaped. I did that several times. Then I got a box and tried to scoop the bird in the box, but it was too fast for the old scoop-bird-in-box trick.

Frustrated, I left the room, made sure the door was closed tight so the cat couldn't get in, and called Second Chance Wildlife Center (www.scwc.org). They know everything there is to know about urban wildlife. The person I spoke to advised me to leave crumbled cat food soaked in water and try again to trap the bird with a sheet or piece of cloth or call animal control and ask for help.

I decided to get a partner -- teamwork is always best -- and came back with my son, Max. We said hello to the cat and went to the bedroom. The bird was back on the window, trying desperately to flap its way through the glass. After several attempts of tossing a blanket and failing to catch the bird, we waited patiently while it settled back on the window. Finally, we were able to corner the bird and get him into the box.

We took the closed box into the backyard, set it on the ground and opened the lid. At first the bird didn't do anything. He seemed to be thinking "what should I do now" -- he'd spent so much time trying to get outside and now there he was. I tilted the box and the bird hopped out and burrowed in the ivy. I thought maybe after all that pounding he was hurt and we'd have to find him in the ground cover, scoop him up and take him to the Second Chance Wildlife Center. And then, he flew away. The rescue was a success!

Wild Animals are Wild

An article in yesterday's Washington Post, On the Wings of Love, At Temple's Aviary, Problem Birds Find Feathered Friends, was another reminder that wild animals should be left in the wild. According to Mira Tweti, author of the book, Of Parrots and People, "they (birds) are never domesticated. They are wild animals". And, yet, people continue to buy birds -- wild animals, sometimes caught in their native lands, sometimes bred in captivity -- and expect them to be happy living in cages. The article told how the 35 resident birds living in a small building next to the Kunzang Palyul Choling Buddhist temple in Poolesville, Maryland cared for Jetrunma Ahkon Lhamo and others could not be kept by the people who purchased them. The birds -- African grey parrots, macaws, and cockatoos from Australia and the Pacific Islands -- developed destructive behaviors. Many were brought to the sanctuary because they developed self destructive behaviors -- pulling off their plumage, sometimes to the point of piercing their skin underneath. Others become aggressive biting people and other birds.

Kids can help the birds. Trading in Slingshots: HSI Teaches Youth to Protect Wild Birds in Nicaragua an article on the Humane Society of the United States' website, http://www.hsus.org/about_us/humane_society_international_hsi/international_trade_policy_and_capacity_building/trading_slingshots_for_backpacks.html tells how children load rocks into a slingshot and take aim at a wild bird's nest. After the rock hits the nest, the mother bird is usually killed or injured, and the nest falls from the tree with the baby birds inside. The young birds who survive the fall will have their wings clipped and become someone's pets, forced to live in cages or remain confined to a house for the rest of their lives. A Humane Society International education program is partnering with the Foundation Friends of the Nicaraguan Zoo (FAZOONIC) to show students the impact of their actions and expose them to wildlife conservation efforts. At the end of a program, that lasted several month, a ceremony was held where each student lined up to throw a slingshot in the garbage in exchange for a backpack labeled, "I protect animals in my community."

We should be lining up daily to protect the animals in our community. What are you doing?

A Heroic Rescue

Shark Attack!! Have you ever seen the movie Jaws? It was released when I was in middle school; I remember the music, where I was sitting in the theater (I saw it in Key West, Florida) and how I wouldn't go into the water for quite some after seeing the movie. Every little detail came back to me tonight when I read the blurb in Parade Magazine about how a man dove into the water off a pier in Islamorada, Florida to attack the shark that had snatched his dog!!!!

That's right the man attacked the shark.

The man punched the shark until it loosened it's bite. Jake, the rat terrier (little dog), suffered many puncture wounds, but nothing life threatening. Had Jake's guardian not acted instinctively and immediately, there would have been a much different ending -- Jake would have been lunch.

Jake's person, Greg LeNoir, is a real life hero. Some times heroes accomplish death-defying rescues like pulling little dogs from the steel jaws of five foot long sharks. Other times, they do things that are not quite so dramatic -- like cleaning kennels, feeding dogs and cats and telling them how special they are. I spent Christmas at home. but, many Washington Animal Rescue League staff members were at the shelter, cleaning dog dens and cat condos, telling Ziggy and Chrissie that they are definitely going to get another chance at forever homes and waving the string with the feather in front of Spanky's paw -- giving him just enough time to get it (He loves that game). The kennel staff made sure that each of the dogs and cats got a bowl of food, with a little extra, clean water and a comfy bed.

Thank you animal heroes near and far.